BILL NUMBER: ACR 181	ENROLLED
	BILL TEXT

	ADOPTED IN SENATE  AUGUST 26, 2010
	ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 30, 2010
	AMENDED IN SENATE  AUGUST 20, 2010
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 9, 2010

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Logue

                        AUGUST 2, 2010

   Relative to California Sikh American Awareness and Appreciation
Month.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   ACR 181, Logue. California Sikh American Awareness and
Appreciation Month.
   This measure would designate November 2010 as California Sikh
American Awareness and Appreciation Month. It would recognize and
acknowledge the significant contributions made by Californians of
Sikh heritage to our state and afford all Californians the
opportunity to understand, recognize, and appreciate the rich
history, shared principles, religion, faith, and role Sikh Americans
play in furthering mutual understanding and respect among all
peoples.



   WHEREAS, California and our nation are at once blessed and
enriched by the unparalleled diversity of our residents; and
   WHEREAS, Among this unprecedented diversity in California, there
reside an estimated 200,000 Americans of Sikh origin, comprising
nearly 40 percent of the nation's estimated Sikh population; and
   WHEREAS, Sikh immigrants have resided in California for more than
a century, with the first Sikh immigrants believed to have labored on
railroad construction projects, in lumber mills, and in the
agricultural heartlands of the Sacramento, San Joaquin, and Imperial
Valleys; and
   WHEREAS, The first Sikh temple (Gurdwara) in California was
established in Stockton in 1912, and Sikh temples have since been
established in communities throughout California; and
   WHEREAS, While Sikh Americans have distinguished themselves in
numerous areas of endeavor, they have demonstrated particular success
in the areas of agriculture, trucking, medicine, and in the creation
of small, family-owned businesses; and
   WHEREAS, Yuba City, California, boasts one of the largest
confirmed populations of Sikh and Punjabi Americans in the nation;
and
   WHEREAS, Dalip Singh Saund was the first Sikh American and Asian
American member of the United States Congress; and
   WHEREAS, Dr. Bhagat Singh Thind struggled and fought for Asian
Indians to be allowed to become American citizens; and
   WHEREAS, Dr. Narinder Singh Kapany of Palo Alto is acknowledged by
many to be the father of fiber optics; and
   WHEREAS, Sikh Americans have served as mayors of California
cities, including David Dhillon in El Centro, Gurpal Samra in
Livingston, Amarpreet "Ruby" Dhaliwal in San Joaquin, and Kashmir
Singh Gill in Yuba City, and numerous Sikh Americans have served as
council members of California cities; and
   WHEREAS, The Sikh and Punjabi American communities of California
continue to make important contributions to our state and nation; and

   WHEREAS, Sikh Americans throughout California celebrate the
coronation day of Sikh Scripture as Guru Gaddi Divas, along with
parades in cities across California, the largest being held in Yuba
City on the first Sunday of every November; now, therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby designates the month
of November 2010 to be California Sikh American Awareness and
Appreciation Month; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Legislature recognizes and acknowledges the
significant contributions made by Californians of Sikh heritage to
our state, and by adoption of this resolution, seeks to afford all
Californians the opportunity to better understand, recognize, and
appreciate the rich history and shared principles of Sikh Americans,
their monotheistic religion and the tenets of their faith, and the
important role that Sikh Americans play in furthering mutual
understanding and respect among all peoples; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of
this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution to the
Members of the Legislature, members of the California Sikh American
community, and other interested persons.