The View from Capitol Hill – Introducing Congresswoman Michelle Steel

Born in Seoul, South Korea, Congresswoman Michelle Park Steel (R-CA) is a first-generation Korean American and a staunch supporter of Taiwan in the United States Congress. She began her career in Congress as the House Representative for California’s 48th district in 2021. Since 2023, she has represented California’s 45th district based in Orange County and Los Angeles.

Today, Congresswoman Steel sits on the Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party and the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, among other committees. She is a member of the Congressional Taiwan Caucus.

Shortly after her election to Congress in 2021, Congresswoman Steel co-sponsored H.Con.Res.21, a resolution urging the United States to resume normal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, abandon the antiquated “One China Policy,” negotiate a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) with Taiwan, and support Taiwan’s full membership in the U.N. and other international organizations. The same year, she was also an original co-sponsor to H.Con.Res.56, which condemned China’s growing military aggression against Taiwan. The congresswoman has also been highly critical of China’s human rights abuses.

On July 29, 2022, Congresswoman Steel introduced the “Taiwan Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act of 2022” (H.R.8631), which authorizes the President to “lend or lease defense articles to Taiwan for protection against potential Chinese military aggression.” On March 1, 2023, Congresswoman Steel reintroduced the bill as the “Taiwan Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act of 2023” (H.R.1330).

Congresswoman Steel has also supported deepening trade between the United States and Taiwan as an original co-sponsor to the United States-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade First Agreement Implementation Act (H.R.4004).

“It is absolutely clear that the time to stand with Taiwan is now – not after a CCP invasion. I am, and always have been, fully committed to standing with Taiwan,” said Congresswoman Steel upon meeting with Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen in Taipei on December 20, 2022. In April 2023, the congresswoman met President Tsai Ing-wen again at the Reagan Library in California.

Come join our event, “The View from Capitol Hill,” on October 28, 2023, to learn more about Congresswoman Steel’s strong support for Taiwan in Congress.

Feel free to submit your questions beforehand here.