On the recordMay 12, 2016
I am proud to represent vibrant AAPI communities in my 44th Congressional District, and I salute my 12 Asian American and Pacific Islander colleagues here in the House, including six from California. May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, which is a month dedicated to honoring the countless contributions and immeasurable accomplishments of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. The legacies of these communities are tied to both proud and dark chapters of American history. We remember the Chinese laborers who faced grueling conditions while constructing the Transcontinental Railroad, as well as the cruel irony of patriotic Japanese American troops who fought in World War II while their families back home were kept in U.S. internment camps. For generations, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have worked to better this country despite often facing discrimination and hardship. As educators, activists, artists, small business owners, servicemen and -women, and elected officials, Asian American and Pacific Islanders have added so much to this Nation. They are a reminder that diversity continues to be America's greatest strength. It is why I will continue to fight to fix our broken immigration system, to expand opportunities for people of all backgrounds, and to combat discrimination wherever it occurs. ____________________
