Recognizing Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Floor Speech

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Mr. CASE. Mr. Speaker, each May our country celebrates Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, in recognition of the history, culture and accomplishments of our Nation's historic and evolving AANHPI community.

As the Representative for Hawaii's first Congressional District, I proudly serve one of our nation's largest populations of AANHPIs. Every day I witness firsthand the accomplishments of constituents who are AANHPI small businesspeople, journalists, public servants, healthcare workers, artists, athletes, community leaders, mothers, fathers, sons and daughters and more.

Hawaii's culture is made vibrant by the varied experiences, backgrounds and identities of our people, the majority of them AANHPI. Our country has been enriched by AANHPI individuals from Hawaii like surfer Carissa Moore, scientist Isabella Abbott, sumo wrestler Akebono Taro, mixed martial artist Max Holloway, Olympian Bryan Clay, Kumu Hula Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, singer Iam Tongi, actor Jason Momoa and so many more.

As we celebrate all that again, this year also marks the 30th anniversary of the founding of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC). CAPAC was established to ensure that AANHPI representation, concerns and needs are reflected in our nation's legislation and to coordinate these efforts with other Members of Congress. All four Members of Hawaii's Congressional delegation in 1994, Representative Patsy Mink, Senator Daniel Akaka, Senator Daniel Inouye and Representative Neil Abercrombie, were founding members of CAPAC. I have the privilege of carrying on this legacy today serving as an executive board member for CAPAC and communicating the evolving needs of our diverse AANHPI community at large and the unique needs of the AANHPI community I represent.

Let us this month again acknowledge the role of the AANHPI community in our nation's history, celebrate the work performed by CAPAC over three decades and pursue opportunities to advance AANHPI communities in our policies and priorities throughout the year.

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