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Sen. Harry Reid Leads Senate In Passage Of Resolution To Recognize Filipino American History Month

October 18, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Ed. Note: Read more about S.R. 287.

Senator Harry Reid, Nevada

For Immediate Release
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
CONTACT: Zac Petkanas/Kristen Orthman, (202) 224-9521

REID LEADS SENATE IN PASSAGE OF RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE FILIPINO AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH

Washington, D.C. – Earlier this month Nevada Senator Harry Reid led the Senate in passage of Senate Resolution 287, designating October 2011 as Filipino American History Month. Today, he made the following statement recognizing Filipino American History Month:

“This month, I join all Nevadans in celebrating Filipino American History Month. Nevada has seen the highest growth of Filipino Americans out of any state this past decade. Filipino Americans contribute so much to our state, through small businesses, education and their service to our country.

“I have fought for years to ensure Filipino Veterans of World War II get the benefits they deserve. In 2009 we were able to secure equity for these veterans, who had been unfairly denied their benefits for more than sixty years.

“I am proud to lead the Senate in passage of this resolution again this year.”

Below is the resolution as entered into the record:

Whereas October 18, 1587, when the first ‘‘Luzones Indios’’ set foot in Morro Bay, California, on board the Manila-built galleon ship Nuestra Senora de Esperanza, marks the earliest documented Filipino presence in the continental United States;

Whereas the Filipino American National Historical Society recognizes the year of 1763 as the date of the first permanent Filipino settlement in the United States in St. Malo, Louisiana;

Whereas the recognition of the first permanent Filipino settlement in the United States adds new perspective to United States history by bringing attention to the economic, cultural, social, and other notable contributions that Filipino Americans have made in countless ways toward the development of the United States;

Whereas the Filipino-American community is the third largest Asian-American group in the United States, with a population of approximately 3,417,000 individuals;

Whereas Filipino-American servicemen and servicewomen have a longstanding history of serving in the Armed Forces, from the Civil War to the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts, including the 250,000 Filipinos who fought under the United States flag during World War II to protect and defend the United States;

Whereas 9 Filipino Americans have received the Congressional Medal of Honor, the highest award for valor in action against an enemy force that can be bestowed upon an individual serving in the Armed Forces;

Whereas Filipino Americans play an integral role in the United States health care system as nurses, doctors, and other medical professionals;

Whereas Filipino Americans have contributed greatly to music, dance, literature, education, business, literature, journalism, sports, fashion, politics, government, science, technology, the fine arts, and other fields in the United States that enrich the landscape of the country;

Whereas efforts should continue to promote the study of Filipino-American history and culture, as mandated in the mission statement of the Filipino American National Historical Society, because the roles of Filipino Americans and other people of color largely have been overlooked in the writing, teaching, and learning of United States history;

Whereas it is imperative for Filipino- American youth to have positive role models to instill in them the significance of education, complemented with the richness of their ethnicity and the value of their legacy; and

Whereas Filipino American History Month is celebrated during the month of October 2011: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Senate—

(1) designates October 2011 as ‘‘Filipino American History Month’’;

(2) recognizes the celebration of Filipino American History Month as—

(A) a study of the advancement of Filipino Americans;

(B) a time of reflection and remembrance of the many notable contributions Filipino Americans have made to the United States; and

(C) a time to renew efforts toward the research and examination of history and culture in order to provide an opportunity for all people in the United States to learn and appreciate more about Filipino Americans and their historic contributions to the United States; and

(3) urges the people of the United States to observe Filipino American History Month with appropriate programs and activities.

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Filed Under: Congress, Culture Tagged With:

Roll Call: CAPAC Still Waiting for an Obama Meeting

July 23, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Ed. Note: Below is a reprint of Roll Call‘s “CAPAC Still Waiting for an Obama Meeting“.

CAPAC Still Waiting for an Obama Meeting

Rep. Mike Honda, chairman emeritus of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, said the group has been overlooked by the White House. (c)2011 Roll Call

File Photo

Rep. Mike Honda, chairman emeritus of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, said the group has been overlooked by the White House.

Asian-American House Members are frustrated that President Barack Obama has never formally hosted their caucus at the White House, and they plan to let him know.

