NaFFAA Celebrates the Launch of the White House Initiative for Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders (WHIAANHPI)

WHIAANHPI’s co-chair, Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra is a long-time ally of our community, having been a member of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC). He continues to build trust and engagement with our community as he advances health equity with his team. His co-chair, US Trade Representative Katherine Tai is among the highest ranking Asian Americans in the Biden Administration, and is the first woman of color to head the Office of U.S. Trade Representative.

NaFFAA also congratulates WHIAANHPI’s new Executive Director, Krystal Ka’ai, who was previously the longest-serving Executive Director of CAPAC and is a tireless advocate of the community.

NaFFAA National Chair Brendan Flores says, “The Filipino American community appreciates the zeal and focus of the Biden Administration to assign senior leaders from different departments to address the concerns of AANHPIs. We pledge to continue to work with The White House initiative on efforts including:

• To improve safety, access to justice, and violence prevention for AA and NHPI communities, including by preventing, reporting, addressing, and better tracking acts of hate and bias (such as acts of hate and bias at the intersection of gender-based violence)
• To promote inclusion and belonging for AA and NHPI communities, including by expanding public education and knowledge of AA and NHPI people and their diverse cultures, languages, and histories
• To identify ways to foster the recruitment, career and leadership development, retention, advancement, and participation of AA and NHPI public servants at all levels of the Federal workforce

We look forward to AANHPIs being an active part of the recovery of the economy, as they have been in addressing the health crisis of the pandemic. We also look forward to the reestablishment of the WH Commission on AANHPIs next year.”