Michelle Steel, U.S. Representative for California’s 45th Congressional District, delivered a farewell speech on December 18 before her colleagues and Republican leadership.
Steel, who narrowly lost her re-election bid to Democratic challenger Derek Tran, a Vietnamese-American attorney, by a margin of just 0.2 percentage points (approximately 650 votes), will see her term officially end on January 2.
“It has been the honor of my life to serve the residents of Orange County and to work on their behalf in Congress,” Steel said. “My staff and I have achieved many significant accomplishments for a district as diverse as ours, representing people from all walks of life and with varied perspectives.”
During her time in office, Steel championed legislation to expand phone and online medical services for low-income and limited-English-speaking residents during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In her five-minute address, she highlighted her efforts to counter the influence of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in U.S. education. “Through my work on congressional committees, I introduced legislation to ensure that the CCP could not exert control over American education,” Steel said. “Congress must continue to seek ways to block their influence.”
Steel also expressed gratitude to key Republican leaders, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, and Representative Steve Scalise. Concluding her speech, she stated, “I’m returning home to Southern California. While my time in Congress is coming to an end, I will always seek ways to serve the country I love. Every end marks a new beginning.”
Steel, who will turn 70 next year, made history in 2020 by becoming one of the first Korean-American women elected to the U.S. Congress, along with Representatives Young Kim (CA-40) and Marilyn Strickland (WA). She secured re-election in 2022 but fell short of a third term. However, political observers believe she may run for the 45th District seat again in the 2026 election.
Throughout her four-year tenure, Steel maintained strong ties with the Korean-American community. She spearheaded the passage of the Family Reunification Act, which aims to support Korean War-displaced families seeking to reunite with loved ones. Her advocacy extended to supporting second-generation Korean Americans through programs that facilitate leadership development and community engagement.
Steel’s political career began as a member of California’s Board of Equalization, where she sought to ease the tax burden on low-income immigrant communities, including Korean Americans. She called for reductions to the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) budget, arguing that the savings should be returned to taxpayers.
California’s 45th Congressional District covers parts of northern Orange County, including Buena Park, Cypress, Fountain Valley, Garden Grove, and Westminster, as well as portions of southern Los Angeles County, such as Cerritos and Artesia.
BY BRIAN CHOI [ichoi@koreadaily.com]
