SENATE RESOLUTION CELEBRATING MAY OF 2026, AS ASIAN AMERICAN, NATIVE HAWAIIAN, AND PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND, the official text

S3304 2026 -- S 3304 ======== LC005906 ======== STATE OF RHODE ISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 ____________ S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N CELEBRATING MAY OF 2026, AS ASIAN AMERICAN, NATIVE HAWAIIAN, AND PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND Introduced By: Senators Ujifusa, Gu, LaMountain, Felag, Burke, Vargas, de la Cruz, Famiglietti, Valverde, and Appollonio Date Introduced: May 19, 2026 Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration 1 WHEREAS, In 1978, a Joint Congressional Resolution established the first ten days of 2 May as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week. These particular days were chosen because they 3 coincide with the arrival in the United States of the first Japanese immigrants in May of 1843, and 4 the contributions of Chinese workers to the building of the Transcontinental Railroad which was 5 completed in May of 1869; and 6 WHEREAS, In 1992, Congress expanded the observance to a month-long celebration 7 known as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and in 2021, President Biden 8 issued a Proclamation declaring May as Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander 9 Heritage Month ; and 10 WHEREAS, The number of Asian American residents in the United States was an 11 estimated 24 million according to the 2020 census, with more than 54 percent holding a 12 Bachelor s degree or higher level of education, and an estimated 581,200 Asian-owned employer 13 firms. In addition, Asian Americans encompass more than one million actively serving personnel 14 in the United States Military; and 15 WHEREAS, Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, and Native Hawaiians have been 16 serving honorably in the United States Military since the War of 1812; and 17 WHEREAS, The Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander workforce 18 contribute across numerous fields including professional, scientific and technical services, as well 19 as education, financial management, engineering, nursing, healthcare, medicine, social assistance, 1 retail, construction, and repair and maintenance, and have paid billions in federal, state, and local 2 taxes; and 3 WHEREAS, There have been connections between China and Rhode Island since the 4 18th Century, as highlighted in a recent exhibition entitled, The Celestial City: Newport and 5 China at Rosecliff Mansion from September 2023 to February 2024, which revealed that people 6 of Chinese heritage contributed to life in Newport, including immigrant entrepreneurs, suffragists, 7 merchants, makers and sailors; and 8 WHEREAS, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI) have 9 enriched the diversity, strength and vibrancy of our state through their culture, language, and 10 religion, and it is fitting and vital to honor and acknowledge their invaluable contributions; now, 11 therefore be it 12 RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby proclaims May of 13 2026, as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and urges all 14 Rhode Islanders to learn more about the history and contributions of Asian Americans, Native 15 Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders, and to observe this month with appropriate programs and 16 activities; and be it further 17 RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to 18 transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the recipients of Senate Citations presented on 19 May 19, 2026, to those who have helped promote AANHPI culture and history in Rhode Island. ======== LC005906 ======== LC005906 - Page 2 of 2