[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 56 (Tuesday, May 3, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H2792-H2800]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of
January 4, 2005, the gentleman from California (Mr. Honda) is
recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the minority leader.
General Leave
Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous material on the subject of my Special Order
today.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from California?
There was no objection.
Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Asian American
and Pacific Islander community and to commemorate Asian Pacific
American Heritage Month.
As Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, CAPAC, I
feel privileged to be here tonight to speak of the history and
accomplishments of the Asian American and Pacific Islander, AAPI,
community.
Additionally, I will be highlighting those issues affecting our
community that are also priorities for CAPAC.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment to acknowledge and
remember extraordinary community activists, advocates, leaders, and
long-time friends of the AAPI community that we have lost this year,
such as Fred Korematsu, Dr. John B. Tsu, K. Patrick Okura, Iris Chang,
and my colleague and friend, Congressman Bob Matsui.
Thanks to the late Representative Frank Horton from New York and my
good friend, Secretary Norman Mineta, along with Senators Daniel Inouye
and Spark Matsunaga, May is designated as Asian Pacific American
Heritage Month to celebrate and honor the contributions of the Asian
and Pacific Islander community.
The first 10 days of May coincide with two important anniversaries:
the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants on May 7, 1843, to the
United States; and the completion of the transcontinental railroad on
May 10, 1869.
In 1992, Congress passed the law that officially designated May of
each year as Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.
The first AAPI settlement in this country dates to 1763, when
Filipinos escaped imprisonment aboard Spanish galleons and established
a community near New Orleans. Today, that AAPI community is one of the
fastest growing populations in the country, with over 12 million AAPIs
living in the U.S. and representing 4.5 percent of the total U.S.
population.
My home State of California has both the largest AAPI population, 4.6
million folks, and the largest numerical increase of AAPIs since April
of 2000.
Mr. Speaker, this year's theme for Asian Pacific American Heritage
Month is ``Liberty and Freedom For All.''
As we honor the AAPI community's contributions to this great Nation,
I would also like to note the very social injustices the AAPI community
still face. For example, the New York Times today reported a recent
study commissioned by the National Asian Pacific American Legal
Consortium, a Washington-based civil rights organization.
The study showed that AAPIs portray only 2.7 percent of the regular
characters on prime time national network television. Our community is
still misrepresented in all areas of society, especially in the media
and on prime time television even though we make up 5 percent of the
total population.
Although we are often misperceived as monolithic, our community is
extremely diverse in our languages, ethnicities, and culture.
Aggregating such a large and diverse group makes it difficult to
understand the unique problems faced by the individual ethnicities and
subgroups such as the Southeast Asian Americans who are refugees who
fled their home countries during the late 1970s and the early 1980s.
As a country, we need to better adjust the needs of the AAPI
community when we discuss immigration, health, and education issues.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Guam (Ms. Bordallo).
Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, as the congressional representative from
Guam, it is my honor to join my colleagues in commemorating Asian
Pacific American Heritage Month. I want to thank our chairman, the
gentleman from California (Mr. Honda), the chairman of the
Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, for his outstanding
leadership and for organizing this Special Order to recognize the
contributions of Asians and Pacific Islander Americans to our Nation.
Today as we celebrate ``Liberty and Freedom For All,'' and as
thousands of American servicemen and -women continue to fight the
global war on terrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan, we are reminded of the
sacrifices made to ensure our freedom. We reflect on the thousands of
Asian and Pacific Islanders who are serving this country with honor and
distinction in very dangerous circumstances.
Mr. Speaker, I especially want to honor those who have given their
lives to protect our freedom, including Guam's Army Specialist
Christopher Wesley, Lieutenant Michael Vega, Sergeant Eddie Chan,
Corporal Jaygee Meluat, and Specialist Jonathan Santoes, all servicemen
from Guam who were killed in Iraq.
I mention these heroes as a reminder that Americans in the
territories stand shoulder to shoulder with their citizens when our
Nation calls, and that we willing share the burdens and the sacrifices
to preserve our freedom.
We remember prominent Asian and Pacific Islander Americans who
dedicated their lives to public service, doing their part to promote
justice, not just for Asian and Pacific Islander Americans, but for all
Americans. Tonight I would like to make special mention of two of our
colleagues, the late Congressman Robert Matsui of California who was a
staunch advocate for the cause of the disadvantaged, the elderly, and
young Americans; and the late Congresswoman Patsy Mink of Hawaii, who
was a champion of women's rights and for the poor. Each has left a
legacy that lives on in those whose lives they have touched and
improved.
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month is an opportunity to educate
our fellow citizens about the history and culture of Asian Pacific
Island Americans. Their contribution to America is not just the diverse
cultures that they have introduced to this land; it is also their
stories of incredible journeys to freedom.
Historically, Asians and Pacific Islanders have known war and strife.
They have survived and thrived to the benefit of America. They have a
powerful story to tell, and they have a love for this Nation that many
of us today take for granted.
This year, the people of Guam will commemorate the 61st anniversary
of our islands's liberation by the United States Armed Forces during
World War II. As the only American territory with a civilian population
occupied by the enemy during World War II, Guamanians risked their
lives due to their loyalty to America, and endured great hardship and
brutality. During this dark period in Guam's history, our people
experienced beheadings, executions, massacres, beatings, torture, rape,
forced labor, forced marches, and internment in concentration camps. I
want to recognize the survivors of the occupation of Guam for their
courage, their sacrifice and steadfast loyalty to our great Nation.
Mr. Speaker, 2 years ago, a Federal commission was tasked by Congress
to examine whether the people of Guam received equal treatment in the
handling of war claims as compared to their fellow citizens.
{time} 2115
The Guam War Claims Review Commission reported in June 2004 that
there was indeed a lack of parity and
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that Congress should enact legislation to remedy this injustice. The
report stated, ``The Review Commission affirms that there is a moral
obligation on the part of our national government to pay compensation
for war damages, in order to ensure that to the extent possible, that
no single individual or group of individuals bears more than a just
part of the overall burden of war.''
With the support of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus,
I have introduced legislation, H.R. 1595, the Guam World War II Loyalty
Recognition Act, with 75 sponsors, to implement the recommendations of
the Review Commission. I urge my colleagues to help us bring closure to
this issue for the people of Guam. Let us finally grant recognition to
some of the finest patriots America has ever produced, and let us
commend the people of Guam for their sacrifices for our Nation during
the wartime occupation of our island.
As we commend Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, let us honor the
contributions of all Asian and Pacific Islander Americans. Let us
celebrate the cultural diversity, the patriotism, and the Asian and
Pacific Islander communities that make America so great.
Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California
(Ms. Millender-McDonald).
Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I am honored tonight to have
this opportunity to pay tribute to Asian and Pacific Islander Americans
during this month when we honor their great heritage.
Asian and Pacific Islander Americans constitute one of the fastest
growing minority communities in the United States, and I am proud to
say that they are a significant part of my constituency in southern
California while they represent over 13 million Asian and Pacific
Islander Americans who live in this United States. It is estimated by
the year 2050, they will comprise about 33.4 million, or 8 percent of
our total population.
