Filipino Veterans Equity Act of 2005

Mr. Speaker, I rise in celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. It is during this month that we commemorate the significant contributions that the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community has made to our country.

I would like to join my colleagues on the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, of which I am a member, and which is chaired by my colleague, Mr. Honda of California. This bipartisan and bicameral caucus has been active in raising awareness about the concerns and issues that face the Asian American and Pacific Islander community today.

There are more than 12 million Asian American and Pacific Islanders in the United States, including about 275,000 in my home state of Maryland. Asian Pacific Americans also have the most diverse background of any minority population, tracing their roots to almost fifty different countries and ethnic groups.

Today, Asian Pacific Americans play an important role in every aspect of American life--as authors and artists, as business leaders, as political leaders, as military leaders, as scientists and innovators, as athletes, and in virtually every other aspect of American society.

In addition to recognizing the important role that Asian Pacific Americans play in our country, this month's celebration is also a time to remember significant historical contributions that Asian Pacific Americans have made in our Nation's history. From the building of our transcontinental railroads to fighting on behalf of our Nation, Asian Pacific Americans have contributed greatly to the American tapestry.

This year's theme for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month is ``Liberty and Freedom for All.'' This spirit was embodied in Representative Robert Matsui, who passed away in December, and to whom I wish to pay tribute. The House of Representatives and the country as a whole suffered a great loss with the passing of Bob Matsui, a dedicated leader who served with distinction for 13 terms in the House and was chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

During his career, Bob Matsui was an active member of the Asian Pacific American community, working to achieve redress for Japanese Americans who were placed in internment camps after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Congressman Matsui himself was placed in the Tule Lake internment camp along with his family in 1942. He was later instrumental in securing the passage of the Japanese-American Redress Act as well as in ensuring a monument to Japanese-American patriotism during World War II.

Representative Matsui's experience demonstrates the determination and perseverance that characterized Asian Pacific Americans during their time here in the United States, oftentimes overcoming discrimination, language and cultural barriers.

I am pleased Americans have so much to benefit from as a result of our diverse society. We continue to learn from each other and share each other's traditions, history, and culture.

That is why it gives me great pleasure today to recognize the significant advances and contributions made by the Asian Pacific American Community to our country during Asian Pacific Heritage month.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Asian Pacific Heritage Week.

I am especially proud to do so because I am privileged to represent some of the most important Asian Pacific American communities in Los Angeles, California, including Chinatown, Little Tokyo, Filipinotown, and a portion of the Korean-American community. These historic California communities are constant reminders of the vibrancy and vitality of Asian Pacific Islanders and their significant contributions to our nation.

Secretary of Transportation, former Representative Norman Y. Mineta from California, was one of the first to work towards establishing a time of national recognition of the accomplishments of Asian Pacific Islander Americans. In June of 1977, he and his colleague, Representative Frank Horton of New York, introduced the first House resolution that called upon the President to proclaim the first 10 days of May as Asian Pacific American Heritage Week. In 1979, President Jimmy Carter signed a joint resolution declaring May 4-10 as National Asian Pacific American Heritage Week. And in 1990, President George H. W. Bush expanded the celebration to the entire month of May. The month of May was chosen for this special commemoration since it corresponds with the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants to the United States in May of 1843.

``Asian Pacific American'' is a political appellation that encompasses the many ethnic groups that exist in the API community. The term helps give expression to this historically, culturally, linguistically, and ethnically diverse group while at the same time recognizing common experiences in American history.

Mr. Speaker, let me take a few minutes to highlight a few of the important events in the lives of my Asian Pacific American constituents. In Little Tokyo, one event was the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Little Tokyo Service Center, in which I had the honor to participate. For 25 years, the Little Tokyo Service Center, a nonprofit charitable organization serving Asian and Pacific Islanders throughout Los Angeles County, has been an important resource for the residents of this diverse community. Currently, Little Tokyo Service Center sponsors over a dozen community and social service programs, with over

40 paid staff and hundreds of volunteers who provide competent and compassionate services in seven different languages. The services provided by Little Tokyo Service Center include individual and family counseling, support groups, transportation and translation services, an emergency caregiver program, crisis hotlines, and consumer education.

Little Tokyo Service Center is also the sponsor of several major community development projects in the Los Angeles area, including the construction and management of Casa Heiwa, a 100-unit affordable housing project for individuals and families; the rehabilitation of one of our city's historical landmarks into the Union Center for the Arts; and the development of Pacific Bridge, a housing complex for adults with developmental challenges.

