To research former and current officials who helped and are helping break down stereotypes for future generations

To show that Asian American lawmakers are not really ‘invisible’ and have a variety of responsibilities in all levels of government

According to the Asian American Action Fund, the number of elected Asian American officials nationwide in…◦ 1996: about 300◦ 2006: 555 (two U.S. Senators, five U.S.

Representatives, 64 State Senators, 97 State Representatives, three state governors, 19 city mayors, 123 city or county council members or other elected officials and 236 judges)

While a dramatic increase, nationally there are currently only 7 A/PIA members of Congress out of 535 (just more than 1%)

What Qualifies as ‘Asian American’◦ An individual of Asian, South Asian, Pacific

Islander, or Indian descent◦ In this case, either one who was born in America

OR◦ Someone born in another country but now a

United States citizen

Numerical Arrangement based on:◦ Impact on A/PIA communities in

district/jurisdiction◦ Breaking through ‘glass ceilings’◦ Other notable accomplishments (i.e. legislation)

Born: Fukushima, Japan on November 3rd, 1947

Party: Democrat The second Asian American to be

elected as Lieutenant Governor Unsuccessfully ran for governor but

later won a congressional seat in 2006, becoming the third woman to represent Hawai’i in Congress

Upon election, became the first immigrant woman of Asian descent to serve in the legislative branch

Helped reform key areas, including Pre-Plus, an initiative to build preschools on elementary school campuses◦ Successfully pushed for funds to build

over ten new preschools across Hawai’i

Helped create the Hawai’i Mutual Insurance Company as Lt. Governor, providing workers with private compensation insurance

One of two Buddhists currently serving in Congress

Born: 1937 Party: Republican

Won a seat on the Westminster City Council in California in 1992, becoming the first person of Vietnamese ancestry to hold political office in America

Served for ten years but decided not to run for re-election in 2002

Suffered criticism in 1999 for not joining a protest against a storeowner in Little Saigon who posted Communist imagery in his business

Helped inspire and encourage other Vietnamese Americans and citizens to run for public office◦ Currently, there are ten elected officials in

Orange County, and thirteen campaigned for office in the 2006 and 2008 elections

Born: Hsinchu, Taiwan on April 8th, 1955

Party: Democrat

Family was able to immigrate to America because of quota laws revised by John F. Kennedy through executive orders

First Chinese American and Taiwanese American to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives

Represents the 1st District of Oregon (Yamhill, Columbia, Clatsop, Washington, and a section of Multnomah County), the so-called ‘Silicon Forest’

Served as Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus from January 2001 to January 2004

Currently sits on four committees, including Education and Labor, Science, and Foreign Affairs

Born: Honolulu, Hawai’i on September 7th, 1924

Party: Democrat Served in World War II, during which

he lost his right arm, from 1943 to 1947 ◦ Received the Congressional Medal of Honor

in 2000 for heroism

Active in the Hawaiian Territorial government and was elected a congressman when it became a state

Elected to the U.S. Senate in 1962 Became the first person of Japanese

descent to serve in both houses of Congress

Delivered the keynote address at the chaotic Democratic National Convention in Chicago of1968

Chairman of various key committees in over 40 years of service, including the Select Committee on Intelligence; Indian Affairs; and Commerce, Science and Transportation

Born: Baton Rouge, Louisiana on June 10th, 1971

Party: Republican Appointed Executive Director of the

National Bipartisan Commission on the Future of Medicare in 1998

Served as a senior policy advisor to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, then as a U.S. congressman from Louisiana representing the 1st District

Passed legislation which brought energy revenue back to Louisiana

Elected governor in 2007, becoming the first Indian American to hold that post in U.S. history (first non-white since Reconstruction)

Orchestrated a smooth response to Hurricane Gustav in August 2008, reducing casualties to only sixteen

Born: 1957 Party: Republican

Worked for various business firms, companies, and non-profit organizations prior to public service

Worked at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under George H.W. Bush◦ Tasked with regulating health

maintenance organizations, managing health care policy, and overseeing funds to Medicare and Medicaid

Served on George W. Bush’s transition team, recommending candidates for senior-level appointments

Active member of A/PIA organizations, including the U.S. Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce

Currently the 38th Director of the United States Mint

Born: Seattle, Washington on January 21th, 1950

Party: Democrat

Originally served in the Washington state legislature

First Chinese American governor in United States history (1996-2005)

Governed from the political center, adopting the GOP’s no-new taxes during the 2001 recession

Served two terms, opting not to seek a third◦ Rumored he did not run because of

thousands of threats received as a result of his response to President Bush’s 2003 State of the Union

Recently served as Washington co-chairman of Sen. Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign

Born: Taipei, Republic of China on March 26th, 1953

Party: Republican Nominated by George H.W. Bush to be

Deputy Secretary of Transportation in 1989 Director of the Peace Corps from 1991-1992 Worked for 4 years at United Way of

America as president and CEO

Currently serves as the 24th United States Secretary of Labor under George W. Bush

First Asian American woman to hold a cabinet-level position in American history

Established new worker protection records, along with those recovering back wages for low-income immigrant workers and reformed worker training programs

Born: Kalihi, Hawai’i on October 15th, 1906

Party: Republican

Originally served in the Hawai’i Territorial House of Representatives

Represented Hawai’i in the U.S. Senate when it first became a state in 1959 until 1977 (first Asian American elected to the Upper House)

The only Republican to hold a Senate seat from Hawai’i

First Asian American of either party to seek the presidential nomination (1964 & 1968)◦ Won votes from the Hawaiian and Alaskan

delegations

Died: August 18th, 2007

Born: Chhajulwadi, Punjab Province, India in 1899

Party: Democrat

First Asian American ever elected to the U.S. Congress

Represented the 29th District of California (Riverside & Imperial counties)

Served three terms in the House of Representatives (1956-1962)

Led 11 fellow congressmen to Guadalajara for the first meeting of the Mexico-United States Interparliamentary Group

Died: 1973

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Biography: Congressman David Wu. United States Congress. 3 Dec. 2008 <http://www.house.gov/wu/about.shtml>.

Director's Office. The United States Mint. 3 Dec. 2008 <http://www.usmint.gov/about_the_mint/index.cfm?flash=yes&action=directors_office>.

Governor Bobby Jindal. 2008. Office of the Governor: State of Louisiana. 3 Dec. 2008 <http://www.gov.louisiana.gov/index.cfm?md=pagebuilder&tmp=home&navID=38&cpID=1&catID=0>.

Inouye, Daniel Ken. 3 Dec. 2008 <http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=i000025>.

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Tran, My-Thuan. "Vietnamese Politicians are Coming of Age in Westminster." Los Angeles Times 15 Oct. 2008. 3 Dec. 2008 <http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-vietvote15-2008oct15,0,2414506.story>.