Mike Honda

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, the elderly and disabled have waited long enough for a prescription drug benefit in Medicare and for relief from the high cost of prescription drug prices. While the Republicans have been busy voting on permanent tax cuts, seniors throughout the country have been waiting for Congress to take action on prescription drugs. All seniors need relief from prescription drug prices, and they need it now. However, the Republican prescription drug bill completely fails the test of a real Medicare drug benefit. The Republican bill has no guaranteed minimum benefit, no guaranteed, affordable monthly premium, and no guarantee of fair drug prices. To add insult to injury, their bill leaves a huge coverage gap. Seniors who need more than $2,000 worth of drugs must pay one hundred percent out-of-pocket, and keeping paying premiums, until they reach the $3,500 out-of-pocket cap. Mr. Speaker, the Democrats have an alternative we hope to offer. Under the Democratic plan, seniors and individuals with disabilities will be able to keep making the choices that matter to them. Seniors won't be forced to join an HMO. They won't have to join a private insurance plan that will restrict their access to needed drugs, deny coverage for the medicine their doctors prescribe, or force them to change pharmacies. And unlike the Republican plan, our plan has no gap--beneficiaries will always have coverage. Mr. Speaker, the time is now for a real, meaningful, and affordable Medicare prescription drug benefit. Unfortunately, it looks like this Republican-led House won't be providing one anytime soon.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 298, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, today I join with my colleagues, Representatives Lofgren and Eshoo, in honoring the life of a dedicated public servant, Keith Garvey. Mr. Garvey's recent death ended a life committed to work, people, humor, compassion, and most importantly, his family. We also lost a great union leader, who fought for the rights of working families, and a dedicated Democratic Party activist. His work and legacy will be endure through the many lives he touched. Born in 1946 to Joseph and Virginia Garvey in Pensacola, FL, Keith and his family later moved to Chicago where his parents raised him to develop a love for public service. Both of Keith's parents served in World War II in the Navy. His father, Joseph Garvey, was a wartime pilot and his mother, Virginia Brewster Garvey, taught instrument flying to British and United States personnel. Keith followed in their footsteps in many ways. After graduating from Northwestern University in 1968 with a Bachelors Degree in History, Keith answered the Nation's call to duty by enlisting in the Army. During his time in the Army, he became an excellent soldier and leader. In fact, his leadership inspired confidence in his troops who followed him into battle in Vietnam. His bravery earned him two bronze stars and the rank of First Lieutenant. After his honorable discharge in 1971, Keith explored the world and ventured to Australia for a 6 month learning experience, selling encyclopedias door to door. Following his trip in Australia, Keith returned to the United States moving to the Bay Area, a region he would call home for the remainder of his life. In the Bay Area, Keith started his career in public service when he was hired by the city of San Jose as an emergency dispatcher. When the county took over these services in 1974, Keith began what would be 28 years of service to the county as a supervising dispatcher and union leader. In 1978, Keith met his wife Carol at work, where both served as emergency dispatchers. After 2 years of dating and working with one another, they married in Alaska, and, together as a team, worked to help the public. With his partner by his side, Keith became more involved in his union. Through his dedication and tireless efforts, he became a respected union leader. His involvement within the Service Employee International Union (SEIU) Local 715 offered a clear and effective voice to the people he served. As a representative of his union, Keith earned the respect and confidence of his fellow colleagues. Eventually his volunteer work in the SEIU earned him the position of president of the County Employees Management Association (CEMA). During his term as president, Keith ventured out into the region to help others. He fought for livable wages and worker rights for all people. He also joined the United Farm Workers' Movement and became a close friend of the Cesar Chavez family. After leaving CEMA, he became president and overseer for the County Employees Labor Association. Similar to his work at CEMA, Keith continued his mission helping county workers up to his death. In addition to decades of service fighting for the rights of workers and the underrepresented, Keith dedicated countless hours to the Democratic Party through his service on the Santa Clara County Democratic Central Committee, on hundreds of democratic campaigns, on issue campaigns important to working people, and in his work with his wife for Democratic Activists for Women Now. Mr. Speaker, we rise to mourn the loss of a friend and mentor. We have had many opportunities to work with Mr. Garvey, and what was most amazing about him was the hard work and determination he had in helping others. Along with an unmatched sense of humor, the passion and love he had for public service will be missed by many. The Bay Area was fortunate to have Mr. Garvey as a resident and activist, and we are personally fortunate to represent a region that Mr. Garvey touched with his courageous works.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the contributions and achievements of Battalion Chief Hal Chase on his retirement from the Santa Clara County Fire Department. Chief Chase has dedicated over thirty years to the community and fire department of Santa Clara County. Chief Chase lives in Los Gatos, California, with his lovely wife, Karen, and three beautiful children, Brian, Christine, and Michael. He met his wife while serving as the President of the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 1165, during which he worked diligently to increase benefits and improve working conditions for his fellow fire fighters. Currently, Chief Chase oversees Battalion 3 of the Santa Clara County Fire Department, consisting of seven stations and their heroic crews. Affectionately referred to as ``The Senator'' by his peers, Chief Chase has served as the Program Facilitator for the Hazardous Materials Program. He is a member of the California State FIRESCOPE Task Force. In addition, Hal manages the Department's Response Map Program, Hose Program, and Hydrant Testing Program. With these awesome responsibilities, it is a wonder how Chief Chase can reserve time for other commitments. But his contributions to his community are just as extensive. Chief Chase is committed to the high school anti-drinking campaign, ``Every 15 Minutes.'' Through his tireless efforts, much needed fire equipment was donated to Mexico, including coats, hats, and even fire engines. Hal is also a strong supporter of the Democratic Party. On occasion, Chief Chase has been known to forego his fire fighting skills to purposely starting them, in the kitchen. He has applied his passion for cooking for not only the pleasure of his crew, but also for charity. Along with the raised monies, raffled dinners at the firehouse have promoted stronger relations with the community. Mr. Speaker, I commend Battalion Chief Hal Chase for his magnanimous dedication to the community and fire department of Santa Clara County. Although we celebrate his retirement, I know Chief Chase will continue serving Santa Clara, even if only out of the kitchen.