CAPAC Chair Meng Introduces Legislation to Commemorate Lunar New Year

WASHINGTON, D.C. — As communities across the United States and around the world gather for Lunar New Year, U.S. Representative Grace Meng (NY-06), Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), reintroduced a legislative package to commemorate the holiday.

Meng's legislative Lunar New Year package includes the Lunar New Year Day Act which would establish Lunar New Year as the 12th federal holiday recognized across the United States. It also includes a resolution that recognizes the cultural and historical significance of Lunar New Year. 

“Lunar New Year is one of the most important holidays for many in the Asian American community, and is celebrated by millions in the United States and around the world. It is past time that Congress recognizes this holiday on the federal level, and I am proud to be leading the effort to make this a reality” said CAPAC Chair Grace Meng. “As programs that benefit our communities come under attack, it is more important than ever to uplift the contributions, traditions, and achievements of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, and I will continue fighting to ensure their voices are heard in Congress. May this new year bring happiness, prosperity and good health for all who celebrate.”

Lunar New Year celebrates the start of the new year based on the lunisolar calendar and is the most culturally significant holiday celebrated by people in East Asia, Southeast Asia, and in Asian diasporas. In many cultures, each year corresponds with an animal from the zodiac. In the Chinese zodiac, 2025 represents the Year of the Snake, which represents wisdom, transformation, and renewal.

In New York City, Meng played a role in creating a school holiday for the city’s public schools, and she joined New York Governor Kathy Hochul in 2023 as the Governor signed legislation declaring Lunar New Year a public school holiday in New York State. The Congresswoman first proposed closing New York schools for Lunar New Year when she was a member of the New York State Legislature in 2009.

A copy of Meng's bill to make Lunar New Year a federal holiday can be found here. The resolution to commemorate Lunar New Year is available here.