Newsletter - #202 Sign-on Letter to President Biden; Alien Land Laws; Florida Appeal/Motion; 8/26 March #202 Sign-on Letter to President Biden; Alien Land Laws; Florida Appeal/Motion; 8/26 March In This Issue #202 Invitation to Sign Letter to President Biden Urging Renewal of US-China Protocol on Scientific and Technological Cooperation Appeal and Motion Filed in Florida Lawsuit Against Discriminatory Alien Land Law Washington Post Reports on Alien Land Bills See You at "The March on Washington" on August 26, 2023 Invitation to Sign Letter to President Biden Urging Renewal of US-China Protocol on Scientific and Technological Cooperation Stanford University Professors Steven Kivelson and Peter F. Michelson issued the following letter calling for faculty members and scholars at U.S. institutions of higher learning to co-sign a letter to President Joe Biden to renew the US-China Protocol on Scientific and Technological Cooperation. Read the letter: https://bit.ly/3KP6wXG Sign on to the letter: https://bit.ly/3qGWC3r WHEN: Before Noon PDT on Thursday, August 24 Please forward to other members of the university community! Dear Colleagues, The US-China Protocol on Scientific and Technological Cooperation is due for renewal by August 27; in less than 6 days. The decision on whether the U.S. will pursue renewal of the Protocol will be made by the White House, mostly likely with discussion led by the National Security Council of the United States. This agreement has been the basis of scientific engagement between the US and China since it was first signed in 1979 and renewed approximately every five years thereafter. For an informative overview of the Protocol and a discussion of the case for renewing it have a look at a recent essay by Deborah Seligsohn, Senior Associate (non-resident) of CSIS. See also recent coverage in the WSJ and in Reuters . If the Protocol is not renewed by the United States - which seems plausible at present moment - it is likely to have significant negative impact on ongoing and future scientific exchanges between the US and China. We believe that the multiple benefits of robust scientific exchange vastly outweigh any security issues that accompany such openness. Furthermore, the Protocol does not commit the US to any specific activities but provides a framework for discussion and developing specific agreements. The US should not slam the door. If you agree with us, please consider signing an open letter to the President of the United States and the members of the National Security Council expressing support for renewing this agreement. This can be done by clicking on this link and following the instructions. You can also read the letter there. Please also consider forwarding this email to other members of the university community who you think might likewise be willing to sign. If you plan to sign, please do so before Noon PDT on Thursday, August 24. Sincerely, Steven Kivelson and Peter Michelson Appeal and Motion Filed in Florida Lawsuit Against Discriminatory Alien Land Law On August 21, 2023, attorneys for the plaintiffs in the Florida lawsuit against Senate Bill (SB) 264 filed an appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit from the Order, entered on August 17, 2023, ECF No. 69, denying Plaintiffs’ Emergency Motion for a Preliminary Injunction. Read the appeal: https://bit.ly/44eexMI Also on August 21, 2023, attorneys for the plaintiffs in the Florida lawsuit moved for the Florida District Court to issue an injunction pending appeal in this matter. Plaintiffs request a decision by Thursday, August 24, 2023. Read the motion: https://bit.ly/3KPkR6h Washington Post Reports on Alien Land Bills On August 21, 2023, the Washington Post published two articles on alien land bills: 2023/08/21 Washington Post : State lawmakers move to ban Chinese land ownership . https://wapo.st/45DMG9S 2023/08/21 Washington Post : Laws banning Chinese from buying property dredge up old history. https://wapo.st/45BdyHA According to these comprehensive reports, in Washington, the White House and federal lawmakers are pursuing ways to constrain Chinese-owned businesses like TikTok amid a bipartisan push to limit China’s reach.Now state legislators have embraced a novel, locally focused tactic aimed at China’s domestic investments: restrictions on Chinese land ownership.Lawmakers in 33 states have introduced 81 bills this year that would prohibit the Chinese government, some China-based businesses and many Chinese citizens from buying agricultural land or property near military bases, according to a Washington Post analysis of data compiled by Asian Pacific American (APA) Justice, an advocacy group. A dozen of the bills are now law in states such as Alabama, Idaho and Virginia.Asian American advocacy groups and legislators have raised alarm that the new bills go beyond national security concerns and could encourage discrimination against Chinese Americans at a time of rising hate crimes — harking back to a time when they were openly barred from owning property.“There is ignorance out there that causes people to think that because you are Chinese you are part of the Chinese government,” said former Texas state representative Martha Wong , a Republican.While most bills also ban land ownership tied to other “foreign adversaries,” including Russia, Iran and North Korea, lawmakers’ rhetoric has focused almost exclusively on China — and some states have gone even further than targeting government entities. A Florida law also restricts land purchases by Chinese citizens with non-tourist visas.Critics say the movement is also being fueled by growing anti-Asian sentiment in the United States, evidenced by a rise in hate crimes that became particularly acute during the coronavirus pandemic.“President Trump calling covid-19 the China virus and kung flu laid the groundwork for people to blame China for their own misfortunes,” said Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.), who is Chinese American and has introduced a bill to combat the landownership restrictions. “Now we see this anti-China fever taking a different route, with politicians trying to gain political points by being more anti-China than the next person.” Wong, 84, testified against several Texas bills by describing how she lived for years as a child in her family’s grocery storage room because no one would rent or sell a home to her Chinese American father. “We do not want backward movement to the type of discrimination my father faced,” she said.The push in states to limit Chinese ownership has extended to Congress, where at least 11 bills aiming to restrict land buys by Chinese businesses and citizens have been introduced over the past three years. None has passed, but several are still pending, and the language from one bill was recently inserted into the National Defense Authorization Act, which passed the Senate last month.Some experts say national security concerns are inflated because China and Chinese investors own a fraction of U.S. agricultural lands. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) report shows Chinese investors own about 1 percent of American agricultural land, and only about 0.03 percent of that is farmland. The rest are agriculturally zoned properties that include rural roads, homesteads and non-farm-related buildings.“For purposes of food security, blocking Chinese or other foreign investors, that argument doesn’t hold a lot of water,” said Joe Glauber , USDA’s chief economist from 2008 to 2014 and now a senior researcher at the International Food Policy Research Institute. “We are already exporting a large portion of what we produce, so it is not a question of needing to keep this stuff at home. As far as farmland is concerned, what China owns is literally a drop in the bucket.”The bills face an uncertain legal future. The American Civil Liberties Union has challenged the constitutionality of the Florida law, making some of the same arguments that caused several state supreme courts to strike down broad bans on land ownership by foreign citizens of Asian countries decades ago, including a pivotal California Supreme Court decision in 1952.“Banning people from buying a house based on where they are from is blatantly unconstitutional,” said Ashley Gorski , a lead attorney in the ACLU case against the state of Florida. “Everyone in the United States is entitled to equal protection under the constitution, including citizens of other countries.”