On the recordMay 19, 2010
Thank you, Chairman Honda, for convening this Special Order hour on APA Heritage Month. I stand proud this evening with Chairman Honda to commemorate the month of May as Asian Pacific Heritage Month. As the first Chinese American Congresswoman, it has been an honor and a privilege to be a representative and work on behalf of Asian Americans, and all Americans, on such critical issues affecting our Nation, like economic recovery, immigration, and, of course, the passage of health care reform. Though Asian Americans have been here in this country for 160 years, it was not until 1992 when the designation of May as Asian Pacific American Heritage Month was signed into law. It was because of Asian American leaders like Secretary Mineta, then a Congressman, and Senators Daniel Inouye and Spark Matsunaga who introduced the legislation. They designated this month of May, the very month when Japanese immigrants first set foot on U.S. soil and when Chinese immigrants worked tirelessly to complete the first transcontinental railroad, to celebrate the contributions of APIs to this country. For far too long, Asian Americans have not been at the table where important decisions were being made. This is despite the fact that we were here for 160 years, and yet we were nearly invisible in State and Federal Government. But in recent years, we have broken the glass ceiling and have ushered in an era of change.
