HR 35
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Date of Hearing: April 28, 2025
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON RULES
Blanca Pacheco, Chair
HR 35 (Fong) – As Introduced April 22, 2025
SUBJECT: Asian and Pacific Islander American Heritage Month.
SUMMARY: Recognizes May 2025 as Asian and Pacific Islander American Heritage Month,
and commends Asian and Pacific Islander Americans for their notable accomplishments and
contributions to California. Specifically, this resolution makes the following legislative
findings:
1) One of the earliest records of Asian and Pacific Islander Americans in the United States dates
back to 1763 in New Orleans, Louisiana, where Filipino sailors who worked the Manila-
Acapulco trade route settled.
2) Asian and Pacific Islander Americans have made indelible contributions throughout the
history of California and the United States that include, but are not limited to, building the
Transcontinental Railroad, serving honorably in the United States Armed Forces, fighting for
the United States in foreign wars, co-organizing the Delano Grape Strike, and advocating for
civil rights.
3) 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 Law, anti-miscegenation laws, and Japanese internment.
4) 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.
5) California is home to over 7.3 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.
6) Asian and Pacific Islander Americans constitute 17 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, Okinawan, Pakistani, Samoan,
Singaporean, Sri Lankan, Thai, Tongan, Vietnamese, and other Asian and Pacific Islander
groups.
7) Federal law designates May as “Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month” in Section 102 of
Title 36 of the United States Code.
8) Celebrating Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month provides Californians with an
opportunity to recognize the achievements, contributions, and history of Asian and Pacific
Islander Americans.
 HR 35
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FISCAL EFFECT: This resolution is keyed non-fiscal by Legislative Counsel.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
None on file
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by: Michael Erke / RLS. / (916) 319-2800