Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 56

Introduced by Senator Pan

(Coauthors: Assembly Members Chang and Ting)

May 5, 2015

Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 56—Relative to Taiwanese American Heritage Week.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

SCR 56, as introduced, Pan. Taiwanese American Heritage Week.

This measure would proclaim that the Legislature joins Taiwanese communities throughout the state in celebrating Taiwanese American Heritage Week. This measure would declare that warm relations and bilateral exchange between the people of California and Taiwan should grow. This measure would state that the Legislature supports the goals of Taiwanese American Heritage Week and recognizes the profound importance of Taiwanese Americans to California.

Fiscal committee: no.

WHEREAS, May 2015, will mark the 17th annual Taiwanese
American Heritage Week national celebration; and

WHEREAS, President Bill Clinton first acknowledged, in a
letter to the Taiwanese community in May 1999, the celebration
of Taiwanese American Heritage Week during the first week of
May; and

WHEREAS, The annual Taiwanese American Heritage Week
celebration creates awareness of the contributions of Taiwanese
Americans; and

WHEREAS, The recognition of Taiwanese American Heritage
Week promotes shared community among different generations
of Taiwanese Americans in California; and

WHEREAS, The Taiwanese American community strongly
supports democracy, human rights, and the rule of law; and

WHEREAS, Taiwanese Americans are committed to the
principles of freedom, justice, and democracy; and

WHEREAS, Frequent exchanges, including exchanges at the
highest level of government, contribute to broadening the
friendship and cooperation between California and Taiwan; and

WHEREAS, Taiwanese Americans have contributed greatly to
scientific, technological, and business advancements that have
helped to shape our state and the world, including notable
Taiwanese Americans such as Chief Technology Officer of
YouTube Steven Chen, California Supreme Court Justice Goodwin
Liu, and cofounder of Yahoo Jeremy Yang; and

WHEREAS, Taiwanese Americans have also contributed greatly
to the arts, entertainment, and humanitarian endeavors that have
impacted and shaped the social fabric of our state and nation,
including Academy Award winning film director Ang Lee,
journalists Lisa and Laura Ling, National Basketball Association
phenom, Jeremy Lin; and

WHEREAS, The United States and Taiwan share common ideals
and a vision for a healthy, peaceful, and democratic 21st century;
now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
thereof concurring, That the Legislature joins Taiwanese
communities throughout the state in celebrating Taiwanese
American Heritage Week; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature declares that the warm relations
and bilateral exchange between the people of California and Taiwan
should grow; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature supports the goals of Taiwanese
American Heritage Week and recognizes the profound importance
of Taiwanese Americans to California; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of
this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.