Greetings!
This week, we kicked off Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. I'm back home in Orange County and have been spending time celebrating our vibrant AAPI communities, meeting with constituents, and learning about the ways local organizations are working to serve the needs of our area. Meanwhile, Sacramento is looking to hike gas taxes on families already feeling pain at the pump. Read on to learn about how I'm fighting back and to get more highlights about this week!
Make sure to follow my Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to get these updates in real-time! Here are some highlights from my week: |
|
Happy AAPI Heritage Month! |
|
May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, a time to celebrate the contributions, history, and traditions of millions of AAPIs across our country. As a first generation Korean American, I’m especially proud to represent the incredible AAPI families working and living in Orange County. I’ll be highlighting some of these folks throughout the rest of the month so be sure to follow along as we celebrate our vibrant AAPI communities!
|
|
I recognized the Korean American Chamber of Commerce of Orange County (KACCOC ) as the Community Based Organization of the Month. Our Korean owned and operated businesses are a vital part of our community. The KACCOC is working hard to make sure that businesses can survive and thrive in our area, and I’m glad to partner with them to ensure federal policies promote growth and stability for small businesses.
|
I also attended the City of Westminster’s park dedication in honor of former councilman Tony Lam - the first Vietnamese American to hold an elected position in the US – and to present him with Congressional recognition of his years of service to our community and for paving the way for Vietnamese Americans to serve their communities
|
|
|
Today I joined more than 500 attendees at the Korean American Federation of North Orange County's first annual Korean American Senior Citizen's Celebration. It's always great to be face to face with the people of our community. Thanks to the KAFNOC for putting on such a wonderful event!
|
|
|
|
WATCH: Rep. Steel Celebrates the Beginning of AAPI Heritage Month |
|
My staff will be hosting mobile office hours in Laguna Niguel on May 13th and Garden Grove on June 10th. Mobile office hours provide an opportunity to get one-on-one, in person assistance with federal agencies from my staff. Mobile office hours are open to the public.
|
|
Friday, June 10th 8am-1pm
Garden Grove City Hall, 3rd Floor
11222 Acacia Parkway
Garden Grove, CA 92840
*Appointment Required, Call Ahead*
|
|
Friday, May 13th 8am-1pm
Laguna Niguel City Hall, Community Room
30111 Crown Valley Pkwy
Laguna Niguel, 92677
|
|
You can also contact my office for assistance at any time. For my office locations in Huntington Beach and Washington D.C., click here.
|
|
Democrats in California have had every opportunity to reduce costs for hard-working families who are tired of paying hundreds of dollars every week just to drive to school or work. Instead, they’ve chosen to hike taxes in the highest tax state in the country.
I joined Rep. David Valadao (R-CA) to once again call on the Governor and Sacramento Democrats to reverse course. Enough is enough. It’s time to repeal this gas tax and bring real relief to millions of Californians who are sick of paying more and getting less.
|
|
Working to Honor Our Veterans |
|
Thomas Dan Ward was awarded several medals for his valiant service in Vietnam, but he never received them. My team worked with the National Archives to track down his medals, and I was honored to be able to finally present them to him and thank him on behalf of Orange County for his bravery and sacrifice. Dan's service earned him the Bronze Star Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with four bronze service stars, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Ribbon, the Expert Badge, the Sharpshooter Badge, and the Marksman Badge. Thank you, Dan, for your exceptional service to our nation.
If you or someone you know needs assistance recovering military service medals, please contact my office at (714) 960-6483.
|
|
Many of you have asked how to help Ukrainian citizens evacuate while Russia continues their violent assault on innocent people. Below is information from the State Department, and I will continue to keep you updated as more resources are shared. Please don't hesitate to contact my office if we can be of service.
Q: I am a U.S. citizen and need a passport to depart Ukraine. What should I do? The Department of State is not able to offer in-person emergency consular services in Ukraine at this time. U.S. citizens in Ukraine should fill out the online assistance form at: https://cacms.state.gov/s/crisis-intake and the Department of State will respond.
Q. Is the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv still open for visa applications?
The Department of State is not able to offer in-person emergency consular services in Ukraine at this time. U.S. embassies and consulates in neighboring countries can accept visa applications from Ukrainians. Interested applicants can find a list of embassy websites HERE, or visit a specific embassy website by clicking the buttons below and follow the instructions provided to apply for a visa.
|
|
LA TIMES DAILY PILOT: WESTMINSTER PARK RENAMED AFTER FIRST VIETNAMESE AMERICAN ELECTED TO PUBLIC OFFICE
"The event was attended by more than a hundred people, including the Lam family, community members and local politicians like members of the Westminster City Council, Assemblywoman Janet Nguyen, congressional members Alan Lowenthal and Michelle Steel and Dist. Atty. Todd Spitzer. They all spoke fondly of Lam and thanked him for his political guidance. " Read More.
|
|
California to raise its gas tax, already the highest in...
California lawmakers appear unlikely to pause the annual summer increase in the state's gasoline tax ahead of a May 1 deadline, Gov. Gavin Newsom's office said on Monday. Newsom, a Democrat, had previously expressed support for helping California ...
Read more
www.foxbusiness.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
I’ll be using this newsletter as a way to keep you up to date on my work on behalf of our Orange County community, so make sure you sign up for regular updates.
You can also connect with my official Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages, where I’ll be posting the latest news and updates. |
|
Rep. Michelle Steel
Member of Congress
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
