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Andy Kim

26 Apr, 10 tweets, 3 min read

This is India’s moment of need and America must answer the call to help. Biden admin announced strong initial steps. I urge Biden to now authorize release of AstraZeneca vaccine to India and other allies. Alliances are tested in the darkest of days, and we must step up. THREAD

India accounts for nearly half of all new cases globally if you only count the numbers reported (millions in last week) Mass cremations across India tell story of vast underreporting as numbers are undoubtedly higher. It’s a true crisis. 2/9

Today, the Biden Admin announced the U.S. is going to send resources and supplies to India to help with vaccine production, and to deliver oxygen and therapeutics for those suffering. This is the right move. But we can do better and more. 3/9

We can help India and not miss a beat in our domestic response. America has secured enough vaccine for every single American. Pfizer/Moderna have signed up to deliver 600 million doses in total through July. Add 100 million J&J doses. 4/9

The U.S. has tens of millions of AstraZeneca vaccines in stock. These aren’t even approved for use in the U.S. at this time, but they are in many other places across the world. We should break down the barriers preventing us from sending them to the countries that need it. 5/9

This is one of first major tests of American global leadership in this new era. Every national security expert across political spectrum says that America’s strategic strengths (especially in relation to China) are our allies and partners. Then we need to make that a reality. 6/9

When the U.S. needed help early in this pandemic, India came to our aid. It’s time that we show them, and the rest of the world, that America’s word is America’s deed. We can show the power of America as an ally. 7/9

Let’s be clear, China and Russia have been using their vaccines to gather favor globally. The U.S. is the strongest country in the world when we lead with our values, but our values mean nothing without action. 8/9

We cannot lead a post-COVID world if we sit out the fight that our allies face to put this pandemic to an end. Let’s show the world what we can do. It’s time to release these vaccines and save lives. That is American leadership. END

UPDATE: Biden just announced releasing up to 60M doses of AstraZeneca to India and other allies. This is great news. Will save lives and show the world what American global leadership means. apnews.com/article/politi…

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More from @AndyKimNJ

Andy Kim

@AndyKimNJ

20 Apr

#GeorgeFloyd was murdered. We knew that the moment we watched the video of his death. Today’s verdict affirms this truth and gives our nation a chance for justice. THREAD

While no verdict could erase the trauma of losing a loved one, I hope that this provides some sense of closure to George Floyd’s family. 2/7

I hope it provides hope for the families of Black men and women who have lost their lives to a broken system; a system that has failed both communities of color and the brave men and women of law enforcement. 3/7

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Andy Kim

@AndyKimNJ

17 Apr

Many told me they struggle with decision to end Afghan war. Don’t want war forever, but feel uncertain. That is normal. Ending war does not end pain from 9/11. I took this GroundZero photo. Had with me working in Kabul and now in my Congressional office. Never forget.(THREAD)

Ending a war should never be easy, especially when it carries out collective trauma. Despite working in Afghanistan in 2011, visiting in 2019, and being on Armed Services/Foreign Affairs Committees, I still struggle too on what to do next. Here are some ways to think through.2/20

ORIGINAL MISSION: When Congress authorized the war, the sole objective identified in authorization (2001 AUMF) states: “in order to prevent any future acts of international terrorism against the United States by such nations, organizations or persons.” Stop future attacks. 3/20

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Andy Kim

@AndyKimNJ

10 Apr

5 years ago this week, I walked my family into the Oval Office. I watched my immigrant mom speechless as she shook hands with Pres Obama while he held my 6 m/o baby boy. Three generations of my family in the Oval with the President. I kept thinking “This is America”(THREAD)

That was the last time I was in the White House. The first time I entered that sacred building was when my mother took me as a boy. She taught me two things: 1) This house belongs to the people and 2) this building (and our democracy) is bigger than any of us. 2/14

PEOPLE’S HOUSE: I remember how proud my mom was that as an immigrant she was able to walk us into the White House. We wandered the Rose Garden. I felt connected to my government. I wasn’t intimidated, I was invited. I wasn’t excluded, instead I felt welcomed to participate. 3/14

Read 14 tweets

Andy Kim

@AndyKimNJ

3 Apr

I cried twice this week. Once when young woman told me “Mom was my sanctuary.” Her mom was among 8 killed in Atlanta. I cried again when I saw video of Filipino mom kicked in face in NYC. Amidst tragedy, let’s pay tribute to AAPI moms who give us strength (THREAD) #StopAsianHate

GRIT: I visited ATL this week to talk with children of victims. They all said their moms were hardworking. Long hours, careful spending to save for family/retirement. One said through tears, “She worked so hard to have it end that way.” Another said “She’s finally resting.” 2/11

ENDURANCE:Their powerful reflections hit me hard. When I was young, my mom worked night shift as hospital nurse so she could take care of sister and me during daytime. I asked her once when she had time to sleep. She said simply, “I don’t know.” Moms have superhuman strength.3/11

Read 11 tweets

Andy Kim

@AndyKimNJ

30 Mar

I cannot get this shameful video out of my mind today. Attacker yelled “You don’t belong here.” But doorman’s actions said same thing when he shut door on a broken woman lying on sidewalk. We as a nation need to talk about bystanders to hate (THREAD) #WeBelong #StopAsianHate

When that door closes, it sends a clear message. It says I’m not going to help. It says this is none of my business. It says to the woman, you don’t belong in this building; keep your problems outside. It says this is not my responsibility. 2/11

I feel like this is so metaphorical to the challenges we face as a nation right now. We as a society are having a crisis of empathy. What we are losing is that important sense of sharedness. Whether that is shared experiences, shared truths, shared space, shared identity. 3/11

Read 11 tweets

Andy Kim

@AndyKimNJ

28 Mar

I flew down to Atlanta this morning to pay my respects to those lost in the shootings and show our solidarity against hate. I’m also here to listen and hear from the community what we can do to heal. #StopAsianHate

I’ll be sharing some of those stories on this thread. I hope you’ll follow with me and keep the victims in your thoughts today.

We’re traveling from the site of the first shooting to the second. It’s a long drive, and on this drive something becomes very clear: the killer’s intent to turn his hate targeting AAPI into something even more horrible.