Yesterday in Philadelphia, U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono and Congresswoman Judy Chu joined more than 50 Asian American small business owners and community leaders for an event hosted by Pennsylvania Democrats and Team Harris-Walz.
The gathering, held at the Crane Community Center in Chinatown, highlighted Vice President Harris’ vision for supporting Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities in Pennsylvania.
Senator Hirono and Congresswoman Chu emphasized Vice President Harris’ commitment to building a prosperous future for AANHPI Pennsylvanians through economic initiatives.
The Vice President’s plan includes expanding the small business tax credit from $5,000 to $50,000, providing significant financial relief for entrepreneurs. She also aims to restore the expanded Child Tax Credit, build 3 million new homes, and combat corporate price-gouging to lower living costs for families.
In contrast, the event highlighted the perceived risks of Donald Trump’s Project 2025 agenda, which, according to Harris-Walz supporters, would harm AANHPI communities. Key concerns included the potential repeal of the Affordable Care Act, weakening worker protections, and significant cuts to small business support while favoring tax breaks for billionaires and large corporations.
Under Vice President Harris’ leadership, more than 1.5 million jobs have been created for AANHPI communities, resulting in the highest Asian American and Pacific Islander employment rate since 2008. Meanwhile, Trump’s administration resulted in the loss of 275,000 jobs in Pennsylvania.
Congresswoman Chu underscored the Harris-Walz campaign’s commitment to small businesses, noting the substantial increase in the small business tax credit proposed by Vice President Harris. “As President, Kamala Harris would make the tax credit for small businesses 10 times as great. Right now it’s at $5,000 … so she’s going to increase that tax credit to $50,000 and make sure that small businesses can get the help that they need,” she said. Chu criticized Trump’s stance, adding, “You know what Trump wants to do? He wants to cut back the Small Business Administration budget by one-third.”
“This is a time for all of us to recognize which team is going to actually help small businesses. Kamala Harris is promising $50,000 credits to enable businesses to get started and to succeed,” said Senator Mazie Hirono. “And it’s not just about the loans, but really it’s about caring for our middle class families. … What are we going to do to help middle class families afford food, housing, all of that? It’s all part of our program, a plan that Kamala Harris and Tim Walz have, whereas the other person has ‘concepts of a plan.”
The event highlighted the Harris-Walz campaign’s focus on the AANHPI vote and its importance in the battleground state of Pennsylvania. The rally energized the crowd, sparking conversations about economic justice, representation, and the power of collective action.