[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 82 (Monday, May 19, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H4083-H4086]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH

  Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 1153) celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage 
Month, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1153

       Whereas this year marks the 30th anniversary of President 
     Jimmy Carter's signing of the joint resolution designating 
     the first ten days of May as Asian Pacific American Heritage 
     Week;
       Whereas section 102 of title 36, United States Code, 
     officially designates May as Asian/Pacific American Heritage 
     Month, and requests the President to issue each year a 
     proclamation calling on the people of the United States to 
     observe Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month with 
     appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities;
       Whereas according to the Bureau of the Census, an estimated 
     14,900,000 United States residents identify themselves as 
     Asian alone or in combination with one or more other races, 
     and an estimated 1,000,000 United States residents identify 
     themselves as Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 
     alone or in combination with one or more other races;
       Whereas even though Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders 
     faced the injustices of racial prejudice as exemplified by 
     the Chinese Exclusion Act, Japanese internment, Vincent Chin 
     case, and other events, the community has made considerable 
     contributions to the vast cultural, military, economic, 
     educational, and technological advancements of the United 
     States;
       Whereas Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders such as civil 
     rights activist, Yuri Kochiyama, Medal of Honor recipient, 
     Herbert Pililaau, the first Asian American Congressman, Dalip 
     Singh Saund, the first Asian American Congresswoman, Patsy 
     Mink, and others have made significant strides in the 
     political and military realm; and
       Whereas Asian Pacific American Heritage Month provides the 
     people of the United States with an opportunity to recognize 
     the achievements, contributions, history, and concerns of 
     Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) recognizes that the incredible diversity of different 
     racial and ethnic groups, including Asian American and 
     Pacific Islander, is a source of strength for the United 
     States;
       (2) recognizes that the Asian American and Pacific Islander 
     community is influential and crucial to the society and 
     culture of the United States;
       (3) reaffirms its commitment to the goals and ideals of 
     Asian Pacific American Heritage Month; and
       (4) celebrates the contributions of Asian Americans and 
     Pacific Islanders to the United States.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Watson) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Issa) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from California.


                             General Leave

  Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Representing the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, 
I'd like to join my colleagues in the consideration of H. Res. 1153, as 
amended, which proudly expresses our support for the celebration of May 
as National Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.
  H. Res. 1153 was originally introduced on April 24, 2008, by 
Representative Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, along with members and associate 
members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. In addition 
to these 14 members of CAPAC, the measure is also cosponsored by over 
60 Members of Congress. On May 5, 2008, the bill was approved by the 
Oversight Committee by voice vote after being amended.
  I would like to offer as much time as she needs to Mazie Hirono.
  Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlelady from California for 
yielding me time.
  I rise today in support of H. Res. 1153, celebrating Asian Pacific 
American Heritage Month. First, I want to thank the Congressional Asian 
Pacific American Caucus and the 78 cosponsors of the resolution. I hope 
all the Members of the House will join me in supporting this measure.
  The Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community is composed 
of over 15 million people. AAPIs own 1.1 million businesses, generating 
an estimated $326 billion for our economy. The community is a crucial 
element in the cultural fabric of the United States, representing 
people from East Asia, Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent and the 
Pacific islands. We celebrate the month of April as Asian Pacific 
American Heritage Month to not only commemorate the achievements of the 
AAPI community, but to remind us of the work that is left to do.
  In this resolution I highlight four leaders of the AAPI community. 
One such leader is Yuri Kochiyama, a Japanese American civil rights 
activist who was involved in attaining reparations for Japanese 
Americans, and the reformation of the Harlem school system in the 
1960s.
  Another notable member is Private First Class Herbert Pililaau, a 
native Hawaiian Medal of Honor recipient who died in combat during the 
Korean War while courageously volunteering to defend his fellow 
soldiers as they withdrew from their posts.
  Also noteworthy is Dalip Singh Suand, the first Asian American and 
Sikh American elected to Congress, who advocated for naturalization 
rights for people of South Asian descent.
  Finally, I'd like to commend my predecessor, the late Patsy Takemoto 
Mink, for becoming not only the first Asian American woman, but also 
the first woman of color elected to Congress. Her work to increase 
access to education, particularly through title IX, is an inspiration 
for my bill, the PRE-K Act, which focuses on our youngest children.
  The AAPI community has accomplished much and given much, given their 
history of discrimination. For example, in 1882, the Chinese Exclusion 
Act barred Chinese laborers from entering the United States, even 
though prior to this date, Chinese laborers built our transcontinental 
railroad.
  And another example, in 1942, 120,000 Japanese American citizens and 
legal residents were relocated to internment camps, while many of their 
sons served in the 442nd regimental combat team, the most decorated 
unit in U.S. history.

