Asian American US senator blasts Sec. Hegseth's speech for high-ranking officers

The high-ranking commanders who flew in from all over the world were stoic while listening to
Defense Sec. Pete Hegseth harang them on DEI and appearance.

Department of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's speech in front of the US's high-ranking military commanders got blasted by US Senator Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill, who said the military would be better served if Hegseth resigns.

“As Trump pushes our nation to the brink of another Republican shutdown, Cadet Bone Spurs and the least qualified Defense Secretary in history decided to waste millions of taxpayer dollars—and our top military leaders’ time and attention—to force them to fly thousands of miles to listen to a partisan diatribe unbecoming of our nation’s leaders, all while Americans face real threats from adversaries that wish to do us harm," said Duckworth after the speech.

Hegseth's had the world' on edge when he called an unprecedented face-to-face meeting of all the US generals and admirals from all over the world. Expecting the worse, speculation ran rampant from the possibility of a declaration of war to a possible military coup. What Hegseth delivered was a dressing down against fat generals and "beardos."

Apparently, Hegseth is more concerned about appearance than military preparedness. He took aim at diversity, equality and inclusion policies designed to make all levels of the military reflect the population of the US. He even took a potshot at some of the men in attendance.

US Senator Tammy Duckworth, left, blasted Sec. Pete Hegseth's speech.

Fat generals

“Frankly, it’s tiring to look out at combat formations or really any formation and see fat troops," said Hegseth. "Likewise, it’s completely unacceptable to see fat generals and admirals in the halls of the Pentagon and leading commands around the country and the world. It’s a bad look. It is bad, and it’s not who we are.”

“The nation’s top defense leader encouraging hazing troops who answered the call to fight and die for us is utterly appalling, especially from someone who should know that American troops have died from hazing. 

"He also claimed that weakening rules of engagement strengthens our warfighters, when in reality it will simply create more enemies of America and make it more likely those enemies would torture captured American troops. 

"And his claim that diversity is ‘debris’ erases the valor shown by women, people of color and many others who’ve served in uniform since this country’s founding and makes a mockery of our Veterans," said Duckworth, who lost both legs when her helicopter she was piloting was shot down in Iraq. 

"Meanwhile, Trump’s distressing desire to use American cities as ‘training grounds for our military’ isn’t just intrinsically un-American, it’s unconstitutional and is the sort of misuse of the military that tin-pot dictators—not Presidents—are known for," said the Thai American senator

'No beardos'

Hegseth has railed against bearded troops for months and ordered a military-wide review of grooming standards in March. The Army and Marine Corps tightened rules on medical shaving waivers shortly after that order.

“If you want a beard, you can join Special Forces," said Hegseth in his speech. "If not, then shave. We don’t have a military full of Nordic pagans. But unfortunately, we have had leaders who either refuse to call BS and enforce standards or leaders who felt like they were not allowed to enforce standards,” Hegseth said.

The rule apparently targets Sikh and Muslim soldiers and sailors along with a Pagan sect. Sikhism, a 500-year-old religion founded in India, requires its male followers to wear a turban and beard and keep their hair uncut.

Under former military standards, Sikhs were allowed to follow their religious tenets
while serving their country. Sec. Hegseth's new standards will likely be challenged.

"There will be no beardos," said Hegseth. His new rule instructs the Defense Department to return to pre-2010 standards, referring to the first year the Army granted an exemption to a Sikh soldier to wear a beard in uniform. The service began granting permanent religious accommodations to Sikh soldiers in 2017, and other troops have been granted religious beard waivers on a case-by-case basis since 2019. 

Under Hegseth’s new policy, “facial hair waivers are generally not authorized,” and those who have been granted an exemption will face “individualized reviews” and must provide documentation proving their “sincerity of the religious or sincerely held belief” to be considered for an accommodation.

“Over the course of our more than 15 years of work to assist Sikhs with religious accommodations and fight for policy changes within all branches of the military, it has been demonstrated time and time again that maintaining a beard poses no barrier to capable and honorable military service,” said the Sikh Coalition in a statement.

"While religious accommodations remain exempt from this new guidance for now, the Sikh Coalition stands in solidarity with soldiers who may ultimately be kicked out of the Army by this new shaving policy, which will disproportionately affect Black and South Asian men—especially those with medical conditions like pseudofolliculitis barbae (razor-bumps),” the statement added.

Although he didn't mention race, the policy affects Black men more than any other race because it also ends permanent shaving profiles for those who suffer from pseudofolliculitis barbae, or razor bumps, an affliction that disproportionately affects Black men. Current troops with razor-bump profiles can be granted shaving exemptions for up to 12 months, but they must also have a treatment plan. Those with permanent conditions can be discharged. In years past, federal courts have repeatedly found that service members who grow beards have a right to keep them on grounds of religious freedom.

