Welcome to Catch Up With Young Kim, my weekly e-newsletter to get you the latest on my work for you in Congress.

My team and I are here to serve you. If you ever need assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office. I also encourage you to receive real-time updates on my work for you in Congress by following me on Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Instagram.

I welcomed Fox 11 LA's Elex Michaelson to my DC office this week to discuss my priorities this Congress as well as the need to deliver wildfire assistance and address the border security crisis. 

I'm proud of my effective record and will keep fighting for commonsense solutions.

Our service members should not have to worry about whether their families can receive VA health care as they transition to civilian life.

The Combat Veterans Pre-Enrollment Act addresses any lapse in care and gives our armed forces certainty they deserve.

Southern California wildfires, including the Airport Fire in our area last fall, are a pressing reminder of the importance of wildfire response. Our first responders need all available tools to keep our communities safe and combat the ever-changing threat posed by wildfires.

My DEMO Act to help test and deploy emerging technologies for wildfire mitigation passed the House through the bipartisan Fix our Forests Act this week. I am thrilled this important initiative to update wildfire response tools is included in the Fix our Forests Act and will keep fighting to get this done.

I testified at the House Ways and Means Committee Member Day on the importance of addressing the cap on state and local tax (SALT) deductions for my constituents.

I'll keep working to get this done and provide relief for our community. 

I was humbled to be in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda for the inauguration of our 45th and 47th President on Monday.

The president’s success is our nation’s success. I look forward to working with President Trump and his administration to get our country back on the right track.

As always, building on my time in Congress for the last four years, I’ll continue to be an independent fighter and work with whoever wants to work with me to get things done for Southern California communities.

Congratulations to Aliso Viejo students Magic Champion, Ethan Do, Mugilan Nambi, and Luke Kesoglou of Boy Scouts Troop 700 for attaining the rank of Eagle Scout!

I joined KTLA's Inside Politics over the weekend to discuss the importance of delivering wildfire aid to communities that need it. If more federal aid is needed, we must deliver, and the aid must be used as intended.

As a mom and grandma, hearing the horrific stories of Americans' lives taken by illegal immigrants is heartbreaking.

Laken Riley should still be with us today.

I'm proud to have voted for the bipartisan Laken Riley Act to ensure illegal immigrants who commit crimes are detained.

Beijing’s ‘national security law’ is a façade used by CCP officials to promote authoritarianism and exert control over Hong Kongers.

I refuse to let Beijing silence the voices of freedom-loving people. That's why I'm leading the bipartisan Hong Kong Sanctions Act, which demonstrates the United States’ commitment to uplifting the voices of Hong Kongers and holding officials accountable for human rights violations.

As the new year begins, I humbly ask you take 30 seconds to share your priorities with me, so I can better serve you in Congress. I'm laser-focused on delivering results for you.

My team is committed to providing accessible, responsive, and effective service. 
 
We have district offices in Anaheim Hills and Mission Viejo, and we will hold mobile office hours in Chino Hills, Laguna Woods, and El Modena. 
 
Please reach out with any casework questions. 

In Congress, I secured resources through the FY24 appropriations packages for vital projects in CA-40 that protect public health, support law enforcement, and keep our communities safe.

My office is seeing an increase in casework requests related to cybercrimes. As we see hackers use sophisticated tactics to take your personal information, please remain vigilant and be careful of suspicious links, calls, and messages. If something seems suspect, trust your instinct and do not click. 

Are you traveling planning travel for this year? Stop what you’re doing and check your passport!  

Processing times are now 4-6 weeks (routine) or 2-3 weeks (expedited, not incl. shipping). Start your renewal or application at travel.state.gov/passport.

Passport processing times are the fastest they’ve been since March 2020. Take advantage and apply or renew now so that you’re ready for international travel in the new year. 

Travel Tip -- Many countries require your passport to be valid for at least six months after your departure. Look up your destination’s entry requirements at travel.state.gov/destination and check your passport expiration date before booking flights.

Travelers are encouraged to wait to book international travel until a valid passport is physically in hand, apply for a new or renewed passport 9 months prior to travel, and ensure that their passport doesn’t expire within 6 months of their international travel dates.

If your pending application was filed with routine service and you have upcoming travel, you may benefit from upgrading to expedited service. Please dial (877) 487-2778 to upgrade to expedited service and shipping.  

Please do not hesitate to reach out to my office if we can assist you in any way at (714) 984-2440.  

The Department of State advises U.S. citizens overseas to exercise increased caution as tensions around the world increase the potential for terrorist attacks, demonstrations, or violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests, the Department of State advises U.S. citizens overseas to exercise increased caution. 

U.S. citizens should:

• Stay alert in locations frequented by tourists.
• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive information and alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency overseas.
• Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter and visit travel.state.gov.

If you are traveling abroad or are abroad please check the destination warning levels travel.state.gov, and be sure to register for the STEP program even if you are abroad. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office at my website or at (714) 984-2440 if you have any questions or need assistance.

If you need help with a federal agency, please reach out to my office. We’re here to serve you always.

Have a great weekend!

Sincerely,

Young Kim