Mike Honda

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 1322, celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Program and recognizing the significant contributions of Albert Einstein Fellows. For 20 years, Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellows have worked in the Senate and House, and Federal agencies, drafting legislation and creating innovative educational programs and interventions. Einstein Fellows are selected through a highly competitive process from among the best science, technology, engineering, and mathematics teachers in the field, and represent diverse geographic regions, backgrounds and communities. Over 190 Einstein Fellows have played a critical role in helping to advance the fields of education, science, technology, engineering, mathematics in the United States by applying their classroom experience to shape public policy. Their deep understanding of both science and pedagogy has provided practical insights and ``real world'' perspectives to policy makers and program administrators. Teachers who are chosen to be Albert Einstein Fellows demonstrate exceptional expertise in teaching in elementary or secondary schools and have an interest and willingness to be involved in public policy. Many are recognized for excellence through the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics or Science Teaching and other prestigious awards. These dedicated teachers interrupt their careers and leave their homes and classrooms behind to spend a school year in a Congressional Office, the Department of Education, the Department of Energy, NASA, NIH, NIST, NOAA, NSF, OSTP, applying their classroom experience to shape public policy while expanding their valuable skills. The Einstein Fellows, during their service and later upon the continuation of their professional careers, serve as role models and example of dedication and commitment for past, current and future generations of educators and public servants: I have had the benefit of having Einstein Fellows in my office for the past four years and I can personally attest to the tremendous contributions they have made to science education throughout the nation. For example, Luke Laurie, a middle school science teacher from California, worked on Global Warming Education legislation and an effort to congratulate Vice President Al Gore on his Nobel Prize; Ed Potosnak, a secondary school science teacher from New Jersey, who developed the Enhancing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education Act and the Educational Opportunity and Equity Commission Act; and Eduardo Guevara, a secondary school science teacher from Texas, who is working on the One America, Many Voices Act, which would appropriately compensate Federal workers with multilingual skills, on legislation to establish prizes for educational technology innovation, and on equity in educational opportunities for Bilingual Learners (ELLS). President Obama himself experienced the benefits of having an Einstein Fellow in his office when he was a freshman Senator. In conjunction with the 20th Anniversary of the program, on June 28th and 29th the Einstein Fellowship Summit will be held here in Washington, where former and current fellows will address issues related to STEM education. Members have been invited to the Congressional reception to be held at the Rayburn Gold Room, and I encourage my colleagues to attend that event to meet current and former fellows and celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship Program. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution and the Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship Program.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize May as World Hepatitis Awareness Month and May 19th as World Hepatitis Day. I commend the House Energy and Commerce Committee and House Foreign Affairs Committee for their support for raising awareness of the risks and consequences of undiagnosed Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C infections and the need for governmental and public health actions. I also want to thank my good friends Rep. Ed Towns and Rep. Bill Cassidy for working with me on hepatitis issues and speaking out on World Hepatitis Day. An estimated 5.3 million people living in the United States are infected with either Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C. Hepatitis viruses are highly contagious viruses that infect the liver, cause liver disease, liver cancer, and premature death. Hepatitis patients are found in every Congressional district in every state across the U.S. Tragically, more than half are unaware of their status. Hepatitis is often called a silent crisis, but we cannot afford to be silent any more, and we will not be silent any more. I introduced H.R. 3974, the Viral Hepatitis and Liver Cancer Control and Prevention Act of 2009 to unite the Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C community in a singular cause. H.R. 3974 will amend the Public Health Service Act to make critical improvements for education for patients and health care providers, access to immunization and screening, and surveillance and referral to care programs. The Act will also put in place a coordinated federal response to fight viral hepatitis. Through this legislation, and with strategic investments in public health and prevention programs, the lives of tens of thousands of people across the nation will be improved. I commend the Obama Administration and Assistant Secretary for Health at the Department of Health and Human Services Dr. Howard Koh for developing an intradepartmental viral hepatitis working group to improve the public health response to the disease, and for working with outside partners to increase access to quality health care and reduce the health effects from viral hepatitis. I urge all of my colleagues to support the goals and ideals of World Hepatitis Awareness Month and to support H.R 3974. Through comprehensive education, research, and coordination, we can highlight the global nature of chronic viral hepatitis epidemics, work to improve the quality of life for those diagnosed, and prevent further spread of the disease.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the lives of two young graduate students, Tam Tran and Cinthya Felix, who both died in a tragic car accident on the 25th of May of 2010. They were 27 and 26 years of age, respectively. Tam Tran was born in Germany to Vietnamese refugee parents and moved to the United States at the age of 6. Denied political asylum in the United States, unable to return to Vietnam for risk of political persecution, and refused entry to Germany, her immigration status was in limbo, but Tran proceeded to excel and graduate from Santiago High school in Garden Grove, California, and be admitted to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). As an undergraduate and vocal supporter of the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act, she joined Improving Dreams, Equality, Access and Success (IDEAS), a student organization that advocates for undocumented immigrant youth and students. Tran shared her story in congressional testimony, newspaper interviews, and events across the country. She eventually produced a collaborative student publication entitled, Underground Undergrads: UCLA Undocumented Immigrant Students Speak Out, an account of the struggle facing undocumented UCLA students and relevant legislation. She went on to become a Ph.D. candidate in American Civilization at Brown University. Cinthya Felix was born in Mexico and immigrated to the United States at the age of 15. Despite a late start, she eventually graduated from Garfield High School in East Los Angeles at the top of her class and was admitted to UCLA in 2003. As an undocumented student, she conducted research on educational inequalities and was one of the founders of the student run organization IDEAS, where she worked with Tran. She graduated from UCLA in 2007 with a double major in English World Literature and Spanish Literature and was admitted to Masters in Public Health programs at Colombia University and the University of Michigan. Because of her undocumented status, Felix was unable to access financial aid and had to defer her admissions. With much determination, Felix spearheaded an