HOUSE MEMORIAL 91

52nd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2015

INTRODUCED BY

Sheryl Williams Stapleton

A MEMORIAL

DECLARING MARCH 6, 2015 "ASIAN AMERICAN DAY" IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

     WHEREAS, there are more than thirty thousand Asians living in New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, Asians are among the fastest-growing minority groups in New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, Asians in New Mexico come from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pakistan, the Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, Tibet and Vietnam; and

     WHEREAS, Asians have worked on the railroads and in agriculture in New Mexico since the nineteenth century and fought bravely in World War I, World War II, the Korean and Vietnam conflicts, the Gulf War and in Afghanistan and Iraq and have received Congressional Medals of Honor, Purple Hearts and other military commendations; and

     WHEREAS, this year represents the fiftieth anniversary of the passage of the federal Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson at the foot of the statue of liberty on October 3, 1965; and

     WHEREAS, prior to passage of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, Asians were greatly affected by the Chinese Exclusion Act, passed in 1882, which restricted immigration of Chinese laborers and forbade the naturalization of Chinese immigrants; and

     WHEREAS, Asians also were affected by the Immigration Act of 1917, which designated an "Asiatic barred zone" of much of eastern Asia and the Pacific islands from which people could not immigrate; and

     WHEREAS, the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 enabled Chinese family reunification, civil rights and equal protection under the law that had been denied for over sixty years; and

     WHEREAS, the law linked persons of Chinese descent to all American minorities and the basic founding principle of the United States: that all persons are created equal; and

     WHEREAS, Asians have contributed greatly to the economy of New Mexico with their labor, industry, businesses and purchasing power; and

     WHEREAS, Asians are contributing their unique culture, customs and traditions to the already richly diverse culture of New Mexico;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that March 6, 2015 be declared "Asian American Day" in the house of representatives; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the Asian American association of New Mexico.

- 3 -