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About NCVA
Founded in 1986, the National Congress of Vietnamese Americans is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community advocacy organization working to advance the cause of Vietnamese Americans in a plural but united America – e pluribus unum – by participating actively and fully as civic minded citizens engaged in the areas of education, culture and civil liberties.


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NCVA eREPORTER - June 7, 2005

In this NCVA eReporter:

EVENTS

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

JOBS/INTERNSHIPS

TIPS/RESOURCES

NEWS

******************
 EVENTS

WASHINGTON LEADERSHIP PROGRAM (WLP) 2005

We are pleased to announce the schedule for CAPAL's Washington Leadership Program (WLP) for 2005!  The WLP aims to engage summer interns, professional and elected officials on issues critical to the concerns of the APA community through nine exciting sessions and workshops.

WHEN:  Wednesdays from 6 pm - 8 pm.

WHERE:  Rayburn House Office Bldg Room 2172 – IR Committee
Located at South Capitol Street and Independence Avenue S.W. (Capitol South Metro Station on the Orange/Blue line)

SCHEDULE:

June 8- Kick-Off Reception
"LEARNING THE RULES TO THE GAME"
This is the opening event for the WLP. It provides an opportunity for student interns to meet with other fellow interns, CAPAL and CAPASA members, and learn basic networking techniques. After brief introductory remarks, the students will break-out into small groups.


June 15- Media and Press Careers
"HOW TO GET THE FOURTH BRANCH OF THE GOVERNMENT TO WORK FOR YOU"
This interactive workshop will enable participants to develop skills in political communication. Come learn from professionals working in the mass media and press careers. Panelists will include not only the mainstream media professionals but also grassroots internet bloggers and constituent user groups. After a brief panel introduction, and a Q & A session, students will have a chance to draft their own press releases and talking points.


June 22- Career Counseling Workshop
"HOW TO PREPARE FOR A PUBLIC SERVICE CAREER"
Interested in a career in the Public Sector? Come to an interactive workshop with a copy of your resume. After a seminar prepared by a HR and career counseling professionals, each intern will have an opportunity to participate in a mock interview and a resume critique.


June 29- Political Participation
"HOW TO RUN A POLITICAL CAMPAIGN"
Whether you have dreams of running for an office some day, or running a campaign for someone else, you need a set of tools to help you get to where you want to be. Come listen to seasoned campaign veterans and APAs who ran for office and learn how to manage a political campaign. After a panel discussion, the participants will break out into small groups and have the opportunity to work on a hypothetical political campaign strategy session.


July 6- Lobbying and Working with Community Organizations
"COALITION-BUILDING"
Join us for an interactive workshop on coalition-building and meet lobbyists, grassroots and community organizers. You will have an opportunity to learn about tools used in bridge-building between different interest groups and try them out on a hypothetical case in a small group setting.


July 13- Public Sector Career Information & Congressional Reception
"MEET THE USUAL SUSPECTS"
This is your chance to meet working professionals in fields of public service. From the military, federal government agencies, to Americorps or other fellowship opportunities, you will be able to bring your resume and meet with the representatives in a casual yet informative setting.

"INSIDE THE BELTWAY"
Always dreamed of attending a Congressional Reception? Here's your chance to meet the insiders. Come mingle with Hill staffers, CRS analysts and members of the Congress who will give you the insight into how the legislative branch of our government works.


July 20- International Development and Human Rights Careers
"WORKING IN THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY"
Interested in a career in international development or human rights? Come hear experiences of and get advice from national directors of national organizations, public leaders, and government officials.


July 25- Closing Dinner (location TBA)
"CONTINUING THE JOURNEY"
Join us as we close out the 2005 WLP at a local Asian restaurant. CAPAL scholarship interns will present their community action plans in hopes of inspiring other student interns to do the same in their communities. Awards will be given to those who have completed the WLP-plus a surprise ending!


For more information, visit www.capal.org, or contact us at info@capl.org. Hope to see you at the WLP this year!

(www.capal.org)

******************

APALRC & AALDEF VA ASIAN AMERICAN VOTE 2004

DATE:   Thursday, June 9, 7:00pm

WHERE:  Boat People SOS, Inc.
6066 Leesburg Pike, Suite 100, Falls Church Virginia

THE ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN LEGAL RESOURCE CENTER AND THE ASIAN AMERICAN LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATION FUND

INVITES YOU TO THE VIRGINIA ASIAN AMERICAN VOTE 2004

WHAT:  On Nov. 2, 2004, close to 300 Asian American voters in Northern Virginia were surveyed in a multilingual exit poll conducted by the Asian American Legal Defense Fund and the Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center. At this first-ever presentation, comparative information will be given about local Asian voting patterns, important factors influencing their vote, party enrollment, main source of news, English proficiency and voting barriers.

WHEN:  June 9, 2005 at 7:00 pm

COSPONSORING ORGANIZATIONS:
Boat People SOS, Inc., Coalition of Asian Pacific Americans of Virginia, Vietnamese American Voters Club of 50, Korean Community Service Center of Greater Washington

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8TH ANNUAL SOUTHEAST ASIAN AMERICAN NATIONAL LEADERSHIP TRAINING

 WHO: Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC)

WHAT: Southeast Asian American National Leadership Training

WHEN: September 17 - 20, 2005

WHERE: Washington, DC

WHY: Provides Southeast Asian American community leaders to participate in advocacy education, leadership, strategizing, collaborative networking, and communication with lawmakers.

HOW: An online applicaton form is provided, as is a downloadable PDF version. Contact Bach Pham, Leadership and Advocacy Initiative Project Manager at bach@searac.org, (202) 667-4690 to have a hard copy of the application mailed to you.

DEADLINES:
*  The deadline date for receipt of applications is July 1, 2005.
*  SEARAC staff will send confirmation of acceptance to participants by e-mail and mail by July 15, 2005.
*  Accepted applicants need to confirm travel plans by August 1, 2005.

This training is made possible through generous support from State Farm Insurance.

(http://www.searac.org/2005latfactsheet.html)

******************
 FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

FUNDING FOR CHILD HEALTH INITIATIVES

CATCH Planning Funds Program

The Community Access To Child Health (CATCH) Planning Funds program, sponsored by the American Academy of Pediatrics, provides grants for pediatricians to develop innovative, community-based initiatives that increase children's access to medical homes or to specific health services not otherwise available. Planning project activities must lead to sustainable, community-based child health initiatives that increase access to care, especially for underserved children, and address health disparities among children. Planning grants range from $2,500 to $10,000, with pediatric resident grants limited to a maximum of $3,000. The deadline for applications is July 29, 2005.

