WASHINGTON — This month, we celebrate the Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities, whose ingenuity, grit and perseverance have pushed our great American experiment forward.
From Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders whose ancestors have called their lands home for hundreds of years to Asian immigrants who have newly arrived and those whose families have been here for generations — AA and NHPI heritage has long been a part of the history of our great country and a defining force in the soul of our Nation.
As artists and journalists, doctors and engineers, business and community leaders and so much more, AA and NHPI peoples have shaped the very fabric of our Nation and opened up new possibilities for all of us. …
This year, we are also celebrating the 25th anniversary of the White House Initative and President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, who work across government to advance equity, opportunity and justice for AA and NHPI communities.
I have always believed that diversity is our Nation’s greatest strength. That is why I launched the first-ever National Strategy to Advance Equity, Justice and Opportunity for AA and NHPI communities. This strategy works to harness the full potential of these communities — from combating anti-Asian hate to making government services accessible in more languages. …
Racism, harassment and hate crimes against people of AA and NHPI heritage also persist — a tragic reminder that hate never goes away; it only hides. Hate must have no safe harbor in America — that is why I signed the bipartisan COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, which makes it easier for Americans to report hate crimes, and I also hosted the first-ever White House summit against hate-fueled violence.
We are also working to address the scourge of gun violence, which takes the lives of too many AA and NHPI loved ones. …
Our Nation was founded on the idea that we are all created equal and deserve to be treated equally throughout our lives. We have never fully realized this promise, but we have never fully walked away from it either. As we celebrate the historic accomplishments of AA and NHPIs across our Nation, we promise we will never stop working to form a more perfect union.
— Joseph R. Biden Jr.
