| R 281 |
| 2023 -- S 0964 Enacted 05/02/2023 |
| S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N |
| CELEBRATING MAY OF 2023, AS "ASIAN AMERICAN, NATIVE HAWAIIAN, AND PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND |
Introduced By: Senators Ujifusa, Gu, F. Lombardi, DiMario, Lauria, Sosnowski, Britto, Raptakis, Felag, and E Morgan |
| Date Introduced: May 02, 2023 |
| 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, The number of Asian-American residents in the United States was an |
| estimated 24 million according to the 2020 census, with more than 54 percent holding a |
| Bachelor's degree or higher level of education, and an estimated 581,200 Asian-owned employer |
| firms. In addition, Asian Americans encompass more than one million actively serving personnel |
| in the United States Military; and |
| WHEREAS, Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, and native Hawaiians have been serving |
| honorably in the United States Military since the War of 1812; 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 have paid more than $37.8 billion in federal |
| income taxes and $16 billion in state and local taxes; 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 Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby proclaims May of |
| 2023, 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 Alliance of RI Southeast Asians for |
| Education, the Center for Southeast Asians, the India Association of Rhode Island, the Rhode |
| Island Association of Chinese Americans, the Japan-America Society and Black Ships Festival of |
| RI, The Korean-American Association of RI, and the Filipino-American Association of Newport |
| County. |
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| LC000737 |
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