CONTACT INFORMATION:
Emma Shainwald
emma@ncapaonline.org
[***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***]
RELEASE DATE:
December 9th, 2021
Washington, D.C.—NCAPA issued the following statement after the administration announced the official launch of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders (WHIAANHPI) and the Initiative’s new Co-Chairs Katherine Tai and Xavier Becerra. The Initiative will be housed under the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
The formal launch of WHIAANHPI and the relaunch of the Federal Interagency Working Group and Regional Network are important and essential steps in combating racism, xenophobia, and intolerance against AANHPIs. We deeply appreciate President Biden and Vice President Harris’ efforts to engage with our coalition to reimagine this initiative.
NCAPA also applauds the leadership of WHIAANHPI’s Co-Chairs, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai and Secretary of Health and Human Services, Xavier Becerra, and Executive Director Krystal Ka’ai.
AANHPI communities must be a part of the recovery plan. We look forward to future collaborations with the Initiative to promote access and equity for AANHPI communities.
Priya Purandare, Executive Director of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) comments:
“We celebrate the official launch of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders, which comes at a crucial time for our communities who continue to face barriers to access and opportunity. The inclusion of Native Hawaiians is a welcome addition, reflecting the rich diversity of our country. We look forward to working with the Initiative to provide recommendations and improve their commitment to mitigate anti-Asian bias and advance equity across all sectors of our government.”
Julie Ajinkya, Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer of Asian Pacific Islander American Scholars (APIA Scholars) says:
“APIA Scholars has had a long history working with WHIAANHPI and wish to congratulate the leaders and celebrate the launch of this important initiative. We look forward to seeing the legacy of advocacy and critical work on behalf of the AANHPI community accelerated in the next year as we recover from the pandemic. Heartfelt congratulations!”
Alvina Yeh, Executive Director of the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA), AFL-CIO states:
“We celebrate the launch of WHIAANHPI and look forward to working in collaboration with the White House. This is an important way to ensure our national agenda includes the priorities and needs of immigrant workers, low-wage workers, women workers, and other AAPI workers who are the backbone of our communities. Further, we congratulate the appointments of US Trade Representative Katherine Tai, the first woman of color to assume this position, and Executive Director Krystal Ka’ai, long-time community member as former Executive Director of CAPAC. It is critical that we invest in AAPI policy advocacy at the highest level.”
Seema Agnani, Executive Director of National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development (National CAPACD) adds:
“We are thrilled that President Biden is launching WHIAANHPI, a critical body in advancing racial equity in our country and one that is inclusive of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities. Under the strong leadership of Secretary Xavier Becerra and Ambassador Katherine Tai, as well as Krystal Ka’ai, and based within the Department of Health and Human Services, WHIAANHPI will be very well positioned to advance a strong health equity policy agenda. We are confident they will lead WHIAANHPI to ensure low-income AANHPI neighborhoods and communities not only recover, but are able to thrive. We look forward to working with the commission and its leadership to meet this crucial moment in our history.”
Quyen Dinh, Executive Director of the Southeast Asian Resource Action Center (SEARAC) comments:
“We applaud the Biden Administration for relaunching this vital initiative. At a time when many Southeast Asian Americans are grappling with the physical, mental, and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing systemic injustices, this is an important opportunity for our voices to be included in the decisions that impact our lives. We appreciate the Administration for working with members of the National Council on Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA), including SEARAC, and are excited to be a part of the work ahead.”
Kiran Kaur Gill, Executive Director of Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) says:
“WHIAANHPI has played a key role in national federal engagement with the Sikh American, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander community over the years. We thank the Biden Administration for restructuring the Initiative to actively address the needs of the AANHPI community. The restructured Initiative, housed in Health and Human Services and with reestablished federal interagency and regional networks, will be in a better position to work with our communities. SALDEF congratulates HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra and U.S. Trade Representative Katharine Tai on their appointments as Co-Chairs of the Initiative. We are thankful for the continued leadership of WHIAANHPI Executive Director Krystal Ka’ai. The Sikh American community is well served by the leadership of these three individuals, who have long-standing relationships with and a deep understanding of the needs of our community. We look forward to working with the Initiative and it’s new leadership.”
Anjuli Amin, Ph.D., President of the Asian American Psychological Association (AAPA) adds:
“The Asian American Psychological Association (AAPA) supports and applauds the efforts of the Biden Administration to relaunch this initiative. We are hopeful that this will serve as an important step in the inclusion of AANHPI voices as we move towards healing our communities from the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and continued social injustices. We look forward to the continued work between the Administration and members of the National Council on Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA).”
