IV 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 571 

Recognizing Filipino American History Month and celebrating the history 

and culture of Filipino Americans and their immense contributions to 

the United States. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

OCTOBER 12, 2017 

Ms. HANABUSA (for herself, Mr. MCNERNEY, Ms. BORDALLO, Mr. VARGAS, 

Mr. PETERS, Ms. LOFGREN, Ms. JUDY CHU of California, Mrs. NAPOLITANO, Mr. SCOTT of Virginia, Ms. LEE, Mr. SABLAN, Mr. GOMEZ, Mr. 

LOWENTHAL, Ms. SPEIER, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. TED LIEU of California, 

Ms. JAYAPAL, and Mr. TAKANO) submitted the following resolution; 

which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing Filipino American History Month and celebrating the history and culture of Filipino Americans 

and their immense contributions to the United States. 

Whereas the earliest documented Filipino presence in the 

continental United States was October 18, 1587, when 

the first ‘‘Luzones Indios’’ arrived in Morro Bay, California, on board the Nuestra Sen ̃ora de Esperanza, a 

Manila-built galleon ship; 

Whereas the Filipino American National Historical Society 

recognizes 1763 as the year in which the first permanent 


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Filipino settlement in the United States was established 

in St. Malo, Louisiana; 

Whereas the recognition of the first permanent Filipino settlement in the United States adds a new perspective to 

United States history by bringing attention to the economic, cultural, social, and other notable contributions 

made by Filipino Americans to the development of the 

United States; 

Whereas the Filipino American community is the second largest Asian American and Pacific Islander group in the 

United States with a population of approximately four 

million individuals; 

Whereas, from the Civil War to the Iraq and Afghanistan 

conflicts, Filipino American servicemen and servicewomen 

have a longstanding history of serving in the Armed 

Forces; 

Whereas more than 250,000 Filipinos fought under the 

United States flag during World War II to protect and 

defend the United States in the Pacific theater; 

Whereas 20,000 Filipino World War II veterans were granted 

United States citizenship as a result of the Immigration 

Act of 1990 (Public Law 101–649), which was signed 

into law by President George H.W. Bush on November 

29, 1990; 

Whereas, effective June 8, 2016, the Filipino World War II 

Veterans Parole Program allowed for Filipino World War 

II veterans and certain family members to be reunited 

more expeditiously than what the current immigrant visa 

process would have otherwise allowed; 

Whereas the Filipino Veterans of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2015 (Public Law 114–265) 


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was signed into law by President Barack Obama on December 14, 2016, and the presentation of congressional 

gold medals pursuant to such Act will take place on October 25, 2017, in Emancipation Hall in the United States 

Capitol; 

Whereas Filipino Americans continue to demonstrate a commendable sense of patriotism and honor; 

Whereas nine Filipino Americans have received the Congressional Medal of Honor, the highest award for valor in action against an enemy force that can be bestowed on an 

individual serving in the Armed Forces; 

Whereas the late Thelma Garcia Buchholdt, born in Claveria, 

Cagayan, on the island of Luzon in the Philippines— 

(1) moved with her family to Alaska in 1965; 

(2) was elected to the House of Representatives of 

Alaska in 1974; 

(3) was the first Filipino woman elected to a State 

legislature; and 

(4) authored a comprehensive history book entitled 

‘‘Filipinos in Alaska: 1788–1958’’; 

Whereas Filipino American farm workers and labor leaders, 

such as Philip Vera Cruz and Larry Itliong, played an 

integral role in the multiethnic United Farm Workers 

movement alongside Cesar Cha ́vez, Dolores Huerta, and 

other Latino workers; 

Whereas Filipino Americans play an integral role in the 

United States healthcare system as nurses, doctors, and 

other medical professionals; 

Whereas Filipino Americans have contributed greatly to 

music, dance, literature, education, business, journalism, 

sports, fashion, politics, government, science, technology, 


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the fine arts, and other fields that enrich the landscape 

of the United States; 

Whereas, as mandated in the mission statement of the Filipino American National Historical Society, efforts should 

continue to promote the study of Filipino American history and culture because the roles of Filipino Americans 

and other people of color have largely been overlooked in 

the writing, teaching, and learning of United States history; 

Whereas it is imperative for Filipino American youth to have 

positive role models to instill— 

(1) the significance of education, complemented by 

the richness of Filipino American ethnicity; and 

(2) the value of the Filipino American legacy; and 

Whereas it is essential to promote the understanding, education, and appreciation of the history and culture of Filipino Americans in the United States: Now, therefore, be 

it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) recognizes the celebration of Filipino Amer3 ican History Month as— 

4 (A) a study of the advancement of Filipino 

5 Americans; 

6 (B) a time to reflect on and remember the 

7 many notable contributions that Filipino Ameri8 cans have made to the United States; and 

9 (C) a time to renew efforts toward the re10 search and examination of history and culture 

11 so as to provide an opportunity for all people of 


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1 the United States to learn more about Filipino 

2 Americans and to appreciate the historic con3 tributions of Filipino Americans to the United 

4 States; and 

5 (2) urges the people of the United States to ob6 serve Filipino American History Month with appro7 priate programs and activities. 

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