Rep. Mike Honda, chairman emeritus of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, said the group plans to complain at an end-of-the-month meeting at the White House with Obama Chief of Staff Bill Daley, the first such meeting for the caucus.

At issue is the fact that Obama has hosted the other two groups that make up the Congressional Tri-Caucus but has so far overlooked CAPAC, Honda said.

“We’re going to let Daley know that’s not a cool thing,” the California Democrat said. “What are we, chopped liver?”

The president convened with the Congressional Black Caucus at the White House for the first time in May to talk job creation, and he has huddled several times with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus to discuss immigration, most recently in May.

But immigration policy affects Asians  too, said one Congressional staffer who handles Asian issues, and they would like the opportunity to discuss the subject with Obama.

“When people think of immigration, they don’t necessarily understand how it affects Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders,” the staffer said.

The group also wants to encourage Obama to continue appointing Asian-Americans and Pacific-Americans to the judiciary. Obama has doubled their ranks among federal judges, but they represent 1.7 percent of the judiciary, the staffer said.

White House spokesman Shin Inouye contended that Obama has been responsive to the Asian-American community, pointing specifically to his reauthorization of the White House Initiative on Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders, which was created under President Bill Clinton and continued under President George W. Bush and aims to increase the group’s participation in federal programs.

“The President is proud of his accomplishments that have benefited the [Asian American Pacific Islander] community, and looks forward to continuing to make progress,” Shin Inouye said in a statement. “The White House routinely talks with Members of Congress, including the members of the Congressional Asian and Pacific American Caucus. In addition, the White House has made senior Administration officials readily available for meetings and dialogue with the Caucus on a range of issues from education to small business lending and more — and will continue to do so.”

CAPAC’ Chairwoman Judy Chu (D-Calif.) struck a more diplomatic tone, saying she is happy to meet with Daley.

She said in a statement that the president “has made a conscious effort to include the Asian American and Pacific Islander community,” calling attention to the initiative and Obama’s appointment of three Asian-American Cabinet secretaries: Energy Secretary Steven Chu, Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki and Gary Locke, Obama’s first Commerce secretary and pick to be ambassador to China.

“There’s still a great deal of work to be done, and CAPAC’s upcoming meeting with White House Chief of Staff Bill Daley will be a major step forward in these efforts,” Rep. Chu said. “I look forward to working together with the President and his staff on issues that will improve the lives of the AAPI community.”

Of the three minority groups that make up the Tri-Caucus, Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders are the least-represented in Congress.

There are 13 Members of Asian and Pacific Islander descent in Congress this year, including the Delegates and two Senators — a figure that ties the 111th Congress for the most ever, according to the Congressional Research Service.

The group has no shortage of power amid its ranks, with Senate Appropriations Chairman Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), who also serves as President Pro Tem.

CAPAC is also the smallest of the three Congressional minority caucuses, with 15 members, including two Senators and some Members with no Asian ancestry. The group also counts 16 associate members, none of whom are of Asian or Pacific Islander heritage.

The CBC, on the other hand, includes 43 members, while the CHC has 21 members.

| @dnewhauser

Filed Under: Congress Tagged With: ,

Kent Wong: The Dream Act and Racial Politics

December 17, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Ed. Note: The below is a submission for our Dec 2010 Blogathon: Why does America need the DREAM Act? from Kent Wong, Director of the UCLA Center for Labor Research and Education.

THE DREAM ACT AND RACIAL POLITICS

In the new few days the U.S. Senate is expected to vote on the Dream Act, which would provide hundreds of thousands of immigrant youth the opportunity to earn legal status through higher education or by serving in the U.S. military. The House passed the Dream Act on December 8, following a spirited debate on the Congressional floor that reflected the deep racial divide that the Dream Act evokes.

Although the vote broke down largely on party lines, several Cuban American Republicans voted in favor of the Dream Act. While African American, Latino, and Asian members of Congress passionately spoke in its support, virtually all of the vocal opponents of the Dream Act were white, many from the South.

Proponents of the Dream Act were careful to promote the broad diversity of the potential beneficiaries, but in reality the majority of those who would benefit from the Dream Act are Latino and Asian immigrant youth. When Republicans are attacking the Dream Act, they are promoting the marginalization of minority youth and are deliberately keeping them out of the workforce and out of the voting booths.

