Political Quotes

“I rise today to honor the Asian and Pacific Islander community in the United States and celebrate the tremendous contribution these Americans have made to our Nation. There are an estimated 17.3 million residents of Asian descent in our country and 5.6 million Asian-Pacific Americans living in California. I am proud that our State has the largest Asian population in the country. California also boasts the highest number of Asian-owned businesses at 508,969, and the U.S. Armed Forces has more than 265,000 Asian- American veterans. In 1977, Senators Daniel Inouye and Spark Matsunaga of Hawaii introduced a resolution in the Senate and President Jimmy Carter signed a joint resolution officially establishing Asian-Pacific American Heritage Week to honor the first Japanese immigrants to the United States and the Chinese individuals who worked on the Transcontinental Railroad. In 1992, May was officially designated Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month. This year's Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month theme, ``Striving for Excellence in Leadership, Diversity and Inclusion,'' is embodied in the accomplishments of numerous Asian-Pacific Americans. In Congress, my colleagues, Senators Daniel Inouye and Daniel Akaka, are joined by California Representatives Judy Chu, Mike Honda, and Doris Matsui as examples of good public servants.…”