[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16213]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              IN HONOR OF FILIPINO AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 26, 2011

  Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the millions of 
Filipino Americans across America and to recognize October as Filipino 
American History Month.
  Filipinos first arrived on America's shores in the 16th century and 
they are now the third largest Asian American community in the United 
States with nearly 4 million Americans of Filipino descent.
  Filipino Americans have contributed to the United States in every 
field of endeavor, like science, medicine, education, business, 
politics, agriculture, and they have served with distinction in our 
armed forces.
  They continue to enrich American life through their contributions to 
our arts and culture.
  In my home district, the California 9th, there are over 68,000 
Filipino Americans and I know that my district is stronger and more 
successful because of their presence.
  I believe that it is important to acknowledge the important role that 
immigrants play in the fabric of American life and I would encourage 
the leadership to act quickly on S. Res. 287, to officially designate 
October 2011 as ``Filipino American Awareness Month.''

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