Another noteworthy event took place last year when I was honored to recognize the 100th anniversary of The Rafu Shimpo. The success of this bilingual English-Japanese newspaper, founded in Los Angeles and published, distributed, and read avidly in my congressional district, is another milestone in the rich history of the Japanese-American community.

The history of The Rafu Shimpo is an important part of both American and Japanese American history and heritage. In April 1903, three young men, Rippo lijima, Masaharu Yamaguchi, and Seijiro Shibuya produced in Los Angeles the first mimeographed news bulletin for the Japanese- speaking community. In 1914, under the new management of Henry Toyosaku (H.T.) Komai, the newspaper began to grow. In 1926, an English language section was added with the help of a 20-year-old UCLA education major, Louise Suski. By 1932, the English section became a daily feature.

On April 4, 1942, The Rafu Shimpo ceased publication as Americans of Japanese descent were forcibly and shamefully removed to desert internment camps. At the end of the war in 1945, while other Japanese Americans were released, H.T. Komai continued to be detained in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Nevertheless, the Komai family's dedication to publishing The Rafu Shimpo persevered. H.T.'s son, Akira Komai, with a $1,500 loan from three staff members, rebuilt the newspaper.

The newspaper grew rapidly from a circulation of 500 in 1946, to 20,000 over the next 30 years. Today, H.T.'s grandson, Michael Komai, serves as the third generation publisher, a position he has held since 1983. The award-winning daily has over 45,000 readers and prevails as the premier news source for the Los Angeles area Japanese American community.

Two years ago, I was also honored to recognize the 100th anniversary of Fugetsu-Do, a family-run bakery in my congressional district. Starting in 1903, Seiichi Kito and his family, later including Roy Kito, began working in a small shop to produce batches of mochi, maju, and other Japanese sweets. In 1942, when the Kito family was forced to relocate to the Heart Mountain, Wyoming internment camp, the family business was closed. At the end of the war, the Kito family returned to Los Angeles and reopened the doors of Fugetsu-Do. Today, Brian Kito, the grandson of Seiichi Kito and the son of Roy Kito, continues the legacy of Fugetsu-Do and continues to serve the Little Tokyo community.

And, of course, there is the wonderful celebration of Japanese culture and tradition during Nisei Week, culminating with the annual parade.

I am also very proud to represent many members of the Korean-American community and to work with this important constituency that greatly contributes to the Los Angeles area and our nation as a whole.

In 1903, Korean immigrants began arriving in the U.S. in 3 distinct waves. The first wave was recruited for back-breaking work on the sugar plantations of Hawaii. The second wave of Koreans arrived after World War II and again after the Korean War. In the 1960's, more Korean immigrants came to the U.S. seeking increased educational opportunities. Many in this last group were medical professionals who came to fill the shortage of health care workers in our inner cities. These immigrants have helped revitalize declining neighborhoods and have been an economic stimulus through small business entrepreneurship. Korean Americans have also made their influence felt in international trade, the fashion industry, and other community businesses such as restaurants. Still others make significant contributions in professions ranging from the arts to medicine and the sciences. Last year I was proud to help honor the 100th anniversary of Korean-American immigration to the United States with a statement on the floor of the House of Representatives and to participate in their annual Harvest Moon Festival parade in Los Angeles.

And, of course, I am privileged to represent Los Angeles's Chinatown, perhaps the Asian Pacific American group with the oldest and best known story in American history.

Immigrants from China first came to southern California in the late 1850's to help build wagon roads and lay railroad tracks across the west. Initially barred from owning property, many Chinese eventually settled near Olvera Street in rented homes and storefronts used for hand laundries, herb shops and markets in downtown Los Angeles. In the 1930's, this neighborhood of approximately 3000 Chinese was uprooted to make way for the construction of Union Station on Alameda Street.

Chinese families and merchants banded together as the Los Angeles Chinatown Corporation to create a ``new Chinatown'' on Broadway. Since second-generation Chinese could own property, American-born Peter Soo Hoo led the group in purchasing a railroad storage yard they turned into a traditional Chinese-looking, tile-fringed pedestrian plaza. This ``New Chinatown'' became one of America's first shopping malls and was an immediate success. Restaurants and shops abounded, and at night the neighborhood came to life with colorful lights, music and street entertainers.

