2022 -- H 8198

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LC005878

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CELEBRATING MAY OF 2022, AS "ASIAN AMERICAN, NATIVE HAWAIIAN, AND

PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Fenton-Fung, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Azzinaro, Tobon,
Biah, Phillips, Price, Kennedy, and Fellela

     Date Introduced: May 03, 2022

     Referred To: House read and passed

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     WHEREAS, In 1978, a Joint Congressional Resolution established the first ten days of

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May as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week. These particular days were chosen because they

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coincide with the arrival in the United States of the first Japanese immigrants in May of 1843, and

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the contributions of Chinese workers to the building of the transcontinental railroad which was

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completed in May of 1869; and

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     WHEREAS, In 1992, Congress expanded the observance to a month-long celebration

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known as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and in 2021, President Biden

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issued a Proclamation declaring May as "Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

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Heritage Month"; and

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     WHEREAS, In 2020, the number of Asian-American residents in the United States was

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approximately 22 million, with more than 54 percent holding a Bachelor's degree or higher level

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of education, and an estimated 577,835 Asian-owned employer firms. In addition, Asian

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Americans encompass more than 1.3 million actively serving personnel in the United States

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Military; and

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     WHEREAS, Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, and native Hawaiians have been serving

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honorably in the United States Military since the War of 1812; and

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     WHEREAS, The Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander work force can

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be found in numerous fields including professional, scientific and technical services, as well as

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teaching, financial management, engineering, nursing, health care, medicine, social assistance,

 

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retail, construction, and repair and maintenance and have paid more than $37.8 billion in federal

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income taxes and $16 billion in state and local taxes; and

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     WHEREAS, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders have added to the

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diversity, strength and vibrancy of our state through their culture, language, and religion and it is

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fitting and vital to honor and acknowledge their invaluable contributions; now, therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby

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proclaims May of 2022, as "Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage

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Month" and urges all Rhode Islanders to learn more about the history of Asian Americans, Native

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Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders, and to observe this month with appropriate programs and

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activities; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

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transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Rhode Island Association of Chinese

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Americans, the South Asian Student Organization at the University of Rhode Island, the Brown

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University Korean-American Student Association, the Center for Southeast Asians, the Filipino-

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American Association of Newport County, Inc., H.O.P.E Foundation International, the India

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Association of Rhode Island, the Alliance of Rhode Island Southeast Asians for Education

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(ARISE), and Providence Youth Student Movement for Justice & Love (PrYSM).

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LC005878

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