IV 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 471 
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 8, 2015 
Mr. HONDA (for himself, Ms. JUDY CHU of California, Mr. VARGAS, Mr. TED 
LIEU of California, Mr. MCDERMOTT, Ms. JACKSON LEE, Mr. SCOTT of 
Virginia, Ms. GABBARD, Mr. KILMER, Mr. GRIJALVA, Ms. LOFGREN, Ms. 
MENG, Mr. SWALWELL of California, Mr. FARR, Mr. BECERRA, Mr. 
PETERS, Ms. LEE, Ms. BORDALLO, Mr. SCHIFF, Ms. ESHOO, and Ms. 
BASS) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Oversight and Government Reform 
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 occurred on 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 
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•HRES 471 IH 
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, with a population of approximately 3,416,840 indi-
viduals, the Filipino American community is the second 
largest Asian American and Pacific Islander group in the 
United States; 
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 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 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 upon 
an individual serving in the Armed Forces; 
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; 
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•HRES 471 IH 
Whereas the late Thelma Garcia Buchholdt, born in Claveria, 
Cagayan, in the Philippines, became the first Filipino 
woman elected to a State legislative body in the United 
States upon her election to the Alaska House of Rep-
resentatives in 1974; became the first Filipino to serve in 
a U.S. mainland State legislature; and authored a com-
prehensive history book, ‘‘Filipinos in Alaska: 1788– 
1958’’, to promote awareness and pride in Alaska’s Fili-
pino heritage; 
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, 
the fine arts, and other fields that enrich the landscape 
of the United States; 
Whereas, as stated in the mission statement of the Filipino 
American National Historical Society, efforts should con-
tinue 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 the 
writing, teaching, and learning of United States history; 
Whereas it is imperative for Filipino American youth to have 
positive role models to instill in them the significance of 
education, complemented by the richness of Filipino 
American ethnicity, and the value of the Filipino Amer-
ican legacy; and 
Whereas it is essential to promote the understanding, edu-
cation, and appreciation of the history and culture of Fil-
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•HRES 471 IH 
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 
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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