【美新社訊】國際領袖基金會(ILF)成立20周年慶祝活動於7月25日在華盛頓舉行。

美國交通部部長趙小蘭到場祝賀，並發表演講。趙小蘭表示：祝賀國際領袖基金會(ILF)成立20周年，同時也祝賀創會會長董繼玲。與Norm Mineta一樣，很榮幸擔任ILF榮譽聯席主席。基金會成立20年來，蓬勃發展，為眾多亞太裔美國青年在美國主流社會的職業發展和個人發展提供了豐富的經驗。

 

 這次的盛會表彰和慶祝亞太裔美國人對美國的貢獻，同時也令人印象深刻，因為來自全國各地的許多傑出領導人都出席了這次會議，他們正在為亞太裔美國人及其所在社區開闢新的道路。今晚也不例外，我還要祝賀來自公共、私營和非營利性部門的亞太裔美國領導人在今晚獲得主流的認可。

 

 正如你們所知，在我的公共服務生涯中，我一直致力於幫助亞太裔美國人以及其他傳統上得不到充分重視的社區獲得進入美國主流社會的機會。我一直在努力突出亞太裔美國人的貢獻。

 

 今年5月10日,2019年在猶他州Promontory峰會上,我特別強調對來自中國的1萬2000名勞工對美國的貢獻和犧牲表示認同，他們幫助美國社會構建了基礎設施，橫貫大陸的鐵路是美國最偉大的作品之一。特別值得一提的是，這是第一個有中國血統的交通部長對這些勞工表達感謝。

 

 這1.2萬名華工的經歷令人痛心，因為他們沒有機會與家人團聚，也沒有機會成為美國公民。

 

 從那時起，美國一直向前發展，成為今天這樣一個多元化的國家。最近的調查顯示，亞太裔美國人占我國人口的近7%，約2300萬人。

 

 隨著美國社區人口的增加，亞裔正日益為美國的經濟活力和文化多樣性作出貢獻。你可能知道，我們的經濟正在蓬勃發展。本屆政府的減稅和放鬆管制的政策使經濟開始騰飛。2019年第一季度，美國經濟增長3.1%。全國3.7%的失業率大約是50年來最低的。亞裔美國人的失業率為2.1%，是有記錄以來的最低水準。

亞太裔美國人已經擴展到美國主流社會的各個領域。亞太裔美國人在服兵役方面也表現出色。2019年1月29日，我參加了一個感人的儀式，授予第二次世界大戰華裔美國退伍軍人國會金質獎章。

 

亞太裔美國人在美國主流社會所取得的進步，證明了我們社區珍視的價值觀，特別是我們對家庭、努力工作和優質教育價值的重視。

 

 在我們認證和慶祝亞太裔對國家貢獻時，讓我提一個問題，我從社會和經濟各階層的許多華裔美國人那裡聽到了這個問題，那就是，對種族定性的擔憂日益加劇。隨著中美關係變得更加複雜，許多華裔美國人越來越擔心他們的族裔會影響他們在美國的受歡迎程度。

 

 我自己的家庭最近也受到了反對黨派惡意頂攻擊，如果我們姓“史密斯”，如果我們來自英國，這些攻擊就不會發生。我曾被“主流”媒體批評，因為我把父親帶到一些官方場合和社交活動中，以及我以個人的身份與父親一起參加某些非政府活動。這樣的場合對內閣成員來說並不罕見。這也反映了我們傳統上尊重父母的價值觀——孝道，但是有些人卻對這些行為刻意曲解。

 

 隨著亞太裔社區人口的增長，我們有機會向其他人解釋並告知我們的價值觀。我過去不願意或羞於這樣做。也許是年齡的原因，也許是因為我們的國家正變得越來越多樣化，這讓我們更加大膽……我有幾句話:1)要堅強 2）我將永遠為亞太裔社區而奮鬥。3）亞太裔社區不應該害怕發出自己的聲音，表達我們對美國的貢獻，分享我們的文化價值觀以及這些如何使美國更強大。

 

 因此，感謝你們今晚來到這裡，感謝你們對美國主流社區的貢獻及在社區中所做的工作。

Congratulations to ILF and its founder Chiling Tong on its 20^th anniversary.  Along with Norm Mineta, I have been an honorary co-chair of the ILF when I was in the private sector.  In the 20 years since its founding, ILF has flourished and offered so many enriching experiences in mainstream America to so many Asian Pacific American young people in their career and personal development. 

