[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 18 (Friday, January 29, 2021)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 7485-7486]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-02073]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 18 / Friday, January 29, 2021 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 7485]]


                Memorandum of January 26, 2021

                
Condemning and Combating Racism, Xenophobia, and 
                Intolerance Against Asian Americans and Pacific 
                Islanders in the United States

                Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and 
                Agencies

                Advancing inclusion and belonging for people of all 
                races, national origins, and ethnicities is critical to 
                guaranteeing the safety and security of the American 
                people. During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) 
                pandemic, inflammatory and xenophobic rhetoric has put 
                Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) persons, 
                families, communities, and businesses at risk.

                The Federal Government must recognize that it has 
                played a role in furthering these xenophobic sentiments 
                through the actions of political leaders, including 
                references to the COVID-19 pandemic by the geographic 
                location of its origin. Such statements have stoked 
                unfounded fears and perpetuated stigma about Asian 
                Americans and Pacific Islanders and have contributed to 
                increasing rates of bullying, harassment, and hate 
                crimes against AAPI persons. These actions defied the 
                best practices and guidelines of public health 
                officials and have caused significant harm to AAPI 
                families and communities that must be addressed.

                Despite these increasing acts of intolerance, Asian 
                Americans and Pacific Islanders have made our Nation 
                more secure during the COVID-19 pandemic and throughout 
                our history. An estimated 2 million Asian Americans and 
                Pacific Islanders have served on the front lines of 
                this crisis as healthcare providers, as first 
                responders, and in other essential roles. The Federal 
                Government should combat racism, xenophobia, and 
                intolerance against Asian Americans and Pacific 
                Islanders and should work to ensure that all members of 
                AAPI communities--no matter their background, the 
                language they speak, or their religious beliefs--are 
                treated with dignity and equity.

                By the authority vested in me as President by the 
                Constitution and the laws of the United States of 
                America, it is hereby ordered as follows:

                Section 1. Condemning Racism, Xenophobia, and 
                Intolerance Against Asian Americans and Pacific 
                Islanders. The Federal Government has a responsibility 
                to prevent racism, xenophobia, and intolerance against 
                everyone in America, including Asian Americans and 
                Pacific Islanders. My Administration condemns and 
                denounces acts of racism, xenophobia, and intolerance 
                against AAPI communities.

                Sec. 2. Combating Racism, Xenophobia, and Intolerance 
                Against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. (a) The 
                Secretary of Health and Human Services shall, in 
                coordination with the COVID-19 Health Equity Task 
                Force, consider issuing guidance describing best 
                practices for advancing cultural competency, language 
                access, and sensitivity towards Asian Americans and 
                Pacific Islanders in the context of the Federal 
                Government's COVID-19 response. In developing any such 
                guidance, the Secretary should consider the best 
                practices set forth by public health organizations and 
                experts for mitigating racially discriminatory language 
                in describing the COVID-19 pandemic.

                    (b) Executive departments and agencies (agencies) 
                shall take all appropriate steps to ensure that 
                official actions, documents, and statements, including 
                those that pertain to the COVID-19 pandemic, do not 
                exhibit or contribute

[[Page 7486]]

                to racism, xenophobia, and intolerance against Asian 
                Americans and Pacific Islanders. Agencies may consult 
                with public health experts, AAPI community leaders, or 
                AAPI community-serving organizations, or may refer to 
                any best practices issued pursuant to subsection (a) of 
                this section, to ensure an understanding of the needs 
                and challenges faced by AAPI communities.
                    (c) The Attorney General shall explore 
                opportunities to support, consistent with applicable 
                law, the efforts of State and local agencies, as well 
                as AAPI communities and community-based organizations, 
                to prevent discrimination, bullying, harassment, and 
                hate crimes against AAPI individuals, and to expand 
                collection of data and public reporting regarding hate 
                incidents against such individuals.

                Sec. 3. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this 
                memorandum shall be construed to impair or otherwise 
                affect:

(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or 
the head thereof; or

(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget 
relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

                    (b) This memorandum shall be implemented consistent 
                with applicable law and subject to the availability of 
                appropriations.
                    (c) Independent agencies are strongly encouraged to 
                comply with the provisions of this memorandum.
                    (d) This memorandum is not intended to, and does 
                not, create any right or benefit, substantive or 
                procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any 
                party against the United States, its departments, 
                agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or 
                agents, or any other person.
                    (e) The Secretary of Health and Human Services is 
                authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in 
                the Federal Register.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

                THE WHITE HOUSE,

                    Washington, January 26, 2021

[FR Doc. 2021-02073
Filed 1-28-21; 8:45 am]
Billing code 4150-42-P