Anna Eshoo

Anna Eshoo

Anna G. Eshoo is a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives, representing the 14th district of California.

Eshoo was first sworn in as a Member of the United States House of Representatives in 1993, after serving on the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors for 10 years. For almost "two decades in Congress she has defended consumers, promoted American competitiveness and innovation, fought for access to health care for families and children, protected the environment, and encouraged development of clean energy technology".

Background

Rep. Eshoo was born in New Britain, Connecticut, of Assyrian and Armenian heritage. She is the proud mother of two children, Karen and Paul.

Eshoo is a graduate of Cañada College and the CORO Foundation. She was awarded an Honorary Degree by Menlo College and was elected to the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors in 1982. She served on the County Board for ten years before being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1992.

House service

Rep. Eshoo has served on the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee since 1995 and is Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, which has primary jurisdiction over the Internet and telecommunications.

The Energy and Commerce Committee is responsible for legislation affecting Medicare, Medicaid, the National Institutes of Health, telecommunications, energy, the Internet, health-based environmental laws, children's health, biotechnology, high technology, bioterrorism, interstate commerce, consumer protection, and food and drug safety. As a member of the Committee, Rep. Eshoo has influenced major initiatives such as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the healthcare reform bill.

Rep. Eshoo is the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.

Rep. Eshoo also co-chairs the Congressional Internet Caucus, the E-911 Caucus and the House Medical Technology Caucus, and serves as Vice Chair of the 21st Century Health Care Caucus. As an Assyrian and Armenian American, she is also co-chair and co-founder of the Religious Minorities in the Middle East Caucus.

Intelligence role

From 2002 through 2010, Rep. Eshoo served on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. From 2007 to 2010, she chaired the Subcommittee on Intelligence Community Management which focuses on policies and management challenges affecting all 16 agencies that comprise the nation's intelligence community. She has "authored legislation to protect our national security and our civil liberties, improve Congressional oversight of the intelligence community, prevent conflicts of interest, and better meet the domestic and international security challenges of the 21st Century."

Rep. Eshoo championed increased independent oversight in the intelligence community. She fought for the creation of a statutory Inspector General at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. She has also sponsored efforts to ensure that the General Accountability Office (GAO), the nation's premier audit agency, to be able to bring their expert analysis to the intelligence community.

Rep. Eshoo has been concerned about the private contractor workforce since she joined the Intelligence Committee in 2003. While some contractors provide expertise that the government cannot develop on its own, contractors are often involved in activities that should be reserved for the government, including protecting government personnel on the battlefield, managing other contractors, and developing strategic plans.

In 2000, Congress passed the Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (MEJA), which gave U.S. courts jurisdiction over contractors in war zones overseas, but only if they are on contract with the Department of Defense. This left a large loophole, with contractors working in war zones overseas for the State Department or other agencies apparently not subject to U.S. court jurisdiction, meaning there has been no clear way to hold them accountable. Rep. Eshoo has consistently supported closing this loophole to ensure that all security contractors in war zones will be held accountable for criminal behavior.

Resolution condemning socialism

Fedrary 2, 2023 House Republicans moved a Resolution condemning socialism and certain dictators.

The Resolution began:

Whereas socialist ideology necessitates a concentration of power that has time and time again collapsed into Communist regimes, totalitarian rule, and brutal dictatorships;

Whereas socialism has repeatedly led to famine and mass murders, and the killing of over 100,000,000 people worldwide;

Whereas many of the greatest crimes in history were committed by socialist ideologues, including Vladimir Lenin, Joseph Stalin, Mao Zedong, Fidel Castro, Pol Pot, Kim Jong Il, Kim Jong Un, Daniel Ortega, Hugo Chavez, and Nicolás Maduro;

Eighty six Democrats voted no. Forteen voted "present" and six didn't vote.

Representative Anna Eshoo voted "Present".

Humanitarian Needs in Cuba letter

December 16 2021 , House Rules Committee Chair James McGovern (D-MA), House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Gregory Meeks (D-NY), House Appropriations subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations Chair Barbara Lee (D-CA), and House Energy and Commerce subcommittee on Energy Chair Bobby Rush (D-IL) led 114 Members of Congress in a letter to President Biden asking him to prioritize the well-being of the Cuban people as they experience the worst economic and humanitarian crisis in recent history...

In the wake of this year’s protests, the members urged the administration to support the Cuban people by suspending U.S. regulations that prevent food, medicine, remittances, and other humanitarian assistance from reaching the Cuban people...

Signatories included Anna Eshoo.

