A bipartisan group of United States Senators are urging President George W. Bush to renew his executive order (Executive Order 13126) continuing the President's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (the Commission). U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-Hawaii) initiated the Senate letter which was signed by Senators Daniel K. Inouye (D-HI), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Jon Corzine (D-NJ), George Allen (R-VA), and Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA).
The Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders was established by President Bill Clinton in 1999 and renewed by President Bush with the purpose of improving the quality of life of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who are often underserved by Federal programs and services. The executive order outlines steps to be taken to ensure that Federal programs are responsive to the distinct needs of diverse Asian and Pacific Islander communities, including the collection and dissemination of data on public health and other social services. The Commission advises the President on Federal efforts to improve the quality of life for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and studies ways to increase public and private involvement in improving the health and well-being of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and increase their participation in Federal programs. President Bush's executive order expired on June 7, 2003.
The advisory commission, as part of the overall White House AAPI initiative, has enabled the collection and analysis of data and the formulation of Federal policies with an understanding and precision that had been lacking before 1999," Akaka noted. This information ensures that the Federal government is fully responsive to the health and well-being of all Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and underscores the need for the immediate renewal of the President's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders."
The text of the Senate letter is attached:
Honorable George W. Bush
The White House
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
We are writing to you regarding a matter of great importance. As you are aware,
on June 7, 2003, your Executive Order 13126 (amending Executive Order 13125) expired. E.O. 13126 renewed the President's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (the Commission). We are very concerned that you have not renewed this Executive Order and urge you to ensure that the needs of Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) are recognized at all levels of our federal government.
The Commission was originally established by President Bill Clinton in 1999 in order to advise the President, through the Secretary of Health and Human Services, on the three mandates of the Executive Order: to develop, monitor, and coordinate federal efforts to improve AAPI participation in government programs; to foster research and data collection for AAPI populations and sub-populations; and to increase public and private sector and community involvement in improving the health and well-being of AAPIs.
By allowing the Executive Order to lapse, the Administration has left the impression that these matters are not among your priorities. We understand that the Secretary of Health and Human Services is in the process of appointing a new Executive Director for the Commission. While the critical position of Executive Director must be filled, the lack of an Executive Director for the Commission cannot be an impediment to the Commission's existence and its substantive work, and should not be used as reason for delaying the renewal of the Executive Order.
On September 24, 2003, the Chair and Vice Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus wrote to Secretary Tommy Thompson seeking a response to several matters including: progress in hiring a new Executive Director for the Commission, the status (such as any plans for publication) of the substantive work conducted by the recently expired (immediate past) Commission, and funding plans for the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
Additionally, we have received information that there is a proposal to house the Commission at the Department of Commerce (Commerce), rather than at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). While we have not been included in any such discussions, we believe placing the Commission with Commerce would not be appropriate. The Commission was specifically placed within HHS to track AAPIs and their participation in government-wide programs in areas such as health, human services, education, housing, labor, transportation, and economic and community development. Commerce's jurisdictional focus on the business needs of the community, although important, would fall short of meeting the other fundamental needs of the AAPI community.
Issues affecting AAPI communities must be made a priority in your Administration. We are concerned that the lack of clear and adequate information from HHS on this matter may stem from the fact that Executive Order 13126 has lapsed. We urge you to renew the President's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders immediately, hire an Executive Director for the Commission, and ensure that the substantive work of the Commission is carried out.
We thank you for your serious consideration and look forward to your prompt action and response in this matter.
