CA SCR131

Designates April 2024 as Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) Heritage Month and commends NHPI communities for their contributions to California.

Recognizes that California has over 337,617 NHPI community members, the largest and most diverse NHPI population in the contiguous United States, with the fastest-growing groups including Papua New Guinean (249.3% increase), Chuukese, and Marshallese populations.

Acknowledges NHPI contributions to California's economy, including over 8,800 NHPI-owned firms generating $8.8 billion in revenue in 2020 and creating over 60,100 jobs.

Highlights health disparities affecting NHPI communities, including higher rates of chronic diseases, smoking, and disproportionate COVID-19 mortality (1.5 times higher death rates than overall California population in 2020).

Encourages federal, state, and local organizations to promote preservation of NHPI history, culture, and communities, and calls for data disaggregation to better serve NHPI populations with culturally sensitive policies.