CAPAC Confirms 11 New Associate Members

CAPAC Confirms 11 New Associate Members

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) confirmed 11 new Associate Members. CAPAC now has a record number of 75 members. Rep. Judy Chu (CA-27), the Chair of CAPAC, issued the following statement:

“I’m thrilled to welcome these latest members to CAPAC, giving us our largest membership ever as part of the most diverse Congress in history. And as our membership has grown, so has the volume of our voice and our ability to promote AAPI visibility and advocate for the unique concerns of the robust AAPI community. We are proud of all that we have already accomplished together as a caucus, such as pushing back on the addition of a citizenship question to the Census designed to marginalize our communities, fighting discriminatory immigration policies like the Muslim Ban, and bringing attention to the contributions of AAPIs throughout American history. We look forward to working with all of our new members on the issues that are most important to the AAPI community. From creating a humane immigration system that fosters diversity and keeps families together, to increasing educational access, to addressing disparities in our healthcare system, we are confident that our new members will be critical as we push forward with our priorities.”

CAPAC was founded 25 years ago. The 116^th Congress includes a historic high of 20 AAPI members in both the House and Senate. With the addition of these newest associate members, CAPAC is now comprised of 21 Executive Board Members in the House, four Executive Board Members in the Senate, and 50 Associate Members.

The following Members joined CAPAC as Associate Members today:

• Sen. Jacky Rosen (NV)
• Rep. Colin Allred (TX-32)
• Rep. Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07)
• Rep. Deb Haaland (NM-01)
• Rep. Katie Hill (CA-25)
• Rep. Steven Horsford (NV-04)
• Rep. Susie Lee (NV-03)
• Rep. Kim Schrier (WA-08)
• Rep. Haley Stevens (MI-11)
• Rep. David Trone (MD-06)
• Rep. Jennifer Wexton (VA-10)

Tri-Caucus Statement on Documents Confirming Addition of Citizenship Question Would Create an Electoral Advantage for Republicans and Non-Hispanic Whites

Tri-Caucus Statement on Documents Confirming Addition of Citizenship Question Would Create an Electoral Advantage for Republicans and Non-Hispanic Whites

WASHINGTON— Today, the Chairs of the Congressional Tri-Caucus – Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Chair Judy Chu (CA-27), Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Joaquin Castro (TX-20), and Congressional Black Caucus Chair Karen Bass (CA-37) released the following statement on recently uncovered documents from late-Republican strategist Thomas B. Hofeller and its implications on the Trump Administration’s inclusion of a citizenship question on the 2020 Census:

“These newly discovered documents clearly show the Trump Administration intended for the 2020 Census’ citizenship question to intimidate communities of color and silence us from participating in our democracy. Furthermore, throughout the legal fights since Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross’ decision to add the citizenship question, this Administration has intentionally lied to the American people and Congress about their dubious intentions for altering the Census. The proof of their motivation has come to light, and it demonstrates with incontrovertible evidence that this Administration is working to undermine the foundations of our government,” said the Tri-Caucus Chairs. “The results of the Census will change the course of our country for the next decade. It will decide how much federal funding communities receive, who is represented in Congress, and what kind of country the next generation inherits. This revelation proves that once again, President Trump and Republicans have prioritized their own political power over the American people. They are willing to use discriminatory and devious tactics to ensure a Republican majority. We will not allow them to intimidate our communities or exclude us from having a voice in our government. We still have time to stop this potentially devastating and unjustified decision. As the Supreme Court decides on this issue in the coming month, we will continue fighting to ensure that the Census is not made into a political weapon so that every American is counted.”

The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus has written to the Bureau to ensure that adequate language support services are provided for Asian Americans, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders, Alaska Native, and American Indians for the 2020 Census. CAPAC Members have also raised their concerns with the Department of Commerce and the Census Bureau Director regarding the citizenship question and the need to ensure an accurate count.

