[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 90 (Wednesday, May 13, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E443]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





           CELEBRATING ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. ED CASE

                               of hawaii

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 13, 2020

  Mr. CASE. Madam Speaker, our country has officially observed each May 
since 1992 as Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, recognizing the 
extraordinary contributions of our Asian American, Native Hawaiian and 
Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community to the rich fabric and history of 
our nation.
  May is especially important to me as the proud Representative of 
Hawaii's First Congressional District with the largest population of 
Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders of any district 
in our country. For over a century and continuing through the present 
and into tomorrow, Hawaii has produced repeated accomplished AANHPI 
``firsts'' in government who have left a lasting impact on our state 
and country, including Territorial Delegate Jonah Kuhio Kalaniana`ole, 
Senator Hiram Fong, Senator Daniel Inouye, Senator Daniel Akaka, 
Congresswoman Patsy Mink, Governors John Waihe`e, Ben Cayetano and 
George Ariyoshi, as well as my current colleagues Senator Mazie Hirono 
and Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard. I am also proud to have served as a 
young staffer on Capitol Hill for my own mentor, the late Senator Spark 
Matsunaga.
  But the accomplishments of Hawaii's Asian American, Native Hawaiian 
and Pacific Islander community extend well beyond the realm of politics 
and government into all areas of our society including science, law, 
sports, business, music, arts and culture and more. We are so proud to 
remember individuals like astronaut Ellison Onizuka, Judge Herbert 
Choy, entrepreneur Robert Taira, singer Don Ho, Olympic swimmer Duke 
Kahanamoku, golfer Michelle Wie, Native Hawaiian navigator Nainoa 
Thompson, boxer Brian Viloria, actor Jason Momoa, singer and songwriter 
Bruno Mars and so many more.
  The year 2020 also marks the 120th anniversary of Okinawan 
immigration to Hawaii. On January 8, 1900, twenty-six men from Okinawa 
arrived in Honolulu as part of the first group of contract laborers. 
Like so many other AANHPI communities, Okinawan immigrants initially 
faced discrimination but through their own hard work and sacrifice, our 
Okinawan community has contributed deeply to the economic achievements 
and cultural richness of our state. Today, persons of Okinawan descent 
are deeply integrated into Hawaii's political, economic and social 
life, and I am proud to serve as their Representative here in Congress.
  In Hawaii and across America, AANHPI communities are as diverse as 
they are accomplished. But while our country has made significant 
progress in increasing visibility and expanding opportunities for all 
Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, there is much 
work still to be done. Disparities in economic opportunity, education, 
health care and more between AANHPI and other communities and within 
subgroups of our AANHPI community persist.
  These disparities have become all the more apparent amidst this 
COVID-19 pandemic. Across our country, Native Hawaiian and Pacific 
Islander communities have been especially hard hit, reporting infection 
rates up to three times higher than the rest of the population. At the 
same time, across the country, Americans of Asian, Native Hawaiian and 
Pacific Islander descent are working on the front lines to care for 
their fellow Americans and keep our country going. Their strength and 
resilience alongside our fellow Americans are truly inspiring. As a 
member of executive board of our Congressional Asian Pacific American 
Caucus, I will continue to work to protect the health and wellbeing of 
our entire AANHPI community both in Hawaii and across the country 
during this difficult time.
  During this Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, while we celebrate 
the accomplishments of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific 
Islander communities in my district, in Hawaii and across America, we 
must also rededicate ourselves to continuing to empower and uplift all 
Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities and 
individuals.

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