[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 7]
[House]
[Page 9047]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           IN HONOR OF ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH

  (Ms. MATSUI asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate May as Asian 
Pacific American Heritage Month.
  There are over 15 million Asian Americans living in the United 
States, from the early Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Filipino 
immigrants to recent Vietnamese, Laotian and Hmong communities. The 
United States has benefited many ways from the contributions of these 
diverse cultures.
  Through the telling of the Asian Pacific American experience, we 
illuminate the quality of opportunity that makes our country the 
wonderful place it is. From community involvement to business 
entrepreneurship, many Americans of Asian descent came to this country 
with very little and have been able to achieve the American Dream.
  Asian Americans have also played a critical role in protecting our 
freedoms. During World War II, the Federal Government chose to intern 
120,000 Americans of Japanese descent, including my mother and father 
and their entire families. The country learned the importance of 
balancing civil liberties with national security, and today, more than 
ever, we must be aware of the significance of this fine balance.
  I am proud to honor the courageous Americans who fight against 
injustice and recognize the strength and vibrance of our country.

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