Asian and Pacific Islander Americans have made tremendous
contributions to our society. They are government leaders, scientists,
lawyers, athletes, business men and women, artists, soldiers, advocates
for civil rights and champions for the underrepresented. As we
celebrate this glorious month, let us remember some of the notable
Asian and Pacific Islander Americans who have served our Nation with
honor and distinction:
Kalpana Chawla, who became the first Indian-American woman astronaut,
who, while pursuing her dreams, perished in the Columbia shuttle
disaster;
Fred Korematsu, a Japanese American who, for decades, fought
tirelessly for civil rights;
Yuan T. Lee, a Taiwanese American who shared the Nobel peace prize in
1986 for his work in chemistry;
And, of course, my dear friend, the Honorable Patsy Mink, the first
Asian-American woman and first woman to grace this august body. She has
left an indelible mark that gave her the honor of distinguished;
Haing Ngor, the first Cambodian American to win an academy award for
his role in the film ``The Killing Fields.''
And let us acknowledge the great Members of Congress who make up this
august body who are Asian American and Pacific Islanders:
The Honorable Mike Honda, who is the caucus chair of our caucus;
The Honorable David Wu;
The Honorable Bobby Scott;
And, newly, the Honorable Doris Matsui.
And let us not forget and pay tribute to our dear friend and
colleague, the late Congressman Robert Matsui who recently passed away.
He was an extraordinary man, Mr. Speaker, who overcame challenges and
obstacles and became a great Member of this body. He will be remembered
as a national champion of all Americans, particularly our seniors and
Social Security.
Despite hardships and discrimination, Asian and Pacific Islander
Americans have maintained an abiding and unwavering belief in the
promise of our country and they have moved forward to make remarkable
contributions to our Nation. I am proud to stand with them tonight as a
member of the Asian Pacific Islander Caucus.
This time of tribute is also a time of celebration and reflection
upon where we have been and where we are going as a Nation, ever
mindful that liberty and freedom for all must be our collective
national goal.
Finally, tomorrow I will be introducing a resolution honoring the
victims of the Cambodian genocide. I am proud that the largest
Cambodian population in the United States resides in my district. Their
culture and contribution, along with all Asian and Pacific Americans,
have enriched our community and this American landscape. We are a
better country because of their contributions.
Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Hawaii (Mr.
Case).
Mr. CASE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a proud member of the
Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus so ably led by the
gentleman from California (Mr. Honda) to join my colleagues in
commemorating our Asian Pacific American community at the outset of APA
Heritage Month.
And I do so with deep respect, great pride, humble appreciation and
eager anticipation. Respect, for the great challenges generations of
Asians and Pacific Americans have faced in our country and overcome and
still face and will overcome. Pride, for the profound role my own
Hawaii, has played in the nurturance and maturation of our APA
communities throughout our country. Appreciation, for the rich tapestry
APAs have woven in the fabric of our national identity. And
anticipation, for what certainly lies ahead for our APA communities in
writing the next great chapters in the ongoing narrative of this great
country.
Mr. Speaker, nowhere in our country is the story of Americans of
Asian and Pacific Island descent better illustrated than my own Hawaii,
where well over 50 percent of our population is Asian and Pacific
American, where our Asian and Pacific American community has achieved
the pinnacle of success in all facets of local, statewide, national and
international life, and where a majority of all marriages and a
majority of all children share more now than one ethnicity, more likely
than not an ethnicity of the Asian and Pacific Americans.
And the story of APAs in Hawaii is a rich and compelling story which
acts as a microcosm of the story of our very country. Of course, it
started millennia ago when the ancestors of our indigenous peoples, the
native Hawaiians, came to Hawaii from their ancestral homelands to the
south, joining other indigenous peoples in the U.S. mainland and Alaska
in the original settlement of our country. And it continued in the last
200 years with the great migrations from Japan and China. And in the
last 100-plus years, with still further great migrations from Korea and
the Philippines. And then in the last half century from the Pacific
islands such as Samoa, Tonga, Fiji and Guam. And amazingly it continues
since to this day, in the last quarter century, from Vietnam and
Cambodia and Laos and the other nations of Micronesia, Melanesia and
Polynesia. And throughout, of course, many, many other immigrants from
other Asian and Pacific countries, India and Pakistan and Sri Lanka and
Bangladesh, Thailand and Indonesia and Malaysia and much more.
So when we pause to honor the rich and diverse heritage of our APA
communities, we honor the capital of the APA world, my Hawaii, a beacon
to the world of what can be.
Yet what is throughout our country is not where it can and should be,
for there remain challenges aplenty. There is always the specter of
racism and discrimination. Yes, less than there was, less overt, less
on the surface than it has been, but insidious enough and there enough
to flare up with very little warning, a specter against which constant
vigilance is required.
And there are still unique challenges in economic and social
advancement for the APA community and unique conditions to be addressed
in health care and education and other areas. And there are still goals
of fundamental fairness to be accomplished with many of our APA
communities, most notably, in my case, Federal recognition for our
native Hawaiians.
But while we must remember tonight these challenges and what we must
do, we also remember all that is good and great in our APA community.
Let me give you just one great example, because we remember tonight
that hard
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on us is the centennial of sustained immigration from the Philippines
to our country, the 1906 exodus from the mother country to the sugar
plantations of Hawaii, an exodus that accelerated in 1946 and on and
now has yielded fully 2.4 million citizens of our country of Philippine
descent.
Yes, it will be a great year for the Filipino community of
celebration, with barrio fiestas and song and dance and remembrances of
the pioneers and those who succeeded on their broad shoulders. But in
many ways, what we celebrate tonight is the recognition that for the
Filipino-American community, the celebration of their centennial will
be a celebration in miniature of the Asian and Pacific American
experience in our country, for the story of our APA community is the
story of our America, from its earliest beginnings to its latest
arrivals, a story still unfolding as, for example, is happening right
on the floor of this U.S. House of Representatives, with my
congressional page appointment, Awapuhi Dancil of Makawa, Maui, a
junior at Kamehameha Schools and undoubtedly, no doubt about it, a
leader in the making for the APA community and for our country in the
future.
And so this is a story worth telling over and over again as we do
here again tonight.
Mahalo and aloha.
Mr. HONDA. Mahalo.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Watson).
Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate Asian Pacific
American Heritage Month and to celebrate the lives and accomplishments
of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in U.S. history. I want to
thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Honda), Chair of the
Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus for organizing this special
order. I thank the gentleman very much.
Mr. Speaker, I represent one of the most diverse congressional
districts in our Nation, with African Americans, Hispanic Americans and
Anglo Americans, each making up about 30 percent of my Los Angeles-
based district. Los Angeles' Korea Town, also in my congressional
district, is home to 80,000 Asian Americans, who make up roughly 13
percent of my constituency. My congressional district includes Sony
Studios, Capital Records, American Film Institute and Raleigh Studios.
It is the home of our Nation's and a great deal of the world's
entertainment industry. Today, I want to address the need for adequate
and accurate representation of Asian Americans in film and television.
Many of my colleagues speaking today have already mentioned the fact
that there are over 13 million Asian and Pacific Islanders living in
the United States and that by the year 2050, there will be an estimated
33.4 million self-identified Asian Americans in the United States.
However, while the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities
continue to grow, our Nation's entertainment sector continues to fall
behind in recognizing their presence through film and television and
their influence in shaping the course of our Nation.
