October 4, 2024

Supporting Israel

This week, we witnessed Iran's brutal, reckless missile attack on Israel, as well as a gunman opening fire on innocent Israelis. This war, spurred by Hamas and Hezbollah and funded by Iran is fueled by hatred for the Jewish people and the democratic way of life.

As our greatest ally in the Middle East, the United States must always stand with Israel in this fight.

Here at home, antisemitism is a virus that is seeping into all corners, from universities to neighborhoods to K-12 schools. Recently I joined my colleagues in Congress in calling for an investigation into the Santa Ana Unified School District's pattern of antisemitism.

Hatred and antisemitism have no place here in Southern California or anywhere else. I will always stand with Israel and pray for the Israeli lives lost this week and throughout this terrible war. 

Safeguarding the Cost of Living

Today, affordable living in Southern California is moving further and further from reach for many families. Goods like clothing, food, and utilities are going up in price, and family budgets are stretched thin. Events like this past week's labor strikes at the East and Gulf Coast shipping ports can have expensive consequences for families and the larger economy, such as increased prices at the grocery store.

That's why this week, I introduced the Safeguarding The Supply Chain Act, which would keep our economy moving by helping resolve disputes when they occur. I have also supported numerous other policies to combat inflation caused by wasteful government spending, including increasing the child tax credit, doubling the standard deduction for working families, and reducing spending.

Celebrating the Renaming of Little Saigon's Post Office

This week, I invited community leaders and members of local veteran organizations to join me in celebrating the passage of my bill to rename the post office in Westminster in honor of Vietnam War veterans.

The sacrifices of our veterans and members of the armed services will never be forgotten, and this post office will serve as a reminder of their heroic dedication. It's fitting that this tribute will be in Little Saigon, an area heavily populated with many freedom-loving Vietnamese Americans.

This was an amazing opportunity to gather with the very veterans who will be honored with this post office in the community and I look forward to celebrating again once this bill passes the Senate!

Read more on this legislation here.

Funding Tailored Education

For our students who may need a more specialized education, charter schools can fill in the gaps and provide a more targeted curriculum. Last week, I introduced legislation that will expand access to charter schools to help increase quality education opportunities for all children. The Equitable Access to School Facilities Act will provide states with funding and increased flexibility for charter school facilities and ongoing costs. Every student in America deserves an education that works for them. Wider access to public charter schools can help make that possible.

Read more on this legislation here.

Honoring Veterans of Distinction

Even after completing military service, veterans of our community do amazing work in making Southern California a better place to live through hard work, community outreach, and civic involvement.
With Veteran's Day approaching, my office wants to honor some of these incredible men and women with the "Veterans of Distinction" Award.
Visit here if you would like to nominate a veteran who lives or works in CA-45. 

What I'm Reading

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 Facebook, X, and Instagram pages, where I post the latest news and updates. It is an honor to serve you in Congress.

Sincerely,

Rep. Michelle Steel
Member of Congress