Speaking to the 800-plus military leaders, Hegseth claimed that standards had been manipulated “to hit racial quotas,” calling that unacceptable.

However, looking closer at the facts shows little variation in the racial makeup of the enlisted military since at least 2004.

The Population Representation in the Military Services reports show that white people account for about 67% of enlisted troops in 2023, a number that's gone largely unchanged over the last two decades. Twenty percent are Black, also largely unchanged since 2004.

Other races, including Asian, American Indian and Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, combine to make up the remaining 13%.

“None of the ideas presented this morning make our military stronger or our nation safer," said Duckworth. "They are dangerous actions that threaten our national security and undermine the Constitutional rights of all Americans that our troops—as well as Trump and Hegseth—have sworn an oath to support and defend. If this PR stunt proved anything, it’s that the best thing Pete Hegseth can do to strengthen our military is resign in disgrace immediately.”

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. 

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Duckworth wins second term as Illinois' US Senator

US Sen. Tammy Duckworth heads back to Washington for her second term.

Incumbent Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill, was easily re-elected for her second six-year term with 56% of the vote, beat back a challenge from Republican Kathy Salvi, who wound up with 42.1% of the cast ballots. Libertarian Bill Redpath took 1.7% of the vote.

"I know there are still some folks seeking to sow seeds of division among us," Duckworth said in a statement. "I know that we’re a Union that, yes, at times has been anything but united. But the miracle of America is that when it looks like those worst instincts are set to prevail, we come together and resist. 

"We refuse to give in to that darkness,” said the 54-year old Army veteran who lost both of her legs when the helicopter she was piloting was shot down in Iraq.

Duckworth's mother is from Thailand and she can trace her father's ancestry back to the Revolutionary War. Before winning her first term for the Senate in 2016, she served in the US House of Representatives.

There are only two US Senators of Asian American heritage. Besides Duckworth, there is Sen. Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, who won re-election in 2020.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow @DioknoEd on Twitter.

AAPI community cheers Julie Su's approval by U.S. Senate

Deputy Secretary of the Department of Labor Julie Su.

When Julie Su was approved last week to be the next Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor, a collective cheer went up from the Asian American community that supported her nomination.

AAPI politicians and special interests lobbied hard to get Su for the post of Secretary of Labor in Biden's Cabinet. As Biden's Cabinet was being filled out, Su was the AAPI community's best hope to win a position in the Cabinet as the Labor Secretary. The  position was among the last Secretary-level post to get filled. It eventually went to Boston Mayor Marty Walsh.

The loudest cheer for Su's appointment came from Asian Americans Advancing Justice, a nonprofit legal advocacy coalition, where Su worked as the group's Litigation Director.

It was during her tenure at AAAJ that she won one of her best known cases. the Thai Garment Workers Case (Bureerong v. Uvawas). As a member of the legal team that filed a lawsuit on behalf of 102 Thai garment workers who had been exploited and enslaved by sweatshop operators. 

"Julie’s leadership expanded workers’ rights in the state of California and nationally," said AAAJ in a statement. "The suit challenged the sweatshop operators, as well as the retailers and manufacturers that profited off their labor. This was the first federal lawsuit of its kind, not only setting the precedent in holding manufacturers and retailers accountable for the conditions in which their clothes are made but leading to new federal laws protecting immigrants who are trafficked into the country." 

In May 1999, the case ended in settlements that exceeded $4 million from more than 10 manufacturers and private label retailers.

Members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, led by Rep. Judy Chu, D-CA, met with Biden's transition team and with President Biden and Vice President Harris to push the appointment of more AAPI to key positions throughout  the federal government.

“Not only is Julie Su highly qualified for this role, but as a woman of color, she brings a unique perspective that will help her as she works to make sure all Americans are represented in the policies crafted and implemented by President Biden’s Department of Labor," said Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill.

"Given her proven track-record supporting American workers, I have confidence that she will put workers’ rights first and do everything she can to expand fair labor practices." Duckworth pressured the Biden administration by protesting the lack of AAPI presence in his Cabinet by threatening to withhold her vote on the President's nominees unless he appointed more Asian Americans as key White House advisors.

"A daughter of Chinese immigrants and a lifelong advocate for working families, Julie brings a wealth of experience and perspective to the Department of Labor that will help advance justice for America’s workers," said Rep. Grace Meng, D-NY. 

"From her recent role as California’s Labor Secretary, to her background at Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAAJ-LA), Julie brings the expertise and compassion needed to serve in this role. Her efforts as Deputy Secretary of Labor will also be critical in getting workers back on their feet, and ensuring protections for them, as our nation continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic."

What's next for AAPIs, the least politically represented group in the U.S.?

NBC

Members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus met with
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. 

A recent report by Reflective Democracy Campaign finds that despite a dramatic increase in voting participation by Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and the rapid rise in population, when compared with other ethnic groups, AAPI are extremely underrepresented in political office.