                              {time}  1330

  We've repealed the Chinese Exclusion Act and have granted reparations 
for surviving Japanese Americans. But

[[Page H4084]]

there is still much to do to address social and political challenges 
facing the AAPI community.
  One major issue is securing self-determination rights for native 
Hawaiians. H.R. 505, the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act, 
grants native Hawaiians the same rights to manage their affairs 
currently enjoyed by other indigenous people, the American Indians and 
the Alaskan Natives. I thank the Members who supported passage of H.R. 
505 in the House last year.
  Additionally, about 2,000 Filipinos fought alongside American 
servicemen in World War II. These Filipino veterans were promised full 
veterans benefits, yet in 1946, President Truman signed the Rescission 
Act which stripped them of benefits that were accorded to all other 
soldiers. Compounding this inequity are the immigration quotas that 
delayed for up to 20 years the issuance of visas to sons and daughters 
of these Filipino veterans, a major hindrance to the reunification of 
these families.
  We have an opportunity in the House to remedy these situations 
through two measures that address these issues. S. 1315, which passed 
the Senate by an overwhelming 96-1 vote, would allow the surviving 
Filipino World War II veterans to obtain veteran benefits; and my bill, 
H.R. 1287, the Filipino Veterans' Family Reunification Act, which would 
exempt the sons and daughters of naturalized Filipino veterans from 
immigration quotas.
  I look forward to working with my colleagues in advancing these 
legislative priorities for the AAPI community.
  In closing, our vast pool of knowledge, talent, and cultural 
diversity is a source of strength for the United States. I urge my 
colleagues to support H. Res. 1153 and to participate in events 
celebrating AAPIs throughout your communities.
  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 1153. I 
think the gentlelady from Hawaii did a wonderful job of going through 
the highlights and contributions of Asian Americans, and I think, quite 
frankly, she did a very good job of recognizing some of the well-known 
and not-so-well-known examples of when we have failed the Asian 
Americans.
  I support the United States Asian American Heritage Month. I also 
support many of the things that were commented on that we have, in 
fact, left undone. Very, very clearly, when it comes to the Philippine 
veterans, we stand in shame in this body. The Rescission Act was signed 
by Truman while Truman said, in fact, we didn't live up to a moral 
obligation, and made it very clear that this would be yet another 
example of America not being proud. That was a long time ago.
  I am one of the cochairs of the Philippine Caucus and one of the 
authors of the underlying bill that is included in the Senate bill 
1315, which is a package of noncontroversial U.S. benefit extensions 
for American veterans, but it's also an extension of a long-overdue 
benefit to people from the territory of the Philippines who fought with 
us in World War II.
  Mr. Speaker, I would hope that this body would take note that these 
Asian Americans, and they were Asian Americans, had a governor, his 
name was MacArthur, at the beginning of the war. They fought to keep us 
from being driven off by an invading Army until, hopelessly, they had 
to withdraw; and yet these Rangers and Scouts continued fighting 
whenever possible in the jungles for years, even while MacArthur 
planned to return. MacArthur made this promise, America made this 
promise. We haven't kept that promise. As the gentlelady rightfully so 
said, there were over 200,000 Filipinos who fought with us for their 
country.
  I take note that there are 4 million-plus Puerto Ricans today. I 
served in the United States Army from 1970 to 1980 and years beyond 
that in the Reserves. I was of the assumption that the Puerto Ricans 
who were in the service with me were Americans. I'm still of that 
assumption. Members of our territories are, in fact, Americans.
  I might further note that Senator McCain, a U.S. Senator who could 
well end up being President, was born in the Panama Canal Zone. Is he 