online fundraising campaign and was able to matriculate at Colombia University a year later, becoming the first undocumented student in the history of the school's public health program. Her goal was to pursue medical school and to return home as a practicing physician to help underserved communities. Over three million students graduate from U.S. high schools every year. Most get the opportunity to continue on and live their American dream, but approximately 65,000 youth are denied this possibility because of their undocumented status. Tran and Felix were both outspoken advocates on this issue. The DREAM act can solve this injustice by allowing qualifying undocumented youth a conditional path to citizenship through the completion of a college degree or military service. As Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, I recognize the needs of immigrants, especially those that concern our youth, and have long made comprehensive immigration reform one of our caucus' top priorities. Although Tran's and Felix's lives were tragically cut short, let us not forget their mission. Let us continue to work towards making the DREAM act a law. Madam Speaker, I ask my fellow members to join me in remembering Tam Tran and Cinthya Felix. The adversity they faced and their stories of perseverance in achieving the American dream are an inspiration to every American student who wishes to pursue life's endeavors.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to join my colleague Representative Eliot Engel of New York, in congratulating the great people of Argentina in celebration of the bicentennial anniversary of their independence from Spain, which occurred on the 25th of May of 1810. Born in 1810 out of a newfound sense of national identity, the trajectory of Argentinean independence is inspired by the same enlightenment ideas of self-determination and representative government that inspired America's independence movement. Like George Washington, Jose de San Martin, the liberator of Argentina, led the fight for freedom in armed struggle against the shackles of Spanish rule. At the heart of the U.S. example was the creation a constitution free from monarchy, building an infant democracy surrounded by European power in the new world. Capitalizing on Napoleonic control, Argentina's cry set in motion the wars of independence across South America and the creation of new republics by the decade's end. America's 200-year relationship with Argentina commenced officially when President James Monroe promulgated a foreign policy based on the preservation of our republics from imperial intervention, thus securing a shared destiny of independence. In an unprecedented gesture of aid to an unrecognized country, President Monroe sent a representative whose primary objective was to assure the Argentinean people that ``U.S. has the most sincere disposition towards its neighbors from Latin America and considers friendly exchanges as mutually beneficial.'' In 1822, the U.S. became the first non-Latin nation to establish formal diplomatic relations with Argentina. Our countries' friendship has been strong ever since. An entire week of May leading up to the 25th is devoted to celebrating several events that sparked Argentina's movement towards independence, with expatriates and Argentinean-Americans in cities across the United States also partaking in celebrations. Argentineans have a proud history of enriching the world's literary, art and musical, and sports arenas. Tango performers like Carlos Gardel, and writing artists like Jorge Luis Borges, have injected masterpieces into our global tapestry, while one of the most famous soccer magicians Diego Armando Maradona amazed fans during the 1986 World Cup. It is with great joy, Madam Speaker, that I ask the rest of my colleagues to congratulate our great neighbor on this historic achievement for their people. I wish the President of Argentina and Argentineans across the world a festive week.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my support for H. Res. 1258, Supporting the goals and ideals of Mental Health Month. I commend my good friend Representative Grace Napolitano, sponsor of the resolution, and the House Energy and Commerce Committee for recognizing that mental health and well-being is a critical issue that affects not only the quality of life, health of our communities and our economic stability. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, each year approximately 25% of Americans are impacted by mental health conditions, and no gender, age, race, religion or socioeconomic status is immune. Through the combination of psychosocial and pharmacological treatments and support, 70% to 90% of individuals with mental health issues experience significant reduction of symptoms and improved quality of life. As Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, CAPAC, also, I recognize that there is a significant need for enhancing awareness of mental illness within the Asian American and Pacific Islander, AAPI, community. AAPIs are among the fastest growing and most diverse racial group in the United States. Despite this, our community's use of mental health services is the lowest among ethnic populations. As such, there is a critical need to raise awareness about mental health within the AAPI community to de-stigmatize seeking help and enhance access to culturally competent community services. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which Congress passed and the President signed into law earlier this year, will greatly expand access to mental health care and additional treatment for millions of uninsured individuals, including AAPIs. In addition, the law supports equity in coverage and will extend the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, which prohibits discriminatory limits on mental health and substance use conditions beyond current law to health insurance plans offered to small businesses and individuals. These principles are also reflected in the expansion of Medicaid, which would require those newly eligible to receive mental health and substance use services at parity with other benefits. I urge all of my colleagues to support the goals and ideals of Mental Health Month. Through education, we can help remove the stigma around mental health and encourage organizations and health practitioners to continue to promote mental well-being and awareness so that people can access appropriate services and support.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Madam Chair, I rise today to support the Repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. During his State of the Union address, President Obama declared that his administration would work with Congress to end the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy of excluding openly lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender, LGBT, Americans from serving their country in the armed forces. I have long envisioned our country reaching this moment, and am thrilled that the 111th Congress will soon take another step forward in our long journey toward equality regardless of race, nationality, gender, and sexual orientation. Reflecting one of our country's last officially sanctioned forms of bigotry, the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy stigmatizes patriotic Americans by excluding them from military life. This policy works to silence LGBT personnel among the ranks of our military, making them invisible to the American public they bravely volunteer to defend. Notwithstanding the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy, countless veterans have served, and countless service members continue to serve selflessly in the defense of our nation. Yet while thousands of our men and women put their lives on the line to protect our freedom and liberty, many are dismissed once their orientation or identification becomes known. According to the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, SLDN, over 1,200 service personnel were unfairly stigmatized when discharged as being unfit for service in 2001. The contributions made by LGBT veterans and those in active duty in an atmosphere hostile to them underscores the tremendous sacrifices they make to serve this nation. Another reason for the repeal of this government-sanctioned discrimination is the law's disproportionate impact on women and minorities. Servicemembers United compiled Department of Defense (DOD) data showing that in 2008, 45 percent of troops discharged under Don't Ask, Don't tell were minorities, while minorities comprised 30 percent of the service. Similarly, women accounted for 34 percent of the discharges but were only 14 percent of the military. That a discriminatory policy has an even more discriminatory application is another reason to celebrate its abolishment. When President Obama called for the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Defense Secretary Gates reminded the Congress of their definitive role in changing the intolerant policy. I am proud that this Congress is acting. While I realize this repeal is still contingent on a completion of the DOD Study and certification from the President, I am confident that Don't Ask, Don't Tell is at its end. I appreciate the difficulty of the DOD's task and I commend their courage to take this step forward for our country. I am proud to cast a vote for repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell--we cannot let the opportunity to right this wrong pass us by.