[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 7]
[House]
[Pages 9038-9048]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 7, 2003, the gentleman from California (Mr. Honda) is 
recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the minority leader.


                             General Leave

  Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 
5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on 
the subject of my Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Asian American 
and Pacific Islander community and commemorate Asian Pacific American 
Heritage Month.
  Before I begin, I would like to recognize the gentleman from Oregon 
(Mr. Wu) former chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American 
Caucus, or better known as CAPAC, for his leadership, as well as the 
current vice chair of the caucus, the gentleman from American Samoa 
(Mr. Faleomavaega).
  As chair of CAPAC, I am proud to stand here to honor the 
accomplishments and diversity of the Asian American and Pacific 
Islander community.

[[Page 9039]]

In 1978, my good friend Norman Mineta and Representative Frank Horton 
from New York, along with Hawaii's Senators Daniel Inouye and Spark 
Matsunaga, first introduced the first resolution establishing Asian 
Pacific American Heritage Week to recognize the ongoing contributions 
to our Nation of the API population.
  The first 10 days of May were chosen to coincide with two important 
anniversaries, the arrival in the United States of the first Japanese 
immigrants on May 7, 1843, and the completion of the transcontinental 
railroad on May 10, 1869. In 1992, the month of May was designated as 
Asian Pacific Heritage Month. I take great pride to see the celebration 
of our community expand from 10 days to a month.
  For centuries, America has been enriched by our diverse and rapidly 
growing API communities and by the contributions that Native Hawaiians, 
Chamorros, and Samoans have made in their ancestral homelands. The 
first API settlement in this country dates to 1763, when Filipinos 
escaped imprisonment aboard Spanish galleons and established a 
community near New Orleans. Chinese and Japanese immigrants, likewise, 
started communities in Hawaii and California, where they sought labor 
and agricultural opportunities.
  From the time of these settlements, APIs have experienced dual 
currents of discrimination and assimilation. In the difficult times, 
APIs were singled out for persecution by such acts as the Exclusion 
Laws of 1882 and 1924, and the Alien Land Act of 1913, which prohibited 
API property ownership.
  This year, 2004, marks the 62nd-year anniversary of President 
Franklin D. Roosevelt's signing of Executive Order 9066 on February 19, 
1942. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, 
pursuant to which 120,000 Japanese Americans and legal resident aliens 
were incarcerated in internment camps during World War II. Many of 
these families lost their property and possessions during the several 
years they were jailed behind barbed wires.
  In order to learn the important lessons from our own history, I 
sponsored House Resolution 56, which sets aside a ``Day of 
Remembrance'' in memory of the relocation and internment policies of 
World War II. This year, House Resolution 56 was passed due to the 
support from my fellow colleagues here in Congress and support from 
community groups throughout the country.
  I realize we need to learn from our own history. It is more important 
than ever to speak up against unjust policies. Also it is more 
important than ever to educate Americans of the Japanese American 
experience during World War II, as well as the experience of other 
groups, like Japanese Latin Americans and certain German and Italian 
Americans. We must remember that the decision to issue the order was 
shaped by racial prejudice, war hysteria, and a failure of political 
leadership.
  At the newly opened Manzanar National Historic Site Interpretive 
Center at the Manzanar War Relocation Center, we have the opportunity 
to explore our past and reflect. Additionally, these past few days, the 
Enemy Alien Files Consortium has set up their exhibit in the Rayburn 
foyer. This traveling exhibition, featuring photographs, objects, 
documents, artifacts, art forms and oral history excerpts examines the 
little-known history of Italian, German, and Japanese immigrants in the 
U.S. and from Latin America who were classified as enemy aliens during 
World War II.
  Over 31,000 of these enemy aliens were apprehended, detained, and 
thousands interned based on suspicion and the potential dangerousness 
they posed to the U.S. national security. The internees were held 
without charges for indefinite duration and without trial. These 
internees, including many American-born children and spouses, 
languished in Army and Department of Justice camps throughout the USA.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to now yield to the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Linda Sanchez) to speak to this particular item.
  Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank my 
colleague, the gentleman from California (Mr. Honda) for all of his 
leadership.
  Today, I am proud to join him and to join Asian Pacific Americans in 
commemorating the 27th anniversary of APA Heritage Month. This month 
allows us to recognize the tremendous contributions the Asian Pacific 
American community has made to our State and to our Nation.
  It is fitting, then, to remind others of important APA legislation. 
For instance, H.R. 677, the Filipino Veterans Equity Act, which would 
provide U.S. veterans benefits to World War II veterans of the 
organized military forces of the Commonwealth of the Philippines and 
the Philippine Scouts who fought for the U.S. and its allies. These 
veterans deserve to be recognized for the service they provided to our 
Nation in a time of need.
  It is also a good time to bring attention to H.R. 333, which would 
amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to authorize grants for higher 
education institutions serving Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. 
This important bill would open doors for many underserved APA 
communities.
  I am extremely proud my home State of California has the largest 
Asian American population of any State in America, and I am also 
extremely proud to represent a region of Los Angeles County that 
includes many members of the Asian Pacific American community. The 
diversity represented by the different APA communities of our region is 
a source of strength in our local economy, our culture, and the 
education we can provide our children.
  Asian Pacific Americans are contributing to every aspect of American 
life, from business and government to sports, science, research and the 
arts. I am proud that the political landscape in my district reflects 
this diversity.
  I want to take two seconds to recognize two important female city 
councilwomen in my district from the APA community: Laura Lee, of the 
City of Cerritos, and Michiko Oyama, of the Hawaiian Gardens City 
Council. They are pioneers in California's 39th District. They are 
smart, tough, compassionate leaders and great role models for all 
Americans.
  As we recognize the many contributions of the Asian Pacific American 
community during this month, let us also celebrate where the APA 
community is going and the future impact it will have on our country. I 
urge all Americans to remember their important contributions to our 
country not only today but every day. The Asian Pacific American 
community, like the many diverse immigrant communities in this country, 
makes our country richer and stronger, and to them I am grateful.

                              {time}  2100

  Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to acknowledge the good work of 
the gentleman from California (Mr. Honda), who has done an outstanding 
job in representing the concerns of the Asian Pacific Islander 
community. I was very proud to have the gentleman be part of a very 
instrumental conference that we held in Los Angeles on health care 
access. It was a tricaucus effort, and it was the first time the 
Hispanic Caucus, the Black Caucus, and the Asian Caucus came together 
in Los Angeles and started to talk about the health care disparities 
that affect our communities. It has been a pleasure working with the 
gentleman here in the House; and as a former colleague in the State 
Assembly in Sacramento, California, I had the pleasure of working with 
the gentleman there. He continues to shine a bright light here in the 
House, reflecting all the concerns and needs and issues that we need to 
pay close attention to.
  As a Member representing the 32nd Congressional District, which I 
believe is the second largest community concentration of Asian Pacific 
Islanders, there are over 120,000 individuals who represent various 
Asian communities that live in my district, I have been very, very 
blessed to represent them for the past several years in any capacity as 
assembly woman, a State senator, and now as their Congressperson.
  I want to tell Members how important it is to help build leadership

[[Page 9040]]

