Dear neighbor,
This week, I arrived back in Washington ready to work with my colleagues to pass laws to help the American people. Instead, the week devolved into chaos, confusion, and crisis at the hands of extreme MAGA Republicans. Speaker Kevin McCarthy was ousted by a Motion to Vacate filed by a Member of his own party.
From the beginning of the 118th Congress in January, House Democrats have fought hard to improve everyday life for American families. It is our constitutional duty to carry on the business of governing. Unfortunately, extreme Republicans have shown they can’t govern. Democrats stand ready to work on a bipartisan path forward. But we need a willing partner who will abandon MAGA extremism.
This is a solemn time for our country. While extreme MAGA Republicans fight amongst themselves, House Democrats remain united in our goal to provide lower costs, better paying jobs, and safer communities for the American people. It is our hope that reasonable Republican Members will step away from this madness and join us to govern effectively and responsibly on behalf of our constituents.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: While the House floor was still functioning last week, I reintroduced a bold, progressive plan to address the urgent climate crisis. The Climate Solutions Act would invest in our renewable energy industry and require that 100 percent of electricity sold in our country be generated by renewable sources by 2035. It would also significantly limit greenhouse gas emissions and create a national energy efficiency standard.
Climate change is the single greatest threat to humanity. I came to Congress in 2015 with the goal of confronting the climate crisis and ensuring the long-term safety and sustainability of people and our planet. The time for climate action is now. Read more about the Climate Solutions Act here.
NEWS: We learned today that September was another great month for American workers, with 336,000 jobs created and inflation coming down! Our economy has added nearly 14 million jobs since President Biden took office. Democrats put people over politics to deliver new jobs.
BOOKING A HOLIDAY TRIP? If you’re planning to travel abroad, don’t forget to check your passport’s expiration date! Passports that will expire within a year should be renewed now. Please reach out to my Los Angeles office if you or your family need assistance with passport renewal. The State Department HIGHLY RECOMMENDS that you check your passport and ensure that it is current or renew it before you plan an international trip.
The State Department recently updated its passport waiting times to reflect efforts to address delays. Wait times for standard passport processing are now expected to be eight to 11 weeks, while expedited processing will take five to seven weeks.
Last week I joined Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA) to introduce the PASSPORT Act, which would improve communication between the State Department, airlines, and passport holders by notifying folks when their passport is one year away from expiration. This would cut down on passport delays and reduce the risk of missing a flight due to an expired passport. We’re committed to seeing this important legislation signed into law. In the meantime, please be sure to check your passport!
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
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