less an American because he was born in a sovereign asset of the United 
States? Of course not. He's fully eligible to be President, and these 
veterans, these Philippine veterans, are American veterans, and they 
cannot and should not have to come before this body asking us to 
unstrip what we stripped away in shame 60 years ago.
  So I join with the gentlelady in supporting this resolution, but I 
would like to emphasize as much as I can that we have an important vote 
this week, a vote about giving American veterans, veterans who are 
today Americans, veterans who, on that day, were Americans when they 
fought with us.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. ISSA. I yield to the gentleman from American Samoa.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the gentlemen for 
his remarks concerning the legislation that has been recently 
considered and passed in the Congress in providing for the needs of our 
Filipino veterans.
  My understanding is it has been requested a little over $200 million 
to provide proper compensation. Sixty years. We're spending $12 billion 
a month on this war in Iraq, and after 60 years, we cannot manage 
ourselves not only morally but as a matter of legal obligation that we 
should have for these fellow patriots who helped us fight the war in 
World War II that we've just now gotten around to trying to provide 
justice and fairness to the system.
  So I want to commend the gentleman for noting that, as well as my 
good friend, the gentlelady from Hawaii, the chief sponsor of this 
legislation.
  Mr. ISSA. Reclaiming my time, I might note that under our PAYGO 
rules, the bill that will come before the floor will even be less than 
that. It has been reduced below the mark that was set and passed 96-1 
in the Senate in order to maintain a balance under PAYGO.
  So the gentleman is absolutely right. This represents one or two days 
of the cost of what we're doing for our future veterans in Iraq and 
Afghanistan and, in fact, should not be controversial. And I hope when 
it comes to the floor on a bipartisan basis, it clearly shouldn't and 
wouldn't be controversial.
  I reserve my time.
  Ms. WATSON. I would like to call on the gentleman from Pennsylvania, 
Representative Joe Sestak, for 2 minutes.
  Mr. SESTAK. Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate Asian Pacific American 
Heritage Month which does take place this year during May.
  The Asian American Pacific Islander, AAPI, community is, as was 
already noted, a very culturally and ethnically diverse community with 
a very rich heritage in the United States of America. The AAPI 
community, as was noted, is composed of over 15 million people across 
the United States and is one of the fastest growing minority groups in 
America. It represents nearly 5 percent of my Seventh Congressional 
District in Pennsylvania, and without any doubt plays a very vibrant 
part of the rich cultural fabric of my district.
  The AAPI community has also made significant contributions in 
developing our Nation. As was just noted in this brief exchange, there 
were many leaders, which I saw in my nearly four decades of military 
service from this rich community, whether from the Philippines, Japan, 
China, or across to India or the United Arab Emirates from being 
leaders in education, to fostering business and economic development, 
to promoting arts and media, and to helping develop innovative 
breakthroughs in health care medicine technology.
  In 1978, a joint congressional resolution was established which had 
the Asian Pacific American Heritage Week finally come about. The first 
10 days of May were chosen to coincide with two key anniversaries: The 
arrival in the United States of the first Japanese immigrants on May 7, 
1843, and the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 
1869, bringing together two parts of America, and I hope in more and 
more all the world. In 1992, Congress expanded the week finally to a 
month-long celebration.
  Therefore, I am proud to join my colleagues in celebrating the rich 
heritage of the AAPI community that I see every day in my district and 
to recognize the contributions of the community during Asian Pacific 
Heritage Month.