CAIR connections

25th Anniversary Gala

In 2019 Anna Eshoo keynoted the CAIR-SFBA 25th Anniversary Gala. Ro Khanna and Zoe Lofgren were also at the event.

On November 9th 2019 the San Jose JACL contingent of Sharon Uyeda, Tom Oshidari, Neil Kozuma, and Joyce Oyama and Margie Oyama were among over 1400 supporters at the Santa Clara Convention Center for the CAIR 25th Anniversary Gala Dinner. The evening began with live, spiritual music by the Aswat Ensemble and a recitation from the Quran by Outreach Coordinator, Ossama Kamel. The program was emceed by CAIR-LA’s Executive Director, Hussam Ayloush, one of CAIR’s longest tenured leaders.

Representative Anna Eshoo spoke to attendees about Islamophobia and the current political climate, as well as her appreciation for the institution that CAIR has grown to become.

Following these remarks Executive Director, Zahra Billoo, spoke about CAIR-SFBA’s achievements and work in the past 25 years. CAIR-SFBA President, Musaab Attaras, comments during the event reflected back some of tangible results the supporters’ contributions have allowed the organization to accomplish.

Dr. Altaf Husain inspired the crowd to invest in CAIR’s crucial, grassroots civil rights work. The evening’s keynote speaker, Shaun King, spoke about making change and fundamental aspects an organization must have to be successful at it. Finally, Jeremy McLellan, the Gala’s featured comedian specializing in Muslim-centric humor.

Support for the Council on American Islamic Relations

Anna Eshoo wrote a letter of support to the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) on the occasion of their 24th anniversary in September 2018.

Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.) (October 2016)

“By mobilizing the Muslim community to register to vote and standing firm against the unprecedented spoke in anti-Muslim hate incidents occurring nationwide, CAIR has strengthened our democracy and our national identity.”

“I’m proud to represent members of the San Francisco Bay Area Chapter of CAIR and I commend you for your tireless work in defense of civil rights for each and every member of our community.” - Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.) (September 2014).

Covering for CAIR

In October 2010 Congresswoman Sue Myrick accused the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) of secretly planting spies on Capitol Hill by trying to get Muslim interns hired in Congressional offices. She was joined in the accusation by Reps. John Shadegg (R-Ariz.), Paul Broun (R-Ga.), and Trent Franks (R-Ariz.). The four lawmakers quoted from a publication entitled Muslim Mafia: Inside the Secret Underworld That's Conspiring to Islamize America, on the day of its release.

The foreword to the book had been written by Rep. Myrick. Immediately following the news conference, Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.) -- the chair of the House Intelligence subcommittee on which Myrick then served -- sent out a letter denouncing "reckless attempts to blacklist an entire ethno-religious group."

CAIR banquet

September 22, 2004, over 700 people, including 70 officials and community leaders, attended the annual fundraising banquet of CAIR - San Francisco Bay Area office (CAIR-SFBA) at the Santa Clara Marriott, Santa Clara CA.

Speakers and attendees at the event included Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA), a representative of Rep. Mike Honda (D-CA), Assembly members Sally Lieber (D-CA) and John Dutra (D-CA), Professor David Cole, Captain James Yee, a number of local elected officials, a representative of the local office of the FBI, and many interfaith Leaders.

“We would like to thank all those who made our dinner such a success,” said CAIR-SFBA President Hyder Ali. “With these added financial resources, we will be better able to defend civil rights and promote a positive image of the American Muslim community and Islam.”

Richie Ross

In mid 1988, to give her campaign a more aggressive grass roots base, 12th District Congressional Candidate Anna Eshoo recently changed campaign management firms. Following talks with the Democratic Congressional Committee, Eshoo said she realized she could not use the same campaign approach to beat Republican candidate Tom Campbell that she used in her primary race, according to Eshoo's campaign manager Mary Hughes. Eshoo's new management firm — Richie Ross — will now funnel more money to voter contact and field operations. "(The DCCC) want(s) people who will spend money wisely. We want assistance." Ross is replacing Townsend and Co. — a leading California consultant firm whose clients have included Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley and 1984 Presidential candidate Walter Mondale. A Sacramento based firm, Ross recently helped San Francisco Mayor Art Agnos gain his post.

Ross has also worked on two winning initiatives in Santa Clara County, the San Jose Arena and the Santa Clara County Jail. Praising Ross as one of the "best organizers in California," Asst. Director of the Row Keith Archuleta said the firm is "definitely a plus" for Eshoo's campaign. Archuleta, who was once an aid to Agnos, said he knew Richie Ross personally while working in Sacramento. "He is good at fundraising and is a good strategist," Archuleta said. Hughes added that Eshoo's campaign has maintained close contacts with the DCCC, a national organization that assists viable candidates. After closely examining Eshoo's campaign records, the DCCC gave Eshoo their financial support once her campaign met "certain criteria," Hughes said. In fact, the DCCC is targeting the 12th district election as one of the five most important races in the country, according to Hughes.

