[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 165 (Monday, December 19, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2620]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING CENTENNIAL OF SUSTAINED IMMIGRATION FROM PHILIPPINES TO 
  UNITED STATES AND ACKNOWLEDGING CONTRIBUTIONS OF FILIPINO-AMERICAN 
                               COMMUNITY

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                       HON. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 13, 2005

  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 218, a 
resolution to recognize 2006 as the centennial of sustained immigration 
from the Philippines to the United States and to celebrate the 
achievements and contributions of Filipino Americans over the past 
century.
  Immigration from the Philippines to the United States began in 1906 
when the first significant numbers of Filipino immigrants arrived in 
Hawaii to work on the island's sugar plantations. Today, a century 
later, the Filipino-American community's numbers increase by nearly 
60,000 new immigrants per year, making Filipinos the largest immigrant 
group from the Asia-Pacific region.
  The Filipino-American community has added so much to the vibrant 
culture of Chicago and our country. The 9th Congressional District 
boasts about 17,000 Filipino residents, which makes it home to the 36th 
largest number of Filipino-Americans among Congressional districts.
  I am particularly proud of the achievements by my constituents like 
Ms. Aurora Abella-Austriaco, a lawyer, who immigrated here from the 
Philippines. She was just appointed a member of the Committee on 
Character and Fitness, First District, by the State of Illinois Supreme 
Court on October 26, 2005. In addition to being partner of a Chicago 
law firm, she served as a member of the Filipino American Voters League 
from 1996-98. She is the current Chair of the Cook County States 
Attorney's Asian Advisory Council and member of the Attorney General's 
Asian Advisory Council and Clerk of the Circuit Court's Asian Advisory 
Council. She is the past Treasurer of the League of Women Voters of 
Chicago and past Chair of the Chicago Bar Association. She also is Vice 
President of the Asian American Institute's 2005 Board of Directors.
  The history of America's Filipino-American community is the 
quintessential American immigrant story of early struggle, pain and 
sacrifice, leading to success in overcoming ethnic, social, economic, 
political, and legal barriers to win a well-deserved place in our 
national fabric. Filipino-Americans, like Ms. Abella-Austriaco, have 
made incredible contributions in all parts of our society, including 
business, labor, politics, medicine, media and the arts. Filipino-
Americans have served and are serving with special distinction in our 
Armed Forces, from World Wars I and II through the Korean War, the 
Vietnam War, the Gulf War, and today in Afghanistan and Iraq.
  The Smithsonian Institution will be conducting the Filipino-American 
Centennial Commemoration 2006 with five public programs and at least 
six more in cities including the city of Chicago, which I represent. 
The programs will range from scholarly discussions and film showings to 
cultural performances providing historical overviews of Filipino-
Americans in the United States.
  This centennial celebration will provide every American an 
opportunity to celebrate a century of Filipino immigration to the 
United States.

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