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of MG John L. Fugh, who suddenly passed away on May 11th of this year. General Fugh was the first Chinese American general officer in the United States Army and became Judge Advocate General of the Army in the period following the Persian Gulf War. His distinguished service in the U.S. Army and career with the Judge Advocate General's Corps. spanned 33 years. Today, I honor his contributions to our country. John L. Fugh was born in Beijing and after the Communist Revolution in 1949, moved with his family to Washington, DC. As the son of a public servant, he graduated from Georgetown's School of Foreign Service and attained a law degree from George Washington before entering the JAG Corps. He has served America overseas during the Cold War, doing a tour of duty through wartime Vietnam, and as a staff judge advocate for the 3rd Armored Division in Frankfurt, Germany. Returning home, he rose up the JAG leadership and was promoted to brigadier general, undertaking non-criminal legal matters, and created the Army's first environmental law practice. Achieving the position of Judge Advocate General, the Army's top legal official, he provided strong leadership in navigating the Army's complex legal matters in the aftermath of the Persian Gulf War, such as the reconstruction of Kuwait. After retirement from the army, General Fugh continued to serve his country with respect to Sino-American relations by acting as liaison to China for several manufacturing and aerospace firms like Boeing. He also served as chairman of the Committee of 100, a non-partisan membership organization of over 150 prominent Chinese Americans. A recipient of the Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal, and two awards of the Legion of Merit, it is my honor, Madam Speaker, to recognize the life achievements and contributions to our country of the distinguished General John L. Fugh.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of MG John L. Fugh, who suddenly passed away on May 11th of this year. General Fugh was the first Chinese American general officer in the United States Army and became Judge Advocate General of the Army in the period following the Persian Gulf War. His distinguished service in the U.S. Army and career with the Judge Advocate General's Corps. spanned 33 years. Today, I honor his contributions to our country. John L. Fugh was born in Beijing and after the Communist Revolution in 1949, moved with his family to Washington, DC. As the son of a public servant, he graduated from Georgetown's School of Foreign Service and attained a law degree from George Washington before entering the JAG Corps. He has served America overseas during the Cold War, doing a tour of duty through wartime Vietnam, and as a staff judge advocate for the 3rd Armored Division in Frankfurt, Germany. Returning home, he rose up the JAG leadership and was promoted to brigadier general, undertaking non-criminal legal matters, and created the Army's first environmental law practice. Achieving the position of Judge Advocate General, the Army's top legal official, he provided strong leadership in navigating the Army's complex legal matters in the aftermath of the Persian Gulf War, such as the reconstruction of Kuwait. After retirement from the army, General Fugh continued to serve his country with respect to Sino-American relations by acting as liaison to China for several manufacturing and aerospace firms like Boeing. He also served as chairman of the Committee of 100, a non-partisan membership organization of over 150 prominent Chinese Americans. A recipient of the Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal, and two awards of the Legion of Merit, it is my honor, Madam Speaker, to recognize the life achievements and contributions to our country of the distinguished General John L. Fugh.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Well, that's news to me. Thank you very much. As Chair, I appreciate that information in public. That's wonderful news. And we've been waiting for an invitation for this month, and I appreciate my colleague for that information. And I'll get my suit pressed. So, Mr. Speaker, a common misperception of AAPIs is that, as a group, we face fewer health problems than other racial and ethnic groups. In fact, Asians, as a group, and specific populations within this group, do experience disparities in health and health care. For example, Asian Pacific Islanders have the highest hepatitis B rates of any racial group in the United States. We must bring attention to and educate our communities about prevention of hepatitis B through testing and vaccination. In the United States, 12 million people have been infected at some time in their lives with hepatitis B virus, and more than 5,000 Americans die from hepatitis B-related liver complications every year. Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders account for more than half of the chronic hepatitis B cases and half of the deaths resulting from chronic hepatitis B infections in the United States. In order to break this silence surrounding this deadly disease and bring awareness to the American people, Congressman Edolphus Towns, Congressman Charlie Dent, Congressman Anh Cao, and I have introduced the Viral Hepatitis and Liver Cancer Control and Prevention Act. And I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting a Federal strategy to prevent, treat, and manage viral hepatitis, and we invite them to join us. In education, immigration reform and health expansion is also expanding educational access for all Americans. That's also a high priority for CAPAC. Education is at the very center of our democratic meritocracy, and it is imperative that every American child be afforded a true opportunity to achieve their highest potential. I have reintroduced the Education Opportunity and Equity Commission Act, H.R. 1758, to begin the process of overhauling the country's education system and to finally address the disparities among America's schools. This legislation creates a national commission charged with gathering public opinions and insights about how government can improve education and eliminate disparities in the educational system. I hope that you'll join me as a cosponsor to this legislation among my colleagues. We must remember the needs of all young people, including Asian American and Pacific Islander students, many of whom struggle in low-income communities, refugee communities, and do not have sufficient English skills. According to the 2000 census, only 9.1 percent of Cambodian Americans, 7.4 of Hmong Americans, 7.6 percent of Lao Americans, and 19.5 percent of Vietnamese Americans and 16.5 percent of Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders who are 25 years and older have a bachelor's degree or higher degree. These numbers show that we must do better. We must do a better job of disaggregating data and information about our communities to assess the needs of those hardworking Americans who still falter behind. To address the disparities between subgroups of the larger AAPI