[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 189 Introduced in House (IH)]
113th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 189
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 26, 2013
Ms. Chu (for herself, Ms. Meng, Mr. Honda, Ms. Bordallo, Mr. Al Green
of Texas, Mr. Lowenthal, Ms. Lee of California, Mr. Faleomavaega, Mr.
Becerra, Mr. Bera of California, Ms. Gabbard, Ms. Matsui, Mr. Sablan,
Mr. Takano, Mr. Scott of Virginia, Mr. Connolly, Mr. Conyers, Mrs.
Davis of California, Ms. Eshoo, Ms. Fudge, Mr. Sherman, Mr. McNerney,
Mrs. Napolitano, Mr. Peters of California, Mr. Rangel, Ms. Roybal-
Allard, Mr. Schiff, Mr. Smith of Washington, Ms. Speier, Mr. Swalwell
of California, Mr. Van Hollen, Ms. Linda T. Sanchez of California, Ms.
Lofgren, Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney of New York, Ms. Loretta Sanchez of
California, Mr. Grijalva, Mr. Crowley, Ms. Duckworth, and Ms. Hanabusa)
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 2013 marks 70 years since the repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act and 25
years since the passage of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 which granted
reparations to Japanese Americans interned during World War II, both
cases in which the United States Congress acted to address
discriminatory laws that targeted those of Asian descent;
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 41 Members this year, including 13 Members of
Asian or Pacific Islander descent;
Whereas the 113th Congress has welcomed a number of historic firsts this year,
including Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, the first Asian American woman and
first Buddhist to ever serve in the United States Senate, Rep. Tammy
Duckworth, the first Thai American woman, first wounded female combat
Veteran, and first Asian American from Illinois to serve in Congress,
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, the first Hindu American and first Pacific Islander
woman to serve in Congress, Rep. Grace Meng, the first Asian American
Member of Congress elected to represent the State of New York, and Rep.
Mark Takano, the first openly gay person of color to ever serve in
Congress;
Whereas today, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are serving in State
legislatures across the Nation, in States as diverse as Alaska, Arizona,
California, Connecticut, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Maryland,
Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia,
and Washington;
Whereas the number of Asian American and Pacific Islander Article III judges has
more than doubled over the past 4 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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