Speaking at the AAPI Victory Alliance's unity summit about the alarming increase in anti-Asian hate and violence, Vice President Kamala Harris said, "As a member of this community, I share in that outrage and grief, and I believe we have an opportunity now to turn that pain into action."

Even as we (in the U.S.) appear to getting the upper hand in our struggle against the coronavirus, we're starting to see beyond recovery to whatever lies ahead. What's next? How do we turn the gains of visibility and activism generated by the twin viruses of COVID-19 and hate into something that will change our country in its thinking about Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders.

Even in states with high AAPI concentrations like New York, Nevada, and California, the AAPI community is drastically under-represented in office. In fact, Hawaii is the only state whose share of AAPI elected leaders is nearly equivalent to its AAPI population share, the report states.

AAPI erasure is especially stark in the criminal justice sector. While over-policing and excessive deportation are major issues for segments of the AAPI community, the total number of AAPI elected prosecutors across the country is six, and of more than 3,000 county sheriffs, only two are AAPI.

Despite their extreme under-representation, the data shows AAPI elected officials are highly electable. And their impact is greater than their small numbers might suggest. 

The first AAPI members of Congress were non-voting members from the Philippines in 1907, when that country was still a colony of the U.S. Today, there is only one Congressman of Filipino descent, Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Virginia.

Today’s AAPI leaders represent a wider swath of the AAPI communities, including influential figures like Senator Mazie Hirono (HI), Senator Tammy Duckworth (IL), Congressman Ted Lieu (CA), and Harris, America’s first AAPI Vice President.  

Not to anyone's surprise, on the flip side, the group with overrepresentation are white office holders. Although they make up only a third of the country's population, they hold 62% of the political offices, which translates into a 46% overrepresentation.

“Political power has been concentrated in the hands of white men in the United States since the very beginning. And I think we are seeing the limitations of that.” Politico quotes Brenda Choresi Carter, the director of the Campaign, which tracks the diversity of elected officials. “Voters, regardless of party identification, really want to see reflective leadership.”

Through aggressive voter education and registration in the AAPI community, voters of this ethnic group increased by almost any measure. In key states such as Nevada, Georgia, Michigan and Pennsylvania, the AAPI propensity for Democrats proved to be the winning margin for Democratic candidates and Joe Biden.

An analysis by AAPI Data found that voter turnout among Asian American citizens grew from 49% in 2016 to 60% in 2020. Among Pacific Islanders, turnout increased from 41% in 2016 to 55% in 2020. But the increases, the largest of any ethnic group, was still below the national 67% turnout.

The political parties and pollsters have noted this upward trend among AAPI, the fastest growing electorate and demographic in the U.S. They predict the AAPI vote will only gain in political influence this century.

During this same period, immigrants from Asia continued to come in at a higher rate than those coming from Latin America creating a rich pool of potential voters. However, because of the five-year waiting period to become naturalized, thus, eligible to vote, there is a lag between arriving on U.S. soil to becoming full-fledged citizens, thus eligible to vote. In the meantime, the children of both immigrants and those AAPI who are already citizens, are also growing up and becoming old enough to vote.

"This second generation is coming of political age and especially during this moment of COVID and the increase in anti-Asian racism and hate incidents, you are seeing a kind of political consciousness that's forming that will likely last a generation," said Karthick Ramakrishnan, the director of AAPI Data. 

"So I think looking ahead, we're going to see a lot more civic engagement, political activism among the younger Asian American population, and especially given the circumstances of the past year."

With this new-found acknowledgement of the growing power of the AAPI vote, the next logical progression should be getting more AAPI running for office. But, first, there are some obstacles to achieving this goal.

Madalene Mielke, president of the Asian Pacific Institute for Congressional Studies, told NPR that part of the reason there have been fewer Asian elected officials is due to historic barriers.

"There wasn't a lot of Asian Americans running in the past because when you think about immigration, being U.S. citizens, having that opportunity to actually be a part of that electorate, there have been many public policies in the past that have excluded Asian Americans," Mielke said. "You start to think about how these types of public policies discriminated and excluded the community itself and how the community then basically had to turn around and catch up."

In the 2020 primaries, there were three AAPI candidates running for the Democratic nomination for President: Senator Harris, Andrew Yang and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, giving the AAPI a much higher profile than in previous elections. What their candidacies also did was give the younger AAPIs candidates who looked like themselves and opened the dialogues within families about career choices, a cultural barrier that prevented some from bringing attention to themselves by seeking office.

"In many Asian American families with resources, parents typically are encouraging their children to become doctors or engineers; becoming an elected official isn't even on the radar," said Stephanie Chang, Michigan State Senator and the first Asian American woman to serve in the Michigan Legislature. "I needed a lot of encouragement to decide to run for office. I shadowed Rashida (Congresswoman Rashida Talib from the 13th District in Michigan) at the State Capital so I could visualize myself doing the job."