In the 1970's, waves of new Chinese immigrants led an ethnic population shift eastward to the San Gabriel Valley. The original Chinatown, however, retains its historical significance and vitality. To help stimulate its renewal and make this historic area accessible to more southern Californians, the Los Angeles delegation is working to bring the Gold Line through Chinatown.

Among the many other exciting things happening in Chinatown is the Chinese American Museum. In December of 2003, I was pleased to join the Chinese community to celebrate the Grand Opening of the museum, located at Olvera Street, the birthplace of Los Angeles. The Chinese American Museum is in the Garnier Building, which was erected in the 1890's for the exclusive use of the Chinese community. During those early years, the Garnier building housed schools, temples, churches and businesses. And, of course, the annual Chinese New Year parade and dragon dance culminates a week of celebration of Chinese culture and history.

And finally, in 2003, with other Members of Congress, I was pleased to attend a recognition ceremony in honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander veterans and current service members who are defending our country in the armed services. Among those being honored were members of the legendary 442nd Infantry Army Regiment, which sustained a higher rate of casualties during World War II than any other unit.

This ceremony was one more reminder of the enormous contributions and sacrifices made to this country by the members of our Asian Pacific American communities.

It is truly an honor to join my colleagues during Asian Pacific Heritage Month to recognize the many heroic and positive contributions of the API community to our American society.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the subject of my Special Order today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Asian American and Pacific Islander community and to commemorate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.

As Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, CAPAC, I feel privileged to be here tonight to speak of the history and accomplishments of the Asian American and Pacific Islander, AAPI, community.

Additionally, I will be highlighting those issues affecting our community that are also priorities for CAPAC.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment to acknowledge and remember extraordinary community activists, advocates, leaders, and long-time friends of the AAPI community that we have lost this year, such as Fred Korematsu, Dr. John B. Tsu, K. Patrick Okura, Iris Chang, and my colleague and friend, Congressman Bob Matsui.

Thanks to the late Representative Frank Horton from New York and my good friend, Secretary Norman Mineta, along with Senators Daniel Inouye and Spark Matsunaga, May is designated as Asian Pacific American Heritage Month to celebrate and honor the contributions of the Asian and Pacific Islander community.

The first 10 days of May coincide with two important anniversaries: the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants on May 7, 1843, to the United States; and the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869.

In 1992, Congress passed the law that officially designated May of each year as Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.

The first AAPI settlement in this country dates to 1763, when Filipinos escaped imprisonment aboard Spanish galleons and established a community near New Orleans. Today, that AAPI community is one of the fastest growing populations in the country, with over 12 million AAPIs living in the U.S. and representing 4.5 percent of the total U.S. population.

My home State of California has both the largest AAPI population, 4.6 million folks, and the largest numerical increase of AAPIs since April of 2000.

Mr. Speaker, this year's theme for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month is ``Liberty and Freedom For All.''

As we honor the AAPI community's contributions to this great Nation, I would also like to note the very social injustices the AAPI community still face. For example, the New York Times today reported a recent study commissioned by the National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium, a Washington-based civil rights organization.

The study showed that AAPIs portray only 2.7 percent of the regular characters on prime time national network television. Our community is still misrepresented in all areas of society, especially in the media and on prime time television even though we make up 5 percent of the total population.

Although we are often misperceived as monolithic, our community is extremely diverse in our languages, ethnicities, and culture. Aggregating such a large and diverse group makes it difficult to understand the unique problems faced by the individual ethnicities and subgroups such as the Southeast Asian Americans who are refugees who fled their home countries during the late 1970s and the early 1980s.

As a country, we need to better adjust the needs of the AAPI community when we discuss immigration, health, and education issues.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Guam (Ms. Bordallo).

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Millender-McDonald).

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Case).

Mahalo.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Watson).

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Watson) for her presentation, and I will reiterate her admonition to the media in terms of being able to depict Asian American communities.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to speak on a couple of points before I yield to the gentleman from Oregon. On the issue of immigration, Mr. Speaker, our Nation was founded by immigrants who valued freedom and liberty and who sought to be free from persecution from a tyrant government. Families fled from their home countries to seek refuge in this great Nation because they too believed in liberty, justice, and freedom for all.

AAPI families who seek to be reunited with their families overseas have not seen their dreams come true because of our broken immigration system. Over 1.5 million Asians are caught in the family immigration backlog and immediate family members from overseas wait as long as 10 years to reunite with their families in the U.S.; and if they are a young teenager, by the time they reach 18, they get switched to another line. Mothers and fathers wait to reunite with their children; but due to the long years of waiting, their children may have already reached the age of 18 and their families will have to start the process over again.

