[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 86 (Thursday, May 19, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S2623]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Ms. HIRONO (for herself, Mr. Booker, Ms. Duckworth, Mrs. 
        Feinstein, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Lujan, Mr. Padilla, Ms. Smith, 
        Ms. Warren, and Ms. Rosen):
  S. 4275. A bill to authorize the Secretary of Education to award 
grants to eligible entities to carry out educational programs that 
include the history of peoples of Asian and Pacific Islander descent in 
the setting and founding of America, the social, economic, and 
political environments that led to the development of discriminatory 
laws targeting Asians and Pacific Islanders and their relation to 
current events, and the impact and contributions of Asian Americans to 
the development and enhancement of American life, United States 
history, literature, the economy, politics, body of laws, and culture, 
and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, 
and Pensions.
  Ms. HIRONO. Mr. President, this month, as we celebrate Asian Pacific 
American Heritage Month, we have an important opportunity to recognize 
the significant contributions Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and 
Pacific Islander, AANHPI, individuals and communities have made to the 
development and enhancement of American life and culture.
  Despite their noteworthy contributions in various spaces--including 
literature, the economy, politics and law, arts and science, and 
education--AANHPI individuals and communities have largely been 
excluded or erased from our shared history as Americans.
  Look no further than our K-12 public schools. In many instances, the 
teaching of Asian Pacific American, APA, history has been limited to 
passing references or minor footnotes that barely scratch the surface 
of these diverse and resilient communities. When it comes to APA 
history, few milestones are discussed; furthermore, the uniqueness of 
these individuals and the communities in which they live is rarely 
highlighted. Oftentimes, AANHPI individuals are depicted as foreigners, 
as opposed to people who have lived in our country for generations. 
These narratives fuel xenophobia and racism that has resulted in a rise 
in attacks and hate-related incidents against AANHPI communities in 
recent years.
  Asian Pacific American Heritage Month is a time of celebration but 
also a reminder of the many challenges our communities have faced, 
including the Chinese Exclusion Act, Executive order 9066, which led to 
the internment of Japanese-Americans during WWII, decades of racist 
laws, and the rise in anti-Asian hate crimes in recent years. Members 
of our AANHPI communities have long been the target of discriminatory 
treatment in this country, challenges we must continually work to 
overcome. That is why I am introducing the Teaching Asian Pacific 
American History Act for the 117th Congress.
  In short, this legislation would promote the teaching of APA history 
in our public schools. At a time when many are challenging what is 
taught in our Nation's schools, it is important that we work to ensure 
our K-12 curricula accurately reflect the breadth of our Nation's 
history. Many States are already working to make sure our students have 
opportunities to learn about the complex history of our AANHPI 
communities. The bill would ensure Federal resources, available through 
the U.S. Department of Education's American history and civics 
programs, highlight the important contributions of these communities. 
The goal of the legislation is to make sure our students have a better 
understanding of who we are as a people--not just some of us but all of 
us.
  As we commemorate the history and contributions of Asian Americans, 
Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders, and continue to work to combat 
the legacy of hatred, violence, and discrimination against our 
communities, this bill is a step toward ending the misguided perception 
of AANHPIs as outsiders or ``others.'' The Teaching Asian Pacific 
American History Act would enable K-12 teachers and students to better 
understand the racism and prejudice that AANHPIs have endured for 
decades and the many achievements and contributions of these 
communities.
  With that, I urge my colleagues to support the bill.
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