河北石家莊教育局代表團訪麻州簽合作交流協議

出席者在”中美教育領袖哈佛論壇”中合影。(主辦單位提供)

石家庄教育局局长張少華(右起)，品格教育協會執行總監
David Holmes，波士頓博睿總裁陳力超簽署協議後合影。(主辦單位提供)

         (Boston Orange)河北石家莊教育代表團一行六人，應麻州青少年數學與科學學會(MSSY)邀請，由石家莊市教育局局長張少華率隊，於2019年5月12日至15日到麻州參訪，与麻州教育廳教學支持中心，以及多所學校洽谈，並簽署合作協議，未來將在學生進修，教師培訓，課程評估等方面進一步交流。

             此次出访，石家庄教育局局长張少華表示，波士頓是美國最古老，最有歷史文化的城市之一，在高等教育，科技創新，醫療健康，金融保險等領域都有極為優越資源，代表團希望此行可在學生國際教育，教師培訓，國際課程等方面，開發合作機會。

            5月13日，河北省外專局主辦，波士頓博睿承辦了一場”中美教育領袖哈佛論壇”，出席者包括河北石家莊教育代表團，品格教育協會執行總監David Holmes，數所學校代表等。

           會中，石家莊教育局和麻州教育廳教學支援中心，美國iABC教育聯盟分別簽署了合作協議。

            河北石家莊教育局代表團此行成員中的石家莊第一中學校長婁延果，石家莊第十八中學校長王志臣，石家莊第二十三中學校長苑海生，石家莊第四十四中學校長夏強，分別與Wareham公校學區，Old Rochester公立學區簽署了友好學校協議。石家莊外國語學校校長斐紅霞則和諾頓公立學區簽署了友好學校協議，以及”2+1聯合培養”合作協議。

U.S. Department Of Commerce Issues Affirmative Preliminary Antidumping Duty Determination on Aluminum Wire and Cable from China

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced the affirmative preliminary determination in the antidumping duty (AD) investigation of imports of aluminum wire and cable from China, finding that that exporters from China have dumped aluminum wire and cable in the United States at a margin of 58.51 to 63.47 percent.

As a result of today’s decision, Commerce will instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection to collect cash deposits from importers of aluminum wire and cable from China based on the preliminary rates noted above.

In 2017, imports of aluminum wire and cable from China were valued at an estimated $157.2 million.

The petitioners are Encore Wire Corporation (McKinney, TX) and Southwire Company, LLC (Carrollton, GA).

The strict enforcement of U.S. trade law is a primary focus of the Trump Administration. Since the beginning of the current Administration, Commerce has initiated 168 new antidumping and countervailing duty investigations – this is a 223 percent increase from the comparable period in the previous administration.

Antidumping and countervailing duty laws provide American businesses and workers with an internationally accepted mechanism to seek relief from the harmful effects of the unfair pricing of imports into the United States. Commerce currently maintains 482 antidumping and countervailing duty orders which provide relief to American companies and industries impacted by unfair trade.

Commerce is scheduled to announce the final determination on or about October 9, 2019.

If Commerce’s final determination is affirmative, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) will be scheduled to make its final injury determination on or about November 22, 2019. If Commerce makes an affirmative final determination of dumping, and the ITC makes an affirmative final injury determination, Commerce will issue an AD order. If Commerce makes a negative final determination of dumping, or the ITC makes a negative final determination of injury, the investigation will be terminated and no orders will be issued.

Click HERE for a fact sheet on today’s decision.

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Enforcement and Compliance unit within the International Trade Administration is responsible for vigorously enforcing U.S. trade law and does so through an impartial, transparent process that abides by international law and is based on factual evidence provided on the record.

Foreign companies that price their products in the U.S. market below the cost of production or below prices in their home markets are subject to antidumping duties. Companies that receive unfair subsidies from their governments, such as grants, loans, equity infusions, tax breaks, or production inputs, are subject to countervailing duties aimed at directly countering those subsidies.

U.S. Department of Commerce Issues Affirmative Preliminary Antidumping Duty Determination on Mattresses from China

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced the affirmative preliminary determination in the antidumping duty (AD) investigation of imports of mattresses from China, finding that exporters from China have dumped mattresses in the United States at margins ranging from 38.56 to 1,731.75 percent.

As a result of today’s decisions, Commerce will instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection to collect cash deposits from importers of mattresses from China based on the preliminary rates noted above.

In 2017, imports of mattresses from China were valued at an estimated $436.5 million.

