On Thursday, October 1, the U.S. Senate passed on by unanimous consent on the U.S. Senate floor S. Res. 298, a resolution recognizing Filipino American History Month in October 2009, introduced by Senate Majority Leader, Senator Harry Reid (D-NV), and co-sponsored by Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI), Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Senator John Ensign (R-NV), Senator Daniel Inouye (D-HI), and Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ). The bill text is very similar to H. Res. 780 in the U.S. House of Representatives as introduced by Congressman Bob Filner, Co-Chair of the Congressional U.S.-Philippine Friendship Caucus, which currently has 20 co-sponsors and is in need of 30 more co-sponsors before proceeding to the House floor.
S.RES.298
Recognizing Filipino American History Month in October 2009. (Agreed to by Senate)
SRES 298 ATS
111th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. RES. 298
Recognizing Filipino American History Month in October 2009.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
October 1, 2009
Mr. REID (for himself, Ms. CANTWELL, Mr. AKAKA, Mr. ENSIGN, Mr. INOUYE, and Mr. MENENDEZ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to
RESOLUTION
Recognizing Filipino American History Month in October 2009.
Whereas the earliest documented Filipino presence in the continental United States was on October 18, 1587, when the first `Luzones Indios’ set foot in Morro Bay, California, on board the Manila-built galleon ship Nuestra Senora de Esperanza;
Whereas the Filipino American National Historical Society recognizes the year of 1763 as the date of the first permanent Filipino settlement in the United States in St. Malo, Louisiana, which set in motion the focus on the story of our Nation’s past from a new perspective by concentrating on the economic, cultural, social, and other notable contributions that Filipino Americans have made in countless ways toward the development of the history of the United States;
Whereas the Filipino-American community is the second largest Asian-American group in the United States, with a population of approximately 3,100,000 people;
Whereas Filipino-American servicemen and servicewomen have a longstanding history serving in the Armed Services, from the Civil War to the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts, including the 250,000 Filipinos who fought under the United States flag during World War II to protect and defend this country;
Whereas 9 Filipino Americans have received the Congressional Medal of Honor, the highest award for valor in action against an enemy force that can be bestowed upon an individual serving in the United States Armed Forces;
Whereas Filipino Americans are an integral part of the United States health care system as nurses, doctors, and other medical professionals;
Whereas Filipino Americans have contributed greatly to the fine arts, music, dance, literature, education, business, literature, journalism, sports, fashion, politics, government, science, technology, and other fields in the United States that enrich the landscape of the country;
Whereas efforts should continue to promote the study of Filipino-American history and culture, as mandated in the mission statement of the Filipino American National Historical Society, because the roles of Filipino Americans and other people of color have been overlooked in the writing, teaching, and learning of United States history;
Whereas it is imperative for Filipino-American youth to have positive role models to instill in them the importance of education, complemented with the richness of their ethnicity and the value of their legacy; and
Whereas Filipino American History Month is celebrated during the month of October 2009: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate–
- recognizes the celebration of Filipino American History Month 2009 as a study of the advancement of Filipino Americans, as a time of reflection and remembrance, and as a time to renew efforts toward the research and examination of history and culture in order to provide an opportunity for all people in the United States to learn and appreciate more about Filipino Americans and their historic contributions to the Nation; and
- urges the people of the United States to observe Filipino American History Month 2009 with appropriate programs and activities.
KAYA: Filipino Americans for Progress 