View Content #902
| Contentid | 902 |
|---|---|
| Content Type | 1 |
| Title | RENEW PRESIDENT'S ADVISORY COMMISSION ON ASIAN AMERICANS AND PACIFIC ISLANDERS |
| Body | From: "Anselmo Villanueva" For Immediate Release December 3, 2003 Contact: Eleanor Lee 202-223-5500 ACTION ALERT: RENEW PRESIDENT'S ADVISORY COMMISSION ON ASIAN AMERICANS AND PACIFIC ISLANDERS Background on Executive Order 13216: President Clinton first signed Executive Order 13215 in 1999, entitled "Increasing Participation of Asian Americans and Pacific Islander in Federal Programs," establishing the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) and the President's Advisory Commission. In 2001, President George W. Bush extended the executive order with Executive Order 13216, entitled "Increasing Opportunity and Improving the Quality of Life of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders." However, the Advisory Commission expired this summer and needs to be reestablished by Executive Order. As a civil rights advocacy organization, the Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA) strongly urges President Bush to reinstate the Advisory Commission so that there will be a mechanism for our communities to be involved in federal programs and receive increased opportunities. The Commission works with thirty-two key federal agencies to increase opportunities and improve the quality of life of AAPIs through increased participation in federal programs where our communities are underserved. The White Initiative on AAPIs is housed within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), where its purpose is to track AAPI participation in government programs. The Initiative serves as a complement to the White House Initiatives on Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans, and Tribal Colleges and Universities. Action: OCA and the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA) have written to President Bush, asking him to renew the Executive Order and we urge our members and friends to do the same. Too much time has passed - action must be taken to let the President know that the community needs the work of the Commission and the Initiative. Write to President Bush, asking him to reinstate the Advisory Commission and to support the White House Initiative as it continues the task of improving the quality of life for AAPIs through increased participation in federal programs. The first Executive Order was a landmark event and over the years, many community-based organizations and leaders have worked together with the White House Initiative and the Commission to improve the lives of the AAPI community. We need a fully funded White House Initiative office in order to have long-term sustainability and we need to ensure that the Initiative office is fully staffed with an Executive Director and any other open positions. We must also emphasize that the White House Initiative should remain housed within HHS instead of any other agency. HHS possesses the cultural competence and strong infrastructure to address minority language and health issues. At HHS, the White House Initiative has been able to accomplish the comprehensive purpose of tracking government Contacting the President: President George W. Bush The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20500 Phone: (202) 456-1111 Fax: (202) 456-2461 Email: president@whitehouse.gov The Organization of Chinese Americans, a national civil rights advocacy and education organization with over 80 chapters and affiliates across the country, was founded in 1973 to ensure the civil rights of the Asian Pacific American community. It maintain its headquarters in Washington , D.C. |
| Source | Organization of Chinese Americans |
| Inputdate | 2003-12-05 12:24:00 |
| Lastmodifieddate | 2003-12-05 12:24:00 |
| Expdate | Not set |
| Publishdate | Not set |
| Displaydate | Not set |
| Active | 1 |
| Emailed | 1 |
| Isarchived | 1 |
