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Vietnamese.pdf]]> http://www.democrats.org/a/2010/09/democrats_are_m.php http://www.democrats.org/a/2010/09/democrats_are_m.php Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Fri, 10 Sep 2010 17:08:36 -0500 The Affordable Care Act, the health insurance reform bill enacted by President Barack Obama and congressional Democrats, has much to offer Americans in terms of preventative care, but Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in particular could benefit from regulations that require new health plans to cover Hepatitis B vaccinations, early cancer screenings and pre-natal and expectant mother care.

According to newly issued regulations from the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor and Treasury, individuals and families who enroll in a new health plan after September 23rd of this year, the plan will be required to cover certain recommended services without charging deductibles, coinsurance or copayments.

Preventative care can help stop the spread communicable diseases that disproportionately affect AAPI communities. When compared to white Americans aged 40 and older, Asian American and Pacific Islanders are more likely to have Hepatitis B, but the Affordable Care Act will require new plans to cover the Hepatitis B vaccination.

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States, and AAPI communities suffer from disparities in screening and incidence rates in several forms of it. Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are less likely than other groups to get screened for cancer. But the Affordable Care Act passed by congressional Democrats and the President, ensures several important cancer prevention tools without cost-sharing.

The percent of Asian American women getting the recommended mammogram is 54 percent, while 68 percent for white women. Asian American women also lag in the percentage of recommended Pap smears, receiving only 64 percent compared to 79 percent for white women.

Vietnamese American women have a cancer incidence rate five times that of white women, that’s higher than any other ethnic group in the United States. To prevent cervical cancer, the Affordable Care Act ensures that new health plans offer coverage that includes regular Pap smears to screen for cervical cancer and the HPV vaccine to prevent cervical cancer.

The reform bill also requires plans to cover breast cancer prevention tools like annual mammograms for women over 40, referrals to genetic counseling and for certain women at increased risk, a discussion of chemoprevention.

Among Asian Americans, a great disparity exists for colorectal cancer screening. AAPIs receive screening at a rate of 42 percent while white Americans are screened at a rate of 59 percent. To increase the chances of catching early signs of colon cancer, the reform bill has new regulations to ensure that new plans offer screening tests for adults over 50.

Some Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders also suffer from disparities in the rate of infant mortalities. While the U.S. infant mortality rate is 6.8 deaths for every 1,000 live births, Native Hawaiians, for example, have an infant mortality rate of 9.6 per 1,000 live births. To promote healthy pregnancies, the Affordable Care Act will ensure that mothers have access to the services they need including screening for conditions that can harm pregnant women or their babies like iron deficiency, hepatitis B, Rh incompatibility (a pregnancy related immune condition), and a bacterial infection called bacteriuria. The reform bill also requires new health plans to offer pregnancy-tailored counseling from a doctor that will help pregnant women quit smoking and avoid alcohol use.

The Affordable Care Act was an historic achievements for Democrats and for all Americans, but of critical importance, it also will help to correct many disadvantages that limit AAPI communities’ ability to get ahead. By expanding access and helping to reduce disparities in health care screenings among Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, sixteen million AAPIs can expect to benefit from the reduction of preventable diseases and conditions.

At 4:00 p.m. ET, President Obama will host a reception at the White House to celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Watch live here or at WhiteHouse.gov/live.

Secretary Locke and Ms. Ahuja will address the President's AAPI initiative aimed at bringing together top government officials and community leaders specifically to address education opportunities, housing, jobs, employment issues, and health disparities in AAPI communities, and also will take your questions.

Please click here to watch the chat live at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time today.

Note: 3pm EDT Tuesday is the same as 12PM PDT Tuesday, 9am HST (Hawaii) Tuesday, 8am SST (American Samoa) Tuesday, and 5am ChST Wednesday (Guam)

In commemoration of the month, President Obama issued a proclamation saying:

“For centuries, America's story has been tied to the Pacific. Generations of brave men and women have crossed this vast ocean, seeking better lives and opportunities, and weaving their rich heritage into our cultural tapestry. During Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we celebrate the immeasurable contributions these diverse peoples have made to our Nation.

“Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have shared common struggles throughout their histories in America -- including efforts to overcome racial, social, and religious discrimination. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Angel Island Immigration Station in San Francisco Bay, a milestone that reminds us of an unjust time in our history. For three decades, immigrants from across the Pacific arrived at Angel Island, where they were subject to harsh interrogations and exams, and confined in crowded, unsanitary barracks. Many who were not turned back by racially prejudiced immigration laws endured hardship, injustice, and deplorable conditions as miners, railroad builders, and farm workers.

