Whereas the Transcontinental Railroad was one of the most remarkable engineering feats of the 19th century; Whereas the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad spanned 6 years and stretched for nearly 2,000 miles; Whereas the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad facilitated commerce and reduced cross-country travel times from 6 months to a single week after being completed; Whereas the 150th anniversary of the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad will take place on May 10, 2019; Whereas nearly 12,000 Chinese immigrants were employed in the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad, comprising more than 80 percent of the workforce of the Central Pacific Railroad Company; Whereas the Chinese railroad workers were considered indispensable by their foremen and were respected for their work ethic and discipline; Whereas the Chinese railroad workers set a world record by laying 10 miles of railroad track in just one work day; Whereas the Chinese railroad workers were given the most difficult, dangerous jobs and were paid lower wages than other railroad workers; Whereas nearly 1,200 Chinese railroad workers died from work accidents, avalanches, and explosions while working in the Sierra Nevada Mountains; Whereas, in 2014, the Department of Labor has inducted the Chinese railroad workers into the Labor Hall of Honor for their courage in organizing in pursuit of fair wages and safe working conditions; Whereas the Chinese railroad workers’ fight against discrimination set an example for the millions of Asian Americans who came to the United States after them; Whereas both the descendants of these workers and the wider Asian-American community view the sacrifices of the Chinese railroad workers as being integral to the creation of the vibrant and growing Asian-American community that exists throughout the country today