Recently in Press Releases

Calls on leadership to bring up immigration measure during lame-duck session

WASHINGTON – Rep. Judy Chu, D-Calif., today urged Speaker Nancy Pelosi to schedule a vote on immigration legislation that would jumpstart the economy and bolster national security.  For the past week, Chu has helped gather the votes necessary to pass The Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act by the end of the year.  The bill makes it possible for as many as 2.1 million young undocumented immigrants nationwide, roughly 26% of whom live in California, to earn the chance to become productive, taxpaying American citizens.

The DREAM Act is targeted toward undocumented young adults who were brought to America as children, have lived most of their lives in the US and have completed at least two years of military service or college studies.  It was first introduced in 2001 and has been reintroduced during every session of Congress since then.  Despite this, the House of Representatives has never once brought the legislation up for a vote.

“It's long overdue to schedule a vote on the DREAM Act,” Chu said.  “Every day that goes by without bringing the DREAM Act to the floor is not just a disappointment for millions of promising, law-abiding young Americans, it’s a setback for the future of our nation.  This bill strengthens our economy and bolsters national security.  That's why it's supported across the military and business communities.

“These are upstanding young men and women, whose parents and guardians brought them to this country.  They didn't have a choice in the matter and we need to stop punishing them for it.  Across America, millions of gifted young students are ineligible for financial aid and, in some states, shut out of public colleges altogether just because they were born in a different country.  Denying them a chance at citizenship is not just callous, it's careless.

“These students have already completed K-12 education in the United States.  Rejecting this legislation ensures that we’ll never get a full return on this already substantial investment.  That’s why I’m calling on our leadership to schedule a vote on the DREAM Act as soon as possible, and why I'll be working tirelessly to see it pass.”

Congresswoman Judy Chu is a member of the House Immigration Subcommittee, a cosponsor of the DREAM Act and an original co-sponsor of the Comprehensive Immigration Reform ASAP Act (CIR-ASAP).

Chu also sits on the Education and Labor, and Government Oversight Committees. A lifelong educator, Congresswoman Chu taught community college classes in Los Angeles and East Los Angeles for 20 years. She holds a Ph.D. in psychology and a B.A. in mathematics. 

 Introduces the 'Global Languages Early Education Act' to establish and fund foreign language learning programs nationwide

WASHINGTON – Rep. Judy Chu, D-Calif., introduced legislation today to help American students compete in the global economy.  Her Global Languages Early Education (GLEE) Act authorizes $100 million to establish bilingual early-learning programs in schools across the country.  These programs will help close the gap that exists between the United States and the rest of the world, where foreign language learning is often compulsory.  In 2008, only 15 percent of our nation's elementary students enrolled in foreign language courses. 

Chu's bill allocates funds toward schools that serve low-income students.  It also encourages them to develop public-private partnerships and offer a diverse set of languages that increase competitiveness and national security.  An expert research council will advise and guide national research on the best practices and models for this instruction. 

"If we're to maintain America's place in the world economy, we must ensure our future workers can compete in it," Chu said.  "Developing our youngest minds is the best path towards increased fluency now and improved ability later.  That’s why I'm proud to introduce the GLEE Act.  Early-education bilingual programs are a sound public investment that pave the way for a lifetime of success."

Research shows that putting money in high-quality early education provides more than $7 in returns for every dollar spent.  Additionally, multiple studies show that learning a second language improves cognitive flexibility and ability. Because bilingual learners naturally consider multiple meanings for words, they’re more able to manage and react to complex situations, making them well-suited for executive and managerial positions. 

The GLEE Act has the support of many outside organizations including Preschool California, strong advocates for expanded early education bilingual learning instruction who worked closely with Chu to draft the bill. 

"This legislation provides a significant opportunity for California's children," said Preschool California President, Catherine Atkin. "Research highlights the academic and developmental benefits of dual language learning in the early years, especially for English Language Learners. With California's public schools currently serving 27 percent of the nation's English language learners, the GLEE Act is an important step forward toward narrowing the achievement gap for our state's – and our nation's—children."

Representative Judy Chu was elected in July 2009 to the U.S. House of Representatives as the Representative of California's 32nd District, which includes East Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Valley.  She is a member of the House Judiciary Committee, Government Oversight Committee, and Education and Labor Committee, where the GLEE Act was introduced. 

Congresswoman Chu’s career in politics spans 24 years.  A lifelong educator, Congresswoman Chu taught community college classes in Los Angeles and East Los Angeles for 20 years. She holds a Ph.D. in psychology and a B.A. in mathematics.

"Balancing the budget on the backs of America's seniors is completely unacceptable."