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, in the nine months since we lost the irrepressible Congresswoman Patsy Takemoto Mink, my colleagues and communities across the Nation have celebrated the incredible ``firsts'' and the numerous battles that Patsy waged on the behalf of Americans who needed a voice in federal policymaking the most. Congresswoman Mink's record as an advocate for civil rights is unassailable, a crowing achievement being the passage of Title IX of the federal education amendments in 1972. This landmark legislation banned gender discrimination in schools, both in academic and athletics. She awakened all of our social consciousness through her tireless advocacy, work and dedication; inspiring students, community leaders, political appointees and especially elected officials of the Asian Pacific American communities and beyond. Anyone who was fortunate enough to have been touched by her life knows that this nation has lost a true warrior in the constant struggle for justice. We will all miss her counsel and guidance, as well as her friendship. Patsy Mink was there at the beginning of many things. She was born at the time when women and minorities were not given fair opportunities to achieve their dreams. She remains a role model for countless women, as well as those of us from the Asian American and Pacific Islander community. Though she is not physically present, her spirit and legacy will live on through those of us who believe that the fight for fairness and equity is never over. I find it a very fitting tribute to pass H.R. 2030. This post office located in Pa`ia, Maui will be a constant reminder to us of our great friend Patsy Mink and is the least we can do to ensure her legacy continues.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to protest the Republicans' tax cut bill, the Leave 12 Million Children Behind Act. Soon after this tax bill was passed, it was discovered that the Republicans deliberately chose to drop a provision that would have helped 12 million children living in moderate-income working families. Among these children left behind are 1 million children of active duty military. Mr. Speaker, let me make this clear. Leaving 12 million children behind was not a last-minute oversight; it was a deliberate decision by the Republicans. As our Nation struggles through a Bush recession, Congress has a responsibility to do what is right for families who may need a little extra help, and it is obvious that the Republicans are shirking this responsibility. The most shocking part of the Republican decision is its impact on families in the military. Many enlisted men and women make far less than $26,000 per year. As a result, their children will not be eligible for the family tax credit. It is clear from this callous denial of assistance that the Republicans' priorities lie with tax cuts for the wealthy, not with the livelihoods of working families and our servicemen and women in the armed services. These priorities are clearly out of step with the American people. Mr. Speaker, Democrats are working to help these families. Democrats have introduced legislation that restores these benefits to all working families and ensures that our men and women in the military are not denied tax relief while they are fighting in Iraq. However, the Republican majority refuses to even consider this legislation. According to the Republican majority leader, ``There's a lot of things,'' he says, ``that are more important than that.'' Well, Mr. Speaker, I disagree; and I join my Democratic colleagues today to once again urge the Republican leadership to restore the child tax credit to all working families. Democrats will continue to fight so Congress can fulfill its promise to truly leave no child behind.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1954, legislation that I view as a good first step towards recognizing and rewarding the significant contributions made by immigrants who serve in our armed services. Since our Nation's founding, immigrants have played a prominent role in defending our country. For example, I have introduced H.J. Res. 125, which grants honorary citizenship to all civil war soldiers of Asian descent as a symbolic gesture to correct the historical injustices they suffered. But just as we endeavor to correct the mistakes of the past, we should remedy current laws that treat some members of our Armed Forces unfairly. That is why H.R. 1954 is so important and I am pleased it is on the floor today. By passing this legislation, the House of Representatives will be begin to recognize the contributions of immigrant soldiers by providing them and their family members just immigration laws. Again, I reiterate this is a good first step, but there is much more we can do to help make immigration laws more fair in this country.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) for her words and her support not only here in the halls of Congress but also back home in Houston and Texas in general. Her work and the work of the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee) really just show that there is power in collaboration and being able to work together not only as individuals but as a coalition for the betterment of every American in this country. Mr. Speaker, I would like to touch a little bit on the internment story of the Japanese Americans in this country. It is a story that needs to be told over and over again because it is not a Japanese American history lesson. It is not a Japanese American experience only. It is not a Japanese American lesson, but it is really rooted deeply in what I would consider an American lesson. Mr. Speaker, this year marks the 61st anniversary of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's signing of Executive Order 9066 on February 19, 1942; and it is the 15th anniversary of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988. In 1942, President 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 wire. On February 19, 1976, President Gerald Ford formally rescinded Executive Order 9066; and July 21, 1980, became the beginning of reconciling our past to the present. Congress adopted legislation signed by President Jimmy Carter on July 31, 1980, establishing the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians to investigate the claim that the incarceration