波士頓華裔二戰老兵黃庭琛辭世 享壽100

黃庭琛。(波士頓華埠退伍軍人會提供)

            (Boston Orange) 波士頓華埠退伍軍人會今(13)日在臉書上宣佈，該會資深會員黃庭琛(Seam Wong)昨(12)日辭世，享壽100歲。他的辭世，代表著波士頓華埠與飛虎隊的緣分告一段落。

               黃庭琛於1920年5月9日在波士頓出生，1931年回中國上學，1942年1月收到參戰徵召信，不過他要求延期兩年，先到昆西市的前河船廠工作，1943年5月31日才被徵調到羅德島州普裕敦斯(Providence)市當兵，接著隨空軍第859服務團到麻州Ayer的德文斯堡(Fort Devens)，伊利諾州春田市接受基本訓練。

               6週之後，他的團隊被派到俄亥俄州Dayton的第五空軍司令部接受更多訓練。那兒也是和第14空軍服務隊有緊密關聯的407空軍服務中隊的發源地。

               他接受的訓練是為空軍官兵做供應後勤，負責採購，運輸訂單和庫存，以便在人們要求時，可以供應飛機零件。

            1944年4月1日時，他的服務隊被派往維琴尼亞州的Newport News市。最後他們搭船從維琴尼亞州到了北非阿爾及利亞的Oran。 從北非，他們再遷往印度孟買。在緬甸時，有一個週末，黃庭琛自願擔任C47或者市C46飛機的副駕駛，飛進了中國，帶著裝滿汽油的汽油桶，給其他飛機加油。後來他又從緬甸到中國安康，並在1944年，1945年間，晉升為下士。

               1946年1月14日他光榮退伍，獲頒勝利獎章，以及亞太平洋劇院戰役絲帶章。

              離開軍隊後，黃庭琛在酒店，餐館業工作，並加入美國退伍軍人華埠328分會，於1948年任副會長，並1949年該會正式成立時擔任會長，會齡長達70多年。他也是波士頓黃氏宗親會的資深會員，位於牛頓市的麻州洪門Dalhousie分會。

               上週六，黃庭琛才剛過100歲生日。

              波士頓華埠退伍軍人會在臉書上哀悼他的辭世，感嘆又殞落一名華裔二戰老兵。

Governor Baker Highlights Administration’s COVID-19 Testing, Contact Tracing Initiatives At Fall River Testing Site

Governor Baker Highlights Administration’s COVID-19 Testing, Contact Tracing Initiatives At Fall River Testing Site

FALL RIVER - Governor Charlie Baker today visited a drive-through testing site at Stanley Street Treatment and Resources (SSTAR) in Fall River, one of 18 community health centers to expand COVID-19 testing capacity in recent weeks through a partnership with the Baker-Polito Administration, the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, and Quest Diagnostics. Following the visit, Governor Baker highlighted an expansion of testing criteria included in new guidance from the Department of Public Health, and provided updates on testing capacity and the Commonwealth’s first-in-the-nation contact tracing initiative.

Expanded Testing Criteria: Yesterday, the Department of Public Health (DPH) issued updated guidance about the appropriate use of laboratory testing for COVID-19 and expanded testing recommendations in clinical and commercial laboratories. The new guidance expands the criteria for COVID-19 testing eligibility.

Updated guidelines recommend the following:

• All symptomatic individuals, including those with mild symptoms, should be tested. Symptoms of COVID-19 include:

• Fever, chills or shaking chills

• Signs of a lower respiratory illness

• Fatigue, sore throat, headache, body aches or new loss of sense of taste or smell

• Other less common symptoms can include gastrointestinal symptoms and inflammatory conditions

• In elderly, chronically ill or debilitated individuals, symptoms of COVID-19 may be subtle, including alterations in mental status or in blood glucose control

• All individuals who are identified as close contacts of a COVID-19 confirmed case by a local board of health, DPH, the Community Tracing Collaborative or a healthcare provider should be tested.

Read the guidance here.

Testing Capacity Update: Testing remains a critically important component of the Commonwealth’s plan to begin re-opening the economy. In total, the Commonwealth has conducted more than 400,000 tests. Daily testing data can be found on the COVID-19 Response Command Center’s daily dashboard.

