[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1993, Book I)]
[May 3, 1993]
[Pages 553-554]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks on Signing the Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month 
Proclamation
May 3, 1993

    Thank you very much. Let me begin by extending a warm welcome to all 
of you, especially those who have traveled very great distances, as many 
of you have, to help celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.
    I'm pleased to be joined on the stage by Senator Dan Akaka, with 
whom I played golf last weekend--less well than he did, I might add--and 
Representatives Bob Matsui, Norm Mineta, Robert Underwood, Patsy Mink, 
Eni Faleomavaega--did I do a good job? Pretty good--and Jay Kim. And let 
us also honor the memory of the late Senator Spark Matsunaga, who left 
such a wonderful legacy as a true friend of the Asian Pacific community.
    My campaign and my administration have gained so much from the 
talents of Asian Pacific Americans, and I'd like to recognize just a few 
of them: Barbara Chow, my Special Assistant for Legislative Affairs; 
Neil Dhillon, at the Department of Transportation; Atul Gawande, who has 
been working on the Health Care Task Force; Maria Haley on our personal 
staff; Goody Marshall with the Vice President's staff; Doris Matsui in 
Public Liaison who did such a wonderful job with this event; Shirley 
Sagawa in Legislative Affairs; Debra Shon at the United States Trade 
Representative's Office; Melinda Yee at the Department of Commerce; and 
many others who are an essential part of our efforts every day.
    Fifteen years ago, Representative Frank Horton introduced the first 
resolution proclaiming Asian Pacific American Heritage Week, honoring 
the significant contributions of Asian Pacific Americans in all walks of 
life. In 1990, Congress

[[Page 554]]

designated and President Bush proclaimed the month of May as Asian 
Pacific Heritage Month. And last year, with the help of Representative 
Horton and 106 of his colleagues, the designation of May as Asian 
Pacific Heritage Month each year became the law of the land.
    The month of May was chosen because of its significance to Asian 
Pacific American history. In the first week of May in 1843, the first 
Japanese arrived in America. And on May 10, 1869, Golden Spike Day, the 
Transcontinental Railroad, built partly with Chinese labor, was 
completed. Today, 150 years after these historic events, nearly 8 
million Asian Pacific Americans can trace their roots to Asia and the 
islands of the Pacific.
    It is astonishing to realize the breadth of diversity among 
Americans of Asian Pacific heritage. The Asian Pacific community 
stretches across thousands of miles and encompasses millions of diverse 
people. In our country the Asian Pacific American community can trace 
its roots to at least 25 different nationalities, more than 75 different 
languages, and literally hundreds of different ethnic groups. Now, 
that's diversity.
    And still Asian Pacific Americans have something in common and 
something to emulate, a commitment to strong families, to community, and 
to instilling in each new generation a respect for educational 
opportunity and hard work. These values have been an essential part of 
success in achieving the American dream, as so many Asian Pacific 
Americans know.
    And while we realize all the rich opportunities America has given to 
all our people, we are aware also of how much Asian Pacific Americans 
have given back to this country. Immigrants from Asia and the Pacific 
helped build our country. Today their descendants are making us even 
better. They are prominent among our scientists, artists, doctors, 
teachers, and other professionals who have enriched the lives of all of 
us in America.
    I want to talk for a moment about the importance of education. The 
Asian Pacific community has demonstrated that a commitment to education 
is truly the key to bettering our lives. Among Asian Pacific Americans 
25 years old and over, 82 percent have had 4 years of high school or 
more; 39 percent have completed 4 years of college or more. For 
individuals, education is the key to economic parity and social 
mobility. But for America, it is the key to our strength and our 
competitiveness in the global economy.
    I want to thank you all again for coming here today to recognize all 
the achievements and the contributions that Asian Pacific Americans have 
made to this great Nation. I hope that we can continue to come together 
as we have today to rejoice in our diversity as we renew the bonds of 
community that bring all Americans together. I believe that if we 
embrace those things which we share, if we embrace our common values and 
our common goals, we strengthen ourselves, our community, and our 
democracy, and we make ourselves free to celebrate the richness of our 
diversity.
    Therefore, it is with great pride and admiration that I take this 
opportunity, my first one, to sign the proclamation proclaiming this 
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.
    Thank you very much.

Note: The President spoke at 5:40 p.m. in the East Room at the White 
House. The proclamation is listed in Appendix D at the end of this 
volume.