National Council of Asian Pacific Americans Provides Testimony regarding Democratic Platform

The Democratic National Convention Platform Drafting Committee is convening a two-day platform hearing June 8 and 9 in Washington, D.C., to hear testimony from witnesses regarding the Democratic platform. Today’s theme was “Leveling the Playing Field: Creating Opportunity and Removing Barriers.”

National Council of Asian Americans (NCAPA) National Director Christopher Kang testified in person, providing recommendations for how the platform can include the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community.

Kang’s recommendations on behalf of NCAPA were under an overarching principle of inclusion, making sure that AAPIs are seen and heard in all areas of public policy. He stressed the need for the following:

• Opposing anti-Muslim hate, xenophobia, and bigotry;

• Disaggregated data in the Census and other government programs;

• Greater access to resources that are in-language and culturally competent for the one-third of AAPIs who are Limited English Proficient; and

• Comprehensive immigration reform, including making family reunification a central part of that effort. Visa backlogs take decades to process, and 40% of those waiting to be reunited with their families are from Asian countries.

Click here to read the full remarks or watch the video.

As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, NCAPA does not support or oppose political candidates. NCAPA works with all political parties to educate them about issues of importance to the Asian American and Pacific Islander community.

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Based in Washington, D.C., the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans is a coalition of 35 national Asian Pacific American organizations that serves to represent the interests of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities and to provide a national voice for our communities’ concerns. Our communities are the fastest growing racial/ethnic group in the United States, currently making up approximately six percent of the population.