Press Releases

Today, Department of Education Secretary John King announced a $1 million grant competition for states to gather and study disaggregated data on Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) students beyond the breakdowns of race and ethnicity currently collected. The purpose is to identify gaps in educational achievement and opportunities, as well as to improve the college and career readiness of underserved AAPI communities and English language learners.

Sunday marked the start of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, which commemorates the history, contributions, and achievements of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community throughout the month of May.

On April 27, during markup of the Fiscal Year 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the House Armed Services Committee adopted an amendment requiring the Department of Defense (DOD) to create a national database of hazing incidents in the military and to submit an annual report on the DOD’s actions to stop hazing through training and response. The amendment, introduced by Rep. Jackie Speier (CA-14), is identical to the text of H.R. 5060, the Harry Lew Military Hazing Accountability and Prevention Act that was introduced by Rep. Judy Chu (CA-27) on April 26.

Today, Rep. Judy Chu (CA-27) introduced a bill to require the Pentagon to track and make annual reports on the problem on hazing in the military. The Harry Lew Military Hazing Accountability and Prevention Act is named in honor of Rep. Chu’s nephew, a marine who died after being hazed by his platoon while deployed in Afghanistan in 2011. It is cosponsored by Reps. Jackie Speier (CA-14), Debbie Dingell (MI-12) and Ted Lieu (CA-33). This bill would require the Pentagon to create a database of hazing incidents in the military and to submit an annual report on what is being done to stop hazing through training and response.

Today, the Department of Transportation (DOT) released a tentative decision allowing Norwegian Air International (NAI) to increase flights in the United States.

Today, Rep. Judy Chu (CA-27) joined Reps. Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, Jr. and John Conyers, Jr. (MI-13) to introduce the Restoring Statutory Rights Act. This bill would ensure the rights of consumers and employees to sue for legally established rights and protections, including protection against wage discrimination. The bill amends the Federal Arbitration Act to prohibit mandatory pre-dispute (“forced”) arbitration agreements for claims rising under federal or state statute, the U.S. Constitution, or a state constitution. The bill would further require that a court determines whether an agreement is unconscionable, invalid because there was no meeting of the minds, or otherwise unenforceable as a matter of contract law or public policy. Under current law, parties may resolve statutory claims, including claims rising under anti-discrimination statutes, through forced arbitration.

oday, Rep. Judy Chu (CA-27) visited Alhambra High School to honor local students at C-SPAN’s StudentCam Competition Awards Ceremony. This year’s winners were selected from among over 6,000 participants nationwide. Participants were asked to make a 5-7 minute video on the topic, "Road to the White House: What's the issue YOU most want candidates to discuss during the 2016 presidential campaign?” Alhambra students Andy Chan, Aaqil Khan, and Shannon Kha, won second place for their film, “A Sense of Security,” a documentary on the importance of Social Security. The students interviewed retirees who depend on Social Security, staff from the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), and graduate students concerned about the future of Social Security.

Today, Rep. Judy Chu (CA-27) hosted the Congressional Recognition of Excellence Award (CREA) Ceremony. CREA is a Los Angeles countywide program that showcases and recognizes the various ways the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships Program federal funding is used in various Los Angeles County communities. The ceremony honored 11 local programs and projects in cities throughout the 27th district that have focused on job creation, senior outreach, housing rehabilitation, disabled populations’ accessibility, street improvements, neighborhood recreational activities and single and lower-income families.