[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 78 (Thursday, May 22, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3301-S3302]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 460--RECOGNIZING THE SIGNIFICANCE OF MAY 2014 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

  Ms. HIRONO (for herself, Mr. Reid, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Cardin, Mr. 
Schatz, Mr. Brown, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Begich, Mr. Heller, Mr. Kirk, Ms. 
Cantwell, and Mr. Warner) submitted the following resolution; which was 
considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 460

       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 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 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 Singh Saund, the 
     first Asian American Congressman, Patsy T. Mink, the first 
     woman of color and Asian American woman to be elected to 
     Congress, Hiram L. Fong, the first Asian American Senator, 
     and others have made significant contributions in both our 
     government and our military including the first Asian 
     American cabinet member in 2000 and the first female Asian 
     American cabinet member in 2001;
       Whereas the year 2014 marks several important milestones 
     for the Asian American and Pacific Islander community, 
     including--
       (1) the 15th anniversary of the establishment of 
     the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific 
     Islanders under Executive Order 13125 by President William J. 
     Clinton;
       (2) the 20th anniversary of the founding of the 
     Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, a bicameral 
     caucus of Members of Congress advocating on behalf of Asian 
     Americans and Pacific Islanders; and
       (3) the 20th anniversary of the creation of the 
     Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies;
       Whereas in 2014, 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, including 13 Members of Asian or 
     Pacific Islander descent;
       Whereas in 2014, 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, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, 
     Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington;
       Whereas the number of Federal judges who are Asian 
     Americans or Pacific Islanders doubled between 2001 and 2008 
     and more than tripled between 2009 and 2014, 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 2014 as Asian/
     Pacific American Heritage Month

[[Page S3302]]

     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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