Asian Americans must also overcome stereotypes such as the model minority myth. Part of that stereotype is that if you put your head down and work hard, you will eventually achieve success. The troubling aspect of that myth is that one does not make waves or draw attention to ones self and although AAPI make good worker drones, they don't make good leaders.

One finding in a recent survey by  Leading Asian Americans to Unite for Change (LAAUNCH) may point to a hurdle baked into America's perception of AAPI: 92% of Americans polled said they were comfortable with Asian Americans as doctors or friends, but only 85% said they were comfortable with an Asian American as a boss and 73% as a president of the United States.

The same survey validates the feeling among AAPI that they are invisible in American society and institutions. Despite the upsurge of hate-based attacks on AAPI and the media coverage that generated, most Americans believe that Asian Americans do not suffer discrimination.

Four out of 10 Americans could name one Asian American of prominence despite Kamala Harris being their Vice President. The most common response was "Don't Know" followed by Jackie Chan, who is not even an American.

All this points to the importance of having AAPI politicians in the room when policies are hammered out affecting education, health care, justice reform and the economy.

There are AAPI in the pipeline working on politicians' staffs, the state and federal bureaucracy gaining the experience needed to take that next step into the limelight. After decades of grassroots organizing, registering and educating voters, organizations and nonprofits have been training scores of young AAPIs to work in public service.

Andrew Yang is one of the leading candidates for New York City mayor.

In 2020, there was a record number of AAPI candidates from local city councils to the federal level.

Filipino American Gloria T. Caoile is a founding member of the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA), where she currently serves as the Director of Civic Engagement in Nevada. She described in an email interview with Fortune, said of the AAPIs' intensity and determination in the 2020 campaigns. APALA teams registered voters and mobilized voter turn-out across the country. She said during the campaign period, “We’re in every state of the country – gearing up for the fight of our lives!”

Riding the wave of activism generated by fighting hate and political success, there are signs that a new generation of activists in the AAPI community are no longer satisfied sitting on the sidelines and see the benefits being more active participants.

If New York is an example of this new energy and wish to take the leap, 2022 should see a repeat. So far, Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies has listed a total of 45 Asian American and Pacific Islander candidates.

AAPI candidates in New York's June 22 primary are led by Andrew Yang, who is running for mayor of New York City (NYC). Reshma Patel is running for New York City Comptroller. 

Several candidates aspire to be NYC Councilmember. They are: Whitney Hu, Shahana Hanif, Julie Won, Mohammed Mujumder, Jaslin Kaur, Neeta Jain, Moumita Ahmed, Soma Syed, Deepti Sharma, Mohammed S. Uddin, Dilip Nath, Felicia Singh, Fatima Baryab; Shekar Krishnan, Suraj Jaswal, Misba Abdin, Jenny Low, Gigi Li, Hailing Chen, Richard Lee, Tricia Shimamura, Neng Wang, John Choe, Heajin “Hailie” Kim, Edwin Wong, Donghui Zang, Yu Lin, April Somboun, Linda Lee, Amit Singh Bagga, and Steven Raga.

“This will be a pivotal moment in Asian American political participation for decades to come, where you’re seeing a community getting politically activated in a way they never have been before,” said Karthick Ramakrishnan, founder of the research group AAPI Data.

Biden condemns white supremacy; urges passage of anti-AAPI hate crimes bill

SCREEN CAPTURE / CBS

President Biden delivers his speech with Vice President Kamala Harris, left, and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi applauding behind him.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Updated April 29, 12:30 pm PDT.

In his first speech in front of the joint Houses of Congress, President Biden once again emphasized his determination to battle the racism and violence against Asian Americans.

"With the plans I outlined tonight, we have a real chance to root out systemic racism that plagues American life in many other ways," said Biden. "A chance to deliver real equity.

"Good jobs and good schools. Affordable housing. Clean air and clean water. Being able to generate wealth and pass it down through generations. Real opportunities in the lives of more Americans – Black, white, Latino, Asian American, Native American.

"I also want to thank the Senate for voting 94—1 to pass the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act to protect Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders from the vicious hate crimes we’ve seen this past year – and for too long," continued the President.

"I urge the House to do the same and send that legislation to my desk as soon as possible."

Last week, the U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passed the bill 94-1, which was authored by Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hi,  with amendments.

The Democratic-majority House of Representatives will look at the bill next month where it will likely pass. If the House approves the Senate version, the measure will go to Biden's desk.  If the House adds its own amendments or rejects the Senate amendments, the bill will go a joint committee to write up a compromise measure.

Because of the COVID-19 health restrictions, only 200 guests were allowed tin the chamber to hear Biden's speech. However, Biden was also speaking to the millions of Americans watching the speech on television.

