Daniel Akaka: “America is truly unique in that almost all of us are migrants or immigrants to the United States, originating in…”

“America is truly unique in that almost all of us are migrants or immigrants to the United States, originating in different regions--whether from Asia, from islands in the Pacific Ocean, Mexico, or valleys and mesas of the Southwest, Europe or other regions of the world. The prehistory and the contemporary history of this nation are inextricably linked to the mosaic or migrations, immigrations and existing cultures in the U.S. that has resulted in the peopling of America. Americans are all travelers from diverse areas, regions, continents and islands. We need a better understanding of this coherent and unifying theme in America. With this in mind, I am introducing legislation, along with my colleagues Senator Inouye and Senator Graham, authorizing the National Park Service to conduct a theme study on the peopling of America. An identical bill passed the Senate last Congress, and I am optimistic that the Senate will again pass this bill. The purpose of the study is to provide a basis for identifying, interpreting and preserving sites related to the migration, immigration and settling of America.”