[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 68 (Thursday, May 23, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4835-S4837]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           CELEBRATING ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH

 Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, every year during the month of May, 
our National comes together, in appreciation and celebration of Asian 
Americans and Pacific Islanders and their unique and varied history and 
contributions to our country. In fact, this May is the 10th Anniversary 
of the enactment of Public Law 102-450, which officially extended what 
was known as Asian Pacific American Heritage Week to the entire month 
of May of every year.
  Although celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander cultures 
and histories has become a large part of Asian American Pacific 
Islander Heritage Month, this time was designated primarily to focus on 
learning more about Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and their 
history. Too few of us know in any great detail the stories of Asian 
Americans and Pacific Islanders. This is discouraging because Asian 
Americans and Pacific Islanders are such a vibrant addition to the 
mosaic that is America.
  For instance, few realize that the first Filipino community in the 
U.S. was established in the Louisiana bayou around 1763. Not many of us 
know that the Bing cherry, a popular product of the Pacific Northwest, 
was developed by a Chinese American horticulturist named Ah Bing. And 
in Florida, another Chinese American, named Lue Gim Gong, developed an 
orange which was resistant to frost, a boon to the Florida agricultural 
industry.
  Hawaii's Duke Kahanamoku was a five-time Olympic medal winner and is 
recognized internationally as the father of modern surfing. Duke 
Kahanamoku holds a unique place in surfing history and his Olympic 
feats are legendary over 80 years since their achievement.
  One of the most amazing advances in medicine, organ transplantation, 
exists today largely because of a Japanese American, Dr. Paul Terasaki, 
who helped develop a test to determine the compatibility of a donated 
organ and its intended recipient.
  Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, have made names for themselves 
in the fields of music, acting, fashion, athletics, academia, medicine, 
science, literature, cuisine, and many more. Immigrants from Asia and 
the Pacific have contributed so much to the rich American tapestry. 
Given their longtime presence here on our shores, there can be no 
denying that Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are an integral part 
of the fabric of America.
  Aside from being an enriching and valuable addition to America, Asian 
American and Pacific Islanders are also one of the most diverse and 
fastest growing segments of our population. The Asian American and 
Pacific Islander community is made up of more than 36 distinct 
subpopulations with differing cultures, religions, traditions, and 
beliefs, speaking more than 100 different languages. U.S. Census 
figures show that the Asian American and Pacific Islander population 
grew at a rate about five times that of the national rate between 1990 
and 2000. Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders now make up 4.2 percent 
of the U.S. population, around 11.9 million people strong. The Asian 
American and Pacific Islander

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population grew by 72 percent in a single decade. While my home state 
of Hawaii is probably most closely identified as having a large Asian 
American and Pacific Islander population, it is interesting to note 
that in the decade between the last two decennial censuses the Asian 
American and Pacific Islander population in Las Vegas, Nevada, 
increased 286 percent, in Atlanta, Georgia, there was a 200 percent 
increase, in Austin/San-Marcos, Texas, an increase of 175 percent, in 
Denver/Boulder/Greeley, Colorado a 115 percent increase, and in 
Detroit/Ann Arbor/Flint, Michigan, a 111 percent increase. Hopefully 
these figures will begin to dispel the notion that Asian American and 
Pacific Islander growth is strictly a West Coast or Eastern Seaboard 
phenomenon.

  Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are also key players in our 
nation's fight against terrorism and efforts to improve homeland 
security. For instance, my good friend and former colleague, Secretary 
of transportation Norman Y. Mineta, is working to keep our nation's 
roads and skies safe. His life story is truly amazing. Interned as a 
young boy during World War II by his own government, he grew up to be a 
public servant who has devoted his life to public service on behalf of 
our country. From his days as a local California politician, to his 
service in the U.S. House of Representatives, his formation of the 
Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies, his 
Chairmanship of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and 
Pacific Islanders, his tenure as Secretary of Commerce, and now as 
Secretary of Transportation, Norman Mineta has broken down barriers and 
served his constituents and our nation with integrity and distinction.
  As Chief of Staff, United States Army, General Eric K. Shinseki has 
distinguished himself as a leader of outstanding courage and impeccable 
integrity. The people of Hawaii are immensely proud of Ric Shinseki, a 
son of Kauai who has risen to the top post in the Army. Considered an 
enemy alien at birth, he is the first Asian American to wear four 
stars. General Shinseki's illustrious career speaks to his commitment 
and valor and represents the promise and greatness of America. In every 
way, General Shinseki exemplifies what is best about our nation and the 
men and women sworn to defend it.
  I have mentioned some of the little known, yet positive, history of 
Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, but before I conclude my remarks 
today, I want to highlight some less positive history, which is also 
little known. Our Nation has not always welcomed Asians and Pacific 
Islanders with open arms and sadly the treatment many immigrant groups 
received was truly shameful. I am speaking of events such as the 
internment of nearly 120,000 aliens and Americans of Japanese ancestry 
via Executive Order 9066 during World War II; the Immigration Act of 
1924 which led to an almost complete halt of immigration from Asia; the 
exclusion of the Chinese laborers who built the transcontinental 
railroad from the famous photo of the driving of the golden spike at 
Promontory Point, ``whitewashing'' history of their important 
contribution; and the Chinese Exclusion Act, first enacted in 1882 and 
not repealed until 1943. Most recently, of course, we have the 
unfortunate acts of xenophobic and anti-Muslim violence perpetrated in 
the days and weeks after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on 
our Nation where many of the victims were actually Asian Americans.

