Greetings!

This week I was in Washington, D.C. for another full week of committee hearings, votes, and constituent meetings. I was also so lucky to be able to spend some time with family for Father’s Day and my birthday! I hope you all had a great week, here are some highlights from mine:

  • Questioned the Secretary of Education about discrimination in higher education
  • Stressed the importance of sand replenishment in Orange County to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Lieutenant General
  • Hosted a tax and spending conversation with policy experts from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Taxpayer Union 

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.
Serving California's 48th District
Protecting Orange County Beaches
This week I spoke to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Lieutenant General Scott Spellmon about the growing need for sand replenishment along the Orange County coastline. Every day this project goes unfinished, the taxpayers of Orange County are left on the hook to pay more and are living with a higher risk of a natural disaster causing major destruction to our communities. Watch below: 
I also spoke on the House Floor about the importance of this project, and the Army Corps’ responsibility to fix the problem they created. Watch below: 
Learn more about Orange County sand erosion here. 
Answering your Questions on Taxes & Spending
On Wednesday, policy experts from the U.S. Chamber of Congress and the National Taxpayers Union joined me for a conversation about President Biden's proposed tax increases and spending. Check out some of your questions that we answered on my Facebook and Twitter.
Your Voice in DC
Standing up for AAPI Students
Discrimination against Asian American students in higher education is wrong. Unfortunately, many universities use admissions policies that disproportionately impact Asian American students. It is my belief that students should be admitted based on merit, not subjective standards. Secretary of Education Cardona agreed with me when I brought these practices to his attention on Thursday during an Education and Labor Committee hearing. Watch below:  
Acting on Climate Policy
We are lucky to live in one of the most beautiful places in the whole country, and it is up to us to preserve it for generations to come. This week I was proud to join the Conservative Climate Caucus as a founding member. I look forward to working with this group in Congress to find commonsense, innovative solutions for protecting our environment. Read more. 
How I voted
My goal as your member of Congress is to be as transparent as possible about the votes I am taking in Washington. You can always view my vote record on my website.

I want to hear your feedback! Please don’t hesitate to reach out with questions or comments on legislation or items currently up for debate in Congress.
Click here to see what the House voted on this week. Here’s an explanation of some of my votes:

H.R. 2922 Elder Abuse Protection Act: This bill would make the Elder Justice Initiative a permanent office within the Department of Justice. It would also require the Attorney General to launch a national elder fraud telephone hotline. I voted in support of this bill because we must make it easier for law enforcement to prevent and respond to cases of senior citizen abuse. 

H.R. 983 Preventing Crimes Against Veterans Act: Unfortunately, veterans and their well-earned benefits are often the targets of fraud. I voted in support of this bill to create more stringent penalties for criminals who purposefully defraud veteran’s benefits. 

H.R. 2062 Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act: Workers should never be discriminated against because of their age, which is why we already have laws like the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act, and the Civil Rights Act (CRA). I voted against this legislation because it would lead to an increase in duplicative claims, which would reduce important resources that could otherwise be used to prevent discrimination. 
In the News
Commentary: Biden's spending, tax plans will hamper American growth and competitiveness
After more than a year of job losses, shuttered businesses and a limping economy, America is getting back on track. Shutdowns have lifted, businesses are open, and we are returning to our normal way of life. With just a few weeks to go before we celebrate Independence Day, Americans are fired up and ready to get back to business. Read more. 
Rep Michelle Steel pushes Education Secretary Cardona on discriminatory college admittance practices
In an Education and Labor Committee hearing Thursday, GOP freshmen Rep. Michelle Steel pushed Education Secretary Miguel Cardona to address college admittance practices that abet discrimination by judging students on subjective matters such as "likeability". Read more. 
Sincerely,
Rep. Michelle Steel
Member of Congress