[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Page 7849]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 474--RECOGNIZING THE SIGNIFICANCE OF MAY 2012 AS 
ASIAN-PACIFIC AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH AND THE IMPORTANCE OF CELEBRATING 
THE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS OF ASIAN-AMERICANS AND PACIFIC ISLANDERS 
                  TO THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES

  Mr. AKAKA (for himself, Mr. Inouye, Mr. Reid, Mr. Begich, Mrs. 
Murray, and Mr. Menendez) submitted the following resolution; which was 
referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 474

       Whereas the United States joins together each May to pay 
     tribute to the contributions of generations of Asian-
     Americans and Pacific Islanders who have enriched the history 
     of the United States;
       Whereas the history of Asian-Americans and Pacific 
     Islanders in the United States is inextricably tied to the 
     story of the United States;
       Whereas the Asian-American and Pacific Islander community 
     is an inherently diverse population, comprised of over 45 
     distinct ethnicities and over 100 language dialects;
       Whereas according to the United States Census Bureau, the 
     Asian-American population grew faster than any other racial 
     or ethnic group over the last decade, surging nearly 46 
     percent between 2000 and 2010, which is a growth rate 4 times 
     faster than the total United States population;
       Whereas the 2010 decennial census estimated that there are 
     17,300,000 United States residents who identify as Asian and 
     1,200,000 United States residents who identify as Native 
     Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, making up nearly 6 
     percent of the total United States population;
       Whereas the month of May was selected for Asian-Pacific 
     American Heritage Month because the first Japanese immigrants 
     arrived in the United States on May 7, 1843, and the first 
     transcontinental railroad was completed on May 10, 1869, with 
     substantial contributions from Chinese immigrants;
       Whereas the year 2012 marks several important historic 
     milestones for the Asian American and Pacific Islander 
     community, including the--
       (1) 20th anniversary of the formal establishment of Asian-
     Pacific American Heritage Month;
       (2) 30th anniversary of the unpunished murder of Vincent 
     Chin;
       (3) 70th anniversary of the signing of Executive Order 
     9066, which authorized the internment of Japanese-Americans;
       (4) 100th anniversary of the planting of the first cherry 
     tree in Washington, D.C. from Japan;
       (5) 130th anniversary of the enactment of the Act entitled 
     ``An Act to execute certain treaty stipulations relating to 
     Chinese'', approved May 6, 1882 (22 Stat. 58, chapter 126); 
     and
       (6) 150th anniversary of the enactment of the Act of July 
     1, 1862 (12 Stat. 489, chapter 120), which promoted the 
     construction of the transcontinental railroad;

       Whereas section 102 of title 36, United States Code, 
     officially designates May as Asian-Pacific American Heritage 
     Month and requests the President to issue each year a 
     proclamation calling on the people of the United States to 
     observe the month with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and 
     activities;
       Whereas the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, a 
     bicameral caucus of Members of Congress advocating on behalf 
     of Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders, is composed of a 
     record high 41 Members in 2012;
       Whereas today, Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders are 
     serving in State legislatures across the United States, in 
     States as diverse as Alaska, Arizona, California, 
     Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Maryland, New Jersey, 
     New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Utah, and 
     Washington;
       Whereas the commitment of the United States to diversity in 
     the judiciary has been demonstrated by the nominations of 
     high-caliber Asian-American and other minority jurists at all 
     levels of the Federal bench;
       Whereas there still remains much to be done to ensure that 
     Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders have access to 
     resources, a voice in the Federal Government, and continue to 
     advance in the political landscape of the United States; and
       Whereas celebrating May 2012 as Asian-Pacific American 
     Heritage Month provides the people of the United States with 
     an opportunity to recognize the achievements, contributions, 
     and history of, and address the challenges faced by, Asian-
     Americans and Pacific Islanders: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate recognizes--
       (1) the significance of May 2012 as Asian-Pacific American 
     Heritage Month as an important time to celebrate the 
     significant contributions of Asian-Americans and Pacific 
     Islanders to the history of the United States; and
       (2) that the Asian-American and Pacific Islander community 
     enhances the rich diversity of, and strengthens, the United 
     States.

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