WASHINGTON – Today, Rep. Judy Chu, D-Calif., criticized a proposal from the co-chairs of President Obama's fiscal commission that would dramatically reduce Social Security Benefits.  The plan, unveiled to commission members today by co-chairmen Erskine Bowles and Alan Simpson, would reduce the annual cost-of-living increases in Social Security and raise the retirement age to 68. 

"Balancing the budget on the backs of America's seniors is completely unacceptable," Chu said.  "This recession already forced local governments to slash services for seniors across the country – at a time they're already struggling.  Cutting the benefits they receive from Social Security only puts their economic security at even greater risk.

"The President’s fiscal commission is doing important work, but it's disingenuous to try to decrease the national debt by 'fixing' Social Security problems that don't exist.  Social Security is separate from the budget and doesn't add a penny to the deficit.  I worry that those who say it's broken simply want to break it themselves." 

By law, Social Security is separate from the budget and must pay for itself – making it completely budget neutral.  According to data from the official Social Security actuary, the program will have a $4.3 trillion surplus by 2023.  And it will be able to pay out all scheduled benefits for the next quarter-century with no changes whatsoever. 

Last year was the first year without a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) increase since automatic adjustments for inflation began in 1975.  Almost 73,000 residents of Chu's Congressional District currently receive assistance from Social Security. 

Representative Judy Chu was elected in July 2009 to the U.S. House of Representatives as the Representative of California's 32nd District, which includes East Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Valley.  She is a member of the House Judiciary, Government Oversight, and Education and Labor Committees. 

Congresswoman Chu’s career in politics spans 24 years.  A lifelong educator, Congresswoman Chu taught community college classes in Los Angeles and East Los Angeles for 20 years. She holds a Ph.D. in psychology and a B.A. in mathematics.

 Department of Transportation allocates grant for new energy-efficient Ecoliner buses

WASHINGTON – Rep. Judy Chu, D-Calif., today applauded U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood's announcement of a grant to help Foothill Transit put cleaner, more efficient buses into service.  The local transit agency, which provides service for the eastern San Gabriel Valley, will receive over $10 million in funds to purchase fast-charge battery electric buses and equipment needed for its new Ecoliner Fleet.

"This investment helps us move to a truly 21st Century transit system," Chu said.  "The Ecoliner project is a pioneering step toward cleaner, more-efficient public transportation.  This grant creates more jobs, opportunities and travel options for communities throughout the San Gabriel Valley."

The Ecoliner is the first of its kind in the nation.  The heavy duty, fast charging electric bus launched on September 3rd and is capable of driving 30-miles without charging.  It's recharged, hands-free and within its route, in only 10 minutes.  The initial project was entirely funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).

The new funds were made possible through the TIGGER (Transit Investments for Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction) II Program, which works with public transit agencies to implement new strategies for reducing their energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions.  Secretary LaHood announced the grant on Tuesday as part of $27 million awarded to California transit systems throughout the state.

Representative Judy Chu was elected in July 2009 to the U.S. House of Representatives as the Representative of California's 32nd District, which includes East Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Valley.  She is a member of the House Judiciary, Government Oversight, and Education and Labor Committees.

Congresswoman Chu's career in politics spans 24 years.  A lifelong educator, Congresswoman Chu taught community college classes in Los Angeles and East Los Angeles for 20 years. She holds a Ph.D. in psychology and a B.A. in mathematics.

And calls for further protections for LGBT students

WASHINGTON – Today, Rep. Judy Chu, D-Calif., applauded the Department of Education’s efforts to protect young people from bullying and harassment.  Yesterday, the Department provided guidance to educators across the country clarifying their legal responsibilities to respond to cases of harassment under civil rights law.

"Every child deserves an education free from bullying, harassment, and discrimination," Chu said.  "It’s the responsibility of educators, and the community at-large, to protect the rights of all young people and foster environments that promote inclusivity and diversity.  This guidance helps ensure that every child can thrive, regardless of his or her background, gender, or physical ability."

Specifically, the guidance enforces statutes that prohibit discriminatory harassment based on race, color, national origin, sex, or disability.  Certain instances involving lesbian, gay, transgendered, and bisexual (LGBT) youth may also be covered under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, if the harassment is based on gender-based discrimination.  However, Chu noted these statutes do not go far enough.

"While the guidance highlights some protections in place for LGBT students, these safeguards must be strengthened and expanded.  Many schools, on their own accord, have adopted anti-bullying policies that expressly include sexual orientation.  In light of the recent wave of anti-gay bullying cases, we must work to extend equal rights and protections for every student."

The guidance, issued by the Office of Civil Rights (OCR), is geared towards elementary and secondary schools, but its principles can also be applied to postsecondary institutions overseen by the OCR.  A full copy of the document can be downloaded here: http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/colleague-201010.html.

