Mike Honda

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Asian American and Pacific Islander community and commemorate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. Before I begin, I would like to recognize the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Wu) former chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, or better known as CAPAC, for his leadership, as well as the current vice chair of the caucus, the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega). As chair of CAPAC, I am proud to stand here to honor the accomplishments and diversity of the Asian American and Pacific Islander community. In 1978, my good friend Norman Mineta and Representative Frank Horton from New York, along with Hawaii's Senators Daniel Inouye and Spark Matsunaga, first introduced the first resolution establishing Asian Pacific American Heritage Week to recognize the ongoing contributions to our Nation of the API population. The first 10 days of May were chosen to coincide with two important anniversaries, the arrival in the United States of the first Japanese immigrants on May 7, 1843, and the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869. In 1992, the month of May was designated as Asian Pacific Heritage Month. I take great pride to see the celebration of our community expand from 10 days to a month. For centuries, America has been enriched by our diverse and rapidly growing API communities and by the contributions that Native Hawaiians, Chamorros, and Samoans have made in their ancestral homelands. The first API settlement in this country dates to 1763, when Filipinos escaped imprisonment aboard Spanish galleons and established a community near New Orleans. Chinese and Japanese immigrants, likewise, started communities in Hawaii and California, where they sought labor and agricultural opportunities. From the time of these settlements, APIs have experienced dual currents of discrimination and assimilation. In the difficult times, APIs were singled out for persecution by such acts as the Exclusion Laws of 1882 and 1924, and the Alien Land Act of 1913, which prohibited API property ownership. This year, 2004, marks the 62nd-year anniversary of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's signing of Executive Order 9066 on February 19, 1942. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, pursuant to which 120,000 Japanese Americans and legal resident aliens were incarcerated in internment camps during World War II. Many of these families lost their property and possessions during the several years they were jailed behind barbed wires. In order to learn the important lessons from our own history, I sponsored House Resolution 56, which sets aside a ``Day of Remembrance'' in memory of the relocation and internment policies of World War II. This year, House Resolution 56 was passed due to the support from my fellow colleagues here in Congress and support from community groups throughout the country. I realize we need to learn from our own history. It is more important than ever to speak up against unjust policies. Also it is more important than ever to educate Americans of the Japanese American experience during World War II, as well as the experience of other groups, like Japanese Latin Americans and certain German and Italian Americans. We must remember that the decision to issue the order was shaped by racial prejudice, war hysteria, and a failure of political leadership. At the newly opened Manzanar National Historic Site Interpretive Center at the Manzanar War Relocation Center, we have the opportunity to explore our past and reflect. Additionally, these past few days, the Enemy Alien Files Consortium has set up their exhibit in the Rayburn foyer. This traveling exhibition, featuring photographs, objects, documents, artifacts, art forms and oral history excerpts examines the little-known history of Italian, German, and Japanese immigrants in the U.S. and from Latin America who were classified as enemy aliens during World War II. Over 31,000 of these enemy aliens were apprehended, detained, and thousands interned based on suspicion and the potential dangerousness they posed to the U.S. national security. The internees were held without charges for indefinite duration and without trial. These internees, including many American-born children and spouses, languished in Army and Department of Justice camps throughout the USA. Mr. Speaker, I would like to now yield to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Linda Sanchez) to speak to this particular item.

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on the subject of my Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.

Mr. HONDA. I thank the gentlewoman from California, and I appreciate her sharing the work that the community-based organizations are doing for the community in order for the members of the community to be able to access and be full participants in our country. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Napolitano), another great leader.

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Abercrombie), and he makes Hawaiians very proud; and we are privileged to have him as one of our members of CAPAC, and I always look toward him to understand how to deliver a speech eloquently.

Mr. HONDA. Mahalo. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Abercrombie) to round out the great State of Hawaii.

Mr. HONDA. I thank the gentlewoman from California. Let me also comment and thank her for her leadership in helping this country understand how diverse and how colorful this country is. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the charismatic gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Case).

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I would like to say to the gentlewoman, in spite of the growth of the Asian American communities, rather than feel threatened, the gentlewoman embraces them; and I think that is why the gentlewoman has been such a welcomed leader for political leadership in our country. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Guam (Ms. Bordallo).

