10/20/03
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ANNOUNCE LEGISLATION TO IMPROVE HEALTH CARE FOR ASIAN AMERICANS AND PACIFIC ISLANDERS
CAPAC Members co-sponsor important legislation to reduce minority health care disparities
    WASHINGTON, DC -- Members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) joined the House and Senate Democratic Leadership in announcing legislation today to improve health care for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and other minority groups.
    The Healthcare Equality and Accountability Act of 2003 aims to reduce the proven disparities in health care and access to medical service between minority communities and other Americans.
    CAPAC members David Wu (D-OR), Mike Honda (D-CA), and Madeleine Bordallo (D-GU), joined Members of the Congressional Black Caucus, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, the Congressional Native American Caucus, and the Democratic Leadership in announcing the legislation today.
    "Language barriers within the APA community make it difficult for people to interact with health care providers and social service agencies effectively," said Congressman Mike Honda (D-CA), Vice Chairman of CAPAC. "The bill we are announcing today will address this and other health care obstacles for limited English proficient Asian Pacific Americans."
    "For too long, disparities in health care between Asian Pacific Americans and other Americans have been diagnosed, but gone untreated," said CAPAC Chairman David Wu (D-OR). "All Americans deserve the same quality of health care and access to medical services, and this legislation will take an important step toward that goal."
    "Americans residing in the Pacific Island territories face additional barriers in accessing health care. As a result of the caps in Medicaid and social welfare program allocations, territorial governments are restrained in their ability to access resources to provide adequate health care and social services," said Congresswoman Bordallo (D-GU). "This bill removes the Medicaid cap and provides funding to improve public health facilities and services in the Pacific Island territories so that all Americans receive high-quality health care."
    Persistent disparities in health care between Asian American and other populations are well documented. For instance, according to a June 2003 study by the Kaiser Family Foundation, Asian Pacific Americans are less likely than white Americans to have medical insurance, to lack a usual source of health care, or to have visited a health care professional in the last year. Also, limited data on Pacific Islander health disparities make it challenging to address what evidence suggests are growing needs within their communities.
    The Healthcare Equality and Accountability Act of 2003 seeks to reduce these disparities and improve the quality of health care for minority communities by:
    - Removing language and cultural barriers. Approximately one-third of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders live in linguistic isolation. Because language and cultural differences create barriers to health care, the bill would help Asian American and Pacific Islander patients, including those with limited English proficiency, with provisions such as codifying existing standards for culturally and linguistically appropriate health care, assisting health care professionals provide cultural and language services, and increasing federal reimbursement for these services.
    - Improving data collection. Asian Pacific Americans are an ethnically and linguistically diverse community with widely varying health needs. Better information is needed to identify the sources of health disparities, implement effective solutions, and monitor improvement. With appropriate safeguards to protect privacy, the bill would require federal agencies and recipients of federal funds to collect and report data on race, ethnicity, and primary language.
    - Strengthening health institutions that serve minority populations. Many areas with high concentrations of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders lack adequate health care services and health care facilities. The bill would establish loan and grant programs as well as quality improvement initiatives for health institutions that provide substantial care to minority populations.
    - Expanding health coverage. To reduce the number of minorities without health insurance, the bill would give states the option to expand eligibility and streamline enrollment in Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program. This will expand health insurance coverage for Asian American and Pacific Islander immigrant populations.

