Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus

The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), founded on May 16, 1994 by former Congressman Norman Mineta, is a bicameral caucus consisting of members of the United States Congress who have a strong interest in promoting Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) issues and advocating the concerns of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. This caucus generally includes members of East Asian, Southeast Asian, South Asian or Pacific Islander descent, members with high concentrations of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in their district, or those with an interest in AAPI issues.^[1]

Purpose

• To ensure that legislation passed by the United States Congress, to the greatest extent possible, provides for the full participation of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and reflects the concerns and needs of the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities;
• To educate other congressmen and women about the history, contributions and concerns of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders;
• To work with other members of congress and caucuses to protect and advance the civil and constitutional rights of all Americans;
• To establish policies on legislation and issues relating to persons of Asian and/or Pacific Islands ancestry who are citizens or nationals of, residents of, or immigrants to, the United States, its territories and possessions; and
• To provide a structure to coordinate the efforts, and enhance the ability, of the Asian American and Pacific Islander congressmen and women to accomplish those goals.^[1]

Members

Map of House caucus members during the 113th Congress.

  Leadership and executive board members

  Associate members

Leadership

• Chair: Judy Chu (D) (California–27th)
• Vice-Chair: Madeleine Bordallo (D) (Guam–Delegate)
• Whip: Mark Takano (D) (California–41st)
• Chair Emeritus: Mike Honda (D) (California–17th)

Executive board members

• Senator Mazie Hirono (D) (Hawaii)
• Senator Brian Schatz (D) (Hawaii)
• Xavier Becerra (D) (California–31st)
• Ami Bera (D) (California–7th)
• Tammy Duckworth (D) (Illinois–8th)
• Tulsi Gabbard (D) (Hawaii–2nd)
• Al Green (D) (Texas–9th)
• Barbara Lee (D) (California–9th)
• Ted Lieu (D) (California–33rd)
• Doris Matsui (D) (California–6th)
• Grace Meng (D) (New York–6th)
• Gregorio Sablan (I) (Northern Mariana Islands–Delegate)
• Bobby Scott (D) (Virginia–3rd)
• Mark Takai (D) (Hawaii–1st)

Associate members

• Karen Bass (D) (California–37th)
• Gerry Connolly (D) (Virginia–11th)
• John Conyers (D) (Michigan–13th)
• Joseph Crowley (D) (New York–14th)
• Susan Davis (D) (California–53rd)
• John Delaney (D) (Maryland–6th)
• Anna Eshoo (D) (California–18th)
• Marcia Fudge (D) (Ohio–11th)
• Raúl Grijalva (D) (Arizona–7th)
• Zoe Lofgren (D) (California–19th)
• Alan Lowenthal (D) (California–47th)
• Carolyn Maloney (D) (New York–12th)
• Jerry McNerney (D) (California–9th)
• Gregory Meeks (D) (New York–5th)
• Grace Napolitano (D) (California–32nd)
• Scott Peters (D) (California–52nd)
• Charles B. Rangel (D) (New York–13th)
• Lucille Roybal-Allard (D) (California–40th)
• Linda Sanchez (D) (California–38th)
• Loretta Sanchez (D) (California–46th)
• Jan Schakowsky (D) (Illinois–9th)
• Adam Schiff (D) (California–28th)
• Brad Sherman (D) (California–30th)
• Adam Smith (D) (Washington–9th)
• Jackie Speier (D) (California–14th)
• Eric Swalwell (D) (California–15th)
• Chris Van Hollen (D) (Maryland–8th)

List of Chairs

• Norman Mineta (CA-15), 1994–1995
• Patsy Mink (HI-2), 1995–1997
• Robert Underwood (GU-AL), 1997–2001
• David Wu (OR-1), 2001–2004
• Mike Honda (CA-17), 2004–2011
• Judy Chu (CA-27), 2011–present

See also

• Asian Pacific Americans in the United States Congress

References

1. "Purpose, Mission & Goals". Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. Retrieved May 13, 2013.

External links

• Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus home site