Barbara Lee Celebrates Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
For Immediate Release
May 8, 2009
Contact: Nicole Y. Williams
(202) 225-2661
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) released the following statement commemorating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month which is celebrated during the month of May:
“Asian Pacific American Heritage Week was first established in 1978 through a joint congressional resolution. The first 10 days of May were chosen to coincide with two key anniversaries - the arrival in the U.S. of the first Japanese immigrants on May 7, 1843 and the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869. Fourteen years later, Congress expanded the week to a month-long celebration.
“Today, I am proud to join with all Americans in celebrating the tremendous contributions of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community in to this country. The AAPI community is the fastest-growing minority group in the United States. The Census Bureau estimates that by 2050 more than 33.4 million Asian Americans will live in the United States.
“I am extremely proud to represent several emerging AAPI neighborhoods in my District representing cultures from Vietnam, Korea and China just to name a few. In particular, the Chinatown neighborhood located in Oakland, California has grown and evolved into one of the most cohesive and vibrant business and arts communities in the, Ninth Congressional District.
“As we celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, I encourage the people of my district and this nation to learn about the rich and proud heritage of Asian Pacific Americans.”
Throughout the month of May there will be a number of programs and celebrations in honor of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. For information on events taking place in the Ninth congressional district of California, please visit the Oakland Asian Cultural Center at http://www.oacc.cc/programs/festivals-events.html.
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