California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 184

Introduced by Assembly Member Arambula

May 10, 2016

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 184—Relative to Portuguese National Heritage Month.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

ACR 184, as introduced, Arambula. Portuguese National Heritage Month.

This bill would recognize the month of June 2016 as Portuguese National Heritage Month.

Fiscal committee: no.

WHEREAS, In September of 1542, Portuguese explorer Juan
Rodriguez Cabrillo sailed a ship into San Diego Bay and became
the first European to explore the land now known as California.
Cabrillo explored the California coast, and is credited with
numerous coastal discoveries; and

WHEREAS, The first Portuguese settlers came to California
from the Azores Islands in the early 19th century. The largest wave
of Azorean immigrants moved to California just before and after
the turn of the 20th century. Each wave contributed substantially
to setting up agricultural operations, especially dairy, vegetable,
and fruit farms; and

WHEREAS, Throughout most of the 20th century, as many as
one-half of all Portuguese Californians owned or operated a dairy
farm, worked on a dairy farm, or worked in a dairy-related industry.
Applying the Portuguese belief in hard work and thriftiness, along
with additional labor from family members, a Portuguese settler
could earn enough to reinvest in his business, and buy more land
and cattle; and

WHEREAS, Historically, California has been a popular
destination for immigrants from the Azores Islands, creating strong
cultural ties between the two regions; currently there are over
381,000 persons of Portuguese heritage living in California,
approximately 90 percent of whom have either come directly from
the Azores Islands or are of Azorean parentage; and

WHEREAS, In 1979, the Center for Portuguese Studies at the
University of California, Santa Barbara, was founded for the
purpose of promoting and developing Portuguese studies in
California and in the United States; and

WHEREAS, In 1994, the University of California, Berkeley,
established The Portuguese Studies Program. Included among the
many goals of the program is the goal “to spotlight the crucial and
complex but often overlooked experience and contributions of the
Portuguese-American community”; and

WHEREAS, In 1999, the Center for Portuguese Studies at the
California State University, Stanislaus, was established to promote
the study of the Portuguese-speaking world’s language, history,
culture, and influence. The Center works to enrich the connections
between the local Portuguese community and its cultural and
linguistic heritage and to forge new connections between countries
of the Portuguese-speaking world and California’s central valley;
and

WHEREAS, Among the great Portuguese Americans who have
contributed significantly to this country are: composer John Philip
Sousa, best known for composing “Stars and Stripes Forever”;
poet Emma Lazarus, best known for her sonnet about the Statue
of Liberty, “The New Colossus”; architect William L. Pereira, best
known for designing the Transamerica Pyramid in San Francisco;
and singer and actress Carmen Miranda. Many Portuguese
Americans have also served with distinction in local, state, and
federal office, and have served proudly in this country’s military;
and

WHEREAS, Portuguese Americans have made valuable and
substantial contributions to every facet of California life including
the entertainment industry, the most notable of whom are Mary
Astor, Tom Hanks, Joe Perry, and James Franco; and

WHEREAS, Portuguese Americans continue to thrive in
agricultural communities of the San Joaquin Valley, including
Hanford and Lemoore in Kings County and Shafter, Wasco, and
Bakersfield in Kern County; they have contributed greatly to
making market milk the leading agricultural product by value in
both Kings and Kern Counties; and

WHEREAS, The Portuguese Heritage Society of California
built the Portuguese Historical Museum to serve as a center for
the display of Portuguese heritage and culture. In addition to its
permanent exhibits, it will house and host exhibits and cultural
programs from various organizations and the many Portuguese
communities in the United States and around the world; and

WHEREAS, The Portuguese Heritage Society of California
designated the second Saturday of June as a day to celebrate
Portuguese culture through music, dance, art, cooking, parades,
and other festivities; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby declares the month
of June 2016 as Portuguese National Heritage Month; and be it
further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies
of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.