As we honor the 40th anniversary of the Immigration Nationality Act of 1965 and the 30th anniversary of the Refugee Act of 1975, we need to remember that our country was founded and created to protect our freedom and civil liberties.

As Chair of CAPAC, we have worked closely with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus to speak out against the REAL ID Act. For the AAPI community, the REAL ID will make it harder for those seeking asylum to prove their case. This will prevent legitimate asylum seekers from obtaining relief in the United States. The REAL ID Act requires asylum applicants to prove that the central motive for their persecution was race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. The REAL ID Act ignores the fact that those who flee brutal human rights abuses often escape from situations that preclude gathering of documentation to present ``corroborating evidence.'' Applicants may be denied based on any inconsistencies or inaccuracies in their stories. An escapee from the Darfur region cannot go back and track evidence of their persecution without facing a life threatening situation.

Therefore, I believe we need comprehensive immigration reform to fix

our broken immigration system, not a national ID that continues the problem.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Wu).

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his comments.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to touch on a couple more subjects, if I may.

As Americans, we need to ensure that our children receive a quality education by providing adequate teacher training, funds for after- school and extracurricular activities, and ensuring that college is affordable for every student that desires to receive a higher education.

According to the U.S. census, 50 percent of Asians age 25 or over have a bachelor's degree or higher level of education. However, I would like to emphasize that when we disaggregate the data for AAPI subgroups, we find that the ``model minority'' stereotype is, in fact, a myth.

Only 9.1 percent of Cambodian Americans, 7.4 percent Hmong Americans, 7.6 percent Lao Americans, and 19.5 percent Vietnamese Americans and 16 percent of native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders who are 25 years and older have a bachelor's degree.

These numbers show that we must do a better job of disaggregating data and information about our communities to assess the needs of those hard-working Americans who still falter behind.

To address the disparities between subgroups of the larger AAPI community, we need Congress to pass the Asian American and Pacific Islander Serving Institutions bill, which the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Wu) will be introducing later this month. This legislation will provide Federal grants to colleges and universities that have an enrollment of undergraduate students that is at least 10 percent AAPI and at least 50 percent of its degree-seeking students receive financial assistance.

As a caucus, we will work to increase the availability of loan assistance, scholarships, and programs to allow AAPI students to attend a higher education institution; to ensure full funding for teachers and bilingual education programs under the No Child Left Behind Act; to support English language learners; and to support full funding of minority outreach programs for access to higher education such as the TRIO programs to expand services to serve AAPI students.

In health, Mr. Speaker, a common misperception of AAPIs is that as a group we face fewer health problems than other racial and ethnic groups. In fact, AAPIs as a group and specific populations within this group do experience disparities in health and health care. For example, AAPIs have the highest hepatitis B rates of any racial group in the

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from Washington for his great work and also for making sure that the lessons of internment is not only academic, but also personal, and for dedicating sites that will be a hands-on experience for generations to come.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to continue on Social Security and, as we continue this debate on Social Security, I want to emphasize the fact that privatizing Social Security will impact the Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders just as it will impact all Americans. We need to protect and secure Social Security for the AAPI community, because Social Security provides retirement security to AAPI families. More than 785,000 AAPIs receive Social Security benefits, and the average monthly benefit for AAPIs is $716.

Social Security needs a solid source of funding, not a plan that makes the problem worse by draining trillions of dollars away from Social Security. Social Security is a generational promise to honor our parents and Americans who have paid into Social Security for years, and we need to fight to protect and secure the promise of benefits.

On a personal note, my mother, who is 88, has worked all her life. She has worked in the fields, she has worked with my father as a sharecropper in strawberries and, later, she was a domestic worker, taking care of other people's homes and cleaning their homes. All of this work has dignity to it. It provided sufficient revenues to put food on our table. However, she did not have a pension plan. She did not have other plans that would sustain her in her retirement years. She is one of those 90 percent of widows who depend upon Social Security for 90 percent of their income on a monthly basis. It is for those women, for children who have survived family tragedies and became orphans, for those who are disabled, that we submit that Social Security should not be deformed, but perhaps reformed and have a sense of solvency into the future.

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to extend my gratitude to the patriotic men and women serving our country in the military, including 60,813 AAPIs serving on active duty in the U.S. armed services, as well as the 28,066 in the Reserves and the National Guard. I also commend and thank the 351,000 AAPI veterans who fought for this country.

