[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 435 Engrossed in House (EH)]

H. Res. 435

                In the House of Representatives, U. S.,

                                                          June 8, 2009.
Whereas this year marks first time the United States is led by a President with 
        close Asian ties, including President Obama's childhood in Indonesia and 
        Hawai'i, and the President has made unprecedented outreach efforts to 
        the Asian-American and Pacific Islander community;
Whereas the selection of May as the month for Asian/Pacific-American Heritage 
        Month was significant due to two historical events that occurred in May: 
        first, May 7, 1843, when the first Japanese immigrants arrived in the 
        United States, and second, May 10, 1869, when, with substantial 
        contributions from Chinese immigrants, the first transcontinental 
        railroad was completed;
Whereas section 102 of title 36, United States Code, officially designates May 
        as Asian/Pacific-American Heritage Month, and requests the President to 
        issue each year a proclamation calling on the people of the United 
        States to observe Asian/Pacific-American Heritage Month with appropriate 
        programs, ceremonies, and activities;
Whereas according to the Bureau of the Census, an estimated 14,900,000 United 
        States residents identify themselves as Asian alone or in combination 
        with one or more other races, and an estimated 1,000,000 United States 
        residents identify themselves as Native Hawaiian and other Pacific 
        Islander alone or in combination with one or more other races;
Whereas even though Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders faced the injustices 
        of racial prejudice as exemplified by the Chinese Exclusion Act, the 
        internment of Japanese Americans and Japanese/Latin-Americans, the 
        Vincent Chin case, and other events, the community has made considerable 
        contributions to the vast cultural, economic, educational, military, and 
        technological advancements of the United States;
Whereas Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders such as civil rights activist, 
        Yuri Kochiyama, Medal of Honor recipient, Herbert Pililaau, the first 
        Asian-American Congressman, Dalip Singh Saund, the first Asian-American 
        Congresswoman, Patsy Mink, and others have made significant strides in 
        the political and military realms;
Whereas the Presidential Cabinet includes a record three Asian-Americans: Energy 
        Secretary Steven Chu, Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, and Veterans 
        Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki; and
Whereas celebrating Asian/Pacific-American Heritage provides the people of the 
        United States with an opportunity to recognize the achievements, 
        contributions, history, and influence concerns of Asian-Americans and 
        Pacific Islanders: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes that the incredible diversity of different racial and 
        ethnic groups, including Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders, is a 
        source of strength for the United States; and
            (2) celebrates the contributions of Asian-Americans and Pacific 
        Islanders to the United States.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.