PHILADELPHIA, July 10, 2024 — Acting U.S. Labor Secretary Julie Su kicked off the Asian-Americans for Biden campaign with a breakfast event at The Breakfast Den, located at 1500 South St. The event, held on Wednesday morning, brought together key community leaders, including Philadelphia City Councilwoman Nina Ahmad and Nikki Lu, Biden for Pennsylvania Campaign Manager.
Julie Su began her speech by sharing her personal journey as the daughter of immigrants. She recounted her experience growing up in a household where she served as a translator for her parents, which instilled in her an early understanding of the power of language and inclusion. “I learned really early on the power of language, the power of translation, the power of inclusion,” Su said. This personal history drove her to pursue a career in law, aiming to be a translator in the language of law for marginalized, discriminated, and exploited communities.
Su highlighted several key areas where the Biden administration has made significant strides that directly impact the AAPI community:
- Good Jobs: Su emphasized the administration’s focus on creating good jobs, noting her own family’s transformative experience when her mother secured a union job that provided health benefits, retirement, and predictable hours. “Good jobs are fundamental to this president’s agenda,” she stated.
- Small Business Support: The administration has prioritized small business investment, providing more capital and access to resources than ever before. Su highlighted the importance of small businesses in the AAPI community, calling them the “lifeblood of their communities.”
- Healthcare: Su pointed to significant healthcare achievements, such as capping insulin costs at $35 per month, benefiting over 2 million AAPI elders. “The things that [President Biden] is doing are directly affecting the health and wellbeing of our community,” she noted.
- Language Access: The administration has expanded language access across government services, addressing a critical need in the AAPI community. “This President has made more languages available across all of our services than at any time in history,” Su said, stressing the importance of being seen, heard, and represented.
Addressing Anti-Asian Hate
Su condemned the rise in anti-Asian hate crimes during the previous administration, recalling the fear her elderly parents felt during the height of the pandemic. She criticized the previous president for using racially charged language that incited violence against the AAPI community. “Leadership matters, and President Biden understands this,” she said. Su highlighted the COVID-19 Anti-Hate Crimes Bill signed by President Biden as one of the administration’s key actions to combat this issue.
Call to Action
Both Su and other speakers, including Councilwoman Nina Ahmad ,Pennsylvania Biden-Harris Campaign Manager Nikki Lu and Montgomery County Commissioner Neil Makhija, Vice Chair emphasized the critical role of the AAPI community in the upcoming election. Su passionately declared, “You all right here in Pennsylvania are the margin of victory in this election.” She urged the attendees to mobilize, engage with their communities, and ensure high voter turnout.
Su’s speech highlighted the significant progress made under the Biden administration and the crucial need to continue this momentum. The launch of Asian-Americans for Biden in Philadelphia marks a significant step in galvanizing AAPI voters for the upcoming election, aiming to build a more inclusive and representative democracy.