I would like to highlight and honor the Filipino veterans who have not been compensated and recognized for their service, which I believe is a national disservice to these brave veterans. As a country, it is our duty to ensure that these veterans have equal access to all of the benefits and treatment that other veterans receive. We believe that our troops should be taken care of when we send them into battle and that they should be given the respect when they return home.

With regard to the Filipino veterans, I stand with my colleagues, the gentleman from California (Mr. Cunningham) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Filner) to support their bipartisan legislation, H.R. 302, to restore full benefits to those veterans who fought for our Nation in World War II when they were asked and recruited to become our allies in fighting the Japanese military during World War II. However, this effort has been stalled and frustrated over the years. It is not an issue of who is in the administration, it is an issue of the State Department. I would also ask my colleagues in Congress on both sides of the aisle to take note of this bill that is being sponsored by the gentlemen from California (Mr. Cunningham) and (Mr. Filner), to study it and understand that a promise made should not be a promise broken as it was in 1946, but a promise kept. We have an opportunity in this session to keep that promise, and to make good our word to those veterans who fought alongside of our veterans and soldiers in World War

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 622) to recognize and honor the Filipino World War II veterans for their defense of democratic ideals and their important contribution to the outcome of World War II, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise in support of House Resolution 622, which recognizes and honors Filipino World War II veterans for their important contributions to the victorious outcome of World War II.

This resolution notes that the prior history of the Philippines as a United States territory, then as a self-governing commonwealth, during which time the Filipino Armed Forces were called into service under the command of General Douglas MacArthur in July 1941. Those servicemen fought with gallantry and courage, and thousands gave their lives resisting Japanese aggression and occupation. House Resolution 622 honors those Filipino veterans for their valiant fight, for the liberation of their homeland, and for their defense of democratic ideals.

I commend the cochair of the Philippine Caucus, the gentleman from California (Mr. Issa), for introducing this long overdue resolution. It was moved forward with the strong support of the chairman of the House International Relations Committee, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde).

My colleagues may not be aware that Chairman Hyde was a combat veteran of the Philippine campaign in World War II, and he piloted a landing craft

in the January 1945 landing that marked the beginning of the liberation of Luzon.

Madam Speaker, I submit for printing in the Congressional Record a copy of an article from the September 10, 2006, edition of Philippine Panorama, the leading weekly news magazine in the Philippines

[From the Philippine Panorama, Sept. 10, 2006]

Memories of Lingayen

(By Beth Day Romulo)

Henry Hyde, chairman of the US House International

Relations Committee, led a group of four congressmen,

including Melvin Watt of North Carolina, Dana Rohrabacher of

California, Jeff Flake of Arizona and Eni Faleomavaega of

Samoa, on a visit to the Philippines (August 11th to 15th) to

assess security in this country, discuss trade relations and,

in the case of the 82-year old chairman, he hoped to visit

with fellow veterans of World War Two, and see Lingayen Gulf

again.

As a college freshman at Georgetown University, Hyde

enlisted in the Navy in 1942. Why the Navy? He had never been

to sea but liked the idea of ``a nice clean ship'' in

comparison to life in a trench. ``It didn't occur to me that

ships sink,'' he recalled wryly in an interview at the Makati

Shangri-la Hotel where the group were staying. After an

officers training program at Duke University, he attended a

90-day midshipmen's school at Notre Dame and won his

commission as an Ensign in October 1944. Told that he would

go to commanders school at Harvard, he bought new blue

uniforms as befit the occasion which he never wore, since his

orders were suddenly changed and he was sent to sea in the

Pacific theater, as part of the operation to liberate the

Philippines.

Having never been at sea before, he became deathly seasick

on his first night out of San Francisco, recovered on the

third day and was fortunately never seasick again despite the

fact that the Liberty ship took 30 days to reach Hollandia,

New Guinea, zigzagging to miss Japanese submarines.

Joining the flotilla of supply ships offshore of the

Philippines in January 1945, young Ensign Hyde was assigned

command of an amphibious Landing Craft Tank (LCT), a flat-

bottomed vessel with a ramp that could tow supplies to shore

and unload on beaches. He had 12 crew members, all

considerably older than he, so ``I grew a full beard.'' The

big ships couldn't come ashore, so it was the duty of the LCT

to load from the big ships (``at night and we couldn't use

lights'') everything from trucks (LCT could carry five at a

time) weapons, ammunition, supplies, and occasionally

personnel. By this time, General MacArthur had made his

historic landing at Leyte and by March 1945, the Americans

controlled Manila and Subic Bay and the Japanese army had

withdrawn to the North.