Just last week, the National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium
released a report called ``Lights, Camera, and Little Action,''
detailing the shortage of Asian-American characters on prime time
network television. The report finds that while Asian Americans and
Pacific Islanders make up 5 percent of the United States population,
they represent only 2.7 percent of regular characters on prime time
television. The report also finds that virtually no Asian actors are
cast in situation comedies, and the characters they play in dramas tend
to have less depth and development than most regulars, with minimal on-
screen time and few romantic roles.
For example, programs such as ``King of Queens,'' set in a New York
City borough, features no regular Asian characters despite the fact
that almost one in five residents of the city are Asian Americans. The
show ``Charmed'' on the network WB also includes no Asian actors,
despite being set in San Francisco where a third of the population is
Asian American. Such whitewashing of prime time television not only
fails to reflect reality, it also denies viewers the opportunity to
learn about other cultures and the chance to further cross-cultural
understanding and communication.
{time} 2130
And, finally, I think an equally disturbing trend is the study's
finding that when AAPIs are depicted on a television show, they are
placed in roles that reinforce stereotypes. Let me give the Members an
example. While the 2000 U.S. census showed that half of AAPI adults do
not have college degrees, all of the Asian American characters on prime
time television have professional jobs that often require advanced
degrees. These are admittedly very positive portrayals, and many ethnic
groups have railed against their negative portrayals in the media as
gang members, pimps, drug dealers, and prostitutes. Nonetheless, any
ethnic stereotyping by media, even positive stereotyping, tends to
eliminate the larger public's understanding of the real conditions of
the ethnic group.
Mr. Speaker, the contributions of Asian Pacific Americans to the
growth and success of this Nation cannot be overstated. The history of
their struggle and triumph in the United States must be captured and
remembered. One of the most effective means of commemoration is through
the accurate portrayal of AAPI characters in film and television that
illuminates their hopes, dreams, and struggles. The AAPI communities
have played instrumental roles in advancing the freedom and equality of
all Americans; yet we do not see their achievements adequately
documented and reflected by the media.
Mr. Speaker, in commemorating this year's Asian Pacific American
Heritage Month, I call on the entertainment industry to further improve
their depiction of the AAPI communities and urge everyone to remain
vigilant about the roles the media play in capturing the shared
heritage of Asian and Pacific Islander communities in our Nation.
Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from California (Ms.
Watson) for her presentation, and I will reiterate her admonition to
the media in terms of being able to depict Asian American communities.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to speak on a couple of points before I
yield to the gentleman from Oregon. On the issue of immigration, Mr.
Speaker, our Nation was founded by immigrants who valued freedom and
liberty and who sought to be free from persecution from a tyrant
government. Families fled from their home countries to seek refuge in
this great Nation because they too believed in liberty, justice, and
freedom for all.
AAPI families who seek to be reunited with their families overseas
have not seen their dreams come true because of our broken immigration
system. Over 1.5 million Asians are caught in the family immigration
backlog and immediate family members from overseas wait as long as 10
years to reunite with their families in the U.S.; and if they are a
young teenager, by the time they reach 18, they get switched to another
line. Mothers and fathers wait to reunite with their children; but due
to the long years of waiting, their children may have already reached
the age of 18 and their families will have to start the process over
again.
As we honor the 40th anniversary of the Immigration Nationality Act
of 1965 and the 30th anniversary of the Refugee Act of 1975, we need to
remember that our country was founded and created to protect our
freedom and civil liberties.
As Chair of CAPAC, we have worked closely with the Congressional
Hispanic Caucus to speak out against the REAL ID Act. For the AAPI
community, the REAL ID will make it harder for those seeking asylum to
prove their case. This will prevent legitimate asylum seekers from
obtaining relief in the United States. The REAL ID Act requires asylum
applicants to prove that the central motive for their persecution was
race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group,
or political opinion. The REAL ID Act ignores the fact that those who
flee brutal human rights abuses often escape from situations that
preclude gathering of documentation to present ``corroborating
evidence.'' Applicants may be denied based on any inconsistencies or
inaccuracies in their stories. An escapee from the Darfur region cannot
go back and track evidence of their persecution without facing a life
threatening situation.
Therefore, I believe we need comprehensive immigration reform to fix
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our broken immigration system, not a national ID that continues the
problem.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Wu).
Mr. WU. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California for his
leadership in organizing this Special Order tonight and for his
leadership in chairing the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.
Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor and pleasure that I join with my
fellow members of the Asian Pacific American Caucus in celebration of
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. This month marks the 27th time
America has recognized and celebrated the many contributions and
achievements of Asian Pacific Americans.
Our country was founded as a Nation of immigrants. America has
reached its greatness in part by the accumulation of ideas from those
with varied heritage and backgrounds. In particular, Asian Pacific
Americans have made profound contributions to American life, including
the arts, education, science, technology, politics, and athletics.
Asian Pacific Americans were here to help build the transcontinental
railroad, to serve in the Civil War, and most recently to develop the
latest in Internet technology. Asian Pacific Americans have played an
active and crucial role in the development of this country from
knitting it together, as I mentioned, with the transcontinental
railroad, to bringing us closer to the rest of the world through the
technologies of the Worldwide Web.
The Asian Pacific American community remains and always will be an
integral and vibrant part of American society. As we take part in
celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, I urge everyone
to participate more deeply in the civic life of our Nation. Asian
Pacific American civic participation and engagement will help define
our collective future. By working together, we can bridge and build
upon our great Nation's diverse communities and move forward with
determination and unity.
I encourage Congress and the American people to spend part of May
absorbing the legacy, culture, and achievements of the Asian Pacific
American community.
Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his comments.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to touch on a couple more subjects, if I
may.
As Americans, we need to ensure that our children receive a quality
education by providing adequate teacher training, funds for after-
school and extracurricular activities, and ensuring that college is
affordable for every student that desires to receive a higher
education.
According to the U.S. census, 50 percent of Asians age 25 or over
have a bachelor's degree or higher level of education. However, I would
like to emphasize that when we disaggregate the data for AAPI
subgroups, we find that the ``model minority'' stereotype is, in fact,
a myth.
Only 9.1 percent of Cambodian Americans, 7.4 percent Hmong Americans,
7.6 percent Lao Americans, and 19.5 percent Vietnamese Americans and 16
percent of native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders who are 25 years and
older have a bachelor's degree.
These numbers show that we must do a better job of disaggregating
data and information about our communities to assess the needs of those
hard-working Americans who still falter behind.
To address the disparities between subgroups of the larger AAPI
community, we need Congress to pass the Asian American and Pacific
Islander Serving Institutions bill, which the gentleman from Oregon
(Mr. Wu) will be introducing later this month. This legislation will
provide Federal grants to colleges and universities that have an
enrollment of undergraduate students that is at least 10 percent AAPI
and at least 50 percent of its degree-seeking students receive
financial assistance.
As a caucus, we will work to increase the availability of loan
assistance, scholarships, and programs to allow AAPI students to attend
a higher education institution; to ensure full funding for teachers and
bilingual education programs under the No Child Left Behind Act; to
support English language learners; and to support full funding of
minority outreach programs for access to higher education such as the
TRIO programs to expand services to serve AAPI students.
