IV 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 621 

Expressing support for the designation of the month of October 2019, as 

Filipino American History Month and celebrating the history and culture 

of Filipino Americans and their immense contributions to the United 

States. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

OCTOBER 8, 2019 

Mr. CASE (for himself and Mr. COX of California) submitted the following 

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for the designation of the month of October 2019, as Filipino American History Month and celebrating the history and culture of Filipino Americans 

and their immense contributions to the United States. 

Whereas the earliest documented Filipino presence in the 

continental United States was October 18, 1587, when 

the first ‘‘Luzones Indios’’ arrived in Morro Bay, California, on board the Nuestra Sen ̃ora de Esperanza, a 

Manila-built galleon ship; 

Whereas the Filipino American National Historical Society 

recognizes 1763 as the year in which the first permanent 

Filipino settlement in the United States was established 

in St. Malo, Louisiana; 


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•HRES 621 IH 

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

the history of the United States by bringing attention to 

the economic, cultural, social, and other notable contributions made by Filipino Americans to the development of 

our country; 

Whereas the Filipino American community is the third-largest Asian-American and Pacific Islander group in the 

United States, numbering approximately 4,000,000; 

Whereas from the Civil War to the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts, Filipinos and Filipino Americans have a longstanding history of serving in the United States Armed 

Forces; 

Whereas more than 250,000 Filipinos fought under the 

United States flag during World War II to protect and 

defend the United States and the Philippines in the Pacific theater; 

Whereas 20,000 Filipino World War II veterans were granted 

United States citizenship as a result of the Immigration 

Act of 1990, which was signed into law by President 

George H.W. Bush on November 29, 1990; 

Whereas, on December 14, 2016, President Barack Obama 

signed into law the Filipino Veterans of World War II 

Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2015, which awarded 

Filipino veterans who fought alongside troops of the 

United States in World War II the highest civilian honor 

bestowed by Congress; 

Whereas, on October 25, 2017, the Congressional Gold Medal 

was presented to Filipino World War II veterans at 

Emancipation Hall in the Capitol Building, a recognition 

for which these veterans have waited more than 70 years; 


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•HRES 621 IH 

Whereas Filipino Americans continue to demonstrate a commendable sense of patriotism and honor; 

Whereas nine Filipino Americans have received the Medal of 

Honor, the highest award for valor in action against an 

enemy force that may be bestowed on an individual serving in the Armed Forces; 

Whereas the late Peter Aquino Aduja of Hawaii and the late 

Thelma Garcia Buchholdt of Alaska became the first Filipino American elected to public office and the first 

Filipina American elected to a legislature in the United 

States, respectively, inspiring their fellow Filipino Americans to pursue public service in politics and government; 

Whereas Filipino American farmworkers and labor leaders, 

such as Philip Vera Cruz and Larry Itliong, played an 

integral role in the multiethnic United Farm Workers 

movement, alongside Cesar Cha ́vez, Dolores Huerta, and 

other Latino workers; 

Whereas Filipino Americans play an integral role in the 

health care system of the United States as nurses, doctors, and other medical professionals; 

Whereas Filipino Americans have contributed greatly to 

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

sports, fashion, politics, government, science, technology, 

the fine arts, and other fields that enrich the landscape 

of the United States; 

Whereas as mandated in the mission statement of the Filipino American National Historical Society, efforts should 

continue to promote the study of Filipino American history and culture because the roles of Filipino Americans 

and other people of color have largely been overlooked in 


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•HRES 621 IH 

the writing, teaching, and learning of the history of the 

United States; 

Whereas it is imperative for Filipino American youth to have 

positive role models to instill— 

(1) the significance of education, complemented by 

the richness of Filipino American ethnicity; and 

(2) the value of the Filipino American legacy; and 

Whereas it is essential to promote the understanding, education, and appreciation of the history and culture of Filipino Americans in the United States: Now, therefore, be 

it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) supports the celebration of Filipino Amer3 ican History Month as— 

4 (A) a testament to the long and proud ad5 vancement of Filipino Americans; 

6 (B) a time to reflect on and remember the 

7 many notable contributions that Filipino Ameri8 cans have made to the United States; and 

9 (C) a time to renew efforts toward the re10 search and examination of history and culture 

11 so as to provide an opportunity for all people of 

12 the United States to learn more about Filipino 

13 Americans and to appreciate the historic con14 tributions of Filipino Americans to the United 

15 States; and 


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•HRES 621 IH 

1 (2) encourages the people of the United States 

2 to observe Filipino American History Month with 

3 appropriate programs and activities. 

Æ 


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