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“A TRIBUTE TO THE SACRAMENTO JAPANESE AMERICAN CITIZENS LEAGUE” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Commerce was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E1783 on Nov. 16, 2012.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
A TRIBUTE TO THE SACRAMENTO JAPANESE AMERICAN CITIZENS LEAGUE
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HON. DORIS O. MATSUI
of california
in the house of representatives
Friday, November 16, 2012
Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the Sacramento Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League, and congratulate the chapter as they celebrate their 17th annual community awards dinner.
Through their long history, the Sacramento JACL has been dedicated to advancing the civil rights of all Americans, deterring hate crimes across the Nation, and helping to lead the Japanese-American community to social and economic equality. On Thursday, November 15, 2012, the Sacramento Japanese American Citizens League will host its 17th annual community awards dinner.
During the dinner, the Sacramento JACL will honor: the Sacramento Japanese United Methodist Church, one of the oldest Japanese-American congregations in Northern California; the Sacramento Senator Lions Club, a civic organization that provides its members with opportunities to serve the community through fundraising and hands-on projects; and the Sakura Minyo Doo Koo Kai, a troupe that performs traditional Japanese folk song and dance. These three organizations and their members have worked diligently to serve the community, teach others about the history of Japanese-Americans, and help preserve the Japanese culture. They stand as organizations that truly embrace the dinner's theme of ``Bunka Isan,'' helping the community honor the lives of their ancestors and celebrating their own lives as Americans.
During the dinner, the Sacramento JACL will also honor my friend and colleague, California Assemblywoman Mariko Yamada. Mariko has dedicated her life to serving the public in many capacities: working as an investigator for the U.S. Department of Commerce's Office for Civil Rights; as a member of the Yolo County Board of Supervisors; and now representing her constituents in the California State Assembly. She has had tremendous success in the California Assembly, passing landmark bills that imposed greater criminal penalties on assailants that abuse the elderly and disabled, provided increased housing and employment opportunities for our veterans, and reformed government policies to protect consumers from negligence and fraud. Mariko has made California and our Nation a better place for all, and is truly worthy of tonight's honoring.
Mr. Speaker, I hereby recognize and commend the Sacramento Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League and their honorees for their continued service to Sacramento, California and our Nation. I ask all my colleagues to join with me in wishing them continued success and support as they work to protect the civil rights of all our citizens, and preserve the history of Japanese-Americans.
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