[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 62 (Tuesday, May 8, 2001)]
[House]
[Pages H1932-H1934]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
INTRODUCTION OF CONCURRENT RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING PRINTING OF ``ASIAN
AND PACIFIC ISLANDER AMERICANS IN CONGRESS''
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of
January 3, 2001, the gentleman from Guam (Mr. Underwood) is recognized
during morning hour debates for 5 minutes.
Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, in celebration of Asian Pacific American
Heritage Month, I proudly rise to introduce a concurrent resolution
authorizing the printing of a book entitled ``Asian and Pacific
Islander Americans in Congress.''
Each year during the month of May, we celebrate the rich heritage of
Asian and Pacific Islander Americans throughout the country, thanks to
the pioneering efforts of Congressmen Frank Horton and Norman Mineta,
who sponsored legislation celebrating the first official Asian Pacific
American Week in 1978. In 1992, Congressman Horton authored legislation
expanding the week into a permanent month-long celebration of the proud
mosaic of histories and ethnicities of this most diverse national
community.
Asian and Pacific Islanders are indeed a diverse constellation of
peoples from 40 major subpopulation groups of Pacific Islander
Americans including Chamorros, Native Hawaiians and Samoans; Southeast
Asian Americans such as Cambodians, Vietnamese, Hmongs and Laotians;
East Asian Americans including Chinese, Japanese and Koreans; and South
Asian Americans, including Indians and Pakistanis. Our national
community boasts the most diverse minority group within the country,
comprised of both immigrant and indigenous populations.
The history of Congress includes 33 Asian and Pacific Islander
Americans that have served from 1903 to the present. These Members come
from backgrounds ranging from Chinese, Chamorro, Filipino, Asian
Indian, Japanese, Korean, Hawaiian, and Samoan. Thirteen of these
Members were Resident Commissioners from the Philippine Islands during
the time it was a territory from 1898 until it became independent in
1946. Currently, there are nine Members serving in the 107th Congress.
Amongst them are two Senators, two delegates, and five Representatives.
Delegate Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole, a Native Hawaiian prince and
Member of the Hawaiian royal family, was the first Pacific Islander
American elected to Congress. Delegate Kuhio represented the Territory
of Hawaii from 1903 to 1923.
Hawaii, not surprisingly being the State with the highest per capita
population of Asian and Pacific Islander Americans, has a history of
many other firsts in Congress. Senator Hiram Fong was the first Chinese
American in Congress. Representative Patsy Mink was the first Asian
Pacific American woman in Congress. Senator Daniel K. Inouye is the
first Japanese American and has served in Congress since being elected
in 1959 after statehood for Hawaii. Senator Daniel K. Akaka is the
first U.S. Senator of Native Hawaiian ancestry.
Amongst the other firsts, Representative Dalip Signh Saund of
California was the first Asian American U.S. Representative from 1957
to 1963. Guam's first Delegate to Congress, Antonio Borja Won Pat, was
the first Chamorro elected in 1973. Delegate Fofo Iosefa Fiti Sunia,
the first American Samoan in Congress, was elected in 1981. And
Representative Jay Kim was the first Korean American elected to the
103rd Congress.
[[Page H1933]]
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Benito Y Tuason Legarda and Pablo Ocampo were the first Filipinos
elected as resident commissioners in the 60th Congress in 1907. Members
also served in a variety of occupations before working in Congress.
Seven were educators. Eight held law degrees or practiced law, and two
had been judges. Others had won State and local elections before
serving in Congress. Nine members have military experience, some such
as Brigadier General Ben Blaz earning a Bronze Medal and Captain Daniel
K. Inouye, who was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Bill Clinton
last year.
Some became great statesmen after serving in Congress, such as
Brigadier General Carlos Pena Romulo who served with distinction as
aide-de-camp to General Douglas MacArthur. He was a Pulitzer Prize
winner, one of the signatories of the U.N. Charter and President of the
U.N. General Assembly from 1949 to 1950.
