US apologizes for anti-Chinese legislation
Source: Xinhua |
June 20, 2012, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THE United States House of Representatives has unanimously passed a resolution apologizing for discriminating laws targeting Chinese immigrants at the turn of the 20th century.
On Monday, Congressional leaders hailed the approval of the resolution as a "historic" moment for the Chinese American community.
In a voice vote, the House passed H. Res. 683, a bipartisan resolution that formally expresses regret for the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and other legislation that discriminated against people of Chinese origin in the US.
It is the fourth resolution of regret passed by both houses of the US Congress in the past 25 years. It was approved in the Senate last October.
"Today the House made history when both chambers of Congress officially and formally acknowledged the ugly and un-American nature of laws that targeted Chinese immigrants," said Congresswoman Judy Chu, the only member of Congress who is of Chinese descent and who introduced the bill.
"I feel so gratified ... and I feel honored to have been a part of this great moment in history."
The Chinese Exclusion Act, approved in 1882 and in force for 60 years, was the first and the only federal law in US history that excluded a single group of people from immigration on no basis other than their race. It explicitly banned Chinese workers from immigration and existing residents from naturalization and voting.
Haipei Shue, president of the National Council of Chinese Americans, said it was "a great day for Chinese Americans."
They would be able to "heal historical wounds that have been festering for over 100 years," and move forward after the apology, Shue said.
On Monday, Congressional leaders hailed the approval of the resolution as a "historic" moment for the Chinese American community.
In a voice vote, the House passed H. Res. 683, a bipartisan resolution that formally expresses regret for the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and other legislation that discriminated against people of Chinese origin in the US.
It is the fourth resolution of regret passed by both houses of the US Congress in the past 25 years. It was approved in the Senate last October.
"Today the House made history when both chambers of Congress officially and formally acknowledged the ugly and un-American nature of laws that targeted Chinese immigrants," said Congresswoman Judy Chu, the only member of Congress who is of Chinese descent and who introduced the bill.
"I feel so gratified ... and I feel honored to have been a part of this great moment in history."
The Chinese Exclusion Act, approved in 1882 and in force for 60 years, was the first and the only federal law in US history that excluded a single group of people from immigration on no basis other than their race. It explicitly banned Chinese workers from immigration and existing residents from naturalization and voting.
Haipei Shue, president of the National Council of Chinese Americans, said it was "a great day for Chinese Americans."
They would be able to "heal historical wounds that have been festering for over 100 years," and move forward after the apology, Shue said.
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