“Despite these obstacles, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have persevered and flourished, achieving success in every sector of American life. They stood shoulder to shoulder with their fellow citizens during the civil rights movement; they have served proudly in our Armed Forces; and they have prospered as leaders in business, academia, and public service.”

DNC Chairman Tim Kaine echoed the President’s sentiment, saying:

“I would like to take this opportunity to recognize the many contributions Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have made to American culture, industry, and democracy. Asian American and Pacific Islanders have served their country bravely as members of the Armed Services. They have worked side-by-side with Americans of all ethnicities. And they have shared their stories and their history with neighbors of all kinds, enriching communities across the country. America is a better, richer place because we have welcomed diversity, and particularly because we have welcomed Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders into our country.

“Today, the AAPI community is among the fastest-growing in the nation. I join Democrats in Congress and President Obama in embracing that continued growth – and in fighting to open the doors of opportunity for this important group, as well as for all Americans.”

Congressman Mike Honda, DNC Vice-Chair, added:

“As an Asian American, I spent much of my childhood in an internment camp during World War II. I know personally the challenges Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have overcome over the past century, but I am also aware of the many opportunities America offers these diverse and talented groups to thrive today. Whether they trace their heritage to Hawaii, to America’s Pacific Island territories, or to a country across the ocean, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have a unique story to tell, one that has enriched the American culture. I join President Obama and people across America in reflecting on the unique contributions of those in the AAPI community and in celebrating the millions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who today continue to reach for the American Dream.”

In addition, Bel Leong-Hong, DNC Asian American and Pacific Islander Caucus Chair, said:

“This is a time not only to celebrate Asian Americans’ and Pacific Islanders’ triumphs, but also to talk about the challenges still facing Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, and other Americans of diverse heritage. President Obama has begun to address many of those challenges – working hard to promote equal opportunity, educational opportunity, and economic opportunity. I welcome the support of President Obama and Congressional Democrats for the Asian American and Pacific Islander community, and I look forward to their continued efforts on behalf of our community and Americans of all backgrounds. The strength of will, the motivation to succeed, and the passion of achievement are ingredients that continue to make the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities such vibrant parts of our American Society.”

You can hear the full interview at NPR.
You can read more about Rep. Honda biography and role as DNC Vice Chair on his biography page.

Full remarks below.

During the press conference, President-elect Obama praised General Shinseki's service to his country, and reinforced the importance of the sacred trust between America and her troops.

General Shinseki is the first Asian American to reach the rank of four-star general. He served two combat tours in Vietnam, where he was wounded in action.

On the anniversary of the attacks on Pearl Harbor in 1941, President-elect Obama stressed the importance of the post General Shinseki would hold.

"We owe it to all our veterans to honor them as we honored our Greatest Generation," the President-elect said. "Not just with words, but with deeds."

General Shinseki sat down for an interview with the Transition team to talk about his commitment to military families and the critical issues facing the VA.

On the surface, it could be viewed that Barack Obama’s parents had little in common with my parents. His father came from Africa; my parents came from Asia. They spoke different languages. Their paths surely never crossed. Yet our parents had much in common because they were united by the values they taught their sons: that in America, it doesn’t matter where you came from, but where you are going. It doesn’t matter what your name is, but whether you are willing to work hard to make a name for yourself.

Barack Obama’s life reaffirms the American dream, a dream living in the hearts and lives of countless American families from the eastern shores, to the farmlands, to the Rocky Mountains, to my beloved California, and beyond. This is our nation’s great promise. But the promise feels harder to reach.

As the Controller of the State of California, my job is to build a brighter fiscal future for my state and her 38 million residents. Like every state, California is struggling with foreclosures, record gas prices and rising unemployment. We are working harder than ever, but still many of us are falling further and further behind.

But we know our future is still golden. We know of a path to the promised land and Barack Obama will lead us there. He understands, as John F. Kennedy said, that “a rising tide lifts all boats.” Together we will rise, or together we will fall.

Here in Denver, and all across our country, we choose to rise. Together, we will rise and reject another four years of the same policies that brought us from a decade of economic prosperity to a decade of economic despair. Together, we will rise and overcome the challenges of poverty, access to health care, and energy independence.

Barack Obama will give us the change we need, so that the values of hard work and opportunity that our parents taught us will ring just as loud, clear and true for our children as they did for us. Let those values be our calling. And once again build a country that embraces the great promise of her people.

Thank you and God bless you all.

One of my proudest moments was when I received keys to my first classroom. It was high quality public education that allowed this son of strawberry sharecroppers, raised in the Japanese American internment camps of World War II, to grow up to become a Peace Corps volunteer, a Vice Chair of the DNC, and Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.

