We have a large diaspora, certainly in the United States, but in New Jersey, of Korean Americans who have done exceptionally great work, including the Korean American Grassroots Conference – KAGC. Mr. Dongsuk Kim, I think, is here in the audience. There is a lot of expectation for [Ambassador Philip Goldberg’s] confirmation and presence in South Korea, both by the South Koreans and by the community here.

I’d like to recognize some of my guests here today, including UNCF and the Korean American Grassroots Conference. Thank you for sharing your concerns with me, and thank you for your important work. Congress can do much to call out these biased crimes.

As the chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), I’m so happy to be joining the Korean American Grassroots Conference to celebrate Korean American Day. But none of this would be possible without advocates like each of you, so thank you for your leadership.

On behalf of the White House and the Biden-Harris administration, I wish you all a happy Korean American Day. I would like to thank the Korean American Grassroots Conference and celebrate your continued efforts to engage the Korean American community in civic affairs. Your active participation in the democratic process is a testament to the great American experiment, and you all help make our country stronger.

It was an honor to speak at the Korean American Grassroots Conference – KAGC National Conference reception on Capitol Hill. KAGC does amazing work advocating for the Korean American community and I can’t thank them enough for always making sure the community’s voices are heard in Washington and North Jersey. I’ve worked with KAGC to ensure our small businesses are recovering from the pandemic-driven economy and that we’re standing up to fight crime and hate, to support law enforcement, and to keep all our communities safe.

The Korean American community represents what makes our state and country great — incredible local leaders, small business owners, and residents, who all work day in and day out to make North Jersey an even better place to live, raise our families, and do business.

One of the reasons we have established a successful relationship with the U.S. Congress is through grassroots activities… KAGC played a role in strengthening support from both sides of Congress for South Korea and the U.S.

The Korean American experience is the American experience. I am proud to be a daughter of a Korean… we are present in American society as soldiers, entrepreneurs, and educators.

KAGC is a pillar in our community. I can’t thank you all enough for always lending a helping hand and ensuring Korean American voices are heard here in Washington and across the country, including in North Jersey

As a person without a strong background related to politics, it was difficult for me to understand what I can do to help. But through the 2018 KAGC National Conference, not only did I gain so many new friends from around the country, but also gained so much better understanding of our community and government.

As an American solider, my father was wounded in combat in the Korean War. The legacy of my late father is that I honor Americans’ sacrifices and that I honor America’s commitment to South Korea—and that one day, there will be a united Korea. One day the peninsula will be as one. I believe one day all the people of Korea will be free.

The Korean American community’s bridge-building, opportunities, and responsibilities go much farther—they begin right here in this gathering and extend to going back home. If what we agree on is the importance of faith, of family, of education, and of opportunity, I am here to tell you there’s more that unites us as a nation than that divides us as a nation.

The work that you do on the grassroots level is truly outstanding. As many of you know I am very proud to represent many Korean American constituents across my district.

It is an honor to recognize KAGC’s success in empowering and mobilizing the Korean American community to take action at every level possible to address issues concerning the community…I commend KAGC for its commitment to ensuring that the Korean American community has a strong voice in issues that will affect generations to come.

To have 600 of you raising your voices, letting your views be known, is such a great step forward. I am particularly proud that you are doing this. As Chair of Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, I know only too well how much need we have to make sure that our voices are represented.

I admire the genuine passion powering KAGC. It’s one of the few experiences I have had where I was able to connect with Korean Americans from diverse regions and backgrounds. It is relieving and inspiring to see an organization aim to and then successfully bring a community of Korean Americans for the same goal.

President Trump’s rhetoric on “Make America First”—I want you to understand that we cannot do that alone. It is with the Korean American community, the bridge to Korea, that we row together…The only way we can make this country great is if we help our partners become great, too. That is what you can count on from this administration, from this Congress, and you can count on our support.