Building Stronger Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Communities in California in 2019:

Transcription

1 Building Stronger Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Communities in California in 2019: Policy Recommendations for State of California Governor Gavin Newsom Introduction Over the past decade, California has made important strides forward in protecting and advancing the rights of immigrants and communities of color. In the past two years, Californians saw our rights attacked by the federal government in Washington and an attempt to systematically dismantle many of the key programs and policies that protect immigrants, communities of color, and other vulnerable populations. But California boldly advanced policies to support our communities and to ensure that we as a state stand up for justice and fairness. As we welcome our new Governor and newly elected leaders, we look forward to building upon this progress in 2019 for low-income, limited-english proficient and immigrant communities of color. As organizations serving Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities, we stand together with other marginalized communities in seeking prosperity and equity for all Californians. Our organizations serve California s diverse AANHPI communities in a variety of capacities, ranging from providing direct legal, health, and other services to advocating on critical policy issues. We represent the diversity of AANHPIs, including populations who are often overlooked such as Arab, Middle Eastern, Muslim and South Asian (AMEMSA) communities, LGBTQ individuals, those who are incarcerated or formerly incarcerated, limited English proficient populations, and elderly community members. AANHPI communities are the fastest growing racial groups in California according to the US Census Bureau. Today, there are over 6.6 million Asian Americans living in California, and they now make up nearly 17% of the state s population. 1

2 AANHPI communities are the fastest growing racial groups in California according to the US Census Bureau. Today, there are over 6.6 million Asian Americans living in California, and they now make up nearly 17% of the state s population. In addition, California has one of the largest populations of Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders (NHPIs) in the United States, second only to Hawaii, with over 300,000 NHPIs calling California home. While these groups often have shared experiences with immigration, language barriers, and discrimination, they can differ significantly in their educational attainment, employment, and economic status. Because of the considerable social and economic diversity among AANHPIs, they can be difficult communities to understand and serve. Each member of the AANHPI community comes with their own unique history, language, and culture. We urge the state to advance data disaggregation across various state departments and issue areas. Ethnic-specific data for AANHPI sub-groups (e.g., Bangladeshi, Cambodian, Chinese, Filipino, Indian, Korean, Samoan, Thai, Tongan, Vietnamese, etc.) is critical to helping policymakers, businesses, and community leaders better address the wide education and health disparities that exist across the spectrum of AANHPI ethnic groups. Sound policy solutions require accurate data. Given the vast diversity of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, ethnic-specific data is imperative to promoting justice and equity, by exposing the disparities faced by the most disadvantaged members of our community This document outlines some of the key priorities and needs of AANHPI communities across California. We hope this memo serves as a catalyst for future conversations and engagement with your AANHPI constituents. We look forward to partnering with you to ensure that California continues to be a model for other states in developing policies that help AANHPIs - and all Californians- thrive. Sincerely, AAPIs for Civic Empowerment API Equality - Northern California (APIENC) API Equality-LA Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Asian Law Caucus Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Los Angeles Asian Americans for Community Involvement Asian Law Alliance Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance -Los Angeles Asian Pacific American Legislative Staffers Network (APALS) Asian Pacific Policy & Planning Council (A3PCON) Asian Prisoner Support Committee CA Pan-Ethnic Health Network California Healthy Nail Salon Collaborative Center for the Pacific Asian Family (CPAF) Chinatown Service Center Chinese American Citizens Alliance, Los Angeles Chapter Council on American-Islamic Relations, California Empowering Pacific Islander Communities (EPIC) Fresno Interdenominational Refugee Ministries Khmer Girls in Action KIWA (Koreatown Immigrant Workers Alliance) Korean American Family Services (KFAM) Korean Community Services (Orange County) LEAP (Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics) Little Tokyo Service Center National Asian Pacific American Families Against Substance Abuse NICOS Chinese Health Coalition OCA-Greater Los Angeles Orange County Asian and Pacific Islander Community Alliance (OCAPICA) Pacific Asian Consortium in Employment Pacific Islander Health Partnership Services, Immigrant Rights & Education Network (SIREN) South Asian Network (SAN) Southeast Asian Community Alliance Southest Asia Resource Action Center( SEARAC) Southland Integrated Services, Inc. Thai Community Development Center The Fresno Center United Cambodian Community Vigilant Love This document was prepared and edited by Asian Americans Advancing Justice-California, the Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council, Little Tokyo Service Center, and Pacific Asian Consortium in Employment. 2

