JACL Congratulates Newly Elected Leadership for the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus
December 5, 2024
For Immediate Release
Seia Watanabe, VP Public Affairs, swatanabe@jacl.org
Matthew Weisbly, Education Programs/Comms Manager, mweisbly@jacl.org
JACL congratulates Representative Grace Meng for being elected to serve as the Chairperson of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) in the 119th Congress. Representative Meng is a Taiwanese American and has served in the House of Representatives for 11 years representing New York’s 6th district. She has led the Asian American community in authoring legislation to combat anti-Asian Hate, establishing a study committee for a National Museum of Asian Pacific American History and Culture, and numerous other Asian American education-focused legislation and initiatives. Representative Meng was recognized for her leadership with the President’s Award at the 2022 JACL National Convention in Las Vegas.
We are exceedingly grateful to outgoing Chair, soon to be Chair Emerita, Representative Judy Chu, who has served as Caucus chair since 2011. Under her leadership, the Caucus has truly ensured that the concerns of the Asian Pacific American Community are the concerns of all Americans. Chairwoman Chu demonstrated her leadership in a most difficult time for our community in the aftermath of the mass shooting in Monterey Park, at the heart of Representative Chu’s Congressional District. She brought a clear voice to our community that gun violence needed to end and that Asian Americans need to be among the voices calling for action.
We applaud First Vice-Chair elect Representative Takano and Second Vice-Chair elect Representative Tokuda for their continued leadership of our Japanese American community and within CAPAC. Congratulations also to Whip-elect Ami Bera the longest-serving Indian American representative, and newly elected Suhas Subramanyamas the Caucus’ Freshman Representative Elect.
We thank all the members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus for their leadership in ensuring that our community is represented and has a voice in Congress. We look forward to working with the Caucus and the 119th Congress in the coming year.
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The Japanese American Citizens League is a national organization whose ongoing mission is to secure and maintain the civil rights of Japanese Americans and all others who are victimized by injustice and bigotry. The leaders and members of the JACL also work to promote cultural, educational, and social values and preserve the heritage and legacy of the Japanese American community.
