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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E443]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CELEBRATING ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH
______
HON. ED CASE
of hawaii
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, May 13, 2020
Mr. CASE. Madam Speaker, our country has officially observed each May
since 1992 as Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, recognizing the
extraordinary contributions of our Asian American, Native Hawaiian and
Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community to the rich fabric and history of
our nation.
May is especially important to me as the proud Representative of
Hawaii's First Congressional District with the largest population of
Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders of any district
in our country. For over a century and continuing through the present
and into tomorrow, Hawaii has produced repeated accomplished AANHPI
``firsts'' in government who have left a lasting impact on our state
and country, including Territorial Delegate Jonah Kuhio Kalaniana`ole,
Senator Hiram Fong, Senator Daniel Inouye, Senator Daniel Akaka,
Congresswoman Patsy Mink, Governors John Waihe`e, Ben Cayetano and
George Ariyoshi, as well as my current colleagues Senator Mazie Hirono
and Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard. I am also proud to have served as a
young staffer on Capitol Hill for my own mentor, the late Senator Spark
Matsunaga.
But the accomplishments of Hawaii's Asian American, Native Hawaiian
and Pacific Islander community extend well beyond the realm of politics
and government into all areas of our society including science, law,
sports, business, music, arts and culture and more. We are so proud to
remember individuals like astronaut Ellison Onizuka, Judge Herbert
Choy, entrepreneur Robert Taira, singer Don Ho, Olympic swimmer Duke
Kahanamoku, golfer Michelle Wie, Native Hawaiian navigator Nainoa
Thompson, boxer Brian Viloria, actor Jason Momoa, singer and songwriter
Bruno Mars and so many more.
The year 2020 also marks the 120th anniversary of Okinawan
immigration to Hawaii. On January 8, 1900, twenty-six men from Okinawa
arrived in Honolulu as part of the first group of contract laborers.
Like so many other AANHPI communities, Okinawan immigrants initially
faced discrimination but through their own hard work and sacrifice, our
Okinawan community has contributed deeply to the economic achievements
and cultural richness of our state. Today, persons of Okinawan descent
are deeply integrated into Hawaii's political, economic and social
life, and I am proud to serve as their Representative here in Congress.
In Hawaii and across America, AANHPI communities are as diverse as
they are accomplished. But while our country has made significant
progress in increasing visibility and expanding opportunities for all
Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, there is much
work still to be done. Disparities in economic opportunity, education,
health care and more between AANHPI and other communities and within
subgroups of our AANHPI community persist.
These disparities have become all the more apparent amidst this
COVID-19 pandemic. Across our country, Native Hawaiian and Pacific
Islander communities have been especially hard hit, reporting infection
rates up to three times higher than the rest of the population. At the
same time, across the country, Americans of Asian, Native Hawaiian and
Pacific Islander descent are working on the front lines to care for
their fellow Americans and keep our country going. Their strength and
resilience alongside our fellow Americans are truly inspiring. As a
member of executive board of our Congressional Asian Pacific American
Caucus, I will continue to work to protect the health and wellbeing of
our entire AANHPI community both in Hawaii and across the country
during this difficult time.
During this Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, while we celebrate
the accomplishments of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific
Islander communities in my district, in Hawaii and across America, we
must also rededicate ourselves to continuing to empower and uplift all
Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities and
individuals.
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