Celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month

CELEBRATING ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH -- (House of Representatives - May 23, 2005)
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Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased and proud to represent an area in Chicago known as Chinatown, and also to note that I just returned during the break from visiting both China and Sri Lanka.

So I rise today in support of H. Res. 280, celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.

I also want to take a minute to acknowledge the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis), the distinguished chairman of the Committee on Government Reform, for his leadership on this important matter.

H. Res. 280 was introduced on May 17, 2005, and enjoys the support and cosponsorship of 66 Members of Congress. Asian Pacific Americans have a long and distinguished history of involvement and participation in this country. From the early 1800s to the 21st century, Asian and Pacific peoples have played a vital role in the development of the United States and have made lasting contributions in all elements of American society.

Today, the U.S. Census Bureau estimates that 14.5 million Americans trace at least a portion of their ethnic heritage to Asian and Pacific Islanders. Asian Pacific American Heritage Month has a rich tradition in this country as well. In June 1977, Representatives Frank Horton of New York and Norman Mineta of California introduced a resolution that called upon President Carter to proclaim the first 10 days of May as Asian Pacific Heritage Week. The celebration remained in this form until President Bush extended the event into the full month of May in 1990.

It was decided that May was the appropriate month for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month because on May 7, 1843, the first group of Japanese immigrants came to the United States. Today, Asian Pacific American Heritage Month is celebrated with events throughout the country intended to educate all of our citizens about the positive impact the Asian Pacific community has had on our Nation. The theme of this year's celebration is Freedom For All--a Nation We Call Our Own.

Mr. Speaker, I want to again thank the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis) for sponsoring this measure and thank the Asian Pacific American community for their tremendous contribution to the wealth and success of our great Nation.

I also take a moment of personal privilege to thank a young woman who worked for several years with me as my legislative assistant, Miss Courtini Pugh, who was a member of the Asian Pacific community and is known as one of the most outstanding young persons in America. And so I urge swift passage of this bill.

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