This progress has been made possible by the work of partners like SSTAR who have established successful testing sites and are participating in other key programs like isolation housing and contact tracing. Expanded testing partnerships are specifically focused on increasing testing in areas hardest hit by COVID-19, including high-density communities and communities of color. Mobile testing is being conducted on-site at nursing homes, rest homes and assisted living facilities, and to date, over 38,000 tests at more than 360 facilities have been conducted.

Thanks to shared efforts by the Administration and health care and lab partners to ramp up testing, Massachusetts now has one of the top per capita testing rates in the country, and currently outpaces some countries around the world on testing totals.

Contact Tracing Update: Last month, the Baker-Polito Administration, DPH, Partners in Health and local Boards of Health launched the Community Tracing Collaborative (CTC), a first in the nation statewide contact tracing initiative to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

Since calls began on April 12, tens of thousands of Massachusetts residents have participated in contact tracing. Staffed with nearly 1,600 tracers, the Tracing Collaborative has reached nearly 18,000 confirmed cases and over 14,000 of their contacts since calls began on April 12. In part due to effective social distancing measures, the median number of contacts reported by each confirmed case remains approximately two.

As the CTC continues its contact tracing work to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, it is critical that Massachusetts residents answer the phone when a contact tracer calls or texts. Contact tracers will only reach out from phone numbers with 833 or 857 area codes, and the phone’s caller ID will say MA COVID Team. The Community Tracing Collaborative will not ask for social security numbers or health insurance information.

To learn more about the MA COVID Team and the Community Tracing Collaborative, visit www.mass.gov/MATracingTeam. 

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES DISTRIBUTION OF OVER $1.3 MILLION IN BOSTON RESILIENCY FUND GRANTS

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES DISTRIBUTION OF OVER $1.3 MILLION IN BOSTON RESILIENCY FUND GRANTS

