Ted Lieu

Hoping to build a better life for their children, Ted Lieu’s family immigrated to the United States from Taiwan when he was three years old. His parents sold items at flea markets and worked seven days a week, until eventually they saved up enough money to open six stores. Their hard work and success in business meant that “at some point,” Lieu said, “I realized my parents had achieved the American dream.” After college, Lieu joined the United States Air Force, and attended law school at Georgetown University. After serving on active duty for four years as a Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps officer, Lieu continued to serve his country and joined the reserves, rising to the rank of colonel before retiring in 2021. For Lieu, “One reason I joined the Air Force is that I believe I could never give back to America what this amazing country has given to my family.”

That same need to give back drove Lieu to serve in local and state politics “to make sure the American dream remains open for those who want to work hard and succeed.” He has served in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2015 and currently represents California’s 36th congressional district. A member of the Democratic Party, Lieu sits on the House Judiciary, Foreign Affairs, and Science, Space, and Technology Committees. His issue priorities include environmental protection and climate mitigation, cybersecurity, and consumer safety. He authored landmark legislation regulating the subprime mortgage industry and a first-in-the-nation ban on gay conversion therapy. Lieu is a champion of measures to ensure that civil rights are upheld, because, as he puts it, “I vehemently stand against any sort of racial, cultural, or religious intolerance that threatens to divide the melting pot our country has become. If we want to uphold the principle of equality that this country prides itself on, we must not let fear tear us apart.”

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Twitter: @RepTedLieu