“We expect the political rhetoric on this to escalate and also expect more legislation to be introduced and passed,” said John C. Yang , president and executive director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice, which has been fighting the bills. “Even state legislators want to appear to be tough on China right now, and they are grasping for things that they can control in their own state legislatures to show that they are being tough.” For weeks this summer, South Florida real estate agent Josie Wang says she’s rushed to close property deals for many of her clients. The sales anxiety wasn’t sparked by the usual forces — high interest rates and low inventory.Instead, she was worried that her Chinese clients would soon face new hurdles to buying property in the United States. If the deals weren’t closed quickly, she warned them, they may need to consult an attorney before moving forward.Over the last few months, Montana, Virginia, and North Dakota have all passed legislation restricting the ability of Chinese nationals to buy property. Georgia, Iowa and Kansas, among others, are considering similar legislation.In Florida, which has passed one of the strictest versions of the law, Chinese nationals can’t buy property within 10 miles of any military bases — the state has 21 of them — or critical infrastructure such as airports. Under the law, which is being challenged in court, those who sell property to Chinese immigrants could face stiff penalties, including a $1,000 fine and up to one year in prison.Asked about the concerns among some people in the Asian community, Jeremy Redfern , Florida Governor Ron DeSantis ’s spokesman, didn’t directly respond, writing in an email, “There is no reasonable way of responding to unnamed ‘Asian Americans in Florida.’”For some Chinese nationals and Chinese Americans the new laws have been a hurtful reminder of anti-Asian laws that banned them from immigrating to the United States or buying agriculture property in the country for decades.“This is not right, we live in the 21st Century,” said Winnie Tang , who moved to the United States from China 45 years ago and lives in Miami. The laws, she says, remind her of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 — a 10-year ban on Chinese laborers immigrating to the United States. “We are being singled out to be discriminated against by other people.”“My face is Chinese,” Tang said. “So that means in the future, if I want to buy any property they could use this law to force me to show ID to prove I’m a citizen and not related to the Chinese government … This law gives people the right to discriminate against me openly.”Critics have called such laws discriminatory and the Department of Justice has said about the Florida version of the law: “These unlawful provisions will cause serious harm to people simply because of their national origin, contravene federal civil rights laws, undermine constitutional rights, and will not advance the State’s purported goal of increasing public safety.” Legislation in Texas, which aimed to ban all property ownership by Chinese citizens, died in the House of Representatives after massive protest from the Asian American community. “I don’t think the Republicans fully appreciated was how unbelievably angry the Asian community was,” Democratic state Rep. Gene Wu , who represents a heavily Chinese district in Houston, said.Some Asian Americans say they have experienced more hate crimes since the pandemic began.“This has always been the singular, major discrimination against all Asian Americans,” Wu said. “That Asian Americans are never truly American enough, that Asian Americans are always just a hair’s breadth away from betraying the country and doing whatever their home country tells them to.”The United States has taken drastic measures against Asian Americans before, said Mae Ngai , a professor of Asian American Studies at Columbia University, noting that during World War II, more than 100,000 people of Japanese descent were forced into camps after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.“This is where it leads. It leads to putting so-called enemy aliens in concentration camps. I don’t think it’s a ridiculous proposition,” Ngai said. “We should be very, very concerned.”APA Justice tracks the alien land bills at https://www.apajustice.org/alien-land-bills.html , including a map and a list of state bills at https://bit.ly/43oJ0YI See You at "The March on Washington" on August 26, 2023 On August 26, 2023, a 2023 March on Washington will commemorate the 60th anniversary of the historic March on Washington, organized by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights leaders in 1963, to continue the fight for democracy, social justice and civil rights. Join the King family at the Lincoln Memorial to honor the past, acknowledge the present and march toward a future of progress and equality.Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities will join the March to continue the landmark moment in the struggle against racial profiling and hate. Help to distribute the Yellow Whistles to amplify our voice. Please wear yellow to symbolize our struggle for justice and hope. Show our support of peoples of color and conscience. UCA: 纪念“我有一个梦想”演讲60周年 . UCA诚挚邀请您参加8月26日在林肯纪念堂举办的一场特殊活动，以纪念并见证美国历史的重要时刻。 这是一个值得我们每个人珍视的机会，让我们一同回顾并向前看，思考过去的成就、面对现在的挑战、展望未来的希望。林肯纪念堂作为美国历史的见证者，见证了种族平等、人权尊重和社会进步的重要进程。60年前，马丁·路德·金（Martin Luther King Jr.）在这里发表了那篇永载史册的“我有一个梦想”演讲，为美国的平等与正义倡导奠定了基石，成为了社会变革的象征。 在这个特殊的日子里，我们将一同回望过去，追忆那些勇敢的先驱者们为种族平等而奋斗的历程，从60年前的种种挑战到今天我们所面临的机遇与挑战。我们希望通过这次活动，传承那份坚韧和勇气，汲取历史的智慧，为我们未来的努力指明方向。 2023/08/21 Dragon Eagle TV: 8月26日让我们相聚林肯纪念堂穿越60年见证美国历史 (video 0:39) Back View PDF August 22, 2023 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Programs and Initiatives Explore ways to get involved. Click on a program below to learn more about efforts to combat racial profiling and unfair government policies, or find them in the menu above. Advocacy Read More Advocacy for justice and fairness: our work with policy makers to push for AAPI rights and to ensure justice for AAPI academics and scientists. Community Networking Read More A network giving greater resources and a more assertive voice to the Asian American community. History & Education Read More Learn more about important historical events and cases involving Asian American people and culture. Yellow Whistle Campagn Read More Our partnership with the Yellow Whistle Project to promote self-protection and solidarity against discrimination and violence.

Newsletter - #378 2/26 Webinar; 2/24 Court Hearing; AAJC; Section 702; Alien Land Laws; FY26 R&D Funding #378 2/26 Webinar; 2/24 Court Hearing; AAJC; Section 702; Alien Land Laws; FY26 R&D Funding In This Issue #378 · 02/26 Webinar: Global Competition for Talent & International Students · 02/24 Hearing: Estate of Dr. Jane Wu v. Northwestern · Joanna YangQing Derman: Update from Advancing Justice | AAJC · Section 702 of FISA Expiring · Alien-ating Asians in 21st-Century Land Laws · Advocacy Works: FY26 Federal R&D Funding · News and Activities for the Communities Happy Year of the Horse! Wishing you strength, courage, and joy in every stride this year! (credit: JadeTime) 02/26 Webinar: Global Competition for Talent & International Students WHAT : Global Competition for Talent & International Students WHEN : February 26, 2026, 8:00 pm ET WHERE : Webinar HOSTS : APA Justice, Committee of 100, US-China Education Trust Moderator : Margaret K. Lewis 陸梅吉 , Professor of Law, Seton Hall University School of Law Speakers: · Fanta Aw , Executive Director and CEO of Association of International Educators (NAFSA) · Steven Chu 朱棣文 , Professor of Stanford University and former U.S. Secretary of Energy DESCRIPTION : As geopolitical competition intensifies between the United States and China, the flow of talent and students across borders has become a critical flashpoint. International students – particularly those from China – have enriched American universities, driven innovation, and strengthened people-to-people ties. Yet today, visa restrictions, security concerns, and shifting immigration policies are reshaping the landscape. At the same time, China and other nations are competing aggressively to attract global talent, transforming higher education into an arena of strategic competition. Chinese American students and scholars increasingly find themselves caught in the middle – facing heightened scrutiny, profiling, and questions about their loyalty. This webinar will examine how the U.S.