BOSTON - Wednesday, May 13, 2020 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh and the Boston Resiliency Fund Steering Committee today announced the seventh round of Boston Resiliency Fund Grants, distributing $1.3 million to assist 19 organizations working to help residents in the City of Boston impacted most by the COVID-19 pandemic. To date, including this most recent round of grants, the Fund has distributed over $17.6 million to 191 organizations; 61 percent of grantee organizations are led by a woman and 41 percent are led by a person of color.   "The generosity of thousands of individuals and organizations is allowing the Boston Resiliency Fund to provide food for children and seniors in need, technology for students, and support to first responders and healthcare workers," said Mayor Walsh. "The work of the fund will continue to be informed by the COVID-19 Health Inequities Task Force to get resources into communities that have the deepest needs. We've used it to expand COVID testing access and outreach in our hardest hit communities and in every neighborhood across the city."   The grants awarded this round will support essential services for residents being provided by community-based organizations, expand COVID-19 testing and telehealth services at Community Health Centers, provide childcare, safety training, and emotional support for essential and frontline workers, and support food delivery systems. Applications for funding are reviewed with a lens towards equity and with learnings from the COVID-19 Health Inequities Task Force. 52 percent of the organizations funded in this round are led by a person of color, and 47 percent are led by a woman.  "The healthcare workers of 1199SEIU are grateful for the support of the Boston Resiliency Fund to train and empower caregivers in nursing homes and home care. These workers are largely invisible as they care for seniors and people with disabilities across Boston, but are indispensable to those they care for and play a critical role in stopping the spread of the virus to this vulnerable population," said Tim Foley, 1199SEIU Executive Vice President. "Having access to vital infection control information that is language-inclusive ensures caregivers are able to better protect themselves and those they care for a safer and more resilient Boston." "The Newmarket Business Association is very happy to be able to assist the City of Boston in providing 'last mile' food from the Greater Boston Food Bank and deliver it to those in need in our neighborhoods," said Sue Sullivan, Executive Director of Newmarket Community Partners. "Many of our businesses rely on trucking and distribution and this makes us a natural partner to work with the City on this effort." Last week, Mayor Walsh announced that the Boston Resiliency Fund had raised over $30 million, following an initial goal of $10 million. To date, the Boston Resiliency Fund has raised over $30.7 million from 5,818 individual donors.  The grants awarded today range in size and will support the goals outlined by the City of Boston:  Expanding testing at neighborhood-based community health centers: The Boston Resiliency Fund has now dedicated $1.24 million to expand COVID-19 testing and conduct culturally appropriate outreach and education at 17 community health centers across City of Boston neighborhoods. This week, grants include:  NEW Health Center in Charlestown South Boston Community Health Center Support for frontline and essential workers: 1199SEIU Training and Employment Funds (TEF): The grant will support Home Health Care Aides working or living in Boston by providing a health and safety training that emphasizes infection prevention, specifically deep hand cleaning protocols, proper handling and removal of personal protective equipment (PPE), and safe use of chemicals. Those who participate in the training will receive a small stipend upon completion.  The Schwartz Center for Compassionate Healthcare: The Schwartz Center will launch a new initiative with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD to offer Stress First Aid (SFA) training to teams from Boston healthcare institutions. Once trained, these teams will be able to offer SFA as well as train others, thus becoming "force multipliers" and having a positive ripple effect throughout their organization. This funding would allow the Schwartz Center to expand beyond their member hospitals and work with Community Health Centers as well. YMCA Emergency Childcare: With previous support from the Boston Resiliency Fund, the YMCA has provided 380,000 "grab & go" meals for children; over 25,000 meals for adults; 17,000 bags of groceries, diapers, baby formula and other hygiene products for families and seniors; and 360 child care slots for essential workers in Boston. This additional support will enable the YMCA to keep emergency child care centers open through the end of June.  Expansion of community telehealth services: Expansion of Community Health Centers (CNC) Telehealth with the Mass League:  The grant will expand telehealth capacity from the pilot with 9 initial Community Health Centers to 19 Community Health Centers in Boston. Those centers that were part of the pilot have already coordinated and placed orders for needed telehealth equipment for staff and patients in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Increasing access to food and basic needs for residents:  Catie's Closet: The grant will allow Catie's Closet to continue to provide basic necessities, including toiletries and feminine products to homeless and low-income families through the City's youth meal sites.  Community Servings: Community Servings will continue to prepare and deliver healthy wellness meals, in partnership with the City of Boston, for approximately 1,500 food insecure Boston residents including children, seniors, and families.  NAACP Boston Branch: The NAACP Boston Branch will use the grant to support families with the financial support necessary to purchase groceries and pay for prescriptions. Newmarket Community Partners: Newmarket Community Partners will coordinate essential "last mile" transportation, in partnership with the City of Boston, to distribute food to Boston Housing Authority and Age Strong residents. They will support this work by adding additional trucks and hiring more drivers through mid-June. They will also continue to support opportunities for small businesses at risk of permanent closure. Paulist Center: The Paulist Center will use funds to continue providing take-out meals for their Wednesday Supper Club and bagged groceries for their food pantry. St. Mary's Episcopal Church: St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Dorchester will use funds to purchase groceries for their food pantry and continue food deliveries to food pantry clients during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Support for community-based organizations and Boston residents:  Asian American Civic Association: The grant will be used to provide financial assistance to Boston households to prevent homelessness due to inability to pay rent or mortgage due to COVID-19.  Boston Housing Authority (BHA) Charlestown Adult Education: BHA Charlestown Adult Education program will use funds to distribute gift cards and food essentials to Boston residents in need.   Chica Project: Chica Project will support 90 Boston girls and young women of color who have been challenged by the COVID-19 pandemic by providing grocery gift cards to girls and their families, supporting staff and facilitators for their school-based and community-based programming, and offering emergency stipends for housing insecure families that have lost income.  Massachusetts Coalition of Domestic Workers:  The grant will allow the Massachusetts Coalition of Domestic Workers to fund three outreach workers and connect domestic workers with financial assistance and additional supports, such as food and access to health care insurance.  The Guild: With previous support from the Boston Resiliency Fund, The Guild has supported over 1,700 residents since April 1st, including seniors, home-bound residents, and immigrant families. This additional support will allow The Guild to continue assembling and delivering critical care packages of food, toiletries, cleaning, personal, senior and child care supplies to households across Dorchester, and Roxbury, Mattapan. The grant will also support group wellness and healing for pregnant and new mothers.  YouthBuild USA/Youth on Board: The grant will allow Youth on Board and Boston Student Advisory Council to continue their advocacy and programming in partnership with the Boston Public Schools leadership. In particular, Youth on Board is focused on providing peer support, workshops and unique learning opportunities for Boston's young people. Youth Guidance - Becoming A Man (BAM) Boston: Through BAM, Youth Guidance provides critical counseling services for over 500 young men through a virtual platform. To address the needs of their community and augment the counseling services they are already providing, the grant will support the purchase and distribution of gift cards to families in-need to acquire basic necessities and essentials. The Fund will continue accepting donations from individuals, organizations and philanthropic partners who wish to contribute and offer their support. All of the donations will be awarded to local organizations, with the majority of future grants to be made through the end of May. Organizations are encouraged to complete a statement of interest to be considered for future grants.  As the effects of the coronavirus pandemic are quickly evolving and potentially long-lasting, the City and the Steering Committee will work closely with non-profit partners and service providers to understand how their needs will change. As a result, the priorities of the fund may change as the needs of Boston residents evolve.   The Boston Resiliency Fund exists within the Boston Charitable Trust, an existing 501(c)(3) designated trust fund managed by the City of Boston's Treasury Department. For more information on how to make a donation, please visit: boston.gov/resiliency-fund. For general inquiries, please email brf@boston.gov.

