Dear neighbor, 

I returned to Washington this week ready to continue House Democrats’ work lowering costs, creating jobs and delivering for American families. Unfortunately, we were met with more extreme MAGA chaos, dysfunction and extremism. Over 80% of House Republicans signed onto a proposed budget that would slash Social Security, end Medicare as we know it, ban abortion nationally, gut critical provisions of the Affordable Care Act, and jeopardize IVF access across the country.

There’s only one thing to say about the GOP’s out-of-touch budget proposal: it’s insane. Watch my remarks from this week’s Democratic Caucus press conference below. 

DON’T FORGET! Tax returns must be filed by this Monday, April 15! If you still need to file your taxes, California residents are able to file via the IRS’s Direct File Pilot Program! This tool allows residents of 12 states, including California, to file their taxes for free directly with the IRS.  

Thanks to other Democratic investments including the Inflation Reduction Act, IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers will be open this Saturday, April 13, so you can get face-to-face assistance with your taxes if you need it. Two service centers, one in Long Beach and one in downtown Los Angeles, will be open to assist you. 

Calling all veterans! We want to hear from you! The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is requesting input from veterans and their families about the design of the future West LA VA town center, which will be the heart of the growing veteran community on the West LA VA campus. Take this quick survey and make your voice heard about what you’d like to see happen on campus. Please feel free to share with your fellow veterans. If you or a loved one need help securing VA benefits, please call the casework team in my Los Angeles office at 323-651-1040. 

Here’s what else I worked on this week in Washington:

• Introduced a resolution with my fellow California Aerospace Caucus Co-Chair Ken Calvert (R-CA) to establish May 3 as National Space Day 
  
• Joined Rep. Kathy Manning (D-NC) and other co-chairs of the House and Senate Task Forces on Combating Antisemitism to introduce a new bill to strengthen federal efforts to fight antisemitism in our communities 
  
• Reaffirmed House Democrats’ commitment to restore the protections of Roe v. Wade in the face of the reenactment of a dangerous 160-year-old near-total abortion ban in Arizona 
  
• Met with Ukrainian officials to discuss what Ukraine needs to beat Russia and support for Ukrainian veterans 
  
• Greeted Prime Minister Fumio Kishida before his address to Congress during his official state visit 

JOIN US FOR OUR YOUTH TOWN HALL! I am pleased to host our annual Youth Town Hall featuring our Youth Advisory Council to discuss their work in the past year. Join us for this virtual discussion on Saturday, May 4 at 2:00 PM. To register, click here or on the flyer below. To submit questions for the Council and me, send an email to [email protected] by Friday, April 26 at 5:00 PM. 

For more information on my work in Congress, please visit my website at lieu.house.gov and follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Threads 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. 

Warmly, 
Ted