Catch Up With Young Kim

News from Congresswoman Kim

Welcome to Catch Up With Young Kim, my weekly e-newsletter to get you the latest on my work for you in Congress.

My team and I are here to serve you. If you ever need assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office. I also encourage you to receive real-time updates on my work for you in Congress by following me on Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Instagram.

Congress must govern for the American people.

Shutting down the government achieves nothing. It costs more in the long run and forces our military and border patrol who put themselves in harm’s way to go without a paycheck.

I will continue working to keep our government open and deliver results.

For the U.S. to be taken seriously in the South China Sea, we must project strength.

Read more from my House Foreign Affairs Indo-Pacific Subcommittee hearing this week on exposing CCP harassment in the region!

Total migrant encounters for FY23 to date have surpassed the total for all of FY22, setting a new record.

As long as this crisis goes unaddressed, the more our communities suffer. The Biden administration must take this crisis seriously so we can work on solutions.

As someone whose second language is English, I know how difficult it can be for Americans to express health care needs and learn available options.

I'm leading the Health CARE Act with Rep. Grace Meng to reduce language barriers and improve health care access.

Thank you Saddleback College in Mission Viejo for hosting a wonderful Veteran Resource Fair! Team Young enjoyed meeting with local veterans and students to hear their concerns and share information about CA-40 casework services and internship opportunities.

This week, I had a wonderful time catching up with our Orange Park Acres community at their 52nd Annual Fall BBQ in Orange.

I caught up with California Bankers Association in town on how regulatory overreach and increasing compliance costs will make it harder for small businesses and households to access credit.

I'm fighting on Financial Services Committee to reduce regulatory costs and keep the American dream alive.

Congratulations to the six Women in Business Award Winners in Mission Viejo. Kris Yellen, Sharon Genton, Terra Pickett, Theresa Vuong Lyn Hesford, and Valorie Green. Team Young joined Mission Viejo Chamber of Commerce to celebrate these dynamic and impactful women business leaders. Thank you, ladies, for all you have done for the CA-40 community and beyond!

So much fun joining Laguna Hills Heritage Day this week to celebrate our community's vast history and ensure these stories are passed down for future generations.

Great to meet the new Ambassador to Singapore, Lui Tuck Yew, to discuss our countries relationship and trade partnership. I look forward to working with the Ambassador in the future!

Congratulations to Bill Underwood for being the September 2023 Distinguished Citizen of the Villa Park! Bill is a U.S. Navy veteran and an active member of the Villa Park community. Thank you, Bill, for your commitment to ‘service above self’ and service to CA-40.

The federal government shouldn't limit opportunities for hardworking Americans.

I pressed U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gensler this week on proposed rules that make it harder for Californians to invest and grow their savings. I'll keep fighting on the Financial Services Committee to protect the American dream.

Great to meet with Armenian Americans from CA-40 and across CA this week in DC with Armenian Assembly of America to discuss the humanitarian crisis in the Nagorno-Karabagh. I am proud to represent a vibrant Armenian American community and working in Congress to foster lasting peace in the region.

Welcome to Tustin OsteoStrong! This unique health care facility is a place for the community to go to improve your overall health by focusing on the one thing we all have in common: a skeletal system. OsteoStrong is committed to working with the CA-40 community to help people experience a positive change to your skeletal system you will see and feel as you improve your bone density, muscular strength, balance, and overall health!

The Eatery is now open in Lake Forest! I’m excited to try the latest restaurant of Events of Taste, which has served our Lake Forest community for 14 years.

I enjoyed meeting with the President of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Wesley W. Simina, to discuss our commitment to honor our free trade agreement with FSM in the Pacific.

Congrats to CA-40 The Congressional Award Gold Medal recipients Shaan Desai from Orange, Alexander Lee from Brea, Vaidehi Bhardwaj from Trabuco Canyon, and Neel Kumar from Anaheim. Keep up the great work, and I look forward to seeing everything you all accomplish!

Happy Mid-Autumn Festival or Moon Festival to all who are celebrating in CA-40 and across the nation. I hope you take time to gather with loved ones, appreciate life’s blessings, and enjoy mooncakes!

Please be advised that repaving work will be done in phases and scheduled during weekday nighttime hours to limit impact. During this work, the northbound 241 Toll Road will remain open. Fire, police, and ambulance services will have access for emergency response, if needed. Pavement work on the Loma Ridge segment will commence on southbound 241 with weekly nighttime closures for several weeks. Crews will then shift to the northbound 241 for additional paving operations in mid-October. Following completion of work at Loma Ridge, crews will mobilize at the Windy Ridge segment in spring 2024.

Happy Chuseok to our Korean American community in CA-40 and across the nation as you gather with loved ones to give thanks for blessings.

모두 즐거운 추석이 되시기를 기원합니다. 가족들과 뜻 깊은 시간을 보내시며 받은 복을 세어보는 기쁘고 소망이 가득한 한가위를 맞이하시기 바랍니다.

CA-40 Veterans: Don’t forget that the PACT Act is giving veterans who served in combat zones a special opportunity to directly enroll in VA health care by midnight on 9/30. Sign up before the deadline tomorrow:

Happy Hispanic Heritage Month!

I hope you’ll join me as we celebrate the many amazing Hispanic Americans who are an integral part of our communities in CA-40 and across the nation.

September is Suicide Prevention Month.

You are not alone. If you or someone you know needs someone to talk to, you can call, text, or chat 988 day or night—24/7 or text. Call 211 if you’re in Orange County.

As we head into the fall and kids head back to school, I want to know what priorities matter most to you and how I can best serve you in Congress.

Take 30 seconds and fill out my Fall 2023 Priorities survey below.

This month is Passport Awareness Month and we hope to ensure that all travelers are as prepared for international travel in 2024 as possible. We encourage constituents to check their passport’s expiration date and apply for a new or renewal passport 9 months prior to travel.

Also we recommend having your passport in hand before booking international travel. Many countries require six months of passport validity to enter, so we recommend applying 6-9 months ahead of expiration date or travel. Learn more about your destination at travel.state.gov/destination.

Due to an unprecedented volume, appointment availability is limited nationwide. Processing times are estimates and do not include mailing and internal routing process which can add up to two weeks.

If your pending application was filed with routine service, and you have upcoming travel, it may be in your best interest to upgrade to expedited service. Please dial (877) 487-2778 to upgrade to expedited service and shipping.

If you need any assistance, please call my office at (714) 984-2440 or submit a casework request.

I am thrilled that Team Young has helped return over $22 million back to taxpayers from federal agencies.

If you need help with a federal agency, please reach out to my office. We’re here to serve you always.

Have a great weekend!

Sincerely,

Young Kim

Rep. Young Kim | 1306 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515