Offering thoughts and prayers are a valuable way to let loved ones know you care, but no one should offer them at the expense of action.
— Ted Lieu
We must act to reduce the increasingly dangerous and destructive levels of carbon pollution that account for practically all of global climate change.
Our nation's military is effective because it is nonpartisan, relies heavily on science and technology, and takes the world as it is, not as it wishes it to be.
Safely welcoming those seeking refuge into our country is the right thing to do.
By the time Congress is even authorized to act after the President has launched nuclear weapons, there may no longer be a civilized world in which to do so.
Attempts to restrict encryption at the state or local levels would only serve to undermine security and economic competitiveness for the entire nation.
The stakes in the encryption debate are high, with significant consequences for personal privacy, the U.S. private sector, and our national security.
America and Israel share an unwavering commitment to democracy and shared values.
The Bill of Rights is a remarkable document because it weaves into the fabric of our democracy the idea that government has a responsibility to protect individual liberty.
We are not and will never be an authoritarian regime.
I realize the most patriotic thing I could do is resist Donald Trump.
One of the coolest days of my life was when I bought a 16K memory card upgrade and stuck it in my Apple II. I was kind of a geek.
Like so many others, my military career was anchored by a calling to give back to a country that had given me so much.
The U.S. cannot implement a cogent strategy on the world stage if no one is sure whether to take the President seriously.
Most of the discrimination I have encountered centered on the view that I am not a part of this great nation, even though I grew up in Ohio, graduated from law school in Washington, D.C., and received my commission in the U.S. Air Force in 1991.
As an officer in the U.S. Air Force, one day I may be called to give my life for my country.
President Trump has often crossed the line of what constitutes decent behavior.
There is little you can do to stop a tornado, a hurricane, or a cancer diagnosis from changing your life in an instant.
Deeper investment in green energy technology will create millions of high-paying American jobs that cannot be outsourced, rebuilding our nation's manufacturing economy, starting with wind turbines and solar panels stamped 'Made in America.'
The United States was built on the idea that we could create a free country that would serve as a haven for those fleeing persecution.
Refugees don't make our country less safe. But xenophobia, fear and hate do.
Under both international and domestic law, the United States is authorized to have nuclear weapons.
The U.S. Constitution grants Congress the authority to regulate interstate commerce, and the ENCRYPT Act sends a clear message that the complicated issues with encryption must be addressed thoughtfully and nationally.
Democrats stand with Israel because of our shared values.
Democrats have stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Israel since its founding.
If President Trump wants to actually prove he's a strong leader, he could start by championing American ideals even when they don't suit him personally.
When President Trump attacks the media and his political opponents for criticizing him, he's attacking our founding principles.
Yes, I am not well-behaved.
Military members understand that the focus is on completing the mission. We don't care if you are tall or short; have dark skin or pale skin or freckles; or are gay, straight, or transgender.
At its core, our military is comprised of service members who are proud of their country and are willing to go to great lengths to protect American virtues of liberty and justice. I was one of them.
A mercurial plan of action may have worked in the Trump Organization board room, but it's a disastrous tactic in foreign affairs.
America is a nation founded by immigrants and built on the ideal that anyone can be an American if he or she believes in the principles and values of the Constitution.
Americans understand that rising drug prices, wage stagnation and inadequate infrastructure affect everyone, regardless of race.
I served on active duty in the U.S. Air Force and currently serve in the U.S. House of Representatives. Yet I still experience people telling me to 'go back' to China or North Korea or Japan. Like many immigrants, I have learned to brush off this racist insult.
When tragedy strikes, feeling helpless is understandable.
Our military leaders have studied the climate change issue and now believe that mitigating climate change is an urgent national security issue.
If we turn our back on the world's most vulnerable people, we're eschewing the values our country was founded on.
Donald Trump believes in conspiracies. He has thin skin and is impulsive.
When I served on active duty in the United States Air Force, one of my duties was to teach the Law of War.
Weaken American encryption and consumers - both good and bad actors - will simply seek their technology from companies based abroad. Weaker encryption also means weaker national security.
Israel serves as America's most reliable strategic partner in the Middle East and supports U.S. regional and global policy objectives.
Before I could become a military officer or a Member of Congress, I was required to do one thing: Take an oath to the Constitution.
In a nation as dynamic and diverse as the United States, what makes us great is that our founding principles are rooted in the bedrock principle of freedom, including the right to free expression.
When I hear President Trump suggest policy ideas that run counter to American ideals, I speak out. In the same vein, when my constituents disagree with me, I welcome and champion their right to speak out.
It occurred to me that my family had achieved the American Dream, from being poor to starting a business to giving me and my brother an amazing education. It's one reason I joined the Air Force, because I believed I can never give back to America what America has given to my family and me.
Having immigrated here when I was 3, I was grateful for the opportunities America provided and felt a duty to defend the ideals that make us the strongest nation in the world. I can't imagine turning away anyone who shares that vision and has the drive and ability to serve.
A comprehensive Syria strategy, ideally one that's more than 280 characters, remains a key requirement to protect U.S. interests in the Middle East.
Assad's suspected chemical weapons attack shows he is willing to go to barbaric lengths to hold onto power.
I have had strangers come up to me and attempt to mimic the Chinese language in a derogatory manner. I have been told countless times that I speak 'good' English. I have been asked why someone like me would be interested in watching NFL football. On any given day, if I walk around with a camera, I will be mistaken for a tourist from Asia.
The American people understand that what makes the nation great is not people's bloodlines or how long ago their ancestors arrived here, but their character and belief in the Constitution.
