
<p>The NOW press release continues:</p>
<p><em>Serving two years with the Peace Corps building schools in El Salvador sparked a passion for teaching and for the educational process. Having been a science teacher for a number of years, Congressman Honda brings real life experience and knowledge to an important issue facing our country – that of protecting access to affordable education for our children. As soon as he got to Congress, he became an immediate advocate for education and was awarded the "2002 Outstanding New Member Award" for his strong advocacy of education funding in Congress.</em></p>
<p><em>Congressman Honda has also been an advocate for civil rights, analyzing proposed legislation with a critical eye for equal access to programs regardless of race, ability, ethnicity, gender, financial status, sexual orientation, or background. As a member of the Commerce Justice Science Appropriations subcommittee, he has consistently worked with his colleagues to ensure that our nation’s civil rights programs are properly funded. His uncompromising attitude towards civil rights has earned him a 95% lifetime score from the ACLU, and 100% scores from the Human Rights Campaign and Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.</em></p>