[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 114 (Thursday, August 5, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10497-S10498]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 53--CONCURRENT RESOLUTION CONDEMNING ALL 
 PREJUDICE AGAINST INDIVIDUALS OF ASIAN AND PACIFIC ISLAND ANCESTRY IN 
 THE UNITED STATES AND SUPPORTING POLITICAL AND CIVIC PARTICIPATION BY 
             SUCH INDIVIDUALS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES

  Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself, Ms. Mikulski, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Akaka, Mr. 
Bingaman, and Mr. Sarbanes) submitted the following concurrent 
resolution; which was referred the Committee on the Judiciary:

                            S. Con. Res. 53

       Whereas the belief that all persons have the right to life, 
     liberty, and the pursuit of happiness is a truth that 
     individuals in the United States hold as self-evident;
       Whereas all individuals in the United States are entitled 
     to the equal protection of law;
       Whereas individuals of Asian and Pacific Island ancestry 
     have made profound contributions to life in the United 
     States, including the arts, the economy, education, the 
     sciences, technology, politics, and sports, among other 
     areas;

[[Page S10498]]

       Whereas individuals of Asian and Pacific Island ancestry 
     have demonstrated their patriotism by honorably serving to 
     defend the United States in times of armed conflict, from the 
     Civil War to the present;
       Whereas due to recent allegations of espionage and illegal 
     campaign financing, the loyalty and probity of individuals of 
     Asian and Pacific Island ancestry in the United States have 
     been questioned;
       Whereas individuals of Asian and Pacific Island ancestry 
     have suffered unfounded and demagogic accusations of 
     disloyalty throughout the history of the United States; and
       Whereas individuals of Asian and Pacific Island ancestry 
     have been subjected to discriminatory laws, including the 
     former Act of May 6, 1882 (22 Stat. 58, chapter 126) (often 
     referred to as the `Chinese Exclusion Act') and a 1913 
     California law relating to alien-owned land, and by 
     discriminatory actions, including internment of patriotic and 
     loyal individuals of Japanese ancestry during the Second 
     World War, the repatriation of Filipino immigrants, and the 
     prohibition of individuals of Asian and Pacific Island 
     ancestry from owning property, voting, testifying in court, 
     or attending school with other people in the United States: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That--
       (1) Congress condemns all prejudice against individuals of 
     Asian and Pacific Island ancestry in the United States and 
     publicly supports the participation of the individuals in the 
     political, public, and civic affairs of the United States; 
     and
       (2) it is the sense of Congress that--
       (A) no Member of Congress or any other individual in the 
     United States should stereotype or generalize the actions of 
     an individual to an entire group of people;
       (B) individuals of Asian and Pacific Island ancestry in the 
     United States are entitled to all rights and privileges 
     afforded to all individuals in the United States; and
       (C) the Attorney General, the Secretary of Energy, and the 
     Commissioner of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission 
     should, within their respective jurisdictions, investigate 
     all allegations of discrimination in public or private 
     workplaces and vigorously enforce the security of the 
     national laboratories of the United States, without 
     discriminating against individuals of Asian and Pacific 
     Island ancestry.

 Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, today I am pleased to be joined 
by Senators Boxer, Mikulski, Akaka, Bingaman, and Sarbanes in 
submitting a resolution to condemn all prejudice against individuals of 
Asian and Pacific Island ancestry in the United States, and to support 
the full participation by such individuals in the political and civic 
affairs of the United States.
  Given some of the recent reactions and media coverage of the Cox 
committee report and campaign finance allegations, this resolution 
expresses the sense of Congress that no individual or institution of 
the United States should stereotype an entire group of people and that 
all individuals in the United States, including people of Asian and 
Pacific Island ancestry, are entitled to the same rights and 
privileges.
  Indeed, over the past several months I have grown increasingly 
disturbed by some of the reactions and media coverage of the 
allegations of espionage at our national labs and illegal campaign 
financing that have called into question the loyalty of Americans of 
Asian and Pacific Island descent.
  Clearly, any individuals who are suspected of engaging in illegal or 
unethical conduct, regardless of their ancestry or heritage, should be 
investigated.
  However, the entire Asian and Pacific Island community should not be 
stereotyped or impugned as a result of the alleged actions of a few.
  Throughout the history of the United States, Americans of Asian and 
Pacific Island ancestry have suffered from unfounded and demagogic 
accusations of disloyalty. Americans of Asian and Pacific Island 
descent have been subjected to discriminatory laws, such as the 1882 
Chinese Exclusionary Act and a 1913 California law relating to alien-
owned land.
  They have also been subjected to discriminatory actions, including 
the interment of patriotic and loyal Japanese Americans during World 
War II, the repatriation of Filipino immigrants, and the prohibition of 
individuals from owning property, voting, testifying in court or 
attending school with other people in the United States.
  In light of this history, I am appalled that in recent months some 
have resorted to negative stereotypes to question the integrity of an 
entire community.
  In an impassioned letter, one of my constituents expressed, ``As a 
Chinese American . . . I ask no more than what is due to every citizen 
of this country, namely, to be treated with respect and dignity. I 
resent those who would question the loyalty of Chinese Americans any 
time a particular Chinese American is suspected of an egregious act. In 
their haste to decry the alleged espionage by an individual, not only 
are these public officials and said media guilty of a rush to judgment 
but of tarring with a broad brush other American citizens who are 
guilty of nothing else other than having the same ethnicity of the 
suspect.''
  Another one of my constituents wrote, ``It appears that China has 
become Washington D.C.'s latest scapegoat. The accusations coming out 
of Washington severely damage what could be an excellent relationship 
and are dangerously close to spilling over in this country to an anti-
Chinese and anti-Asian bias against solid U.S. citizens.''
  These comments should not be taken lightly. All Americans should be 
highly offended by the negative stereotypes and media coverage of 
members of our community who have made profound contributions to our 
nation. Americans of Asian and Pacific Island descent have made great 
contributions to the arts, the economy, the sciences, politics, sports, 
and technology, among other areas. They have honorably defended the 
United States in times of armed conflict, from the Civil War to the 
present. By virtue of their membership in American society, they have 
just as much stake in this country as an American from any other ethnic 
background, and should not be held to a different standard.
  I hope my colleagues will support this resolution and join us in 
taking a firm stand against discrimination and prejudice against 
individuals of Asian and Pacific Island ancestry in the United 
States.

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