E1628 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks July 27, 2005 expression for Cubans, and instructs its thugs This landmark law was passed with strong TRIBUTE TO JUDGE ALPHONSO to assault the members of the peaceful oppo- bipartisan support and signed into law by CHRISTIAN sition for the ‘‘crime’’ of seeking freedom, de- President George H.W. Bush. As we mark the mocracy and respect for human rights in 15th anniversary of this historic event, we cel- HON. DONNA M. CHRISTENSEN Cuba. The world needs to respond in the ebrate the tremendous progress and new OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS strongest possible terms to this latest violation doors that have been opened to individuals IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES of the most elemental human rights in Cuba. with disabilities as a result of the ADA. Tuesday, July 26, 2005 This resolution condemns the latest violations The purpose of the ADA was to provide of human rights by the Cuban regime, a re- Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, the clear and comprehensive national standards to gime of gangsters, by gangsters and for gang- Virgin Islands has lost one of its eliminate discrimination against individuals sters, led by a gangster in chief. outstanding success stories as prominent law- with disabilities. As a result, individuals with f yer and Judge Alphonso Christian passed disabilities are now able to live in their homes away Saturday, July 23, 2005. HONORING THE 15TH ANNIVER- and have access to new careers. Accessible With the passing of this Native son we have SARY OF THE AMERICANS WITH busses and trains and better paratransit sys- lost a premiere trail blazer. This outstanding DISABILITIES ACT tems have made it possible for more people Virgin Islander, born in Frederiksted, St. Croix, with disabilities to get to work and school, made substantial contributions to the Territory HON. enjoy restaurants and theaters and travel. and in particular to the island of St. Thomas, OF TEXAS The ADA has improved society, not only for the place he sailed to as a young man to IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES the 14 percent of Americans over the age of begin his career. St. Thomas became his home, and it is where he began a flourishing Tuesday, July 26, 2005 five who have at least one disability. Common- sense accommodations like curb cuts and and illustrious career, raising his children to be Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. close captioning have also benefited Ameri- another generation of a progressive Family Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening not only to cans without disabilities. that is especially renowned in St. Croix for its celebrate the 15th Anniversary of the Ameri- industriousness, hard work and diligence. cans with Disabilities Act, known as the ADA, On this important anniversary, we must re- Christian, 88, died of heart failure at Roy L. but also to acknowledge my unwavering sup- member that while we have come a long way Schneider Hospital on St. Thomas. A jurist, at- port of the ADA and of people with disabilities. in eliminating barriers, critical work remains to torney, government administrator, teacher and This Act has created positive changes, large ensure all Americans can live up to their full community activist, Christian had arisen from and small, for disabled people everywhere. potential. Tragically, we still have stereotypes humble beginnings on St. Croix. Christian was The access ramps we see leading into build- and misconceptions that affect people with born on August 2, 1916 to Peter and Wilhel- ings are examples. Water fountains and sinks disabilities. Sadly, we still have examples like mina Christian in Frederiksted. His well dis- are more accessible. Services for the sight- the boy in Pennsylvania who was the target of ciplined upbringing and strong will to succeed and the hearing-impaired are more common. discrimination by his T-ball coach. This is not during his child hood set the tone for his Employment discrimination is decreasing. an isolated incident, as I have learned of an- achievements to come. Another important development is that the other boy in Kansas who was denied the right He graduated as the Valedictorian of the Americans with Disabilities Act has mobilized to play T-ball like any other 7-year-old be- Commercial Class at St. Patrick’s and started the disabilities advocacy community. Since cause he had cerebral palsy. Fortunately, be- as Clerk Typist at the Agricultural Station at 1990, people with disabilities have grown into cause of the ADA, that boy was eventually al- Anna’s Hope. He later came to St. Thomas seasoned advocates. They have unified their lowed to play T-ball. where his speed and accuracy in this position voices and are being heard from the halls of Giving people with disabilities the right to paved the way for his becoming the Stenog- Congress to the every city and town across participate fully in society is what this land- rapher to Mr. Herbert Lockhart of the A.H. America. Unity has added strength to their mark legislation