[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Pages 13294-13295]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    ISLANDER AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH

  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, during the month of May we celebrate 
Asian Pacific Islander American Heritage Month. I would like to join 
the Nation in honoring the many contributions of Americans of Asian 
Pacific Islander descent and pay tribute to their

[[Page 13295]]

efforts in strengthening and nourishing our history, commerce, cultural 
identity, and resolve.
  This month-long tribute would not be complete without recognizing the 
visionaries who founded Asian Pacific Islander American Heritage Month: 
U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye, former U.S. Senator Spark Matsunaga, former 
Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta, and former U.S. 
Representative Frank Horton. As a result of their steadfast leadership, 
a joint resolution established Asian Pacific American Heritage Week in 
1978, and the celebration was later expanded to an entire month in 
1992.
  This celebration takes place in May to mark the first Japanese 
immigrants' arrival in America in 1843, as well as the completion of 
the Transcontinental Railroad in 1869 which would not have been 
finished without the hard work and dedication of Chinese laborers.
  This month is also a time to honor the Japanese-American survivors of 
the forced internment camps established during World War II. The 
internment of Japanese Americans during World War II was a grim chapter 
in America's history. But by sustaining this history, we can hope to 
prevent a similar travesty from occurring.
  That is why it was so important to designate Tule Lake as a National 
Historic Landmark within the lifetimes of the few surviving Japanese-
American internees, before many of their stories were lost. And thanks 
to the efforts of Interior Secretary Gale Norton, the Tule Lake 
Segregation Center will help future generations understand the pain and 
suffering that Japanese Americans endured during World War II.
  Despite these hardships, members of the Asian Pacific Islander 
community have continued to take positions of leadership and have 
worked hard to secure a brighter future for all.
  Today, California boasts 20 elected officials of Asian Pacific 
Islander heritage. There are now nine Asian Pacific Islander Americans 
in the State legislature; four on the State board of equalization, 
including John Chiang as the State controller; and a number of others 
in local government. A new generation of leaders has emerged with a 
vision of a politically empowered Asian Pacific Islander American 
electorate.
  Additionally, over 62,000 Asian Pacific Islander Americans are on 
active duty in the military, and nearly 8,000 are deployed across the 
world to fight terrorism. And Asian Pacific Islander Americans are 
among the thousands of Americans who have sacrificed their lives for 
our country.
  The United States draws great strength from the diversity of this 
population. At present, Asian Pacific Islander Americans constitute one 
of the fastest growing minority communities in the United States. And 
California is home to the greatest number of Asian Pacific Islander 
Americans. In fact, there are over 13 million Asian Pacific Islander 
Americans in the Nation, with more than 4.5 million living in 
California.
  As the second largest ethnic minority group in California, Asian 
Pacific Islander heritage continues to enrich our State with famous 
enclaves such as San Francisco's Chinatown, Los Angeles' Koreatown, 
Westminster's Little Saigon, and the city of Artesia's Little India.
  We must recognize that the Asian Pacific Islander American community 
is diverse, not only in language, culture, and foods but in education 
and socioeconomic levels as well. That is why it is so important to 
provide talented students who have clearly embraced the American dream 
the incentive to take the path toward being a responsible, contributing 
member in our civic society.
  I have cosponsored the DREAM Act of 2007 to give undocumented high 
school students who wish to attend college or serve in the Armed Forces 
an opportunity to adjust to a lawful status and pursue these goals. If 
it becomes law, the DREAM Act would help Asian Pacific Islander 
Americans and others triumph over adversity.
  As future generations of Asian Pacific Islander Americans continue to 
strive for excellence in our educational system, economy, and 
communities, I am pleased to honor and distinguish the many triumphs 
and accomplishments of the Asian Pacific Islander American community 
and their role in shaping our Nation's identity.

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