Welcome to Catch Up With Young Kim, my weekly e-newsletter to get you the latest on my work for you in Congress.

My team and I are here to serve you. If you ever need assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office. I also encourage you to receive real-time updates on my work for you in Congress by following me on Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Instagram.

This week, Rep. Lou Correa and I sent a letter to Nancy Ward, Director of the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal EOS), demanding retroactive grant support for Orange County in the wake of last year’s Airport Fire.

Americans shouldn’t have to choose between starting a family and being strapped in debt. Unfortunately, rising living costs on top of excessive hospital and health care fees after giving birth deter individuals from becoming parents.

We should do what we can to make life more affordable, which is why I’m proud to help lead the charge to cut childbirth cost-sharing fees and ensure women, babies, and families receive the care they deserve without astronomical costs.

This week, the Financial Services Committee had a hearing on American innovation and the future of digital assets. California has been a leader in cryptocurrency adoption, with over 1,000 bitcoin ATMs throughout the state and more than 8.2 million residents owning a digital asset. 

The CLARITY Act will finally provide regulatory certainty so that America can drive the next generation of financial innovation and protect consumers, like my constituents, who want to participate in the digital asset market.  

Did you know CA-40 is home to the largest one-day chili cook-off in the country?

Great to be back with our Tustin community at the City's 41st Annual Street Fair and Chili Cook-Off in Old Town Tustin!

At this week's Europe Subcommittee Hearing, I asked how NATO can better counter Russian aggression. 

Scammers exploiting the EBT system are the worst kind of evil, not only wasting taxpayer dollars but stealing vital benefits meant to help our most vulnerable.

This week I introduced the Stopping Klepto-card and Identity Misuse Act (SKIM) Act, which would toughen penalties and strengthen law enforcement coordination to crack down on these bad actors, save taxpayer dollars, and ensure public assistance goes to those who actually need it.

Veterans put their lives on the line to protect our freedoms and, at the very least, deserve to know the benefits available to them. Anything less is unacceptable.

I helped introduce the Veterans Affairs Loan Informed Disclosure Act of 2025 (VALID) Act, which would fully disclose the VA loan options available for veterans to use when buying a home. I’m proud to help lead this commonsense, bipartisan bill that ensures we have the backs of our brave men and women who had ours against global threats.

Across the country, many animal shelters face food and supply shortages while over a million pounds of useable pet supplies are wasted each year. This week, I helped introduce the Bring Animals Relief and Kibble (BARK) Act to help reduce this waste, supply shelters in need, and feed animals.

I appreciate the Orange Rotary Club inviting me to share an update on my work in Congress. I'm honored to be able to fight for our Orange community. 

At this week's Financial Institution's Subcommittee hearing, I urged for streamlined data privacy standards to support consumers and small businesses.

Tiananmen Square showed the world 36 years ago that Chinese Communist Party leaders will do anything to maintain power and control, even at the expense of their own citizens’ lives. The courageous victims remain in our hearts and reaffirm our fight for freedom on the world stage.

I enjoyed joining the 36th Anniversary of the St. Angela Merici Parish School SummerFest! This 3-day celebration of food, family, and fun is the largest community event in North Orange County.

I joined our Villa Park community for the 1st annual Health and Wellness Fair! Thank you to all the vendors and volunteers who made this event a success.

Today we honor the Allied troops who stormed the beaches of Normandy and embarked on the great crusade for the eyes of the world to protect freedom on #DDay 81 years ago.

May we never forget the courage, dedication and heroism of our Greatest Generation.

Are you traveling planning travel for this year? Stop what you’re doing and check your passport and your ID!

TSA requires REAL IDs for domestic travel starting May 7, 2025 and for entering certain federal facilities. Learn more here.

State Department processing times for passports are now 4-6 weeks (routine) or 2-3 weeks (expedited, not incl. shipping). Start your renewal or application at travel.state.gov/passport. Passport processing times are the fastest they’ve been since March 2020. Take advantage and apply or renew now so that you’re ready for international travel in the new year. 

Travel Tip -- Many countries require your passport to be valid for at least six months after your departure. Look up your destination’s entry requirements at travel.state.gov/destination and check your passport expiration date before booking flights.

Travelers are encouraged to wait to book international travel until a valid passport is physically in hand, apply for a new or renewed passport 9 months prior to travel, and ensure that their passport doesn’t expire within 6 months of their international travel dates.

If your pending application was filed with routine service and you have upcoming travel, you may benefit from upgrading to expedited service. Please dial (877) 487-2778 to upgrade to expedited service and shipping.  

Please do not hesitate to reach out to my office if we can assist you in any way at (714) 984-2440.  

The Department of State advises U.S. citizens overseas to exercise increased caution as tensions around the world increase the potential for terrorist attacks, demonstrations, or violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests, the Department of State advises U.S. citizens overseas to exercise increased caution. 

U.S. citizens should:

• Stay alert in locations frequented by tourists.  
• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive information and alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency overseas.
• Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter and visit travel.state.gov

If you are traveling abroad or are abroad please check the destination warning levels travel.state.gov, and be sure to register for the STEP program even if you are abroad.Please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office at my website or at (714) 984-2440 if you have any questions or need assistance.

I am thrilled that Team Young has helped return over $27 million back to taxpayers from federal agencies.

If you need help with a federal agency, please reach out to my office. We’re here to serve you always.

Have a great weekend!

Sincerely,

Young Kim