Recalling the Jan. 6 coup attempt, where insurrectionists carried Confederate and Nazi banners into the Capitol, Biden minced no words, when he said:  

"White supremacy is terrorism, and we're not going to ignore that either. My fellow Americans, look, we have to come together to heal the soul of this nation.” 

Biden has taken a hard stance against the white supremacist movement that the Donald Trump coddled and even encouraged.

Federal law enforcement and analysts within the Department of Homeland Security including the FBI warn that the threat from white supremacist organizations that figured prominently in the Jan. 6 attack will remain a persistent threat in the country in the coming years.

Like other speeches before Congress by other Presidents in recent years, the partisanship of the Congressional members was plainly evident. Democrats repeatedly gave standing ovations while Republicans mainly sat on their hands.

A CBS poll reported that 85% of those voters who watched the speech liked what Biden had to say.

Biden began his speech by acknowledging the two powerful women sitting behind him. "Madame Speaker.  Madame Vice President," referring to  Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Vice President Kamala Harris.

"No president has ever said those words from this podium, and it’s about time," he said to applause.

RELATED: Kamala Harris had a message for the AAPI communities

In his speech, Biden recounted the success of his coronavirus vaccine rollout and introduced ambitious plans to create jobs through his infrastructure initiative and reform immigration, which means undoing many of Trump's racist-based policies. 

He also made an impassioned plea to raise taxes on corporations and the richest  Americans to help pay for his ambitious $1.8 trillion "American Families Plan," which could have as big impact on the American middle-class as President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal.

"It's time for corporate America and the wealthiest 1% of Americans to pay their fair share - just pay their fair share," Biden said. Many of the countryi's corporations and rich pay zero taxes because of tax loopholes that Biden want's to tackle.

“I am so grateful to President Biden for giving voice to the pain in the Asian American community in tonight’s speech,” said Rep. Judy Chu, chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.

“Coming in the midst of a pandemic and recession, the President’s first address to a joint session of Congress is one I know many Americans are paying attention to. And so to have the President use this platform to help call attention to the rise in anti-Asian hate crimes we have seen over the past year, and what we can do to stop it, is significant," she said in a statement after the speech.

"The most important step in ending this bigotry and violence is to put an end to state-led xenophobia and urge communities to come together in support of each other, which is precisely what President Biden did tonight by calling out hate speech and calling for unity. And it shows that, after years of being largely invisible, the Asian American community’s needs and fears are being heard at the highest level." 

For this year’s speech, Chu invited Robert Peterson, the son of Yong Ae Yue, one of the eight people killed by a gunman who targeted three Asian-owned spas in Georgia last month, to be her virtual guest.

"I believe this is a time for all Americans to come together to fight bias and racial violence whenever we see it,” said Peterson. “I so appreciate President Biden addressing the hate against the AAPI community and challenging all of us to see humanity in one another. 

"With additional protections for Asian Americans through legislation, I pray that no one will ever have to deal with the horrible murder of my mother that I did simply because of who she was and where she worked."

President, Vice President meet with AAPI Congressional leaders

SCREEN CAPTURE / CNN

AAPI Congressional leaders met Thursday with President Biden and Vice President Harris.

The leadership of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) met Thursday with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris in the Oval Office to discuss critical priorities for the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. 

“Our meeting today was warm and addressed a number of urgent priorities," said Rep. Judy Chu, chair of the Caucus, "like the importance of passing the American Jobs Plan, combatting anti-Asian hate crimes, addressing COVID-19 disparities, fixing our broken immigration system, increasing AAPI representation in senior government roles, prioritizing data disaggregation and language access, reauthorizing the White House Initiative on AAPIs, and reaffirming the federal government’s commitment to advancing Native Hawaiian rights."

Besides giving the AAPI Congressional delegation a face-to-face meeting with Biden and Harris, it gave the President the opportunity to smooth over any ruffled feathers caused by not having an AAPI Secretary in his Cabinet,  the first time since 2000 that Asian Americans were absent among the President's top advisors.

Biden highlighted his recent Statement of Administration Policy that condemns in the strongest possible terms the increasing acts of anti-Asian bias, harassment and violence, and conveyed his ongoing support of the legislation introduced by Senator Mazie Hirono and Congresswoman Grace Meng, which moved forward in the Senate Thursday with overwhelming bipartisan support.

The President and Vice President Harris, the first Asian American in that post, shared their vision in the American Jobs Plan to invest in shared CAPAC infrastructure priorities, including care economy infrastructure and digital infrastructure.

A day earlier, Biden named Erika Moritsugu as Deputy Assistant to the President and AAPI Senior Liaison, a position the White House promised after Senators Mazie Hirono, D-HI, and Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill, threatened to withhold their votes on Biden's other non-diversity nominees that would prevent their appointments.

