2021 -- H 6333

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LC002858

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CELEBRATING MAY OF 2021, AS "ASIAN AMERICAN, NATIVE HAWAIIAN, AND

PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

     Introduced By: Representatives Fenton-Fung, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Phillips, Slater,
Biah, Casimiro, Alzate, Vella-Wilkinson, and Filippi

     Date Introduced: May 12, 2021

     Referred To: House read and passed

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

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

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

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

completed in May of 1869; and

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

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

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

Heritage Month"; and

     WHEREAS, In 2019, the number of Asian-American residents in the United States was

22.9 million, with more than 54 percent holding a Bachelor's degree or higher level of education,

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

encompassed more than 2.5 percent of America's military veterans; and

     WHEREAS, There are 1.6 million Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islanders as of

2019, and the percentage of Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islanders who were military

veterans in 2019 was 7.2 percent. More than twenty-three percent hold a Bachelor's degree or

higher and 6,653 own employer firms; and

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

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

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

retail, construction, and repair and maintenance; and

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

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

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

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

proclaims May of 2021, as "Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage

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

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

activities; and be it further

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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