3 Education We believe every child has the right to achieve their highest potential and deserve every opportunity and support in doing so. The state of California serves more than 6.2 million children of which 12.1% are AANHPI - 3,827,352 are identified as coming from a socioeconomic disadvantaged background (including 204,085 homeless youth), 1,271,150 are identified as English Learners, and 34,426 are foster youth. [1] These students face numerous challenges in pursuing and achieving a higher education degree, yet they are key to the socioeconomic wellbeing of our communities, and are at forefront of equity for our state. Alongside students, we believe that increasing language accessibility for all adults is crucial in developing strong support systems for all students across all systems. As such, parallel to our education work, we urge for the funding of parent and adult education. [1] Increase access to, and retention at higher education institutions As the number of Californian students graduating from high schools continues to grow, it is of utmost importance that we invest in expanding our current higher education system to accommodate them. Our organizations champion state policies that increase the number of seats available at community colleges, California State Universities, and Universities of California. In addition, California should increase investment in outreach and retention services for low-income, English Language Learners (ELL), foster youth, and other historically underrepresented groups in institution of higher education. Increase funding and support for AAPI English Language Learners In 2016 the vast majority of Californians voted in favor of Prop. 58, repealing English Only education in California, in response to a statewide recognition of the value of bilingualism for both education and workforce. Since then, community feedback on the absence of AANHPI voices in ELL spaces has been noted and we now are expanding our direct involvement in building stronger programs for the future of ELL students and adults. We seek to increase funding for direct ELL student and adult services, parent training and support, and expansion of curriculum development and accessibility of Asian and Pacific Islander (API) languages. California must invest in teacher training, innovation in ELL early childhood education as well as accessibility and funding adult ELL education for parents and all community members. Create an inclusive campus climate All children deserve to feel safe and welcomed in their schools. A student survey in 2016 by the Council of American-Islamic Relations found that Muslim students reported significantly higher rates of discrimination and bullying compared to others. Findings showed that 53 percent of respondents report that students at school are made fun of, verbally insulted, or abused for being Muslim, more than double the national average. [1] Similarly, the California Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) Youth Report, which surveys primarily Southeast Asian and Pacific Islander youth in California, reported that one in two AAPI respondents reported facing bullying in school. Focus group participants attributed high rates of verbal and physical bullying to stereotypes about their ethnic identities, including that Asian Americans are passive, introverted, and smart. [2] These same students are hesitant to report incidents due to a fear of retaliation and a belief that teachers do not have the training needed to intervene and prevent these incidents. 3

4 Our organizations supports efforts to expand restorative justice strategies, expand requirements around school bullying, institute student programs focused on intercommunity relations, and require more data collection around the issues of school bullying at our schools. [1] CAIR-CA School Bullying Report [2] California Asian American & Pacific Islander Youth Report. Youth-Report-Executive-Summary.pdf Immigrant Rights There are nearly 6.6 million Asian Americans (AA) living in California of whom more than 3.1 million are foreign-born. In California, there are 300,000 Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders (NHPI), 47,000 who are foreign-born. [1] California is home to the largest undocumented Asian population in the nation with 463,310 individuals. [2] AANHPIs are the fastest growing racial group in the state, with the majority of new immigrants in California coming from Asia. [3] Pacific Islanders have a very complex relationship with the United States, some are US Nationals due to living in a US territory, others are Compact of Free Agreement (COFA) migrants, while others are immigrants. California is home to the second largest COFA migrant population. [4] AAPI immigrant communities are dynamic and diverse but face deep challenges amidst our current environment of xenophobia and federal attacks on key policies and programs. Immigrants and refugees of all backgrounds regardless of immigration status, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and encounter with the criminal justice system deserve the same opportunities as everyone else. In the coming year, the state must continue to advance innovative policies that help immigrant communities integrate into our communities and thrive. Provide immigration legal services We seek to ensure that immigrants and refugees regardless of their background have access to trustworthy immigration services and legal representation, especially when facing removal proceedings. Since 2016, California has provided qualified non-profit organizations with funding to provide outreach and education, application assistance, legal services, and technical assistance around immigration relief and naturalization. In 2017, legal representation for deportation defense was included as an area supported by this program. Research at the time had shown that 68% of detained Californians did not have legal representation. [5] We believe that all Californians deserve fairness and due process regardless of their immigration status or encounter with the criminal justice system. It is vital for the state to continue to invest in these programs that will facilitate the integration, protection, and well being of this population. Throughout the state, there is a huge gap in immigration legal services available to AAPI communities including deportation defense. It is pertinent for the state to invest in this community, and to help build statewide infrastructure with regard to immigration