[[Page H4085]]

  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers at this time and 
continue reserving.
  Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I would like to call now on Representative 
Faleomavaega from American Samoa for 3 minutes.
  (Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
his remarks.)
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentlelady from 
California for her management of this legislation and also my good 
friend from California (Mr. Issa) for bringing this legislation to the 
floor and for its consideration. I especially also want to thank my 
good friend and dear colleague, the dear lady from Hawaii as the author 
and chief sponsor of this important legislation. I know that the 
chairman of our Asian Pacific Congressional Caucus would have been 
here, Congressman Honda, to also make comments concerning this proposed 
legislation.
  I do want to say that in honor of Asian Pacific Heritage Month in 
which this Nation pays a special tribute to the contributions of some 
15 million of our fellow Americans who are of Asian Pacific descent, I 
want to honor especially in particular the thousands of our Asian 
Pacific Americans who served in the Armed Forces of our Nation. In 
fact, this weekend it will be my privilege and a personal honor for me 
to visit Fort Bragg which has a lot of my fellow Samoan tribesmen who 
are members of the 82nd Airborne. We're going to have a tribal 
gathering there in Fort Bragg. There are going to be a whole bunch 
coming out of Fort Campbell, Kentucky, the 101st Airborne group, and 
I'm looking forward to meeting with them and also as part of our Asian 
Pacific Heritage Month.
  Fifteen million Americans, Mr. Speaker, Asian Pacific Americans, are 
considered among the fastest growing demographic groups in the United 
States today. Although it makes up only 4 percent of our Nation's 
population, permit me to share with you an overview of some of the 
contributions of our Asian Pacific Americans. I know time will not 
permit me to give you the whole story here but just a couple just to 
note.
  A couple years ago, a world-renowned physicist by the name of Dr. 
Chien-Shiung Wu, a Chinese American lady, perhaps little known to the 
average American, passed away quietly in her home in New York but for 
decades dedicated her life in study of beta ray physics. She was born 
in Shanghai and in her youth studied with Nobel Laureate E.O. Lawrence, 
the inventor of the cyclotron facility at U.C. Berkeley, where Dr. Wu 
also received her doctorate degree in physics. For some 30 years she 
taught physics at Columbia University. And in 1957, she also won the 
Nobel Prize in physics for her work on emission of electrons from 
radioactive nuclei.
  Years ago, Time magazine featured as its Man of the Year Dr. David Ho 
for his medical research in an effort to finding a cure for HIV/AIDS.
  Dr. Makio Murayama, a Japanese American, conducted vital research in 
the United States that laid the groundwork for combating sickle-cell 
anemia.
  There is also Dr. Leo Esaki, another Japanese American, who was 
awarded the Nobel Prize in physics for his electron tunneling theories.
  And in the field of engineering, few have matched the architectural 
masterpieces created by the genius of I.M. Pei.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman's time has expired.
  Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, how much time do I have remaining?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentlelady has 9 minutes remaining.
  Ms. WATSON. I would like to offer Mr. Faleomavaega another 3 minutes.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. I could talk to you about Bruce Lee. I could talk 
to you about Jet Li. But there is another one.
  Now, another sports and movie icon is coming through his way in the 
movie industry. Believed to be the heir apparent to Sylvester Stallone 
and Arnold Schwarzenegger, none other than the former World Wrestling 
Federation champion wrestler, Dwayne Johnson, or commonly known as The 
Rock. After starring in his first movie, The Scorpion King, the Rock 
has also completed his sixth movie now, Get Smart, which is scheduled 
for release next month. Some of you may remember him in Be Cool, The 
Game Plan, The Rundown, and Walking Tall. His newest movie, G.I. Joe, 
is slated for release in the fall of next year.
  The unique thing about the Rock is that while his father is African 
American/Native American and of European descent, his mother is pure 
Samoan Polynesian. Now just about every Samoan alive claims to be 
related to the Rock, including myself, Mr. Speaker.
  Years ago, Duke Kahanamoku, a native Hawaiian, won the Olympic gold 
medal in swimming for the United States. And then there was Korean 
American Dr. Sammy Lee, who also won the Olympic gold medal in high 
diving for the United States in the Olympics. The interesting thing 
about Dr. Lee when I met him at the Olympics in Korea in 1988, because 
he was non-white, he was not allowed to train along with his fellow 
American Olympic athletes.

