President Obama signed an Executive Order restoring the White House Advisory Commission and Interagency Working Group to address issues concerning the Asian American and Pacific Islander community.

The President gave shoutouts to Wat Misaka, Secretaries Gary Locke and Steven Chu and Eric Shinseki, members of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team who served in World War II including Terry Shima and Private Jake Kirihara, Tammy Duckworth, Maya Soetoro-Ng and Konrad Ng along with his nieces Suhaila and Savita. See the full speech here.

After the signing, the President observed Diwali, or the “Festival of Lights.”

President Obama signs White House initiative for APA community. He speaks at the 5:40 mark