Congressional Record—House H2792
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H2792 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE May 3, 2005 The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a as Asian Pacific American Heritage Mr. Speaker, I especially want to previous order of the House, the gen- Month. honor those who have given their lives tleman from Georgia (Mr. BARROW) is The first AAPI settlement in this to protect our freedom, including recognized for 5 minutes. country dates to 1763, when Filipinos Guam’s Army Specialist Christopher (Mr. BARROW addressed the House. escaped imprisonment aboard Spanish Wesley, Lieutenant Michael Vega, Ser- His remarks will appear hereafter in galleons and established a community geant Eddie Chan, Corporal Jaygee the Extensions of Remarks.) near New Orleans. Today, that AAPI Meluat, and Specialist Jonathan f community is one of the fastest grow- Santoes, all servicemen from Guam The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a ing populations in the country, with who were killed in Iraq. previous order of the House, the gentle- over 12 million AAPIs living in the U.S. I mention these heroes as a reminder woman from New York (Mrs. MCCAR- and representing 4.5 percent of the that Americans in the territories stand THY) is recognized for 5 minutes. total U.S. population. shoulder to shoulder with their citizens My home State of California has both (Mrs. MCCARTHY addressed the when our Nation calls, and that we House. Her remarks will appear here- the largest AAPI population, 4.6 mil- willing share the burdens and the sac- after in the Extensions of Remarks.) lion folks, and the largest numerical rifices to preserve our freedom. increase of AAPIs since April of 2000. f We remember prominent Asian and Mr. Speaker, this year’s theme for Pacific Islander Americans who dedi- ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN Asian Pacific American Heritage cated their lives to public service, HERITAGE MONTH Month is ‘‘Liberty and Freedom For doing their part to promote justice, not The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under All.’’ just for Asian and Pacific Islander As we honor the AAPI community’s the Speaker’s announced policy of Jan- Americans, but for all Americans. To- contributions to this great Nation, I uary 4, 2005, the gentleman from Cali- night I would like to make special would also like to note the very social fornia (Mr. HONDA) is recognized for 60 mention of two of our colleagues, the injustices the AAPI community still minutes as the designee of the minor- late Congressman Robert Matsui of face. For example, the New York Times ity leader. California who was a staunch advocate today reported a recent study commis- GENERAL LEAVE sioned by the National Asian Pacific for the cause of the disadvantaged, the Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I ask American Legal Consortium, a Wash- elderly, and young Americans; and the unanimous consent that all Members ington-based civil rights organization. late Congresswoman Patsy Mink of Ha- may have 5 legislative days within The study showed that AAPIs por- waii, who was a champion of women’s which to revise and extend their re- tray only 2.7 percent of the regular rights and for the poor. Each has left a marks and include extraneous material characters on prime time national net- legacy that lives on in those whose on the subject of my Special Order work television. Our community is still lives they have touched and improved. today. misrepresented in all areas of society, Asian Pacific American Heritage The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there especially in the media and on prime Month is an opportunity to educate our objection to the request of the gen- time television even though we make fellow citizens about the history and tleman from California? up 5 percent of the total population. culture of Asian Pacific Island Ameri- There was no objection. Although we are often misperceived cans. Their contribution to America is Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise as monolithic, our community is ex- not just the diverse cultures that they today to recognize the Asian American tremely diverse in our languages, have introduced to this land; it is also and Pacific Islander community and to ethnicities, and culture. Aggregating their stories of incredible journeys to commemorate Asian Pacific American such a large and diverse group makes it freedom. Heritage Month. difficult to understand the unique Historically, Asians and Pacific Is- As Chair of the Congressional Asian problems faced by the individual landers have known war and strife. Pacific American Caucus, CAPAC, I ethnicities and subgroups such as the They have survived and thrived to the feel privileged to be here tonight to Southeast Asian Americans who are benefit of America. They have a power- speak of the history and accomplish- refugees who fled their home countries ful story to tell, and they have a love ments of the Asian American and Pa- during the late 1970s and the early for this Nation that many of us today cific Islander, AAPI, community. 