-China relationship is affecting international student mobility, university partnerships, and the global competition for talent. What are the implications of competition for American universities, research ecosystems, and soft power? How are students and scholars navigating new restrictions and uncertainties? How can policies balance openness and U.S. competitiveness? REGISTRATION : https://bit.ly/1-15email 02/24 Hearing: Estate of Dr. Jane Wu v. Northwestern Liz Rao , daughter of Dr. Jane Wu 吴瑛 , spoke at the APA Justice monthly meeting on February 2, 2026. Her remarks are off the record. The Cook County Circuit Court has scheduled an open hearing of the case of Estate of Dr. Jane Wu v Northwestern University on February 24, 2026, starting at 10:00 am CT. Location is Court Room 1906, Richard J Daley Center, 50 W Washington St, Chicago, IL 60602. For those who wish to attend and show support in honor of Dr. Jane Wu, please contact Valentina Dallona (she/her), Political Director, Justice Is Global, at vdallona@justiceisglobal.org . On February 12, 2026, The Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), in partnership with the Federation of Asian Professor Associations (FAPA), announced that more than 1,000 faculty members joined a letter to Northwestern University demanding accountability in the case of Dr. Jane Ying Wu. Read the joint letter: https://buff.ly/GJBbu1r Joanna YangQing Derman: Update from Advancing Justice | AAJC During the APA Justice monthly meeting on February 2, 2026, Joanna YangQing Derman , Director, Advancing Justice | AAJC, reported that AAJC briefed congressional offices on the status of discriminatory land laws, specifically focusing on ongoing litigation in Texas and Florida. AAJC maintains that property restrictions based on nationality or presumed foreign affiliations (targeting individuals from countries like China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia) raise profound civil rights concerns. Joanna emphasized that any federal legislation in this area must be narrowly targeted to avoid discriminatory impacts on the AAPI community. Joanna flagged the upcoming April 2026 expiration of Section 702 of Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). She notes that Congress should not reauthorize Section 702 without sweeping reforms to ensure that it cannot be used as a domestic spying tool. As negotiations are currently underway, now is a critical window to advocate for: · Robust privacy protections and strengthened oversight. · Measures to prevent disproportionate impacts on civil liberties, particularly for AAPI individuals with international familial or professional ties. AAJC and the Surveillance Reform Coalition are actively engaging with members of Congress to balance national security with individual rights. Joanna warned that the community should expect "rapid-fire" requests in the coming months, including sign-on letters and call campaigns as legislative action accelerates. Section 702 of FISA Expiring Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) is set to expire on April 20, 2026, giving Congress roughly two months to decide whether to renew, reform, or allow the surveillance authority to lapse. Section 702 permits the government to target non-U.S. persons abroad for intelligence purposes, but it can incidentally collect Americans’ communications. The government may also conduct warrantless “backdoor” searches of that data for information about Americans—an authority that has long generated bipartisan privacy concerns. During a classified Senate Intelligence Committee hearing, reported by CNN on February 9, 2026, lawmakers from both parties expressed frustration after FBI and NSA officials declined to clarify whether the Trump administration supports reauthorization. Although successive administrations have defended Section 702 as a vital national security tool, past FBI misuse and court findings of rights violations have intensified scrutiny. Civil liberties advocates continue to press for reforms, including a warrant requirement for searches of Americans’ communications—a proposal that nearly passed in 2024 and is expected to resurface before the deadline. Read the CNN report: https://cnn.it/3OHrzQz . Read The Intercept report: https://bit.ly/3ZBfBuk Alien-ating Asians in 21st-Century Land Laws According to a Just Security report co-authored by Donna Doan Anderson , Assistant Professor University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and Joanna YangQing Derman , Director of Advancing Justice | AAJC, .the U.S. is experiencing a renewed wave of land-based nationalism that frames foreign ownership of farmland — particularly by Chinese individuals or entities — as a national security threat. Federal initiatives have promoted the narrative that foreign farmland ownership endangers American safety and prosperity. Several states, including Florida and Texas, have enacted laws restricting property ownership based on domicile or national origin, with Chinese citizens specifically targeted in some cases. These laws face ongoing legal challenges, though courts have often dismissed cases on standing grounds. Since 2021, dozens of states have introduced similar legislation. The article places these modern laws in historical context, arguing they echo 19th- and early 20th-century “alien land laws” that barred Asians from owning property under racialized citizenship rules. It contends that current policies similarly rely on stereotypes portraying Asians — especially Chinese people — as perpetual “aliens” or foreign “agents.” Data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture show that Chinese-linked entities own only a very small fraction of U.S. farmland — about 0.03 percent of total farmland and less than 1 percent of foreign-held farmland — far less than countries such as Canada, the Netherlands, or the United Kingdom. Critics argue that the focus on China is disproportionate and politically motivated. The article further contends that federal efforts to frame farmland ownership as a national security issue, including attempts to insert restrictions into the National Defense Authorization Act, conflate legitimate cybersecurity concerns with civilian land ownership. It suggests that broad land bans do little to address genuine security threats and may conflict with existing federal investment review authorities. The piece also argues that these laws risk reinforcing anti-Asian stereotypes, increasing discrimination, and subjecting Asian Americans — regardless of citizenship or immigration status — to suspicion and additional scrutiny. It concludes that contemporary “alien” land laws revive historical patterns of exclusion and that advocates should prepare to challenge policies that link Asian identity with national threat narratives. Read the Just Security report: https://bit.ly/4kAOxVz Advocacy Works: FY26 Federal R&D Funding In a Science editorial on February 5, 2026, the past year for U.S. science was portrayed as deeply contradictory. On one hand, the Trump administration’s actions led to funding cuts, the dismantling of workforce programs, threats to indirect cost reimbursements, and tighter immigration for international students—moves that damaged institutions and demoralized students and early-career scientists. On the other hand, outcomes were better than feared: Congress restored science funding, courts rejected efforts to alter indirect cost rules, and NIH and NSF successfully disbursed all appropriated 2025 funds before they expired. These opposing realities, the editorial argues, must be understood together to make sense of the current moment. On February 4, 2026, The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), parent organization to the Science Magazine, reported that President Trump has signed into law the remaining federal appropriations bills for fiscal year 2026, securing funding for U.S. research and development after a year of significant uncertainty. Although the administration initially proposed steep reductions, those cuts were ultimately rejected, reflecting strong bipartisan support for science and technology in Congress. As a result, the final funding levels are far more favorable than expected. The National Institutes of Health received a slight increase, the National Institute of Standards and Technology saw a substantial 26.5% boost, and most other major science agencies experienced flat funding or only modest reductions. These outcomes are presented as a clear contrast to the drastic cuts outlined in the President’s original budget request and as evidence of Congress’s continued commitment to the scientific enterprise. The report emphasizes that this outcome did not occur by chance. Advocacy by scientists, universities, professional associations, and organizations such as AAAS played a decisive role in conveying the national consequences of gutting federal R&D. Decades of sustained investment have built the U.S. scientific enterprise, and the letter warns that reversing those gains would have taken generations to undo. Finally, the report cautions that the work is not finished. Close oversight is needed to ensure that the Office of Management and