Chairman of Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus to be Featured Guest at Town Hall Meeting

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—January 10, 2006—Washington, D.C.—

 Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo announces that Congressman Michael Honda of Walnut Creek, California, will visit Guam this week and attend a town hall meeting on health and seniors’ issues.  The town hall meeting, which is open to the public, will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 15, 2006, at the Marianas Ballroom of the Hilton Hotel in Tumon. 
 
Congressman Michael Honda is the Chairman of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), a bipartisan, bicameral organization recognized by the U.S. House of Representatives.  As Chairman of CAPAC, Congressman Honda works closely with the Tri-Caucus, which is comprised of CAPAC, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), and the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC).  Congresswoman Bordallo is the Secretary of CAPAC and an Executive Board Member.  Congresswoman Bordallo is also the chairperson of the CAPAC Health Care Task Force.
 
“As Chairman of CAPAC, Congressman Honda will be a very interesting guest for this town hall meeting.  He will be able to give his insight on national legislative issues and his interaction with our community will be so helpful as we try to improve the delivery of federal health care assistance in the territories,” said Congresswoman Bordallo.
 
“Congressman Honda’s visit represents the first time that a Chairman of a major caucus has come to Guam.”
 
As part of his efforts to improve health care for minority and immigrant communities, Congressman Honda introduced H.R. 3561, the Healthcare Equality and Accountability Act.  This legislation, of which Congresswoman Bordallo is an original cosponsor, aims to improve the health of minority and immigrant communities by remedying the disparities they face in health care.  The bill would also provide for greater awareness of the disparities in access to health care and treatment for minorities. 
 
While on the island, Congressman Honda will be briefed on issues pertaining to Guam and also attend a meeting with local leaders of Guam’s Asian Pacific American community, including Filipino, Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Micronesian, Palauan, and Vietnamese leaders.
 
The visit to Guam will also include a Wreath Laying Ceremony at the Memorial Wall in the War in the Pacific National Historical Park to honor the people of Guam and their liberators.  This ceremony will take place at the Asan Bay Overlook on Saturday, January 14, 2006, at 9:00 a.m.  This ceremony is open to the public.
 
Congressman Honda is currently serving in his third term and widely recognized as one of the up-and-coming leaders in Congress.  He is a gifted public speaker and he is well known nationally for his leadership on Asian and Pacific Islander American issues, and on science and technology issues.  He represents the 15th Congressional District of California, which encompasses portions of San Jose and the area known as Silicon Valley.  Born in California, Congressman Honda, a Japanese American, spent his early childhood with his family in an internment camp in Colorado during World War II.  Prior to his election in Congress in 2000, Congressman Honda was a career educator, elected school board member, county supervisor, and California Assemblyman.

This is Congressman Honda’s first trip to Guam. 
 
“I am holding a town meeting on health care and seniors’ issues so that we can better inform our senior citizens about the Medicare prescription drug benefit and other efforts to improve the quality of health care on Guam.  While this town hall meeting is not limited to this issue, I want to make extend a special invitation to our senior citizens and their families to join us at the town hall meeting,” said Congresswoman Bordallo.

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Contact: Alicia Chon in Washington, D.C. at (202) 225-1188 or Joseph Duenas in Guam at (671) 477-4272/4.

www.house.gov/bordallo

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