[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 17]
[Senate]
[Pages 23444-23445]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 298--RECOGNIZING FILIPINO AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH IN 
                              OCTOBER 2009

  Mr. REID (for himself, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Akaka, Mr. Ensign, Mr. 
Inouye, and Mr. Menendez), submitted the following resolution; which 
was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 298

       Whereas the earliest documented Filipino presence in the 
     continental United States was on October 18, 1587, when the 
     first ``Luzones Indios'' set foot in Morro Bay, California, 
     on board the Manila-built galleon ship Nuestra Senora de 
     Esperanza;
       Whereas the Filipino American National Historical Society 
     recognizes the year of 1763 as the date of the first 
     permanent Filipino settlement in the United States in St. 
     Malo, Louisiana, which set in motion the focus on the story 
     of our Nation's past from a new perspective by concentrating 
     on the economic, cultural, social, and other notable 
     contributions that Filipino Americans have made in countless 
     ways toward the development of the history of the United 
     States;
       Whereas the Filipino-American community is the second 
     largest Asian-American group in the United States, with a 
     population of approximately 3,100,000 people;
       Whereas Filipino-American servicemen and servicewomen have 
     a longstanding history serving in the Armed Services, from 
     the Civil War to the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts, 
     including the 250,000 Filipinos who fought under the United 
     States flag during World War II to protect and defend this 
     country;
       Whereas 9 Filipino Americans have received the 
     Congressional Medal of Honor, the highest award for valor in 
     action against an enemy force that can be bestowed upon an 
     individual serving in the United States Armed Forces;
       Whereas Filipino Americans are an integral part of the 
     United States health care system as nurses, doctors, and 
     other medical professionals;
       Whereas Filipino Americans have contributed greatly to the 
     fine arts, music, dance, literature, education, business, 
     literature, journalism, sports, fashion, politics, 
     government, science, technology, and other fields in the 
     United States that enrich the landscape of the country;
       Whereas efforts should continue to promote the study of 
     Filipino-American history and culture, as mandated in the 
     mission statement of the Filipino American National 
     Historical Society, because the roles of Filipino Americans 
     and other people of color have been overlooked in the 
     writing, teaching, and learning of United States history;
       Whereas it is imperative for Filipino-American youth to 
     have positive role models to instill in them the importance 
     of education, complemented with the richness of their 
     ethnicity and the value of their legacy; and
       Whereas Filipino American History Month is celebrated 
     during the month of October 2009: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes the celebration of Filipino American History 
     Month 2009 as a study of the advancement of Filipino 
     Americans, as a time of reflection and remembrance, and as a 
     time to renew efforts toward the research

[[Page 23445]]

     and examination of history and culture in order to provide an 
     opportunity for all people in the United States to learn and 
     appreciate more about Filipino Americans and their historic 
     contributions to the Nation; and
       (2) urges the people of the United States to observe 
     Filipino American History Month 2009 with appropriate 
     programs and activities.

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