In health, Mr. Speaker, a common misperception of AAPIs is that as a
group we face fewer health problems than other racial and ethnic
groups. In fact, AAPIs as a group and specific populations within this
group do experience disparities in health and health care. For example,
AAPIs have the highest hepatitis B rates of any racial group in the
U.S.
Last week, I, along with the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr.
Murphy), introduced a resolution to support the goals and ideals of
National Hepatitis B Awareness Week.
AAPIs are also five times more likely to develop cervical and liver
cancer than any other ethnic and racial group. According to the Census
Bureau, 18 percent of AAPIs went without insurance for the entire year
in 2000. This means that the uninsured are not only more likely to go
without care for serious medical conditions; they are also more likely
to go without routine care, less likely to have a regular source of
care, less likely to use preventative services, and have fewer visits
per year.
At the same time, without appropriate language translation services
or properly translated materials, limited English-proficient immigrants
cannot receive adequate care, as well as State and Federal benefits for
which they may be eligible. In the AAPI community, 76 percent of Hmong
Americans, 61 percent of Vietnamese Americans, 52 percent of Korean
Americans, and 39 percent of Tongans speak limited English. Therefore,
eliminating health care disparities in the AAPI community must include
data collection, linguistically appropriate and culturally competent
services, and access to health insurance.
CAPAC has been working with both the Congressional Hispanic and Black
Caucuses on the Healthcare Equality and Accountability Act to eliminate
ethnic and racial health disparities for all of our community. I will
be introducing the Healthcare Equality and Accountability Act, which
will address expanding the health care safety net, diversifying the
health care workforce, combating diseases that disproportionately
affect racial and ethnic minorities, emphasizing prevention and
behavioral health; and promoting the collection and dissemination of
data and enhance medical research, provide interpreters and translation
services in the delivery of health care.
Mr. Speaker, in California a Hmong man was going to the hospital to
have his right leg amputated in surgery. And the doctor, in order to
confirm whether he had the right leg pointed out, spoke to the
gentleman before surgery and asked him if this is the correct leg, and
the gentleman did not understand. He just nodded. When he came to from
anesthesia after the surgery, he found that his good leg was amputated.
And because of lack of translations and lack of linguistic services,
this man became more disabled than he should have been.
Mr. Speaker, I now yield to the gentleman from Washington (Mr.
Inslee), a great friend and advocate.
Mr. INSLEE. Mr. Speaker, I have enjoyed listening to this story of
the tapestry of the Asian American Pacific Islander community in
America; and that tapestry, of course, consists of quite a number of
threads. I would like to add one thread to this great story of this
important part of the American tapestry.
And that story began on March 30, 1942, on Bainbridge Island,
Washington, actually the island where I live. On that day, a young 2\1/
2\-year-old named Frank became one of the first Americans of Japanese
descent to be rounded up by our military and forced to leave his home.
We have a picture here. Actually, it is a pretty historic picture.
These were the first Japanese Americans to be interned during World War
II. They left the dock on Bainbridge Island en masse, surrounded back
up here, though we do not see them in the picture, of soldiers with
bayonets; and they were marched down into a boat and taken to Seattle
and eventually to Manzanar.
{time} 2145
Obviously, at that time, after the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor,
our Nation was really living under a cloud of uncertainty when, along
with Frank, 226 other men and women, families left
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the dock at Bainbridge Island, and they were the first imprisoned at
Manzanar. Eventually, 120,000 Americans of Japanese descent were
stripped of their very basic rights and freedoms guaranteed to every
American under the Constitution, and most spent the duration of the war
in these camps.
It took a long time for Americans to come to grips with this, come to
grips with these injustices as part of our history. But it is important
to remember them lest we forget and allow fear and anxiety that is
understandable ever to push us over the edge again to darkness that
occurred to those people in those years.
Frank is now known as Dr. Kitamoto, a great dentist on Bainbridge
Island. Frank is a grown man. He carries the story of this internment
with a very quiet strength and courage. And he knows that while we
regret those decisions that were made 63 years ago, he does not cast
blame. Instead, Dr. Kitamoto has transferred his personal experience
into a living history to try to share the wisdom that comes with such a
searing experience. He shares his story so that others can learn from
this mistake so that we are reminded not to let that happen again.
Frank has a 45-minute slide presentation that he presents to schools
throughout the State of Washington, and California, Oklahoma,
Connecticut and Idaho, wherever he is invited, and he makes the trip on
his own dime. Frank wants to make sure this story is told and told by
someone who knows the story.
For over 20 years he has lead the Bainbridge Island Japanese American
community as President, and he has worked to create a memorial, a
remembrance to this event in our community's history. The Bainbridge
Island community put a lot of effort into selecting a name for this
memorial and, with care and deliberation, selected a Japanese phrase,
``Nidoto Nai Yoni'' or ``let it not happen again.''
I am proud that the history of Dr. Kitamoto has become part of the
American story, and I was proud to sponsor legislation that will
hopefully make the ``Nidoto Nai Yoni'' memorial at Pritchard Park an
officially recognized part of our national heritage. That bill passed
this Chamber last year, we are in the planning phases now, to make this
a national memorial. Most of this dock is not here now, but we have
just a beautiful memorial planned so that this story can remain part of
our national tapestry.
It is my honor to join efforts with Dr. Kitamoto and sit beside him
at the dedication ceremony for the memorial. It is my honor now to
remember and share this story of a group of Americans whose quiet
strength and sacrifice and courage and patriotism of the many sons who
served in World War II while their families were in these camps. Their
story really is an inspiration for everyone everywhere, and I want to
thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Honda) for convening this
important discussion.
Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from
Washington for his great work and also for making sure that the lessons
of internment is not only academic, but also personal, and for
dedicating sites that will be a hands-on experience for generations to
come.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to continue on Social Security and, as we
continue this debate on Social Security, I want to emphasize the fact
that privatizing Social Security will impact the Asian-Americans and
Pacific Islanders just as it will impact all Americans. We need to
protect and secure Social Security for the AAPI community, because
Social Security provides retirement security to AAPI families. More
than 785,000 AAPIs receive Social Security benefits, and the average
monthly benefit for AAPIs is $716.
Social Security needs a solid source of funding, not a plan that
makes the problem worse by draining trillions of dollars away from
Social Security. Social Security is a generational promise to honor our
parents and Americans who have paid into Social Security for years, and
we need to fight to protect and secure the promise of benefits.
On a personal note, my mother, who is 88, has worked all her life.
She has worked in the fields, she has worked with my father as a
sharecropper in strawberries and, later, she was a domestic worker,
taking care of other people's homes and cleaning their homes. All of
this work has dignity to it. It provided sufficient revenues to put
food on our table. However, she did not have a pension plan. She did
not have other plans that would sustain her in her retirement years.
She is one of those 90 percent of widows who depend upon Social
Security for 90 percent of their income on a monthly basis. It is for
those women, for children who have survived family tragedies and became
orphans, for those who are disabled, that we submit that Social
Security should not be deformed, but perhaps reformed and have a sense
of solvency into the future.
