[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Pages 11591-11592]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 44--RECOGNIZING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF ASIAN 
                    PACIFIC AMERICANS TO OUR NATION

                            S. Con. Res. 44

       Whereas at the direction of Congress in 1978, the President 
     proclaimed the week beginning May 4, 1979, as Asian Pacific 
     American Heritage Week, providing the people of the United 
     States with an opportunity to recognize the achievements, 
     contributions, history, and concerns of Asian Pacific 
     Americans;
       Whereas the seven day period starting May 4 was designated 
     Asian Pacific Heritage Week as it marks two historical 
     dates--May 7, 1843, when the first Japanese immigrants 
     arrived in the United States, and May 10, 1869, Golden Spike 
     Day, when, with substantial contributions from Chinese 
     immigrants, the first transcontinental railroad was 
     completed;
       Whereas the 102nd Congress by law designated that the month 
     of May be annually observed as Asian Pacific American 
     Heritage Month;
       Whereas according to the U.S. Census Bureau an estimated 
     12.5 million United States residents trace their ethnic 
     heritage, in full or in part, to Asia and the Pacific 
     Islands;
       Whereas Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders can list 
     innovative contributions to all aspects of life in the United 
     States ranging from the first transcontinental railroad to 
     the Internet;
       Whereas in the mid-1700's Filipino sailors formed the first 
     Asian American and Pacific Islander communities in the bayous 
     of Louisiana;
       Whereas Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have added to 
     the vast cultural wealth of our Nation; and
       Whereas Americans of Asian Pacific heritage, who include 
     immigrant and indigenous

[[Page 11592]]

     populations, have honorably served to defend the United 
     States in times of armed conflict from the Civil War to the 
     present: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That Congress--
       (1) recognizes that the United States draws its strength 
     from its diversity, including contributions made by Asian 
     Americans and Pacific Islanders;
       (2) recognizes that the Asian American and Pacific Islander 
     community is a thriving and integral part of American society 
     and culture;
       (3) supports the goals of Asian Pacific Heritage Month; and
       (4) recognizes the prodigious contributions of Asian 
     Americans and Pacific Islanders to the United States.

  Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I rise to recognize our country's diverse 
Asian American and Pacific Islander, AAPI, population and commemorate 
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. I add my voice to those in the 
AAPI community recognizing and celebrating the unique contributions of 
this diverse community by submitting a resolution similar to that 
submitted in the other body by fellow members of the Congressional 
Asian Pacific American Caucus.
  It was more than 10 years ago when my friend and former colleague, 
Congressman Frank Horton of New York, took the important step of 
introducing and working to pass a bill to designate each May as Asian 
Pacific American Heritage Month, in perpetuity. His bill eventually 
became Public Law 102-450 on October 23, 1992. This was a single, 
important step to demonstrate the support of the Congress for a 
community that has always been a vital part of our Nation's heritage.
  Historians note that the first Asians or Pacific Islanders to set 
foot on the continental United States were Filipinos manning Spanish 
galleons that sought to explore the new land in the 1500s. Filipino 
sailors later, in the 1700s, founded the first AAPI communities in the 
Louisiana bayous, using names such as Manila Village and Bayou Cholas. 
The first Japanese arrived on May 7, 1843, and others in 1869 attempted 
to establish the Wakamatsu Tea and Silk Colony, in order to grow 
mulberries, tangerines, grapes, and tea. Chinese adventurers joined 
other gold-seekers in northern California in the 1800s, establishing 
the now-famous Chinatown in San Francisco in the 1850s, and working 
toward the establishment of the first transcontinental railroad--marked 
by Golden Spike Day, May 10, 1869. Of course, before all of this took 
place, the indigenous peoples most known to me, the Native Hawaiians, 
established a vibrant society, living and working the lands from 
roughly the 1200s on what was to become the 50th State in our precious 
Union. Prior to western contact, the Native Hawaiians lived in an 
advanced society steeped in science. The many other peoples in what is 
known now as the collective AAPI community have their own fascinating 
stories to tell about their first adventures and long heritage in 
America.
  Advancing through history to come to the present, the AAPI community 
has grown so much from our years of ``firsts'' that it now numbers 
about 13.5 million--12.5 million Asians and almost one million Native 
Hawaiians or Other Pacific Islanders. Together, AAPIs make up roughly 
4.7 percent of the population. Even with this growth in overall size, 
we have remained inclusive of our various cultures and celebrated the 
positives among our differences as well as lauded our similarities. 
Indeed, my colleagues can certainly describe their favorite Korean, 
Thai, or Indian restaurants, or strive to distinguish one of our many 
languages from another, while acknowledging the major significance we 
collectively assign to educational access and attainment, service to 
the communities we live in, and deep-rooted family values. It is also 
prudent to note that AAPIs together continue to strive toward 
eliminating civil injustice and increasing our political involvement 
and participation in government, while looking to care for individuals 
in our community who deny the stereotype of AAPIs as a ``model 
minority''--those who are not faring as well as others and continue to 
live below the poverty level or fail to reach their full potential in 
school or in the workforce. It is not only for AAPIs but for all of us 
in this great country that I firmly believe that our individual 
identification and knowledge of our cultures of origin strengthen us 
when we come together as Americans. It is out of our many, glorious 
parts that we come together to make one shining whole. Thus, the 
celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month truly is about all 
of us.
  I urge my colleagues to support me in this resolution.

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