Coalition of Asian & Pacific Islander Leaders in the Commonwealth Against Senate...


by Laura Pho, Chair of Asian Americans Impacting Virginia (AAIV), is a nonprofit seeking to uplift and support API communities through outreach and education and supporting APIs running for elected office

Members of the Virginia Asian Advisory Board (VAAB) serve as representatives from the Asian & Pacific Islander (API) communities to advise the Governor and his administration on issues that best serve API constituents and the Commonwealth. Therefore, it is our responsibility to address issues that challenge our ability to serve our purpose effectively and inclusively. We are joined by many API leaders in the Commonwealth to express concerns with Senate Bill 206 (SB206/Patron: Senator Chap Petersen), which seeks to create an independent Korean advisory board. There are significant unintended consequences to passing this bill and we urge members of the General Laws and Appropriations Committees to vote no.

SB206 proposes to do for South Korea what the VAAB does for all Asian nations, including South Korea – to improve trade relationships for the Commonwealth with a focus on commerce and trade; art and education; and general government. Creating an independent advisory board for only one specific country, in this case South Korea, is problematic:

It is duplicative. Since its creation, the VAAB has always had Korean representation. Currently, two Koreans from Northern Virginia serve on the VAAB and are actively engaged in the board’s duties and activities. It is inequitable when funding is provided for one advisory board and not for advisory boards with the same or broader responsibilities (e.g., VAAB, Latino Advisory Board, African American Advisory Board, and Council on Women). Moreover, Senator Petersen has filed a budget amendment to fund the Korean advisory board $209,859 annually. It sets a bad precedent. Other ethnic communities, and not just Asian, will also petition for their own advisory boards and request dedicated funding. Denying their requests could result in allegations of discrimination. To accept their requests and create multiple boards would be cumbersome for the current and future administrations to manage. It is preferential , particularly in the eyes of other global trade partners. While South Korea is an important trading partner, it is not the sole or leading source of imported goods, export markets, or foreign investment that directly employs Virginians. It is divisive , especially at a time when the administration is focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion and needs to preserve Virginia’s position as America’s top state for business by fostering good relationships with all of its global trade partners.

We urge you to consider these unintended consequences and vote NO to SB206.

Email Virginia.API.Leaders@gmail.com with any questions. Click here to read more about our concerns.

Signed,