"I know first-hand that @POTUS will benefit from Erika's counsel, policy expertise & strong relationship-building skills as he seeks to ensure AAPI leaders are present at the highest levels of government," tweeted Duckworth, who employed Mortsugu as the senator's general counsel.

The CAPAC delegation included Chu, First Vice Chair Rep. Grace Meng, Second Vice Chair Rep. Mark Takano, Freshman Representative Kaiali‘i Kahele, Senators Duckworth and Hirono, and Rep. Doris Matsui. 

Chu listed the other topics discussed: “I am also pleased that we were able to discuss the importance of ensuring that AAPI history is included in educational curricula. We also underscored the importance of creating a Smithsonian Asian Pacific American History Museum to ensure that all Americans understand the rich history and contributions of the AAPI community. And we discussed the need to prioritize AAPI data disaggregation and language access as a critical component of the President’s strong commitment to advancing racial equity throughout the federal government."

President Biden names his "liaison" to AAPI communities

ERIKA MORTSUGU, 

President Biden Wednesday selected Capitol Hill veteran Erika Moritsugu as the White House "liaison" to the AAPI community, fulfilling an earlier pledge to Senators Mazie Hirono and Tammy Duckworth.

Moritsugu's official title will be Deputy Assistant to the President and Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Senior Liaison. Moritsugu is expected to report to Bruce Reed, Biden’s deputy chief of staff.

The pending appointment comes after Hirono and Duckworth threatened to wthhold their votes on White House nominees unless Biden included AAPIs among the White House senior advisors. With the Senate split evenly between Republicans and Democrats, any Democratic defections or abstentions could doom the nominees' chances.

To appease the senators and other AAPI members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus who were disappointed that no Asian Americans hold a Cabinet Secretary position, the White House promised to appoint a senior advisor to act as a "liaison." 

Biden is scheduled to meet with the leadership team of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus in the Oval Office on Thursday.

The California-born and Hawaii-raised attorney served as the Assistant Secretary for Congressional and Intergovernmental Relations at the Department of Housing and Urban Development under the leadership of Secretary Julián Castro in the Obama Administration after being confirmed by the Senate in 2014.

Moritsugu was recently appointed as the Vice President of a newly formed Congressional Relations team to lead an enterprise-wide advocacy strategy across all of the Partnership’s program areas, including economic justice and health justice. Prior to her work at the National Partnership, Moritsugu led the Government Relations, Advocacy and Community Engagement team at the Anti-Defamation League, a leading anti-hate organization that was founded in 1913 in response to an escalating climate of antisemitism and bigotry.

Moritsugu has diverse and deep experience on Capitol Hill and within governmental agencies. Moritsugu served as the General Counsel for Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, for whom she provided legislative and political strategic counsel and managed the Senator’s AAPI outreach and judiciary, civil rights and economic policies. 

She was the Deputy Assistant Director for Legislative Affairs at the newly-established Consumer Financial Protection Bureau; Deputy Legislative Director for Senator Daniel K. Akaka of Hawai’i focused on economic policy and health issues; and held several different roles at the Senate Democratic Policy Committee under Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, including Acting Staff Director and Policy Director and economic policy advisor. 

Before recommitting to a career in public service, she practiced international trade, legislative, and immigration law at Hogan and Hartson and managed grassroots and coalition-building campaigns at The Wexler Group.

With Moritsugu named, AAPI leaders continue to seek more appointments of AAPI. With the withdrawal of Neera Tanden for consideration as director of the Office of Management and Budget, Biden only has Vice President Kamala Harris and Trade Representative Katherine Tai present during the Cabinet meetings.

Among the top nominees for OMB director is Nani Coloretti, a Filipino American who served as deputy secretary of housing and urban development in the Obama administration.

Initially, AAPI leaders submitted several names to replace Tanden but decided to rally around a single candidate. If Coloretti is chosen to head OMB, she would be the first Filipino American to serve in a U.S. President's Cabinet.

Coloretti "fits the bill. She worked at OMB as a career official," said Shekar Narasimhan, chairman of the AAPI Victory Fund, which is backing Coloretti. "She’s been confirmed by the Senate. She would be enormously valuable to us if they make the appointment. It sends a very strong signal to our community.”

AsAm US Senators deliver ultimatum for better AAPI representation in the Biden administration

Senators Tammy Duckworth, left, and Mazie Hirono.

Senators Tammy Duckworth of Illinois and Mazie Hirono of Hawaii backed off on their threat to withhold voting for President Biden's nominees until AAPI representation in Biden's Cabinet improved.

Duckworth and Hirono, the only Asian American members of the US Senate,  reflected AAPI leaders' frustration with the lack of an AAPI senior Cabinet member despite Biden's vow to have his cabinet "look like America."

With the Senate evenly split between the GOP and Democrats, a "no" vote by Duckworth and/or Hirono would effectively guarantee a nominee's rejection.

