#297 12/11 Webinar - Ted Lieu; Gene Wu; Andy Kim; New CAPAC Leadership; AAJC

In This Issue #297

·       Ted Lieu to Deliver Remarks at Tomorrow's Land Ownership Webinar

·       Gene Wu Elected Chair of Texas Democratic Caucus

·       Andy Kim Sworn in as U.S. Senator for New Jersey

·       CAPAC Elected New Leadership

·       AAJC Calls for Sign-on to Open Letter on Select Committee on CCP

·       News and Activities for the Communities

Ted Lieu to Deliver Remarks at Tomorrow's Land Ownership Webinar

U.S. Representative Ted W. Lieu 刘云平 will deliver the opening remarks at the webinar co-hosted by the Committee of 100 and APA Justice titled "The Impact of Land Ownership Exclusion Laws on Diverse Communities" on December 11, 2024.   On November 19, 2024, Rep. Lieu was reelected as Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus, the fourth-highest position in House Democratic leadership.  Lieu is a U.S. Air Force veteran and retired from the Reserve with the rank of Colonel.  As a legislator, Lieu has established himself as a leader on artificial intelligence; the environment; cybersecurity; civil liberties; foreign affairs and veterans. As the highest-ranking Asian American in Congress, Lieu continues to champion policies promoting equity, justice, and inclusion.Register to attend the webinar today: https://bit.ly/3CEWK9pWHAT: From Past Prejudice to Present Policy: The Impact of Land Ownership Exclusion Laws on Diverse CommunitiesWHEN: December 11, 2024, 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm ETWHERE: WebinarWHAT: Historically discriminatory policies are reemerging in state legislatures across the U.S. Originally designed to prevent non-citizens, particularly those from AAPI communities, from owning property, these laws are now being reframed as safeguards to national security.  This webinar will discuss whether these laws properly address national security concerns or whether they are merely a pretext that infringes upon civil rights and liberties under the guise of protection. A panel of legal experts and advocates will delve into the history of alien land laws, examine their renewed impact on vulnerable communities and discuss key cases, including a bill recently introduced in Florida. This event is essential for anyone committed to upholding justice and equity in America.  To learn more about current land ownership exclusion legislations, visit Committee of 100’s interactive map, which details specific bills, status, and text. Also, visit APA Justice Alien Land Bills webpage for the latest developments on current lawsuits challenging these laws and more. HOSTS: Committee of 100, APA Justice Moderator: Cindy Tsai, Interim President, Committee of 100Opening Remarks: Ted Lieu, U.S. Representative (CA-36), Vice Chair of the House Democratic CaucusSpeakers:

·       Edgar Chen, Special Policy Advisor, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA)

·       Ashley Gorski, Senior Staff Attorney, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)

·       Gene Wu, Chair of Texas House Democratic Caucus

Closing Remarks: Jeremy Wu, Founder and Co-Organizer, APA Justice; Member, Committee of 100 

REGISTRATION: https://bit.ly/3CEWK9p

Gene Wu Elected Chair of Texas Democratic Caucus

On December 4, 2024, the Texas House Democratic Caucus (HDC) elected Rep. Gene Wu (吴元之) as their new chair.  Gene Wu has been representing District 137 in the Texas House of Representatives since 2013.  He is known for his support of immigration, family and minority groups including Asians and Pacific Islanders, Blacks, and Hispanics. Rep. Gene Wu was the first legislator who brought the alien land laws to the attention of the public nationwide.  He will speak at the webinar on "The impact of Land Ownership Exclusion Laws on Diverse Communities" on December 11, 2024. A dedicated advocate for the Asian Pacific American community in Texas and across the nation, Gene Wu regularly holds town hall meetings and travels nationwide, urging the community to confront the rising threat of anti-Asian legislation at both the state and federal levels. His 26-slide presentation offers a concise overview of the historical anti-Asian issue in the U.S., tracing its roots from the founding of the United States to the "China Week" in the U.S. House of Representatives in September 2024. He also presented this issue during his town hall meeting on September 29, 2024: https://bit.ly/3XN7Ujm (49:37). 

