December 8, 2023

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Dear John, 

This week the entire world watched the presidents of three of our nation's most prestigious universities fail at the very simple task of condemning calls for the genocide of Jewish people, demonstrating exactly what happens when we allow foreign adversaries to buy influence on our college campuses. Fortunately, the House passed my bill to bring accountability and transparency to the funds behind these influence campaigns.

I also had meetings with representatives from the Indo-Pacific region to discuss ways we can strengthen our partnership on behalf of freedom and democracy in the region, and there's one week left to apply for an internship in my office.

Get the details about all of this and more below, and make sure to follow my FacebookInstagram, and X to get these updates in real-time.


Deterring Foreign Influence

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WATCH: "Our Campuses are Infected. The DETERRENT Act is Disinfectant"

This week at an Education and Workforce Committee hearing on the rise of antisemitism on college campuses, the world saw what happens when America’s adversaries are permitted to buy influence at our universities. The presidents of three of our nation's most prestigious universities failed to demonstrate the most basic levels of humanity when discussing antisemitism on campus.

While they may equivocate about calls for genocide and fail to protect Jewish students, Congress won't. That's why I am pleased to report that, this week, the House passed my bill, the Defending Education Transparency and Ending Rogue Regimes Engaging in Nefarious Transactions (DETERRENT) Act to crack down on this crisis in our higher education system.

As our college campuses are subjected to the rampant spread of antisemitism and the continued presence of CCP influence campaigns, it is critical that we expose the forces attempting to influence our children. When foreign governments give money to our universities, they don’t do it out of the goodness of their hearts; they want something in return. Whether it’s terror friendly states like Qatar and Iran, or brutal human rights abusers like the CCP, our campuses must not become puppets of countries who hate America.

I’m proud to have introduced the DETERRENT Act with Education and Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC), and I thank all my colleagues who supported this legislation. By passing this bill, we’ve taken an important step in protecting our future leaders, but the job is not done. This is an urgent threat, and I'm calling on my Senate colleagues to take up this measure immediately, send it to the President’s desk for his signature, and deter any further effort to meddle in our students’ education.

Read More in the Washington Examiner

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Had a productive meeting with Taiwan Mainland Affairs Council Minister Chiu this week. The partnership between the U.S. and Taiwan has never been more important, and I’m committed to strengthening it.


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WATCH: Rep. Steel Questions University Presidents About Sources of Foreign Funding.

At this week's Education and Workforce Committee on rising antisemitism on college campuses, I asked University of Pennsylvania President Magill how much money the pro-Hamas state of Qatar has dumped into her university.

She didn't seem to know. This is exactly why the House passed my DETERRENT Act.  


Fighting CCP Human Rights Abuses

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I am deeply troubled that innocent North Koreans who fled communism to look for freedom are facing forcible repatriation back to North Korea where they will face serious human rights abuses including torture, rape, forced labor, and death. 

That's why I led a letter with Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) to the United Nations, demanding protections for the approximately 2,000 North Korean defectors, including women and children, who are currently being detained by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

The letter also calls for the removal of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) from the UN Human Rights Council until the PRC complies with internationally recognized human rights.

Read More from Real Clear Politics

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Japanese Congressional Minister Tomoaki Ishigaki and I met this week to discuss the latest developments in the Indo-Pacific. I was raised in Japan, and I know that the relationship between our two countries must continue to grow to meet the challenges of the 21st century.


Intern in My Office

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The application to intern in my D.C. or District office during the Spring session is open! If you are a high school or college student looking to learn more about Congress and the legislative process, an internship in my office can be a fun, educational, and exciting opportunity.

Candidates must possess excellent writing and verbal communication skills. In addition, we are seeking highly collaborative team players with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.

If you are a hardworking, dedicated individual who has a desire to help improve our Southern California communities, then an internship in my office might be for you!

Learn More and Apply

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What I'm Reading

Fox News: Biden-Xi summit: Showing weakness to this evil regime endangers Americans

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"President Biden recently rolled out the red carpet for Chairman Xi Jinping, ready to make nice with the regime responsible for reprehensible human rights violations and an ongoing campaign to undermine democracy around the world."

Read More

CNBC: Fed’s favorite gauge shows inflation rose 0.2% in October and 3.5% from year ago

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"Inflation as measured by personal spending increased in line with expectations in October, possibly giving the Federal Reserve more incentive to hold rates steady and perhaps start cutting in 2024, according to a data release Thursday."

Read More


Thanks for taking the time to read about what I've been doing on behalf of Southern California families. Be sure to connect with my official FacebookX, and Instagram pages, where I post the latest news and updates. It is an honor to serve you in Congress.

Sincerely,
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Rep. Michelle Steel
Member of Congress

 
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