Asisan Pacific American Heritage Month

ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH

Ms. CANTWELL. Mr. President, in May, we commemorate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, honoring the history, culture and traditions of Asians and Pacific Americans and recognizing their unique contributions to the United States.

First proposed as a 1-week event in 1977, the celebration was expanded to a full month in 1990. May was chosen because of its unique significance in the history of Asian Americans. May 7, 1843, marked the first recorded immigration of Japanese to the United States. May 10, 1869, marked the completion of the transcontinental railroad--a feat that would not have happened when it did without the labor of Chinese immigrants.

The Asian and Pacific American population has a rich history in this country, especially in the Pacific Northwest. In my State, records show the arrival of Asian immigrants as early as the 1860s, while some scholars even speculate that centuries before, Chinese explorers sailed down the Alaskan coast to what is now Washington State. Today, there are over 14 million Asians and Pacific Americans living in the United States, representing 5 percent of the population. In Washington, they make up 7 percent of the citizenry.

Over the past century and a half, Asian and Pacific American communities have contributed significantly to the cultural vibrancy of Washington State. Individuals within Washington's Asian and Pacific American communities have also worked to stand up for justice and make our country a better place. In 1944, Gordon Hirabayashi, a Japanese American student at the University of Washington in Seattle, took a stand against the unfair treatment of Japanese Americans during World War II when he refused to obey discriminatory curfew orders. In taking his case to the U.S. Supreme Court, he left a lasting reminder of the importance of standing up for civil rights.

Last month, Washington State celebrated the retirement of one of its most influential Asian American leaders. Bob Santos, affectionately known to many as ``Uncle Bob,'' has for many years, tirelessly dedicated himself to social justice for all. As a founder and executive director of Inter*Im Community Development Association, Bob helped revitalize the International District of Seattle, build the local economy, and secure affordable housing for many of our most vulnerable residents. Under President Clinton, Uncle Bob served nobly and boldly as the Regional Director for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. His selflessness, passion and dedication embody the giving spirit that makes our Asian Pacific American community so strong.

America is a land of immigrants, and our history demonstrates that we are stronger because of our diversity. Over the past century and a half, Asian and Pacific American communities have contributed significantly to the cultural vibrancy of Washington State. However, we can only live up to the promise of our diversity if we recognize the mistakes of our past and give all groups a voice in public discourse. During World War II, 227 Japanese Americans from Bainbridge Island became the first of more than 120,000 people to be placed in internment camps. They departed from Bainbridge Island's Eagledale Ferry Dock which, just last month, became the site of a moving tribute to all affected by this dark period. The name of this memorial is Nidoto Nai Yoni, meaning ``let it not happen again.''

During this year's Asian Pacific American Heritage month, we celebrate a history rich with culture and tradition. In our Asian and Pacific American communities, we must preserve the lessons of the past and recognize the great promise of the future.

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