Tag Archive for: Congress

House Passes Chinese Exclusion Resolution!

This afternoon, the House passed the resolution addressing and expressing regret for the Chinese Exclusion Laws (H. Res. 683) by voice vote!  Many thanks to all of you who supported our efforts and reached out to your Representatives. We also could not have done this without the tireless leadership of Representative Judy Chu, who has championed this cause from the very beginning, and Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith, who sheparded this legislation. Senate Resolution 201, sponsored by Senator Scott Brown, passed on October 6, 2011.  A LA Times article on this historic milestone is attached here.  Watch the floor proceedings accompanying the passage of H. Res. 683 here.
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Chinese American Citizens Alliance Recognizes Sen. Brown and Rep. Biggert

Senator Scott Brown receives award from Ted Gong

[The Chinese American Citizens Alliance presents awards to Senator Scott Brown and Representative Judy Biggert for their valiant support in passing the Senate and House Expressions of Regret Resolutions for exclusion laws, including the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act.

Ted Gong, Co-Chair of the 1882 Project and President of the C.A.C.A. DC Lodge, represented Grand President Carolyn Chan and C.A.C.A. Grand Lodge in making the presentations to Senator Brown on December 7 and Representative Biggert on December 14.  He eloquently shared the following remarks on our behalf.    —  Carolyn Chan, President] 

__________________________

Franklin Odo, Ted Gong, Rep. Judy Biggert, Ken Wang, Stan Lou, Michael Lau

The Chinese American Citizens Alliance is one of the oldest Asian American civil rights organizations in the United States.  It was originally formed in 1895 in response to anti-Chinese prejudices and racist legislation like the Chinese Exclusion Laws.  These laws, first enacted in1882 and repeatedly in increasing harshness, were not rescinded until 1943.  They were rescinded for political military reasons.  Congress has never apologized nor acknowledged the harm and injustice of these laws until resolutions were passed in the Senate and House of Representatives this year –130 years after the 1882 Act.

It is with a great deal of humility that I can stand here representing an organization that has fought for over a hundred years for the rights and livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of individuals and families affected by these horrible laws.  And it is with a great deal of honor that I have been asked to present to you a plaque of appreciation for your courage and leadership in making possible the resolutions.  These resolutions not only allow us to remember and honor our forebears and their struggles in the United States, but they allow us to reaffirm faith in a government and its fundamental American values and principles that have made this nation and it’s diverse people so strong and worthy of our struggles.

On behalf of the Chinese American alliance and a grateful community, I am pleased to present you this plaque signed by our National President Carolyn Chan.

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Senate Passes Chinese Exclusion Resolution!

1882 Exclusion Act close upYesterday evening, the Senate passed S. Res. 201–the resolution addressing and expressing regret for the Chinese Exclusion Laws–by unanimous consent.  We could not have done this without the considerable constituent support that all of you provided, or the inspiring and tireless leadership of our prime sponsor, Senator Scott Brown, and  co-sponsor, Dianne Feinstein.   A copy of the Senate resolution and Senators’ accompanying floor remarks is available here.

Now is the time to contact your Representatives to urge them to pass a similar resolution in the House.  Please  write to your Representatives through our Popvox letter-writing program, and for tips on how to contact your Representatives.

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Brown and Feinstein Introduce S. Res. 201

Reps. Chu, Biggert & Coffman,

Senators Feinstein & Brown Announce Resolution of Regret for Chinese Exclusion Laws

May 26, 2011

WASHINGTON, D.C.–U.S. Reps. Judy Chu (D-CA), Judy Biggert (R-IL), and Mike Coffman (R-CO), along with Senators Feinstein (D-CA) and Brown (R-MA), today announced the introduction of a resolution calling on Congress to formally acknowledge and express regret for the passage of a series of laws during the turn of the 20th Century that violated the fundamental civil rights of Chinese-American settlers.

“A century ago, the Chinese came here in search of a better life. But they faced harsh conditions, particularly in the halls of Congress. Congress passed numeroHse Press Conf june 19 2012us discriminatory exclusion laws that barred the Chinese from accessing basic rights given to other immigrants. These laws engendered hatred, bigotry and prejudice in the minds of Americans towards Chinese. Many were brutally murdered, and even more were abused, harassed and detained,” said Chu, lead House co-sponsor. “It is long overdue that Congress officially acknowledges these ugly laws, and expresses the sincere regret that Chinese Americans deserve. The last generation of settlers impacted by this legislation are leaving us, giving Congress a short window to make amends to those who were directly affected.  As the first Chinese American Congresswoman, I am proud to say that we will today introduce a resolution on the House Floor that does just that.”

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Feinstein Joins Brown in Introducing S. Res. 201

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Thursday, May 26, 2011

Feinstein Resolution Expresses Regret for Discriminatory Laws Against Chinese Immigrants

Despite hardships, Chinese Americans ‘continue to make invaluable contributions to our country’

Washington—Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today introduced a Senate resolution expressing Congressional regret for the passage of discriminatory laws against Chinese immigrants in the 19th Century.  Senator Scott Brown (R-Mass.) cosponsored the resolution with Senator Feinstein.

In introducing the resolution, Senator Feinstein said, “The enactment of Chinese exclusionary laws is a shameful part of our history that must not be forgotten.  I hope this resolution will serve to enlighten those who may not be aware of this regrettable chapter in our history, and bring closure to the families whose loved ones lived through this difficult time.”

The Chinese Exclusion Laws involved legislation Congress passed between 1870 and 1904 that explicitly discriminated against persons of Chinese descent based on race.  In 1882, Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act, which imposed a 10-year moratorium on Chinese immigration and naturalization of Chinese settlers. The law was later expanded several times to apply to all persons of Chinese descent, each time imposing increasingly severe restrictions on immigration and naturalization.

In Congressional Record remarks, Senator Feinstein described the experiences of Chinese immigrants who came to America by way of Angel Island in California.  In 1910, the U.S. government opened the Angel Island Immigration Station as a way to isolate Chinese immigrants from the City of San Francisco and the remainder of the Bay Area in Northern California.  These immigrants were brought to Angel Island Station where they were separated from family members, subjected to embarrassing medical examinations and grueling interrogations, and detained for months or sometimes years.

“Despite these hardships, Chinese immigrants persevered, and they continue to make invaluable contributions to the development and success of our country,” Feinstein added.

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1882 Project Seeks To Recognize Civil Rights Injustice

1882 Project Seeks Congressional Recognition for 130 Year-Old Injustice

The group is seeking recognition by the U.S. government, which passed the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882.

By Joseph Craig, Correspondent
Pacific Citizen
Published March 4, 2011

A civil rights injustice more than one century in the making has sparked several Asian Pacific American groups to take steps seeking recognition for the social wrongs that have haunted Chinese descendents for nearly 130 years.

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