If the vast majority of undocumented youth were instead from Ireland, Germany, and Italy, the Dream Act would have passed long ago. Members of Congress would have passionately spoken of their immigrant roots, shared stories of hard-working ancestors who came from their European homelands, and embraced the proud immigrant tradition of our country.

California Republican Dana Rohrbacher blatantly played on racial fears. He called the Dream Act “affirmative action amnesty” because it would allow immigrant youth privileges denied to “nonminority citizens.” Have Dana Rohrbacher and the conservative Republicans defined their base as only “nonminority” citizens in a country where people of color will one day be the majority?

Other Republicans demonized the Dream Act students as “illegals,” “law-breakers,” and “criminals,” when in fact the young people who were brought to this country as infants and young children broke no laws. Georgia Republican Phil Gingrey also played on racial fears as he spoke of “chain migration,” claiming if immigrant youth became citizens, they could apply for legal status for “something like 179 other individuals.” In reality, Dream Act beneficiaries would have to wait more than a decade after the passage of the bill to petition for legal status for family members.

On the other side of the debate, the Dream Act students have drawn lessons and inspiration from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Cesar Chavez, and the civil rights movement. They have organized freedom rides, hunger strikes, and sit-ins. On a shoestring budget and without paid staff or lobbyists, they have built a powerful national movement that has captured the enthusiasm and support of millions.

The Dream Act students are Americans through and through, including their understanding of democracy and the importance of civic participation. When the Dream Act passes, they will make a huge contribution to our society through pursuing their educational goals, serving in the U.S. military, and using their talents and skills in their chosen careers to contribute to our economy. Without the Dream Act, these young people will forever be relegated to a life in the underground economy. This not only hurts these students, it hurts our economy by preventing them from fully contributing to our society.
America is a land of immigrants. We have benefitted from the contributions of immigrants over the generations. The way we are treating our immigrant youth today is not only mean-spirited, it is racially-biased and un-American. The Dream Act is morally right, economically sound, and would benefit our society as a whole.

Kent Wong teaches Labor Studies and Ethnic Studies at UCLA and edited the book Underground Undergrads: UCLA Undocumented Immigrant Students Speak Out.

Filed Under: California, Congress, Demographics, Economy, Education, Immigration Tagged With: , , , ,

Statement Commemorating Congressman Mike Honda's Ten Years of Service to the United States Congress and Lifetime of Service to the Asian Pacific American Community

November 18, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Ed. Note: The below is related to our immediate previous post DNC: Rep. Michael Honda’s Ten Years of Service to the US Congress.

Asian American Action Fund

CONTACT: Nasima Hossain (202.256.8419)

Washington, D.C. – In recognition of Democratic National Committee (DNC) Vice Chair and California C.D. 15 (San Jose) Congressman Mike Honda’s ten years of service to the United States Congress and lifetime of service to the national Asian Pacific American community, Asian American Action Fund (AAA-Fund) Executive Director Gautam Dutta issued the following statement on behalf of the AAA-Fund Board:

“I am proud to congratulate DNC Vice Chair and Congressman Mike Honda on a decade of outstanding service to the United States Congress, the Democratic National Committee, the national Asian Pacific American community, and, most importantly, his constituents in California’s 15th Congressional District.

“Rep. Honda’s congressional leadership has included membership on the Appropriations Committee and in the Congressional Progressive Caucus, as well as service as House Democratic Senior Whip and Co-chair of the Democratic Caucus’ New Media Working Group.

“What we at the AAA-Fund most cherish, however, is the tremendous time and effort he expends on top of his duties to his C.D. 15 constituents to serve as Chairman of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. In that capacity, he has helped to educate his fellow Members of Congress on issues affecting the Asian Pacific American community, and has encouraged Asian Pacific Americans from all across the country to enter public service in elective and appointive office.

“Rep. Honda’s lifetime of service as a Peace Corps volunteer, teacher, school principal, state legislator and Member of Congress continues to inspire us, and his devotion to justice, fairness, and equal opportunity for all remind us that public servants can still retain their optimism and idealism after many years in the public arena.

“Thank you, Rep. Honda, for your ten years of service in Congress, and for your lifetime of exemplary service to Asian Pacific Americans and all Americans.”