The petitioners are Corsicana Mattress Company (Dallas, TX), Elite Comfort Solutions (Newman, GA), Future Foam Inc. (Council Bluffs, IA), FXI Inc. (Media, PA), Innocor, Inc. (Red Bank, NJ), Kolcraft Enterprises Inc. (Chicago, IL), Leggett & Platt, Incorporated (Carthage, MO), Serta Simmons Bedding, LLC (Atlanta, GA), and Tempur Sealy International, Inc. (Lexington, KY).

The strict enforcement of U.S. trade law is a primary focus of the Trump Administration. Since the beginning of the current Administration, Commerce has initiated 168 new antidumping and countervailing duty investigations – this is a 223 percent increase from the comparable period in the previous administration.

Antidumping and countervailing duty laws provide American businesses and workers with an internationally accepted mechanism to seek relief from the harmful effects of the unfair pricing of imports into the United States. Commerce currently maintains 481 antidumping and countervailing duty orders which provide relief to American companies and industries impacted by unfair trade.

Commerce is scheduled to announce the final determinations on or about October 11, 2019.

If Commerce’s final determinations are affirmative, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) will be scheduled to make its final injury determinations on or about November 24, 2019. If Commerce makes affirmative final determinations of dumping, and the ITC makes affirmative final injury determinations, Commerce will issue AD orders. If Commerce makes negative final determinations of dumping, or the ITC makes negative final determinations of injury, the investigations will be terminated and no orders will be issued.

Click HERE for a fact sheet on today’s decision.

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Enforcement and Compliance unit within the International Trade Administration is responsible for vigorously enforcing U.S. trade law and does so through an impartial, transparent process that abides by international law and is based on factual evidence provided on the record.

Foreign companies that price their products in the U.S. market below the cost of production or below prices in their home markets are subject to antidumping duties. Companies that receive unfair subsidies from their governments, such as grants, loans, equity infusions, tax breaks, or production inputs, are subject to countervailing duties aimed at directly countering those subsidies.

U.S. Department Of Commerce Issues Affirmative Preliminary Antidumping Duty Determinations on Refillable Stainless Steel Kegs from China, Germany, and Mexico

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced the affirmative preliminary determinations in the antidumping duty (AD) investigations of imports of refillable stainless steel kegs from China, Germany, and Mexico, finding that exporters from China, Germany, and Mexico have dumped refillable stainless steel kegs in the United States at the following rates:

• China – 2.01 to 79.71 percent
• Germany – 8.61 percent
• Mexico – 18.48 percent

As a result of today’s decisions, Commerce will instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection to collect cash deposits from importers of refillable stainless steel kegs from China, Germany, and Mexico based on the preliminary rates noted above.

In 2017, imports of refillable stainless steel kegs from China, Germany, and Mexico were valued at an estimated $18.1 million, $11.8 million, and $5.7 million, respectively.

The petitioner is American Keg Company, LLC (Pottstown, PA).

The strict enforcement of U.S. trade law is a primary focus of the Trump Administration. Since the beginning of the current Administration, Commerce has initiated 168 new antidumping and countervailing duty investigations – this is a 223 percent increase from the comparable period in the previous administration.

Antidumping and countervailing duty laws provide American businesses and workers with an internationally accepted mechanism to seek relief from the harmful effects of the unfair pricing of imports into the United States. Commerce currently maintains 481 antidumping and countervailing duty orders which provide relief to American companies and industries impacted by unfair trade.

Commerce is scheduled to announce the final determination on or about August 13, 2019 with respect to Mexico and on or about October 16, 2019 with respect to China and Germany.

If Commerce’s final determinations are affirmative, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) will be scheduled to make its final injury determination on or about September 26, 2019 for Mexico and on or about November 29, 2019 for China and Germany. If Commerce makes affirmative final determinations of dumping, and the ITC makes affirmative final injury determinations, Commerce will issue AD orders. If Commerce makes negative final determinations of dumping, or the ITC makes negative final determinations of injury, the investigations will be terminated and no orders will be issued.

Click HERE for a fact sheet on today’s decisions.

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Enforcement and Compliance unit within the International Trade Administration is responsible for vigorously enforcing U.S. trade law and does so through an impartial, transparent process that abides by international law and is based on factual evidence provided on the record.

