IV 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1236 

Recognizing the 80th birthday of Bruce Jun Fan Lee and the immense 

and positive impact that his legacy continues to have in creating a 

bridge between cultures, championing values of self-respect, self-discipline, and tolerance in our Nation, and pioneering and cultivating 

new and innovative genres of martial arts, representation in media, 

and guiding philosophies in the United States and around the world. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

NOVEMBER 24, 2020 

Ms. JUDY CHU of California (for herself, Ms. LEE of California, Mr. COX of 

California, Mr. VARGAS, Ms. HAALAND, Ms. JAYAPAL, Mr. 

RUPPERSBERGER, and Mr. TAKANO) submitted the following resolution; 

which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the 80th birthday of Bruce Jun Fan Lee and 

the immense and positive impact that his legacy continues to have in creating a bridge between cultures, 

championing values of self-respect, self-discipline, and 

tolerance in our Nation, and pioneering and cultivating 

new and innovative genres of martial arts, representation 

in media, and guiding philosophies in the United States 

and around the world. 

Whereas Bruce Jun Fan Lee was born in the hour of the 

Dragon, between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m., in the year of the 


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Dragon on November 27, 1940, at the Jackson Street 

Hospital in San Francisco, California’s Chinatown; 

Whereas Bruce returned to his family’s homeland at a young 

age and experienced firsthand the occupation of Hong 

Kong by the Japanese during World War II and the subsequent hostility and war that shook the continent; 

Whereas Bruce was motivated to learn and master the martial art style of Wing Chun Gung Fu in order to gain 

self-confidence and overcome repeated instances of taunting, racism, and gang activity during his youth; 

Whereas Bruce’s athletic prowess, and his traits of self-discipline and determination, yielded him success in youthful 

competitions, including the 1958 Crown Colony Cha Cha 

Championship in Hong Kong and the 1958 Hong Kong 

Inter-School Boxing Championship; 

Whereas, in April of 1959, with only $100 to his name, 

Bruce boarded an American President Lines steamship 

and began his voyage back to San Francisco in the lower 

decks of the ship, demonstrating unbelievable courage 

and belief in America’s ability to prosper through hard 

work; 

Whereas Bruce understood the value of education and returned to the United States to fulfill the requirements for 

the equivalent of high school graduation at Edison Technical School in Seattle, Washington, in 1960, while bussing tables and washing dishes to support himself, subsequently enrolling at the University of Washington; 

Whereas Bruce continued his education at the University of 

Washington where he majored in philosophy having been 

inspired by his passion for Gung Fu to delve into the 

philosophical underpinnings of the arts; 


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Whereas Bruce subsequently lectured on Eastern philosophy 

at local high schools and wrote many essays during those 

years that relate philosophical principles to martial arts 

techniques; 

Whereas Bruce taught the art of Gung Fu to support and 

pay for his education, establishing the Jun Fan Gung Fu 

Institute in a friend’s basement before expanding to a 

bigger location in 1963; 

Whereas one of the many ways Bruce lived out his belief in 

inclusivity was through his interracial marriage to Seattle 

local, Linda Emery, in 1964, and by later fathering two 

biracial children in a family he supported and cared for 

until his death; 

Whereas, in late 1964, Bruce’s willingness to teach martial 

arts to non-Chinese individuals to bridge the cultures angered many in the field, and he was forced to defend 

himself and his freedom to teach; 

Whereas Bruce ultimately prevailed in his teachings and 

paved the way for a spectacular and revolutionary discovery of blending physical fitness, Gung Fu, and street 

combat into what is now called Jeet Kune Do; 

Whereas the artistry and beauty of Jeet Kune Do led Bruce 

to Hollywood, where he became an authentic face for Chinese Americans and an inspiration to youth across the 

world; 

Whereas despite rampant racism, Bruce’s strong, intelligent, 

and powerful persona was a means for optimism and 

hope for immigrants, people of color, and fans alike; 

Whereas during the years of 1967–1971, Bruce read and 

wrote extensively on his thoughts about physical combat, 

the psychology of fighting, the philosophical roots of marVerDate Sep 11 2014 22:34 Nov 24, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR1236.IH HR1236

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tial arts, and the motivation, self-actualization and liberation of the individual—teachings that are the foundation 

of Jeet Kune Do and of his legacy that continue to be 

studied internationally to this day; 

Whereas after suffering a back injury in 1970 and being told 

he would never do martial arts again, Bruce established 

his own program of self-motivation and physical therapy 

to work himself back into peak physical and mental condition; 

Whereas, in the summer of 1971, due to hardships in overcoming stereotypes against racial minorities in Hollywood, Bruce decided to continue to pursue his dream of 

being an actor and supporting his family by going back 

to Hong Kong, where he had gained immense fame from 

his previous work on shows like ‘‘The Green Hornet’’; 

Whereas Bruce became a hero in Hong Kong and represented 

the success the Chinese community in America could 

achieve while honoring both Chinese and American culture; 

Whereas, in 1972, Bruce created his own production company, Concord Productions, which applied the Hollywood 

studio model for film production for the first time in 

Hong Kong; 

Whereas through Concord Productions, he began writing, directing, producing, acting in, and choreographing his own 

films; 

Whereas, in 1973, due to his relationships and successes in 

both the United States and Hong Kong, Bruce became 

a household name through the making of ‘‘Enter the 

Dragon’’, the first film ever to bridge the Hong Kong 

and United States film industries, while overcoming lanVerDate Sep 11 2014 22:34 Nov 24, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR1236.IH HR1236

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guage barriers and production difficulties, and providing 

a viable and hugely successful link between the two cultures; 

Whereas, on July 20, 1973, Bruce experienced a fatal swelling of the brain after taking a pain medication for a 

minor headache and did not live to see the opening of his 

film, ‘‘Enter the Dragon’’, or experience the enduring 

success of his films in the nearly 50 years since his 

death; 

Whereas the popularity of Bruce’s films sparked national and 

international interest in the study of the martial arts and 

the genre of the martial arts action film, creating a proliferation of films and schools and inspiring many youths 

to become more physically fit and philosophically minded 

in their daily lives; 

Whereas Bruce Lee has been remembered today in many 

ways, having been named one of Time magazine’s 100 

most important people of the 20th century, given a star 

on the Hollywood walk of fame, and honored on postage 

stamps in 8 countries around the world; 

Whereas even after Bruce Lee’s death, the Bruce Lee Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization 

formed by his wife, Linda, and daughter, Shannon, enriches lives, opens minds, and breaks down barriers 

through the active proliferation of Bruce’s legacy of undaunted optimism in the face of adversity, unwavering 

humanism, mental and physical perseverance, and inspirational presence of mind toward the betterment of our 

global community; and 

Whereas the Bruce Lee Foundation also applies the legacy of 

Bruce Lee to the present day global community, showing 


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how relevant Bruce Lee, his teachings, his thoughts, and 

his example still are today through their educational programs for children, social initiatives, and exhibits geared 

toward looking at how taking action and working to fulfill our human potential can change and mold our lives 

for the better: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) honors the life and impact of Bruce Jun 

3 Fan Lee, an American success story whose legacy of 

4 persistence and honor resonates and inspires mil5 lions of citizens today; and 

6 (2) recognizes the profound importance of 

7 Bruce Lee’s teachings as a catalyst for popular cul8 ture and Chinese-American history in the United 

9 States. 

Æ 


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