community, we must support greater funding for Asian American and Pacific Islander-serving institutions. This program provides Federal grants to colleges and universities that have an enrollment of undergraduate students that is at least 10 percent AAPI and lets 50 percent of its degree-seeking students receive financial assistance. On behalf of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, Congressman David Wu and I will work to strengthen the Asian American Pacific Islander-serving institutions program to increase the availability of loan assistance, scholarships and programs to allow AAPI students to attend a higher education institution, to ensure full funding for teachers and bilingual education programs under the No Child Left Behind law to support English language learners, and to support full funding of minority outreach programs for access to higher education such as the TRIO programs, to expand services to serve AAPI students. Now, there's a lot of firsts, as has been mentioned before by my colleagues. But before I start that, I just wanted to mention that there was a gentleman by the name of Dalip Singh Saud, who, in 1957, became the very first Asian American, Sikh American to be in the Halls of Congress. But he had to overcome some of the anti-Asian legislation that was on our books. Namely, there was one. One was the Chinese Exclusion Act. Another one was the Asian Exclusion Act that particularly named Asians as unfit to be citizens, and then they folded into Americans. The studies among scholars say that the Indo American folks from that peninsula are not of the Mongolian race but of the Caucasian race. Very wisely, this person, Dalip had argued, as an attorney in the courts, saying that people of his background are not part of the race, are not part of the targeted group. He was able to convince them to change that law that allowed him to run for Congress and become a Representative and walk in the Halls of Congress. He broke the very first rib in the anti-Asian law, and then continued to do that, where folks like Bob Matsui, Norm Mineta and others like myself and Eni are able to serve here. So I just want to recognize him. And a portrait hangs in the staircase. Going from this floor to the bottom floor, there's a portrait of Congressman Singh that hangs there, and I just would like to point that out to folks, so when they come and visit, or our Members go down those stairs, that they look up and recognize the person who had been first to break some of the glass ceilings and anti-Asian legislation that kept us from participating. Very quickly, other firsts were the first person to graduate from Yale University was Yung Wing in 1847. In 1863, William Ah Hang, a Chinese American, became the first to enlist in the U.S. Navy, during the Civil War. And none of them were able to become citizens because of the anti-Asian laws that disqualified them from being citizens. A.K. Mozumdar, in 1915, became the first Indian-born person to earn U.S. citizenship. In 1922, Anna May Wong had her lead role in ``Toll of the Sea'' at the age of 17. Mr. Speaker, following is my statement in its entirety. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Asian American and Pacific Islander community and to commemorate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. As Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, CAPAC, I feel privileged to be here tonight with my colleagues to speak of the Asian and Pacific Islander American history and accomplishments. Additionally, I will be highlighting those issues affecting our community and the priorities for CAPAC. In celebrating APA Heritage Month, I want to give thanks to the late Representative Frank Horton from New York and my good friend, former Secretary Norman Mineta, along with Senators Daniel Inouye and Spark Masayuki Matsunaga. It is because of their efforts that May is now designated as Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. The first 10 days of May coincide with two important anniversaries: the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants on May 7, 1843 to the U.S. and the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869. In 1992, Congress passed Public Law No: 102-450, the law that officially designated May of each year as ``Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.''

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on the subject of my special order.

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Asian American and Pacific Islander Community and to commemorate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. As chairman of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, better known as CAPAC, I feel privileged to be here tonight with my colleagues to speak of the Asian and Pacific Islander American history accomplishments. Additionally, I will be highlighting those issues affecting our community and the priorities for CAPAC. In celebrating the APA Heritage Month, I want to give thanks to the late Representative Frank Horton from New York, and to my good friend, former Secretary Norman Mineta, along with Senators Daniel Inouye and Sparky Matsunaga of Hawaii. It is because of their efforts that May is now designated as Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. The first 10 days of May coincide with two important anniversaries: the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants on May 7, 1843, to the U.S. and the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869. In 1992, Congress passed public law number 102-450, the law that officially designated May of each year as Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. Today I, along with Congresswoman Judy Chu, introduced a resolution honoring the accomplishments of my dear friend, Norman Mineta, who cut his teeth in politics in California's 15th District in Silicon Valley, which I represent today. Throughout his career, Norm has broken through many glass ceilings, himself, but also for the rest of us. He is a close personal friend, and I consider him a dear mentor. Norm was the very first Asian American mayor of a major city, the first Asian American to hold a Presidential Cabinet post. Not only did he pierce through the glass ceilings, he dedicated much of his energy building the infrastructure needed for the Asian American and Pacific Islanders to grow and thrive to what it is today. Norm had a hand in establishing and/or strengthening so many of our key national organizations. They span from policy advocacy, coalitions like National Council of Asian Pacific Americans, to voter engagement organizations like APIA Vote, to organizations and fellowship programs that develop the future leaders of our community such as the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies, to the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, which I chair today. CAPAC is a caucus of members dedicated to representing the interests of underserved Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and I am proud to honor Norm Mineta today through this resolution, along with my colleague Congresswoman Judy Chu. Before I introduce Congresswoman Chu, I would just like to have a couple of personal notes. Norm Mineta had a great impact, as I have said, on our communities, and the way he has done that is through delicate diplomacy. In the area in San Jose where ethnic groups are growing in political activity, oftentimes our communities would be in conflict with the police department. Rather than taking sides, Norm, as mayor, found ways to bring people together in an amicable way where the outcome was positive, always. And that has always shown us the way, through conflict resolution, that one does not need to have winners and losers, but that we can seek ways to make things happen in a positive way. That's one of the most important lessons I think that Norm has left many of us to pursue today here in Congress, to seek partnerships across the aisle and with each other on issues of great importance to this country. And so I want to say to Norm as a friend, as his mentee, thank you very much for all the patience and mentoring that you have done. At times it was on purpose and at times it's just because that's the way you are. I'd like to turn the microphone over to my colleague, Congresswoman Judy Chu.