After two or three days at sea, water washed over the craft

and filled the pontoons. The radio man was frantically

calling ``we are sinking'' to the towing vessel and signaling

with the blinker. Hyde recalls with wry humor that he was

running around with a mattress ``trying to hold back the

South China Sea.'' Eventually, the tow ship got the message

and cut loose the lines which dragged down the LCT, and they

limped into Lingayen.

Sent on a special mission to Aparri on the northern tip of

Luzon, they arrived at a beach which had no grading. ``It was

like a wall.'' They couldn't move onto shore, so came in as

close as they could. The deserted beach suddenly swarmed with

people who came out from the trees and bushes and waded out

to unload their cargo. They were guerillas in dire need of

supplies.

While not engaging in combat, the LCT was often under fire

from enemy aircraft who dropped bombs near them ``but we were

too busy to notice.''

At another time, Hyde's LCT was given a special mission to

salvage the supplies from a Liberty Ship which had foundered

on rocks and was lying on its side. They were sent, he found

later, because a typhoon was coming and military brass didn't

want to lose all the cargo. A destroyer escort took the LCT

out to the grounded ship, then disappeared. They tied up to

the starboard, started loading and the typhoon hit before

they were finished. ``This taught me what real terror

means.'' The LCT was banging helplessly against the ship. The

wind blew off the conning tower and Hyde was convinced he

would lose both his craft and his men. They donned their

lifejackets, fully expecting to be washed overboard. ``I'll

never forget it,'' Hyde recalled. ``The sky was green. The

sea was green. And our complexions were green.''

Eventually, they were able to cut the lines free from the

ship, and Ensign Hyde guided his craft through the swelling

seas. in the direction he thought he would lead to Subic Bay.

He was in luck. After all-night winds and heavy swells,

dawn came. The storm was gone. And they could see Subic

Bay. They unloaded their cargo. The LCT was repaired, and

they headed back to the grounded ship for a second load.

Getting out all the supplies and transporting them to.

Subic Bay took a week in all.

Lighter moments came when the administrative ship in the

flotilla distributed mail from home, and when they had shore

leave. After Manila was liberated, there was ``a great

officers club'' where we sat around, sipped beer, and told

football stories. Sometimes, they played basketball with

college students.

Hyde remembers spending his 21st birthday walking alone on

the beach at Lingayen, wondering if he would ever see home

again. Other young officers, with wives and children awaiting

them, were allowed to' leave first. He was finally sent home

in August 1946. When the ship was nearing San Francisco, he

rose at 3 a.m. and went out on deck to wait for the sight of

the lights on the bridge of San Francisco loom through the

mist. ``It was the happiest moment of my life.''

When he had first sailed on the Liberty ship for the

Philippines, a submarine was just coming in from the South

China Sea, and the men coming and going waved at one another.

He wondered then what they had experienced. Now, he knew.

Congressman Hyde was able to greet a large number of

Philippine veterans at a wreath-laying ceremony at the

American Cemetery in Ft. Bonifacio, some of whom had called

upon him in his home constancy. He was also awarded the

Philippine Liberation Medal by AFP Major General Horacio

Tolentino in a ceremony on August 12th in recognition of his

service during the Liberation of the Philippines.

Discovering the difficulties of getting to Lingayen by

land, he flew over it instead, which inspired these memories.

The article profiles Chairman Hyde's service in the Philippines and describes, among many others things, his interaction with Filipino servicemen who were waging a guerilla campaign against the Imperial Japanese Army at that time.

I am grateful to have this opportunity today to express our appreciation to those veterans, both Filipino and Americans, who are with us. This resolution is a fitting tribute to their heroism and sacrifice and deserves our unanimous support.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I also have no other requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, which commemorates the significant contributions of Asian Pacific Americans throughout our country's history. America draws its strength from its tremendous diversity. The contributions to our country--to the American culture and experience-- by Asian Pacific Americans are numerous, and we are a much better country as a result.

I thank the gentleman for yielding and for his leadership in the Asian Pacific American Caucus and our Tri-Caucus, the Asian Pacific American Caucus, the Hispanic Caucus, and the Congressional Black Caucus. It is a privilege to be part of the Tri-Caucus.

