Congressional Asian Pacific American Staff Association

2025, you hit different…

CAPASA’s year in review: big wins, new milestones, and memories we’ll never forget 💜

Swipe to see our highlights of the year as we prepare for many more in 2026! ✨🎶

Join CAPASA for a tour of the 🏛️ Library of Congress Jefferson Building and Exploring Memories exhibit led by CAPASA’s own LOC members! Afterwards we’ll head over to the LOC’s 🎶 Live! at the Library, an evening event with music, drinks, and snacks (available for purchase!).

🔗RSVP link in our bio!

We are thrilled to announce our (nearly*) full 2025-26 CAPASA Executive Board 🎉 Our leadership team is ready to serve YOU and forward our mission of growing and strengthening our AANHPI community on the Hill.

Co-Presidents: Ben Hong Starr and Jade Rowland
House VP: Amanda Yuen
Senate VP: Kelly Kim
Secretary: Ann Philip
Treasurer: Tony Tran
Membership Chair: Natalie Hawkins
Mentorship Chair: Vincy Fok
Professional Development Chair: Zoe Wong
Social / Cultural Co-Chairs: Claudia White and Cody Pacarro
Wellness Chair: Eveleen Singh
Intern/Fellow Reps: Brent Seto and Aanya Friedeman

*Our Communications Chair position is currently vacant; if you’d be interested in serving in this position, please let us know by emailing [email protected]

📥 Sign up for CAPASA’s Spring Mentorship Program at the link in our bio if you haven’t already! We’ve extended the deadline to 11:59 pm Wednesday, March 5th.  We encourage staff from all levels to sign up as mentors and mentees and for interns/fellows to sign up as mentors!

The CAPASA Mentorship Program helps support the pipeline of AANHPI staffers on the Hill. To show our appreciation of those who volunteer their time to strengthen our community, we will be raffling off 🎟️ two $10 gift cards 🎟️ for mentors who sign up!

We will contact you by March 10th to release the pairings, and with additional guidance and instructions for meeting with your mentee/mentor!

👱🏽‍♀️👩🏻🧕Happy Women’s History Month!

CAPASA is excited to use this March to spotlight the incredible and powerful AANHPI women who work on the Hill. ♥️ 💪Nominate a friend, colleague, mentor, or mentee who you see doing amazing things on and off the clock.

✅ Submit your nominations at bit.ly/CAPASA-Women!

🌙 Tonight marks the beginning of Ramadan, a time of spiritual reflection for millions of Muslim Americans. May the celebrations of this month spread happiness and joys in your life.

Thank you very much to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) for hosting our members in celebration of Lunar New Year! 🐍 May the year of the snake bring prosperity and luck to our communities!

Congratulations to the incoming CAPASA elected board! Their terms will officially begin on March 1st.

✍️ APPOINTED POSITION APPLICATIONS NOW LIVE! ✍️
Join the 2025-2026 CAPASA Board in one of our appointed positions:
➡️ Communications Chair
➡️ Professional Development Chair
➡️ Social/Cultural Events Chair
➡️ Membership Chair
➡️ Mentorship Chair
➡️ Wellness Chair
➡️ Intern/Fellows Representatives
Position descriptions and application link are available in our bio! Applications for appointed positions are due on Monday, February 24th at 7pm.

🎉 Congrats to these CAPASA members who have recently been promoted or started new jobs! 🎉 We are proud to have you in our community of AANHPI staffers.

Know someone who recently got promoted? Use the form in our bio to highlight yourself or a friend.

🗳️VOTING IS NOW OPEN🗳️
Voting for the 2025-2026 CAPASA Board Elections is NOW OPEN! While no elections are contested this year, bylaws require a quorum of members to elect the board. Be sure to cast your ballot before Friday, February 14th, at noon when voting will close.

All full-time DC members in good standing (those who have paid their dues and renewed their membership for 2025) should have received a ballot today around noon. If you did not receive a ballot but believe you should have, please reach out to Ben Chao, our Elections Commissioner, at [email protected].

Meet your candidates for the 2025-2026 CAPASA Board:

1. Co-Presidents: Ben Hong Starr (Legislative Assistant, Rep. Mark Takano) & Jade Rowland (Legislative Assistant, Sen. Mazie K. Hirono)
2. House Vice President: Amanda Yuen (Legislative Correspondent, Rep. Judy Chu)
3. Senate Vice President: Kelly Kim (Legislative Aide, Sen. Chris C***s)
4. Secretary: Ann Philip (Staff Assistant, Sen. Raphael Warnock)
5. Treasurer: Tony Tran (Senior Legislative Assistant, Rep. Derek Tran)

As you can see, there are no contested races this year. However, the CAPASA Bylaws make clear that a quorum of the membership must participate in an election to elect the board.

Please see the bios and statements from your candidates for this election. All full-time staff eligible to vote in the election will be sent a link on February 10, 2025. If you have any additional equations about CAPASA elections please email our Elections Commissioner Ben Chao at [email protected].

CAPASA, CKASA, CSAASA invite all of our members to an AANHPI hot chocolate social on Friday, February 7th from 5:00-6:30 PM! ❄️

Meet other Hill folks from AANHPI communities while enjoying hot chocolate to warm up after work! Hot chocolate and toppings will be provided. ☃️

RSVP link in our bio! 🧊