| R 290 |
| 2025 -- S 1067 Enacted 05/13/2025 |
| S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N |
| CELEBRATING MAY OF 2025, AS "ASIAN AMERICAN, NATIVE HAWAIIAN, AND PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND |
Introduced By: Senators Gu, Ujifusa, Quezada, Patalano, Lawson, Vargas, Raptakis, Paolino, Rogers, and Urso |
| Date Introduced: May 13, 2025 |
| 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 workforce 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 billions in federal income taxes in |
| addition to state and local taxes; and |
| WHEREAS, There have been connections between China and Rhode Island since the |
| 18th Century, as highlighted in a recent exhibition entitled, "The Celestial City: Newport and |
| China," at Rosecliff Mansion from September 2023 to February 2024, which revealed that people |
| of Chinese heritage contributed to life in Newport, including immigrant entrepreneurs, suffragists, |
| merchants, makers and sailors; and |
| WHEREAS, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI) 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 |
| 2025, 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 recipients of Senate Citations presented on |
| May 13, 2025, to those who have helped promote AANHPI culture and history in Rhode Island. |
| ======== |
| LC002811 |
| ======== |