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[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 298 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 298

      Recognizing Filipino American History Month in October 2009.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            October 1, 2009

Mr. Reid (for himself, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Akaka, Mr. Ensign, Mr. Inouye, 
    and Mr. Menendez) submitted the following resolution; which was 
                        considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
      Recognizing Filipino American History Month in October 2009.

Whereas the earliest documented Filipino presence in the continental United 
        States was on October 18, 1587, when the first ``Luzones Indios'' set 
        foot in Morro Bay, California, on board the Manila-built galleon ship 
        Nuestra Senora de Esperanza;
Whereas the Filipino American National Historical Society recognizes the year of 
        1763 as the date of the first permanent Filipino settlement in the 
        United States in St. Malo, Louisiana, which set in motion the focus on 
        the story of our Nation's past from a new perspective by concentrating 
        on the economic, cultural, social, and other notable contributions that 
        Filipino Americans have made in countless ways toward the development of 
        the history of the United States;
Whereas the Filipino-American community is the second largest Asian-American 
        group in the United States, with a population of approximately 3,100,000 
        people;
Whereas Filipino-American servicemen and servicewomen have a longstanding 
        history serving in the Armed Services, from the Civil War to the Iraq 
        and Afghanistan conflicts, including the 250,000 Filipinos who fought 
        under the United States flag during World War II to protect and defend 
        this country;
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 upon an individual serving in the United States Armed Forces;
Whereas Filipino Americans are an integral part of the United States health care 
        system as nurses, doctors, and other medical professionals;
Whereas Filipino Americans have contributed greatly to the fine arts, music, 
        dance, literature, education, business, literature, journalism, sports, 
        fashion, politics, government, science, technology, and other fields in 
        the United States that enrich the landscape of the country;
Whereas efforts should continue to promote the study of Filipino-American 
        history and culture, as mandated in the mission statement of the 
        Filipino American National Historical Society, because the roles of 
        Filipino Americans and other people of color have 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 in them the importance of education, complemented with 
        the richness of their ethnicity and the value of their legacy; and
Whereas Filipino American History Month is celebrated during the month of 
        October 2009: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) recognizes the celebration of Filipino American History 
        Month 2009 as a study of the advancement of Filipino Americans, 
        as a time of reflection and remembrance, and as a time to renew 
        efforts toward the research and examination of history and 
        culture in order to provide an opportunity for all people in 
        the United States to learn and appreciate more about Filipino 
        Americans and their historic contributions to the Nation; and
            (2) urges the people of the United States to observe 
        Filipino American History Month 2009 with appropriate programs 
        and activities.
                                 <all>
```