amongst our community there. I am proud to represent one of the cities 
which is 70 percent Asian, Monterey Park, known as Little Taipei, which 
has one of the few city councils which has a majority of Asians.
  One of the first assemblywomen came out from Monterey Park City 
Council, and that is the Honorable Judy Choo, who now serves on the 
very powerful appropriations committee in the State of California. I am 
proud to be a part of her accomplishments also in our district.
  I want to say also it is very important to be reminded of the many 
contributions that Asian Americans have made. I am proud that now that 
my district has been somewhat redistricted, even in new parts of my 
district, for example in a city known as West Covina, that the Asian 
population there grew from 4 percent in 1980 to now 23 percent. We have 
a very distinguished councilman who sits on that city council, and that 
is Ben Wong, who is also representing our interests very well there, 
and someone who has been very politically active in making sure that 
diversity is encompassed and embraced by everyone.
  That is why I have a particular joy in being here tonight to help 
promote the contributions that this community has made in so many ways, 
and so much is not reported in our history books. I had the pleasure of 
visiting just a few weeks ago some gentlemen who were actually 
represented in one of the major battlefields that we were involved in 
World War II, and these were the Japanese Americans that served in the 
Armed Forces as a part of the 442nd Infantry Regimental Combat Team. 
There was still two or three of my members alive in my district. I was 
very proud that we could present them with their awards and honors and 
pay tribute to what they bring to our history here that often goes 
unreported.
  As I close my comments, I want to thank our colleagues here that 
represent a part of the Asian Caucus, and they are so open and willing 
that even myself, as a member of the Hispanic community, is welcomed as 
a member in that caucus. I feel very privileged to continue to work 
with them to see that our issues are in the forefront here in Congress, 
and that we represent the interests and needs of all of our 
communities. I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Honda).
  Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I would like to say to the gentlewoman, in 
spite of the growth of the Asian American communities, rather than feel 
threatened, the gentlewoman embraces them; and I think that is why the 
gentlewoman has been such a welcomed leader for political leadership in 
our country.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Guam (Ms. Bordallo).
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Asian Pacific 
American Heritage Month and to recognize the great contributions of 
Asian and Pacific Island Americans to our Nation. I, too, as the 
previous speaker said, am very proud to represent the territory of Guam 
in the Pacific, and I want to thank the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Honda), the chairman, for his sterling leadership. Ever since I have 
come to Congress, I have noted he is out there working hard for the 
Asian Pacific recipients and the representatives from the various 
areas, as has the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega), the 
vice chair of the Asian Pacific American Caucus. I thank them for their 
efforts on behalf of our communities.
  Asian and Pacific Islanders are contributing in every aspect of 
American life, from business to education, government, public 
relations, the military, sports, entertainment and the arts. In each of 
these professions, we find prominent Asian and Pacific Islander 
Americans making their mark. The late congresswoman, Mrs. Patsy Mink, 
was a champion of women's rights and a leader in social justice who 
worked tirelessly to provide opportunity to the poor and 
disenfranchised. Today her legacy lives on and inspires many to remain 
strong in their convictions.
  With her award-winning book, ``A Single Shard,'' children's author 
and Korean American, Linda Sue Park, has instilled important lessons of 
honesty, integrity, hard work, and perseverance in millions of 
children.
  My predecessors, the Congressmen Antonio Won Pat, Ben Blaz, and 
Robert Underwood, faithfully served the people of Guam; and they have 
served as an inspiration to a generation of Chamorros.
  Our communities have embraced America as our new homeland, and our 
unique cultures have survived and continued to thrive because America 
has come to know and appreciate how our contributions have enriched our 
Nation.
  Today, as we celebrate ``Freedom For All, a Nation We Call Our Own,'' 
and as our military operations to win the war against terrorism 
continue to hold national attention, we are reminded of the sacrifices 
made to ensure our freedom. No one can doubt the patriotism of Asians 
and Pacific Islanders who have served this country with pride and 
distinction, and many without the benefit of citizenship.
  Let us honor the 21 Asian American World War II veterans from the 
100th Infantry Battalion and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team who were 
awarded the Medal of Honor for extraordinary heroism and bravery on the 
battlefield.
  I especially want to remember those who have given their lives to 
protect our freedom, including Army Specialist Christopher Wesley, 
Lieutenant Michael Vega, and Sergeant Eddie Chen, soldiers from Guam 
who were killed in Iraq. We are saddened by their deaths, but their 
courage is an inspiration to all of us.
  This year the people of Guam will be commemorating the 60th 
anniversary of our liberation from enemy occupation by U.S. Armed 
Forces during World War II. As the only American territory with a 
civilian population occupied by the enemy during World War II, they 
risked their lives to protect American soldiers from capture and 
endured great hardship and suffering. I want to recognize the people of 
Guam for their steadfast loyalty during these trying times.
  As we celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, let us 
remember and honor all of the contributions of Asian Pacific Islanders. 
Let us appreciate the cultural diversity, the patriotism, and the 
communities that make our Nation so great.
  Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Guam for raising 
the profile of Guamanians in the history and the patriotism of this 
country.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee), 
the Congresswoman from Oakland.
  Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, first let me just say tonight that I also rise 
to celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, which commemorates 
the significant contributions of Asian Pacific Americans throughout our 
country's history.
  I would just like to take a moment and especially thank the gentleman 
from California (Mr. Honda), the leader of our Asian Pacific American 
Caucus, for organizing this Special Order this evening and also for the 
gentleman's consistent leadership on so many issues which affect not 
only the Asian Pacific American community, but the entire country and 
the entire world. I thank the gentleman for his leadership and for 
making sure that we stay on point.
  Let me say tonight that I, too, honor the memory and the legacy of a 
very good friend, a great woman who left this Earth much, much too 
soon, the first woman of color to serve in the House of 
Representatives, our great sister, Congresswoman Patsy Takemoto Mink. 
She made such an impact in this body, and tonight as we celebrate Asian 
Pacific American Heritage Month, I want to just remind us of Patsy's 
great legacy.
  Also, I would like to recognize the contributions of Asian Pacific 
Americans in my district, the 9th Congressional District of California, 
the East Bay of Northern California, and really commend everyone for 
their dedicated service and vision in making life better for those in 
our community and our Nation.
  Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have long played a crucial role 
in

[[Page 9041]]

the life and the history of the East Bay. The region's identity has 
been profoundly shaped by its place on the Pacific Rim. However, today 
Asian Pacific Americans still face a wide variety of challenges, 
including access to educational opportunities and community resources.
  I specifically want to talk about three great organizations in my own 
district that are working to strip down the language and educational 
barriers that isolate far too many Asian Americans and Pacific 
Islanders today. They are the Asian Immigrant Women Advocates, Oakland 
Asian Students Educational Services, and Asian Health Services.
  First, the Asian Immigrant Women Advocates has been providing 
resources to low-income Asian immigrant women workers for over 20 
years. They work with women workers employed in the garment industry, 
in hotels, in restaurants, and other low-wage industries in the Bay 
Area. Every day they stimulate positive change and empower 
disenfranchised women through education, leadership development, and 
collective action so they can fight for dignity and justice in their 
working place and for enhanced and more rational, fairer, and more 
equitable living conditions.
  Secondly, the Oakland Asian Students Educational Services motivates 
youth who have limited access to maximize their potential through 
education and social support. OASES provides personalized academic 
support and enrichment programs for youth from the first grade through 
their high school graduations. Through OASES, students take technology 
classes to gain computer skills and are tutored in areas such as math, 
science and, social studies. Recent young immigrants who face 
linguistic and social barriers in their schools can also receive 
language support. With so many social, educational, and economic 
challenges, health and access to quality care is also a major concern.
  Now the four leading causes of death among Asian Americans and 
Pacific Islander women are cancer, heart disease, stroke, and 
unintentional injuries. That is why the work of the third organization 
that I would like to highlight tonight, the East Bay Consortium of 
Health Care Centers, their work is critical, especially as being part 
of the Asian Health Services.
  Asian Health Services is a comprehensive community health center that 
provides medical care, health education, insurance counseling, and 
client advocacy to the underserved Asian and Pacific Islander 
population in Alameda County. Serving the community since 1974, they 
now provide medical services to 15,000 patients annually. Their staff 
of 150, which includes 18 doctors and physician assistants and 23 
nurses, is bilingual in nine languages. In addition to providing high-
quality health care, AHS is home to the Language and Cultural Access 
program, a medical interpretation and translation service, and 
Community Voices for Immigrant Health, a health policy development 
program.
  As Members may know, recent immigrants face many obstacles today. 
Organizations like these help their clients to conquer these barriers. 
I want to salute them tonight for their achievements and congratulate 
them for a job well done and a job that continues to soar on behalf of 
our community.

