Nancy Pelosi: “for more than two centuries, America has been enriched by our diverse and rapidly growing Asian American and Pacific…”

“for more than two centuries, America has been enriched by our diverse and rapidly growing Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. Generations of immigrants and refugees from Asia and native peoples from Hawaii and the Pacific Islands have enhanced our nation by preserving and sharing their unique cultures and values. Asian Pacific American Heritage Month provides a special opportunity for all Americans to pay tribute to Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders whose countless contributions--in science and technology, arts and media, business and social work, politics and more--have left a lasting legacy on American culture and society. Moreover, these communities serve as a living example of the critical role that equal opportunity, social justice, and civic participation play in making the American Dream a reality. In the face of prejudice and poverty, internment and exclusion, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have fought for the right to call America their home. This month, we thank them for their perserverance, we applaud them for their achievements, and we proudly recognize them as fellow countrymen in our common homeland.”