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[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1316 Engrossed in House (EH)]

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 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;
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, history, 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.
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