10/15/03
JACL Commends White House for Nominating Stuart Ishimaru to EEOC; Calls on the Senate for Swift Confirmation Vote
    Washington, DC Today the White House announced that it had sent Stuart Ishimarus nomination to the Senate for confirmation for a seat on the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). 
    Established by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the EEOC coordinates all federal equal employment opportunity regulations, practices, and policies and enforces federal statutes prohibiting employment discrimination on the basis of age, race, religion, gender, national origin or disability. The Commission also monitors the federal sector employment discrimination program, provides funding and support to state and local Fair Employment Practices Agencies and sponsors outreach and technical assistance programs. 
    The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), the nations oldest and largest Asian Pacific American civil rights organization celebrating our 75th anniversary in 2004, applauds the President for nominating an outstanding candidate and urges the Senate to vote for his confirmation without delay.
    We commend the White House for nominating Stuart Ishimaru to the EEOC, commented JACL National President S. Floyd Mori. His years of public service working in the legislative and executive branches of the government will clearly be an asset to the Commission, and we urge the Senate to act on this nomination swiftly. 
    Mr. Ishimarus broad leadership skills and tremendous track record of successfully tackling important policy issues have earned him the respect of a strong, diverse group of supporters nationwide, noted Kristine Minami, JACL Director for Public Affairs. With his credentials and his reputation as a consensus-builder, Mr. Ishimaru is an excellent choice for the EEOC, and we commend the White House for nominating him.
    As the only Asian Pacific American named to a federal civil rights commission, Mr. Ishimaru brings vast and valuable professional experience to the Commission, as well as a strong personal commitment to civil rights and equal employment opportunity, added Kenneth Inouye, JACL Vice President for Public Affairs. We look forward to his confirmation and to working with him at the EEOC. 
    Stuart Ishimaru, a long-time JACL member, received his BA from the University of California, Berkeley (1980) and his JD from the National Law Center, George Washington University (1983). He has long years of federal and community service and in the field of civil rights, including: research assistant to U.S. Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians (1981); assistant to the director at the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law (1982-83); graduate course instructor in Equal Employment Opportunity at American University; assistant counsel to Committee on the Judiciary (1984-91) and professional staff to Committee on Armed Services (1991-93) for the U.S. House of Representatives; acting staff director for U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (1993-94); counsel to Assistant Attorney General (1994-99) and Deputy Assistant Attorney General (1999-2001) in the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. 
    Stuart Ishimaru was recommended for the seat on the EEOC by Democratic Leader Daschle in June, and the White House announced its intent to nominate Mr. Ishimaru last week. The JACL encourages its members and friends to urge their Senators to swiftly confirm Mr. Ishimaru. Visit the JACL website at: http://capwiz.com/jacl/mail/oneclick_compose/?alertid=3736616