CNMI Congressman Gregorio C. Sablan, Ind.-MP, was among the members of CAPAC, the Congressional Asian Pacific Americans Caucus, present for the White House ceremony.
“President Obama made a commitment to restore the AAPI initiative. Today he has kept his promise to Asian American and Pacific Islanders and we are all very grateful,” Sablan said.
“Especially, because this is a time of great change — in health care and immigration — change that will impact our communities.
The executive order restores the White House Initiative on Asian American and Pacific Islanders begun by President Bill Clinton in 1999.
Rep. Michael Honda, D-Ca. and co-chairman of CAPAC, thanked the president for his leadership.
The co-chairs of the initiative are Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and Education Secretary Arne Duncan.
The first Pacific islander to be made an assistant secretary at the Department of the Interior, Anthony Babauta, was present at the signing.
“I look forward to serving in the Obama administration to help improve the quality of life and create opportunities for all Asian American and Pacific Islander Americans,” Babauta said.
