WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Rep. Michael Honda (CA-15), Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), issued the following statement on the passing of Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones:

"On behalf of CAPAC, I join my colleagues to extend my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones.

"Representative Tubbs Jones has served our country and the state of Ohio with great compassion, purpose, and dignity. She has championed voting rights, economic development, access to health care, and quality education for our youth and has fought to make the American dream a reality. The principles of equal rights and equal opportunity for all Americans have always been deeply ingrained in her work.

"As a public servant, she has blazed trails in Ohio and on the national stage throughout her career. In her role as the first African American woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio, she worked closely with the Congressional Tri-Caucus, consisting of CAPAC, the Congressional Black Caucus, and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, to ensure that voices of all Americans, regardless of race, class, and gender, are heard in Congress. We are deeply indebted to her contributions and will continue to fight for the causes to which she has dedicated her public life. We will miss her dearly."

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The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) is a bicameral and bipartisan caucus of Members of Congress of Asian and Pacific Islander descent and Members who have a strong dedication to promoting the well-being of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. Founded in 1994 by then Congressman Norman Mineta, and currently chaired by Congressman Michael Honda, CAPAC has been addressing the needs of the AAPI community in all areas of American life. For more information on CAPAC, please call (202) 225-2631 or visit http://www.honda.house.gov/capac.