Queens congresswoman introduces bill to
make Lunar New Year a federal holiday
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TIMESLEDGER | Q 24 NS.COM | FEB. 4 - FEB. 10, 2022
holiday to everybody
celebrating, while also
expressing the deepest
respect for Asian
Americans and all individuals
throughout the
world who observe the
holiday.
On Feb. 1, Meng
also celebrated the
anniversary of Lunar
New Year becoming a
school holiday in New
York City, which she
played a role in creating
in 2016. The congresswoman
first proposed
closing New York
City schools for Lunar
New Year when she was
a member of the New
York State Legislature
in 2009.
“For Asian Americans,
Lunar New Year
is an incredibly important,
festive and deeply
traditional holiday,”
Meng said. “It’s the
most significant time
of year for the Asian
American community
and is celebrated in
the U.S. and across the
globe. It has also been
observed for thousands
of years. With Asian
Americans being the
fastest growing population
in our country, and
with the popularity of
the holiday continuing
to grow, it makes sense
to make Lunar New
Year a federal holiday.
The time has come to
make this happen.”
According to Meng,
her bill, coupled with
the resolution, would
demonstrate that the
holiday celebrated by
millions is also valued
by their government.
“I look forward to
shepherding these
measures through the
House, and I am excited
to wish everyone a
very happy Lunar New
Year!” Meng said.
Lunar New Year celebrates
the culture, heritage
and contributions
of Asian Americans,
and this year begins the
year of the Tiger which
symbolizes a competitive
nature, courage
and ambition.
Reach reporter
Carlotta Mohamed by
e-mail at cmohamed@
schnepsmedia.com or by
phone at (718) 260–4526.
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
As Asian Americans
celebrated the Year of
the Tiger on Tuesday,
Feb. 1, Queens Congresswoman
Grace
Meng has introduced
new legislation to create
a federal holiday for
Lunar New Year.
Meng’s measure, the
“Lunar New Year Day
Act,” would make Lunar
New Year a federally
recognized holiday in
the United States, adding
it to the list of 11 federal
holidays that are
currently recognized.
The bill was introduced
with 44 cosponsors.
Meng also reintroduced
a House resolution
titled “Recognizing
the cultural and
historical significance
of Lunar New Year in
2022,” which has 71 cosponsors.
The resolution recognizes
the cultural
and historical significance
of Lunar New
Year, as well as wishing
a happy and prosperous
Congresswoman Grace Meng QNS fi le photo
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