III 

112TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 287 

Designating October 2011 as ‘‘Filipino American History Month’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

OCTOBER 5, 2011 

Mr. REID (for himself, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Mrs. GILLIBRAND, Mr. AKAKA, Mr. 

INOUYE, Mr. MENENDEZ, Mr. LAUTENBERG, Mr. SCHUMER, Mrs. MURRAY, Mr. DURBIN, and Mr. HELLER) submitted the following resolution; 

which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Designating October 2011 as ‘‘Filipino American History 

Month’’. 

Whereas October 18, 1587, when the first ‘‘Luzones Indios’’ 

set foot in Morro Bay, California, on board the Manilabuilt galleon ship Nuestra Senora de Esperanza, marks 

the earliest documented Filipino presence in the continental United States; 

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; 

Whereas the recognition of the first permanent Filipino settlement in the United States adds new perspective to 

United States history by bringing attention to the ecoVerDate Mar 15 2010 23:45 Oct 05, 2011 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR287.ATS SR287

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•SRES 287 ATS 

nomic, cultural, social, and other notable contributions 

that Filipino Americans have made in countless ways toward the development of the United States; 

Whereas the Filipino-American community is the third largest Asian-American group in the United States, with a 

population of approximately 3,417,000 individuals; 

Whereas Filipino-American servicemen and servicewomen 

have a longstanding history of serving in the Armed 

Forces, 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 the United States; 

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 Armed Forces; 

Whereas Filipino Americans play an integral role in the 

United States health care system as nurses, doctors, and 

other medical professionals; 

Whereas Filipino Americans have contributed greatly to 

music, dance, literature, education, business, literature, 

journalism, sports, fashion, politics, government, science, 

technology, the fine arts, 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 largely have been overlooked in 

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


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•SRES 287 ATS 

Whereas it is imperative for Filipino-American youth to have 

positive role models to instill in them the significance 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 2011: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates October 2011 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 of reflection and remembrance 

9 of the many notable contributions Filipino 

10 Americans 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 in order to provide an opportunity for all people 

14 in the United States to learn and appreciate 

15 more about Filipino Americans and their his16 toric contributions to the United States; and 

17 (3) urges the people of the United States to ob18 serve Filipino American History Month with appro19 priate programs and activities. 

Æ 


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