Congressman Jimmy Gomez Hosts Korean American Community Roundtable
Los Angeles,
March 23, 2019
Los Angeles, CA — Today, Congressman Jimmy Gomez (CA-34) held a Korean American Community Roundtable at the Koreatown Youth and Community Center (KYCC) to discuss issues of importance to his constituents in Koreantown and across California’s 34th Congressional District. Attended by 17 organizations and leaders that represent or serve Los Angeles’ Korean American community, the roundtable discussion focused on housing, immigration, health care, and US foreign policy on the Korean Peninsula. “I’m grateful to all of the stakeholders and leaders from the Korean American community who participated in today’s community roundtable,” said Congressman Gomez. “Korean Americans drive a significant and essential part of Los Angeles’ civic life, commerce, and culture. As the representative of the largest Korean American community in America, it is one of my top priorities to ensure their voices are heard and their needs are met by the federal government.” “Korean Americans are a vulnerable community due to being largely immigrant, linguistically isolated, and large numbers of undocumented/uninsured individuals,” said Katherine Yeom, Deputy Director, Korean American Family Services. “The federal administration’s current xenophobic polices to restrict immigrants, reduce benefits, etc., has increased the fear, anxiety and uncertainty within our community, particularly those clients at KFAM who are the most likely to fall through the cracks - uninsured or underinsured; victims of domestic violence, sexual violence and/or human trafficking. KFAM appreciates Congressman Gomez proactively reaching out to the community to listen to our concerns and find ways to support our community members, particularly during this challenging time.” "As a community fund focused on the needs of the growing Asian & Pacific Islander community, we fully support and appreciate Congressman Jimmy Gomez's efforts to actively engage our Korean American community,” said Christine Najung Lee, Development Manager, Asian Pacific Community Fund. This roundtable is an encouraging start in addressing our community's priorities, and we look forward to working together with his office in continuing today's important conversation." “We applaud Congressman Gomez’s leadership, supporting federal investment to nonprofit health centers to strengthen the primary care safety net and ensure continued access to health care,” said Erin Pak, Kheir Center CEO. “Each year, the nation’s 1,400 health centers are responsible for serving 28 million low-income Americans, including over 19,000 area low-income individuals—many Koreans, Latinos and Bengalis--who call Kheir Clinic their medical home. Congressional District 34 is home to the nation’s only full-time health center that provides full suite of medical, dental and optometry services in Korean, Bengali, Spanish and English languages and has the largest Korean patient population of any health center.” “We are deeply thankful for Congressman Gomez for creating this space where the Korean American community can provide our input on the US policies on Korean peninsula,” said Phyllis Kim, Korean American Forum of California Executive Director. “Too often, the US policies on Korean peninsula, including the North Korea nuclear crisis, have been dictated by the hawkish politicians and the lobby by the defense industry, rather than the real stakeholders who really want peace. We hope this is a beginning of many more conversations and we thank Congressman Gomez for representing our voices.”
Congressman Gomez’s Korean American roundtable was also attended by: California Board of Behavioral Science |