                              {time}  1345

  So he had to become creative by performing high dives off cliffs and 
all the trees and I suspect even coconut trees, and despite all this, 
he still won the gold medal for our country.
  Then we have our fellow Polynesians whom we exported to Japan. One 
happens to be a relative of mine, a Samoan Polynesian by the name of 
Saleva'a Atisanoe, who's a Sumo wrestler named Konishiki, that followed 
the other great Sumo wrestlers, Chad Rowen, Akebono; Peitani Fiamalu, 
also a grand champion, Musashimaru. These are some of the great 
athletes.
  As a Vietnam veteran, Mr. Speaker, it's ludicrous for me not to say 
something in honor and respect for the hundreds of thousands of Asian 
Pacific Americans who served then and now in all the branches of the 
armed services of our Nation. As a former member of the U.S. Army 
Reserve unit known as the 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry Combat group, 
I would be remiss if I did not share with you the contributions of the 
tens of thousands of Japanese American soldiers who volunteered to 
fight our Nation's enemies in Europe during World War II.
  Some of you may not be aware that after the surprise attack on Pearl 
Harbor, December 7, 1941, by the Imperial Forces of the Japanese 
government, there was such an outrage and cry for an all-out war 
against Japan, days afterward our President and the Congress formally 
declared war. But caught in this crossfire were hundreds of thousands 
of Americans, Americans mind you who just happened to be of Japanese 
ancestry.
  Our national government immediately implemented a policy where some 
100,000 Americans of Japanese ancestry were forced to live in what we 
call relocation camps.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman's time has again expired.
  Ms. WATSON. I yield the gentleman an additional 1 minute.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. In our Nation's history, Mr. Speaker, let me just 
share with you the results of the bravery and the courage of these 
Japanese Americans who fought in Europe. 18,000 individual declarations 
for heroism; over 9,000 awards of the Purple Heart; 560 Silver Stars; 
and after some corrective action taken by the Congress, 19 Medals of 
Honor were awarded to these Japanese Americans who fought for our 
Nation.
  We need to be reminded that forevermore we should never have this 
kind of thing happening in our Nation's history where people who happen 
to be of different ancestry or ethnicity are discriminated against 
simply because they are not like the rest of our fellow Americans.
  I fully support this proposed legislation, and I ask my colleagues to 
approve this legislation. I thank again my good friend from Hawaii for 
her sponsorship and authorship of this bill.
  Ms. WATSON. I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. 
Skelton).
  Mr. SKELTON. I thank the gentlelady for yielding, and I speak in 
favor of this resolution.
  Saturday morning in my hometown of Lexington, Missouri, I attended 
the graduation ceremonies of my alma mater, Wentworth Military Academy 
and Junior College, and at that ceremony, I had the privilege of 
presenting a scholarship to one of the young women of that student body 
in memory of my late wife, Susie Skelton.

[[Page H4086]]

  But one of the most memorable aspects of this was the commissioning 
of 10 of the junior college graduates to receive their second 
lieutenancy in the United States Army Reserve. After two more years of 
college, they will be able to go into the active duty of our country or 
be full-time active members of the National Guard or Reserve.
  What I speak about today very briefly is, of the 10, half of those 
newly commissioned second lieutenants at Wentworth Military Academy 
were from American Samoa, outstanding students, good soldiers, fine 
young Americans. I think that it should be brought to this body's 
attention that they are doing their best and their part in the national 
security of our Nation, and I must say I'm very proud of them.
  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I would inquire of the gentlelady if she has 
additional speakers.
  Ms. WATSON. We continue to reserve. There's no more speakers, Mr. 
Speaker.
  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I'll close by urging support for this 
noncontroversial bill but also reminding my colleagues that there are 
many things undone in the way of righting the wrongs to Asian Americans 
and in thanking Asian Americans for what they have done for our country 
for 150-plus years.
  So with that, I would yield back the balance of my time and urge 
passage.
  Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the over 14 million Asian and 
Pacific Islander Americans and the entire population of America for 
that matter, let us demonstrate our full support of this year's 
celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month by passing H. Res. 
1153 without reservation.
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor 
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and to pay tribute to the many 
achievements and honor the countless unique contributions to the United 
States made by Asian Pacific Americans across our Nation.
  May 7, 1843 marked the first arrival of Japanese immigrants to the 
United States and May 10, 1869 signaled the completion of the 
transcontinental railroad which is greatly credited to the labor of the 
Chinese immigrants. Therefore, it is appropriate that during this month 
we recognize the contributions and sacrifices made by Asian Pacific 
Americans.
  Today, there are over 14 million Asian Pacific Americans living in 
the United States, representing 5 percent of the population. The rich 
history associated with the Asian Pacific American has left a lasting 
imprint on our country.
  Over the years, the Asian Pacific American communities have made 
significant contributions to Texas's diverse culture. In my district, 
Dallas, TX, I am privileged to have the largest Asian American Chamber 
in the United States with more than 1,200 members. I believe that we 
all can learn from those who come from different backgrounds and 
cultures, and I can truly say that I have learned a great deal from my 
Asian Pacific friends and constituents.
  I would also like to offer my deepest condolence to the families and 
friends of those who perished from recent tragedies in China and 
Myanmar.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to support this resolution and the Asian 
Pacific American communities in North Texas and across the United 
States.
  Ms. WATSON. I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Watson) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1153, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a 
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not 
present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

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