(http://www.aap.org/catch/planninggrants.htm})

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HOUSING AND FOREST PROGRAMS SUPPORTED

Home Depot Foundation

The Home Depot Foundation supports nonprofit organizations in the U.S. and Canadian communities where company associates live and work. Through the Affordable Housing, Built Responsibly grant program, proposals are funded that result in the production, preservation or financing of housing units for low- to moderate-income families that address environmental/efficiency considerations. Through the Healthy Community and Wildland Forests grant program, proposals are funded that result in the restoration or conservation of community and wildland forests for a healthier environment. Requests are reviewed quarterly, and the remaining deadlines for 2005 are July 15 and October 15.

(http://www.homedepotfoundation.org/)

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GRANTS FOCUS ON AUTO SAFETY AND TRAINING

CarMax Foundation

The CarMax Foundation offers a national grant program for nonprofit organizations, as well as a program focusing on Richmond, VA. The national program provides grants to organizations that are either national in scope or have a presence in one or more of the company's market areas. Funded programs should either address auto safety for families and children, or build a competitive workforce through automotive technical training. Through the Richmond, VA program, grants are provided to organizations that promote educational opportunities. The remaining deadlines in 2005 for both programs are August 15 and November 15.

(http://www.carmax.com/dyn/companyinfo/compinfo.aspx)

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SUPPORT FOR CONTEMPORARY ARTS

The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts

The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts' objective is to foster innovative artistic expression and the creative process by supporting cultural organizations that, in turn, support artists and their work. Grants are made on a project basis to curatorial programs at museums, artists' organizations and other cultural institutions to originate innovative and scholarly presentations of contemporary visual arts. Projects may include exhibitions, catalogues, and other organizational activities directly related to these areas. The Foundation also supports the creation of new work through regranting initiatives and artist-in-residence programs. The deadlines for proposals are March 1 and September 1, annually.

(http://www.warholfoundation.org)

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GRANTS FOR K-12 SCIENCE AND MATH EDUCATION

Toshiba America Foundation

The mission of the Toshiba America Foundation is to contribute to the quality of science and mathematics education in U.S. communities by investing in projects designed by classroom teachers to improve science and mathematics education for students in grades K-12. The Foundation offers the following two grant programs. Grants for K-6 Science and Math Education and Grants for 7-12 Science and Math Education. In both programs, the Foundation strongly encourages projects planned and led by individual teachers or teams of teachers for their own classrooms. Teachers working in public and private schools throughout the U.S. are eligible to apply. Deadlines vary by program area.

(http://www.toshiba.com/taf/)

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FOCUS ON COMMUNITY PROGRAMS

Norfolk Southern Foundation

The Norfolk Southern Foundation supports nonprofit organizations that focus on educational, cultural, environmental, and economic development opportunities within the region served by Norfolk Southern freight railroad system. (A map of the system is available on the Foundation's website.) The Foundation offers grants in three principal areas: educational programs, primarily at the post-secondary level; community enrichment focusing on cultural and artistic organizations; and environmental programs. Applications are accepted between July 15 and September 30, annually.

(http://www.nscorp.com/nscorp/application?pageid=About%20NS&category=About%20NS&contentId=english/nscorp/about_ns/ns_foundation.html)

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 JOBS/INTERNSHIPS

THE WHITE HOUSE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

The White House Internship Program offers an excellent opportunity to serve our President and explore public service.  We are seeking exceptional candidates to apply for this highly competitive program.  In addition to normal office duties, interns attend weekly lectures, tours, and complete an intern service project.  Interns may serve a term in the Fall, Spring, or Summer.  All candidates must be 18 years of age, hold United States citizenship, and be enrolled in a college or university.

We hope you will explore our White House Intern Website for additional information at http://www.whitehouse.gov/government/wh-intern.html.  To apply, read and complete the White House Intern Application.  A strong application includes the following:

*        sound academic credentials
*        history of community involvement and leadership
*        solid verbal/written communication skills
*        demonstrated interest in public service

Please submit the completed application to Ann Gray, White House Intern Coordinator, by the appropriate due date.  The Fall, 2005 application deadline is July 1, 2005.  If you have questions or concerns, contact Ann by phone, (202)456-2502 or by e-mail, agrayint@WHO.eop.gov.

(http://www.whitehouse.gov/government/wh-intern.html)

******************

VIET HERITAGE SOCIETY SCHOLARSHIP

APPLICATION DEADLINE:
June 30, 2005 @ 5:00 PM PST

AWARD PRESENTATION:
Saturday, August 6, 2005, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
History Park @ Kelley Park, 1650 Senter Road, San José, CA 95112, (408) 287-2290

Viet Heritage Society (VHS) Works to Build the Future of Vietnamese Americans

VHS recognize the importance of having a good education. To that end, VHS has established an Educational Scholarship Fund to promote higher education and assist students in their educational endeavors. The scholarships seek to promote higher education; support and encourage students to strive for academic excellence; assist students to assume and achieve important roles as leaders in their chosen profession; promote greater volunteerism amongst the younger generation, and establish a higher presence of Vietnamese Americans in academia and the professional community. A total of $100,000 in scholarship will be awarded. Ten (10) students will be selected to receive $10,000 in scholarship to be awarded in four equal installments over the next four years. The students must be enrolled full-time in an accredited college or university during the 2005-2006 school year. Six of the ten scholarships are designated for high school students entering college as Freshmen.

Eligibility
Applicants must be a permanent resident of the United States and intend to attend an accredited college/university or graduate degree program for the 2005-2006 school year. All applicants must complete the application package, which consists of:

*  Application form;
*  Official transcript;
*  Two letters of recommendation;

One page description as to the students’ employment history, involvement in community and extra-curricular activities and honors received, and A personal essay (not exceeding three pages in length).

VHS Educational Scholarship Application Guidelines

*  Application must be completed, signed and mailed with all required attachments in order to be considered. The application package must be received by 5:00PM EST on June 30, 2005. No exceptions.
*  If a scholarship recipient terminates his/her studies for any reason, the unused balance of the scholarship must be returned directly to VHS, and cannot be used for the student’s personal needs.
*  The VHS Educational Scholarship Fund can only be used to pay for tuition, room and board and/or school supplies, such as, books for classes. The scholarship will be revoked if recipients use funds for personal purposes.
*  Immediate family members of current VHS’s board and staff are not eligible to apply.
*  Scholarship winners must submit proof of admissions and status as a full-time student by July 30, 2005.

