Dear neighbor, 

This week was a chaotic one in Washington. The House was unable to vote on legislation because MAGA extremists held up critical procedures to demand more radical concessions out of Speaker McCarthy. It was an embarrassment to the institution and a waste of critical time we should be spending legislating on behalf of the American people. 

Despite this MAGA-manufactured chaos, I am pleased at how strong our economy has become under President Biden. Last week’s May jobs report showed that President Biden and Democrats’ economic plan is working. The U.S. economy added 339,000 jobs in May, which exceeded expectations. Since President Biden took office, we’ve added over 13 million jobs to our economy. To put that into context: President Biden and Democrats have created more jobs in a little over two years than any prior President did during an entire four-year term. Here’s some additional great news: the May jobs report also confirmed that labor force participation for most demographic groups now exceeds pre-pandemic levels. In short: America’s workers are back. 

AND A CHERRY ON TOP: In addition to another month of solid jobs numbers, we also learned that the annual inflation rate has fallen for ten months straight. That means inflation has decreased more than 40 percent since its peak last summer. That is great news for families as we head into the summer months. Additionally, over the past year, wages have grown for workers across the economy, with the largest wage gains concentrated among workers with the lowest incomes. Together, House Democrats and President Biden are successfully building an economy that works for all Americans from the bottom up and the middle out. 

FLASHBACK FRIDAY: Last week, the House and Senate passed the Bipartisan Budget Agreement to avoid a catastrophic default on our national debt. Since then, President Biden signed this critical bill into law, avoiding a MAGA-manufactured crisis. We successfully preserved the full faith and credit of the United States while protecting federal programs that American families, seniors, and veterans rely on. This bipartisan deal was a critical step forward, and House Democrats are committed to continuing our work to deliver better-paying jobs and lower costs for Americans. 

Here’s what else I’ve been working on in Washington:

• Applauded the various transportation and infrastructure projects in our district that are receiving federal funds through the historic Infrastructure Law! I’m glad to see these grants at work in our community, including at King’s Harbor in Redondo Beach, Zamperini Field in Torrance, and the Santa Monica Airport! To learn more about federal investments in Los Angeles and around the country, click here. 
• Honored the brave servicemembers who stormed the beaches of Normandy on the 79th anniversary of D-Day. Their sacrifice changed the course of history. 
• Joined my colleague Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) to reintroduce the American Family Act, which would make the Child Tax Credit (CTC) permanent. The CTC was the largest tax cut for middle-class and working families in generations and lifted nearly four million children out of poverty. I’m determined to see this important bill signed into law. 

PHOTO OF THE WEEK: As Pride Month continues, the House Democratic Caucus and Congressional Equality Caucus hosted a roundtable discussion this week with LGBTQI+ youth and their families. We discussed the recent attacks on transgender youth featuring input from advocates and experts about what we can do to protect LGBTQI+ young people. I firmly believe that health care decisions should be made between a patient and their health care providers. This Pride Month, House Democrats stand united against hateful anti-LGBTQI+ legislation.  

CALLING YOUTH LEADERS: Applications for our 2023-2024 Youth Advisory Council are now open, and I encourage all high school students interested in policy, government, or public service to apply! This is a fantastic opportunity for young people to meet with their peers and discuss solutions to the most pressing issues facing the next generation. Our district is home to so many bright young people, and I look forward to welcoming a new group of them to the Youth Advisory Council soon. Applications are due July 7th. To learn more and apply, please click here.   

PREPARE FOR TAKEOFF: If you’re planning international travel, don’t forget to check your passport’s expiration date! Passports that will expire within a year should be renewed. Please reach out to my Los Angeles office if you or your family need assistance with passport renewal. 

Due to a higher volume of requests across the country, the State Department has said standard passport processing times are now 10 to 13 weeks, while expedited processing time has risen to seven to nine weeks. If you need to apply for a new passport in person, please click here. If you have a passport that will expire within six months and need to renew it via mail, or if you need to correct or change your current passport, please click here. If you’ve already applied for a new or renewed passport and would like to check the status of your request, please click here.  

For more information on my work in Congress, please visit my website at lieu.house.gov and follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. If you have any questions or concerns, please call my D.C. office at (202) 225-3976 or my Los Angeles district office at (323) 651-1040.   

I look forward to updating you again soon.  

Sincerely, 

Ted W. Lieu

Member of Congress