[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 64 (Wednesday, May 11, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E865-E866]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  COMMEMORATING THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ASIAN & PACIFIC ISLANDER 
                         AMERICAN HEALTH FORUM

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JUDY CHU

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 11, 2011

  Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the board and staff 
of the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum on the 25th 
anniversary of their founding. They are guided by a mission to 
influence policy, mobilize communities, and strengthen programs

[[Page E866]]

and organizations to improve the health of Asian Americans, Native 
Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. As the largest national Asian 
American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander advocacy organization in 
the country, they maintain strategic relationships to move sound policy 
forward that benefit our communities.
  Founded in 1986, the organization came together in response to the 
federal government's first groundbreaking report on minority health. 
``The Secretary's Report on Black and Minority Health'' erroneously 
concluded that Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders were healthier 
than other minorities despite the ``paucity of data.'' Community 
leaders, advocates and medical providers who served Asian American 
populations came together to challenge this ``model minority'' myth and 
formed the Asian American Health Forum, solidifying the visionary idea 
of a national organization that would grow into the Asian & Pacific 
Islander American Health Forum. Working out of a basement of the old 
Chinese Hospital in San Francisco Chinatown with few staff, the 
organization has now grown to be a national organization with over 30 
staff headquartered in San Francisco, an office in Washington, DC, and 
a national network comprised of more than 15 groups.
  Over the years the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum has 
reached several milestones. In the early '90s, the organization 
received funding from the Department of Health and Human Services to 
implement innovative outreach programs targeting chronic disease issues 
in the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, like HIV/AIDS 
and Hepatitis B. As the number of API individuals in the U.S. 
increased, the organization continued to grow to do work to improve the 
health of the community by developing tobacco cessation programs, 
cancer education and outreach programs and reducing domestic violence. 
In 2006, the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum received 
the largest ever philanthropic investment in Asian American, Native 
Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities through a $16.5 million 
grant by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation which has helped build capacity 
across the country through the Health Through Action Program. Today the 
organization continues to advocate on behalf of our communities as the 
Affordable Care Act is implemented.
  As the Chairwoman of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, 
I have had the privilege of working with the Asian & Pacific Islander 
American Health Forum to eliminate health disparities in this country. 
Their analysis and research have informed the work of policymakers for 
many years at the local, state and national level. The work produced by 
its programs and divisions are valuable resources for community groups, 
legislators, agencies and researchers in understanding the unique 
health issues that affect Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific 
Islander populations.
  On behalf of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, I would 
like to once again congratulate the Asian & Pacific Islander American 
Health Forum on their 25th anniversary and wish them the best in their 
work to achieve health justice over the next 25 years and beyond.

                          ____________________