[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 129 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

113th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 129

  Recognizing the significance of May 2013 as Asian/Pacific American 
   Heritage Month as an important time to celebrate the significant 
 contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to the history 
                         of the United States.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 6, 2013

   Ms. Hirono (for herself, Mr. Heller, Mrs. Boxer, Mrs. Murray, Mr. 
Warner, Mr. Schatz, Mr. Begich, and Mr. Cardin) submitted the following 
    resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

                              May 23, 2013

             Committee discharged; considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Recognizing the significance of May 2013 as Asian/Pacific American 
   Heritage Month as an important time to celebrate the significant 
 contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to the history 
                         of the United States.

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 history of the United States;
Whereas the history of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United 
        States is inextricably tied to the story of the United States;
Whereas the Asian-American and Pacific Islander community is an inherently 
        diverse population comprised of more than 45 distinct ethnicities and 
        more than 100 language dialects;
Whereas, according to the Bureau of the Census, the Asian-American population 
        grew faster than any other racial or ethnic group in the United States 
        during the last decade, surging nearly 46 percent between 2000 and 2010, 
        which is a growth rate 4 times faster than that of the total population 
        of the United States;
Whereas the 2010 decennial census estimated that there are approximately 
        17,300,000 residents of the United States who identify as Asian and 
        approximately 1,200,000 residents of the United States who identify 
        themselves as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, making up 
        approximately 5.5 percent and 0.4 percent, respectively, of the total 
        population of the United States;
Whereas the month of May was selected for Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month 
        because the first immigrants from Japan arrived in the United States on 
        May 7, 1843, and the first transcontinental railroad was completed on 
        May 10, 1869, with substantial contributions from immigrants from China;
Whereas 2013 marks 70 years since the repeal of the Act of May 5, 1892 (27 Stat. 
        25, chapter 60) (commonly known as the ``Geary Act'' or the ``Chinese 
        Exclusion Act''), and 25 years since the passage of the Civil Liberties 
        Act of 1988 (50 U.S.C. App. 1989b et seq.) that granted reparations to 
        Japanese Americans interned during World War II, both cases in which 
        Congress acted to address discriminatory laws that targeted people 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 an annual proclamation calling on the people of the United States 
        to observe the month with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and 
        activities;
Whereas, in 2013, 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 40 Members, including 13 Members 
        of Asian or Pacific Islander descent;
Whereas, in 2013, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are serving in State 
        legislatures across the United States in record numbers, including in 
        the States of Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Colorado, 
        Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, 
        Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington;
Whereas the number of Federal judges who are Asian Americans or Pacific 
        Islanders more than doubled between 2009 and 2013, 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 remains much to be done to ensure that Asian Americans and Pacific 
        Islanders have access to resources and a voice in the Government of the 
        United States and continue to advance in the political landscape of the 
        United States; and
Whereas celebrating Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month provides the people of 
        the United States with an opportunity to recognize the achievements, 
        contributions, and history of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and 
        to appreciate the challenges faced by Asian Americans and Pacific 
        Islanders: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) recognizes the significance of May 2013 as Asian/
        Pacific American Heritage Month as an important time to 
        celebrate the significant contributions of Asian Americans and 
        Pacific Islanders to the history of the United States; and
            (2) recognizes that the Asian-American and Pacific Islander 
        community enhances the rich diversity of and strengthens the 
        United States.
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