Mike Honda

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 759, a resolution that expresses the sense of Congress that the Government of Japan should formally issue an apology for the sexual enslavement of young women during the imperial occupation of Asia and World War II. I am disappointed that this non-controversial resolution was not on the suspension calendar this week. The dehumanization suffered by over 200,000 ``comfort women'' in Asia before and during World War II is one of the greatest and most averted tragedies of the 20th century. These women were ordinary and innocent civilians, ranging from young girls who had barely reached adolescence, to married women with children at home. These women shared in common, coercion into sex slavery by the Japanese Imperial Army. Equally disturbing is Japan's modern and democratic government's refusal to issue a formal apology for this atrocity. I believe these women deserve a clear and unambiguous apology and reparations from the Japanese government to recognize the fact that their personal dignity was ripped from them. In 1999, when I served in the California State Assembly, I authored Assembly Joint Resolution 27, which called on Congress to urge the Japanese government to issue an apology for the victims of the Rape of Nanking, comfort women, and POWs who were used as slave laborers. The resolution was ultimately passed, and urged Congress to pass similar legislation. Now, 7 years after the success of AJR27, I stand united with my colleagues in support of H. Res. 759. I commend my good friend Lane Evans for his tireless work on this issue, and I thank him for his courage and leadership. I look forward to carrying on his work and legacy after his retirement this year. Given the wide bipartisan support for this resolution, as evidenced by its 55 co-sponsors; the endorsement of four major caucuses, the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, the Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues, the Congressional Human Rights Caucus, and the Congressional Caucus on Korea; and its non-controversial language and recent passage by Unanimous Consent out of the House International Relations Committee, I simply cannot accept that H. Res. 759 is too controversial or lacks the importance to be on the suspension calendar. It is only right that we provide justice for the victims of the Pacific theater with the same fervor as we did for those in the European theater of WWII. Congress has a moral duty to shed light on this issue and pass H. Res. 759 in order to send a powerful message to the government of Japan, and I am disappointed that this resolution is being ignored. Mr. Speaker, Congress must not politicize a resolution that will give some peace of mind to the comfort women and those who have worked so hard on their behalf. I sincerely hope that H. Res. 759 will be brought to the House floor under suspension of the rules. In the name of historical reconciliation and human rights, moving this resolution forward is the right thing to do. We must hasten the day when the comfort women achieve the justice they deserve at last.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Minnie Vautrin, an American woman and missionary whose heroism changed the course of history during World War II. Our country has seen countless acts of heroism in the face of war atrocities both in our country and abroad, Japan's violent occupation of then-capital Nanking, China, historically known as the Rape of Nanking, claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of innocent Chinese men, women and children and left its mark on history as one of the most brutal massacres and crimes against humanity of the 20th Century. An estimated 300,000 Chinese civilians were killed, and an estimated 20,000 women were raped, with some estimates as high as 80,000. Minnie Vautrin, a missionary who worked at a women's college in Nanking, courageously stood against the Japanese imperial army. A native of Illinois, she was one of the few Americans in the region when the Japanese army invaded Nanking. By using the American flag and proclamations issued by the American Embassy in China maintaining the college a sanctuary, Minnie helped repel incursions into the college, where thousands of women and children sought protection from the Japanese army. She often risked her own life to defend the lives of thousands of Chinese civilians. Her devotion during this horrific event earned her the nickname ``American Goddess of Mercy'' among the people of Nanking, where she is fondly remembered. Her heroic actions and unparalleled efforts to save lives deserve to be recognized. Sadly, her story is relatively unknown. That is why I, along with 14 of my colleagues, am introducing a resolution honoring her sacrifice, courage, humanity, and commitment to peace and justice during the violent Rape of Nanking. Minnie Vautrin's story defines patriotism and heroism in the midst of war, and the introduction of this resolution honors her achievements today, the 120th anniversary of her birth. Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleagues for joining me in honor of this phenomenal yet unsung heroine. To the thousands of innocent men, women and children whose lives were spared because of Minnie Vautrin's bold courage, she will never be forgotten.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, yesterday this House voted and unanimously passed H. Res. 622, to recognize and honor the Filipino World War II veterans for their defense of democratic ideals and their important contribution to the outcome of World War II. While I applaud the House's long due recognition to the bravery and commitment of these Filipino veterans in the service of the United States military, I must stress that our responsibility in Congress is still not complete. A great injustice was perpetrated on the Filipino veterans, and Congress must correct it. On July 26, 1941, President Roosevelt ordered the Commonwealth Army of the Philippines to serve under the United States military command. Thousands of Filipino soldiers gave their lives in the battles of Bataan and Corregidor, and more than 120,000 Filipinos fought under the command of General Douglas MacArthur during World War II. These soldiers won for the United States the precious time needed to disrupt the enemy's plan for conquest of the Pacific. At the time of recruitment, the United States government promised that all members of the armed forces who fought for our Nation would be treated as U.S. veterans for the purposes of their benefits. Congress unfortunately withdrew this promise through the Rescission Act of 1946, which stated that the service of these Filipino soldiers ``shall not be deemed to be or have been service in the military or naval forces of the United States''. While some Filipino veterans now receive full veterans' benefits, many others are still waiting for the Congress to do the right thing, and restore the benefits that were promised to them nearly six decades ago. Although H. Res. 622 recognizes the brave men and women who sacrificed to keep our country safe, the resolution does not fully restore justice to these brave patriots. H.R. 4574, the Filipino Veterans Equity Act, would amend the Rescission Act of 1946, restoring their honor and their veteran status as was promised. Mr. Speaker, these WWII heroes are in the twilight of their lives, and time is running out for Congress to fully recognize their service. Do not let H. Res. 622 be a simple substitute for the also bipartisan H.R. 4574 that will restore the honor and dignity these Filipino veterans rightfully deserve.