Foreign companies that price their products in the U.S. market below the cost of production or below prices in their home markets are subject to antidumping duties. Companies that receive unfair subsidies from their governments, such as grants, loans, equity infusions, tax breaks, or production inputs, are subject to countervailing duties aimed at directly countering those subsidies.

In honor of Memorial Day, Massachusetts lowering flags

Governor Baker: “From a Grateful Commonwealth”

BOSTON – Governor Charlie Baker and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito participated in the Massachusetts Military Heroes Fund Memorial Day Ceremony with Secretary of the Department of Veterans’ Services Francisco Ureña and Boston Mayor Marty Walsh to honor and remember our fallen military heroes in recognition of Memorial Day.

Soldiers and Sailors Monument, Boston Common, Boston, MA

May 23, 2019

CLICK HERE TO WATCH (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQdRgJDndyU&authuser=0)

Remarks as Delivered:

GOVERNOR BAKER: “Good morning. Let me just start by thanking all of the family members who are here today to speak out on behalf to the 325 moms and dads, sons and daughter, brothers and sisters who have been lost since September 11th.

“As I think about these 37,000 flags behind us, and over to the side here, I can’t help but think about the families that were part of the lives of those that we honor here today. The families who are here are part of that heritage, where from generation to generation to generation, moms and dads, and brothers and sisters, sons and daughters have sent their family members off to secure and preserve our freedom and our democracy.

“Now, we live in a time where some might think those words are old fashioned. Well I’m here to say, that to anyone who has had a chance to participate in this big, glorious thing we call democracy, there is nothing old fashioned about the men and women that have made it possible.

“Without the men and women that have made it possible, there is no freedom, there is no democracy, there is no rule of the people. These 37,000 flags, and the millions of flags that will show up in cemeteries and on graves across this country over the course of the next several days, speak volumes about how that debt can never possibly be adequately repaid.

“But I want to thank the Mass Military Heroes Fund for year after year, for ten years, give all of us a chance, in our own small way to honor those who served and especially to say thank you and God bless from a grateful Commonwealth to the families who are with us today. Thank you.”

In honor of Memorial Day, Governor Baker has ordered that the United States flag and the Commonwealth flag be lowered to half-staff at all state buildings from sunrise until noon and full staff from noon until sunset on Monday, May 27, 2018. The order applies to the main or administration building of each public institution of the Commonwealth, other state-owned or state-controlled buildings and all state military installations.

Shannon Liss-Riordan Announces Candidacy for U.S. Senate in 2020

Champion for Workers Shannon Liss-Riordan Announces Candidacy for U.S. Senate in 2020

First-time candidate Liss-Riordan is running as a fighter for workers' rights and against the cycle of Washington politics

Boston - Shannon Liss-Riordan, well-known Massachusetts workers’ rights lawyer and activist, announced her candidacy for the Democratic nomination for U.S Senate this morning in a video and email to supporters and Democratic activists.

“This country is stuck because of the cycle of Washington politics,” said Liss-Riordan.  “Washington needs a fresh voice willing to break that cycle. This election, the people of Massachusetts will have a choice. Maintain the status quo in Washington and stay in this endless cycle.  Or vote for me and break it.”

Shannon has dedicated her entire career to representing workers who have been taken advantage of by their employers.  In some of her earlier cases, Shannon represented restaurant servers whose bosses were taking their tips. Shannon’s work on these cases remade the law in Massachusetts protecting tipped workers.

Shannon has brought - and won - hundreds of cases representing tipped workers, employees misclassified as independent contractors, and low wage workers, forcing massive companies like Starbucks, FedEx, Harvard University, and American Airlines to rewrite their policies and pay employees a fairer wage.  She has received national acclaim for her creative and groundbreaking battles fighting for workers. 

“These cases have made me realize how much the rich and powerful have reshaped our country to benefit them,” said Liss-Riordan. “They’ve been writing the rules for too long.  We need to make a change.”

Shannon’s roots as an activist date back to before she was a lawyer when she co-founded the Third Wave, a young women’s movement whose mission was to promote women, people of color, and young people’s engagement in political and social causes.

Shannon is a graduate of Harvard Law School and Harvard College.  She lives in Brookline with her husband Kevin, their three children, and their dog Logan (named in honor of the Logan skycaps).

The Democratic Primary for U.S. Senate will be held in September of 2020