; Whereas, on October 25, 2017, the Congressional Gold Medal was presented to Filipino World War II veterans at Emancipation Hall in the Capitol Building, a recognition for which these veterans have waited more than 70 years; Whereas Filipino Americans continue to demonstrate a commendable sense of patriotism and honor; Whereas 9 Filipino Americans have received the Medal of Honor, the highest award for valor in action against an enemy force that may be bestowed on an individual serving in the Armed Forces; Whereas the late Thelma Garcia Buchholdt, born in Claveria, Cagayan, on the island of Luzon in the Philippines— (1) moved with her family to Alaska in 1965; (2) was elected to the House of Representatives of Alaska in 1974; (3) was the first Filipino woman elected to a State legislature; and (4) authored a comprehensive history book entitled Filipinos in Alaska: 1788–1958 ; Whereas Filipino-American farmworkers and labor leaders, such as Philip Vera Cruz and Larry Itliong, played an integral role in the multiethnic United Farm Workers movement, alongside Cesar Chávez, Dolores Huerta, and other Latino workers; Whereas Filipino Americans play an integral role in the health care system of the United States as nurses, doctors, and other medical professionals; Whereas Filipino Americans have contributed greatly to music, dance, literature, education, business, journalism, sports, fashion, politics, government, science, technology, the fine arts, and other fields that enrich the landscape of the United States; Whereas, as mandated in the mission statement of the Filipino American National Historical Society, efforts should continue to promote the study of Filipino-American history and culture because the roles of Filipino Americans and other people of color have largely been overlooked in the writing, teaching, and learning of the history of the United States