Filed Under: AAA Fund, California, Congress, Democratic Party, Demographics Tagged With: , , ,

DNC: Rep. Michael Honda's Ten Years of Service to the US Congress

November 18, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Ed. Note: The below is from our friends at the DNC Press Office

Democrats: change that matters

Statement Commemorating Congressman Michael Honda’s Ten Years of Service to the United States Congress

For Immediate Release
November 17, 2010
Contact: DNC Press – 202-863-8148

Washington, DC – In recognition of DNC Vice Chair and Congressman Michael Honda’s ten years of service to the United States Congress, Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairman Tim Kaine issued the following statement:

“I am proud to congratulate DNC Vice Chair and Congressman Michael Honda on a decade of exemplary service to the United States Congress, the American people, and the Democratic National Committee as the five-term United States Representative from the 15th Congressional District of California.

“Rep. Honda’s congressional leadership has included membership on the Appropriations Committee and service as the Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, Co-chair of the Democratic Caucus’ New Media Working Group, and House Democratic Senior Whip.

“As an influential leader representing our national Party and the White House, Congressman Honda has traveled around the country campaigning for countless Democratic candidates and elected officials. He is also a tireless advocate for the 11 million Americans living and working overseas; and continues to work with Democrats Abroad to ensure that these civilian and military voters are able to participate in our political process.

“In the Congressman’s work as a DNC Vice Chair, every constituency caucus and council of the DNC has come to depend on Congressman Honda’s advice and friendship. In particular, Congressman Honda has been instrumental in developing the DNC’s Asian American and Pacific Islander Caucus and our Asian American outreach program, and he has gone out of his way to provide support to Democratic Asian American candidates and leaders across the country.

“In addition to Rep. Honda’s stewardship in Congress and his work as a DNC Vice Chair, I would like to recognize and demonstrate my appreciation for his lifetime of service, which includes thirty years as an educator and administrator, four years as a California Assemblyman, and a life-long commitment to social and civil justice for the economically disadvantaged, ethnic minorities, the LGBT community, and young people.”

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Filed Under: Congress, Democratic Party, Demographics Tagged With: ,

AAJC and NAPABA Concerned by Blocking of Judicial Nominees

August 13, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Ed.’s Note: The below is from our friends at

AAJC: Advancing EqualityNational Asian Pacific American Bar Association

WASHINGTON–Prior to adjourning for its August recess, the Senate failed to vote on the nominations of Asian Pacific American judicial nominees Judge Edward M. Chen and Professor Goodwin Liu, as well as several other judicial candidates. Their nominations have been returned to President Obama and NAPABA and AAJC strongly encourage President Obama to resubmit their nominations when the Senate returns from recess in September.

“We are seeing extensive delays affecting all nominees,” said Joseph J. Centeno, president of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association. “Highly qualified nominees such as Judge Chen and Professor Liu are entitled to a full Senate vote in a timely fashion.  All Americans have an interest in having a qualified and diverse judiciary and these nominees deserve a confirmation vote.”

Both Judge Chen and Professor Liu received unanimous “well qualified” ratings from the American Bar Association, the highest rating possible. Delays in the Senate are disproportionately affecting minority nominees–five of the six longest-pending judicial candidates are minorities, and the sixth is a woman.

Judge Chen was first nominated Aug. 6, 2009 and has been waiting longer than any other nominee for a confirmation vote. He was favorably voted out of the Senate Judiciary Committee in October 2009 but the full Senate did not take up his confirmation before the legislative session ended, which automatically returned his name to the president. President Obama immediately re-nominated him and the Judiciary Committee approved him again in February 2010. 

“The Senate’s failure to hold full confirmation votes on judicial nominees is hurting our judicial system’s efficiency and accessibility,” said Karen K. Narasaki, president and executive director of the Asian American Justice Center. “These extensive delays and inaction are a critical issue when more than 10 percent of federal judgeships are vacant and our courts are overburdened.”

Of 876 federal judgeships, 100 are vacant and 46 are considered “judicial emergencies.” In the Northern District of California, the seat that Judge Chen awaits confirmation for has been vacant for more than 860 days. Moreover, each judge in the district handles more than 600 cases per year—more than 1.5 times the national average.   

“A qualified jurist such as Judge Chen should not wait more than a year for a confirmation vote,” Narasaki said. “Time is running out and he should be voted on immediately.  We urge all Asian Pacific Americans to contact their senators and tell them to move for cloture on Judge Chen’s nomination as soon as they receive it.” 

