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Newsmakers of the Week FEBRUARY 28, 2025 | The Indian Eye 28

BRIAN GREENE GRACE MENG

NASA astronaut visits CAPAC chair criticizes

Taj Mahal Trump’s address

ongressional Asian Pacific
American Caucus (CAPAC)
CChair Rep. Grace Meng (NY-
06) released the following statement
on President Trump’s divisive Joint
Address to Congress:
“President Trump had the chance
to deliver a speech that unified the
country and addressed the urgent
needs of the American people. In-
stead, he chose to sow division, spread
lies, and gaslight the public about his
extreme policies that would harm the working class and millions of Asian Amer-
icans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI) across the nation.”
“Trump and Congressional Republicans want to pay for tax breaks for bil-
lionaires by slashing Medicaid, gutting public education, and ripping away food
assistance—vital programs that our community depends on. His administration
is intent on erasing AANHPI contributions from American history, ripping im-
migrant communities apart, and eliminating language access for individuals with
limited English proficiency.”
“No golden age of America can happen while the lives and livelihoods of
Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders are under attack. We
will not be silenced. We will not be erased. And we will never stop demanding the
respect, justice, and equality our communities deserve.”
The budget resolution passed by House Republicans and endorsed by Pres-
ident Trump would cut up to $2.5 trillion in federal Medicaid funding in order
to pay for tax breaks for billionaires and big corporations. This would threaten
healthcare coverage for 4.5 million AANHPIs that were enrolled in Medicaid
comprehensive benefits in 2020.
The budget resolution also threatens funding for food assistance, public
raising India’s distinctive approach to education and scientific research, education, school lunches, and affordable healthcare. Specific programs and
Brian Greene, a renowned theoretical physicist, author, and professor benefits at risk of cuts include the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
Pof mathematics and physics at Columbia University, emphasised the en- (SNAP), Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), Pell grants, Head
thusiasm and ambition of Indian students to make a global impact. Start, and the Affordable Care Act.
“The passion for science and innovation that I have witnessed in India is In addition to these harmful cuts, President Trump recently revoked Execu-
unparalleled. The energy and curiosity among students here are truly inspir- tive Order (EO) 13166, Improving Access to Services for Persons with Limited En-
ing,” Greene said during his visit to the Taj Mahal, as quoted by the Ministry glish Proficiency, that required federal agencies to provide language access to in-
of Culture. dividuals with limited English proficiency (LEP) who need help accessing federal
Praising India’s distinctive approach to education and scientific research, services. This impacts nearly 32 percent of the AANHPI community that has LEP.
he emphasized the enthusiasm and ambition of Indian students to make a
global impact. To read more about Indian diaspora and Global Indians, log on to and follow
“India is even more beautiful from the ground,” remarked former NASA our website www.TheIndianEYE.com
astronaut Mike Massimino, who has observed the country from space.
Expressing his admiration for India’s aesthetic appeal, he lauded the ex-
ceptional craftsmanship of the Taj Mahal, calling it a testament to India’s rich
legacy of engineering and design, the statement said.
Greene and Mike Massimino are currently on a visit to India, immersing
themselves in the country’s rich scientific, educational, and cultural heritage.
As part of their visit, they explored the iconic Taj Mahal, where they
shared their admiration for India’s advancements in science, engineering, and
craftsmanship, as per the statement.
Greene is celebrated for his groundbreaking contributions to superstring
theory, including the co-discovery of mirror symmetry and the discovery of
spatial topology change.
Mike Massimino, a veteran of two NASA space missions, holds a PhD
in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
(MIT) and currently serves as a professor of mechanical engineering at Co-
lumbia University. As the first astronaut to tweet from space, he has played
a significant role in space exploration, particularly in the Hubble Space Tele-
scope servicing missions in 2002 and 2009, the Ministry stated.

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