Pelosi Statement on Asian Pacific American Heritage Month

Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement in recognition of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month:

"During Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, Americans celebrate all that the AAPI community has done to shape our history, enrich our cultural tapestry and engage in our democracy. Generations of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have contributed their talents, energy and patriotism to advancing the American experiment. San Franciscans take great pride in being home to one of the country's largest and most vibrant AAPI populations, and we have long been strengthened by the blessing of this community's beautiful diversity and resilience.

"Shamefully, racism and xenophobia continue to plague AAPI communities across the country. Over the last two years, an outrageous surge of hate crimes has endangered the lives and well-being of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders – from the vandalism of AAPI-owned small businesses to brutal acts of violence. Stop AAPI Hate has documented more than 10,000 anti-AAPI hate incidents since the beginning of the pandemic, nearly 62 percent of which targeted women. We all have a moral obligation to speak out against this hate wherever and whenever it occurs. Led by the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, the Democratic House proudly passed Congresswoman Grace Meng's COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act. By expanding multilingual reporting resources and expediting the Department of Justice's review of pandemic-related hate crimes, this legislation is helping to empower AAPI communities and bring offenders to justice. The House has also taken action to shine a light on both the soaring achievements and painful injustices that have defined the AAPI community's history, voting to bolster public awareness of the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II and advancing the establishment of a national AAPI history museum.

"America draws great strength from our heritage as a nation of immigrants and as a land of opportunity for all – so we must never relent until we stamp out injustice and racist violence in all its forms. This month, as we celebrate our AAPI friends, neighbors and loved ones, let us renew our commitment to realizing the full promise of America and building a safer, more just future for all of our children."