Mr. Speaker, I would also like to extend my gratitude to the
patriotic men and women serving our country in the military, including
60,813 AAPIs serving on active duty in the U.S. armed services, as well
as the 28,066 in the Reserves and the National Guard. I also commend
and thank the 351,000 AAPI veterans who fought for this country.
I would like to highlight and honor the Filipino veterans who have
not been compensated and recognized for their service, which I believe
is a national disservice to these brave veterans. As a country, it is
our duty to ensure that these veterans have equal access to all of the
benefits and treatment that other veterans receive. We believe that our
troops should be taken care of when we send them into battle and that
they should be given the respect when they return home.
With regard to the Filipino veterans, I stand with my colleagues, the
gentleman from California (Mr. Cunningham) and the gentleman from
California (Mr. Filner) to support their bipartisan legislation, H.R.
302, to restore full benefits to those veterans who fought for our
Nation in World War II when they were asked and recruited to become our
allies in fighting the Japanese military during World War II. However,
this effort has been stalled and frustrated over the years. It is not
an issue of who is in the administration, it is an issue of the State
Department. I would also ask my colleagues in Congress on both sides of
the aisle to take note of this bill that is being sponsored by the
gentlemen from California (Mr. Cunningham) and (Mr. Filner), to study
it and understand that a promise made should not be a promise broken as
it was in 1946, but a promise kept. We have an opportunity in this
session to keep that promise, and to make good our word to those
veterans who fought alongside of our veterans and soldiers in World War
II.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to discuss a few firsts in our community. I
am proud of our community's accomplishments, and I would like to
recognize many of the AAPI firsts in the areas of art, film, sports,
sciences, academia, and politics.
In 1846, Yung Wing, the first Chinese American graduated from Yale
University and the first AAPI to graduate from a U.S. college.
In 1863, William Ah Hang, who was a Chinese American, became the
first AAPI to enlist in the U.S. Navy during the Civil War.
In 1944, An Wang, a Chinese American who invented the magnetic core
memory, which revolutionized computing and served as the standard
method for memory retrieval and storage.
In 1946, Wing F. Ong, a Chinese American from Arizona, became the
first AAPI to be elected to a statewide office.
In 1948, Victoria Manalo Draves, a Filipino American diver, the first
woman to win Olympic Gold Medals in both the ten-meter platform and
three-meter springboard events.
In 1956, Dalip Singh Saud, the first Indian American to be elected to
Congress. That only became possible after the anti-Asian law that
prohibited Asians to become U.S. citizens to become naturalized; after
that law was rescinded, Asian Americans were able to participate in the
government and the democracy of this country who were not born in this
country.
In 1965, Patsy Takemoto Mink, the first Japanese American woman and
woman of color elected to Congress who championed Title IX.
In 1985, Haing Ngor, a Cambodian American, became the first AAPI to
win an academy award for his role in ``The Killing Fields'' movie.
In 1985, Ellison Onizuka, a Japanese American, became the first Asian
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American Pacific Islander astronaut in space.
I would like to close, Mr. Speaker, by saying that the Asian American
Pacific Island community continues to fight for our civil rights as
Americans. Even after the internment of the Japanese Americans during
World War II, we, as a community, did not grow embittered or cowed by
discrimination; instead, we progressed and moved forward. I am proud to
be a member of the AAPI community, because we continue to serve as
positive contributors to our many communities by investing, investing
in education, in business, and cultural opportunities for all
Americans.
In closing, this Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, we take pride
in our history, our accomplishments, and the promise of our future as
we continue to pave the way for a better tomorrow to form a more
perfect union in the name of liberty and freedom for all.
Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the month of May
as Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and to pay tribute to the
contributions of the Asian American and Pacific Islander community,
including immigrants, refugees, and natives.
As the Representative of California's 8th District, it is my
privilege to represent a strong Asian American and Pacific Islander
community that is a vital part of San Francisco's world-renowned
diversity.
As the Democratic Leader in Congress, I am proud to join my
colleagues in honoring more than 13 million Asian Americans and Pacific
Islanders (AAPIs), representing a diverse community of backgrounds,
cultures, and experiences, who make their homes in the United States.
Their unique contributions enhance the moral fabric and character of
our great country.
As we celebrate the significant progress made by Asian Americans and
Pacific Islanders, it is right for us to honor the memory of great
leaders of the AAPI community who have recently passed away--including
Fred Korematsu, who dared to challenge the U.S. government over the
Japanese internment camps, John Tsu, former chair for the White House
Initiative on AAPIs and longtime community activist, Patrick Okura, a
great civil rights leader and Japanese American internee, and Magdaleno
Duenas, a Filipino veteran and community leader.
Mr. Speaker, let us remember our former colleague and my dear friend
Congressman Robert Matsui, who despite imprisonment in an internment
camp during World War II, never lost faith in our country. He went on
to become a national champion for all of America's seniors, and the
first Asian-American to serve in the leadership of the House of
Representatives.
Their legacies are part of the ongoing struggle of all Asian American
and Pacific Islanders, who, in spite of having to overcome great
hardship and discrimination, maintain an abiding and unbreakable belief
in the promise of our country, and move forward to make remarkable
contributions to our country.
In memory of these great figures in the history of our Nation, it is
only fitting that this year's theme for Asian Pacific American Heritage
Month is `Liberty and Freedom for All.' Each of these individuals
leaves us with a legacy that still burns to be fulfilled. For despite
the great progress that we have made, we still have a long way to go to
ensuring equality and expanding opportunities so that all Americans
have a chance to achieve their full potential. Their work will continue
on in all of us.
This year we also commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Immigration
Act of 1965, and the 30th Anniversary of the Refugee Assistance Act of
1975. These laws demonstrate our national commitment to serving as a
beacon of hope for all those in search of the opportunity and freedom
that are the promises of America. In the three decades since the
signing of the Refugee Assistance Act, the United States has provided
shelter to millions of refugees escaping persecution, tyranny, and
often, unspeakable tragedies. Each time we look into the face of
diversity, we see great heroism and personal dignity.
Mr. Speaker, as we celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage month,
let us rededicate ourselves to answer their enduring call to service,
and fight for justice in our country.
Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in celebration of Asian Pacific
American Heritage Month. It is during this month that we commemorate
the significant contributions that the Asian American and Pacific
Islander (AAPI) community has made to our country.
I would like to join my colleagues on the Congressional Asian Pacific
American Caucus, of which I am a member, and which is chaired by my
colleague, Mr. Honda of California. This bipartisan and bicameral
caucus has been active in raising awareness about the concerns and
issues that face the Asian American and Pacific Islander community
today.
There are more than 12 million Asian American and Pacific Islanders
in the United States, including about 275,000 in my home state of
Maryland. Asian Pacific Americans also have the most diverse background
of any minority population, tracing their roots to almost fifty
different countries and ethnic groups.
Today, Asian Pacific Americans play an important role in every aspect
of American life--as authors and artists, as business leaders, as
political leaders, as military leaders, as scientists and innovators,
as athletes, and in virtually every other aspect of American society.
In addition to recognizing the important role that Asian Pacific
Americans play in our country, this month's celebration is also a time
to remember significant historical contributions that Asian Pacific
Americans have made in our Nation's history. From the building of our
transcontinental railroads to fighting on behalf of our Nation, Asian
Pacific Americans have contributed greatly to the American tapestry.