services. Ensure linguistic and cultural access for immigrant communities AAPI communities greatly benefit from programs and policies that integrate immigrants and refugees into the state and their local communities, but many of these programs fail to account for the needs of AAPI immigrants. Generally successful programs such as implementation of the AB 60 Driver s License often do not succeed with AAPI communities due to lack of understanding of community needs as well as language barriers. In California, 1.7 Million Asian Americans are limited English proficient (LEP) while one out of ten PIs is LEP. [6] Language access is an ongoing issue that AAPI communities face in a myriad of state programs. We encourage the incoming administration to strengthen current language access policies by improving existing laws such as the Dymally-Alatorre Bilingual Services Act and ensuring programs are linguistically and culturally accessible to AAPI immigrant communities. 4

5 Detangle local and state law enforcement from deportations The Trump administration s targeting of immigrants and refugees have put AAPI and AMEMSA communities in a state of perpetual heightened fear. Upon taking office in January 2017, President Trump issued three executive orders that targeted millions of immigrants for deportation. The administration resurrected the controversial Secure Communities (S-Comm) Program, threatened to withhold federal funding from Sanctuary cities, and continues to demand funding from Congress to build a wall along the U.S./Mexico border. In addition, the Trump administration has substantially delivered on its threat of a total shutdown of Muslims entering the U.S. through the Muslim Ban, now a permanent order which the U.S. Supreme Court has upheld as constitutional, and Extreme Vetting of their visa of applications. [7] As a result, AMEMSA U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents (LPRs or green card holders)- particularly from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen- face indefinite separation from their families to be united. AMEMSA communities continue their lives in legal limbo with anxiety and confusion from the rapidly changing federal immigration policies, discriminatory background checks and surveillance by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in a climate of heightened Islamophobia and hate. The impact of immigration detention and deportations, fueled by local and state law enforcement entanglement with ICE, is one of the biggest threats to the economic integrity and stability of immigrant families in California. The new administration has focused heavily on expanding and deepening its use of local and state law enforcement as force multipliers for ICE, thereby making immigrants fearful of every interaction with local and state law enforcement. California has been on the forefront of passing laws that disentangle local and state law enforcement from deportation including the TRUST Act in 2013 and the TRUTH Act in In 2016, California introduced SB 54, the California Values Act, which was the strongest and most comprehensive legislation limiting local and state involvement in immigration enforcement in the country. However, through negotiations with local law enforcement associations, moderate members of the legislature, and the Governor s Office, SB 54 was amended a number of times to take out numerous protections and to add in a long list of exceptions. The final version of the bill, which was signed into law prohibits the 287(g) program, prohibits responses to all ICE holds requests, places some limits on local law enforcement providing ICE with release dates and transferring individuals to ICE custody, protects work and home addresses from being released to ICE unless this information is already available to the public, prohibits law and state law enforcement from inquiring about immigration status, and prohibits arrests for immigration enforcement purposes. SB 54 also requires public agencies, including hospitals, schools, courthouses, and libraries to adopt model policies, which were developed by the state attorney general, to limit assistance with ICE to the fullest extent under federal and state law. Some local law enforcement agencies have exploited loopholes in the law to continue to allow ICE access to the jails, publish online and notify ICE of release dates of individuals in their custody, transfer individuals into ICE custody, and assist ICE in detaining and deporting individuals in joint taskforce operations. In the coming year, we recommend that the Governor s Office support legislation that would close loopholes in SB 54 and extend protections in SB 54 to apply to state prisons. We also urge the Governor s Office to collaborate with the California Attorney General s Office to monitor compliance with SB 54 by local and state law enforcement and public agencies required to adopt model policies that limit assistance with ICE to the fullest extent under federal and state law. In support of our AMEMSA communities, we should also refuse to participate in Countering Violent Extremism ( CVE ) and Preventing Violent Extremism ( PVE ) surveillance programs, which are based on the discriminatory premise that certain religious and ethnic communities are inherently 5

