IV 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 571 
Recognizing 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 12, 2017 
Ms. HANABUSA (for herself, Mr. MCNERNEY, Ms. BORDALLO, Mr. VARGAS, 
Mr. PETERS, Ms. LOFGREN, Ms. JUDY CHU of California, Mrs. NAPOLI-
TANO, Mr. SCOTT of Virginia, Ms. LEE, Mr. SABLAN, Mr. GOMEZ, Mr. 
LOWENTHAL, Ms. SPEIER, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. TED LIEU of California, 
Ms. JAYAPAL, and Mr. TAKANO) submitted the following resolution; 
which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Re-
form 
RESOLUTION 
Recognizing Filipino American History Month and cele-
brating 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, Cali-
fornia, 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 
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Filipino settlement in the United States was established 
in St. Malo, Louisiana; 
Whereas the recognition of the first permanent Filipino set-
tlement in the United States adds a new perspective to 
United States history by bringing attention to the eco-
nomic, cultural, social, and other notable contributions 
made by Filipino Americans to the development of the 
United States; 
Whereas the Filipino American community is the second larg-
est Asian American and Pacific Islander group in the 
United States with a population of approximately four 
million individuals; 
Whereas, from the Civil War to the Iraq and Afghanistan 
conflicts, Filipino American servicemen and servicewomen 
have a longstanding history of serving in the 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 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 (Public Law 101–649), which was signed 
into law by President George H.W. Bush on November 
29, 1990; 
Whereas, effective June 8, 2016, the Filipino World War II 
Veterans Parole Program allowed for Filipino World War 
II veterans and certain family members to be reunited 
more expeditiously than what the current immigrant visa 
process would have otherwise allowed; 
Whereas the Filipino Veterans of World War II Congres-
sional Gold Medal Act of 2015 (Public Law 114–265) 
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was signed into law by President Barack Obama on De-
cember 14, 2016, and the presentation of congressional 
gold medals pursuant to such Act will take place on Octo-
ber 25, 2017, in Emancipation Hall in the United States 
Capitol; 
Whereas Filipino Americans continue to demonstrate a com-
mendable sense of patriotism and honor; 
Whereas nine Filipino Americans have received the Congres-
sional Medal of Honor, the highest award for valor in ac-
tion against an enemy force that can be bestowed on an 
individual serving in the Armed Forces; 
Whereas the late Thelma Garcia Buchholdt, born in Claveria, 
Cagayan, on the island of Luzon in the Philippines— 
(1) moved with her family to Alaska in 1965; 
(2) was elected to the House of Representatives of 
Alaska in 1974; 
(3) was the first Filipino woman elected to a State 
legislature; and 
(4) authored a comprehensive history book entitled 
‘‘Filipinos in Alaska: 1788–1958’’; 
Whereas Filipino American farm workers 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 
United States healthcare system 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, 
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the fine arts, and other fields that enrich the landscape 
of the United States; 
Whereas, as mandated in the mission statement of the Fili-
pino American National Historical Society, efforts should 
continue to promote the study of Filipino American his-
tory and culture because the roles of Filipino Americans 
and other people of color have largely been overlooked in 
the writing, teaching, and learning of United States his-
tory; 
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, edu-
cation, and appreciation of the history and culture of Fil-
ipino Americans in the United States: Now, therefore, be 
it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) recognizes the celebration of Filipino Amer-
ican History Month as— 
(A) a study of the advancement of Filipino 
Americans; 
(B) a time to reflect on and remember the 
many notable contributions that Filipino Ameri-
cans have made to the United States; and 
(C) a time to renew efforts toward the re-
search and examination of history and culture 
so as to provide an opportunity for all people of 
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the United States to learn more about Filipino 
Americans and to appreciate the historic con-
tributions of Filipino Americans to the United 
States; and 
(2) urges the people of the United States to ob-
serve Filipino American History Month with appro-
priate programs and activities. 
Æ 
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