WASHINGTON D.C.\u2014Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra recently launched the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders and announced U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Katherine Tai as his co-chair of both the White House Initiative and the President\u2019s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. <\/p>\n
Former Guam delegate Dr. Robert Underwood is expected to be appointed to the advisory commission\u2014a move that Guam Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero said will help build the nation\u2019s capacity to address the challenges faced by Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a decorated and dedicated servant of Guam and our people, Dr. Underwood brings a wealth of knowledge on Pacific history, CHamoru heritage, and public policy that will advance the interests of our islander community at the highest levels of national government,\u201d said Leon Guerrero. \u201cWith his trademark wisdom and visionary insight, Dr. Underwood will help build the nation\u2019s capacity to address the challenges faced by Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, who offer much more than diversity to the United States. We are confident in Dr. Underwood\u2019s inherent ability to advocate for the good of Guam and we stand committed to supporting his valued contributions through the Biden Administration.\u201d<\/p>\n
The White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders, which was created in response to President Joe Biden\u2019s Executive Order 14031 (Advancing Equity, Justice, and Opportunity for Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders),\u00a0is charged with driving an ambitious, whole-of-government agenda to advancing equity, justice, and opportunity for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities in the United States.<\/p>\n
Like other communities of color, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to exacerbating longstanding health inequities facing AA and NHPI communities, the language of some political leaders during this public health crisis has also fueled a spike in anti-Asian bias, xenophobia, and violence. To address these inequities, the new WHIAANHPI is housed within HHS, returning this initiative to the department where it was first launched under the Clinton Administration in 1999.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cReturning the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders to HHS, where it originated, represents an important step in reinvigorating this historic initiative,\u201d said Becerra. \u201cThe Biden-Harris Administration is committed to tackling a wide scope of challenges impacting communities that have been historically overlooked and underserved. I look forward to working with Ambassador Katherine Tai in leading our federal efforts to advance equity, justice, and opportunity for AA and NHPI communities across the nation.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u00a0am honored to co-chair the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders,\u201d said Tai. \u201cPresident Biden, Vice President [Kamala] Harris and the entire Administration are committed to creating a more equal, just, and inclusive America. Leading this initiative with Secretary Becerra will be a critical part of our work across government to expand opportunity, confront systemic barriers to success, and address the rising violence targeted at the AA and NHPI community.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders is the embodiment of the longstanding commitment and vision that President Biden and Vice President Harris have for our diverse and growing community,\u201d said deputy assistant to the president and Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander senior liaison Erika Moritsugu. \u201cThis Administration has delivered results for AA and NHPI communities with the President’s whole-of-government approach to equity, along with the American Rescue Plan, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal, and now again with the reinvigoration and expansion of this historic Initiative.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWith [the] launch of WHIAANHPI\u2019s Interagency Working Group and Regional Network within HHS, we now have the tools to\u00a0secure resources, promote opportunities, and increase the visibility of AA and NHPI communities,\u201d said WHIAANHPI executive director Krystal Ka\u2018ai. \u201cI am honored to serve under the leadership of Secretary Becerra and Ambassador Tai during this pivotal time for our community as we work to build a brighter future for generations to come.\u201d<\/p>\n
Under the leadership of Becerra and Tai, the newly-expanded Initiative includes an Interagency Working Group tasked with coordinating the federal government\u2019s efforts to support AA and NHPI communities. It also includes a regional network comprised of federal officials in 10 federal regions across the country who help to connect AA and NHPI communities with federal grants, programs, and resources.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The WHIAANHPI under the Biden-Harris Administration will focus on helping to coordinate a comprehensive federal response to the rise in acts of anti-Asian bias and violence; address the systemic lack of disaggregated data on AA and NHPI communities; expand language access and language assistance programs for AA and NHPI individuals across federal programs; address educational, health, economic, and housing disparities impacting AA and NHPI communities, and more. For more information on the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders, see\u00a0www.hhs.gov\/whiaanhpi.\u00a0(PR)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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