MIKE HONDA
Name: Michael Makoto Honda
Born: 27 June 1941 Walnut Grove, California
Michael Makoto Honda (born June 27, 1941) is an American
Democratic politician. He currently serves as Congressman for California's 15th
congressional district, which encompasses Silicon Valley. (map)
A Japanese American, Honda was born in Walnut Grove, California in 1941 and
spent his early childhood in Granada War Relocation Center, an internment camp
in Colorado. His family became strawberry sharecroppers in Blossom Valley in San
Jose after their return in 1953.
Honda graduated from San Jose High Academy and then San Jose State University in
1968 with a bachelor's degree in biological sciences and Spanish and earned a
master's degree in 1974. From 1965 to 1967 he served in the United States Peace
Corps, working in El Salvador.
Honda became a science teacher and went on to serve as the principal at two
public schools. In 1971, Honda was appointed by San Jose Mayor Norman Mineta to
San Jose's Planning Commission, and won election to the San Jose Unified School
Board in 1981. He was a member of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors (1990)
and the California State Assembly (1996–2001).
Honda attends the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the opening of a zero-emissions,
hydrogen fuel cell bus program.
Honda receives an award from the Peace Corps.
Honda was elected to the U.S. House as a Democrat in 2000, succeeding Republican
Tom Campbell. From 2001 to 2006, he served as a member of the Science Committee
and the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. In 2007, Speaker of the
House Nancy Pelosi appointed Honda to the influential Appropriations Committee.
Honda also serves as Regional Whip for Northern California and Chair of the
Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.
Honda is most famous for introducing resolution AJR 27, which demanded that
Japan apologize for its actions in WWII and compensate its victims.
Rep. Honda has consistently supported the causes of civil rights groups, such as
the NAACP and Human Rights Campaign. However, he has drawn criticism for his
refusal to criticize human rights violations in China, a stand he explains by
saying that he believes "things can change" in the country. Honda visited China
in 2001.
In November 2004 Honda was among a small group of politicians and lawmakers who
were invited to spend the evening with Presidential candidate John Kerry in
Boston on election night.
On February 12, 2005, he was elected a vice-chair of the Democratic National
Committee under the chairmanship of Howard Dean. His term is expected to last
until 2009.
On May 15, 2007 Honda was initiated into the San Francisco Lodge of the Chinese
American Citizens Alliance. He is the first regular member of the organization
who is not of Chinese ancestry.
Name: Michael Makoto Honda
Born: 27 June 1941 Walnut Grove, California
Michael Makoto Honda (born June 27, 1941) is an American
Democratic politician. He currently serves as Congressman for California's 15th
congressional district, which encompasses Silicon Valley. (map)
A Japanese American, Honda was born in Walnut Grove, California in 1941 and
spent his early childhood in Granada War Relocation Center, an internment camp
in Colorado. His family became strawberry sharecroppers in Blossom Valley in San
Jose after their return in 1953.
Honda graduated from San Jose High Academy and then San Jose State University in
1968 with a bachelor's degree in biological sciences and Spanish and earned a
master's degree in 1974. From 1965 to 1967 he served in the United States Peace
Corps, working in El Salvador.
Honda became a science teacher and went on to serve as the principal at two
public schools. In 1971, Honda was appointed by San Jose Mayor Norman Mineta to
San Jose's Planning Commission, and won election to the San Jose Unified School
Board in 1981. He was a member of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors (1990)
and the California State Assembly (1996–2001).
Honda attends the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the opening of a zero-emissions,
hydrogen fuel cell bus program.
Honda receives an award from the Peace Corps.
Honda was elected to the U.S. House as a Democrat in 2000, succeeding Republican
Tom Campbell. From 2001 to 2006, he served as a member of the Science Committee
and the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. In 2007, Speaker of the
House Nancy Pelosi appointed Honda to the influential Appropriations Committee.
Honda also serves as Regional Whip for Northern California and Chair of the
Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.
Honda is most famous for introducing resolution AJR 27, which demanded that
Japan apologize for its actions in WWII and compensate its victims.
Rep. Honda has consistently supported the causes of civil rights groups, such as
the NAACP and Human Rights Campaign. However, he has drawn criticism for his
refusal to criticize human rights violations in China, a stand he explains by
saying that he believes "things can change" in the country. Honda visited China
in 2001.
In November 2004 Honda was among a small group of politicians and lawmakers who
were invited to spend the evening with Presidential candidate John Kerry in
Boston on election night.
On February 12, 2005, he was elected a vice-chair of the Democratic National
Committee under the chairmanship of Howard Dean. His term is expected to last
until 2009.
On May 15, 2007 Honda was initiated into the San Francisco Lodge of the Chinese
American Citizens Alliance. He is the first regular member of the organization
who is not of Chinese ancestry.