[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 60 (Monday, April 5, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E348]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              TEACHING ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN HISTORY ACT

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                            HON. GRACE MENG

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 5, 2021

  Ms. MENG. Madam Speaker, throughout this pandemic, Asian Americans 
have been facing a second virus--that of hate and discrimination. In 
fact, since the beginning of the pandemic, hate incidents against Asian 
Americans have skyrocketed 150 percent. Our community is being 
scapegoated for the COVID-19 pandemic, and as a result, have been 
victim to the most hateful, cowardly, and despicable attacks. Our 
children and elderly especially are being ruthlessly under attack. 
There are nearly 4,000 reported incidents of Asian Americans being spat 
on, stabbed, verbally abused, beaten, slashed, and most recently 
murdered in a tragic and senseless mass shooting. Our parents are 
scared to leave their homes and walk down the street. Parents are 
scared to let their children go outside and play or to even go to 
school.
  Asian Americans, however, know this violence and racism directed at 
our community is not new. From the ``yellow peril'' scare of the 1800s, 
which paved the way for the Page Act of 1875 and the Chinese Exclusion 
Act, to the unjust incarceration of the Japanese Americans during World 
War II, our history includes shameful accounts of institutionalized 
discrimination and racism towards Asian Americans.
  Madam Speaker, since the 1700s, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders 
(AAPIs) have made immeasurable contributions to our nation throughout 
its history. AAPIs have shaped the fabric of our country with 
contributions to our infrastructure, economy, and our military. 
Unfortunately, for generations, Asian Pacific American history has been 
poorly represented in our K-12 education system and social studies 
textbooks. This misrepresentation renders AAPIs invisible and leads to 
the perception that we are ``forever foreigners.''
  In fact, growing up, I was never taught of the expansive 
contributions of Asian Americans throughout our history. I barely 
learned about Chinese immigrants who built the transcontinental 
railroad connecting the East and West Coasts. My history textbooks 
never taught that slaves built the U.S. Capitol, the very heart of our 
democracy.
  Madam Speaker, the gaps in our collective history prevent our nation 
from moving forward in in solidarity and allyship. We cannot create a 
shared future where all can achieve the American Dream unless we learn 
from our shared history. In this time of great misinformation and 
discrimination against Asian Americans, we need greater cultural 
awareness and understanding of our community's history within the 
foundations of our U.S. history.
  That is why I rise today to announce the reintroduction of my 
Teaching Asian Pacific American Act to promote the teaching and 
learning of Asian Pacific American history in K-12 schools. 
Specifically, my bill would require Presidential and Congressional 
Academies' grant applicants and recipients to include Asian Pacific 
American history as part of their history and civics programs offered 
to students and teachers. Furthermore, it would encourage the inclusion 
of Asian Pacific American history within national and state tests 
administered through the National Assessment of Educational Progress 
and promote collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution's Asian 
Pacific American Center to develop innovating programming.
  Madam Speaker, in order to create a shared future for all Americans, 
we have to learn from the mistakes of our past. I thank my colleagues 
who have joined me in this critical legislation, and I urge its swift 
passage so that our nation can move forward in healing.

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