Campaign News
January 20, 2008
Stamp Campaign Bulletin, January 20, 2008
Topics:
- Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee to decide on Nisei WWII Veterans Stamp this week
- Hawaii State Resolution passes on January 18th
- California State Resolution set to go to floor on Tuesday, January 22nd
- Congressional Letter of Support receives total of 40 signers
- AsianWeek publishes article on campaignCitizens' Stamp Advisory Committee to decide on Nisei WWII Veterans Stamp this week
The U.S. Postal Service's stamp selection body, the 15-member Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee (CSAC) appointed by the Postmaster General, is set to meet this week on Thursday-Friday, January 24th-25th. They will be considering the many stamp subjects that are proposed for its 2010-2011 stamps, including the proposal for a Nisei WWII veterans stamp. Please note that the meeting is not open to the public, and no in-person presentations by the public are allowed. All appeals must be done in writing. The campaign coalition members have been gathering and sending supporting documentation during the past year through petitions, letters of support, and resolutions. The Postal Service has no obligation to announce their decision on the stamp to us until the fall before the year that the stamp is set to be released, so be aware that we may not know what they've decided until Fall 2009. We will continue to gather and send documentation of support to the Postal Service until we hear official word that there will be a stamp to honor the Nisei WWII veterans. The CSAC may place the proposal "under consideration" and continue to mull over its decision, or they may reject it. According to their policy, rejected proposals may be reviewed annually.
For more information on the CSAC and stamp selection, click here.
Hawaii State Resolution passes on January 18th
From Hawaii State Rep. John Mizuno's press release:The Hawaii State Legislature on Friday, January 18, 2008, passed Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR) 1 to urge the U.S. stamp selection body, called the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee, to issue a commemorative postage stamp honoring the Nisei World War II servicemen and women. The Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee will formally consider the issuance of a Nisei commemorative stamp during their meeting on January 24 and 25, 2008. Over 20,000 Americans of Japanese descent defended our country during World War II.... Rep. Mizuno stated, "Hawaii is the first state to formally pass a resolution to urge the U.S. Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee and the U.S. Postmaster to issue a commemorative postal stamp for our Nisei World War II servicemen and women." Mizuno added, "today many of our Nisei veterans are in their 80's and 90's, many have passed away like my father and uncle, and many died while defending our country. Therefore, I'm really glad were honoring their shining example of patriotic sacrifice in our nation's history."
California State Resolution set to go to floor on Tuesday, January 22nd
The California State Assembly will consider a state resolution to support the creation of the Nisei WWII veterans commemorative stamp this week. The resolution is scheduled to go to the floor on Tuesday, January 22nd. Last week, the Arts Committee unanimously passed the resolution at its hearing and forwarded the resolution to the floor. California State Assemblyman Mike Eng, who authored the resolution for the campaign, made opening statements. Stamp campaign founder, Fusa Takahashi, widow of an MIS veteran, next spoke on behalf of the stamp campaign supporters. MIS veteran Leo Hosoda spoke on behalf of veterans. Though other speakers were present, including from the JACL, the Arts Committee said they were convinced after just three presenters, and quickly voted to unanimously support it going to the floor of the Assembly. We wish to thank all of the individuals and organizations that faxed letters of support to the Arts Committee and Assemblyman Eng on short notice last week. Your letters made a big impact! Should the resolution pass, California would join Hawaii in sending a state resolution to the Postal Service in support of the stamp. The State of Illinois also has a resolution in support of the stamp which is pending, through State Representative Constance Howard.
Congressional Letter of Support receives total of 40 signers
We in the campaign wish to thank all who have contacted their representatives in Congress to support the stamp. Authored by Congressman Mike Honda, the Congressional letter of support for the stamp, which closed on January 11th, has received 40 signers, listed below. Congressman Honda is Chairman of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC). The Executive Board Members of CAPAC unanimously supported the letter, and 20 Associate Members of CAPAC signed the letter as well. We thank all in Congress who have signed and support our efforts, which includes members of both parties, from 15 states, Guam and American Samoa. The Congressional letter will be transmitted to the Postal Service for their Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee meeting, where members will meet to decide the fate of the stamp proposal on January 24-25th, along with the hundreds of other requests for stamps. They can place the proposal "under consideration," and mull over its decision, or reject it. Rejected proposals can be reviewed annually.
We wish to again sincerely thank Congressman Mike Honda, his Legislative Aide Wendy Ho, and his staff, for their patient guidance and support through this whole process to secure "Co-signers" from Congress for the open letter to support the Nisei WWII veterans stamp.
The following lists those in Congress who have signed in support of the stamp. Did your representative sign?
Arizona: Raul Grijalva;
California: Joe Baca, Xavier Becerra, Howard Berman, Ken Calvert, Lois Capps, Susan Davis, Sam Farr, Mike Honda, Zoe Lofgren, Doris Matsui, George Miller, Grace Napolitano, Lynn Woolsey, Lucille Roybal-Allard, Ed Royce, Linda Sanchez, Loretta Sanchez, Adam Schiff, Hilda Solis, Pete Stark;
Colorado: Mark Udall;
Connecticut: John Larson;
Florida: Alcee Hastings;
Hawaii: Neil Abercrombie, Mazie Hirono;
Illinois: Bobby Rush;
Minnesota: Betty McCollum;
New York: Joseph Crowley, Maurice Hinchey, Carolyn Maloney;
Ohio: Sen. Sherrod Brown
Oregon: David Wu;
Pennsylvania: Joe Sestak;
Texas: Al Green;
Virginia: Robert “Bobby” Scott;
Washington: Jim McDermott, Adam Smith;
American Samoa: Eni Faleomavaega;
Guam: Madeleine Bordallo.Though it may be too late to sign the letter from Congress, lawmakers can be asked to write their own letters of support. Call the Congress Switchboard toll free at 1-800-828-0498. If you don't know the name of your representative, ask the Congress Switchboard operator for help. Your home's zip code can be used to locate the people who represent you in House and Senate.
AsianWeek publishes article on campaign
AsianWeek published an article on the stamp campaign on January 17th. AsianWeek is the oldest and largest Asian/Pacific Islander American newspaper published in English. It is based in San Francisco, CA.
Click here for the online article:
Take Action!
REMEMBER to sign the free, Online Petition to support the campaign.
Important Note: This internet petition is separate from the handwritten petitions, and we encourage you to sign both. The online petition allows you to leave comments. You can check out what other signers have written daily. Many give personal testimony in support of the stamp proposal (click on the "Signers" tab at the top of the petition to see them).
More questions?
Contact the campaign at (714) 534-5139