Transcript of Speaker Pelosi’s Remarks at Bill Enrollment Ceremony for the Commission to Study the Potential Creation of a National Museum of Asian Pacific American History and Culture Act

Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Democrats held a bill enrollment ceremony for H.R. 3525, the Commission to Study the Potential Creation of a National Museum of Asian Pacific American History and Culture Act. Below are the Speaker's remarks:

Speaker Pelosi. Good afternoon, everyone. This is a pretty exciting day for us because today, the Congress will send to the President's desk this important legislation. And it is really because of the great leadership of Congresswoman Grace Meng – of her legislation making the National Asian Pacific American Museum established in our world here. I don't know where. Maybe people were fighting for the location.

And again, I just salute Grace Meng for her persistent leadership on this. This is something that has meant a great deal to all of us, that America's story will be fully told by the contributions of the AAPI community. It will be something that the families – those families across America will take great pride. But every family in America will be fully – more fully aware of the beautiful cultural contributions in every way that [the] AAPI community makes to America.

It's – it's really very, very exciting. When we think – whether we're talking academically, entrepreneurially, culturally, artistically, in every way, the fabulous contributions of the AAPI community. And that, again, the contribution many families here, well – before the transcontinental railroad, we know that. Many for a very long time, some very more recent, all of them with their hopes, aspirations, dreams, optimism and courage to make the future better for their families, whether it was 200 years ago or two months ago. All of those newcomers make America more American.

And this museum – well, it's the AAPI Museum, it's really an all-American museum. So I want to just salute the leadership – this is the leadership of the AAPI community. Grace Meng; Congresswoman Judy Chu, the Chair of the, of the Caucus in the Congress; Mark Takano, the Chair of the Veterans Affairs Committee; Congressman Ted Lieu, a Member of the Democratic Leadership in the Congress; and Member of a – newer Member of Congress, Representative Kahele from Hawaii, part of the integration of the Congress of newcomers.

Grace, would you like to say something?