Mr. HONDA. Thank you, Congresswoman Judy Chu. I want to thank you very much for initiating the resolution honoring Norm Mineta, but I want to make it very clear to the audience and to Norm that we are doing this not in anticipation of your demise. It sounds like almost a memorial, but it is to acknowledge you while you are around and you can appreciate it. And we want to let you know that we do appreciate all the work that you have done and the kinds of trailblazings that you have done. And so that is our way of doing it, and I want to acknowledge Judy for doing that. In terms of growth, today the AAPI community is quickly expanding. Currently, there are approximately 16.6 million AAPIs living in the United States. There are approximately 45 distinct ethnic groups within our populations speaking various dialects within each group. And it is certainly a diverse community, one of the fastest growing ethnic groups in the United States. By 2050, the Asian Pacific Islander community and population is expected to more than double and reach 40.6 million, or 9 percent, of our population. My own State of California has the largest Asian population at 5.1 million. The States of New York and Texas follow, about 1.5 million and close to 1 million, respectively, in Texas. The population is also growing in States beyond the usual hubs of New York and California. We are also seeing growth in other areas in our country, such as Virginia, Nevada, Minnesota, Louisiana, Texas, Pennsylvania, and Florida. I encourage my congressional colleagues to learn more about the API populations in their district and become a member of this caucus. The stereotypes and lack of data around our community--there is a stereotype about Asian Americans that all Asians are healthy, wealthy, and wise. However, our community is extremely diverse in our ethnicities, income, educational attainment, language capabilities, special needs, and challenges. Stereotypes about our communities make it difficult to understand the unique problems faced by individual communities and subgroups. Data that is disaggregated by ethnicity for our various communities is hard to come by but critical to the understanding where we must direct Federal attention. As a country, we need to better address the needs of the AAPI community when we discuss comprehensive immigration reform, health care, economic recovery, and education. We are also barely visible in corporate America, underrepresented in political offices throughout the country, and misportrayed in our mainstream media. As our community expands, we must also continue to educate our fellow citizens about the uniqueness of our experiences. And so the whole concept of disaggregation of our data is critical to making sure that we target very accurately the needs of our community. Despite the daunting challenges we face, this is a time of great optimism and hope for the Asian American Pacific Islander communities. President Obama and the APIs in the administration and new Members of Congress are evidence of that. We are making this month with an American President with close ties to Asia. President Obama grew up in Hawaii and Indonesia. His sister is half Indonesian; his brother-in-law is Chinese-Canadian, and he has maintained close ties with Asian friends and colleagues throughout his life. President Barack Obama has a deep understanding of our community and many milestones celebrated may be attributed to his commitment to our community. He has made significant outreach efforts to reestablishment of the White House initiative on Asian Pacific American islanders to coordinate multi-agency efforts to ensure more accurate data collection and access to services for these communities. The President's Cabinet includes a record of three Asian Americans, as was mentioned by Congresswoman Chu. Energy Secretary Dr. Steven Chu, a Nobel Laureate, the leader of the Livermore Labs in Berkeley; well- suited for the job. Well trained. Commerce Secretary Governor Gary Locke of Seattle, Washington. And Veterans' Affairs Secretary General Eric Shinseki, a man of great integrity and one that has earned his reputation not only among the military folks but all Americans. The President has also demonstrated a commitment to judicial diversity through the nomination of high-caliber Asian American and other minority jurists at all levels of the Federal bench. Our faces are lacking very much. The nomination of these folks are appreciated because this says a couple of things. One, that we need to be there on the bench. Two, we have capable jurists that can administer and conduct a courthouse, from the very municipal courts to the highest--the Supreme Court. The service in Congress. The ranks of Asian American Pacific Islander Members of Congress also increased this Congress with the election of Anh ``Joseph'' Cao from Louisiana's Second District, Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan from the Northern Mariana Islands, and CAPAC's newest member, Representative Judy Chu from California's 32nd District. Representative Cao has the distinction of being the first Vietnamese American elected to Congress. He also makes our caucus bipartisan, coming from the Republican Party. Just on top of that, our caucus is also bicameral, with representation from Senators Akaka and Inouye. Representative Sablan is the very first member to represent the Northern Marianas and the only Chamorro person serving in Congress today. Representative Chu is the very first Chinese American woman elected to Congress. Representatives Cao, Sablan, and Chu are also the newest members of CAPAC's executive board. Our newest associate members are Representative Joseph Crowley of New York and Representative John Conyers of Michigan. It is a testament to our evolving national character as a Nation of immigrants to have our newest Members of Congress come from upbringings beyond our own shores. At this time, Mr. Speaker, I'd like to share the microphone and the podium with a gentleman who's been here in excess of 25 years. Probably 30 years. He claims that all the sumo champions of Japan that are over 6'5'' are his cousins. I don't deny that. I think that his service to this country representing the island of American Samoa has been long and distinguished. He's an articulate advocate for Asian American issues and, through CAPAC, I believe that he has a platform of bringing the issues of Asian Pacific islanders in that area to the public's attention. And through the last battle for comprehensive health reform, he has been an outspoken leader in making sure that territories such as the Virgin Islands, Samoa, Guam, Marianas, have a greater respect and attention paid to them. And so it gives me great pleasure to introduce my colleague, the Congressman from American Samoa, Eni Faleomavaega. Aloha.

Mr. HONDA. I thank the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega). You have covered a lot of ground. To add a little bit to what you indicated about the internment, during that process of studying the internment, the Commission on Wartime Internment, I believe it was 1985, they came to a conclusion based upon a study that the internment was based upon a racial prejudice, war hysteria and the failure, the failure of political leadership. I believe that is why these kinds of opportunities for us to be able to share our history, our involvement, our contributions in who we are as Americans are critical. I appreciate your help in this. It is also the episode of the Filipino veterans who were asked by President Roosevelt to serve in the U.S. Army and also by General MacArthur who said that participating in the effort against the Japanese Imperial Army would bring them the possibility of citizenship and also full veterans benefits. Six months after the war, two precisely written rescission acts were written in the budget in 1946 specifically eliminating that possibility and that promise to those who had fought side by side with our soldiers in the Philippines. These Filipino veterans fought side by side, protected them against the Japanese atrocities during the Bataan Death March, masterminded the release of the largest amount of POWs from Japanese POW camps in the Philippines, and they still, today, carry the pride and the dignity of a veteran. And just recently, we were able to provide them some compensation but did not match the promise that we had offered them as Congress, as a country, and as a government. So I stand here as a Member of Congress, a Congress that is an organic, living being, that should be responsible for its past, its present, and its future. And certainly in this area we did not do great justice to our brethren who fought alongside of our own soldiers. The area of comprehensive immigration reform is another area that our Nation needs to address. Our Nation was founded by immigrants who valued freedom and liberty, who sought to be free from persecution, from tyranny. Families fled from their home countries to seek refuge in the great Nation because they too believed in life, liberty, and freedom for all. It is in this spirit that CAPAC supports immigration legislation that shifts the debate from the exclusionary, anti-immigrant, enforcement- only approach to one that confronts the social and economic realities behind immigration, honors the dignity of all families and communities, and recognizes the economic, social, and cultural contributions of immigrants to our great country. Today, AAPIs constitute a growing and vibrant piece of the American fabric. In 2007, approximately 10.2 million of the Nation's foreign born were born in Asia, constituting over 1 quarter of the foreign-born population and over one-half the total AAPI population. Even with the relatively high naturalization rate, Asian undocumented immigrants living, working, or studying in the U.S. represent approximately 12 percent of the undocumented immigrants in the U.S. We must also recognize that reuniting families gives strength to American communities and is the bedrock of a vibrant and a stable economy. We must eliminate the long backlogs keeping families apart for years and often decades. Let's keep families together. By strengthening the social fabric of our communities and integrating workers, we can get our economy back on track, while reuniting American workers with their families. CAPAC is prepared to work with our colleagues to push through the long-deferred changes needed to ensure a fair, efficient, and secure immigration system.

