In the News

Besides adding to the monument, Chu's bill would bring back the idea of a National Recreation Area originally proposed before Obama's declaration. A San Gabriel Mountains NRA of about 50,000 acres would include private and public lands along the foothills, on both sides of the San Gabriel River from Azusa to Santa Fe Springs and westerly along a portion of the Puente-Chino Hills

At a Congressional briefing on Capitol Hill Thursday, The Sikh Coalition and Muslim Advocates brought attention to the rising cost of hate violence in America. Along with Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA) and Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN), families who have been impacted by hate violence spoke about how their families have been affected and the importance of prosecuting hate crimes.

One year ago, I stood behind President Obama and witnessed history as he declared the San Gabriel Mountains a national monument. In that moment, the fate of these mountains and the San Gabriel Valley changed with the stroke of a pen. The impact of this designation was immediate.

"It is already illegal to fail to provide care to an infant born alive," Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif) said. "What this bill does is to vilify abortion providers."

Congresswoman Judy Chu (D-CA), the first Chinese-American woman elected to Congress, accused Bush and others who use the term "anchor babies," of using "xenophobic fears to further isolate immigrants."

Among lawmakers in attendance Tuesday were Democratic Reps. Zoe Lofgren of San Jose, Judy Chu of El Monte and Lucille Roybal-Allard of Los Angeles -- all outspoken critics of family detention who described visiting the facilities in Texas earlier this summer and speaking with mothers and children there.

"ICE is supposed to be taking care of these detainees," said Rep. Judy Chu (D-Monterey Park), a lead writer of the letter. "We need to have greater oversight."

Congress sets the 7(a) program's lending limit and can vote to authorize raising it. San Gabriel Valley Congresswoman Judy Chu is co-sponsoring a bill that would do just that and is hoping her colleagues will take action before heading off on a long recess next week.