Notification of Award
Only scholarship winners will be notified.

Proof of Admissions and Full-time Status
Scholarship winners must submit proof of admission to an accredited college, university or graduate degree program and proof of status as a full-time student. This material must be postmarked by July 30, 2005 and mailed to VHS/VANG Scholarship Committee.

Proof of admissions and status as a full-time student may be accomplished by submitting (1) an official registered class schedule for the quarter/semester for which the scholarship award will be applied OR (2) a letter from the school indicating that the applicant is entering school as a full-time student for the 2005-2006 school year. Failure to provide this proof by July 30, 2005 may result in the withdrawal of the VHS Educational Scholarship.

No faxed or e-mail applications will be accepted.

Send the complete application package to:

VHS Scholarship Committee
6811 Needwood Road
Rockville, MD 20855

(http://www.vangusa.com/mt_Scholarships_INFO.php)

******************

MAX NIEDZWIECKI ANNOUNCES RESIGNATION AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SEARAC

June 1, 2005

Dear Friends and Colleagues:

I am writing to tell you about a transition taking place at SEARAC.

As of July 15, 2005, I will step down from my position as Executive Director of SEARAC to begin a consulting practice and take on new challenges. I will remain as a part-time Senior Advisor at SEARAC until at least October 15 in order to ensure a smooth transition. I will also remain active in many of SEARAC's programs in capacity building, advocacy, and research/publication. SEARAC is a successful organization because of the hard work, creativity, contributions, and passion of people in the SEARAC family: The 190+ mutual assistance associations (MAAs) and faith-based organizations (FBOs) in our national network;

*        Our diverse and talented board members, and previous board members;
*        Our funders and donors in government, the foundation world, and the corporate sector;
*        Our generous individual donors;
*        Our "leadership-advocacy" trainees, who now number over 350 and who form our core group of grassroots advocates;
*        Our partners in the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans, the Refugee Council USA, and other key national coalitions; and
*        SEARAC's INCREDIBLE STAFF, CONSULTANTS, AND VOLUNTEERS!!!

Working at SEARAC since February of 1999 has been an honor and a privilege.

I look forward to finding new ways we can work together to build a better world for Southeast Asian Americans, refugees, and all people.

--Max

PS: The Executive Director Position Announcement
Please consider applying for this position, and share the announcement widely.

(http://www.searac.org/po-ed-060105.pdf)

******************

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT – PUBLIC INTEREST PROJECTS PROGRAM ASSOCIATE

Overview: Public Interest Projects is a non-profit that helps institutional and individual philanthropists implement grantmaking for progressive social, political and economic change.  We are seeking a self-starter, highly organized and skilled juggler of multiple tasks to provide program and administrative support for two of our current projects:  the Four Freedoms Fund and American Dream Fund.

Four Freedoms Fund is a philanthropic collaborative that provides support  primarily to locally based organizations seeking to promote immigrant civil and human rights, enhance immigrant leadership and civic participation, and strengthen the immigrant rights' movement.

American Dream Fund is a new initiative launched by the John S & James L Knight Foundation that will help immigrants become engaged members of society by supporting local organizations based in the 26 Knight communities that serve and advocate for immigrants.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

*      Preparing grant related correspondence and responding to inquiries from grant seekers and grantees.
*      Writing and editing grant summaries to foundation boards based on research and proposals; preparing grant reports for donors.
*      Maintaining donor database and files.
*      Conducting research in relevant issue areas.
*      Participate in and record meetings.
*      Planning and attending foundation board meetings, organizational site visits, etc.
*      Some travel required.

QUALIFICATIONS:

*      Bachelor's degree required; master's degree preferred.
*      Knowledge of the US immigrant rights field and community organizing a plus.
*      Two years of foundation, nonprofit, or public service experience required.
*      Strong planning, administrative, and organizational skills; the ability to manage time efficiently and meet deadlines.
*      High level of confidence and ability to work independently as well as within a team structure.
*      Detail oriented.
*      Proven ability to juggle multiple tasks and tolerance for work under pressure.
*      Excellent oral and written communication skills.
*      Experience with grantmaking a strong plus.
*      Proficient with windows‑based word-processing, spreadsheets, databases and Internet programs.  Experience with MicroEdge Gifts Software a plus.

SALARY:   $45-55,000   DOE

How to apply:

Send cover letter, resume to Channapha Khamvongsa
Public Interest Projects
80 Broad St., 16th Fl.
New York, NY 10004
Fax: 212.764.4298
channapha@lordross.com

DEADLINE:  June 15, 2005

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YOUTH SERVICE AMERICA – DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

Washington, DC

YOUTH SERVICE AMERICA (YSA) is a resource center which partners with thousands of organizations committed to increasing the quantity and quality of volunteer opportunities for young people, ages 5-25, to serve locally, nationally, and globally. Founded in 1986, YSA's mission is to strengthen the effectiveness, sustainability, and scale of the youth service and service-learning fields. A strong youth service movement will create healthy communities, and foster citizenship, knowledge, and the personal development of young people. YSA envisions a powerful network of organizations committed to making service and service-learning the common expectation and common experience of all young people.. We work toward our mission through four core strategies:

• Organizing Public Policy and Awareness Campaigns
• Convening the Field • Offering Incentives and Recognition
• Providing Information and Educational Resources. Position Description The Director of Government Relations will be responsible for promoting Youth Service America's legislative agenda; National Youth Service Day activities with elected officials; and our other related priorities in state capitals and Washington, DC, specifically on Capitol Hill, within the Administration, and the youth service, national service, and service-learning fields.

Responsibilities: National and Global Youth Service Day
• Develop and maintain relationships with key members of Congress, Federal agency officials, and their staff.
• Work with the Administration and USA Freedom Corps to effect their participation in National and Global Youth Service Day.
• Encourage White House/Congressional participation to raise public and media awareness.
• Cultivate National Partner relationships with organizations that represent state and local elected officials (examples: U.S. Conference of Mayors, National Governors Association, National Conference of State Legislators)
• Work with individual Governor's offices, mayors, etc. to encourage local participation and understanding, issue proclamations and op-eds, and provide other promotional support.
• Secure political leaders' participation at service events of Lead Agencies and National Youth Service Day grant winners. • Create and sustain a coalition of government relations directors from YSA's National Partners.
• Train and support Lead Agencies, National Partners, and grant winners in education and outreach to elected officials. • Facilitate and track elected officials' participation in National and Global Youth Service Day and other service events around the country and around the world.

