Congressional Commission
The congressional Commission for the Study of International Migration and Cooperative Economic Development was established in May, 1987 as a result of the immigration reform bill passed by the Congress in 1986. This bi-partisan commission consisted of 12 members appointed by the US Congressional leaders. Eight were appointed by the majority and minority leaders of the senate and four were appointed by the House leaders. Dr. Esther Lee (formerly known as Dr. Esther Lee Yao) was appointed by the Senate Majority Leader, Senator Bob Dole. She was the only Asian American on the Commission and one of the two female commissioners. The mission and accomplishments of the Commission could be found in the scanned executive summary.
Esther first learned of the opening of this congressional commission from Rudy M. Beserra, a White House Public Liaison officer. He was very supportive of Asian American leaders. One day Esther dropped by his office before returning to Houston. He told Esther that a high level commission on immigration would be formed as it was just approved by the Congress and she should seek the appointment. Later, he informed Esther that the appointment was not presidential and he could not help. He advised her to seek the appointment via congressional leaders. Since Esther did not know any of them, she had to get help via her Republican Party network. Her friend, Josephine Wang, introduced her to a young aide named Brain in Senator Dole’s office. From him, Esther learned of the name of Senator Dole’s right hand person, Ann Coe, who was in charge of the appointment. In order to meet Brian during my short visit in Washington, DC, Josephine and Esther had to hitchhike from Omni Shoran Hotel to downtown and get a taxi to Arlington, VA on a snow storm day. To express her appreciation of Josephine’s support, Esther asked Josephine to represent her at the press conference when the commission was formally introduced by Senators Edward Kennedy and Alan Simpson to the media in Washington, DC.
It took about one year to appoint the commission members. Esther submitted her credentials to Ann Coe but did not expect much due to the competition. Esther was shocked when Ann Coe called, “I think you’d like to hear this news . . . “ Esther was the only Asian American and one of the two women appointed to this prestigious and high stake commission. This experience gave Esther tremendous opportunity to learn and serve the country on several overseas missions. She traveled with other members to Caribbean and Central and South American nations in addition to various site visits and public hearings. It enhanced her personal and professional development immensely.
As of May 27, 2010
The congressional Commission for the Study of International Migration and Cooperative Economic Development was established in May, 1987 as a result of the immigration reform bill passed by the Congress in 1986. This bi-partisan commission consisted of 12 members appointed by the US Congressional leaders. Eight were appointed by the majority and minority leaders of the senate and four were appointed by the House leaders. Dr. Esther Lee (formerly known as Dr. Esther Lee Yao) was appointed by the Senate Majority Leader, Senator Bob Dole. She was the only Asian American on the Commission and one of the two female commissioners. The mission and accomplishments of the Commission could be found in the scanned executive summary.
Esther first learned of the opening of this congressional commission from Rudy M. Beserra, a White House Public Liaison officer. He was very supportive of Asian American leaders. One day Esther dropped by his office before returning to Houston. He told Esther that a high level commission on immigration would be formed as it was just approved by the Congress and she should seek the appointment. Later, he informed Esther that the appointment was not presidential and he could not help. He advised her to seek the appointment via congressional leaders. Since Esther did not know any of them, she had to get help via her Republican Party network. Her friend, Josephine Wang, introduced her to a young aide named Brain in Senator Dole’s office. From him, Esther learned of the name of Senator Dole’s right hand person, Ann Coe, who was in charge of the appointment. In order to meet Brian during my short visit in Washington, DC, Josephine and Esther had to hitchhike from Omni Shoran Hotel to downtown and get a taxi to Arlington, VA on a snow storm day. To express her appreciation of Josephine’s support, Esther asked Josephine to represent her at the press conference when the commission was formally introduced by Senators Edward Kennedy and Alan Simpson to the media in Washington, DC.
It took about one year to appoint the commission members. Esther submitted her credentials to Ann Coe but did not expect much due to the competition. Esther was shocked when Ann Coe called, “I think you’d like to hear this news . . . “ Esther was the only Asian American and one of the two women appointed to this prestigious and high stake commission. This experience gave Esther tremendous opportunity to learn and serve the country on several overseas missions. She traveled with other members to Caribbean and Central and South American nations in addition to various site visits and public hearings. It enhanced her personal and professional development immensely.
As of May 27, 2010