H RES 435

HRES 435 IH

Celebrating Asian/Pacific-American Heritage Month.

May 13, 2009

Mr. HONDA (for himself, Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas, Ms. CLARKE, Ms. WATSON, Ms. HIRONO, Mr. ROTHMAN of New Jersey, Mr. ARCURI, Ms. BALDWIN, Mr. FOSTER, Mr. COOPER, Ms. BORDALLO, Mr. SABLAN, Mr. CAO, Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA, Mr. AL GREEN of Texas, Mr. OLVER, Ms. CASTOR of Florida, Mr. PALLONE, Mrs. CAPPS, Mr. SCOTT of Virginia, Mr. NADLER of New York, Ms. TSONGAS, Ms. KAPTUR, Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia, Mr. BUTTERFIELD, Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee, Ms. KOSMAS, Mr. SPRATT, Mr. FARR, Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD, Mr. ABERCROMBIE, Mr. LEVIN, Mrs. NAPOLITANO, Mr. REYES, Mr. GRIJALVA, Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California, Mr. ORTIZ, Mr. KAGEN, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Mr. TAYLOR, Mr. KIND, Mr. HILL, Mr. MOORE of Kansas, Mr. LUJAN, Mr. SIRES, Mr. BACA, Mr. RUSH, Mr. HIGGINS, Mr. WALZ, Mr. DOGGETT, Mr. TONKO, Mr. COSTA, Mr. TANNER, Mrs. MALONEY, and Ms. RICHARDSON) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

Celebrating Asian/Pacific-American Heritage Month.

Whereas this year marks first time the United States is led by a President with close Asian ties, including President Obama’s childhood in Indonesia and Hawai’i, and the President has made unprecedented outreach efforts to the Asian-American and Pacific Islander community;

Whereas the selection of May as the month for Asian/Pacific-American Heritage Month was significant due to two historical events that occurred in May: first, May 7, 1843, when the first Japanese immigrants arrived in the United States, and second, May 10, 1869, when, with substantial contributions from Chinese immigrants, the first transcontinental railroad was completed;

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 Asian/Pacific-American Heritage Month with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities;

Whereas according to the Bureau of the Census, an estimated 14,900,000 United States residents identify themselves as Asian alone or in combination with one or more other races, and an estimated 1,000,000 United States residents identify themselves as Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander alone or in combination with one or more other races;

Whereas even though Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders faced the injustices of racial prejudice as exemplified by the Chinese Exclusion Act, the internment of Japanese Americans and Japanese/Latin-Americans, the Vincent Chin case, and other events, the community has made considerable contributions to the vast cultural, economic, educational, military, and technological advancements of the United States;

Whereas Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders such as civil rights activist, Yuri Kochiyama, Medal of Honor recipient, Herbert Pililaau, the first Asian-American Congressman, Dalip Singh Saund, the first Asian-American Congresswoman, Patsy Mink, and others have made significant strides in the political and military realms;

Whereas the Presidential Cabinet includes a record three Asian-Americans: Energy Secretary Steven Chu, Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, and Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki; and

Whereas Asian/Pacific-American Heritage Month provides the people of the United States with an opportunity to recognize the achievements, contributions, history, and concerns of Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives--

(1) recognizes that the incredible diversity of different racial and ethnic groups, including Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders, is a source of strength for the United States;

(2) recognizes that the Asian-American and Pacific Islander community is influential and crucial to the society and culture of the United States;

(3) reaffirms its commitment to the goals and ideals of Asian/Pacific-American Heritage Month; and

(4) celebrates the contributions of Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders to the United States.