Speech #1100043925

Madam Speaker. I rise today in honor of Asian Pacific American (APA) Heritage Month. As you know May is designated as APA Heritage Month. and this years theme is "Meeting the Challenges for Asian Pacific Americans." One of the central challenges is the need for comprehensive immigration reform. I serve as the Immigration Task Force Chairman of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC). The caucus includes members who are of Asian Pacific descent and those who represent Congressional Districts with significant APA populations. like the First District of Hawaii. The Immigration Task Force is CAPACs main voice on this important and timely issue. Right now. APAs lace an immigration backlog that has forced many families to live for years apart trom their loved ones. For example. Filipinos must wait 23 years before United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) even examines their applications for a brother or sister from the Philippines. Furthermore. 1.5 million Asians live in the U.S. as undocumented immigrants. They live in the shadows without access to basic services. and are vulnerable to exploitation. As Task Force Chairman. I have made it a priority for CAPAC to support Comprehensive Immigration Reform. True immigration reform not only helps us secure our borders. but addresses the issues ot family reunification and earned legalization for undocumented immigrants. With that concemn. I cosponsored H.R. 1645. the "Security Through Regularized Immigration and a Vibrant Economy (STRIVE) Act of 2007." and I am working now to get members of CAPAC to support this bill. The "STRIVE Act" would help eliminate the family backlog by no longer Counting spouses and minor children of naturalized citizens against the worldwide cap on familybased immigration. That means remaining visas can reduce the backlog for the other classes of flamilybased immigrants. Such a move not only serves as a humane gesture. but upholds our core family values. The "STRIVE Act" also addresses the concerns of the undocumented immigrants. providing for eamned legalization. which means that people would be allowed to emerge from the shadows. Illegal immigrants would have to pay fines and back taxes. pass criminal background checks. and meet English and civics leamning requirements. Contrary to the rhetoric. these immigrants would not jump ahead of those who have pending legal visa applications. but would instead have to wait their turn. Furthermore. they would not count against either the familybased or employmentbased immigration caps. While not perfect. the "STRIVE Act" is an excellent start to solving the immigration reform problem. As we celebrate the contributions of APAs to the nation. we must rededicate ourselves to a new direction. to meet the challenges faced by APA families. That is how we open the door to the American dream to all Americans.