• Disseminate event results among public officials to encourage continued support for youth service and service-learning.

Responsibilities: General

• Identify, analyze, monitor, develop, and appropriately respond to legislation, regulations, and executive orders that impact and/or forward programs and operations related to the mission and work of Youth Service America and its members.
• Serve as YSA's liaison with the National Service Congressional Caucus and other appropriate groups
• Represent Youth Service America in meetings, coalitions, etc. to further political support for service and service-learning.
• Help coordinate a comprehensive federal funding program plan to support Youth Service America's activities in service and service-learning.
• Promote Youth Service America's tools and resources among states, Hill, and agency staff.
• Develop events with public officials to promote grant programs and/or recognition ceremonies.
• Secure public officials' participation in Youth Service America working groups, conferences, and other events where we convene the field.

Job Qualifications Bachelors or advanced degree in Political Science, Sociology, American History, or related field with (3) three years minimum experience on Capitol Hill or in issue advocacy at the federal level.

Additional Qualifications: Skills Required

•Persistence
•Strong interpersonal, coalition-building, and advocacy skills with the ability to work with diverse populations and geographic regions.
•Outstanding written and oral communications (both public speaking and interpersonal) skills.
•A demonstrated ability to work both independently and as part of a team, and to manage multiple priorities and projects effectively; the ability to think creatively and strategically while remaining focused on the detail-oriented work and follow-through required by the position.
•Demonstrated ability to move through political situations effectively within the legislative, regulatory, and appropriations process.
•Ability to effectively represent, rally, and coordinate Youth Service America's interests in a results oriented approach.

How to Apply: Sharon Brender Chief Operating Officer Youth Service America sbrender@ysa.org References will be requested for finalists. Youth Service America (YSA) is an equal opportunity employer that seeks to engage individuals from diverse backgrounds and perspectives.

Job posted on: May 23, 2005

(www.ysa.org)

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 TIPS/RESOURCES

FINANCE – A TOOLKIT TO HELP THE AUDIT COMMITTEE

To help audit committees operate more effectively, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) has put together a toolkit, according to a report by John F. Morrow, vice president in the AICPA's Washington, D.C., office. The report was presented at a recent AICPA conference.

The Audit Committee Toolkit includes actionable tools (matrices, questionnaires, RFPs, evaluations, how-to, etc.). It's distributed in print, and is available on the AICPA's Web site www.aicpa.org in three formats.

In the kit is a description of how to create an audit committee charter matrix, which "will help the audit committees make the charter a living document."

Nonprofits that opt to create an audit committee should insist that its members follow a set of leadership principals.

Run the committee in a professional manner.

Members of the audit committee are role models.

The audit committee chair facilitates the "emotional tone" of the group.

The audit committee chair is especially responsible for preventing "group think" and "collusion."

Make sure you know how different areas of the organization got to the end results and summaries you will have before you.

Regularly assess your performance.

When an audit committee finishes its work, it should do an informal and formal assessment, which should include -- for the informal review -- "make sure your are on track and the chair should meet one-on-one with committee participants twice-a-year. For the formal review a 360-degree assessment should be conducted.

(http://www.nptimes.com/enews/tips/finance.html)

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MANAGEMENT – VALUE IN PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN POLICY

Involving the public in goal setting or policy planning can be a beneficial practice for nonprofit organizations. Public participation involves both informing the public at large and incorporating public-involvement ideas into practice.

In his book The Public Participation Handbook, James L. Creighton presents the core values for the practice of public participation as given by the International Association for Public Participation.

There can be a big gap between the idea of public participation and its actual practice, and the core values are intended to provide not only a rationale for engaging in public participation but also guidelines for putting ideas into practice.

Those values are:

* The public should have a say in decisions about actions that affect their lives.

* Public participation includes the promise that the public's contribution will influence the decision.

* The public participation process communicates the interests and meets the process needs of all participants.

* The public participation process seeks out and facilitates the involvement of those potentially affected.

* The public participation process involves participants in defining how they participate.

* The public participation process provides participants with the information they need to participate in a meaningful way.

* The public participation process communicates to participants how their input affected the decision.

(http://www.nptimes.com/enews/tips/management.html)

******************

GOVERNANCE – TAKING IDEAS FROM ACROSS THE OCEAN

The United States and Japan are two countries that have had similar experiences over the past few years, including the way political scandals and economic woes have affected the issue of governance.

In their book Governance for a New Century: Japanese Challenges, American Experience, editors Thomas E. Mann and Sasaki Takeshi note that Japan is embarking on a new approach to governance, one that emphasizes a collaborative rather than authoritarian approach. They note several results that will be seen in everyday life in that country:

* Lifetime commitment to a specific organization has proven impracticable in the present day, not only because organizations want a more flexible labor market but also because people want more choices regarding how they live.

* Professional groups and nonprofit organizations are likely to exert greater influence. Already, the activities of nonprofits and voluntary groups have become highly visible in various areas.

* The most serious battlefield of the new governance seems to be the local community, which has been under the extreme pressure of a rapidly aging society. To date, the bureaucracy has proven helpless in the face of this issue, and many Japanese now see governance at the local level supported by nonprofits as an important agenda.

* The influence of bureaucrats in the legislative process has lessened.

(http://www.nptimes.com/enews/tips/pasttips.html)

******************
 NEWS

May 25, 2005

HOUSE PANEL APPROVES MORTGAGE GIANTS BILL

By MARCY GORDON
The Associated Press

WASHINGTON -- A House committee on Wednesday approved legislation that would strengthen federal government oversight of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the big mortgage companies.

The measure, approved 65-5 by the House Financial Services Committee, falls short of the Bush administration's proposal to reduce the companies' multibillion-dollar holdings.

Republicans are pushing to rein in the two powerful, government-sponsored companies that have been beset by accounting scandals. Efforts by Democrats to reshape the bill generally failed in the GOP-controlled committee.

The bill would create a stronger federal regulator with authority over the two biggest U.S. buyers of home mortgages. Expressing concern, Rep. Paul Kanjorski, D-Pa., said, "We shouldn't go overboard here."

The measure also would expand the government-set goals for the companies for making home ownership affordable. It would require that the companies devote 5 percent of their annual profits to financing housing for low-income people.

