Weekly Roundup | ACA Repeal Vote Happening (Again)
July 17-24, 2017
A LOOK AHEAD
The Senate has delayed its annual August Recess by two weeks because major legislative agenda items are still pending. Senate Leader McConnell continues to push forward on a vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act without a replacement plan. The bill is expected to fail but repeal of the Affordable Care Act remains a top priority for this Administration, so more last-minute antics to salvage the effort may continue to get reported out. Meanwhile, will there be action on the federal budget - an effort to cut billions from domestic non-defense and entitlement programs, including Medicare and Social Security - before the August recess? No action means that Congress will have to take up the budget, spending, and raising the debt ceiling upon their return and with tight deadlines.
UPDATES
Recently, Texas’ Attorney General and nine other states sent a letter to Attorney General Jeff Sessions, threatening to sue the federal government if they do not rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program by September 5. However, NCAPA urges President Trump to unequivocally continue support for and implementation of DACA, a federal program that halts the deportation of nearly 800,000 enrolled undocumented immigrants who came to this country as children, allowing them to live and work in this country.
The President’s Advisory Commission on Election Integrity held its first meeting on July 19, 2017. So far, no state has fully complied with the Commission’s unusual request for highly sensitive voter rolls information. In response to the Commission, Rep. Judy Chu, CAPAC Chair, joined Tri-Caucus leaders and Senator Mazie Hirono to introduce the Anti-Voter Suppression Act. While protecting election integrity and voter eligibility is critical for the health of our democracy, most election experts agree that voter fraud does not exist in the U.S. Yet one suggestion for combating voter fraud includes removing voters with the same or similar names from voter rolls in multiple states, which could disproportionately disenfranchise voters of Asian descent.
NCAPA IN THE NEWS
NCAPA Welcomes the Bipartisan DREAM Act of 2017
NCAPA welcomes the introduction of the DREAM Act of 2017, a bipartisan bill that gives legal status and a pathway to citizenship to undocumented immigrants who were brought to this country as children. In addition to NCAPA, member organizations Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC, Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA), National Korean American Service & Education (NAKASEC), and OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates have also released statements.
Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics announces their 2017 Honoree
“Dr. Bustos-Choy embodies her life-long journey of personal empowerment by providing integrative and comprehensive approaches for people and organizations to be healthier, happier, and more at peace.”
Fil-Am group wants more Filipinos to run for office in US
NaFFAA Executive Director Jason Tengco speaks on Filipino American issues with ABS-CBN News in Manila.
A Portrait of Asian Americans in the Law
NAPABA releases study to highlight the disparities Asian Americans experience in the legal profession. The report was completed in conjunction with Yale Law School and featured in The Washington Post.
Reflections on the JACL Convention
Floyd Mori reflects on his experience at the 48th Annual Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) Convention earlier this month.
SPOTLIGHT
Minority Mental Health Awareness Month
The month of July is dedicated to raising awareness about minority mental health issues. Share these resources recommended by the Asian American Psychological Association (AAPA), an NCAPA member.
(Source: National Alliance on Mental illness)
TAKE ACTION
Tell Congress to Protect Medicaid!
AAPCHO encourage members and partners to take action by contacting their Members of Congress and remind them that Medicaid is essential for health centers and the millions of patients we serve!
Tell Senators to Vote NO On Repeal!
Call your Senators everyday until the vote happens. Call your Senators at 1-888-200-5389 and tell them: “I oppose the plan to repeal the Affordable Care Act and ask that you vote against it and protect our care.”
Download the Immigrant Know Your Rights Smartphone App
NCAPA member, the National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC), has designed and translated a smartphone app for immigrants and community members who are in crisis or have been approached by police or ICE. The multilingual app currently supports Korean, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, and English. Click here to download this helpful app!
Sign Petition for Citizenship for All Adoptees
Learn about the issues facing adoptees from NAKASEC and sign the petition to support the Adoptee Citizenship Act
Track hate incidents and view their databases
South Asian Americans Leading Together | Asian Americans Advancing Justice | OCA National | Southern Poverty Law Center | Muslim Advocates
ICYMI: AAPIs in the News
Representative Mark Takano makes the OUT Power 50 list again (Out Magazine)
Judge Refuses to Remove Block on Trump’s Sanctuary City Order (Dan Levine, Reuters)
Supreme Court Allows 'Grandparent' Exemption To Trump Travel Ban (Merritt Kennedy, NPR)
U.S. Commission on Civil Rights tackles Constitutional Policing, Immigrant Access to Justice, and Federal Civil Rights Enforcement (UCCR July newsletter)
This Arkansas Radio Station Became a Hub for People From the Marshall Islands (Kristi Eaton, NBCNews Asian America)
OPPORTUNITIES
APIAHF Accounting Specialist II and Experience Assistant
APAICS Communications Associate
APIASF Communications Assistant. Also, immediately hiring for Gates Millennium Scholars Director and temporary GMS Assistant positions (see More Opportunities for more information).
Advancing Justice | AAJC Senior Telecommunication, Technology, and Media Fellow; and Development Associate/ Manager
NAPAWF: Chicago Organizer, Communications and Development Coordinator, Finance and Operations Associate
More Opportunities (including Hill positions)
CALENDAR
Tuesday, July 25, 6:00 - 7:00 p.m ET: NCAPA Education Committee Webinar - How Federal Education Policy Affects Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia
Tuesday, July 25, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m: Active Bystander Intervention Training. Silver Spring Civic Building.
Wednesday July 26, 5:30 PM: AAPCHO Hepatitis B Community Reception. 325 Russell Senate Building. (RSVP to Rhea Racho at [email protected])
Thursday, July 27 - Saturday, July 29: Smithsonian Asian American Literature Festival. Washington, DC.
Thursday, Aug. 3 - Sunday, Aug. 6: 2017 OCA National Convention. Sacramento, CA.
Saturday, Aug 5, 6:00 - 11:00 p.m.: NQAPIA Community Catalyst Awards. Chicago, IL
Thursday, Aug. 8, 3:00 p.m. ET: NCAPA Education Committee Webinar - ESSA and K-12 Federal Education Policy: Experiences from AAPIs in California
Wednesday, Aug. 16 - Sunday, Aug 20: 2017 APALA Convention. Orange County, CA.
Thursday, Aug. 17, 3:00 - 4:00 PM ET (9-10 AM Hawai’i): NCAPA Education Committee Webinar - Native Hawaiian Education Act (NHEA) & Hawaiʻi State ESSA Plan
Tuesday Aug. 22 - Thursday, Aug 24: 3rd Annual NHOA Business Summit Conference. Hawaii Prince Hotel
Wednesday, Sept. 27- Friday, Sept. 29: APIAHF Convention - UNITE. FOCUS. ACT, Mayflower Hotel, D.C. (Registration now open)
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