HELEN News

Over the next few months, HELEN will host discussions featuring leaders from each TriCaucus member who will share their congressional perspective on advancing health equity in the current Congress.

HELEN is excited to feature Congresswoman Judy Chu, Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC). Congresswoman Chu will share:

• the history and provide an overview of the Congressional  Asian Pacific American Caucus, 
• its key policy priorities, including those related to the advancement of health equity, 
• her perspective on what can be achieved in the 114th Congress and; 
• opportunities for health equity champions across the United States to collaborate with CAPAC.

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Congresswoman Judy Chu was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in July 2009.  She represents the 27th Congressional District, which includes Pasadena and the west San Gabriel Valley of southern California.

Rep. Chu currently serves on the House Judiciary Committee, where she is a member of the Subcommittees on Intellectual Property and the Internet as well as Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security and Investigations.

She also serves on the House Small Business Committee, which has oversight of the Small Business Administration.  Rep. Chu is the Ranking Member on the Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Tax and Capital Access.  She is also a member of the Subcommittees on Contracting and Workforce as well as Investigations, Oversight and Regulations. 

In 2011, Chu was elected Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, which advocates for the needs and concerns of the Asian American and Pacific Islander community across the nation.

Chu founded and co-chairs the Congressional Creative Rights Caucus, which advocates for the copyright protections of those in the creative industries, such as music, film and visual arts.   She also serves in leadership of the House Democratic Caucus as a Member of the Steering and Policy Committee.

In 2014, after years of work and outreach, Chu introduced legislation to create a National Recreation Area to preserve and sustainably expand access to the San Gabriel Mountains. President Obama followed Chu's call for permanent protection and declared much of the area the nation's newest national monument. 

Chu was first elected to the Board of Education for Garvey School District in 1985.  From there, she was elected to the Monterey Park City Council, where she served as Mayor three times.  She then was elected to the State Assembly and then California’s elected tax board, known as the State Board of Equalization.  In 2009, she became the first Chinese American woman elected to Congress in history.