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the United Nations International Day of Peace. In 2002, the United Nations General Assembly declared September 21 as the permanent date for International Peace. Its purpose is to encourage the manifestation of the vital Spirit that unifies us amid our diverse ways. In a time where we are witness to mass violence, acts of genocide, and war, the United Nations International Day of Peace draws attention to the need to implement strategies linking development, security, human rights and peace into a cohesive framework. It also presents an opportunity for citizens of our country to honor the Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World, which emphasizes the need for the international community to recognize and implement strategies to focus on and ensure assistance for children exposed to harmful and violent situations. On this day when we focus on the goal of individual and collective progress toward building cultures of peace, we must pause to remember the tragic loss of 2,683 fallen American heroes and the estimated 48,000 civilians in Iraq who have lost their lives due to war and violence. As the lone remaining superpower, America serves as a model for other nations, and it is our duty to lead other nations to peace. On this International Day of Peace, we must reflect actions our nation can take to alleviate tensions and causes of conflict, such as bringing our troops home safely using an exit strategy that is executed with accountability and diplomacy and which helps achieve harmony among other nations. As a proud representative of California's 15th Congressional District, I am committed to devoting myself and my district to building Cultures of Peace for the children of the world and for future generations. My constituents and I hope that the acts of peace we perform on this day serve to strengthen the ongoing legacy of democracy, liberty and equality within our country.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, on Monday July 24th, I was unavoidably detained due to family matters I had to attend to in Seattle, WA and was not present for rollcall votes on that day. Had I been present I would have voted: ``Yea'' on rollcall 394, to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a pilot program under which up to 15 States may issue electronic Federal migratory bird hunting stamps. ``Yea'' on rollcall 395, to reduce temporarily the royalty required to be paid for sodium produced on Federal lands, and for other purposes. ``Yea'' on rollcall 396, to establish a grant program whereby moneys collected from violations of the corporate average fuel economy program are used to expand infrastructure necessary to increase the availability of alternative fuels.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor Mary Tsukamoto for her commitment to educating young people in the Elk Grove Unified School District and to advocating for the Japanese-American community. With the use of the curriculum that she developed in the Elk Grove School District and the naming of the Mary Tsukamoto Elementary School in Sacramento, CA, Ms. Tsukamoto has been honored since her passing 8 years ago. Born in 1915 into an immigrant family in San Francisco, Mary Tsukamoto and her four siblings attended segregated schools throughout childhood. In 1942, when Mary was just 27, she, her husband, Al, and their daughter, Marielle, were sent to an internment camp in Arkansas. Following that dark period in her life, Mary Tsukamoto emerged determined to fight for Japanese-American causes. As an Elk Grove School District teacher for 25 years, Mary developed an educational curriculum addressing the treatment of Asian-Americans in the United States. This curriculum, ``Time of Remembrance,'' is a living history program featuring interviews, photographs, and artifacts from the internment camps compiled by Mary Tsukamoto. The motto for ``Time of Remembrance'' is that ``never again'' should an American lose his or her fundamental rights. After her retirement from teaching in the mid-1970s, Mary Tsukamoto continued to teach and lead the community. Her leadership contributed to the successful effort to seek a federal apology and restitution for Japanese-American internment. Subsequently, Mary co-authored a book with Elizabeth Pinkerton titled We the People: A Story of Internment in America, and worked closely with the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC to create an exhibit about Japanese-American internment. This activism, along with her outstanding teaching record, was recognized during this year's National Women's History Month and at receptions in both California and Washington, DC. Recently Mary was selected as one of ten National Women's History Month honorees by the National Women's History Project. With this honor, her life story was featured on XM radio and on the Lifetime TV Channel. This year's National Women's History Month theme was ``Women: Builders of Communities and Dreams,'' a fitting theme to describe the life of a community hero. As a civil rights activist, author, and teacher, Mary Tsukamoto affected the lives and perspectives of many Americans. Her legacy is seen in civil rights legislation and the state-wide use of her curriculum. It is in recognition and admiration of Mary Tsukamoto that I stand in honor today. Her life's work is remembered and respected.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Magen David Adom (MDA) Society for securing full membership in the International Red Cross. For many years the Magen David Adom Society was denied the right to join the International Red Cross. The Red Cross informed them that they could not use the Star of David, a symbol integral to their identity as the first aid and disaster relief organization of the Jewish State. The International Red Cross informed them that in order to join they would have to abandon their symbol and take on a symbol like the Christian cross or Moslem red crescent. Standing fast to their principles, they continued to use the Star of David as their symbol as they dedicated themselves to excellence and rose as one of the premier ambulatory organizations in the world. In addition to their extensive record in providing aid to those in need all throughout Israel, they have excelled through their contributions to medical relief efforts throughout the world. The United States owes a great debt to MDA's assistance during the Hurricane Katrina disaster where they used their expertise and state-of-the-art technology to save the lives of countless Americans. Their relief work abroad is extensive, including their recent disaster relief work in Turkey, Sri Lanka, and Romania. In light of the MDA's role as a leader in the field, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice diligently worked with our allies abroad to allow MDA to join the International Red Cross. Through her work and the efforts of countless others, Israel's medical society has finally been admitted to the International Red Cross when a neutral symbol, the Red Diamond, was accepted as an alternative symbol. Israel is now free to use the Star of David within a diamond as their international insignia as a full-fledged member of the International Red Cross. This alliance between the Magen David Adom Society and the International Committee of the Red Cross is truly a monumental step for all humanitarian efforts and hopefully can serve as a model of international goodwill.