Budget implements the appropriations as enacted and does not circumvent congressional intent. Looking ahead to the FY2027 appropriations cycle, the message urges continued engagement and advocacy, arguing that flat funding is insufficient and that sustained growth in R&D investment is essential to preserving U.S. global competitiveness. News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2026/02/17 Asian American Career Ceilings Initiative "Personal Marketing and Mentorship" 2026/02/19 AAUC Town Hall: Fighting the Fear 2026/02/23 Sign On Deadline - Amicus Brief Opposing the Birthright Citizenship EO 14160 2026/02/24 Hearing: Estate of Dr. Jane Wu v. Northwestern 2026/02/26 Global Competition for Talent & International Students 2026/03/02 APA Justice Monthly Meeting Visit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. AAUC Town Hall: Fighting the Fear WHAT: AAUC Town Hall: Fighting the Fear WHEN: February 19, 2026, 1:00 pm ET WHERE: Online Town Hall HOST: Asian American Unity Coalition (AAUC) DESCRIPTION: At this town hall meeting, we'll hear inspiring stories of how Minnesotan's have stood up to ICE's campaign of fear and intimidation. We'll demystify the the playbook that's used to justify their unchecked power and civil-rights violations. Only then can we mobilize our communities to resist the unlawful actions that have spread across the country. We'll hear from community leaders in Minnesota. We also want to hear from you. If you’d like to speak for up to three minutes, please indicate this on the registration form. This town hall is a chance to build momentum together ahead of the midterm elections. Democracy is under assault, but we still have to the power exercise our Constitutional rights and make a difference. REGISTRATION : https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/3UM6pB0yRMO6kWg-IfmpDA#/registration 3. 2026/02/23 Sign On Deadline - Amicus Brief Opposing the Birthright Citizenship EO 14160 Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) — together with the Korematsu Center (UCI Law), the Center for Civil Rights and Critical Justice (Seattle U Law), and O’Melveny & Myers — is filing an amicus brief warning that the Executive Order 14160 could enable retroactive denaturalization, putting millions of U.S. citizens at risk. Citing United States v. Thind and the history of stripping citizenship from Asian Americans, the brief shows how these threats are not theoretical. Citizenship determines the right to work, vote, travel, and fully belong. Asian Americans have long been at the center of this fight. AALDEF invites you to sign on and affirm that attacks on birthright citizenship — rooted in the legacy of exclusion — have no place in our democracy. Contact Marlena Truong , Voting Rights Advocate, AALDEF: mtruong@aaldef.org . Deadline for sign on is February 23, 2026. # # # 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 . Back View PDF February 17, 2026 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #21 Anti-Racial Profiling Project Launches; UPenn Webinar; Chinese American Museum #21 Anti-Racial Profiling Project Launches; UPenn Webinar; Chinese American Museum Back View PDF October 7, 2020 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #140 Arrowood Nomination; Help Jamie; Prof. Xi's Appeal; Briefing; Stanford; Asia Society #140 Arrowood Nomination; Help Jamie; Prof. Xi's Appeal; Briefing; Stanford; Asia Society Back View PDF August 30, 2022 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Qing Wang 王擎 Docket ID: 1:20-mj-09111 District Court, N.D. Ohio Date filed: May 12, 2020 Date ended: July 20, 2021 Table of Contents Overview Deletion from DOJ China Initiative Online Report 2021/09/15 Washington Post Report Cleveland Clinic Foundation Held Accountable in 2024 Links and References Overview On May 14, 2020, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the arrest of Dr. Qing Wang as a former Cleveland Clinic employee and a Chinese “Thousand Talents” participant. The case was listed under the China Initiative. Dr. Wang was charged with false claims and wire fraud related to more than $3.6 million in grant funding that he and his research group received from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Cleveland Clinic fired Dr. Wang the same day he was arrested. Dr. Wang was born in China, began his work at the Cleveland Clinic in 1997 and became a U.S. citizen in 2005. He specialized in breakthroughs in heart disease at the Lerner Institute of the Cleveland Clinic—one of the world’s leading research centers. On July 15, 2021, DOJ moved to dismiss its case against Dr. Qing Wang. In a statement, the DOJ explained, "The United States Attorney’s Office moved to dismiss the complaint, without prejudice, against Qing Wang, a.k.a. Kenneth Wang. The Office has made this decision after a review of the case and will decline further comment at this time." The Cleveland Clinic also released a statement saying, “We have fully cooperated with federal law enforcement’s investigation into this matter. Dr. Wang’s employment was terminated following an internal review which revealed violations of Cleveland Clinic and National Institutes of Health (NIH) policies.” On July 20, 2021, U.S. Magistrate Judge William H. Baughman, Jr. ordered the dismissal of Dr. Wang’s case. After DOJ made the motion to dismiss Dr. Wang’s case, it proceeded to delete it from its online report on the China Initiative – a practice that was continued unannounced and without explanation for several months until November 2021 when APA Justice reported it to the Attorney General and MIT Technology Review began to build a database on the online report. On September 15, 2021, the Washington Post published an interview with Dr. Wang, who later restarted his research career at China’s Huazhong University of Science and Technology. On June 21, 2024, Science reported that DOJ reached a settlement with the Cleveland Clinic Foundation (CCF), requiring CCF to pay $7.6 million to resolve allegations of mismanagement involving three NIH grants. This settlement sends a clear message that research institutions will be held accountable for failing to adequately monitor outside support provided to their faculty. Defense attorney for Dr. Wang maintained that his client had followed the rules and voluntarily disclosed his Chinese support. “He told them everything—both NIH and CCF.” The CCF settlement, he added, simply confirmed Dr. Wang’s innocence. Deletion from DOJ China Initiative Online Report The Department of Justice (DOJ) maintained an online report on China Initiative cases since the initiative's launch in November 2018, including Dr. Qing Wang's case. However, after the DOJ moved to dismiss Dr. Wang’s case, DOJ deleted his case from the online report. This unannounced practice of removing dismissed or acquitted cases continued for several months without explanation. On November 24, 2021, APA Justice reported the removal of about 20 cases from its online China Initiative report to Attorney General Merrick Garland. MIT Technology Review brought this practice to light with a published investigative report on December 2, 2021. DOJ ceased to update its online report on November 19, 2021. The end of the China Initiative was formally announced on February 23, 2022. 2021/09/15 Washington Post Report According to the Washington Post on September 15, 2021, in the weeks leading up to his arrest, Dr. Qing Wang was interviewed by the Cleveland Clinic and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) about his grants. He got no indication he was under criminal suspicion. “I was shocked,” he said about his early morning arrest in May 2020. “At that moment,” he said, “I felt that my life was over.” Dr. Wang was the lead investigator on a research project on the genetics of cardiovascular disease, funded by more than $3.6 million in NIH grants. He allegedly neglected to disclose to NIH that even as he was a professor at Cleveland Clinic’s Lerner College of Medicine, he was a beneficiary of the Thousand Talents Program, through which the Chinese government recruits academics in the West whose expertise might benefit Beijing. In an affidavit , FBI agent John Matthews alleged that through the program, Dr. Wang was made dean of the College of Life Sciences at Huazhong University of Science and Technology. The agent said Wang concealed receiving Chinese government grants totaling $480,000 for research that overlapped with his U.S.