Ted Lieu

Ted W. Lieu (/ljuː/; born March 29, 1969) is an American politician serving as the U.S. Representative for California's 33rd congressional district since 2015. The district serves much of western and west Valley Los Angeles, as well as Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Bel Air, Calabasas, Agoura Hills, the Palos Verdes Peninsula and Beach Cities.

Ted Lieu
Co-Chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee
Assumed office
January 3, 2019
Preceded byCheri Bustos
David Cicilline
Hakeem Jeffries
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from California's 33rd district
Assumed office
January 3, 2015
Preceded byHenry Waxman
Member of the California State Senate
from the 28th district
In office
February 18, 2011 – November 30, 2014
Preceded byJenny Oropeza
Succeeded byBen Allen
Member of the California State Assembly
from the 53rd district
In office
September 21, 2005 – November 30, 2010
Preceded byMike Gordon
Succeeded byBetsy Butler
Member of the Torrance City Council
In office
2002–2005
Personal details
Born (1969-03-29) March 29, 1969
Taipei, Taiwan
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)
Betty Lieu
(
m. 2002)
Children2
EducationStanford University (BA, BS)
Georgetown University (JD)
WebsiteHouse website
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Air Force
Years of service1995–1999 (active)
2000–present (reserve)
Rank Colonel
UnitJudge Advocate General's Corps
Awards
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese劉雲平
Simplified Chinese刘云平
Hanyu PinyinLiú Yúnpíng

A member of the Democratic Party, Lieu previously served as the California State Senator from the 28th district from 2011 to 2014, after being elected to fill the seat of deceased Senator Jenny Oropeza. From 2005 to 2010 he was a California State Assemblyman, representing the 53rd district, after being elected to fill the seat of deceased Assemblyman Mike Gordon.

Lieu actively served in the United States Air Force Judge Advocate General's Corps from 1995 to 1999 and since 2000 has served in the Air Force Reserve Command with his current rank of colonel upon his promotion in 2015. House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi appointed Lieu Assistant whip of the 115th Congress starting in 2017.

Early life

Lieu was born in Taipei, Taiwan. At age three, he immigrated with his family to Cleveland, Ohio,[1] where he grew up. In 1987, he graduated from Saint Ignatius High School, in 1991 from Stanford University with a BS in computer science and a BA in political science, and in 1994 with a JD magna cum laude from Georgetown University Law Center, where he was editor-in-chief of the Georgetown Law Journal and received four American Jurisprudence awards.[2] At Stanford, he also became a member of Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity.

He served as a law clerk to Judge Thomas Tang of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.[3]

Military career

Lieu joined the Air Force in 1995 and served four years on active duty as a member of the Judge Advocate General's Corps. As a military prosecutor and adviser to commanders, he has received various awards and medals for his service, both abroad and locally, including the Meritorious Service Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Air Force Commendation Medal, and the Humanitarian Service Medal.[2] Since 2000 he has served in the Air Force Reserve. He was promoted to colonel in December 2015.[4]

California State Legislature

Lieu previously served as a Torrance city councilman.[5]

California Assembly

Lieu won a September 13, 2005, special election to fill the 53rd Assembly district following the death of incumbent Mike Gordon. Lieu defeated three Republicans, including physician Mary Jo Ford and fellow Torrance City Councilman Paul Nowatka.[6]

Lieu was reelected in 2006 and again in 2008.[7]

Lieu was chair of the Assembly Rules Committee. He was a member of the Assembly Governmental Organization Committee, Assembly Judiciary Committee and Assembly Veterans Affairs Committee. Lieu was also Chair of the Asian Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus and Chair of the Assembly Select Committee on Aerospace.[8] In 2014 he joined the newly founded Friends of Wales Caucus.