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 721, legislation introduced by Congresswoman Hilda L. Solis that I am proud to have cosponsored. H. Res. 721 supports the goals and ideals of a Salvadoran-American Day (El Dia del Salvadoreno). Currently, there are more than 900,000 Salvadoran Americans living in the United States, with the majority of them living in California, the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, and New York. In the Los Angeles metropolitan area alone there are nearly 400,000 Salvadoran-Americans. Today, El Dia del Salvadoreno is celebrated among the Latino community in California. This celebration of Salvadoran traditions dates back to 1525 when the city of Villa De San Salvador was founded. The history of the United States is a rich and enduring tapestry woven with the threads of many remarkable cultures and events, and the lives, work, and artistry of Salvadoran-Americans have added strength, vitality, and purpose to that tapestry. As a former Peace Corp volunteer in El Salvador, I experienced first hand the culture, hard work and dedication of the people. I commend Salvadoran-Americans for their resilience and contribution to the stability and well-being of the United States. I also thank the estimated 800 Salvadoran nationals who are currently serving in the U.S. military for their efforts on behalf of the security of our country. The Salvadoran-American community continues to make great economic and cultural contributions to daily life in the United States, and I am proud to support H. Res. 721 and the goals and ideals of Salvadoran- American Day.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Chairman, just very briefly, the Tri-Caucus strongly believes that the VRA continues to effectively combat discrimination and protect the gains achieved for minority voters. It is well documented that language assistance is needed and used by voters. For instance, the U.S. DOJ has reported that in one year, registration rates among Spanish and Filipino-speaking American citizens grew by 21 percent and registration among Vietnamese-speaking American citizens increased over 37 percent after San Diego County started providing language assistance. In Apache County, Arizona, the Navajos have increased their turnout; and the Navajo Code Talkers, who sacrificed their lives during World War II, were able to participate in this process.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I would like to associate myself with all the comments that have been shared with this country on this floor this morning. My mother is a U.S. citizen. She was born in 1916. My father was born in 1914. Both U.S. citizens. My father was a linguist, so English, Japanese, Cantonese, Filipino were not a difficult thing for him. My mother was born in a family of farmers who believed that women should stay home and raise families, did not have the opportunity for the education that my father had. Her experiences are not much different from those who come to this country and choose to be U.S. citizens and would like to use their primary language as a way to understand and comprehend fully that which is before them. Prior to 1964, poll taxes, intelligence, literacy and property tests were used to sabotage the rights of voting citizens and circumvent the Constitution. Voting franchise came haltingly and very, very piecemeal to Asian Americans. Reauthorizing the Voting Rights Act will continue the franchise and the guarantee of votes for all people and all citizens of this country.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Chairman, I would like to associate myself with the comments of my colleague from Florida (Mr. Lincoln Diaz-Balart). Mr. Chairman, as Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, I rise also today to oppose the Stearns amendment. Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act provides protection to enable every American citizen to exercise their most fundamental and important right, the right to vote. In short, voting is power. Unfortunately, even today, many minority voters face impediments or barriers to voting, including language barriers. The Stearns amendment will eliminate funding for enforcement of section 203. When that happens, States and localities will be free to discriminate against tax-paying American citizens and impede their right to vote. Section 203 has support from both Democrats and Republicans in Congress and from Ronald Reagan to Bill Clinton to George W. Bush. The Tri-Caucus strongly believes that VRA continues to effectively combat discrimination and protect the gains achieved for minority voters. For instance, the U.S. Department of Justice has reported that, in one year, registration rates among Spanish and Filipino-speaking American citizens grew by 21 percent and registration among Vietnamese-speaking American citizens increased over 37 percent after San Diego County started providing language assistance. In Apache County, Arizona, the Department's enforcement activities have resulted in a 26 percent increase in Native American turnout in four years, allowing Navajo Code talkers, veterans, and the elderly to participate in elections for the first time. The Stearns Amendment to H.R. 5672 would undermine the Voting Rights Act reauthorization process and effectively disenfranchise language minority voters through the appropriations process. Mr. Chairman, I strongly urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on the Stearns amendment (#21) to H.R. 5672, the Science, State, Justice, Commerce Appropriations Act for FY 2007.

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Chairman, as Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), I rise today to oppose the Stearns Amendment (#21) to H.R. 5672, FY 2007 Science, State, Justice and Commerce Appropriations Bill. Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act, or VRA, provides protections to enable every American citizen to exercise their most fundamental and important right--the right to vote. Voting is the most important tool Americans have to influence the policies our government adopts that affect every aspect of our lives. In short, voting is power. Unfortunately, even today, many minority voters face impediments or barriers to voting including language barriers. The Stearns Amendment (#21) would eliminate funding for Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act (VRA). By eliminating funding for Section 203 enforcement, states and localities would be free to discriminate against taxpaying American citizens and impede their right to vote. The VRA that includes Section 203 has received bi-partisan support from both Democrats and Republicans in Congress and from Ronald Reagan to Bill Clinton to George W. Bush. The Tri-Caucus strongly believes the VRA continues to effectively combat discrimination and protect the gains achieved for minority voters. It is well documented that language assistance is needed and used by voters. For instance, the U.S. Department of Justice has reported that in one year, registration rates among Spanish- and Filipino-speaking American citizens grew by 21 percent and registration among Vietnamese- speaking American citizens increased over 37 percent after San Diego County started providing language assistance. In Apache County, Arizona, the Department's enforcement activities have resulted in a 26 percent increase in Native American turnout in 4 years, allowing Navajo Code talkers, veterans, and the elderly to participate in elections for the first time. The Stearns Amendment to H.R. 5672 would undermine the Voting Rights Act reauthorization process and effectively disenfranchise language minority voters through the appropriations process. Mr. Chairman, I strongly urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on the Stearns Amendment (#21) to H.R. 5672, the Science, State, Justice, Commerce Appropriations Act for FY 2007.