[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 71 (Wednesday, May 25, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1095-E1096]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           CELEBRATING ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. GRACE F. NAPOLITANO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 23, 2005

  Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Asian Pacific 
Heritage Month and honor the Asian Pacific Americans who make such a 
positive impact in the state of California and my district.
  California is home to more Asian Pacific Americans--4.6 million--than 
any other state and it has also seen the greatest increase in this 
population since 2000. In my congressional district, more than 76,000 
Asian Pacific Americans contribute to the vibrancy and diversity of our 
communities. Their effect in the community has also been felt on an 
economic level, including the many thriving small businesses they run. 
It has also been felt on a spiritual level, as a number of Buddhist 
temples--including the nation's largest in Hacienda Heights--has helped 
raise cultural awareness throughout our communities.
  Since the early 1800's, Asian and Pacific Americans have been crucial 
to the development of our country. They helped build our 
transcontinental railroads and have fought for our nation, beginning 
with the Civil War. While our country wrongly imprisoned many Asian 
Americans in internment camps during World War II, Japanese Americans 
and Filipinos valiantly fought for this country and our freedom and 
continue to do so today.
  It took our country much too long a time to apologize and compensate 
the Asian Americans that were wronged. And it is shameful that the 
United States continues to fail Filipino veterans by not keeping our 
promise to give them full veteran's benefits for their service. I am a 
proud cosponsor of H.R. 302, which would repeal the provisions that 
deny benefits for those who served our country, fought in the organized 
military forces of the Philippines and as Philippine Scouts in World 
War II.
  As the chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, I have also seen 
the same type of barriers placed before our Asian and Pacific American 
brothers and sisters that have troubled my fellow Latinos. We are 
working with the Tri-Caucus--consisting of the Congressional Hispanic 
Caucus, the Congressional Black Caucus and the Congressional Asian 
Pacific American Caucus--to close the gap in affordable health care 
coverage and accessibility that continues to heavily impact all of our 
communities. Together in the last session of Congress, we cosponsored 
the Healthcare Equality and Accountability Act, H.R. 3459, and expect 
to reintroduce the bill in the coming weeks. So many issues, especially 
dealing with healthcare, small business assistance and education 
difficulties for bilingual students, affect both of our communities.
  I am committed to reducing the inequities for all our minority 
populations. As we celebrate our nation's Asian Pacific heritage this 
month, be assured I will continue to work year round to ensure future 
generations have the tools and opportunities they need to thrive.

[[Page E1096]]



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