Mr. HONDA. Certainly.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of H.R. 5116, the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act. I commend Chairman Bart Gordon and the other members of the Science and Technology Committee, on which I am proud to have once served, for the hard work and thoughtful consideration that went into this bill. The America COMPETES Act of 2007 significantly bolstered American innovation, the most fundamental hope for sustainable economic growth and competitiveness in the United States and a critical driver of the economy of my Silicon Valley district. It helped drive new research and its commercialization, and encouraged the creation of a more dynamic business environment, and made improvements to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education that are important for our nation's long term economic health. It is critical that we provide sustained support for scientific research and STEM education, or our ability to compete in the global economy will be put in jeopardy. As the Joint Economic Committee noted in a new report released today, basic research plays a critical role in sparking innovation, and it is prudent for the federal government to increase its basic research expenditures now. That is why I am proud to support H.R. 5116, which authorizes those much needed investments. I am pleased that the bill includes provisions to ensure coordination of federal science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education activities by establishing a committee under the National Science and Technology (NSTC) to handle these activities. Providing this coordinating mechanism for the federal STEM education programs, along with requiring the development of a STEM education strategic plan and the submission of an annual report about the budget and activities of federal STEM education programs, is critical to strengthening these programs and ensuring America remains innovative and competitive in the 21st century the global economy. For too long we have failed to ensure that the various agencies involved in STEM education efforts are aware of what is being done and what has already been done elsewhere. According to the Academic Competitiveness Council's (ACC) report, in 2006 the U.S. sponsored 105 STEM education programs at more than a dozen different Federal Agencies. These programs devoted approximately $3.12 billion to STEM education activities spanning pre- kindergarten through postgraduate education and outreach. The report notes that many of these Agencies do not share information or work collaboratively on similar programs, demonstrating a need for better coordination. The STEM education coordination provisions of this bill are similar to those included in my own bill, the Enchancing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education (E-STEM) Act, H.R. 2710. To incorporate another element from H.R. 2710 into America COMPETES, stimulating collaboration between the federal and state levels throughout the nation, I have offered an amendment to the bill to make it the responsibility of the STEM Education Advisory Committee created in the bill to facilitate improved coordination between federally supported STEM education programs and state level activities, including P-16 and P-20 councils. I am also pleased that H.R. 5116 contains a reauthorization of the National Nanotechnology Initiative that incorporates numerous provisions that I originally proposed in my own legislation, the Nanotechnology Advancement and New Opportunities (NANO) Act, H.R. 820. Both bills seek to focus America's nanotechnology research and development programs on areas of national need such as energy, health care, and the environment, and have provisions to help assist in the commercialization of nanotechnology. They also require the development of a nanotechnology research plan that will ensure the development and responsible stewardship of nanotechnology by addressing uncertainty about the health and safety risks it might pose and support the development of educational tools and partnerships to help prepare students to pursue postsecondary education in nanotechnology. Again, I congratulate the Science and Technology Committee and Chairman Gordon for their work on this bill and thank them for incorporating so many of the provisions from my bills and for accepting my amendment. I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation to ensure that our nation leads the world in innovation and science and technology.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Madam Speaker, this May, I am honored to join my friends in the Jewish community in celebration of Jewish American Heritage Month, and to recognize the contributions made to our country by Jewish Americans. With a culture that places a strong value on education and community, Jewish Americans have enriched our society and contributed to the economic and cultural vitality of our Nation, especially in California's 15th District. My community in Silicon Valley, particularly the high tech industry, has benefited greatly from the contributions and innovation of Jewish Americans. Jewish Americans are leading entrepreneurs in renewable energy development and high-tech research in my district, and they are also leaders in engaging our youth. For the past 2 years, I have worked with Chabad of San Jose to provide funding for their Prevention, Resource, Information and Drug Education (PRIDE) Project, which provides at-risk youth with the tools necessary to prevent them from getting involved with drugs and alcohol. Organizations like Chabad of San Jose, and many other non-profits led by Jewish Americans, are working to make our district a better, safer, and healthier place. Jewish immigrants came to our country, hoping to fulfill their dreams by participating in the American promise of socioeconomic mobility, democracy, and cultural acceptance. The stories of their successes in our country are greatly inspiring. I am privileged to represent a civically engaged community of Jewish Americans, a community I have always been close to. My district's Jewish American community stands as a shining example of what makes Silicon Valley a global leader, and it is an honor to have the opportunity to celebrate the contributions they have made to our country.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Madam Speaker, on May 10, 2010, the Republic of the Philippines will undergo historic elections in its budding democracy. These elections mark the first fully automated national elections to determine the fates of over 85,000 candidates for some 17,000 national and local seats, including that of the President and Vice President. With such a large ballot of candidates and the challenge of polling across a nation of over 7,000 islands, the benefits of an automated system are apparent. These automated elections, however, are not flawless. Automated voting is not guaranteed to eliminate fraud and error, but seeks to minimize them. Additional independent systems should be in place to ensure transparency and validity across the entire election process and, in particular, over the electronic voting systems themselves. Especially troubling are the reports that the new voting system has never been fully tested in the Philippines, which reinforces the need for a contingency plan in case of voting machine failures. In fact, the National Democratic Institute and other international observers have already expressed similar concerns about these upcoming automated elections. The Philippine Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has the daunting task of administering these elections, and would do well to heed the bitter lessons that the United States learned from the controversies surrounding our electronic voting machines during recent elections. While still working to improve our election process, we also recognize the importance of mending the public confidence. Public confidence in any form of government is paramount to its success, and this is especially true for any democracy--Philippine and American. Again, I urge COMELEC to establish necessary transparency and validation mechanisms that will earn the confidence of the Filipino people to ensure that their constitutional right was fairly exercised. I look forward to these historic democratic elections and hope that they will result in a confident and peaceful transition of government.