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.

Thank you to House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman for joining me to tour burned areas from the Airport Fire with Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) and hear from U.S. Forest Service, OCFA, and canyon community leaders on the ground during a roundtable discussion. I look forward to working together to equip first responders with the tools they need to keep us safe.

We LOVE Orange! Wonderful to come together with volunteers in Orange over the weekend to help make our community a better place with Love Orange and Youth Centers of Orange!

Had a blast at the 54th Annual Silverado Country Fair and Folk Festival featuring live music, local vendors, and even “Tequila Barbie”! Thank you to the Inter-Canyon League for hosting. I’m proud to fight for our resilient canyon communities in Congress.

I was so honored to join the 3rd Annual MCAS Tustin Young Marines Birthday Ball over the weekend to celebrate 65 years of the Young Marines Program, congratulate program graduates and awardees, and reflect on the vast history of MCAS Tustin and El Toro.

Always great catching up with the Brea Chamber of Commerce! Thank you to for having me at your coffee roundtable. Small businesses are the backbone of our communities, and I’ll continue fighting for commonsense policies to ensure entrepreneurs have the resources they need.

Team Young had a great time touring Santa Margarita Water District's facilities and the Trampas Canyon Reservoir and Dam, which ensures our communities have a resilient water supply. Grateful for their work to provide clean water access to over 200,000 residents in South Orange County.

Credit scores can be the key to unlocking the American dream. Fraudulent credit repair organizations shouldn't get away with scamming hardworking Americans hoping to improve their scores and must be held accountable. I helped introduce a bipartisan bill to hold scammers accountable.

My team met with the Orange County Transportation Authority to see updates on SR91 and SR55 improvements that I secured community project funding for to reduce traffic and congestion in our area.

Team Young congratulated the Boys and Girls Club Laguna Beach’s El Toro Branch on their grand opening. Thank you for uplifting our youth and dedication to our community!

Calling all CA-40 Middle and High Schoolers! The Congressional App Challenge is back! Create an app using coding concepts for a chance to have your work demonstrated in the US Capitol Building. Submissions are due by October 24. Learn more HERE or below.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is hiring thousands of new air traffic controllers, and we are encouraging those interested in being an air traffic controller to get ready to apply. The FAA’s Hiring of Air Traffic Controllers Fall 2024 application window is open until November 4, 2024.

To view the Notice of FAA Hiring Air Traffic Controllers, and to read more about this opportunity, open HERE.

Delivering for CA-40 is my top priority.

In Congress, I secured resources through the FY24 appropriations packages for vital projects in CA-40 that protect public health, support law enforcement, and keep our communities safe.

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and my office is seeing an increase in casework requests related to cybercrimes. As we see hackers use sophisticated tactics to take your personal information, please remain vigilant and be careful of suspicious links, calls, and messages. If something seems suspect, trust your instinct and do not click. 

My team and I are here to serve you.

In addition to our offices in Anaheim Hills and Mission Viejo, please don’t hesitate to stop by our mobile office hours: 

• Chino Hills Mobile Office Hours every Wednesday from 9AM-1PM at the City Clerk’s Office- 14000 City Center Drive, 2nd floor, Chino Hills
• Laguna Woods Mobile Office Hours the third Thursday of each month from 9AM-1PM at Laguna Woods City Hall- 24264 El Toro Road Laguna Woods, CA
• El Modena Mobile Office Hours the first Thursday of each month from 10AM-2PM at El Modena Branch Library-380 S Hewes Street Orange, CA.

To receive in-person assistance from my team on any casework you need help on. As always, you can call my office at (714) 984-2440 or (949) 268-6706 or visit my website at youngkim.house.gov.

Are you traveling planning travel for this year? Stop what you’re doing and check your passport!  

Processing times are now 6-8 weeks (routine) or 2-3 weeks (expedited, not incl. shipping). Start your renewal or application at travel.state.gov/passport.

Passport processing times are the fastest they’ve been since March 2020. Take advantage and apply or renew now so that you’re ready for international travel in the new year. 

Travel Tip -- Many countries require your passport to be valid for at least six months after your departure. Look up your destination’s entry requirements at travel.state.gov/destination and check your passport expiration date before booking flights.

Travelers are encouraged to wait to book international travel until a valid passport is physically in hand, apply for a new or renewed passport 9 months prior to travel, and ensure that their passport doesn’t expire within 6 months of their international travel dates.

If your pending application was filed with routine service and you have upcoming travel, you may benefit from upgrading to expedited service. Please dial (877) 487-2778 to upgrade to expedited service and shipping.  

Please do not hesitate to reach out to my office if we can assist you in any way at (714) 984-2440.  

The Department of State advises U.S. citizens overseas to exercise increased caution as tensions around the world increase the potential for terrorist attacks, demonstrations, or violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests, the Department of State advises U.S. citizens overseas to exercise increased caution. 

U.S. citizens should:

• Stay alert in locations frequented by tourists.
• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive information and alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency overseas.
• Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter and visit travel.state.gov.

If you are traveling abroad or are abroad please check the destination warning levels travel.state.gov, and be sure to register for the STEP program even if you are abroad. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office at my website or at (714) 984-2440 if you have any questions or need assistance.

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