is all about. Lockhart & Co., a company that was the hub voice and confidence to their actions. And of all commercial activity on St. Thomas. they are being heard, loud and clear. Every As co-chair of the Bipartisan Disabilities He worked his way from stenographer to re- year, Congress has considered legislation af- Caucus, I know that the ADA is a major porter, and served as secretary of the Virgin fecting people with disabilities, whether it be achievement and much has been accom- Islands Municipal Council, and all the while concerning Social Security benefits, education, plished over the last 15 years. As we cele- studied law by correspondence from the well tax provisions, labor standards, or other brate how far we’ve come, let us also recom- know LaSalle School. Impressed by his legal issues. The Americans with Disabilities Act mit to creating a society in which no barrier intellect, although he had never practiced law, provided a comprehensive legislative starting stands in the way of fully participating in our Christian was allowed to take the bar exam point—but there is still so much more to be society. without having attended law school. He done. passed at his first attempt with high marks and Perhaps more than anything else, this legis- f was admitted to the V.I. Bar in 1949. lation has given hope to disabled people here Christian became involved with civic and po- in Dallas and across this nation. The Ameri- PERSONAL EXPLANATION litical organizations while studying law by cor- cans with Disabilities Act affirmed that people respondence with the well-known LaSalle with disabilities should have as many opportu- School. nities to succeed in life as any other citizen. HON. SUE WILKINS MYRICK His activity in politics began with his involve- Its message is one of equality. To the 14,589 OF NORTH CAROLINA ment in the first political party, the V.I. Pro- disabled workers in Texas’ 30th District, and gressive Guide. That position was the spring- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES others across the nation, the message is: board to other positions such as Executive ‘‘You belong.’’ Tuesday, July 26, 2005 Secretary to the Municipal Council and the f Legislative Assembly. Mrs. MYRICK. Mr. Speaker, I was unable to He was named legal aide to the Municipal HONORING THE 15TH ANNIVER- participate in the following votes on July 22, Council of St. Thomas and St. John and the SARY OF THE AMERICANS WITH 2005. If I had been present, I would have Legislative Assembly in 1949 and Judge of the DISABILITIES ACT voted as follows: Police Court in 1951. For the three years he served as Judge of the police Court, he also Rollcall vote 415, on agreeing to the served as Coroner Recorder of Deeds, Chair- HON. JIM RAMSTAD Vela´zquez of New York amendment No.4 to man of the Board of Elections, United States OF MINNESOTA H.R. 3070—the National Aeronautics and IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Commissioner and Chairman of the Fourth of Space Administration Authorization Act, I July Celebrations. Tuesday, July 26, 2005 would have voted ‘‘no.’’ In 1972, he was appointed Commissioner of Mr. RAMSTAD. Mr. Speaker, today marks Rollcall vote 416, on passage of H.R. Public Safety of the Virgin Islands and served the 15th anniversary of landmark civil rights 3070—the National Aeronautics and Space in the position until 1975, when he practiced legislation for Americans with disabilities—the Administration Authorization Act, I would have law full-time. In April 1978, he was named the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act. voted ‘‘aye.’’ first Senior Sitting Judge of the Territorial

VerDate Aug 04 2004 04:09 Jul 28, 2005 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00024 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A26JY8.104 E27JYPT1 July 27, 2005 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1629 Court of the Virgin Islands, now known as the INTRODUCTION OF A RESOLUTION two top states: California, where 1.1 million re- Superior Court, and served until April 1993. RECOGNIZING THE CENTENNIAL side, and , my home state, where some Judge Alphonso Christian has served the OF SUSTAINED IMMIGRATION 275,000 live (140,000 in my Second Congres- Territory as a businessman, teacher, Attorney, FROM THE PHILIPPINES TO THE sional District alone, making it home to the Commissioner, Jurist, community activist and UNITED STATES largest number of Filipino Americans of any philanthropist. Judge Christian started his own congressional district). business by opening and teaching at his own HON. ED CASE Members of this community have made Commercial School, which he began in his liv- OF HAWAII great contributions to America, and have ing room and later transferred to his law office. achieved success and distinction in, among IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES He was also the Commissioner of Public other things, labor, business, politics, media Safety at the time when that Department also Tuesday, July 26, 2005 and the arts, medicine, and the armed forces. included the Fire Service and the Prison Sys- Mr. CASE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to intro- Filipino Americans have also served with dis- tem. His extensive community involvement duce, together with 29 of my colleagues, a tinction in the armed forces of the United also included being a Charter Member of the concurrent resolution to formally recognize the States throughout the long U.S.