Today, I want to recognize the contributions of Asian Pacific Americans in my district, the Ninth Congressional District of California, the East Bay of Northern California, and commend them for their dedicated service and vision in making life better for those in our community and our Nation. Asian Pacific Americans have long played a crucial role in the life and history of the East Bay. The region's identity has been profoundly shaped by its place in the Pacific Rim.

However, today Asian Americans face a wide variety of challenges, including access to educational opportunities and community resources. I specifically want to highlight the work being done in my own district by the East Bay Asian Youth Center (EBAYC) and the East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation (EBALDC), in their efforts to empower the Asian American community and improve their standard of living.

The East Bay Asian Youth Center inspires Asian American youth and families by providing leadership and educational opportunities. Everyday EBAYC (ee-BAY-cee) demonstrates that cultural diversity is a powerful agent for progress. They run a youth sports program, have founded a health center, and coordinate a video productions program that was awarded Honorable Mention at the Oakland International Film Festival. EBAYC also facilitates partnerships to provide health, social, security improvements, and after-school services at schools. Moreover, EBAYC engages families through the creation of Parent Action Committees (PACs). Over 500 Asian, Latino, and African-American parents are involved in these PACs in schools where no parent organization had previously existed. These PACs have been enormously effective, fomenting positive change in local schools. For example, one PAC was able to decrease truancy by 40 percent at a middle school that was known for its major gang-related and racial violence.

I also want to mention the East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation. EBALDC (ee-BALD-cee) has created a national model to promote affordable housing. Since its inception, it has created over 700 units of affordable apartments for low income families and seniors. It is one of the Bay Area's--and the Nation's--most respected community developers. EBALDC has developed nearly 200,000 square feet of retail, office and childcare space, two of which I want to highlight: (1) the Asian Resource Center, a facility that provides key community services to the APA community in Oakland Chinatown and, (2) Preservation Park, a beautifully restored Victorian neighborhood block that is home to a countless number of non-profit organizations and small businesses. In addition, EBALDC spearheads an Individual Development Account (IDA) savings program, by which more than 10 percent of the IDA participants have used their savings to buy their first homes. Given that the Bay Area's real estate market makes it one of the least affordable cities in the Nation, it has made a huge impact within our community, EBALDC helps individuals discover and develop the resources to realize their dreams--of owning affordable homes and starting new businesses.

Immigrants face many obstacles today, and organizations like EBALDC and EBALYC help their clients to conquer their problems. These are just a few specific examples of the impact

that APAs have had in my district. I want to salute the achievements of these two organizations tonight.

I believe that it is also very important to celebrate the accomplishments of a hero for many of us, someone who has tirelessly devoted her life to make our Nation better, Lillian Galedo. Ms. Galedo is the Executive Director for Filipinos for Affirmative Action (FAA). This year she will be celebrating her ``Silver Anniversary'' with the organization, having served 25 years with FAA.

During her tenure, Ms. Galedo has spearheaded several initiatives to advocate on behalf of the Filipino American community, especially in the East Bay. Today, Filipinos continue to be among the top three groups immigrating to the U.S., constituting one of the largest Asian populations in California. FAA runs several youth programs, offers services to new immigrants and engages in several community campaigns, working for the rights of immigrants, Filipino-American airport screeners and WWII veterans. FAA is truly an exemplary grassroots organization, and Ms. Galedo has been at the forefront of encouraging civic participation and fighting for the civil rights of the community. Ms. Galedo is a woman warrior--passionate and articulate--and an inspiration for many Asian Americans.

I also want to recognize the contributions of those who have left us, but who have left an indelible mark in our Nation's history.

Tonight I honor the memory and the legacy of a very good friend, my dear colleague Congressman Robert Matsui. He made such a great impact in this body, and tonight as we celebrate APA Heritage Month, I want to remind everyone of Bob's great legacy. Bob's passing is a bitter blow to all of us. But his life and the things he achieved for all of us will live forever as a testament to a life well-lived. I also want to recognize his wife, Doris, who has done an incredible job in the past few months, in carrying on his legacy and reflecting the view and the future that Bob would have for the country.

I also want to highlight the achievements of Fred Korematsu, a courageous champion of the civil rights movement and a role model for Asian Americans. During his life, Mr. Korematsu touched the lives of countless people, shedding light on a past injustice that was forgotten and ignored. Mr. Korematsu was a central figure within the controversy of Japanese internment during World War II, during which he was arrested for demanding no more than what every American is entitled to--his basic human rights. Mr. Korematsu defied the order to go to the Japanese-American internment camps because he believed it wasn't right. His case changed legal history and resulted in an apology by the U.S. for its wrongdoings, as well as reparations to 120,000 living Japanese- Americans.

