[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 58 (Thursday, May 11, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S3912]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TAIWANESE AMERICAN WEEK

 Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, this month I join Americans 
throughout Wisconsin and across the nation in celebrating Taiwanese 
American Heritage Week, honoring the many important contributions to 
American society of the more than half a million Taiwanese Americans in 
the United States. Without the contributions of Taiwanese Americans, we 
would lack the important AIDS research of Dr. David Ho. We would be 
denied the work of Nobel Laureate chemist Dr. Lee Yuan-Tse and that of 
the many American scientists he inspired. We would not be able to 
search for information on the internet by using Yahoo, co-founded by 
Jerry Yang. Thousands of Taiwanese Americans throughout the country 
have made important achievements in a wide range of sectors, including 
doctors, teachers, lawyers, and computer technology experts. They have 
improved the lives of their fellow American citizens, and they will 
play an integral role in our future.
  Besides their many contributions here at home, Taiwanese Americans 
have also played a vital role in the political transformation of 
Taiwan. For many years, they organized letter-writing campaigns, 
planned marches and demonstrations, and talked to any U.S. policy-maker 
who would listen about their dreams for Taiwan's future as free and 
democratic. Many risked arrest in--or exile from--their homeland as a 
result of their activities. The tireless work of Taiwanese Americans 
helped ensure the success of Taiwan's democratic evolution, beginning 
with the lifting of martial law in 1987 and culminating with the first 
fully democratic presidential election in 1996. These are achievements 
that all Americans can celebrate. I join Taiwanese Americans in 
congratulating the winners of the March presidential elections in 
Taiwan.
  Mr. President, Taiwanese American Heritage Week recognizes the long-
standing friendship between the people of the United States and Taiwan, 
and celebrates our shared values. I commend the great accomplishments 
and contributions of the Taiwanese American community.

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