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of World Refugee Day. As chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, I stand with my colleagues to articulate the importance of providing aid to refugees. Today we call attention to the plight of refugees, celebrating their courage and resilience, and renewing our commitment to solving refugee problems. Established in 2000 by the United Nations General Assembly, World Refugee Day is celebrated every June 20th. Previously commemorated as African Refugee Day, many countries and regions have held their own Refugee Days to help acknowledge the U.N.'s formal recognition of refugees in 1951. June 20th marks a day of global solidarity in an international effort to help refugees. From Africa to Asia, the plight of refugees is not owned by one people or one country. Stemming from cultural, political and economic events, there are over 8.4 million refugees worldwide. Often uprooted from their homes and seeking safe haven in other countries, refugees find themselves in dire situations in need of aid and relief. Founded as a nation of immigrants, we must recognize that many of our Nation's citizens are descendants of refugees or refugees themselves. From the potato famine in Ireland to the war in Vietnam, the U.S. has an established relationship of helping our global neighbors find refuge. While we debate comprehensive immigration reform, we must remember the contributions of refugees and be sure to include provisions to aid those displaced by situations they have no control over. Additionally, the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina has brought the issue of refugees to our own backyard. Many of those hard hit by Katrina were displaced from their homes, unsure of what to do. Lacking relief efforts and aid, our own citizens experienced the consequences of a situation they had no control over. Let us look to Katrina as an example of the course of action we must take in order for us to prevent situations where those in need are left in despair. As a Nation, we must protect the basic human rights of refugees and ensure that they will not be returned involuntarily to a country where they face persecution. In addition to protecting human rights, we must do all that we can to provide foreign aid and assistance to nations that help refugees. Providing shelter, food, water and medical care in the immediate aftermath of any refugee exodus must be a priority. Furthermore, as chair of the Congressional Ethiopia and Ethiopian American Caucus, I had the privilege of visiting Ethiopia and interacting with refugees. I saw first hand the cultural, political, and economic causes of their suffering. Now, more than ever, I believe that the U.S. should be the leader in the international effort to combat displacement. Mr. Speaker, I wholeheartedly support World Refugee Day and ensuring that refugees across the globe receive the aid that they deserve. I urge my colleagues to join me to address this important issue.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, we are on the floor today debating a most serious issue. However, rather than truly addressing solutions, the resolution before us is filled with platitudes which seek to vindicate the ill advised policies of the President's war on Iraq. Rather than allowing a meaningful and constructive debate on Iraq, the Republican Leadership decided not to allow any amendments to their resolution. It is a travesty that the elected representatives of the American people are prevented today from offering policy alternatives that might actually affect the shape of U.S. policy in Iraq. This debate had the potential to mark a turning point to the current vacuum of congressional oversight over the Bush Administration as it pursues its misguided and incompetently planned war in Iraq. Rather than offering real solutions, the Republican Majority in Congress has decided to rubber stamp the President's campaign in Iraq. The American people know what has happened, and demand more than just a rubber stamp from their representatives in Congress. Just as in the case of Vietnam, they see a White House which misled our country into war. Using shoddy evidence and insinuations about the connections between Iraq and al Qaeda, the Bush Administration took our country to war to face the ``imminent threat'' of an Iraq with nuclear weapons. Despite claims by the Republicans and the Bush Administration, there was no significant relationship between Iraq and al Qaeda. Iraq had no weapons of mass destruction, a fact which Hans Blix, the head of the UN weapons inspection team, recently stated would have become clear had President Bush not ignored our allies' requests that we give the inspectors a few more months before invading. After its claims about the weapons of mass destruction were proven to be incorrect, the Administration has continually shifted its rationale for the invasion. As though it were not bad enough that we went into a war in an incompetent and deceptive manner, it is unforgivable that our troops were sent into this war without adequate planning and equipment. Our troops are out there putting their lives on the line, yet the President decided to follow the advice of misguided ideologues in overruling the plans developed by experts before the war. One former commander of U.S. Central command, General Anthony Zinni, said that ``ten years worth of planning were thrown away; troop levels dismissed out of hand . . . these were not tactical mistakes, these were strategic mistakes, mistakes of policy made back here.'' There are better ways to support our troops than to send more of them to their death in a poorly planned war. It's time to shift our approach from the ineffectual policies of a President who only listens to advisors with pre-determined hawkish mindsets. As a member of the Out of Iraq Caucus, I stand with my colleagues in urging Congress to urgently re-evaluate the failed policies of the President. Representative Jack Murtha has drafted a resolution that encourages the Iraqi people to take charge of their own security and lays the groundwork for bringing our troops home. These are the sort of options we should be debating today if we truly want to demonstrate our support for our troops. Instead, the Republican Leadership has put forth this political ploy. Congress should fulfill their Constitutional responsibility to exercise oversight instead of continuing to place blind faith in the President as he pursues the war in Iraq. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I do not support this shameful attempt to provide an illusion of oversight.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate Jewish American History Month and the contributions made to our country by Jewish Americans. With a culture that strongly values education and community, they have enriched our culture and contributed to the economic and cultural vitality of our Nation. My community in Silicon Valley wouldn't be what it is today without the contributions of Jewish Americans. Jewish immigrants came to our country, hoping to fulfill their dreams by participating in the American promise of socioeconomic mobility and cultural tolerance. The stories of their successes in our country are greatly inspiring. Andy Grove, for instance, fled his home in Hungary during the Hungarian Revolution with his family under the cover of night, and immigrated to the United States. From these humble beginnings he eventually became the Chairman and CEO of one of the greatest economic engines in the world, Intel. Sergey Brin, another innovative Jewish leader, came to America with his family to escape anti-Semitism. Through hard work and diligent studies, he founded one of the most innovative companies in the world: Google. Examples abound of other Jewish Americans who lead our community in innovation and philanthropy, including Jeffrey Skoll, Ken Levy, Eli Reinhard and Eic Benhamou. America's ethnic diversity is a source of our country's strength, and the Jewish American community stands as a bedrock for our nation.