UCA Joins the Call for Congress to Stop Reinstating The China Initiative.

Rep. Chu, Senator Hirono, and Colleagues Oppose the Recreation of Trump’s China Initiative

WASHINGTON, DC – Ahead of today’s House Appropriations Committee markup of Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) funding legislation, Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28) and Senator Mazie Hirono (HI) led a bicameral letter to stop Republican lawmakers from reinstating the China Initiative, which unfairly targeted and profiled Chinese American and Chinese researchers and scholars.

The program was created in 2018 under the first Trump administration but was disbanded in 2022 after several of the alleged espionage and national security cases ended in acquittal, dismissal, or were dropped altogether. The Trump-era China Initiative questioned the loyalty of Asian Americans, reinforced harmful negative stereotypes, and undermined our nation’s scientific innovation and global partnerships.

House Republicans are now attempting to restart the program by inserting language into the FY2026 CJS Appropriations bill, which funds the Departments of Commerce, Justice and other science-related programs. Rep. Chu and Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) Members successfully prevented the inclusion of this language in the FY2025 and FY2024 Appropriations bills.

In their letter to House and Senate Appropriators, the Members wrote, “This prosecutorial initiative was a blunt instrument wielded against anyone who had ‘some nexus to China’. An unacceptably high number of the aforementioned cases ended in dropped charges, dismissals, and acquittals because prosecutors could not prove allegations. Over the course of this initiative, an increasing number of cases had to do with false statements and the failure to make disclosures—not espionage, theft, or spying.”

The lawmakers highlight the importance of national security and countering threats against the Chinese Communist Party but recommended a more targeted and responsible approach that does not unfairly criminalize researchers of Chinese descent or their work. They conclude by writing: “A budget is a representation of our priorities and values. It would be both a misallocation of resources and a backsliding for civil rights to restart the China Initiative.”

Click Here to read the full letter.

This letter was endorsed by the following organizations:

Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC), Stop AAPI Hate, Chinese for Affirmative Action, and Asian American Scholar Forum, 1990 Institute, AAPI Equity Alliance, AAPI NJ, AAPI Youth Rising, AAPIs for Justice (SA, TX), ACLU, American Community Media, American Federation of Teachers, APA Justice Task Force, API Council, APIA Vote-Michigan, Asian American Federal Employees for Nondiscrimination (AAFEN), Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, Asian American Midwest Progressives , Asian American Psychological Association, Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Atlanta, Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Chicago, Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California (AJSOCAL), Asian Americans United, Asian Law Alliance, Asian Pacific Americans in Higher Education, Asian Pacific Islander Political Alliance (API PA), Aurora Commons LLC, Brennan Center for Justice, Cambodia Town Inc., CAPI USA, Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco Clearinghouse on Women’s Issues, Committee of 100, Defending Rights & Dissent, DRUM – Desis Rising Up & Moving, Feminist Majority Foundation, Georgetown Center for Asian Law , Hate Is A Virus, Hmong Innovating Politics, Japanese American Citizens League, Jewish Council for Public Affairs, Justice Is Global, Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns, Missouri Asian American Youth Foundation , NAFSA: Association of International Educators, National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association (NAAPIMHA), National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), National Asian Pacific American Families Allied for Substance Awareness and Harm Reduction, National Iranian American Council Action, National Organization for Women, National Pacific Islander Education Network, National Queer Asian American Pacific Islander, National Tongan American Society, New Mexico Asian Family Center (NMAFC), NICOS Chinese Health Coalition, OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates, OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates, Greater Cleveland, OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates (Greater Philadelphia Chapter), , OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates Greater Seattle, OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates Greater Tucson Chapter, OCA Colorado, OCA Columbus, OCA-CVC, OCA-Sacramento Chapter, OCA-San Mateo Chapter, OCA Silicon Valley, OCA-NY , OPAWL-Building AAPI Feminist Leadership, Pacific Asian Counseling Services, Peace Action, Peace Action New York State, Restore The Fourth, Rising Voices, Services, Immigrant Rights and Education Network (SIREN), Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF), South Asian Network, Thai Community Development Center (Thai CDC), Union of Concerned Scientists, United Chinese Americans (UCA), Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility, Western States Center, and the Wind of the Spirit Immigrant Resource Center.

Opposition Against SB 17 and HB 17 and Other National Origin Based Discrimination Bills in the 89th Texas Legislature

Dear Esteemed State Senators and Representatives:

Texas needs your help and your voice!

These bills are unconstitutional and discriminatory, as they target individuals based on their nation of origin. In other words, individuals are being targeted and rights taken away, not because of something they did, but because of where they came from. In so doing, these bills threaten the protections afforded by the U.S. Constitution and Texas constitution.

These bills will discourage foreign investments and talents from coming to Texas, leading to loss of jobs and economic opportunities – when the bills aim to punish some of Texas’ largest trading partner(s). This is especially the case when President Trump specifically stated, “we want them to invest in the U.S.” (Feb. 26, 2025).

These bills falsely equate individualswith governments; and will punish individuals who may have no political affiliation in their former or current countries.

These bills are based on paranoia and have no legitimate basis in reality. There have not been any realistic data or facts that support the implementation of these restrictions, or how these bills will actuallysupport national security.

These bills will provoke discrimination against the Asian and immigrant community.

For these same reasons, the 59th Texas state legislature abolished the former version of alien land laws in 1965. We should not repeat the mistakes made in the previous century. Please voice your opposition to these legislations.

Sincerely yours,

The following Texas and National AAPI Organizations:

41 Texas Organizations

Asian American Art & Culture Initiative,
Asian American Cohesion Foundation,
Asian American Community Civic Coalition,
Asian Americans for Progressive America,
Asian Real Estate Association of America – San Antonio,
Asian Texans for Justice,
Association of Chinese Professionals Foundation DFW,
Austin Asian American Bar Association,
Austin Chinese-American Network,
ChuanYu Association of Houston,
Construction American Chinese Professionals- Texas,
Dallas Asian American Bar Association,
Dallas Chinese Arts Association,
DFW Chinese Alliance,
DFW Sichuanese Association,
Fujian Association of South USA,
General Association of Henan In Dallas,
Greater Houston LULAC Council,
Greater San Antonio Chinese Chamber of Commerce,
Guangxi Association,
Heyuan Association in North America,
Houston Zhi Qing Association,
Huanan Houston Club,
International Cross Cultural Foundation,
Japanese American Citizens League,
NAACP Houston Branch,
North Texas Hubei Association,
OCA Greater Houston,
Rise AAPI,
Shaanxi Folks Group,
Shandong Fellowship Association of Southern USA,
Texas Capital News,
Texas Northeast Chinese Association,
The Texas Chapter of The Society of Chinese Bioscientists in America,
U.S Chinese Restaurant Alliance Dallas Chapter

30 National and Other Organizations

1882 Foundation,
APA Justice Task Force,
Asian American Advancing Leadership,
Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC,
Asian Americans Leadership Council,
Asian Pacific American Public Affairs,
Asian Real Estate Association of America,
Chen’s Family Association of USA,
Chinese American Legal Defense Alliance,
Chinese Americans Civil Rights Coalition,
Chinese for Affirmative Action,
National Asian Pacific American Bar Association,
National Iranian American Council,
Register2vote,
Stop AAPI Hate,
The Asian American Foundation,
The Federation of Asian Professor Associations,
The Yick Wo Institution,
UmiUni,
United Chinese Americans (UCA),
Chinese American Citizens Alliance,
Asian Pacific American Public Affairs-Carolinas,
University of Michigan – Association of Chinese Professors

2024 Chinese American Convention

UCA 2022-2024 Fundraising

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United Chinese Americans UCA Milestones

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Building A Civically Engaged Community

Join UCA

Dear all UCA 2022 Convention Participants and Friends,

The 3rd Chinese American Convention and the Inaugural UCA National Youth Convention, held from July 14 to 16th in Washington D.C., together successfully attracted over 650+ participants including 250+ youth participants from 40+ states . The convention offered 34 program sessions including congressional visits & reception, displayed 60 community showcase projects, and held 21 roundtable discussion groups.