10/11/03: Asian-Americans on Arnold Schwarzenegger Transition Committee.  The Transition Committee is comprised of 65 members who are leaders in their respective fields and are drawn from a broad range of professional, community, and academic backgrounds.  http://www.joinarnold.com/en/transition/
Viet Dinh
Currently, a professor of law and Deputy Director of Asian Law and Policy Studies at Georgetown University Law Center, Mr. Dinh has had a distinguished career in the field of legal policy. Prior to his current position, he was the Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Policy at the U.S. Justice Department. Mr. Dinh was a law clerk to Judge Laurence H. Silberman of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit and to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. He also served as Associate Special Counsel to the U.S. Senate Whitewater Committee. He is a member of the District of Columbia and U.S. Supreme Court bars. Washington, D.C.
Matt Fong
An attorney and business leader, Mr. Fong is president of Strategic Advisory Group and serves on various corporate boards and advisory groups. Mr. Fong was the State Treasurer from 1995-1999. From 1991 and 1995 he served on the State Board of Equalization. In 1998 he was the Republican nominee for the United States Senate. He graduated the USAF Academy and continues to serve as a Lt. Col. In the USAF Reserves. His MBA is from Pepperdine University; J.D. from Southwestern University. Los Angeles.
Sean Liou
President of Always Best Tours and Travel. Previously he served as President and COO of Keylinus, Inc., a global solutions provider of enterprise storage networking systems software and services, and CEO of Hi-Tech USA, a leading high-volume PC systems integrator and provider of Linux solutions, integrated software and services from 1989-2000. He is a member of President Bush's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. He holds a Masters in Mathematics from the University of Massachusetts, Fremont.
Safi Qureshey
Mr. Qureshey is founder and chairman emeritus of AST Computers. Mr. Qureshey is the patron in chief of Forbes International Pvt. Limited and a seasoned businessman, having diversified business experiences in computer hardware, software, internet service provider and credit cards. Orange County.
Dr. Sophie C. Wong
She is a well-respected leader in the Asian Community and has extensive reach into the education and small business communities surrounding the Monterey Park area of Southern California. She has served on the U.S. Small Business Administration Advisory Council, Board of Medical Quality Review for the State of California and co-founded the Chinese Elected Officials as well as the Asian Pacific Islander School Board Member Association. Los Angeles.


