In a move celebrating diversity and inclusiveness, the Biden-Harris administration has reinforced its commitment to advancing equity and creating opportunities for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities. The administration has made strides with initiatives ranging from economic recovery plans to cultural preservation efforts, as per a White House fact sheet released yesterday.
On the economic front, nearly 15 million jobs have been created under the administration, with a noted increase in small business growth within the AA and NHPI communities. The White House has revised federal data standards, addressing a 27-year oversight, to better represent these communities and support full self-identification by specific ethnicity. Furthermore, the President's FY 2025 Budget proposal aims to expand federal language access capacity, bearing in mind the linguistic diversity at the heart of America.
While celebrating achievements and advancements, the administration recognizes the reality of pervasive bias and has actively combated anti-Asian hate, seeing a 33 percent drop in targeted hate crimes from 2021 to 2022. The Justice Department's expansion of the United Against Hate Initiative and the development of the first-ever U.S. National Strategy to Counter Islamophobia manifest these protective efforts. Federal agencies have mobilized over $1 billion to bridge divides and counter-violence rooted in hate and discrimination.
Economic opportunities for AA and NHPI families have been bolstered, with federal agencies awarding $76.2 billion to small disadvantaged businesses – a record-breaking allocation that includes Asian American-owned businesses. This fiscal momentum, reflected in the increase of supported loans to AAPI-owned businesses, which totals more than $6.4 billion, places the administration on a trajectory toward enhancing federal contract awards to small disadvantaged businesses by 50% come 2025.
Educational excellence has been prioritized with funding to support Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs) and substantial ARP funds targeted towards Title I schools with high populations of AA and NHPI students. The administration also secured the largest increase in Pell Grants in a decade, aiding those of modest means to chase higher education dreams.
On the healthcare front, 45 million people now enjoy better access to affordable care with special attention to cultural and linguistic inclusiveness in medical services. Environmental health for AA and NHPI communities has been safeguarded with new national standards for PFAS in drinking water, a significant move considering the higher exposure levels among these groups.
Cultural preservation is also on the agenda, as evidenced by the attention given to Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander traditions and languages. Millions in federal funding have been dedicated to ensuring the resilience of Pacific Islands cultural heritage and Native Hawaiian housing programs have been expanded to support elder populations.
In parallel, the administration is reshaping the immigration system, extending healthcare benefits to DACA recipients, and issuing new guidance to prevent children in immigrant visa backlogs from losing eligibility for green cards. These actions signal an ongoing effort to rebuild and humanize the U.S. immigration system, lending support to those seeking protection and safety in America.
