#376 Message from Rep. Judy Chu; Gary Locke Honored; Chinese Americans; Science Reports; +

In This Issue #376

·      New Year Message from Rep. Judy Chu

·      Gary Locke Honored for His Public Service

·      U.S.–China Rhetoric Shapes the Lives of Chinese Americans

·      Science: Tables Turned and Brain Drain

·      News and Activities for the Communities

New Year Message from Rep. Judy Chu

In a Lunar New Year message to APA Justice during the monthly meeting on February 2, 2026, Congresswoman Judy Chu 赵美心—Chair Emerita of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC)—welcomed the Year of the Horse as a time to renew energy, focus, and commitment to the issues impacting Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities. Reflecting on her 2015 call to organize against the growing racial profiling of Chinese scientists and researchers, Rep. Chu credited that moment with helping catalyze the formation of the APA Justice Task Force. She expressed deep appreciation for APA Justice leaders, including Jeremy Wu 胡善庆, Steven Pei 白先慎, and Vincent Wong 王文奎, whose sustained advocacy over the past decade has been critical in confronting discrimination, defending civil rights, and educating the community.

Rep. Chu highlighted major civil rights battles of the past year, including efforts to block discriminatory state and federal laws restricting land ownership by Chinese and other immigrant communities under the guise of national security. She underscored her leadership in reintroducing the Preemption of Real Property Discrimination Act with Rep. Al Green, removing discriminatory language from the defense spending bill, and preventing attempts to revive the xenophobic “China Initiative,” which disproportionately targeted Chinese and Chinese American scientists. She warned that national security must never be used as a pretext for racial profiling, particularly as renewed legislative and political efforts threaten hard-won progress.

Looking ahead to 2026, Rep. Chu issued a stark warning about escalating threats under the Trump administration, citing attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion; the dismantling of the White House Initiative on AANHPI communities; assaults on language access; reckless public health decisions affecting hepatitis B prevention; and the terrorizing impact of aggressive ICE enforcement on immigrant families. She reaffirmed her commitment to accountability, transparency, and humane immigration reform, including her Visible Act and Reuniting Families Act. Closing on a note of resolve, Rep. Chu emphasized that organizations like APA Justice are indispensable partners in the fight ahead. “Together,” she affirmed, “we will keep fighting back and keep moving forward this Year of the Horse.”

Amanda Yuen, Legislative Aide to Rep. Judy Chu whose portfolio includes issues affecting the AANHPI community, introduced the video.

Watch the video of Rep. Chu’s new year message: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcOcQG4mTH8 (12:04).

Gary Locke Honored for His Public Service

Former Washington Governor Gary Locke 骆家辉 was awarded the Elliott L. Richardson Prize by the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) on January 28, 2026, recognizing a career defined by public service, integrity, and historic firsts. Locke is the first Chinese American elected governor in the United States and the first Chinese American to serve as U.S. Secretary of Commerce. He received the biennial award alongside former Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. NAPA President and CEO James-Christian Blockwood praised both honorees, stating they “exemplify a model of leadership rooted in commitment, excellence and service that will inspire future generations of public servants.”

Locke told AsAmNews that the honor came as a surprise. “It’s not something that I sought,” he said. “I’m very honored to have been selected and to be in the company of Janet Yellen… and also in the company of so many other very distinguished Americans who have received this award.” The prize honors the legacy of Elliott L. Richardson, the only individual to serve in four U.S. Cabinet positions, and is awarded to leaders who embody his principles of ethical public administration.

Locke’s path to public office began not with political ambition but with community advocacy. Raised in Seattle’s Chinatown, he started his career as an attorney intending to help immigrant families with wills and legal documents. His work preserving Chinatown and expanding Asian American employment opportunities eventually led others to encourage him to run for office. “The more I thought about it, I said, why not me?” Locke recalled. “If we really care about the issues affecting our community… we need to be at the table helping set the policies and making the decisions.”

He often cites his success within his family’s immigrant story. Locke has spoken passionately of his grandfather, who immigrated from China and worked as a houseboy in exchange for English lessons. “It took our family 100 years to move one mile and into the Governor’s Mansion,” he once commented. Reflecting more broadly, Locke said, “Our family’s story is really the story of so many other Asian Americans and really all Americans… wave after wave of people from all around the world… has made America great.”

Looking back, Locke identifies several defining moments: being sworn in as governor, being singled out by President Clinton during a State of the Union address, and later serving under President Obama as Commerce Secretary and U.S. Ambassador to China. Yet his favorite memories remain the town halls across Washington State. “People would just come up on a microphone and just talk about their concerns,” he said. “Meeting people from all walks of life” was the most rewarding part of governing.

Now, Locke serves as the chairman of Locke Global Strategies and on the executive board of the Committee 100. Committee 100 is an organization comprised of prominent Chinese citizens and Chinese Americans that aims to bridge the gap between the U.S and China and to promote the full participation of all Chinese Americans in American society.

In keeping with the prize’s spirit, Locke is donating his award funds to the College Success Foundation, which provides college scholarships to foster youth. “I am really humbled by this award,” Locke said. “And I just hope that I’ve made people proud.”

Gary Locke has made all of us proud.

Read the AsAmNews report: https://bit.ly/4brvBGd.  Watch the video posted by the National Academy of Public Administration: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJuTVuVJdC0 (1:46:35).

U.S.–China Rhetoric Shapes the Lives of Chinese Americans

According to The Hill on January 29, 2026, a new survey conducted by the Committee of 100 in collaboration with NORC at the University of Chicago finds that a majority of Americans (54 percent) believe President Trump’s rhetoric about China negatively affects how people of Chinese descent are treated in the United States. The findings highlight a strong public awareness that U.S.–China relations—and especially the language used by political leaders and the media—have real consequences for Chinese Americans’ daily lives, including their sense of belonging, safety, and mental health. Cindy Tsai, executive vice president and general counsel of the Committee of 100, emphasized this connection, noting the direct impact that rhetoric can have on whether Chinese Americans feel secure and accepted in their own country.