of Japanese Americans and legal resident aliens during World War II was not justified by military necessity. The outcome of that commission, Mr. Speaker, the commission had held 20 days of hearings and listened to testimony of over 720 witnesses, and published its findings in a report entitled ``Personal Justice Denied.'' The principal finding in 1982 was that the promulgation of Executive Order 9066 was not justified by military necessity and that the decision which followed from it, detention, ending detention and ending exclusion, were not driven by analysis of military conditions, but rather the causes that shaped these decisions were race prejudice, war hysteria, and a failure of political leadership. With a strong bipartisan vote, Congress passed H.R. 442, the Civil Liberties Act, which states in part: ``For these fundamental violations of the basic civil liberties and constitutional rights of these individuals of Japanese ancestry, the Congress apologizes on behalf of the Nation.'' President Ronald Reagan signed the Civil Liberties Act into law on August 10, 1988, at which time he proclaimed: ``This is a great day for America.'' In 1998, as a member of the California State Assembly, I authored the State version of the Civil Liberties Act, understanding that the work was still not done once the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 had expired. I mention these dates and this timing, Mr. Speaker, because today it is even more important, more important than ever, to speak up against unjust policies. It is also 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 who were expatriated from their country at the request of our government; and then while they were on the ships on their way to the United States to be interned in Crystal City, Texas, they were stripped of all their papers and became people without a country. And certain German and Italian Americans in this country were also mistreated, many of whom were forced in the middle of the night to leave their homes and pledge allegiance to the Flag in the middle of the night in order to show that to their neighbors, who forced them out, to prove that they were loyal and patriotic Americans during that time. It is also important to learn the important lessons from our own history in the resolution I introduced, H.R. 56, the Day of Remembrance resolution, which is still in the Committee on the Judiciary. Teaching the lessons of those dark days is more important today than it ever was. By remembering, Executive Order 9066 that was signed on February 19, 1942, does not become an anniversary just on February 19 but is an anniversary that must be remembered and lived and understood every day of the year, every year for the future of this country, because the lessons that were learned were lessons that were principally rooted in the Constitution of this country, the Constitution which was a contract between our government and the people who are here in this country, a contract that is signed on paper called the Declaration of Independence, a contract that is immutable and cannot be changed and should not be changed, a contract that promises everyone who is in this country due process and the protection of their civil liberties. It is a contract that has been protected. It is a contract that has been fought for and a contract which members of this country who served in the military have shed their blood overseas for, who left their limbs in the islands of the Pacific and on the European continent. These Americans must be remembered as part of the lessons that we learned from the Japanese American experience that the Constitution is a contract worth protecting and dying for. We must remember that this Constitution was written back in 1776, but yet it is an evolving, growing Constitution that over time has included not only white men with properties but those who used to be slaves; those immigrants whose laws were passed against them which eventually were rescinded became citizens of this country; those immigrants who came just recently after the Vietnam War, and even today people are still seeking to find refuge in this country even at times when we seem to appear to be inhospitable to the immigrants. Mr. Speaker, the lessons learned during the internment when we thought that we were protecting Japanese Americans for their own safety was actually a myth because if it were true, then as my father used to tell me, he wondered why if we were here for our protection, why would the barbed wires be around us, the machines pointing in on us. And my father used to still tell me, though, that, as I grew up, to be 110 percent American; that we must also remember that the contributions that have been invested in this country of our parents and grandparents are well worth it, that we must also learn that even though this country is faced with challenges since 9-11 that in spite of the war on terrorism that we still have to remember the constitutional principles by which we live. When 9-11 occurred, the ugly head of racial prejudice appeared again as it did in 1942. Hysteria started to take over some hearts in this country, and as a result people like Balbir Singh Sodhi, an immigrant and a Sikh American from Fremont, California, moved to Mesa, Arizona to start a business there and because he looked like the enemy to the perpetrator, he was murdered and shot there in his store. And then coincidentally another year later, his brother Sukhpal Singh Sodhi was a taxi driver in San Francisco who was shot and murdered in San Francisco merely because he appeared to be a Middle Easterner and those who murdered him thought that they were vindicated because they played upon and acted upon their prejudice and their hysteria and their hatred. It did not become a wave of murders and hangings here in this country, for I believe that, because of the history that we have been able to share, that many of us checked our fears and checked our emotions and made sure that we did not respond or succumb to our base fears. Mr. Speaker, I believe that Members of this Congress also participated in making sure that the people of our country remembered and learned from the history of the internment, that racial profiling is unacceptable, and although we are in the throes of fear and the issues of national security that we must exercise our common sense, our good sense, and exercise our understanding of the principles of the Constitution. We know that after 9/11 and after certain acts were passed, such as the PATRIOT Act, that we must seek the critical balance between civil liberties and private liberties with national security; and the Constitution continues to be tested as we move along, looking towards a possible second PATRIOT Act. Mr. Speaker, it is my prayer, my hope, that Members of this body remember that Asian Americans were pioneers establishing this country. The Asian Americans were laborers building this country. The Asian Americans are doctors, lawyers, teachers and politicians, providing for the health and welfare of this Nation; and we, like every other