Representative Judy Chu is a longtime supporter of equal rights for every American and was recently awarded a 100% rating from the Human Rights Campaign for her work in the 111^th Congress.  She was elected in July 2009 to the U.S. House of Representatives as the Representative of California’s 32nd District, which includes East Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Valley.  She is a member of the House Judiciary, Government Oversight, and Education and Labor Committees.

Congresswoman Chu's career in politics spans 24 years.  A lifelong educator, Congresswoman Chu taught community college classes in Los Angeles and East Los Angeles for 20 years. She holds a Ph.D. in psychology and a B.A. in mathematics.

Classroom tours, roundtable discussion bring attention to Congresswoman's efforts to improve education across the nation

WASHINGTON – Rep. Judy Chu, D-Calif., held a series of events today to promote education-related legislation she is sponsoring in Congress.  Chu's "Education Day" connected her with students, teachers, parents and community based organizations to learn about the innovative approaches local groups are taking to improve our schools, and discuss her efforts to expand these strategies nationwide.

A former teacher and school board member, Chu sits on the House Education and Labor Committee.  She's made the most of that role by recently introducing bills to bring greater accountability to charter schools, expand health and social services, and increase students' career and college readiness.    Chu's work has earned the attention and praise of education activists across the country.

"Providing a quality education is one of our government's most valuable services and best investments," Chu said. "Stimulus and recovery are important efforts, but the best way for us to ensure continued economic growth for our country is by investing in our children.  That's why I'm working to expand the innovative approaches we're using here in Los Angeles to the rest of the country.

"Today's events provided a great opportunity to see what's working for our local students and classrooms.  From providing better paths to a career, to increasing bilingual-learning opportunities, to tapping community resources so we can meet student needs, these are common-sense solutions that bring common ground to what's often a very heated debate.  Education Day's broad spectrum of sponsors and participants shows the opportunity exists for us to change the tone of the current dialogue and move toward real progress for our students."

"As a teacher and public servant, this issue has always been close to my heart, and I'm committed to making sure every American child receives a world class education.  I look forward to continuing to advocate and push for progress in Congress."

The Congresswoman's first event consisted of a visit to two of Wilson High School's Small Learning Communities.  There, she toured classrooms and spoke with administrators, teachers, students and parents to get their feedback on Linked Learning, a program which combines rigorous college preparation with workplace experience to improve student engagement, academic achievement and success after high school.  Chu recently introduced the Linked Learning Pathways Affording College and Career Success Act (H.R. 6174), to expand Linked Learning nationwide.  The L.A. Area Chamber of Commerce initiated the bill and helped stage the event.

"The Linked Learning approach connects strong academics with real–world experience in a wide range of fields, like engineering, arts and media, and biomedical science," said Chu.  "It leads to the high-skill, high-demand and high-paying jobs that the economy of tomorrow will be built around."

Next, Chu and other local officials toured a local bilingual early-learning program at Brooklyn Early Education Center (EEC) in East Los Angeles.  There, they interacted with students and discussed the Global Learning Early Education Challenge Fund (GLEE) Act, upcoming legislation from Chu that would establish and fund bilingual early-learning program programs nationwide.  Research shows that high-quality early childhood education helps close the achievement gap and offers one of the highest returns of any public investment – more than a $7 return for every dollar spent.  The Brooklyn EEC event was done in conjunction with Preschool California, strong advocates for expanded early education bilingual learning instruction.

"Developing our youngest minds is the best path toward increased fluency now and improved competitiveness later," Chu explained.  "Promoting bilingualism in our nation's schools ensures that the next generation of American students won't just travel the globe, they'll shape it."

A roundtable discussion with students, parents, teachers and community organizations at the new Esteban E. Torres High School wrapped up the Education Day events.  Chu moderated the discussion, which focused on the benefits of community schools like Esteban E. Torres.  The Congresswoman recently introduced the Developing Innovative Partnerships and Learning Opportunities that Motivate Achievement (DIPLOMA) Act (H.R. 6229), to build on these programs by allowing states to award grants to local groups that coordinate, integrate and facilitate services aimed at strengthening student achievement.  These services include tutoring, extending learning services, health care and social support.  The Los Angeles Education Partnership, a major proponent of community schools, assisted with the roundtable.

"If we don't address the obstacles outside school walls, we'll never turnaround what goes on within them," Chu said.  "Utilizing community resources to address problems like poor nutrition and abuse allows every child reach his or her full potential."

Representative Judy Chu was elected in July 2009 to the U.S. House of Representatives as the Representative of California's 32nd District, which includes East Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Valley. She is a member of the House Judiciary, Government Oversight, and Education and Labor Committees.