Asian and Pacific Islander American members have also chaired several
congressional committees. In the Senate, Senator Inouye chaired the
Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Secret Military Assistance to
Iran and Nicaragua Opposition Select Committee, and Senate Committee on
Indian Affairs.
In the House, Representative Norm Mineta chaired the House Public
Works and Transportation Committee. Mineta later went on to be the
first Asian American member of a Presidential Cabinet, who was
appointed by President Bill Clinton to serve as Secretary of Commerce.
He was tapped again this year by President George Bush to serve as
Secretary of Transportation.
As a member of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, one
of our goals is to educate other Members and the country about the
history and contributions of Asian Pacific Islander Americans.
This concurrent resolution authorizing the printing of this book will
enable us to meet this goal.
I include in the Record a list of Members of Congress from the Asian
Pacific Islander community at the end of my remarks.
This concurrent resolution authorizing the printing of this book will
not only enable us to meet that goal but also educate the general
public on the diversity that exists in Congress. ``Asian and Pacific
Islander Americans in Congress'' will follow in the same tradition as
``Hispanic Americans in Congress'', ``Black Americans in Congress'',
and ``Women in Congress.''
It is not surprising that the top leaders of our great nation have
recognized the importance of Asian and Pacific Islander American
contributors. President Jimmy Carter was the first to proclaim Asian
Pacific American Heritage Week in May 1978. Two years later, President
George Bush was the first to issue a proclamation celebrating Asian
Pacific American Heritage Month on May 7, 1990. Since then, President
Bill Clinton has continued the tradition, proclaiming the celebration
of Asian Pacific American Heritage during the Month of May. Clinton
also issued an Executive Order establishing a White House Initiative on
and Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to urge my
colleagues and President George W. Bush to continue and share in the
tradition of celebrating Asian and Pacific Islander American culture
and history, and to recognize the significant contributions they have
made to the growth of our great nation. Finally, I look forward to
working with the Bush administration to continue the progress of the
White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
TABLE 1.--ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN MEMBERS AND DELEGATES IN THE 58TH-107TH CONGRESSES (1903-2003)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Congress Dates House Senate
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
58th-67th........................ 1903-1923 Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole\1\ --
68th-84th........................ 1923-1957 -- --
85th............................. 1957-1959 Dalip Singh Saund --
86th............................. 1959-1961 Daniel Ken Inouye Hiram Leong Fong.
Dalip Singh Saund
87th............................. 1961-1963 Daniel Ken Inouye Hiram Leong Fong.
Dalip Singh Saund
88th............................. 1963-1965 Spark Masayuki Matsunaga Hiram Leong Fong.
Daniel Ken Inouye.
89th............................. 1965-1967 Spark Masayuki Matsunaga Hiram Leong Fong.
Patsy Takemoto Mink Daniel Ken Inouye.
90th............................. 1967-1969 Spark Masayuki Matsunaga Hiram Leong Fong.
Patsy Takemoto Mink Daniel Ken Inouye.
91st............................. 1969-1971 Spark Masayuki Matsunaga Hiram Leong Fong.
Patsy Takemoto Mink Daniel Ken Inouye.
92nd............................. 1971-1973 Spark Masayuki Matsunaga Hiram Leong Fong.
Patsy Takemoto Mink Daniel Ken Inouye.
93rd............................. 1973-1975 Spark Masayuki Matsunaga Hiram Leong Fong.
Patsy Takemoto Mink Daniel Ken Inouye.
Antonio Borja Won Pat
94th............................. 1975-1977 Spark Masayuki Matsunaga Hiram Leong Fong.
Norman Yoshio Mineta Daniel Ken Inouye.
Patsy Takemoto Mink
Antonio Borja Won Pat
95th............................. 1977-1979 Daniel Kahikina Akaka Samuel Ichiye Hayakawa.
Norman Yoshio Mineta Daniel Ken Inouye.
Antonio Borja Won Pat Spark Masayuki Matsunaga.
96th............................. 1979-1981 Daniel Kahikina Akaka Samuel Ichiye Hayakawa.
Robert Takeo Matsui Daniel Ken Inouye.
