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Talking Points on an Amendment to Fund State Outreach to the Commonwealth’s Asian American Communities

We are members of  _____ from ______ attending the Asian American community’s Legislative and State Briefing Forum at the State Library.

We would like to bring your attention to Delegate Spruill’s, Senator Janet Howell’s and Patsy Ticer’s budget amendments to fund state outreach activities to the Commonwealth’s Asian and Pacific American Communities.

The Asian American community is a vital contributor to Virginia’s economy and is the model of strong family values

Today there are 310,000 Asian Americans living in Virginia, comprising 4.2 percent of our population. The Commonwealth’s APA population doubled between 1990 and 2003.  The 22,500 Asian American businesses generate over $4.4 billion of revenues and create over 47,000 jobs. 

Yet, many Asian and Pacific American families need state assistance.  Four instance:

• What many may not know is 14% of APA families live in poverty;

• Many APAs need language assistance to access State services;

• APAs have high health risks;

• And 33% of foreign-born Asian Americans do not have health coverage.

Last Year, General Assembly passed House Joint Resolution 71 identifying problems facing limited English populations in the Commonwealth and urged State action. 

The Virginia Asian Advisory Board found the state knows little about the Commonwealth’s Asian American populations.

Maryland, Montgomery County and Washington, D.C have established outreach offices to provide information to Asian American communities about government services.

Delegate Spruill’s request for $200,000 and Senator Ticer’s and Howell’s budget request for $250,000 are to fund outreach activities to the APA community.  Funds would provide for a small outreach staff, educational forums, language assistance, data and information collation, and for the Virginia Asian Advisory Board’s outreach efforts.

We think Delegate Spruill’s and Senator Ticer’s and Howell’s outreach amendments will have a significant impact on helping our communities.

The resources the Assembly invests today to help Asian American communities gain access to State services will strengthen the contribution that the Asian American Community will make to the Commonwealth’s economy and help our families. 

Thank you for allowing me to meet with you.