American, are red-blooded Americans. Mr. Speaker, I would like to close with a couple of comments that became a lesson for me personally as I have been here my third year and my experience and seeing the works of the halls of Congress here in Washington, D.C. I believe that the very basic lesson I have learned is not only from the experience that my community has had in 1942, the kinds of lessons we learned since then and the kinds of teachings that we have learned, but I also started to understand that the last century was a century of wars, a century of conflict, a century of trauma, and that the promise that we have in this new century should be the century of reconciliation and peace. Now that the Cold War is gone, we have a challenge of facing conflicts in other ways. A wise man once said to me that peace, Mike, is not an absence of conflict, but a way, a manner, in which you can deal with conflict. So, in closing, the primary lesson I have learned these past few years, Mr. Speaker, is that our Constitution is never tested in times of tranquility, but our Constitution is sorely tested in times of trauma, terror and tragedy, and that the very fiber of the American character and this country should be embodied and should be learned from the very words and the principles and the rights embodied in the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Mr. Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to utilize this time to share some of the information that we have had, share some of the information with the general public, and hopefully the records would reflect that Asian Americans in this country came with a dream, they worked hard and participated, they faced barriers and overcame them, and that can only happen over time in a country and a democracy like ours, where evolution and evolving sentiments and policies in this country only lead us forward, that we learn from our mistakes, and that only makes us stronger and better Americans and a greater America.

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

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak on the significance of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. The push for designating an APA Heritage Month started 26 years ago by visionary APA community leaders and also was led from this House by retired Congressman Robert Horton of New York and the current Secretary of Transportation, Norman Y. Mineta. This year's Heritage Month theme, a Salute to Liberty, is an especially timely theme as our Nation is faced with conflict and tension. We must remember that in the fight to protect our national security, we must also preserve our civil liberties and individual rights. During this month, it is also imperative that we utilize this opportunity to reflect upon and understand our past so we can successfully build for our future. This is a moment of teaching and learning. There have been many histories of Asian Pacific Americans in this country, Mr. Speaker, their origins, their barriers, the barriers that they have overcome in the pursuit to seek the American Dream in this country. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment and sort of share with the community the history of the bill that was passed in 1992, eventually, to recognize the month of May as an official Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. In 1977, Representative Frank Horton, a Representative from New York, and Norman Y. Mineta, from California, introduced the Asian Pacific Heritage Week, House Resolution 540, in the House of Representatives, which called upon the President to proclaim the first 10 days of May as Pacific Asian Heritage Week. The joint resolution did not contain an annual designation, so in 1978, President Jimmy Carter signed the joint resolution put forward by both Representatives Horton and Mineta. Then, in 1990, Asian American leaders around the country gathered at the White House to witness the signing of a proclamation by President George Bush declaring May to be Asian Pacific Heritage Month. So we went from a week to a month. In 1992, President Bush signed legislation into law designating May of each year as Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. Mr. Speaker, it is apropos since this is the month of May we do take some time to recognize those who were important in designating Asian Pacific Heritage Month. First, why is it important? As a schoolteacher, if we do not teach our history and understand the members of our community's contributions to this country, our children, be they Asian Americans or not, will be less educated and less informed and less appreciative of not only their culture but the cultures of other people. The growth of the Asian Pacific population from 1980 to 1990 doubled from 3.7 million to approximately 7.3 million. This increase is remarkable when compared to the total increase in the U.S. population of 9.8 percent during that same period. Then the growth continued to rise another 43 percent from 1990 to 1999. Currently, APAs comprise 4.5 percent of the U.S. population; and by 2050 APAs are expected to comprise 9 percent of the U.S. population. However, in the State of California, the APA population already comprise 11 percent of the general population and grew 34 percent in the past decade, from 2.8 to 3.8 million. This growth, although largely attributed to immigration patterns, is also indicative of more defined data collection methods which has always been a problem in our communities. So the last census it was critical that the census taken was accurate and was as precise as possible. Data is a cross-cutting issue. Lack of data impacts our understanding of the health problems in our communities, as well as the problems in access and quality. Adequate data collection continues to be a challenge for the APA community. Although we are often mistaken to be a homogeneous group and sometimes considered perpetual foreigners, APAs in this country encompasses 49 ethnicities speaking over 100 languages and dialects. Aggregating such a large and diverse group makes it difficult to understand the unique problems faced by the individual ethnicities it encompasses. So when we aggregate Asian Americans as a population, when we look at programs and policies in this country, it is critical that we disaggregate the information so that we are able to be more precise in our policies and programs that we want to target for our communities. Let me just share a little bit of historical time line. Historically, in 1763 the very first settlement that we know of were some escaped prisoners aboard the Spanish galleons, and they were Filipinos jumping ship in New Orleans. They fled into the bayous of Louisiana, and they established a community called Saint Malo, the first APA settlement in the United States, fleeing the Spanish galleons and seeking freedom in this country. In 1882, this country saw fit to pass the Chinese Exclusion Act. The Exclusion Act ends most immigration from China until 1943 and denied citizenship to those already present, many of whom were drawn by the gold rush