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank my colleagues for sending so many staff members to today's ``AIM for the B'' briefing designed to elevate awareness of chronic hepatitis B, a serious health issue in the United States. This briefing emphasized the importance of increasing diagnosis, screening, and treatment, particularly for Asian Pacific Islander Americans who are disproportionately affected with the disease. I joined my colleague, Rep. Charlie Dent of Pennsylvania, and representatives from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institutes of Health (NIH), patient advocacy organizations, physicians, and patients to convey the potential consequences of chronic hepatitis B and to layout actions needed to increase awareness and address the continued progression of this infectious disease. Rep. Dent and I have introduced H.R. 4550, the National Hepatitis B Act, which would authorize additional resources to more effectively research, track, diagnose, treat and manage chronic hepatitis B. I urge my colleagues to recognize chronic hepatitis B as a potentially life- threatening disease and to help us enact this bill in the 109th Congress. Together, we can make a difference in addressing this national and global public health Issue. We are extremely fortunate to have vaccines and treatments available that were not available 25 years ago. With treatment, patients have a better chance at beating this disease and preventing its progression to liver disease. However, there is much work that remains to be done. We need to increase public education about chronic hepatitis B and its relation to liver disease, help infected patients and their physicians identify and manage this disease, and work to increase the length and quality of life for patients chronically infected with chronic hepatitis B. Unfortunately, vaccination rates remain low and the hepatitis B virus continues to be one of the most commonly reported vaccine preventable diseases in the United States. Mr. Speaker, as Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, I am especially concerned about the tremendous impact that chronic hepatitis B has on the Asian Pacific Islander American community. As many as 1 in 10 Asian Pacific Islander Americans have chronic hepatitis B. Today's ``AIM for the B'' briefing and next week's National Hepatitis B Awareness Week events in California and New York are encouraging steps in the right direction. We have the ability to stop the spread and progression of this disease and it is the responsibility to help our constituents affected by chronic hepatitis B.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join with my fellow Americans and my colleagues in Congress to celebrate one of the most honorable and significant professions. National Teacher Day is an opportunity for us to recognize the extraordinary effort of our Nation's educators and reflect on the profound impact of their work. As a former teacher and school administrator, I am particularly aware of the challenges that educators face, such as over-crowded and under funded schools. Teachers are more highly educated than ever and bring a higher level of expertise to their work than their predecessors. The majority of American teachers have at least one advanced degree and 49 percent have at least 15 years of experience in the classroom. Teacher salaries, however, have not increased commensurate with greater teaching experience and higher levels of education. Low salaries and general discontent with working conditions drive capable, experienced teachers out of the profession, and by 2014, schools nationwide will need another 3.9 million teachers. The numbers of male teachers and teachers of color does not reflect gender and racial trends in the general population. An increase in salaries for all teachers, as well as better recruitment and retention policies for minority and male teachers may help to rectify this problem. I hope that National Teacher Day will serve as a reminder to Americans of the crucial role that teachers play in our society. It is imperative that we increase funding for education and make teacher's salaries commensurate with their experience, education, and hard work. Teachers help to shape future generations, and they deserve both our respect and our continuing support. Please join me in thanking them on this special day.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. I want to thank the gentleman from Texas for his wonderful words, and we shall be there. Mr. Speaker, I would like to bring up now the gentlewoman from California, Congresswoman Juanita Millender-McDonald.

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize the gentleman from Texas, Congressman Al Green.

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from American Samoa for adding so much information to this presentation, because I think that when people listen and hear what it is that we are sharing with this country, there may be many, many people out there that say, I did not know that. Although we talk about many firsts, accomplishments from members of our communities, I am sure also, that those who are first expect never to be last, that they would continue, that we would continue to contribute to this country. And in order to contribute to our country, we have to also defend the Constitution. Defending the Constitution and defending the rights of our people also entails the voting rights. This past week, H.R. 9, the Voting Rights Act reauthorization was introduced. The right to vote is keenly felt by the Asian and Pacific Islander American community. Chinese Americans could not vote until the Chinese Exclusion Acts of 1882 and 1892 were repealed in 1943. First-generation Japanese Americans could not vote until 1952 because of the racial restrictions contained in the 1790 naturalization law. With the markup in Judiciary Committee tomorrow, we need to ensure that important provisions such as section 203, which has been very vital to the API community's ability to participate in the electoral process, gets reauthorized in this Congress. Language-minority citizens were often denied needed assistance at the polls. In the 1975 amendments to the Voting Rights Act, such assistance became required in certain situations, and we need to ensure that these provisions continue to remain in current law. Mr. Speaker, as Americans, we need to ensure that our children receive a quality education, but also provide adequate teacher training, funds for after-school and extracurricular activities and ensuring that college is affordable for every student that deserves to receive a higher education. According to the U.S. Census, 50 percent of Asians age 25 and over have a Bachelor's degree or higher level of education. However, I would like to emphasize that when we disaggregate the data, when we tease apart the information for the API subgroups, we find that the model minority stereotype is in fact a myth. Only 9.1 percent of Cambodian Americans, 7.4 percent Hmong Americans, 7.6 Lao Americans, 19.5 percent Vietnamese Americans and 16 percent of native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders