Congressman Dan Goldman Cosponsors Legislation to Make Lunar New Year a Federal Holiday
Measure Part of Legislative Package Introduced by Congresswoman Grace Meng as Asian Americans Celebrate the Year of the Rabbit
Read the Bill Here
Read the Resolution Here
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) last week cosponsored a package of legislation introduced by Congresswoman Grace Meng (NY-07) to commemorate Lunar New Year. The holiday celebrations began on Sunday, January 22.
The legislative Lunar New Year package includes the Lunar New Year Day Act which would establish Lunar New Year as the 12th federal holiday recognized across the United States. It also includes a resolution, “Recognizing the cultural and historical significance of Lunar New Year” that commemorates the long history and explains the cultural importance of the holiday.
“I’m proud to cosponsor Congresswoman Grace Meng’s package of legislation to make Lunar New Year a federal holiday and to recognize its cultural and historical significance,” Congressman Dan Goldman said. “It is a privilege to represent my district’s Chinatowns in lower Manhattan and Sunset Park in Brooklyn, and it is of the utmost importance that the culture, heritage, and contributions of Asian Americans across the nation are recognized and celebrated.”
Lunar New Year celebrates the arrival of spring and the beginning of a new year on the lunisolar calendar. People often celebrate with festivals, special foods, gatherings with family and loved ones, and a variety of cultural traditions and performances. In the U.S., the day also highlights the culture, heritage, and contributions of Asian Americans. This year celebrates the Year of the Rabbit, which is considered the luckiest of the 12 animals that are assigned to the Zodiac calendar. The Rabbit symbolizes elegance, peace, and mercy. Congresswoman Meng was born in the Year of the Rabbit. For Vietnamese Lunar New Year, this year marks the Year of the Cat.
Congresswoman Grace Meng said, “Lunar New Year is one of the most significant holidays for the Asian American community. Dating back over 4,000 years, today it is celebrated by millions of Asian Americans and many non-Asian Americans in the United States. I have been championing efforts to celebrate and recognize this holiday since I was a member of the New York State Assembly. I was thrilled to help New York City be among the first municipalities to make Lunar New Year a public school holiday, and I am honored to continue leading this effort at the federal level. Asian Americans are the fastest growing ethnic group in our country, and it is important that our history and culture be recognized as part of this nation’s shared culture. My federal holiday bill is about more than just a day off from work or school. It is about educating people on cultural practices and expanding experiences beyond one’s individual heritage. I look forward to shepherding this bill through the House and would like to wish everybody celebrating in Queens and around the world a happy, healthy, and prosperous Year of the Rabbit!”
Goldman is a member of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC). CAPAC is composed of Members of Congress of Asian and Pacific Islander descent and members who have a strong dedication to promoting the well-being of the AAPI community. Currently chaired by Congresswoman Judy Chu, CAPAC has been addressing the needs of the AAPI community in all areas of American life since it was founded in 1994. CAPAC is non-partisan and bi-cameral.
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