[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 21154-21155]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF SUCCESS FOR AAHOA

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EDWARD R. ROYCE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, September 8, 2009

  Mr. ROYCE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend the success of the 
Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA). Founded in 1989, the 
AAHOA has grown to nearly 10,000 members who own more than 22,000 
hotels valued at $60 billion. These small business owners have created 
or supported more than one million jobs. It is my understanding that 
their business acumen and

[[Page 21155]]

dedication to the hospitality industry has made AAHOA a strong leader 
in the tourism sector of our economy.
  It was my honor to attend AAHOA's national convention earlier this 
year, where its members celebrated 20 years of excellence and service 
to their respective communities. Many AAHOA members belong to their 
local chambers of commerce and network with pro-business associations. 
I share many of the concerns of AAHOA's membership, including card 
check, our spiraling deficit, excessive litigation, and the proposed 
expansion of government into the health care arena. This is not what 
our country needs. We need to allow private sector businesses, like 
AAHOA members, to do what they do best: grow the economy, create new 
jobs, and provide safe, reliable, and affordable hospitality for 
millions of travelers.
  I want to recognize the officers and leadership of AAHOA for their 
service to the organization: Chairman Tarun S. Patel; Vice Chairman 
ChandraKant I. (C.K.) Patel; Treasurer Hemant D. (Henry) Patel; 
Secretary Alkesh R. (Al) Patel; past Chairman Ashwin (Ash) Patel; 
President Fred Schwartz; Washington District Regional Director and Co-
Chairman of the Legislation Committee Paul (Prashant) Patel; Southwest 
Regional Director and Co-Chairman of the Legislation Committee Hitesh 
L. Patel; and Vice President for Fair Franchising and Government 
Affairs and General Counsel Laura Lee Blake.
  I understand that the AAHOA donated more than $100,000 for the 
victims of Hurricane Katrina, contributed more than $25,000 for the 
victims of the Asian tsunami in 2004, they have helped open doors for 
investment opportunities in India, and they partnered with the United 
Service Organizations (USO) to create the ``101,000 Room Nights for 
America'' program, which provided complimentary rooms for deployed 
members of the U.S. Armed Forces.
  Madam Speaker, I am pleased to recognize AAHOA and the Indian 
American community and look forward to working together in the future.

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