Feb. 14, 2024, WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) Members met with Neera Tanden, the Domestic Policy Advisor to the President and Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council. Tanden is the first Asian American to lead any of the three White House policy councils.
CAPAC First-Vice Chair Rep. Grace Meng (NY-06) released this statement following the meeting:
“We are grateful that Domestic Policy Advisor Neera Tanden met with CAPAC Members today to discuss our ongoing priorities to advance the interests of AANHPI communities across the country and increase parity for AANHPIs across the federal government. We are thrilled at her historic appointment to this role, and I thank her for joining us this afternoon.
“We had a productive conversation discussing the importance of improving data disaggregation and equity, addressing health disparities, supporting Asian American, Native American, and Pacific Islander Serving Institutions, and ensuring that our strategic and economic competition with the Chinese Communist Party does not come at the expense of the civil rights of Asian American communities. From language access and data equity to immigration and education, we look forward to continuing our work with the Biden-Harris Administration and the Domestic Policy Council to improve the lives of AANHPIs nationwide.”
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CAPAC Addresses Fortune 100 CEOs on Corporate DEI Practices and AANHPI Corporate Representation
Feb. 12, WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Congressional Asian Pacific American (CAPAC)’s leadership members announced today they wrote to the CEOs and heads of America’s Fortune 100 companies, the 100 largest public and privately held companies in the country. The letters to these companies seek to determine the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices for Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPIs) specifically. This initiative follows CAPAC’s 2016 letter to Fortune 100 companies regarding corporate diversity and AANHPIs.
Along with her Tri-Caucus partners at the Congressional Black Caucus and Congressional Hispanic Caucus, CAPAC Chair Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28) discussed the letters and importance of DEI programs and practices generally at a recent press conference. Despite their significant population growth, AANHPIs remain underrepresented at the senior-most levels of the largest U.S. corporations, particularly within the Fortune 100 companies. While making up six percent of the U.S. population, AANHPIs hold only 2.7 percent of the total number of corporate board seats. In 2021, with the surge of pandemic-fueled anti-Asian hate and tragic Atlanta spa mass shootings, many Fortune 100 companies began including AANHPIs in racial equity and racial justice discussions. However, DEI initiatives by businesses and corporations have been under sustained assault by Republican state attorneys general and far-right judges since the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvardgutting race-conscious university admissions. Each letter sent today requests: the numbers and percentage of senior staff who are AANHPI the numbers and percentage of government relations staff who are AANHPI the percentage of overall philanthropic funding devoted to the AANHPI community the percentage of contract dollars awarded to AANHPI-owned businesses that act as vendors to the company and specific DEI programs and initiatives devoted to AANHPIs employees at the company.
CAPAC’s Leadership Members released the following statements:
Chair Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28): “The horrific murder of George Floyd in 2020 and the Atlanta spa shootings in 2021 shocked our country awake to the reality of rampant systemic racism and bias impacting our communities of color. With Americans demanding a racial reckoning because of these tragedies, corporations pledged to better address racial injustices. For the AANHPI community specifically, our communities remain severely underrepresented in the corporate sector, and especially at the senior-most levels of the largest U.S. companies. That is why with this letter to Fortune 100 companies, we will determine whether the largest businesses in America have followed through on their promises and encourage them to continue this crucial work—even in the face of assaults on diversity, equity, and inclusion from Republican officeholders.”
First Vice-Chair Rep. Grace Meng (NY-06): “AANHPIs have contributed to the prosperity of our economy for decades. In recent years, we have become the fastest growing population in the United States. Despite this, we remain significantly underrepresented among leadership in the business world. I am proud to join my CAPAC colleagues in calling for transparency of AANHPI representation across corporate leadership, contract awards, and philanthropic funding at Fortune 100 companies. I will continue working to ensure our communities are not left out of opportunities for economic investment and mobility.”
Second Vice-Chair Rep. Mark Takano (CA-39): “The Members of CAPAC are deeply concerned by the lack of AANHPIs in the C-Suites and on the boards of the largest U.S. corporations. We look forward to your response and to working collaboratively to ensure every American, including AANHPIs, is able to thrive and rise.”
Whip Rep. Ted Lieu (CA-36): “It is valuable to have all facets of American society – from government to business to media – reflect the rich diversity of our country. Diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives help ensure businesses have the cultural competencies necessary to appeal to a wide consumer base. I joined CAPAC in calling for corporate leaders to share information about their engagement with the AANHPI community so we have a better sense of how they can better meet the needs of the AANHPI community.”
Freshman Representative Rep. Jill Tokuda (HI-02): “Diverse workplaces attract better talent, lead to greater innovation, and create stronger communities. As our corporations drive our economy forward and keep us competitive with the rest of the world, they must continue to prioritize diversity of all kinds, including for AANHPI people,” said Congresswoman Jill Tokuda. “That means creating real pathways for AANHPI people to attain leadership roles and engaging directly with AANHPI communities. I urge our Fortune 100 companies to take their commitment to diversity seriously and back their words with real actions and the data my CAPAC leadership colleagues and I are asking for.”