-Philippines re- Lions Club, Chairman of the Virgin Islands 2006 centennial of sustained Filipino immigra- lationship, from World Wars I and II through Carnival Committee for several years, serving tion to the United States, acknowledge the the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf on various community Boards, and using his many achievements of our Filipino-American War, and today in Afghanistan, Iraq and else- legal experience and business acumen to help community, and reflect on the productive and where. the Catholic Church in many areas. While enduring relationship between the United Many Filipino Americans retained their serving in these many capacities, Christian States and the Philippines over the past cen- mother country’s proud cultural traditions, also taught legal assistants at the University of tury. which continue to enrich the diverse tapestry the Virgin Islands. The Filipino-American experience and the of today’s American experience. Many have A man of many talents and blessed with evolving yet always close relationship between also maintained close ties to family and wisdom, knowledge and persistence, Alphonso the Philippines and the United States began in friends in the Philippines, and therefore played Christian will be long remembered and praised earnest in 1906, when fifteen Filipino contract an indispensable role in maintaining the for his work in all areas in which he served his laborers arrived in the then- strength and vitality of the U.S.-Philippines re- beloved home, but I am certain that he counts to work on the islands’ sugar plantations. This lationship. among his greatest contributions, as do we, marked the start of an emigration from the That relationship has evolved over the past those which have been made and will con- century from the 1898–1946 period of U.S. tinue to be made through his children and Philippines to the United States which, during grandchildren. the subsequent century, has numbered up- governance, during which the then-Common- Judge Alphonso and my father Judge wards of 60,000 a year, making Filipinos our wealth of the Philippines was represented in Almeric Christian who preceded him in death second-largest immigrant group from the Asia- the U.S. Congress by thirteen resident com- by several years were respected colleagues Pacific region. missioners, to the post-independence period and good friends. On behalf of my family, The year 1906 was also when the first class beginning in 1946, when the Philippines took staff, and the Members of the 109th Congress of two hundred ‘‘pensionados’’ arrived from its place among the community of nations and of the United States of America, I extend my the Philippines to obtain a United States edu- became one of this country’s most reliable al- heartfelt condolences to Mrs. Ruth Christian, cation with the intent of returning to the Phil- lies in the international arena. their children, Rubina. Delano, Alicia, including ippines. Many, however, stayed to become In 2006, our Filipino-American community my dear friends Attorney Alphonso, Jr., and American citizens, forming, with the ‘‘sakadas’’ will join all Americans in pausing to recognize Dr. Cora Christian, grandchildren, sister Ann who emigrated to my Hawaii, the foundation of a century of achievement in the United States Abramson, family and friends. today’s Filipino-American community. through a series of nationwide celebrations May God comfort and bless you during this The story of America’s Filipino-American and memorials marking the centennial of sus- time of loss and may you find peace and ac- community is little known and rarely told. Yet tained immigration from the Philippines. This ceptance in knowing that Judge Christian left it is the quintessential immigrant story of early centennial will provide every American of an admirable record of achievement and a struggle, pain, sacrifice, and broken dreams, whatever ethnic heritage an opportunity to not stellar example for those of us to emulate leading eventually to success in overcoming only celebrate a century of Filipino immigration when we want to reach for the stars and the ethnic, social, economic, political, and legal to the United States, but to celebrate, appre- world tells us we have nothing to stand on. barriers to win a well-deserved place in Amer- ciate, and honor the struggles and triumphs His faith, persistence and hard work over- ican society. common to the immigrant experience, which, came great obstacles, and now he rests in Today, 2.4 million Americans of Filipino an- of course, is also the American experience. God’s eternal peace. cestry live throughout our Nation, including the

VerDate Aug 04 2004 04:09 Jul 28, 2005 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A26JY8.109 E27JYPT1