THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                  
March 23, 2009

President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key administration posts: David H. Stevens, Assistant Secretary for Housing and Federal Housing Commissioner, Department of Housing and Urban Development; Harold Hongju Koh, Legal Adviser, State Department; and Dr. Yvette Roubideaux, Director of Indian Health Service, Department of Health and Human Services.

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NYC Councilmember John Liu announces his candidacy for NYC Comptroller, with the support of thousands, including a long list of noted civic leaders. With a solid background of fiscal responsibility, John Liu is best qualified to navigate the troubled waters of these difficult times.

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CAPAC to Hold National Census Teleconference

This coming Monday, please join the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) for a national census teleconference on ensuring an accurate count of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders for the 2010 census. The call provides an opportunity for the Census Bureau, congressional leaders, community stakeholders, and ethnic and mainstream media to have a dialogue on conducting outreach to this growing and diverse population.

Engaging Asian and Pacific Islander Communities for the 2010 Decennial Census

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A brief press announcement yesterday from the White House noted that several nominations, including former Washington Governor Gary Locke for Secretary of Commerce and Tammy Duckworth for Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs, have been formally sent to the Senate for confirmation. Governor Locke’s and Duckworth’s nominations are expected to go smoothly, though there have certainly been no shortage of surprises. Despite the impression one gets from the media, however, confirmation problems are common with new Administrations, and both George W. Bush and Clinton had their share of hiccups.

Another notable name on the list is Seattle Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske for “drug czar”; Kerlikowske’s innovative approaches to drug enforcement indicates that Obama is committed to his stated intention to reform drug policy. Full list of nominations sent to the Senate yesterday below the fold.

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Last Thursday, I had the honor of speaking on a panel at Brown University on Asian Americans and politics. Organized by the Asian American Students Association, I was joined by Joe Fernandez, City Solicitor of the City of Providence, Xay Khamsyvoravong, deputy chief of staff for Rhode Island State Treasurer Frank Caprio, and Michael Liu, a founder of the Asian American Movement eZine and a founding member of the Chinese Progressive Association and Asian American Resource Workshop in Boston, MA.

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On Saturday, recent California State Board of Equalization Chair Dr. Judy Chu officially kicked off her campaign for California’s 32nd Congressional District, formerly represented by recently confirmed Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis. Numerous council members from Baldwin Park, El Monte, Duarte, Rosemead and Monterey Park, as well as State Controller John Chiang, Assemblyman Ed Hernandez, D-West Covina, Assemblyman Mike Eng, D-El Monte, and school board members, business and labor leaders from all the cities in the 32nd District and beyond were present to voice their support for Judy in the May 19th special election.

Perhaps most impressive, however, was the full-throated endorsement of Sec. Solis’s family, represented by her sister, Irma Rincon. “I am here to say that my whole family supports Judy Chu,” said Rincon. “My sister has now put down the baton, but I am proud to pass it on to Judy Chu!” As a cabinet member, Solis will not endorse in the race for her former seat, but the family support will likely be seen as a de facto endorsement. Go below the fold for more on the race and a video of the kick-off event.

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March is Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day was celebrated recently on March 8. To mark the celebration of women this month, President Obama signed an order yesterday creating the White House Council on Women and Girls. Its first chair is Valerie Jarrett, Obama’s senior adviser and close confidant. The purpose of the council is to “provide a coordinated federal response to the challenges confronted by women and girls and to ensure that all Cabinet and Cabinet-level agencies consider how their policies and programs impact women and families.”

You can read the transcript of President Obama’s remarks at the signing below the fold.

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Hat tip to Angry Asian Man:

The Huffington Post recently ran a poll for folks to vote on who they think is the hottest member of the White House team. The winner, with 26.06% of the vote, was Reggie Love, Obama’s “body guy” and former Duke basketball player.

But among the hottest, with 10.53% of the vote, was Asian American and Obama political adviser extraordinaire, Eugene Kang. 25 and with a killer putt, he’s definitely among the most eligible bachelors in the new Administration. And oh yes, ladies, he is single.

Support Judy Chu for Congress this Saturday, March 14 in Baldwin Park:

When: Mar. 14, Sat., 9:30 am (open house 9 am - 4 pm)

Where: Judy Chu for Congress HQ, 4153 N. Maine Ave., Baldwin Park, CA 91706

RSVP (by Mar. 12): chuforcongress@gmail.com or 626.492.3601

Come join us next Saturday! If you could lend one hour of your time calling voters or knocking on doors, you will help Judy get one step closer to victory on May 19!

http://www.aaa-fund.com/?p=1485

Save the Date!

Asian American Action Fund invites you to our celebration of Asian American political empowerment on Wednesday, May 13, 2009, at 6 p.m., at the Wasserman Room of the Democratic National Committee, Capitol Hill, 430 South Capitol Street SE, Washington, DC.

Let us know if you can attend by contacting Monisha Sujan at monishasujan@gmail.com. We greatly appreciate your leadership on behalf of our community.  Thanks in advance for your
support!

Details and Tickets: http://www.aaa-fund.com/?p=1507

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