Sen. Kennedy (D-MA)

Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY)

May 4 –– Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) introduced an immigration bill, S. 2381, co-sponsored by Senators Russ Feingold and Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and asked for it to be referred to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary. Introducing the bill entitled the Safe Orderly Legal Visas and Enforcement (SOLVE) Act of 2004, Sen. Kennedy said, “Our bill creates a genuine legalization program for undocumented workers and a revised temporary worker program with protections for both U.S. and foreign workers. It also creates a path to citizenship for all deserving immigrants, and takes clear steps to reunite immigrant families.”

Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HI)

Asian American and Pacific Heritage month recognized

May 7 –– Senator. Daniel Akaka (D-HI) went on record to recognize May as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. He listed the achievements of

Asians and Pacific Islanders to the country, mentioning Indra K. Nooyi, president and chief financial officer for PepsiCo and highest ranking

Indian-born woman in corporate America. Upon emigrating to the

United States in 1978, Ms. Nooyi entered the Yale School of Management.

“She worked from midnight to five in the morning to support herself at school. A firm believer in human potential and an advocate of education, Ms. Nooyi has received awards for her dedication to human capital management,” Sen. Akaka said.

Ms. Nooyi is ranked by Fortune magazine as one of America’s top 50 most powerful women. Sen. Akaka also urged the White House to revive the President’s Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, which expired on June 7, 2003.

The Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month began as

just a Heritage Week back in 1978 as a result of bipartisan efforts and made into a month-long celebration in 1992.

Senator Akaka, in his statement, urged the Bush administration to increase Asian American participation in the Federal government.

‘Saving Lives: The Deadly Intersection of AIDS & Hunger’

May 11 –– The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations was scheduled to hold a hearing ‘Saving Lives: The Deadly Intersection of Aids and Hunger’ at the Dirksen Senate Office Building starting at 10 a.m. Witnesses include James T. Morris, executive director of the World Food Program at the United Nations, Randall Tobias, Global AIDS Coordinator at the State Department, and Andrew Natsios, administrator, USAID.