PRESS RELEASE
AAPCHO Applauds Announcement of Biden-Harris Health Team
December 7, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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WASHINGTON – The Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO) today released the following statement regarding President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris’ selection of senior members for their health team.
Jeffrey B. Caballero, AAPCHO’s executive director, applauded the announcement, saying:
“President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris have selected an impressive team of medical experts and policymakers to lead our nation’s health public health system. Our nation faces concurrent public health crises, from the COVID-19 pandemic to institutional racism to inequitable access to quality and affordable health care. The President-elect’s selection of Xavier Becerra as HHS Secretary, Vivek Murthy as Surgeon General, and other renowned experts to his health team reflects his commitment to health care as a human right and the need to build on the Affordable Care Act for every person in America.
“Over the past four years, immigrants and their families—many of whom are Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders—have been fearful of seeking the care they need, which could lead to worse health outcomes. We are confident the health team announced today demonstrates the President-elect’s commitment to safeguarding the dignity of immigrants and other underserved families, and implementing policies that promote the strength in our country’s diversity.
“Furthermore, AAPCHO is proud of the President-elect’s selection of Dr. Murthy to return as Surgeon General. Dr. Murthy is a leading expert in the fight against the coronavirus and a life-long champion for expanding access to care, especially for low-income and underserved communities.
“AAPCHO and our member community health centers support the upcoming team of medical experts and policymakers. We look forward to the President-elect formally nominating them in January, and we encourage the Senate to swiftly confirm them.”
About AAPCHO
AAPCHO is a national association of community health organizations dedicated to promoting advocacy, collaboration and leadership that improves the health status and access of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders in the United States. For more information on AAPCHO, please visit www.aapcho.org.
Contact
Kristine Cecile Alarcon, MPH, (510) 671-5054, kalarcon@aapcho.org