Ted Lieu

Ted Lieu is an American politician and military officer serving as the U.S. Representative for California's 36th congressional district. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served in the California State Senate and the California State Assembly. Born in Taipei, Lieu is a graduate of Stanford University and the Georgetown University Law Center, and served as a colonel in the United States Air Force Judge Advocate General's Corps.

Early life and education

Ted Lieu was born in Taipei, Taiwan, and immigrated to the United States with his family as a child, settling in Cleveland, Ohio. He attended local public schools before earning a Bachelor of Science in computer science from Stanford University. At Stanford, he was active in student government and served as president of the Associated Students of Stanford University. He subsequently earned his Juris Doctor from the Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C., where he was an editor for the Georgetown Law Journal.

Legal and military career

After law school, Lieu served as a law clerk for Judge Thomas Tang on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. He then worked as an attorney in private practice in Los Angeles. In 2000, he received a direct commission into the United States Air Force Judge Advocate General's Corps, where he served for over two decades, retiring at the rank of colonel. His military service included assignments at the Pentagon and as a special assistant United States Attorney for the Central District of California.

U.S. House of Representatives

First elected to the United States House of Representatives in 2014 to represent California's 33rd congressional district, he succeeded longtime Representative Henry Waxman. Following redistricting, he now represents California's 36th congressional district, which includes areas of Los Angeles County such as Torrance, Redondo Beach, and parts of Los Angeles. In Congress, he serves on the influential House Judiciary Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee. He is a member of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus and the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and has served as a co-chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee.

Political positions

A vocal critic of the Trump administration, Lieu has been an advocate for robust climate change policy, supporting the Green New Deal and serving on the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis. He is a proponent of universal health care, gun control, and comprehensive immigration reform. On foreign policy, he has been a staunch supporter of the State of Israel and a critic of the Chinese Communist Party's human rights record, particularly regarding the Uyghurs. He has also been active on technology issues, serving as vice chair of the Congressional Internet Caucus and authoring legislation on artificial intelligence and data privacy.

Personal life

Lieu resides in Torrance, California, with his wife, Betty, a dermatologist, and their two sons. He is a recipient of the Meritorious Service Medal and the Air Force Commendation Medal. In 2021, he published the book "What Makes Us American." An active user of social media, particularly Twitter, he is known for his pointed commentary on national politics and policy. Category:1969 births Category:Living people Category:Members of the United States House of Representatives from California Category:California State Senators Category:California State Assembly members Category:American people of Taiwanese descent Category:United States Air Force officers Category:Georgetown University Law Center alumni Category:Stanford University alumni