[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 8]
[House]
[Pages 10595-10596]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      ASIAN PACIFIC ISLANDER MONTH

  (Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor 
of Asian Pacific Islander Month. This national celebration, which 
started in 1977, continues to highlight and bring awareness to the many 
accomplishments and contributions that the Asian-Pacific Americans have 
made to this country.
  The month of May was selected for this very important celebration to

[[Page 10596]]

commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese immigrants to the 
United States in 1843. As of the last census, there are an estimated 
12.5 million Asian-Pacific Islanders in the United States. Representing 
the largest Vietnamese population outside of Vietnam, I know firsthand 
the richness of the culture and beauty that they, along with the rest 
of the Asian communities, bring to this Nation.
  For generations, Asian-Pacific Americans have sacrifice for this 
country, and they have contributed to our growth and to our prosperity. 
This national celebration is a great way to honor all of their 
achievements.

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