Norman Yoshio Mineta Spark Masayuki Matsunaga.
Antonio Borja Won Pat
97th............................. 1981-1983 Daniel Kahikina Akaka Samuel Ichiye Hayakawa.
Robert Takeo Matsui Daniel Ken Inouye.
Norman Yoshio Mineta Spark Masayuki Matsunaga.
Fofo Iosefa Fiti Sunia
Antonio Borja Won Pat
98th............................. 1983-1985 Daniel Kahikina Akaka Daniel Ken Inouye.
Robert Takeo Matsui Spark Masayuki Matsunaga.
Norman Yoshio Mineta
Fofo Iosefa Fiti Sunia
Antonio Borja Won Pat
99th............................. 1985-1987 Daniel Kahikina Akaka Daniel Ken Inouye.
Ben Garrido Blaz Spark Masayuki Matsunaga.
Robert Takeo Matsui
Norman Yoshio Mineta
Fofo Iosefa Fiti Sunia
100th............................ 1987-1989 Daniel Kahikina Akaka Daniel Ken Inouye.
Ben Garrido Blaz Spark Masayuki Matsunaga.
Robert Takeo Matsui
Norman Yoshio Mineta
Patricia Fukuda Saiki
Fofo Iosefa Fiti Sunia\2\
101st............................ 1989-1991 Ben Garrido Blaz Daniel Kahikina Akaka.\3\
Eni F.H. Faleomavaega Daniel Ken Inouye.
Robert Takeo Matsui Spark Masayuki Matsunaga.
Norman Yoshio Mineta
Patsy Takemoto Mink
Patricia Fukuda Saiki
102nd............................ 1991-1993 Ben Garrido Blaz Daniel Kahikina Akaka.
Eni F.H. Faleomavaega Daniel Ken Inouye.
Robert Takeo Matsui
Norman Yoshio Mineta
Patsy Takemoto Mink
[[Page H1934]]
103rd............................ 1995-1997 Eni F.H. Faleomavaega Daniel Kahikina Akaka.
Jay C. Kim Daniel Ken Inouye.
Robert Takeo Matsui
Norman Yoshio Mineta\2\
Patsy Takemoto Mink
Robert C. Scott
Robert Anacletus Underwood
104th............................ 1995-1997 Eni F.H. Faleomavaega Daniel Kahikina Akaka.
Jay C. Kim Daniel Ken Inouye.
Robert Takeo Matsui
Norman Yoshio Mineta\4\
Patsy Takemoto Mink
Robert C. Scott
Robert Anacletus Underwood
105th............................ 1997-1999 Eni F.H. Faleomavaega Daniel Kahikina Akaka.
Jay C. Kim Daniel Ken Inouye.
Robert Takeo Matsui
Patsy Takemoto Mink
Robert C. Scott
Robert Anacletus Underwood
106th............................ 1999-2001 Eni F.H. Faleomavaega Daniel Kahikina Akaka.
Robert Takeo Matsui Daniel Ken Inouye.
Patsy Takemoto Mink
Robert C. Scott
Robert Anacletus Underwood
David Wu
107th............................ 2001-2003 Eni F.H. Faleomavaega Daniel Kahikina Akaka.
Michael M. Honda Daniel Ken Inouye.
Robert Takeo Matsui
Patsy Takemoto Mink
Robert C. Scott
Robert Anacletus Underwood
David Wu
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Del. Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole died on January 7, 1922.
\2\ Del. Fofo Iosefa Fiti Sunia resigned on September 6, 1988.
\3\ Senator Daniel Kahikina Akaka also served in the House in the 101st Congress until May 15, 1990. However, he
appointed was to the Senate and was sworn on May 16, 1990, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Senator
Spark Masayuki Matsunaga on April 15, 1990. Subsequently, he was elected to the Senate in November 1990.
\4\ Rep. Norman Yoshio Mineta resigned on October 10, 1995.
