History of AAPI Heritage Month

In 1978, a joint congressional resolution established Asian Pacific American Heritage Week. 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 (May 7, 1843) and the completion of the transcontinental railroad (May 10, 1869). In 1992, Congress expanded the week to a month-long celebration.

President Obama issued a proclamation on May 1, 2009, to recognize May as AAPI Heritage Month: www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Presidential-Proclamation-Asian-Amer...

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi declared a celebration for APA Heritage Month:
www.speaker.gov/communities?id=00059

Congressman Mike Honda, Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) released the following statement: www.house.gov/apps/list/speech/ca15_honda/APAmonth.html