[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 166 (Friday, October 21, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1069-E1070]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              IN HONOR OF FILIPINO AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JOSH HARDER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 21, 2022

  Mr. HARDER of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate 
Filipino American History Month. Across the United States, Filipino 
Americans have played a crucial role in this country's success and have 
built a remarkable legacy that deserves to be recognized and 
celebrated.
  In our community especially, Filipino Americans have a rich and 
storied history. In the early 1900s, thousands of Filipinos immigrated 
to the United States, with many settling in and around Stockton, 
California. In fact, according to 1930s census data, over half of all 
Filipinos in the United States were in San Joaquin County. From this 
large population grew Little Manila, a Filipino neighborhood in 
Stockton that served as a home for the newly formed immigrant 
community. Little Manila was a safe harbor from discrimination and 
became a place for Filipino culture and families to thrive. While only 
a small portion of Little Manila remains, its impact can still be felt 
throughout Stockton all these years later.
  Today, Filipino Americans have built on the legacy started by their 
parents and grandparents and continue to enrich our nation. In San 
Joaquin County, we have a strong and vibrant Filipino American 
community of nearly 30,000. They work in every industry, serve our 
community in numerous ways, and have brought immense value to the 
Central Valley. The history of Filipino Americans is preserved

[[Page E1070]]

and rightfully applauded thanks to the hard work of advocacy groups 
like the Filipino American National Historical Society, which chose 
Stockton as the location for the organization's museum.
  In countless ways, the history of Filipino Americans embodies the 
ideals of the American Spirit: hard work, dedication, resiliency, and a 
firm belief that better days lie ahead. Filipino Americans are an 
integral part of our area and have played an irreplaceable role in the 
larger American story. I am incredibly proud to celebrate October as 
Filipino American History Month and eagerly anticipate the role that 
Filipino Americans will play in our community's future.

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