SCR 130, as introduced, Mendoza. Portugal Day
This act would declare June 10, 2016, as Portugal Day to celebrate Portuguese national heritage.
Fiscal committee: no.
P1 1WHEREAS, In September 1542, Portuguese explorer João
2Rodrigues Cabrilho sailed a ship into San Diego Bay, thereby
3becoming the first European to explore the land now known as
4California. Cabrilho’s efforts included exploring the California
5coast, and he is credited with numerous coastal discoveries; and
6WHEREAS, Portuguese immigrants began arriving in the United
7States in relatively large numbers beginning in 1870, with most
8of these immigrants being men from the Azores, who, for the most
9part, had been recruited to farm and to work on American whaling
10ships; and
11WHEREAS, Between 1900 and 1940, as much as one-half of
12the Portuguese community in California owned or operated a dairy
13farm, worked on a dairy farm, or worked in a dairy-supporting
14industry. Applying the Portuguese belief in hard work and
15thriftiness, these pioneering Portuguese Americans were renowned
16for their work ethic and ingenuity, often reinvesting in their own
17businesses by buying more land and dairy cows; and
18WHEREAS, Among the great Portuguese Americans who have
19contributed significantly to this country are: composer John Philip
P2 1Sousa, best known for composing “Stars and Stripes Forever”;
2poet Emma Lazarus, best known for her sonnet about the Statue
3of Liberty, “The New Colossus”; architect William L. Pereira, best
4known for designing the Transamerica Pyramid in San Francisco;
5and singer and actress Carmen
Miranda; and
6WHEREAS, Portuguese Americans have made valuable and
7substantial contributions to every facet of California life, such as
8within the thriving agricultural communities of the Santa Clara
9and San Joaquin Valleys and through service in local, state, and
10federal office. Today, over 350,000 Portuguese Americans reside
11in California; and
12WHEREAS, Portuguese national literary icon Luís Vaz de
13Camões wrote Portugal’s national epic poem, Os Lusíadas,
14celebrating the 15th century Portuguese explorations that brought
15fame and fortune to the country. The poem, considered one of the
16finest and most important works in Portuguese literature, became
17a symbol for the great feats of the Portuguese Empire; and
18WHEREAS, Dia de Portugal, de Camões e das Comunidades
19Portuguesas, translated as “Day of Portugal,
Camões, and the
20Portuguese Communities,” commemorates the death of Luís Vaz
21de Camões on June 10, 1580; now, therefore, be it
22Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
23thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby declares June 10,
242016, as Portugal Day, a day to celebrate Portuguese national
25heritage; and be it further
26Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of
27this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
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