·       Texas Tribune: Houston Rep. Gene Wu to lead Texas House Democrats through GOP-dominated legislative session

·       Houston Chronicle: Houston Rep. Gene Wu chosen as next Democratic leader in Texas House

·       Houston Public Media: Houston Rep. Gene Wu elected Chair of Texas House Democratic Caucus

·       Chron: Houston’s Gene Wu elected Texas House Democratic leader in surprise move

Andy Kim Sworn in as U.S. Senator for New Jersey

On December 8, 2024, Senator-elect Andy Kim was appointed to the United States Senate by Governor Phil Murphy, allowing him to assume office ahead of his elected term beginning on January 3, 2025. The appointment followed Kim’s certification by the Board of State Canvassers as the winner of the Senate race to succeed Bob Menendez. Kim was sworn in on Monday, December 9, 2024, becoming New Jersey’s newest senator.In a brief speech on the Senate floor, Senator Chuck Schumer (D-New York) welcomed Kim, who he called “one of the most respected and admired members of the House Democratic caucus, where his talent was only matched by his decency.”

“Today, I am appointing Senator-elect Andy Kim to the United States Senate so he can begin his term in office before the new year begins,” Murphy said in an official statement.  “Taking this step will allow Senator Kim to embark on the smoothest possible transition into his new role so he can hit the ground running serving the people of New Jersey,” Murphy said.

Senator Kim expressed gratitude for the opportunity: “It’s an honor to get to represent the state that gave my family a chance at the American Dream in the U.S. Senate.  It’s a dream that remains out of reach for too many of our neighbors, and one that I’m ready on day one to fight for. I want to thank Governor Murphy and Senator [George] Helmy for ensuring that New Jersey was well represented during this transition, and look forward to getting to work for the people.”

On November 18, 2024, Senator-elect Kim addressed the APA Justice monthly meeting.  He expressed gratitude to APA Justice for its efforts in addressing anti-Asian hate and discrimination and highlighted the challenges of creating a secure and inclusive environment for all, referencing his personal concerns for his children and elderly parents. Kim emphasized the importance of building coalitions to combat hate and discrimination in all forms, including policies like the China Initiative, which he described as fear-mongering. He pledged to continue fighting these issues in his role as a U.S. Senator and called on others to join him in these efforts.  A summary of the November 18 APA Justice monthly meeting is being prepared at this time.

Read the New Jersey Monitor report: https://bit.ly/3ZJDxfD and Governor Murphy's statement: https://bit.ly/4g6niz0.  

CAPAC Elected New Leadership

On December 4, 2024, the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) announced its leadership for the 119th Congress. Rep. Judy Chu (赵美心, CA-28) transitions to Chair Emeritus. The newly elected leadership includes

·       Rep. Grace Meng (孟昭文, NY-06), Chair

·       Rep. Mark Takano (高野马克, CA-39), First Vice-Chair

·       Rep. Jill Tokuda (德田吉尔, HI-02), Second Vice-Chair

·       Rep. Ami Bera, M.D. (CA-06), Whip

·       Rep.-elect Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10), Freshman Representative

APA Justice and other organizations issued statements reacting positively about the new leadership. 

·       CAPAC Announces Newly Elected Leadership for the 119th Congress

·       APA Justice Applauds New CAPAC Leadership

·       APAICS Applauds Congresswoman Grace Meng’s Election as CAPAC Chair

·       NBC News: Rep. Grace Meng to lead congressional Asian caucus, replacing longtime chair Judy Chu

·       AsAm News: Grace Meng will lead congressional Asian caucus

AAJC Calls for Sign-on to Open Letter on Select Committee on CCP

Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC is preparing to send an open letter to House leadership, opposing the reauthorization of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party (Select Committee). This letter is born out of concern that the harmful and targeted policies supported by the Select Committee—including the revival of the DOJ’s China Initiative as well as various iterations of land laws— will only continue to ratchet up anti-Asian sentiment in the 119th Congress.To read the open letter and sign on, interested organizations are asked to complete this form: https://bit.ly/4950dKv

News and Activities for the Communities

1. APA Justice Community Calendar

Upcoming Events:2024/12/10 National Immigration Inclusion Conference 2024/12/11 Webinar on Alien Land Laws2024/12/22 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/01/05 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/01/06 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2025/01/19 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/02/02 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/02/13-15 2025 AAAS Annual Meeting2025/02/16 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall MeetingVisit 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 APA Justice website at www.apajusticetaskforce.org.As part of its continuing migration to a new website under construction, we have moved the Newsletter webpage to www.apajusticetaskforce.org/newsletters. We value your feedback about the new web page. Please send your comments to contact@apajustice.org.