Within Asian communities throughout the U.S., there has always been a need for services to immigrants. Historically, this need has always existed, but was controlled by arbitrary immigration quotas. The change in imigration laws in 1965 marked an effort by the U.S. government to provide for some parity in controlling flow of immigration to the U.S. from all countries. However, this measure of good will was not pursued. As stated in Congresswoman Mink's bill, a heavy burden on communities where many newcomers have settled has resulted. Our agency has struggled with the education and sensitization of public and private agencies regarding the needs and situation of Chinese newcomers. In addition we continually expend human resources in a search for public and private funds only to be referred to someone else because we do not fit into an agency's eligibility, criteria or priorities. There has been little support for programs like ours which seeks to provide direct services which will help newcomers obtain needed tools and skills for survival and contribution to a new environment. Newcomers come to this country, not with their hands out, but with a willing ness and commitment to make a new start. They come hoping that conditions of work, educational opportunity and living will be better and available to their children and to them. If doors are shut and opportunities have prerequisites which even the best prepared newcomer cannot accomodate, this country is not giving the newcomer any chance at all. H.R. 9895 speaks to the need for both preventive and remedial action. Preventive because it enables the release of public resources which will allay later potential need for continuing public support. Remedial because this bill arrests and provides for intervention in already existing critical situations. The leadership and foresight of your committee in favorably passing this bill out of committee is urged. Should you have any questions or need further information please do not hesitate to contact us. Sincerely, Congressman AUGUSTUS F. HAWKINS, LAMBERT CHOY, President, Board of Directors. ARRIBA JUNTOS CENTER, Chairman, House Subcommittee on Equal Opportunity, DEAR CONGRESSMAN HAWKINS: Congresswoman Patsy Mink's H.R. 9895 bill is very important legislation which, in our opinion, should be approved by Congress, the United States Senate and signed by President Ford, San Francisco, a port of entry city for immigrants from Asia and Latin-America, is one of those cities which needs assistance not currently met by existing federal programs. Congresswoman Mink's bill would begin to positively address itself to the language, job training, education and orientation needs of the immigrants who have arrived in large numbers from Southeast Asia, Mexico, Cental and South America, as well as the Caribe. It would also help to offset the opposition non-English speaking immigrants are getting from American Blacks because DOL/CETA funds are being used for bi-lingual education. American Blacks consider this use of funds as an inequity, and do not look at English as a second language as a need for job training. This opposition could lead to serious racial problems among the non-white minorities. OBECA/ARRIBA JUNTOS, a United Bay Area Crusade Agency, has been in the development of human resources, especially the development, training and job placement of disadvantaged people. A number of the better manpower programs which are now standard throughout the United States, for example, new careers in the private sector, defined job with a designated employer before any training is undertaken, etc., were pioneered by OBECA/ARRIBA JUNTOS. We would recommend the following consideration to add to Congresswoman Mink's bill, or for possible development later, is the establishment of Englishlearning, skills survey and development center in foreign countries, so that the immigrants coming to the United States in the future would be better prepared to compete in the United States. Such preventive preparation would be of great assistance to the already overburdened American taxpayers without depriving the immigrant from living in this country. Para servirle, LEANDRO P. SOTO, Executive Director. HAWAII Hon. AUGUSTUS S. HAWKINS, UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII, LEEWARD COMMUNITY COLLEGE, November 14, 1974. Chairman, Subcommittee on Equal Opportunities, Committee on Education and Labor, House Office Building, Annex, Washington, D.C. DEAR CONGRESSMAN HAWKINS: As chairman of the Community Relations Committee of the faculty senate at Leeward Community College, I would like to give my hearty support to H.R. 9895 "New Americans Education and Employment Assistance Act" submitted in August by our Representative, Patsy Mink. Our school has one of the higher proportions of immigrant students in the State, recent arrivals from the Philippines, Samoan, Korea, and Hongkong in particular. As teachers were are aware of their needs especially during the first few years after arrival, and would like to improve our curriculum and facilities to help them if we had the resources. At this point the State is not able financially to expand programs in this area, but we feel that federal support would enable us to give these new immigrants a better start here in America. Yours sincerely, FAY C. ALA'ILIMA. FILIPINO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, The CHAIRMAN, Committee on Education and Labor, Subcommittee on Equal Education Opportunity, House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: Before I proceed with my brief testimony defining the Chamber's stand on H.R. 9895, may I, on behalf of the Filipino Chamber of Commerce, express our sincere appreciation and Aloha to our esteemed Congresswoman, Patsy Mink, for her unending concern