Ahead of the March primary, The Orange County Register compiled a list of questions to pose to the candidates who wish to represent you. You can find the full questionnaire below. Questionnaires may have been edited for spelling, grammar, length and, in some instances, to remove hate speech and offensive language.
MORE: Read all the candidate responses in our Voter Guide
Name: Michelle Steel
Current Job Title: U.S. Representative
Political Party Affiliation: Republican
Incumbent: Yes
Other political positions held: California State Board of Equalization 2007-2014, Orange County Board of Supervisors 2015-2020
City where you reside: Seal Beach
Campaign website or social media: Website: www.MichelleSteelCA.com; Social media: @MichelleSteelCA
How much assistance should the U.S. provide — military and/or financial — to foreign countries at war, like Israel or Ukraine? What, if any, should be the litmus test for American allies to receive assistance from the U.S.?
We cannot waiver in supporting American allies. We must stop Russian President Vladimir Putin and destroy Hamas.
Our greatest national security threat, the Chinese Communist Party, is watching how we handle the war in Ukraine and gauging our level of support for Israel. America should never simply hand over financial support without accountability of where our money is going. I also believe it is imperative that we secure our border which is why I support Republican efforts to get border security funding into any legislation that will also fund Ukraine.
Border security continues to be a concern for many Americans. What is one proposal, that you believe could get bipartisan support, to address the border?
Having toured it, I can attest that under the Biden administration, our border is out of control. Because of President Joe Biden’s lax border policies, fentanyl from China is pouring into America killing our children, humans are trafficked at a rate not seen in years and terrorists have an easy path into the country. Border patrol agents do not have the resources they need to patrol and stop illegal immigrants from entering our country. Ensuring our border agents have the resources they need along with physically securing the border should be a bipartisan issue.
As AI technology continues to rapidly expand, what do you see as the federal government’s role in creating and enforcing a regulatory framework?
A strong cybersecurity posture, as AI continues to expand, will remain essential for protecting key American national security and economic interests from bad actors such as the CCP, Russia and Iran. No computer program will ever match human ingenuity. To that end, I believe it is essential to remain focused on improving education to ensure rising generations of Americans have the moral clarity and creative imagination to continue to innovate, think critically and stay ahead of our adversaries.
The role — and size — of the U.S. Supreme Court has come under scrutiny in recent years. Do you believe more justices should be added to the nation’s highest court, or would you support any kind of reform, like term limits?
Adding more justices to the court is pushed by left-wing zealots who seek a complete takeover of the federal government in order to enact their radical policies. I do not support it. The Constitution provides justices life terms to ensure they are not swayed by political whims, and that’s a proposition that has worked well since our founding.
What is one environment or climate policy you’d champion if elected?
My work in the last Congress to ensure Orange County’s beaches are replenished with sand came to fruition this year as 1.2 million cubic yards of sand were replenished in our coastline. This essential project will protect against erosion and keep our most prized natural economic resource, our beautiful beaches, for future generations to come. My legislation to jumpstart geothermal energy production is also beginning to move forward, and I will continue to champion it as part of an all-of-the-above energy solutions approach.
The George Santos saga made for numerous memes and “SNL” skits. But what is one thing Congress should take away from the former congressman’s expulsion from the House?
I voted to expel George Santos from Congress because the accusations against him were reprehensible. American citizens must have faith that their elected officials are following the law. It is a reminder that doing the right thing isn’t partisan, and that’s why in Congress, I’ve worked to hold both Democrats and Republicans accountable.
2023 was a year for labor in California. What is one policy you’d champion to support workers, if elected?
I first ran for public office to hold government accountable and to help working families by giving them back more of their money. On the California Board of Equalization, I returned over $400 million to taxpayers. Fighting for lower taxes and policies that lessen the burden on working families is why Southern California families have elected me — because they know and trust me to fight for what’s right for them. In Congress, I’ve passed legislation to lower healthcare costs for families, I’ve worked to protect Americans’ freedom to choose the job that works for them and to ensure all Americans have access to an education that will help them find gainful employment.
If you are an incumbent, tell us the most significant accomplishment of your most recent term. If you’re a newcomer, tell us how you, as a freshman, would stand out.
My legislation, the Securing Maritime Data from Communist China Act, was included in the National Defense Authorization Act and will prevent the use by the Department of Defense and U.S. commercial interests of the free Chinese state-owned maritime tracking platform, LOGINK, to protect our military and critical supply chains from CCP Espionage.
I was also proud to have strong bipartisan support for the House passage of my legislation, the DETERRENT Act, which will bring transparency, accountability and clarity to foreign investments in American higher education. If the CCP and backers of Hamas such as Qatar are funding our universities, American students and families have a right to know.
The first bill to pass the House in the 118th Congress was my legislation to stop the IRS from hiring 87,000 additional employees to audit hard-working Americans.
Describe your political philosophy in 10 words or less.
I believe in freedom and justice under the law.
What is your go-to campaign trail snack or drink?
A KitKat has always been one of my favorite treats when campaigning.
