Asian Pacific American Heritage Month 2008
In 1978, a joint congressional resolution established Asian Pacific American Heritage Week. The first 10 days of May were chosen to coincide with two key anniversaries: the arrival in the United States of the first Japanese immigrants on May 7, 1843, and the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869. In 1992, Congress expanded the week to a month-long celebration.
In science and technology, arts and media, business and social work, immigrants from Asia, native peoples of Hawaii and the Pacific Islands, and generations of their descendents have contributed so much to the development of our nation. And with 15 million residents, the AAPI community is one of the fastest growing minority groups in the United States. The Census Bureau estimates that by 2050 more than 33 million Asian Americans will live in the United States. This growth is playing a significant role in this country. Issues of concern to AAPIs are weighed by all presidential candidates during this election year, especially in my state of California, where the AAPI population has grown to 5 million people. They are a critical force with a growing voice in the future for our nation.
I invite you to celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month by joining Congressional Democrats at our annual town hall on Wednesday, May 21, 2008. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Senator Debbie Stabenow of the Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee, Chairman Mike Honda of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, and I are sponsoring the Democratic Leadership 2008 Asian American and Pacific Islander Town Hall: Working Together to Strengthen Our Economy. We want to hear from you. Please click here to sign up today.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi
April 30, 2008
Reps. Mike Honda, Doris Matsui, Barbara Lee, Eni Faleomavaega, Bobby Scott, and David Wu spoke on the House floor to recognize May as Asian Pacific American Heritage Month - May 14, 2008
Rep. Mike Honda on Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. Watch>> | Rep. Doris Matsui on Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. Watch>> |
Rep. Barbara Lee on Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. Watch>> | Rep. Eni Faleomavaega on Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. Watch> |
Rep. Bobby Scott on Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. Watch>> | Rep. David Wu on Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. Watch>> |