Recognizing Filipino American Heritage Month and celebrating the heritage and culture of Filipino Americans and their immense contributions to the Nation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to call attention to a very significant event that occurred in my district last Friday, October 23, 2009. That day marked the public introduction of an important new book, ``Filipinos in Carson and the South Bay.'' I am proud that the co-authors of this book are my constituents, Mr. Florante Peter Ibanez, and his wife, Roselyn Estepa Ibanez. Florante is a library manager at Loyola Law School and adjunct professor at Loyola Marymount University where he teaches a course entitled ``The Filipino American Experience.'' Rose serves as the board chair for the Filipino American Library and works for the City of Los Angeles in the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment.

Their work, ``Filipinos in Carson and the South Bay,'' chronicles the rich history and significant contributions made by Filipino Americans to the City of Carson, the state of California, and the United States. It is an extensively researched and meticulously documented history of the Filipino experience. In addition to the general population, students of history, political science, anthropology, sociology, and other academic disciplines will find this work a welcome addition. I thank Florante Peter Ibanez and Roselyn Estepa Ibanez for undertaking this enormous task and salute their achievement.

Madam Speaker, October 2009 has been proclaimed Filipino American History Month in my home state of California and the U.S. Senate adopted a similar resolution earlier this month. It is my hope and expectation that the House will act very soon and favorably on H. Res. 155, a resolution I am proud to co-sponsor. This resolution will put the House on record in strong support of observing October as Filipino American History Month.

Madam Speaker, it is my honor and privilege to represent the people of the 37th Congressional District of California, which is one of the most ethnically, culturally, and racially diverse congressional districts in the country. This is especially true of Carson, one of the major cities in the district. Carson is comprised of roughly equal populations of Hispanics, African Americans, Caucasians, and Asian/ Pacific Islanders. The majority of Asian Pacific Americans are Filipinos who settled there as early as the 1920s to work on the farms or in factories, or serve in the U.S. Armed Forces, or to start their own businesses, or to serve their community as doctors, lawyers, and members of the clergy.

In the years since the descendants of these pioneers have prospered and made Carson and the South Bay one of the most livable communities in the nation and a preferred destination for Filipinos looking to start a new life in our country.

The vibrant Filipino community in Carson and the South Bay hosts an annual Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture which is one of Southern California's oldest, largest, and most heavily attended community festivals.

Madam Speaker, the authors, Florante Peter Ibanez and Roselyn Estepa Ibanez, chronicle the remarkable story of the Filipino experience in Carson and the South Bay. Their book adds a long overdue chapter to the American story. I ask my colleagues to join with me in honoring Florante Peter Ibanez and Roselyn Estepa Ibanez and applauding their major contribution to Filipino American History Month.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak about a resolution that I have re-introduced along with Congressmen Bilbray, Honda, Issa, and Bobby Scott, my colleagues in the U.S.-Philippines Friendship Caucus (H. Res. 155). This resolution recognizes Filipino American Heritage Month and celebrates the heritage and culture of Filipino Americans and their immense contributions to our nation.

The Filipino American National Historical Society established Filipino American History Month in 1988 but I was surprised to learn that the House of Representatives has never recognized this month, which is long overdue! We are pleased to honor the Filipino American community and pay tribute to the extraordinary contributions that Filipinos make to this nation. Filipino Americans have been part of the American experience, confronting many difficult challenges while being resolute and steadfast in their cultural heritage.

We honor Filipino Americans, from farm workers to nurses and doctors to the brave and courageous soldiers who fought shoulder-to-shoulder with American servicemen. This country is indebted to the Filipino veterans of World War II for their extraordinary sacrifices. We promise that we will not give up. Equity and recognition for World War II Veterans is a moral imperative.

I invite my colleagues to join with me in honoring the history, culture, and contribution of Filipino Americans in the United States by supporting this important resolution.