In 2008, in a surprising turn of events in the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) English language controversy, Lieu and State Senator Leland Yee of San Francisco were able to help rescind the LPGA Tour Commission's suspension-penalty policy for players who failed to learn enough English to speak to sponsors and at award ceremonies. Both officials publicly challenged the legality and galvanized community attention to the LPGA's policy in August 2008 when it was released, which resulted in revision of the policy by the end of 2008.[9][10]

Lieu is a strong supporter of expansion of public transit in West Los Angeles, LAX, and the South Bay.[11]

Lieu coauthored a successful bill to bypass environmental quality regulations to build a football stadium in Los Angeles. The bill was intended to help the efforts of developer Edward P. Roski persuade the National Football League to return to the city, and was controversial among many environmentalists and legislators.[12] Further controversy ensued when it was announced that Roski had given over $500,000 to political campaigns, including $13,000 to Lieu's.[13]

Legislation

As an Assemblyman Lieu authored laws in the areas of public safety, child sex offenders, domestic violence, the environment, education, health care, veterans' issues and transportation.

Some of his legislative actions include the following:

  • AB 1900 helps prevent convicted child sex offenders from working with children (Chapter 340, Statutes of 2006)[14]
  • ABx2 7, the California Foreclosure Prevention Act,[15] requires lenders to operate a comprehensive home loan modification program or face a 90-day foreclosure moratorium. This is the first law of its kind in the nation (Chapter 5, Statutes of 2009)
  • AB 2052 allows a victim of domestic violence to break a rental lease if the victim provides a police report or temporary restraining order to the landlord (Chapter 440, Statutes of 2008)
  • AB 86 gives school districts the ability to discipline students who engage in cyber-bullying (Chapter 646, Statutes of 2008)[16]
  • AB 800 requires reporting of sewage spills, thereby allowing the local public safety officials to close down beaches and public areas affected by such spills (Chapter 371, Statutes of 2007)[17]
  • AB 236 mandates the state to prioritize the purchase of fleet cars to enhance fuel efficiency and carbon reduction, and requires alternative-fuel-capable vehicles to use alternative fuels (Chapter 593, Statutes of 2007)[18]
  • AB 392 requires employers to give spouses of Armed Forces members returning from deployment two weeks of unpaid leave if requested by the spouse (Chapter 361, Statutes of 2007)[19] and
  • AB 1150 bans health insurance companies from providing financial incentives to their employees for terminating health care coverage of patients (Chapter 188, Statutes of 2008).[20]

Run for Attorney General of California

Lieu sought the Democratic nomination in the 2010 California Attorney General election. He finished fourth in the June primary, which was won by Kamala Harris.

California Senate

Lieu won a February 15, 2011, special election to fill the 28th Senate district following the death of incumbent Jenny Oropeza. He defeated four Republicans, one Democrat, and two independents.[21]

On January 30, 2014, Senator Lieu voted in favor of California Senate Constitutional Amendment 5.[22][23] The proposed bill asked California voters to repeal provisions of Proposition 209 and permit state universities to consider an applicant's race, ethnicity or national origin in making admissions decisions. After hearing strong opposition to the bill from Asian-American community, Lieu, along with Senators Leland Yee and Carol Liu, who had also voted for the bill, jointly issued a statement on February 27 calling for the bill to be withheld pending further consultations with the "affected communities."[24]

U.S. House of Representatives

2014 election

Lieu was the Democratic candidate for the 33rd congressional district, formerly represented by Henry Waxman, who retired in 2014 after 40 years in Congress.[25] The 2010 redistricting placed a portion of Torrance, including Lieu's home, in the 33rd.

Lieu placed second in the June primary, but defeated Republican Elan Carr in the general election. He and Waxman are the only persons to represent this district since its creation in 1974 (it was the 24th from 1975 to 1993, the 29th from 1993 to 2003, the 30th from 2003 to 2013, and has been the 33rd since 2013).

