HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 775 Offered January 19, 2007 Recognizing the importance of the Lunar New Year on February 18, 2007, to Virginia's Asian and Pacific American communities. ---------- Patron-- Ebbin ---------- Committee Referral Pending ----------

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth of Virginia is one of 10 states in the nation with the largest Asian and Pacific American communities and the number of Asian/Pacific Americans has increased nearly 95 percent from 1990 to 2000 and comprise 350,000 people, who contribute over $4.4 billion to the state’s economy and produce over 47,000 jobs; and

WHEREAS, February 18, 2007, marks the Lunar New Year, the beginning of the year 4705 of the Lunar Calendar and the Year of the Pig, an auspicious new cycle for most Asian and Pacific communities across the United States and throughout the world; and

WHEREAS, the Lunar New Year is a day of great anticipation and celebration in Virginia by the Asian and Pacific Americans, who include Chinese, Vietnamese, Filipino, Korean, Indian, Pakistani, Cambodian, Thai, Burmese, Laotian, Indonesian, Malaysian, and Mung; and

WHEREAS, the importance of the Lunar New Year on February 18, 2007, is promoted by the members of CAPAVA, the Coalition of Asian Pacific Americans of Virginia, a nonprofit organization that encourages Asian and Pacific Americans in Virginia to participate actively and fully as civic-minded citizens; and

WHEREAS, the Lunar New Year is a day to reflect on the achievements of Virginia's Asian and Pacific Americans and recognize their valued position as a full-partner in the bright future of the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, the numerous contributions made by outstanding Asian and Pacific Americans are invaluable to the prosperity and well-being of Virginia, warranting the highest respect and support of their honored culture and traditions by the Commonwealth and its citizens; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly recognize the importance of the Lunar New Year on February 18, 2007, to Virginia's Asian and Pacific American communities; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates transmit a copy of this resolution to Eric Liang Jensen on behalf of the Coalition of Asian Pacific Americans of Virginia, requesting that the organization further disseminate copies of this resolution to their respective constituents so that they may be apprised of the sense of the General Assembly of Virginia in this matter.