                              {time}  2115

  In addition, as part of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, I 
believe that it is also very important to celebrate the accomplishments 
of prominent Asian American leaders in our community. Let me just 
recognize Oakland City Council members Jean Quan and Henry Chang and 
Danny Wan. Also our supervisor, Alice Lai Bitker and one of the most 
powerful persons in the California legislature, our majority leader 
Wilma Chan. They work daily to enhance the quality of life for Asian 
Americans and Pacific Islanders, also for our entire community, the 
States and the entire Nation. For this, I am deeply grateful.
  Finally, I want to recognize a hero for many of us, someone who has 
profoundly affected the lives of all Americans, Professor Ronald 
Takaki. Professor Takaki is a foremost thinker in the field of 
multicultural education and ethnic studies. He has been a professor in 
Asian American studies at the University of California Berkeley for 
more than 30 years. His research and teaching have shed light on the 
vast contributions that Asian Americans have made to the history, to 
the culture, and to the achievements of our country.
  Professor Takaki believes that the study of multiculturalism results 
in a more accurate understanding of who we are as Americans. The 
grandson of Japanese immigrants to Hawaii, Professor Takaki cites the 
moral vision of Martin Luther King, Jr. and the civil rights movement 
as the stimulus for his study of race in America. Since then, much of 
the core curriculum in ethnic studies has grown from his own wide-
ranging original research. In 1984, he was a founder of Berkeley's 
Ph.D. program in ethnic studies, the first of its kind in America. 
Professor Takaki is retiring this year from the University of 
California Berkeley and tonight I want to honor him for his vast 
contributions to bettering our society and in championing diversity and 
minority rights in our country.
  Mr. Speaker, tonight in conclusion, as a proud member of the 
Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, I am pleased to join the 
gentleman from California tonight. I want to thank him again for 
organizing this Special Order. As we commemorate and as we celebrate 
the crucial role that Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have played 
and continue to play in the development of this Nation, we must also 
recognize at the same time the unique needs and challenges of the 13.1 
million Asian Pacific Americans in the United States and work towards 
supporting efforts to improve their future. I again thank the gentleman 
for his leadership and his friendship.
  Mr. HONDA. I thank the gentlewoman from California, and I appreciate 
her sharing the work that the community-based organizations are doing 
for the community in order for the members of the community to be able 
to access and be full participants in our country.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. 
Napolitano), another great leader.
  Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague and dear friend, 
the gentleman from California. I rise to honor, recognize, and 
celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and thank my friend for 
making us aware that all of us are immigrants to the United States and 
that we need to work together to be able to forge a better partnership 
for the betterment of the whole of the United States.
  I have the privilege of representing a large and diverse community of 
Asian Pacific Americans in my California 38th District. As part of the 
Congressional Hispanic Caucus leadership and a member of the 
Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, I extend my gratitude to 
the gentleman from California, chair of CAPAC, for organizing this 
Special Order and for bringing us together to recognize and celebrate 
this very special evening.
  This month, the members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus pay 
tribute to Asian Pacific Americans, especially, as we have heard, our 
great deceased friend, Patsy Takemoto Mink. We also have a great leader 
in the United States in Transportation Secretary Norm Mineta who has 
been a great friend to all of us and made a very heavy impact in 
transportation for the whole of the United States.
  The last day of this month is Memorial Day. I extend my appreciation 
to all Asian Pacific Americans who have died in combat and also to the 
more than 60,000 Asian Pacific Americans currently on active duty in 
the armed services. For over two centuries, Asian Pacific Americans 
have helped to strengthen and define America. In the 1700s, Filipino 
immigrants fled from Spanish oppression and settled in Louisiana. In 
the mid-1800s, Chinese immigrants were actively recruited to work on 
the transcontinental railroad, a vital line for early settlers in the 
West. In the face of discrimination, many

[[Page 9042]]

Chinese and Japanese workers continued immigrating to Hawaii and 
California in the late 1800s to work long hours in agriculture long 
before other immigrants. Despite playing a critical role in the United 
States westward expansion, believe it or not, laws were passed to 
exclude Asians from citizenship. Today immigration policy is still 
fraught with some of the same systemic problems and hypocrisy early 
Asian Pacific immigrants encountered.
  Last week the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Gutierrez) introduced H.R. 
4262, an immigration reform bill that addresses the needs of the 
immigrant community labor organizations and business groups. It fixes 
many of the systemic problems and honors the hard work of today's 
immigrants, all immigrants, including Asian Pacific Americans, provides 
better security for our country and gives the framework for managing 
future immigration.
  I have the highest regard for the determination and entrepreneurship 
and the spirit of these Asian Pacific immigrants. They have one of the 
highest levels of self-employment in the U.S. It is even higher than 
their American-born counterparts. America must pass an immigration 
policy that respects their hard work and the jobs that they bring to 
the United States.
  As a community, Asian Pacific Americans have never forgotten the 
struggles of those who came before us. The Tri-PAC which the Asian 
Pacific American Caucus, the Hispanic Caucus, and the Congressional 
Black Caucus have formed have been working together and will continue 
to work together to better the very, very hard issues that face our 
different communities. We have had the privilege to work with our 
friends in the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, CAPAC, to 
make the path smoother for those who come after us. The members of the 
Congressional Hispanic Caucus look forward to continuing to work with 
CAPAC on improving minority health, increasing education resources, and 
working for real immigration reform for all those that need it in this 
great country of ours.
  Mr. HONDA. I thank the gentlewoman from California. Let me also 
comment and thank her for her leadership in helping this country 
understand how diverse and how colorful this country is.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the charismatic gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. 
Case).
  Mr. CASE. Mr. Speaker, our country is obviously going through times 
of great difficulty, but it is vital in such times that we pause to 
reflect on all that is good in our country, that we reflect upon the 
glue of our country, what holds us together. In that context, I am very 
pleased to join the gentleman from California, a most worthy and 
passionate advocate for our people, and my other colleagues on the 
Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus on commemorating Asian 
Pacific American Heritage Month. I stand here as the proud 
Representative of my Second District of Hawaii, the most ethnically 
diverse district in the most ethnically diverse State of our country.
  In my Hawaii, out of a total population of 1.2 million, over half are 
comprised of Asian and Pacific Islanders. And so as we commemorate 
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, I want to reflect on the history 
of Hawaii, not just because I am immensely proud of our history but 
also because I believe very strongly that we remain a beacon for where 
this country is going and what this country can be in the area of 
ethnic contributions and ethnic diversity.
  Of course among our country's original Pacific Islanders were and are 
the indigenous peoples of Hawaii, the native Hawaiians. They came from 
elsewhere in Polynesia in the early centuries A.D. and built one of the 
most amazing societies that this world has ever seen. The circumstances 
under which their kingdom gave way to the Republic of Hawaii remain 
controversial and far reaching, the subject even today of vital 
legislation to reaffirm the special relationship between our government 
and native Hawaiians everywhere. But what is unquestioned is that our 
indigenous peoples, like other Asians and Pacific Islanders, have seen 
a remarkable and deeply moving renaissance in their own culture and 
ethnic pride that has not even begun to approach its zenith.
  Modern Western contact in 1778 started Hawaii on the journey to 
ethnic and cultural diversity, a journey on which we are still 
embarked. As our economy turned to large-scale agriculture and we saw 
many foreign workers come in, we saw the Chinese come in beginning in 
1852, Japanese in 1868, Portuguese in 1878, Puerto Ricans in 1901, 
Koreans in 1904, Filipinos in 1907. Today we continue in Hawaii to 
attract immigrants to our shores, including Vietnamese, Laotians and 
Cambodians from southeast Asia and other Pacific Islander groups 
including Tongans, Samoans, Fijians, Maori, Chamorros, Marshallese, 
Palauans and other Micronesians, Polynesians and Melanesians.
  Today Hawaii's Asian and Pacific Islander community counts all of 
these as valuable members of our society. My own congressional district 
is home to many, including the largest number of native Hawaiian and 
Filipino populations of any other district in the country. So it is no 
surprise that Hawaii leads our country in interracial marriages, 
including my own, where the undisputed head of my household's family 
originated in the great country of Japan a century ago. More than one-
third of married couples and more than one-half of unmarried couples 
are interracial. More than 50 percent of the children born in Hawaii 
nowadays, including my own, are interracial. So you can see that in 
Hawaii, we live Asian Pacific American Month every month. We are proud 
of our API community, their contributions to our national and 
international life. For example, of the 33 Asian and Pacific American 
Members of Congress ever elected, seven have been from Hawaii, 
including Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole, Senator Daniel Ken Inouye, 
Senator Hiram Leong Fong, Senator Spark Masayuki Matsunaga, 
Congresswoman Patsy Takemoto Mink, Senator Daniel Kahikina Akaka and 
Congresswoman Patricia Fukuda Saiki.
  We have boasted a few firsts at the gubernatorial level. The first 
Governor of Japanese ancestry, George Ariyoshi. The first Governor of 
native Hawaiian ancestry, John Waihee. The first Governor of Filipino 
ancestry, Governor Ben Cayetano. We have seen today in the halls of 
Congress the incredible contributions of a patriot, Major General 
Antonio Taguba, a Leilehua High grad from Hawaii and a proud member of 
our Filipino community. And, of course, former General Eric Shinseki, 
34th Chief of Staff, U.S. Army, of Kauai.
  Like everywhere else in our country we have tragically given 
thousands of the lives of our sons and daughters, including from the 
Asian and Pacific American community for the cause of freedom. The 
exploits of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team remain legendary, but more 
recently we have seen the tragedy, the tragedy of the loss in Iraq of 
Maui native Sergeant First Class Kelly Bolor and Big Island native 
Wesley Batalona.
  In sports we have seen Michelle Wie, a 14-year-old Hawaii high school 
freshman referred to as the Tiger Woods of women's golf. We have seen 
Benny Agbayani in baseball, Duke Kahanamoku and Rell Sunn in surfing, 
Ben Villaflor in boxing, Tommy Kono in weightlifting. Ellison Onizuka 
gave his life for the cause of science. Miss Universe Brooke Lee. Miss 
America Angela Baraquio. In music, Braddah Iz, Israel Kamakawiwo'ole. 
In Hollywood Kelly Hu, Jason Scott Lee, Tia Carrera. In sumo, 
Takamiyama, Akebono, Musashimaru and Konishiki. In civil rights, Bruce 
Yamashita. And, of course, how could we end the night without 
mentioning Camille Velasco and more recently Jasmine Trias? If you want 
to show your support for Asian and Pacific Americans, tonight you know 
what number to call on what TV show right about now. Jasmine just 
finished singing.
  Mr. Speaker, this is just some of what our proud Asian and Pacific 
American community offers our country and world. We are deeply 
committed to sharing with our fellow