9/26/03: Coalition of Asian Pacific Americans Launches Anti-Recall Website AsianAmericansAgainstRecall.org features more than 150 APA leaders opposed to recall
On the Web: http://www.asianamericansagainstrecall.org/media/
    San Francisco - The Coalition of Asian Pacific Americans (CAPA) today launched www.AsianAmericansAgainstRecall.org, a Web site asking Asian Pacific Americans (APA) to vote "no" on the recall of Gov. Gray Davis. The site includes information on why the recall is threat to APAs in California, lists more than 150 APA leaders opposed to the recall and asks supporters to pledge their "no" vote on the site.
   The recall opponents include Congressman Bob Matsui, Congressman Mike Honda, State Board of Equalization member John Chiang, state Assembly majority leader Wilma Chan, Assemblywoman Carol Liu, Assemblywoman Judy Chu, Assemblyman George Nakano, Assemblyman Leland Yee and Appointments Secretary Michael Yamaki - and community leader such as Dr. Stanley M. Toy, Jr., chair of Chinese Americans Against the Recall, and California Arts Council member Dr. Jerrold Hiura.
   APA leaders such as Dale Minami and Maeley Tom formed CAPA as a registered political action committee in 1989 to fight for better APA representation in California issues, politics and government.
   "APAs can play a pivotal role in this close election and should not remain silent when their own future is at stake," said Dale Minami, CAPA president. "Not only is this election an affront to our democracy and a waste of tens of millions of dollars better spent on education and social services, but APAs need to recognize that Gov. Davis has proven to be an ally and supporter of our issues and for the fair representation of APAs in government and politics.
   "Because of the way the recall works, the next governor could be elected by 20 percent of the vote, or even less," said Maeley Tom, a CAPA co-founder. "There is no guarantee that the next governor who would immediately take office the next day has the experience to solve the problems facing the state. Why should Californians take such a risk?"
   Highest Number of APA Appointments to Key Government Positions
   Gov. Davis' historic contribution to empower the APA community includes appointing a greater percentage of outstanding Asian Pacific Americans to key state government positions than any previous governor, with more than 280 APA appointments, including:
. the first APA cabinet member, Lon Hatamiya, as the Secretary of the Technology, Trade and Commerce Agency;
. Michael Yamaki as the Governor's Appointments Secretary;
. Judge Harry Low as the Insurance Commissioner in 2000;
. Betty Yee as Chief Deputy Director of the Department of Finance;
. Darryl Young as the Director of the Department of Conservation;
. Agnes Lee as the Deputy Secretary of the Department of Health & Human Services;
. Randall Iwasaki as the first APA Deputy Director of CalTrans;
. Joy Higa as the first APA Deputy Director of the Department of Managed Health Care; and . Maeley Tom as the first APA State Personnel Board Member.
   Gov. Davis' historic judicial appointments include
- the first Vietnamese American Superior Court Judge, Nho Trong Nguyen,
- the first Vietnamese American female Superior Court Judge, Jacqueline H. Nguyen, and
- the first Korean American female Superior Court Judge, Tammy Chung Ryu.
   Gov. Davis has also:
. Greatly increased funding for the country's largest K-12 English-Language Learners Program from $328.6 million in 1997-98 to $535.3 million in 2001-2002, a 63% increase;
. Expanded the Healthy Families program among APA children by more than 366% (21,260 to 77,800) with outreach information campaign in major APA languages; and
. Created merit scholarships for high-achieving high school students and expanded the Cal-Grant program to help disadvantaged students who need financial assistance to pay for college.
   Gov. Davis has signed numerous bills empowering the APA community:
. Creating an Asian Pacific Islander Anti-Hate Crimes Program within the Department of Justice to provide information and training in the APA community;
. Improving consumer protection in the APA community by requiring businesses that negotiate contracts with Asian-language speakers to provide the contract in the consumers' native language;
. Establishing the first Californian Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs;
. Authorizing high school districts, unified school districts, or county office of educations, to retroactively grant high school diplomas to persons who were interned during World War II;
. Preserving the traditional serving of Korean rice cakes at room temperature;
. Enabling Filipino World War II veterans to return to their homeland without forfeiting their state benefit payments; and
. Provided funding for preservation of Asian Pacific American history at the Korean American Museum, Museum of Chinese American History and Japanese American National Museum.
   Unfairness and Destructiveness of the Recall
   The illegitimate use of recall shows a complete disregard for the democratic electoral process. The voters' clearly expressed will last November would be overturned for purely partisan maneuvering. If this recall succeeds, it will open a Pandora's Box that will be very destructive to the stability of California's political system. If the recall prevails, the next Governor could be elected with as little as 15% of the votes. The recall is not a solution to the challenges that California faces. Forty-seven states and the federal government are all facing budget deficits and a slowing economy. The recall will further erode California's economy and its credit rating. The $70 million of taxpayers' money that will be spent on the recall election could be better spent on education, health care, and public safety.
   Also important to note is that proponents of the recall are ardent supporters of Prop 187, seeking to overturn the progressive, pro-APA, pro-immigrant agenda of Gov. Davis.
   Supporters can contact CAPA through the Web site, www.AsianAmericansAgainstRecall.org, by email at info@AsianAmericansAgainstRecall.org, or by phone at 415-379-3893.
   Contact: Keith Kamisugi (for CAPA) keith@AsianAmericansAgainstRecall.org (877) 835-5679

9/9/03 press release: "NAPALC Supports Legislation Recognizing Native Hawaiians,"
    Washington, D.C.-The National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium announces its support for legislation sponsored by Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HI), granting federal recognition of Native Hawaiians.
    Senate Bill 344, known as the "Akaka Bill," would give federal recognition to Native Hawaiians as an indigenous group, qualifying them for health and welfare initiatives currently focused on Native American and Native Alaskan groups. This legislation also establishes a process for the formation of a sovereign entity representing Native Hawaiian interests in a government-to-government relationship with the United States.
    "Passage of the Akaka Bill is vital to the preservation of the Hawaiian people and their culture and would continue the reconciliation process between the U.S. Government and the Native Hawaiian people, as authorized in the 1993 Apology Bill," said Karen K. Narasaki, President and Executive Director of NAPALC
    "This legislation extends the federal policy of self-determination and self-governance to Native Hawaiians. It authorizes a process of reorganization of a Native Hawaiian government for the purposes of a federally recognized government-to-government relationship with the United States," said Sen. Akaka. "This measure establishes parity in federal policies toward American Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians. I commend NAPALC for joining the impressive coalition of organizations supporting this important legislation."

