Press Release

JOINT RELEASE: The AAPI Legislative Caucus Announces New Leadership for the 2023-2024 Legislative Sessions

AAPILC

SACRAMENTO, CA — The California Asian American & Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus (AAPILC) elected Assemblymember Evan Low (D-Silicon Valley) as Chair, Assemblymember Mike Fong (D-Alhambra) as Assembly Vice-Chair, and Senator Dave Min (D-Irvine) as Senate Vice-Chair. The new leadership will transition on December 5, 2022.

“I wish to congratulate Assemblymember Evan Low on being elected the next Chair of the AAPI Legislative Caucus. He is a strong voice for the AAPI community who is an ardent advocate and will be a strong leader for our caucus. I also congratulate Assemblymember Mike Fong and Senator Dave Min on their elections as Vice-Chairs,” said Dr. Richard Pan, outgoing Chair of the AAPI Legislative Caucus. “I have been honored to serve as Chair of the AAPI Legislative Caucus during both a challenging time for the AAPI community with COVID and rising anti-Asian hate. It was also a time of accomplishment for the AAPILC, where we secured a historic $166.5 million equity budget in 2021 followed by additional funding in the 2022 budget for priorities including educational resources on AAPI history; passage of caucus priority bills to address anti-Asian hate and an ethnic studies requirement for high school graduation; and key appointments of caucus members Rob Bonta to California Attorney General, David Chiu to San Francisco City Attorney, and Ed Chau to the judicial bench as well as new AAPI appointees to the UC Regents, CSU Board of Trustees and other state appointments. Our new caucus officers played a leadership role in these accomplishments and will build on them as they assume leadership.”

Assemblymember Low joined the Assembly in 2014 and has since been influential in the Legislature. Just this past year, he served as the AAPI Legislative Caucus Vice-Chair and was the Chair of the LGBTQ+ Legislative Caucus.  He has previously helped pass legislation that made ethnic studies a high school requirement and pioneered bills that improved health care access to the AAPI community. 

“It is my honor to serve as the Chair for the Asian American Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus. Since being in office I have been a staunch advocate for AAPI’s. During unprecedented of anti-Asian hate, I participated in dozens of panels and discussions, led several rallies, and even used personal funds to spread awareness of how our community can fight Asian hate.” said Assemblymember Low, the incoming Chair of the AAPI Legislative Caucus. “As the new Chair for the AAPILC, I will remain dedicated to serving and advocating for the needs of the community. I am the proud author of AB 2596 which was signed by Governor Newsom making Lunar New Year a state holiday in California - the first state to recognize Lunar New Year as a holiday in the nation. We will continue to strive for accomplishments such as this one by collaborating with the community to ensure our challenges are addressed and our voice is heard. The best is yet to come.”

Serving alongside Assemblymember Low are Assemblymember Mike Fong and Senator Dave Min.

Assemblymember Fong is the 4th Asian American to represent the 49th Assembly District who will bring his passion for increasing access to quality educational opportunities and expanding workforce education and training programs. Senator Min previously served as the AAPI Legislative Caucus’s Parliamentarian and is known for being the first Senator to call for off-shore drilling and co-authoring a bill that resulted in an added $2.1 billion to California small business COVID-19 relief grant.

“I am honored to be a Vice Chair of the AAPI Legislative Caucus and thank my colleagues for placing their trust in me.  I hope with the leadership of incoming Chair Evan Low, Assembly Vice Chair Mike Fong, and myself, we can continue to build on the achievements we have made to ensure AAPI communities throughout the state are heard and provided with a voice in state government. The Caucus is a vital resource for AAPI communities throughout our great State of California and I know we will work closely together to represent their needs. I look forward to the years ahead,” said Senator Min, incoming Senate Vice Chair of the AAPI Legislative Caucus.

“Thank you so much to my colleagues for placing their trust in me to be a Vice Chair of the AAPI Legislative Caucus.  With incoming Chair Evan Low, Senate Vice Chair Dave Min, and myself, we look forward to building on the progress and achievements we have made to ensure that AAPI communities throughout California are heard and have a voice at the table in our state government.   As a Caucus, I know we will work closely together in embracing their hopes and aspirations for a better tomorrow.,” said Assemblymember Fong, incoming Assembly Vice Chair of the AAPI Legislative Caucus.

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The California Asian American & Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus represents and advocates for the interests of the diverse AAPI communities throughout California. It seeks to increase AAPI participation and representation in all levels of government.

Website of the California AAPI Legislative Caucus: https://aapilegcaucus.legislature.ca.gov