 

The ILF galas are always such wonderful occasions to recognize and celebrate the contributions of Asian Pacific Americans to our country.  They are also so impressive because they are attended by so many distinguished leaders from across the country who are forging new paths for Asian Pacific Americans in their communities.  Tonight is no exception – and I want to also congratulate the Asian Pacific American leaders from the public, private and non-profit sectors being recognized tonight.  And many thanks to Mary Millben for delighting us again this year with such a beautiful rendition of “America the Beautiful.”

 

As you know, throughout my career in public service, I have worked to help Asian Pacific Americans—and other traditionally underserved communities—access opportunities in mainstream America.  And I have made consistent efforts to highlight the contributions of Asian Pacific Americans.

 

This year on May 10, 2019 at Promontory Summit, Utah, I had the unique privilege to fully acknowledge and recognize the contributions and sacrifices of the 12,000 laborers of Chinese heritage who helped build one of America’s greatest pieces of infrastructure: the transcontinental railroad -- 150 years after its completion.  It was especially noteworthy that this tribute was made by the first Secretary of Transportation of Chinese ancestry. 

 

The achievements of these 12,000 Chinese laborers was even more poignant given that they did not have the opportunity to bring their families with them or to become citizens of the United States.   

 

America has moved forward since those days to become the diverse country it is today.  The most recent estimate shows the Asian Pacific American community is nearly 7% of our country’s population—or about 23 million strong. 

 

As our community has grown in numbers, we are increasingly contributing to the economic vitality and cultural diversity of our country.  As you may know, our economy is booming.  The tax cuts and deregulatory policies of this Administration have jump started the economy. The U.S. economy grew 3.1 percent in the first quarter of 2019.  The national unemployment rate of 3.7 percent  is about the lowest in 50 years.    The unemployment rate within the Asian American community is at 2.1 percent, the lowest ever since this figure was recorded.  

 

Asian Pacific Americans have branched out to every field in mainstream America.  And Asian Pacific Americans have also distinguished themselves in military service.  On January 29, 2019, I participated in a moving ceremony conferring the Congressional Gold Medal on the Chinese American veterans of World War II. 

 

The progress made by Asian Pacific Americans in mainstream America is a testament to the values our community holds dear, especially our emphasis on strong families, hard work and the value of a quality education.

 

As we authenticate and celebrate our contributions to this country, let me mention an issue which I have heard from many Chinese Americans across all social and economic strata and that is the growing anxiety at the specter of ethnic profiling.  As the relationship between the U.S. and China becomes more complex, many Chinese-Americans are growing increasingly anxious about how their ethnicity affects their acceptance in the United States. 

 

My own family was recently the subject of malicious political partisan attacks that would not have occurred if our last name were “Smith” and if we came from England.   I’ve been criticized by the “mainstream” media for including my father at some official appearances and social or ceremonial events, and for attending certain non-governmental events in my personal capacity with my father.  Occasions such as these are not unusual for Cabinet members.  This also reflects a deliberate mischaracterization of our Asian value of traditional respect for our parents - filial piety. 

 

As our community grows in numbers, we have the chance to explain and inform others of our Asian values.  I used to be reluctant or shy to do so, in an effort to blend in.  Perhaps it’s age or maybe it’s because our country is becoming more diverse which is more emboldening….  I have a few words:  1)  Be strong.   2)  I will always fight for our community.  3) Our community must not be afraid in asserting our contributions to America, and in sharing our cultural values and how they make our country stronger.

So kudos to you for being here tonight, and to what you do in your communities to highlight the talents of our community and its contributions to mainstream America.  Good night.

（文字提供：美國交通部）