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time, I would like to comment on the White House initiative that was initiated by the past administration of President Clinton. It is now in its fifth year, and the initiative suffers from neglect by the current administration. Executive Order 13216 authorizing the initiative and its corresponding Advisory Commission expired on June 7, 2003; and since that time, both the initiative and the commission have laid dormant. The commission is mandated to develop, monitor, and coordinate Federal efforts to improve API participation in government programs, foster research and data collection for API populations and sub- populations, and increase public and private sector involvement in improving the health and well-being of the API community. API citizens deserve the coordination of services that the commission can facilitate. In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, I wanted to recognize also among other names, the gentleman from California (Mr. Matsui), a member of the Democratic leadership, and Governor Locke, the first API elected as a Governor in the lower 48 States. Mr. Speaker, I would like to close by indicating that in this country, we have participated in the functioning of this country in every aspect of society, having athletes, both professional and amateur; we have had Nobel Prize winners; teachers and scholars. We are thankful for this time to share information regarding the Asian Pacific Islanders in this great country and the islands that our Members come from.

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I was hoping he would say that. Mr. Speaker, I too would like to extend my gratitude to the patriotic men and women serving our country and the military including the 60,813 Asian American and Pacific Islanders serving on active duty in the U.S. armed services as well as the 20,066 in the Reserves and National Guard. I also commend the 351,000 API veterans. Last week I had the privilege to meet a young soldier, Army Specialist Bermanis of the Army's 82nd Airborne Division. He was presented with the Bronze Star, a Purple Heart for Meritorious Conduct in Operation Iraqi Freedom. On July 16, 2003, the award presentation ceremony took place bedside at Walter Reed Army Medical Center where he was convalescing from grave injuries. Specialist Bermanis and a fellow soldier were on guard duty in southern Baghdad when they sustained an attack by rocket-propelled grenades on June 10, 2003. His fellow soldier died instantly, and Specialist Bermanis lost both his legs and his left hand. Specialist Bermanis hails from Pohnpei in the Federated States of Micronesia. Officials from the Federated States of Micronesia and the U.S. Government had visited him at Walter Reed and praised him for his courage and exemplary service. A senior U.S. official commended Specialist Bermanis's service as representative of the Federated States of Micronesia citizens' commitment to the security of the United States and Pacific region. Mr. Speaker, this month also affords us time to reflect on the various social needs that exist in the API community. Today there are 12.8 million APIs, which represents 4.5 percent of the U.S. population. Between 1990 and 2000, the community grew nationally by 72 percent. APIs are one of the fastest growing populations in the country. The API community in this country encompasses 49 ethnicities speaking over 100 languages and dialects. The population enriches our culture linguistically through a range of languages, such as Japanese, Chinese, Samoan, Thai, Vietnamese, Hmong, Cambodian, Micronesian, and Korean. Our linguistic diversity has contributed greatly to American society. It has allowed us to exercise international leadership economically and politically. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, slightly less than half of the 7 million API who speak a language other than English at home report that they speak English ``very well.'' We need to better address the educational and health care needs of all limited-English proficiency students, children, and adults. Additionally, data is a cross-cutting issue. Lack of data impacts our understanding of the health problems in our communities as well as the problem of access and quality. Adequate data collection continues to be a challenge for the API community. Although we are often mistaken to be a homogenous group, our community is extremely diverse in ethnicities and languages. Aggregating such a large and diverse group makes it difficult to understand the unique problems faced by the individual ethnicities. This year as chair of CAPAC, I have looked into these and other critical issues within the API community. Through our CAPAC task forces, we have targeted such goals as eliminating racial ethnic health disparities, enacting comprehensive immigration reform, fighting to create jobs, and providing educational opportunities for the underserved. CAPAC has had the privilege to work with our colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and the Congressional Native American Caucus to advance dialogue on these important issues. I yield to the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega), the vice chairman of CAPAC, a Member of the Congress for many years, a leader and a person who represents American Samoa.

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Guam for raising the profile of Guamanians in the history and the patriotism of this country. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee), the Congresswoman from Oakland.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, this event needs little introduction. 2004 marks the 37th anniversary of the D.C. Special Olympics. The torch relay event is a traditional part of the opening ceremonies for the Special Olympics which take place at Gallaudet University in the District of Columbia. Each year approximately 2,500 Special Olympians compete in over a dozen events and more than 1 million children and adults with special needs participate in Special Olympic worldwide programs. The event is supported by literally thousands of volunteers from the District and the region. The goal of the games is to help bring mentally challenged individuals into the larger society under conditions whereby they are accepted and respected. Confidence and self-esteem are the building blocks for these Olympic games. I enthusiastically support this resolution and the very worthwhile endeavor of the Special Olympics. I urge support for H. Con. Res. 389.

