Representative Bobby Jindal (R-LA), left, talking to guests at the Asian American Hotel Owners Association’s (AAHOA) Legislative Summit in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 1 and 2 at Holiday Inn on the Hill. (Photo: Courtesy, AAHOA)

The Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA), with the help of the Indian American Center for Political Awareness (IACPA), organized a legislative summit at the ‘Holiday in on the Hill’ in Washington, D.C.

Rep. Kendrick Meek (D-FL)

The summit began on Feb. 1 with a dinner reception where Rep. Kendrick Meek (D-FL), Kumar Barve, Democratic Majority Leader, Maryland House of Delegates and Ambassador Rick Inderfurth, former assistance Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs were guest speakers. Inderfurth spoke about how his interest in South Asia began during the Cart administration and dwelt on the importance of U.S.-India relations and how politics plays into it.

Rep. Mark Foley (R-FL)

On Feb. 2, the day started with three panel discussions. The panel discussion on ‘Access to Capital and SBA (Small Business Administration) Issues’ was moderated by Giovanni Coratolo, director of Small Business Policy, U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The panelists included James Hammersley, director of Loan Programs, SBA, Mary Thorpe, vice president of Agency Relations, Wachovia Bank Small Business Capital Group and Chris Crawford, president, National Association of Development Companies.

Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC)

Budgetary cuts and other legislative actions in recent years have some SBA programs in jeopardy. The AAHOA has partnered with other groups in the Small Business Access to Capital Coalition to support legislative actions that keep these programs going.

Rep. Jim Langevin (D-RI)

The panel discussion on ‘Americans with Disabilities Act’ was moderated by Stephen Parker, AAHOA vice president for fair franchising and governmental affairs. The panelists included Elizabeth Nicolson, deputy chief of staff for Rep. Mark Foley (R-FL), Michael R. See, assistant chief counsel, office of advocacy, SBA, Kevin Maher, vice president for governmental affairs, American Hotel and Lodging Association, and Renee Wohlenhaus, deputy chief, Disability Rights Section of the Civil Rights Division, Department of Justice.

Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL)

The AAHOA has long supported a change in the basic structure of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) that would require notice of an ADA problem or allegation, before a suit could be brought in federal court. The association assists its members with ADA compliance.

The panel on ‘Immigration laws’ was moderated by Dr. Ralph Nurnberger, Washington Associate, IACPA. The panelists included Prakash Khatri, ombudsman, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security; Ben Johnson, director of Immigration Policy Center, American Immigration Law Foundation; and Elizabeth Stern, partner and chair of Business Immigration Practice Group, Shaw Pittman, LLP. The AAHOA along with others has argued that there is a need for changes in the U.S. immigration laws and policies.

Ambassador Rick Inderfurth, former Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs, right, with AAHOA chairman Nash Patel, center, and AAHOA vice chairman Manhar (M.P.) Rama, left. The person second from left was not identified. PHOTO INSET LEFT, Dr. Ralph Nurnberger, Washington Associate, the Indian American Center for Political Awareness (IACPA), addressing a panel discussion on immigration laws. PHOTO INSET RIGHT, Kumar Barve, Democratic Majority Leader, Maryland House of Delegates, addressing AAHOA members on the workings of the political process. (Photos: Courtesy, AAHOA)

Rep. Bobby Jindal (R-LA) was the featured speaker at the luncheon session, held at the Holiday Inn. Jindal took the occasion to thank Indian American in general and AAHOA members in specific for their support for his various candidacies, including his race for Governor and then for Congress.

He expressed his gratitude for the support, encouragement and prayers. He emphasized that without this assistance, he did not believe he would have been able to become the first Indian American elected to Congress in four decades.

Rep. Jim Oberstar (D-MN)

The afternoon of the AAHOA Washington Conference was devoted exclusively to interaction with selected Members of Congress. After the luncheon, the AAHOA members went to the historic Cannon Caucus Room, where they met with seven Members of Congress.

