Speaking from the House floor Wednesday morning, Rep. Michelle Steel, R-Seal Beach, reflected on her past four years in Congress.
“It has been the privilege of a lifetime to serve Orange and Los Angeles counties in Congress,” Steel said.
Steel, who lost her re-election bid this year, gave her farewell speech Wednesday, Dec. 18. She thanked her constituents and colleagues and highlighted accomplishments during her tenure, from securing funding for sand replenishment projects in Orange County to championing a bill expanding access to telehealth services for non-English speakers.
“On behalf of my beautifully diverse district, my team and I have accomplished a great deal,” she said.
Derek Tran, an attorney from Orange, defeated Steel in the race for California’s 45th congressional race, one of the closest House races in the country this year. He’s set to be the first Vietnamese American to represent the district that is home to the country’s largest Vietnamese population and Orange County’s Little Saigon.
The 45th congressional district spans both Orange and Los Angeles counties, including Buena Park, Cerritos, Cypress, Fountain Valley, Garden Grove and Westminster.
When Steel was elected in 2020, she became one of the first Korean American women sworn into Congress. Fellow Orange County Rep. Young Kim, R-Anaheim Hills, was also part of that inaugural group.
Steel, 69, served on a House committee created to focus on threats China could pose to the U.S. And in her farewell address, she encouraged her colleagues to continue to protect the country against influence from the Chinese Communist Party, calling it “truly America’s No. 1 adversary.” She highlighted efforts to remove CCP influence from education and her own bill banning the military from using seaports reliant on Chinese technology.
“Congress must keep their eye on the CCP and build on this progress,” she said.
During her speech, Steel thanked Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, and former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-California, as well as Reps. Steve Scalise, R-Louisiana; Tom Emmer, R- Minnesota; Elise Stefanik, R-New York; Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Washington; Jason Smith, R-Missouri; and Virginia Foxx, R-North Carolina.
“For now, I’ll be heading back to my home in sunny Southern California,” Steel said. “But while my time in Congress is ending, I will always look for ways to serve the country that I love.”
“I will always treasure the friendships I’ve made, both in Washington and Southern California,” she continued. “Like all journeys, this one is ending for a new one to begin.”
Steel’s last day in office is Thursday, Jan. 2.
Staff writer Hanna Kang contributed to this report.