In addition, the companies could buy bigger mortgage loans than are currently allowed in high-cost states such as California. The nationwide limit now is $359,650.

Congress created Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to inject money into the home-loan market, with a view to keeping mortgage rates lower. The companies buy mortgages from banks and other lenders and bundle the loans into securities for sale to investors or keep them as investment holdings.

Fannie Mae _ the No. 1 U.S. mortgage financier and the second-largest financial institution after Citigroup Inc. _ is facing a likely $11 billion restatement of earnings after regulators accused it last fall of serious accounting manipulations.

In June 2003, No. 2 Freddie Mac disclosed that it had misstated earnings, mostly underreporting them, by $5 billion for 2000-2002.

The administration wants Congress to establish a new regulatory agency with the power to limit the companies' mortgage portfolios, which total $1.5 trillion.

After the vote, Treasury Secretary John Snow said the administration will work with lawmakers "to ensure that the bill is strengthened so that the final product provides for a strong, independent regulator which has all the necessary tools to do the job."

Snow said in a statement that limiting the companies' mortgage portfolios "is a critical element of reform."

Under the House bill, the regulator could require the companies to buy or sell portfolio holdings so they are financially sound.

Fannie Mae spokesman Chuck Greener said the measure was "a significant step forward" and that the company hoped it would become law this year.

Voting against the bill were five Republicans: Reps. Ed Royce of California, Tom Feeney of Florida, Scott Garrett of New Jersey, and Jeb Hensarling and Ron Paul of Texas.

Similar legislation is expected to be considered in the Senate.

The chief executives of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac told Congress last month that substantially reducing the portfolios could hurt the U.S. housing finance market and cut off billions of dollars from foreign investors who help make housing more affordable for moderate-income Americans.

On the Net:

Fannie Mae: http://www.fanniemae.com

Freddie Mac: http://www.freddiemac.com

House Financial Services Committee: http://financialservices.house.gov

(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/25/AR2005052501363.html)

HR 1461 (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:HR01461:@@@L&summ2=m&)

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Notice to the Press
Office of the Spokesman
Washington, DC
June 1, 2005

PUBLIC RELEASE OF THE 2005 “TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS REPORT”

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will release the fifth annual Department of State Trafficking in Persons Report on Friday, June 3, at 11:45 a.m. in the State Department’s Press Briefing Room (Room 2209). Following Secretary Rice’s opening remarks, Ambassador John R. Miller, the Secretary’s Senior Advisor on Trafficking in Persons, will brief the press on the report and respond to questions.

The 150-country report is the most comprehensive worldwide report on the efforts of governments to combat severe forms of trafficking in persons, or modern-day slavery. Its findings will raise global awareness and spur countries to take effective actions to counter trafficking in persons. The assessment includes reports on countries determined to have a significant number of victims of severe forms of human trafficking.

This year, there will be an added focus on forced labor trafficking including involuntary servitude and debt bondage. This type of slavery, involving millions of people every year, happens most frequently in an individual’s own country and is often based on culture, heritage or economic well-being.

This on-the-record, on-camera briefing is open for press coverage. Members of the press who do not have a State Department building pass should arrive at the 23rd Street entrance by 11:30 a.m. for clearance through security and access to the briefing room.

Media representatives may attend this briefing upon presentation of one of the following: (1) a U.S. Government-issued identification card (Department of State, White House, Congress, Department of Defense, or Foreign Press Center), (2) a media-issued photo identification card, or (3) a letter from their employer on letterhead verifying their employment as a journalist, accompanied by an official photo identification (driver’s license or passport).

Advance Copies of the Embargoed Report

Embargoed copies of the report will be available on Friday, June 3 at 9:00 a.m. in the State Department Press Office (Room 2109). The report will be distributed in hard copy and CD-ROM format on a first-come, first-served basis – one copy per media organization. Copies will not be reserved, mailed, faxed or delivered to a building entrance. The entire report is EMBARGOED until the end of the press briefing at approximately 12:30 a.m. on June 3.

Electronic Access to the Report via Internet

The full text of the report will be available for downloading from the State Department website at www.state.gov at the conclusion of the press briefing.

Reporters who wish to schedule an interview with Ambassador Miller after the report is released may contact Public Affairs Specialist Caroline Tetschner at (202) 312-9648.

2005/577

Released on June 1, 2005

(http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2005/47037.htm)

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June 1, 2005

ASSEMBLY APPROVES BAN OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING

By Jessica Portner
Mercury News

A measure that easily cleared the state Assembly on Tuesday would make human trafficking illegal in California and establish strong penalties for people who enslave others.

Proposed by Sally Lieber, D-San Jose, the bill -- which passed 57-10 -- defines the practice as forced labor using coercive tactics such as threats of abuse or blackmail. The victims are often forced into prostitution, though the wording of the bill would apply to other types of labor.

AB 22 would make human trafficking a felony punishable by six years in prison if the victim is an adult and up to eight years for a minor. It would also compel convicted felons to pay restitution to victims. Human trafficking is already a federal crime, but a state law would make it easier to prosecute those who do it in California, supporters said.

Lieber, a former mayor of Mountain View, said the bill was inspired by a 2003 police raid of massage parlors and brothels fronting as acupressure centers in Mountain View and Los Altos. The operators, who were suspected of human trafficking, were charged with running a house of prostitution, according to Santa Clara County prosecutors.

``This is a business that is alive and well in Silicon Valley,'' Lieber said after the vote. ``Sexual slavery is morally reprehensible, and we ought to have the strongest laws to address this.''

An estimated 20,000 people are brought into the United States each year and forced into prostitution, domestic service, factory work, farming or other kinds of work, Lieber's office said. California, with its large immigrant population, has one of the highest incidences of trafficking in the country.

While local prosecutors could not pinpoint the number of operations in the Bay Area, researchers at the University of California-Berkeley's Human Rights Center, identified 57 forced labor operations in nearly a dozen cities in California from 1998 to 2003, according to a 2004 report.

The ``Hidden Slaves'' study, which documented 500 people who came to the United States from 18 countries, described people living in deplorable conditions where they were often raped and tortured by their captors.

Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney Javier Alcala, who prosecutes human slavery, said the bill will help make it easier to go after such criminals in California.

``This will make it a lot easier to prove,'' said Alcala. Prosecutors currently must use federal laws or existing state laws that prohibit involuntary servitude and kidnapping that do not specifically define trafficking.