This year's theme for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month is
``Liberty and Freedom for All.'' This spirit was embodied in
Representative Robert Matsui, who passed away in December, and to whom
I wish to pay tribute. The House of Representatives and the country as
a whole suffered a great loss with the passing of Bob Matsui, a
dedicated leader who served with distinction for 13 terms in the House
and was chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
During his career, Bob Matsui was an active member of the Asian
Pacific American community, working to achieve redress for Japanese
Americans who were placed in internment camps after the bombing of
Pearl Harbor. Congressman Matsui himself was placed in the Tule Lake
internment camp along with his family in 1942. He was later
instrumental in securing the passage of the Japanese-American Redress
Act as well as in ensuring a monument to Japanese-American patriotism
during World War II.
Representative Matsui's experience demonstrates the determination and
perseverance that characterized Asian Pacific Americans during their
time here in the United States, oftentimes overcoming discrimination,
language and cultural barriers.
I am pleased Americans have so much to benefit from as a result of
our diverse society. We continue to learn from each other and share
each other's traditions, history, and culture.
That is why it gives me great pleasure today to recognize the
significant advances and contributions made by the Asian Pacific
American Community to our country during Asian Pacific Heritage month.
Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Asian
Pacific Heritage Week.
I am especially proud to do so because I am privileged to represent
some of the most important Asian Pacific American communities in Los
Angeles, California, including Chinatown, Little Tokyo, Filipinotown,
and a portion of the Korean-American community. These historic
California communities are constant reminders of the vibrancy and
vitality of Asian Pacific Islanders and their significant contributions
to our nation.
Secretary of Transportation, former Representative Norman Y. Mineta
from California, was one of the first to work towards establishing a
time of national recognition of the accomplishments of Asian Pacific
Islander Americans. In June of 1977, he and his colleague,
Representative Frank Horton of New York, introduced the first House
resolution that called upon the President to proclaim the first 10 days
of May as Asian Pacific American Heritage Week. In 1979, President
Jimmy Carter signed a joint resolution declaring May 4-10 as National
Asian Pacific American Heritage Week. And in 1990, President George H.
W. Bush expanded the celebration to the entire month of May. The month
of May was chosen for this special commemoration since it corresponds
with the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants to the United States
in May of 1843.
``Asian Pacific American'' is a political appellation that
encompasses the many ethnic groups that exist in the API community. The
term helps give expression to this historically, culturally,
linguistically, and ethnically diverse group while at the same time
recognizing common experiences in American history.
Mr. Speaker, let me take a few minutes to highlight a few of the
important events in the lives of my Asian Pacific American
constituents. In Little Tokyo, one event was the celebration of the
25th anniversary of the Little Tokyo Service Center, in which I had the
honor to participate. For 25 years, the Little Tokyo Service Center, a
nonprofit charitable organization serving Asian and Pacific Islanders
throughout Los Angeles County, has been an important resource for the
residents of this diverse community. Currently, Little Tokyo Service
Center sponsors over a dozen community and social service programs,
with over
[[Page H2798]]
40 paid staff and hundreds of volunteers who provide competent and
compassionate services in seven different languages. The services
provided by Little Tokyo Service Center include individual and family
counseling, support groups, transportation and translation services, an
emergency caregiver program, crisis hotlines, and consumer education.
Little Tokyo Service Center is also the sponsor of several major
community development projects in the Los Angeles area, including the
construction and management of Casa Heiwa, a 100-unit affordable
housing project for individuals and families; the rehabilitation of one
of our city's historical landmarks into the Union Center for the Arts;
and the development of Pacific Bridge, a housing complex for adults
with developmental challenges.
Another noteworthy event took place last year when I was honored to
recognize the 100th anniversary of The Rafu Shimpo. The success of this
bilingual English-Japanese newspaper, founded in Los Angeles and
published, distributed, and read avidly in my congressional district,
is another milestone in the rich history of the Japanese-American
community.
The history of The Rafu Shimpo is an important part of both American
and Japanese American history and heritage. In April 1903, three young
men, Rippo lijima, Masaharu Yamaguchi, and Seijiro Shibuya produced in
Los Angeles the first mimeographed news bulletin for the Japanese-
speaking community. In 1914, under the new management of Henry Toyosaku
(H.T.) Komai, the newspaper began to grow. In 1926, an English language
section was added with the help of a 20-year-old UCLA education major,
Louise Suski. By 1932, the English section became a daily feature.
On April 4, 1942, The Rafu Shimpo ceased publication as Americans of
Japanese descent were forcibly and shamefully removed to desert
internment camps. At the end of the war in 1945, while other Japanese
Americans were released, H.T. Komai continued to be detained in Santa
Fe, New Mexico. Nevertheless, the Komai family's dedication to
publishing The Rafu Shimpo persevered. H.T.'s son, Akira Komai, with a
$1,500 loan from three staff members, rebuilt the newspaper.
The newspaper grew rapidly from a circulation of 500 in 1946, to
20,000 over the next 30 years. Today, H.T.'s grandson, Michael Komai,
serves as the third generation publisher, a position he has held since
1983. The award-winning daily has over 45,000 readers and prevails as
the premier news source for the Los Angeles area Japanese American
community.
Two years ago, I was also honored to recognize the 100th anniversary
of Fugetsu-Do, a family-run bakery in my congressional district.
Starting in 1903, Seiichi Kito and his family, later including Roy
Kito, began working in a small shop to produce batches of mochi, maju,
and other Japanese sweets. In 1942, when the Kito family was forced to
relocate to the Heart Mountain, Wyoming internment camp, the family
business was closed. At the end of the war, the Kito family returned to
Los Angeles and reopened the doors of Fugetsu-Do. Today, Brian Kito,
the grandson of Seiichi Kito and the son of Roy Kito, continues the
legacy of Fugetsu-Do and continues to serve the Little Tokyo community.
And, of course, there is the wonderful celebration of Japanese
culture and tradition during Nisei Week, culminating with the annual
parade.
I am also very proud to represent many members of the Korean-American
community and to work with this important constituency that greatly
contributes to the Los Angeles area and our nation as a whole.
In 1903, Korean immigrants began arriving in the U.S. in 3 distinct
waves. The first wave was recruited for back-breaking work on the sugar
plantations of Hawaii. The second wave of Koreans arrived after World
War II and again after the Korean War. In the 1960's, more Korean
immigrants came to the U.S. seeking increased educational
opportunities. Many in this last group were medical professionals who
came to fill the shortage of health care workers in our inner cities.
These immigrants have helped revitalize declining neighborhoods and
have been an economic stimulus through small business entrepreneurship.
Korean Americans have also made their influence felt in international
trade, the fashion industry, and other community businesses such as
restaurants. Still others make significant contributions in professions
ranging from the arts to medicine and the sciences. Last year I was
proud to help honor the 100th anniversary of Korean-American
immigration to the United States with a statement on the floor of the
House of Representatives and to participate in their annual Harvest
Moon Festival parade in Los Angeles.
And, of course, I am privileged to represent Los Angeles's Chinatown,
perhaps the Asian Pacific American group with the oldest and best known
story in American history.
