Today, Congressman Anh “Joseph” Cao (LA-2) passed his resolution, H.Res. 828, to  designate October 24, 2009 as “Louisiana HonorAir Day” and honor the service of World War II Veterans to our Nation. The resolution passed the House by a voice vote.



TRANSCRIPT:

Mr. Speaker,

I rise today in support of H.Res. 828, to designate October 24, 2009 as “Louisiana HonorAir Day” and honor the invaluable service of World War II Veterans to our Nation.

October 24, 2009, marked the 20th chartered flight of World War II veterans from Louisiana to DC through Louisiana HonorAir to visit the National World War II Memorial.

Louisiana HonorAir’s mission is to provide every World War II veteran, who is physically able to travel, the opportunity to view their World War II Memorial for the first time.

World War II veterans are granted a chartered flight from Louisiana to Washington, D.C., for a day-long, all-expenses-paid trip to visit the National World War II Memorial, the Marine Corps Memorial, the Iwo Jima Memorial and other memorials, and to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. 

The World War II Memorial was dedicated in 2004 for a generation whose youngest member is in their late seventies. Therefore, many of the men and women who fought and sacrificed for our country have not had the opportunity, or ability, to visit.

Sadly, a few of the World War II veterans scheduled to go on the October 24th flight passed away or became too ill to travel and were therefore unable to be properly honored for their tremendous sacrifices.

As Louisiana HonorAir prepares to fly its final flight on April 10, 2010, I am proud that its last three fall flights were out of New Orleans, Louisiana, home to the National World War II Museum.

Mr. Speaker, I had the great opportunity to welcome home several members of the veterans community on their flights back from Washington, DC three weeks ago, and I have to say that from the reception that I received and from the faces of the many members who came back from Washington, DC on that HonorAir flight, they were very grateful and honored to be able to participate in the program.

Under the leadership of T.D. Smith, the Louisiana HonorAir reminds our nations World War II veterans how indebted we are to them for service.

As the son of a war veteran, I consider it a personal honor to sponsor this legislation, and I strongly urge my colleagues to vote in favor of H.Res. 828.

Thank you, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Cao on MSNBC about Obama's Visit to New Orleans

Cao on WWL about Length of Obama Visit to New Orleans

Cao on FOX 8 about Obama Visit

Cao Addresses Charity Hospital Issue During Obama's New Orleans Visit

Cao on WDSU about Obama's Visit

Cao on WWL about the Obama Administration

HUD Secretary Cites Cao in Show of Bi-Partisanship

 

AAA HEALTH FAIR

WGNO Coverage of AAA Health Fair

Dear Constituents, Bloggers, Reporters, and fellow Lawmakers,

I humbly write you today to clarify the confusion surrounding my last name. In recent days, I have acknowledged the blush on the faces of television reporters, my fellow statesmen, my own interns, and even the President of the United States as they grasp frantically at the correct pronunciation and inevitably cast upon a hurried “Cow” or “Chow.”

And the minor embarrassments are nothing compared to the battles being waged in cyberspace. As I casually perused mentions of my name on Google this morning, I noticed no fewer than 10 angry arguments over blog forums and newspaper websites – all over the unfortunate discrepancy between the spelling and pronunciation of “Cao.”  I beg of you, dear bloggers, lay down your keyboards. I am here to settle the debate.

My last name – Cao - is actually pronounced (drum-roll please…) “Gow.” It starts with a “G” and rhymes (as Amanda Carpenter quipped in the Washington Post) with “Pow.”

I can understand your reluctance to accept such an absurd variation – surely no “C,” in the history of language, has ever been pronounced as a “G.” And yet, through no fault of my own, my native Southern Vietnamese dialect evolved such that this absurd mockery of consonants is, in fact, reality.

Again, I apologize for the confusion, and I hope my address to you will help us to clear the air and start anew.

Sincerely,

Anh (pronounced Anh) Joseph (pronounced Joseph) Cao (pronounced? You guessed it! Gow)

P.S. On second thought, never mind. Just call me Joseph.

"It's Pronounced Gow" - WWL

Mr. / Madame Speaker, I rise today in support of H.Res. 761 to commemorate the lives and work of those who were executed by members of the Salvadoran Army on the 20th anniversary of their deaths next month. 

On November 16, 1989, members of the Salvadoran Army entered the Universidad Centroamericana Jose Simeon Canas (UCA) in San Salvador and massacred six Jesuit priests, a house keeper and her daughter.

