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2006 SESSION


SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 190
Commending Virginia's Asian and Pacific American communities.
 
Agreed to by the Senate, February 9, 2006
Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 17, 2006
 

WHEREAS, the honored culture and traditions, as well as the strong values of family, the importance of education, public service, and entrepreneurship of Asian and Pacific American citizens have been an integral part of the fabric and history of the Commonwealth and the nation; and

WHEREAS, Virginia is one of 10 states in the nation with the largest number of Asian and Pacific American communities, with nearly 310,000 Asian/Pacific Americans (APA) or 4.2 percent of the state population; and

WHEREAS, 48 percent of the foreign-born APAs in Virginia are naturalized United States citizens, with 70 percent of those citizens being homeowners; and

WHEREAS, there were 22,441 APA-owned firms in Virginia that generated $4.4 billion in sales and created jobs for 46,920 employees, according to the 1997 Economic Census; and APA employees earned a median income of $55,699 in 2004, with 47 percent of APA employees holding a bachelor’s degree or higher; and

WHEREAS, the Asian and Pacific American communities constitute 12 percent of the Commonwealth’s civilian labor force, 44 percent of labor force growth over the last decade, and 6.5 percent of active duty Armed Forces personnel, according to the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC); and

WHEREAS, with their innovation, ethics, hard work, and diligence, the Asian and Pacific American communities have been essential to the continued growth and prosperity of the Commonwealth by providing business, industry, and intellectual capital as entrepreneurs, artists, educators, doctors, scientists, discoverers, and explorers; and

WHEREAS, Asian and Pacific American families and individuals have overcome periods of poverty, discrimination, great hardship, and cultural barriers to become among the most economically productive communities in Virginia; and

WHEREAS, the Asian and Pacific American communities have greatly enriched and strengthened Virginia and warrant the highest respect, support, and gratitude of the Commonwealth and its citizens; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Virginia's Asian and Pacific American communities for their outstanding service and invaluable contributions to the Commonwealth; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to representatives of Virginia's Asian and Pacific American communities as an expression of the General Assembly's appreciation for their rich culture and traditions, as well as their exemplary citizenship.