U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, joined 10 other Senate colleagues in reintroducing legislation to promote the teaching of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander history in public schools.


What You Need To Know

  • The so-called Teaching Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander History Act is intended to increase awareness of the history, contributions and experiences of AANHPI people in the United States. 

  • Rep. Grace Meng introduced companion legislation in the House.

  • Among other things, the measure would require grant applications from presidential and congressional academies to include AANHPI history as part of their American history and civics programs offered to students and teachers
  • It would also encourage the inclusion of AANHPI history in national and state tests administered through the National Assessment of Education Progress

The so-called Teaching Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander History Act is intended to increase awareness of the history, contributions and experiences of AANHPI people in the United States. 

Rep. Grace Meng introduced companion legislation in the House.

“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,” Hirono said. “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.”

As the bill states, “The traditional American history curriculum for kindergarten through grade 12 continues to be taught from a Eurocentric point of view and excludes histories of racist immigration laws relevant to policies today. Social studies textbooks for kindergarten through grade 12 poorly represent Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, overlook the diversity within those communities, and print images of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in stereotypical roles.”

The measure would require grant applications from presidential and congressional academies to include AANHPI history as part of their American history and civics programs offered to students and teachers; encourage the inclusion of AANHPI history in national and state tests administered through the National Assessment of Education Progress; and promote collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution’s Asian Pacific American Center to develop innovative AANHPI history programming.

As the lawmakers note, hundreds of teachers and students attend presidential and congressional 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.

Joining Hirono in co-sponsoring the legislation were Sens. Cory Booker, D-N.J.; Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev.; Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.; Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y.; Any Klobuchar, D-Minn.; Alex Padilla, D-Calif.; Jacky Rosen, D-Nev.; Tina Smith, D-Minn.; Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.; and Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.M.

The legislation has been endorsed  by numerous organizations, including the Southern Poverty Law Center Action Fund, American Federation of Teachers, Teach for America, Educators for Excellence, National Council of Asian Pacific Americans, Asian Americans Advancing Justice, Asian Pacific American Advocates, Asian American Federal Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations Asian and Pacific Islander American Health Forum, National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, Chinese Historical Society of America, Japanese American Citizens League, Council of Korean Americans, Indian Diaspora Council, National Asian/Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce and Entrepreneurship, Committee of 100, Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund and the Fred Korematsu Institute.

Michael Tsai covers local and state politics for Spectrum News Hawaii.