and the Central Pacific Railroad. As a sideline, we have found out through our research that there have been many Chinese Americans who fought in the Civil War. Upon their petition to become citizens after serving in the military, they were denied citizenship because of the Chinese Exclusion Act. In 1868, the Japanese settled in California, first in a community called Alameda in the San Francisco Bay area and secondly in El Dorado County near Sacramento. That colony was name Wahamatsu Colony. An interesting story of the Wahamatsu Colony, the first colony in this country, was that they first came as refugees from Japan led by a gentleman who was a gunrunner in Japan, Mr. Schell. He had a choice of either facing death or being deported. So he left with his contingent of folks from Japan and established this colony. This colony did not last very long, but it is important to note that the last surviving members of the first colony in the State of California are not Japanese Americans but families of African Americans and Chinese. So it shows that ethnic groups in this country, when they come to this country, they may be disallowed from intermarrying with the mainstream white groups of this country, but they found ways to raise families and find their way through this country until such time that laws were passed to allow people to earn their citizenship in this country. In 1912 at the Stockholm Olympics, swimmer Duke Kahinomoku became the first APA to win a Gold Medal. He was later credited with introducing the sport, a sport that is endearing to the gentleman from California (Mr. Rohrabacher), the sport of surfing in the United States. In 1913, the Alien Land Act was passed, and this was specifically in California. The Alien Land Act forced immigrants, primarily Japanese and other APAs, from owning or leasing land; and similar laws were passed in other States throughout the Nation. Subsequently it was rescinded later on in the 1950s. In 1942, the Japanese American internment occurred. This was following the United States' declaration of war against Japan when Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 authorizing the forced relocation and detention of 120,000 Japanese Americans, as well as over 2,000 Japanese Latin Americans. And also in this country it is not well-known that over 7,000 Italian Americans were affected personally, their families, and over 30,000 German Americans were affected. In 1943, the Japanese American battalion, the 442nd, which was comprised of some 12,000 Japanese Americans, many of them from internment camps, responded to the War Department's call for volunteers for an all-Japanese combat unit. It was not unusual at that time that we had segregated combat units. We had combat units of Indians; we had combat units of blacks and African Americans. At that time around 32,000 were inducted to form the 442 regimental combat team, and we had Members of this House who served in the Regimental Combat 442, the past Congressman Sparky Matsunaga and the current Senator from Hawaii, Mr. Inouye. This combat team became legendary for its success, and it is probably the most decorated military men in the United States history. Their average Purple Heart that this combat unit had inflicted upon them, they had earned almost three Purple Hearts per person, meaning they had to be injured. Each member had to be injured at least three times, so close to 9,000 Purple Hearts were granted recognizing their injuries in the effort to fight the war in Europe. In 1946, the first Chinese American, Wing F. Ong of Arizona, becomes the first APA to be elected to State office. Asian Americans, we are still looking at firsts. Some day we hope that we will go beyond the first and become a rule rather than an exception. In 1956, after the first congressman, an Indian American businessman Dalip Singh Saund of Westmoreland, California, became the very first Asian Pacific American elected to Congress, he, however, wanted to become a citizen and could not become a citizen prior to 1952 because there was still a law on the books that disallowed Asian to become citizens. When that law was rescinded, he was able to participate in the halls of Congress. In 1964, the first congresswoman, Patsy Takemoto Mink is the first woman of color and the first Asian Pacific congresswoman to represent Hawaii in the halls of Congress. We know that we lost her just recently, and it was a terrible loss to not only Asian Americans but Americans throughout this country and to all those who believe that those who have never forgotten their roots and their past come to Congress making sure that the idea that equality and opportunities for all Americans, regardless of their background, must be met and must be respected. In 1965, a labor activist named Philip Vera Cruz organizes a successful strike of fellow Filipino grape pickers in Coachella, California. This gentleman began the movement that leads to the formation of the United Farm Workers of America where eventually Cesar Chevaz became the head leader and recognized for his work and his philosophy of peace and nonviolent activism. In 1968, there was an ethnic studies strike. Students of color from San Francisco State University and UC Berkley organize a Third World strike. Their efforts led to the creation of ethnic studies departments at both campuses and eventually across this country. I have to say that because of the work of folks in ethnic studies, which was a movement that did not have much support among the scholastic circles until recently, that we found all this information that would lead to children, present and in the future, being able to understand that Asian Americans are not recent immigrants and Asian Americans have contributed to the development of this country. Further, the most valuable player in 1969 was a Filipino American. He played for the Los Angeles Rams as a quarterback, and his name was Roman Gabriel. He was recognized as the league's Most Valuable Player. The first governor in 1974 was a Japanese governor named George Ariyoshi; and he was elected governor of Hawaii, the first APA governor in the United States. And in 1981, a Chinese American architecture student, Maya Lin, her design was chosen for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in a national competition. She becomes one of the most widely recognized architects in the United States, and her work can be seen here in Washington, D.C., at the Vietnam Memorial. In 1982, a young man, Vincent Chin, who was celebrating the event of his marriage, was murdered. He was murdered in Detroit, Michigan. Two white auto workers mistook Chin for Japanese and blamed him for the auto industry's woes and the downturn in the economy. He was bludgeoned to death with a baseball bat. The courts were lenient on the killers, and none of them served a day in jail. This incident became a rallying point for the national APA community. His mom went across this country seeking justice and eventually had some justice through the civil rights law. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott).

