May 27, 2020 - Issue: Vol. 166, No. 99 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 2nd Session

[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E487]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  CONGRESSIONAL COMMENDATION HONORING ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN HERITAGE 
                                 MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. LUCY McBATH

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 27, 2020

  Mrs. McBATH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Asian Pacific 
American Heritage Month. Each May, Americans commemorate two historic 
anniversaries: the immigration of the first Japanese people to the 
United States on May 7, 1843, and the completion of the 
transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869. First proposed as a ten-day 
celebration in 1977, this month celebrates the heritage of Americans 
who come from Asian and Pacific Island countries and territories. Since 
the first Asian and Pacific Islanders made the journey to America in 
1843, they have enriched the fabric of this great nation with their own 
unique contributions. I am honored today to tell the stories of two 
Asian Pacific Americans who live and work in Georgia's Sixth 
Congressional District.
  Asian Pacific Americans represent a diversity of cultures, 
experiences, and countries. Throughout American history, these men and 
women have contributed to the growth and progress of the nation. The 
story of Asian Pacific Americans has not been without pain, however. 
During the construction of the transcontinental railroad, thousands of 
Chinese immigrants worked under dangerous conditions, endured abusive 
labor practices, and received unfair compensation. During World War II, 
people of Japanese ancestry were removed from their homes, imprisoned, 
and held in desolate places without trial. Even today, Asian Pacific 
Americans endure hate and discrimination simply due to their heritage. 
Asian-owned businesses have suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic due 
to intolerance and xenophobia. As Americans, we must reject and condemn 
such discrimination and embrace the many differences that make this 
community a hub of culture and diversity.
  Today, I am proud to celebrate a community of Asian Pacific Americans 
that make up part of the incredibly rich and diverse heritage of 
Georgia's Sixth Congressional District. It is my honor to recognize two 
members of this community in particular: Victoria Huynh and Ching Hsia.
  Victoria Huynh is the Vice President of the Center for Pan Asian 
Community Services (CPACS), headquartered in Georgia's Sixth District. 
Victoria's upbringing in a Vietnamese refugee household fuels her 
passion for community building, strategic planning, and policy work 
with immigrants and refugees in Georgia. She serves as the Advisor of 
the CPACS' Advocacy Department and co-chairs the Asian American and 
Pacific Islander Complete Count Committee, which is working to ensure a 
complete count for Georgia's Asian Pacific American population in the 
2020 Census. Not only does Victoria serve on my Sixth District Complete 
Count Committee, but she also helped organize one of the largest ``Get 
Out the Count'' Census events in the entire state.
  Ching Hsia is the Assistant Principal for the Chinese Cultural School 
and Vice President of the Chinese Community Federation of Atlanta. She 
immigrated to the United States with her parents and siblings when she 
was just 8 years old. As the youngest child among four siblings, she 
watched her parents struggle to provide for her family due to language 
barriers and limited employment opportunities. The feeling of making 
her parents proud was what kept her going through difficult times. When 
Ching was in middle school, her parents bought a restaurant on Buford 
Highway, which is also located in the Sixth District. As the only 
member of her family that spoke English, she interpreted mail, bills, 
and other documents for the family business. She went on to attend 
Georgia State University and majored in Spanish with a concentration in 
International Business. After college, she used her expertise to help 
her own family business as well as many other immigrant-owned 
businesses along the Buford Highway corridor.
  Victoria and Ching's remarkable stories are just two of the many rich 
narratives that make up the vibrant Asian Pacific American community in 
Georgia. I am deeply grateful for the services that Victoria and Ching 
provide to residents across the state, and it is my honor to highlight 
them both during Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. During this 
month and always, I am proud to celebrate the impact of Asian Pacific 
Americans here in Georgia and across the country.

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