Rep. Judy Chu

Rep. Judy Chu
Name	Judy Chu
Office	U.S. Representative for California's 28th congressional district
Term start	January 3, 2009
Predecessor	Howard Berman
Birth date	July 7, 1953
Birth place	Los Angeles
Party	Democratic Party
Spouse	Mike Eng
Alma mater	California State University, Los Angeles; University of Southern California

Rep. Judy Chu is an American politician and Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives serving since 2009 from a Los Angeles-area district. She is noted for advocacy on civil rights, healthcare, immigration reform, and Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) representation, and has held leadership roles in congressional caucuses and legislative initiatives. Chu's career spans local school governance, county supervisory service, and federal legislative work, connecting her to national debates involving figures and institutions across the American political landscape.

Early life and education

Chu was born in Los Angeles to Chinese immigrant parents who arrived during the era of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 and grew up in the Garvanza and Eagle Rock neighborhoods. She graduated from Mark Keppel High School and earned a Bachelor of Arts from California State University, Los Angeles followed by a Doctor of Education from the University of Southern California. During her studies she interacted with academic programs and institutions such as Teachers College, Columbia University-linked networks, engaged with scholars from Stanford University and University of California, Los Angeles, and later collaborated with nonprofit organizations like the Korean American Coalition and the National Education Association.

Early career and local politics

Chu served on the Los Angeles Community College District Board and was elected to the Alhambra Unified School District board before winning a seat on the Monterey Park City Council. She later served on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors as a member of county-level coalitions that worked with entities such as the California State Association of Counties, the National Association of Counties, and state leaders including former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Governor Gavin Newsom. In local governance she partnered with community groups linked to the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association, the Japanese American Citizens League, and organizations allied with the National Asian Pacific American Families Against Substance Abuse.

U.S. House of Representatives

Chu won a special primary and general election to the United States House of Representatives in 2009, succeeding Howard Berman. In Congress she has engaged with national figures including Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senator Dianne Feinstein, Senator Kamala Harris, and colleagues from the California congressional delegation. Chu has introduced bills and amendments that intersect with debates involving agencies such as the Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Her tenure has placed her in floor proceedings alongside representatives like Maxine Waters, Adam Schiff, Ro Khanna, and Jerry Nadler.

Political positions and legislative initiatives

Chu advocates for expanded access under the Affordable Care Act, supports comprehensive immigration reform including pathways addressed by proposals similar to the DREAM Act, and has backed legislation on hate crimes and civil rights influenced by rulings of the Supreme Court of the United States. She has sponsored or co-sponsored bills concerning the Violence Against Women Act, measures responding to incidents comparable to the COVID-19 pandemic, and initiatives linked with the Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month recognition process. Chu has been active on issues related to U.S.–China policy, trade disputes adjudicated at the World Trade Organization, and sanctions mechanisms involving resolutions referenced by the United Nations Security Council.

Committee assignments and caucus memberships

Chu serves on committees such as the House Committee on Ways and Means and previously on the House Committee on Education and Labor; she has participated in subcommittees tied to taxation, healthcare, and social programs that intersect with work by the Internal Revenue Service and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. She is founder and chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus and participates in caucuses including the Congressional Progressive Caucus, the Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus, and the Congressional Freethought Caucus, collaborating with members from groups like the House Democratic Caucus and the New Democrat Coalition.

Electoral history

Chu first won election to the House in a 2009 special election and has been reelected in subsequent cycles, facing challengers from parties including the Republican Party, as well as primary opponents with ties to local figures such as Alex Padilla-era organizers and activists in the Los Angeles County political scene. Her campaigns have been supported by labor unions like the AFL–CIO, advocacy organizations including the League of Conservation Voters, and community groups such as the Asian Americans Advancing Justice network.

Personal life and recognition

Chu is married to Mike Eng, a former member of the California State Assembly and the Monterey Park City Council, and is active with cultural institutions like the Chinese American Museum. She has received awards from entities such as the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies and recognitions tied to the National Women's Political Caucus and the NAACP. Her visibility has led to profiles in outlets like the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and Washington Post, and to interactions with leaders including Barack Obama, Joe Biden, and international delegations from places like Taiwan and Japan.

Category:Members of the United States House of Representatives from California Category:Asian American and Pacific Islander United States representatives