Congressman Mike Honda

Congressman Mike Honda was born in California and spent his early childhood in a Japanese internment camp in Colorado. After moving to California in 1953, his family became strawberry sharecroppers in Blossom Valley in San Jose. Mike advanced his way through education by earning a Master’s degree in Education. For 20 years, Mike worked as a science teacher and later took on the position as a principal at two public schools and also conducted educational research at Stanford University.

In 1981, Mr. Honda was the first Asian American who won his election to be on the school board for the San Jose Unified School District. He was later elected in 1990 to the Santa Clara CountyBoard of Supervisors.

In 2000, Mr. Honda was elected to the House of Representatives where he serves on the Appropriations Committee. He focused on directing the counties funds to critical areas such as access to affordable health care, health care for veterans, law enforcement and the safety of our neighborhoods as well as recovery from natural disasters.

As a former teacher and principal he understands the current economic imbalance within the educational system. He reintroduced The Educational Opportunity and Equity Commission Act, (H.R. 1758). This identified solutions and eliminates inequitable distribution of resources among the school system. This bill gathered public opinions as to how the government could improve the educational needs in the public school system and to create equity that will meet the needs of each student.

Another important piece of legislation that Mike Honda reintroduced the Enhancing Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education Act of 2009, (H.R. 2710) which promotes collaboration between state and federal government to improve STEM education. Once this bill was passed it allows the government to appoint a Secretary of STEM Education, who will be responsible for analyzing current STEM programs and to develop a STEM grant program as well.

Mike Honda is now the chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPC). Keeping the past goals of the caucus, Mr. Honda has expanded the issues the organization takes on. The caucus focuses on hate crimes, advocates for more educational opportunities, and for more legal protection for immigrants and refugees.

Sources: Retrieved April 4, 2010 from http://honda.house.gov/