Hours after their announcement, the White House said that a senior liaison would be appointed to make sure that AAPI concerns are voiced and addressed.

With the announcement of the liaison to night, Duckworth’s spokesman said the senator would not stand in the way of “qualified nominees — which will include more AAPI leaders.”

“Senator Duckworth appreciates the Biden Administration’s assurances that it will do much more to elevate AAPI voices and perspectives at the highest levels of government, including appointing an AAPI senior White House official to represent the community, secure the confirmation of AAPI appointments and advance policy proposals that are relevant and important to the community,” spokesman Ben Garmisa said in a statement.

Hirono also said that she would vote yes for qualified nominees. 

Since the November election, AAPI leaders have been lobbying heavily for AAPI representatives for Biden's Cabinet, even submitting a list of prospective qualified nominees. Most of them never even received a call, according to Duckworth.

Biden's Cabinet is the first Presidential Cabinet since 2000 to not include an AAPI Secretary.

The two AAPI senators met virtually with senior Biden officials Monday evening to express their frustration at the lack of AAPI representation in the Biden Cabinet.

“To be told that, well, you have (Vice President) Kamala Harris, we’re very proud of her, you don’t need anybody else, is insulting,” Duckworth said.

“That is not something you would say to the Black Caucus — ‘Well you have Kamala, we’re not going to put any more African Americans in the Cabinet because you have Kamala,’” said Duckworth, according to the New York Times.

“Why would you say it to AAPI?” she added.

Tuesday morning, Duckworth told the White House that she would reject Biden's "non-diversity" nominees. Hirono made a similar statement. The offer of senior liaison was offered only after the Senators expressed their frustration and issued their ultimatum.

AAPI still not over being snubbed for Biden's cabinet.

Asian Americans will not be at the table when President Joe Biden's Cabinet meets

OPINION

President Joe Biden's executive memo condemning the hate and racism being aimed at Asian and Pacific Islander Americans has done little to sooth the hurt for not getting an AAPI named to a single Cabinet Secretary.

“The brazen exclusion" of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders "abandons and erases the AAPI community,” said Madalene Mielke, president and CEO of the Asian Pacific American Institute of Congressional Studies.

“It’s insulting and frustrating,” Mielke, told USA Today. “Part of the reason Asian Americans vote is that they’re looking for people who can represent them. And it stings, because it looks like we’re regressing.”

“Yes, I am profoundly disappointed also that there is not a member of the AAPI community at the Cabinet secretary level,” said Sen. Tammy Duckworth in a statement. “And I think that for a Cabinet that is so historically diverse, to not have someone of AAPI descent at the Cabinet level is a real missed opportunity.

“I think it sends two messages,” said the Illinois Congressmember. “One, that you’re not important to us, you’re not diverse enough, you’re not important to us. And the other is that you can be taken for granted.

“AAPIs have 4% of the vote in many, many states — that’s the margin of victory in many, many states … it just says that potentially we’re taking AAPIs for granted,” she added. “And I’m just going to make sure we send a message that we will not take AAPIs for granted. That the AAPI community is just as important to this nation as those of other community groups and that AAPIs are Americans just like everyone else.”

Duckworth‘s comments came the same day Biden signed a memorandum condemning racism and xenophobia against AAPIs spurred by the coronavirus pandemic.

AAPI voters cast their ballots for Biden in overwhelming numbers and acted as swing voters in some districts and states so criticizing Biden is not something that comes easy for some.

“As much as I view myself as a friendly ally of this president," said Rep. Mark Takano. "I think he’s erred in [that] he has chosen to exclude Asian Americans from his 15 Cabinet secretaries."

Settling for the crumbs is something AAPI is all too familiar with. The danger is if AAPI voters who became more engaged in the November election or in Georgia's runoff vote for Senate feel that their effort was for naught, they may begin to wonder if their political involvement is worth the effort.

Former Congressmember Dan Honda emphasized that the people Biden chose were well qualified and that his Cabinet is one of the more diverse, but without an AAPI Secretary, it doesn't "look like America," a boast Biden promised during the campaign.

Critics say that picking Neera Tanden to head the Office of Management and Budget and Katherine Tai for the U.S. Trade Representative post are fine selections, their positions don't carry the weight as a Cabinet Secretary.

The only hope for AAPI may fall Vice President Kamala Harris shoulders to make sure that the AAPI voice is heard during the Cabinet meetings.

“When we’re out of the picture, then we’re not part of America,” said  Honda. “And then all we’re good for is photos and contributions of votes, but not for a seat at America’s table.”

EDITOR'S NOTE; A word of caution. This is an opinion piece. Readers should consult several sources of news to form their own opinion.

'Hell, no!' says Sen. Mazie Hirono as partisan Senate vote Amy Coney Barrett onto the U.S. Supreme Court

SCREEN CAPTURE

Sen. Mazie Hirono gives a thumbs down on Amy Coney Barrett's nomination for SCOTUS.

