[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 66 (Tuesday, May 21, 2002)]
[House]
[Page H2667]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              MAY IS ASIAN/PACIFIC AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH

  (Ms. SANCHEZ asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to invite my colleagues to 
join me in celebrating May as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month.
  The theme of this year's celebration is unity and freedom, which is 
an appropriate reminder that America is strong when people of all 
cultures and backgrounds unite.
  Asian Americans have proudly contributed to America's culture, its 
physical landscape, and to its defense. Along the way, Asian Americans 
have had to endure many hardships, including the unnecessary internment 
of 120,000 Japanese Americans during World War II and the exclusion of 
Chinese immigrants beginning in 1882.
  The lessons we learned then and the challenges we now face show us 
that in order to maintain the freedoms we enjoy today, we must unite as 
a country and face our challenges together as a Nation.
  As the proud representative of the largest Vietnamese community 
outside of Vietnam, I salute my constituents and all Asian/Pacific 
Islander Americans during the month of May for their contributions and 
achievements that have helped to make America strong.

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