6 suspect and prone to violence. These programs were initiated by the federal Department of Justice (DOJ) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and intended to root out radicalism primarily in American Muslim communities through partnerships with local government and community groups who serve the targeted populations. CVE and PVE s reliance on pre-established indicators to identify individuals on the path to radicalization has been roundly criticized as based on junk science, and as ineffective as a counter-terrorism tool. CVE and PVE also chill First Amendment protected activities of freedom of religious expression and association, because the indicators at play have included items as innocuous as frequent mosque attendance and wearing religious garb. CVE and PVE programs have faced strong and effective opposition from civil rights and community groups serving the impacted populations, and for good reason. [8] Our state should not only reject CVE and PVE, it should decline to continue to participate in any existing program, including the PVE program currently coordinated by the State s Office of Emergency Services. Use the governor s pardon power to protect refugees California s prison boom and ever expanding criminal laws over the past three decades have contributed to the criminalization of many Southeast Asian Americans (SEAA), who came to this country as refugees fleeing genocide and the Vietnam War. Most of these refugees were resettled by the US government in impoverished, overpoliced communities that had few economic opportunities. Due to harsh immigration laws passed in 1996 that allow the federal government to take away green cards from immigrants and refugees for a wide range of criminal offenses and with little due process, these communities are especially vulnerable to deportation. From 1977 to 1997, the arrest rates for Asian American and Pacific Islander youth increased by 726%. During the 1990s, the AAPI prison population grew by 250%. This increased exposure to the criminal justice system has contributed to more than 16,000 Southeast Asian community members receiving final orders of deportation since Over 13,000 of these deportation orders are based on old criminal records. However, many of these communities members could not be deported because the U.S. did not have repatriation agreements with a number of Southeast Asian countries. The number of SEAAs being targeted for deportation dramatically increased last year following the Trump Administration's sanctioning of Southeast Asian countries, which has led to waves of ICE raids targeting Southeast Asian refugees, including individuals from Cambodia and Vietnam. The sudden and forcible removal of Southeast Asian refugees from their communities will have lasting negative financial, physical, and emotional effects - not only on the individuals who are deported, but also on their families. The Governor of California has the power to protect many of these vulnerable community members through granting pardons. Pardons allow deportation orders based on state criminal convictions to be reopened. However, the pardon process is not transparent and not efficient. Recently, AB 2845 was signed into law to improve the transparency and accessibility of the pardon and commutations process. In particular, the new law establishes a one-year timeline for the Board of Parole Hearings (BPH) to review and issue recommendations on pardon applications supported by a Certificate and Rehabilitation. AB 2845 also requires BPH to consider expediting their review of urgent pardon and commutation applications, such as when an applicant is facing deportation. Finally, the new law requires BPH to notify applicants when they receive a pardon or commutation application, and when they issue a recommendation to the Governor. It should be noted, however, that BPH s main responsibilities are conducting parole hearings, and have not been specifically funding or staffed to review pardon and commutation requests. Thus, relying on BPH to review and expedite pardon and commutations requests involving urgent issues, such as deportation, poses challenges. We recommend that the Governor s Office support legislation to create an independent panel separate from BPH comprised of a diverse make up of individuals with expertise in immigration law and community-based reentry strategies, to review and make recommendations on pardon and commutation requests. 6

7 We also recommend that the Governor s Office grant mass pardons to immigrants and refugees facing deportation who have demonstrated that they have rehabilitated. The Governor s Office also should expedite these applications for pardons, involving urgent needs such as deportation, because ICE has been focused on speeding up deportations and for pardons to have any impact, they must be granted in a timely manner. [1] P [2] [3] [4] P [5] [6] P [7] [8] The 2020 Census The importance of the census is unequivocal. The decennial count of our country s population determines the number of congressional seats allocated to states, guides the distribution of over $600 billion in federal funds each year, and is used to enforce civil rights laws that guarantee our rights as Americans. Yet the 2020 Census is shaping up to be one of the most challenging in recent memory. While enumerating our country s population is more difficult than ever, decisions being made by the Trump administration threaten the U.S. Census Bureau s ability to conduct an accurate census, with recent immigrants and those facing language barriers among those most likely to be left uncounted. Home to disproportionate numbers of the hard-to-count, California risks losing a Congressional seat and countless federal funds. Increase state funding for community-based outreach Responding to budgetary and programmatic attacks at the federal level, the state of California announced a $90.3 million investment in state support for census planning and outreach over the two-year period leading up to the census. While historic, the $30 million allocated to community-based organizations falls short of the $114 million necessary to support critical on-the-ground work, including in-language community education, engagement, and questionnaire assistance. As the Census Bureau implements dramatic reductions in the size of its field operation, it is particularly important that community-based organizations and other trusted messengers with deep knowledge of and connection to the hardest to count be adequately resourced to participate in efforts to ensure a fair and accurate count of all Californians. We urge the Governor to allocate an additional $15 million over 2019 and 2020 to support the work of community-based organizations on the 2020 Census. Ensure robust language assistance Given the considerable number of limited-english proficient Asian Americans and NHPIs living in California, inlanguage engagement will be critical to a complete count. 7

