By Rhiannon Koh, AsAmNews Staff Writer
The White House Thursday officially re-launched its Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (WHIAANHPI). Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Katherine Tai will serve together as co-chairs of this new plan. Joining them will be former congressional Asian Pacific Islander Caucus Executive Director Krystal Ka’ai.
“This initiative exemplifies the [Biden-Harris] Administration’s sustained commitment to the AA and NHPI community.”, ” Tai said during the Thursday afternoon briefing which AsAmNews attended virtually.
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In January of this year, Biden released a memorandum condemning the hate and racism directed towards the AAPI community. This statement then laid the groundwork for the creation of the President’s Executive Order (E0) 14301, which works to advance opportunity and justice for Native Hawaiian and AAPI communities throughout the country. Subsequently, the WHIAANHPI was born.
“Under the Biden Administration, the Initiative’s scope has been expanded to align closely with the HHS’s mission, including ongoing COVID-19 relief, recovery efforts, as well as the broader efforts to address social determinants of health,” said Erika Moritsugu, the Deputy Assistant to the President and Asian American and Pacific Islander Senior Liaison.
Throughout the afternoon, Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander groups have been reacting to the announcement.
“We are pleased this initiative will now be led out of the Department of Health and Human Services for the first time since its creation in 1999,” said Christine Chen, Executive Director of Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote, in a statement. “This will help ensure the federal government is mitigating COVID-19 related anti-Asian hate and advancing health equity for our communities as we face two ongoing pandemics: COVID-19 and racism.”
“We applaud the Biden Administration for re-launching this vital initiative,” added Quyen Dinh, Executive Director of SEARAC. “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.”
Tai cited the American Rescue and Infrastructure Plans as “historic investments” for the AA and NHPI communities.
“Taken together,” she said, “they will provide critical resources to grow our economy from the bottom up and from the middle out. This Initiative will ensure that we have a seat at the table.”
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