美华之音 @VOCAmericans

Enjoying a hotpot style Christmas Eve! May you and your family have a happy holiday!

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I am very honored to be invited by the @WhiteHouse to attend the Chinese Lunar Year celebration reception at the residency of Vice President @KamalaHarris & the @SecondGentleman with about 100 AAPI representatives of community leaders and entrepreneurs from different states. VP honored the 1964 dragon of the year that passed the Civil Rights Bill and remind us to remember the history in this year of dragon. She wished a happy new year in Cantonese while fed a lettuce into a dragon’s mouth for a prospectus year to come! One of the shining spot was the wishing tree beautifully decorated with wish cards from all of the guests. Thank you, Madam VP for the beautiful and warm reception! #LunarNewYear2024 #VicePresident #WhiteHouse #AANHPI

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November 22, 2023 At this moment, it isn't easy to contain the excitement. Last week's regret has finally been compensated today. I prepared initially to attend the 16th World Wushu (Kongfu) Championships (from November 15-17) opening ceremony and participate in the Tai Chi group performance in Fort Worth. I Planned to seek guidance from Tai Chi Prince Chen Sitan and world champion Gao Jiamin and witness martial arts competitions worldwide. I even booked Hotels. However, After receiving an invitation from the Protocol Office of San Francisco to the APEC summit, l struggled breeen the Kong fu performance and as a special guest to attend the APEC summit Leaders Welcome Reception hosted by President Biden on the 15th. With both events coinciding and torn between them, I reluctantly gave up the World Championships for APEC. After returning to Houston, I learned that the triumphant Chinese National Wushu Team would visit. I have excitedly presented the certificates of recognition to the delegation and organizers on behalf of Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. I commend the team for spreading Chinese martial arts culture and fostering Sino-U.S. martial arts exchange. As a beginner with a dream of martial arts, I had the honor of personally learning from Mr. Hu Baolin, the Chairman of the Yunan Wushu Association. He and Jet Li were both champions in a national championship game. Less than half an hour before the evening event, he corrected my Tai Chi and Wudang Tai Chi Sword movements, guiding me in improving fundamental skills. Though brief, it was like a profound enlightenment, and I gained substantial benefits. The performance by the Chinese National Wushu Team, winners of multiple championships at the 16th World Wushu Championships, received enthusiastic applause from the audience. The scene was vibrant, with many children at the front, captivated by the outstanding martial arts performances. It was the most exciting moment in my 20 years of attending community events. Chinese martial arts, with a rich history, are warmly welcomed in foreign lands, serving as ambassadors for promoting friendship between the U.S. and China. It was genuinely moving. Thanks to Mr. Li Yongqiang and the Chinese National Wushu Team for their brilliant performances. They brought a visual feast to the Houston Chinese community, inspiring enthusiasm for martial arts among the audience, including young and older individuals. I wish the delegation a fantastic journey in the U.S.!

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Sheila’s Achievements and Contributions Here is a list to start with: She was part of the first class of women to ever attend Yale Authored and passed bipartisan legislation making Juneteenth a federal holiday. Helped to secure $100 billion in relief after Hurricane Harvey, and vocally opposed the Trump Administration’s effort to redirect those funds to building a border wall. Worked with all levels of government, including FEMA, to set up, provide, and manage Covid testing, PPE, and vaccine infrastructure across Houston, ensuring all communities had access. Lobbied successfully for a $900M funding grant to expand HTX light rail system with ambitions to extend to the airport. A breast cancer survivor herself, she authored and passed the Triple Negative Breast Cancer Research and Education Act providing funds for education and research. Voted for over $4 billion in funding for state and local law enforcement in FY 2023 alone. Voted For Increasing Funding for Special Education Program Grants by $1 Billion. Voted to authorize $100 billion for Housing and Urban Development Department emergency housing assistance grants to support state and local rental assistance programs for individuals at risk of homelessness. Congresswoman Jackson Lee's major legislative initiatives include the Sentencing Reform Act, the George Floyd Law Enforcement Trust and Integrity Act, The RAISE Act, The Fair Chance for Youth Act, the Kimberly Vaughan Firearm Safe Storage Act, Kaleif's Law, the American RISING Act. She has also introduced the Juvenile Accountability Block Grant Reauthorization and Bullying Prevention and Intervention Act, the Federal Prison Bureau Nonviolent Offender Relief Act. She is a champion for women and children, supporting the Paycheck Fairness Act and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and introducing an amendment to funding bills that provides for outreach to minority- and women- owned businesses concerning business opportunities in the commercial space industry, and authored the Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Research and Education Act. She was named by 'Congressional Quarterly' as one of the 50 most effective Members of Congress. The 'U.S. News and World Report named her as one of the ten most influential legislators in the U.S. House of Representatives. She is a founder, member, and Chair of the Congressional Pakistan Caucus and the Congressional Children's Caucus. She is also chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Energy Braintrust, Co-Chair of the Justice Reform Task Forces. Please share and educate our voters why we should vote for Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee to be our next mayor!

