Washington, DC – Last Friday, U.S. House of Representative Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy announced that the House would vote on the Filipino Veterans of WWII Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2015 – a vote that could happen as early as November 29. The Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO (APALA) urges members of the House to pass the bill and recognize our veterans who thus far been unrecognized and denied rights and privileges for their service.
 
APALA National President Johanna Puno Hester commented: “Too long have our veterans been unrewarded for their valiant service to this country. This is such an important piece of legislation that would send waves to the Filipino and Filipino American communities on the significant role we’ve played (and continue to play) in American history.”
 
APALA Executive Director Gregory A. Cendana added: “We’re calling all hands on deck. The Senate already passed the bill earlier this year, and we need to continue to pressure our representatives in the House to ensure the bill goes to President Obama. It’s time to put our foot on the gas, not step on the brakes.”
 
Over 260,000 Filipinos fought to defend the U.S. in World War II, and over 15,000 are still alive today and continue to wait for recognition. The Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2015 would award Filipino veterans with the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor by Congress.
 
To support the campaign:

• Call members of the House Leadership to make sure our bill passes. Find contact information here: http://www.filvetrep.org/take-action/
• Share our social media outreach on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram with your network and use the hashtag #FilVets and #FilVetREP

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Las Vegas, NV - Despite disappointing presidential election results, the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO (APALA) celebrates a victory in the battleground state of Nevada as the state turned blue and elected the first-ever Latina to serve in the U.S. Senate. 

American Federation of State, County, & Municipal Employees (AFSCME) International Vice President and APALA National President Johanna Puno Hester stated: "We are thrilled with Catherine Cortez Masto's election to the U.S. Senate. Though we are now fighting an uphill battle with a GOP controlled presidency, congress and soon-to-be Supreme Court, we need women of color - like Catherine Cortez Masto - to be our champions and representatives. Her leadership paves the way for more immigrants and people of color - especially women - to have a seat at the table." 

"Everything we've done this year in Nevada has culminated to this moment. We've worked tirelessly to register over 3000 new voters, and by Election Day, our state turned out over three quarters of registered voters. That's huge to have that many people engaged," stated Gloria T. Caoile, APALA Nevada Chapter Leader who has continued to lead the on the ground efforts in the state for numerous cycles. "Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) voices undoubtedly made a statement that our voices do count." 

Luisa Blue, International Vice President of the Service Employees International Union and APALA Board Member, added: “Asian American Pacific Islanders are the fastest growing racial group in this country and could very well be the deciding factor in future elections at the local, state and national level. While overall union density has been on the decline, unionization of Asian American Pacific Islanders has increased by 9%.  Labor needs to continue working with their AAPI membership to increase their participation and develop them to become leaders of their union. Though it was not in our favor this time, we will continue to build our base to Stand Up and Fight Back against the racist, sexist and xenophobic rhetoric and any policies that will come out of this new administration.”

"We went from being marginalized to being the margin of victory in the silver state - and that says a lot to the organizing on the ground," APALA Executive Director Gregory A. Cendana concluded. "Nevada is a key example of how we need to be organizing in other states to ensure the voices of our communities are heard and represented at all levels of government."

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Washington, DC - Today, the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO (APALA) is deeply disappointed in the election of 45th president Donald Trump. The loss comes after months of advocating for candidates who represent and understand Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities and marginalized populations.
 
"We are so disappointed in the outcome of this election, but we respect the democratic process and will work with the Trump administration to better the lives of all working people," stated American Federation of State, County, & Municipal Employees (AFSCME) International Vice President and APALA National President Johanna Puno Hester. "Now more than ever we need to ensure that our communities are not victimized by Islamophobic, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, and racist rhetoric and actions. We need to hold America to a higher standard."
 
APALA Executive Director Gregory A. Cendana declared: "We’re hurting, our communities our hurting, but we won't stop fighting. Under a Trump administration, we're going to have to stand strong to fight for the issues we care about. Immigration. Black Lives Matter. Ending Islamophobia. We're taking a stand for our communities. Seeing where the hearts and minds of Americans truly lie is quite frightening. But we cannot stop now because our work to dismantle this white supremacist system becomes that much more important.”
 
Monica Thammarath, APALA 1st Vice President and Senior Liaison at the National Education Association (NEA), added: "This is an incredible step backwards for our country. A lot has to be said to elect a candidate who has ran a campaign on racism, misogyny, and xenophobia instead of electing the most qualified candidate in our lifetime. We must take this as a call to action and work harder than ever with local communities to strengthen the bases we have built this election year – particularly in Pennsylvania, Nevada, North Carolina, and other states – during the next four years so that in 2020 we have a president who understands and elevates our issues.”

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