Women in Health Innovation Spotlight: Congresswoman Grace Meng
In honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Global Women Asia is proud to spotlight Congresswoman Grace Meng. As Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, Congresswoman Meng has been a powerful advocate for equity, representation, and the well-being of marginalized communities. She has also fought anti-Asian sentiment for many years, especially after the pandemic.
Congresswoman Grace Meng represents New York’s Sixth District. Serving her seventh term, she has been representing parts of Queens, New York, since 2013. She is the first and only Asian-American Member of Congress from New York State. She started her career as a public interest lawyer, then later served in the New York State Assembly before being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.
An advocate for working families, Congresswoman Meng has worked on passing legislation into laws addressing issues such as protecting public housing residents from insufficient heat, assisting veterans, supporting religious freedom, and combating hate and violence against Asian-American populations during the COVID-19 pandemic. She also wrote and introduced the “Menstrual Equity for All” Act in 2023 to address period poverty. She believes it's time to improve accessibility to menstrual products for women and to address disparities in healthcare.
Grace Meng, who is the daughter of two immigrant parents, attended the University of Michigan and received her law degree from Yeshiva University's Benjamin Cardozo School of Law.
1. What inspired you to enter the public sector? Why politics?
Becoming a Member of Congress is not something I planned to do. When I was a kid, I was very shy and did not like talking in class, much less in front of a large room. I really wanted to be a teacher or a lawyer, and I did wind up graduating from law school. But after a series of government internships, I became fascinated with government and felt like I wanted to be involved in making policies to improve our neighborhoods. So, I pursued public service. I first won a seat in the New York State Assembly, and a few years later succeeded the area’s longtime Congressman when he retired, becoming the first and only Asian American Congress member from New York.
2. Can you share any challenges you’ve faced as a woman of Asian descent in politics? How did you overcome them, and is there any advice you can share with others in our community who are minorities in their society, experiencing something similar?
Like many Asian Americans, I grew up with people often questioning whether I was American enough, and endured slurs and jokes about my appearance and the food I ate. Even as an elected official, I’ve been the recipient of ignorant and xenophobic comments, such as being told I speak English well, even though I was born and raised in New York City. As a Member of Congress, I’ve worked to combat these types of biases and stereotypes so that more Americans, and future generations, have a greater understanding of the Asian American community and how our contributions have made America the greatest country on the planet. These include efforts to promote the teaching of Asian Pacific American history in schools and creating the first national museum of Asian Pacific American History and Culture, among other things.
3. How do you see new health innovations, like telemedicine, shaping healthcare access in New York, where you are a representative?
Telemedicine skyrocketed during the COVID-19 crisis. It was a safe way for people to access the care they needed during the pandemic, and the practice has increased significantly, with many more patients taking advantage of the benefits it has to offer. I have pushed legislation to help telemedicine expand even further, and my work to increase internet access across the country has helped to facilitate this effort. I believe we will continue to see telemedicine be an important part of our healthcare system with enhanced access, convenience, and efficiency, especially for those located in rural areas across America.
4. You’ve expressed that “affordable health care is not a privilege, but a right” before. What is your next step toward affordable healthcare, and can you share a challenge in the way currently? How can Congress help communities access healthcare?
Yes, I do believe affordable health care is not a privilege, but a right, and I’ve continued to make that case. Right now, one of my biggest concerns about the future of affordable care is the threat to Medicaid. Under the GOP’s budget plan, Republicans would slash Medicaid by hundreds of billions of dollars, the single largest cut to Medicaid in our nation’s history. This would devastate millions of people across the country, taking away vital health care from low-income individuals as well as children and sick and elderly people, all to provide tax breaks for the richest people in our country. I am also extremely concerned about the impact that these cuts would have on facilities like hospitals and nursing homes. These draconian cuts are unacceptable, and I will continue to fight against this assault on Medicaid.
5. What is “period poverty,” and why did you introduce legislation to address this issue?
Period poverty is when those who menstruate cannot afford the menstrual products they require, and it is a huge problem throughout our country. It impacts one’s physical and mental health, self-perception, educational opportunities, and economic well-being. In Congress, I have worked to make these essential products more accessible to those who need them. My Menstrual Equity for All Act, the first comprehensive bill in Congress that seeks to address the hardships people face in affording and accessing menstrual products, would help ensure menstrual products are available to students, low-income individuals, people in shelters, incarcerated individuals, and other affected individuals. It would also prohibit sales tax on period products. The momentum surrounding my legislation continues to grow as more Americans learn how so many across our nation lack access to these basic and necessary products.
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