[[Page 9043]]

Asian and Pacific American community nationwide a bright future. I have 
only the utmost thanks and respect for the gentleman from California 
(Mr. Honda) again for his leadership and for my other colleagues, not 
just in the APA community caucus here but on all of the other ethnic 
minority caucuses. Together we are working for a much brighter, a much 
better, a much more vibrant and diverse and amazing culture and future 
that lies in front of us here in this country.

                              {time}  2130

  I thank him and bid him a warm mahalo.
  Mr. HONDA. Mahalo. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Hawaii 
(Mr. Abercrombie) to round out the great State of Hawaii.
  Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for the 
opportunity to speak here this evening on Asian Pacific American 
Heritage Month Special Order. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with my 
colleagues on the congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus to 
recognize Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. As a member of the 
caucus's executive committee, I want to honor the many achievements and 
contributions of more than 11 million Americans of Asian and Pacific 
Islander descent in our country.
  As has been mentioned by the gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Case), back 
in 1978 my friends and colleagues, Senator Daniel K. Inouye, former 
Senator Spark Matsunaga, former Representative Frank Horton, and former 
Representative Norm Mineta, helped establish the first 10 days of May 
as Asian Pacific American Heritage Week. Fast forward to the 102nd 
Congress: legislation establishing the entire month of May as Asian 
Pacific American Heritage Month was signed into law.
  The congressional district I represent is composed of approximately 
70 percent Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. There is a special 
strength and resilience embodied in Hawaii's unique cultural mix. We 
have chosen to be defined by our diversity rather than divided by our 
differences. That resolve to work together with Aloha can serve as an 
example for the rest of the country and I might say, Mr. Speaker, for 
the world.
  For those of us from the State of Hawaii, there is something missing 
in this year's heritage month celebration, however: the dynamic 
presence of our colleague Patsy Takemoto Mink. Patsy fought all her 
life for social and economic justice. Throughout nearly 50 years of 
public service, she championed America's most deeply held values: 
equality, fairness, and, above all, honesty. Her courage, her 
willingness to speak out and champion causes that others might shun 
resulted in tremendous contributions in the fields of civil rights and 
education. She has earned an honored place in the history of the United 
States House of Representatives as the co-author of title IX, which 
guarantees equality for women in education programs. Every single woman 
in this Nation who today has access to equal opportunity in education 
and by extension in virtually every other field of endeavor owes a debt 
to Patsy Mink.
  She was one of the pioneers who transformed Hawaii and transformed 
the Nation. Whenever any of us felt some sense of discouragement, 
whenever any of us felt some sense of despair or feeling we could not 
succeed, it was only required for Patsy to come into the room to change 
the atmosphere. Patsy Mink had the capacity to make dead air move. 
Patsy Mink, this little dynamo from Hawaii, was a giant in her heart 
and in her commitment. I miss her every day. I measure all I do by her 
unfailing standard of integrity.
  She would be the first to say while we can look at Asian Pacific 
American Heritage Month as a time to recognize and celebrate many 
individual accomplishments, we must also take action. The other members 
of Hawaii's congressional delegation and I are working every day to 
respond to the issues raised by people of Hawaii and the Nation. I hope 
I can work productively to resolve them, always remembering that our 
Nation should be defined by our diversity rather than be divided by our 
differences. I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Honda).
  Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. 
Abercrombie), and he makes Hawaiians very proud; and we are privileged 
to have him as one of our members of CAPAC, and I always look toward 
him to understand how to deliver a speech eloquently.
  Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding to 
me, and I am very proud to be here as one of Hawaii's answers to 
affirmative action this evening.
  Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I was hoping he would say that.
  Mr. Speaker, I too would like to extend my gratitude to the patriotic 
men and women serving our country and the military including the 60,813 
Asian American and Pacific Islanders serving on active duty in the U.S. 
armed services as well as the 20,066 in the Reserves and National 
Guard. I also commend the 351,000 API veterans. Last week I had the 
privilege to meet a young soldier, Army Specialist Bermanis of the 
Army's 82nd Airborne Division. He was presented with the Bronze Star, a 
Purple Heart for Meritorious Conduct in Operation Iraqi Freedom. On 
July 16, 2003, the award presentation ceremony took place bedside at 
Walter Reed Army Medical Center where he was convalescing from grave 
injuries. Specialist Bermanis and a fellow soldier were on guard duty 
in southern Baghdad when they sustained an attack by rocket-propelled 
grenades on June 10, 2003. His fellow soldier died instantly, and 
Specialist Bermanis lost both his legs and his left hand.
  Specialist Bermanis hails from Pohnpei in the Federated States of 
Micronesia. Officials from the Federated States of Micronesia and the 
U.S. Government had visited him at Walter Reed and praised him for his 
courage and exemplary service. A senior U.S. official commended 
Specialist Bermanis's service as representative of the Federated States 
of Micronesia citizens' commitment to the security of the United States 
and Pacific region.
  Mr. Speaker, this month also affords us time to reflect on the 
various social needs that exist in the API community. Today there are 
12.8 million APIs, which represents 4.5 percent of the U.S. population. 
Between 1990 and 2000, the community grew nationally by 72 percent.
  APIs are one of the fastest growing populations in the country. The 
API community in this country encompasses 49 ethnicities speaking over 
100 languages and dialects. The population enriches our culture 
linguistically through a range of languages, such as Japanese, Chinese, 
Samoan, Thai, Vietnamese, Hmong, Cambodian, Micronesian, and Korean.
  Our linguistic diversity has contributed greatly to American society. 
It has allowed us to exercise international leadership economically and 
politically. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, slightly less than 
half of the 7 million API who speak a language other than English at 
home report that they speak English ``very well.'' We need to better 
address the educational and health care needs of all limited-English 
proficiency students, children, and adults.
  Additionally, data is a cross-cutting issue. Lack of data impacts our 
understanding of the health problems in our communities as well as the 
problem of access and quality. Adequate data collection continues to be 
a challenge for the API community. Although we are often mistaken to be 
a homogenous group, our community is extremely diverse in ethnicities 
and languages. Aggregating such a large and diverse group makes it 
difficult to understand the unique problems faced by the individual 
ethnicities.
  This year as chair of CAPAC, I have looked into these and other 
critical issues within the API community. Through our CAPAC task 
forces, we have targeted such goals as eliminating racial ethnic health 
disparities, enacting comprehensive immigration reform, fighting to 
create jobs, and providing educational opportunities for the 
underserved.
  CAPAC has had the privilege to work with our colleagues in the 
Congressional Black Caucus, the Congressional

[[Page 9044]]