-funded work. In particular, Matthews alleged, citing NIH information, “the families used in both studies were mostly the same.” Dr. Wang’s lawyer, Peter Zeidenberg, disputed the allegations, saying Wang disclosed his research in China as part of the NIH application and did not use American families for the Chinese study. Dr. Wang also disclosed to the Cleveland Clinic that he was affiliated with the talent program, said Zeidenberg, a former federal prosecutor and a partner at Arent Fox in Washington. “Ultimately this came down to whether the grant forms were filled out correctly,” Zeidenberg said. “The information was all there. It just wasn’t where the NIH was looking.” Over 34 years of research in the United States, including 21 at the Cleveland Clinic, Dr. Wang led a team that discovered the first gene for Brugada syndrome, a disorder causing irregular heart rhythm, which can be fatal — especially in young people. He wanted to stay in the United States because it “has the best environment for science in this area,” and because he thought he would have the most impact in a country where heart disease is the leading cause of death. The arrest terrified Dr. Wang, his wife, Qiuyun Chen, and their two daughters. “We worked so hard day and night just trying to understand how to prevent human disease,” said Chen, who also came to the United States in 1986 to study and was a member of Dr. Wang’s Cleveland Clinic research team. “And you never think this would be criminal.” Cleveland Clinic Foundation Held Accountable in 2024 According to a report by Science on June 21, 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has signaled that research institutions will be held accountable for oversight failures. In a settlement reached on May 17, 2024, the Cleveland Clinic Foundation (CCF) agreed to pay $7.6 million to resolve allegations of mismanaging three National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants. As part of the settlement, a senior CCF administrator must personally attest to the accuracy of all NIH submissions, a significant responsibility. The case began in 2018 when NIH investigated CCF cardiovascular geneticist Dr. Qing Wang, based on an FBI list of scientists allegedly receiving Chinese funding. Following a CCF investigation, NIH suspended Dr. Wang’s $2.8 million grant in April 2020, and CCF terminated his employment. Dr. Wang was arrested in May 2020 under the China Initiative but was later cleared when the DOJ dropped the charges in July 2021 without explanation. Dr. Wang’s lawyer maintained that Dr. Wang had disclosed all necessary information to NIH and CCF, asserting his client's innocence. The CCF settlement follows earlier civil settlements with the Van Andel Institute, where scientists were not criminally charged, amounting to $6.6 million in 2019 and 2021. Previous Item Next Item

Newsletter - #347 USHCA/AAJC Updates; 4th Court Blocks Birthright Citizenship EO; Immigration; TX SB17;+ #347 USHCA/AAJC Updates; 4th Court Blocks Birthright Citizenship EO; Immigration; TX SB17;+ In This Issue #347 · Update from the U.S. Heartland China Association · Update from Advancing Justice | AAJC · Fourth District Court Blocks Trump's Birthright Citizenship Restrictions · Reuters : Refugee Cap of 40,000 with Focus on White South Africans · Lawsuit Against Texas Alien Land Law Dismissed · News and Activities for the Communities Update from the U.S. Heartland China Association Min Fan 范敏 , Executive Director, U.S. Heartland China Association, returned to speak at the APA Justice monthly meeting on August 4, 2025.The U.S. Heartland China Association (USHCA) is a bipartisan 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering constructive engagement between the U.S. Heartland and China. Contrary to assumptions based on its name, the organization was not founded by Chinese Americans. It was established by the late U.S. Senator Adlai Stevenson of Illinois and is now chaired by former Missouri Governor Bob Holden . USHCA explicitly does not engage in lobbying or political advocacy, adhering strictly to its nonprofit charter.USHCA serves as a neutral platform to promote dialogue, education, cultural exchange, and economic engagement between Middle America and China. The organization recognizes that many communities in the Heartland— particularly rural areas and underserved minority populations — have historically had limited access to international and cross-cultural education, especially regarding China. USHCA seeks to fill this gap by connecting communities, promoting awareness, and building people-to-people ties.Min is the first Chinese American to lead USHCA. When she joined the association at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, USHCA had limited ties to the broader Chinese American community, despite its long-standing role as a cultural and diplomatic bridge. By partnering with national Chinese American networks, USHCA led a large-scale Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) relief effort. Over 800,000 pieces of PPE were collected and distributed across the Heartland, including to rural and underserved health clinics. This initiative helped address severe shortages and brought together volunteers through state agencies and nonprofit groups. It also introduced many Heartland residents to Chinese Americans for the first time—a transformative experience for all involved. Min recognized the need to explain why U.S.-China relations matter at the local level. USHCA publishes a comprehensive report, “ Why U.S.-China Relations Matter to the Heartland ,” that quantifies the multifaceted relationship that each of the 21 states in the Heartland region has with China, such as: · Hundreds of millions (up to half a billion dollars in some cases) contributed by Chinese international students to state economies. · Jobs created through Chinese investment and exports. · Historical ties between Heartland communities and China dating back generations. Although the report does not constitute political advocacy, it has become a practical tool for local stakeholders, elected officials, and educators to explain the relevance of U.S.-China relations in concrete, community-focused terms.Beyond policy and economic dialogue, USHCA supports cultural exchange and education. It promotes the work of Chinese language teachers in Heartland states like Kentucky and Missouri—even as demand for Mandarin instruction declines nationally. The association also supports cultural projects, such as the “Far East Deep South” documentary tour along the Mississippi River , to strengthen cultural awareness of the long history of Chinese Americans in the Mississippi River basin community. A centerpiece of USHCA’s current efforts is the Yangtze-Mississippi Regional Dialogue , launched in 2023. This subnational diplomacy initiative connects local leaders in the Heartland with their counterparts in China. The first round included six U.S. mayors visiting China to initiate discussions on economic development, climate resilience, and public health. In 2024, a reciprocal delegation from China visited Memphis, Tennessee, where the original U.S. mayors and other community leaders hosted a series of dialogues. In 2025, the third round of this initiative is set to take place in Wuhan, Hubei Province—a symbolic and strategic location. These dialogues are deliberately kept out of the media spotlight to ensure continuity and a neutral learning experience for the American delegates. USHCA, like many organizations working in the U.S.-China space, is operating under increasing political scrutiny from both sides. The association has faced indirect attacks by groups such as State Armor. Some of the U.S. mayors who previously participated in USHCA-led trips to China had experienced harassment on social media or being criticized by their political opponents.These developments underscore a broader trend where China-related efforts — even cultural or educational — are weaponized in political discourse, especially during election cycles.Due to the expiration of its initial grant funding, USHCA is now reaching out to the community for two key forms of support: · Leadership Identification : Helping the organization identify open-minded local officials and civic leaders interested in engaging with Chinese counterparts. · Financial Support : Providing or sourcing funding to allow local delegations to continue participating in the Yangtze-Mississippi Dialogue and other exchange programs. Despite political headwinds, USHCA continues to witness strong interest from local leaders across the Heartland. Many mayors and nonprofit leaders are eager to address shared global challenges—including climate change, healthcare access, and economic revitalization—through international cooperation. USHCA believes these dialogues can promote a more nuanced understanding and help reshape the narrative surrounding China, shifting away from confrontation and toward mutual understanding and stability.USHCA remains a critical actor in maintaining and nurturing people-to-people diplomacy at a time of strained U.S.