TABLE 4.--RESIDENT COMMISSIONERS FROM THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, 60th-79th
CONGRESSES 1907-1946)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Congress Dates Resident commissioners
------------------------------------------------------------------------
60th...................... 1907-1909 Benito Y Tuason Legarda.\1\
Pablo Ocampo.\1\
61st...................... 1909-1911 Benito Y Tuason Legarda.\1\
Pablo Ocampo.\1\
Manuel Luis Quezon.\3\
62nd...................... 1911-1913 Benito Y Tuason Legarda.
Manuel Luis Quezon.
63rd...................... 1913-1915 Manuel Luis Quezon.
Manuel Earnshaw.
64th...................... 1915-1917 Manuel Luis Quezon.\4\
Manuel Earnshaw.
65th...................... 1917-1919 Jaime Carlos de Veyra.
Teodoro Rafael Yangco.
66th...................... 1919-1921 Jaime Carlos de Veyra.
Teodoro Rafael Yangco.\5\
Isauro Gabaldon.\6\
67th...................... 1921-1923 Jaime Carlos de Veyra.
Isauro Gabaldon.
68th...................... 1923-1925 Isauro Gabaldon.
Pedro Guevara.
69th...................... 1925-1927 Isauro Gabaldon.
Pedro Guevara.
70th...................... 1927-1929 Isauro Gabaldon.\7\
Pedro Guevara.
71st...................... 1929-1931 Pedro Guevara.
Camilo Osias.
72nd...................... 1931-1933 Pedro Guevara.
Camilo Osias.
73rd...................... 1933-1935 Pedro Guevara.
Camilo Osias.
74th...................... 1935-1937 Pedro Guevara.\8\
Francisco Afan Delgado.\8\
Quintin Paredes.\9\
75th...................... 1937-1939 Quintin Paredes.\10\
Joaquin Miguel Elizalde.\11\
76th...................... 1939-1941 Joaquin Miguel Elizalde.
77th...................... 1941-1943 Joaquin Miguel Elizalde.
78th...................... 1943-1945 Joaquin Miguel Elizalde.\12\
Carlos Pena Romulo.\13\
79th...................... 1945-1947 Carlos Pena Romulo.\14\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Elected November 22, 1907, for a term of two years, granted the
privileges of the floor of the House of Representatives, with the
right of debate, February 4, 1908.
\2\ Term expired November 22, 1909.
\3\ Elected for a term of two years beginning November 23, 1909.
\4\ Resigned October 15, 1916, vacancy throughout the remainder of 64th
Congress.
\5\ Term expired March 3, 1920.
\6\ Elected for a term of three years beginning March 4, 1920.
\7\ Resigned July 16, 1928, having been nominated for election to the
Philippine House of Representatives, vacancy throughout the remainder
of the 70th Congress.
\8\ When the new government of the Commonwealth of the Philippine
Islands was inaugurated, the terms of office of the Resident
Commissioners of the Philippine Islands expired. Both resident
Commissioners served until February 14, 1936, when a selected
successor qualified (48 Stat. 456). Under this law, the number of
Resident Commissioners was reduced from two to one.
\9\ Appointed December 21, 1935, to fill vacancy caused by the
expiration of the terms of Pedro Guevara and Francisco A. Delgado, due
to the new form of government, and took his seat on February 14, 1936.
\10\ Resigned September 29, 1938.
\11\ Appointed September 29, 1938, to fill vacancy caused by resignation
of Quintin Paredes; service began on January 3, 1939, upon convening
of 76th Congress.
\12\ Resigned August 9, 1944.
\13\ Appointed to fill vacancy caused by the resignation of Joaquin M.
Elizalde, and succeeded him on August 21, 1944.
\14\ Office of Resident Commissioner terminated on July 4, 1946.
Note.--The Philippine Islands were part of territory ceded to the United
States by Spain under the Treaty of Paris of December 10, 1898. The
Act of July 1902 granted the Philippine Islands the right to elect two
Resident Commissioners to the United States. In 1935, the Philippine
Islands became the Commonwealth of the Philippines and the number of
Resident Commissioners was reduced from two to one. In 1946, the
Philippines became fully independent, and the office of the Resident
Commissioner was terminated.
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