Hispanic Caucus, and the Congressional Native American Caucus to 
advance dialogue on these important issues.
  I yield to the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega), the 
vice chairman of CAPAC, a Member of the Congress for many years, a 
leader and a person who represents American Samoa.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California 
(Mr. Honda) for yielding to me and not only for his leadership but as 
chairman of the Asian Pacific American Caucus and for him to request 
this Special Order to allow Members of this institution to pay tribute 
and to recognize the contributions of our Asian Pacific American 
community to our Nation.
  I think with some sense of perspective in history, Mr. Speaker, when 
we talk about the Asian Pacific American region, we talk about all 
those countries that comprise Asia as a region as well as those Pacific 
Island nations. The Asian Pacific region constitutes two-thirds of the 
world's population. This region also has six of the 10 largest armies 
in the world. The U.S. commercial and trade relations with this Asian 
Pacific region far exceeds other regions of world. In fact, the U.S. 
trade with the Asian Pacific region is twice that of Europe alone. As I 
recall, Senator Inouye once made the observation that for each 747 that 
flies across the Atlantic, four 747s fly between the Asian Pacific 
region and our Nation.
  Americans whose roots are from the Asian Pacific region are over 13 
million strong and among the fastest growing demographic group in the 
United States today.
  Permit me to share with my colleagues an overview of some of the 
contributions that Asian Pacific Americans have given to our Nation. 
Just 3 months ago, a world renowned Chinese American physicist, Dr. 
Chien-Shiung Wu, perhaps little known to the average American, passed 
away quietly in her home in New York. For decades she dedicated her 
life to the study of beta decay. She was born in Shanghai, and in her 
youth studied with Nobel Laureate E.O. Lawrence, the inventor of the 
cyclotron at U.C.-Berkeley, where Dr. Wu also received her doctorate 
degree in physics. For some 30 years, Dr. Wu taught physics at Columbia 
University. In 1957 she won the Nobel Prize in physics for her work on 
emission of electrons from radioactive nuclei. I think there are 
approximately 10 other Nobel Laureates who are of Asian Pacific 
ancestry in the field of physics, mathematics, and chemistry.
  A couple of years ago, Time Magazine featured as its Man of the Year 
Dr. David Ho. Dr. Ho is a Chinese American who was born and raised in 
Taiwan. His family moved to the United States when he was a young man, 
and he is now a leading scientist in the field of medicine and has been 
recognized for his research efforts to find a cure for HIV/AIDS.
  For several decades now, Dr. Makio Murayama, a Japanese American, 
conducted vital research in the United States that laid the groundwork 
for combating sickle-cell anemia. In 1973 Dr. Leo Esaki, a Japanese 
American as well, was awarded the Nobel Prize in physics for his 
electron tunneling theories. And in the field of engineering, few have 
matched the architectural masterpieces created by the genius of Chinese 
American I.M. Pei.
  In the fields of law and finance, the names of prominent Asian 
Pacific American corporate leaders and legal scholars are too numerous 
to mention. One need only to read our Nation's top newspapers and 
periodicals to document that Asian Pacific American students, both in 
secondary schools and universities, are among the brightest minds our 
Nation offers to the world. We have every expectation that they now and 
will in the future contribute their talents and expertise to solve 
major issues and problems now confronting our Nation today.
  In the fields of entertainment and sports, the late Chinese American 
kung-fu martial arts expert Bruce Lee captivated movie audiences around 
the world by destroying the common stereotype of the passive, quiet 
Asian Pacific American male. Now another sports and movie icon is 
moving his way through the movie industry and is believed to be the 
heir apparent to Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger, Governor 
Arnold Schwarzenegger. His name is Dwayne Johnson, commonly known today 
as the Rock. The Rock is a former World Wrestling Federation champion 
wrestler and has completed his third movie. First it was The Scorpion 
King, then The Rundown, and now Walking Tall. And just a unique thing 
about the Rock, Mr. Speaker, is that his father is African American and 
of European descent, but his mother is pure Samoan Polynesian. Now just 
about every Samoan claims kinship with the Rock, including myself, Mr. 
Speaker.
  When we talk about sports, for example, golf, Mr. Speaker, it is 
ironic that the two best golfers in the world are of Asian Pacific 
descent. Tiger Woods's mother is Thai. Vijay Singh from the island of 
Fiji is of Asian descent. And as mentioned earlier by my colleagues 
from the State of Hawaii, we have a new Tiger Woods among the women's 
professional golfers, and this is a 14-year-old junior golfer from the 
State of Hawaii. She is Michelle Wie.
  About 4 decades ago, Mr. Speaker, a native Hawaiian named Duke 
Kahanamoku shocked the world by winning the Olympic gold medal for the 
United States in swimming, followed by Dr. Sammy Lee, a Korean 
American, who also won the Olympic gold medal in high diving. Dr. Lee 
told me during the 1988 Olympics in Korea that in his day, because he 
was nonwhite, he was not allowed to train along with his fellow Olympic 
American athletes.

                              {time}  2145

  So he had to become creative by performing high dives off cliffs and 
tall trees. Despite all this, he still won the gold medal for our 
country.
  And what can you say about Greg Louganis, the Samoan American, 
perhaps the best high diver ever in the world. Dr. Lee, who was his 
former teacher, I asked him in Korea, ``Why is it that Greg Louganis is 
such a fantastic high diver?'' He said, ``Eni, look at his legs. 
Because of the power that he gets from his legs,'' this high diver 
named Greg Louganis, ``he is able to perform more difficult tricks in 
his routines when he does this.'' I think everybody knows that Greg 
Louganis has been the greatest diver ever known to the world.
  Let's talk about the National Football League. We have had Asian-
Pacific Americans who have also made All-Pro: Charles Ane with the 
Detroit Lions, Rockney Freitous with the Detroit Lions; Luther Elliss; 
and the perennial All-Pro, Junior Seau, formerly with the San Diego 
Chargers, now with the Miami Dolphins. We have Jesse Sapolu with the 
Forty-Niners and Dan Saleaumua with the Kansas City Chiefs, and also 
Jim Nicholson, also formerly with the Kansas City Chiefs.
  We also have Asian-Pacific Americans who are making their mark on 
history, not in our country, but in Southeast Asia. About 20 years ago, 
an 18-year-old Samoan kid named Saleva'a Atisanoe, then weighing only 
384 pounds was an All-State football player who had intended to play 
college football. While walking Waikiki Beach with his buddies, he was 
immediately brought to the attention of the famous Native Hawaiian sumo 
wrestler and teacher, Jesse Kuhaulua--or Takamyama--as he was known 
throughout Japan.
  After convincing Saleva'a's parents to have their son try sumo 
wrestling as an optional sport, Takamyama brought this Samoan young man 
to Japan. Saleva'a left with only a little lavalava and a t-shirt on 
his back and started a training program so rigorous and demanding that 
very few foreigners make it through the first 6 months.
  Saleva'a told me that he trained every day for 6 or 7 hours. His body 
took every form of pain and physical punishment including stretching, 
pushing, pulling. If you want to know how rigorous the training is and 
what a sumo wrestler has to do in order to be successful in this 
ancient sport, let me just say that a 500 pound man must be able to do 
the splits just like a seasoned ballerina dancer does at an opera 
concert.
  Saleva'a's name was later changed to Konishiki, and he weighed in at 
570 pounds and at six feet in height. Konishiki took the entire sumo 
wrestling world to a different level. His successes in winning his 
matches within 2

[[Page 9045]]