1980s. take for granted. Additionally, I will be highlighting As a country, we need to better ad- This year, the people of Guam will those issues affecting our community just the needs of the AAPI community commemorate the 61st anniversary of that are also priorities for CAPAC. when we discuss immigration, health, our islands’s liberation by the United Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a and education issues. States Armed Forces during World War moment to acknowledge and remember Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentle- II. As the only American territory with extraordinary community activists, ad- woman from Guam (Ms. BORDALLO). a civilian population occupied by the vocates, leaders, and long-time friends Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, as the enemy during World War II, Guama- of the AAPI community that we have congressional representative from nians risked their lives due to their lost this year, such as Fred Korematsu, Guam, it is my honor to join my col- loyalty to America, and endured great Dr. John B. Tsu, K. Patrick Okura, Iris leagues in commemorating Asian Pa- hardship and brutality. During this Chang, and my colleague and friend, cific American Heritage Month. I want dark period in Guam’s history, our peo- Congressman Bob Matsui. to thank our chairman, the gentleman ple experienced beheadings, executions, Thanks to the late Representative from California (Mr. HONDA), the chair- massacres, beatings, torture, rape, Frank Horton from New York and my man of the Congressional Asian Pacific forced labor, forced marches, and in- good friend, Secretary Norman Mineta, American Caucus, for his outstanding ternment in concentration camps. I along with Senators DANIEL INOUYE leadership and for organizing this Spe- want to recognize the survivors of the and Spark Matsunaga, May is des- cial Order to recognize the contribu- occupation of Guam for their courage, ignated as Asian Pacific American Her- tions of Asians and Pacific Islander their sacrifice and steadfast loyalty to itage Month to celebrate and honor the Americans to our Nation. our great Nation. contributions of the Asian and Pacific Today as we celebrate ‘‘Liberty and Mr. Speaker, 2 years ago, a Federal Islander community. Freedom For All,’’ and as thousands of commission was tasked by Congress to The first 10 days of May coincide American servicemen and -women con- examine whether the people of Guam with two important anniversaries: the tinue to fight the global war on ter- received equal treatment in the han- arrival of the first Japanese immi- rorism in Iraq and Afghanistan, we are dling of war claims as compared to grants on May 7, 1843, to the United reminded of the sacrifices made to en- their fellow citizens. States; and the completion of the sure our freedom. We reflect on the transcontinental railroad on May 10, thousands of Asian and Pacific Island- b 2115 1869. ers who are serving this country with The Guam War Claims Review Com- In 1992, Congress passed the law that honor and distinction in very dan- mission reported in June 2004 that officially designated May of each year gerous circumstances. there was indeed a lack of parity and VerDate Aug 31 2005 05:02 Nov 16, 2006 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00048 Fmt 0636 Sfmt 0634 E:\RECORDCX\T37X$J0E\H03MY5.REC H03MY5 mmaher on PROD1PC70 with CONG-REC-ONLINE May 3, 2005 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H2793 that Congress should enact legislation American woman and first woman to our APA communities in writing the to remedy this injustice. The report grace this august body. She has left an next great chapters in the ongoing nar- stated, ‘‘The Review Commission af- indelible mark that gave her the honor rative of this great country. firms that there is a moral obligation of distinguished; Mr. Speaker, nowhere in our country on the part of our national government Haing Ngor, the first Cambodian is the story of Americans of Asian and to pay compensation for war damages, American to win an academy award for Pacific Island descent better illus- in order to ensure that to the extent his role in the film ‘‘The Killing trated than my own Hawaii, where well possible, that no single individual or Fields.’’ over 50 percent of our population is group of individuals bears more than a And let us acknowledge the great Asian and Pacific American, where our just part of the overall burden of war.’’ Members of Congress who make up this Asian and Pacific American commu- With the support of the Congres- august body who are Asian American nity has achieved the pinnacle of suc- sional Asian Pacific American Caucus, and Pacific Islanders: cess in all facets of local, statewide, I have introduced legislation, H.R. 1595, The Honorable MIKE HONDA, who is national and international life, and the Guam World War II Loyalty Rec- the caucus chair of our caucus; where a majority of all marriages and ognition Act, with 75 sponsors, to im- The Honorable DAVID WU; a majority of all children share more plement the recommendations of the The Honorable BOBBY SCOTT; now than one ethnicity, more likely Review Commission.