BILL NUMBER: SCR 62	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JUNE 9, 2015

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Mendoza

                        MAY 13, 2015

   Relative to Portugal Day.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SCR 62, as amended, Mendoza. Portugal Day.
   This act would declare June 10, 2015, as Portugal Day to celebrate
Portuguese national heritage.
   Fiscal committee: no.



   WHEREAS, In September  of  1542, Portuguese
explorer João Rodrigues  Cabrillo   Cabrilho
 sailed a ship into San Diego Bay,  thereby  becoming
the first European to explore the land now known as California.
 Cabrillo explored  Cabrilho's efforts included
exploring  the California coast, and  he  is credited
with numerous coastal discoveries; and
   WHEREAS,  In 1870,  Portuguese immigrants began
arriving in the United States in relatively large  numbers.
The majority of these Portuguese immigrants were  
numbers beginning in 1870, with most of these immigrants being 
men from the Azores,  who were primarily   who,
for the most part, had been  recruited to  farm  
and to  work on American whaling  ships and to farm;
  ships;  and
   WHEREAS, Between 1900 and 1940, as much as one-half of the
Portuguese community in California owned or operated a dairy farm,
worked on a dairy farm, or worked in a dairy-supporting industry.
Applying the Portuguese belief in hard work and thriftiness, 
along with additional labor from family members, a Portuguese
settler could earn enough to reinvest in his business, buying land
and more dairy cows;   these pioneering Portuguese
Americans were renowned for their work ethic and ingenuity, often
reinvesting in their own businesses by buying more land and dairy
cows;  and
   WHEREAS, Among the great Portuguese Americans who have contributed
significantly to this country are: composer John Philip Sousa, best
known for composing "Stars and Stripes Forever"; poet Emma Lazarus,
best known for her sonnet about the Statue of Liberty, "The New
Colossus"; architect William L. Pereira, best known for designing the
Transamerica Pyramid in San Francisco; and singer and actress Carmen
 Miranda. Many Portuguese Americans have also served with
distinction in local, state, and federal office;  
Miranda;  and
   WHEREAS, Portuguese Americans have  truly  made
valuable and substantial contributions to every facet of California
 life. Portuguese Americans continue to thrive in 
 life, such as within the thriving  agricultural communities
of the Santa Clara and San Joaquin Valleys  and through service
in local, state, and federal office  . Today, over 350,000
Portuguese Americans reside in  California.;  
California;  and
   WHEREAS, Portuguese national literary icon Luís  Vaz  de
Camões wrote Portugal's national epic poem, Os Lusíadas, celebrating
the  15th-century   15th century 
Portuguese explorations  which   that 
brought fame and fortune to the country. The poem, considered one of
the finest and most important works in Portuguese literature, became
a symbol for the great feats of the Portuguese Empire; and
   WHEREAS, Dia de Portugal, de Camões e das Comunidades Portuguesas,
translated as "Day of Portugal, Camões, and the Portuguese
Communities," commemorates the death of Luís  Vaz  de Camões
on June 10, 1580; now, therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby declares June 10,
2015, as Portugal Day, a day to celebrate Portuguese national
heritage; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this
resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.