Published: June 25, 2017
AP(Eye) on the Hill is our weekly highlight of significant federal updates, particularly those that impact AAPI communities regarding reproductive, immigration, and economic justice. Learn about NAPAWF’s and other national AAPI groups’ federal policy work while you’re out on the ground!
Policy Recap
Senate healthcare vote delayed, but still a threat to immigrant rights, women and gender non-conforming people
House passes two anti-immigrant bills, HR 3003 and HR 3004
Supreme Court agrees to hear arguments on Muslim Ban, partially reinstates executive order
At the end of LGBTQ Pride Month, LGBTQ AAPI activists highlight their work and lives
State Assemblies pass bills to collect disaggregated data on AAPI communities
Senator Mitch McConnell delays vote on BCRA until after July 4th recess
Photo Credit: All*Above All
Senator McConnell (R-KY) has delayed voting on the Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA), the Senate version of the House repeal of the Affordable Care Act, until after Congress comes back from its July 4th recess. After the CBO revealed that the proposed Senate healthcare bill would take away healthcare from 22 million Americans, Republicans found that they lacked the 50 votes needed to pass the bill. Criticism for the bill comes from both liberals, who cite the number of people who would lose health insurance and cuts to Medicaid, and conservatives, who claim the bill does not do enough to erase Obamacare. Senate leaders are expected to make changes and strike deals with other members before voting on a revised bill after the July 4 recess.
Read NAPAWF Executive Director, Sung Yeon Choimorrow’s op-ed on how the Senate healthcare bill would affect AAPI women at The Hill.
NAPAWF joined PPFA and allies in a rally and march on Wednesday at the Capitol, where Democratic leaders urged their supporters to continue the pressure on Senate Republicans.
See an analysis of how the Senate bill compares to the ACA and AHCA here.
Read NAPAWF’s statement on the House version of the bill here [link].
Learn more about what women of color have to lose by reading “The House Republican Repeal Bill Threatens Reproductive Justice for Women of Color” from NAPAWF, In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health, and National Partnership for Women and Families.
Read about other groups NAPAWF has joined to oppose the Republican repeal bill here!
To stand with NAPAWF and oppose AHCA, learn more and raise your voice with our partner, All* Above All!
House passes two anti-immigrant bills, HR 3003 and HR 3004
On Thursday, the House of Representatives passed two bills: HR 3003, “No Sanctuary for Criminals Act,” which allows the federal government to punish cities which establish sanctuary policies for undocumented immigrants; and HR 3004, “Kate’s Law,” which would increase penalties for undocumented immigrants who illegally re-enter the US. The bills are a victory for Trump’s anti-immigration agenda and now progress to the Senate where they face clear opposition from Senate Democrats.
Read the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus leaders’ statement on both bills here.
Learn more about how these bills harm AAPI communities and all immigrants here: “Five Civil Rights Organizations Oppose Latest Immigration Actions in the House” from Asian Americans Advancing Justice
Supreme Court agrees to hear arguments on Muslim Ban, partially reinstates executive order
Photo Credit: Think Progress
On Monday, the Supreme Court agreed to hear arguments on Trump’s travel ban from six Muslim-majority countries in October. Meanwhile, it allowed a partial travel ban to take effect starting Thursday night. Court challenges have already emerged as a result, including an emergency motion filed by a federal court in Hawaii. The travel ban restricts entry for people coming from Libya, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Somalia, and Yemen unless they prove that they have close family ties— a “bona fide relationship”—or a job offer in the US. The ban most devastatingly affects refugees and asylum seekers, who will not be able to enter the country for at least 120 days.
Read the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus leaders’ statement on the partial reinstatement of the Muslim Ban here.
Read more from our allies about why we stand against the unconstitutional Muslim Ban:
“NCAPA Continues to Reject Unconstitutional Muslim Ban” from the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans
“Asian Americans Advancing Justice Disappointed in Supreme Court Decision to Reinstate Portions of Muslim Ban” from Asian Americans Advancing Justice
“SAALT Objects to the Supreme Court’s Partial Reinstatement of the Muslim Ban” from South Asian Americans Leading Together
At the end of LGBTQ Pride Month, LGBTQ AAPI activists highlight their work and lives
Photo Credit: Desis for Progress
As June, National LGBTQ Pride Month comes to an end, LGBTQ AAPI people are coming together to discuss how being AAPI affects our communities and why visibility matters!
In D.C., Desis for Progress had over 100 attendees to their event, South Asian LGBTQ Resistance! Learn more about DFP here.
Mia Nakano’s “Visibility Project” features queer and trans AAPI people, and has been for eight years. Learn more about Nakano’s work: “Making Queer and Trans Asian American Identities Visible” at KQED and “‘Visibility Project’ Portraits Show LGBTQ Asian Americans in All Their Power” at NBC News
State Assemblies pass bills to collect disaggregated data on AAPI communities
In Rhode Island and New York, both state legislatures took important steps to counting AAPI people with laws that could have huge impacts on health and education.
In Rhode Island, the General Assembly passed the All Students Count Act, which calls for the local departments of education to collect data on AAPI sub-ethnic groups. In Rhode Island, Southeast Asian groups have been working hard and pushing for these measures.
“This outdated data system fails to recognize the diversity of the Asian category, especially when differing historical experiences by ethnic groups have led to different educational outcomes.” - Quyen Dinh, Executive Director of Southeast Asian Resource Action Center
New York’s General Assembly passed A7352, a bill which “requires the collection of certain demographic information by certain state agencies, boards and commissions.” Introduced by Assemblymember Yuh-Line Niou (D), the first person of Asian descent to represent NYC’s Chinatown in the State Assembly, the bill would help paint a detailed picture of the diverse needs of AAPI people.
“The needs of the refugee community may be different than a community that has been here for several generations. The Asian-American community ― or any other community ― cannot be painted with a single, broad brush stroke.” - Jo-Ann Yoo, Executive Director of Asian American Federation
Keep an eye out for…
July 13-16: 14th Annual South Asian Bar Association North America Convention. D.C Learn more and get tickets here.
July 19: NAPABA’s 2017 Scavenger Hunt! RSVP here.
