March 10, 2023

A Message to the CCP

This week, I joined Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) to discuss why our bipartisan Taiwan Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act is so important. Our message to the CCP is clear: "Do no dare attack Taiwan."

No one wants a war with China, that's why the strong deterrence policy our bill promotes is so essential. I wrote an op-ed this week about how recent threats by the CCP - including their recent launch of 25 warplanes and three warships towards Taiwan in a show of force and intimidation - further underscores the need for this legislation.

I visited Taiwan in December 2022 and saw for myself the precariousness of the country’s position. Taiwan is uniquely alone as an island off the coast of China. The CCP has loomed over the people of this island for years, continuously attempting to bully their government into submission. 

If left unchecked, the CCP’s manipulation and destruction would know no bounds. Xi Jinping’s dictatorship is the antithesis of everything we value. We must protect democracy by any means and stand strong against anyone who threatens it.

Community Resource Fair

My office is hosting a Community Resource Fair in collaboration with various community service and government organizations to offer direct, in person service for constituents seeking assistance. Representatives from the The California Department of Vehicles (DMV), U.S. Citizenships and Immigration Service (USCIS), the I.R.S. Taxpayer Advocate Service, the Medicare Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program, and the Westminster Senior Center will be in attendance to help provide advice on a wide range of needs and services.

When: Wednesday, March 15, 2023, 9am-12pm
Where: Miriam Warne Community Room
14491 Beach Blvd., Ste. B, Westminster, CA 92683

To RSVP, please call (714) 944-1499 or email Daisy.Tong@mail.house.gov

Putting a Stop to Reckless Spending

Yesterday, President Biden released his budget proposal, and I was alarmed to discover that his request includes a 15% increase to the IRS’ annual funding. That’s a $2.1 billion increase over the enacted funding levels for 2023 on top of the extra $80 billion progressives gave the IRS last year. The IRS exists to serve Americans, not to make the lives of taxpayers harder

Today, the House Committee on Ways and Means held a hearing to ask Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen about the Administration's reckless spending and weaponization of the IRS.

Progressive spending has led to record inflation and now this Administration wants to add fuel to the fire. I'm committed to reining in reckless federal spending and holding the IRS accountable to the taxpayers it serves.

Intern in My Office

The application to intern in my D.C. or District office during the Spring session is open! If you are a high school or college student looking to learn more about Congress and the legislative process, an internship in my office can be a fun, educational, and exciting opportunity.

Candidates must possess excellent writing and verbal communication skills. In addition, we are seeking highly collaborative team players with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment. 

If you are a hardworking, dedicated individual who has a desire to help improve our Southern California communities, then an internship in my office might be for you! Visit my website to learn more and apply.

Keeping the CCP Off Our Campuses

We are all familiar with the legend of the Trojan horse, used famously by the Greeks against the people of Troy to smuggle soldiers past the wall and swiftly conquer the city. Modern readers may read the story and scoff. Surely, we would never be so naïve and ignorant as to let the enemy simply roll into our communities undetected and uncontested. 

The enemies of the United States, however, have come a long way from wood and nails in the quest to conquer democracy. Today, Communist China has invested millions of dollars into the establishment of Confucius Institutes at universities across the U.S., claiming to promote Chinese language and culture. 

We have known about the threat of Confucius Institutes for many years. In February 2018, FBI Director Christopher Wray testified to the Senate Intelligence Committee that the Institutes were used by the CCP as "nontraditional collectors, especially in the academic setting," across the U.S.

Our bill, the Stop Higher Education Espionage and Theft (SHEET) Act, will give the law enforcement community tools they need to combat bad actors’ influence by directing the federal government to designate foreign intelligence threats to higher education and empower the secretary of Homeland Security to remove these threats.

Get Your Education, Serve Our Nation

For students considering their next steps after high school, the Military Service Academies present an exciting opportunity to receive a world-class education and unmatched leadership skills, paid for by the U.S. Military. The honor of attending a service academy comes with the obligation and commitment to serve in the military for a minimum of five years upon graduation.

Members of Congress may nominate candidates for appointment to four of the five U.S. service academies: U.S. Military Academy (USMA), the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA); the U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA); and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. The fifth service academy, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy (USCGA), does not require a congressional nomination for appointment.

To request a Military Academy Nomination from my office, please complete the form on my website, and someone my office will be in touch with additional information. In the mean time, visit my website to learn more about the application process.

What I'm Reading

Thanks for taking the time to read about what I've been doing on behalf of Southern California families. Be sure to connect with my official Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages, where I post the latest news and updates. It is an honor to serve you in Congress.

Sincerely,

Rep. Michelle Steel
Member of Congress