who are 25 years and older have a Bachelor's degree. These numbers show that we must do a better job of disaggregating data and information about our communities to assess the needs of those hard-working Americans who still falter behind. To address the disparities between subgroups of the larger APIA community, we need Congress to pass the Asian American and Pacific Islander Serving Institutions bill, which my colleague from Oregon, Congressman David Wu, will be introducing later this month. This legislation will provide Federal grants to colleges and universities that have an enrollment of undergraduate students that is at least 10 percent APIA and at least 50 percent of its degree-seeking students receive financial assistance. As a caucus, we will work to increase the availability of loan assistance, scholarships and programs to allow APIA 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 APIA students. Mr. Speaker, a common misperception of APIAs is that, as a group, we face fewer health problems than other racial and ethnic groups. In fact, APIAs as a group and specific populations within this group do experience disparities in health and health care. For example, APIAs have the highest hepatitis B rates of any racial group in the United States. APIAs are also five times more likely to develop cervical and liver cancer than any other ethnic and racial group. According to the Census Bureau, 18 percent of APIAs went without insurance for the entire year in 2000. This means that the uninsured are not only more likely to go without care for serious medical conditions, they are also more likely to go without routine care, less likely to have a regular source of care, less likely to use preventive services and have fewer visits per year. At the same time, without appropriate language translation services or properly translated materials, limited-English-proficient immigrants cannot receive adequate care, as well as State and Federal benefits for which they may be eligible. In the APIA community, 76 percent of Hmong Americans, 61 percent of Vietnamese Americans, 52 percent of Korean Americans and 39 percent of Tongans speak limited English. Therefore, eliminating health care disparities in the APIA community must include data collection, linguistically appropriate and culturally competent services, and access to health insurance. CAPAC has been working with both the Congressional Hispanic and Black Caucuses on the Health Care Equality and Accountability Act to eliminate ethnic and racial health disparities for all of our communities. I have introduced the Health Care Equality and Accountability Act, which will address expanding the health care safety net by diversifying the health care workforce, combating diseases that disproportionately affect racial and ethnic minorities, emphasizing prevention and behavioral health and promoting the collection and dissemination of data and enhanced medical research. Mr. Speaker, I would also like to extend my gratitude to the patriotic men and women serving our country in the military, including the 60,813 APIAs serving on active duty in the U.S. armed services, as well as the 28,066 in the Reserves and the National Guard. I also commend and thank the 351,000 APIA veterans who fought for this country. I would like to highlight and honor the Filipino veterans as my colleague had done who have not been compensated and recognized for their service, which I believe is a national disservice to these brave veterans. As a country, it is our duty to ensure that these veterans have equal access to all the benefits and treatment that other veterans receive. We believe that our troops should be taken care of when we send them into battle and that they should be given the respect when they return home. Therefore, I stand with my colleagues, Congressman Issa and Congressman Filner, to support their bipartisan legislation, H.R. 4574, to restore full benefits to these veterans who fought for our Nation during World War II. With Congressman Issa taking the lead and Congressman Filner in a leadership position in the Veterans' Affairs Committee, we have a great chance to get this bill to the floor in honor of the centennial celebration of Filipinos in Hawaii and to keep the word of Congress that we gave to these brave veterans of World War II. I am proud of our community's accomplishment, Mr. Speaker, and I would like to recognize many of the APIA firsts in areas of art, film, sports, sciences, academia, and politics. In each effort, these folks, who were first, expect that they are not the last: In 1847, Yung Wing, the first Chinese American graduated from Yale University and the first APIA to graduate from a U.S. college; In 1863, William Ah Hang, who was Chinese American, became the first APIA to enlist in the U.S. Navy during the Civil War; In 1944, An Wang, a Chinese American who invented the magnetic core memory revolutionized computing and served as a standard method for memory retrieval and storage; In 1946, Wing F. Ong, a Chinese American from Arizona, became the first APIA to be elected to State office; In 1948, Victoria Manalo Draves, a Filipino American diver, became the first woman to win Olympic gold medals in both the 10 meter platform and the 3 meter spring board events; In 1956, Dalip Singh Saud, the first Indian American to be elected to Congress; In 1965, Patsy Takemoto Mink, the first Japanese woman and woman of color elected to Congress who championed title IX; In 1985, Haing Ngor, a Cambodian American, became the first APIA to win an Academy Award for his role in the movie ``Killing Fields''; In 1985, Ellison Onizuka, a Japanese American, became the first APIA astronaut whose life was lost in a launching tragedy. In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, the Asian American Pacific Islander American community continues to fight for our civil liberties and our civil rights as Americans. Even after the internment of the Japanese Americans during World War II, we as a community did not grow embittered or cowed by discrimination; instead, we progressed and moved forward. I am proud to be a member of the APIA community because we continue to serve as positive contributors to our many communities by investing in education, business, and cultural opportunities for all Americans. In closing, this Asian Pacific American Heritage Month we take pride in our history, accomplishments, and the promise of our future as we continue to pave the way for a better tomorrow in the name of dreams and challenges of Asian Pacific Americans. Mr. Speaker, the 6 years I have served here I learned that Asian Americans have a unique contribution to make to this body and to this country, and that we because of our history in this country uniquely understand and recognize that our Constitution is never tested in times of tranquility. Our Constitution is always tested in times of trauma, terror, tension and tragedy. And to the point where we can internalize the principles of our Bill of Rights and our Constitution, and to the point where we understand that defending this Constitution and its people will we be able to face as Members of this body, face overwhelming public approval which could be wrong and stand up to them, say it is wrong because it does not follow the Constitution. These are the kinds of heritage and contributions Asian Americans have made, will make and continue to make in this country so that we may fulfill the phrase in the preamble of our Constitution that says ``to form a more perfect union.'' In the words of Congressman Al Green, ``There will be a tomorrow.'' Mr. Speaker, I yield to my friend.