-China relations. Through programs like the Yangtze-Mississippi Dialogue, cultural education efforts, and community-driven initiatives, the organization continues to serve as a rare but vital bridge between the American interior and one of the world’s most consequential nations. Update from Advancing Justice | AAJC Joanna YangQing Derman , Director, Anti-Profiling, Civil Rights & National Security Program, Advancing Justice | AAJC, is a regular invited speaker at APA Justice monthly meetings. On August 4, 2025, she gave the following update: 1. Monitoring of China Initiative Language in CJS Appropriations Report Joanna reaffirmed Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC’s vigilance in tracking attempts to reintroduce elements of the discontinued China Initiative through language in the Commerce, Justice, and Science (CJS) Appropriations Subcommittee report. The China Initiative was widely criticized for encouraging racial profiling, particularly of individuals of Chinese descent in academic and scientific communities. AAJC is working with partner organizations to oppose any provisions that attempt to revive these discriminatory practices. 2. Advocacy Letter to Congress A joint letter—led by AAJC in partnership with Stop AAPI Hate, Chinese for Affirmative Action (CAA), and the Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF)—was submitted to Congress, urging the removal of harmful language tied to the China Initiative. However, the full Appropriations Committee vote has been postponed until after the House returns from the August recess. AAJC plans to recirculate the letter to gather additional organizational endorsements in the interim.Groups that missed the initial tight turnaround are encouraged to sign on during this extended opportunity. 3. Clarification on West Virginia Land Law – HB 2961 AAJC addressed concerns regarding HB 2961, a land law enacted in West Virginia on April 28, 2025, which has raised questions among community organizations.The law defines a "prohibited foreign party" to include individuals from China, but the ban applies only to those acting on behalf of foreign-owned entities—not individuals purchasing land for personal use. It affects all types of real estate, including mineral rights, when transactions involve entities under foreign control. In the event of a violation, the law allows six months for divestment, enforced by state courts and the West Virginia Attorney General.AAJC remains committed to defending the rights of Asian American communities and is actively engaged in legislative advocacy to combat discriminatory policies. Organizations are urged to stay informed, join collective efforts, and support ongoing monitoring and response strategies. Fourth District Court Blocks Trump's Birthright Citizenship Restrictions Author: Madeleine Gable, APA Justice Communications AssociateAccording to CBS News , The Hill , Maryland Matters , and multiple media reports, a federal judge in Maryland blocked President Trump’s executive order (EO) targeting birthright citizenship on August 7, 2025. This marks the fourth such decision since the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in June limiting nationwide injunctions.Previously, U.S. District Judge Deborah Boardman indicated she planned to issue a nationwide injunction blocking the restrictions, but she did not have jurisdiction at the time because the case was under the authority of an appeals court. Last week, the appeals court remanded the case to her for ruling.The June Supreme Court ruling did not directly address the constitutionality of President Trump’s executive order, instead ruling that lower courts exceeded their authority by issuing nationwide injunctions. However, the justices did maintain that lower courts could issue nationwide stays if the lawsuits were class-action suits, which is what Judge Boardman did.Judge Boardman identified a class of children born on U.S. soil who “unquestionably would be citizens but for the Executive Order.” She added that the EO was “almost certainly unconstitutional” by violating the Fourteenth Amendment, which guarantees citizenship to “all persons” born in the U.S.President Trump’s executive order seeks to deny birthright citizenship to children without at least one parent who is a citizen or permanent legal resident.Judge Boardman’s ruling followed The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals , and the District Courts in New Hampshire and Massachusetts . Read more about the Birthright Citizenship issue at https://www.apajusticetaskforce.org/birthright-citizenship . Reuters : Refugee Cap of 40,000 with Focus on White South Africans According to an exclusive report by Reuters on August 15, 2025, the Trump administration is weighing a refugee admissions cap of about 40,000 for fiscal year 2026, with an unprecedented majority—some 30,000 slots—earmarked for white South African Afrikaners. This marks a sharp shift in U.S. refugee policy, which has traditionally emphasized global humanitarian priorities and bipartisan support. The proposed cap would be far lower than the 100,000 admissions under President Biden in 2024 but higher than Trump’s record-low 15,000 ceiling in 2021. While Trump has argued that Afrikaners face discrimination and violence in South Africa, the South African government has rejected those claims. Officials also noted that smaller caps, as low as 12,000, were discussed, and that some admissions could go to Afghans, Ukrainians, or other groups.Implementation has faced challenges. The State Department has laid off refugee program staff, forcing inexperienced Health and Human Services (HHS) workers to take on refugee screening and assistance. Early arrivals from South Africa have already reported hardship, with reduced benefits, difficulty obtaining Social Security numbers, and limited access to jobs or housing. Refugees expressed frustration at spending thousands of dollars to cover basic needs after Trump cut support programs that previously lasted a year down to just four months. White House officials stressed that no final decision has been made and that refugee caps will be determined in September. Lawsuit Against Texas Alien Land Law Dismissed Author: Madeleine Gable, APA Justice Communications Associate According to AsAmNews , Daily Guardian , South China Morning Post , and multiple media reports, Federal Judge Charles Eskridge dismissed a lawsuit against Texas’ recently passed alien land law, Senate Bill 17 (SB 17), finding that the plaintiffs lacked standing. On July 3, 2025, the Chinese American Legal Defense Alliance (CALDA) filed a lawsuit on behalf of three Chinese nationals, Wang v. Paxton (4:25-cv-03103) , arguing SB 17 discriminates against Chinese people based on race and ethnicity and creates fear for those trying to secure housing while living in Texas legally. The lawsuit also asserts that the bill violates federal preemption, the principle that state law cannot supersede conflicting federal law. Set to take effect on September 1, 2025, SB 17 prohibits noncitizens from China, Iran, Russia, and North Korea from purchasing homes, acquiring land, or leasing apartments in Texas. It also grants the governor the authority to add other countries to the list. The bill applies to all “real property,” not just land near critical infrastructure, but it does not apply to dual citizens, permanent residents, and individuals legally residing in the U.S. on temporary work or student visas. For citizens of China, the restriction is especially severe. While students or workers on visas are still free to purchase their principal residence, they are prohibited from acquiring holiday homes or investment properties. Leasing too is restricted, with lease contracts limited to terms shorter than one year. Proponents of the bill insist it is necessary to ensure national security by targeting governments and companies deemed hostile by the federal government. However, opponents of the bill argue it is unconstitutional and discriminatory, promoting racial profiling and xenophobia. Gene Wu , Chair of the Texas House Democratic Caucus, called the bill “a loud and clear message that Asians don’t belong in this country.” The Texas Attorney General’s office successfully contended that the law is not discriminatory and that the court lacks jurisdiction over police powers exercised “to protect Texans from foreign governments that intend to harm them.” Following Judge Eskridge’s decision, CALDA announced that it would appeal. According to Justin Sadowsky , lead counsel for CALDA, “Chinese people in this state of Texas will be terrified of so much as renting a place to live, because if it turns out this law does apply to them it is a state jail felony, and they can end up in jail for two years.” Prior to the hearing, a press conference was held in front of the courthouse, featuring speakers from a variety of advocacy organizations. News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2025/08/19 China Connections - Bridging Generations of U.S.