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 have always been an independent fighter for our community and remain focused on delivering real results to make life more affordable for you and your family.

I recently wrote an op-ed for the Orange County Register outlining H.R.1, which is now law, and my vote to get American back on track. 

The CCP controls 92% of global rare earth element processing – critical minerals that power our smartphones, drive renewable energy systems, and protect our national security.  

As Chairwoman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on East Asia and Pacific, I led a hearing on how the U.S. can break Beijing’s chokehold on our critical minerals supply chains.

Burnout and unsustainable schedules are hurting our nursing workforce. I led the bipartisan National Nursing Workforce Center Act to strengthen the nursing workforce pipeline and ensure our heroes have the support they deserve.

I met with Rear Admiral Sean Regan to discuss his vital work in District 14 – the Coast Guard’s largest area of responsibility, spanning the Pacific. I am to support their mission on the front lines of countering CCP aggression and advancing U.S. strategy in the Indo-Pacific. 

For too long, the Chinese Communist Party has held the reins on global telecommunications networks. I helped lead the Securing Global Telecommunications Act to secure our telecommunications infrastructure. 

I joined the CSIS Clean Energy Strategy Conference to discuss the importance of partnering with our allies to promote energy innovation and protect our national security.

California has the highest percentage of crypto owners in the nation. Our policies must keep up by supporting innovation and protecting consumers. I was proud to support the GENIUS, CLARITY, and Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act to secure America’s spot as the crypto capital of the world. 

I was honored to be among this year’s APIAHF Healthcare Champions of Change.  
I will continue to work with anyone and everyone to ensure that Americans can access their health care. 

Economic policy should be at the forefront of our U.S. foreign policy. Anything less is unacceptable and hurts American businesses both at home and overseas. I thank the AmChams of Asia Pacific for recognizing my work and will keep fighting for fair policies that strengthen our access to foreign markets.

I applaud Secretary Duffy for pumping the brakes on federal support for California's High-Speed Rail to nowhere that is lighting hard-earned taxpayer dollars on fire.

I enjoyed meeting with BIO’s Women’s Health Task Force to discuss how we can support startups, advance research into novel treatments, and remove barriers to life-saving health innovation. Great to see women in STEM leading the way in tackling our nation’s challenges!

The QUAD is a critical security partnership and the cornerstone of a free and open Indo-Pacific. I led a roundtable with partners from Japan, Australia, and India to discuss shared threats from the Chine Communist Party and strengthening QUAD collaboration. 

Foreign direct investment keeps over 800,000 Californians employed. I asked the House Financial Services Committee how the U.S. can protect national security while keeping America open for business with our allies and partners. 

I met with interns from the Armenian Assembly of America to learn more about their work and involvement with the Congressional Armenian Caucus. I always welcome young leaders in my office! 

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 $29 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