years usually would take most sumo wrestlers 5 years to achieve. 
Although he achieved the second highest level in sumo, which was Ozeki, 
Konishiki became a household name throughout Japan, and was forerunner 
to two other Polynesian sumo wrestlers who eventually became Yokozuma 
or grand champion.
  Indeed, two Americans of Polynesian descent scaled even greater 
heights by attaining the highest status--Yokozuna or Grand Champion--in 
this ancient Japanese sport of sumo wrestling. A Native Hawaiian, Chad 
Rowen, or Akebono as he is known in Japan became Yokozuma. Of course, 
he weighed about 500 pounds and stood six feet eight inches tall. The 
other was Samoan-Tongan American Peitani Fiamalu also known as 
Musashimaru. He tipped the scale at 550 pounds and stood six feet four 
inches.
  Mr. Speaker, if I may, I would like to now direct my attention to 
another area in our Nation's history, where Members of our Asian 
Pacific American community were severely challenged. As a Vietnam 
veteran, it would be ludicrous for me not to say something to honor and 
respect the hundreds of thousands of Asian Pacific Americans who served 
then and now in all the branches of the U.S. Armed Forces.
  As a former member of the U.S. Army's Reserve unit known today as the 
100th Battalion and 442nd Infantry Combat Group, I would be remiss if I 
did not tell you about the contributions of the tens of thousands of 
Japanese American soldiers who volunteered to fight our Nation's 
enemies in Europe in World War II.
  Some of us may not be aware of the fact that after the surprise 
attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, by the Imperial Army of 
Japan, there was such a public outcry for an all-out war against Japan, 
and days afterwards our President and the Congress formally declared 
war.
  But caught in this crossfire were hundreds of thousands of Americans, 
Americans, mind you, who just happened to be of Japanese ancestry. Our 
national government immediately implemented a policy whereby over 
100,000 Americans of Japanese ancestry were forced to live in what then 
called relocation camps, but actually in my opinion they were more like 
prison camps or concentration camps. Their lands, homes and properties 
were confiscated without due process of law.
  Mr. Speaker, it is also a time in our Nation's history when there was 
so much hatred and bigotry and racism placed against our Japanese 
American community. Yet, despite all this, leaving their wives, their 
parents and brothers and sisters behind barbed wire fences in these 
prison camps, the White House accepted the request of tens of thousands 
of Japanese Americans who volunteered to join the Army.
  As a result of this request for service, two combat units were 
organized. One was known as the 100th Battalion, also known as the 
Purple Heart Battalion; and the other was known as the 442nd Infantry 
Combat Group. Both were sent to fight in Europe.
  In my humble opinion, Mr. Speaker, history speaks for itself in 
documenting that none have shed their blood more valiantly for our 
Nation than the Japanese American soldiers who served in these two 
combat units while fighting enemy forces in Europe in World War II.
  The military records of the 100th Battalion and 442nd Infantry are 
without equal. These Japanese Americans suffered an unprecedented 
casualty rate of 314 percent, and received over 18,000 individual 
decorations, many of them awarded posthumously, for bravery and courage 
in the field of battle.
  For your information, Mr. Speaker, 52 Distinguished Service Crosses 
were awarded to these two units. 560 Silver Stars and 9,480 Purple 
Hearts were awarded to the Japanese American soldiers of the 100th 
Battalion and 442nd Infantry Group. However, I find it unusual that 
only one Medal of Honor was given.
  Nonetheless, the 442nd Combat Group emerged as the most decorated 
combat unit of its size in the history of the United States Army. In 
fact, Mr. Speaker, President Truman was so moved by their bravery in 
the field of battle, as well as that of the contributions of African 
American soldiers World War II, that President Truman issued an 
executive ordered to desegregate all branches of the Armed Forces.
  It was while fighting in Europe that Senator Inouye lost his arm 
while engaged in battle against two German machine gun posts. As a 
result of his valor, Senator Inouye was awarded the Distinguished 
Service Cross.
  Four years ago, a congressional mandate was issued calling for review 
of the military records of these two combat units, and I was privileged 
to attend the White House ceremony where President Clinton presented 19 
Congressional Medals of Honor to the Japanese Americans of these two 
units. Senator Inouye was one of the recipients of the Medal of Honor.
  The fact of the matter is, Mr. Speaker, these Japanese-Americans paid 
their dues in blood to protect our Nation from its enemies and it is a 
shameful black mark on the history of our country that when the 
patriotic survivors of the 100th Battalion and 442nd Infantry returned 
to the United States, many were reunited with their parents, brothers 
and sisters who were locked-up behind barbed-wire fences, living in 
prison camps--and could not even get a haircut in downtown San 
Francisco because they looked Japanese--despite the fact that they, 
too, were Americans.
  My dear friend and former colleague and now U.S. Secretary of 
Transportation, Norman Mineta, and Congressman Bob Matsui from 
Sacramento remember well the early years of their lives in these prison 
camps. Secretary Mineta told that one of the interesting features of 
these prison camps were postings of machine gun nests all around the 
camp--and everyone was told that these machine guns were posted to 
protect them against rioters or whatever. But then Secretary Minea 
observed--if these machine guns are posted to guard us, why is it that 
they are all directed inside the prison camp compound and not outside?
  Mr. Speaker, I submit that the wholesale and arbitrary abolishment of 
the constitutional rights of these loyal Japanese-Americans should 
forever serve as a reminder and testament that this must never be 
allowed to occur again. When this miscarriage of justice unfolded 
during WWII, Americans of German and Italian ancestry were not 
similarly jailed en masse. Some declare that our treatment of Japanese 
Americans during WWII was an example of outright racism and bigotry in 
its ugliest form. After viewing recently the Holocaust Museum in 
Washington, I understand better why the genocide of some 6 million Jews 
has prompted the cry, ``Never Again, Never Again!'' Likewise, I 
sincerely hope that mass internments on the basis of race alone will 
never again darken the history of our great Nation.
  To those that say, well, that occurred decades ago, I say we must 
continue to be vigilant in guarding against such evil today. Not long 
ago, we had the case of Bruce Yamashita, a Japanese-American from 
Hawaii who was discharged from the Marine Corps officer training 
program in an ugly display of racial discrimination. Marine Corps 
superiors taunted Yamashita with ethnic slurs and told him, ``We don't 
want your kind around here. Go back to your own country.'' The 
situation was made worse by the Commandant of the Marine Corps, a four 
star general, who appeared on television's ``Sixty Minutes'' and 
stated, ``Marine officers who are minitories do not shoot, swim or use 
compasses as well as white officers.'' The Commandant later apologized 
for his remarks, but it was a little too late.
  After years of perseverance and appeals, Mr. Yamashita was vindicated 
after proving he was the target of vicious racial harassment during his 
officer training program. The Secretary of the Navy's investigation 
into whether minorities were deliberately being discourage from 
becoming officers resulted in Bruce Yamashita receiving his commission 
as a captain in the Marine Corps.
  Mr. Speaker, I am also greatly disturbed by media coverage in recent 
years involving illegal political campaign contributions made by a 
small minority of the Asian-Pacific American Community. The media has 
implied that the Asian Pacific American community as a whole is suspect 
and corrupt and I find this racial scapegoating to be repugnant and 
morally objectionable. Playing-up fears of the ``Asian Connection'' 
serves to alienate Asian-Pacific Americans from participating in our 
political process.
  When Americans raise money, it is called gaining political power. But 
when Asian-Pacific Americans begin to participate, we are accused of 
being foreigners trying to inflilrate the mainstream of our Nation's 
political system. On this note, remember the Oklahoma City bombing 
incident? Americans of Arab descent

[[Page 9046]]

