[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 69 (Thursday, May 16, 2013)]
[House]
[Pages H2667-H2668]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       CELEBRATING THE LIFE AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF DALIP SINGH SAUND

  (Mr. TAKANO asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today during Asian Pacific Heritage 
Month to celebrate the life and achievements of Congressman Dalip Singh 
Saund.
  Congressman Saund was the first Asian American Member of Congress, 
the very first Member of a non-Abrahamic faith, and the first Member 
born in Asia. He was also our first Sikh American to enter Congress. He 
also represented my hometown of Riverside, California, a community that 
I proudly represent today.
  Having come to California from India to pursue his education, Saund 
graduated with a master's and Ph.D. in mathematics from the University 
of California, Berkeley. Following his

[[Page H2668]]

graduation, Saund worked as a farmer but was also a local activist. He 
spent years pushing to end naturalization restrictions for Indians 
living in the United States.
  In 1950, Saund made a bold decision and entered local government. In 
1955, Saund decided to run for an open seat in Congress--and won. 
Representing the Inland Empire from 1956 to 1963, Congressman Saund 
served on the Foreign Affairs and Interior Committees. Unfortunately, 
his promising career as a Member of this distinguished body came to an 
abrupt end when he suffered a severe stroke in May 1962.
  Congressman Saund truly lived the American Dream: an immigrant who 
came to America with dreams and aspirations of making a difference for 
himself and for future generations. As the current Riverside 
Representative, I honor his impact and legacy on all Americans.

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