[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 2]
[Senate]
[Pages 2320-2321]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF CHINESE NEW YEAR OR 
                            SPRING FESTIVAL

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to consideration of S. Res. 457.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 457) recognizing the cultural and 
     historical significance of the Chinese New Year or Spring 
     Festival.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I come to the floor today with the distinct 
honor of supporting a resolution recognizing

[[Page 2321]]

the cultural and historical significance of the Chinese New Year, held 
annually on the first day of the first lunar month of the Chinese 
calendar.
  For the approximately 3.5 million Chinese-Americans currently living 
in the United States, the Chinese New Year represents one of the most 
important times for families and friends to get together and celebrate 
their rich cultural history. In my home county, Clark County, NV, 
thousands of Chinese-Americans, and Asian-Americans of various 
nationalities and ethnicities, recently celebrated the inception of the 
Year of the Rat.
  In fact, February 7, 2008, of our calendar, the date on which the 
Year of the Rat began, marked the beginning of year 4705 of the Chinese 
calendar. I am so proud to recognize and offer my best wishes to all 
those Nevadans and Americans who have followed in the footsteps of so 
many past generations to observe this 2-week long festival, which 
culminates in the Lantern Festival to be held on the fifteenth day of 
the first lunar month.
  Throughout this 15-day celebration, many members of Nevada's Chinese-
American community will take this opportunity to spend time with their 
families and engage in traditional activities, such as the dragon and 
lion dances. To all of my friends back in Clark County, and throughout 
Nevada as a whole who observe this holiday, I wish you a joyous and 
prosperous New Year.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed 
to, the preamble be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be laid upon 
the table, and any statements related to the resolution be printed in 
the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 457) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 457

       Whereas the Chinese New Year is celebrated on the second 
     new moon following the winter solstice;
       Whereas February 7, 2008, marks the first day of the 
     Chinese New Year for 2008, also known as the Year of the Rat 
     or the Year of Wu Zi;
       Whereas the Chinese New Year festivities begin on the first 
     day of the first lunar month and end 15 days later with the 
     celebration of the Lantern Festival;
       Whereas there are approximately 3,500,000 Chinese-Americans 
     in the United States, many of whom will be commemorating this 
     important occasion;
       Whereas this day will be marked by celebrations throughout 
     our country as Chinese-Americans gather to watch the dragon 
     and lion dances; and
       Whereas the United States Postal Service will debut a new 
     stamp series for the 12 animals in the Chinese calendar on 
     February 9, 2008, with the series continuing through 2019: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes the cultural and historical significance of 
     the Chinese New Year or Spring Festival;
       (2) in observance of the Chinese New Year, expresses its 
     deepest respect for Chinese-Americans and all those 
     throughout the world who will be celebrating this significant 
     occasion; and
       (3) wishes Chinese-Americans and all those who observe this 
     holiday a happy and prosperous new year.

                          ____________________