were immediately targeted and investigated as terrorists by local and 
Federal law enforcement agencies. An Anglo turned out to be the bomber 
which leads me to say that it is wrong to stereotype and this type of 
negative stereotyping must and should not continue.
  In conclusion, I think Bruce Yamashita's case and the hysteria 
surrounding Asian-Pacific American political contriibutions bear 
implications not just for the military and the media but for our 
society as a whole. It begs the question, how long do we as Asian 
Pacific Americans and other minorities have to be considered as lesser 
Americans?
  I applaud Captain Yamashita and others like him who have spoken out 
to ensure that racial discrimination is not tolerated. During this 
month, as we recognize the diverse experiences and contributions our 
Asian-Pacific American community has made to our great Nation, I would 
hope that we will take inspiration from the examples I have shared with 
you this evening.
  Mr. Speaker, when I envision America, I don't see a melting pot 
designed to reduce and remove racial differences. The America I see is 
a brilliant rainbow--a rainbow of ethnicities and cultures, with each 
ethnic group proudly contributing in its own distinctive and unique 
way--making America better for now and generations to come. Asian-
Pacific Americans wish to find a just and equitable place in our 
society that will allow them--like all Americans--to grow, to succeed, 
to achieve and to contribute to the advancement of the great Nation.
  This is why I would like to close my remarks by asking all of us here 
tonight, what is America all about? I think it could not have been said 
better than on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in the summer of 1963 
when an African-American minister named Martin Luther King Jr. poured 
out his heart and soul to every American who could bear his voice, when 
he uttered these words.
  ``I have a dream. My dream is that one day my children will be judged 
not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their 
character.''
  That is what I believe American is all about.
  Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time, I would like to comment 
on the White House initiative that was initiated by the past 
administration of President Clinton. It is now in its fifth year, and 
the initiative suffers from neglect by the current administration.
  Executive Order 13216 authorizing the initiative and its 
corresponding Advisory Commission expired on June 7, 2003; and since 
that time, both the initiative and the commission have laid dormant.
  The commission is mandated to develop, monitor, and coordinate 
Federal efforts to improve API participation in government programs, 
foster research and data collection for API populations and sub-
populations, and increase public and private sector involvement in 
improving the health and well-being of the API community.
  API citizens deserve the coordination of services that the commission 
can facilitate.
  In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, I wanted to recognize also among other 
names, the gentleman from California (Mr. Matsui), a member of the 
Democratic leadership, and Governor Locke, the first API elected as a 
Governor in the lower 48 States.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to close by indicating that in this 
country, we have participated in the functioning of this country in 
every aspect of society, having athletes, both professional and 
amateur; we have had Nobel Prize winners; teachers and scholars. We are 
thankful for this time to share information regarding the Asian Pacific 
Islanders in this great country and the islands that our Members come 
from.
  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, for centuries, American has been enriched by 
our diverse and rapidly growing Asian American and Pacific Islander 
communities, and by the contributions that Native Hawaiians, Chamorros, 
and Samoans have made in their ancestral homelands. Since the 1700s, 
when Filipino immigrants settled in the Louisiana bayou and Chinese and 
Japanese immigrants worked the sugarcane fields of Hawaii, Asian 
American and Pacific Islander communities have worked hard to call 
America their home.
  In the face of prejudice and poverty, interment and exclusion, the 
Asian American and Pacific Islander community has always remained 
strong in spirit, proud of its heritage, and committed to making 
progress. Today, there are 11 million Asian American and Pacific 
Islanders in the United States, tracing roots to nearly 50 different 
countries and ethnic groups, each with distinct cultures, traditions, 
and histories.
  The achievement of the community demonstrates the critical role of 
civic participation in making the American Dream a reality. With more 
than 200 Asian American and Pacific Islanders running for elected 
office in the U.S. last year alone, the community's participation in 
politics ensures that its concerns are addressed at the highest levels 
of government.
  This Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, we salute such pioneers 
as Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole, who is 1903 became the first Native 
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander to serve in Congress; Dilip Singh Saund, who 
in 1956 became the first Asian American elected to Congress; Hiram 
Leong Fong, who in 1959 became the first Asian American Senator; and my 
dear friend Patsy Mink, who in 1964 became the first Asian American 
woman elected to Congress.
  We also celebrate the political leadership of Asian Americans and 
Pacific Islanders today. As the Leader of the Democrats in the House of 
Representatives, I am proud to work in the Democratic leadership with 
Congressman Robert Matsui of California, the highest ranking Asian 
American in congressional history. We are both proud to lead the only 
truly diverse caucus in the Congress, which includes our great 
Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC). Under the 
leadership of Congressman Mike Honda of California, CAPAC has promoted 
greater understanding in Congress of the concerns of the Asian American 
and Pacific Islander community. CAPAC is fighting for educational 
opportunities for our children, for better access to health care 
including an end to minority health disparities, for real immigration 
reform, and to grow the economy and create good-paying jobs.
  This Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, we take pride in our 
history and the promise of our future and we rededicate ourselves to 
the fight to make the American Dream a reality for all.
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker. Today I join my distinguished friend from 
California, Mr. Honda, and the rest of my colleagues on the occasion of 
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.
  During this month, we recognize and celebrate the important 
contributions Asian Pacific Americans have made to our great country.
  Mr. Honda, as the leader of the Congressional Asian Pacific American 
Caucus, has helped all of us learn more about the concerns and issues 
facing the Asian American and Pacific Islander Community and I salute 
his work on these issues.
  I would also like to commend the leadership of Representative Robert 
Matsui, who has devoted his time and energy not just to the excellent 
representation of his constituents, but also to assisting the 
Democratic Caucus as chairman of the Democratic Congressional campaign 
committee.
  Mr. Speaker, this year's theme, ``Freedom for all, a nation we can 
call our own'', speaks to both the hopes and the challenges Asian 
Pacific Americans face in America.
  Asian Pacific American families, whether they have lived in this 
country for generations, or have recently emigrated, have worked as 
farmers, teachers, and business people, pioneering in the sciences and 
arts, and serving with distinction on the battlefield.
  But achieving the American dream is not always easy for any group of 
immigrants seeking to establish roots in the United States.
  Asian Pacific Americans have fought to overcome discrimination, 
language and cultural barriers, and even internment by their own 
government.
  Today the Asian Pacific American Community is rightly proud of their 
rich heritage and the innumerable contributions they have made to the 
development of our nation.
  During the last century, as America's frontier expanded west, 
hundreds of thousands of Asian citizens worked to build the first 
transcontinental railroad.
  And Chinese and Japanese immigrants answered the need for laborers 
and agriculture workers in California and Hawaii.
  The descendants of these settlers are now leaders in virtually every 
industry in the United States, from medical research to music education 
to professional athletics.
  In fact, Asian Pacific Americans have the highest proportion of 
college graduates of any race or ethnic group.
  Mr. Speaker, there are now more than 11 million Asian American and 
Pacific Islanders in America, comprising 5 percent of the total U.S. 
population.
  Over 213,000 Asian Pacific Americans live in my home state of 
Maryland.
  Immigrants from the countries of Asia and native peoples of Hawaii 
and the Pacific Islands form one of the fastest growing minority groups 
in the United States today.

[[Page 9047]]