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 144, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take the time of the gentlewoman of the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton).

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Pat Tillman, a San Jose native who was killed in action last week in Afghanistan. At a time when many of us in this country talk about sacrifice, about devotion, about courage, we can look to Pat Tillman as a man who lived those ideals. The consummate student athlete, Pat excelled in the classroom and on the gridiron at Leland High School in San Jose. He graduated summa cum laude from Arizona State University while earning the honor of Pac-10 defensive Player of the Year of 1997. He was a loyal friend, a dutiful son, and a devoted brother. By now, many of my colleagues have heard about Pat's selfless decision to join the Army Rangers, a decision that required him to turn his back on a multi-million dollar contract offer to continue playing professional football for the Arizona Cardinals. Pat wanted to serve his country. He wanted to be a direct part of our national response to the terrorist attacks of 9/11. In a society that reveres athletes as heroes, that hypes sporting events as mythic battles between warring foes, Pat Tillman wanted to serve his country as a soldier. His enlistment in May of 2002 drew media attention, but Pat very deliberately avoided the publicity that followed his decision. For him, joining the Rangers was a matter of duty and honor, not an opportunity to generate fanfare for himself. Instead of seeking special recognition for his own actions, Pat shifted attention to the men and women serving in the armed forces. Alongside his brother Kevin, Pat served in Afghanistan where Coalition forces continue to search for Osama bin Laden. Last Thursday, near a village approximately 25 miles southwest of a U.S. military base, Pat was killed in a firefight when his unit came under attack. Pat Tillman has made the ultimate sacrifice. The selflessness and patriotism he displayed in his short life will serve as a model to all Americans. For the people of San Jose, he is a native son lost in the field of battle. For Americans across the country, he represents the ideals of duty, honor, and courage.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask the Members of the House to join us in recognizing past instances of genocide and reaffirming our Nation's commitment to never again allow the perpetration of such atrocities anywhere on this earth. House Resolution 193 appropriately reaffirms America's obligation to international genocide conventions, and underscores the importance of recognizing past crimes against humanity, including the Holocaust and the Armenian, Cambodian, and Rwandan genocides. We all know that silence in the face of genocide only encourages those who would commit such atrocities in the future. Israel Charney, the noted genocide and Holocaust scholar, has written extensively about the psychology of genocide denial. He has explained to the world what we should all know from history: to deny genocide is to celebrate the mass murder and to endorse the doctrine of corrupt power that brought about the destruction in the first place. To erase agonizing memories of genocide only mocks the sensibilities of the victims and their descendents--in essence, once again, victimize the victims. For this reason, America must recognize the Turkish massacre and displacement of Armenians as an act of genocide. The House Judiciary Committee, upon its unanimous approval of the Genocide Resolution, described the Armenian Genocide in the following terms: Beginning in 1915, the Islamic Turkish state of the Ottoman Empire sought to end the collective existence of the Christian Armenian population. From 1915 through 1918, during World War 1, the Ottoman Empire subjected the Armenian people to deportation, expropriation, abduction, torture, massacre, and starvation. The atrocities were renewed between 1920 and 1923. It is estimated that one and a half million Armenians were killed out of over two million Armenians who had lived in the Ottoman Empire. It should be noted that these activities ceased with the institution of the new Republic of Turkey in October, 1923. U.S. recognition of the Armenian genocide is long past due. By failing to admit and recognize atrocities that clearly took place we undermine our Nation's credibility and commitment to combat genocide. On April 24, President Bush issued his annual message in remembrance of the victims of the Armenian Genocide--only he failed to use the word ``genocide.'' In failing to refer to the Armenian Genocide accurately, he has turned his back on his own campaign pledge and on 190 Members of Congress who want the Armenian Genocide recognized. It is not enough to say ``never again.'' We must take concrete steps to give it meaning and to bolster our own resolve. Passing House Resolution 193 is a small but important step in this ongoing effort to thwart those who would commit genocide. It is the least we can do for the millions who have been killed in Turkey, Germany, Rwanda, and Cambodia. Understanding the lessons of these tragedies will help prevent future crimes against humanity. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate this opportunity to honor the victims of genocide, and to urge my colleagues to always remain cognizant of the pledge our Nation has made to prevent future acts of genocide.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 105, had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.''