Mr. Speaker, as a Nation, we must embrace the cultures that have worked to advance the needs of all Americans and have helped to define what it means to be American. So as a proud member of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, I am privileged to join the gentleman from California tonight to make sure that our entire country understands why we are celebrating APA Heritage Month. Let us make sure that we represent Asian Pacific Americans every month, each and every day as we develop our policies and our legislation that ensure liberty and justice for all.

Mr. Speaker, let me begin by completely embracing and endorsing the comments of the gentleman from California (Mr. Filner) earlier today in support of H.R. 302, a continuation of a long fight for justice for our Filipino veterans. I say, as the representative from the district out of 435 in our entire country containing and holding the largest number of Filipino Americans, this is exactly what we must do to bring justice and conclusion to this sorry story in our history.

But I rise here today to highlight another issue which goes as well to the very heart of our collective obligation to our Nation's veterans, whether they be members of our greatest generation, like Hawaii's own 100th Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team, or those lost tragically in the deserts and streets of Iraq and Afghanistan, and that is our promise that our fallen be buried with their comrades in our great national cemeteries, be they Arlington or my own National Cemetery of the Pacific.

Despite this most elemental undertaking, increasing numbers of veterans are facing a dire situation. Currently, 11 States do not have a national cemetery operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and an additional six States, including Hawaii, have national cemeteries that no longer accept casket remains.

To assist with this indefensible shortfall, a number of States, including Hawaii, have worked with the VA to construct and operate State veterans cemeteries. Established in 1978 to complement the VA's National Cemetery Administration, the State Cemetery Grants Program assists States in providing grave sites for veterans in those areas where VA's national cemeteries cannot fully satisfy their burial needs. On most of the neighbor islands of Hawaii, my district, we have State cemeteries operated under this program.

Specifically, grants from the State Cemetery Grants Program may be used only for the purpose of establishing, expanding or improving veterans cemeteries that are owned and operated by a State or U.S. territory. Aid can be granted only to States or U.S. territories, not to private organizations, counties, cities or other government agencies.

VA can now provide up to 100 percent of the development cost for an approved project. For establishment of new cemeteries, VA can provide for operating equipment. VA cannot and does not provide for the acquisition of land so that the States are solely responsible for providing locations for such cemeteries.

State cemeteries operated and established under the grant program must conform to the standards and guidelines pertaining to site selection, planning and construction set forth by VA. Cemeteries must be operated solely for the burial of service members who die on active duty, veterans and their eligible spouses and dependent children.

Any cemetery assisted by a VA grant must be maintained and operated according to the operational standards and measures of the National Cemetery Administration. After construction, the administration, operation and maintenance of a State's veterans cemetery is solely the responsibility of the State government, and the National Cemetery Administration has no further financial obligation to the State for the burial of veterans, with one important exception, which is the nub of this speech.

Currently, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs is authorized to pay a plot or interment allowance up to $300 per burial to a State for expenses incurred by the State for the burial of eligible veterans in a cemetery owned and operated by the State if the burial is performed at no cost to the veteran's next of kin. This benefit is administered by the Veterans Benefit Administration, and the State must apply to VBA to receive it. A great program, a great supplement to the assistance by our States of the national obligations to our veterans.

But despite the $300 currently provided to State governments for each veteran buried in a State veterans cemetery, the true cost is as much as $750 per burial and rising. Thus, even with the partial reimbursements provided by the VA, State governments with no available Federal cemeteries pay millions of dollars to fulfill our Federal commitment to provide a final resting place for our veterans.

This shortfall is particularly painful during the current budget difficulties faced by many States across our Nation and has the inevitable result, as it has in Hawaii, of inexcusable shortfalls in available State veterans cemeteries, both in burial plot availability and especially in operation and maintenance of existing facilities. This is certainly again the case in Hawaii which operates several State veterans cemeteries through VBA assistance that are stretched way beyond their means. I could go down the list, but the one that comes to mind most quickly is the West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery on my home island of Hawaii.

The bill I introduce today proposes a simple modification in an otherwise solid Federal program, to raise the Federal reimbursement for veteran burials in State cemeteries where there is no Federal VA option from $300 to $750 per burial. The price, a minimal $5 million annually as priced last year by the CBO. This is fair and necessary and will enable us to fulfill this most basic obligation. I ask for my colleagues' support.

Mahalo.