The survey also demonstrates that precision in language matters: respondents reacted more positively toward Chinese Americans when news coverage attributed wrongdoing to the “Chinese government” rather than to “China” broadly, reinforcing the importance of distinguishing governments from people. Despite high levels of unfavorable views of China overall, majorities of Democrats and Republicans support closer U.S.–China cooperation on shared challenges, and only a small minority favor banning Chinese students and researchers from the United States. Together, these findings suggest broad bipartisan recognition that rhetoric and policy choices not only shape foreign relations but also profoundly influence how Americans perceive—and treat—fellow citizens and residents of Chinese descent.

Read The Hill report: https://bit.ly/4qKP3Tb

Science: Tables Turned and Brain Drain

According to a Science opinion on January 29, 2026, for much of the past century, U.S. scientific leadership has been driven by major national research initiatives, often spurred by geopolitical competition. That dominance began to erode about two decades ago as China surged ahead in engineering and materials science, and more recently in medicine and biopharmaceuticals. Guided by long-term planning—especially its 14th Five-Year Plan—China has streamlined clinical trials, reduced costs, accelerated drug approvals, and dramatically expanded its drug development pipeline. As a result, China has reached parity with the U.S. in drug development, with one-third of new drugs licensed by major U.S. pharmaceutical companies now originating there. Despite these shifts, the U.S. response has been muted, reflecting policy drift rather than a coordinated national strategy.

Industry leaders warn that this complacency risks ceding the future of life sciences. They argue the U.S. is prioritizing domestic manufacturing while neglecting the fundamental research that generates long-term value and innovation—effectively “outsourcing innovation.” Beyond economics, the essay urges the U.S. to rethink its zero-sum approach to China, recognizing science as a global public good. America’s historical strengths—sustained public funding and openness to global talent—are weakening, even as cooperation becomes more essential. As the author concludes, just as today’s devices combine American science and Chinese manufacturing, future life-saving medicines may reverse that equation unless the U.S. reengages strategically, collaboratively, and ambitiously.

Read the Science opinion: https://bit.ly/4aoq8yZ

According to a Science report on January 26, 2026, there was a significant loss of STEM Ph.D. employees in the U.S. federal government during Donald Trump's presidency. In 2025, over 10,000 doctoral-trained experts in science, technology, engineering, math (STEM), and health fields left their positions, accounting for 14% of the total STEM Ph.D. workforce in federal agencies. This exodus was part of a broader reduction in the federal workforce, with departures outnumbering new hires by a ratio of 11 to 1 across 14 research agencies analyzed. The National Science Foundation (NSF), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Department of Energy, and U.S. Forest Service were among the hardest hit, losing a significant percentage of their highly trained workforce.

The reasons for these departures varied, with most leaving due to retirements, quitting, or buyout offers. While reductions in force (RIFs) accounted for some exits, other factors such as fear of being fired or disagreements with Trump administration policies also played a role. At NSF, nearly half of the departing STEM Ph.D.s were rotators—academics temporarily working at the agency—whose positions were largely eliminated. The loss of these experts resulted in a substantial reduction in federal work experience, with 106,636 years of experience lost in 2025 alone.

The report underscores the impact of these losses on the affected agencies, which rely heavily on the expertise of STEM Ph.D.s for research and operations. It also provides detailed data analysis and visualizations to illustrate the trends.

Read the Science report on the great government brain drain: https://bit.ly/3ZJPbGu

News and Activities for the Communities

1. APA Justice Community Calendar

Upcoming Events:

2026/02/12 New York Regional Convening and Listening Session

2026/02/17 Asian American Career Ceilings Initiative "Personal Marketing and Mentorship"

2026/03/02 APA Justice Monthly MeetingVisit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details.

2. 02/12 New York Regional Convening and Listening Session

WHAT: New York Regional Convening and Listening Session

WHEN: February 12, 2026, 3:30 - 6:00 pm ET

WHERE: New York University, Kimmel Center, Rosenthal Pavilion, 60 Washington Square South, New York, NY 10012

HOST: National Asian Pacific American Museum Commission

DESCRIPTION:  The National Asian Pacific American Museum Commission is continuing its listening tour across the country and will be in NYC next! We invite anyone interested in learning more about the work of the Commission—including community leaders, academic professionals, and youth—to join us and share your input on what a future National Asian Pacific American Museum could look like. Learn more at www.nationalapamuseum.org.

REGISTRATION: https://bit.ly/3ZhTQ2n

3. Celebrating 250: Building America’s Future Together

WHAT: Celebrating 250 - Building America’s Future TogetherWHEN: May 12-14, 2026

· May 12-13: Legislative Leadership Summit: May 12-13

· May 13: 32nd Annual Awards Gala: May 13

· May 14: Military Leadership Appreciation Luncheon

WHERE: TBDHOST: Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS)

DESCRIPTION: Join the APAICS community this May for our Asian American & Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AA & NH/PI) Heritage Month events!

This year's theme, "Celebrating 250: Building America's Future Together," is dedicated to honoring the deep-rooted legacy of AA & NH/PIs in our country and looking ahead to the future we're forging together.Learn More: https://bit.ly/4t6IgET

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APA Justice Task Force is a non-partisan platform to build a sustainable ecosystem that addresses racial profiling concerns and to facilitate, inform, and advocate on selected issues related to justice and fairness for the Asian Pacific American community.  For more information, please refer to the new APA Justice website under development at www.apajusticetaskforce.org. We value your feedback. Please send your comments to contact@apajustice.org.