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, coorganizing 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, antimiscegenation 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 6.3 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, 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 31.5 percent of the nation’s Asian-own businesses are 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 Joint Asian and Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus, a caucus of State Assembly Members and Senators, is composed of 16 members during this session and represents and advocates for the interests of the diverse Asian and Pacific Islander American communities; and

WHEREAS, Federal law designates May as “Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month” in Section 102 of Title 36 of the United States Code; 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