[VT Washington, D.C. ] – March 13, 2025, The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) held a press conference today to discuss the impact of the Trump administration’s policies on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI).
CAPAC Chair Rep. Grace Meng (NY-06), First Vice Chair Rep. Mark Takano (CA-39), Whip Rep. Ami Bera (CA-06), Chair Emerita Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28), and Freshman Representative Rep. Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10) spoke at the event, addressing their concerns regarding recent policy decisions.
During the press conference, CAPAC members pointed to policy changes made within the first 50 days of the Trump administration, including adjustments to Medicaid, modifications to public education policies, changes to language access services, proposed revisions to birthright citizenship, statements regarding aviation safety, and shifts in federal funding allocations. They discussed how these policies could impact AANHPI communities.
Statements from CAPAC Members
“We remain committed to ensuring that Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders have a voice in policy decisions that affect their lives,” said CAPAC Chair Rep. Grace Meng. “Our priority is to make sure their concerns are heard and addressed.”
“As someone who spent 24 years as a public school teacher before serving in Congress, I take education policy very seriously,” said CAPAC First Vice Chair and Education Task Force Chair Rep. Mark Takano. “We will continue monitoring changes in education policy to ensure students receive the resources they need.”
“House Democrats oppose efforts to cut Medicaid funding,” said CAPAC Whip Rep. Ami Bera. “We are committed to tracking these policy changes and their potential impact on AANHPI communities.”
Rep. Judy Chu noted that CAPAC will continue monitoring policies affecting AANHPI individuals, including past investigations into Chinese American researchers and recent developments regarding land ownership laws in various states.
Rep. Suhas Subramanyam pointed out that a significant portion of the AANHPI population relies on federal assistance programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and public housing assistance, and that policy changes could affect these communities.
