.png){kind=small}
Our Policy Objectives
This year APIC SPS believes that the following policy agendas will be integral to improving the lives of API communities in Washington State:
Maintain funding for LEP Pathways
The Limited English Proficient (LEP) Pathways’ primary goal is to promote economic self-sufficiency for refugees and immigrants through job training, English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, work support, and social services. By maintaining funding for the LEP Pathways program we can better support low-income and limited English speaking immigrants.
Maintain funding for Naturalization Services
Naturalization services help refugees and immigrants, predominantly those who are disabled and elderly, attain citizenship through assistance in completing the USCIS N-400 naturalization application and fee waiver requests, classes in American history and civics, and interview preparation. By maintaining funding for Naturalization services we can better serve immigrants and refugees in our state.
Ensuring and maintaining COFA healthcare and dental coverage
The Washington State COFA medical program provides essential health and dental care to COFA citizens who have been excluded from accessing federal health benefits. While Congress has recently passed legislation to restore Medicaid eligibility for COFA migrants, Washington State must ensure that coverage is provided till culturally and linguistically implementation is complete.
Providing relief to Washington’s undocumented workers
Undocumented Washingtonians who have been excluded from existing unemployment benefits and federal stimulus packages have been hit especially hard during the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether through a temporary emergency program that expands unemployment eligibility or more expansive funding through the Washington Immigrant Relief fund, all workers deserve relief regardless of immigration status.
Enacting a Recovery Rebate, an updated version of the Working Families Tax Credit
A Recovery Rebate would put cash back into the pockets of people with low incomes, including immigrant workers who have unjustly been excluded from other federal tax benefits. A cash stimulus targeted to households with low incomes would also ensure benefits are directed to those households most harmed by Washington’s regressive tax code.
APIC SPS Policy Priorities
Learn about APIC's stance on immigration reform, healthcare, and education reform.
Pew Research: When surveying small populations, some approaches are more inclusive than others
Survey researchers increasingly recognize that a single survey of the general public can rarely represent the views of small groups of Americans. Such surveys frequently have too few interviews with certain populations – such as smaller religious or racial or ethnic groups – for those voices to be heard.
Pew Research: The Asian American Experience
In the fall of 2021, Pew Research Center undertook the largest focus group study it had ever conducted to hear Asian Americans talk about their lived experiences in America.
Redistricting Updates
In 2021, we joined a coalition of Redistricting Justice for Washington, where we work collectively to ensure that tribal boundaries and communities of color are represented in our new district lines. New district lines have been drawn. Some legislative districts may have changed and your representatives/senators may have changed along with them To check who represents you in 2022, find your district here.
RJWA April Update: The Coalition has decided to end their VRA lawsuit, read more about why this decision was made here
For additional information, check out Redistricting Justice for Washington (RJW).