III 

113TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 129 

Recognizing the significance of May 2013 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. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 6, 2013 

Ms. HIRONO (for herself, Mr. HELLER, Mrs. BOXER, Mrs. MURRAY, Mr. 

WARNER, Mr. SCHATZ, Mr. BEGICH, and Mr. CARDIN) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the significance of May 2013 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. 

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 more 


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•SRES 129 IS 

than 45 distinct ethnicities and more than 100 language 

dialects; 

Whereas, according to the Bureau of the Census, the AsianAmerican population grew faster than any other racial or 

ethnic group in the United States during the last decade, 

surging nearly 46 percent between 2000 and 2010, which 

is a growth rate 4 times faster than that of the total population of the United States; 

Whereas the 2010 decennial census estimated that there are 

approximately 17,300,000 residents of the United States 

who identify as Asian and approximately 1,200,000 residents of the United States who identify themselves as 

Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, making up 

nearly 6 percent of the total population of the United 

States; 

Whereas the month of May was selected for Asian/Pacific 

American Heritage Month because the first immigrants 

from Japan arrived in the United States on May 7, 1843, 

and the first transcontinental railroad was completed on 

May 10, 1869, with substantial contributions from immigrants from China; 

Whereas 2013 marks 70 years since the repeal of the Act of 

May 5, 1892 (27 Stat. 25, chapter 60) (commonly known 

as the ‘‘Geary Act’’ or the ‘‘Chinese Exclusion Act’’), and 

25 years since the passage of the Civil Liberties Act of 

1988 (50 U.S.C. App. 1989b et seq.) that granted reparations to Japanese Americans interned during World 

War II, both cases in which Congress acted to address 

discriminatory laws that targeted people of Asian descent; 


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•SRES 129 IS 

Whereas section 102 of title 36, United States Code, officially 

designates May as Asian/Pacific American Heritage 

Month and requests the President to issue an annual 

proclamation calling on the people of the United States 

to observe the month with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities; 

Whereas, in 2013, 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 40 Members, including 13 Members of Asian or Pacific Islander descent; 

Whereas, in 2013, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are 

serving in State legislatures across the United States in 

record numbers, including in the States of Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, 

Idaho, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington; 

Whereas the number of Federal judges who are Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders more than doubled between 

2009 and 2013, reflecting a commitment to diversity in 

the Federal judiciary that has resulted in the confirmations of high caliber Asian-American and Pacific Islander 

judicial nominees; 

Whereas there remains much to be done to ensure that Asian 

Americans and Pacific Islanders have access to resources 

and a voice in the Government of the United States and 

continue to advance in the political landscape of the 

United States; and 

Whereas celebrating Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month 

provides the people of the United States with an opportunity to recognize the achievements, contributions, and 


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•SRES 129 IS 

history of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and to 

appreciate the challenges faced by Asian Americans and 

Pacific Islanders: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) recognizes the significance of May 2013 as 

3 Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month as an im4 portant time to celebrate the significant contribu5 tions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to 

6 the history of the United States; and 

7 (2) recognizes that the Asian-American and Pa8 cific Islander community enhances the rich diversity 

9 of and strengthens the United States. 

Æ 


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