Washington is the New Hollywood. And one of its certified, powerful new stars is Representative Mike Honda of the U.S. Congress. His steady rise is a testament to his skills, as well as the emerging Asian American clout.

Recently, dinner with Mike was one of the hottest auction items at an event, raising money for a cause. (How about that, Barbara Walters? Interview him already.) With other lawmakers, Honda (D, CA 15th district) has urged TV networks and CNN to include coverage of Asian Pacific American (APA) candidates and issues, like the APA vote impact on this election year. “If we are not mentioned, we do not count,” he said.

Such dedication means he eats lunch on the run, or lunch at 3:30, or sandwich during a meeting. But that also makes him one of the successful legislators in town. He wields power quietly, and knows the system. He can get frustrated but he does not give up, like when a fast-tracked veterans’ bill, in which he is Point Man, hits a snag.

He also can’t stand mere lip service. “We can talk about this issue till we’re blue in the face, but nothing will happen unless people in the community lobby their Congress members and say, ‘We’re not leaving until we get an answer,’ and if they don’t get it, to make sure that person is out of office in the next election.”

He also downplays his multiple roles. “I do not lead others,” he said. “I get behind them, and I push them.” As if on cue, a smiling U.S. Rep. Al Green (D, TX) rushed in and kidded, “Hey, Mike! I’m here, tell me what I’m supposed to do.”

Honda, as usual, was wearing several hats. One is as chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), where he’s on his second term. The work entails coordinating with the Congressional Black Caucus and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. The goal: To champion the causes of under-represented communities, by promoting social justice, racial tolerance and civil rights.

CAPAC and forging coalitions insure lawmakers and policy-makers pay attention to Asian American issues. “Without CAPAC, this forum would not happen,” he explained. “Without CAPAC, the interest of the senate would not be as strong.”

“We formed a tri-caucus with the Hispanic and Black Caucus to make sure we understand the issues of minority people,” he added. “We created a tri-caucus that has a membership of over 70 congressional members, so we have leverage and influence in the House of Representatives.”

In January last year, House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D, SC) named him House Democratic Senior Whip. Senior Whips are a select group of Congress members and Democratic Caucus opinion leaders. Their goal: To find out how issues impact targeted members or groups, and to develop a strategy insuring legislative success.

Honda has also been the vice chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) since his election to that post in February 2005. He works closely with DNC Chair Howard Dean. The goal: To rejuvenate the party’s grassroots efforts, and to entice new and emerging constituencies into its agenda.

Before sitting down for this interview during the APA town hall meeting at the Capitol, he checked his Blackberry. Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D, CA) was headed to the site. Constantly checking the device is a must, unlike with some people who consult it to impress others.

Honda is on his fourth term. He’s with the powerful Appropriations Committee, serving on the subcommittees of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, Commerce, Justice, and Science, and Legislative Branch. His focus is on directing funding to address fundamental needs.

Among these: Access to affordable healthcare; worker training; port and border security; adequate law enforcement to keep our streets and neighborhoods safe; health care for our veterans; recovery from natural disasters, particularly Hurricane Katrina, and education, particularly fully funding No Child Left Behind and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

Road to public service

Mike was born in California. But like other Japanese Americans here in World War II, he spent his early childhood with his family in an internment camp (in Colorado). In 1953, his family returned to California and worked as strawberry sharecroppers in San Jose.

This probably influenced his career choices. But Honda said public service grew from his experience in church and in school. “I’ve been doing it all my life,” he said. “Politics is just another way of continuing it.”

Asked about any turning-point challenges he had encountered, he remarked: “Everybody has an experience of being put down, because of who they are or what they look like, but they cannot use that as an excuse for not doing something. You cannot hide behind that negative experience and say, I’m not gonna to do anything. You shouldn’t. Just say, ‘I will not allow them to do this to me again, and I will not allow them to do that to other people and children.’ If you make that decision, then people would start to look at us as equals.”

In 1965, an idealistic Mike, heeding JFK’s call, served in the Peace Corps for two years in El Salvador. When he returned, he decided to major in Spanish, ending with two bachelor’s degrees, including one in biological sciences. He obtained his Master’s degree in education from the San Jose State University. He was a science teacher, a principal and he conducted educational research at Stanford University.

Another one of his heroes is former U.S. Commerce and Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta. In 1971, Mayor Mineta appointed him to San Jose’s Planning Commission. In 1981, Honda was elected on the San Jose Unified School Board. In 1990, he was elected to the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. He served in the California State Assembly from 1996 to 2000.

Mike was married to Jeanne, a teacher, who passed on in 2004. Their son Mark is an aerospace engineer. Daughter Michelle is a public health educator.