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Indian American leaders mark AAPI Heritage Month with messages on identity
Lawmakers link immigrant histories to national milestones as the United States marks AAPI Heritage Month in May.
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Malvika Choudhary - Fri, 01, May 2026
- 17:20 EDT
- 19
AANHPI Heritage Month / X/ Pramila Jayapal
Indian American leaders marked the start of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month on May 1 with messages reflecting on identity, migration, and the contributions of AAPI communities across the United States.
U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) said the observance holds personal and collective significance.
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“Today we start AANHPI Heritage Month! As the first South Asian woman elected to the House of Representatives, I am so proud to be a part of this beautiful and vibrant community,” Jayapal said in a public message.
Today we start AANHPI Heritage Month! As the first South Asian woman elected to the House of Representatives, I am so proud to be a part of this beautiful and vibrant community.
— Rep. Pramila Jayapal (@RepJayapal) May 1, 2026
Let us honor the contributions, culture, and history of AANHPI communities this month and every day. pic.twitter.com/Fqb21HQPSr
She called for continued recognition of AAPI communities beyond the commemorative month. “Let us honor the contributions, culture, and history of AANHPI communities this month and every day,” she added.
In North Carolina, State Senator Jay Chaudhuri linked the observance to his family’s immigration story and the broader experience of Asian Americans.
He said May 1 marks a personal moment, shaped by the journey of his parents, who migrated to the United States and built their lives in the state.
May 1st marks the start of AAPI Heritage Month — and it's personal for me.
— Sen. Jay Chaudhuri (@jay_chaudhuri) May 1, 2026
My parents are part of the generation that brought their families, their talents, and their dreams to North Carolina. Like so many Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, they helped build this state into… pic.twitter.com/WhoHK8LUHW
“My parents are part of the generation that brought their families, their talents, and their dreams to North Carolina. Like so many Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, they helped build this state into what it is today,” Chaudhuri said.
He added that the month is an opportunity to recognize the role of AAPI communities in shaping the state’s future. “This month, I celebrate them and every member of our AAPI community whose contributions make North Carolina's future brighter,” he said.
The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus also marked the occasion, calling for recognition of the community’s impact.
“Happy Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month! This month and year-round, we celebrate the achievements, contributions, and sacrifices of the AANHPI community and recognize the indelible impact we’ve had on our nation,” the caucus said.
AAPI Heritage Month is observed annually in May to recognize the history, culture, and contributions of people of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander descent in the United States.
The observance traces its origins to the late 1970s, when Congress first established a weeklong recognition in 1978, later expanded into a full month in 1992.
The month of May was chosen to mark key historical milestones, including the arrival of the first Japanese immigrant to the United States in 1843 and the completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1869, built largely by Chinese laborers.
The annual observance has since evolved into a nationwide effort across government institutions, civic bodies, and community organizations to highlight the contributions of AAPI communities to American society, culture, and public life.
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