-China Education Exchange: Chinese Scholars to America2025/09/06 The 2025 Asian American Youth Symposium2025/09/08 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2025/09/08 Committee of 100 Conversations – “Recollections, Pioneers and Heroes” with Janet Yang2025/09/09 China Connections — Chinese Encounters with America: Profiles of Changemakers Who Shaped China2025/09/16-17 2025 AANHPI Unity Summit Visit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. USCET Events on 8/19 and 9/9 WHEN: August 19, 2025, 8:00 - 9:15 pm ET WHAT: China Connections - Bridging Generations of U.S.-China Education Exchange: Chinese Scholars to America WHERE: Webinar REGISTRATION : https://bit.ly/3UzJuIL WHEN : September 9, 2025, 5:30 - 7:00 pm ET WHAT: China Connections — Chinese Encounters with America: Profiles of Changemakers Who Shaped China WHERE: Lindner Family Commons, George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs, Washington DC REGISTRATION : https://bit.ly/45zuRKE 3. 2025 AANHPI Unity Summit WHEN: September 16-17, 2025 WHAT: 2025 AANHPI Unity Summit WHERE: · Sept 16 : Holiday Inn National Airport · Sept 17 : U.S. Capitol – Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2044 REGISTRATION : https://bit.ly/4fDJ9hO # # # 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 . Back View PDF August 19, 2025 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #272 National APA Museum; Red-Baiting; Capstone Workshop Videos; State of Science; More #272 National APA Museum; Red-Baiting; Capstone Workshop Videos; State of Science; More In This Issue #272 · Anne S. Chao: From Missing in History to a National APA Museum on the Mall · AALDEF: The Red-Baiting of Dr. Chen and Dangerous Targeting on All Asian Americans · National Academies Roundtable Capstone Workshop Videos Posted · Marcia McNutt: The First State of Science Address · News and Activities for the Communities Anne S. Chao: From Missing in History to a National APA Museum on the Mall Anne S. Chao is a modern Chinese historian, and currently an Adjunct Lecturer in the Humanities at Rice University, and co-founder and manager of the Houston Asian American Archive at Rice. She is a co-founder of the FRIENDS of the National Asian Pacific American Museum, whose goal is to establish a national AAPI museum on the nation's Mall. Anne serves on the boards of the Houston Ballet, Wellesley Colleges, the National Archives Foundation, the Dunhuang Foundation among others. During the APA Justice monthly meeting on August 5, 2024, Anne gave her report on her activities with a 12-slide presentation: https://bit.ly/3WxVzPg . At Rice University, Anne established the Houston Asian American Archive (HAAA) 15 years ago, recognizing that Houston is one of the most diverse cities in the U.S., and it yet lacked records of Asian American lives. Distribution of the Asian American population in the Greater Houston area is visualized by a heat map. The county in the Southwest quadrant of this map is Fort Bend County. It has almost a parity of 25% Anglo, 25% African American, 25% Asian American, and 25% Hispanic. No other county in the country has the same parity. Rice University students began interviewing people, collecting memorabilia, conducting podcasts, making video clips, and exploring different aspects of Asian American lives. HAAA now has about 500 interviews along with various awards, performances, and exhibits.Among those interviewed as part of a multicultural and multifaceted Asian Houston were · Theresa and Peter Chang . Theresa Chang is a judge and at one time the highest placed Asian American woman in the Republican Party. · Dr. Vipul Mankad as part of a huge collection of South Asian interviews. · Donna Cole ’s father was in the 442nd regiment in World War II. She and her friends created the Go for Broke Foundation that led to Congress awarding the Gold Medal of Honor posthumously to these veterans of Japanese ancestry. · Harry Gee Jr . is a prominent immigration lawyer. The Gee family has made huge contributions to Houston and beyond. · Leroy Chiao is a Chinese American astronaut. · Lakshmy Parameswaran founded Daya, Inc., which serves South Asian victims of family violence. · World-renowned Professor of Physics Paul Chu , and · Many others of Chinese, Filipino, Indian, Vietnamese, and other ethnicities. Anne told the story of the Gee family network in Houston. The Gee name may also be spelled as Zhu, Jee, and Chu. Many of them originate from Taishan and Kaiping counties in Guangdong Province in Southern China. One of Anne’s students created a Gee family network chart, from which a curriculum was developed for the Asia Society. A Voice of America reporter just interviewed the Gee family members about the curriculum. A book is in the works.Harry Gee’s father came to Houston as a restaurant owner. Harry Gee’s cousin, Albert Gee , was also a charismatic restaurateur who parlayed his business success into social and political success by contributing to Richard Nixon and John Connelly campaigns respectively and also entertained celebrities such as Bob Hope . Switching to the national scene, Anne pointed out that the African American Museum is already part of the Smithsonian collection on the national mall. The Latino American Museum and the Women’s Museum are in the pipeline. We are missing the Asian Pacific American Museum. Congresswoman Grace Meng introduced H.R. 3525 in 2021 to establish a commission to study the feasibility of creating an Asian Pacific American Museum. It became public law in June 2022. There are eight commissioner positions. The Senate Majority and Minority Leaders and the House Majority and Minority Leaders each appoint two commissioners. There are two vacancies at this time, but the commission cannot start work until all eight are present. They have 18 months to produce a report to Congress on the feasibility of an Asian Pacific American Museum. The commissioners are volunteers. They do not have actual funding. Only one of the current commissioners, Dr. Jay Xu , who is the Director of the San Francisco Asian Art Museum, has actual museum knowledge and experience. Handel Lee , Debbie Shawn , and Anne co-founded a non-profit organization called the Friends of the National Asian Pacific American Museum to fast track the effort. All three have served on the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Advisory Board. Their goal is to champion the cause, as well as to mobilize, support, fundraise, supply a blueprint, and coordinate the efforts. It has engaged many museum experts and museum fundraisers.They are in the process of creating a group of academics as well as organizations around the country to talk about what to put in the museum. AALDEF: The Red-Baiting of Dr. Chen and the Dangerous Target It Puts on All Asian Americans On August 7, 2024, the Asian American Legal and Defense Fund (AALDEF) posted a blog titled "The Red-Baiting of Dr. Chen and the Dangerous Target It Puts on All Asian Americans" in response to a CNN report on Jake Tapper's The Lead program on July 31, 2024.According to the blog, Catherine Herridge , a former Fox News journalist, is appealing a court ruling that holds her in contempt for refusing to reveal her source in a series of reports about Dr. Yanping Chen , a Chinese American who was investigated by the FBI for six years but was not charged for any crime. Herridge falsely accused Dr. Chen of being a spy for China, using misleading evidence and perpetuating racist stereotypes. Dr. Chen sued over the leak of her personal information and subpoenaed Herridge to reveal how she had come to possess confidential materials from the FBI. Herridge has twice refused and has been held in contempt. She maintains the dangerous falsehood against Dr. Chen, and Senator Ted Cruz filed a brief in support of Herridge that leans even more strongly into the anti-Chinese red-baiting prominent in Herridge’s reporting.As unethical and misrepresentative as her reporting was, Herridge still has First Amendment protections. There is a long history of the government invoking “national security” to compel reporters to reveal sources. And there is a danger to destabilizing the protections of the press, which is often our most powerful advocate holding the government accountable. But CNN ’s report made little mention of Dr. Chen and the role Herridge played in