The Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC) Applauds President Bush for Appointing Southeast Asian Americans to His Administration

Washington, D.C. — SEARAC is the national advocacy organization working to advance the interests of Southeast Asian Americans and former refugees from Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. SEARAC applauds President Bush for appointing more Asian Americans, including Southeast Asian Americans, to cabinet and sub-cabinet posts than any other President. The recent appointments of John Quoc Duong as the Executive Director of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI), Viet Dinh as Assistant to the Attorney General, and Sichan Siv as a member of the U.S. delegation to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights send loud statements that Southeast Asian Americans are ready to be at the table. These Southeast Asian Americans will join other Asian American appointees such as Department of Labor Secretary Elaine Chao and Department of Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta.

Von Soutavong, SEARAC's Board Chair, stated, "The promotion of ethnic diversity, especially in key leadership positions, by President Bush is an important strategic step and the right thing to do! These Southeast Asian American appointees can provide a bridge for two-way communication between the Administration and grassroots communities in a timely manner and improve the understanding of national policies and their effects on communities."

"As refugees and new Americans, we are extremely encouraged by the recent appointments of Southeast Asian Americans to important positions in the Administration and look towards them as a sign of the continued commitment to diversity and, particularly, to communities that remain under-represented and politically invisible," stated Khatharya Um, SEARAC Chair Emeritus and Assistant Professor at the University of California-Berkeley.

Philip Nguyen, SEARAC Board member and Executive Director of the Southeast Asian Community Center in Oakland and San Jose, California, said, "Dinh, Siv and Duong are among a number of rising stars in the Southeast Asian American community. Their appointments mark an important turning point in this country and for all Southeast Asian Americans looking for the American dream. Their achievements bring all of us a little closer to that dream."

SEARAC is pleased that President Bush acknowledges the high caliber of people in the Southeast Asian American community by appointing at least three individuals to significant positions at the federal and international policy-making levels. SEARAC will work with the Administration to bring forth the concerns and issues that Southeast Asian American communities face in this country.

"These appointments reflect an important milestone for Southeast Asians. They recognize the many accomplishments by these hard working new immigrants who were forced to leave their homeland over twenty-five years ago. I am certain that John Quoc Duong, as the new Initiative Executive Director, will work hard to ensure that AAPI voices and issues continue to be heard," stated Phavann Chhuan, SEARAC Board member and Board member of the Cambodian Network Council.

Puongpun Sananikone, SEARAC Board member and President of Pacific Management Resources, located in Honolulu, Hawaii, noted that, "The appointment of Duong to head the White House Initiative on AAPI indicates that the Bush Administration supports Executive Order 13125 which makes AAPI a part of the national agenda. It also demonstrates the President's commitment to policies of inclusiveness by reaching out to the multi-ethnic communities across this great nation. Furthermore, it reaffirms the truth that this is indeed a country of opportunities."

SEARAC looks forward to working with Dinh, Duong and Siv to raise the awareness of the many contributions that refugees and immigrants bring to this country, as well as the challenges that continue to plague these communities. KaYing Yang, SEARAC Executive Director, said, "We hope the appointment of Southeast Asian Americans to key policy-making positions will mean that issues which remain an obstacle for many former refugees to reach socioeconomic success will be adequately addressed. There is much to do and we stand ready to work with the Administration to better serve the needs of our communities."

In a span of 25 years, the U.S. has resettled over 1.3 million Southeast Asian refugees. This group represents the largest group of refugees to build new lives in the U.S. in modern history. More than 2.5 million Southeast Asian refugees and new Americans have made California, Minnesota, Texas, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Virginia, North Carolina and a number of other states their home.