As the Asian community welcomes the Lunar New Year, Democratic Congresswoman Grace Meng announced on the 29th that she has once again introduced a bill proposing to establish the Lunar New Year as a federal holiday. She also simultaneously introduced a resolution to officially recognize the historical and cultural significance of this holiday. This year coincides with the Year of the Snake in the Chinese zodiac, and Meng hopes that through legislation, the Lunar New Year will become an officially recognized federal holiday in the United States, joining the current list of 11 federal holidays.
In addition to the bill, Meng also reintroduced a House resolution affirming the cultural and historical significance of the Lunar New Year and extending New Year greetings to all celebrants, expressing deep respect for Asian Americans and all individuals around the world who celebrate this holiday.
“The Lunar New Year is one of the most important holidays for many Asian Americans, celebrated by millions around the globe. It is long overdue for Congress to officially recognize this holiday, and I am proud to push forward with this legislation to make this vision a reality,” Meng said. “As our community faces various challenges, highlighting the contributions, traditions, and achievements of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders becomes especially important. I will continue to fight to ensure that our voices are heard in Congress. May the New Year bring happiness, prosperity, and good health to all celebrants.”
Meng’s “Lunar New Year Day Act” currently has the support of 39 members of Congress who have co-sponsored the bill.
Furthermore, her resolution “Recognizing the cultural and historical significance of Lunar New Year in 2025” has the support of 50 members of Congress.
In New York state, Meng has been actively advocating for the inclusion of the Lunar New Year as a holiday in public schools. She played a role in getting the New York City public schools to designate the Lunar New Year as a holiday and, in 2023, witnessed the signing of the legislation by New York Governor Kathy Hochul to make the Lunar New Year a holiday for all public schools in the state. As early as 2009, during her time in the New York State Assembly, Meng had proposed giving New York schools a day off on the Lunar New Year, laying the foundation for subsequent legislation.