8 Yet the number of languages the Census Bureau will be providing materials and assistance in is limited. Internet and phone response options will be available in only five Asian languages (Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Tagalog, and Japanese) and no Pacific Islander languages. Paper versions of the questionnaire and field enumeration materials will be available in English and Spanish only. In lieu of more robust language assistance offered as part of internet, phone, and paper response options, separate language assistance guides that explain the questionnaire will be available in 22 Asian languages; yet none will be available in Pacific Islander languages. We urge the Governor to play a leadership role in efforts to ensure diverse Californians have access to the language resources necessary to understand and respond to the census. State efforts should partner with advocates, community-based organizations, local government, and the Census Bureau to ensure critical aspects of 2020 Census operations, including educational and outreach materials, media and communications work, direct outreach, data collection, and questionnaire assistance centers, engage Californians in Asian and Pacific Islander languages, particularly those not covered by the federal government. Challenge the inclusion of the citizenship question In an attempt to suppress the count of immigrants and reduce the political power of and federal support to states with large immigrant populations, the Trump administration announced plans to include a citizenship question as part of the 2020 Census. Responding to community concerns and research linking the inclusion of a citizenship question to reduced census participation among immigrants, the State of California sued the U.S. Department of Commerce on behalf of the state and a number of cities and counties, arguing that the addition of the citizenship question violates both the Administrative Procedures Act (APA) and enumeration clause of the U.S. Constitution. We urge the Governor to continue to provide the resources necessary to support the California Department of Justice and Attorney General in their ongoing litigation challenging the citizenship question. [1] National Conference of State Legislatures, Same Day Voter Registration, October 12, [2] Considering the State s Role in Elections, Legislative Analyst s Office, March Available at: pdf. [3] Id. Workers Rights While low-wage immigrant workers continue to be the backbone of our flourishing economy, they have not shared in our growing wealth and face significant economic vulnerabilities. Indeed, they continue to be at the bottom rung of the proverbial economic ladder and face systemic barriers to upward mobility. Among those barriers are their limited English proficiency, vulnerable immigration status and underenforcement of rampant wage theft in the industries where they are concentrated. For these reasons, we urge the Governor to protect and advance the rights of low-wage immigrant workers against labor exploitation, with an emphasis on combating wage theft, immigration status-related retaliation, discrimination and labor trafficking. Importantly, the Governor should increase resources to ramp up state labor law enforcement proceedings in industries that are well known to be rife with wage theft, and that employ large numbers of vulnerable workers, including in the restaurant, caregiver and nail/beauty salon industries. We also urge the Governor to deepen and fund outreach and enforcement partnerships with community-based organizations, which have proven much more effective at reaching, encouraging, and supporting the most abused and vulnerable workers to come forward to report and help prosecute wage theft and other labor and employment law violations. Bolster and enforce rights of workers in the caregiving industry The caregiving industry is predominantly comprised of an immigrant workforce. This industry is particularly important now given our rapidly aging population, the increase in dual-parent working families, and the resulting ballooning need for professional caregivers, making it a priority issue for the state. 8

9 Many of the workers in this industry face vulnerable immigration status which exacerbates the exploitative working conditions endemic to the industry, including requiring many workers to be on-call around the clock without proper compensation. While there have been some gains for workers in this industry, including passage of the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights which entitles them to overtime pay, there has not been enough enforcement of this law. The State Labor Commissioner s office has partnered with organizations across the state to conduct community education and to increase state prosecutions. We urge the Governor to continue prioritizing enforcement of the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights, as well as increasing the affordability of caregiving. We also encourage the Governor to fund a program to assist families in affording long-term care for loved ones, as part of a national caregiving Affordability Campaign. Access to Housing California continues to struggle with its affordable housing crisis as one in three Californians are paying more than 30% of their income on housing. The state s poorest households are the most impacted: more than 1.54 million of the state s lowest income households have no affordable housing options. In Los Angeles, nearly 70% of poor households are unable to afford housing which means they are either overpaying or experiencing homelessness. Asian Pacific Islanders face significant levels of discrimination in their search for affordable housing. From 2007 to 2014, Asian American poverty increased by 50% while Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) poverty increased by 71%. In comparison, the increase in the general population during that timeframe was only 22%. And in major urban areas of California, the numbers of homeless AANHPIs is increasing. For example, from 2007 to 2011, the number of homeless AANHPIs in the LA Continuum of Care increased 40%. Address and prevent homelessness in California Homelessness in