Immigrants from China first came to southern California in the late
1850's to help build wagon roads and lay railroad tracks across the
west. Initially barred from owning property, many Chinese eventually
settled near Olvera Street in rented homes and storefronts used for
hand laundries, herb shops and markets in downtown Los Angeles. In the
1930's, this neighborhood of approximately 3000 Chinese was uprooted to
make way for the construction of Union Station on Alameda Street.
Chinese families and merchants banded together as the Los Angeles
Chinatown Corporation to create a ``new Chinatown'' on Broadway. Since
second-generation Chinese could own property, American-born Peter Soo
Hoo led the group in purchasing a railroad storage yard they turned
into a traditional Chinese-looking, tile-fringed pedestrian plaza. This
``New Chinatown'' became one of America's first shopping malls and was
an immediate success. Restaurants and shops abounded, and at night the
neighborhood came to life with colorful lights, music and street
entertainers.
In the 1970's, waves of new Chinese immigrants led an ethnic
population shift eastward to the San Gabriel Valley. The original
Chinatown, however, retains its historical significance and vitality.
To help stimulate its renewal and make this historic area accessible to
more southern Californians, the Los Angeles delegation is working to
bring the Gold Line through Chinatown.
Among the many other exciting things happening in Chinatown is the
Chinese American Museum. In December of 2003, I was pleased to join the
Chinese community to celebrate the Grand Opening of the museum, located
at Olvera Street, the birthplace of Los Angeles. The Chinese American
Museum is in the Garnier Building, which was erected in the 1890's for
the exclusive use of the Chinese community. During those early years,
the Garnier building housed schools, temples, churches and businesses.
And, of course, the annual Chinese New Year parade and dragon dance
culminates a week of celebration of Chinese culture and history.
And finally, in 2003, with other Members of Congress, I was pleased
to attend a recognition ceremony in honor of Asian American and Pacific
Islander veterans and current service members who are defending our
country in the armed services. Among those being honored were members
of the legendary 442nd Infantry Army Regiment, which sustained a higher
rate of casualties during World War II than any other unit.
This ceremony was one more reminder of the enormous contributions and
sacrifices made to this country by the members of our Asian Pacific
American communities.
It is truly an honor to join my colleagues during Asian Pacific
Heritage Month to recognize the many heroic and positive contributions
of the API community to our American society.
Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, today, I am proud to
join our nation in celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.
This is a time to recognize the enormous contributions of Asian Pacific
Americans to our society. The United States is a country of immigrants,
known for its diversity. Asian Pacific Americans have increased that
diversity, adding their unique experiences to our culture. I am proud
that my home state of California has a larger population of Asian-
Americans than anyplace else in the country.
It is important to renew our commitment to serving the specific needs
of this community. Congress must not only reflect and acknowledge the
past, but also look forward to meeting the future needs of a growing
population. We need to work together to make the American dream a
reality. Improving access to educational opportunities, enacting
comprehensive immigration reform, and reducing health disparities
should be priority initiatives. The theme of this year's Asian Pacific
American Heritage Month is ``Liberty and Freedom for All''. This month
serves as a reminder that we should all strive to make this theme a
reality for every American.
We should also acknowledge the contributions of Asian Pacific
Americans. My district in particular has benefited from their service
and leadership. There are several prominent Asian Pacific Americans who
dedicate themselves to improving our communities in southern
California. They are a source of strength and inspiration to all of us.
I would like to recognize someone who has provided invaluable service.
Laura Lee, of Cerritos, is committed to improving her community by
helping those around her. She was elected to the Cerritos City Council
in March 2003. However, this barely acknowledges the extent of her
public service. She has made Cerritos her home since 1979, and in that
time, has built an extensive list of accomplishments. Laura has
provided her service and expertise to the American Red Cross, the ABC
School District Legislative/Policy Advisory Committee, the Su Casa
Domestic Abuse Network, and the Southern California Chinese Woman's
League.
[[Page H2799]]
Additionally, she is very active professionally as a real estate
broker. She has used this experience to take on leadership roles with
the California Association of Realtors, the Rancho Southeast
Association of Realtors, and the Cerritos College Real Estate
Department. Laura Lee has contributed greatly to the growth or our
economy, the diversity of our culture, and the quality of our
education. She is someone we can all look to as a role model.
This month is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the Asian Pacific
American community. They are a valuable asset to our diverse culture
that should be recognized.
Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join the Nation in
celebrating Asian Pacific Islander American Heritage Month. The month
of May is a time to celebrate the achievements of Asian American men
and women who have made remarkable contributions to our country.
As a member of the Congressional Asian Pacific Islander American
Caucus, I am proud to pay tribute to the 120,000 individuals of Asian
descent I represent in California's 32nd Congressional District.
Rosemead, Monterey Park and other cities throughout my district have
experienced first hand the economic and cultural contributions of the
Asian and Pacific Islander communities.
Since the earliest days of this country, people from all cultures
have immigrated to our Nation seeking the promise of freedom,
opportunity, and the American dream. As an integral part of our
society, Asian and Pacific Islander Americans are leaders in public
service, government, science, law, education, athletics, and the arts.
As business entrepreneurs, Asian and Pacific Islander are helping to
strengthen our economy and our communities through their hard work and
ingenuity. As patriots, Asian and Pacific Islander Americans continue
to risk their lives defending liberty. We are grateful for the service
and sacrifice of our men and women in uniform and for their families
who love and support them.
The commitment of Asian and Pacific Islanders to family, community
and hard work has helped to shape our Nation for many generations. This
year the country suffered a great loss at the death of Congressman
Robert Matsui, who exemplified these qualities. A fellow Californian,
Congressman Matsui served his district and the Nation 26 years in
Congress with great distinction and honor. Formerly a Japanese-American
prisoner during World War II, Congressman Matsui was a great advocate
and champion of the Asian American and Pacific Islander community. His
work effort, faith, and determination were a constant source of
inspiration for me.
I join with all Americans in celebrating the Asian and Pacific
Islander American culture, and I encourage every citizen to recognize
the many contributions of Asian and Pacific Islander Americans to the
diversity of the Nation.
Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with my colleagues of the
Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) to recognize May as
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. As a member of the caucus'
executive committee and the chairman of its Immigration Task Force, I
want to honor the many achievements and contributions of the more than
thirteen million Americans of Asian and Pacific Islander descent in our
country.
Back in 1978, my friends and colleagues, Senator Daniel K. Inouye,
former Senator Spark Matsunaga, former Representative Frank Horton and
former Representative Norm Mineta helped establish the first 10 days of
May as Asian Pacific American Heritage Week. Subsequent efforts were
made to extend the week-long celebration to a month-long event. In the
102nd Congress, I was an original cosponsor of legislation signed into
law that designated May of each year as Asian Pacific American Heritage
Month.
I am blessed to serve the First Congressional District of Hawaii
which is comprised primarily of Asian Pacific Americans (APA). It's an
inspiring and empowering sight for other APAs from around the country
to see. I know I say this every year, but I feel that it needs to be
repeated. There is a special strength and resilience embodied in
Hawaii's unique cultural mix: we have chosen to be defined by our
diversity rather than divided by our differences. That resolve to work
together with Aloha can serve as an example to the rest of the country.
