APAMSA Applauds Return of White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders to Health and Human Services 

On December 9th, the Biden-Harris Administration announced the relaunch of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI), housed within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Like other communities of color, AANHPI communities have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to the exacerbation of long-standing health inequities, we have seen a spike in racist rhetoric, xenophobia, and violence. This public health crisis highlights issues our leaders must address: anti-Asian bias and violence, data disaggregation, the model minority myth, language barriers, and health equity. 

APAMSA applauds the Initiative’s return to HHS and the expansion of its name to explicitly include Native Hawaiians–a significant step in reinvigorating this historic endeavor. We look forward to seeing how the Biden-Harris Administration will address the vital concerns of everyone in our communities.