Asian Journal- The Filipino-American Community Newspaper

NEW YORK—President Barack Obama signed an Executive Order re-establishing a federal-wide Initiative to focus on the needs and concerns of the API communities and reaffirmed his commitment to the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities Wednesday afternoon (Oct. 14) at a ceremony in the East Room of the White House.

The federal panel will work to address concerns of API communities and to work on improving their health, education and economic status.

"I proudly sign this executive order reestablishing the President’s Advisory Commission and White House Initiative on Asian American and Pacific Islanders," the president during the signing ceremony.

The panel, which was created during the Clinton administration, will be called the White House Advisory Commission and Interagency Working Group. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and Education Secretary Arne Duncan will serve as co-chairmen.

"When any of our citizens are unable to fulfill their potential due to factors that have nothing to do with their talent, character, or work ethic, then I believe there’s a role for our government to play," President Obama said.

During the East Room ceremony, Obama also observed Diwali, or the "Festival of Lights," a holiday celebrated across faiths in India.

"I’m glad to hear this. I hope they look at the recommendations we submitted before," Vellie Dietrich-Hall, a Filipina-American Republican leader from Virginia told the Asian Journal in a phone interview right after the signing.

Dietrich-Hall served as one of the commissioners of the initiative from 2005 to 2007 during former President George Bush’s term.

Among the recommendations that Dietrich-Hall said was about the development of new entrepreneurs in the API community and making them more financially literate.

"We all know that financial stability means empowerment and that a lot of Asian Americans are small business owners so we just wanted to give them more training and education," Dietrich-Hall added.

The Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) applauded President Obama for signing the executive order.

"We are pleased to know that the White House AAPI Initiative has been restored with its original mission to increase the participation of Asian Americans, and Pacific Islanders in federal programs," said Dr. Ho Luong Tran, president and CEO of APIAHF.  "We are hopeful that more resources will be available to our communities and that this initiative will ensure a broader representation of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders within our government."

The Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) influences policy, mobilizes communities, and strengthens programs and organizations to improve the health of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders.

The initiative will work with 23 government agencies and departments to improve the health, education, and economic status of AAPI communities.

( www.asianjournal.com )

( Published October 15, 2009 in Asain Journal Las Vegas p. A1 )