for the betterment of her constituents, the State of Hawaii and of the nation. H.R. 9895, the new Americans Education & Employment Assistance Act seeks to provide funds in the area of education, employment to areas with a large concentration of foreign born persons. The Filipino Chamber of Commerce supports the passage and sufficient funding of H.R. 9895 for the following reasons: 1. To help immigrants improve their communication skills and acquire adequate knowledge through education so as to make them more productive and useful citizens of our country; 2. To help alleviate the difficulties they are facing in the fields of finding adequate employment, housing and health; 3. To assist immigrants so they can assimilate faster with the American way of life and to acclimatize them in their new environment; 4. To help "gateway" states and cities to meet the financial needs of immigrants. America is what it is today because of the valuable contributions of immigrants who came from all over the world. We want America to continue forging ahead and the new immigrants can, to a large extent, contribute toward this end. In view of this and the reasons enumerated above, we earnestly request the passage and sufficient funding of H.R. 9895. Respectfully, GENE A. ALBANO. President. HEALTH AND COMMUNITY SERVICES COUNCIL OF HAWAII, Hon. AUGUSTUS F. HAWKINS, Chairman, Subcommittee on Equal Opportunities, Committee on Education and Labor, House Office Building Annex, Washington, D.C. DEAR SIR: The Social Services Division of the Health and Community Services Council of Hawaii would like to inform you of its support of the intent of HR 9895, the "New American's Education and Employment Assistance Act." The many Social Services needs of immigrants in Hawaii places a tremendous demand on our Social Service resources and our tax dollar. Honolulu, a gateway city, has been receiving between 6,000 to 7,000 new arrivals annually from foreign countries since 1971, and if you add the other alien population already living here, it makes up a rather large target population. We believe that the need for Social and Cultural adjustment programs and services for this target group should have more Federal financial support. This is particularly true where there is a high concentration of foreign arrivals. The Social Services Division asks that the intent of HR 9895 be given very serious consideration and we hope that your committee will find it desirable and necessary to support legislation that will provide assistance to "Gateway Cities" to help them provide the kind of help foreign arrivals need. Respectfully, MYRON R. CHEVLIN, Chairman, Social Services Division. OFFICE OF THE MAYOR, COUNTY OF MAUI, Wailuku, Maui, Hawaii, November 7, 1974. THE HONORABLE CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS, Washington, D.C. GENTLEMEN: We received a copy of H.R. 9895 and were very pleased to learn that consideration is being given to provide assistance to areas with heavy concentrations of foreign-born persons. Ever since the easing of immigration restrictions by the U.S. Government, an increasing number of immigrants, particularly from the Philippines, has arrived in our country. We became aware of the difficulties faced by these immigrants in adjusting to local community life. Many could not speak English and others were unaware of local laws, customs and mores. We attempted to pinpoint the areas of need by conducting a survey of recent immigrants in 1973. The survey showed that the majority of the immigrants attended and/or completed only primary and intermediate schools before coming to Maui. The majority of immigrants who enrolled in school indicated that they had problems with the language, subjects, school system, schoolmates and teachers. Of the 891 persons who responded to the survey, 541 were aware of language difficuties. The survey also showed that the immigrants had problems adjusting to their neighborhood and that a good number of them are living in substandard and/or overcrowded housing. Ninety percent of the respondents in the survey assumed life in Hawaii to be easy and/or offered many employment opportunities. They usually arrived in Hawaii with limited resources and were confident that they would be able to find employment to support their families, as well as relatives left behind. Many reported that they had difficulty in obtaining employment. Many immigrants do not know what services are offered by various government agencies. The information and facts gathered in the survey and other related data show that there are potentially serious law enforcement problems. Without effective programs juvenile delinquency among immigrant youths will increase and further burden our justice system. We strongly support H.R. 9895 which would provide assistance to immigrants facing all kinds of adjustment problems. The geographical makeup of Hawaii is unique, and although the international airport is located in Honolulu, the direct destinations of many immigrants are the Neighbor Islands where relatives reside. Adjustment problems are similar in all islands. We urge that serious consideration be given to providing assistance to immigrants residing in the Neighbor Island counties and not only on Oahu. We will be happy to provide additional information should you so desire. Sincerely yours, Hon. AUGUSTUS F. HAWKINS, ELMER F. CRAVALHO, Mayor, County of Maui. SAMOAN NEIGHBORHOOD GROUP, Honolulu, Hawaii, November 11, 1974. Chairman, Subcommittee on Equal Opportunity, House Education and Labor Committee, Washington, D.C. DEAR CONGRESSMAN HAWKINS: We write in support of HR 9895, popularly known as "Gateway Cities Bill". Although Samoans are American Nationals, we also face problems like any foreign born person. Our neighborhood group compose of 200 