spreading dangerous falsehoods about her. Herridge was presented as a good reporter fighting the good fight, not just for herself, but to ward off “the end of investigative journalism.” Dr. Chen has been victimized twice: first by the government and then by the media. And by not properly reporting this story and giving an unfair platform to the person who used her privilege as a journalist to shamelessly vilify Dr. Chen and, in court, continued to vilify and dangerously misrepresent her as a Chinese spy, CNN further contributes to the harm Dr. Chen still faces. Rather than propping up Herridge like some sort of martyr, CNN should ask itself if it would have run the three stories Herridge wrote about Dr. Chen. Would Herridge’s characterization of Dr. Chen heavily reliant on racist tropes against Chinese people meet the ethical and reporting standards of CNN ? CNN has held neither the government nor the reporter, Catherine Herridge, accountable here.Herridge was so sure a Chinese American scientist was a spy, because that idea fit the entrenched narrative of what a spy looks like. And for the viewers who consumed her three fallacious stories, Herridge entrenched those dangerous ideas even deeper, setting a target, not only on Dr. Chen, but on all people who look like her.Good reporting should count for something. Herridge’s reporting was not good. Worse still, it caused real harm to someone still recovering from the harm the government had already inflicted on her.The blog argues that investigative journalism should challenge harmful narratives, not perpetuate them, as CNN 's coverage of Herridge did. Read the AALDEF blog: https://bit.ly/4dhasMZ Roundtable Capstone Workshop Meeting Materials and Videos Posted On July 16-17, 2024, the National Academies hosted The National Science, Technology, and Security Roundtable Roundtable Capstone Workshop to present information the Roundtable has gathered since its inception in 2020 through 14 gatherings in Washington, DC and across the U.S.A series of three videos has now been posted at https://bit.ly/3z0PnY7 , along with meeting materials. A report is being prepared at this time. Contact Zariya Butler at (202)-334-2937 and zbutler@nas.edu if you have questions or comments. Marcia McNutt: The First State of Science Address On June 26, 2024, Marcia McNutt , President of National Academy of Sciences, delivered the first State of the Science address to explore how U.S. science and innovation are positioned to respond to rising global competition and shifting priorities for the nation’s economy, security, public health, and well-being. Her analysis was based mostly on data available up to 2021 in the midst of the "China Initiative." A video of her talk and a panel discussion including Dr. Grace Wang , President of Worcester Polytechnic Institute, has now been posted (1:47:59), as well as the meeting materials, at https://bit.ly/4checg9 .Dr . McNutt started by observing that Germany was the world leader in science prior to World War II. In addition to the U.S. bringing in German scientists, she credited Vannevar Bush , who headed the U.S. Office of Scientific Research and Development during World War II, for transforming the U.S. into a world leader in science and technology by having government invest in basic science, creating the National Science Foundation, promoting science education and scholarships, and recommending partnerships between government, industry, and universities. His book titled "Endless Frontier" outlining this blueprint was published in 1950. Dr. McNutt shared the following data on the rapid rise of China in science and technology in her address: · China is on track to exceed the U.S. in Research and Development expenditures. · The U.S. is dropping in research output as measured by articles published while China is experiencing triple-digit percentage increase. · In terms of research quality measured by percent of articles in the top 1%, the U.S. is losing ground while China has moved ahead of the European Union. · In terms of products, China was at about 3% as recently as 2013 in percentage of drugs in Phase I-III trials. It has risen to 28% in 2021 while the US is in decline. · China's number of patents per year passed the U.S. around 2015 and is leading the U.S. by a ratio of 2 to 1 in 2021. · China was a non-player in 2000 in the list of Global Fortune 500 companies. It leads the list with 142 out of 500 in 2023. What has changed from Vannevar Bush's blueprint since 1950? Dr. McNutt opined that · The U.S. has become exceptionally dependent on international students. · The U.S. could not meet its STEM workforce requirements if it were not for the international students. · Other nations are raising their standard of living by investing in science, education, pro-industry policies, and strategic planning. · Advancing the frontiers of basic research now requires international partnerships to benefit all researchers. · Industry took the lead around 1981 and now dominates U.S. research investment with a 75% share, compared to the federal government's 20%. · Since 1953, philanthropy at universities and nonprofit research institutes has grown to be a major support for basic research. How can we use the new realities to improve our current model? Dr. McNutt offered the following opportunities for the future as Endless Frontier 2.0: · Build the domestic scientific workforce of the future. · Attract the best and brightest by reducing red tape for international students and regulatory burden on faculty. · Create a national strategy to coordinate resources for greater impact. · Modernize and strengthen university-industry partnership. · Provide access to major science facilities. · Cultivate public trust in science. Watch the video and read the meeting materials: https://bit.ly/4checg9 . 2024/08/07 Scientific American : American Science Slips into Dangerous Decline, Experts Warn, while Chinese Research Surges . The U.S. sorely needs a coordinated national research strategy, says Marcia McNutt, president of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences. News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2024/08/19 DNC Convention, AAPI Briefing & Reception, Chicago, IL2024/09/01 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2024/09/09 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2024/09/19-20 AANHPI Unity Summit2024/10/06 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2024/10/07 APA Justice Monthly MeetingThe Community Calendar has moved. Visit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. Congresswoman Judy Chu & Senator Chris Coons Reintroduce NO BAN Act On August 7, 2024, Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28) and Sen. Chris Coons (DE) led a bicameral partnership of their Democratic colleagues to introduce H.R. 9244 , the National Origin-Based Antidiscrimination for Nonimmigrants (NO BAN) Act—legislation that will prevent future Muslim bans. The NO BAN Act will strengthen the Immigration and Nationality Act to prohibit discrimination on the basis of religion, and restore checks and balances by limiting overly broad executive authority to issue future travel bans. The bill would: · Provide that the Immigration and Nationality Act nondiscrimination provisions apply to religion, as well as to the issuance of non-immigrant visas and benefits; · Require that any travel restriction imposed under Immigration and Nationality Act be based on specific and credible facts, and in a way narrowly tailored to address a compelling government interest; and · Establish procedural requirements including notice to Congress within 48 hours and periodic reporting. Back View PDF August 12, 2024 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #90 Anming Hu Offered to be Reinstated; Advocacy Actions; Criminal Injustice Report; More #90 Anming Hu Offered to be Reinstated; Advocacy Actions; Criminal Injustice Report; More Back View PDF October 18, 2021 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #60 More Rallies; C100&Inclusion; Anti-Hate Bill; Events; Nominations&Science #60 More Rallies; C100&Inclusion; Anti-Hate Bill; Events; Nominations&Science Back View PDF May 20, 2021 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #73 Qing Wang Case Dropped; Feds Transparency; CAPAC in Action; 07/12 Meeting Summary #73 Qing Wang Case Dropped; Feds Transparency; CAPAC in Action; 07/12 Meeting Summary Back View PDF July 19, 2021 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #64 Letter To Commerce Secretary; Profiling Of Federal Employees; More Rallies #64 Letter To Commerce Secretary; Profiling Of Federal Employees; More Rallies Back View PDF June 7, 2021 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter