Issues

Education

Education is a proven pathway for success. As a former educator and school board member in our community, I understand the needs our schools face. We need to fully fund education programs, give our students the resources they need and ensure our schools are environments for learning. That’s why my bills provide adaptable solutions to the unique problems individual school districts face.

Small Business, Jobs and the Economy

We must reignite the American Dream! We must provide the ladder of opportunity for every American to climb, so that every person who works hard and plays by the rules is able to achieve their dreams. And I believe small business is the key. It creates 2 out of every 3 new jobs. It is my mission as a member of the Small Business Committee to help small businesses do what they do best: create good jobs, drive innovation, and strengthen the middle class.

San Gabriel Mountains

Our highly urban communities look toward these mountains because they are in desperate need of outdoor opportunities. The Los Angeles area is one of the most park poor regions of the county. Too many of these communities lack the resources for residents to walk, jog, bike or picnic in their own neighborhoods.

Transportation

Rep. Chu and other Los Angeles County Members of Congress at the Gold Line groundbreaking.

Immigration

Our immigration system is outdated and in need of reform. We have more than 12 million immigrants currently living in the United States without legal status, millions of more close family members waiting abroad to join their loved ones through the family-based immigration system, and the ongoing detention and deportation of our community members. Businesses and farmers aren’t getting access to the workers they need to stay competitive, which hurts our economy.

Women's Rights

In recent years, numerous state legislatures took action to impede a woman’s constitutional right to access safe, legal abortions. Between 2011 and 2013, more state abortion restrictions were enacted than in the entire previous decade. In 2013 alone, 22 states enacted 70 provisions seeking to restrict access to abortion services.

Intellectual Property/Tech

As a member of the Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, I work to protect intellectual property such as patents and copyright, which contributes greatly to our state and local economy. We rely greatly on the development, protection, and enforcement of intellectual property since the production of content like movies, music, books, and software is critical to growing California’s job market and overall economy.

Civil Rights and Equality

Rep. Chu participated in the "NoH8" campaign to show her support for the LGBT community.

When the civil liberties of any group are violated, we all suffer. We must protect the ideals of justice and equal protection under the law so that our country is one where all people are treated equal.

Veterans

Now that many of our service members have returned from Iraq and Afghanistan, we are faced with new challenges in providing quality health care and helping new veterans transition back to the workforce. It’s important that we care for them when they return home. We also have an ongoing obligation to older veterans to ensure they receive the services they need to avoid homelessness and receive health care.

Crime and Safety

Rep. Chu with first responders during National Night Out.

I am committed to keeping our communities safe. We must do more to ensure law enforcement has all the tools it needs to stop crime and violence.

Seniors

Seniors are the bedrock of our communities. They have worked hard all their lives and built our communities. Now, like so many Americans, they are struggling and face particular challenges including high health care costs and income insecurity. America pioneered a social safety net to provide for people as they enter retirement – and they have earned it! We must never neglect that responsibility to our seniors.

Health Care

Learn about initiatives and news items related to the issue of Health Care.

Military Hazing

Hazing has no place in our military. It undermines our military readiness and deeply scars volunteers forced to endure it. We must have a zero-tolerance hazing policy in our military.

Energy and Environment

I hold a deep appreciation for the natural environment and am greatly concerned about the dangers of climate change. That is why I am committed to reducing our reliance on fossil fuels, promoting policies that keep our air and water clean, supporting a marketplace where green energy technologies and jobs can thrive, protecting our environment through conservation, and connecting communities to the outdoors.

Worker Rights and Labor

Our country is built on the sweat of our construction workers, farmers, nurses, cooks and retail cashiers. We need to take care of our country’s workers because they are the backbone of our economy. That’s why I am fighting against attacks on worker rights, pensions and the freedom to organize.