WASHINGTON, DC –The Friends of the National Asian Pacific American Museum (“Friends”) hosted an event on Capitol Hill on June 13, 2023, to celebrate the one-year anniversary of a historic law that established the Commission to Study the Potential Creation of a National Museum of Asian Pacific American History and Culture and launched its Task Force on Asian Pacific American History and Culture. Congresswoman Grace Meng (NY-6), the 24th U.S. Secretary of Labor and the 18th U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao, and Erika Moritsugu, Deputy Assistant to the President and Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AA and NHPI) Senior Liaison at the White House provided remarks.  

“One year ago, President Biden signed my bill into law which began the process to create the first national museum of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander history and culture,” said Congresswoman Grace Meng. “I am so grateful for the progress that has been made and to see us one step closer to the creation of a museum dedicated to our community. I applaud the work of the Friends of the National Asian Pacific American Museum group who is working to raise awareness of this effort and support the creation of a future museum. I am also incredibly grateful for the partnership of the Biden-Harris Administration in their support and partnership in this journey and I look forward to the report the Commissioners will return that will guide our next steps.”

"This legislation and the creation of the Museum Commission is a painstaking, bipartisan resolve in Congress to elevate and honor the narratives, heritage, and significant contributions of over 23 million Asian Pacific Americans — whose histories are integral to America's history," said Handel Lee, Co-Founder of Friends. "We express our profound gratitude to Congresswoman Meng for her foresight, leadership, and unyielding advocacy on this Museum and further initiatives to assure AANHPI representation within our government and our expansive national culture."

“President Biden signed this historic bill ‘to help more AA and NHPIs see themselves in the story of America,’ said Erika Moritsugu, Deputy Assistant to the President and AA and NHPI Senior Liaison at the White House. “This is an important first step in honoring our communities’ legacy and heritage; and what it means to be AA and NHPI in this country. And, importantly, to have a home in our nation’s capital. Congratulations on this huge milestone of launching this very special Task Force: The important work of collecting, and weaving, our unique stories begins now.”

On June 13, 2022, President Biden signed into law a bill (H.R. 3525) authored by Congresswoman Grace Meng. The new law creates a commission to study the establishment of a National Museum of Asian Pacific American History and Culture, the first crucial step toward creating the national museum. The Commission will deliver its recommendation report to Congress, which will consider whether to authorize the creation of a national museum.  

The newly-launched Task Force on Asian Pacific American History and Culture is made up of a group of more than AA and NHPI historians and leaders of organizations, representing various AA and NHPI sub-ethnic populations, who will advise on each of their community’s unique contributions to American history and culture. The Task Force will help gather histories, stories, and chronicles of AA and NHPIs from a ground-up perspective, respecting the uniqueness and diversity of the entire AA and NHPI community. This taskforce will provide curatorial narratives and data that the Commission can use as a resource while they work to draft their report to Congress.  

“We are equally grateful to lawmakers from both sides of the aisle, the White House, and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), as their empathetic support and understanding of the necessity to include diverse voices in our American narrative are essential in the advancement of this legislation,” said Friends COO Ting Xu. “Finally, we applaud the members of the Museum Commission for dedicating their time and expertise to develop a comprehensive report that will provide Congress the necessary background to determine the best path forward for a National Asian Pacific American Museum.”

Members of the Commission to Study the Potential Creation of a National Museum of Asian Pacific American History and Culture:

• Mr. Dennis Cheng
• Mr. Rodney Davis
• Mr. Vince Fong
• Mr. Kevin Kim
• Mr. Joanne Kwong
• Ms. Chiling Tong
• Ms. Tina Wei Smith
• Dr. Jay Xu

Growing list of Friends of the National Asian Pacific American Museum Task Force on Asian Pacific American History and Culture:  

• Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation  
• Cambodian American National Development Organization
• Chinese American Museum in DC
• Chinese American Museum in LA
• Chinese Historical Society of America
• The Committee of 100
• Council of Korean Americans
• Densho
• Empowering Pacific Islander Communities
• Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS)
• Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts (SFCA)
• Indiaspora
• Japanese American Citizens League
• Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles
• Korean American Story
• Laotian American National Alliance
• Museum of Chinese Americans
• National Japanese American Memorial Foundation
• National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC)
• National Organization for Vietnamese American Leadership
• Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation
• OCA National – Asian Pacific American Advocates
• Pacific Island Ethnic Art Museum
• PaPa Ola Lokahi
• The Sikh Coalition
• South Asian American Digital Archive (SAADA)
• Southeast Asian Archive
• Thai American Samakkee Coalition
• United Chinese Americans
• Wing Luke Museum  

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