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 am looking forward to joining our community over the long weekend to commemorate Memorial Day and pay tribute to our fallen heroes. We are the land of the free because of the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice to defend our nation's freedoms.

This week, the House voted on H.R. 1, which has big wins for working families and small businesses hurting from persistent inflation.

I stood up to House leadership to secure a 400% increase in the cap on state and local tax (SALT) deductions to allow constituents to keep more of their hard-earned money.

The bill also brings relief by: 

• Cutting middle-class taxes and giving a $2,500 child tax credit
• Cutting taxes on small businesses and boosting the standard deduction
• Eliminating taxes on tips and overtime pay
• Creating a pilot program that provides newborns with a $1,000 investment account

According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, nearly 25,000 small businesses across Rep. Kim’s district will see an increase of approximately $21,906,300 in their qualified business income deduction through the bill’s passage.  

Additionally, there has been a lot of misinformation about this bill's impact on Medicaid. I've been meeting with constituent groups, hospitals, and health care providers for months on this issue and worked with my colleagues to ensure vital Medicaid services were not cut.

This bill strengthens Medicaid services for seniors, expectant mothers, children, those with disabilities, and low-income individuals — our most vulnerable citizens who the program is intended to serve. Able-bodied adults without dependents receiving Medicaid services can continue to receive benefits under this bill simply by verifying minimum monthly hours of working, volunteering, job training, or learning. 

The VA approved more than 63% of military sexual trauma claims, up from roughly 40% more than a decade ago. We must ensure MST survivors receive the certainty, compassion, and care they deserve. I'm thrilled my bipartisan bill to do exactly that just passed out of the House!

This week, the City of Orange hosted 100 active service men and women in celebration of LA Fleet Week Memorial Day. Team Young was honored to join the welcome ceremony and thank these heroes as we honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation's freedoms we hold dear.

Foreign policy should advance America's economic and security interestes. I asked Secretary Rubio at this week's House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing how the State Department can better help American businesses and ensure U.S. leadership on the world stage.

Our community faced the wrath of the Airport Fire that burned nearly 24,000 acres less than a year ago. The more we fact find from past wildfires, the better we can ensure our first responders are prepared for future wildfires.

We must do all we can to support our first responders running into harm’s way to keep us safe, which is why I’m proud to join fellow Orange County Rep. Dave Min to lead the BRUSH Fires Act.

While I remain firm in my principles, I believe bipartisanship drives results and is needed now more than ever to deliver solutions for complex challenges. I am honored to receive FMC's 2025 Statesmanship Award and appreciate their work to foster opportunities for collaboration here at home and around the world.

Our regulations are restricting the government from understanding the needs of small businesses. Policies should make small businesses' lives easier, not harder.

I'm thrilled my bill to reduce red tape passed out of Financial Committee.

I enjoyed catching up with our Yorba Linda community at Lobsterfest over the weekend!

This antisemitic violence targeting young Jewish professionals is horrific and unacceptable. No one should live in fear because of their faith. My heart breaks for the victims’ loved ones.

I spoke on the House floor in support of my bipartisan Strengthening the Quad Act, which passed the House to reaffirm our partnership with Japan, Australia, and India. We must ramp up the Quad’s collaboration to protect U.S. interests and support our allies and friends.

Team Young enjoyed welcoming constituents from Chino Hills, Trabuco Canyon, and Aliso Viejo this week for Capitol tours during their trips to Washington, DC.

If you're coming to DC this summer, please let us know. We'd love to show you around!

Violence targeting a fertility clinic is unconscionable. I am relieved to know that no innocent lives were taken due to this horrendous act. 

My heart is with those impacted in the Palm Springs community as law enforcement continues to investigate this attack.

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

TSA requires REAL IDs for domestic travel starting May 7, 2025 and for entering certain federal facilities. Learn more here.

State Department processing times for passports 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.

I am thrilled that Team Young has helped return over $27 million back to taxpayers from federal agencies.

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