Legislation

Lieu successfully passed three laws in the 114th Congress, securing $35 million in funding to the West Los Angeles VA for seismic retrofits; reauthorizing the Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans; and restoring the Quarterly Financial Report. Lieu also introduced the Climate Solutions Act in the 114th Congress, which aimed to model national energy goals and climate emissions reduction targets after the state of California.[26]

In the 115th Congress Lieu introduced H.R. 669 – Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act of 2017, which would prohibit the President from using the Armed Forces to conduct a first-use nuclear strike unless such strike is conducted pursuant to a congressional declaration of war expressly authorizing such strike.[27]

On March 8, 2017, Lieu introduced H.R. 1437 – No Money Bail Act of 2017. The bill proposes eliminating the money bail system for holding suspects in pretrial proceedings.[28]

Tenure

Lieu is one of two Taiwanese American members of the 114th United States Congress, along with New York's Grace Meng.[29]

He was voted Democratic Freshman Class President of the House by his colleagues, succeeding Joaquín Castro. Lieu serves on two influential committees in Congress: the House Judiciary Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

Lieu voted against the Iran deal.[30]

Lieu received praise from the online privacy community when he introduced bipartisan legislation to prevent states from forcing companies to weaken encryption for law enforcement purposes.[31]

On September 16, 2015, Lieu and Justin Amash introduced a bill[32] to reduce funding for the Drug Enforcement Administration's Cannabis Eradication Program,[33] under which real estate and chattels can be seized if they have been used for marijuana trafficking and abuse.[34]

On July 22 it was announced that Lieu would speak at the 2016 Democratic National Convention, along with three other California House Democrats.

On May 10, 2017, Lieu tweeted: "Our 11 year old just asked me if President Trump was part Russian. That would be really funny if it wasn't so really scary."[35][36] In response, Russia's government-controlled news agency Sputnik accused Lieu of inciting "Russophobic hysteria".[36]

On November 6, 2017, while the House of Representatives chambers was holding a moment of silence was held for the 26 victims of a church shooting in Texas, Lieu filmed and posted a video message calling for gun law reform. Lieu said, “I’ve been to too many moments of silences. In just my short career in Congress, three of the worst mass shootings in U.S. history have occurred. I will not be silent. What we need is we need action. We need to pass gun safety legislation now.”[37]

Lieu is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.[38]

On April 25, 2018, 57 members of the House of Representatives, including Lieu,[39] released a condemnation of Holocaust distortion in Ukraine and Poland.[40] They criticized Poland's new Holocaust law, which would criminalize accusing Poland of complicity in the Holocaust, and Ukraine's 2015 memory laws glorifying Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) and its leaders, such as Roman Shukhevych.[39]

In 2019, Lieu signed a letter led by Representative Ro Khanna and Senator Rand Paul to President Trump asserting that it is "long past time to rein in the use of force that goes beyond congressional authorization" and that they hoped this would "serve as a model for ending hostilities in the future—in particular, as you and your administration seek a political solution to our involvement in Afghanistan.”[41][42]

In December 2019, an attorney for congressman Devin Nunes sent a letter to Lieu threatening to sue over Lieu's comments about Nunes's relationship with Lev Parnas. In response, Lieu wrote, "I welcome any lawsuit from your client and look forward to taking discovery of Congressman Nunes. Or, you can take your letter and shove it."[43]

Committee assignments

Caucus memberships

Political positions

Banning sexual orientation conversion therapy

In 2012 Lieu authored a bill[49] that bans the provision of sexual orientation change efforts (including conversion therapy) to minors. This bill passed both the State Assembly and Senate with substantial support, and was signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown in 2012.[50] This made California the first U.S. state to have such a ban. Several other states and the District of Columbia have followed in enacting bans on sexual orientation change efforts with minors.[51] As U.S. Representative, Lieu has introduced the Therapeutic Fraud Prevention Act, a bill for a federal ban on conversion therapy, following statements by President Obama opposing the practice.[52]

Proponents of the ban cited sources including several reports of the American Psychological Association that conversion therapy presented a serious health risk:

...including confusion, depression, guilt, helplessness, hopelessness, shame, social withdrawal, suicidality, substance abuse, stress, disappointment, self-blame, decreased self-esteem and authenticity to others, increased self-hatred, hostility and blame toward parents, feelings of anger and betrayal, loss of friends and potential romantic partners, problems in sexual and emotional intimacy, sexual dysfunction, high-risk sexual behaviors, a feeling of being dehumanized and untrue to self, a loss of faith, and a sense of having wasted time and resources.[53]

Criticism of U.S. support for Saudi Arabia

Lieu has been publicly raising concerns over U.S. support for Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen. In March 2016 he sent a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry and Secretary of Defense Ash Carter. Lieu wrote in the letter that the "apparent indiscriminate airstrikes on civilian targets in Yemen seem to suggest that either the coalition is grossly negligent in its targeting or is intentionally targeting innocent civilians. ... Some of these strikes look like war crimes to me, and I want to get answers as to why the U.S. appears to be assisting in the execution of war crimes in Yemen."[54]

In April 2017 Lieu again criticized U.S. involvement in Saudi Arabian military campaign in Yemen, highlighting that Al Qaeda in Yemen "has emerged as a de facto ally of the Saudi-led militaries with whom [Trump] administration aims to partner more closely."[55]

Family separation policy

On June 22, 2018, Lieu played an audio clip of children taken from their parents under the Trump administration family separation policy crying and calling for their parents. Karen Handel, Republican representative from Georgia, who was presiding over the session, called on Lieu to stop playing the clip, citing a rule (House Rule 17) that prohibits persons on the floor of the House from using "a mobile electronic device that impairs decorum."[56] Lieu responded, "Why are we hiding this from the American people? I think the American people need to hear this."[57]

China's espionage
See also: List of Chinese spy cases in the United States

In 2015, Lieu called for a Justice Department investigation into the arrests of several Chinese-American scientists for espionage.[58] On February 13, 2018, in a Senate Select Committee on Intelligence hearing focused on Chinese espionage in the United States, Senator Marco Rubio asked FBI Director Christopher A. Wray about the risk posed by China's students in advanced science and mathematics programs.[59][60] Lieu criticized Wray's response as "irresponsible generalizations" implying that all Chinese students and scholars were spies.[61]

Personal life
Ted Lieu and his family

Lieu and his wife Betty (a former California Deputy Attorney General) reside in Torrance, California, with their two sons, Brennan and Austin.[62] Lieu is Catholic.[63]

Lieu is known for rebutting Donald Trump's tweets on his personal account, @tedlieu. "I just decided that if Donald Trump was going to say 27 crazy, misleading things a week, I am going to point out that he said 27 crazy, misleading things, and to not allow him to get away with it."[64]

gollark: being right all the time is kinda my thing
gollark: Great hydraz quote:yesthat is not useful
gollark: Good idea making it in Java, too. You'll be able to collect more hydraz quotes.
gollark: That's a good one.
gollark: We can call it AutoHydraz.

