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WASHINGTON–President Barack Obama signed an Executive Order on October 14 re-establishing the President’s Advisory Commission and the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI)–fulfilling a commitment he had made to the community. The Initiative aims to improve the quality of life in underserved AAPI communities through their increased participation in federal programs.

The Executive Order states that the Initiative “will work to improve the quality of life and opportunities for AAPIs through increased access to, and participation in, Federal programs in which they may be underserved. In addition, each will work to advance relevant evidence-based research, data collection, and analysis for AAPI populations and subpopulations.” (Full text of the Executive Order is included in this issue.)

The President outlined the mission of the Initiative “to work with 23 agencies and departments across our government to improve the health, education, and economic status of AAPI communities.”

A decade ago, the Executive Order by President Bill Clinton established an Advisory Commission and a White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. This was extended by President George W. Bush until 2007.

Asian American cabinet members, lawmakers and community leaders were present at the White House signing ceremony. Several months ago, they had been elated on learning the news. But witnessing the President at the East Room, making it a reality with one stroke of the pen, was for them an unforgettable moment.

Rep. Michael Honda (D, CA), Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), told Asian Fortune: “We are thankful for President Obama’s leadership in reestablishing the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.”

Honda noted the co-chairs of the Initiative, Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and Education Secretary Arne Duncan, “as well as Under Secretary Martha Kanter who will oversee the work of the Initiative, all have a deep understanding of the challenges faced by our communities. CAPAC members are looking forward to working in close collaboration with the Initiative as we have in past administrations.”

Congressman Xavier Becerra (D, CA) CAPAC executive board member pointed out that today in America, 38.7 percent of Asian Americans and 37.8 percent of Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islanders lack employer-based health coverage. “Asian American children are also more likely to be uninsured, with a rate of 11.5 percent, compared to 7.3 for Non-Hispanic White children,” he added.

The White House Initiative will be housed under the Department of Education. It will consist of a federal inter-agency working group, composed of staff from various agencies. The Commission, comprised of AAPI leaders and experts in various sectors, will oversee this group.

The Commission will advise the President, through the Education Secretary Arne Duncan and Commerce Secretary Locke, on executive branch efforts to improve the quality of life of AAPIs through the compilation of research and data related to AAPI populations and sub-populations, and through the development, monitoring, and coordination of federal efforts to improve the economic and community development of AAPI businesses.

It will also implement strategies to increase public and private-sector collaboration, as well as promote community involvement in improving the health, education, environment, and well-being of AAPIs. 

Community

Among the leaders present was South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT) Executive Director Deepa Iyer. “The signing of the Executive Order is an important step towards better understanding, documenting, and addressing the needs of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders,” she noted later. “SAALT looks forward to working with the administration and federal agencies.”

Also present was Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) National Executive Director Floyd Mori. Later, he said, “The White House Initiative on AAPI’s will play a key role as a liaison between the AAPI communities and the various agencies in the Government. This has been missing for some time, and this will give us access and impact.”

The President’s signing of the executive order “shows tremendous commitment to addressing the needs of the AAPI community, including better data collection and disaggregation, as well as increased and substantive access to federal agencies and programs,” said APIAVote Deputy Director Naomi Tacuyan Underwood, who was present at the ceremony with APIAVote Chair and co-founder Daphne Kwok.

APAICS Chair Jim Park said, “The President has reaffirmed the important role our community plays in the vibrancy of our nation and the unique challenges facing our diverse community. While AAPIs have made great strides in America, there is much more to be done. This will put the needed spotlight and added resources towards improving the lives of AAPI population.” 

President

In his remarks, the President paid tribute to AAPIs “from the early days, as laborers on our railroads and farmers tilling our land, to today, as leaders in every sector of American life, from business to science to academia, law and more.” (Full transcript from a White House press release is included in this issue.)

“Our AAPI communities have roots that span the globe, but they embody a rich diversity, and a story of striving and success that are uniquely American,” he stressed.

Obama acknowledged the Asian American public servants in his cabinet – Secretaries Gary Locke and Steven Chu and US Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki. He lauded the “courage and the patriotism and sacrifice of heroes like the members of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team who served in World War II, including Terry Shima,” who was touched when the President returned his salute.

The President also acknowledged the presence of Wat Misaka, “who played for the New York Knicks back in 1947–the first non-white player in the NBA–and who served in the U.S. Army during World War II.”

“So this proud tradition of service continues today in Iraq and Afghanistan and around the world, carried on by folks like Tammy Duckworth, my dear friend who's here today,” Obama noted.

“Tammy is a decorated member of our National Guard, a passionate advocate for our wounded warriors, who is now serving as our Assistant Secretary of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs at the Veterans Affairs Department. I'm proud to have her on board and pleased that she could join us today,” he added.

On a personal note, President Obama pointed out: “When I talk about America’s AAPI communities, I’m talking about my own family: my sister, Maya; my brother-in-law, Konrad; my beautiful nieces, Suhaila and Savita; and the folks I grew up with in Indonesia, and in Honolulu, as part of the Hawai’ian Ohana, or family.”