Ted Lieu facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ted Lieu
劉雲平
Official portrait, 2016
Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2023
Leader	Hakeem Jeffries
Preceded by	Pete Aguilar
Co-Chair of the House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee
In office January 3, 2019 – January 3, 2023 Serving with Matt Cartwright, Debbie Dingell, and Joe Neguse
Leader	Nancy Pelosi
Preceded by	Cheri Bustos David Cicilline Hakeem Jeffries
Succeeded by	Veronica Escobar Dean Phillips Lauren Underwood
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2015
Preceded by	Henry Waxman
Constituency	33rd district (2015–2023) 36th district (2023–present)
Member of the California State Senate from the 28th district
In office February 18, 2011 – November 30, 2014
Preceded by	Jenny Oropeza
Succeeded by	Jeff Stone (redistricted)
Member of the California State Assembly from the 53rd district
In office September 21, 2005 – November 30, 2010
Preceded by	Mike Gordon
Succeeded by	Betsy Butler
Personal details
Born	(1969-03-29) March 29, 1969 (age 56) Taipei, Taiwan Province, Republic of China
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Betty Lieu ​ (m. 2002)​
Children	2
Education	Stanford University (BA, BS) Georgetown University (JD)
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Air Force
Years of service	1995–1999 (active) 2000–2021 (reserve)
Rank	Colonel
Unit	Judge Advocate General's Corps
Awards	Meritorious Service Medal (1 OLC) Air Force Commendation Medal
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese	劉雲平
Simplified Chinese	刘云平
Hanyu Pinyin	Liú Yúnpíng
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Liú Yúnpíng Wade–Giles Liu2 Yün2-p'ing2 IPA [li̯ǒu̯ y̌n.pʰǐŋ]

Ted Win-Ping Lieu (Chinese: 劉雲平; /ljuː/ lew; born March 29, 1969) is an American lawyer and politician. He represents California's 36th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives. He has held this position since 2023. Before that, he represented the 33rd congressional district from 2015 to 2023. This district includes parts of Los Angeles, like Beverly Hills and Santa Monica.

Ted Lieu moved from Taiwan to the U.S. when he was three years old. He is one of 18 members of Congress who became U.S. citizens after being born in another country. He served in the California State Senate from 2011 to 2014. Before that, he was a California state assemblyman from 2005 to 2010.

Lieu also served in the United States Air Force Judge Advocate General's Corps from 1995 to 1999. He continued to serve in the Air Force Reserve Command until 2021, reaching the rank of colonel. In 2017, he was appointed assistant whip of the 115th Congress. Since 2023, he has been the vice chair of the House Democratic Caucus.

Early Life and Education

Ted Lieu was born in Taipei, Taiwan. When he was three, his family moved to Cleveland, Ohio. He finished high school at Saint Ignatius High School in 1987.

In 1991, Lieu earned two bachelor's degrees from Stanford University. He studied computer science and political science. Later, he attended Georgetown University Law Center. He earned his law degree in 1994, graduating with high honors. While in law school, he was the editor-in-chief of the Georgetown Law Journal.

Military and Early Career

After law school, Lieu worked as a law clerk for a judge. In 1995, he joined the United States Air Force. He served for four years as a military lawyer in the Judge Advocate General's Corps. He worked as a prosecutor and advised military leaders. He received several awards for his service, including the Meritorious Service Medal. Since 2000, he has served in the Air Force Reserve. He was promoted to colonel in 2015.

Torrance City Council

In 2002, Ted Lieu was elected to the Torrance city council. He served on the council until he was elected to the state assembly.

California State Legislature

Serving in the California Assembly

Lieu as a California State Senator, 2011

Ted Lieu won a special election in 2005 to represent the 53rd Assembly district. He was reelected in 2006 and 2008.

He chaired the Assembly Rules Committee. He was also a member of other important committees. These included the Assembly Governmental Organization Committee and the Assembly Judiciary Committee. Lieu also led the Asian Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus.

In 2008, Lieu helped change a rule in the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA). The rule would have punished players who did not speak enough English. Lieu and another state senator, Leland Yee, challenged the rule. Their actions led the LPGA to change its policy.

Lieu supports expanding public transportation in Los Angeles. He also helped pass a bill to build a football stadium in Los Angeles. This bill helped bring the National Football League back to the city.