Mr. HONDA. I thank the gentleman. Mr. Speaker, if I may continue my sharing of information on the chronological order. After the American internment, in 1990 we had a gentleman by the name of Chang-Lin Tien who became the first APA to head a major university in the United States when he was appointed chancellor of the University of Berkeley. He distinguished himself not only because he led the campus as a chancellor but he also became known by the students on that campus, which is quite rare. He also allowed the students to feel that they were part of a community. He was a great proponent of affirmative action. He was a great proponent of making sure that he modeled what it is that he believed by his own personal life. He also was probably the most prodigious and prolific fund-raiser that university system has ever seen. He just passed away a year ago from brain cancer. We shall miss him dearly; but his work and his model, his expectation continues to live in that system and in the State of California. In 1992, Mr. Speaker, the Los Angeles uprisings took place. The L.A. uprisings followed the verdict in the Rodney King trial. Property loss was valued at $1 billion with Korean American businesses bearing half the damage. Relations between Korean Americans and African Americans became a focal point of community activism. Today when visiting Los Angeles, one will find that the two communities are working hand in hand to make sure that they learn from each other and can grow with each other and that neither one is targeted in times of tension. In 1996 there was a victory for Asian immigrant women workers. After a 3\1/2\ year national campaign, APA immigrant women and Asian immigrant women advocates reached a historic agreement with clothing manufacturer Jessica McClintock to protect garment laborers. Mr. Speaker, in 1996 something happened in the State of Washington. Not only can Hawaii boast of an Asian American Governor but also the State of Washington elected its first Asian American Governor, Gary Locke from the State of Washington. He enjoys quite a bit of leadership. Today he is the chair of the Governors association. In 1996, AIDS research reached a point of distinction. A gentleman by the name of David Ho was named Time Magazine's Man of the Year for his work in AIDS research. He developed the protease inhibitor cocktail treatment which adds years to the lives of many AIDS patients. David Ho. In 1997, there was a woman in space. She was an Asian Pacific American. Astronaut Kalpana Chawla became the first Indo-American and APA woman in space. She died in the breakup of the Columbia Space Shuttle returning to Earth this year, in February 2003. The first APA man in the Cabinet was selected by President Bill Clinton when he appointed former Congressman Norman Mineta Secretary of Commerce. He is the first APA member of the Presidential Cabinet. Earlier in his career, Mineta was the first APA mayor of a major metropolitan city, San Jose. Then in the next administration under George Bush, George Bush saw fit to ask Norm Mineta to serve as Secretary of Transportation. We are enjoying his leadership currently as Secretary of Transportation. In 2002, an APA woman legislator by the name of Wilma Chan of Alameda, California, is a State legislator but she rose to the Democratic majority leader of the California State Assembly. There are other firsts, Mr. Speaker. The first Hmong attorney. The Hmongs came from Southeast Asia after the Vietnam War. The Hmongs were scattered throughout this country but eventually assembled both in Fresno, California, and in Minnesota. Mee Moua was a young woman who was an attorney and became the first woman and first Hmong attorney and first member of the Hmong community to be elected to the Minnesota State Senate. Shortly after that, Cy Thao became the first Hmong assemblyman in the State of Minnesota. There is also in the State of Minnesota the first Indo-American, Satveer Chaudhary. He hails from Minnesota, also. There was the first APA woman in the Cabinet. President George W. Bush appointed Elaine Chao to be Secretary of Labor. She is the very first APA woman to hold a Presidential Cabinet post. Mr. Speaker, in this country there are many firsts. We have John Liu who is the very first Asian American to sit on the City of New York's city council representing the 20th district. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee).

