Dear Friend,
This past week I’ve been working in the district. During my time at home I’ve been reflecting on how grateful I am to serve our district – and how excited I am for the term ahead. This week was filled with a lot of updates, like getting my district office up and running and receiving my committee assignments. I am looking forward to getting back to DC to start working on my new committees.
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.
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Serving California's 48th District |
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Open for Business
My Huntington Beach office officially opened this week and is ready to serve you. The mission of my district office is to serve our community, and be fully accessible even when I’m in Washington, D.C. My staff here are also well equipped to process casework requests – so if you’re having difficulties with the IRS or another Federal Agency, this office is the best place for you to contact. I am looking forward to welcoming constituents from across the district into this office. Contact us here.
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This week I received my committee assignments for the 117th Congress. I will be serving on the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure as well as the Committee on Education and Labor. These assignments will allow me to work on important issues for our Orange County community, like protecting our coastline, reducing noise pollution, advancing school choice, and expanding workforce development. These new assignments are a great opportunity to support Orange County families and workers, and I won’t let you down.
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I joined my congressional colleagues in a letter to Allison Herren Lee, Acting Chairwoman of the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC), seeking answers into the anti-competitive practices and consumer trading restrictions seen this week by hedge funds and financial trading apps following the surge of stocks like GameStop ($GME). Earlier this week, investors – through trading apps such as Robinhood – bought shares in companies including GameStop, following publicly available news that investors had been short selling the stocks. The stock prices surged, and following pressure from Wall Street, the apps froze the traders’ ability to continue buying on the platform. Read the letter here.
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Vaccines
I’ve received many calls from constituents over the past week with concerns about the vaccination process in Orange County. Per state guidelines, Orange County is taking a phased approach to vaccine distribution and aiming to reach the most vulnerable populations first. If you are a healthcare worker, 65 and older, or a law enforcement officer working in a high-risk setting, you can make an appointment here.
If you are not in one of these categories, vaccines are not yet available in Orange County. The county is coordinating at the state and federal levels to get vaccines distributed as efficiently as possible to all who want one. It is important to continue taking proper COVID-19 safety precautions. For more information on vaccine distribution in Orange County, click here.
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Small Businesses
The U.S. Small Business Administration, in consultation with the U.S. Treasury Department has reopened the Paycheck Protection Program loan portal for first- and second-time borrowers. If you’re a small business owner, check out the SBA’s website for the most up to date resources and guidance.
Economic Impact Payments
The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 includes a second round of Economic Impact Payments for qualified individuals making up to $75,000 per year.
The second round of payments, or “EIP 2,” is generally $600 for singles and $1,200 for married couples filing a joint return. Most of these payments will be made by direct deposit. For those who are eligible for a second EIP and haven’t yet received a direct deposit, watch your mail for either a paper check or a debit card.
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How Can California keep jobs in the state? |
Rep. Steel joined Neil Cavuto on Fox Business to talk about how California’s high taxes are driving away businesses and the permanent damage Gavin Newsom’s shutdowns have caused for Small Businesses in our state. Read more.
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Rep. Michelle Steel seeks answers about treatment of National Guard troops in D.C. |
In her first solo act in Congress, newly elected GOP Rep. Michelle Steel of Seal Beach is requesting answers about why National Guard troops were briefly made to stay outside or use a parking garage near the United States Capitol to rest between shifts. Read more.
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House members from Orange County land key committee roles |
Orange County’s seven-member congressional delegation is settling into committee assignments for the upcoming session, with freshmen members getting word of their appointments from House leadership Monday. The diverse committee appointments — ranging from Foreign Affairs to Transportation to Natural Resources — could play major roles in shaping what representatives do for their constituents over the next two years in office. Read more. |
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Michelle Steel of California looks to Israel’s technology and innovation, seeks partnerships |
As for anti-Semitism, the 65-year-old Korean American notes “that is unacceptable. It’s the same as a hate crime. I’m the one who passed a resolution last year when I was chair of the Orange County Board of Supervisors that hate crimes are not acceptable.” Read more.
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Congresswoman Michelle Steel on Emigrating to America, Her Mother's Small Business and Why She Voted Against Impeachment |
Orange County Republican Congresswoman Michelle Steel joins to discuss her journey from South Korea to America, how her mother's small business inspired her to run for political office, Orange County's resistance to COVID-19 orders, and her vote against the second impeachment of President Trump. Read more.
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Rep. Michelle Steel
Member of Congress
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