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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, May 2017 has been set aside as Asian American and |
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Pacific Islander Heritage Month to recognize the accomplishments |
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and wide-ranging contributions of individuals who trace their |
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ancestry to Asia and the Pacific Islands; and |
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WHEREAS, Originally established by the United States |
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Congress as Asian-Pacific American Heritage Week, the observance |
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celebrates the diverse culture, traditions, and history of people |
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from the Asian continent and the islands of Melanesia, Micronesia, |
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and Polynesia in the Pacific; it was officially expanded into a |
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monthlong celebration in 1992; and |
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WHEREAS, The month of May was chosen for this commemorative |
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period because of two key events in our nation's history; on May 7, |
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1843, the first Japanese immigrants arrived, and on May 10, 1869, a |
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workforce largely composed of Chinese laborers completed the |
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Transcontinental Railroad; and |
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WHEREAS, In 2013, the Pew Research Center released a report |
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highlighting the tremendous progress that has been made by Asian |
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Americans; the study noted that a century ago, most were |
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low-skilled, low-wage laborers subject to official discrimination; |
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today, however, Asian Americans rank as the racial group with the |
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highest levels of income and education in the nation; since about |
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2000, Asian Americans have also constituted the fastest-growing |
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racial group in the United States, largely because of immigration; |
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in addition, Asians who have recently arrived in this country are |
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about three times more likely than other immigrants to be sponsored |
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for permanent residency by an employer; the Pew report further |
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noted that more than 60 percent of new Asian immigrants age 25 to 64 |
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held at least a bachelor's degree; and |
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WHEREAS, The Lone Star State is home to generations of |
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Americans who take great pride in their family roots in Asia and the |
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Pacific Islands, and this annual observance provides a welcome |
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opportunity to celebrate their significant contributions to the |
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prosperity and cultural vibrancy of our nation; now, therefore, be |
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it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize May 2017 as Asian American and Pacific |
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Islander Heritage Month. |