December 30, 2022

Looking Back on the 117th Congress

Over the past two years, I've focused on fighting tax increases, standing up to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), fixing our supply chains, ending discrimination in higher education, and serving the people of Southern California. Here are some of the highlights from the 117th Congress...

Fighting Tax Increases

When the Biden Administration introduced their plan to spend $80 billion to hire 87,000 new IRS agents to target middle-class Americans with a flood of audits, I immediately introduced legislation to defund this plan. When Republicans lead the House on January 3rd, 2023, this will be a day one priority.

Many of you have heard of the Administration's plans to target Americans who use third-party payment platforms like Venmo, Zelle, or PayPal. In the 118th Congress, I will re-introduce my SNOOP Act to stop this overreach and protect American workers from federal snooping on their private financial information.

Standing Up to the CCP

The CCP is the greatest foreign threat to America, and we must hold them accountable. That's why I'm working to counter the use of LOGINK, a shipping logistics technology that could allow the CCP to disrupt our supply chains or spy on U.S. Navy ships. We took a big first step this year to counter this technology by requiring a report to Congress on the scope of the threat. In the new Congress, I'll keep working to ban LOGINK.

I also returned from Taiwan recently and have seen first-hand the severity of the threat that the CCP poses to the island nation. In the new Congress, we must pass my Taiwan Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act to show the CCP we will not tolerate threats against the U.S. or our allies.

Fixing Our Supply Chains

For months, our supply chains have been experiencing strain, causing delays in shipping of goods and massive financial losses for business and workers. When the baby formula crisis struck, I introduced the Access to Baby Formula Act to prevent this crisis from happening again. That bill became law earlier this year. I also worked to establish a task force to address the backlog at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach and prevent further disruptions. That proposal became law as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) earlier this month. In the coming Congress, I will continue working to repair and streamline our supply chains.

Ending Discrimination

Discrimination of any kind is morally wrong. Unfortunately, universities across the country are discriminating against Asian Americans. That's why I filed an amicus brief in two Supreme Court cases this year challenging affirmative action, and introduced legislation to require transparency from universities who discriminate on the basis of race. We must continue to stamp out discrimination wherever we find it.

Serving You

One of my most important jobs as your Representative in Congress is to help you navigate the federal bureaucracy. This Congress, my team helped more than 3,000 constituents seeking assistance with government agencies, and successfully returned more than $19 million directly to taxpayers. I am committed to continuing to serve you in the 118th Congress. If you need assistance with a federal agency like the Department of State, IRS, or VA, please do not hesitate to contact my office on my website or by calling (714) 960-6483.

The 118th Congress will begin on January 3, 2023 and we have a lot of work to do. We'll need to hit the ground running to deliver for the American people, and I want to hear from you...

What are your top priorities for Congress to address in the new year?
Immigration and border security Holding the Chinese Communist Party accountable Inflation and the cost of living Lowering taxes and regulatory reform Energy independence and gas prices Healthcare access and affordability Rising crime and public safety Defending human rights Other
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Intern in My Office

The application to intern in my D.C. or District office during the Spring session is closing on January 15! If you are high school or college student looking to learn more about Congress and the legislative process, an internship in my office can be a fun, educational, and exciting opportunity.

Candidates must possess excellent writing and verbal communication skills. In addition, we are seeking highly collaborative team players with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment. 

If you are a hardworking, dedicated individual who has a desire to help improve our Southern California communities, then an internship in my office might be for you! Visit my website to learn more and apply.
Apply Now

Announcing the Winner of the Congressional App Challenge

I want to extend my congratulations to Joyce De Quiros of Costa Mesa, who is a Junior at Newport Harbor High School, for winning this year’s Congressional App Challenge (CAC). Her app is a reflection of the exceptional talent of Southern California students, and I commend her and all of this year’s participants for their hard work and creativity. Maintaining American competitiveness in the world economy starts with building the best workforce in the world, and with students like Joyce dedicating themselves to developing their STEM and computer skills to improve our communities, the future is bright.

The CAC was created by Congress to recognize the importance of developing STEM and computer-based skills, in which the U.S. has been falling behind, to economic growth and innovation. STEM and computer-based skills are the foundation of many high-paying, high-demand jobs, and maintaining American competitiveness requires the United States to invest in our youth now to help them acquire these valuable skills. The CAC encourages students to pursue those skills and recognizes them for their efforts.

Learn More About Joyce's App and the CAC on My Website

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, Twitter, 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