Gov. Inslee signs bill designating January as Americans of Chinese Descent Month in Washington

Gov. Jay Inslee signed a bill into law Tuesday designating January as Americans of Chinese Descent Month, making Washington the first state in the country to honor Chinese Americans in such a way.

Senate Bill 5000 was sponsored by Sen. Keith Wagoner (R-Sedro Woolley) and was the first measure introduced in the Senate for the 2023 regular legislative session. The bill designates each January in Washington as Chinese American/Americans of Chinese Descent History Month.

“Today is the culmination of years of hard work by members of the Chinese-American community,” said Wagoner. “Linda Yang and Asians for Equality were joined by parents, schoolchildren, educators, small business owners and others who brought the measure to me, raised awareness – both inside and outside of their community – and worked diligently for years to see this historic day.”

According to a news release from Wagoner’s office, the new law also encourages public schools to designate time for educational activities that commemorate the state’s “complicated history with the Chinese community — the good and the bad.”

The law created by SB 5000 takes effect July 23.

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