Amy Coney Barrett is the newest Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. She was confirmed to the Supreme Court on Monday night by a narrow party-line vote in the Senate; Democrats against, Republicans for. Only one Republican, Maine's Susan Collins, crossed the aisle to vote against Barrett.

All three Asian American senators voted against Barrett and Hawaii's Sen. Mazie Hirono did it in dramatic fashion, walking up to the front desk with an emphatic "Hell no!" and to make sure there was no doubt, a dramatic thumbs down.

'LGBTQ rights. Voting rights. Women’s equality. Health Care. These rights didn’t materialize out of thin air – they came after hard-fought battles.

'Judge Barrett’s radical views and her disregard for real-world impacts show #WhatsAtStake if she is confirmed to the Supreme Court,' Hirono tweeted earlier.  

Sen. Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee for Vice President, said, “The American people see this confirmation for what it is: an illegitimate move that will set our country back for generations. Access to health care is now in jeopardy. Our voting rights are now in jeopardy. Workers’ rights are now in jeopardy. LGBTQ equality is now in jeopardy. The right to a safe and legal abortion is now in jeopardy. The ability to address a changing climate is now in jeopardy. And so much more.

“I share the American people’s outrage at this rushed process to confirm a nominee who has the potential to do great harm.”

Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth called the entire questionable process of selecting Coney Barrett, “Infuriating, awful and illegitimate.”

Since Barrett was announced as Trump’s pick for the Supreme Court, Duckworth has been vocal about her opposition to this appointment. When Barrett was first nominated, the Duckworth responded: “instead of addressing the many life-and-death issues facing working families during COVID-19, Trump and the Senate Republicans are focused on jamming through this nomination in a transparent grab for power so they can achieve their long-sought goal of repealing the Affordable Care Act and ripping away healthcare from millions – including every COVID-19 survivor who now has a pre-existing condition.”

“Judge Barrett was not fit to be a Circuit Judge in 2017 and she is the wrong choice for a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court today.”

After the Senate vote, Coney Barrett was sworn in twice. The first ceremony Justice Clarence Thomas did the first swearing in without any of the other justices present. Later Monday, she was sworn in again in a more traditional ceremony with Chief Justice Roberts and the other justices (with the exception of Justice Breyer) in attendance.

Coney Barrett, 48, will give the High Court a solid 6-3 conservative majority and will shape the law and the country for generations. In her first term, she is expected to take part in decisions affecting a woman's right to choose, the Affordable Care Act, same-sex marriage and most immediately, possibly the legitimacy of the Nov. 3 presidential election.

EDITOR'S NOTE: A word of caution, this is news sprinkled with opinion. Readers are encouraged to seek multiple news sources to formulate their own positions. 

Trump's Supreme Court nominee is an insult to Senator Tammy Duckworth

SCREEN CAPTURE / NBC

Sen. Tammy Duckworth (in wheelchair) brought her infant daughter to the floor of the U.S. Senate.

There are plenty of reasons to vote against placing Amy Coney Barrett on the U.S. Supreme Court but for Sen. Tammy Duckworth, her opposition is deeply personal.

In her 50s, the Illinois senator gave birth to the first of her two daughters. For both of children, she used in vitro fertilization, or IVF, to help her conceive.

She was the first senator to give birth while in office and was the first senator allowed to bring her newborn to the floor of the Senate.

On Oct. 2, she wrote a letter to her Senate colleagues describing  ultra-conservative Barrett as someone who "appears to believe that my daughters shouldn't even exist" and says, "I write to each of you today, and especially to my Republican colleagues who cooed and cuddled Maile when she first visited the Capitol, in hopes that you will fully consider the very real impact your vote on this unprecedented nomination could have on those Americans hoping to start families of their own."

Duckworth's letter was responding to media reports last week that Barrett and her husband, Jesse, had signed an anti-abortion ad in 2006 in the South Bend (Ind.) Tribune from an organization known then as St. Joseph County Right to Life, which became part of Right to Life Michiana, which supports criminal penalties for doctors who perform abortion, and for doctors who discard embryos as part of IVF treatments, said Executive Director Jackie Appleman to NPR.

Among the positions the group has taken is criminal penalties for doctors who perform abortion, and for doctors who discard embryos as part of IVF treatments.

"Whether embryos are implanted in the woman and then selectively reduced or it's done in a petri dish and then discarded, you're still ending a new human life at that point and we do oppose that," Appleman told The Guardian.

"Judge Barrett's willingness to associate her name to such an organization is is, disqualifying, and frankly, insulting to every parent, hopeful parent or would-be parent who has struggled to start a family," Duckworth wrote in her letter. 

"I hope you will join me in speaking out for every American family who has struggled with infertility by opposing this confirmation," Duckworth concluded.