III 

112TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 474 

Recognizing the significance of May 2012 as Asian-Pacific American Heritage 

Month and the importance of celebrating the significant contributions 

of Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders to the history of the United 

States. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 24, 2012 

Mr. AKAKA (for himself, Mr. INOUYE, Mr. REID, Mr. BEGICH, Mrs. MURRAY, 

and Mr. MENENDEZ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the significance of May 2012 as Asian-Pacific 

American Heritage Month and the importance of celebrating the significant contributions of Asian-Americans 

and Pacific Islanders to the history of the United States. 

Whereas the United States joins together each May to pay 

tribute to the contributions of generations of AsianAmericans and Pacific Islanders who have enriched the 

history of the United States; 

Whereas the history of Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders 

in the United States is inextricably tied to the story of 

the United States; 


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•SRES 474 IS 

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 according to the United States Census Bureau, 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, which is a growth 

rate 4 times faster than the total United States population; 

Whereas the 2010 decennial census estimated that there are 

17,300,000 United States residents who identify as Asian 

and 1,200,000 United States residents who identify 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 because the first Japanese immigrants arrived in the United States on May 7, 1843, 

and the first transcontinental railroad was completed on 

May 10, 1869, with substantial contributions from Chinese immigrants; 

Whereas the year 2012 marks several important historic 

milestones for the Asian-American and Pacific Islander 

community, including the— 

(1) 20th anniversary of the formal establishment of 

Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month; 

(2) 30th anniversary of the unpunished murder of 

Vincent Chin; 

(3) 70th anniversary of the signing of Executive 

Order 9066, which authorized the internment of Japanese-Americans; 

(4) 100th anniversary of the planting of the first 

cherry tree in Washington, DC from Japan; 


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•SRES 474 IS 

(5) 130th anniversary of the enactment of the Act 

entitled ‘‘An Act to execute certain treaty stipulations relating to Chinese’’, approved May 6, 1882 (22 Stat. 58, 

chapter 126); and 

(6) 150th anniversary of the enactment of the Act 

of July 1, 1862 (12 Stat. 489, chapter 120), which promoted the construction of the transcontinental railroad; 

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 the 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 a record high 41 Members in 2012; 

Whereas today, Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders are 

serving in State legislatures across the United States, in 

States as diverse as Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Maryland, New Jersey, 

New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Utah, 

and Washington; 

Whereas the commitment of the United States to diversity in 

the judiciary has been demonstrated by the nominations 

of high-caliber Asian-American and other minority jurists 

at all levels of the Federal bench; 

Whereas there still remains much to be done to ensure that 

Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders have access to resources, a voice in the Federal Government, and continue 


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•SRES 474 IS 

to advance in the political landscape of the United States; 

and 

Whereas celebrating May 2012 as Asian-Pacific American 

Heritage Month provides the people of the United States 

with an opportunity to recognize the achievements, contributions, and history of, and address the challenges 

faced by, Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate recognizes— 

2 (1) the significance of May 2012 as Asian-Pa3 cific American Heritage Month as an important time 

4 to celebrate the significant contributions of Asian5 Americans and Pacific Islanders to the history of the 

6 United States; and 

7 (2) that the Asian-American and Pacific Is8 lander community enhances the rich diversity of, and 

9 strengthens, the United States. 

Æ 


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