Some Assembly members who voted against the measure said they were concerned that the definition of trafficking in the bill is overly broad. Others thought judges would have too much leeway to decide what a particular sex crime is worth in restitution.

Another bill, AB 634, also sponsored by Lieber, that seeks protections for mail-order brides also passed the Assembly on Tuesday. It would require background checks on marriage brokers who arrange match-ups between California men and foreign women, and bar those convicted of violent crimes from being licensed by the state. Both bills are expected to be taken up in the Senate this month.

Staff writer Kate Folmar contributed to this report. Contact Jessica Portner at jportner@mercurynews.com or (650) 688-7505

(http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/11786153.htm)

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US Rep. Mike Honda
15th District (CA) - Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus

For Immediate Release
June 1, 2005

Contact: Jay Staunton, 202.225.3327
jay.staunton@mail.house.gov

CAPAC ESTABLISHES EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR POSITION

Historic Step Builds on 10-year Development of Caucus

Washington, DC - The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) today announced the appointment of its first Executive Director, a milestone event establishing the long-term infrastructure to allow the Caucus to develop and implement long-term strategies on behalf of emerging and under-represented communities.

CAPAC Chair Mike Honda (D-CA) announced the creation of the position at the conclusion of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, during which communities across the country celebrate the heritage and contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI).

"This is an historic step in the 10-year history of CAPAC, one that would not have been possible without the groundwork laid by CAPAC's first Chairman, Norman Mineta," Honda said. "This new Executive Director position reflects the increasing profile of the AAPI community, and will allow CAPAC to forge even stronger relations with Congressional leadership and our 'Tri-Caucus' partners in the Congressional Black Caucus and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus."

AAPIs are the fastest-growing ethnic population in the country. Current CAPAC priorities include the following:

*        Eliminating racial and ethnic health disparities through language access, cultural competency programs, data collection, and access to quality healthcare;
*        Comprehensive immigration reform, including support of the Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act;
*        AAPI Education, especially providing adequate funding for implementation of the No Child Left Behind Act; and
*        Protecting Social Security against the Bush Administration's plans to privatize this social insurance program that provides retirement benefits for more than 785,000 AAPI seniors.

"CAPAC is building its infrastructure, and creating an Executive Director position represents a new step in our efforts to advocate for the AAPI community," Honda said. "We will have greater consistency, and stronger relations with members of the community and with our allies in the Tri-Caucus."

Victoria Tung will serve as the new Executive Director for CAPAC.  Currently operating as the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS)/California Endowment Health and Public Policy Fellow for CAPAC, Ms. Tung's work has focused on addressing the lack of uniform health access and coverage amongst the growing minority populations throughout the country. She is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania where she obtained her Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and minors in Urban Studies and Asian and Middle Eastern Studies.

#

(http://www.honda.house.gov/CAPAChome.asp)

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June 2, 2005

TEENS MAY BE LAST TO GET SUMMER JOBS
Economy improves, but employers are hiring immigrants or retirees.

By Sara B. Miller
Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor

They are as much a part of summer's montage as miniature golf, ice cream, and muggy nights: teens dipping their toes in the world of work.

But the number of adolescents nationwide embarking on that annual rite of passage is abating. Last summer, the teen employment rate was the lowest since 1948, with only 36 percent of those ages 16 to 19 holding jobs, down from 45 percent in 2000. This year, although some economists say an improving economy may boost the prospects of older teens, the latest forecast by Northeastern University's Center for Labor Market Studies in Boston shows no budge in the overall summer employment rate.

Competition from older workers and foreigners has squeezed the market for job-hungry teens. This comes as companies, operating with ever-leaner staffs, are less prone to take on the role of mentor for young people with little or no experience.

In a parallel trend, many teens have opted out of traditional jobs in retail and recreation for unpaid internships or to enroll in sports and music camps or other activities that might buff their college applications. But for thousands of adolescents who look for work to no avail, especially those from low-income families, a dearth of summer jobs means more than a scramble for cash.

"As soon as a young person says, 'I want to work,' it's a golden opportunity to start to groom and nurture that young person," says Renee Ward, the founder of teens4hire.org, which connects teens and employers. "They make the connection between their education and the world of work ... and then can go back to school and say, 'I know why I'm here.' "

The teen employment rate typically falls with national recessions, but it is not expected to recover this summer despite an improved economy, according to the Northeastern report. It is attributed, in part, to immigrants and older workers turning to hourly work. Employers often perceive older workers to be more mature or reliable and still available long after teens have returned to school.

"A lot of companies we talk to say blatantly, 'We are not looking for young adults, we are looking for older workers,' including retirees," says Ms. Ward.

Shanice Gonsalves is hoping to overcome those barriers this summer - a feat she did not conquer last year. A high school sophomore in the Boston area, she sent out applications to T.J. Maxx, Foot Locker, Footaction, and Marshalls last summer, but they all told her she was too young, she says. She helped around the house and looked after her younger brothers and cousin instead.

This summer she is hoping to get a job at a summer camp or day care through Action for Boston Community Development's (ABCD) SummerWorks, a jobs and education program for low-income young people from Boston's inner city.

It would be her first paycheck - and she says it would get split in half, one half for her mother, the other for her older sister. "They buy all my clothes, shoes, notebooks," she says. "They do everything for me."

Teenagers from low-income families, many of whom hand over part of their paychecks to their families, have a particularly hard time finding work. "The way they speak, the way they dress, they are not accustomed to going to places on time," says Robert Coard, ABCD's president. "They don't have any networks with employers even in neighborhoods in which they live."

There are some bright signs in the teen job market. Massachusetts has restored $3 million toward youth employment programs this year. Mr. Coard says the funding could help to place 2,000 teens in jobs this summer, doubling that of last year.

And Ward says that, with 50,000 openings accessible through teens4hire.org, this year, opportunity has grown by 100 percent from 2004 - though part of that percentage change represents the company's own growth.

Demand is particularly high in tourist-heavy areas, such as Cape Cod, where employers found themselves shut out of a seasonal worker visa program earlier this year.

Even as some employers require prior work experience, some jobs are perfect for youths, says John Kraus, who manages Cape Escape Miniature Golf in Cape Cod and hires two or three teens each summer. "It's an easy-going atmosphere here," he says.

Shawn Boyer, co-founder and chief executive of SnagAJob.com, which focuses on part-time and hourly employment, says certain industries, such as product demonstration and merchandising, are coveting teens. "If you are Mountain Dew, you want teens handing out the product," he says, "It doesn't work as well if you are a 65-year-old woman [passing out the sample]."