members concerned with the welfare of Samoans. Getting together, discussing our problems, and helping each other are among the activities we do. Assistance is very much needed to help us foreign born be able to compete with labor market, and be totally adjusted in this new country. We want to live here the rest of our lives and be contributing members of society. We strongly urge the passage of this bill for a stronger and better America. Sincerely, SA' FIATOA, President. AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION OF HAWAII, November 8, 1974. Hon. AUGUSTUS F. HAWKINS, DEAR SIR: We are writing in support of the concept of HR 9895, the "New Americans Education and Employment Assistance Act." The American Lung Association of Hawaii is primarily concerned with the prevention and control of lung diseases and has long been aware of the special educational needs of immigrants in the area of health. It is through appropriate health education that we can assure the maintenance and improvement of the health of our newly arrived residents. To emphasize this, may we point out that the prevention and control of tuberculosis is a prominent problem among immigrants to Hawaii. The solution to this problem is firmly based in the education of the susceptible population about the symptoms of the disease and the need for early detection and prevention. Proposals such as HR 9895 aimed at improving the educational services available in Hawaii can only be of benefit to the health of the entire community. Sincerely, DONALD R. FORD, Executive Director. Hon. AUGUSTUS F. HAWKINS, IO LANE NEIGHBORHOOD GROUP, Honolulu, Hawaii, November 12, 1974. Chairman, Subcommittee on Equal Opportunity, House Education and Labor Committee, Washington, D.C. DEAR CONGRESSMAN HAWKINS: We, the Io Lane Neighborhood Group, would like to endorse the passage of HR 9895 better known as the "Gateway Cities Bill". Our group is composed of 60 immigrants who are all aware of the difficulties one encounters in a foreign country. The Bill of Representative Patsy Mink is the answer to our problems regarding housing, education, health and above all acculturation in this new country of ours, which we have chosen to be our home. We strongly support the passage of this bill. Very respectfully, VIRGINIA GARCE, President. Hon. AUGUSTUS F. HAWKINS, UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII, Chairman, Subcommittee on Equal Opportunities, Committee on Education and Labor, House Office Building Annex, Washington, D.C. DEAR CONGRESSMAN HAWKINS: The Immigrant Affairs Subcommittee of the Committee on Community Relations of the Faculty Senate of Leeward Community College, at Pearl City, Hawaii, strongly support H.R. 9895, "New Americans Education and Employment Assistance Act," which was submitted by Representative Patsy Mink on August 3, 1973. We believe that passage of the bill will enable Leeward Community College to realize one of its goals-to meet the educational needs of the immigrants in the Leeward area. According to the 1974 Report on Immigrant Services and Problems of the State of Hawaii Immigrant Service Center of the Commission on Manpower and Full Employment, the island of Oahu has 42,600 immigrants. Presumably, roughly 10% of them are in the Leeward area. At Leeward Community College, the non-American students this fall semester are as follow: Filipinos-120; Hong Kong Chinese--32; American Samoans— 29; Japanese-19; Koreans-15; from the Trust Territory-12; and from the Republic of China-8. The total enrollment is 5,678. Despite the above figures, Leeward Community College only has one oncampus English Language Institute learning package that can accommodate only a small number of students. More immigrants could benefit from additional sections of this learning package, but State funds are not available for this purpose. Leeward Community College also has a class in Filipino Studies, but no courses that would promote understanding of the Samoan, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, and Micronesian Cultures. With sufficient federal assistance, Leeward Community College can expand its present course offerings for immigrants and develop additional programs, courses, and/or services, both on and off campus, from which they may benefit. These programs, courses, and services should include the following: 1. surveys in order to assess the needs of the immigrants in the Leeward area. 2. orientation courses 3. adjustment courses 4. counseling services 5. off-campus language facilities 6. seminars from which the staff of various public and private agencies in the Leeward area may learn about the immigrant groups' respective cultures 7. ethnic studies courses to help promote intercultural understanding in the community 8. a program to train a core of immigrant paraprofessionals who will assist agencies that work with immigrants, such as the Department of Education It is our firm belief that making the above educational opportunities available to the immigrants and the people who interact with them will enable the immigrants to achieve satisfactory adjustment. Very truly yours, ZENAIDA E. GRIFFITH, Chairman, Subcommittee on Immigration Affairs Faculty Senate Committee on Community Relations. HEALTH AND COMMUNITY SERVICES COUNCIL OF HAWAII, Hon. AUGUSTUS F. HAWKINS, DEAR SIR: At its monthly meeting, the Health Services Division of the Health and Community Services Council of Hawaii passed a resolution expressing support for the concepts embodied within H.R. 9895, the "New American's Education and Employment Assistance Act." The Health and Community Services Council of Hawaii (HCSCH) is a planning, coordinating, and research agency, funded primarily by the Aloha United Way, and with a membership of 115 delegate agencies which are engaged in |