By Hyepin Im
HOPE & VIGILANCE FOR THE NEW ADMINISTRATION
P
resident Biden’s announced priority areas during his campaign align with many areas that affect Asian Americans, including taking control of the COVID-19 pandemic, providing economic relief, tackling climate change, and advancing racial equity and civil rights, as well as reforming our immigration system and restoring America’s standing in the world.
Thus, it is with great hope that many Asian Americans are looking to the Biden Harris administration and the relief they will bring to this country. As Christians who take Jesus’s command of Matthew 25 seriously, each of these priority areas are aligned with our values of loving our neighbor and will allow us as a country and as faith communities to respond to those who are hungry and suffering on all levels.
However, as outlined in part one of this article, we must hope with vigilance—while these priority areas are encouraging evidence of Asian Americans’ inclusion in President Biden’s recent initiatives, it is truly yet to be seen how AAPIs will lead and be accounted for in this new administration. The rise in violent anti-Asian crimes in the past year, the disproportionate effect Covid-19 has had on the AAPI community, the lack of AAPI representation in the Biden Harris Cabinet, and the omission of all of the above in mainstream conversation should spur us to take note and continue to advocate for AAPI voices.
Biden’s Rescue Plan
On January 14, President Biden unveiled the American Rescue Plan, a $1.9 trillion proposal for immediate pandemic relief. For Asian Americans, this plan could not come any sooner. Some of this allocation includes $20 billion to fund a free national vaccination program as well as $50 billion to expand testing, $30 billion to purchase critical equipment, and $10 billion to invest in expanded pandemic-related domestic manufacturing. A part of the strategy is to trigger the Defense Production Act to manufacture COVID-19 supplies, develop additional treatments and vaccines, address the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on minority communities, provide guidance on reopening schools (including using FEMA funds to reimburse schools for supplies), produce guidelines to protect workers, and expand collection and analysis.
Small Business
Asian Americans have one of the highest rates of self-employment or business ownership. The proposed stimulus package would increase funding available to AAPIs for grants, lending, and investment for small businesses, on top of the extension of the Paycheck Protection Program passed in the December stimulus bill.
Biden’s earlier statements included an encouraging sign when he explicitly included Asian small business owners—which rarely happens by public officials—in a January statement: "Our priority will be Black, Latino, Asian, and Native American-owned small businesses, women-owned businesses, and finally having equal access to resources needed to reopen and rebuild.”
Housing
During the last foreclosure crisis, Asians had the highest rate of drop in homeownership. Most likely, this round of pandemic crisis will be no different. Thankfully, the stimulus package would extend eviction and foreclosure moratoriums to March. It would also provide $30 billion in assistance for rent and utilities amongst other benefits.
It is encouraging to see announcements of the economic investments to come. However, Asian Americans need to be vigilant in ensuring that their fellow AAPIs do not miss out on this due to lack of linguistically and culturally sensitive outreach.
Hope for Immigration Reform
Another encouraging sign is that President Biden is committed to massive immigration reform.
AAPIs Impacted by Immigration—Path to Citizenship for Unauthorized Immigrants
Contrary to the common narrative that immigration is only relevant to the Hispanic community, immigration reform also impacts the Asian American community. Out of the 11 million undocumented, 1.3 million are Asian Americans. Of the legal 4.2 million who are on the family visa backlog, 40 percent are Asian Americans. A typical wait for families is 12 to 23 years before they can reunite with their families. Also, 10 percent of DACA students are AAPI. In addition, between 2009 and 2013, 250,000 AAPIs were deported.
Thankfully, President Biden has introduced a bill granting a path to citizenship for unauthorized immigrants in the US, a number estimated at 12 million based on 2015 data. In addition, he is reversing a Trump administration’s decision that denied visas to immigrants who would likely be recipients of public aid. Biden is also reinstating the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
Reopening Schools & Child Care Assistance
With education as a cornerstone of Asian American communities, President Biden’s plan to provide the necessary support to reopen most K-8 schools by the end of his first 100 days is most welcome. The stimulus plan will provide $170 billion to sustain K-12 schools and institutions of higher education through the pandemic. There is also indication that the Department of Education may extend the existing pause on federal student loan payments and interest with Biden’s request.
