Lieu Review: Standing Up for You
Dear neighbor,
American consumers are being hurt by rising inflation, rising gas prices, and diesel prices topping $5 for only the second time in U.S. history. This week, however, Trump’s Director of the National Economic Council, Kevin Hassett, said that hurting consumers is “the last of our concerns.” Trump’s decisions over the past year have already hurt everyday Americans and will continue to do so.
Even before the war in Iran, the economy was on shaky ground. The labor market was weak, businesses and workers were facing uncertainty from tariffs and AI, and employers cut 92,000 jobs last month. Groceries and household essentials remained too expensive, and healthcare costs were rising after Republicans cut ACA tax credits and Medicaid funding to help pay for tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans. Inflation has also increased this year, with PPI rising to 3.4% according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Now, those challenges remain, and the country is also dealing with the fallout of an unconstitutional war with no clear strategy in place. Many parts of California are experiencing gas prices well over $5. Meanwhile, the stock market has fallen, and mortgage rates have risen as the bond market reacts to the uncertainty surrounding this war.
I talked about this and more during the Democratic Caucus’ weekly press conference.
Last week, it was my pleasure to hear from so many constituents during my telephone town hall. We discussed a wide range of local and national issues affecting families across California’s 36th District.
I heard from many constituents concerned about the integrity of our upcoming elections. I share those concerns. Democrats are working closely with civil society organizations, nonprofits, civil rights groups, and state attorneys general to prepare legal strategies, coordinate lawyers and election observers, and respond to potential threats. We are also actively opposing the SAVE Act, which would make it much harder for many Americans to vote, especially those without passports or birth certificates, including married women whose legal names no longer match their birth records.
These are perilous times, and the strength of our democracy depends on the participation and vigilance of the people. Democrats in Congress will continue doing everything possible to defend our democratic institutions. Ultimately it will be the American people who determine the direction of the country by speaking out and participating in the democratic process in the coming months.
We covered many other issues during the town hall. If you would like to hear the full conversation, you can listen to the recording here. Forums like these give me the opportunity to hear directly from constituents, and I am always grateful to represent such an engaged and thoughtful community.
LA COUNTY FOOD RESOURCES: The LA County Office of Food Systems has resources to learn more about the LA County food system and a dashboard to find more information on efforts to promote access to food across the county. Visit here for more.
BY LA FOR LA: LA County has put together a network of people to help with substance use and overdose prevention, mental health, and housing/food assistance. Check out the resource page here.
CONGRESSIONAL ART COMPETITION: High school students are encouraged to participate in this year’s Congressional Art Competition. Submissions are now open until Friday, March 6, 2026, at 5 PM PT. For more information, visit here.
YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL APPLICATIONS: Students in 9th-12th grade can now apply to join our district’s 2026-2027 Youth Advisory Council. This is an opportunity to work directly with my office to collaborate on key issues for young people. Applications are now open until Friday, June 26, 2026, at 5:00 PM PT. Visit here for more information.
SUMMER INTERNSHIPS: My Los Angeles and Washington offices are now accepting applications for our Summer 2026 Internship Program. You can find out how to apply here.
My Los Angeles office is available to help with federal agency issues at (323) 651-1040, or you can visit our webpage here.
I look forward to updating you again soon.
Warmly,
Ted