Asian Wisconzine Section/Heidi M. Pascual
CAPAC Releases ‘Spill the Tea’ Episode on Republican Shutdown
CAPAC Chair Grace Meng and Whip Ami Bera discuss Republican attacks on health care and the impacts of the government shutdown on AANHPI communities.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Recently, the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) released a special episode of “Spill the Tea with Chair Meng” that discusses how Republicans shut down the government because they refuse to address the health care crisis they created.
The sixth episode of Spill the Tea features CAPAC Whip Ami Bera, M.D. (CA-06). During Congressman Bera’s twenty-year medical career, he worked to improve the availability, quality, and affordability of health care. Before being elected, Congressman Bera put his medical expertise to work for his community, serving as Sacramento County’s Chief Medical Officer. In that role, he fought to reduce the cost of health care, create jobs, and deliver care to Sacramento County residents.
In this episode, CAPAC Chair Grace Meng and Congressman Bera discuss Republican attacks on health care, including efforts to gut Medicaid and eliminate Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits that help Americans afford health insurance. These cuts could impact the 4.5 million Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPIs) who receive health care through Medicaid, and the over 1.5 million AANHPIs who receive health care through the ACA. States are projected to see their uninsured populations increase, and insurers are already notifying customers of steep health care premium hikes.
If Republicans do not extend the Affordable Care Act’s premium tax credits, more than 20 million Americans will see their health care premiums skyrocket — pricing many out of coverage entirely. Current estimates show Americans will see their out-of-pocket premiums increase by 114 percent on average. A typical family of four making $125,000 would see their health care costs increase by $7,700 on average. A 60-year-old couple making $80,000 would see their health care costs increase by a whopping $17,500 on average.
It is no surprise that 70 percent of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders oppose President Trump and Congressional Republicans’ tax breaks for billionaires when they come at the expense of Medicaid and the ACA.
The Members of Congress also discussed how Republicans would rather shut down the government than work with Democrats to address the health care crisis. They reiterated their commitment to working in a bipartisan manner to protect health care and reopen government, and how their offices are open to serve impacted constituents.
About the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC):
Founded in 1994, the bicameral Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus is composed of 82 members of Congress who advocate on behalf of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities. The Caucus is led by Congresswoman Grace Meng, who was elected CAPAC Chair in 2024.
OCA Condemns USCIS Rule Limiting Voter Registration at Naturalization Ceremonies
Washington, D.C. — OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates condemns new U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) guidance that bars nonprofit organizations from registering new citizens to vote at naturalization ceremonies.
For decades, civic groups such as OCA local chapters and the League of Women Voters have partnered with USCIS to register eligible new citizens to vote at naturalization ceremonies. This longstanding practice has empowered hundreds of thousands of Americans to begin their civic journey immediately after taking the oath of citizenship.
“Becoming a U.S. citizen is a joyful milestone, the first step to full participation in our democracy,” said Thu Nguyen, Executive Director of OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates. “For many years, OCA volunteers have welcomed new citizens at their ceremonies by helping them take the very next step—registering to vote. That moment matters because it ensures their voices are heard right away.”
Instead of upholding this trusted tradition, where local election officials and longstanding nonpartisan organizations have safeguards to ensure the integrity of voter registration at naturalization ceremonies, USCIS has issued new guidance barring these partners from providing essential support.
“By shutting out OCA and other civic partners, USCIS is making it harder for new citizens to register to vote,” Nguyen added. “Our democracy is stronger when the voices of new Americans are heard. OCA will continue to support immigrant and AAPI communities by registering new citizens, protecting their right to vote, and fighting to ensure they are fully represented at the ballot box.”
OCA urges USCIS to reverse this policy and calls on Congress to protect and expand access to voter registration services for immigrants and all eligible Americans.
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About OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates
Founded in 1973, OCA–Asian Pacific American Advocates is a national, member-driven social justice organization of community advocates dedicated to advancing the social, political, and economic well-being of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPIs). Learn more about our work at ocanational.org/about.