COVID-19 逼使世界發展倒退 2.5億人將缺糧

應邀轉載:

Ethnic Media Service特約編輯SUNITA SOHRABJI報導

【舊金山訊】專家5月8日在一場少數族裔媒體會議上指出，隨著新型冠狀肺炎（COVID-19）的爆發，全球目前有超過2億6500萬人口面臨糧食短缺的危機，數百萬人失去賴以為生的外匯收入。

非牟利組織「世界麵包」（Bread for the World）西語裔關係專員甘柏亞（Dulce Gamboa）說：「預估新冠肺炎可能使面臨糧食短缺問題的人口增加一倍，這個世界未曾出現過這麼大規模的傳染疫情。」

移民政策研究院（Migration Policy Institute）共同創辦人帕帕迪米奇歐（Demetrios Papademetriou）目前是華府地區智庫的傑出泛大西洋研究員，他指出，出國工作的勞工寄回家鄉的外匯也深受其害。世界銀行估計，由於許多海外勞工因為新冠疫情失去工作，導致外匯活動減少了1420億美元。

帕帕迪米奇歐說：「外匯是許多人賴以為生不可或缺的命脈，它們會愈來愈少、愈來愈不穩定。」

帕帕迪米奇歐認為新冠肺炎危機和1930年代經濟大蕭條（Great Depression）同等嚴重，並形容它為「經濟深淵」（economic abyss）。

地球創新研究院（Earth Innovation Institute）創辦人暨院長奈普斯德（Daniel Nepstad）提到新冠疫情對全世界最大雨林亞馬遜雨林的影響，他表示，為了利於耕作，當地農民通常會在夏季焚燒森林。

在正常的情況下，每年都會有數千人在森林焚燒時罹患呼吸道疾病。然而，奈普斯德預測，今年在新冠病毒的攻擊下，這些免疫系統原本就已受損的人的死亡率將提高。

奈普斯德指出，巴西已經在亞馬遜雨林深處的馬瑙斯（Manaus）為新冠肺炎死者挖好萬人塚；秘魯洛雷托（Loreto）由於氧氣瓶短缺，新冠肺炎的死亡率相當高。

奈普斯德表示，雨林面對的最大威脅來自紛紛逃到當地的民眾。爆發疫情後，當地市場已全面關閉，農夫無法將農產品帶到市場販售；為了獲得糧食，超過20萬人徒步從秘魯利馬（Lima）穿過沙漠進入高原，再從高原走到雨林。

