Posted on: Tuesday, October 8, 2002

Bush commission to visit local programs

By Vicki Viotti
Advertiser Staff Writer

Officials from the Bush administration and members of the President's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are arriving this week for visits to community programs and will host a "town hall meeting" Friday at the State Capitol auditorium.

The roster of visitors includes Claude A. Allen, deputy secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services; Michael Liu, a former Hawai'i state senator who now serves as assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; and David Cohen, deputy assistant Interior secretary.

"It's significant that the president feels that the issues confronting the Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders population are important enough to warrant a trip out here from the commission," said state Rep. Barbara Marumoto, R-17th (Kahala-Wai'alae Iki), a commission member. "The second significant thing is that there are high-ranking administration officials coming on the trip."

On Thursday, the entourage will visit with Filipino American World War II veterans seeking veterans' health benefits and to be briefed on the work of federal agencies here. The group also will tour programs at Kokua Kalihi Valley Comprehensive Family Services, Pacific Gateway Center and Wai'anae Coast Comprehensive Health Center.

Preceding the town meeting, the visitors will attend presentations on various programs at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa. The State Capitol meeting from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. will cover issues concerning health, community and economic development, education and immigrant services.