[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 136 (Friday, August 8, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E753]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                       RECOGNIZING SOVANNA KOEURT

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                            HON. JOSH HARDER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, August 8, 2025

  Mr. HARDER of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize 
Sovanna Koeurt for her decades of service to the Southeast Asian 
community in Stockton and the broader San Joaquin Valley.
  Ms. Koeurt arrived in Stockton in the early l980's as a refugee from 
Cambodia following the Khmer Rouge regime. Like many others in her 
community, she faced significant challenges resettling in a new country 
after surviving violence and displacement. In the years that followed, 
she channeled those experiences into building stronger, safer 
communities.
  In 1989, following the tragic shooting at Cleveland Elementary School 
in Stockton, Ms. Koeurt joined with 34 Southeast Asian refugee families 
at Park Village Apartments to co-found the Asian Pacific Self-
Development and Residential Association, or APSARA. The organization 
was founded on the belief that communities must come together to 
advocate for safer, more equitable living conditions.
  Under Ms. Koeurt's leadership, APSARA purchased the Park Village 
complex from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for 
one dollar in 1993--a landmark act of community ownership and self-
determination. Since then, APSARA has grown into a trusted community 
institution offering affordable housing, youth development, health 
access, workforce support, and immigrant advocacy.
  For more than 30 years, Ms. Koeurt has served as Executive Director 
of APSARA. Her work has helped ensure that hundreds of families have 
access not only to housing, but to the tools and resources needed to 
succeed.
  In a 2024 interview, she said, ``I've been here. I love this place 
because they give a lot of opportunity to everyone.'' Her comments 
reflect a clear commitment to making Stockton a place where all 
residents--regardless of background--have the chance to thrive.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Sovanna 
Koeurt for her leadership and dedication. Her decades of service have 
had a lasting impact on Stockton's Southeast Asian community and helped 
create a more inclusive and supportive environment for all residents.

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