California is on the rise. The state has 21% of the nation s homeless population despite the fact that only 12% of the nation s total population lives in California. California also has the largest population of unsheltered homeless veterans in the nation. In Los Angeles County alone, over 50,000 individuals experience homelessness, with one third suffering from some form of mental illness. The human toll resulting from the homelessness crisis is devastating. Many AANHPI community members are among the ranks of the homeless in California, although they may not be as visible as other populations. We urge the Governor to: 1) Ensure robust implementation of Propositions 1 and 2 that includes input by housing advocates and those experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity, including the input of veterans and individuals with mental health issues experiencing homelessness 2) Encourage development of multiple types of housing. Permanent supportive housing is critically important, but shelters and transitional housing (particularly for survivors of domestic violence) are also solutions that must be prioritized 3.) Connect housing and services. Given the importance of safety nets in housing stability for formerly homeless people, permanent supportive housing should be placed in dense urban areas where residents are more likely to connect with social supports, as well as microenterprise/small business and employment opportunities. Prioritize the development of affordable housing The development and increased funding of affordable housing is critical to address the depth of need among APIs and all communities for decent, affordable housing for low-income individuals and families. More affordable housing means preventing more people and families from ending up on the streets and joining the ranks of homelessness. Specifically, we recommend the following strategies: 1) Establish set-asides and other efforts to ensure housing for low-income seniors in API communities while ensuring that the current priorities for housing the homeless do not make it more difficult for senior housing projects to be funded 2) Design stakeholder input in a way that privileges the input of members of our community with limited English proficiency 9

10 3) Creation of inclusionary housing measures in local jurisdictions which will require a percentage of units in new housing developments to be affordable to low- income households. Anti-Poverty Initiatives and Programs Asian American communities face high rates of poverty that are often overlooked. Across multiple measures of income, Asian Americans in California fare worse than Whites. Asian Americans have a higher poverty rate than Whites (10% and 8%, respectively), a greater proportion who are lowincome (24% and 20%, respectively), and a lower per capita income ($29,841 and $42,052, respectively). About 12% of NHPI live in poverty and 28% are lowincome. Per capita, NHPI earn slightly less than African Americans ($21,472 versus $22,002). n The number of Asian Americans living in poverty statewide increased roughly 50% between 2007 and 2011; the number of NHPI living in poverty increased 138% during this same period. Both groups experienced faster growth in the number living in poverty than the state did as a whole (38%).1 n Among Asian Americans, Hmong, Mongolian, Cambodian, and Laotian Americans have the highest poverty rates, the lowest per capita incomes, and the highest proportion who are low-income. n Among NHPI ethnic groups, one in five Tongan Americans lives in poverty, a rate identical to African Americans and Latinos. Tongan and Samoan Americans also have the highest proportion who are low income (47% and 35%, respectively) and the lowest per capita incomes ($12,506 and $15,898, respectively) among NHPI. Anti-poverty initiatives are critical for promoting economic sustainability. Furthermore, it is critical to support community-based organizations (CBOs) that are trusted and connected to individuals because of linguistic and cultural capabilities, and enable the provision of services by removing bureaucratic obstacles and operate with efficiency and efficacy. Institute rent control 5.8 million California households are renting now more than ever before. Yet, more than half of California renters are overpaying for housing and one-third are paying more than 50% of their income on rent. 5.8 million California households are renting now more than ever before. Yet, more than half of California renters are overpaying for housing and one-third are paying more than 50% of their income on rent. Median rents are higher in California than any other state in the nation and California is experiencing the 4th highest increase in rents in the nation. Currently, 15 cities in California have some form of rent control in place, but all other cities are currently barred from adopting any form of rent control due to Costa Hawkins. Nationally, over 110,000 Asian American and 2,800 NHPI households spend 30% or more of their household income on rent. A number of API communities, including 60% of Sri Lankans and Vietnamese and 59% of Bangladeshi Americans, spend more than 50% of their income on rent. We recommend that the state of California enact legislation that would repeal Costa Hawkins Act, lifting the state prohibition on rent control and enabling local governments to decide how to regulate, if at all, rents in their jurisdictions. Strengthen employment, workforce development, and job training Employment, workforce development and job training remains a critical need for AANHPI communities, especially among low-income workers, unemployed seniors, and disadvantaged youth during a time in which jobs are being eliminated due to changes in technology and market demand. One of the main governmental sources of funds, WIOA (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), has evolved into an extremely bureaucratic and challenging contract to execute. With the added levels of governance (from federal to state and then to local), the restrictions are exacerbated with each additional regulator. Restrictions such as set-aside funding for training places an undue burden on providers and limits contractors ability to administer programs effectively. We recommend that the state of California ease mandatory (30%) set-aside for training dollars and provide flexibility for a variety of approved trainers; allow state funds such as Employment Training Panel funds to augment WIOA; incorporate incentives in state employment/training funding for job placement; and allow funds to be used for Public Subsidized Employment (PSE). 10