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Chairman, I would like to begin by commending the gentleman from Alaska (Chairman Young) and the gentleman from Minnesota (Ranking Member Oberstar), as well as the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Petri) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Lipinski), for their hard work, superb leadership, and commitment to bipartisan and sound transportation policy. There is a great deal in this legislation for which to be proud. The bill protects the core transportation programs while creating new programs to fund projects of regional and national significance and to improve national corridors. The bill also bolsters its requirements, recognizing that it is not feasible simply to build more highways. However, there is one area in which this bill is grossly deficient and that is funding. Let there be no mistake, the $275 billion bill before us today is not the committee's first choice. Rather, the committee first marked up a $375 billion bill, a level commensurate with the U.S. Department of Transportation's own estimation for the maintenance and improvement of our Nation's highways, bridges, and transit systems. Unfortunately, that $375 billion bill has been shelved in response to the President's threat to veto any properly funded surface transportation bill. Remembering how he so artfully pushed through sweeping tax cuts for the wealthy, I am appalled that he now practices a misguided form of fiscal discipline that undermines State and local efforts to enhance transportation infrastructure and that also thwarts job creation. The Department of Transportation has determined for every $1 billion invested in Federal highway and transit spending, 47,500 jobs are created or sustained. It is daunting, then, to consider the impact that the $100 billion cut in TEA LU will have on job creation in the U.S. For all its promises, this legislation represents a lost opportunity to reignite the slow job growth that plagues our Nation. I hope that this legislation moves forward, that we can achieve the Senate passed level of $318 billion, a level that would create 1.8 million more jobs and $235 billion more economic activity than the level imposed upon us by the Bush administration today. I would like to thank the chairman and ranking members of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure for their unwavering dedication to sound transportation policy.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Cesar Chavez on his birthday. I ask the members of the House to join us in paying our respects to a man who brought awareness of farm labor injustices to national light, and who made a path for all those who came after him. Chavez's legacy continues to live on today. His influence can be seen in the legislation that comes to this very floor. Recently, Leader Pelosi and I have joined national civil rights leader John Lewis, in introducing H.R. 3809, the FAIRNESS Act, comprehensive civil rights legislation that will protect workers from discrimination and workplace abuse. We also continue the fight to ensure that in today's world, the rights of workers are still protected. That is why those of us who work daily on the issues of fairness, justice and equity know that even though we have been fighting these battles for more than half a century, we have not won the war and discrimination still exists. That is why it is important to ensure our laws stay current with the times. We cannot allow loopholes to create a situation where it is legal to discriminate against segments of our population. Under the Fairness Act all workers--and that is a very important point--all workers may obtain relief for unfair labor practices. As you know, Democrats in Congress have advocated on behalf of immigrants for years to help them earn status as lawful permanent residents, secure a path towards citizenship, and pursue opportunities in higher education. Mr. Speaker, we must keep in mind that immigrants make indispensable contributions to our economy. They compose an increasingly essential proportion of our workforce. Their tax payments help finance government programs, of which they are both users and beneficiaries. Making immigrants true stakeholders in our society means not only bringing them out from the shadows of the undocumented, but also providing them access to lawful permanent residency status. Ultimately, the value of immigrants to our society should not be valued just in dollar terms. Rather, we should measure the enrichment to our culture and the overall vitality immigrants bring to American society. I remain committed to improving the lives of all immigrants in this country, and I will continue advocating for programs that offer immigrant workers meaningful access to permanent legal status and a clear path towards citizenship. Today we can still hear Mr. Chavez say his chant of encouragement, pride and dignity: ``Si, se puede!''--yes, it can be done. Mr. Speaker, thank you for letting me address the House of Representatives today to honor Mr. Chavez on the occasion of what would have been his 77th birthday.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Chairman, I thank the chairman of the CBC for yielding me this time. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to express my strong opposition to the House Republican budget resolution and a hardy support for the Congressional Black Caucus's alternative budget. As a former teacher and a principal, I understand how important quality education is for all Americans. Unfortunately, the Republican budget fails to fund this national priority of public education. Republicans leave the No Child Left Behind Act $9.4 billion short of promised levels. They shortchange the title I funding by $7.2 billion, denying nearly 5 million disadvantaged children of educational services. The Republican budget freezes the maximum Pell grants for the third year in a row, while college tuitions continue to rise. However, on the other hand, the CBC budget fully funds the No Child Left Behind Act, fully funding the promise Congress made to our Nation's schools. The CBC alternative also funds school construction to provide safe and quality learning environments. Mr. Chairman, our national budget should be like our family budget, a reflection of our priorities and values. It should be a budget based on making the right choices. Do we make room for more expensive tax cuts or provide quality education for our Nation's students? I believe our choice is clear. Please support the CBC's alternative budget.