For parents, politicians, and social workers, any chance to improve individual opportunities and keep communities safe are welcome - many say that job programs like SummerWorks steer kids away from drugs and violence.

"I would like a better future for them, than being in the streets and getting in trouble," says Clarisa Cooper, a mother and guardian of five children, one of whom is waiting to hear if she has received a job through ABCD. "They need to be looking to the future, not just thinking about the moment."

(http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0602/p01s03-usec.html?s=hns)

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June 2, 2005

UC DAVIS WINS $4.5 GRANT TO REDUCE CANCER IN ASIAN POPULATION

The University of California Davis Cancer Center has received $4.48 million from the National Cancer Institute to lead a new nationwide effort aimed at reducing cancer among Asian Americans.

The grant builds on a previous institute-funded project, known as the Asian American Network for Cancer Awareness, Research and Training (AANCART). Also headquartered at UC Davis, AANCART was funded through the cancer institute's Special Populations Network and included investigators from seven other universities.

The new project, which will share the same name as AANCART, is funded through the cancer institute's Community Networks Program. As such, the new project will take a much more community-based, participatory approach to addressing health disparities, according to a UC Davis news release.

The new project unites cancer-control experts from the California Department of Health Services, the University of California San Francisco, the University of California Los Angeles, the University of Hawaii in Honolulu, the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center/University of Washington in Seattle, and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Harvard University in Boston with two community groups, the Sacramento-based Hmong Women's Heritage Association and the San Francisco Medical Society Foundation/Chinese Community Health Plan.

Over the next five years, the project will focus on:

  * Reducing the unequal and preventable burden of hepatitis B-induced liver cancer in Asian Americans by increasing hepatitis B immunization rates in children and screening rates in adults.

  * Improving breast and cervical cancer screening rates among Asian American women, who are among the least likely to get Pap tests and mammograms.

  * Encouraging Asian Americans to retain the traditionally low-fat, vegetable-based diets common in Asian countries and resist pressures to adopt the higher-fat American diet.

  * Increasing the rates of colorectal cancer screening among Asian Americans.

Cambodian, Chinese, Filipino, Hmong, Korean and Vietnamese communities in Seattle, San Francisco, Honolulu, Los Angeles and Sacramento will be the populations of special emphasis.

Recent data suggest that while Asian Americans have a relatively low risk of cancer overall, their cancer death rate is climbing faster than that of any other ethnic group, according to a UC Davis news release. In addition, they suffer disproportionately from several forms of the disease. Asian Americans are more than five times as likely as whites to die of liver cancer, for example, and on an aggregate basis, Asian Pacific Islander women over age 40 have the lowest mammogram screening rates in the country. In some Asian groups, the incidence of cervical cancer is as much as five times that of whites.

© 2005 American City Business Journals Inc.

(http://sacramento.bizjournals.com/sacramento/stories/2005/05/30/daily12.html)

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June 2, 2005

CALIFORNIA MAN ARRESTED FOR PLOT AGAINST CAMBODIA

By Josh Gerstein - Staff Reporter of the Sun

SAN FRANCISCO - A Cambodian-American accountant was arrested yesterday on charges he violated American law by leading a militant group that has sought to overthrow the Cambodian government.

Yasith Chhun, 48, of Long Beach, Calif., was indicted Tuesday on charges of conspiracy to commit murder overseas, conspiracy to damage property overseas, and mounting a military expedition against a friendly nation.

If convicted, Mr. Chhun, the American-born president of the Cambodian Freedom Fighters, could face a life sentence on each of the three felony counts. One of the laws Mr. Chhun is charged with breaking is the Neutrality Act of 1794. It prohibits Americans from mounting a military campaign against a foreign country in the absence of a declared war.

Mr. Chhun and his wife, Sras Pech, 39, were also charged in a separate indictment with preparing false income tax returns. The pair is expected to appear in federal court this afternoon for a detention hearing. An attorney for Mr. Chhun, Leonard Matsuk, declined to comment for this story.

From his accounting office in a Long Beach strip mall, Mr. Chhun and his allies have spent years openly fighting for the downfall of Cambodia's leader, Samdech Hun Sen, who holds the title of prime minister. The State Department and international observers have questioned the elections that put Mr. Hun Sen and his Cambodian People's Party in power. The State Department has consistently described Cambodia's human rights record as "poor."

On November 24, 2000, Mr. Chhun's group orchestrated an armed assault by about 70 rebels on government buildings in Cambodia's capital, Phnom Penh. At least four people were killed before the putsch was put down by government forces.

The prosecution of Mr. Chhun, prompted in large part by that unsuccessful coup, draws attention to the awkward intersection between two of President Bush's top foreign policy goals: fighting terrorism and promoting democracy.

A congressman who has met repeatedly with Mr. Chhun's group expressed concern yesterday that the prosecution could discourage Americans from working to upend tyrannical regimes. "Unless they can show these guys have been planning some kind of terrorism, meaning attacks on civilians, this is wrongheaded," said Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, a Republican of California.

Mr. Rohrabacher said Mr. Chhun's organization was far from clandestine. "We've all heard about them. We've all met with them. We've all talked to them. They are not a secret revolutionary cell," the lawmaker said. "They're outraged they cannot go back to their country and have an honest election."

Mr. Rohrabacher said Mr. Hun Sen's history demonstrates little allegiance to democracy. "Hun Sen is a former brigade commander of Pol Pot's people, people who slaughtered millions of Cambodians," the lawmaker said. "It's a very good thing to resist tyrants and gangsters, and Hun Sen is certainly not a democratic leader."

A spokeswoman for the Cambodian Embassy in Washington, D.C., did not return phone messages seeking comment for this article.

The indictment makes only one explicit allegation that Mr. Chhun's group targeted civilians. The government alleges that in February 1999, Mr. Chhun ordered a grenade attack on a karaoke bar frequented by Vietnamese citizens. Several bar patrons were injured in the incident, according to the indictment.

A vice president of the Cambodian Freedom Fighters, Sokhom So, said yesterday that he was "very surprised" by Mr. Chhun's arrest.

"He tried to promote democracy in Cambodia, American-style. Cambodia is still run by the Communists," Mr. So said. Mr. So, who owns an Arlington, Va., jewelry store, said the arrest makes him question Mr. Bush's commitment to encouraging democracy overseas. "That's very, very disappointing for democracy lovers," Mr. So said.