Support from Stanford

Gone are the days of door-to-door campaign handshakes. In the high-tech environment of Silicon Valley, the newest political campaign innovation is door-to-door videotapes. More than 100 members of the Stanford Democrats attended a rally Saturday morning to distribute campaign videos for 12th Congressional District candidate Anna Eshoo. According to Subodh Chandra, cochair of the Stanford Democrats, this is the "first time in American political history" that videotapes have been used in neighborhood campaigning. Volunteers dropped off 90,000 free tapes at individual homes over the weekend, and the Eshoo campaign plans to distribute 20,000 over the next few weeks. The eight-and-a-half minute campaign shot shows Eshoo explaining her reasons for running, her view of the district's role in the country and her differences with Republican opponent Tom Campbell, a Stanford law professor.

According to Cliff Staton, press agent for the Eshoo campaign, the Democratic candidate believes this method of campaigning is the most effective way to communicate with the voters because television commercials are "expensive" and too brief to deal with the issues, while mass mailings tend to be thrown away as junk mail. Each video costs $1.22, the same amount as four campaign letters. According to Staton, response has been "tremendous" and voters have reacted positively. There has not yet been a concerted effort to distribute the video on campus. But, yesterday in White Plaza Stanford Democrats handed out a few tapes to interested voters on the condition that they return them or promise to pass the videos on to other voters.

Takahashi connection

Nancy Takahashi became a Coro Foundation Fellow and it was from Coro that she was assigned to Anna Eshoo's 1982 campaign for the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors as an aide. After winning the election, Nancy served as Eshoo's Administrative Assistant for four years. She went on to serve as an advisor to President Clinton, Vice President Gore, Defense Secretary William Cohen, and Assemblyman John Vasconcellos.

Supported by Council for a Livable World

The Council for a Livable World, founded in 1962 by long-time socialist activist and alleged Soviet agent, Leo Szilard, is a non-profit advocacy organization that seeks to "reduce the danger of nuclear weapons and increase national security", primarily through supporting progressive, congressional candidates who support their policies. The Council supported Anna Eshoo in his successful House of Representatives run as candidate for California.

Endorsed Mardi Wormhoudt

When Democratic Socialists of America member Mardi Wormhoudt ran for Board of Supervisors in 2002, she was endorsed by local Congressmenbers Sam Farr and Anna Eshoo;

Ask the folks who have endorsed my candidacy, including almost every union in Santa Cruz County, the People's Democratic Club, the Democratic Women's Club, UCSC Democrats, the Green Party, Vote the Coast, BAYMEC, the GLBT Alliance, Congressmembers Sam Farr and Anna Eshoo, Assemblymember Fred Keeley, County Sheriff Mark Tracy, the Deputy Sheriff's Association, all of my colleagues on the Board of Supervisors, and five of the current City Council members, to name a few...

Mardi Wormhoudt tribute

When Mardi Wormhoudt died in 2009, Sam Farr, and Anna Eshoo paid tribute to her in the Congressional Record;

HON. SAM FARR of California, House of Representatives Friday, November 6, 2009

Mr. FARR. Madam Speaker, I rise today, with my colleague Anna Eshoo to honor the memory of a great woman and model citizen, Mardi Wormhoudt. Mardi passed away October 21, 2009 in her Santa Cruz home at the age of 72. Mardi was an influential politician, a loving mother and wife, and a dedicated friend.

Mardi was born October 1, 1937 in Wisconsin. She graduated with honors from California State University at Los Angeles in 1967. During the late 1960's and early 1970's, Mardi worked as a caseworker for the Los Angeles Department of Social Services, as well as a project director for the Martin Luther King Center in Pasadena. During this time, Mardi and her husband Ken, the love of her life, started a family with the birth of their children: Zachary, Jonathon, Jacob and Lisa.

In the mid 1970's, Mardi moved her family to Santa Cruz and by 1981 she was an elected official. She was soon Santa Cruz County's leading female official. She is best known for her time as Mayor when she helped lead Santa Cruz through the tragic Loma Prieta earthquake. We all remember the iconic image of her briefing President Bush, Representative Panetta, State Senator Mello, Assemblyman Farr against the backdrop of destruction along Pacific Avenue. Mardi helped keep the spirits of citizens high, and encouraged the city to unite in rebuilding efforts. In total, Mardi dedicated twenty-one years to public office. Mardi will also be forever remembered for her dedication to women's rights, environmental protection, and a firm belief in local economic growth. Mardi was also an advocate for those who were marginalized and overlooked.

