Heidi Pascual's web site

From APIAVote

Recently, Governor Greg Abbott of Texas signed into law a bill that includes several voting restrictions that will hurt Asian and Pacific Islander voters, as well as other marginalized groups. These laws limit early voting, prohibits drive-thru voting, empowers partisan poll watchers, and restricts who can help voters requiring assistance. With 73% of AAPIs voting early or by-mail in 2020 and 34% having limited English proficiency, these laws target our communities from making their voices heard.

Unfortunately, we are not surprised. Earlier this year, Texas already passed anti-voter laws and they were not alone. According to the Brennan Center for Justice, as of July 2021, at least 18 states have passed 30 anti-voter laws. This number is now higher and the strongest recourse we have to protect our freedom to vote is with Congress. -- CLICK STORY TO READ MORE

By Alexandra Schmitt and Elisa Massimino

The stunning pace of collapse in Afghanistan took many policymakers by surprise. However, no one should be surprised by the impending wave of forced displacement, as desperate Afghans fleeing persecution and violence seek refuge outside their home country. The first priority must be to protect those who are at immediate risk of harm. But the United States should also be preparing to help those who flee the Taliban in the months and years to come. The protection crisis unfolding right now was entirely predictable. The signs were visible months ago. Since the Trump administration signed a deal with the Taliban last year, more than 150 journalists, judges, human rights workers, and other civil society activists have been murdered. In July, the U.N. Refugee Agency warned that 270,000 Afghans had already been displaced this year. -- CLICK STORY TO READ MORE

By Andres Vinelli and Christian E. Weller
Inflation—changes in prices—has repeatedly made headlines in recent months. But several key points are important to keep in mind in this situation. First, inflation has only a limited and temporary effect on people’s wallets. Price spikes are temporary and isolated in a few key areas such as vacation rentals, airline tickets and used cars. Prices for more important items such as health care have been flat or declining. Second, income growth has offset much of the bump in prices. Wages have grown, especially for low-wage workers. Congress also passed President Joe Biden’s American Rescue Plan in March, which provided extra financial help to low-income and middle-income Americans with relief checks expanded and prepaid child tax credits and expanded unemployment insurance benefits.. -- CLICK STORY TO READ MORE

From CAPAC

Sep 14, 2021, Washington, D.C. — Members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) sent a letter today to the Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship calling for a swift confirmation of Dilawar Syed, President Biden’s nominee to serve as Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration. But since June 16, three different attempts to consider Mr. Syed’s nomination have been blocked by individual Senators who have targeted Mr. Syed for his faith, holding up his vote based on false accusations and anti-Muslim sentiment.

“Targeting nominees like Mr. Syed for their faith, ethnicity, or place of birth, furthers the perpetual foreigner stereotype to which AAPIs are constantly subjected,” said the CAPAC members in the letter. -- CLICK STORY TO READ MORE

From NCAPA

1) National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA) National Asian American Leaders Call For Swift Humanitarian Action In Afghanistan, Passage of Emergency Funding Request By Congress —

In response to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan and the conditions of Afghans waiting for relocation, the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA) released the following statement: “As the current humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan continues, NCAPA calls upon the United States government to do all in its power to protect Afghans fleeing persecution. We believe particular attention should be given to Afghans who are vulnerable to persecution, such as women and children, members of the LGBTQ+ community, religious minorities, and other at-risk families and individuals. -- CLICK STORY TO READ MORE​

By Eugenio Weigend Vargas and Jeri Bonavia
In November 2011, a new law went into effect in Wisconsin that dramatically changed the state’s approach to public carry of firearms. For the first time, individuals in Wisconsin were allowed to carry concealed firearms in their community after obtaining a concealed carry weapons (CCW) permit from the Wisconsin Department of Justice. The law established relatively minimal eligibility requirements for a permit: Applicants must be a state resident be at least 21 years old not be prohibited from gun possession under federal and state law and fulfill minimal training requirements, such as presenting a hunter education certificate or a current or an expired CCW license from another state. Permits are valid for five years and can be renewed without completing any additional training. Also, the law does not provide the state Department of Justice with any discretion in determining whether to issue a CCW permit: If an individual meets the minimum statutory eligibility requirements, the agency must issue the permit. ​-- CLICK STORY TO READ MORE