奈普斯德呼籲全球支援亞馬遜雨林的農民，提供他們種子種植壽命較長的樹類作物，並推動正常化的供應鏈，提供公平的價格。

奈普斯德說：「現在是大家團結一致，聽從當地領導人指示，並了解他們需要什麼的時候。我們經常會妖魔化焚燒森林的人，但我認為應該要了解其中的細微差異。」

「許多人透過砍伐雨林來開採食物，將這些食物供應給全世界。」

甘柏亞表示，即使糧食價格沒有飆漲，全球大飢荒也會持續。她指出，情況最快速惡化的，會是那些非正規經濟勞動力佔大比例的國家。

甘柏亞表示，葉門是目前糧食短缺問題最嚴重的國家，該國53%的人口，將近1600萬人，處於飢餓邊緣。

甘柏亞說，蘇丹和奈及利亞很可能遭受飢荒重創，辛巴布韋、南非、剛果和非洲之角（Horn of Africa）由於高通貨膨脹、收成差和乾旱，也同樣面臨嚴重的糧食短缺問題。

甘柏亞說：「營養不良的人免疫系統較差。」她補充，一個在出生頭1000天沒有攝取足夠營的幼兒，將一生面對身體和智力發育遲緩的問題。

「人們說：『我們在死於新冠病毒之前，會先死於飢餓。』」

甘柏亞還說：「美國應該展現強大的領導能力，協助世界數以百萬計的人，包括婦女和兒童。」

帕帕迪米奇歐表示，各國關閉邊境、限制旅遊，造成全球人口遷徙停滯，不過，發展中國家倒是出現一股國民返鄉的人口遷徙潮。

帕帕迪米奇歐說：「受到富裕國家人口統計學的影響，精英人士得出一個允許人口遷徙繼續大規模發展的共識。隨著疫情的持續，我們將拭目以待，這個精英共識是否能繼續存在。」他補充，各國必須重新評估他們所需的移民勞工數量，尤其是農業領域。

帕帕迪米奇歐表示，許多無證移民都是必要性勞工，現在評估美國是否會提供他們合法身份，仍言之過早。

「過去14年來，我們不斷嘗試提出兩方立法者都能支持的妥協方案，但沒有一次成功。」

帕帕迪米奇歐說：「我們上一次慘敗是在2013年歐巴馬執政之時，所以我難以對前景樂觀。」

麻州長抗疫 申請增撥預算10億元

(Boston Orange)麻州州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker) (12)日參觀協助製造防疫試劑、設備的MatTek生命科學公司，為相關人員打氣，並遞出要求授權開銷10億元打擊新型冠狀病毒(COVID-19)的2020財政年度補充預算。

麻州今日的新型冠狀病毒疫情數據，呈下降局面，死亡人數新增33，累計5,141，幾乎是一個多月以來人數最少的一天。不過由於昨天(週一)統計數據的時間較遲，有些應該算在今天內的數據，被包括在昨天的數據內，所以今天比較少些。若是取兩天的平均數，則是兩天各有81人死亡，比四月底時曾經高到252人低了許多。

麻州的COVID-19確診人數，增加了870人，累計79,332。麻州公共衛生廳公佈的新作檢測人數有6,768，全州累計已有40萬1,496人做過檢測。確診比率也從四月中的高達33%左右，已降到14%。

麻州的疫情和新英格蘭其他各州比起來，嚴峻得多，在全美也排到第四，僅次於紐約，新澤西，以及伊利諾三州。

麻州政府在解釋10億元的增補預算提案時表示，州政府預期，在聯邦政府補助到帳後，這些開銷不會花到州政府的錢。

這些開銷包括購買個人防護設備，給集中護理，以及其他基本人民服務提供者的費率調整，發獎勵給某些一天24小時營運場所的前線州政府員工，臨時醫院，庇護所的開銷，國家衛隊的薪資，全美國第一個的麻州接觸追蹤項目，還有地方住宅局，以及家庭及個人庇護系統增加了的開銷等。

議會授權後，將使得麻州可以充分應用聯邦財務支援，最顯著的是來自聯邦緊急管理局(FEMA)，在聯邦報銷程序實現前，只能用來償還州政府源於符合資格的災難因應活動開銷。

聯邦緊急管理局不支持新型冠狀病毒的報銷，只能和其他可用的聯邦收入來源配對，包括在聯邦政府新型冠狀病毒援助，救濟，以及經濟安全法案(CARES 法案)中設立的聯邦新型冠狀病毒救濟基金。

