Letter of Support from AAPI Leaders for Julie Su

The Honorable Bernie Sanders 

Chairman 

U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education & Labor 

Washington, D.C. 

The Honorable Bill Cassidy 

Ranking Member 

U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education & Labor 

Washington, D.C. 

April 19, 2023

Dear Chairman Sanders and Ranking Member Cassidy, 

We write to you on behalf of the Asian American Pacific Islander small business and entrepreneurial community to express our support for Deputy Secretary Julie Su’s nomination to serve as the next Secretary of Labor. Su is the daughter of Chinese immigrants and small business owners, and is now being considered to serve in the President’s Cabinet. She’s a living example of the American Dream which so many who immigrate to this country strive for, for themselves and their children, offering her a perspective that is necessary to address workforce challenges and lead on labor policies. 

For the last two and a half years, Deputy Secretary Su has led the Department of Labor alongside Secretary Walsh and possesses the skills, experience and expertise necessary to continue the important work started under Secretary Walsh’s tenure. In this time, she has overseen seismic shifts in US labor, stemming from a global pandemic and ongoing impacts of the pandemic. 

If confirmed, she would be the first person of AAPI descent to serve as a Cabinet Secretary in the Biden Administration. AAPIs represent one of the fastest growing demographics in the country, accounting for 7.4% of the U.S. population, and 39% of all people who become lawful residents of the United States as of 2020. Furthermore, AAPIs own 2.65 million firms, employ over 5 million workers and make up 6% of the workforce. That said, we believe that it is crucial for AAPIs to have greater representation at the Cabinet level, particularly among leaders that deal directly with workforce issues.

We urge the Senate to once swifty and fairly vote to confirm Deputy Secretary Su to serve as the Secretary of the Department of Labor. 

Sincerely, 

National Asian/Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce and Entrepreneurship (National ACE) 

ACE NextGen

Asian American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia (AACCGP) 

Asian American Executive Network

Asian American Business Development Center (AABDC)

Asian American Chamber of Commerce of Illinois

Asian Business Association

Asian Chamber of Commerce Colorado

Asian Chamber of Commerce Houston

Asian Chamber of Texas

Asian Corporate & Entrepreneur Leaders

California Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce (CalAsian Chamber)

Central Florida International Chamber of Commerce (CFICC)

Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Los Angeles

Chinese Mutual Aid Association (CMAA)

Filipino Chamber of the Pacific Northwest (FCCPNW)

Greater Austin Asian Chamber of Commerce

Hmong Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce (HWCC)

International Leadership Foundation (ILF)

Intramuros Community Development Partners

New American Business Association

Pacific Island Knowledge 2 Action Resources (PIK2AR)

US-China Chamber of Commerce, Dallas (USCCC)

Cc: Members of the Senate Committee on Health, Education & Labor