H. Res. 1316 

In the House of Representatives, U. S., 

May 26, 2010. 

Whereas the United States joins together each May to pay 

tribute to the contributions of generations of Asians and 

Pacific Islanders who have enriched the Nation’s history; 

Whereas the history of Asians and Pacific Islanders in the 

United States is inextricably tied to the story of the Nation; 

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 today, according to the United States Census Bureau, the Asian American and Pacific Islander community is one of the fastest growing and most diverse populations in the United States, comprised of over 45 distinct ethnicities and over 28 language groups in the community; 

Whereas the United States Census Bureau estimates that 

there are 15,200,000 United States residents who identify themselves as Asian alone or in combination with one 
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or more other races, 1,000,000 United States residents 

who identify themselves as Native Hawaiian and other 

Pacific Islander alone or in combination with one or more 

other races, and projects that by 2050, there will be 

40,600,000 United States residents identifying as Asian 

alone or in combination with one or more other races, to 

comprise 9 percent of the United States population; 

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 significant outreach efforts to the Asian American 

and Pacific Islander community have been made through 

the reestablishment of the White House Initiative on 

Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to coordinate 

multiagency efforts to ensure more accurate data collection and access to services for this community; 

Whereas the Presidential Cabinet includes a record three 

Asian Americans, including Energy Secretary Steven 

Chu, Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, and Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki; 

Whereas there has been a commitment to judicial diversity 

through the nomination of high caliber Asian Americans 

and other minority jurists at all levels of the Federal 

bench; 

Whereas the civic engagement of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and community-based organizations has 

increased throughout the years; 
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Whereas the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, a 

bipartisan, bicameral caucus of Members of Congress advocating on behalf of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, has reached a record 30 Members this year; 

Whereas today, Asian American and Pacific Islander leaders 

serve in local and State legislatures across the Nation, in 

States as diverse as California, New York, Texas, Connecticut, Maryland, Ohio, and Iowa; 

Whereas, even with these exceptional milestones crossed by 

the community, there remains much to be done to ensure 

that linguistically and culturally isolated Asian Americans 

and Pacific Islanders have access to resources and a voice 

in the United States Government; 

Whereas learning from injustices faced by Asian American 

and Pacific Islander communities throughout United 

States history, such as the Chinese Exclusion Act, the 

Japanese American internment, unpunished hate crimes 

such as the murder of Vincent Chin, and other events, 

can help perfect the Nation; 

Whereas Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, such as civil 

rights activist Yuri Kochiyama, Medal of Honor recipient 

Herbert Pililaau, the first Asian American Congressman 

Dalip Singh Saund, the first Asian American Congresswoman Patsy Mink, the first Asian American member of 

a presidential cabinet Norman Y. Mineta, and others 

have made significant strides in the political and military 

realms; and 

Whereas celebrating Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month 

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

Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

(1) recognizes that Asian American and Pacific Islander communities enhance the rich diversity of the 

United States; and 

(2) celebrates the contributions of Asian Americans 

and Pacific Islanders to the United States. 

Attest: 

Clerk.