[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 88 (Thursday, June 27, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S6296]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF KOREAN IMMIGRATION TO 
                             UNITED STATES

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Judiciary 
Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 185 and 
the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk 
will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 185) recognizing the historical 
     significance of the 100th anniversary of Korean immigration 
     to the United States.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent that the resolution and preamble be 
agreed; that the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table; and that 
any statements relating thereto be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 185) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 185

       Whereas missionaries from the United States played a 
     central role in nurturing the political and religious 
     evolution of modern Korea, and directly influenced the early 
     Korean immigration to the United States;
       Whereas in December 1902, 56 men, 21 women, and 25 children 
     left Korea and traveled across the Pacific Ocean on the S.S. 
     Gaelic and landed in Honolulu, Hawaii on January 13, 1903;
       Whereas the early Korean-American community was united 
     around the common goal of attaining freedom and independence 
     for their colonized mother country;
       Whereas members of the early Korean-American community 
     served with distinction in the Armed Forces of the United 
     States during World War I, World War II, and the Korean 
     Conflict;
       Whereas on June 25, 1950, Communist North Korea invaded 
     South Korea with approximately 135,000 troops, thereby 
     initiating the involvement of approximately 5,720,000 
     personnel of the United States Armed Forces who served during 
     the Korean Conflict to defeat the spread of communism in 
     Korea and throughout the world;
       Whereas casualties in the United States Armed Forces during 
     the Korean Conflict included 54,260 dead (of whom 33,665 were 
     battle deaths), 92,134 wounded, and 8,176 listed as missing 
     in action or prisoners of war;
       Whereas in the early 1950s, thousands of Koreans, fleeing 
     from war, poverty, and desolation, came to the United States 
     seeking opportunities;
       Whereas Korean-Americans, like waves of immigrants to the 
     United States before them, have taken root and thrived in the 
     United States through strong family ties, robust community 
     support, and countless hours of hard work;
       Whereas Korean immigration to the United States has 
     invigorated business, church, and academic communities in the 
     United States;
       Whereas according to the 2000 United States Census, Korean-
     Americans own and operate 135,571 businesses across the 
     United States that have gross sales and receipts of 
     $46,000,000,000 and employ 333,649 individuals with an annual 
     payroll of $5,800,000,000;
       Whereas the contributions of Korean-Americans to the United 
     States include, the invention of the first beating heart 
     operation for coronary artery heart disease, the development 
     of the nectarine, a 4-time Olympic gold medalist, and 
     achievements in engineering, architecture, medicine, acting, 
     singing, sculpture, and writing;
       Whereas Korean-Americans play a crucial role in maintaining 
     the strength and vitality of the United States-Korean 
     partnership;
       Whereas the United States-Korean partnership helps 
     undergird peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region and 
     provides economic benefits to the people of the United States 
     and Korea and to the rest of the world; and
       Whereas beginning in 2003, more than 100 communities 
     throughout the United States will celebrate the 100th 
     anniversary of Korean immigration to the United States: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes the achievements and contributions of 
     Korean-Americans to the United States over the past 100 
     years; and
       (2) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
     calling on the people of the United States and interested 
     organizations to observe the anniversary with appropriate 
     programs, ceremonies, and activities.