Hirono, Meng Introduce Congressional resolution recognizing May as AANHPI Heritage Month

As the Donald Trump administration is doing everything it can to minimize the history and role of Americans of color, it becomes more important to highlight the often ignored, and forgotten stories and individuals that make America great.

Back on May 8 United States Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and U.S. Representative Grace Meng (D-NY), Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), introduced a bicameral, bipartisan resolution to mark May 2025 as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month. The resolution recognizes the significant contributions that Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities have made to this country.

        RELATED: Meng, Hirono introduced bill promoting AANHPI history in schools

“During Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we celebrate the diversity and historic contributions of our communities, while also recognizing the challenges we have overcome,” said Senator Hirono. 

“At a time when diversity is under attack and immigrant communities are being targeted across the country, I’m proud to join Chair Meng in introducing this resolution and reaffirming our commitment in this fight to build a more inclusive and equitable future for all,” said Hirono, one of three Asian American US Senators.

        FYI: The full text of the resolution is available here.

A week later on May 16, the White House issued a similar proclamation making May as AANHPI Heritage Month.

Trump has led and in many ways, encouraged the backlash against reforms that champion diversity, equaity and inclusion that provide opportunities long denied or thwarted by the white-dominated culture and institutions of America.

The Washington Post listed some of actions of this administration that could turn America back to the country that existed before the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s.

• DEI: On his first day in office, President Trump ordered a government-wide purge of DEI programs and offices.
• Civil rights: The Trump administration has moved aggressively to unravelPresident Lyndon Johnson's civil rights legacy, including by reorienting DOJ priorities to focus on "anti-white racism."
• History: Trump ordered a federal review of Confederate monuments toppled during the 2020 protests.
• Police reform: Days before the anniversary of Floyd's murder, the Justice Department scrapped proposed consent decrees for the Minneapolis and Louisville police departments — and dropped nearly a dozen other investigations into alleged police abuse.
• Refugee policy: The administration has effectively ended most refugee programs, except for one tailored to white South African farmers.

In the Senate, this resolution is cosponsored by Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Susan Collins (R-ME), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Dick Durbin (D-IL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ed Markey (D-MA), Patty Murray (D-WA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

In the House, this resolution is cosponsored by Representatives Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ), Nanette Barragán (D-CA), Ami Bera (D-CA), Salud Carbajal (D-CA), Ed Case (D-HI), Judy Chu (D-CA), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX), Valerie Foushee (D-NC), Robert Garcia (D-CA), Dan Goldman (D-NY), Jimmy Gomez (D-CA), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Al Green (D-TX), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA), Ro Khanna (D-CA), Kimberlyn King-Hinds (R-CNMI), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Susie Lee (D-NV), Ted Lieu (D-CA), April McClain Delaney (D-MD), Rob Menendez (D-NJ), Dave Min (D-CA), Kevin Mullin (D-CA), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Linda Sánchez (D-CA), Bobby Scott (D-VA), Lateefah Simon (D-CA), Marilyn Strickland (D-WA), Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA), Tom Suozzi (D-NY), Mark Takano (D-CA), Shri Thanedar (D-MI), Mike Thompson (D-CA), Jill Tokuda (D-HI), Paul Tonko (D-NY), Norma Torres (D-CA), Derek Tran (D-CA), Juan Vargas (D-CA), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ).

The civil rights policies that was born out of the Civil Rights Movement was led the Black community but they benefitted Asian Americans, Hispanics and women as well.

“Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders have made invaluable contributions to our country and continue to play a vital role in shaping America for the better,” said Rep. Meng, Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.

 “In the face of recent efforts to erase our community's achievements, Senator Hirono and I remain steadfast in our support for the AANHPI community and will continue to champion our stories of triumph, sacrifice, and resilience that are integral to the story of America.”

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