  And Asian Pacific Americans have the most diverse background of any 
minority population, tracing their roots to almost 50 different 
countries and ethnic groups.
  The impressive list of notable Asian Pacific Americans is far too 
lengthy to read here.
  To name just a few: First, The Honorable Patsy Mink, the first Asian 
Pacific American woman elected to Congress, who many of us had the 
honor to know.
  Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianole, who in 1903 was the first native 
Hawaiian and Pacific Islander to serve in Congress.
  Maya Lin, the accomplished architect, whose striking memorial to 
those killed in Vietnam lies close by on the National Mall.
  Yo-Yo Ma, the internationally acclaimed cellist.
  Tiger Woods and Michelle Kwan, both young champion athletes.
  Charles Wang, chairman emeritus of Computer Associates and co-owner 
of the New York Islanders.
  Jerry Yang, who co-founded Yahoo.com in his 20s.
  In every profession, it seems, Asian Pacific Americans have made 
their mark.
  Mr. Speaker, let me again say that it gives me great pleasure today 
to recognize the significant advances and contributions made by the 
Asian Pacific American Community to our country during Asian Pacific 
Heritage Month.
  Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, we commemorate Asian and Pacific American 
(APA) Heritage Month to acknowledge the tremendous achievements of 
Asian and Pacific Americans and honor their contributions to our 
families, communities and our nation.
  The Asian and Pacific American community has played a vital role in 
the development of the United States since the first immigrants came to 
the United States in the 1700's. Today, over 11 million Asian and 
Pacific Americans live in the U.S., making extraordinary contributions 
to every aspect of American life. From David Ho, who has performed 
breakthrough work on AIDS research, to Maya Lin, the architect who 
designed the Vietnam Memorial; from the lyrical musings of novelist Amy 
Tan, to the sublime skills of Tiger Woods, the gifts of the APA 
community have changed the fabric of American society.
  The APA community has also changed America's political landscape and 
I commend all of the APA organizations across America for enhancing the 
voice of APAs in the political and social arena. Their tireless efforts 
inspire others to achieve their dreams. All Americans, regardless of 
their ethnic background and heritage, benefit from their work.
  Not only is the APA community working today to improve their families 
and communities, but they also understand the role of history in 
teaching future generations. As we celebrate APA Heritage Month this 
year, we also commemorate the opening of the Manzanar National Historic 
Site and Interpretive Center in Independence, California. Manzanar was 
the first interment camp created by Executive Order 9066 and was the 
site where 11,000 of the more than 120,000 American citizens of 
Japanese ancestry were uprooted from their homes and communities and 
interned in 1942. The new Manzanar Center is a critical component in 
recognizing and understanding the events of the past so that we 
Americans may maintain our country's fundamental commitment to freedom, 
democracy, and individual rights. I would like to thank the thousands 
of individuals who made this project a reality.
  Asian and Pacific Americans are as diverse as each of the traditions 
and cultures they represent. The strength of this diversity and the 
commitment of all Americans to a shared set of values unites our nation 
as we work toward a common future. As we celebrate APA Heritage Month, 
we reflect on the past successes and struggles of the APA community, 
the diversity that binds us together, and the work we can all do 
together to make the American dream a reality for all people.
  Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate May 2004 as 
National Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.
  I am proud to represent the 29th Congressional District of 
California, a diverse and thriving area of our country where hundreds 
of thousands have come to raise their children and devote their talents 
to the community at large. Some of these families have been in the 
United States for many generations; others are newly arrived. But all 
of these Americans enrich the fabric of our society with unyielding 
patriotism and selfless devotion to their neighbors.
  The 29th District is home to one of the largest Asian American and 
Pacific Islander populations in Southern California; almost one-fourth 
of my constituents are of Asian Pacific heritage. Notable among them 
are Assemblywoman Judy Chu, Assemblywoman Carol Liu, Asian Youth Center 
Executive Director May To and Alhambra Chamber of Commerce Board Member 
Gary Yamauchi; countless Southern Californians enjoy a better quality 
of life from the leadership provided by these public servants.
  It is certainly timely and appropriate to honor Asian Americans and 
Pacific Islanders in the same month as the dedication of the National 
World War II Memorial in Washington. The foundation of that memorial 
was enshrined by the courage and gallantry of the 442nd Regimental 
Combat Team--Japanese American soldiers who formed the most decorated 
unit in U.S. military history. I cannot help but think that the 
fountains and reflecting pool of this new Memorial symbolically contain 
not only the tears of joy of millions freed from the chains of racism 
and imperialism, but also the tears of sadness of more than 110,000 
Japanese Americans wrongly interned during the war. The deprivation of 
their liberty while their children were fighting for freedom in Europe 
is a story of injustice that should be long told to all American 
children.
  But the military service of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to 
the United States actually began long ago. In fact, many soldiers of 
Asian descent fought bravely in the Civil War, only later to be denied 
the opportunity for citizenship by the draconian Chinese Exclusion Act 
of 1882. When the United States was at its most divided and imperiled, 
these noble individuals took to battlefields far from their home of 
birth to protect the promise of the American dream for future 
generations. I am proud to be a sponsor of H.J. Res. 45, which would 
posthumously proclaim these soldiers as honorary citizens of the United 
States.
  The various ethnicities, cultures and nationalities that compose the 
Asian American and Pacific Islander communities are bright stars in the 
wonderous evening sky that is our country. I thank and congratulate the 
many Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders for allowing us to share in 
their rich heritage.
  Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, over 100 Members of Congress work together 
in the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus to promote Asian 
Pacific American issues and concerns, led by my long-time friend and 
colleague, Congress Mike Honda.
  Today and throughout the month of May, we celebrate the many 
contributions Asian Pacific Americans have made to the fabric of our 
communities and to this Nation as a whole.
  In this Congress, there are five Asian Pacific Americans serving our 
Nation and their communities as members of the House of Representatives 
and two Asian Pacific Americans serving in the Senate.
  In the field of science and technology, Asian Pacific Americans have 
long contributed to our country, from Ellison Onizuka, the first Asian-
American in space, to Flossi Wong-Staal and Dr. David D. Ho, for their 
work on HIV and AIDS. Moreover, several Asian Pacific Americans have 
received Nobel Prizes for their accomplishments in science and 
technology.
  Hundreds of thousands of Asian Pacific Americans have also loyally 
served our Nation in the military willing to give their life for the 
United States of America. Asian Pacific American veterans of the Armed 
Forces number 284,000.
  In sports, Asian Pacific Americans have helped bring home Olympic 
gold medals for the United States, including the first woman to win 
gold medals in the ten and three meter diving events--Filipina American 
Victoria Manalo Draves.
  Although it is important for us to celebrate Asian Pacific American 
heritage this month, we must not forget the plight that Asian Pacific 
Americans endure despite the community's many accomplishments.
  The pitfalls of immigration law and the backlog of immigration 
applications continue to prevent many Asian pacific American families 
from reuniting for several years.
  We must also not forget the APA community suffers from greater 
poverty than non-Hispanic Whites, especially in the Hmong, Laotian, 
Cambodian, and Vietnamese American communities.
  We must work to ensure that Asian Pacific Americans are appropriately 
counted when our government collects date that will be used to 
understand the needs of the APA community.
  We must make every effort to invite Asian Pacific Americans to 
participate in government to ensure that our government meets the needs 
of the APA community.
  In commemoration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, I honor 
the contributions of millions of Asian Pacific Americans who have 
contributed to our Nation and who I am sure will continue to contribute 
in the future. But while I celebrate this month, I also renew my pledge 
to address the issues affecting Asian Pacific Americans around the 
country.
  Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate Asian Pacific 
American Heritage Month and to celebrate the lives and accomplishments 
of Asian Pacific Americans in

[[Page 9048]]

U.S. history. I want to thank Congressman Honda and Congressman Eni 
Faleomavaega, the new Chair and Vice Chair of the Congressional Asian 
Pacific American Caucus, for organizing this special order. In 
particular, I want to recognize the contributions of Korean Americans 
in my district and commend them for their tireless work in improving 
the city of Los Angeles.
  Last month this chamber unanimously approved legislation that I 
sponsored to designate a U.S. Post Office in the Koreatown section of 
my district be named the ``Dosan Ahn Chang Ho Post Office.'' Dosan Ahn 
Chang Ho, who spent his formative years in the United States, is 
credited by many as the spiritual father of modern, independent, 
democratic Korea. During his stay in Los Angeles, at the beginning of 
the 20th century, he worked to unite the Korean-American community, 
founding schools and cultural organizations, and helping improve living 
and working conditions for his fellow Korean Americans. I am proud to 
be the sponsor of this legislation and grateful to the House for paying 
this timely tribute to a great Korean American.
  Mr. Speaker, the contributions of Asian Pacific Americans to the 
growth and success of this great nation can never be overstated. The 
history of their struggle and triumph in the United States must be re-
told. We need to remember that it was the Chinese immigrants who toiled 
in the mines during the California Gold Rush of the 1800s and helped 
construct the transcontinental railroad in the 1860s. And we can never 
forget how Americans of Japanese ancestry were placed in internment 
camps during World War II, one of the saddest and most notorious 
chapters in our nation's history.
  I also want to take this opportunity to share with you the rich and 
diverse history of Korean immigration to Los Angeles. Although a small 
number of Koreans had immigrated to the United States at the beginning 
of the twentieth century, major waves of Korean migration to America 
did not occur until Congress passed the 1965 Immigration Act abolishing 
the quota system that had restricted the numbers of Asians allowed to 
enter this country. Since then, Korea has become one of the top five 
countries of origin of emigrants to the United States.
  Among the more than one million Korean Americans today, roughly 33 
percent are settled in California, making it the state with the largest 
Korean American population. Today, Los Angeles is home to the largest 
concentration of Koreans outside of Korea, roughly 160,000 people. 
Located in my district, Koreatown is the hub of the Korean community 
and vital to our local economy. It is fabled that from the 
establishment of a single Korean store at the corner of Olympic 
Boulevard and Hobart Street in 1969 emerged today's Koreatown, which 
stretches from Beverly Boulevard and Pico Boulevard to the north and 
south and Hoover and Crenshaw on the east and west. Although 68 percent 
of the people living within these boundaries are Latinos, Korean 
Americans are the predominant business owners, and the area serves as a 
cultural, business, and social center for not just Korean Americans but 
all of Los Angeles.
  Indeed, for the past four decades, the district that I represent has 
thrived with the contribution of Koreatown. The willingness of Korean-
American merchants to sacrifice for their future generations by working 
extremely long hours and overcoming linguistic and cultural barriers 
has led to many successful enterprises crucial to the growth of our 
local economy. For example, today Korean Americans own 46 percent of 
small grocery markets, and 45 percent of one-hour photo shops in 
Southern California, all of which demonstrate the critical role Korean 
Americans play in our communities. The Hanmi Bank, located on Wilshire 
Blvd., has become a major financial institution in the Korean-American 
community as well as to others in the greater Los Angeles area.
  Mr. Speaker, today Asian Pacific Americans continue to gain new 
grounds in ever greater social and political representation. As we 
commemorate and celebrate the crucial role Asian-Pacific Americans have 
played in the development of this Nation, we also must work harder to 
improve the lives and opportunities for the 12.5 million Asian Pacific 
Americans today, who are still confronted daily with prejudice, 
discrimination, and economic inequalities. The 1992 Los Angeles civil 
disturbances, in the aftermath of the Rodney King verdict, is one such 
tragic example that illustrates the need for continued dialogue and 
understanding.
  Nationally, Asian Pacific Americans continue to experience a crisis 
in health and health care disparity and face unique challenges in 
education, immigration, and economic development. It is very 
disappointing to me that this Administration has failed to renew the 
Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and the 
White House Initiative on Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAIPs) 
in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). As a member of 
Congress I will continue to fight to ensure that our government address 
the needs of Asian Pacific Americans. Let's work to renew the American 
Dream for many future generations of Asian Pacific Americans to come.
  Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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