Governor Baker Tours MetroWest Manufacturer MatTek Life Sciences, Pivoting to Support COVID-19 Research With Support from M-ERT

Governor Baker Tours MetroWest Manufacturer MatTek Life Sciences, Pivoting to Support COVID-19 Research With Support from M-ERT

ASHLAND — Governor Charlie Baker today toured MatTek Life Sciences, a Massachusetts-based company of 35 years, that is currently participating in the Baker-Polito Administration’s Manufacturing Emergency Response Team (M-ERT). This initiative assists local manufacturers in transitioning operations to produce personal protective equipment (PPE) and other critical items needed to support the Commonwealth’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 public health emergency.

Boasting a highly trained scientific staff, expertise in cell culture and building human tissues, and existing relationships with government agencies and the FDA, MatTek was uniquely positioned to shift their operations to support the Commonwealth’s response to COVID-19. The transition from the manufacture of cell culture media to the production of viral transport media was streamlined with support from the M-ERT’s experts, particularly MIT’s System Design and Management program. In MatTek’s normal operations, many of its 3D tissue types have been used in COVID-19 antiviral research - EpiAirway, EpiOral and EpiIntestinal - with the EpiAirway tissue being particularly relevant for this research, providing a human-based platform for scientists to get more relevant results much faster than if they used animals.

In addition to providing essential products for COVID-19 research, six weeks ago MatTek also pivoted labs and staff into producing hand sanitizer, and has donated hundreds of liters to local first responders and medical facilities, and shipped thousands of liters across the country.

MatTek has received grant support through the M-ERT’s funding program launched last month to substantially increase their output of viral transport media. The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center is among the M-ERT partners that have made capital funding available to pivoting manufacturers.

About the Manufacturing Emergency Response Team (M-ERT): The M-ERT is a coordinated response by the Baker-Polito Administration and leading academic and industry stakeholders to support the Commonwealth’s manufacturers in their efforts to produce much-needed supplies for front-line workers and the health care system. The M-ERT is led by the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MassTech) and members include representatives from: Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, Advanced Functional Fabrics of America (AFFOA), MIT, MIT Lincoln Labs, the University of Massachusetts Lowell, Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), the Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MassMEP), Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM), and other industry partners.

The M-ERT also launched $10.6 million in new funding to help manufacturers scale their operations to produce PPE and other critical items. Companies can apply for grants through an online form for equipment, materials, supplies, workforce training and other needs. A Review Committee will process applications based on criteria including production timeline and recommend grant awards.

The M-ERT has graduated 27 companies that have produced almost 3 million PPE items to date. As of Thursday, 704 companies in total have reached out to participate in the M-ERT initiative, including 434 from Massachusetts.

Baker-Polito Administration Files Supplemental Budget Bill to Authorize $1 Billion in COVID-19 Spending

Baker-Polito Administration Files Supplemental Budget Bill to Authorize $1 Billion in COVID-19 Spending

BOSTON – The Baker-Polito Administration today filed a supplemental budget bill for Fiscal Year 2020 (FY20) which will authorize $1 billion in spending necessary to cover incurred and expected costs during the COVID-19 public health crisis. It is expected that this spending will result in no net cost to the Commonwealth, after anticipated federal reimbursement and other federal funding sources.

These expenses include the purchase of Personal Protective Equipment, rate adjustments for providers of congregate care and other essential human services, incentive pay for state employees on the front lines at certain facilities in operation 24 hours a day, costs of temporary field hospitals and shelters, National Guard pay, the first statewide contract tracing program in the country, emergency child care for essential workers, and increased costs of local housing authorities and of the family and individual shelter system. 

This authorization will enable the Commonwealth to leverage federal financial support, most notably, aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which can only reimburse state spending resulting from eligible disaster response activities. This legislation would ensure that adequate state spending has been authorized to allow the Commonwealth to continue to protect the public unimpeded until the federal reimbursement process can be realized.

COVID-19 costs not supported by FEMA reimbursement will, to the extent possible, be matched to other available federal revenue sources, including the federal Coronavirus Relief Fund established in the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).

