I rise today, in recognition of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. Every year throughout the month of May, the people of the United States come together to celebrate the contributions of generations of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders, AA NH/PI, who have enriched our society and whose legacies are deeply intertwined in our Nation's history. The AA NH/PI communities are among the fastest growing and most diverse demographic groups in our country. Today, approximately 23 million people of AA NH/PI descent live in the United States, representing more than 45 ethnicities and speaking more than 100 languages. As AA NH/PI communities increase their social and political presence in our country, we must work to raise the visibility of issues important to AA NH/PIs. One way to do this is to uplift the diverse voices of our communities through representation. This year, there are a record 21 AA NH/PI Members serving in Congress, and we celebrate the historic election of Kamala Harris to be the first woman and the first Asian American to hold the Office of the Vice President. However, even with today's progress, our AA NH/PI communities continue to face issues of disparity and prejudice. This year, we once again commemorate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month amid a global pandemic.…
Share
More from Mazie Hirono
when I immigrated to this country from Japan, as a young girl, I spoke no English. But when I enrolled at Koko Head Elementary, I met Ms. Petri, the school librarian who read to us every week. It was Ms. Petri who helped me learn English…
With Hawaii being home to 40% of the country’s endangered and threatened plant species in the country, celebrating biodiversity and promoting environmental conservation is critical to uplifting our state’s history and culture.
That’s why Senate Democrats are here speaking out and fighting back. We know what’s at stake, and we refuse to stand by while Republicans undermine our democracy and our sacred right to vote.
in examining all of the President's Cabinet nominees, I am focused on two things: their fitness and their qualifications for the positions to which they are nominated, including their ability and willingness to put loyalty to the…