  Regrettably, ignorance and prejudice continue to adversely impact 
Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders as they go about their daily 
lives. Last year, Representative David Wu from Oregon was denied entry 
to the Department of Energy on official business solely because of his 
national origin. Hawaii's Governor, Ben Cayetano, a Filipino America, 
was recently asked for his passport when checking into a hotel in 
Nevada. These high profile incidents underscore the indignities, 
insults, and discrimination that Americans of Asian or Pacific Islander 
descent encounter on a daily basis because some people feel they do not 
``look American.''
  There is an adage that says, ``Experience is a hard teacher because 
she gives the test first, the lessons afterwards.'' My hope, as the 
2002 Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month comes to close, is 
that we, as a Nation, having been through these tests, have truly 
learned a lesson. The theme of this year's Asian American Pacific 
Islander Heritage Month is Unity in Freedom. The simplicity of this 
theme belies its profoundness. Only by having the freedom to celebrate 
our individual diversity can we truly come together as one Nation. If 
you go through your pockets or purses and take out any coin minted in 
the United States, you will see the motto: ``E Pluribus Unum''--from 
many, one. This motto first appeared on our coinage back in 1795. I see 
``Unity in Freedom'' as a continuation of our Nation's lengthy and 
grand tradition of respecting an encouraging individual rights while 
simultaneously acknowledging that the key to our success as a country 
comes from our ability to lay our individual differences aside to work 
together for a common goal.
 Mr. CORZINE. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize Asian 
Pacific American Heritage Month. Every May we acknowledge the many 
accomplishments and profound contributions that people of Asian and 
Pacific Island descent have made to New Jersey and to our country. The 
celebration also affords us the opportunity to recognize the strength 
the United States draws from its diversity, especially those 
contributions made by Asian Pacific Americans.
  The formal recognition of Asian Pacific American Heritage began in 
1979 with a weeklong celebration. In 1992, President George Herbert 
Walker Bush signed Public Law 102-450, devoting the entire month of May 
to acknowledge the history, concerns, and contributions of Asian 
Pacific and Americans.
  Today, Americans of Asian and Pacific Islander lineage total nearly 
11 million people. The Census Bureau projects that the Asian Pacific 
Islander population will grow to nearly nine percent of the American 
population by the middle of the century.
  Americans of Asian and Pacific Islander heritage have been 
instrumental in the development and sustaining of both the national and 
New Jersey economies. Figures from the last economic census compiled in 
1997 attribute more than 2.2 million jobs nationwide and over $306 
billion dollars to Asian and Pacific Islander-owned businesses. New 
Jersey ranks fifth nationwide in the number of firms owned by Asian and 
Pacific Islanders with over 41,000 businesses generating sales and 
receipts totaling over $16.7 billion.
  Although some Asian Pacific Americans are beginning to enjoy success 
in the United States, Asian immigrants and Asian Americans have met 
roadblocks. From racist Chinese exclusion laws to being unjustly held 
hostage in internment camps, Asian Pacific Americans too often have 
been shunned as untrustworthy foreigners, not accepted as ``true 
Americans'' because of their appearance or their cultural and religious 
traditions. Unfortunately, racism against Asian American continues 
today. Hate crimes perpetrated against Asians and Asian Americans have 
increased in frequency and intensity in the wake of the terrorist 
attacks against the United States.
  All Americans should remember that we are a nation of immigrants and 
we should reaffirm our commitment to diversity, mutual respect and the 
American Dream. We must remember that although people we meet on the 
street, schools, stores or even airplanes may be of a different ethnic 
or religious background, they are still our co-workers, neighbors, and 
fellow Americans.
  I hope you will join me in recognizing the hard work and sacrifices 
made by Asian immigrants and Asian Americans for our country. 
Throughout our history, Asian immigrants and Asian Americans have 
contributed to our nation's growth and have fought to protect our 
nation. Today, Asian Americans continue to help make our country great 
through contributions as diverse as they different countries of origin. 
I applaud the efforts of Asian immigrants and Asian Americans who 
continue to work towards the American dream, and I thank them for their 
many contributions to our great Nation.

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