8/22/03 Wall Street Journal
    Human rights aside, encouraging refugees is also a political strategy. Word of a safe harbor overseas would surely spread throughout the North, creating more internal pressure on the already troubled Kim regime. That's why Kansas Senator Sam Brownback (R) has written a letter urging President Bush to declare such a safe harbor. He also supports, as do we, a plan under consideration by the Bush Administration to admit 30,000 North Korean refugees currently in China. The U.S. could also put more pressure on China to let the United Nations help the nearly 300,000 North Koreans who may already be hiding there.
   Mr. Brownback proposes to expand the S-2 visa for aliens who provide assistance in the wars on terror and drugs. The number of "snitch visas" should be increased to 3,500 from the current 250 a year, he says, with eligibility extended to people offering information about rogue-state WMD programs. The mere chance that this would induce operatives in Pyongyang's WMD programs to defect is worth a try.


6/5/03 press release from Japanese American Citizens League: "Stuart Ishimaru Recommended to EEOC by Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle JACL commends Senator Daschle for his consistent and continued commitment to ensuring that the APA community is represented on civil rights commissions San Francisco"
    The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), the nations oldest and largest Asian Pacific American (APA) civil rights organization, lauds and expresses its deepest gratitude to Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle for his consistent and continued commitment to ensuring that the APA community is represented on civil rights commissions by recommending Paul Igasaki for re- nomination to his seat at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) last year and now by recommending Stuart Ishimaru for the vacancy. 
    The JACL urges the White House to act on Democratic Leader Daschles recommendation and promptly move Mr. Ishimarus candidacy forward.
    We applaud Democratic Leader Daschles decision to recommend Stuart Ishimaru for the EEOC, stated JACL National President Floyd Mori. Senator Daschle clearly understands the importance of having qualified people of diverse backgrounds bring their voices and experience to the federal civil rights commissions, and Mr. Ishimaru is an outstanding choice for the EEOC.
    Stuart Ishimarus credentials are impeccable, added John Tateishi, JACL National Executive Director. He will bring years of experience and keen insight to the Commission. The Asian Pacific American community is fortunate to have public officials of such caliber as former commissioner Paul Igasaki and Stuart Ishimaru, and we thank them for their service and steadfast commitment to issues of concern to our community. The JACL urges the White House to act on this recommendation immediately.
    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 is the second name recommended during this administration by Democratic Leader Daschle. Last year, after eight years of service on the EEOC, Paul Igasakis candidacy languished at the White House for months and failed to receive the administrations support. The JACL encourages its members and friends to express their appreciation to Senator Daschle for putting forward Stuart Ishimarus name for the EEOC (email: tom_daschle@daschle.senate.gov) and to urge the White House to act on this recommendation using the JACL website at: http://capwiz.com/jacl/mail/oneclick_compose/?alertid=2483051 .

5/28/03 Associated Press: "Law That Helped Hmong Veterans Become 
Citizens Expires"
A special law, which more than 3,000 Hmong veterans in Minnesota used 
to become citizens, expired Monday.  The Hmong Veterans Naturalization 
Act of 2000 gave up to 45,000 Hmong veterans and their wives and widows 
the chance to take the U.S. citizenship test in their own language rather than 
in English.  It also eased civics tests for applicants, though they still must 
meet other typical citizenship requirements.  Nationwide, only 5,331 people became citizens under the law.  With support from the late Sen. Paul 
Wellstone and Rep. Betty McCollum, D-Minn., an 18-month extension was 
given to veterans. 

5/1/03: U.S. Senators Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA), Gordon Smith (R-OR), Arlen Specter (R-PA), Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI), Daniel K. Inouye (D-HI) and other Senators co-sponsored the re-introduction of the Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act, a bill that seeks to strengthen existing federal hate crimes statutes.  LLEEA adds actual or perceived gender, sexual orientation and disability to the list of federally protected categories, and gives the Justice Department jurisdiction over hate crimes involving bodily injury.  The bill authorizes federal grants for state and local law enforcement officials incurring expenses investigating and prosecuting hate crimes.