Asked about the delay between the alleged coup and the indictment, prosecutor Brian Hershman said, "It was a case that involved both international evidence and international witnesses. The time it takes can be longer in cases like that."

Another factor in the timing could have been the statute of limitations. The indictment was returned five years to the day after Mr. Chhun allegedly traveled to Thailand to set up a base camp for the attempted coup. Most federal crimes have a five-year statute of limitations.

Mr. Chhun also cultivated ties with American political figures, especially Republicans. Since 2001, he has given at least $6,100 to the National Republican Congressional Committee.

A spokesman for the group, Carl Forti, denied Mr. Chhun's claims in interviews that he was asked to work as a political fund-raiser in the Cambodian community.

(http://www.nysun.com/article/14747)

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June 2, 2005

HOPE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING

By David S. Broder; Page A23

Amid all the talk about the boom in real estate prices and the concern about the "housing bubble" some day bursting, one fact tends to be forgotten. Far too many families are simply being locked out of decent shelter by the shortage of affordable housing.

The latest official estimate is that the country lacks 1.6 million units of low-income housing. According to the 2003 American Housing Survey, 7.5 million households were "severely burdened" by their housing costs, meaning that more than half their income went for rent or mortgage payments.

It has been 10 years since the federal government put any substantial sums into building affordable housing for families, but last week a glimmer of hope appeared from an unexpected source. A bipartisan bill emerged from the House Financial Services Committee that could generate $400 million a year or more for low-income housing.

The measure's main purpose is to provide new, more stringent regulation for the two giant government-chartered mortgage finance agencies, best known by their nicknames, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Their mandate is to increase the availability of housing. These GSEs, or government-sponsored enterprises, got into hot water because of their accounting practices, and Congress has been figuring out how to keep closer tabs on them.

When the bill was being drafted last week, the two key Republicans, Ohioans Michael G. Oxley and Robert W. Ney, the chairmen, respectively, of the full committee and its housing subcommittee, decided that to lock in Democratic support, they would include a proviso from the committee's top Democrat, Rep. Barney Frank of Massachusetts, to earmark 5 percent of Fannie and Freddie's annual profits for preservation, rehabilitation and construction of low-income housing.

It's estimated that this would produce at least $400 million a year, and perhaps as much as $1 billion, depending on the way the two mortgage giants eventually work out their accounting problems. Economists at the National Low Income Housing Coalition, the leading advocacy group in this field, calculate that with construction costs estimated at $70,000 to $100,000 per unit, the program could build between 4,000 and 14,000 units a year.

Sheila Crowley, the group's president, said that would be "an important step forward in our fight to make sure that safe and decent housing for all Americans, regardless of income, is once again a national priority."

The step is not guaranteed. Committee conservatives tried to knock out the 5 percent set-aside. Their amendment, sponsored by Rep. Ed Royce, a California Republican, failed on a 53 to 17 vote, but backers expect more support when the bill reaches the House floor. They contend that the potential billion-dollar sum would be better applied to lowering the costs of mortgages underwritten by Fannie and Freddie, rather than creating what they term "a slush fund" for the politically well-connected GSEs.

A spokesman for Ney told me that even though he represents a largely rural area, his constituents are all too familiar with the problems of affordable housing, so he joined Oxley in lining up most of the committee Republicans against the Royce amendment. What will happen on the House floor remains to be seen.

On the other side of the Capitol, Sen. Jack Reed, a Rhode Island Democrat, has sponsored similar legislation -- an outgrowth of an interest in housing issues he told me he developed in the 1980s as a young member of the state legislature. The Reed amendment became part of a housing bill that never came to a floor vote in the last Congress. A new bill will be crafted in committee, perhaps later this month.

So far the Bush administration has not weighed in for or against the low-income housing fund, but Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson said in a statement that his priority is "enforcing the affordable housing goals" for Fannie and Freddie -- something that would not necessarily provide new construction grants.

Over the years, the federal commitment to affordable housing has shrunk steadily, with the only remaining large-scale program being Section 8 vouchers, which help qualified families with rent subsidies but do not expand the supply of housing.

It is more luck than anything else that has made Fannie and Freddie plausible sources of new affordable-housing construction money. Were it not for the regulatory problems that they brought on themselves, it's doubtful this Republican Congress would have thought to tap their profits for such a purpose.

Call it the silver lining in this cloud of financial scandal.

davidbroder@washpost.com

(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/01/AR2005060101642.html)

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Council Member Chuck Reed
District 4, San Jose City Hall
801 North First Street, San Jose, CA 95110June 6, 2005

Contact: Dawn Wright, (408) 227-2437 (w), (408) 297-7069 (Fax)

Press Release

For Immediate Release: June 6, 2005

VIETNAMESE FLAG RESOLUTION AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC

San José, California  – On May 17, 2005 the Mayor and City Council voted to accept a resolution to recognize the Vietnamese Heritage and Freedom Flag (The former flag of Vietnam) as the official symbol for the Vietnamese community of San Jose. This resolution was brought forward and sponsored by, Council Members Chuck Reed, Nancy Pyle, David Cortese, Vice-Mayor Cindy Chavez, and the Mayor. This resolution was a historic event for the City and the Vietnamese community of San Jose. It signaled the acceptance and acknowledged this flag as a symbol of free Vietnamese people in our great City.

Resolution Number 72692 does several things states Council Member Reed, “ it formalizes our respect for the Vietnamese Heritage and Freedom Flag, it demonstrates our appreciation for the contributions of our Vietnamese American residents to our community and country, it assures all of our residents not just Vietnamese residents, but all residents that we will protect and defend their right to engage in political activity, it allows children to display the flag if they wish, and finally it urges the state of California to recognize the flag for the entire state.”

The resolution was the efforts of many in the community. The language was a synthesis of words, phrases and clauses that were put forward by the four council members, the mayor, and members of the community. It was an exercise in cooperation and embraced the spirit of fellowship that all civic involvement should entail. Now that the resolution is completed, it is available for the public. A certified resolution can be obtained by contacting Council Member Reed’s office, for those who would like to have a memento of this historic action.

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(http://www.ci.san-jose.ca.us/council/dist4/main/index.asp)

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About NCVA
Founded in 1986, the National Congress of Vietnamese Americans is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community advocacy organization working to advance the cause of Vietnamese Americans in a plural but united America – e pluribus unum – by participating actively and fully as civic minded citizens engaged in the areas of education, culture and civil liberties.

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