[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 190 (Thursday, October 28, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7464-S7465]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    SENATE RESOLUTION 432--RECOGNIZING THE MONTH OF OCTOBER 2021 AS 
FILIPINO AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH AND CELEBRATING THE HISTORY AND CULTURE 
  OF FILIPINO AMERICANS AND THEIR IMMENSE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE UNITED 
                                 STATES

  Ms. HIRONO (for herself, Mr. Booker, Ms. Cantwell, Ms. Cortez Masto, 
Ms. Duckworth, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Kaine, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Markey, 
Mr. Menendez, Mr. Padilla, Mr. Reed, Ms. Rosen, Mr. Sanders, Mr. 
Schatz, Ms. Smith, and Ms. Warren) submitted the following resolution; 
which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 432

       Whereas the earliest documented Filipino presence in the 
     continental United States was October 18, 1587, when the 
     first ``Luzones Indios'' arrived in Morro Bay, California, on 
     board the Nuestra Senora de Esperanza, a Manila-built galleon 
     ship;
       Whereas the Filipino American National Historical Society 
     recognizes 1763 as the year in which the first permanent 
     Filipino settlement in the United States was established in 
     St. Malo, Louisiana;
       Whereas the recognition of the first permanent Filipino 
     settlement in the United States adds a new perspective to the 
     history of the United States by bringing attention to the 
     economic, cultural, social, and other notable contributions 
     made by Filipino Americans to the development of the United 
     States;
       Whereas the Filipino American community is the third 
     largest Asian American and Pacific Islander group in the 
     United States, with a population of approximately 4,100,000;
       Whereas, from the Civil War to the Iraq and Afghanistan 
     conflicts, Filipinos and Filipino Americans have a 
     longstanding history of serving in the Armed Forces of the 
     United States;
       Whereas more than 250,000 Filipinos fought under the United 
     States flag during World War II to protect and defend the 
     United States in the Pacific theater;
       Whereas a guarantee to pay back the service of Filipinos 
     through veterans benefits was reversed by the First 
     Supplemental Surplus Appropriation Rescission Act, 1946 
     (Public Law 79-301; 60 Stat. 6) and the Second Supplemental 
     Surplus Appropriation Rescission Act, 1946 (Public Law 79-
     391; 60 Stat. 221), which provided that the wartime service 
     of members of the Commonwealth Army of the Philippines and 
     the new Philippine Scouts shall not be deemed to have been 
     active service, and, therefore, those members did not qualify 
     for certain benefits;
       Whereas 26,000 Filipino World War II veterans were granted 
     United States citizenship as a result of the Immigration Act 
     of 1990 (Public Law 101-649; 104 Stat. 4978), which was 
     signed into law by President George H.W. Bush on November 29, 
     1990;
       Whereas, on February 17, 2009, President Barack Obama 
     signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 
     2009 (Public Law 111-5; 123 Stat. 115), which established the 
     Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund to compensate 
     Filipino World War II veterans for their service to the 
     United States;
       Whereas, since June 8, 2016, the Filipino World War II 
     Veterans Parole Program has allowed Filipino World War II 
     veterans and certain family members to be reunited more 
     expeditiously than the immigrant visa process allowed at that 
     time;
       Whereas, on December 14, 2016, President Barack Obama 
     signed into law the Filipino Veterans of World War II 
     Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2015 (Public Law 114-265; 130 
     Stat. 1376) to award Filipino veterans who fought alongside 
     troops of the United States in World War II the highest 
     civilian honor bestowed by Congress;
       Whereas, on October 25, 2017, the Congressional Gold Medal 
     was presented to Filipino World War II veterans in 
     Emancipation Hall in the Capitol Building, a recognition for 
     which the veterans had waited for more than 70 years;
       Whereas Filipino Americans have received the Congressional 
     Medal of Honor, the highest award for valor in action against 
     an enemy force that may be bestowed on an individual serving 
     in the Armed Forces, and continue to demonstrate a 
     commendable sense of patriotism and honor in the Armed 
     Forces;
       Whereas the late Peter Aquino Aduja of Hawaii and the late 
     Thelma Garcia Buchholdt of Alaska became the first Filipino 
     American elected to public office and the first Filipina 
     American elected to a legislature in the United States, 
     respectively, inspiring their fellow Filipino Americans to 
     pursue public service in politics and government;
       Whereas Filipino American farmworkers and labor leaders, 
     such as Philip Vera Cruz and Larry Itliong, played an 
     integral role in the multiethnic United Farm Workers 
     movement, alongside Cesar Chavez, Dolores Huerta, and other 
     Latino workers;
       Whereas, on April 25, 2012, President Barack Obama 
     nominated Lorna G. Schofield to be a United States District 
     Judge for the United States District Court for the Southern 
     District of New York, and she was confirmed by the Senate on 
     December 13, 2012, to be the first Filipina American in 
     United States history to serve as an Article III Federal 
     judge;
       Whereas Filipino Americans play an integral role on the 
     frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic in the healthcare system 
     of the United States as nurses, doctors, first responders, 
     and other medical professionals;
       Whereas Filipino Americans contribute greatly to music, 
     dance, literature, education, business, journalism, sports, 
     fashion, politics, government, science, technology, the fine 
     arts, and other fields that enrich the United States;
       Whereas, as mandated in the mission statement of the 
     Filipino American National Historical Society, efforts should 
     continue to promote the study of Filipino American history 
     and culture because the roles of Filipino Americans and other 
     people of color have largely been overlooked in the writing, 
     teaching, and learning of the history of the United States;
       Whereas it is imperative for Filipino American youth to 
     have positive role models to instill--
       (1) the significance of education, complemented by the 
     richness of Filipino American ethnicity; and
       (2) the value of the Filipino American legacy; and
       Whereas it is essential to promote the understanding, 
     education, and appreciation of the history and culture of 
     Filipino Americans in the United States: Now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes the celebration of Filipino American History 
     Month in October 2021 as--
       (A) a testament to the advancement of Filipino Americans;
       (B) a time to reflect on and remember the many notable 
     contributions that Filipino Americans have made to the United 
     States; and
       (C) a time to renew efforts toward the research and 
     examination of history and culture so as to provide an 
     opportunity for all people of the United States to learn more 
     about Filipino Americans and to appreciate the historic 
     contributions of Filipino Americans to the United States; and
       (2) urges the people of the United States to observe 
     Filipino American History Month with appropriate programs and 
     activities.
  Ms. HIRONO. Mr. President, I rise today in recognition of Filipino 
American History Month. Throughout the month of October, people across 
the United States come together to pay tribute to the rich culture, 
history, and heritage of Filipino Americans.
  Since the first permanent Filipino settlement in the United States 
was established more than 250 years ago, Filipino Americans have played 
a notable role in the development of our country. As the third largest 
Asian American and Pacific Islander group in the United States, 
Filipino Americans add to the fabric of our society through 
contributions in healthcare, the arts,

