Press Releases
June 6, 2016
Today, leaders of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) sent a letter to Airlines for America President Nicholas Calio calling for clearer guidance on racial profiling. The letter comes after a series of recent incidents on airlines where perceived or actual Muslim and Arab Americans were suspected of terrorism or asked to deplane without concrete evidence. Rep. Judy Chu (CA-27), Chair of CAPAC, released the following statement:
May 25, 2016
On Tuesday, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, and Science (CJS) adopted language requesting the Department of Justice Office of Inspector General to investigate whether there exists a pattern or practice of using race, national origin, and other civil rights classifications to target Federal employees and other Americans. The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) pushed for the language following recent high-profile arrests of Chinese-American scientists wrongfully accused of espionage only to have those charges later dropped. The amendment, offered by Rep. Mike Honda, the Ranking Member of the CJS Appropriations Subcommittee, was adopted by voice vote and included into the CJS Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 2017.
Issues:Civil and Voting Rights
May 25, 2016
On Tuesday, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, and Science (CJS) adopted language requesting the Department of Justice Office of Inspector General to investigate whether there exists a pattern or practice of using race, national origin, and other civil rights classifications to target Federal employees and other Americans. The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) pushed for the language following recent high-profile arrests of Chinese-American scientists wrongfully accused of espionage only to have those charges later dropped. The amendment, offered by Rep. Mike Honda, the Ranking Member of the CJS Appropriations Subcommittee, was adopted by voice vote and included into the CJS Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 2017. Rep. Judy Chu (CA-27), Chair of CAPAC, released the following statement:
Issues:Civil and Voting Rights
May 25, 2016
Today, the House Judiciary Committee held a markup of H.R. 5203, the “Visa Integrity and Security Act of 2016.” The bill adds new restrictions and burdens on those visa applicants and asylum seekers, including DNA testing at the expense of the applicant and social media background checks. Rep. Judy Chu (CA-27) introduced an amendment that would create an exemption from the social media background check for applicants fleeing domestic violence. The amendment failed 14-8 along party lines.
Issues:ImmigrationWomen's Rights
May 23, 2016
Washington, D.C. – Today, the House of Representatives unanimously approved a bill to rename the Sierra Madre, CA post office after Sergeant Louis Van Iersel, an immigrant, father, husband, and veteran who lived in Sierra Madre. The bill was introduced by Rep. Judy Chu (CA-27) who represents the area. Rep. Chu released the following statement:
Issues:Veterans
May 18, 2016
Washington, DC – Yesterday, Members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) held a press conference calling on President Obama to nominate the late Colonel Young Oak Kim for the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Issues:My Caucuses
May 17, 2016
Today, Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi named Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA) as one of the Democrats who will serve on a conference committee to complete legislation addressing the opioid epidemic. The conference committee was selected to reconcile the 18 opioid bills passed by the House of Representatives last week with the single opioid measure passed by the Senate in March. The compromise legislation reconciled by the conference committee will then be resubmitted to the House and Senate for final approval.
Issues:Crime and SafetyHealth Care
May 17, 2016
Today, the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Homeland Security, and Investigations held a hearing entitled “Synthetic Drugs, Real Danger.” The purpose of this hearing is to examine the growing problem of the manufacture and use of synthetic drugs and law enforcement responses.
Issues:Crime and Safety
May 17, 2016
On Friday, May 13, Rep. Judy Chu (CA-27), Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), and Rep. Grace Napolitano (CA-32), Chair of the Congressional Mental Health Caucus, introduced legislation to curb mental health stigma in the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. H.R.5234, the Stop Mental Health Stigma in Our Communities Act, instruct the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to provide outreach and education strategies for the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community by partnering with local advocacy and behavioral health organizations that have an established record of serving AAPIs. These strategies will increase awareness of symptoms of mental illness common among AAPI populations, provide linguistically and culturally appropriate interventions, and encourage individuals and communities to use a comprehensive, public health approach when addressing mental and behavioral health.
Issues:Health CareMy Caucuses
May 13, 2016
n Thursday, May 12, the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee hosted a hearing entitled “The Zika Public Health Crisis: the Urgent Need for the President’s Emergency Funding Request.” Witnesses at the hearing included Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the Honorable Mitch Landrieu, Mayor of the City of New Orleans, and Dr. Anne Schuchat, Principal Deputy Director at the Centers for Disease Control. Rep. Judy Chu (CA-27), a member of the committee, attended the hearing and participated in the discussion on the importance of the federal government in supporting efforts to combat the spread of the Zika virus in the United States. Earlier this week, Rep. Chu also met with the San Gabriel Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District about their efforts to combat mosquitos and mosquito-borne diseases like Zika and West Nile Virus. This work includes a public awareness campaign to halt the spread of the invasive Aedes mosquito, which has begun to spread throughout the greater Los Angeles area.