Brendan Flores, National Chair of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) says:
“The Filipino American community appreciates the zeal and focus of the Biden Administration to assign senior leaders from different departments to address the concerns of AANHPIs. We pledge to continue to work with The White House initiative on efforts including:
- To improve safety, access to justice, and violence prevention for AA and NHPI communities, including by preventing, reporting, addressing, and better tracking acts of hate and bias (such as acts of hate and bias at the intersection of gender-based violence)
- To promote inclusion and belonging for AA and NHPI communities, including by expanding public education and knowledge of AA and NHPI people and their diverse cultures, languages, and histories
- To identify ways to foster the recruitment, career and leadership development, retention, advancement, and participation of AA and NHPI public servants at all levels of the Federal workforce
We look forward to AANHPIs being an active part of the recovery of the economy, as they have been in addressing the health crisis of the pandemic. We also look forward to the reestablishment of the White House Commission on AANHPIs next year.”
Dr. Marielle A. Reataza, Executive Director of the National Asian Pacific American Families Against Substance Abuse (NAPAFASA) comments:
“We applaud the Administration’s launch of this initiative. While COVID-19 has hit all Americans with unprecedented challenges, we appreciate the Administration’s recognition of the difficulties that are unique to Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. Community-building and re-building are truly necessities during this time, and we look forward to the progress needed to serve and heal our communities.”
Kenrick Ross, Executive Director of the National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance (NQAPIA) states:
“As an organization advocating on behalf of the country’s rapidly growing and diverse LGBTQ+ Asian and Pacific Islander communities, NQAPIA applauds the launch of WHIAANHPI. We have already engaged with WHIAANHPI to highlight specifically LGBTQ perspectives and issues within AANHPI communities, including a landmark gathering of LGBTQ+API leaders during Pride Month, and we look forward to building upon that relationship.”
Juliet K. Choi, President and Chief Executive Officer of Asian Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) says:
“We applaud the move of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders to HHS and the announcement of the co-chairs, who have long supported community issues that matter to us. The relaunch of the Initiative, with tremendously qualified leaders at the helm, showcases the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to carry out its ambitious agenda to address longstanding concerns for AA & NH/PI communities.”
David Inoue, Executive Director for the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) adds:
“We applaud the relaunch of WHIAANHPI, the Federal Interagency Working Group (IWG) and Regional Network (RN). We welcome the appointment of Ambassador Tai as Co-Chair of the Initiative and look forward to our continued work with Co-Chair Becerra and Initiative Executive Director Krystal Ka’ai as they continue their work with the AANHPI community to ensure the government is cognizant of and responsive to our needs.”
Madalene Xuan-Trang Mielke, President and CEO of the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS) comments:
“We applaud the move of the Initiative back to HHS and the expansion of the name of the Initiative to explicitly include Native Hawaiians. Our community has faced tremendous hardship over the past years, especially with COVID-19, and this move signals that the Biden-Harris administration is listening, and taking steps to address the key concerns for everyone in our community – including on issues like data disaggregation, tackling the model minority myth, and health equity. Our community has been under consistent attack from hateful, xenophobic, and frankly, racist rhetoric. There is a dire need for leaders who can champion us, and we give our full faith and support of the co-chairs and Krystal to lead the Initiative and represent our community fully.”
David L. Kim, President & CEO of the National Asian Pacific Center on Aging (NAPCA) adds:
“The National Asian Pacific Center on Aging (NAPCA) is pleased that the Biden Administration is relaunching the White House Initiative on Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders, chaired by HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai, and we welcome Krystal Ka’ai as the new Executive Director. We look forward to working with WHIAANHPI and their assistance in helping us to fulfill our mission of preserving and promoting the dignity, well-being and quality of life of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander older adults.”
Christine Chen, Executive Director of Asian Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote) says:
“Since its creation during the Clinton Administration in 1999, WHAANHPI has been one of the most important platforms our communities have to ensure the needs of our communities are heard throughout the halls of the federal government, as well as to encourage AANHPIs to become civically engaged and get involved in public service. We look forward to working together with WHAANHPI and the AANHPI community at-large to continue our shared goals of stopping anti-Asian hate, ensuring language access to limited English proficient individuals, protecting our freedom to vote, and more.”
Rod Lew, Executive Director of the Asian Pacific Partners for Empowerment, Advocacy, and Leadership (APPEAL) comments:
“APPEAL would like to extend our deep gratitude for the launch of WHIAANHPI as a key voice within the Biden Administration. The purposeful inclusion of Native Hawaiians and the appointment of HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra, US Trade Representative Katherine Tai, and Executive Director Krystal Ka’ai shows steps towards ensuring equity. We are ready to continue the important work of bringing Asian American and Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander voices to EVERY table.”
John C. Yang, President and Executive Director of Advancing Justice – AAJC states:
“We are excited to begin working WHIAANHPI to ensure coordination between government agencies, national groups, and community organizations. We applaud the selection of WHIAANHPI’s co-chairs Katherine Tai, the first woman of color to head the Office of U.S. Trade Representative, and Xavier Becerra, a former Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus member and ally to the Asian American community. With longtime Asian American rights champion and civil rights advocate Krystal Ka’ai as the Executive Director, we are confident that WHIAANHPI will fulfill its mission to better serve the AANHPI community.”
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Based in Washington, D.C., the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans is a coalition of thirty-eight national Asian Pacific American organizations that represent the interests of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities and to provide a national voice for our communities’ concerns.