Speech #1090096781

As Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC). I am proud to stand here to honor the accomplishments and contributions of the Korean American community. On January 13. 1903. the first wave of Korean immigrants arrived in Hawaii. Like all immigrants. they arrived in this country with hope that they would find opportunities and a better life for themselves and their children. After World War II and the Korean War. two separate streams of Korean immigration took place. The first included those searching for political and educational freedom from the war. The larger stream occurred after the 1965 Immigration Act. which abolished the "national origins" quota system and allowed for family reunification provisions. After being hardened through years of war in Korea. these immigrants felt determined to build better lives and thrive in the United States. For Korean immigrants. the American dream of building a better future for their families is alive and well. Korean Americans make this dream a reality through a focus on entrepreneurship. Korean American entrepreneurs have successfully developed businesses in all parts of our cities and suburbs. The path to the American dream has not been easy for Korean Americans. The community has faced language and cultural barriers. discrimination and racism. Despite these obstacles. the Korean American communitylike so many other immigrants who arrive in this countryare helping to make and keep America strong. The Korean American community has made lasting contributions to our society through a variety of professions including business. education. and the military. They have made significant contributions in medicine and the sciences such as the South Korean researcher Hwang WooSuk. a national hero in Korea for backtoback world firsts in embryonic stem cell (ESC) research. Additionally. the Korean American community provides a bridge for the U.S. in building a stronger relationship with Korea. As a nation. we are benefiting from the knowledge and talent from their contributions. Today. there are over 2 million Korean Americans living in the United States and Korean immigration remains an important part of our nations history. The contributions through their culture. talents and knowledge continue to add to the diversity of this great nation. Mr.