III 

114TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 598 

Designating October 2016 as ‘‘Filipino American History Month’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 29, 2016 

Ms. HIRONO (for herself, Mr. REID, Mr. SCHUMER, Mrs. MURRAY, Mr. 

KAINE, Mr. DURBIN, Mrs. BOXER, Mr. KIRK, Mr. SCHATZ, Mr. 

BLUMENTHAL, Ms. CANTWELL, Mr. MENENDEZ, Mr. FRANKEN, and Ms. 

MURKOWSKI) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 

the Committee on the Judiciary 

RESOLUTION 

Designating October 2016 as ‘‘Filipino American History 

Month’’. 

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 Senora de Esperanza, a 

Manila-built galleon ship; 

Whereas the Filipino American National Historical Society 

recognizes 1763 as the year in which the first permanent 

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 


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•SRES 598 IS 

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, with a population of approximately 3,898,739 individuals, the Filipino American community is the second 

largest Asian American and Pacific Islander group in the 

United States; 

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, as of June 2016, certain family members of Filipino World War II veterans who are United States citizens or lawful permanent residents may apply through 

the Filipino World War II Veterans Parole Program of 

the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services 

for parole into the United States to reunite with their 

families before their immigrant visas become available; 

Whereas, in July 2016, the Senate passed by unanimous consent S. 1555 (114th Congress), a bill to award to Filipino veterans who fought alongside United States troops 

in World War II the highest civilian honor bestowed by 

Congress, a recognition for which Filipino World War II 

veterans have waited more than 70 years; 

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


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•SRES 598 IS 

Whereas 9 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 farmworkers and labor leaders 

such as Philip Vera Cruz and Larry Itliong played an integral role in the multiethnic United Farm Workers 

movement alongside Cesar Chavez, 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, 

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 


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•SRES 598 IS 

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

Whereas it is imperative for Filipino American youth to have 

positive role models to instill in Filipino American 

youth— 

(1) the significance of education, complemented by 

the richness of Filipino American ethnicity; and 

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

Whereas Filipino American History Month is celebrated during the month of October 2016: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates October 2016 as ‘‘Filipino Amer3 ican History Month’’; 

4 (2) recognizes the celebration of Filipino Amer5 ican History Month as— 

6 (A) a study of the advancement of Filipino 

7 Americans; 

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

9 many notable contributions that Filipino Ameri10 cans have made to the United States; and 

11 (C) a time to renew efforts toward the re12 search and examination of history and culture 

13 so as to provide an opportunity for all people of 

14 the United States— 

15 (i) to learn more about Filipino Amer16 icans; and 


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•SRES 598 IS 

1 (ii) to appreciate the historic contribu2 tions of Filipino Americans to the United 

3 States; and 

4 (3) urges the people of the United States to ob5 serve Filipino American History Month with appro6 priate programs and activities. 

Æ 


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