4/20/03 South Florida Sun-Sentinel 
"Rights group, legislators work to end anti-Japanese bias, law"
    A national civil rights group and local political leaders are trying to get rid of vestiges of World War II discrimination still visible on Florida billboards and in its constitution. 
    At issue is the proliferation of auto repair signs using the slur "Jap" from Miami to Jacksonville, the word's use in countless Bell South phone books and in newspaper ads.
    Florida is also one of the last states in the nation with a constitutional provision created to ban Japanese immigrants from owning property. 
    State Sen. Steve Geller of Hallandale Beach and state Rep. Phillip Brutus of North Miami, both Democrats, introduced legislation in February to seek voter approval for a constitutional amendment that would eliminate the "Alien Land Law." 
    First adopted in California in 1913, the law was designed to keep Japanese immigrants from settling. It was added to Article 1 of the Florida Constitution in 1926 and lays out basic rights such as land ownership -- except in the case of "aliens ineligible for citizenship."
     State Sen. Jim Sebesta, R-St. Petersburg, wants language in the bill that keeps "illegal aliens" from owning land. 
    Geller, who did not expect an "anti-immigrant backlash," said he hopes to work out a compromise. "I'm doing my best to ensure we take the offensive language out of the constitution," Geller said. "I could've done this before 9/11 with no problem, but the war has made it even worse." 


12/10/02 Associated Press: "Pataki Criticized for Ignoring Hard-Hit 
Chinatown Business,"
    Albany, NY -- A sharp geographic and partisan dispute has broken 
out over the awarding of the latest state Empire Zones, a designation 
designed to promote job growth through tax cuts and other business-
friendly incentives.
    New York City Democrats say they are angry that the sixth and final 
zone selected under the latest round of awards went to upstate 
Rensselaer County. The Democrats were pushing for Chinatown, in 
lower Manhattan, to help rejuvenate an area that Democratic state 
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver says has suffered more than any 
other in the city due to the destruction of the World Trade Center towers.
    ``This was a blatantly political move by the governor to reward his 
re-election supporters,'' contended Gifford Miller, the Democratic 
speaker of the New York City Council. ``Apparently, a neighborhood 
that's only a stone's throw away from Ground Zero takes a back seat to 
ones located in Rensselaer County.''
    Rensselaer County is also home base to state Sen. Joseph Bruno, 
the leader of the Republican majority in the Senate and a usual ally of 
Republican Gov. George Pataki in Albany.
    New York City Council member John Liu, a Queens Democrat, said 
the governor ``pretended to care about Asian-American business 
owners'' during Pataki's successful re-election campaign in 2002 to a 
third term as governor.
    ``But now that he has won the truth has come out, the plight of 
immigrant businesses are not a priority,'' Liu said.
    Pataki said the Democratic criticism was wrong. He and the 
Legislature expects to create more Empire Zones in the future, he said.
    ``We have put in place good solid economic development programs 
to help Chinatown and we're going to continue to look to do more as 
well,'' Pataki said.
    The City Council and Republican Mayor Michael Bloomberg had 
jointly endorsed a request of the state to designate areas of Chinatown 
and the Lower East Side of Manhattan as Empire Zone.
    The Democrats complained that all six of the most recently authorized 
zones went to upstate areas, and that 62 of 72 zones awarded in the 
16-year history of the program are outside New York City.
    Silver also criticized the decision not to put an Empire Zone in 
Chinatown. He said the predominantly Asian enclave was particularly 
hard hit by Sept. 11 because tourism was devastated by the virtual 
inability to get to Chinatown for weeks after the World Trade Center was 
destroyed. And the area's famed restaurants were highly reliant on the brokerages wiped out or displaced by the attack.
    ``It's unfortunate that it didn't happen,'' Silver said. ``It's unfortunate 
that, once again, the governor has designated an Empire Zone in an 
area that's dominated by Republicans and much of the designation of 
the Empire Zone has been influenced by that.''
    Mark Hansen, a spokesman for Bruno, said Senate Republicans 
pushed a bill earlier this year that would have expanded the Empire Zone program so that every county upstate would get at least one zone and 
every downstate zone would be expanded.
    ``Unfortunately, our proposal was strongly opposed by the Assembly Democrats who, by opposing the proposal to expand the program, 
created a competition that essentially set the Chinatown application up 
for failure,'' Hansen said.
    The zones are selected by a nine-member board that includes two 
designees of Pataki and three of Pataki's commissioners. The other 
members are picked by the Legislature, including Silver. The zones are 
approved through majority votes of the board.
    Pataki noted that Silver's representative on the board, Democratic Assemblyman Robin Schimminger of Erie County, voted for the latest 
zone designations.


