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National Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
"Asian Pacific American" is a political appellation that encompasses many ethnic groups with diverse backgrounds, histories, languages, and cultures. The term attempts to give expression to cultural, linguistic, and ethnic diversity while recognizing common historical experiences in American history. Asian Pacific American Heritage Month celebrates the collective accomplishments of these communities.
In June 1977, Representatives Frank Horton of New York and Norman Y. Mineta of California introduced a House resolution that called upon the President to proclaim the first 10 days of May as Asian Pacific American Heritage Week. The first 10 days of May were chosen to coincide with two important milestones in Asian/Pacific American history: the arrival in the United States of the first Japanese immigrants (May 7, 1843) and contributions of Chinese workers to the building of the transcontinental railroad, completed on May 10, 1869.
President Jimmy Carter signed a joint resolution declaring May 4-10, 1979, as the first Asian Pacific American Heritage Week. In 1990, President George H. W. Bush expanded the celebration to the entire month. Public Law 102-450, approved on October 23, 1992, designated May of each year as National Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.
For more information about VA's National Asian American and Pacific Islander Program, contact David Walton at (202) 501-0215 or by email at david.walton@va.gov.
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