Key Laws He Helped Pass

Ted Lieu helped pass several important laws. Here are some examples:

• The California Foreclosure Prevention Act (2009): This law helps people avoid losing their homes. It requires lenders to offer loan modification programs.
• AB 2052 (2008): This law allows victims of domestic violence to end a rental lease early. They need to provide a police report or restraining order.
• AB 86 (2008): This law gives schools the power to discipline students for cyberbullying.
• AB 800 (2007): This law requires reporting of sewage spills. This helps officials close beaches and public areas affected by spills.
• AB 236 (2007): This law requires the state to buy fuel-efficient cars. It also says that cars able to use alternative fuels must use them.
• AB 392 (2007): This law gives spouses of military members two weeks of unpaid leave. This is for when their loved ones return from deployment.
• AB 1150 (2008): This law stops health insurance companies from giving money to employees. This money would have been for ending health care coverage for patients.

Serving in the California Senate

Lieu won a special election in 2011 to represent the 28th Senate district. He served in the State Senate until 2014.

U.S. House of Representatives

Official portrait, 2015

Election to Congress

In 2014, Ted Lieu ran for the California's 33rd congressional district. This seat was previously held by Henry Waxman, who retired after 40 years. Lieu won the election and became a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. He and Waxman are the only two people to represent this district since it was created in 1974.

Important Laws and Actions in Congress

Lieu has helped pass several laws in Congress. He secured funding for the West Los Angeles VA hospital. He also introduced the Climate Solutions Act. This bill aimed to set national energy goals like those in California.

In 2017, Lieu introduced a bill to limit when a president can use nuclear weapons. It would require Congress to approve a first nuclear strike. He also introduced a bill to end the money bail system for people waiting for trial.

His Time in Congress

Ted Lieu is one of two members of Congress of Taiwanese American heritage. His colleagues voted him Democratic Freshman Class president. He serves on important committees, including the House Judiciary Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

He has been praised for supporting online privacy. He introduced a bill to stop states from forcing companies to weaken encryption.

In 2016, Lieu spoke at the 2016 Democratic National Convention. In 2017, after a church shooting in Texas, Lieu filmed a video message. He called for new gun safety laws. He said, "I've been to too many moments of silences. What we need is we need action."

Lieu is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Lieu at Politicon 2018

In 2018, Lieu and other representatives spoke out against Holocaust distortion in Ukraine and Poland. They criticized laws that could make it illegal to accuse Poland of being involved in the Holocaust. They also criticized laws that honored groups involved in past conflicts in Ukraine.

In 2019, Lieu signed a letter to President Trump. It asked to limit the use of military force without Congress's approval. In 2021, Lieu was named an impeachment manager (prosecutor) for the second impeachment trial of President Trump. In 2024, he voted to provide military aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan.

Committees and Groups He Belongs To

For the current Congress, Ted Lieu serves on:

• Committee on Foreign Affairs
• Committee on the Judiciary

He is also part of several groups in Congress, called caucuses:

• House Baltic Caucus
• Congressional Arts Caucus
• Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (Whip)
• Veterinary Medicine Caucus
• U.S.-Japan Caucus
• Friends of Wales Caucus
• Medicare for All Caucus
• Congressional Progressive Caucus
• Congressional Direct Selling Caucus
• Congressional Caucus for the Equal Rights Amendment
• Rare Disease Caucus

Political Views

Protecting Young People

In 2012, Lieu wrote a bill to ban certain practices for young people. This bill passed and became law in California. This made California the first state to have such a ban. Since then, other states have passed similar laws. As a U.S. Representative, Lieu has proposed a federal ban on these practices.

Foreign Policy Concerns

Lieu has spoken out about U.S. support for military actions in Yemen. He sent letters to government officials expressing his concerns. He questioned if some actions looked like war crimes. He also pointed out that some groups fighting in Yemen were allies with those the U.S. was supporting.

In 2018, Lieu criticized comments made by the FBI Director about Chinese students. He said that implying all Chinese students were spies was "irresponsible."

Immigration Policy

In 2018, Lieu played an audio clip in Congress. The clip featured children crying after being separated from their parents at the border. He wanted the American people to hear what was happening.

Personal Life

Ted Lieu and his family, 2014

Ted Lieu lives in Torrance, California, with his wife, Betty Lieu. Betty is a former California deputy attorney general. They have two sons, Brennan and Austin. Ted Lieu is Catholic.

During the presidency of Donald Trump, Lieu became known for responding to Trump's social media posts. He would point out things he believed were misleading. In 2023, he received the Carnegie Corporation of New York's Great Immigrants Award.

Images for kids

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  Official portrait, 2016

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  Lieu as a California State Senator, 2011

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  Official portrait, 2015

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  Lieu at Politicon 2018

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  Ted Lieu and his family, 2014