Mr. HONDA. Thank you, madam leader. Mr. Speaker, if I may just suspend my remarks and invite my colleague from American Samoa to share his comments with us, the great Congressman who has been here for quite a few years, Congressman Eni Faleomavaega. (Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. HONDA. I thank my gracious colleague from California for your wonderful words. Mr. Speaker, I would like to rise today to recognize the Asian and Pacific Islander community and to commemorate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. As Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus we call CAPAC, I feel privileged to be here tonight to speak of the Asian and Pacific Islander history and accomplishments. Additionally, I will be highlighting those issues affecting our communities and the priorities for CAPAC. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment to acknowledge and remember extraordinary community leaders, long-time friends of the APIA community that we have lost this year, Judge Delbert Wong and journalist Sam Chu Lin. Sam Chu Lin, who began reporting in the 1960s, worked as a correspondent for CBS and Fox. Sam Chu Lin was also a respected print journalist, writing columns and articles on Asian Pacific affairs for Asian Week, Rafu Shimpo and the San Francisco Examiner. Judge Delbert Wong was the first Chinese American judge in the continental United States. Delbert Wong was a fourth generation American of Chinese heritage. After earning his undergraduate degree in business at U.C. Berkeley, Wong served in World War II as a B-17 navigator and was awarded numerous medals. After the war, Judge Wong faced a choice between joining his family's grocery business or entering law school. This was not met with much support from his parents, who would say, Who would hire you, a Chinese, they would constantly say. Undeterred, Wong completed his law degree in 1948, becoming the first Chinese American graduate of Stanford Law School. After graduation, he was appointed deputy legislative counsel, serving the California State legislature in Sacramento and later appointed deputy attorney general, becoming the first Asian American to hold those positions. In 1992, Congress passed a law that officially designated May of each year as Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. I want to thank the following people who have worked to designate May as Asian Pacific Heritage Month: the late Congressman Frank Horton from New York; my good friend, Secretary of Transportation, Norman Mineta; Senators Daniel Inouye and the late Senator Spark, or Sparky, Matsunaga. Some important dates include the first 10 days of May, which coincide with two important anniversaries, the arrival of Japanese American immigrants on May 7, 1843 to California, settling in El Dorado County; and the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869, by the Chinese laborers. The first APIA settlement in this country dates to 1763 when Filipinos escaped imprisonment aboard Spanish galleons and established a community near New Orleans. Today, the APIA community is one of the fastest-growing populations in the country, with over 13 million APIAs living in the U.S. and representing 4.5 percent of the total U.S. population. My home State of California has both the largest APIA population, approximately 4.6 million, and the largest numerical increase of APIAs since April of 2000. Mr. Speaker, this year's theme for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, Dreams and Challenges for Asian Pacific Americans, reflects hardships overcome by the APIA community while highlighting the hope we maintain as we contribute to the prosperity of this great Nation. This year, I would like to particularly honor the centennial celebration of Filipinos in Hawaii and the 50th year since Dalip Singh Saund became the first Asian American Sikh to be elected to the U.S. Congress. On December 20, 1906, a group of Filipino plantation workers arrived in Hawaii aboard the Doric, leading the first wave of Filipinos to migrate to Hawaii. The first group of Filipinos was followed by subsequent waves of Filipino immigrants who came to settle in Hawaii and, also, other parts of the United States, contributing to a migration pattern that continues up to this day. Today, Filipinos with their rich culture and heritage have become a positive influence on mainstream life in Hawaii, with many of them succeeding prominently in their respected professions, in business, politics, government, the academe and the arts. 2006 also marks the 50th year since Dalip Singh Saund became the first Asian American to be elected to the U.S. Congress. While in office, Dalip Singh Saund forged a measure that allowed South Asians to become U.S. citizens. As our community expands, we must also continue to educate our fellow citizens about the uniqueness of our experiences. The APIA community is often misperceived as monolithic. Our community is extremely diverse in our languages, ethnicities and culture. Aggregating such a large and diverse group makes it difficult to understand the unique problems faced by the individual and subgroups, such as the Southeast Asian Americans, who are refugees that fled their home countries in the late 1970s and the early 1980s. As a country, we need to better address the needs of the APIA community when we discuss disaster preparedness, comprehensive immigration reform, voting rights, education, health issues and veterans. National disasters such as the September 11th terrorist attacks, Hurricane Rita and Hurricane Katrina, exposed serious gaps in the delivery of public services to limited-English-proficient communities, or LEP communities. In fact, the lack of linguistic and culturally competent services within FEMA and related Federal agencies prevented many LEP individuals from accessing critical disaster-relief services such as cash assistance, health care, mental health care, housing and small business loans. As a result, at least 15,000 families from the gulf coast suffered unnecessary hardships. Many of the Asian Americans in the gulf coast region, hit by Katrina, were shrimpers and fishermen and were significant contributors to the local economy and fishing industry for years. Plaquemines Parish in southern Louisiana is one of the locations of the main fishing and shrimp sites. Plaquemines Parish commercial landings average $441,181,891 in retail annually. Plaquemines Parish has an average annual landing of 28.8 million pounds of shrimp, valued at $238.3 million in retail value. Extensive reports from FEMA community relations and local fishermen determined that all but 20 percent of the fishing boats were destroyed in the hurricanes. In order for these families to go back to their old way of life, approximately 430 boats must be repaired and in the water before shrimp season begins May 15. Many of the fishermen, due to cultural and linguistic barriers, were not accustomed to the American way of accessing public assistance, navigating the intricacies and bureaucracies of public agencies and commercial transactions. The fishermen have been denied Small Business Administration loans, which would help them rebuild their boats, due to the fact that they need to buy insurance prior to getting a loan. But one cannot buy insurance for a boat until it is in a working order. Fishermen must also prove that they can pay back the loan. But without income, SBA is reluctant to give loans. Due to the complications of the system and of the linguistic and cultural barriers that are posed to them, the Asian Pacific community faces an even bigger struggle. This month, I will introduce legislation to improve disaster relief and preparedness services for individuals with limited English proficiency by requiring the Federal Emergency Management Agency to bolster Federal resources and outreach to community organizations that serve the limited-English population. Mr. Speaker, our Nation was founded by immigrants who valued freedom and liberty, who sought to be free from persecution, from a tyrant government. Families fled their home countries to seek refuge in this great Nation, because they too believed in liberty, justice and freedom for all. APIA families who seek to be reunited with their family members overseas have not seen their dreams come true because of our broken immigration system. Over 1.5 million Asians are caught in the family immigration backlog, and immediate family members from overseas wait as long as 10 years to reunite with their families in the U.S. Mothers and fathers wait to reunite with their children. But due to the long years of waiting, their children may have already reached the age of 18, and their families will have to start the process all over again. As we honor the 41st anniversary of the Immigration Nationality Act of 1965 and the 31st anniversary of the Refugee Act of 1975, we need to remember that our country was founded and created to protect our freedom and civil liberties. I believe we need comprehensive immigration reform to fix our broken immigration system. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a break in my presentation to offer the microphone and the floor to our Democratic leader, a great leader from the State of California, from the great City of San Francisco, someplace where you always leave your heart, our leader, Nancy Pelosi.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of ``Cover the Uninsured Week,'' which runs from May 1-7, 2006. This annual nationwide campaign asks Americans from all walks of life to demand that health coverage for Americans be a top priority. I look forward to the day when we will no longer need such a week because all Americans would have the coverage they need. Mr. Speaker, as it stands, nearly 46 million Americans--8 million of whom are children--have no health care coverage. The health insurance and health care crisis in this country is worsening each year. As health care costs continue to rise, every family's health care coverage is at risk. Job-based health insurance continues to decline, and for millions of low-income workers, health care coverage is not even an option. I am particularly dismayed about the high rates of uninsurance for certain populations. Californians have among the highest rates of uninsurance in the Nation. More than one in five Californians--nearly 6.6 million children and adults under age 65--were uninsured for all or part of the year. Racial and ethnic minorities also have high rates of uninsurance. Racial and ethnic minorities comprise about one-third of the U.S. population but disproportionately comprise 52 percent of the uninsured. One in five African Americans are uninsured, one in three Latino Americans is uninsured, and nearly one in three Native Americans and Alaska Natives are uninsured. As Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), I want to highlight the fact that one out of every five Asian Pacific Islander Americans does not have health insurance. Overall, Asian Pacific Islander Americans are far more likely to be uninsured than non-Latino Whites (21 percent vs. 14 percent). Uninsurance rates vary significantly by subgroup. For example, 34 percent of Korean Americans, 27 percent of Southeast Asian Americans, and about 20 percent of Chinese Americans, Filipino Americans, and South Asian Americans do not have health insurance. The health of our Nation is dependent upon the health of our citizens. We need a healthy society if we are to remain globally competitive in education, technology, business, and other areas. Our top priority in Congress should be to find solutions to transform our healthcare system into one that is comprehensive, universal, and sustainable. Our Federal investment must reflect this priority to provide coverage for the 46 million Americans across the country who deserve a guaranteed health insurance system. We must expand our Federal safety net, stop slashing Medicare and Medicaid, and work to eliminate racial and ethnic health disparities. We owe it to our parents, children, and future generations to solve this problem.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and pay tribute to Peter Luther, one of the 15th district's most distinguished community and business leaders. Peter has dedicated the last six years of his life to creating a world without limits for people with diabetes both in California and all over the world. Peter joined LifeScan Inc., a Johnson & Johnson company headquartered in Milpitas, CA, in 2000 to oversee U.S. sales and marketing. Peter's responsibilities soon expanded to global sales and marketing, eventually leading to his current position as president of LifeScan. Peter's commitment to people with diabetes and their families has positioned LifeScan as the leading global diabetes management company that partners with patients and healthcare professionals around the world to offer innovation that improves the quality of life. Over 21 million people in the U.S. alone have diabetes, and tens of millions more are at risk to develop this chronic condition in the near future. Peter has worked tirelessly to provide the most advanced, accurate, and clinically-based quality diabetes management products and services available today. Peter's professional accomplishments have consistently reflected the Johnson & Johnson credo that guides all company employees to put patients first. Peter recently developed an industry-patient advocacy partnership called the Diabetes Care Coalition that created the ``Know Your A1C'' campaign. The media campaign carries the message of awareness about sound diabetes management and tight glycemic control to people with diabetes through public media outlets. The American Diabetes Association named Peter ``Father of the Year 2004'' and inducted him into their honorary Pinnacle Society. However, of all the professional accolades Peter has received during his impressive career, I believe he is most proud of his devotion to his family as a committed husband and father. While Peter's wife Dina and their three children remain his nonnegotiable priority, he has been able to surpass business goals and at the same time strike a workfamily balance with humility, grace, and strength. Mr. Speaker, I wish Peter well in his personal and professional endeavors as he departs LifeScan and California for a major corporate promotion that will relocate him and his family to New Jersey, and I thank him for his exceptional service to our community.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address the persistent gender pay gap. More than four decades ago, President Kennedy attempted to address pay disparities between men and women. The Equal Pay Act of 1963 made it unlawful for employers to pay women lower wages than men for equivalent jobs. Unfortunately, this law has not eradicated pay inequality. On average, women still earn about 77 cents for every dollar earned by men. Though women earn about 18 cents more compared to men than they did in 1963, they still face significant and intolerable wage discrimination. Women of color face even greater discrimination on the payroll. In 2004, African American women earned 67 cents for each dollar earned by white men, and Hispanic women earned a little over half of what white men earned. These pay differences persist even in equivalent positions for employees with the same levels of education and expertise. Worse yet, pay equality for some positions has actually lost ground in the past few years. Female managers earned less than their male counterparts in 2000 than they did in 1995. Studies have shown that even when women's career choices match those of men and they work the same number of hours in equivalent positions, they earn less than men. Wage inequality is a major indicator of gender discrimination in our country. As an original cosponsor of the Paycheck Fairness Act, H.R. 1687, I feel that it is the duty of Congress to address this unacceptable gender disparity. The Paycheck Fairness Act would strengthen provisions of the original Equal Pay Act and would make filing for class action status less onerous. It is well past the time when women should be receiving fair wages for the work that they do. While the overall wage disparity between men and women has decreased since the 1960s, progress has been frustratingly slow. I believe that with appropriate congressional action we can finally reach wage equality for all Americans.