Rep. Dave Min is pushing conversations on clean energy with his Republican colleagues — not just in terms of climate change, but also from the economic growth and national security perspectives, he said.
The Irvine Democrat said he is concerned by energy-related policies pushed by the Trump administration and how they impact the American economy. He said he is looking for ways the House can partner in bipartisan ways, including on his effort to reauthorize a program that compiles tools and training to help coastal communities protect their shorelines.
“By eliminating the clean energy tax credits that have spurred hundreds of billions of dollars in clean energy investment — including in manufacturing — here in the U.S., President Trump is not simply shifting policy, he is also signaling to investors that they cannot rely on the U.S. government to honor its commitments, and he is effectively conceding this crucially important 21st century economic driver to China, which already far ahead of us in these industry sectors by all accounts,” said Min.
We’re catching our readers up with the six House members who represent at least a portion of Orange County. We asked each lawmaker several questions — tailored to their policy expertise, committee assignments or votes — as well as a personal bonus question.
Min, 49, represents California’s 47th Congressional District in Orange County. He is a former state legislator and UC Irvine law professor.
Read on to find out more about what Min thinks about working with Huntington Beach’s conservative leaders and releasing more files related to the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking operation.
Q: As the government shutdown continues with no end in sight, what are you seeing is the biggest impact on the communities you represent? Is there a short-term fix you’d encourage while the shutdown continues?
A: I think most Americans have not yet felt the effects of the government shutdown yet, which is probably why we have not seen significant movement from President Trump and Congressional leadership on ending the shutdown yet. But federal workers just missed their first paycheck, and essential personnel are still being asked to show up to work.
I’ve talked with various federal employees, including local air traffic controllers at John Wayne Airport, and my sense is that while they are prepared to endure a few weeks of going without pay, they are not in a position to ride this out for much longer than that. I just heard a story of an air traffic controller who was driving for Uber at night to pay his bills. As this goes on, we will see more and more essential personnel stop showing up to work, and this will impact our lives, whether it’s our airline travel or receiving Social Security checks or otherwise.
At the same time, most of the people I’ve heard from are gravely concerned about the impacts of the massive cuts to health care that Republicans have pushed forward this year, including the termination of the ACA enhanced premium tax credits that they are insisting on as a condition of reopening the government. The $900 billion cuts to Medicaid, which will not take effect until 2027, are already wreaking havoc on people’s health care, with significant increases to premiums and copays already starting to be announced as insurers and providers start to account for the effects of having tens of millions more uninsured Americans. The termination of the ACA tax credits will leave an estimated 15 million additional Americans without health insurance, including 30,000 families I represent. Covered California just announced that when these tax credits are ended, the premiums for those purchasing health insurance through exchanges will increase by between 50% and 200%, hundreds or even thousands of dollars a month for the average family. No one except billionaires can afford these types of massive cost increases. Many people will have to choose between health insurance and putting food on the table. That’s wrong.
Q: As negotiations continue, is there a specific area where you see your party could come to a compromise with the other side of the aisle to move the needle closer on ending the shutdown?
A: I have been frankly disappointed by the lack of bipartisanship I’ve seen since I joined Congress. Despite the fact that I represent a very moderate area and have a demonstrated history of working across the aisle from when I was in the California State Senate, where I was known for working with my Republican colleagues, I have not once been contacted by any Republicans looking for my vote on any measures. Instead, we have seen them ram through extreme legislation over and over on a party-line vote.
Bipartisanship is a two-way street, and it requires, first and foremost, dialogue. That’s why I have repeatedly called on Speaker Mike Johnson to reopen the House, get us back to work and begin negotiations with an eye toward restoring health care access for the 15 million Americans who will lose their health care if this Republican budget bill becomes law.
Q: While federal workers don’t get paid during shutdowns, members of Congress do. Many have asked for their pay to be withheld; are you one of those members? Why or why not?
A: I am not being paid during the shutdown. While this action has forced us to start dipping into our savings, I cannot, in good conscience, collect my salary while millions of federal workers are not being paid.
Let’s be honest, members of Congress are responsible for this shutdown, and we should be going through the same pain that others are experiencing because of it. I stand with our federal workers, including TSA staff and air traffic controllers in our district, during this government shutdown.
Q: Your district includes communities that deal with the tangible impacts of climate change, erosion and rising sea levels. While Congress can’t stop climate change completely, what is something you’re pushing in Washington, D.C., to help mitigate those impacts in your district?
A: I just came back from Climate Week in New York City, where the country’s leading experts and advocates on addressing climate change gather each year to discuss next steps. There is great concern right now about the sharp policy reversals that the Trump administration and its Republican allies in Congress have pushed onto our economy.
By eliminating the clean energy tax credits that have spurred hundreds of billions of dollars in clean energy investmnent — including in manufacturing — here in the U.S., President Trump is not simply shifting policy, he is also signaling to investors that they cannot rely on the U.S. government to honor its commitments, and he is effectively conceding this crucially important 21st century economic driver to China, which already far ahead of us in these industry sectors by all accounts.
I am actively having conversations with my Republican counterparts about the importance of the clean energy sector — not only for reducing carbon emissions and bending the curve on climate change, but also for economic growth and national security purposes.