Rep. Thomas Petri (R-WS)

The first Member who spoke to the group after they arrived at the House Office Building was Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC). Wilson, the past Republican chair of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, had arranged for AAHOA to be able to hold its session in the Cannon Caucus room. He spoke about his son who had recently concluded a tour of duty in Iraq. Wilson emphasized both his and his son’s support for the war effort, based largely on their belief that this will enhance America’s fight against terrorism and thus improve security in this nation. He elaborated on this theme to explain the importance of security to the hospitality industry, including those in AAHOA.

Rep. Sherrod Brown (D-OH)

The next Member to speak to the AAHOA members was probably the most dramatic and inspiring. When he was still in high school, Rep. Jim Langevin (D-RI), had been accidentally shot at a police station. He was permanently paralyzed and is the first paraplegic elected to the House. He did not let this accident stop his education or his eventual political career, nor did he allow the fact that he is in a wheelchair deter him from traveling. Langevin told the AAHOA members that he has visited over half of the states in the country, as well as numerous countries overseas. He explained that his choice of hotels had to be determined by those that are accessible. For example, he mentioned that he had recently been in Taipei, where he immediately moved out of a hotel because it could not accommodate him. He encouraged AAHOA members to make their facilities accessible for many reasons, including that it is a good business practice.

Rep. Joe Crowley (D-NY)

Langevin, who has hosted two interns from the Indian American Center for Political Awareness’ (IACPA) Washington Leadership Program (WLP), thanked the Center for enabling him to have the services of these fine young people and expressed his support and admiration for the program.The newly-elected Republican chair of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) expressed her appreciation to coordinator of the Congressional event for providing her with her first opportunity to address AAHOA members. She stressed that she was an immigrant from Cuba and that English had been her second language, so she felt a particular bond with other first and second generation Americans. She said that the successes of the Indian community in this country should serve as a model for others and complimented AAHOA members for their contributions to this country. As the chair of the largest ethnic caucus in the House, she said that she would work to enhance relations with India and also work with Indian Americans on domestic issues of concern, including combating discrimination.

Reps. Jim Oberstar (D-MN), the ranking Democrat on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and Thomas Petri (R-WS), Chairman of that Committee’s subcommittee on Highways, Transit and Pipelines were invited because AAHOA members had concerns about future transportation initiatives in the U.S., particularly since most of their hotels and motels were located on highways or near airports. Both provided insights into the transportation bill which Congress is likely to pass in the Spring. They emphasized how the provisions in the bill will contribute to tourism within America by improving the nation’s highways. They asked AAHOA members for their suggestions on matters that should be considered for inclusion in this important piece of legislation.

As small business owners, AAHOA members are also directly affected by the nation’s health and retirement policies. Rep. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), the Ranking Democrat on the Commerce Committee’s Health Subcommittee, provided insights into President Bush’ Social Security and health care proposals, especially as these would impact small business owners. In addition to providing details on these issues, Rep. Brown also complimented IACPA’s WLP, which he called the “best program of its kind on Capitol Hill.” He told the AAHOA members that he was proud to have hosted the very first intern ever placed by IACPA (in 1994) and had hosted interns from this program annually since then. The final Member to meet with AAHOA members was Rep. Joe Crowley (D-NY), the past Democratic chair of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans. He provided AAHOA leaders with his insights into the war on terror and the overall U.S. relationship with India. A number of other Members of Congress, including Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ), sought to meet with AAHOA, but this proved to be impossible as the conferees had to vacate the room as preparations had begun for the President’s State of the Union address later that evening.

With more than 8,000 members, AAHOA is one of the leading forces in the hospitality industry and one of the most powerful Asian American advocacy groups. “Together the members own more than 20,000 hotels, which have one million rooms representing over 50 percent of the economy lodging properties and nearly 37 percent of all hotel properties in the U.S.,” according to the association’s Website. The market value of hotels owned by AAHOA members totals nearly $40 billion and AAHOA members create more than one million jobs.