[[Page S7465]]

business, journalism, and in government and military service.
  Filipinos and Filipino Americans have a longstanding history of 
serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. In 1915, Fireman Second Class 
Telesforo Trinidad was awarded the Medal of Honor for his extraordinary 
heroism in rescuing two shipmates after a boiler explosion on board the 
USS San Diego. He survived and continued serving during WWI and WWII 
until his retirement in 1945. Today, Telesforo Trinidad holds the 
distinction of being the first Filipino American and the first and only 
Asian American in the U.S. Navy to receive a Medal of Honor.
  Filipino Americans have also contributed as leaders in important 
workers' rights and civil rights movements. In 1965, Larry Itliong, 
Peter Velasco, and Philip Vera Cruz led Filipino American farm workers 
to strike, demanding better pay, benefits, and working conditions. The 
Delano Grape Strike was one of the most pivotal civil rights and labor 
movements in American history.
  Earlier this month, Maria Ressa, a Filipino-American journalist and 
author, became the first person born in the Philippines to win a Nobel 
Peace Prize. Maria, a ``fearless defender of freedom of expression,'' 
was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for working to expose the abuses of 
power and growing authoritarianism in her native country. She also 
founded Rappler, a digital media company for investigative journalism 
that has documented how social media is spreading fake news and 
manipulating public views.
  While Filipino American History Month is a time of celebration and 
commemoration, we must also recognize the disparate impact that the 
COVID-19 pandemic has had on communities of color, including the 
Filipino-American community. Approximately one in four Filipino-
American adults serve as frontline healthcare workers. High 
representation in essential work and other socioeconomic factors like 
living in multigenerational homes, poverty, limited English 
proficiency, preexisting health conditions, and a lack of health 
insurance, put these communities at higher risk for COVID-19 
transmission. As a result, Filipino-Americans comprise an estimated 32 
percent of COVID-19 deaths among nurses despite representing only 4 
percent of registered nurses nationwide. In spite of the emotional and 
physical toll of the pandemic on these frontline workers and their 
families, the Filipino-American community has continued to show its 
strength and resilience.
  During Filipino American History Month, we reflect on the great 
sacrifices and contributions of generations of Filipino Americans who 
have helped to shape our Nation. This resolution reminds us that as the 
United States forges ahead, it is crucial to ensure that future 
generations can learn from and appreciate the legacies of Filipino 
Americans, as well as other immigrants and people of color.

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