BILL NUMBER: SCR 62	CHAPTERED
	BILL TEXT

	RESOLUTION CHAPTER  70
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  JUNE 24, 2015
	ADOPTED IN SENATE  JUNE 22, 2015
	ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY  JUNE 18, 2015
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JUNE 9, 2015

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Mendoza

                        MAY 13, 2015

   Relative to Portugal Day.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SCR 62, Mendoza. Portugal Day.
   This act would declare June 10, 2015, as Portugal Day to celebrate
Portuguese national heritage.



   WHEREAS, In September 1542, Portuguese explorer Jo�o Rodrigues
Cabrilho sailed a ship into San Diego Bay, thereby becoming the first
European to explore the land now known as California. Cabrilho's
efforts included exploring the California coast, and he is credited
with numerous coastal discoveries; and
   WHEREAS, Portuguese immigrants began arriving in the United States
in relatively large numbers beginning in 1870, with most of these
immigrants being men from the Azores, who, for the most part, had
been recruited to farm and to work on American whaling ships; and
   WHEREAS, Between 1900 and 1940, as much as one-half of the
Portuguese community in California owned or operated a dairy farm,
worked on a dairy farm, or worked in a dairy-supporting industry.
Applying the Portuguese belief in hard work and thriftiness, these
pioneering Portuguese Americans were renowned for their work ethic
and ingenuity, often reinvesting in their own businesses by buying
more land and dairy cows; 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; and
   WHEREAS, Portuguese Americans have made valuable and substantial
contributions to every facet of California life, such as within the
thriving agricultural communities of the Santa Clara and San Joaquin
Valleys and through service in local, state, and federal office.
Today, over 350,000 Portuguese Americans reside in California; and
   WHEREAS, Portuguese national literary icon Lu�s Vaz de Cam�es
wrote Portugal's national epic poem, Os Lus�adas, celebrating the
15th century Portuguese explorations that brought fame and fortune to
the country. The poem, considered one of the finest and most
important works in Portuguese literature, became a symbol for the
great feats of the Portuguese Empire; and
   WHEREAS, Dia de Portugal, de Cam�es e das Comunidades Portuguesas,
translated as "Day of Portugal, Cam�es, and the Portuguese
Communities," commemorates the death of Lu�s Vaz de Cam�es on June
10, 1580; now, therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby declares June 10,
2015, as Portugal Day, a day to celebrate Portuguese national
heritage; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this
resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.