[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16261]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             COMMEMORATING FILIPINO AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ZOE LOFGREN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 27, 2011

  Ms. ZOE LOFGREN of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in 
recognition of Filipino American History Month. We have, as a nation, 
commemorated October as Filipino American History month since 1988. The 
legislature in my home state of California also recognizes this month. 
California has long historical ties with Filipino Americans, and our 
state is home to over half of the Filipino population of the United 
States.
  This month is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the rich culture 
and history of Filipino Americans, who have contributed so much both to 
California and to the United States. I'm pleased that recently there 
has been some legislative acknowledgment of their military 
contributions. Just this month in California, Governor Jerry Brown 
signed Assembly Bill 199 into law, which would encourage the inclusion 
of the role of Filipinos in World War II in social studies curricula. 
Over 250,000 Filipinos fought with the U.S. in World War II. Their 
valiant service was largely uncompensated and unrecognized until 
recently.
  I'm hopeful that my colleagues will take a moment to recognize the 
Filipino American community. This country is a nation of immigrants, 
and we are so much richer for the contributions that Americans of every 
background have made, and will continue to make as we move forward.

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