[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 147 (Friday, November 16, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1783]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     A TRIBUTE TO THE SACRAMENTO JAPANESE AMERICAN CITIZENS LEAGUE

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                          HON. DORIS O. MATSUI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, November 16, 2012

  Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the 
Sacramento Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League, and 
congratulate the chapter as they celebrate their 17th annual community 
awards dinner.
  Through their long history, the Sacramento JACL has been dedicated to 
advancing the civil rights of all Americans, deterring hate crimes 
across the Nation, and helping to lead the Japanese-American community 
to social and economic equality. On Thursday, November 15, 2012, the 
Sacramento Japanese American Citizens League will host its 17th annual 
community awards dinner.
  During the dinner, the Sacramento JACL will honor: the Sacramento 
Japanese United Methodist Church, one of the oldest Japanese-American 
congregations in Northern California; the Sacramento Senator Lions 
Club, a civic organization that provides its members with opportunities 
to serve the community through fundraising and hands-on projects; and 
the Sakura Minyo Doo Koo Kai, a troupe that performs traditional 
Japanese folk song and dance. These three organizations and their 
members have worked diligently to serve the community, teach others 
about the history of Japanese-Americans, and help preserve the Japanese 
culture. They stand as organizations that truly embrace the dinner's 
theme of ``Bunka Isan,'' helping the community honor the lives of their 
ancestors and celebrating their own lives as Americans.
  During the dinner, the Sacramento JACL will also honor my friend and 
colleague, California Assemblywoman Mariko Yamada. Mariko has dedicated 
her life to serving the public in many capacities: working as an 
investigator for the U.S. Department of Commerce's Office for Civil 
Rights; as a member of the Yolo County Board of Supervisors; and now 
representing her constituents in the California State Assembly. She has 
had tremendous success in the California Assembly, passing landmark 
bills that imposed greater criminal penalties on assailants that abuse 
the elderly and disabled, provided increased housing and employment 
opportunities for our veterans, and reformed government policies to 
protect consumers from negligence and fraud. Mariko has made California 
and our Nation a better place for all, and is truly worthy of tonight's 
honoring.
  Mr. Speaker, I hereby recognize and commend the Sacramento Chapter of 
the Japanese American Citizens League and their honorees for their 
continued service to Sacramento, California and our Nation. I ask all 
my colleagues to join with me in wishing them continued success and 
support as they work to protect the civil rights of all our citizens, 
and preserve the history of Japanese-Americans.

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