See also

References
  1. https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/ted-lieu-is-out-tweeting-trump-and-its-making-him-a-political-star/2017/03/30/a087d670-fec2-11e6-8ebe-6e0dbe4f2bca_story.html
  2. "Meet Ted". Senator Ted Lieu. Retrieved October 27, 2017.
  3. Rizo, Chris (February 8, 2010). "Calif. AG hopeful promoted to lieutenant colonel". LegalNewsline. Archived from the original on January 28, 2013.
  4. "CONGRESSMAN LIEU STATEMENT ON PROMOTION TO COLONEL, U.S. AIR FORCE RESERVES". Congressman Ted Lieu. December 9, 2015. Retrieved June 12, 2016.
  5. Pimentel, Joseph (June 4, 2010). "Ted Lieu vying to become first Asian-American Attorney General". Asian Journal. Archived from the original on December 14, 2010.
  6. Covarrubias, Amanda (September 15, 2005). "Democrat Cuts Through GOP 'Malaise' for Win". Los Angeles Times.
  7. "Hahn loses to Newsom, Lieu trails in attorney general race". Inside Bay Area. September 6, 2010.
  8. Weikel, Dan (July 15, 2010). "Los Angeles and California lawmakers seek review of security at LAX". Los Angeles Times.
  9. Watanabe, Teresa; Kim, Victoria (September 6, 2008). "Putting English on the ball". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
  10. "Lieu and Yee Help Rescind LPGA English Language Policy Penalty" Archived September 14, 2008, at the Wayback Machine. AsianWeek. Retrieved on September 8, 2008.
  11. Walker, Gary (May 31, 2007). "LAX: MTA official says Green Line extension to LAX is 'not even on the radar screen right now'". The Argonaut. Archived from the original on July 19, 2012.
  12. "Realty Tycoon Sacks Capitol in Quest for L.A. Football Archived February 15, 2010, at the Wayback Machine, The Sacramento Bee, February 8, 2010.
  13. "NFL stadium promoter gives $505,000 to state political campaigns", Los Angeles Times, January 30, 2010.
  14. Pimentel, Joseph (June 4, 2010). "Ted Lieu vying to become first Asian-American Attorney General". Asian Journal. Archived from the original on July 20, 2012.
  15. "Calif. assemblyman joins 2010 AG race". LegalNewsline. December 11, 2008. Archived from the original on January 27, 2013.
  16. Etengoff, Aharon (August 12, 2008). "Cyber-bullying law wins state senate approval". The Inquirer.
  17. "Governor Schwarzenegger sign legislation to protect California's ocean and coast". BYM Marine Environment News. October 12, 2007.
  18. "Governator to Terminate Greenhouse Emissions and Oil Dependence in California". NGV Global News. October 14, 2007.
  19. "California Governor Schwarzenegger Signs Bills to Benefit Veterans, Military Personnel in California". All American Patriots. October 10, 2007. Archived from the original on October 13, 2007.
  20. "State probes Blue Cross". Capitol Weekly. February 25, 2008. Archived from the original on July 28, 2012.
  21. Chavez, Paul (February 15, 2011). "Ted Lieu Wins Special Election for State Senate Seat". Marina del Rey Patch.
  22. "Bill documents". Retrieved January 30, 2014.
  23. "Prop 209 changes spark protests" China Daily USA February 28, 2014.
  24. André Coleman & Kevin Uhrich, "A Giant Awakens" Pasadena Weekly March 12, 2014.
  25. "Ted Lieu announces run for Congress with high-profile endorsements". KPCC. Retrieved January 31, 2014.
  26. Lieu, Ted (April 24, 2015). "H.R.1971 - 114th Congress (2015-2016): Climate Solutions Act of 2015". www.congress.gov. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
  27. "House Bill 0669 of the 115th Congress". The United States Congress. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
  28. "Congressman Ted Lieu". The United States Congress. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
  29. "Ted W. Lieu elected second Taiwan-born U.S. congressman". Central News Agency. November 6, 2014. Archived from the original on November 11, 2014. Retrieved August 24, 2015.
  30. "H.R. 3461: To approve the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, ... -- House Vote #493 -- Sep 11, 2015". GovTrack.us.
  31. "House bill would kill state, local bills that aim to weaken smartphone crypto". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on February 10, 2016. Retrieved February 10, 2016.
  32. Ted W. Lieu (September 16, 2015). "Introduction of the Bill" (PDF). Mr. Ted W. Lieu. Retrieved February 10, 2016.
  33. Mark Ram (October 5, 2015). "Civil Forfeiture for Marijuana Busiensses". Mark Ram. Retrieved February 10, 2016.
