[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 79 (Wednesday, May 14, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E917]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          COMMEMORATING ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH

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                         HON. NEIL ABERCROMBIE

                               of hawaii

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 14, 2008

  Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate Asian 
Pacific American--APA--Heritage Month. I am pleased to celebrate this 
important event.
  May 2008 marks 30 years since President Jimmy Carter signed a joint 
Congressional resolution declaring the first 10 days of May as Asian 
Pacific American Heritage Week. In 1992, the commemoration was extended 
to the full month of May.
  While it's an appropriate time to note the achievements of Asian 
Pacific Americans, APAs, we cannot overlook the needs of the community, 
including a fair and sensible immigration policy. I chair the 
Immigration Task Force of the Congressional Asian Pacific American 
Caucus's, CAPAC, and I will continue to fight for the needs of family 
within the immigration debate.
  The challenge has become much more difficult in the last year because 
the presidential primary campaigns have poisoned the discussion, 
focusing all their attention on undocumented immigrants from Mexico and 
calls for higher fences and tougher enforcement. Completely ignored is 
the fact that immigration issues facing Asian and Pacific Americans are 
far different. And those issues have been completely drowned out by the 
shrill demonization of illegal immigrants.
  One of the major issues for the Asian Pacific American community is 
family reunification: allowing relatives of legal permanent residents, 
other than spouses and minor children, to immigrate legally and join 
their families. It can take the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration 
Services (USCIS) as long as 23 years to even consider an application 
for a family member from the Philippines.
  The extended family is a foundation in many of our cultures, and it 
provides real benefits to the greater society as well. Families often 
pool resources to educate children or purchase homes and establish 
roots in their communities. We often see extended family networks 
starting businesses, providing economic development and jobs.
  It is important that we move the debate on immigration past the 
bumper sticker solutions that have dominated the public dialog and work 
together to advocate for the needs of family. I believe we must find a 
just, practical and humane response to the 12 million undocumented 
immigrants living in the shadows of our society. But, we cannot forget 
that families that are separated tear at the very fabric of what 
America means. I urge my colleagues to learn more about this issue 
during APA Heritage Month and throughout the year, and work for 
comprehensive and human immigration reform for the APA community.

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