At the same time, I am also trying to find areas of common ground with Republicans to try to pass bipartisan bills. I am proud to serve on the House Natural Resources Committee, where I am focused on advancing legislation to mitigate the consequences of the climate crisis for our community. Just this month, my bipartisan, bicameral bill, the Digital Coast Reauthorization Act of 2025, passed unanimously out of the House Natural Resources Committee, which is the final step before this bill can move to the floor for a vote and hopefully, become law. This bill will reauthorize the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Digital Coast Program. This program compiles hundreds of open-access datasets, interactive tools, and trainings that are helping coastal communities effectively plan for the future and protect their shoreline. These datasets have far-reaching applications, from allowing California to generate more accurate tsunami models to helping researchers at UC Irvine study coastal flooding risks.
Q: You voted against the massive spending cuts bill that was ultimately signed into law over the summer, citing the cuts it made to Medicaid and Medicare, among other assistance areas. What is some guidance you’re giving local nonprofits and organizations that address health care gaps in your district? In other words, what is a solution to problems you identified with that bill?
A: Unfortunately, this bill is a devastating blow for patients, providers and hospitals. There are no real solutions that can address the massive cuts to Medicaid (which funds Medi-Cal and CalOptima) and the gaps in coverage these will create. That is why congressional Democrats are insisting that any funding packages we approve include measures to offset some of the devastating provisions in the Republicans’ budget package earlier this year, which kick 15 million Americans off their health insurance plans.
The one slight glimmer of hope we have is that these cuts do not take effect until after the 2026 elections (a bit of “bait and switch” by House Republican leadership), and while we will unfortunately see significant increases in our health insurance costs and large cuts to health care services in the meantime as insurance providers and healthcare providers plan out their budgets, if Democrats retake control of Congress in 2027, we may be better positioned to fight for legislation that fully funds Medi-Cal and CalOptima and lowers health care costs for families in Orange County.
Q: There has been a lot of talk about political rhetoric and civil discourse in this country in recent months. How do you define civil discourse? And what is one thing you are doing to be a leader in your community amid calls to tone down rhetoric?
A: I am appalled by the divisiveness in this country and the fact that so many of our political leaders reacted to some of the recent political violence, not by condemning violence and calling for greater dialogue but instead by trying to stoke anger and censor critics of this administration.
When I learned of the assassination of political commentator Charlie Kirk, I immediately condemned it and called for an end to political violence, just as I had done after learning about the attempted assassination of Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro or the assassination of Minnesota State House Speaker Melissa Hortman. We cannot simply condemn violence when it happens to someone on our own side. We must condemn all political violence equally.
I represent a politically diverse district, and I know that many of my constituents disagree with many of my positions and my votes. But these disagreements should be settled through dialogue or at the ballot box, not through threats of violence or worse. That is why I have held five major town halls since coming to Congress, along with dozens of other public-facing events such as roundtables and office hour sessions. I was not elected to exclusively represent those who voted for me. I represent everyone equally, and I hope to continue having thoughtful and meaningful conversations about the issues that matter most to my constituents.
Q: You are clearly at ideological odds with the conservative leadership of Huntington Beach in your district, but is there an area or issue where you and the city’s councilmembers are working in tandem to address? Please explain your answer.
A: As I have often said to the Huntington Beach councilmembers, I think to a large degree we want the same thing — a safe and prosperous community where children are protected and well educated, and our basic rights are protected. We just often disagree on what problems should be prioritized and how.
I believe the Huntington Beach Council has chosen to take on high-profile culture war issues that don’t actually address the problems our residents are concerned about, while creating an increasingly negative reputational problem. And after recent events, including the very conspicuous omission of Surf City from any of the Olympic events (such as surfing or beach volleyball) that might have brought massive tourism dollars to the region, or the very high-profile march by Ku Klux Klan members through the streets of Huntington Beach, I would hope that the Council is rethinking its approach.
That being said, regardless of who is on the City Council of any of the cities I represent, I take seriously my obligation to try to represent everyone. In Huntington Beach, after having numerous conversations with the City Council and its city manager, I prioritized funding for the Huntington Beach Navigation Center (something I also got funding for when I served in the State Senate) to help deal with the growing homelessness problem and also the Regional Criminal Justice Training Center at Golden West College, which serves as a training ground for police cadets and officers. We are on track to hopefully get significant funding for these projects and many others across the areas I represent, including in Seal Beach, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, Costa Mesa, and Irvine.
Q: As a member of the House Oversight Committee, you’ve been pushing for the public release of more information related to Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking operation. Aside from releasing those documents, what is something lawmakers could do to ensure young people in the U.S. are protected from this type of abuse going forward? What about protections for victims of sex trafficking and abuse?
A: First and foremost, we must release the Epstein files. There are young women and girls across the country watching, and we must make clear to them that we will find justice for the survivors of Epstein’s abuse. No matter how wealthy or well-connected you are, you will be held accountable.
At the same time, I have long championed legislation to support victims of sexual abuse and domestic violence. As a state senator, eight of my domestic violence-related bills were signed into law, including a first-in-the-nation bill to designate reproductive coercion as a form of domestic violence. I am continuing to prioritize this work in Congress.
Bonus question: If you are throwing a dinner party, what is the signature dish you would make for your guests?
A: During the summer, I am known for my barbecue chicken (either Korean-style or Kansas City-style). In the winter, I like to break out the smoker and serve up a smoked chicken or duck.