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.

Starting today, Friday, October 13, the U.S. State Department will arrange charter flights to assist U.S. citizens and their immediate family members who have been unable to book commercial transit and seek a safe means of departing Israel. From these locations, individuals will be able to make their own onward travel arrangements to the destination of their choice. These initial transportation options will be augmented in the coming days. 

My office has been in close contact with the State Department, and we want to ensure all U.S. citizens can get to safety. If you are in need of assistance, complete the State Department’s crisis intake form HERE. I also encourage you to reach out to my office at (714) 984-2440. 

The House came together this week to remember the innocent lives taken by Hamas terrorists in Gaza and show our unified support for Israel and our Jewish community.

I stand with Israel and its right to defend itself against senseless, unprovoked attacks. Growing up as a young girl in South Korea in the aftermath of the Korean War, I know what it’s like to feel under constant threat of attack. I visited Israel last year and felt non just the same sense of threat of attack, but also the resiliency of the Israeli people.

As a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, I am monitoring this situation closely and will do my part to show support for Israel and its right to defend itself and hold the Hamas and Hezbollah terrorist groups – and the rogue Iranian regime backing them – accountable.

Additionally, as the world watches the horrific war in Israel, we cannot forget that antisemitism has been on the rise here at home. Antisemitism and hate of any kind are not okay. I stand with the resilient people of Israel and our Jewish community across the nation and around the world.

I joined our Orange community to hear Mayor Dan Slater present the City of Orange State of the City and honor former Mayor Tita Smith as the 2022 Citizen of the Year. Thank you Orange Chamber of Commerce and Chapman University for organizing and hosting this great event.

Great to catch up with our Tustin community and celebrate Orange County's agricultural heritage at the 66th annual Tustin Tiller Days!

Team Young joined VA Long Beach Healthcare to celebrate the reopening of the Community-Based Outpatient Clinic in Laguna Hills, which serves our South OC veterans and provides accessible, quality healthcare options.

This week, Team Young welcomed three new businesses to CA-40! I am proud to represent so many small businesses and entrepreneurs in Congress. Best of luck in the future!

Another amazing Rancho Family Fest is in the books! Thank you City of Rancho Santa Margarita Chamber of Commerce, SAMLARC, US Alliance Group, and all the event organizers, volunteers, and vendors for making this event possible. I’m so proud to represent our RSM community in CA-40!

We LOVE Orange! 

So fun to come together with volunteers to help make our community a better place with I love Orange and Youth Centers of Orange.

The U.S. Naval Academy opened this week in 1845. As your Representative, I’m proud to help nominate CA-40’s best and brightest students to our service academies.

My office is accepting nomination applications through Friday, November 3. Learn more:

Starting on November 2, 2023, my office will be hosting our first Office Hours in El Modena, Orange at the El Modena Branch Library on the first Thursday of each month.  

Come and ask questions or get help on casework. My team and I have been able to help many constituents with Social Security, Passports, Immigration issues, and more! Please reach out to my office at (714) 984-2440 if you have any questions. 

The 71/91 Interchange Project has several closures scheduled in Corona this fall. The closures are needed to allow crews to safely construct temporary 30-foot-tall support structures extending the entire width 91. More than 200 beams will be placed to support the new connector on top of a tunnel-like structure over the 91. Each beam will measure approximately 120 feet long and weigh 18 tons.

All eastbound 91 lanes will be closed at night Monday through Wednesday from Green River Rd. to Serfas Club Dr. in Corona starting on Monday, October 16 from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. The eastbound 91 Green River Rd. on-ramp will also be closed nightly starting at 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., and the eastbound 91 Express Lanes in Riverside County will be closed from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. The eastbound 91 Monday to Wednesday weeknight closures will continue through November 21.

"The (United States) flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing." U.S. Flag Code.

Please join Tustin American Legion Post 227 in a Dignified Disposal of American Flags on Saturday, October 28th. The Ceremony will be held at the covered bleacher training area at OC Fire Authority.  After  you enter the gates at Fire Authority HQ, turn left and follow the signs. 

Calling all CA-40 Middle and High Schoolers: The Congressional App Challenge is back!

I encourage students to put their STEM skills to the test and creating an app using coding concepts. I’m proud that our community had the largest Congressional App Challenge in history and that our students have created apps that can make a difference and save lives.

Submissions are due by November 1. Happy Coding! Learn more here:

This week, I joined our Taiwanese American community and friends in Taiwan in celebrating the 112th Taiwan National Day or Double Ten Day.

Taiwan is a friend in freedom, democracy, and security. I’ll keep working as House Foreign Affairs Indo-Pacific Subcommittee Chairwoman to support our partnership.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the world, accounting for 12.5% of new cancer cases worldwide and impacting 1 in 8 women in the U.S.

During Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we uplift survivors and those battling breast cancer, and we commit to working towards a cure.

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.

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.

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