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and work of my friend, Anthony ``Tony'' J. Cortese. For the past four decades, Mr. Cortese was a proud and dedicated employee of the United States Postal Service. I am proud to stand on the floor today in support of H.R. 4543, legislation to designate the Westgate Station Post Office in my district of San Jose, California, in memory of Mr. Cortese. I would also like to thank my good friend and the sponsor of this legislation, Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, for working closely with me on this effort. Mr. Cortese was born in the San Francisco Bay area and moved to Santa Clara County with his family after his father took a job at the Ford plant in Milpitas. A few years after graduating James Lick High School in San Jose, Mr. Cortese started working as a letter carrier in the downtown San Jose post office. Mr. Cortese was a tireless advocate for letter carriers in the region and made a significant impact on our community. In addition to his 42 years with the Postal Service, Mr. Cortese served 27 years as the president of the National Association of Letter Carriers Local 193. Under his leadership, this local procured a building for its members, secured expanded health benefits, and provided an open forum for discussion with union members, community advocates, and local elected officials. Throughout his tenure, Mr. Cortese developed strong relationships with postal workers and management. His legacy and accomplishments at the Postal Service will not be forgotten. Once again, Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life of Anthony Cortese, and ask my colleagues to support naming a post office in his honor. I want to congratulate the family, and I want to give a personal thanks, because without his work my family would not have benefited from the kinds of things he has done in our community.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I rise today to celebrate the 62nd anniversary of a great democracy and our close friend and important ally, Israel. The United States and Israel share a unique and unbreakable bond. This bond is based upon friendship, common values, and a strong interest in a peaceful future for the Middle East. From its first breaths in 1948 until today, Israel has stood as the foremost beacon of democracy in the Middle East. As the sole democracy in the region, Israel is the United States' most strategic ally in the Middle East, and I have supported policies that strengthen its safety, security and welfare. Israel must be able to rely on the friendship of the United States as it takes the bold steps necessary towards peace in the Middle East. Some of this reliance comes in the form of U.S. foreign assistance. Providing foreign assistance to Israel is important as Israel faces legitimate, external threats to its survival--Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran. We must also provide Israel diplomatic support in the form of sanctions against the Iranian government, before it is too late. Iran's pursuit of a nuclear weapon is a real and immediate threat to the existence of Israel, and a serious and troubling threat to the security of the entire Middle East and the U.S. A nuclear Iran is simply unacceptable, and we must do what we can to deter this threat. The Iranian government, and the international community, must recognize the Jewish, democratic state of Israel's legitimacy and right to exist, given the Jewish people's three millennia of history in the land of Israel. Israel is Jewish land, and this must be recognized. Once again, Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Israel on its 62nd anniversary. It is imperative that we continue to remain firmly behind our friends in Israel. As our strongest ally in one of the most volatile regions in the world, our country's first priority must be to be a true friend a partner with Israel.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Madam Speaker, I rise today in commemoration of Vaisakhi, a festival celebrating the founding of the Khalsa Sikh community in 1699. It has special significance for Sikhs because the tenth guru, Guru Gobind Singh, chose Vaisakhi as the occasion to formalize the Sikh identity and religious practice by forming the Khalsa, the body of initiated Sikhs. Vaisakhi also marks the new solar year and harvest season. I would also like to take this opportunity to recognize the contributions American Sikhs make to our society. According to the 2000 Census, more than 650,000 Sikhs live in the United States, and more than 250,000 reside in my home state of California. Throughout history, American Sikhs have made great contributions to our cultural landscape, the government, business and civil sector, as well as the military. In 1956, the Hon. Dalip Singh Saund was the first Sikh, Asian- or Indian- American elected to the House of Representatives. In addition to making great progress for racial equality and diversity in American government, Rep. Saund was instrumental in ending statutory discrimination against Asian- and Indian-Americans by working to grant naturalization rights for immigrants from the Philippines and India. Around the country, Sikhs serve as mayors, business leaders, athletes, actors and other leadership positions. It is my honor to rise today to recognize the Sikh festival of Vaisakhi and recognize the achievements and contributions of all American Sikhs to our country.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of health care reform. The other side of the aisle would have us believe that we need to wait longer to make health reform a reality. They don't want to make the sweeping changes that the American people KNOW we need to make. I cannot, we cannot, stand by and let this historic opportunity pass us by; the people of my district deserve more and better from this Congress. I say yes to tax credits and other assistance to 86,000 families and 14,900 small businesses in my district. I say yes to coverage for 22,500 uninsured residents. I say yes to protecting 800 families from bankruptcy due to unaffordable health care costs. I say yes to reform. All the other side is saying is no--to reining in health costs, controlling insurance companies who have proven over and over that they are willing to put profit over people's lives, to ending the confusing morass of paperwork and lack of transparency that drives doctors, patients, and hospitals to distraction and negatively impacts the quality of patient care. The opponents of this reform had their time--health reform was defeated in 1994 and they had a decade to change the system. People are still dying because they can't afford care. Doctors are still dealing with ever more complicated paperwork rather than healing people. Our public hospitals are reeling, and the number of uninsured continues to grow. We needed to act this weekend to step forward into the 21st century, make the hard choices, take the tough vote, and act in the best interests of our country. I am proud to vote in favor of health care reform.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Madam Speaker, I want to thank my good friend and colleague, Mr. Lynch from Massachusetts, for yielding me time. