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Remarks Prepared for Delivery by
U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao
Observance of Asian Pacific American Heritage
Month
U.S. Department of Labor
Washington, D.C.
Thursday, May 12, 2005
Thank you, Sam [Mok].
And thank you Karin Weng, Claudette Brito and the Blue Sky
choir for that great rendition of the National Anthem.
Welcome to the Department of Labor's 14th annual celebration of Asian
Pacific American Heritage Month. I want to thank the members of the Planning
Committee for their hard work in once again making this event such a success.
I would also like to thank the members of the Department of Labor's Asian
Pacific American Council—DOL APAC. Last year, we celebrated the fact that
DOL APAC had become an official chapter of the Federal Asian Pacific American
Council. It is wonderful to see how much has been accomplished since then.
Let me also welcome today's keynote speaker, Dr. David Chu, Under Secretary
of Defense for Personnel and Readiness. Thank you for taking time out
of your busy schedule to be here with us today.
Today, more and more Asian Pacific Americans are making their way as
leaders in just about every field of mainstream America. Asian Americans
have won Nobel prizes in the sciences and the arts. Asian Pacific Americans
have flown into outer space. And we have designed some of our country's
most acclaimed national monuments and public buildings.
Asian Pacific Americans have formed cutting-edge technology companies.
Asian Pacific American athletes have won gold medals for the United States
in the Olympics. And there is even an Asian Pacific American who plays
in the NFL. Now that's real progress!
I'm proud to work for a leader, President George W. Bush, who has done
so much to reach out to our community. He has appointed nearly 290 Asian
Pacific Americans to the highest levels of the federal government. This
includes 94 Presidential appointments requiring Senate confirmation—that's
more than any other president. And the U.S. Department of Labor has the
largest number of Asian Pacific American appointees in the federal government.
Last week, the Department hosted the fourth annual
Asian Pacific American Federal Career Advancement Summit. This event was
launched four years ago right here at DOL, in the auditorium. This year,
so many people signed up that the Summit was held in the Washington Convention
Center. I hope many of you were able to join us!
Eleven departments, agencies and outside organizations joined the Department
of Labor in sponsoring the summit. This level of support is a reflection
of the government's focus on diversity. And it also reflects the growing
awareness of the talent of the Asian Pacific American workforce in the
federal government. It is encouraging to note that the training offered
at the annual Asian Pacific American federal career summits is beginning
to pay off. The percentage of Asian Pacific Americans in the federal government
jumped from 4.6% in 2003 to 4.9% in 2004.
So, although a lot remains to be done, real progress is being made.
This year's APA Heritage Month theme—Liberty and Freedom
for All—is very special. As many of you know, I came
to this country as an 8-year-old immigrant from Asia speaking no English.
The initial transition was very difficult. But my parents were willing
to make great sacrifices because they wanted their children to grow
up in a country that offered freedom, liberty and opportunity. We
celebrate these precious gifts today. And we honor the Asian Pacific
Americans who have contributed so much to the strength and diversity
of our country.
Thank you, everyone, for coming here today. And now I'll turn the program
over to Karin Weng, who will introduce a very special performance.
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