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee). And I yield, Mr. Speaker, to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to oppose H.R. 1261, the Workforce Reinvestment and Adult Education Act. Let us not be fooled by the title of the bill. A more accurate title would be the Workforce Divestment Act, because the legislation guts the program and removes critical civil rights protections. In a time of skyrocketing unemployment, it is shameful that the House Republicans would prefer to ignore workers who are in need of retraining and unemployment compensation and instead champion tax cuts for the most well-to-do segments of our society. At its core, this legislation is flawed. The bill, for example, would block grant the current dislocated worker programs with adult training programs and the state employment service. As a result, the states would no longer be required to assure that adequate resources are earmarked to assist laid-off workers. Instead, unemployed workers would be pitted against low-income workers and welfare recipients in a competition for limited resources. Equally troubling, H.R. 1261 explicitly authorizes religious organizations receiving federal funds from WIA's job training programs to discriminate against employees and job applicants based on religion. Current law prohibits participants in federal job training programs from discriminating based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or political affiliation or belief. Allowing this kind of discrimination is not only wrong it is unconstitutional. Rather than making these detrimental and indefensible changes to WIA, we should be taking up legislation that actually helps those workers impacted most in this recession--a recession the Bush administration has failed to reverse. We should be working on legislation to extend the Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation (TEUC) program, which is currently scheduled to expire at the end of this month. We should not only extend TEUC, we should expand the program to provide a total of 26 weeks of federal extended unemployment insurance benefits to all laid-off workers, including those who have already exhausted their federal extended benefits, as well as newly laid-off individuals. If we do this, we would actually be investing in our workforce.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. I yield to the gentleman from Texas.

Mr. HONDA. I yield to the gentleman from New York.

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words. Mr. Chairman, this process of policy making is very interesting. My background is teaching, and listening to the rationale and arguments back and forth has been very enlightening for me. I think this is probably the best way to create policy, having this kind of an open debate. Quite frankly, I want to thank the chairman and the ranking member for this opportunity in this very, very important policy that we are establishing here that the President wants. I think that is what is exciting about this whole thing. In the development of this vast arena of nanoscale technology, we know that its pervasiveness and ubiquitousness, its impact, is going to be greater than the debate over Y2K, because we know it will even create a greater umbrella because of this kind of technology. It seems to be very, very logical at this point that we have one place where people who are involved in all aspects of nanoscale technology, from medicine to the hard sciences, gather together and gather information, think about this, so that they can provide information, educate the public, utilizing the current structure that is being developed right now through this bill. So I would like to respectfully add my voice in support for this amendment in that we are expanding actually the whole world in this very important bill, and that we do this carefully and cautiously, but with some forethought that this debate is creating.

Mr. HONDA. I yield to the gentleman from New York.

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words, and I yield to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson).

Mr. HONDA. I yield to the gentlewoman from Texas.

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of H.R. 766, the Nanotechnology Research and Development Act of 2003. I would like to thank very, very much the distinguished leaders of the Committee on Science, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Boehlert) and the ranking member, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hall), for working with me on this bipartisan bill which was approved unanimously by our committee. Most people have probably never heard of the term nanotechnology but they will surely see its impact in the future. Nanotechnology refers to the ability of scientists and engineers to manipulate matter at the level of single atoms and molecules. It has been said just previously that the size is 1/100,000th of the width of a hair or, if you can imagine, one-billionth of a meter. Nanotechnology has the potential to be the making of a revolution because it can be an enabling technology, fundamentally changing the way many items are designed and manufactured. This may lead to advances in almost every conceivable technological discipline, including medicine, energy supplies, the food we eat, and the power of our computers. The National Science Foundation predicts the worldwide market for nanotechnology products and services to be somewhere in the neighborhoods of $1 trillion by the year 2015. In today's business climate, the demand for short-term returns prevents companies from investing in long-term, high-risk work, which advancing nanotechnology will require. Therefore, the Federal Government is one of the few investors that can take a long-term view and make the sustained investments that are required to bring the field to maturity. Our bill continues to follow the positive trend of Federal investment in nanotechnology R&D begun by President Clinton, who created the National Nanotechnology Initiative, and President Bush, who has continued to support the program. Under the NNI, 13 Federal agencies work together on nanotechnology, but each continues to run its own research program. A National Research Council study found that this approach leads to problems with coordination between agencies. Our bill addresses this concern by establishing an interagency committee on nanotechnology R&D and establishing a National Nanotechnology Coordination Office. The study also found that the current structure of NNI provides little chance for voices outside the Federal agencies to be heard in the agenda setting process. Our bill addresses this by establishing an advisory committee that will draw upon members of the academic and industrial communities. I am confident that the qualifications established in the bill and accompanying report will ensure that the advisers have the technical expertise in nanotechnology necessary to perform this job. Nanotechnology's interdisciplinary nature presents another challenge, since the field transcends traditional areas of expertise. Our bill supports the establishment of interdisciplinary research centers, ensures that grant programs encourage