NYC Gazette

Lawmakers introduce the bill during Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

WASHINGTON, D.C. – As New York and the nation continue to mark Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY) and Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI) announced today that they introduced legislation to promote the teaching of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) history in schools.

Throughout America’s history, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders have made immeasurable contributions to our nation, helping to make the United States the country that it is today. However, AANHPI history has been ignored or poorly represented in our K-12 education system and social studies textbooks.

The lawmakers’ Teaching Asian Pacific American History Act would help change this by increasing awareness of the history, contributions and experiences of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders in the United States so that more students across the nation understand and appreciate the role that AANHPIs have played in shaping and building America.

“Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander history IS American history,” said Congresswoman Meng, the First Vice Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. “From the heights we’ve reached to the struggles we have faced, future generations must know and understand all that the AANHPI community has given to our country. For too long, our schools have ignored or diminished this vital part of our nation’s past, and it is finally time for that to change. A greater understanding of our story would also help address anti-Asian hate and discrimination at its roots, and combat the stereotypes and negative perceptions that for generations have existed about Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. I thank Senator Hirono for partnering with me on this important legislation and look forward to our bills moving through Congress.”

“Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month is an opportunity to recognize AANHPI individuals and communities that have contributed to the development and enhancement of American life and culture,” said Senator Hirono. “But too often, the teaching of AANHPI history has been limited to passing references or minor footnotes that barely scratch the surface of our diverse and resilient communities. I am proud to join Representative Meng in reintroducing the Teaching Asian Pacific American History Act so that public school students across the U.S. can better understand the racism and prejudice that members of the AANHPI community have endured, as well as the many achievements and contributions they have made to our communities.”

“The inclusion of AAPI histories in education is crucial as it allows AAPI students to see themselves and their communities represented in the curriculum, while promoting mutual learning between students of all backgrounds, and helping to dismantle harmful stereotypes by exposing all students to the richness of all the contributions the AAPI community has had to our country,” said Soukprida Phetmisy, Senior Managing Director of Teach For America’s Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Alliances. “The anti-Asian violence that escalated since the pandemic began illustrates how harmful believing these stereotypes can be. To fight back against this prejudice and violence, it is essential to understand and acknowledge the inextricable role of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in shaping the nation's story and identity. By teaching this full history, and celebrating it, we dispel the harmful narrative that suggests Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are not an integral part of the United States.”

“Now, more than at any time in recent memory, it is crucial that students have the opportunity to learn the rich history of Asian American and Pacific Islander communities,” said Margaret Huang, President and CEO of the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) and Southern Poverty Law Center Action Fund. “The SPLC applauds Rep. Meng and Senator Hirono for their leadership in introducing the Teaching Asian Pacific American History Act. The United States has a long and shameful history of discrimination against people of Asian and Pacific Islander descent — and just this year, the FBI documented record levels of hate violence against our communities. Hate crime laws must be enforced, but equally important are prevention and education. We look forward to working together to enact this important legislation and to center and celebrate the many contributions of Asian and Pacific Islanders to our nation.”

"The teaching of Asian Pacific American History in our education system is critical for the progress of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities,” said Gregg Orton, National Director of the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA). “The consistent neglect of APA history in our curriculum has led to the erasure of many generations of our communities. This bill would allow our students nationwide to be seen and feel empowered, while educating others in understanding our roots and cultural history. We thank Sen. Hirono and Rep. Meng's commitment to advancing this bill and look forward to seeing its passage."

"This bill represents a historic step in prioritizing Asian American and Pacific Islander histories in our education system," said John C. Yang, President and Executive Director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC. "Recent events have shown that teaching diverse curricula is ever more important to building a more inclusive future, and public education of AAPI histories will play a crucial role in ensuring that we can move forward as a country."

"National ACE is proud to endorse this bill to expand education on AA and NHPI history in our country’s K-12 education system,” said Chiling Tong, President and CEO of the National Asian/Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce and Entrepreneurship (National ACE). “Invisibility and misrepresentation are a serious barrier for AA and NHPI communities. We appreciate all the work Representative Meng and Senator Hirono are doing to tackle these harmful patterns."

The Teaching Asian Pacific American History Act would require grant applications from Presidential and Congressional Academies to include Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander history as part of their American history and civics programs offered to students and teachers. Every year, hundreds of teachers and students attend these academies, which are funded by the U.S. Department of Education, for an in-depth study of American history and civics.

Presidential Academies are designed for teachers seeking to strengthen their knowledge of American history, and Congressional Academies for students who aim to enrich their understanding of the subject.

The bill, which Meng previously introduced in 2020 and 2021, would also encourage the inclusion of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander history in national and state tests administered through the National Assessment of Educational Progress, and promote collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution's Asian Pacific American Center to develop innovative programming regarding Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander history.

The measure comes after Meng passed legislation into law last year to create the first National Museum of Asian Pacific American History and Culture, a facility that would provide the physical space for more Americans to learn about the vast contributions that AANHPIs have made to America.

In addition, several states have implemented their own curriculum requirements to include the teaching of the contributions of AANHPIs in history and civics courses after the Congresswoman first introduced the bill.

Organizations that have endorsed the Meng-Hirono legislation include the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) Action Fund, American Federation of Teachers, Teach for America, Educators for Excellence, National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA), Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC, OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates, Asian American Federation (AAF), Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO), Asian and Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF), National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF), National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), Chinese Historical Society of America, Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), Council of Korean Americans, Indian Diaspora Council, National Asian/Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce and Entrepreneurship (National ACE), Committee of 100, Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) and the Fred Korematsu Institute. 

Original source can be found here.