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of my resolution, H. Res. 267, of the Iranian American community. Last year I introduced this resolution, which honors the Iranian New Year or Nowruz. This resolution recognizes the cultural and historic significance of Nowruz, expresses appreciation for the contributions of Iranian Americans to society, and wishes Iranian Americans and the people of Iran a prosperous new year. Nowruz will occur on March 21st of this year, and translates as ``A New Day'' or the first day of spring. This ancient holiday is rooted back to the Zoroastrian ancestors of modern Iran, and is celebrated over the first 13 days of spring. Iranian American constituents of mine tell me it is their favorite time of the year, when families get together, picnic at a park, and celebrate the coming of spring and the new year. Many Iranian Americans also take the time to visit friends and contribute to local charities during this holiday. Nowruz is not just celebrated by Iranians or Iranian Americans though. It is celebrated by over 300 million people across this world, and over one million Iranian Americans in our country. That is what intrigues me about this holiday. Nowruz festivities bring people together from all walks of life, not just Iranians, to join and celebrate as a community. This ancient holiday has survived centuries of religious differences and political rivalries, and is celebrated by a diverse group of people from different religious and ethnic backgrounds. Iranian Americans have made noteworthy and lasting contributions in all sectors of American public life, including as government, military, law enforcement officials, and in the fields of medicine, engineering and business. I am proud to represent the civically engaged Iranian American community in my Silicon Valley district who continue to teach all of us about their rich cultural history. I've had the opportunity to have meaningful dialogues with them over the years and witness firsthand their contributions to our society. Madam Speaker, I am proud to stand on the House floor today to recognize and honor the exceptional ways in which the Iranian American community enriches our Nation's diversity. I wish the Iranian American community, and all those who celebrate Nowruz, a prosperous new year.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to add my voice of strong support for H. Res. 1036, introduced by Representative Scott Garrett from New Jersey, which recognizes the invaluable contributions of Korean Americans to the United States of America. Korean Americans have a long and proud history of serving their country in numerous ways. Military service, teaching our students, serving at high level posts in our current Administration, running Ivy League institutions, and providing quality medical care are just a few examples of how Korean Americans contribute to our society. They have added to the fabric of our culture and education with contributions in the fields of medicine, economy, business, architecture, and the arts. Mr. Speaker, the history of Korean Americans in the U.S. traces back to January 13, 1903 when a group of 102 Korean men, women and children immigrants arrived in Hawaii after a long journey across the Pacific. The Centennial Committees of Korean Immigration and Korean Americans have designated January 13 of each year as `Korean American Day' to commemorate the first step of the long and prosperous journey of Korean Americans in the United States. In 2005, Congress formally designated this date as Korean American Day. This special day recognizes their American journey to this country as well as their entrepreneurial contributions to American society, culture, and economy. Today, there are over one million Americans of Korean descent, making it the fifth largest Asian American subgroup. According to the 2006- 2008 American Community Survey, California's fifteenth district, which I represent, is home to nearly 15,000 persons of Korean and Korean American background. Korean Americans are proudly serving the American people in the current Obama Administration, as well as excelling in professional sports such as golf and football. Mr. Speaker, the United States and Korean peninsula share strong diplomatic and economic ties, dating back to the 1953 Korean War that unfortunately split apart a people with a rich history, culture, and religion. South Korea has blossomed into a beacon of democracy and free-market economy and continues to be one of America's unwavering friends in an increasingly critical region of the world. Once again, Mr. Speaker, I applaud the introduction of H. Res.1036 and urge colleagues to support this resolution so that we may recognize the contributions of Korean Americans.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Madam Speaker, as a returned Peace Corps volunteer, I rise to recognize National Peace Corps Week and the work of the Peace Corps as we approach its 50th anniversary. For over 49 years, the Peace Corps has played an instrumental role in establishing prosperous foreign relations while fostering cross-cultural understandings. Countries from all over the globe celebrate the contributions of the Peace Corps and look forward with anticipation to its continued growth. During this week, we salute and honor the men and women of this nation who have selflessly served abroad as Peace Corps volunteers, as well as those current volunteers who continue to carry out the Peace Corps mission: world peace and friendship. The Peace Corps provides a unique opportunity for volunteers to help some of the most impoverished people in the world, work that changes their global perspectives. My personal experiences as a former Peace Corps volunteer in El Salvador building schools and health clinics continues to inspire me to actively advocate for the expansion of this program. The work of the Peace Corps and Peace Corps volunteers is invaluable--they are our country's greatest diplomatic tool. My experience marked the beginning of my lifelong commitment to public service. Most importantly, I returned to the United States with a deeper understanding of humanity and a personal commitment to speak on behalf of the marginalized and powerless. Since President John F. Kennedy's call to service, almost 50 years ago, over 195,000 people have served as Peace Corps volunteers. Although a lot has been achieved since the Peace Corps's inception, the Peace Corps is currently at half the size it was in 1966. As the 50th anniversary approaches, and with the recent devastations in Haiti and Chile, we are only reminded of the significance of community service and the valuable assistance that the Peace Corps can provide. It is with great appreciation for the Peace Corps and its ability to foster a global community that alongside my colleagues, I have requested $465 million for FY 2011 Peace Corps funding. A commitment to increase funding will allow the Peace Corps to modernize its systems, optimize the number of volunteers and staff in existing countries, strengthen recruiting and diversity efforts, continue to expand to new nations, and maximize safety and security training and compliance efforts. I am greatly encouraged by the work of the Peace Corps and look forward to answering President Obama's call to continue to grow the Peace Corps. In this time of world conflict, economic disparities, and when so many are expressing an interest in national service, I hope we continue to re-invigorate the Peace Corps, our Nation's greatest and most cost-efficient diplomatic tool. During Peace Corps week, let us all pay tribute to the hard work, perseverance, determination, compassion, and idealism of Peace Corps volunteers around the world.