ICHS joins Asian Pacific Islander Coalition to advocate for WA immigrant health priorities
Attendees rallied on the North Steps of the Washington State Capitol at A&NHPI Legislative Day on Feb. 13, 2025. Photo credit: APIC Washington
On February 13, 2025, International Community Health Services (ICHS) leadership joined the Asian Pacific Islander Coalition (APIC) of WA in a rally in Olympia to lobby state legislators to advance healthcare and safety-net issues impacting the Asian and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (A&NHPI) community.
Held annually to mobilize A&NHPI communities to engage in the legislative process, this year’s Legislative Day was one of the largest ever. More than 600 attendees from across the state — including Snohomish,Yakima, and Spokane — joined in the event. APIC chapters from around the state organized 14 charter buses to bring attendees. Many were first-generation immigrants who wished to raise their voices in the political decisions affecting all Washingtonians.
Attendees rallied on the North Steps of the Washington State Capitol. With an event so large, attendees spilled to the sides of the organizers’ booths. Attendees young and old waved signs, danced along to live music, and chanted “immigration justice now” and other calls to action.
“This is what community power looks like,” said Michael Byun, co-chair of the King County chapter of APIC. “Why are we here? Because you care. Because you want to make a difference. Because you want to have an impact. We are here at the state capitol to raise our voices, and let our elected officials know that we want healthcare for all immigrants, we want immigrant workers who pay into the system to have access to those funds if they become unemployed.”
Washington State A&NHPI legislators addressed the crowd, sharing how important it is now more than ever to advocate for healthcare and safety-net programs. Legislators Sen. Manka Dhingra, Sen. Bob Hasegawa, Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos, and Rep. My-Linh Thai, who all represent ICHS’ clinic locations in King County, spoke at the rally.
Afterwards, attendees dispersed to meet with their elected representatives offices. The in-person lobbying was focused on the specific APIC 2025 Legislative Agenda to “improve the lives of Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities in Washington State.”
ICHS leadership met with an aide to Senator June Robinson 38th LD, the chair of the Ways and Means Committee. ICHS is seeking $3M in funding for the completion of the Ron Chew Healthy Aging and Wellness Center, an innovative aging-in-place senior center located within the Beacon Pacific Village in Seattle’s Beacon Hill neighborhood.
Other APIC legislative priorities included Expanding the Working Families Tax Credit, funding a new Cham Community Center, and Naturalization Services and LEP Pathways Funding.
“Despite the challenges ahead, APIC believes that the following policy priorities will be integral to improving the lives of Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities in Washington State.” — Overview of 2025 Legislative Agenda
Read the 2025 Legislative agenda here: https://apicwashington.org/2025-legislative-agenda/