Content created by Office for Civil Rights (OCR)
President Biden's Executive Order (EO) 14031 establishes the President's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (Commission) and the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (WHIAANHPI) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Both entities are co-chaired by HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra and the U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Katherine Tai. Together, the Commission and Initiative collaborate with the Deputy Assistant to the President and Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Senior Liaison to advance equity, justice, and opportunity for AA and NHPI communities across the United States.
President's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders
The Commission consists of 25 leaders appointed by the President who reflect the rich diversity of AA and NHPI communities throughout the United States. The Commission advises the President on ways the public, private, and non-profit sectors can work together to advance equity, justice, and opportunity for AA and NHPI communities.
White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders
Executive Order 14031 delivers on President Biden's commitment to reinstate and reinvigorate the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. To ensure that the federal government is mitigating COVID-19 related anti-Asian bias, advancing health equity, and ensuring AA and NHPI communities equitably recover from the pandemic, the Initiative is now housed within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, where it was first created under the Clinton Administration.
Interagency Working Group
The Interagency Working Group (IWG) is composed of senior-level Executive Branch officials who have been designated by their respective agencies to coordinate the Initiative's work across the federal government. The IWG is tasked with creating and implementing agency plans to increase participation in and access to federal grants, programs, and initiatives in which AA and NHPI communities may be underserved.
Regional Network
The Regional Network (RN) includes over 300 members in the 10 federal regions, representing dozens of federal agencies. The RN seeks to build relationships between the federal government and AA and NHPI communities by coordinating outreach efforts and connecting community stakeholders with federal resources.