SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 526 WHEREAS, May 2023 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 in the U.S., and on May 10, 1869, a workforce largely composed of Chinese laborers completed the Transcontinental Railroad; and WHEREAS, According to a 2022 U.S. Census Bureau estimate, around 6.2 percent of Americans identify as Asian, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander, with approximately 24 million Americans claiming Asian ancestry and nearly 1.6 million tracing their origins to Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands; 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, 88th Legislature, hereby recognize May 2023 as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Huffman Alvarado Hancock Nichols Alvarado Hancock Nichols Alvarado Hancock Nichols Bettencourt Hinojosa Parker Bettencourt Hinojosa Parker Bettencourt Hinojosa Parker Birdwell Hughes Paxton Birdwell Hughes Paxton Birdwell Hughes Paxton Blanco Johnson Perry Blanco Johnson Perry Blanco Johnson Perry Campbell King Schwertner Campbell King Schwertner Campbell King Schwertner Creighton Kolkhorst Sparks Creighton Kolkhorst Sparks Creighton Kolkhorst Sparks Eckhardt LaMantia Springer Eckhardt LaMantia Springer Eckhardt LaMantia Springer Flores Menéndez West Flores Menéndez West Flores Menéndez West Gutierrez Middleton Whitmire Gutierrez Middleton Whitmire Gutierrez Middleton Whitmire Hall Miles Zaffirini Hall Miles Zaffirini Hall Miles Zaffirini Patrick, President of the Senate ________________________________ President of the Senate I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on May 9, 2023. ________________________________ Secretary of the Senate ________________________________ Member, Texas Senate Alvarado Hancock Nichols Bettencourt Hinojosa Parker Birdwell Hughes Paxton Blanco Johnson Perry Campbell King Schwertner Creighton Kolkhorst Sparks Eckhardt LaMantia Springer Flores Menéndez West Gutierrez Middleton Whitmire Hall Miles Zaffirini