#371 1/5 Meeting: Chinese American Survey; Gary Locke; National APA Museum; Nation's Data;+

In This Issue #371

·       2026/01/05 Monthly Meeting

·       Webinar on State of Chinese Americans Survey

·       Gary Locke to Receive Elliot L. Richardson Prize

·       National Asian Pacific American Museum Commission: Year-End Update

·       ASA: The Nation’s Data At Risk

·       News and Activities for the Communities

2026/01/05 Monthly Meeting

APA Justice kicked off the new year with its first monthly meeting on Monday, January 5, 2026.  A summary of the meeting is being prepared at this time.

One of the featured speakers was Paul Cheung 鄭文耀, President of the Committee of 100 (C100). In a January 1, 2026 interview with the South China Morning Post, Paul outlined a vision for C100 centered on nuance, people-to-people engagement, and the defense of civil liberties amid heightened U.S.–China tensions. He emphasized C100’s role in providing context—particularly how geopolitical rivalry directly affects Chinese Americans and shapes immigration, scientific exchange, business ties, and public perception.

Paul described C100’s dual mission of addressing domestic civil rights challenges while engaging thoughtfully on broader U.S.–China relations. He highlighted the organization’s cross-sector approach, credible research on issues such as alien land laws and visa policies, and the State of Chinese Americans Survey, which helps inform policymakers and community leaders without functioning as a lobbying effort.

The interview also underscored C100’s diverse leadership and legacy, including figures such as Paula Madison 罗笑娜, Gary Locke 骆家辉, I.M. Pei 貝聿銘, Janet Yang 杨燕子, and Dr. David Ho 何大一, as examples of Chinese Americans’ longstanding contributions to U.S. society. Paul directly addressed recurring “loyalty” questions, affirming his loyalty to the United States while rejecting the conflation of cultural heritage with foreign allegiance.

Looking ahead, Paul emphasized leadership development and renewed people-to-people exchange through C100 initiatives aimed at preparing future leaders and sustaining dialogue despite political and logistical barriers. He defined success in terms of measurable outcomes: leadership advancement, policy impact, stronger partnerships, and effective responses to discrimination.

As a member-driven initiative powered by C100, APA Justice advances fairness, equity, and belonging by protecting constitutional rights, combating racial profiling, and opposing discriminatory policies through coalition work, research, public education, and community mobilization.

Webinar on State of Chinese Americans Survey

WHAT: Perception and Reality: What U.S.–China Relations Mean for Chinese Americans TodayWHEN: Wednesday, January 21, 2026, 4:00 PM ET / 1:00 PM PTWHERE: WebinarHOSTS: Committee of 100; NORC at the University of ChicagoModerator: Sheryl WuDunn, Executive, Lecturer, and Pulitzer Prize-Winning JournalistPresenter: Sam Collitt, Research and Data Scientist, Committee of 100Panelists:

· Madeline Y. Hsu, Professor of History, University of Maryland, College Park

· Ian Shin, Assistant Professor of History and American Culture, University of Michigan

DESCRIPTION:  Committee of 100 partnered with NORC at the University of Chicago, one of the nation’s largest independent social research organizations, to conduct its third annual State of Chinese Americans Survey. This one-of-a-kind national survey examines U.S. public views on issues affecting Chinese Americans, building on insights from the previous two surveys. The research focuses on the cultural, health, and sociopolitical situations of today’s Chinese American population. Join the webinar for the launch of the first in a four-part series featuring national data on Americans’ views of U.S.–China relations, related domestic policies, and their impact on Chinese Americans.

REGISTRATION: https://bit.ly/45evQ3s

Gary Locke to Receive Elliot L. Richardson Prize

WHAT: Elliot L. Richardson Prize for Exceptional Public Service

WHEN: Wednesday, January 28, 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.

WHERE: Ronald Reagan International Trade Building, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20004

HOST: The National Academy of Public Administration

DESCRIPTION: Secretary Janet L. Yellen, American Economist, former Treasury Secretary and former Chair of the Federal Reserve of the United States, and Governor Gary F. Locke, former U.S. Ambassador to China, U.S. Secretary of Commerce and Washington State Governor, will receive the Elliot L. Richardson Prize for Excellence in Public Service.

Please join us in celebrating this year’s honorees for their extraordinary public service—an embodiment of the values championed by Elliot Richardson. A beacon of integrity and principled leadership, Richardson was a Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration and served in four Cabinet-level roles, including Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare; Secretary of Defense; Attorney General; and Secretary of Commerce.

REGISTRATION: https://bit.ly/4jvoeQc

National Asian Pacific American Museum Commission: Year-End Update

Established by the 117th Congress, the Commission to Study the Potential Creation of a National Museum of Asian Pacific American History and Culture is charged with delivering a comprehensive plan to the President and Congress to lay the groundwork for authorizing a national museum in Washington, D.C. honoring the achievements, history, and lasting impact of Asian Pacific Americans.

