[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 70 (Wednesday, May 16, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E811]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             HONORING ASIAN-PACIFIC AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH

                                  _____
                                 

                       HON. ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA

                           of american samoa

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 16, 2012

  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Asian-
Pacific American community on the 20th anniversary of Asian-Pacific 
American Heritage Month.
  The achievements and successes of Asian-Pacific Americans 
demonstrate, above all, that the greatness of our Nation lies in its 
diversity. And no other community in the U.S. represents the diversity 
of our great Nation more than the Asian-Pacific American community.
  An inherently diverse population, Asian-Pacific Americans comprise 
over 45 distinct ethnicities and over 100 language dialects. Now 
numbering 18.5 million people, the Asian-Pacific American community 
grew 46 percent in the past decade--more than any other major racial 
group.
  The Pacific Islander population, while significantly smaller in 
comparison to the overall APA population, has also grown at a rapid 
rate over the past decade. According to the 2010 Census, the Native 
Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, NHPI, population grew to over 1.2 
million, an increase of 40 percent over the past decade.
  The NHPI population in the U.S. traces their roots to several island 
cultures in the Pacific. They include Native Hawaiians, Samoans, 
Tahitians, Tongans, and Tokelauans; Chamorros, Marshallese, Palauans, 
Chuukese, Mariana Islanders, Saipanese, Carolinians, Kosraeans, 
Pohnpeians, Yapese, and the people of Kiribati; as well Fijians, 
Solomon Islanders, Papua New Guineans, and the people of Vanuatu--all 
who have made their home in this great Nation.
  Pacific Islander heritage runs deep in NHPI communities across the 
Nation and the ancient cultural values of service to the family and the 
village carry on in NHPI's service to our Nation. In any arena of 
society in which Pacific Islanders have attained success, one common 
thread we see is their unending devotion to giving back to the 
community.
  Just last Friday, I had the honor of speaking at the funeral of a 
beloved son of Samoa and NFL Great, Junior Seau, who not only shined on 
the football field but who also devoted much of his time off the field 
to helping underprivileged youth through the Junior Seau Foundation.
  I was fortunate enough to have been able to meet Junior and one 
memorable occasion was right here in the Nation's capital. In 2005, I 
had the privilege of attending an award ceremony at the White House to 
witness President George W. Bush present to Junior the distinguished 
President's Volunteer Service Award for his work in helping youth 
through the Junior Seau Foundation. I remember Junior's genuinely 
humble spirit evident of his continuous connection to his roots and 
humble beginnings.
  And many others follow in these steps. Even stars such as Dwayne 
``The Rock'' Johnson, who by the way was recently awarded ``Action Star 
of the Year'' at the prestigious CinemaCon Awards Ceremony, are heavily 
invested in enriching the lives of those less fortunate.
  Pacific Islanders also have paid the ultimate sacrifice in defending 
the freedoms of our Nation. As a Vietnam veteran, I would be remiss if 
I do not say something to honor and respect the hundreds of thousands 
of Asian-Pacific Americans who serve and have served in our armed 
forces.
  In closing, as we celebrate Asian-Pacific Heritage Month this May, 
let us also honor our Asian-Pacific Americans who display the virtue of 
servanthood in every arena of society, and especially those who have 
dedicated their lives to serving our Nation in the U.S. Armed Forces, 
including those from my district of American Samoa. Let us pay tribute 
to their sacrifice as we celebrate our heritage and freedoms.

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