This senseless mass murder was incited when the six priests took a stand for social justice and against the oppressive elements in Salvadoran society, notably the tyrannical military.

Among the victims were:

-Father Ignacio Ellacuria, a rector of the University and an outspoken critic of the Army;

-Father Ignacio Martin Baro, a prolific writer and an intellectual on the effects of war on the human psyche;

-Father Segundo Montes, founder of the Human Rights Institute at UCA and a congressional advisor on Salvadoran refugees;

-Father Amano Lopez, a respected member of the Society of Jesus, gifted counselor, and a pastoral worker;

-Father Joaquin Lopez y Lopez, director of the Fe y Alegria education program in poor communities;

-Father Juan Ramon Moreno, a theological scholar and publicist;

-And, Elba Ramos, the Jesuits’ housekeeper, who was killed alongside her teenage daughter, Celina, when she wrapped her body around Celina’s, trying to protect her from the shooting.

Having spent six years in the Jesuit order studying to become a Jesuit priest, I have a deep appreciation for the sacrifice these people made in pursuit of religious freedom and human rights.

These eight martyrs actually inspired me to join the Society of Jesus in 1990 and to carry on their struggle for religious freedom and human rights 19 years later.

Today, the 28 Jesuit colleges and universities in the United States have annually observed the November 16th anniversary of the martyred Jesuits and the two martyred women.

This resolution commends those institutions for their solidarity with the UCA and extends sympathy to the families, friends, colleagues, and religious communities of the deceased.

Finally, the measure calls upon the President, the Secretary of State, and other United States federal agencies to support efforts by the El Salvadoran government and other public, private, and religious organizations to reduce poverty and hunger and to promote educational opportunity, human rights, the rule of law and social equity for the people of El Salvador.

Mr. / Madame Speaker, I strongly urge my colleagues to honor the lives of these human rights martyrs and support H.Res. 761.

And, in the words of the Jesuit fathers, “ad majorem Dei gloriam”.

Thank you, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.Res. 672 calling on the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to release imprisoned bloggers and respect Internet freedom.

It is vital that the United States take a bold stance against the tyranny of the Vietnamese government and more effectively promote democracy there and throughout the world.

While the Vietnamese government continues to control and stifle its citizens, this bill lays out very specific goals that will push for freedom of speech in Vietnam.

It promotes the actions of the Vietnamese people who desire to have a say in government policy and actions.

It will repeal statutes that restrict an individual’s internet usage and call for the release of all political prisoners who have been incarcerated under the false pretenses of “causing unrest and disturbance.”

The Vietnamese Government fears these changes and continues to promote backward policies that restrict the Vietnamese people’s basic freedoms.

In the United States, we have been blessed with these rights.

With these gifts comes great responsibility. It is necessary that we advocate on behalf of these Vietnamese citizens who simply hope for a better future.

We, as citizens of the most powerful democracy in the world, must not only pass this resolution, but we also must pass the Vietnam Human Rights Bill.

We must put Vietnam back on the CPC [Countries of Particular Concern] list.

We must require Vietnam to pay the $3.5 million in restitution that the high court of the American Samoa adjudicated ten years ago.

We must deny Vietnam the GSP status that it so desires until it improves its labor laws.

Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I ask that the Members of the House support H.Res. 672, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Thank you very much.

Mr / Madam Speaker,

I stand here today to support this very important legislation to bring awareness to breast cancer. For many women in my district and all over the United States, breast cancer is a life-threatening disease. It is imperative that we as a nation do all we can to work towards a cure.

The national statistics for breast cancer rates are intimidating. It is the leading cause of death in women ages 15 to 54. Thus, very few families are left untouched by the pain and suffering it causes.

However, thanks to the efforts of the Susan G. Komen Foundation and other breast cancer awareness groups, breast cancer has the highest survival rate of any cancer that afflicts Americans.

In fact, there are 2.5 million survivors that owe their lives to these efforts and to the power of early detection.

My home district, the 2nd Congressional District of Louisiana, has the highest breast cancer mortality rate of any district in the United States and, unfortunately, one of the lowest early detection rates.

Thanks to recent medical developments, early detection means more treatment options and higher success rates. It literally saves lives.

As part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I want to stress the importance of having regular screenings to guarantee early detection and improve women’s chances for survival.

