Maria Cantwell: “in May, we commemorate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, honoring the history, culture and traditions of Asians and…”

“in May, we commemorate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, honoring the history, culture and traditions of Asians and Pacific Americans and recognizing their unique contributions to the United States. First proposed as a 1-week event in 1977, the celebration was expanded to a full month in 1990. May was chosen because of its unique significance in the history of Asian Americans. May 7, 1843, marked the first recorded immigration of Japanese to the United States. May 10, 1869, marked the completion of the transcontinental railroad--a feat that would not have happened when it did without the labor of Chinese immigrants. The Asian and Pacific American population has a rich history in this country, especially in the Pacific Northwest. In my State, records show the arrival of Asian immigrants as early as the 1860s, while some scholars even speculate that centuries before, Chinese explorers sailed down the Alaskan coast to what is now Washington State. Today, there are over 14 million Asians and Pacific Americans living in the United States, representing 5 percent of the population. In Washington, they make up 7 percent of the citizenry. Over the past century and a half, Asian and Pacific American communities have contributed significantly to the cultural vibrancy of Washington State. Individuals within Washington's Asian and Pacific American communities have also worked to stand up for justice and make our country a better place.…”