[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 135 (Saturday, November 20, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2117-E2118]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     IN RECOGNITION OF NEW JERSEY ASSEMBLYMAN UPENDRA J. CHIVUKULA

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. RUSH D. HOLT

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                      Saturday, November 20, 2004

  Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Assemblyman Upendra 
J. Chivukula of

[[Page E2118]]

the 17th legislative district in New Jersey, for his commitment to 
public service and leadership within the Indian-American Community.
  As a professional engineer, Assemblyman Chivukula has applied his 
expertise effectively to develop public policy. In addition to serving 
as Vice-Chair on the Commerce and Economic Development Committee and as 
a committee member on both the Telecommunications and Utilities 
Committee and Environment and Solid Waste Committee, Assemblyman 
Chivukula serves as an active member on the NJ Commission on Science 
and Technology. His efforts on the Commission were instrumental in 
planning the nation's first state-supported stem cell research 
institute.
  Before becoming the first American of Asian Indian decent elected to 
the NJ State Assembly in 2001, Upendra had previously demonstrated his 
commitment to the public by serving as Mayor of Franklin Township for 
four years. In addition to serving as an Assemblyman, Chivukula 
continues his involvement by serving as a councilman and as a member of 
numerous Middlesex and Somerset County committees, including the 
Somerset County Affordable Housing Board of Trustees, the Cultural and 
Historic Commission, and the Middlesex County Cultural and Historic 
Commission.
  Assemblyman Chivukula has built an impressive public service record 
as an elected official. However, no where is his leadership more 
notable than within the Indian-American Community. As one of the 
highest ranking Indian Americans in this country, Assemblyman Chivukula 
has worked to build public awareness and understanding of Indian-
American culture, and has worked to ensure that issues facing the 
Indian American community are heard and addressed. His dedication to 
the Indian-American Community has been proven through his service on 
the national committee of the Association of Indians in America, as 
past secretary of the NJ Chapter of Indian American Forum for Political 
Education, and as past president of the Asian American Political 
Coalition. The outstanding leadership of Assemblyman Chivukula is 
evident even here, in Congress, as it was his work with Congressman 
Frank Pallone that led to the creation of the Congressional Caucus on 
India and Indian Americans.
  On a personal note, it is with much gratitude that I want to 
recognize the efforts of Assemblyman Chivukula and his wife Dayci and 
Mr. Harish Mehta to organize forty members of the Indian-American 
community in central New Jersey to visit Washington, D.C., as part of 
my Indian-American ``DC Day,'' on Thursday, September 30th, to meet 
with members of the Congress and leaders of academic and nonprofit 
organizations to discuss important issues affecting Indian-Americans 
nationwide. This is a good example of the Assemblyman's efforts to 
educate and involve the Indian-American community in public affairs.
  Mr. Speaker, people like Assemblyman Chivukula help make our 
community in Central New Jersey strong and well-informed. I ask you, 
Mr. Speaker, to join me in commending him.

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