Immediate Release:
July 13, 2009
Senate Passes Filipino American History Month Legislation
Senator Yee authors resolution to recognize accomplishments of
Filipino Americans
SACRAMENTO – The California State Senate has unanimously approved
legislation to officially recognize the accomplishments of Filipino
Americans. Senate Concurrent Resolution 48, authored by Senator
Leland Yee (D-San Francisco/San Mateo), will declare October as
Filipino American History Month.
“It is imperative that we continue efforts to promote the
accomplishments of Filipino Americans,” said Yee, whose district
includes one of the largest Filipino communities outside of
thePhilippines. “For far too long the role of Filipinos in our
national history has been ignored. Through SCR 48, we help ensure
that our children learn about this important history.”
The earliest documented proof of Filipino presence in the
continental United States was the date of October 18, 1587, when the
first “Luzones Indios” set foot in Morro Bay, California. The
Filipino American National Historical Society recognizes the year of
1763 as the date of the first permanent Filipino settlement in the
United States in St. Malo Parish, Louisiana. Today, California is
home to over half of the Filipino population in the United States.
In 2007, Yee successfully passed Senate Joint Resolution 5, urging
Congress to pass the Filipino Veterans Equity Act and to fully
restore benefits stripped from Filipino WWII veterans by the 1946
Rescission Act.
Senator Yee has long advocated for the Filipino veterans. In 2004,
then Assemblyman Yee led the effort to prevent Governor Arnold
Schwarzenegger (R-Los Angeles) from eliminating the California
Veterans Cash Benefit Program from the State budget. While the
Governor proposed cutting the $226 per month benefit, Yee
successfully fought to make sure the Veterans Program was
reauthorized in the budget approved by the Legislature. Yee has
also authored legislation to add the role of Filipinos in WWII to
the high school social studies curriculum.
This year, Yee is authoring SB 242 to protect language as a civil
right. In addition to authoring several bills regarding language
access, Yee has consistently fought for the Filipino community and
helped recognize the accomplishments of Filipino Americans.
In March 2006, Yee honored the contributions of Larry Itliong at a
ceremony in San Francisco. Itliong, along with Cesar Chavez and
Dolores Huerta, started the farm worker movement. Yee has led
various efforts to assist the Philippines after devastating
earthquakes, typhoons and mudslides.
In March 2005, Yee honored the late San Francisco community
activist, volunteer, and environmentalist Tess Manalo-Ventresca as
the 12th Assembly District Woman of the Year.
In 2001, when the airport screeners were laid off, Yee was an
outspoken supporter of the workers and his office provided resume
and interview tips, and participated in job fairs to help get the
workers back on their feet.
SCA 48 will next be considered by the State Assembly.
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Adam J. Keigwin | Chief of Staff
Office of Senator Leland Y. Yee, Ph.D.,
Assistant President pro Tem
California State Senate | District 8
(916) 651-4008 | www.senate.ca. gov/yee