Education is the gateway to the American dream. Barack knows first-hand that immigrant families – Asian, Hispanic, Pacific Islander, African and others – can attain the American dream through a quality, equitable education, and hard work. Barack's story of promise and opportunity proves that education can be the great equalizer. Sadly, over the past eight years, the misguided Bush/McCain priorities have bled our schools' resources dry, shutting down that gateway to success, and hijacking our children's capacity to achieve the American dream.

We are now at a crossroads. We can either continue on a path of failed policies with John McCain, or, for the change we need, we can elect Barack Obama president. America is in dire need of leadership. Barack knows that education leads to innovation, a critical engine of our economy. His ability and his vision will help ensure that everyone has the opportunity to obtain a quality education. Barack will fight for our children's future.

Rather than burning through billions of dollars on failed foreign policies and an open-ended war, Barack knows that the real war to be fought is for the education of our children, the future of America’s economic health. He is committed to developing the teachers of tomorrow from among the brightest in our classrooms today and preparing, retaining and rewarding every teacher in America for their service.

In 1965, President Kennedy’s call to service led me to build schools in El Salvador. Now, though my hair is gray, I am inspired again. With Barack Obama and Joe Biden as our ticket – yes, there is hope for the change we need!

Thank you, Senator Obama, for unlocking the imagination and idealism of all generations of Americans, including our Asian and Pacific Islander communities. Thank you for inspiring us to be a critical part of your journey to victory this November. And thank you for your commitment to education, for knowing the strength of America’s tomorrow lies in the classrooms of today.

Parag Saxena of Rye, NY, Romita Shetty of New York, NY, Dilawar Syed of Palo Alto, CA, and Kashif Zafar of Scarsdale, NY will serve as National Co-Chairs for the Council. All four have been appointed by Governor Dean to lead the Council through the 2008 election cycle.

The Council will lead the Party's efforts to recognize the loyalty, dedication, and generous contributions of the South Asian American community to the Democratic Party, and to provide a platform for political engagement and a forum for the exchange of ideas for South Asian American Democrats.

During a briefing at the Sundaram Tagore Gallery in New York City on Wednesday, Governor Dean praised the community for engaging voters who descend from the seven nations of the Asian subcontinent including Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan and the Maldives. Collectively, there are more than 3 million South Asian Americans living in the U.S.

"To a casual observer it probably seems odd that we lump together these extraordinarily diverse and complex communities into one council," said Dean. "However, what draws you together - and what I hope makes you Democrats - is the shared experiences of coming to this country, building your families and passing on a better life for the next generation."

Joining Governor Dean was former U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan Wendy Chamberlin who serves as a foreign policy advisor to Senator Obama's campaign and Co-Chairs of the SAALC.

"Each of these individuals are deeply committed to ensuring that the rapidly growing South Asian American communities are engaged and participating in this year's historic elections," said Dean.

Brief Bios of New DNC South Asian American Leadership Council Co-Chairs:

Parag Saxena is Co-Founder and CEO of Vedanta Capital & New Silk Route Investors and former CEO of INVESCO Private Capital, where he was one of the largest global venture capital and private equity managers. He is a seasoned venture capitalist with over 25 years experience and has been listed on Forbes' annual Midas List of the world's top venture investors. He has been the President of TIE -TriState since 2003 and is a Vice Chairman of the UN Financing for Development Committee. Parag is a co-founder and member of the executive committee of South Asian American Forum. He was a Co-Chair of South Asians for Kerry in 2004 and currently serves as a Regional Co-Chair of the Obama campaign's Asian American Finance Committee.

Romita Shetty is an investment banker based in New York. She is active in a number of non-profits focused on women's rights and is a co-founder of Sakhi for South Asian Women, a ground breaking organization committed to ending violence against women of South Asian origin. She is also a board member of CREA, an international women's human rights organization based in India focused on enhancing women's leadership to better access their rights. Romita is on the executive committee of the South Asian American Forum. She currently serves as a National Co-Chair of the Obama campaign's Asian- American Finance Committee.

Dilawar Syed is a Senior Director at Yahoo!, having led platform strategy and business operations in the Company's technology organization. He is a Charter Member and President of OPEN-Silicon Valley (Organization of Pakistani Entrepreneurs of North America). Dilawar is a Regional Co-Chair of the Obama campaign's Asian American Finance Committee.

Kashif Zafar is an investment banker based in New York. He serves on the Board of International House in New York and is an Associate Partner of Acumen Fund, a philanthropic organization which provides venture capital funding for projects aimed at creating market solutions to the problems of global poverty. Kashif is a co-founder and member of the executive committee of the South Asian American Forum. He was a Co-Chair of South Asians for Kerry in 2004. Kashif currently serves as a Regional Co-Chair of the Obama campaign's Asian American Finance Committee.