IV 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 435 

Celebrating Asian/Pacific-American Heritage Month. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 13, 2009 

Mr. HONDA (for himself, Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas, Ms. CLARKE, Ms. WATSON, Ms. HIRONO, Mr. ROTHMAN of New Jersey, Mr. ARCURI, Ms. 

BALDWIN, Mr. FOSTER, Mr. COOPER, Ms. BORDALLO, Mr. SABLAN, Mr. 

CAO, Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA, Mr. AL GREEN of Texas, Mr. OLVER, Ms. 

CASTOR of Florida, Mr. PALLONE, Mrs. CAPPS, Mr. SCOTT of Virginia, 

Mr. NADLER of New York, Ms. TSONGAS, Ms. KAPTUR, Mr. CONNOLLY

of Virginia, Mr. BUTTERFIELD, Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee, Ms. KOSMAS, 

Mr. SPRATT, Mr. FARR, Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD, Mr. ABERCROMBIE, Mr. 

LEVIN, Mrs. NAPOLITANO, Mr. REYES, Mr. GRIJALVA, Ms. LORETTA

SANCHEZ of California, Mr. ORTIZ, Mr. KAGEN, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Mr. 

TAYLOR, Mr. KIND, Mr. HILL, Mr. MOORE of Kansas, Mr. LUJA ́N, Mr. 

SIRES, Mr. BACA, Mr. RUSH, Mr. HIGGINS, Mr. WALZ, Mr. DOGGETT, 

Mr. TONKO, Mr. COSTA, Mr. TANNER, Mrs. MALONEY, and Ms. RICHARDSON) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Oversight and Government Reform 

RESOLUTION 

Celebrating Asian/Pacific-American Heritage Month. 

Whereas this year marks first time the United States is led 

by a President with close Asian ties, including President 

Obama’s childhood in Indonesia and Hawai’i, and the 

President has made unprecedented outreach efforts to the 

Asian-American and Pacific Islander community; 


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•HRES 435 IH 

Whereas the selection of May as the month for Asian/PacificAmerican Heritage Month was significant due to two historical events that occurred in May: 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 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 Asian/Pacific-American Heritage Month with 

appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities; 

Whereas according to the Bureau of the Census, an estimated 

14,900,000 United States residents identify themselves 

as Asian alone or in combination with one or more other 

races, and an estimated 1,000,000 United States residents identify themselves as Native Hawaiian and other 

Pacific Islander alone or in combination with one or more 

other races; 

Whereas even though Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders 

faced the injustices of racial prejudice as exemplified by 

the Chinese Exclusion Act, the internment of Japanese 

Americans and Japanese/Latin-Americans, the Vincent 

Chin case, and other events, the community has made 

considerable contributions to the vast cultural, economic, 

educational, military, and technological advancements of 

the United States; 

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 ConVerDate Nov 24 2008 03:05 May 14, 2009 Jkt 079200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR435.IH HR435

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•HRES 435 IH 

gresswoman, Patsy Mink, and others have made significant strides in the political and military realms; 

Whereas the Presidential Cabinet includes a record three 

Asian-Americans: Energy Secretary Steven Chu, Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, and Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki; and 

Whereas Asian/Pacific-American Heritage Month provides the 

people of the United States with an opportunity to recognize the achievements, contributions, history, and concerns of Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) recognizes that the incredible diversity of 

3 different racial and ethnic groups, including Asian4 Americans and Pacific Islanders, is a source of 

5 strength for the United States; 

6 (2) recognizes that the Asian-American and Pa7 cific Islander community is influential and crucial to 

8 the society and culture of the United States; 

9 (3) reaffirms its commitment to the goals and 

10 ideals of Asian/Pacific-American Heritage Month; 

11 and 

12 (4) celebrates the contributions of Asian-Ameri13 cans and Pacific Islanders to the United States. 

Æ 


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