TAIPEI (TVBS News) — On Wednesday (March 13), Governor Jay Inslee of Washington state signed a bill into law, officially designating Lunar New Year as a state holiday.
Washington now joins Colorado and California, which recognize the Lunar New Year as an official but unpaid holiday.
The bill was advanced earlier this year by Washington Representative My-Linh Thai, a Vietnamese-American who aims to promote greater inclusivity for Asian Americans. The proposal garnered overwhelming support in both the House of Representatives and Senate in January and February.
For Thai, the enactment of the bill represents the realization of a "youthful dream." During the signing, she expressed her hope that children would see themselves as part of the American fabric, stating, "They are American. They are part of what makes Washington, Washington, and they can be proud of who they are."
Thai intends to advocate for the Lunar New Year to be recognized as a legislative holiday and hopes that this law will help combat anti-Asian sentiments, saying, "I hope it becomes a nationwide movement, achieved in all 50 states."
According to the 2020 Census data, approximately 900,000 Asians reside in Washington, constituting 12% of the state's population.
Thai, a supporter of Taiwan, has previously led resolutions supporting Taiwan and has visited the country.