Dear neighbor, 

This week marked five years since the horrific mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida where seventeen students, teachers, and administrators were tragically killed. As we remembered the lives of those victims, another community was torn apart by gun violence, this time at Michigan State University in East Lansing. And just this week, right here in our community, two Jewish men were targeted and shot outside shuls in the Pico-Robertson neighborhood. America has a gun problem and the time for real action is long overdue. We also need to fight antisemitism and acts of hate wherever and whenever they occur. 

Last Congress, I was honored to vote in favor of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the most significant action Congress has taken in recent years to end the scourge of gun violence in our nation. While I’m proud of what we accomplished, I know that there is still a great deal of work to be done. As your representative in Congress, I am committed to supporting legislation that would keep our kids safe at school and reduce the risk of gun violence in our communities. 

During this busy district work period, I had the pleasure of visiting Mira Costa High School in Manhattan Beach, which is the site of the first Friendship Club established by the Friendship Foundation. I was pleased to secure $1 million in federal funding for the Foundation in the Fiscal Year 2023 government spending package. These federal resources will allow for the expansion of social programs for students with special needs at K-12 schools in the South Bay community. Friendship Clubs promote inclusion and acceptance among students and foster meaningful, lasting friendships for students in special education. I am so proud of what the Foundation has done to support young people in our district, and I am looking forward to seeing what they can do with this increased funding.

As we settle into the 118th Congress, I’ve been focused on preparing our country for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI). As you may know, I recently introduced the first federal measure written by AI to call attention to this rapidly developing field. I’m also working on additional legislation that would establish a bipartisan commission to investigate how to most effectively regulate AI. This exciting new technology could be incredibly disruptive to society as we know it and Congress must act to harness its amazing power while limiting its potential harms. I sat down with my colleagues Congressmen Don Beyer and Jay Obernolte on NBC’s Meet the Press to talk about why Congress needs to regulate AI and our plans to do so. Check it out below. 

Here’s a look at what else I’ve been working on this week: 

• Issued a statement condemning recent acts of violence against members of the Jewish community in our district
• Joined CNBC’s Frank Holland to talk about the risks of unregulated AI and my efforts to encourage congressional oversight. Watch the full interview here. 
• Signed on to cosponsor a bipartisan resolution condemning Azerbaijan's blockade of Artsakh. The United States must stand up for our allies in Armenia and hold Azerbaijan accountable for this catastrophic action. 
• Thanked California Senator Dianne Feinstein for her leadership and service upon her announcement that she will not seek reelection to the Senate in 2024. Senator Feinstein is a tireless public servant and led the way for generations of female leaders in our state. 
• Checked to make sure my passport is up to date! Are you planning an international trip soon? Due to normal seasonal demands, processing times for passport requests are increasing to 8-11 weeks for standard processing and 5-7 weeks for expedited processing. For more information and to submit your passport application, click here.  

#FlashbackFriday: I’m so proud of all that President Biden and House Democrats have accomplished to deliver lower costs, better-paying jobs, and safer communities for the American people. It was an honor to escort the President into the House Chamber for his awesome State of the Union address last week.  

APPLY NOW: The deadline for Art Competition submissions is just one week away! The Congressional Art Competition is an opportunity for students in our district to showcase their artistic talents. Click here for more information on the competition and submission details. Entrants are invited to our reception at the Otis College of Art and Design on March 18th.  

For more on my work in Congress, please visit my website at lieu.house.gov and follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. If you have any questions or concerns, please call our D.C. office at (202) 225-3976 or our Los Angeles district office at (323) 651-1040. 

I look forward to updating you again soon. 

Sincerely, 

Ted W. Lieu 

Member of Congress