IV 

113TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 189 

Recognizing the significance of Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month in 

May as an important time to celebrate the significant contributions 

of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to the Nation’s history. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 26, 2013 

Ms. CHU (for herself, Ms. MENG, Mr. HONDA, Ms. BORDALLO, Mr. AL

GREEN of Texas, Mr. LOWENTHAL, Ms. LEE of California, Mr. 

FALEOMAVAEGA, Mr. BECERRA, Mr. BERA of California, Ms. GABBARD, 

Ms. MATSUI, Mr. SABLAN, Mr. TAKANO, Mr. SCOTT of Virginia, Mr. 

CONNOLLY, Mr. CONYERS, Mrs. DAVIS of California, Ms. ESHOO, Ms. 

FUDGE, Mr. SHERMAN, Mr. MCNERNEY, Mrs. NAPOLITANO, Mr. PETERS

of California, Mr. RANGEL, Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD, Mr. SCHIFF, Mr. 

SMITH of Washington, Ms. SPEIER, Mr. SWALWELL of California, Mr. 

VAN HOLLEN, Ms. LINDA T. SA ́NCHEZ of California, Ms. LOFGREN, Mrs. 

CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York, Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. CROWLEY, Ms. DUCKWORTH, and Ms. 

HANABUSA) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Oversight and Government Reform 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the significance of Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month in May as an important time to celebrate 

the significant contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to the Nation’s history. 

Whereas the United States joins together each May to pay 

tribute to the contributions of generations of Asian 


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•HRES 189 IH 

Americans and Pacific Islanders who have enriched the 

Nation’s history; 

Whereas the history of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States is inextricably tied to the story 

of the Nation; 

Whereas the Asian American and Pacific Islander community 

is an inherently diverse population, comprised of over 45 

distinct ethnicities and over 100 language dialects; 

Whereas the United States Census Bureau found that the 

Asian American population grew faster than any other 

racial or ethnic group over the last decade, surging nearly 

46 percent between 2000 and 2010, a growth rate 4 

times faster than the total United States population; 

Whereas the 2010 Census estimated that there are now 

17,300,000 United States residents who identify as 

Asian, and 1,200,000 United States residents who identify themselves as Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, making up nearly 6 percent of the total United 

States population; 

Whereas the month of May was selected for Asian/Pacific 

American Heritage Month due to the following two historical events, first, May 7, 1843, when the first Japanese immigrants arrived in the United States, and second, May 10, 1869, when, with substantial contributions 

from Chinese immigrants, the first transcontinental railroad was completed; 

Whereas 2013 marks 70 years since the repeal of the Chinese 

Exclusion Act and 25 years since the passage of the Civil 

Liberties Act of 1988 which granted reparations to Japanese Americans interned during World War II, both cases 


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•HRES 189 IH 

in which the United States Congress acted to address 

discriminatory laws that targeted those of Asian descent; 

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

designates May as Asian/Pacific American Heritage 

Month, and requests the President to issue each year a 

proclamation calling on the people of the United States 

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

Whereas 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 41 Members this year, including 13 Members of 

Asian or Pacific Islander descent; 

Whereas the 113th Congress has welcomed a number of historic firsts this year, including Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, 

the first Asian American woman and first Buddhist to 

ever serve in the United States Senate, Rep. Tammy 

Duckworth, the first Thai American woman, first wounded female combat Veteran, and first Asian American 

from Illinois to serve in Congress, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, 

the first Hindu American and first Pacific Islander 

woman to serve in Congress, Rep. Grace Meng, the first 

Asian American Member of Congress elected to represent 

the State of New York, and Rep. Mark Takano, the first 

openly gay person of color to ever serve in Congress; 

Whereas today, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are 

serving in State legislatures across the Nation, in States 

as diverse as Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut, 

Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Vermont, 

Virginia, and Washington; 


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•HRES 189 IH 

Whereas the number of Asian American and Pacific Islander 

Article III judges has more than doubled over the past 

4 years, 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 still remains much to be done to ensure that 

Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have access to resources, a voice in the United States Government, and 

continue to advance in the Nation’s political landscape; 

and 

Whereas celebrating Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month 

provides the people of the United States with an opportunity to recognize the achievements, contributions, history, and address the challenges faced by Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) recognizes the significance of Asian/Pacific 

3 American Heritage Month as an important time to 

4 celebrate the significant contributions of Asian 

5 Americans and Pacific Islanders to the Nation’s his6 tory; and 

7 (2) recognizes that Asian American and Pacific 

8 Islander communities enhance the rich diversity of 

9 the United States and strengthen the Nation. 

Æ 


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