Your guide to California’s Congressional District 45 race: Rep. Michelle Steel vs. Jay Chen

Abortion

Steel
Steel is a co-sponsor of the Life at Conception Act, which, as introduced in the House, would ban abortions nationwide with no exceptions.

Of the Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe vs. Wade, the 1973 ruling that had guaranteed a federal right to abortion, Steel said, “I will always respect the decisions of the court. I do agree with their most recent decision that abortions should be left to the states.” She said she does “not believe in abortions except in cases of rape, incest and to protect the life of the mother.”

Chen
Chen said the overturning of Roe “will lead to women dying and women going to jail. This is unacceptable. Women deserve the right to govern their own bodies.”

He called for legislation that “affirms a woman’s right to an abortion without undue interference. Reproductive rights must be protected and healthcare decisions should only be made between a woman and her doctor, not by politicians. We must codify Roe at the federal level and prevent Republicans from passing the nationwide abortion ban that they clamor for in the wake of Roe’s overturn.”

Inflation

Steel
“I will continue to fight to lower taxes on American families. I have long been a taxpayer advocate, and Americans deserve to keep more of their hard-earned dollars,” Steel said, adding she would work on policies to “encourage job growth, and increase opportunities for all Americans.”

Steel voted against the Inflation Reduction Act, which President Biden recently signed into law.

Chen
Chen said he grew up helping at his family’s small business and understands how such businesses struggle amid inflation. “In Congress I will prioritize passing the Bipartisan Innovation Act to lower costs for American consumers by strengthening our supply chains and investing in advanced domestic manufacturing.”