10/25/02: AsianWeek Endorses Davis for Re-Election
AsianWeek noted Davis has empowered the APA community through 
"an incredible number of Asian Pacific American appointments, from high-
ranking state positions like Insurance Commissioner Harry Low to the 
recent appointments of the first Korean American and Vietnamese 
American women judges in Southern California." The newsweekly adds, 
"Davis has also accomplished a fair amount in terms of reforming hate 
crimes legislation, including supporting a bill that would create an Asian 
Pacific Islander Anti-Hate Crimes Program."
Davis Endorsed by Asian Pacific Islander Group
The Asian Pacific Islander American Political Association (APAPA) today announced its endorsement of Governor Gray Davis re-election. "Governor 
Davis has appointed more than 200 Asian Pacific Americans to office, 
including many "firsts" for the APA community. Among the breakthrough appointments are Lon Hatamiya, Secretary of the Technology, Trade & Commerce Agency, and the first Korean female superior court judge, Tammy Chung Ryu. Measures have also been taken to empower Asian Pacific-owned small businesses. During 2000-01, the State awarded 57 construction 
contracts through Catrans to certified Asian Pacific American-owned businesses."

9/19/02 politicalcircus.com: "Leaders Question Simon's Commitment,"
    "In just three years, the Governor [Gray Davis] has already appointed the first Asian Pacific American to a Cabinet position, the first Vietnamese American to 
a judgeship and the first Asian American Insurance Commissioner in California's storied history," said Rep. Robert Matsui. "The Governor has proven that he is one of the most ardent and loyal supporters for the advancement of California's growing Asian Pacific Islander community," he added.
    In addition, Davis also named the first Asian American gubernatorial appointments secretary, Michael Yamaki. Most recently, the Governor made history again by appointing the first female Vietnamese American judge, Jacqueline H. Nguyen, and the first female Korean American judge, Tammy Chung Ryu.
    On the contrary, "How many Asian Pacific Americans has [Republican 
nominee for Governor Bill] Simon appointed to positions of authority in his various business ventures? What has he ever done for the APA community that deserved our support?" Equalization Member John Chiang asked.

10/13/02 Los Angeles Times: "Davis' Picks Look a Lot Like Wilson's: Appointees requiring Senate approval are fairly alike in terms of gender 
and race, records show"
    Of Governor Gray Davis' (D) 592 appointees requiring Senate 
confirmation, 28.9% were women, 10.6% were Latino, 7.3% were African American and 6.6% were Asian American.
    Former Governor Pete Wilson's (R) first-term appointees were similar: 
28.4% women, 9% Latino, 6.1% African American, and 4.2% of Asian 
descent.  One difference is that Wilson was more partisan; 90% of his 
appointees were Republicans and 80% of Davis' appointees are 
Democrats.
    Davis' appointments secretary Michael Yamaki counters that the 
Senate figures ignore large numbers of appointees who required no 
confirmation.
    His statistics include posts that require Senate confirmation, plus 
Cabinet jobs, judgeships, many professional boards and others, 
including nearly 500 county fair board members.
    The administration's numbers show that Davis' full list of appointees 
is 40% women, 7.4% Asian Americans, 7.3% African Americans, and 
10.9% Latinos. Wilson, according to the Davis administration, 
appointed 38% women, 4.7% Asian Americans, 4.8% African 
Americans and 6.3% Latinos.

