[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 74 (Monday, May 7, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E972]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           CELEBRATING ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. NEIL ABERCROMBIE

                               of hawaii

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 7, 2007

  Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Asian 
Pacific American (APA) Heritage Month. As you know May is designated as 
APA Heritage Month, and this year's theme is ``Meeting the Challenges 
for Asian Pacific Americans.'' One of the central challenges is the 
need for comprehensive immigration reform.
  I serve as the Immigration Task Force Chairman of the Congressional 
Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC). The caucus includes members who 
are of Asian Pacific descent and those who represent Congressional 
Districts with significant APA populations, like the First District of 
Hawaii.
  The Immigration Task Force is CAPAC's main voice on this important 
and timely issue. Right now, APAs face an immigration backlog that has 
forced many families to live for years apart from their loved ones. For 
example, Filipinos must wait 23 years before United States Citizenship 
and Immigration Services (USCIS) even examines their applications for a 
brother or sister from the Philippines. Furthermore, 1.5 million Asians 
live in the U.S. as undocumented immigrants. They live in the shadows 
without access to basic services, and are vulnerable to exploitation.
  As Task Force Chairman, I have made it a priority for CAPAC to 
support Comprehensive Immigration Reform. True immigration reform not 
only helps us secure our borders, but addresses the issues of family 
reunification and earned legalization for undocumented immigrants. With 
that concern, I cosponsored H.R. 1645, the ``Security Through 
Regularized Immigration and a Vibrant Economy (STRIVE) Act of 2007,'' 
and I am working now to get members of CAPAC to support this bill.
  The ``STRIVE Act'' would help eliminate the family backlog by no 
longer counting spouses and minor children of naturalized citizens 
against the worldwide cap on family-based immigration. That means 
remaining visas can reduce the backlog for the other classes of family-
based immigrants. Such a move not only serves as a humane gesture, but 
upholds our core family values.
  The ``STRIVE Act'' also addresses the concerns of the undocumented 
immigrants, providing for earned legalization, which means that people 
would be allowed to emerge from the shadows. Illegal immigrants would 
have to pay fines and back taxes, pass criminal background checks, and 
meet English and civics learning requirements. Contrary to the 
rhetoric, these immigrants would not jump ahead of those who have 
pending legal visa applications, but would instead have to wait their 
turn. Furthermore, they would not count against either the family-based 
or employment-based immigration caps.
  While not perfect, the ``STRIVE Act'' is an excellent start to 
solving the immigration reform problem. As we celebrate the 
contributions of APAs to the nation, we must rededicate ourselves to a 
new direction; to meet the challenges faced by APA families. That is 
how we open the door to the American dream to all Americans.

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