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Bush Extends API White House Initiative

By AsianWeek Staff

John Quoc Duong.

President George W. Bush signed an amendment to Executive Order 13125, extending the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders for an additional two years. This action comes on the two-year anniversary of the original issuance of the order, which aims to increase the participation of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in federal programs where they are currently under-served.

“This is wonderful news for the Asian American and Pacific Islander community,” said John Quoc Duong, the recently named executive director of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. “By renewing the executive order, President Bush has affirmed his commitment to including all Americans in his agenda for the nation. I am extremely pleased that we will be continuing the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. The Commission will provide valuable leadership and will serve as an effective vehicle to receive input from our diverse communities on critical issues that need to be addressed.”

The President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders counsels the president on the development, monitoring, and coordination of federal efforts to improve the quality of life of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, through public sector, private sector, and community involvement. The Commission also studies ways to foster research and data collection on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, including information on public health.

The White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders coordinates the efforts of the Commission with a federal infrastructure in order to address the concerns of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in areas that include health, education, labor, small business, housing, and economic development.

“We commend President Bush for his commitment to this White House Initiative and for continuing the critical work begun by 32 federal departments and agencies,” said Asian and Pacific Islander American Health Forum Chief Executive Officer Tessie Guillermo. “We look forward to working with the Bush Administration on continuing the vital work of the White House Initiative and on implementing the recommendations from our January 2001 Interim Report,” Guillermo added.