Last week U.S. Senator Charles Schumer and Assemblymember Grace Lee hosted community leaders and organizations at the Lee Family Association, a historic organization in Chinatown. They discussed the needs of Asian Americans in New York, access to federal resources and services and the federal policy issues presently confronting the community, including the threat of devastating Medicaid cuts and the administration’s tariff policies and trade war. Senator Schumer and Assemblymember Lee are committed to ensuring Asian-American communities have access to the services, processes and vital resources they need to thrive.

Senator Schumer and Assemblymember Lee were joined by Congressman Dan Goldman, Senator Brian Kavanagh, and Council Member Christopher Marte. They were also joined by organizations like the Chinatown Partnership, Asian Americans for Equality (AAFE), and Charles Wang Community Health Center; tenant organizations like Smith Houses Resident Association and Chung Pak; cultural and mutual aid groups like Welcome to Chinatown and Empowerment of Asian Americans; community leaders including District Leader Virginia Lee, Justin Yu, District Leader of Chinatown East Neighborhood Council, and Sonny Lee of the Lee Family Association; and small businesses including Small Business Services AAPI Task Force, New Kam Man and Yaya’s Tea Garden. Many more organizations, groups, community leaders and small businesses not listed were present for the discussion.

“It was great to meet with Assemblymember Grace Lee, along with so many key community leaders, community-based organizations and advocacy groups in Chinatown again to discuss our shared priorities and issues impacting Asian-American New Yorkers, including combatting anti-Asian hate, protecting immigrants and the administration’s policies that are harmful to our communities, including devastating cuts to Medicaid and tariff policies that will hurt small businesses and consumers,” said U.S. Senator Charles Schumer. “I am proud to represent the vibrant and strong Asian-American community in New York and to work with Assemblymember Lee to do everything we can to deliver and fight for our constituents.”

“From their aggressive tariffs on Chinese imports, to their scapegoating of our communities, President Trump and the Republican party’s policies are an assault on Asian Americans,” said Assemblymember Grace Lee, Chair of the Assembly Asian Pacific American Task Force. “I am grateful to Senator Schumer for coming to Chinatown to talk to community members and business owners about how we can fight for our Asian American community and defend against the Trump and Republican agenda.”

Senator Schumer has long supported the Asian-American community, including leading the anti-Asian Hate Crimes Act to passage, in partnership with Rep. Grace Meng. Additionally, Senator Schumer has named numerous Asian-American legal professionals to the federal bench, including Pamela Chen, Denny Chin, Kiyo Matsumoto, Lorna Tiangco Schofield, Meredith Vacca and Dale Ho. Senator Schumer has successfully pushed to establish a commission on the creation of the first national museum dedicated to Asian-American history and culture, and has appointed two New Yorkers, Joanne Kwong and Kevin Kim, as commissioners. Senator Schumer has championed immigration reform, and he supported keeping the Specialized High School Admissions Test (SHSAT) as a prime factor in determining admission to New York City’s specialized high schools, like Stuyvesant, Bronx Science and Brooklyn Tech. Schumer has also led several bipartisan CODEL trips to China.

Additionally, Assemblymember Lee is the first Korean-American woman to serve in the state legislature and serves as the Chair of the Assembly’s Asian Pacific American (APA) Task Force. Assemblymember Lee has led historic victories for the AAPI community; she spearheaded the bill to make Lunar New Year a statewide school holiday, strengthened New York’s hate crimes laws and has won record funding in the state budget for nonprofits serving Asian New Yorkers. She is leading legislation to mandate a statewide AAPI history curriculum.

“It is a terrific honor to represent New York’s historic Chinatown, and I’m determined to ensure that the long-underserved community receives the opportunities it deserves," said Congressman Dan Goldman. "As Trump’s harmful trade war continues to threaten small businesses in Chinatown that rely on goods imported from China, I remain committed to being a voice for them in Washington. We will not let Donald Trump crush our immigrant communities in order to help his billionaire buddies."

“The policies and budget cuts Donald Trump and Washington Republicans are pushing will have a devastating impact on the Asian American community, and particularly on Chinatown,” said Senator Brian Kavanagh, who represents Chinatown. “They seek to deny New York our fair share of federal funding, slash access to affordable healthcare, housing, and other essential resources, and fuel economic insecurity, and emboldening racism and hate. From harmful cuts to vital social programs to the dangerous rhetoric that has put Asian families at risk, these actions threaten the safety and opportunity of Asian Americans in Chinatown and across the country. We must stand united to reject these divisive policies and fight for equity, justice, and economic dignity for all.”