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, while I am a staunch and unwavering supporter of our Nation's troops, I must rise in opposition to this resolution. One year ago, the United States invaded Iraq, a unilateralist strike approved by Congress because President Bush told us that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction and was prepared to use them. The Bush administration, in fact, assured the country that we faced imminent danger. Today, we know that President Bush and his advisors made dozens-- perhaps hundreds--of misleading statements about the threat posed by Iraq. Yet H. Res. 557 makes no reference to weapons of mass destruction, the leading justification for our supposed `'preventive'' strike at Saddam Hussein, other than to mention the use of such weapons some 16 years ago. This is an attempt by the Republican Party to rewrite history and avoid accountability for their false claims about the nature of the Iraqi threat. Nobody from the Democratic side of the aisle was allowed to provide input on the resolution. Let us remember: CIA Director George Tenet has admitted that U.S. intelligence never told the White House that Iraq posed an imminent threat; former Chief U.N. Weapons Inspector Hans Blix has stated that President Bush disregarded any evidence suggesting that Iraq lacked weapons of mass destruction; even David Kay, the Bush administration's hand-picked head of the U.S. post-war weapons inspection effort, has stated that the Iraq war ``was not worth it'' and recognized that weapons of mass destruction `'don't exist.'' But instead of taking responsibility for its repeated deception, Republicans now want to avoid any accountability for this misguided war by claiming to honor our troops. More than 550 Americans have been killed in the Iraq war and occupation, and thousands more wounded, yet the Bush administration and the Republican congressional leadership refuse to admit that they were wrong. I call for a full accounting of the events leading up to the war in Iraq. Until then, the American people cannot fully trust what their President tells them--especially when it comes to life and death decisions. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of our armed forces, but stand opposed to this resolution.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia and the gentlewoman from Michigan for this opportunity to sort of crow a little here. I rise today to congratulate an extraordinary team on a successful season through H.R. 475. Mr. Speaker, on Saturday, November 23, 2003, the San Jose Earthquakes became the second team in Major League Soccer history to win the Major League Soccer Cup a second time. The Earthquakes' 4-to-2 victory over the Chicago Fire showcased the team's explosive talent and demonstrated why soccer is one of the fastest growing sports in America today. The Earthquakes' rise to the MLS championship game provided soccer fans with endless drama and excitement, including a five-goal comeback against the Los Angeles Galaxy, and a 3-to-2 victory over the Kansas City Wizards. In the championship game the Quakes showed a capacity crowd in Carson, California, four goals, one saved penalty kick, and 90 minutes of world class soccer. Throughout the game and throughout the season, this team played exciting soccer to the delight of San Jose's growing legion of fans. Soccer is perhaps the world's most beloved sport. From Latin America to East Asia to Europe and Africa, indeed all the world's cultures play this great game. It therefore comes as no surprise that a community of San Jose's multicultural and multinational makeup should produce a soccer team of such prodigious ability. In Latin America, soccer is called ``la pasion de multitudes,'' and the San Jose Earthquakes have shown us why this is truly the ``passion of people.'' While the Earthquakes' recent performances have been impressive, their greatest success may be the team's contribution to the sport of soccer here in America. In particular, the sportsmanship and gamesmanship of the Earthquakes have helped make Major League Soccer a hit. Although it is barely 8 years old, Major League Soccer has already captured the hearts and imaginations of fans around the country and around the world. The MLS also has served as a training ground for some of the world's best players. Many of those players were instrumental in bringing the United States to the quarter finals of the 2002 World Cup. Now approaching its ninth successful year, and bolstered by the inspiring play of teams like the San Jose Earthquakes, Major League Soccer is stronger than ever. The fact that 20 million fans have attended MLS matches during the league's first eight seasons is a testament to the enormous popularity of the beautiful game here in the United States. In addition to their on-the-field performance, I would like to thank the Earthquakes for their off-the-field dedication to the San Jose community. At a time when there seem to be too few positive role models in professional athletics, the Quakes have proven themselves not only as great athletes, but good people. Players from this team have repeatedly lent their celebrity and talent to numerous local organizations. In 2003 alone, the Quakes have made appearances at the Muscular Dystrophy Association's summer camp, conducted free soccer clinics for local youth, raised money for numerous local charities, and supplied free tickets to disadvantaged youth through the Kick for Kids Program. It is deeply rewarding to witness this team's commitment to its community, and in particular, to San Jose's youth. As a member of the San Jose community and a soccer fan, I look forward to watching the Quakes provide us with even greater inspiration in the years to come. The San Jose Earthquakes are the pride not only of the Bay Area in California, but also of America. