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Home arrow Media/Press arrow Press Releases arrow OCA Applauds Re-launch of White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders
OCA Applauds Re-launch of White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Print E-mail

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

14 October 2009

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Sarah Smith Nester | Communications Manager

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WASHINGTON, DC—Today President Obama signed an Executive Order restoring the White House Advisory Commission and Interagency Working Group to address issues concerning the AAPI community.

The White House Initiative on AAPIs and the President’s Advisory Commission on AAPIs were first created by an Executive Order under President Bill Clinton and then extended until May 2007 by President George W. Bush. During the past two administrations, OCA worked closely with the Initiative staff and the Commission on issues ranging from health disparities to economic opportunities for AAPI community members.
 
“This is an important first step in ensuring we have a government that not only understands, but represents and truly serves the AAPI community, said OCA Executive Director George Wu. “We look forward to working with the administration to ensure the Initiative, Commission and staffers have a clear mandate of advancing the social, political and economic well-being of Asian Pacific Americans.”
 
Wu attended the ceremony that was held in the East Room of the White House.
According to the Executive Order, the Initiative and Commission will work to “improve the quality of life and opportunities for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders through increased access to, and participation in, Federal programs in which they may be underserved. In addition, each will work to advance relevant evidence-based research, data collection and analysis for AAPI populations and subpopulations.”
For more information on OCA, visit www.ocanational.org.
 
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