I would also like to acknowledge a woman from Louisiana who is currently struggling with breast cancer, Mrs. Tara Stoulig Monistere.

Mrs. Monistere is a 34-year-old wife and mother who was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer shortly after the birth of her daughter.

Mrs. Monistere’s situation is unusually difficult in that breast cancer rarely strikes young women and new mothers with such intensity. Every aspect of her life is compounded with greater stress levels and hardships as a result of this disease.

However, she remains an active member of her community, maintains close relationships with family members, and fights her disease with great faith, bravery, and determination.

Mrs. Monistere’s personal struggle with breast cancer is one of countless other examples that prove that this  disease is much too common for women of all ages.

Breast cancer attacks a new victim every 2 minutes, and an estimated 3 million women are living with it in the United States today. 

I urge all women in my district and throughout the country to get tested regularly. Through continued awareness and preemptive action, we will proactively fight this disease and save more lives.

Thank you.

END

Today, Congressman Cao and fellow members of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission met with His Holiness the Dalai Lama to discuss freedom for Tibet and other countries oppressed by totalitarian governments.

The Tibetan leader, began the discussion with his own optimistic sentiment that, “in spite of present difficulties, eventually freedom will come.” He went on to discuss the importance of cultural diversity in order to create a society of tolerance and compassion, and said that the United States had always been an inspiration to him.

In a conversation with the Dalai Lama, Congressman Cao shared information about his similar past. As a refugee from Vietnam, Cao fled religious and political persecution from an oppressive communist regime, much as the Dalai Lama himself fled from China’s current government.

They also discussed the “best approaches” for ending human rights violations as well as the plight of refugees from oppressed nations all over the world.

Following the meeting, His Holiness presented Congressman Cao and his colleagues with traditional Tibetan scarves that he himself had blessed.

Monica Sanders (left) featured with U.S. Senator, Richard Lugar of Indiana (right)
Senator Lugar is a member of the Congressional Fellowship Advisory Committee.  

CLICK HERE to view more photos from the ceremony.

Today, Congressman Anh “Joseph” Cao (LA-2) held a press conference to challenge Louisiana Governor, Bobby Jindal to file an application under the Federal Rail Administration’s (FRA) High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail Program (HSIPR) to establish a passenger rail service between Baton Rouge and New Orleans.

He was joined by State Senator Ed Murray, State Representative Neil Abramson, and New Orleans City Council President, Arnie Fielkow.

Prepared Remarks: Congressman Cao

Thank you for attending this afternoon’s press conference.
We are here today to ask Governor Bobby Jindal to file an application under the Federal Rail Administration’s High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail Program to establish a passenger rail service between Baton Rouge and New Orleans.

We are asking that the State apply for funds set aside in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 also known as “the stimulus bill”.

This project isn’t new. In fact, Louisiana has been working on this rail system for decades.

If awarded to the State, this project would fund the entire $300 million needed to plan, design, and construct an intercity rail connection between New Orleans and Baton Rouge.

Eventually, the rail corridor will connect Houston, TX, Mobile, AL and Atlanta, GA.

Local, state, and federal officials realize the economic significance that a multi-state Southern Rail Corridor will bring to our area, and we are all willing to fight for it.
This project will provide a huge economic boost to our region, vastly improve future hurricane evacuations, and reduce traffic congestion on our roads.

The State of Louisiana’s own numbers show that the expected benefits of the project exceed any costs by $180 million. Those are the figures the state submitted in their pre-application for these funds to the US Department of Transportation earlier this summer.
That point needs to be repeated. The state’s own analysis shows this project is a $180 million “win” for Louisiana.

Therefore, I am disappointed that we have not had a better response from the state.
I understand Governor Jindal’s concern about financing the estimated $12 to $18 million it will cost to operate the system annually. Those are real numbers, and the state budget is hurting right now.

That is why I have been working with civic leaders and elected officials to submit a plan where local governments commit to financing this shortfall.

I was told yesterday by the Governor’s office that those commitments were not strong enough.
Well, I have been assured in writing from the Federal Railroad Administration that those commitments satisfy their requirements for applications.
 
That point was also confirmed by United States Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.
The deadline for Governor Jindal’s office to file the application is at 12 midnight tonight.
They have an application already prepared to be submitted.

Governor Jindal give Louisiana a chance to build a high speed rail system. By not submitting an application you give Louisiana no chance.

Congressman Cao is a Member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.