BILL NUMBER: SCR 62INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Senator Mendoza MAY 13, 2015 Relative to Portugal Day. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SCR 62, as introduced, Mendoza. Portugal Day. This act would declare June 10, 2015, as Portugal Day to celebrate Portuguese national heritage. Fiscal committee: no. WHEREAS, In September of 1542, Portuguese explorer Joo Rodrigues Cabrillo sailed a ship into San Diego Bay, becoming the first European to explore the land now known as California. Cabrillo explored the California coast, and is credited with numerous coastal discoveries; and WHEREAS, In 1870, Portuguese immigrants began arriving in the United States in relatively large numbers. The majority of these Portuguese immigrants were men from the Azores, who were primarily recruited to work on American whaling ships and to farm; and WHEREAS, Between 1900 and 1940, as much as one-half of the Portuguese community in California owned or operated a dairy farm, worked on a dairy farm, or worked in a dairy-supporting industry. Applying the Portuguese belief in hard work and thriftiness, along with additional labor from family members, a Portuguese settler could earn enough to reinvest in his business, buying land and more dairy cows; and WHEREAS, Among the great Portuguese Americans who have contributed significantly to this country are: composer John Philip Sousa, best known for composing "Stars and Stripes Forever"; poet Emma Lazarus, best known for her sonnet about the Statue of Liberty, "The New Colossus"; architect William L. Pereira, best known for designing the Transamerica Pyramid in San Francisco; and singer and actress Carmen Miranda. Many Portuguese Americans have also served with distinction in local, state, and federal office; and WHEREAS, Portuguese Americans have truly made valuable and substantial contributions to every facet of California life. Portuguese Americans continue to thrive in agricultural communities of the Santa Clara and San Joaquin Valleys. Today, over 350,000 Portuguese Americans reside in California.; and WHEREAS, Portuguese national literary icon Lus de Cames wrote Portugal's national epic poem, Os Lusadas, celebrating the 15th-century Portuguese explorations which brought fame and fortune to the country. The poem, considered one of the finest and most important works in Portuguese literature, became a symbol for the great feats of the Portuguese Empire; and WHEREAS, Dia de Portugal, de Cames e das Comunidades Portuguesas, translated as "Day of Portugal, Cames, and the Portuguese Communities," commemorates the death of Lus de Cames on June 10, 1580; now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby declares June 10, 2015, as Portugal Day, a day to celebrate Portuguese national heritage; and be it further Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.