9/19/02 Associated Press: "Colorado Governor Criticized for Not 
Appointing Asian-American Judge,"
    Denver -- Minority bar associations are criticizing Gov. Bill Owens for 
rejecting an Asian-American lawyer for a judgeship, saying the move will discourage other minority lawyers from applying to the bench.
    Kerry Hada said he was dumped from what appeared to be a sure appointment after advisers told Owens his views were left of center.
    ``What is most disturbing is now you don't know who's running the 
confirmation process,'' said Democratic senator and lawyer Penfield Tate. 
``You don't know who is whispering to who, saying, `This is what we want 
on the bench.'''
    Owens' spokesman, Dan Hopkins, said Hada was not appointed after 
an interview and an extensive background check.
    He added that the governor has an ``aggressive track record of 
appointing minorities'' when they are nominated by the judicial nominating commissions.
    He said that of the 21 Hispanic nominees the governor has received, he 
has appointed 10. Hopkins said the governor has received only three black nominees and has appointed one. The nominating commissions have recommended only one Asian-American, and that was Hada, 52.
    The former Airborne Ranger was one of four finalists who met with Owens 
last week. He was considered a finalist for one of four district court 
vacancies in Arapahoe County.
    Last Wednesday, the four finalists, Nancy Hopf, Marc Hannen, Mike 
Spear and Hada, met with Owens.
    Hada, in a memo circulated to many federal and state judges, said Owens 
told him he was highly praised by both people inside and outside the legal profession and that he had passed two nominating commissions with flying colors.
    ``However, Gov. Owens said there was a problem. He said that he had 
heard from key advisers that I might be judicially left of center,'' Hada wrote.
    Owens asked Hada to prepare a ``position paper'' overnight and send it to 
him the next day, Thursday.
    On Friday, Hada said Owens' assistant telephoned him to report that Magistrate Marilyn Leonard of Jefferson County had been picked for the 
position.
    ``It's a slight to the minority bar,'' said Wayne Vaden, chair of the Sam 
Cary Judicial Committee, an organization of black lawyers. ``Kerry is an 
Asian and really a big advocate in the minority community.
    Hada, who grew up in Denver, practices domestic law, personal injury, 
and criminal defense in state and federal courts.

6/20/02 National Immigration Law Center: "Immigrant Student Bill Passes 
Senate Judiciary Committee,"
    On Thursday, June 20th, immigrant rights advocates, educators, and 
students won a significant victory when the Senate Judiciary Committee 
passed S. 1291, the DREAM Act, sponsored by Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT).
    Before approving the DREAM Act, the committee made important changes in the bill in the form of a substitute amendment proposed by Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL) and supported by Sen. Hatch. As a result, the bill was able to pass out of committee with strong bipartisan support that bodes well for eventual passage.
    As amended in the committee, the DREAM Act repeals the provision of 
federal law that discourages states from providing in-state tuition to undocumented immigrants, and it permits long-time resident immigrant young people with good moral character to obtain lawful permanent resident status 
once they graduate from high school. In addition to Sens. Hatch and Durbin, the amended DREAM Act now enjoys the co-sponsorship, among others, of Senators Ted Kennedy (D-MA) and Sam Brownback (R-KS) who are, respectively, the chair and ranking minority members of the Senate Immigration Subcommittee.
    The committee session engendered more back and forth among the senators than usual, but in the end the amended bill passed by a voice vote. Sens. Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Durbin, and Hatch all spoke movingly about young people in their states whom they had heard from and who would benefit from the DREAM Act. Other senators vocalizing their support included Joseph Biden (D-DE), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), and Patrick Leahy (D-VT), the chair of the committee.
    All of these senators pointed out that the young people who would benefit from the DREAM Act have grown up in the country and have a lot to contribute if freed to do so. They also emphasized that the states where these young people live should not be blocked by federal law from providing them with an education.
    Sens. Jon Kyl (R-AZ) and Jeff Sessions (R-AL) spoke in opposition to the amended bill. They argued that it would reward lawbreakers, provide an 
incentive for more immigrants to come to the country illegally, and permit young people who had committed drug crimes and vandalism to legalize their status.
    Theoretically, the next step towards passage of the DREAM Act would be Senate floor consideration. But there is very little floor time left before the end of this session of Congress. Advocates will have to build momentum for the bill if they hope to enact the DREAM Act before Congress adjourns in October 2002.
    Rep. Chris Cannon, R-Utah has sponsored a similar bill in  the House.

6/11/02, Roll call vote 147: S. 625.   the Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act (LLEEA) would have given federal prosecutors more authority to assist state and local authorities with hate crimes, and the Act would have covered hate crimes based on gender, sexual orientation, and disability.  Currently, federal hate crime law covers crimes based on race, national origin, and religion.  60 votes were required to close debate.  In a 54 to 43 vote, the Senate declined to close debate, blocking consideration of the bill.   

