[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 283 Introduced in House (IH)]

114th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 283

 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 history of the United 
                                States.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 21, 2015

Ms. Judy Chu of California (for herself, Mr. Becerra, Ms. Bordallo, Ms. 
Duckworth, Ms. Gabbard, Mr. Al Green of Texas, Ms. Lee, Mr. Ted Lieu of 
 California, Ms. Matsui, Ms. Meng, Mr. Takai, Mr. Sablan, Mr. Crowley, 
     Mr. Lowenthal, Mr. Meeks, Mr. Peters, Ms. Linda T. Sanchez of 
  California, Mr. Schiff, Mr. Swalwell of California, Mr. Vargas, Mr. 
Bera, Mr. Scott of Virginia, Ms. Speier, Mr. Takano, Mr. Honda, and Mr. 
Conyers) 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 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 over 45 distinct ethnicities and over 
        100 language dialects;
Whereas, according to the United States Census Bureau, 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 decennial census estimated that there are now 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 
        nearly 6 percent of the total United States population;
Whereas the month of May was selected for Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month 
        because the first Japanese immigrants arrived in the United States on 
        May 7, 1843, and the first transcontinental railroad was completed on 
        May 10, 1869, with substantial contributions from Chinese immigrants;
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 the year 2015 marks several important milestones for the Asian American 
        and Pacific Islander community, including the--

    (1) 50th anniversary of the passage of the Immigration and Nationality 
Act of 1965, landmark legislation that reversed restrictive immigration 
policies against immigrants from Asia;

    (2) 40th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War;

    (3) 40th anniversary of the Southeast Asian diasporic communities in 
the United States;

    (4) 30th anniversary of Ellison Shoji Onizuka's space mission aboard 
the Space Shuttle Discovery becoming the first Asian American in space; and

    (5) 25th anniversary of the enactment of legislation designating May to 
be Asian Pacific American Heritage Month signed by President George H. W. 
Bush;

Whereas Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, such as Daniel K. Inouye, a Medal 
        of Honor and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient who, as President 
        Pro Tempore of the Senate, was the highest-ranking Asian American 
        government official in United States history, Dalip Sing Saund, the 
        first Asian American Congressman, Patsy T. Mink, the first woman of 
        color and Asian American woman to be elected to Congress, Daniel K. 
        Akaka, the first Senator of Native Hawaiian ancestry, Hiram L. Fong, the 
        first Asian American Senator, Norman Y. Mineta, the first Asian American 
        member of a Presidential cabinet, and others have made significant 
        contributions in both our government and military;
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 48 Members this year, including 13 Members of 
        Asian or Pacific Islander descent;
Whereas in 2015, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are serving in State and 
        Territorial legislatures across the United States in record numbers, 
        including in the States of Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut, 
        Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New 
        Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, 
        Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and in the 
        Territories of American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the 
        Northern Mariana Islands;
Whereas the number of Asian American and Pacific Islander Article III judges 
        more than tripled between 2009 and 2015, 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, history, and to understand 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 history of the United States; and
            (2) recognizes that Asian American and Pacific Islander 
        communities enhance the rich diversity of and strengthen the 
        United States.
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