AAJC and NAPABA thank California Sen. Dianne Feinstein for her efforts in trying to move Judge Chen’s and Professor Liu’s nominations forward.

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The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) is the national association of Asian Pacific American attorneys, judges, law professors and law students. NAPABA represents the interests of over 40,000 attorneys and 63 local Asian Pacific American bar associations. Its members represent solo practitioners, large firm lawyers, corporate counsel, legal service and non-profit attorneys, and lawyers serving at all levels of government. NAPABA continues to be a leader in addressing civil rights issues confronting Asian Pacific American communities. Through its national network of committees and affiliates, NAPABA provides a strong voice for increased diversity of federal and state judiciaries, advocates for equal opportunity in the workplace, works to eliminate hate crimes and anti-immigrant sentiment, and promotes professional development of minorities in the legal profession.

The Asian American Justice Center (www.advancingequality.org), a member of Asian American Center for Advancing Justice (www.advancingjustice.org), works closely with its sister organizations – the Asian American Institute in Chicago (www.aaichicago.org), the Asian Law Caucus (www.asianlawcaucus.org) in San Francisco and the Asian Pacific American Legal Center (www.apalc.org) in Los Angeles – to promote a fair and equitable society for all by working for civil and human rights and empowering Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and other underserved communities.

Filed Under: Congress, Obama Administration, Republican Party Tagged With: , ,

AAJC and NAPABA Pleased w/ Senate Hearing for Judicial Nominees Kobayashi and Chang

July 17, 2010 By Leave a Comment

NAPABA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NAPABA Contact: Tina Matsuoka (202) 775-9555
July 16, 2010
AAJC Contact: Nicole Duran (202) 296-2300, ext. 144

AAJC and NAPABA Pleased with Senate Hearing for Judicial Nominees Leslie E. Kobayashi and Edmond E. Chang

WASHINGTON – Thursday, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a confirmation hearing for the Honorable Leslie E. Kobayashi, nominee for the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii, and for Edmond E. Chang, nominee for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. President Obama nominated Judge Kobayashi and Mr. Chang to serve as federal judges on April 21, 2010.

“Both Judge Kobayashi and Mr. Chang are well qualified and will bring a wealth of experiences to the federal bench,” said Joseph J. Centeno, president of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association. “Both of these individuals will serve their country admirably as federal judges.”

Judge Kobayashi has served as a U.S. magistrate judge in Hawaii since 1999. Before that she was a partner and commercial litigator in Hawaii. Judge Kobayashi began her career as a deputy prosecution attorney with the city and county of Honolulu. Mr. Chang has served as an assistant U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Illinois for 11 years, including five years as the chief of the Appeals Division. Mr. Chang has also taught civil rights litigation as an adjunct professor at Northwestern University for the last four years.

Thursday’s hearing is the first step toward confirming Judge Kobayashi and Mr. Chang. Next, the Senate Judiciary Committee will hold its own hearing. If they win committee approval, their nominations will come to the Senate floor for confirmation.

“Asian Americans continue to be vastly under-represented on the federal bench,” said Karen K. Narasaki, president and executive director of the Asian American Justice Center. “Confirming Judge Kobayashi and Mr. Chang will help eliminate this under-representation and enrich our judicial system.”

Although Asian Pacific Americans make up more than 60 percent of Hawaii’s population, there has never been more than one APA federal district court judge serving there at a time. Judge Kobayashi would be the second APA woman confirmed as an Article III judge in the District of Hawaii and only the fifth female APA Article III judge ever. Mr. Chang, if confirmed, would be the first APA Article III judge in any of the courts encompassed by the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, and only the second outside the East and West Coasts.

AAJC and NAPABA thank the president for nominating Judge Kobayashi and Mr. Chang and Sens. Daniel Inouye and Daniel Akaka of Hawaii and Senate Majority Whip Richard Durbin of Illinois for supporting them.

