President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and
Pacific Islanders (PAC-AAPI) Convenes Second Open Meeting
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On August
5th, the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific
Islanders (PAC-AAPI) convened its second Open Meeting in Washington, D.C. U.S.
Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, Co-Chair of the White House Initiative on
Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (WHIAAPI), presided over the meeting and
provided welcome remarks. The Commissioners also met with U.S. Secretary of
Transportation Elaine L. Chao, Co-Chair of WHIAAPI, and discussed
recommendations to the president on how the federal government can better
assist AAPI-owned businesses through the current challenges and the future of
business.
“We thank all of the Asian
Americans and Pacific Islanders who are on the front lines of the battle with
COVID. Every day, they are taking personal risks to save lives and keep our
country safe, healthy, and whole. Many of the Nation’s 1.9 million AAPI-owned
companies have suffered a dramatic loss of business due to the pandemic,” said
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. “Despite this, we are making progress
on the economy. Today’s report to the President is an important step in
creating the policies that will further benefit and improve the fortunes of
AAPI-owned businesses and I look forward to what more can be done in the near
term.”
“It has been impressive to
witness the dedication of the commissioners of the President’s Advisory
Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders as they continue their
important work through the challenges of COVID-19,” said U.S. Secretary of
Transportation Elaine L. Chao. “As American workers and employers re-start our
nation’s economic engines, it is clear that our community’s contributions to
the economic vitality of our country are needed now more than ever.”
The Commission is tasked by
President Trump’s Executive Order to provide advice to the President, through
the U.S. Secretary of Commerce and the U.S. Secretary of Transportation, on how
to broaden access by Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) employers and
communities to economic resources and opportunities.
“Before the pandemic, AAPI
owned businesses generated over $700B in annual revenue, our buying power was
more than $900B annually and our population is only 22.5 million, at less than
7% of the population. We are committed to recapturing and exceeding that
strength,” said Dr. Paul Hsu, Chair of PAC-AAPI, “Our civic engagement on
behalf of the entire AAPI community is essential during these challenging
times. We are making steady progress on recommendations in development for
submission through both Secretaries to advise the President.”
Also joining the meeting was
National Director of the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), David
Byrd, who presented on MBDA’s current priorities and its support of minority
owned businesses through the pandemic, particularly through CARES Act grants.
Alex Flemister, Associate Director of the White House Office of Public Liaison
also joined the meeting and provided his update on outreach to the Asian
Americans and Pacific Islanders community through the White House.
Commissioners spent the earlier
half of the day meeting with White House officials, including Assistant to the
President and Acting Director Brooke Rollins of the Domestic Policy Council,
Deputy Director Derek Kan of the Office of Management and Budget, and Chris
Pilkerton, White House Senior Policy Advisor and Executive Director of White
House Opportunity NOW. Commissioners also met with Kevin O’Connell, Director of
the Office of Space Commerce at the U.S. Department of Commerce and discussed
diversifying the talent pool and the growing opportunities in space commerce.
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