Representative Ted Lieu Delivers Policy Plans to Hundreds of Supporters at UCLA’s Royce Hall Swearin

California’s newest U.S. Representative Ted Lieu was officially sworn in as Congressman for the 33rd Congressional District this Sunday at a ceremony at UCLA’s Royce Hall, highlighting his priorities for his incumbency, including comprehensive immigration reform, assistance for homeless veterans, and reduction of climate change.

The prestigious performing arts venue was flooded with approximately 1,000 people, including mayors, city Council Members, and local residents there to honor Lieu taking his oath of office.

Photo Courtesy of Sarah Ahern

The ceremony was hosted by Manhattan Beach City Council member Amy Howorth, who induced several laughs and cheers from the audience during her humorous but sincere introduction of Lieu. “Congress suits him well- he is terrific on Facebook, with Twitter, with hashtags,” Howorth said of Lieu. “But his thoughtfulness, integrity, and most importantly his devotion to family, is what makes Lieu stand out from the rest.”

Lieu represents the congressional district based in Los Angeles County that includes Westwood, home of UCLA.

“It is a very special privilege and honor that UCLA is able to host this very important ceremony,” UCLA Chancellor Gene Block said. “We stand for education, research, and service, and civic engagement is a large part of service which this public invocation is a very important example of.”

Lieu will be taking over for Representative Henry Waxman in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he served the district for 40 years.

The first of several distinguished speakers at the ceremony and a close friend to Lieu was director, activist, and UCLA alumnus Tim Robbins. Robbins commended Lieu on three qualities he believes make him stand out from the crowd- his integrity, courageousness, and strong vision regarding climate change, what he marked as “the greatest threat to humanity,” gaining a large rave from the audience and even a standing ovation.

The ceremony also paid tribute to Lieu’s military service with a performance from the New Directions Veterans Choir. They performed “Military Medley,” a compilation of the anthems of the Armed Forces, in which they asked veterans of the audience to stand when their song was played to honor their service, raising huge applauses from the audience and some tears as well.

Photo Courtesy of Sarah Ahern

The Choir has given comprehensive assistance to thousands of veterans in Los Angeles County and helps veterans with a variety of services, including substance abuse treatment, counseling, and job training.

A strong advocate of improving the life and voice of veterans, Lieu holds the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the United Air Force Reserves and continues to work as a military prosecutor and adviser to commanders.

Several prominent figures praised Lieu in their speeches for the advocacy he has shown during his political service, as well as for his military service.

“You know you have a great leader when he shows you strength and humility even when you don't know it,” Congressman Xavier Becerra said. “He has fought to stop assaults on the Affordable Care Act and pushed for the use of military force against ISIS.”

“Lieu is a dynamic man, and most importantly a veteran Lieutenant Colonel who will continue to put on his uniform and serve the United States; who will stick up for our civil liberties,” Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said.

Mayor Garcetti took out his phone and asked the audience to take to Twitter during the ceremony and tweet “I’m with @reptedlieu because…” “I’m with Representative Lieu because we can end veterans’ homelessness in Los Angeles,” Garcetti said. Several tech-savvy audience members joined the social media style endorsement.

Congresswoman Maxine Waters said she was not at all surprised when Lieu was elected. “His career is one that leads to presidency,” Waters said with a strong applause from the audience.

Just minutes before Lieu was to take his oath, the fire alarm went off in Royce Hall, forcing the entire audience to evacuate outside the hall into an afternoon of pouring rain. After only twelve minutes of delay, the audience was brought back inside for the Congressman’s remarks and oath-taking. Royce Hall staff later confirmed it was a false alarm.

Photo Courtesy of Sarah Ahern

Lieu outlined his policy with three topics of interest- jumpstarting the economy with immigration reform, supporting the middle class with tax credits, and eliminating climate change- “one of the main reasons I ran,” Lieu said.

“I am confident Congress will one day pass comprehensive immigration reform,” said Lieu of his crucial interest in growing the economy. “This is simply humane, it will jumpstart the economy, and it will lift millions out of the shadows.”

Congressman Lieu also emphasized the significance of the middle class. “We entered a recession because the middle class couldn’t buy anything,” Lieu explained. “When the middle-class succeeds, America succeeds.”

Finally, Lieu discussed the thing he says keeps him up at night- climate change. “There are a thousand issues Congress faces, but only one of them can kill the entire population, and that is climate change,” Lieu said. “We have one thing the other side doesn’t- and those are facts. Those with facts will prevail,” Lieu said at the end of his speech, initiating perhaps the most intense excitement from the audience yet.

Lieu said one of his first acts in Congress will be to introduce an updated version of the Safe Climate Act introduced by Waxman in 2007, which aims to decrease greenhouse gas emissions.

Lieu raised his right hand and took his oath with his wife Betty and two sons Austin and Brennan by his side. The oath was led by Circuit Court Judge Jacqueline Nguyen.

Photo Courtesy of Sarah Ahern

Howorth thanked the audience for their attendance and patience with the interruption, and gave a quote from the late Leonard Nimoy, one of Lieu’s favorite actors: “Live long and prosper.”