Jake Auchincloss
Jake Auchincloss is an American politician, businessman, and Marine veteran serving as the U.S. representative for Massachusetts's 4th congressional district since 2021. He is a member of the Democratic Party.
"China Initiative" letter
On January 22, 2024, Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY), U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and U.S. Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA) led an effort to stop House GOP members from reinstating the China Initiative, a Trump-era program created in 2018 that purported to combat espionage but in effect targeted and profiled those of Chinese descent.
- The Department of Justice ended the program in 2022, after several of the alleged espionage and national security cases ended in acquittal, dismissal or were dropped altogether. But Republicans in Congress are now attempting to restart the program using a provision in a key House spending bill—at the same time that they are reviving racially motivated rhetoric against Chinese Americans.
- “Republicans are essentially pushing the Chinese Exclusion Act 2.0,” said Rep. Meng, First Vice Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.
- “The Trump-era China Initiative fostered bigotry and discrimination against Asian Americans, particularly those with connections to China, while doing little to actually advance national security interests,” said Senator Hirono, Executive Board Member of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.
- “The Trump-era China Initiative undermined our nation’s scientific innovation and global partnerships while perpetuating the ‘forever foreigner’ stereotype and ruining the careers and lives of the innocent scholars targeted for investigations solely because of their Chinese ancestry,” said Rep. Chu, Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.[1]
Other signatories included Senators Tammy Duckworth, Peter Welch, and Congressmembers Jake Auchincloss, Ami Bera, Andre Carson, Greg Casar, Kathy Castor, Jasmine Crockett, Lloyd Doggett, Adriano Espaillat, Bill Foster, Valerie Foushee, Chuy Garcia, Robert Garcia, Dan Goldman, Jimmy Gomez, Pramila Jayapal, Andy Kim, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Barbara Lee, Ted Lieu, Jim McGovern, Seth Moulton, Kevin Mullin, Jerry Nadler, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ayanna Pressley, Andrea Salinas, Linda Sanchez, Adam Schiff, Tom Suozzi, Mark Takano, Jill Tokuda, Lauren Underwood.[2]
UAW picket line
September 2023, members of UAW Local 422 are walking the line 24 hours a day outside the Stellantis parts distribution warehouse in Mansfield, a town 45 minutes south of Boston. Before the strike, they shipped parts all over New England and to upstate New York.
Patrick Lozeau, Financial Secretary for Local 422, has worked at Stellantis for 23 years—since back when it was still Chrysler. When asked what were the main reasons that compelled him to go out on strike, he said simply, “Job security.”
Patrick Connell, a Maintainer, echoed Lozeau’s hope for ending the two-tier pay system. When asked what he wants to come out of the union’s negotiations with the Big Three, he responded: “That people below me get what I get.”
Tyrone Mills, chairman of UAW Local 376 at a Ford plant in Connecticut, came to walk the line in support of his brothers and sisters. “A win for the union is a win for everyone. When you have a pension, you have a career,” he said.
There are 45 UAW members at this Stellantis parts warehouse, but they have been joined in their fight by members of the Teachers Association, SEIU, and other unions. UAW members at Legal Aid came all the way from New York City.
Myles McMann, Lead Carpenter at the North Shore Music Theater, said his workplace was organized just three years ago and had to strike to reach an agreement. He is now an active member of IATSE Local 11 and came to show solidarity with the autoworkers.
Three lawmakers also joined the line on Sunday: Congressman Jake Auchincloss of the Fourth District where the warehouse is located, State Sen. Paul Feeney, and State Rep. Jim Hawkins.[3]
Humanitarian Needs in Cuba letter
December 16 2021 , House Rules Committee Chair James McGovern (D-MA), House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Gregory Meeks (D-NY), House Appropriations subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations Chair Barbara Lee (D-CA), and House Energy and Commerce subcommittee on Energy Chair Bobby Rush (D-IL) led 114 Members of Congress in a letter to President Biden asking him to prioritize the well-being of the Cuban people as they experience the worst economic and humanitarian crisis in recent history...
In the wake of this year’s protests, the members urged the administration to support the Cuban people by suspending U.S. regulations that prevent food, medicine, remittances, and other humanitarian assistance from reaching the Cuban people...
Signatories included Jake Auchincloss.[4]