11 Ensure access to critical income supports We urge the state of California to ensure that low-income AANHPI and other communities continue to have access to critical income supports, including cash assistance, food stamps, and other key programs. During a time when the federal government is attacking poor immigrants and families, California s commitment to maintaining and streamlining these programs is more critical than ever. Shore up early care and education Research resoundingly supports the positive effects of early education. We believe the approach to early education should be holistic in nature and address health, emotional and social development, and parent engagement. Most importantly, we urge the Governor to ensure that communitybased non-profit organizations are service providers of universal preschool. As with the federally funded program Head Start/Early Head Start, as well as CA State Preschool programs, community-based non-profits play a critical role in providing effective, culturally and linguistically appropriate services for communities especially AANHPI communities. Implementation of Early Care and Education programs should not just be left to schools, districts, and public institutions- it must be integrated into the work of trusted non-profits who have demonstrated a track record in this space. Research resoundingly supports the positive effects of early education. We believe the approach to early education should be holistic in nature and address health, emotional and social development, and parent engagement. Most importantly, we urge the Governor to ensure that communitybased non-profit organizations are service providers of universal preschool. As with the federally funded program Head Start/Early Head Start, as well as CA State Preschool programs, community-based non-profits play a critical role in providing effective, culturally and linguistically appropriate services for communities especially AANHPI communities. Implementation of Early Care and Education programs should not just be left to schools, districts, and public institutions- it must be integrated into the work of trusted nonprofits who have demonstrated a track record in this space. We recommend that California: Integrate and fund a holistic and comprehensive approach to Early Care and Integration Ensure that community-based non-profits are eligible to provide universal preschool services Fund programs for pregnant women and 0-3 year old children Require a minimum of 50% of First 5 funds to be used for direct services for low income (LMI) based on Area Median Income (AMI) Allow CBO's to use Early Education funds for site acquisition Support energy assistance and conservation programs for lowincome families The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps keep families safe and healthy through initiatives that assist low-income households with meeting their energy costs. Specifically, LIHEAP funds mitigate and reduce the risk of health and safety problems that arise from unsafe heating and cooling practices by providing funds to assist with home energy bills, energy crises, weatherization, and energy-related minor home repairs. We recommend that California continue to support LIHEAP and other related Energy Conservation programs by: Increasing its funding by at least 10% annually Reduce if not eliminate cap and trade funds stifling bureaucratic red tape through streamlined and uniform policy guidelines and procedures across energy efficiency and weatherization programs Identify funding to support Cap and Trade for Weatherization and Solar PV projects, including funding to retrofit or replace roofing as many qualified low-income households in the identified disadvantaged communities (DACs) and low-income communities that are eligible for solar panel installation are unable to benefit from the program due to inadequate roofing 11

12 Allocate funds to be utilized for renters in affordable housing projects for infrastructure upgrades such as master metering or virtual net metering, solar programs and roof rehabilitation, among others Mandate the streamlining and leveraging of the different Energy Programs including Federal, State, and Utility Company programs by developing uniform guidelines as well as creating a universal data bank of eligible households for all programs Sustain community development block grants (CDBG) and business development California is home to the largest number and fastest growing small businesses. Technical assistance centers throughout the state provide important resources and services for entrepreneurs and small business owners such as training, technical assistance and access to capital. These community-based technical assistance centers are especially important for traditionally underserved groups such as minorities, women, and veterans who would otherwise have difficulties accessing capital and other business-related supports through traditional lenders. We recommend that the state of California continue or increase support for California Organized Investment Network(COIN); continue or increase support for CalCAP Loan Loss Reserve; and continue or increase support for GO-Biz Technical Assistance Program. Access to Health Care As noted above, AANHPIs have rich and diverse cultures and languages but our health needs are often invisible to our health system. These needs are often masked by the use of aggregated data rather than revealing the disparities among the dozens of subpopulations included under the broad term of Asian Americans. There is a need to require the collection and reporting of disaggregated AANHPI data to identify differences and health disparities among our