Asian Pacific American Members of Congress History Project: Doris Matsui (2008)

The Asian Pacific American Members of Congress History Project is a celebration of the ways in which APAs have overcome great challenges in order to serve their nation. It will consist of seven interviews with the longest sitting Members of Congress of APA descent and one documentary short about the first Senator of APA descent to serve in Congress. The documentary short will be a narrative about Hiram Fong, now deceased, who was the first US Senators to represent Hawaii when it became a state in 1959. This history project will allow Members of Congress to discuss their memories of people, places and events that inspired them to become public servants and provide them with an opportunity to discuss their inner reflections about events that have taken place in the U.S. Capitol and in their own lives. Their observations will enable a deeper appreciation for the human dimension of representative government, public service and responsible citizenship.