Dear neighbor, 

June is Gun Violence Prevention Month, a time to honor those affected by gun violence, and to continue the work to end the gun violence epidemic in our country. This week we also marked the seventh anniversary of the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida. Among the deadliest mass shootings in history, 49 people were murdered and dozens were injured at one of Orlando’s most popular LGBTQI+ clubs. Communities across our country have been torn apart by gun violence. We cannot go on this way. It’s time to end gun violence once and for all. 

Rather than addressing this crisis, extreme MAGA Republicans chose to focus on legislation that would make guns even more lethal. On Wednesday, Republicans passed a bill that would reverse federal regulations on pistol braces. These deadly accessories have been used in several recent mass shootings including Dayton, Ohio in 2019 (nine people killed), Boulder, CO in 2021 (ten people killed), and Nashville, TN in 2023 (three adults and three nine-year-old children killed). This is how radical Republicans have become. During the week of the anniversary of the Pulse shooting, in the middle of Gun Violence Prevention Month and Pride Month, they voted to make deadly guns even more dangerous.  

ICYMI: In addition to Pride Month and Gun Violence Prevention Month, June is also Immigrant Heritage Month. From our founding, our country has been shaped by the visions and contributions of immigrants. As an immigrant, I feel incredibly proud to be an American and want to ensure that all immigrants receive the same opportunities that I have had. Happy Immigrant Heritage Month! 

Here’s what else I’ve been working on this week:

• Welcomed the NCAA Champion UCLA women’s soccer team and men’s volleyball team to the Capitol! Go Bruins! 
  
• Discussed assignment restrictions and recruitment policies at the State Department to ensure our foreign policy experts and diplomats are the best and the brightest in the world. 
  
• Joined my colleague Congresswoman Kathy Manning (D-NC) in introducing the Right to Contraception Act to protect access to birth control. 
  
• Introduced a bill that would designate Russia a state sponsor of terrorism in response to Russia’s support for non-state terrorist groups before and during the war on Ukraine.  
  
• Gave remarks at the White House summit on American infrastructure. The historic infrastructure law will spur new projects in our community and around the country while creating new jobs and lowering the cost of infrastructure and transportation development. 

PHOTO OF THE WEEK: I’m proud to join the Congressional Men’s Health Caucus as the Democratic Vice Chair! Alongside my colleagues Congressmen Donald Payne, Jr. (D-NJ), Wesley Hunt (R-TX), and Glenn Grothman (R-WI), I’ll be focused on closing care gaps for underserved patients and addressing racial and ethnic disparities in health outcomes. Looking forward to more productive bipartisan conversations. 

CALLING ALL CODERS: The Congressional App Challenge is back! Students in middle and high school can now submit original computer programs or apps for consideration. Applications will remain open until November 1st. Winners will be selected by community judges, with winning apps or programs eligible to be displayed in the United States Capitol building, on house.gov, and on the Congressional App Challenge website! Students of all coding skill levels are encouraged to apply. For more information, please click here.

APPLICATIONS STILL OPEN! 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. It is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED that you check your passport and ensure that it is current or renew it before you plan a trip or purchase an international flight. 

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