The American Rescue Plan also includes $25 billion to aid child care providers in danger of closing as well as other support for working parents, including expanding child care assistance for families and more refundable child care tax credits. Other features include provisions to support low-income essential workers by raising and expanding the earned income tax credits.
Health Coverage, Mental Health Services, & Domestic Violence
During the pandemic, many Americans lost their jobs and consequently, their health insurance coverage. In 2019, 56 percent of the population had insurance through their employer. For Asian Americans who experienced disproportionate unemployment rates because of the pandemic, loss of health coverage is an additional burden on top of loss of income. Thankfully, the stimulus package allows for continuation health coverage through the end of September for those who lost their employee health insurance.
Other areas that burden Asian Americans include high rates of domestic violence and sexual assault, high exposure to Covid-19 working in frontline jobs, as well as susceptibility to depression and mental illness. The stimulus plans calls for increased support for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, additional worker protections against unsafe pandemic working conditions, and more funding for behavioral and mental health services. In October, it was reported that 37 percent of Americans experienced at least one major symptom of depression.
Raising Minimum Wage
There have been many articles highlighting that low-income minority workers, particularly Black and brown workers, are putting their lives at risk delivering food and providing care so that others can safely practice social distancing. Contrary to the model minority myth, many Asian subgroups also earn low income at levels comparable to those of the Black and brown community. During the pandemic, a disproportionate number of AAPI individuals also have worked as essential workers while earning minimum wage. Thus, President Biden’s proposal to raise the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $15 per hour will be a great relief for many minimum wage workers, including the AAPI community.
Yet, Biden’s push for Congress to act on his call for expanded anti-poverty tax credits by sharing the positive impact on nonwhite families did not include the AAPI community. He states, “Our plan would reduce poverty in the Black community by a third and in the Hispanic community by almost 40 percent.” President Biden’s omission of AAPI communities ignores historical inequalities, including income and wealth gaps of the AAPI community. Asian Americans should not stay quiet, but increase our voice and efforts to raise awareness as well as demand for inclusion and a seat at the decision-making table.
White House Office of Faith-Based Initiatives
President Biden has been open about the importance of faith during his campaign and inauguration. Thus, President Biden’s February 14th announcement that he would re-establish the White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships, is a welcomed and expected news. This office is a continuation of a similar initiative first established by President George W. Bush and then continued in some forms by President Obama, and President Trump. One area that President Bush implemented during his administration that was not necessarily implemented by subsequent administrations was capacity building of faith-based and nonprofit organizations that helped these entities to develop skills, relationships, and funding. Christianity and faith plays a big role in immigrant communities, including the AAPI community members who go to houses of worship not only to seek God, but also comfort and connections to resources.
As much good has been done by these offices, one group that has been consistently missing in the previous administrations in this area is the strong presence of AAPI Christian representation in their funding and outreach initiatives. Nationally, the AAPI Christian voice is nearly absent and invisible in the public arena. It would be important for the AAPI community to be engaged and grow our voice and influence on initiatives launched by this office. In the White House announcement that named Melissa Rogers as the executive director and Josh Dickson as the deputy director, it also announced Trey Baker as the liaison for working with the Black community, including the Black faith community. AAPI communities should advocate for a AAPI point person to do similar work as a liaison to the AAPI and AAPI faith community.
Conclusion
With the start of each administration, there is opportunity to build upon and change our future. Isaiah 49:6 states, “I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth." As believers, we are to be a light to others, especially to those we serve. Asian Americans have contributed and have much to contribute to this country. Asking our fair share as citizens of this country to reach our full potential so that we can contribute more is the promise of this country and also President Biden’s stated commitment. He states, “That is why I'm reestablishing the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships to work with leaders of different faiths and backgrounds who are the frontlines of their communities in crisis and who can help us heal, unite, and rebuild." With the Biden administration’s policy to address historic racial and economic inequalities, their policies and programs should also include Asian Americans, and as the AAPI Christian community, we must continue to use our platforms to advocate for change.
Photo by Lucas Franco on Unsplash
Ms. Hyepin Im (CPA, MBA, Master of Divinity) is a former U.S. Presidential Appointee on the Board of the Americorps and serves as President and Founder of Faith and Community Empowerment (formerly KCCD), a national nonprofit involved in empowering churches and nonprofits to leverage their resources by building capacity, leadership, and partnerships in economic development and serving as a bridge between the Asian American community and the greater community at large.