U.S. Rep. Judy Chu (D, CA32) will be the new chair for the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), U.S. Rep. Michael Honda (CA-15), CAPAC Chairman for two terms, announced recently.

A reception was held last January 26 at the Rayburn Foyer of the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington DC. The event also served to celebrate CAPAC’s 17 years and an occasion to welcome the new 112th Congress.

CAPAC, founded in 1994 by then U.S. Rep. Norman Mineta, is comprised of members of Congress of both the House and Senate, who have strong interests in promoting Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) issues and advocating the concerns of AAPIs. CAPAC is non-partisan and bi-cameral.

Honda said, “Since its inception, CAPAC has continued its commitment to promote and secure equal rights for not only Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI), but all Americans. Additionally, CAPAC has served to educate other Members of Congress about the history, contributions and concerns of AAPIs.”