[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 147 (Tuesday, September 12, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E831-E832]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     RECOGNIZING THE INDONESIAN COMMUNITY CONNECT FOR A DECADE OF 
                     CELEBRATING INDONESIAN CULTURE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. CHRIS PAPPAS

                            of new hampshire

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 12, 2023

  Mr. PAPPAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Indonesian 
Community Connect in New Hampshire as they celebrate a decade of 
promoting Indonesian culture. This also marks the sixth anniversary of 
ICC's initiatives as a non-profit organization and the second year of 
the momentum of the Little Indonesia Project. The Little Indonesia 
Project, the first of its kind in our Nation, embodies art, culture, 
and opportunity, forging connections between Indonesian culture and New 
Hampshire, directly contributing to the revitalization of the Downtown 
Somersworth business district.
  ICC, a non-profit organization headquartered in New Hampshire, has 
dedicated itself to showcasing the rich diversity of Indonesian culture 
while fostering mutual understanding among various cultures and values. 
Operating from Somersworth, NH, the ICC team has diligently linked the 
Indonesian community with the Granite State and its support services. 
They have gone the extra mile in assisting the Indonesian community 
with accessing local resources, including healthcare, education, food, 
festivals, and much more.

[[Page E832]]

  This team serves as a bridge that connects Indonesian culture with 
neighboring communities, offering a wide array of resources. They have 
established a food pantry to address food insecurity within the 
Indonesian Community and provide support for career building, 
particularly for those affected by the pandemic, thereby promoting 
economic mobility in New Hampshire. Additionally, they offer document 
translation services to help community members navigate in-person, 
virtual, and phone interactions, enhancing English language 
proficiency. The ICC is not only committed to sharing its culture 
externally but also nurturing cultural enrichment for children and 
serving as a hub of resources for stakeholders, including the local 
government and valued collaborators in Indonesia.
  On behalf of my constituents in New Hampshire's First Congressional 
District I extend my warmest congratulations and heartfelt thanks to 
the passionate volunteers at ICC, both in New Hampshire and Indonesia 
for a decade of work that embodies the spirit of collaboration and 
teamwork that we deeply value in New Hampshire. I wholeheartedly 
appreciate the heartfelt work of this team in fostering the rich 
tapestry of Indonesian culture over the past 10 years. As the 
representative privileged to serve the home base of the Indonesian 
Community Connect in Congress, I eagerly anticipate witnessing the 
continued success of this celebration in the years to come.

                          ____________________