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Breaking News: Former President Bill Clinton endorses Sheila Jackson Lee for the next mayor of Houston, praising her advocacy for infrastructure, economic development, and prosperity for all residents. President Clinton urges everyone to vote for Sheila Jackson Lee on December 9. "Sheila Jackson Lee has been a tireless advocate for Houston's infrastructure, economic development, and prosperity for residents of all backgrounds. I'm proud to endorse her to serve as Houston's next mayor--make sure you have a plan to vote and bring your friends on Saturday, December 9.” - President Bill Clinton Early voting for the Houston election is open from November 27 to December 5, with the official vote on December 9. In a recent debate hosted by FOX News, Sheila Jackson Lee emerged as the winner with 60% support over John Whitmire's 40%. The momentum is strong, and viewers have made a wise choice. Let's capitalize on this positive energy—come out to vote and support Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee with your actual votes! Join our volunteer team to be a witness and contributor to the positive change in Houston. Thank you, everyone!

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Very honored to attend the 2023 APEC Leaders Welcome reception with President Biden !

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Had the honor to speak along side with community leaders and Former Secretary @HillaryClinton to root for @SJacksonLee for Houston Mayor speaking at Women for Sheila Rally. #Sheilaformayor,

AAPIs for Sheila volunteer team block walked over one thousand households for two Sunday afternoons. Our Youth Action Team has done great job with their parents! So proud of them! I had so much fun and inspiration from walking with our emerging youth leaders who want to become more politically involved! #SheilaForMayor #Youthleader #AApIsforSheila

Breaking News: Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee held a press conference at the federal building to announce that she has secured $6.25 million in federal funding for the Houston Police Department. This funding will be used to hire more police officers and establish the Smart Policing Community, which aims to improve the mental health of police officers and combat human trafficking and sex trafficking crimes. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee specifically invited Sally Sha, a Chinese-American female entrepreneur who employs over 300 staff members, to attend the press conference. She assured Sally that this federal funding will enhance community safety and provide a more secure environment for entrepreneurs like her to develop their businesses. Sally expressed gratitude to the congresswoman for her support and attention to Houston's businesses. I had the honor of speaking on behalf of the AALC organization and emphasized the importance of addressing the high crime rates in Chinatown. I expressed appreciation for Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee's efforts in securing a significant amount of federal funding to hire over 300 police officers and maintain public safety in the city. I hope this funding will help reduce crime in Chinatown. Over the years, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee has consistently brought billions of dollars of federal funding to Houston, contributing to the city's development and benefiting its residents. Her dedication cannot be overlooked. There have been rumors spread by political opponents claiming that the congresswoman intends to defund the police, but these rumors are completely baseless. I urge everyone to see through these false claims and ask our opponents if they have secured funding for the Houston Police Department. Early voting ends today at 7 PM, so please make sure to cast your vote as soon as possible and exercise your right. If you cannot make it today, remember that the last day to vote is Election Day on November 7th. Sheila Jackson Lee's name appears on the 16th, third page of the mayoral election ballot, second to last position. For the sake of the Chinese community's future, please vote! #SheilaForMayor #Sheilaforhouston #Iamwithher

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Houston Democracy Project - HOUSTON DEMOCRACY PROJECT neilaquino.com/houston-democr…

So honored being invited to speak on the stage at the Women for Sheila rally with featured guest Secretary @HillaryClinton who endorsed @SJacksonLee and visiting Houston to empower Sheila supporters! What a fate after campaign two times for Hillary for her presidential bid by organizing AAPI volunteers to turn out AAPI voters in 2008 and 2016 elections. Now she thanked me for helping her friend Sheila! I am enjoying this beautiful trajectory! #SheilaForMayor #Sheilaforhouston #IamwithSheila #EarlyVoting #Sheilais16thonballot

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As the Harris County VDVR for many years, I have had the privilege of building strong relationships with registered voters at various senior centers. After a pause due to pandemic, l recently renewed my VDVR with Harris County, and started registering voter every day for this week in senior centers with AALC Voter Registration Initiative. The Asian Americans Leadership Council (AALC) is dedicated to nurturing AAPI community leaders and youth leaders who are committed to serving American society in various areas of civil engagement. This includes but is not limited to voter registration and voter education, civil rights advocacy, and leadership in driving positive change. It has been a rewarding experience to actively engage with our seniors while they patiently wait in line to register. In order to further support these seniors and ensure their voices are heard, I am excited to announce my plan to organize a fleet to transport them to the polling stations on election day. By providing reliable transportation, we will make it easier for them to exercise their right to vote. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve these individuals and contribute to their voting experience. Seeing their enthusiasm and dedication firsthand has only strengthened my commitment to this important cause. If anyone would like to join me in organizing this fleet or if you have any suggestions or resources to offer, I would greatly appreciate your support. Together, we can make a significant difference in the voting experience of the seniors in our community. Lastly, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Fatima Benge, Vicent Sanders, and Bill Littlejohn for their unwavering support throughout this journey. Together, we have not only formed a remarkable team to register voters, but we have also fostered deep trust and friendship through our ground work. Important dates: Last day to register to vote: 10/10 Early voting: 10/23 —11/3 Election Day: 11/7 Please register to vote, please get out to vote!

