Rangel Honors Asian Pacific American Month

Statement

Congressman Charles B. Rangel released the following statement in commemoration of this year's Asian Pacific American Month:

"As our nation commemorates the 22nd anniversary of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, it is a sincere privilege to celebrate the ongoing contributions and successes made by the Asian Pacific American community. Overcoming a wide breadth of obstacles ranging from economic struggles to racial persecution, Asian Pacific Americans have positively impacted the development of our nation. The APA community's sacrifice is true evidence that the American Dream is alive and well.

This year's theme is I Am Beyond: Evoking the American Spirit which sheds light on how the APA community has endeavored to succeed despite the absence of equal employment opportunities. I am very proud to represent a portion of the 1.7 million Asian Pacific Americans living in New York, which has the largest APA population in the United States. From our congressional district, prominent individuals, such as Jeremy Lin, John Liu, Jim Yong Kim, are tributes to the fact that members of the APA community can thrive in America. What is more, local organizations such as The National Association of Asian American Professionals (NAAAP-NY), Coalition of Asian Pacific Americans and the Asian Pacific American Chamber of Commerce strive to encourage young professionals from the APA community to reach for the stars and fight to make their dreams into reality.

My Colleagues in the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus and I are dedicated to satisfying the economic and social needs of the APA community as we work to secure comprehensive immigration reform and business empowerment opportunities for small business owners. I join my Asian Pacific American friends in celebrating their heritage and their well-deserved achievements."

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