While we can look at APA Heritage Month as a time to recognize and
celebrate many individual accomplishments, we must also take action. My
colleagues and I are committed to improving the lives of all APAs by
working on issues of importance to our community, such as fighting to
eliminate racial and ethnic health disparities, defending civil
liberties, protecting Social Security, and ensuring educational
opportunities for our children. These are the principles that reflect
this year's theme, ``Liberty and Freedom for All.''
This year's theme represents the past and ongoing contributions of
APAs, such as Congresswoman Patsy T. Mink who dedicated her life to
economic and social justice, Congressman Robert Matsui, who's
internment experience during World War II helped shape his belief that
every American is entitled to basic civil rights despite their
ethnicity, and Japanese American soldiers who fought during World War
II, such as Senator Daniel K. Inouye.
Throughout our nation's history, APAs have made and continue to make
major contributions in areas such as business, civil liberties, culture
and arts, education, medicine, technology and politics. By the year
2050, there will be an estimated 33.4 million U.S. residents who will
identify themselves as Asian alone, which will comprise 8 percent of
the total population. This is a projected 213 percent increase of APAs
between 2000 and 2050. These statistics reflect the growing
significance of the APA community, its growing role in the development
of public policy, and its cultural contributions that helps us to
celebrate our diversities. I extend my heartfelt aloha to the APA
community and look forward to celebrating APA Heritage Month.
Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Asian Pacific
American Heritage Month, which commemorates the significant
contributions of Asian Pacific Americans throughout our country's
history. America draws its strength from its tremendous diversity. The
contributions to our country--to the American culture and experience--
by Asian Pacific Americans are numerous, and we are a much better
country as a result.
I thank the gentleman for yielding and for his leadership in the
Asian Pacific American Caucus and our Tri-Caucus, the Asian Pacific
American Caucus, the Hispanic Caucus, and the Congressional Black
Caucus. It is a privilege to be part of the Tri-Caucus.
Today, I want to recognize the contributions of Asian Pacific
Americans in my district, the Ninth Congressional District of
California, the East Bay of Northern California, and commend them for
their dedicated service and vision in making life better for those in
our community and our Nation. Asian Pacific Americans have long played
a crucial role in the life and history of the East Bay. The region's
identity has been profoundly shaped by its place in the Pacific Rim.
However, today Asian Americans face a wide variety of challenges,
including access to educational opportunities and community resources.
I specifically want to highlight the work being done in my own district
by the East Bay Asian Youth Center (EBAYC) and the East Bay Asian Local
Development Corporation (EBALDC), in their efforts to empower the Asian
American community and improve their standard of living.
The East Bay Asian Youth Center inspires Asian American youth and
families by providing leadership and educational opportunities.
Everyday EBAYC (ee-BAY-cee) demonstrates that cultural diversity is a
powerful agent for progress. They run a youth sports program, have
founded a health center, and coordinate a video productions program
that was awarded Honorable Mention at the Oakland International Film
Festival. EBAYC also facilitates partnerships to provide health,
social, security improvements, and after-school services at schools.
Moreover, EBAYC engages families through the creation of Parent Action
Committees (PACs). Over 500 Asian, Latino, and African-American parents
are involved in these PACs in schools where no parent organization had
previously existed. These PACs have been enormously effective,
fomenting positive change in local schools. For example, one PAC was
able to decrease truancy by 40 percent at a middle school that was
known for its major gang-related and racial violence.
I also want to mention the East Bay Asian Local Development
Corporation. EBALDC (ee-BALD-cee) has created a national model to
promote affordable housing. Since its inception, it has created over
700 units of affordable apartments for low income families and seniors.
It is one of the Bay Area's--and the Nation's--most respected community
developers. EBALDC has developed nearly 200,000 square feet of retail,
office and childcare space, two of which I want to highlight: (1) the
Asian Resource Center, a facility that provides key community services
to the APA community in Oakland Chinatown and, (2) Preservation Park, a
beautifully restored Victorian neighborhood block that is home to a
countless number of non-profit organizations and small businesses. In
addition, EBALDC spearheads an Individual Development Account (IDA)
savings program, by which more than 10 percent of the IDA participants
have used their savings to buy their first homes. Given that the Bay
Area's real estate market makes it one of the least affordable cities
in the Nation, it has made a huge impact within our community, EBALDC
helps individuals discover and develop the resources to realize their
dreams--of owning affordable homes and starting new businesses.
Immigrants face many obstacles today, and organizations like EBALDC
and EBALYC help their clients to conquer their problems. These are just
a few specific examples of the impact
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that APAs have had in my district. I want to salute the achievements of
these two organizations tonight.
I believe that it is also very important to celebrate the
accomplishments of a hero for many of us, someone who has tirelessly
devoted her life to make our Nation better, Lillian Galedo. Ms. Galedo
is the Executive Director for Filipinos for Affirmative Action (FAA).
This year she will be celebrating her ``Silver Anniversary'' with the
organization, having served 25 years with FAA.
During her tenure, Ms. Galedo has spearheaded several initiatives to
advocate on behalf of the Filipino American community, especially in
the East Bay. Today, Filipinos continue to be among the top three
groups immigrating to the U.S., constituting one of the largest Asian
populations in California. FAA runs several youth programs, offers
services to new immigrants and engages in several community campaigns,
working for the rights of immigrants, Filipino-American airport
screeners and WWII veterans. FAA is truly an exemplary grassroots
organization, and Ms. Galedo has been at the forefront of encouraging
civic participation and fighting for the civil rights of the community.
Ms. Galedo is a woman warrior--passionate and articulate--and an
inspiration for many Asian Americans.
I also want to recognize the contributions of those who have left us,
but who have left an indelible mark in our Nation's history.
Tonight I honor the memory and the legacy of a very good friend, my
dear colleague Congressman Robert Matsui. He made such a great impact
in this body, and tonight as we celebrate APA Heritage Month, I want to
remind everyone of Bob's great legacy. Bob's passing is a bitter blow
to all of us. But his life and the things he achieved for all of us
will live forever as a testament to a life well-lived. I also want to
recognize his wife, Doris, who has done an incredible job in the past
few months, in carrying on his legacy and reflecting the view and the
future that Bob would have for the country.
I also want to highlight the achievements of Fred Korematsu, a
courageous champion of the civil rights movement and a role model for
Asian Americans. During his life, Mr. Korematsu touched the lives of
countless people, shedding light on a past injustice that was forgotten
and ignored. Mr. Korematsu was a central figure within the controversy
of Japanese internment during World War II, during which he was
arrested for demanding no more than what every American is entitled
to--his basic human rights. Mr. Korematsu defied the order to go to the
Japanese-American internment camps because he believed it wasn't right.
His case changed legal history and resulted in an apology by the U.S.
for its wrongdoings, as well as reparations to 120,000 living Japanese-
Americans.
Mr. Speaker, as a Nation, we must embrace the cultures that have
worked to advance the needs of all Americans and have helped to define
what it means to be American. So as a proud member of the Congressional
Asian Pacific American Caucus, I am privileged to join the gentleman
from California tonight to make sure that our entire country
understands why we are celebrating APA Heritage Month. Let us make sure
that we represent Asian Pacific Americans every month, each and every
day as we develop our policies and our legislation that ensure liberty
and justice for all.
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