Mardi was constantly active in the community as a member of a plethora of groups, including: The Santa Cruz City School District and the Santa Cruz AIDS project. She also received a vast stable of awards, including: The People's Democratic Club Woman of the Year 1988 and the 1991 nomination by then Assemblyman Sam Farr for The California State Assembly Woman of the Year. Those who were close friends of Mardi will especially remember her for her veracity, playful humor, hard-working personality, loyalty, and devotion to family.

Madam Speaker, we know as co-representatives of Santa Cruz County that we speak for the entire House when we extend our deepest sympathies to her family, and our deepest appreciation for the work she did to make her community and the world a better place.

Endorsed socialist

In 2020 Anna Eshoo endorsed Democratic Socialists of America member Alex Lee in his successful run for State Assemblymember for District 25.

Clinton/Pinochet letter

On October 21, 1998, many Members of Congress wrote a letter to President Bill Clinton, urging him to release information to a Spanish judge investigating former Chilean President Pinochet for alleged crimes committed during and after the overthrow of the Marxist Allende government.

Dear Mr. President:

The October 17 arrest of General Augusto Pinochet in London is a good example of how the goals you outlined in your anti-terrorism speech at the United Nations can be put into practice. Indeed, when the rule oflaw is applied to combat international lawlessness,humanity's agenda gains...we call upon you to ensure that the U.S. government provides Spanish Judge Baltasar Garzon material related to Pinochet's role in international terrorism -- material and testimony that the U.S. government has thus far withheld.

Signatories included Rep. Anna Eshoo.

Clinton/Chile letter

February 24, 2000, 31 members of the U.S. House of Representatives have sent a letter to President Clinton requesting full U.S. cooperation with the Spanish case against former Chilean General Augusto Pinochet, a thorough investigation into the car-bomb assassination of Orlando Letelier and American citizen Ronni Moffitt, and the release of all U.S. documents pertaining to human rights abuses in Chile.

Dear President Clinton,

We would like to take this opportunity to commend your Administration's recent activity concerning the ongoing investigation into former Chilean General Augusto Pinochet's role in the 1976 car bombing of Orlando Letelier and Ronni Moffitt in Washington D.C. We also appreciate your efforts to release documents pertaining to human rights abuses in Chile.

Signatories were George Miller (D-CA), Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Sam Gejdenson (D-CT), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Neil Abercrombie (D-HI), Cynthia McKinney (D-GA), Jim McGovern (D-MA), John Conyers (D-MI), Barney Frank (D-MA), Pete Stark (D-CA), Henry Waxman (D-CA), Lane Evans (D-IL), Luis Gutierrez (D-IL), Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Maxine Waters (D-CA), Tim Roemer (D- IN), Howard Berman (D-CA), John Olver (D-MA), Mel Watt (D- NC), Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Patsy Mink (D-HI), Marcy Kaptur (D- OH), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), John Tierney (D-MA), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Xavier Becerra (D-CA), Martin Sabo (D-MN), and Bob Filner (D-CA).

National Laotian-American Symposium

The National Laotian-American Symposium on US-Laos Relations, held in Congress on May 22-24, 2002, was the first such event of its kind in Washington. The more than 120 participants included Laotian-Americans from around the US, callingfor open dialogue on US-Laos relations and supporting normal trade relations between the two countries. Additional participants represented several dozen Congressional offices, as well as NGO representatives, American veterans, and media. The keynote speaker was US Ambassador to Laos Douglas Hartwick.

Four members of Congress spoke at the Symposium: two sponsors, Reps. George Miller (D-CA) and Betty McCollum (DMN), plus Reps Anna Eshoo, and Ron Kind.

The Symposium was co-sponsored by five non-profit organizations in addition to Fund for Reconciliation and Development.

National Laotian Americans for Cooperation and Development "Fostering Cooperation with Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Cuba" comprises an emerging network of ethnic Lao, Hmong, Khmu and other groups in the US that support increased dialogue with and assistance to their country of origin. The American Friends Service Committee and Mennonite Central Committee are two of the American NGOs who have worked in Laos in the longest and most committed fashion. The Lao-American Exchange Institute works to develop educational exchange and trade with Laos. Finally, the San Francisco-based Jhai Foundation was begun by an American veteran to carry out self-help.