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing the 2003 Major League Soccer champions, and I congratulate the San Jose Earthquakes on a fantastic season. And to the soccer moms and dads of this country, there is a place for youngsters to go after they play their local teams.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 56, a resolution I introduced last year on behalf of the Japanese-, Italian- and German-American communities to establish a National Day of Remembrance for the restriction, exclusion and internment of individuals and families during World War II. I thank the House leadership as well as the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner), the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conyers) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Nadler) for their leadership in steering this measure to the floor today. While the resolution addresses events from our past, it does more than honor victims. It reminds us and our constituents that past national mistakes must not be repeated, even during times of great uncertainty. To achieve these goals, we must first recognize the magnitude and severity of our Nation's injustices during World War II. In 1942, the U.S. Government rounded up and incarcerated approximately 120,000 Americans of Japanese descent, primarily from the West Coast, tearing families apart and forcing these hardworking people to sell their businesses and their personal properties for pennies on the dollar. Many literally lost the fruits of a lifetime of work due to Executive Order 9066 signed by President Roosevelt on February 19, 1942. I know firsthand the pain inflicted on those families incarcerated because I spent part of my childhood at Amache internment camp in southeast Colorado. My family was uprooted from our home and community and sent hundreds of miles away from our homes and communities for no other reason than our ancestry. There can be no confusion. The decision by America's political leaders in 1942 to intern Japanese Americans was signed, sealed and delivered not out of concern for national security or for the safety and security of Japanese Americans. This executive order was based on neither reason nor evidence but on fear and panic. The U.S. Government acknowledged as much in 1982 under Carter when the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians concluded that military necessity did not justify the exclusion and detention of these groups. Instead, the government's decision-making was driven by race prejudice, war hysteria and the failure of political leadership. As the commission's report points out, ``A grave personal injustice was done to the American citizens and resident aliens of Japanese ancestry who, without individual review or any probative evidence against them, were excluded, removed and detained by the United States during World War II.'' In 1988, Congress finally redressed these wrongs by formally apologizing and providing compensation to those unjustly relocated during World War II. It is a true testament to our Nation's values and democratic process that our Nation has been able to look back and admit errors from its past. I can think of no greater evidence to demonstrate why the United States, with all its flaws, is still looked to worldwide as the nation with the strongest and fairest form of government. But it is not enough to admit our wrong and compensate those persecuted. It is equally important that today we endeavor to educate the public about the internment of Americans to avert the execution of federally sanctioned discrimination and maltreatment in the future. It is critically important more than ever to speak up against possible unjust policies that may come before this body. It is critical that we educate all Americans of the Japanese-American experience during World War II as well as the experience of other groups like the Japanese Latin Americans. These people were extricated from Latin America, brought over here, and had their documents taken away from them, thus becoming individuals without a country to be used as pawns in exchange for POWs in the Pacific Theater. As this resolution does, we must also remember the experiences of the German and Italian Americans who were also victimized. Having recognized this, many members of those communities have suddenly realized that they were wrong, that they were not criminals; and because of the recognition, this awful burden of guilt has been lifted from their shoulders and from the communities. As a teacher, I feel this point is especially timely and pertinent. In today's war against terrorism, we must be especially cognizant of the adage that those who do not learn from their past mistakes are doomed to repeat them. Since World War II, our civil liberties have not been as much at risk as they are today. Even while we prosecute the war against terrorism, we must protect all innocent Americans from prejudice and xenophobia. Today, Mr. Speaker, a person with my face, my background, and being a third-generation American of Japanese descent, standing in the Halls of Congress under the dome of the greatest capitol of this Nation, of this world, I have learned one lesson. And bringing together all of our experiences from our various communities during that time of trauma, the lesson that was learned, and it is an American lesson, is that the Constitution is never tested in times of tranquility. Rather, our Constitution is sorely tested in times of national tension, trauma, tragedy, and terrorism; and that we as Americans, in order to address our future, must internalize the principles of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. So I would like to conclude my remarks by honoring all those Americans who suffered on the homefront during World War II, and I hope this resolution will provide additional healing for those of our Nation. It takes enormous maturity for our Nation to admit its wrongs.