IV 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 283 
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 21, 2015 
Ms. JUDY CHU of California (for herself, Mr. BECERRA, Ms. BORDALLO, Ms. 
DUCKWORTH, Ms. GABBARD, Mr. AL GREEN of Texas, Ms. LEE, Mr. 
TED LIEU of California, Ms. MATSUI, Ms. MENG, Mr. TAKAI, Mr. 
SABLAN, Mr. CROWLEY, Mr. LOWENTHAL, Mr. MEEKS, Mr. PETERS, Ms. 
LINDA T. SA´NCHEZ of California, Mr. SCHIFF, Mr. SWALWELL of Cali-
fornia, Mr. VARGAS, Mr. BERA, Mr. SCOTT of Virginia, Ms. SPEIER, Mr. 
TAKANO, Mr. HONDA, and Mr. CONYERS) submitted the following resolu-
tion; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government 
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 United States joins 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; 
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•HRES 283 IH 
Whereas the history of Asian Americans and Pacific Island-
ers in the United States is inextricably tied to the story 
of the United States; 
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, a growth rate 4 
times faster than the total United States population; 
Whereas the 2010 decennial census estimated that there are 
now approximately 17,300,000 residents of the United 
States who identify as Asian and approximately 
1,200,000 residents of the United States who identify 
themselves as Native Hawaiian or 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 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; 
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•HRES 283 IH 
Whereas the year 2015 marks several important milestones 
for the Asian American and Pacific Islander community, 
including the— 
(1) 50th anniversary of the passage of the Immigra-
tion and Nationality Act of 1965, landmark legislation 
that reversed restrictive immigration policies against im-
migrants from Asia; 
(2) 40th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War; 
(3) 40th anniversary of the Southeast Asian 
diasporic communities in the United States; 
(4) 30th anniversary of Ellison Shoji Onizuka’s 
space mission aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery becom-
ing the first Asian American in space; and 
(5) 25th anniversary of the enactment of legislation 
designating May to be Asian Pacific American Heritage 
Month signed by President George H. W. Bush; 
Whereas Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, such as 
Daniel K. Inouye, a Medal of Honor and Presidential 
Medal of Freedom recipient who, as President Pro Tem-
pore of the Senate, was the highest-ranking Asian Amer-
ican government official in United States history, Dalip 
Sing Saund, the first Asian American Congressman, 
Patsy T. Mink, the first woman of color and Asian Amer-
ican woman to be elected to Congress, Daniel K. Akaka, 
the first Senator of Native Hawaiian ancestry, Hiram L. 
Fong, the first Asian American Senator, Norman Y. Mi-
neta, the first Asian American member of a Presidential 
cabinet, and others have made significant contributions 
in both our government and military; 
Whereas the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, a 
bicameral caucus of Members of Congress advocating on 
behalf of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, is com-
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•HRES 283 IH 
posed of 48 Members this year, including 13 Members of 
Asian or Pacific Islander descent; 
Whereas in 2015, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are 
serving in State and Territorial legislatures across the 
United States in record numbers, including in the States 
of Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Colorado, 
Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michi-
gan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, 
Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Vir-
ginia, Washington, West Virginia, and in the Territories 
of American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of 
the Northern Mariana Islands; 
Whereas the number of Asian American and Pacific Islander 
Article III judges more than tripled between 2009 and 
2015, reflecting a commitment to diversity in the Federal 
judiciary that has resulted in the confirmations of high 
caliber Asian American and Pacific Islander judicial 
nominees; 
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, his-
tory, 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 
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•HRES 283 IH 
celebrate the significant contributions of Asian 
Americans and Pacific Islanders to the history of the 
United States; and 
(2) recognizes that Asian American and Pacific 
Islander communities enhance the rich diversity of 
and strengthen the United States. 
Æ 
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