Kirk Watson: “I rise today to also commemorate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and to celebrate the lives and accomplishments of…”

“I rise today to also commemorate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and to celebrate the lives and accomplishments of Asian Pacific Americans in U.S. history. I want to thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Honda) and the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega), the new chair and vice chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, for organizing this Special Order. And in particular, I want to recognize the contributions of Korean-Americans in my district and commend them for their tireless work in improving the City of Los Angeles. Mr. Speaker, today Asian Americans continue to gain new ground in even greater social and political representation. As we commemorate and celebrate the crucial role of Asian Pacific Americans and the role they have played in the development of this Nation, we must work harder to improve their lives and opportunities for 12.5 million Asian Pacific Americans who are still confronted with daily prejudices, discrimination, and economic inequalities.”