Patsy T. Mink: “I take this opportunity this morning to acknowledge a celebration that has been ongoing throughout the month of May…”

“I take this opportunity this morning to acknowledge a celebration that has been ongoing throughout the month of May, which is the month in which we celebrate Asian and Pacific American Heritage Month. This is a part of the permanent law which former Congressman Frank Horton was successful earlier in establishing recognition for a week each year. On his last year of service he was successful in having the whole month designated as Asian and Pacific American Heritage Month. Just this past week we had the opportunity of celebrating the Asian and Pacific American Institute banquet, at which President Clinton spoke and highlighted the importance of the Asian continent as well as the Pacific communities. In so doing he emphasized the importance of active participation of Asian Pacific-Americans in the United States and in all of their various activities, professionally, academically, in business and commerce, in international trade, and, in particular, in the Federal agencies and in the Federal Government and here in the Congress in both the House and the Senate. The March 1994 population of Asian Pacific-Americans is estimated at nearly 9 million, and we account for about 3 percent of America's population. It is a growing number, probably the fastest growing ethnic group in the country.”