It symbolizes the rise of a new generation of Chinese Americans and the aspiration of a civically engaged community for the full participation in American life. Heartfelt thanks to our donors and sponsors for your generous support, to more than 80 convention volunteers and staff for your tireless hard work day and night, and to all the convention participants from near or far, coast to coast, because you all made this community event truly remarkable!

Our theme for this year’s conventions is to build a civically engaged community. We heard inspirational speeches from our congressional representatives including Judy Chu, Grace Meng, Andy Kim, Raja Kristhamothi, and Jamie Raskin. We heard the heroic story from Prof. Anming Hu and those involved from Knoxville, TN on how they defeated the DOJ’s first trial under the China Initiative. We learned how the US-China competition will impact the well-being of our community at this moment and in the future. We learned how to save our children’s lives by increasing knowledge of and decreasing stigma on AAPI mental health, and by fostering intergenerational relations and conversations. We discussed how to engage state legislatures to include AAPI history in K-12 education in our efforts to fight anti-Asian hate. We exchanged our lived experiences in showcasing our community and AAPI youth organization projects. We celebrated our achievements at the fun-filled gala with more than 500 people in attendance. We launched our first youth convention and were impressed by the passion, talent, and pride in our next generation.

To continue this hard work will be a daunting task, which requires a great commitment from our community. UCA is willing and uniquely positioned to fulfill this historic leadership role because of the passion and dedication of so many people like you. Our commitment to carrying the inspirations and dreams of our community makes us larger than ourselves. This is why UCA is perhaps the fastest growing, the most energetic, and the most passionate grassroots Chinese American organization. Click here to watch UCA Milestones.

Would you like to be part of this civic movement and invest in our next generation? We need you, and humbly ask you to join the UCA family and support UCA anyway you can. If you are a member of an existing Chinese organization, please ask your organization to become one of our partners to amplify our impact and voice. Our strength is in our numbers. It is the fastest way for UCA to become a truly national organization to serve all the Chinese Americans.

Join UCA! Join the Chinese American Community Movement!!

Our Convention program book is available now, click here.

Please kindly fill-out this post-convention survey: https://form.jotform.com/221921283774055, feedbacks from the convention participants are much needed and will be deeply appreciated.

UCA (United Chinese Americans)

THE WHITE HOUSE

WASHINGTON
July 14, 2022

I send my warmest greetings to all those gathered for the 2022 Chinese American Convention and United Chinese Americans National Youth Convention.

The tireless work of civil society and organizations like yours is a daily reminder of how, here in America, we see one another, we hear one another, and we strive to take care of one another. Our country faces many challenges, but with your work and our uniquely American outlook restless, bold, and optimistic—there is nothing that we cannot accomplish.

As you recognize the fifth anniversary of United Chinese Americans, may you be filled with pride in all the progress you have achieved, and may you continue to embody our Nation’s spirit of service.

Biden

Our Mission

United Chinese Americans (UCA) is a nationwide nonprofit and nonpartisan federation and civic movement, inspired and dedicated to enriching and empowering Chinese American communities through civic engagement, political participation, heritage sharing, youth development and a greater understanding between the people of the United States and China for the well-being of all Americans and this world.

UCA Milestones 2016-2022

Civic Engagement and Political Participation

UCA has been a national leader in making sure Chinese American community fully participate in American civic and political life, actively engage in public policy making and debate, and unequivocally demand that they be treated as equals.

Next Generation

To help build a pipeline to nurture future Asian American leaders, UCA created a series of programs to foster leadership, including: Summer Civic Leadership Internship, UCA Summer University, and UCA Youth Convention.

Chinese American Culture and Identity

UCA believes only when Chinese Americans fully explore and appreciate the unique identity and roots of Chinese American way of life could they fully enjoy their confident and spiritually rewarding American life in this multi-ethnic democracy of ours.

Mental Health and Emotional Well-being

Due to a unique set of familial, cultural, and societal factors, mental health issues among Asian American youth are on the rise but have received little attention. Working with local community organizations and a team of experts and counselors, UCA WAVES addresses this urgent need by creating culturally-informed programs to raise awareness and provide knowledge of mental health concerns.