  34. Nick Sibilla (September 21, 2015). "New Bill Would Cut Off Federal Forfeiture Funds For DEA Marijuana Seizures". Nick Sibilla. Retrieved February 10, 2016.
  35. "Politicians’ kids say the darnedest xenophobic things, like asking if Trump is part Russian". Twitchy. May 11, 2017.
  36. "Chill, Comrade: US Lawmaker Fans Anti-Russian Hysteria". Sputnik News. May 11, 2017.
  37. washingtonpost.com November 7, 2017: ‘I can’t do this again’: Why a congressman walked out of moment of silence for Texas victims
  38. "Members". Congressional Progressive Caucus. Archived from the original on October 22, 2017. Retrieved October 12, 2017.
  39. History, Defending (April 25, 2018). "57 Members of US House of Representatives Condemn Holocaust Distortion in Ukraine and Poland".
  40. "Congress members urge US stand against Holocaust denial in Ukraine, Poland". The Times of Israel. April 25, 2018.
  41. Everett, Burgess (April 3, 2019). "Rand Paul, Ocasio-Cortez praise Trump for Syria withdrawal". Politico.
  42. Bolton, Alexander (April 3, 2019). "Rand Paul teams up with Ocasio-Cortez, Omar to press Trump on Syria withdrawal". The Hill.
  43. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/01/17/ted-lieu-devin-nunes-shove-it/
  44. "Members". House Baltic Caucus. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  45. "Membership". Congressional Arts Caucus. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  46. "Members". Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. Retrieved May 17, 2018.
  47. "Members of the Veterinary Medicine Caucus". Veterinary Medicine Caucus. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  48. "Members". U.S. – Japan Caucus. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
  49. "SB-1172 Sexual orientation change efforts".
  50. "California bans gay-to-straight 'conversion' therapy for minors". LA times. October 1, 2012.
  51. Davis, Aaron C. (December 2, 2014). "D.C. bans gay conversion therapy of minors". The Washington Post.
  52. "Ted Lieu Introduces First Federal Ban on Gay Conversion Therapy". NBC News. May 20, 2015.
  53. "SB-1172 Sexual orientation change efforts". Leginfo. California State Legislature. 2011–2012. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
  54. ""Look like war crimes to me": Congressman raises concerns over U.S. support for Saudi war in Yemen". Salon. March 17, 2016.
  55. "America's Support for Saudi Arabia's War on Yemen Must End". The Nation. April 5, 2017.
  58. "Rep. Lieu wants to know if Asian American scientists accused of espionage were targeted". Los Angeles Times. November 5, 2015.
  59. "Open hearing on worldwide threats". U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. February 13, 2018. Sequence commences at video timestamp 01:15:38.
  60. Christopher Wray (March 21, 2018). "FBI chief on biggest threats: China spies, terror, rise in violent crime" (Interview). Interviewed by Pete Williams. NBC News.
  61. "Chinese students in US a threat? FBI chief's claim slammed as 'irresponsible'". The Straits Times. February 23, 2018.
  62. "Sen. Ted Lieu's biography". California State Senate: Select Committee on Air Quality. Retrieved April 30, 2012.
  63. Cleve R. Wootson Jr. (November 7, 2017). "'I can't do this again': Why a congressman walked out of moment of silence for Texas victims". the Washington Post. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
  64. Kopan, Tal (May 8, 2019). "How Southern California Rep. Ted Lieu became Trump's top Twitter critic". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
California Assembly
Preceded by
Mike Gordon		 Member of the California Assembly
from the 53rd district
2005–2010		 Succeeded by
Betsy Butler
Preceded by
Hector De La Torre		 Chair of the California Assembly Rules Committee
2008–2010		 Succeeded by
Nancy Skinner
California Senate
Preceded by
Jenny Oropeza		 Member of the California Senate
from the 28th district
2011–2014		 Succeeded by
Ben Allen
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
Henry Waxman		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from California's 33rd congressional district
2015–present		 Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by
Brenda Lawrence		 United States Representatives by seniority
264th		 Succeeded by
Barry Loudermilk
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