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The National Asian Pacific American Caucus of State Legislators (NAPACSL) is comprised of 208 state legislators from 37 states across the country and is a collective effort to bring in Asian American and Pacific Islander perspectives on policies that affect their communities, including economic development, educational equity and culturally competent services such as health care.

NAPACSL Goals

  • To serve as a national network to facilitate the discussion, dissemination, and exchange of ideas and information among Asian American and Pacific Islander state legislators and their staffs.

  • To improve the effectiveness of Asian American and Pacific Islander state legislators to positively affect the quality of life for the Asian American and Pacific Islander community.

  • To inform and educate other elected officials, government officials, and the public regarding topics and issues of common cause to the Asian American and Pacific Islander community, including, but not limited to, health care, language access, labor, education, economic development, immigration and trade.

  • To educate Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders regarding the availability of appointed and elected offices at all levels of government and to advocate for the hiring and promotion of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to positions of influence in the private sector.

  • To increase the active participation of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the political and electoral process through voter education and registration and/or educational seminars in local jurisdictions about the functioning of government.

  • To educate and develop a support infrastructure with other caucuses, other levels of government departments and agencies, businesses and industries, school boards, labor and civil organizations, and other interested stakeholders.
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NAPACSL Leadership

NAPACSL is led by an Executive Committee, made up of five state legislators, and a Steering Committee, comprised of the Executive Committee and co-chairs of each of the three standing policy committees.

Executive Committee Members

  • Chair: Delegate Kriselda Valderrama, Maryland
  • Chair-Elect: Senator Raj Mukherji, New Jersey
  • Vice Chair: Senator Troy Hashimoto, Hawaii
  • Secretary: Senator Scott Kawasaki, Alaska
  • Treasurer: Representative My-Linh Thai, Washington
  • Past-Chair: Representative Kyle Yamashita, Hawaii

Policy Committees

Economic Development and Trade Committee

  • Co-Chair: Representative Liz Lee, Minnesota
  • Co-Chair: Representative Andrew Takuya Garrett, Hawaii

Education Committee

  • Co-Chair: Assemblymember Erica Mosca, Nevada
  • Co-Chair: Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos, Washington

Health, Human Services and Housing Committee

  • Co-Chair: Assemblymember Duy Nguyen, Nevada
  • Co-Chair: Senator Joy San Buenaventura, Hawaii

Special Committee on Anti-Asian Bias and Xenophobia

  • Co-Chair: Representative Fue Lee, Minnesota
  • Co-Chair: Representative Sharon Tomiko Santos, Washington

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