Ted Lieu

Full Biography

Ted W. Lieu represents California's 36th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives. Ted is serving in his sixth term in Congress and sits on the House Judiciary Committee and Foreign Affairs Committee. He was elected by his colleagues to serve as Vice Chair of the Democratic Caucus, making him the highest ranking Asian American to have ever served in House Leadership. This Congress, Ted serves as Co-Chair of Leader Hakeem Jeffries’ Democratic Commission on AI. Ted is a veteran, having served on active duty and then in the Reserves for the Air Force. He retired in 2021 with the rank of Colonel. In the 118th Congress, Ted was the Co-Chair of the House's Bipartisan Taskforce on Artificial Intelligence. Prior to becoming Caucus Vice Chair, Ted served as Co-Chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee in the 116th and 117th Congresses. In that role, Ted helped to shape messaging around key Democratic priorities. In his first term in Congress, Ted was elected Freshman Class President by his colleagues. As a legislator, Ted has established himself as a leader on artificial intelligence; the environment; cybersecurity; civil liberties; foreign affairs and veterans. Time Magazine recognized Ted as one of the 100 Most Influential People in AI. He has spoken at a variety of AI conferences, including at Harvard and Cornell. He is also an outspoken proponent of more effective government oversight and adherence to the rule of law. Following the Jan. 6 insurrection, Ted co-authored the Article of Impeachment advanced by the House and subsequently served as an Impeachment Manager for the second Senate impeachment trial of President Donald Trump. In addition to government reforms, Congressman Lieu is a champion of measures to reduce the harms of climate change. The first bill Ted introduced after coming to Congress was the Climate Solutions Act, which aims to make California's ground-breaking renewable energy goals and climate emissions reduction targets a national model. Ted is also a founder and co-Chair of the California Coastal Caucus, which advocates for issues that impact California's coastal communities. As one of four Members of Congress with a computer science degree, Ted is frequently sought out for his insights on technology and innovation matters including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and innovation as well as the creative economy. He has introduced legislation to improve cyber security in consumer products; create a national AI Commission; prioritize consumer safety in technologically-advanced cars; and ensure law enforcement and tech companies protect consumer privacy. Ted has been a leader in Congress against ethnic and racial profiling, including discrimination against the LGBTQ community and hate toward the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities. He serves as Whip of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, Vice Chair of the LGBTQ Equality Caucus, and Co-Chair of the Cloud Computing Caucus. Prior to being elected to Congress in 2014, Ted served as a California State Senator from 2011 to 2014, and before that, as a State Assemblyman from 2005 to 2010. Ted's legislative accomplishments included authoring landmark legislation regulating the subprime mortgage industry; a first-in-the-nation ban on gay conversion therapy for children; and a first-in-the-nation ban on the use of tanning beds for minors. Ted fought for California state tax reform that saved small businesses from millions in retroactive taxes, and tax incentives for film and TV production. Ted also co-authored California's landmark Global Warming Solutions Act and co-authored the law banning state pension funds from investing in Iran's nuclear and energy industries. Ted started his elected service as a Member of the Torrance City Council in 2002. Prior to serving on the Council, Ted was a Torrance Environmental Quality Commissioner. Looking for a better life and opportunity, Ted and his family immigrated to the United States when he was three years old. Settling in Cleveland, Ohio, Ted's parents sold gifts and jewelry at flea markets to make ends meet. They were eventually able to operate six gift stores, where Ted and his younger brother worked as teenagers. With the support of hard-working parents and a country that provided limitless opportunity, Ted would go on to attend Stanford for his undergraduate degrees in Computer Science and Political Science, and then Georgetown University, where he received his law degree magna cum laude after serving as Editor-in-Chief of the law review. Ted also received four American Jurisprudence Awards. Recognizing the great opportunities America had given to his family, Ted wanted to serve his country to preserve the American Dream. He joined the United States Air Force, where he served in the JAG corps. After serving on active duty for four years, Ted joined the Air Force Reserve before retiring from the Air Force in 2021. Ted received numerous medals for his outstanding military service, including the Air Force Humanitarian Service Medal and multiple Meritorious Service Medals. Ted's wife, Betty, is a Torrance City Councilmember for District 5, a former member of the Torrance Board of Education; a former member of California’s Commission on Special Education; and a former California Deputy Attorney General. They live in Torrance and have two sons, Brennan and Austin.