BILL NUMBER: ACR 56	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 13, 2013

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Chau
   (Coauthors: Assembly Members Bonta, Fong, Muratsuchi, Pan, Ting,
Williams,  and Yamada   Yamada,  
Alejo,   Atkins,   Bigelow,   Bloom, 
 Blumenfield,   Bocanegra,   Bonilla, 
 Bradford,   Brown,   Buchanan,   Ian
Calderon,   Campos,   Chávez,   Chesbro,
  Conway,   Cooley,   Dahle,  
Dickinson,   Donnelly,   Eggman,   Fox,
  Frazier,   Beth Gaines,   Garcia, 
 Gomez,  Gordon,   Gorell,   Gray,
  Grove,   Hagman,   Hall,  
Roger Hernández,   Levine,   Linder,  
Logue,   Maienschein,   Medina,  
Mitchell,   Morrell,   Mullin,   Nazarian,
  Nestande,   Patterson,   Perea, 
 John A. Pérez,   V. Manuel Pérez,   Quirk,
  Quirk-Silva,   Rendon,   Salas, 
 Skinner,   Stone,   Torres,   Wagner,
  Waldron,   Weber,   Wieckowski, 
 and Wilk  )
   (Coauthors: Senators Lieu, Liu, and Yee)

                        APRIL 30, 2013

   Relative to Asian and Pacific Islander American Heritage Month.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   ACR 56, as amended, Chau. May 2013: Asian and Pacific Islander
American Heritage Month.
   This measure would recognize May 2013 as Asian and Pacific
Islander American Heritage Month.
   Fiscal committee: no.



   WHEREAS, One of the earliest records of Asian and Pacific Islander
Americans in the United States dates back to 1763 in New Orleans,
Louisiana, where Filipino sailors who worked the Manila-Acapulco
trade route settled; and
   WHEREAS, Asian and Pacific Islander Americans have made indelible
contributions to the history of California and the United States that
include, but are not limited to, building the Transcontinental
Railroad, serving honorably in the Armed Forces, fighting for the
United States in foreign wars, co-organizing the Delano Grape Strike,
and advocating for civil rights; and
   WHEREAS, Asian and Pacific Islander Americans have endured
hardships, including unjust working conditions, prejudice, and
discrimination in some of the darkest times in our state's and nation'
s history, including the Chinese Exclusion Act, naturalized
citizenship ineligibility, the Alien Land Law, anti-miscegenation
laws, and Japanese internment; and
   WHEREAS, Asian and Pacific Islander Americans continue to
cultivate, advance, and lead in the fields of art, fashion, business,
technology, education, science, government, law, humanities,
medicine, sports, and entertainment; and
   WHEREAS, California is home to over 5.8 million Asian and Pacific
Islander Americans, more than any other state, and Asian and Pacific
Islander Americans are one of the fastest growing ethnic populations
in the state and nation; and
   WHEREAS, Asian and Pacific Islander Americans constitute 16
percent of California's population and represent diverse ancestries
that include, but are not limited to, Asian Indian, Bangladeshi,
Bhutanese, Burmese, Cambodian, Chamorro, Chinese, Taiwanese,
Filipino, Hmong, Indonesian, Iu-Mien, Iwo Jiman, Guamanian, Japanese,
Korean, Laotian, Malaysian, Maldivian, Mongolian, Nepalese, Native
Hawaiian, Vietnamese, Okinawan, Pakistani, Samoan, Singaporean, Sri
Lankan, Thai, Tongan, and other Pacific Islander; and
   WHEREAS, California's Asian and Pacific Islander American
entrepreneurs are innovative and lead many successful businesses to
the pinnacle of their respective industries nationally and globally,
and own 15 percent of businesses in California; and
   WHEREAS, The California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander
American Affairs was established in 2004 and is charged with advising
the Governor, the Legislature, and state agencies on issues relating
to the social and economic development, rights, and interests of
California's Asian and Pacific Islander American communities; and
   WHEREAS, The California Asian and Pacific Islander Legislative
Caucus, a caucus of State Assembly Members and Senators, is currently
composed of a record high 11 Members this legislative session, and
represents and advocates for the interests of the diverse Asian and
Pacific Islander American communities; and
   WHEREAS, The federal government officially designates May as
"Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month;" and
   WHEREAS, Celebrating Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
provides Californians with an opportunity to recognize the
achievements, contributions, and history of Asian and Pacific
Islander Americans; now, therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That the Legislature commends Asian and Pacific
Islander Americans for their notable accomplishments and
contributions to California, and recognizes May 2013 as Asian and
Pacific Islander American Heritage Month; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of
this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.