Washinton DC — The Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) applauds the Biden Administration’s launch of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (WHIAANHPI). The expanded Initiative will be more representative of and responsive to the needs of the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities across the United States.
“WHIAANHPI has played a key role in national federal engagement with the Sikh American, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander community over the years,” said Kiran Kaur Gill, Executive Director of SALDEF. “We thank the Biden Administration for restructuring the Initiative to actively address the needs of the AANHPI community. The restructured Initiative, housed in Health and Human Services and with reestablished federal interagency and regional networks, will be in a better position to work with our communities.”
“SALDEF congratulates HHS Secretary Xavier Beccerra and U.S. Trade Representative Katharine Tai on their appointment as Co-Chairs of the Initiative. We are thankful for the continued leadership of WHIAANHPI Executive Director Krystal Ka’ai. The Sikh American community is well served by the leadership of these three individuals, who have long-standing relationships with and a deep understanding of the needs of our community. We look forward to working with the Initiative and it’s new leadership.”