SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 648
WHEREAS, May 2019 has been set aside as Asian American and
Pacific Islander Heritage Month to recognize the accomplishments
and wide-ranging contributions of individuals who trace their
ancestry to Asia and the Pacific Islands; and
WHEREAS, Originally established by the United States
Congress as Asian-Pacific American Heritage Week, the observance
celebrates the diverse culture, traditions, and history of
people from the Asian continent and the islands of Melanesia,
Micronesia, and Polynesia in the Pacific; it was officially
expanded into a monthlong celebration in 1992; and
WHEREAS, The month of May was chosen for this commemorative
period because of two key events in our nation's history; on
May 7, 1843, the first Japanese immigrants arrived, and on
May 10, 1869, a workforce largely composed of Chinese laborers
completed the Transcontinental Railroad; and
WHEREAS, In 2013, the Pew Research Center released a report
highlighting the tremendous progress that has been made by Asian
Americans; the study noted that a century ago, most were
low-skilled, low-wage laborers subject to official discrimination;
today, however, Asian Americans rank as the racial group with the
highest levels of income and education in the nation; since
approximately 2000, Asian Americans have also constituted the
fastest-growing racial group in the United States, largely
because of immigration; in addition, Asians who have recently
arrived in this country are about three times more likely than
other immigrants to be sponsored for permanent residency by an
employer; the Pew report further noted that over 60 percent of
new Asian immigrants age 25 to 64 held at least a bachelor's
degree; and
WHEREAS, The Lone Star State is home to generations of
Americans who take great pride in their family roots in Asia and
the Pacific Islands, and this annual observance provides a
welcome opportunity to celebrate their significant contributions
to the prosperity and cultural vibrancy of our nation; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 86th
Legislature, hereby recognize May 2019 as Asian American and
Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
Paxton, Alvarado
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President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on May 1, 2019.
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Secretary of the Senate
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Member, Texas Senate
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Member, Texas Senate