Congresswoman Chu's career in politics spans 24 years. A lifelong educator, Congresswoman Chu taught community college classes in Los Angeles and East Los Angeles for 20 years. She holds a Ph.D. in psychology and a B.A. in mathematics.

Urges Congress to stand up for seniors and fight to prevent second straight year of benefit freezes 

WASHINGTON – Today, Rep. Judy Chu, D-Calif., called on Congress to address the lack of a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) in the Social Security program as soon it resumes following the November elections. Without Congressional intervention, recipients face a benefit freeze for a second year in a row.

"This recession has dealt a particularly painful blow to seniors and others on Social Security," Chu said. "They’ve had vital benefits slashed as local governments cut programs in response to budget shortfalls. They've seen the rising cost of prescription drugs outpace the prices paid for other goods and services. Now is not the time to put their economic security at further risk."

"Congress must take swift action to solve this problem and help our seniors through the worst recession in generations. I call on our leadership to make addressing the lack of a Cost of Living Adjustment the first item on Congress's agenda when we return to Washington in November."

Last year was the first year without a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) increase since automatic adjustments for inflation began in 1975. Almost 73,000 residents of Chu’s Congressional District currently receive assistance from Social Security.

Representative Judy Chu was elected in July 2009 to the U.S. House of Representatives as the Representative of California’s 32nd District, which includes East Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Valley. She is a member of the House Judiciary, Government Oversight, and Education and Labor Committees.

Congresswoman Chu’s career in politics spans 24 years. A lifelong educator, Congresswoman Chu taught community college classes in Los Angeles and East Los Angeles for 20 years. She holds a Ph.D. in psychology and a B.A. in mathematics.

“With this decision, the United States can finally put this intolerance behind us and work toward a more inclusive military that’s focused solely on protecting America instead of promoting prejudice.”

WASHINGTON – Rep. Judy Chu, D-Calif., issued the following statement today praising U.S. District Judge Virginia Phillips' decision to halt all enforcement of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy that bars gay men and lesbians from serving openly in the military. 

"I applaud today’s ruling barring the military from enforcing the failed 'Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell' policy," Chu said.  "We've spent the last 100 years fighting to end discrimination in the military against women, and racial and ethnic minorities. With this decision, the United States can finally put this intolerance behind us and work towards a more inclusive military that’s focused solely on protecting America instead of promoting prejudice.

"This decision is firmly grounded in the First Amendment of the Constitution, which protects every American's freedom of expression. I feel confident that Judge Phillips' decision will be upheld over the course of the appeals process and applaud her for accomplishing what Senate Republicans prevented Congress from bringing about: full repeal of this discriminatory policy."

Representative Judy Chu is a longtime supporter of equal rights for every American.  She was elected in July 2009 to the U.S. House of Representatives as the Representative of California’s 32nd District, which includes East Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Valley.  She is a member of the House Judiciary, Government Oversight, and Education and Labor Committees.

Congresswoman Chu's career in politics spans 24 years.  A lifelong educator, Congresswoman Chu taught community college classes in Los Angeles and East Los Angeles for 20 years. She holds a Ph.D. in psychology and a B.A. in mathematics.

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 "When we cut red tape, encourage business and 'Make It In America', we create jobs to lead the world's economy"

WASHINGTON – Today, Rep. Judy Chu, D-Calif., joined Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., and Harry Kazazian, Chief Executive Officer of Exxel Outdoors in Irwindale, for a press conference in support of domestic manufacturing jobs.  The event drew attention to the Democrat's "Make it in America" agenda, which aims to revive the domestic manufacturing sector and help American companies compete in the global market place.

Chu noted that American manufacturing had declined by one-third since 2001.  In California alone, over 600,000 manufacturing jobs were lost during that time.

"Our top priority needs to be needs to be getting our own economy back on track and re-establishing the American manufacturing sector," said Chu.  "When we cut red-tape, encourage business and 'Make It In America', we create jobs to lead the world's economy."

Rep. Chu introduced Kazazian, who runs Exxel, an outdoor gear and equipment company based in her Congressional district.  She discussed the competitive disadvantages the company faces against competing sleeping bags made in Bangladesh, which receive a 9% break on the duty for their raw materials.

"We live in a global economy and what happens half a world away affects businesses right here at home," Chu remarked.  "Harry and millions of business owners aren't looking for a handout – they just want an even playing field to sell American products."

Representative Judy Chu was elected in July 2009 to the U.S. House of Representatives as the Representative of California's 32nd District, which includes East Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Valley.  She is a member of the House Judiciary, Government Oversight, and Education and Labor Committees.

Congresswoman Chu's career in politics spans 24 years.  A lifelong educator, Congresswoman Chu taught community college classes in Los Angeles and East Los Angeles for 20 years. She holds a Ph.D. in psychology and a B.A. in mathematics.

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