In a recent poll of your Board of Directors, “Discrimination against Asian Americans” in any form is considered the most important issue facing us. This year we intend to devote a large portion of our efforts combating discrimination against Asian Americans in our society including discrimination in the workplace. I have formed an ad hoc committee on discrimination chaired by board member Dr. Joel Wong (Bay Area). Board member Jing-Li Yu (New York City) and member Dr. Richard To (Seattle) are members of this committee.
During our up coming board meeting to be held on April 20th in Washington DC, your board members will be introducing 80-20 to many members of the United States Congress and asking for their support. Our “Glass Ceiling” issue will also be discussed.
An ad hoc committee on legislation has also been formed to address legislation pertinent to Asian Americans, chaired by board member Dr. David Yang, Dr. Kelvin Chen and Jing-Li Yu are members. Notable recent legislation in the United States House of Representatives include:
Rep. David Wu’s (D-OR) legislation to support low income Asian American Students by providing them grants for higher education.
Rep. Mike Honda (D-CA) introduced HR 121 demanding the Japanese Government to properly apologize and compensate the thousands of Asian women coerced into sex slavery during World War II, and
Rep. Mike Honda co-sponsored a bill introduced by Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA) which will reverse a six-decade old law and to award veteran’s benefits to Filipinos who fought with U.S. forces in WW II.
All of these bills are sponsored or co-sponsored by our Asian Americans in Congress and they certainly deserve 80-20’s support. An in depth report on the status of these legislation and supportive action taken by 80-20 will be included in a future communication with you.
As board member Kelvin Chen said so aptly, “In order to get equal footing with other groups, it is imperative that we concentrate Asian American votes in electing people who will protect our rights. 80-20 is the only national organization set up to do exactly this. The more members we have, the more influence we will have when it comes down to gathering votes.”
If you have not already done so, please join us TODAY and upgrade your membership if you already are a member. I ask each of our members to recruit at least two new members in the next 30 days. Your financial support is vital to our function as an organization fighting for equal opportunity and justice for you! Please join us in this cause.
Thank you and best regards,
Kathleen To
President
80-20 Initiative, Inc.
Together We Build a Better Tomorrow
Any US citizen or permanent resident can join 80-20 TODAY. Using a credit card, please visithttp://www.80-20initiative.net/membership.html (easy to use) or
http://www.80-20initiative.net/paypal.html
PERSONAL checks are payable to "80-20 PAC", mailed to:
Jing-Li Yu, Treasurer
P.O. Box 527340 Flushing, NY 11352-7340
Please write down your E-MAIL address & PHONE no. on the BACK of the check.
Life membership is $1,000; Family Membership (2 voters) is $50; Basic Membership is $35; Student membership is $15. Thank you.
