TITLE: Recognizing May 2019 as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

SUMMARY: Recognizing May 2019 as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, May 2019 has been set aside as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month to recognize the accomplishments and wide-ranging contributions of individuals who trace their ancestry to Asia and the Pacific Islands; and WHEREAS, Originally established by the United States Congress as Asian-Pacific American Heritage Week, the observance celebrates the diverse culture, traditions, and history of people from the Asian continent and the islands of Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia in the Pacific; it was officially expanded into a monthlong celebration in 1992; and WHEREAS, The month of May was chosen for this commemorative period because of two key events in our nation's history; on May 7, 1843, the first Japanese immigrants arrived, and on May 10, 1869, a workforce largely composed of Chinese laborers completed the Transcontinental Railroad; and WHEREAS, In 2013, the Pew Research Center released a report highlighting the tremendous progress that has been made by Asian Americans; the study noted that a century ago, most were low-skilled, low-wage laborers subject to official discrimination; today, however, Asian Americans rank as the racial group with the highest levels of income and education in the nation; since approximately 2000, Asian Americans have also constituted the fastest-growing racial group in the United States, largely because of immigration; in addition, Asians who have recently arrived in this country are about three times more likely than other immigrants to be sponsored for permanent residency by an employer; the Pew report further noted that over 60 percent of new Asian immigrants age 25 to 64 held at least a bachelor's degree; and WHEREAS, The Lone Star State is home to generations of Americans who take great pride in their family roots in Asia and the Pacific Islands, and this annual observance provides a welcome opportunity to celebrate their significant contributions to the prosperity and cultural vibrancy of our nation; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 86th Legislature, hereby recognize May 2019 as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Paxton, Alvarado President of the Senate I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on May 1, 2019.