Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, 2016, 26977-26980 [2016-10643]

Agencies

• Executive Office of the President

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 86 (Wednesday, May 4, 2016)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 26977-26980]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-10643]



[[Page 26977]]

Vol. 81

Wednesday,

No. 86

May 4, 2016

Part V





The President





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Proclamation 9434--Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, 
2016



Proclamation 9435--National Building Safety Month, 2016



Proclamation 9436--Older Americans Month, 2016



Proclamation 9437--National Charter Schools Week, 2016



Proclamation 9438--National Small Business Week, 2016



Proclamation 9439--National Teacher Appreciation Day and National 
Teacher Appreciation Week, 2016



Proclamation 9440--Public Service Recognition Week, 2016



Memorandum of April 29, 2016--Promoting Rehabilitation and 
Reintegration of Formerly Incarcerated Individuals


                        Presidential Documents 



Federal Register / Vol. 81 , No. 86 / Wednesday, May 4, 2016 / 
Presidential Documents

___________________________________________________________________

Title 3--
The President

[[Page 26979]]

                Proclamation 9434 of April 29, 2016

                
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage 
                Month, 2016

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) are the 
                fastest growing racial group in our country, growing 
                over 4 times as rapidly as the population of the United 
                States. As one of the most culturally and 
                linguistically diverse groups in America, the AAPI 
                community reminds us that though we all have distinct 
                backgrounds and origins, we are bound in common purpose 
                by our shared hopes and dreams for ourselves and our 
                children. Our Nation's story would be incomplete 
                without the voices of countless Asian Americans, Native 
                Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders who have called the 
                land we all love home. This month, we honor the 
                irreplaceable roles they have played in our past, and 
                we recommit to ensuring opportunities exist for 
                generations of AAPIs to come.

                The AAPI community's long and deeply-rooted legacy in 
                the United States reminds us of both proud and painful 
                chapters of our history. Confronted with grueling and 
                perilous working conditions, thousands of Chinese 
                laborers on the transcontinental railroad pushed the 
                wheels of progress forward in the West. Japanese 
                American troops fought for freedom from tyranny abroad 
                in World War II while their families here at home were 
                interned simply on the basis of their origin. And many 
                South Asian Americans in particular face 
                discrimination, harassment, and senseless violence 
                often in the communities in which they live and work.

                Today, AAPIs lend their rich heritage to enhancing our 
                communities and our culture. As artists and activists, 
                educators and elected officials, service men and women 
                and business owners, AAPIs help drive our country 
                forward. Yet despite hard-won achievements, AAPIs 
                continue to face obstacles to realizing their full 
                potential. One in three AAPIs does not speak English 
                fluently, and certain subgroups experience low levels 
                of educational attainment and high levels of 
                unemployment. AAPIs also often experience heightened 
                health risks, and millions of AAPI men, women, and 
                children in the United States live in poverty.

                My Administration is committed to supporting and 
                investing in AAPI communities. Thanks to the Affordable 
                Care Act, 20 million uninsured adults have gained 
                health insurance coverage, including 2 million AAPIs. 
                Among Asian Americans under the age of 65, the 
                uninsured rate has declined by 55 percent since 2013. 
                Last year, we brought together thousands of AAPI 
                artists; advocates; and business, community, and 
                Federal leaders from across America for the first-ever 
                White House Summit on AAPIs to discuss the key issues 
                facing their communities. The Summit was hosted by the 
                White House Initiative on AAPIs, which I reestablished 
                during my first year in office and is housed within the 
                Department of Education. We are working with Federal 
                agencies to build stronger and more robust regional 
                networks across our country that improve access to 
                Federal resources and expand opportunities. We have 
                worked to protect civil rights, foster educational 
                equity, and create economic opportunity across our 
                country. Because a lack of detailed data perpetuates 
                the false notion of AAPIs as a model minority, we are 
                working across Government to improve data collection to 
                counter existing stereotypes and to shed light on the 
                realities faced

[[Page 26980]]

                and resources needed by the AAPI community. Through the 
                White House Task Force on New Americans, Federal 
                agencies are working with cities and counties around 
                America to build welcoming communities that allow 
                immigrants and refugees to thrive. And we will continue 
                working to allow more high-skilled immigrants to stay 
                in our country--too many talented AAPIs are held back 
                from fully realizing our country's promise, and too 
                many have suffered the consequences of our Nation's 
                broken immigration system.

                Peoples of diverse backgrounds and circumstances have 
                long come to our country with the faith that they could 
                build a better life in America, and spanning 
                generations, the story of AAPIs in the United States 
                embodies this promise. During Asian American and 
                Pacific Islander Heritage Month, let us celebrate the 
                many contributions our AAPI brothers and sisters have 
                made to the American mosaic, and let us renew our 
                commitment to creating more opportunities for AAPI 
                youth as they grow up and embrace the hard work of 
                active citizenship, adding their unique voices and 
                experiences to our Nation's narrative.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the 
                United States of America, by virtue of the authority 
                vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the 
                United States, do hereby proclaim May 2016 as Asian 
                American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. I call 
                upon all Americans to visit www.WhiteHouse.gov/AAPI to 
                learn more about our efforts on behalf of Asian 
                Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders, and 
                to observe this month with appropriate programs and 
                activities.

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                twenty-ninth day of April, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand sixteen, and of the Independence of the United 
                States of America the two hundred and fortieth.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 2016-10643
Filed 5-3-16; 11:15 am]
Billing code 3295-F6-P