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The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) is the national association of Asian Pacific American attorneys, judges, law professors and law students. NAPABA represents the interests of over 40,000 attorneys and 63 local Asian Pacific American bar associations. Its members represent solo practitioners, large firm lawyers, corporate counsel, legal service and non-profit attorneys, and lawyers serving at all levels of government. NAPABA

The Asian American Justice Center (www.advancingequality.org) is a national organization dedicated to defending and advancing the civil and human rights of Asian Americans. It works closely with three affiliates – the Asian American Institute in Chicago (www.aaichicago.org), the Asian Law Caucus (www.asianlawcaucus.org) in San Francisco, and the Asian Pacific American Legal Center (www.apalc.org) in Los Angeles – and nearly 100 community partners 44 cities in 24 states and the District of Columbia.

Filed Under: Congress, Obama Administration Tagged With:

Mike Honda on Twitter, Facebook

June 18, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Ed. Note: The below is from our friends of Rep. Mike Honda (D-Ca.).

Hey Friends & Family! 

In efforts to keep in touch with the community, Rep. Mike Honda is outreaching via twitter and facebook! The Congressman is participating in the "All-Star Competition" with other Congressional members to see who can get the most new fans! This Friday, June 18th, is the last day to have your "vote" counted when you add the Congressman as one of your facebook "Page Favorites." It only takes 20 seconds to help out (only 10 seconds if you’re already on FB playing Mafia Wars or Farmville)! I urge both friends and family to do the following: 

1) Encourage your friends to post the following status in their Facebook profile: “Like Mike! Help Rep. Honda win the Online Member All-Star Competition and promote the use of social media in government by "liking" him on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/repmikehonda), following him on Twitter (www.twitter.com/repmikehonda) and subscribing on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/user/RepMikeHonda).

NEXT “Suggest” to All of Your Friends on Facebook:

1. Open Firefox Browser. Go to http://www.facebook.com/RepMikeHonda

2. Click the "Suggest to Friends" link on the left side of Honda’s fan page.

3. Erase everything in your address bar. (The address bar is where http://www.facebook.com is typed.)

Now, copy and paste this code into the address bar and hit ENTER: (note: this code doesn’t work with Internet explorer, only Mozilla and Safari, when you copy it into your address bar it simply highlights all your friends so you don’t have to click on each one!)

javascript:elms=document.getElementById(‘friends’).getElementsByTagName(‘li’);for(var fid in elms){if(typeof elms[fid] === ‘object’){fs.click(elms[fid]);}}

4. Once you’ve done that, all of your friends in the box should turn BLUE.

5. Now, click the "Send Invitations" button at the bottom of the page.

2) Reach back out to your friends, community members, and mailing lists imploring them to sign up and ask them to tell their friends to sign up. You can see how many of your friends have heeded your call so far by visiting Mike’s Facebook page and looking the “# Friends Like This” section on the left.”

3) Please note that if someone subscribes on Facebook, Twitter AND YouTube, they will be triple counted in the contest. Encourage those who are more interested to triple count themselves.

Filed Under: California, Congress, Running for Office Tagged With: ,

DCCC Announces Second Round of Red to Blue Candidates

June 14, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Ed. Note: The below is a reposting of “DCCC Announces Second Round of Red to Blue Candidates.”

Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee logoDemocratic Congressional Campaign Committee Red to Blue Program

The DCCC today announced the next round of candidates that have qualified for the competitive Red to Blue Program. These candidates earned a spot in the program by surpassing demanding fundraising goals and demonstrating to voters that they will work to create jobs and put the interests of their constituents ahead of the special interests in Washington.

“These candidates being named to our Red to Blue Program are running strong campaigns and demonstrating their commitment to being independent leaders who will make job creation back home their top priority,” said Chris Van Hollen, Chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “The Red to Blue Program will give these strong candidates the financial and structural edge they need to win in November and become strong advocates in Congress for middle class families back in their districts.”

Chairman Van Hollen joined DCCC Vice Chair Bruce Braley (IA) and Red to Blue co-chairs Allyson Schwartz (PA), Patrick Murphy (PA), and Donna Edwards (MD) to announce the next 11 candidates who qualified for the Red to Blue Program:

Chad Causey (AR-01)
Tarryl Clark (MN-06)
Joyce Elliott (AR-02)
Colleen Hanabusa (HI-01)
Denny Heck (WA-03)
Julie Lassa (WI-07)
Gary McDowell (MI-01)
Mike Oliverio (WV-01)
Tommy Sowers (MO-08)
Manan Trivedi (PA-06)
Trent Van Haaften (IN-08)

The addition of these new candidates now brings the total number of DCCC Red to Blue candidates this cycle to 26.

