Judy Chu

Judy Chu
Name	Judy Chu
Birth date	July 7, 1953
Birth place	Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Office	U.S. Representative for California's 27th/32nd/28th congressional district
Term start	January 3, 2009
Party	Democratic Party (United States)
Spouse	Michael Cheng
Education	Pomeroy College of Chinese Studies; California State University, Los Angeles (B.A.); University of Southern California (M.S., Ed.D.)

Judy Chu

Judy Chu is an American politician and educator serving as a member of the United States House of Representatives since 2009. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), she represents a district in the eastern portion of the San Gabriel Valley in Los Angeles County, California. Chu is the first Chinese American woman elected to the United States Congress and has been active on issues involving civil rights, health policy, and Asian American and Pacific Islander advocacy.

Early life and education

Chu was born in Los Angeles, California and raised in the El Sereno neighborhood near Downtown Los Angeles. She is the daughter of Chinese immigrants from Guangdong who arrived amid post-World War II migration. Chu attended public schools in Los Angeles Unified School District and studied piano and music as a youth, participating in programs linked to Los Angeles County arts initiatives. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from California State University, Los Angeles where she studied psychology and social welfare, followed by a Master of Science and Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) from University of Southern California with concentrations in school psychology and counseling. Chu also studied at the Pomeroy College of Chinese Studies and has engaged with institutions such as the Asian Pacific American Legal Center and the Asian American Studies Center at UCLA during her formative years.

Career before Congress

Chu began her professional career as a school psychologist in the Los Angeles Unified School District and then worked in local community organizations, collaborating with groups including the NAACP branches in Los Angeles County and the League of Women Voters of Los Angeles County. She served on the Montebello Unified School District board and was elected to the California State Board of Education where she worked on standards and testing alongside officials from the California Department of Education and interacted with policymakers in Sacramento, California. Chu later served on the Monterey Park City Council and as mayor of Monterey Park, California, engaging with the Monterey Park Chamber of Commerce, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and community groups such as the Chinese American Museum and the Monterey Park Historical Society. Her pre-congressional career connected her with advocacy organizations including the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies, NCLR (National Council of La Raza), and unions active in California Federation of Teachers and Service Employees International Union local chapters.

U.S. House of Representatives

Chu was first elected to the United States House of Representatives in 2008 from a district in the San Gabriel Valley, succeeding Hilda Solis who became United States Secretary of Labor in the Obama administration. During her tenure she has participated in legislative activity in the United States Capitol and worked with leadership from the House Democratic Caucus, the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, and the Congressional Progressive Caucus. Chu has collaborated with members of the House Appropriations Committee, House Judiciary Committee, and colleagues from delegations including California's congressional delegation. She has sponsored and co-sponsored bills that have been considered by committees in both chambers, interacting with stakeholders such as the United States Department of Health and Human Services, the Federal Communications Commission, and the National Institutes of Health.

Political positions and legislative work

Chu has focused on civil rights, health care, veterans' issues, and immigrant rights, coordinating with organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union, the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), and the National Alliance on Mental Illness. She supported the Affordable Care Act passage and has backed funding increases for the National Institutes of Health and programs administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Chu has advocated for hate-crimes legislation in response to incidents affecting Asian American communities and worked with the U.S. Department of Justice and the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) on enforcement efforts. On foreign policy she has engaged on matters related to China–United States relations, human rights in Tibet and Xinjiang, and U.S. policy toward the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. Chu has also promoted infrastructure investments tied to federal programs such as the Department of Transportation's grant initiatives and supported small business assistance through the Small Business Administration.

Committee assignments and caucus memberships

Chu has served on the House Ways and Means Committee and, at times, on subcommittees concerning health and trade, coordinating with members from the Senate Finance Committee on overlapping policy. She has been a leader in the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus and held roles within the House Democratic Caucus and the Congressional Progressive Caucus. Chu is affiliated with issue-focused caucuses including the U.S.-China Working Group, the Veterans' Caucus, the Congressional Mental Health Caucus, and the Bipartisan Task Force for Addressing Alzheimer's Disease, and she has collaborated with external groups such as the Bipartisan Policy Center and the Center for American Progress.

Electoral history

Chu first won election to the United States House of Representatives in 2008, succeeding Hilda Solis after a competitive primary involving local officials from Los Angeles County and community leaders from Alhambra, California and El Monte, California. She has been reelected in subsequent cycles during presidential and midterm elections, facing challengers supported by local political action committees, labor unions like the AFL–CIO affiliates in California, and state party organizations including the California Democratic Party. Her campaigns have received endorsements from figures such as Nancy Pelosi, members of the California State Legislature, and national organizations including EMILY's List and Planned Parenthood Action Fund.

Personal life and honors

Chu is married to Michael Cheng and has two children; the family resides in Monterey Park, California. She has received honors from community and national groups including awards from the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies, recognition by the United Nations Association of the United States, and citations from the California State Assembly and the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. Her work has been acknowledged by civil rights organizations such as the Asian Law Caucus, the Southern California Chinese Lawyers Association, and health advocacy groups including the American Cancer Society. Chu has participated in cultural events at institutions like the Chinese American Museum and educational programs at USC Rossier School of Education and Cal State L.A..

Category:Members of the United States House of Representatives from California Category:California politicians Category:American politicians of Chinese descent