YEAs --- 54
Akaka (D-HI)
Baucus (D-MT)
Bayh (D-IN)
Biden (D-DE)
Bingaman (D-NM)
Boxer (D-CA)
Breaux (D-LA)
Byrd (D-WV)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Carnahan (D-MO)
Carper (D-DE)
Chafee (R-RI)
Cleland (D-GA)
Clinton (D-NY)
Collins (R-ME)
Conrad (D-ND)
Corzine (D-NJ)
Dayton (D-MN)
Dodd (D-CT)
Dorgan (D-ND)
Durbin (D-IL)
Edwards (D-NC)
Feingold (D-WI)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Graham (D-FL)
Harkin (D-IA)
Hollings (D-SC)
Inouye (D-HI)
Jeffords (I-VT)
Johnson (D-SD)
Kennedy (D-MA)
Kerry (D-MA)
Kohl (D-WI)
Landrieu (D-LA)
Leahy (D-VT)
Levin (D-MI)
Lieberman (D-CT)
Lincoln (D-AR)
Mikulski (D-MD)
Miller (D-GA)
Murray (D-WA)
Nelson (D-FL)
Nelson (D-NE)
Reed (D-RI)
Reid (D-NV)
Rockefeller (D-WV)
Sarbanes (D-MD)
Schumer (D-NY)
Smith (R-OR)
Snowe (R-ME)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Torricelli (D-NJ)
Wellstone (D-MN)
Wyden (D-OR)

NAYs --- 43
Allard (R-CO)
Allen (R-VA)
Bennett (R-UT)
Brownback (R-KS)
Bunning (R-KY)
Burns (R-MT)
Campbell (R-CO)
Cochran (R-MS)
Craig (R-ID)
Daschle (D-SD)*
DeWine (R-OH)
Domenici (R-NM)
Ensign (R-NV)
Enzi (R-WY)
Fitzgerald (R-IL)
Frist (R-TN)
Gramm (R-TX)
Grassley (R-IA)
Gregg (R-NH)
Hagel (R-NE)
Hatch (R-UT)
Hutchinson (R-AR)
Hutchison (R-TX)
Inhofe (R-OK)
Kyl (R-AZ)
Lott (R-MS)
Lugar (R-IN)
McCain (R-AZ)
McConnell (R-KY)
Murkowski (R-AK)
Nickles (R-OK)
Roberts (R-KS)
Santorum (R-PA)
Sessions (R-AL)
Shelby (R-AL)
Smith (R-NH)
Specter (R-PA)
Stevens (R-AK)
Thomas (R-WY)
Thompson (R-TN)
Thurmond (R-SC)
Voinovich (R-OH)
Warner (R-VA)

Not Voting --- 3
Bond (R-MO)
Crapo (R-ID)
Helms (R-NC)

* Senator Daschle (D-SD) changed his vote to NO as they were closing the count as procedural vote to ensure he could at a later time ask for a motion for further consideration.

4/24/02 Dallas Morning News: Non-binding resolution instructs House conferees to accept a Senate passed food stamp restoration that would help an estimated 400,000 legal immigrants.  
    The Senate proposal would cost $2.5 billion over 10 years, would help immigrants who can prove they have worked for 4 years, refugees and asylum seekers, legal immigrant children and the disabled.  
    The Bush Administration proposal would cost $2.1 billion and assist 363,000 immigrants who have lived here at least 5 years.  
    All eight House Republican conferees had voted for Rep. Robert Goodlatte's (R-VA) plan to require immigrants to prove they have worked at least 5 years to gain 2 years of food stamp eligibility.  The Food Research and Action Center, a group that fights hunger, estimates that plan would cost $450 million, helping far fewer people than either the Senate or White House plans.
Final Vote Results for Roll Call 106, April 23, 2002
(Republicans in roman; Democrats in italic; Independents underlined)
H R 2646 YEA-AND-NAY 23-APR-2002 7:16 PM
QUESTION: On Motion to Instruct Conferees
BILL TITLE: Farm Security Act