IV 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 983 
Recognizing the significance of Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month in 
May as an important time to celebrate the significant contributions 
of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to the history of the United 
States. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 28, 2020 
Ms. JUDY CHU of California (for herself, Ms. MENG, Mr. TAKANO, Mr. 
ROUDA, Mr. GREEN of Texas, Mr. SABLAN, Mr. LOWENTHAL, Mr. BERA, 
Mr. COX of California, Mr. RASKIN, Mrs. MURPHY of Florida, and Mr. 
CISNEROS) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on Oversight and Reform 
RESOLUTION 
Recognizing the significance of Asian/Pacific American Herit-
age Month in May as an important time to celebrate 
the significant contributions of Asian Americans and Pa-
cific Islanders to the history of the United States. 
Whereas the people of the United States join together each 
May to pay tribute to the contributions of generations of 
Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who have enriched 
the history of the United States; 
Whereas the history of Asian Americans and Pacific Island-
ers in the United States is inextricably tied to the story 
of the United States; 
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•HRES 983 IH 
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 
72 percent between 2000 and 2015; 
Whereas there are approximately 22,600,000 residents of the 
United States who identify themselves as Asian and ap-
proximately 1,600,000 residents of the United States who 
identify themselves as Native Hawaiian or Pacific Is-
lander, making up over 7 percent of the total United 
States population; 
Whereas the month of May was selected for Asian/Pacific 
American Heritage Month because the first Japanese im-
migrants arrived in the United States on May 7, 1843, 
and the first transcontinental railroad was completed on 
May 10, 1869, with substantial contributions from Chi-
nese immigrants; 
Whereas section 102 of title 36, United States Code, officially 
designates May as Asian/Pacific American Heritage 
Month and requests the President to issue an annual 
proclamation calling on the people of the United States 
to observe the month with appropriate programs, cere-
monies, and activities; 
Whereas 2020 marks several important milestones for the 
Asian-American and Pacific Islander community, includ-
ing— 
(1) the 30th anniversary of the enactment of Public 
Law 101–283 designating May as Asian/Pacific Amer-
ican Heritage Month; 
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(2) the 35th anniversary of the mission aboard the 
Space Shuttle Discovery of Ellison Shoji Onizuka, the 
first Asian American in space; 
(3) the 45th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam 
War and the beginning of the Southeast Asian diaspora 
to communities across the United States; 
(4) the 45th anniversary of the completion of the 
double-hulled voyaging canoe, Hokulea, marking the first 
traditional Polynesian voyaging canoe built in Hawaii in 
more than 600 years; 
(5) the 55th anniversary of the enactment of the Act 
entitled ‘‘An Act to amend the Immigration and Nation-
ality Act, and for other purposes’’, approved October 3, 
1965 (79 Stat. 911), landmark legislation that reversed 
restrictive immigration policies against immigrants from 
Asia; and 
(6) the 110th anniversary of the establishment of 
Angel Island Immigration Station in San Francisco Bay, 
California, which served as a major port of entry for im-
migrants coming to the United States from Asia and the 
Pacific; 
Whereas Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have made 
significant contributions to the United States at all levels 
of the Federal Government and the United States Armed 
Forces, including— 
(1) Daniel K. Inouye, a Medal of Honor and Presi-
dential Medal of Freedom recipient who, as President 
Pro Tempore of the Senate, was the highest-ranking 
Asian-American government official in the history of the 
United States; 
(2) Dalip Singh Saund, the first Asian-American 
Congressman; 
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(3) Patsy T. Mink, the first woman of color and 
Asian-American woman to be elected to Congress; 
(4) Hiram L. Fong, the first Asian-American Sen-
ator; 
(5) Daniel K. Akaka, the first Senator of Native 
Hawaiian ancestry; 
(6) Norman Y. Mineta, the first Asian-American 
member of a Presidential Cabinet; and 
(7) Elaine L. Chao, the first Asian-American woman 
member of a Presidential Cabinet; 
Whereas in 2020, the Congressional Asian Pacific American 
Caucus, a bicameral caucus of Members of Congress ad-
vocating on behalf of Asian Americans and Pacific Is-
landers, is composed of 76 Members, including 20 Mem-
bers of Asian or Pacific Islander descent; 
Whereas in 2020, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are 
serving in State and Territorial legislatures across the 
United States in record numbers, including in— 
(1) the States of Alaska, Arizona, California, Con-
necticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kan-
sas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michi-
gan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New 
Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, 
Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Wash-
ington, and Wyoming; and 
(2) the Territories of American Samoa, Guam, and 
the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; 
Whereas in 2020, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders 
honorably serve at all levels of the Federal judiciary; 
Whereas Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have been 
disproportionately impacted by the COVID–19 pandemic, 
with Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders facing 
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among the highest infection and mortality rates out of 
any racial group in the States of California, Washington, 
Oregon, Nevada, Colorado, and Arkansas; 
Whereas there are over 2 million Asian-American and Pacific 
Islander first responders, health care providers, and 
frontline workers who are among the unsung heroes in 
the Nation’s fight against COVID–19; 
Whereas since January 2020, there has been a dramatic in-
crease in reports of anti-Asian hate crimes and incidents 
related to the COVID–19 pandemic, with over 2,000 inci-
dents reported in recent months; 
Whereas there remains much to be done to ensure that Asian 
Americans and Pacific Islanders have access to resources 
and a voice in the Government of the United States and 
continue to advance in the political landscape of the 
United States; and 
Whereas celebrating Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month 
provides the people of the United States with an oppor-
tunity to recognize the achievements, contributions, and 
history of, and to understand the challenges faced by, 
Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders: Now, therefore, 
be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) recognizes the significance of Asian/Pacific 
American Heritage Month as an important time to 
celebrate the significant contributions of Asian 
Americans and Pacific Islanders to the history of the 
United States; and 
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(2) recognizes that Asian-American and Pacific 
Islander communities enhance the rich diversity of 
and strengthen the United States. 
Æ 
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