In 2009, the United States Congress declared October as Filipino American History Month to celebrate the rich culture and diversity of Filipino American families. This month, as we reflect on our heritage, it is imperative for Filipino Americans to wake up from the Democratic spell that has, for too long, clouded our community's vision.
For decades, Democrats have exploited Filipino American communities. They have dazzled us with celebrity endorsements and manipulated our emotions, portraying Republicans as racists and bigots. While Democrats claim to champion Filipino American families, they simultaneously burden us with excessive taxes, foster dependency on welfare, and erode our parental rights in the education system.
Bidenomics and Bidenflation have inflicted significant damage on the American Family. The economic strain has left many households grappling with the impossible choice between affording food and gas or basic monthly expenses. The Biden administration's reckless taxes and spending, including $80 billion for the IRS, pose a threat to Asian American small business owners, who face the risk of additional audits. And the proposed "responsibility tax" on homebuyers disproportionately harms Asian Americans looking to buy a home.
Progressive policies have led to skyrocketing crime, leaving Asian Americans feeling unsafe in their neighborhoods. Furthermore, the Democrats' support for racial preferences in school admissions allows discrimination against Asian American students. The harsh reality is that the Democratic policies we've been told are in our best interest have, in fact, undermined our prosperity and well-being.
I was born in Sariaya, Philippines, and I am the proud son of Filipino immigrants. I met my wife Jessica, a Mexican/Filipino American, while we were both attending the United States Military Academy at West Point. Upon graduation, Jessica and I commissioned on active duty as Officers in the U.S. Army. We both answered the call to serve our nation that had already afforded our families life changing, generational opportunities.
Jessica and I began our family in her hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio. We are proud of our Filipino heritage and are instilling in our children everyday the same values that shaped us. As a family, we embraced our shared faith in God, dedication to hard work, love of family, and sense of duty to our country. These values, deeply rooted in the Filipino American experience and instilled in us by our parents, are not just a reflection of Filipino or conservative values; they are a celebration of core American principles.
It is for these values that, for as long as I can remember, I’ve aligned myself with the Republican party and why I currently seek election to U.S. Congress from Ohio’s First Congressional District. As a Filipino American, I am on a mission to deliver for the American Family and revive the American Dream that has blessed so many of us throughout history.
The Republican National Committee is actively engaging with the Asian American community, welcoming new members into the party of opportunity. Last cycle, the RNC established community centers nationwide, fostering relationships with the Asian American community. The party's commitment to inclusivity is not new - it has a long history of making inroads with Asian American communities and dismantling barriers with Asian American leaders.
In 1959, Hiram Fong became the first Asian American to serve in the Senate, and in 1964, he received delegate votes as part of a presidential nominating convention. In 1971, Carlos Camacho, a Republican, became the first elected Governor of Guam. The trend continued with Jay Kim, the first Korean American elected to Congress in 1992, and Elaine Chao, appointed by President George W. Bush in 2001 as the first female Asian American cabinet member.
More recently, in 2020, Republicans Young Kim and Michelle Steel became two of the first Korean American women elected to Congress, showcasing the party's commitment to diversity and representation.
In 2024, we have a real opportunity to make tangible inroads in restoring the middle class, promoting the American Family, and expanding on the immense contributions of Asian Americans in our great country. It is, in part, why as the son of Filipino immigrants, I would be honored to serve our great nation as the GOP’s youngest elected member of Congress and the only current Filipino American to serve in the Republican conference.
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