The bill would also attribute federal reimbursements to FY20 if they are associated with COVID-19 response costs incurred in FY20, allowing the use of revenue sources without putting the FY20 budget out of balance.

趙小蘭與白宮亞太裔計畫鼓勵亞裔認識政府 爭取機會

趙小蘭。(攝自視頻會議)

            (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導) 全美亞裔總商會和白宮亞太裔發展計劃 (White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders)為慶祝亞美傳統月，5月11日起舉辦四場座談。交通部部長趙小蘭應邀為首場主講，直言疫情中亞裔失業率驚人，還遭遇歧視，仇恨，鼓勵亞裔發聲，有狀況就要舉報。

            全美亞裔總商會和白宮亞太裔發展計劃為慶祝亞美傳統月舉辦的一系列四場講座，每日一場，依序為亞裔社區介紹聯邦政府的交通，企業，勞工，商務等部門，期以加強亞裔社區對美國聯邦政府的認識，進而拓展機會。

            11日的第一場由全美亞裔總商會執行長董繼玲主持，交通部部長趙小蘭主講。

            趙小蘭在會中指出，亞裔在美總人數將近20萬，失業率一向最低，2019年約3%，今年3月時，也才4.1%左右，但5月8日的新數據，卻躍升到14.5%，顯示亞疫在新型冠狀病毒疫情中，受打擊很重，其中一部分原因或許是在美國的3020萬中小企業中佔6%，約190萬由亞裔經營的中小企業，也有很多在政府規定的抗疫措施中被迫歇業了。好在聯邦政府推出了”保護職工薪資法(PPP)”，小企業援助等等方案，相信略可舒緩。

            趙小蘭表示，全美已有大約43州公佈重新開放的計畫，聯邦疾病防治中心(CDC)也以多包括中文，越南文等多種語言，發佈了各人如何保護自己與家人的指南。近日有亞裔，尤其是在人口密集的市區地帶，遭遇歧視，仇恨對待，的確是很糟糕的事，司法部門會致力在法律允許的最大範圍內，起訴仇恨犯罪，以及針對亞裔，違反反歧視法的行為。遭遇仇恨犯罪情況的人應該向地方上的執法機關舉報，尤其是要向各人所居住地區的聯邦調查局地方辦公室舉報。

            趙小蘭在會議中也說明，在交通部長這職位上，她的主要任務及關注方向有三，一為保障美國交通系統的安全，二為投資建設美國的基礎設施，三為從大眾所關心的角度，為未來的交通系統做準備，例如無人駕駛汽車等。在目前新型冠狀病毒大流行期間，該部門最重要的工作將是致力保持整個交通系統營運通暢，貨物流通無阻。該部門的預算，也已從2019年的870億美元左右，增至現在的大約1250億元。

            在回應語會者所提出，可以做些什麼事來提升亞裔在聯邦機構的領導力這問題時，趙小蘭表示，在慶祝亞美傳統月，表揚亞太裔社區在各行各業的有成就者之際，這是個尤其重要的問題。她自己在職業生涯中也曾面對許多挑戰，所以她當上勞工部部長時，策劃了年度會議，幫助在聯邦政府任職亞裔，得到進一步培訓，也幫助亞太裔社區學習如何爭取聯邦部門合約，要求勞工部製作就業數據報告時把亞裔列為單獨類別，那也成為聯邦政府項目報告歷史性的第一次。在交通部，她為聯邦員工設立了各種發展管理技能，辨識提升個人晉級資歷策略等的研習講座，也帶動了例如這天的座談。她認為下一階段的重要事項之一是保持開放的溝通。

            全美亞裔總商會和白宮亞太裔發展計劃所安排的系列講座，都安排在下午3點舉行。5月11日還邀得IW 集團主席Bill Imada，德勤公司合夥人Anna Mok，Fox 公司資深副總裁Raj Shah人分享經驗與看法5月12日由國際領袖基金會主席徐紹欽主持，主講者為中小企業局局長 Jovita Corranza 。5月13日有勞工部首長主講，5月14日邀得商務部部長羅斯（Wilbur Ross) 專題演講。

            報名可上網URL: https://www.MBDA.gov/AAPIHM2020