The Red to Blue program highlights top Democratic campaigns across the country, and offers them financial, communications, grassroots, and strategic support. The program will introduce Democratic supporters to new, competitive candidates in order to help expand the fundraising base for these campaigns. The very successful fundraising effort helped raise more than $26 million for Red to Blue candidates last cycle.

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For Immediate Release, June 14, 2010
CONTACT: Jennifer Crider & Ryan Rudominer (202) 485-3440

PAID FOR BY THE DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE – 430 S CAPITOL ST SE – WASHINGTON DC 20003 (202) 863-1500 – WWW.DCCC.ORG – NOT AUTHORIZED BY ANY CANDIDATE OR CANDIDATE’S COMMITTEE
CONTRIBUTIONS OR GIFTS TO THE DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE ARE NOT TAX DEDUCTIBLE

Filed Under: 2010 Campaign, Congress, Democratic Party Tagged With: ,

Congressional Democrats and CAPAC Host 5th Annual Asian American & Pacific Islander Summit

May 17, 2010 By Leave a Comment

For Immediate Release
May 12, 2010

Contact:

Drew Hammill, Speaker Pelosi (202) 226-7616

Meredith MacKenzie, Majority Leader Reid (202) 224-9521

Miguel Ayala, Sen. Stabenow (202) 224-1437

Emily Barocas, Rep. Larson (202) 225-7295

Gloria Chan, CAPAC (202) 302-8606

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senate and House Democrats and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) hosted the 2010 Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Summit.  House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Chairwoman of the Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee Debbie Stabenow (MI), CAPAC Chairman Michael Honda (CA-15), and Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus John Larson (CT-1) were joined by their colleagues in both chambers to meet with approximately 200 members of the Asian American and Pacific Islander community.  The theme of the summit was “Strengthening Our Economy: Job Creation in the Asian American and Pacific Islander Community.”

“The AAPI community faces the same challenges as all Americans: finding a steady job, gaining a strong education for our children, and ensuring everyone has the opportunity to realize their American dream,” Speaker Pelosi said.  “In this Congress, our number one priority remains creating good-paying jobs for every American – and for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, that means continuing to invest in our middle class, empower entrepreneurs, and strengthen small businesses.  We will keep our focus on ensuring every American – regardless of background – gets a shot at a good job and a decent wage.”

“The Asian-American and Pacific Islander community in my home state of Nevada is growing and thriving. The contributions of Filipino Americans, Chinese Americans and the many diverse groups who make up Nevada’s AAPI community have shaped our state for decades,” said Majority Leader Reid. “I remain committed to working with the Asian-American and Pacific Islander communities in Nevada to promote job creation and make sure all Nevadans can pursue the American Dream.”

“The continued growth of the Asian American and Pacific Islander is evident by the success of our fifth annual summit.  On behalf of CAPAC, I would like to thank Speaker Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Reid, Senator Stabenow, and the rest of Democratic Leadership for their continued commitment to the AAPI community,” said Rep. Honda.  He continued, “At the summit, Democratic Leadership and members of CAPAC stood together in their resolve to ensure that the voices of AAPI communities are heard in policy debates in Washington including those on job creation, supporting small businesses, education and comprehensive immigration reform.”

“As the Chair of the Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee, I am pleased we could co-host this fifth annual summit and recognize the importance of Asian American Pacific-Islander Heritage Month.  Through this Summit, we were able to discuss how Congress can work together with community stakeholders to strengthen our economy and create jobs,” said Stabenow. “I appreciate the leadership of Congressman Mike Honda and I will continue working with him and the rest of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.”

Democratic Caucus Chair John B. Larson said, “Today, Democratic Leadership, in both the House and Senate, and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus expressed our unwavering dedication to the AAPI community.  Like all Americans, the Asian Pacific American community saw the American Dream and the foundation of our economy erode over the past decade. This Democratic Congress is working tirelessly to restore that dream and the promise of health care, a home and a job for all Americans. None of this would be possible without your continuous efforts and participation. I look forward to working with all of you to help us all reach the American Dream.”

Today’s summit was another in a series of events hosted by Democratic Congressional leadership to highlight the importance of the Asian American & Pacific Islander community.

Filed Under: Congress, Democratic Party Tagged With: , ,
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