interdisciplinary research and will expand education and training in interdisciplinary nanoscience and engineering. In addition, nanotechnology will likely give rise to a host of novel social, ethical, philosophical and legal issues. We have a unique opportunity to think about those possible issues that might arise before they become problems, and I feel it is our duty to do so. Similar opportunities were missed in the fields of molecular genetics and the development of the Internet, and now we wrestle with issues such as genetic screening, privacy and intellectual property. Our bill addresses this duty in two ways: First, it establishes a research program to identify societal and ethical concerns and ensures that the results of this research are widely disseminated. Second, it charges the nanotechnology advisory committee with the responsibilities of assessing whether this program is adequately addressing the issues and providing advice on these issues. One of our hearing witnesses reminded us that it is not enough to focus only on basic research, but also that the Federal Government should take steps to promote the commercialization of nanotechnology. I am pleased that at the markup the committee adopted my amendment to develop a plan for commercializing nanotechnology using the Small Business Innovation Research Program and the Small Business Technology Transfer Research Program. These programs represent significant Federal investment in technology development and commercialization by small firms, exactly the type of entrepreneurial firms where most nanotechnology is occurring. This is an excellent bill. I am proud to have had the chance to work on it. I urge my colleagues to support it. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank the leadership again, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Boehlert) and the ranking member, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hall), on this wonderful bill.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall vote No. 157, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 157, the Pitts Amendment to H.R. 1298, a bill to provide assistance to foreign countries to combat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall vote Nos. 146, 147, and 148, I was unavoidably detained with important matters in my district. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall vote 146, Congratulating Charter Schools Across the United States, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 147, Extending Congratulations to the United States Capitol Police on the Occasion of its 175th Anniversary, and ``yea'' on rollcall vote 148, Expressing Support for the Celebration of Patriots' Day and Honoring the Nation's First Patriots.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall votes Nos. 149, 150, 151, 152, 153, and 154 I was unavoidably detained with important matters in my district. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no'' on rollcall 149 regarding H. Res. 206, ``yes'' on rollcall vote 150, the Vitter amendment, ``no'' on rollcall vote 151, the DeMint amendment, ``no'' on rollcall vote 152, the Musgrave amendment, ``no'' on rollcall vote 153, the Tancredo amendment, and ``no'' on rollcall vote 154 on passage of H.R. 1350.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor for me to be here today to address the situation of former American POWs. In this time of war, it is especially important to recognize April 9 as National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day. While the plight of courageous soldiers such as Pfc. Jessica Lynch, who had been captured with 11 other U.S. soldiers from the 507th Maintenance Company, brings the concern of POWs to the forefront of our minds today, I would like to address my concerns for a group of POWs from a previous war, the war from which this important date of April 9 was chosen. I am speaking of those who fought in the Pacific Theater during World War II. I would especially like to talk about one former POW, Dr. Lester Tenney. Dr. Tenney's story mirrors what many of our WWII POWs in the Pacific went through. Mr. Tenney became a prisoner of war on April 9, 1942, with the fall of Bataan in the Philippines. A survivor of the Bataan death march, he was sent in a ``hell ship'' to Japan, where he became part of the slave labor force in a Mitsui company coal mine. Dr. Tenney has stated, and I quote, ``I was forced to shovel coal 12 hours a day, 28 days a month, for over 2 years, the reward I received for this hard labor was beatings by the civilian workers in the mine. And if I did not work fast enough or if the Americans had won an important battle the beatings would be that much more severe.'' These POWs who survived the Bataan death march only to be transported to Japan in the infamous death ships and forced to work for private Japanese companies under the most horrendous conditions are the true heroes of our Nation. After the war, approximately 16,000 POWs returned--all battered and nearly starved to death, many permanently disabled, all changed forever. More than 11,000 POWs died in the hands of Japanese, among the worst records of physical abuse of POWs in recorded history. Now, like many other victims of World War II-era atrocities, the remaining survivors and the estates of those who have since passed away are seeking justice and historical recognition of their ordeal. The former POWs do not seek any action or retaliation against the current Japanese Government or against the Japanese people. Nor do they seek to portray Asian-Americans in any sort of negative light. Rather, they simply seek just compensation from the Japanese companies who were unjustly enriched by their slave labor and sufferings. I am honored to stand here in the House of Representatives, to let these men know that I will work with my colleagues to see that there is justice done in their situation. We must never forget, these are the men of our Nation's greatest generation. They volunteered to serve our country, some only 17 or 18 years old at the time. They survived the ordeal of a forced surrender in the Philippines, they survived the cruelties of the Bataan death march, they survived the hell ships, they survived being POWs in Japan and the tortures of slavery. For the sake of the past, for the sake of these men today, and the sake of our future, we must do right for these men. Mr. Speaker, I thank you for allowing me to address the House floor this evening on this very important matter.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Chairman, the auto industry has claimed that if CAFE standards are raised, they might have to stop making SUVs, yet their actions directly contradict these words. As the gentleman from New York (Mr. Boehlert) indicated, recently, Ford, Toyota and GM all announced plans to introduce SUVs that travel over 35 miles per gallon over the next couple of years. Toyota has demonstrated with the Prius, which I drive, that hybrid technology works and consumers love it. Auto companies are showing that they have the technology to improve fuel economy without sacrificing safety. I urge my colleagues to support the Boehlert-Markey amendment to improve fuel economy.