Together, Advancing Justice has been working to eliminate the barriers that have historically resulted in the undercounting and underreporting of AANHPIs in federal data collection and analysis efforts, particularly in the decennial census count. Advancing Justice has conducted extremely successful national, state, and local outreach and educational projects focused on the AANHPI communities for Census 2000, Census 2010, and Census 2020. Advancing Justice considers a fair and accurate census and comprehensive ACS among the most significant civil rights issues facing the country today.

Advancing Justice | AAJC appreciates that the Census Bureau recognizes the importance of producing disaggregated, detailed data for the 2020 Census because this data are critical to our diverse community. Given that the Bureau considered not producing such data due to privacy disclosure concerns, we applaud the Bureau’s decision to take an innovative approach to ensure it could indeed produce detailed data under the new Disclosure Avoidance System (DAS). However, there are also areas of concerns that we would like to bring to your attention.

We provide the following feedback in response to the Federal Register Notice seeking comments on the collection of state/local administrative records and third-party data to improve efficiency and accuracy in the Census Bureau’s data collections, and to improve measures of the population and economy. We believe the potential use of administrative records and third-party data presents opportunities and concerns, requiring careful data quality evaluations, privacy assessments, and further research

Advancing Justice | AAJC considers a fair and accurate census and comprehensive American Community Survey among the most significant civil rights issues facing the country today. Our wide-ranging efforts to promote civic engagement, forge strong and safe communities, and create an inclusive society are guided significantly by objective, inclusive data on America’s diverse communities and populations. We appreciate the importance of fact-based analyses and the need for disaggregated, detailed data on our community to identify disparate access and outcomes and devise effective solutions.

On July 8, 2024, Speaker Johnson gave a speech at the Hudson Institute, previewing that his goal is for Congress to send the White House a significant package of China-related legislation by the end of the year; since then, congressional leaders and the media alike anticipated this series of votes to take place in September during this so-called “China week.” While we do not object to allotting time on the congressional calendar to bundle pressing national security concerns posed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), we caution against framing such a time as ‘China week.”

On behalf of the undersigned civil and human rights organizations, we write to urge the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate the allegations of law enforcement abuses—in response to peaceful protests occurring in cities and on university campuses across the country—that may be in violation of federal laws. We likewise urge the Department of Education (ED) to take immediate action to address possible civil rights violations committed by university officials in connection with peaceful protests on campuses.

Via electronic submission

February 28, 2024

President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 

Section 702 grants intelligence agencies broad authority to collect the communications of foreigners abroad who use U.S. communications platforms. But as currently written and interpreted, it enables unfettered, warrantless, and discriminatory surveillance that encroaches on the privacy of everyday Americans in the U.S. and abroad.

Section 702 and related surveillance authorities have been misused to spy on Americans, including but not limited to protesters, journalists, campaign donors, and members of Congress. The consequences of such misuse have had a profound impact on our Asian American community, resulting in wrongful targeting, unjust surveillance, and devastating tolls on careers, livelihoods, and reputations.

Our rapidly shifting digital age is presently and will continue to impact our communities’ ability to thrive economically, socially, and politically. That is why the appointments in the telecommunications and technology sectors are more critical than ever. We were thrilled to see the United States Senate confirm Anna Gomez to serve as Commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) because of her experience in this sector and her commitment to diversity and inclusion.