So grateful to have had the opportunity to join forces with L.A. Mayor Karen Bass today as we spoke with women from all across our great city! Thank you to all of these women who came out in support of our mission to empower and uplift women in Houston and a special thank you to Mayor Bass for your endorsement today!

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This isn’t just a campaign, it’s a movement 🚀

Mayor Bass endorses Representative Sheila （Houston, October 1st, 2023) On October 1st at 3 pm, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass flew to Houston to show support for congressional representative Sheila Jackson Lee's mayoral campaign. Mayor Karen Bass herself was a former congresswoman (2011-2013). Representative Jackson Lee accompanied Mayor Bass toured f the Houston homeless center to learn about the city's housing initiatives and share her own policies for addressing similar issues in Los Angeles. Afterward, they attended a news conference at La Havienda restaurant in the Ward area of Houston, called "Sheleads." Representative Sheila introduced Mayor Bass to the hundreds of women supporters from various ethnic backgrounds in attendance, expressing excitement and gratitude. She highlighted Mayor Bass as the current African American female mayor of one of America's largest cities and also a former colleague in Congress who made significant contributions to change and improve Los Angeles. Mayor Bass expressed great admiration for Representative Sheila, calling her the hardest-working congresswoman. She commended her for shuttling between Houston and DC every week and tirelessly serving the community upon her return to Houston, as if she had a helicopter to take off and land at any time. Mayor Bass mentioned that Representative Sheila never arrived late and consistently appeared in Congress every Monday. Mayor Bass believed that a congresswoman with such diligence would undoubtedly make Houston even better. As Chair of the Homeless Task Forcé on United States Conference of Mayors (USCM), she extended an invitation to Representative Sheila Jackson Lee, welcoming her to join the organization after her election as Houston's first African American female mayor. Nearly twenty women supporters from the Asian American community actively participated in the news conference, receiving high praise from Representative Sheila Jackson Lee. During the group photo, she cheered excitedly, "This photo needs to go viral!" Prior to the news conference, Representative Sheila instructed that the attendees be diverse and ensure a good representation of Asian American women. This demonstrates her inclusive leadership on diversity and inclusion on the Asian community. I would like to thank all who attended the news conference. Special thanks to Sally Sha, the fundraising coordinator for AAPIs for Sheila, for successfully organizing several private fundraising events. Thanks to Kelly, the owner of the Sunshine Golf Club, for her generous donation. Thanks to Julia, one of the phone canvassing team leaders, and Josephine, one of the volunteer development team leaders, for their consistent participation in weekly phone canvassing. Thanks to Allen, a high school student who participated in phone canvassing, and Adiaia, who was involved in distributing backpacks, voter registration, and phone canvassing. Your strong support highlights the determination and courage of the Chinese American community to participate in politics and is an important guarantee for Representative Sheila's victory. I would also like to express my gratitude to all the sisters who responded to the call and attended the news conference. Your presence showcased the elegance of Asian American women and served as a beautiful scenery at the news conference. You have set a positive example for more Asian American women to actively participate in politics! The mayoral and other public office elections in Houston will begin in less than a month. Early voting will take place from October 23rd to November 3rd. Houston voters, please actively participate and use your voting rights to select the most qualified, diverse, inclusive, and equitable future mayor of Houston. And congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee IS the mayor we need the most! Donation link: secure.actblue.com/donate/aapisup…

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So proud of our next Mayor Sheila Jackson Lee @SJacksonLee ! Her vision and mission as a inclusive leader presented a great future backed by loaded numbers and real solutions! She was the winner of the first mayoral debate hosted by FOX 26 on Monday evening!

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AALC organized voter registration at Jusco Supermarket by Judge Bill Littlejohn and Fatima Benge as our VDVRs and our high school students volunteered encourage store patrons to register to vote. Your vote is your voice! #VoterRegistrationDay #AAPIvote

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7/7: We’re at a crossroads. With potential leaders like Abbott, Paxton, and a looming Trump, Houston can’t afford to have a doormat. We need fighters, not millionaires playing both sides. Stand for the truth, Houston. #NoMoreDoormats

6/7: Houstonians, let's reflect. Whitmire, with his MAGA Billionaire connections, luxury yacht tax break votes, environmental apathy, NRA backing, leniency on officer shootings, isn't opposing MAGA. He's endorsing them.🚫