Sens. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) and Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) backed down from their threats to oppose any “non-diversity” nominees put forward by President Joe Biden, saying late Tuesday that the White House had committed to elevate Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders for high-level positions in his administration.
“Senator Duckworth appreciates the Biden Administration’s assurances that it will do much more to elevate AAPI voices and perspectives at the highest levels of government,” the lawmaker’s spokesperson, Ben Garmisa, said in a statement. Garmisa added those pledges “included appointing an AAPI senior White House official to represent the community, secure the confirmation of AAPI appointments and advance policy proposals that are relevant and important to the community.”