communities. For example, there is a wide range of differences among our communities, i.e., within the Korean population, 48% speak English less than very well, while within the Indian population, 23% speak English less than very well. Before health care reform, there were also differences in our uninsured rates, with some groups, such as Koreans at 27% while the overall AANHPI average was 14%. With regard to medical conditions, breast cancer was the 3rd highest cause of cancer-related death for Filipinos but 5th for Chinese, Taiwanese and Japanese Americans. Diabetes disproportionately affects NHPI communities, and is the third leading cause of death among Chamorro and Samoans. When AANHPI data is aggregated, we are unable to recognize these differences to properly target education, interventions and policies. Our health care work seeks to create a more equitable, accessible health care system for the Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities throughout California and the U.S. through outreach, education, enrollment, and advocacy. We mobilize our communities to advocate for their rights, lift their voices, and share their stories, so that we can build a more equitable and inclusive health system where all communities can thrive and live healthy lives. Support universal coverage and health for all regardless of status Our organizations are committed to ensuring that California has universal coverage for all state residents, as well as improving quality, affordability, and equity in our statewide health system. We also prioritize health access for all immigrants who call California home, regardless of immigration status. We urge the Governor to support fullscope Medi-Cal for eligible low-income undocumented adults and seniors. We also urge the Governor to support full funding of all federal, state and local health and public benefit programs, including adequate funding in the state budget to expand full scope Medi-Cal for all California residents, regardless of immigration status. 12

13 We also recommend the Governor s support of any efforts towards an effective universal health care system for the state to provide health care coverage and care to all state residents. Increase cultural and linguistic competency of our healthcare system The health needs of AANHPI communities are often invisible to our health system. In California, over onethird of Asian Americans statewide speak English less than very well and could be considered limited English proficient (LEP). Miscommunication in health and health care not only leads to disparities but also can cause serious harm or even death. It also has an economic impact; in a 2015 analysis, it was found that health communication errors cost the U.S. health care system $1.7 billion and nearly 2,000 lives. We strongly urge the Governor: 1) to support efforts to increase health access for immigrants and LEP individuals through monitoring access to federal, state and local health coverage programs and services, 2) to enforce existing federal and state language access requirements, and 3) to strengthen language access requirements across all health and health care delivery systems, such as requiring the California Dept. of Health Care Services to conform with the language access requirements imposed on Medi-Cal managed care plans. Protect the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) Congress has attempted to repeal the ACA (or Obamacare) over 70 times since its passage and the Trump Administration has issued administrative policies to greatly weaken the ACA. However, the ACA has been very successful in reducing the uninsured rate in our communities and increasing access to needed health care coverage and services over the last several years. It has cut the uninsured rate in the AANHPI communities by 59% nationwide, the largest reduction of any racial group. We strongly recommend that the Governor fight any attempts by Congress and the federal administration to repeal, replace and/or weaken the ACA and our current health care and safety net programs, including Covered California, California s state marketplace, Medi-Cal and Medicare. We would also like to work with state agencies to monitor access to health coverage and services by AANHPI communities, especially immigrants and LEP individuals. Protect and expand access to oral and behavioral health programs Many community members need to better understand the strong link between oral and behavioral health with physical health and the importance of integrating the mind, mouth and body into overall health and well-being. We recommend that the Governor support efforts to transform the diverse AANHPI communities perception of oral and behavioral health and strengthen the value of both through community education campaigns. We must work together to promote access to quality, affordable, and culturally and linguistically appropriate oral health services and to reduce the stigma associated with behavioral health by using outreach, education and enrollment into federal, state, and local health coverage programs and monitoring access barriers. Defend against punitive federal proposals The Trump administration has issued multiple executive orders and policies targeting immigrants and discouraging their entry or participation in U.S. society since it first took office in In October 2018, the administration issued a calculated, cruel and dangerous proposal designed to frighten immigrant families, and designed to attack and dismantle our nation s longstanding immigration system. The proposed changes to current public charge determinations is an attack on our family-based immigration system through backdoor methods. It redefines and expands the public charge test drastically by changing the way immigration officials will assess if a person is likely to be considered a public charge. We urge the Governor to take appropriate steps to stop the proposed changes to public charge determinations, including the government s ability to reject applications for lawful permanent residency by punishing immigrants seeking vital health, nutrition, housing, and other supportive services. 13