TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Joseph V. Doria which would authorize the Secretary of State to establish a nonprofit organization known as the Asian American Study Foundation to promote the culture and contributions of New Jersey’s significant Asian American population was unanimously approved by the Senate State Government Committee today.
“New Jersey’s Asian American community is a vital part of the tapestry of the Garden State, complete with a culture and traditions all its own,” said Senator Doria, D-Hudson. “We must do what we can to foster this community and educate the State to the many contributions Asian Americans have made in our society.”
The bill, S-2342, would direct the Secretary of State to establish the nonprofit Asian American Study Foundation, to advise the Governor, Legislature and Public of the needs, concerns and accomplishments of the State’s Asian American population, and to develop policies to improve the community, economic, health and social well-being of that population. The Foundation would be governed by a 25-member, unpaid board of trustees. The bill would also create programs to better education New Jersey on Asian American issues and culture.
“Often, the Asian American community is overlooked, and even ridiculed, in New Jersey, but the vast contributions they have made to our society, and the unique cultural lens through which they view the Garden State, deserve to be chronicled,” said Senator Doria. “The only way to fight ignorance and stereotyping is through education, and a coordinated effort to stamp out the prejudices against Asian Americans is long overdue. This bill would finally garner Asian Americans in New Jersey the attention and respect they deserve as a significant segment of our State’s population.”
The bill now heads to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee before going to the full Senate for a vote. An identical bill, A-2890, was approved by the Assembly in October of 2004 by a vote of 75-3.