[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 621 Introduced in House (IH)]

112th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 621

 Recognizing the significance of Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month 
in May as an important time to celebrate the significant contributions 
   of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to the Nation's history.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 17, 2012

     Ms. Chu (for herself, Ms. Loretta Sanchez of California, Ms. 
   Richardson, Mr. Conyers, Mr. Faleomavaega, Ms. Speier, Ms. Lee of 
  California, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Van Hollen, Ms. Bass of California, Mr. 
 Scott of Virginia, Mr. Grijalva, Ms. Hahn, Mr. Al Green of Texas, Mr. 
   Honda, Mr. Connolly of Virginia, Ms. Roybal-Allard, Mrs. Davis of 
    California, Ms. Bordallo, Mr. Filner, Mr. Berman, Mr. Smith of 
    Washington, Mr. Sablan, Ms. Hanabusa, Ms. Matsui, Mr. Clarke of 
Michigan, Mr. Becerra, Mr. Sherman, Ms. Zoe Lofgren of California, Mr. 
 Stark, Ms. McCollum, Mr. Schiff, Ms. Linda T. Sanchez of California, 
    Mrs. Napolitano, Ms. Schakowsky, Mrs. Maloney, Mr. Crowley, Mr. 
 McNerney, and Ms. Woolsey) submitted the following resolution; which 
    was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Recognizing the significance of Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month 
in May as an important time to celebrate the significant contributions 
   of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to the Nation's history.

Whereas the United States joins together each May to pay tribute to the 
        contributions of generations of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders 
        who have enriched the Nation's history;
Whereas the history of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United 
        States is inextricably tied to the story of the Nation;
Whereas the Asian American and Pacific Islander community is an inherently 
        diverse population, comprised of over 45 distinct ethnicities and over 
        100 language dialects;
Whereas the United States Census Bureau found that the Asian American population 
        grew faster than any other racial or ethnic group over the last decade, 
        surging nearly 46 percent between 2000 and 2010, a growth rate 4 times 
        faster than the total United States population;
Whereas the 2010 Census estimated that there are now 17,300,000 United States 
        residents who identify as Asian, and 1,200,000 United States residents 
        who identify themselves as Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, 
        making up nearly 6 percent of the total United States population;
Whereas the month of May was selected for Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month 
        due to the following two historical events, 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 the year 2012 marks several important historic milestones for the Asian 
        American and Pacific Islander community, including 20 years since the 
        formal establishment of Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month, 30 years 
        since the unpunished murder of Vincent Chin, 70 years since the signing 
        of Executive Order 9066 which authorized the Japanese American 
        internment, 100 years since the planting of the first cherry blossoms 
        from Japan, 130 years since the passage of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 
        1882, and 150 years since the Pacific Railroad Act of 1862 that promoted 
        the construction of the transcontinental railroad;
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 this month with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and 
        activities;
Whereas the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, a bicameral caucus of 
        Members of Congress advocating on behalf of Asian Americans and Pacific 
        Islanders, is composed of a record high 41 Members this year, including 
        Senate President Pro Tempore Daniel K. Inouye of Hawaii, the highest 
        ranking Asian American in United States history;
Whereas today, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are serving in State 
        legislatures across the Nation, in States as diverse as Alaska, Arizona, 
        California, Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Maryland, New Jersey, 
        New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Utah, and Washington;
Whereas the number of Asian American and Pacific Islander Article III judges has 
        doubled over the past 3 years, reflecting a commitment to diversity in 
        the Federal judiciary that has resulted in the confirmations of high 
        caliber Asian American and Pacific Islander judicial nominees;
Whereas there still remains much to be done to ensure that Asian Americans and 
        Pacific Islanders have access to resources, a voice in the United States 
        Government, and continue to advance in the Nation's political landscape; 
        and
Whereas celebrating Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month provides the people of 
        the United States with an opportunity to recognize the achievements, 
        contributions, history, and address the challenges faced by Asian 
        Americans and Pacific Islanders: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes the significance of Asian/Pacific American 
        Heritage Month as an important time to celebrate the 
        significant contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific 
        Islanders to the Nation's history; and
            (2) recognizes that Asian American and Pacific Islander 
        communities enhance the rich diversity of the United States and 
        strengthen the Nation.
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