WHEREAS, One of the earliest records of Asian and Pacific Islander Americans in North America dates back to 1763 in what is now known as New Orleans, Louisiana, where Filipino sailors who worked the Manila-Acapulco Galleon 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, 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 Laws, anti-miscegenation 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 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, Asian 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 ancestries that may be traced to various Pacific Islands; 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 own over 500,000 businesses 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 Legislature has 12 Asian and Pacific Islander Assembly Members and Senators who represent and advocate for the interests of the diverse Asian and Pacific Islander American communities; and

WHEREAS, The federal government officially designates May as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month; and

WHEREAS, Celebrating Asian and Pacific Islander American Heritage Month provides Californians with an opportunity to recognize the achievements, contributions, and history of Asian and Pacific Islander Americans; now, therefore, be it