Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) elected its leadership for the 116^th Congress. Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA-27) was re-elected as Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC); Congresswoman Grace Meng (NY-06) was elected as First Vice Chair; Congressman Mark Takano (CA-41) was elected as Second Vice Chair; Congressman Ted Lieu (CA-33) was elected as Whip; and Congressman Andy Kim (NJ-03) was elected as the Freshman Representative. CAPAC Chair Judy Chu released the following statement:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On January 8, 2019, the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS) held an inaugural swearing-in ceremony for the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) Members of the 116^th Congress, which includes a record 20 Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Members of Congress. Below is a transcript of CAPAC Chairwoman Judy Chu’s remarks:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The 116^th Congress sworn in yesterday includes a record number of women and people of color, making it the most diverse Congress in United States history. This includes 42 more women in both chambers of Congress, 20 Asian American and Pacific Islander Members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), 55 African American Members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), 39 Hispanic Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), as well as the first Native American women and Muslim American women ever elected to Congress.

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) Chair Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA-27) and Senator Brian Schatz (HI) led 20 CAPAC Members in sending a letter to the U.S. Census Bureau urging adequate language support services for Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, Alaska Natives, and American Indians in the 2020 Census Language Support Program.

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA-27), Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), and Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), CAPAC Immigration Task Force Chair, led 53 Members of Congress in sending a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen demanding an end to the detention and deportation of Southeast Asian refugees and families.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed S. 1050, the Chinese American World War II Veterans Congressional Gold Medal Act. This bipartisan legislation – led by Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and Congressmen Ed Royce (R-CA) and Ted Lieu (D-CA) – will recognize the tremendous contributions made by more than 18,000 Chinese American World War II veterans and award them with the Congressional Gold Medal. The bill unanimously passed the Senate earlier this year and now awaits the President’s signature.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Chairs of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), and the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) sent a letter to Speaker Paul Ryan and U.S. House Committee on Appropriations Chairman Rodney Frelinghuysen (NJ-11) opposing additional Fiscal Year 2019 Department of Homeland Security funding for a border wall.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The 116^th Congress will bring tremendous milestones for the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community, including a record number of AAPI Members of Congress and the inclusion of an Asian American Member in House Leadership. Earlier today, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) Member Ted Lieu (CA-44) was elected to House Leadership as a Democratic Policy and Communications Committee (DPCC) Co-Chair.