Formally launched in April 2025, the bipartisan, congressionally appointed Commission began its work with a ceremonial swearing-in at the Library of Congress in June. Over its first eight months, the Commission has engaged hundreds of community members nationwide—including scholars, cultural leaders, and institutions across dozens of states—to help shape a roadmap for a future museum.

In October, the Commission initiated a national listening tour, visiting New Jersey, Louisiana, and Northern California to gather extensive oral and written public input. These conversations have focused on how a national museum can authentically reflect the depth, diversity, and complexity of the Asian Pacific American experience. Additional site visits and community engagement are planned for 2026.

The Commission also announced the selection of SmithGroup, a nationally recognized, research-driven design and planning firm, to evaluate potential museum locations and associated costs. This analysis will inform the Commission’s final report, to be delivered to Congress and the President in October 2026.

Co-Chairs Chiling Tong 董繼玲 and Jay Xu 许杰 emphasized that this progress would not be possible without the support of donors and partners nationwide. As the year concluded, the Commission highlighted the historic opportunity to shape how Asian Pacific American histories are preserved and shared for generations to come and encouraged continued public engagement and support.

With sustained momentum and broad community participation, 2026 is expected to be a pivotal year as the Commission advances toward congressional authorization of the nation’s first National Asian Pacific American Museum.

Visit nationalapamuseum.org to learn more about the Commission’s work.

ASA: The Nation’s Data At Risk

The December 2025 report by the American Statistical Association (ASA) highlights the critical challenges facing the U.S. federal statistical system, which is experiencing unprecedented strain due to staff losses, funding shortfalls, and threats to statistical integrity. These issues have hindered agencies’ ability to innovate, engage data users, and fulfill their missions, jeopardizing the availability of accurate, timely, and credible statistics essential for evidence-based policymaking, economic management, and public trust.

Key findings include:

1.     Fragile Capacity and Eroding Trust: Agencies have lost significant staff, including senior managers and data scientists, leading to reduced innovation and delays in data releases. Public trust in federal statistics has declined from 57% in June 2025 to 52% in September 2025.

2.     System Challenges: The decentralized structure of the statistical system hinders cross-agency collaboration, with no dedicated funding for system-wide initiatives. Barriers to data-sharing and outdated IT systems further limit efficiency and modernization.

3.     Innovation Obstacles: Agencies face declining resources, procedural barriers, and a weakened culture of innovation. Advisory committees have been disbanded, and staff losses have curtailed modernization efforts.

4.     Disconnect with Congressional Support: Despite the critical role of federal statistics, agencies remain underfunded due to the fragmented appropriations process and lack of consistent advocacy.

The report provides nine new recommendations to address these challenges, including lifting hiring freezes, funding system-wide innovation, improving data accessibility, enhancing trust in federal statistics, and fostering cross-agency leadership development. It also calls for professional associations and stakeholders to strengthen advocacy and engagement with policymakers to secure adequate resources and support for statistical agencies.

The report concludes that immediate action is needed to halt the decline of the federal statistical system and restore its capacity to deliver high-quality, trustworthy data that supports the nation’s governance, economy, and well-being.

The report has spurred significant concern among experts and the public about the health of federal statistics.  According to Federal News Network, “bedrock” federal data sets are disappearing as U.S. statistical agencies struggle with steep staffing and funding cuts, undermining the government’s ability to produce the high-quality data that underpin economic policy and public decision-making.

Most agencies have lost 20–30% of their staff this year, and some surveys have been delayed, suspended, or canceled altogether. Former U.S. Chief Statistician Nancy Potok warned that “many statistical products just disappeared,” noting that cuts to contracts, funding, and personnel have left agencies unable to meet their missions. The Education Department’s National Center for Education Statistics, for example, now has just three employees following major workforce reductions.

Mike Calabria, the current U.S. chief statistician, emphasized the need to strengthen data security and reverse the “long-term decline in response rates,” saying that people are less likely to participate if they don’t trust how their information will be protected.

News and Activities for the Communities

1. APA Justice Community Calendar

Upcoming Events:2026/01/13 Conversations, Recollections, Pioneers and Heroes: Leroy Chiao2026/01/21 Perception and Reality: What U.S.–China Relations Mean for Chinese Americans Today

2026/01/28 Elliot L. Richardson Prize for Exceptional Public Service

2026/01/29-30 The Jimmy Carter Forum on U.S.-China Relations2026/02/02 APA Justice Monthly Meeting

2026/02/11 Conversations, Recollections, Pioneers and Heroes: BD WongVisit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 

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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 atwww.apajusticetaskforce.org. We value your feedback. Please send your comments to contact@apajustice.org.