[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 11129-11130]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           CELEBRATING ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TOM LANTOS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 1, 2007

  Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, May is Asian Pacific American Heritage 
Month, an occasion to celebrate unique and beautiful cultures that 
enhance all of our lives, but also to highlight how Americans of all 
different backgrounds are inextricably linked in our effort to build a 
better future for our country and a better life for our children.
  Finding unity in diversity is at the very core of what makes us 
Americans.
  I have the good fortune of representing a very diverse region in the 
Bay Area--the Peninsula and part of San Francisco. With well

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over 100,000 Asian and Pacific Islander Americans and generations of 
their descendents, we have all seen first-hand the stunning 
contributions of these Americans to our community, and we owe them our 
thanks. In fields as varied as the arts, health care, business and 
military service, Asian Pacific Americans are central to our quality of 
life.
  I have personally had the honor of participating in a wide variety of 
cultural celebrations, such as the Chinese Lunar New Year ceremony in 
San Francisco this year, and a Japanese tea ceremony that I am hosting 
for my colleagues in Washington next week. Events like these not only 
help preserve Asian and Pacific Island heritage, but enrich our entire 
community and remind us all that there is more to our world than what 
lies between our shores.
  As we begin the celebration of this Heritage Month, it is important 
to take note of this year's theme: ``Meeting the Challenges for Asian 
Pacific Americans in 2007.'' We do face serious and urgent challenges, 
including the need to secure the benefits that our Filipino-American 
veterans so richly deserve.
  I myself am an American by choice, and I understand what it means to 
come to this country with nothing more than an unwavering commitment to 
give your children the broadest possible set of opportunities. 
Immigration has played a vital role in the success of this nation. Yet 
sadly, as many as 1.5 million Asians are currently caught in an 
immigration backlog for family visas, and continue to spend holidays 
and special occasions far away from their loved ones. The Democratic-
led Congress is leading the way toward comprehensive reform that not 
only addresses our nation's real security needs but protects and unites 
families.
  Once Asian and Pacific Islander Americans arrive in this country, it 
is our vital responsibility to protect and defend them, along with all 
victims of malicious, hate-motivated crime. In 2005, at least 199 
people were victims of anti-Asian violence--each act a crime not only 
against the individual but against our country as a whole. Democrats in 
the House will act on the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention 
Act to give the Justice Department authority to prosecute hate crimes 
in which the victim was selected because of their race, color, 
religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation or disability.
  Democrats in Congress are taking seriously their responsibility to 
stand up for Asian Pacific American families. We are hard at work on 
issues that affect Asian and Pacific Islander families and all American 
families--critical issues such as education, health care, proper 
training and equipment for our troops and quality care for our 
veterans. We are committed to ensuring that these issues remain top 
priorities in the coming months.
  Asian Pacific Americans in our community have proved to all of us 
that the American dream is vibrant, and that its great promise is kept 
alive when we join together to celebrate our diverse heritage. 
Americans' ability to not only tolerate our neighbor's different 
cultural background, but to embrace it, as we do this month, is at the 
heart of what makes the United States truly the greatest nation in the 
world.

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