CAUSE Congratulates Congresswoman Judy Chu on the Passage of Resolution 683
Posted in Blogs on June 17, 2012 by Sophia Islas

On Wednesday, June 13th, Congresswoman Judy Chu hosted a press conference in front of the Chinese American Museum announcing the impending Congressional action on Resolution 683.
PASADENA, CA – June 18, 2012 – Center for Asian Americans United for Self Empowerment (CAUSE) would like to congratulate Congresswoman Judy Chu and the steering committee members of the 1882 Project for the passage of Resolution 683 on the House floor this afternoon. The resolution was authored by the congresswoman to express Congressional regret for passing the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882. This is the fourth apology that Congress has ever had to make in United States history.
CAUSE Board Chair Charlie Woo was one of the many Asian American community leaders that provided tremendous support for the passing of the resolution, working tirelessly to support the acknowledgement of a law so as to make sure that the prejudice Chinese immigrants suffered is never repeated again.
Woo personally pulled in all of his contacts to try to gain support for the resolution, which included contacting Congressman Howard Berman directly. Congressman Berman was considered one of the most influential House members whose support was considered critical to the passage of this resolution.
“It has been a collaborative effort of everyone using their personal connections to make this happen,” said Woo. “This entire experience has been empowering, and I would like to thank Judy Chu for her leadership.”
The Chinese Exclusion Act excluded Chinese emigrants from the United States, and included penalties against attempted emigration from China to the United States. Although it was repealed in 1943, Rep. Chu’s legislation marks the first formal acknowledgement that by singling out and ostracizing immigrants based entirely on race, the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 was incompatible with America’s founding principles.
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