Judy Chu: “As chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, I rise today to join my colleagues in the Tri-Caucus to…”

“As chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, I rise today to join my colleagues in the Tri-Caucus to ensure equitable access to the COVID-19 vaccine for communities of color. While we are all equally susceptible to the coronavirus, we are not all equally impacted by it. Communities of color are disproportionately likely to be in frontline jobs with greater exposure to the virus; have less access to quality healthcare; and, as a result, have been experiencing higher infection and mortality rates throughout the pandemic. With over 150 deaths per 100,000 cases, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders have one of the highest mortality groups of all groups from this virus. That is why we will be introducing a resolution to address this. If we rely on communities of color to get us through this pandemic, then we need to ensure they are provided equitable access to the vaccine so they can stay healthy. We must ensure all Americans have an equal shot to be vaccinated. ____________________”