China WTO enabler

In 1988, things were not looking goodfor a deal to allow China to join the World Trade Organization. A highly touted visit to Washington by Chinese Prime Minister Zhu Rongji that many expected would cinch an agreement ended in failure. Prospects got gloomier when U.S. bombs accidentally leveled the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, in May.

Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Palo Alto, has been supportive of China's membership in the WTO and urged people in Silicon Valley to "weigh in and explain to skeptical members of Congress how this agreement will have a positive effect." But Rep. Pete Stark, D- Fremont, said he knows enough about China's history to realize the WTO deal is a bad idea. "China's not ready to enter into civilized relations with anyone," he said.

Nancy Pelosi, one of the most ardent China critics in Congress, said she's also concerned about the deal. "Once they get permanent (normal trade relations status), all leverage from the U.S. on behalf of business is over because they have what they want permanently," Pelosi said. "They have violated their agreements in terms of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, they have violated their agreements in terms of trade, they have violated their agreements on international covenants on human rights. Why is that we think they are then going to honor their commitments they make for WTO?"

Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus

In May 2013, Anna Eshoo was listed as an associate member the of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.

Endorsed Cindy Chavez

Cindy Chavez, a former South Bay Labor Council staff director, and 1999 Communist Party USA honoree, was elected to the San Jose City Council in 1998 and in 2006, served as vice mayor. Besides the Labor Council and many labor, community, environmental and political organizations, she was endorsed by U.S. Representatives Anna Eshoo, Mike Honda and Zoe Lofgren; Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa; several former San Jose mayors; and seven current city councilmembers.

Though she was backed by labor and opposed by the Chamber of Commerce, Chavez emphasized bringing all segments of the community together to solve problems. As an example, she cited her leadership role on the council for the Children’s Health Initiative, which brings together public and private funding to provide health coverage to most uninsured children in Santa Clara County.

Honored Amy Dean

In the house of representative, Wednesday, June 4, 2003, the Santa Clara County Congressional delegation - Anna Eshoo, Mike Honda and Zoe Lofgren, read a tribute into the Congressional Record to Congressional Record to Amy Dean, Chief Executive Officer of the South Bay AFL-CIO Labor Council, who was leaving the Bay Area to return to her native Chicago.

Through Amy Dean's leadership, the South Bay AFL-CIO Labor Council has been extremely successful in working for living wage contracts for city workers, affordable housing requirements in new developments, and health insurance for every child in Santa Clara County.

Amy Dean has been a tireless and passionate advocate for social justice and has helped to strengthen the labor movement, bringing dignity and hope to countless families, whether they are union or non-union workers. Amy Dean was the youngest person in the country to lead a large metropolitan labor council and the first woman to head a labor council as large as the South Bay AFL-CIO Labor Council.

She founded Working Partnerships USA, a non-profit organization dedicated to rebuilding the links between regional economic policy and community well-being.

Leading with Love

Leading with Love was an event to celebrate 5 years of the Marxist led National Domestic Workers Alliance. It was held in Washington DC, DC, November 14, 2012.

Members of the Host Committee included Anna Eshoo.

Peace Pledge Coalition

In 2007 90 Members of Congress, pledged in an open letter delivered to President Bush: "We will only support appropriating funds for U.S. military operations in Iraq during Fiscal Year 2008 and beyond for the protection and safe redeployment of all our troops out of Iraq before you leave office." The letter was initiated by the Peace Pledge Coalition. The Coalition was led by Tim Carpenter, Progressive Democrats of America, Bob Fertik, Democrats.com Medea Benjamin, CodePink, Bill Fletcher, co-founder of Center for Labor Renewal David Swanson, AfterDowningStreet.org, Democrats.com, Progressive Democrats of America, Kevin Zeese, Voters for Peace, Democracy Rising, Brad Friedman, co-founder of Velvet Revolution, Bill Moyer, Backbone Campaign.

Anna Eshoo signed the letter.

Phillip Burton Awards Committee

In 2013, the Honorary Phillip Burton Awards Committee, of the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, consisted of;

• Jeff Adachi, San Francisco Public Defender
• The Honorable David Campos, San Francisco Board of Supervisors
• The Honorable David Chiu, President of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors
• Carmen Chu, San Francisco Assessor-Recorder
• The Honorable Malia Cohen, San Francisco Board of Supervisors
• The Honorable Anna Eshoo, US Representative for California
• The Honorable Mark Farrell, San Francisco Board of Supervisors
• The Honorable Dianne Feinstein, US Senator for California
• The Honorable Barbara Lee, US Representative for California
• The Honorable Zoe Lofgren, US Representative for California
• The Honorable Eric Mar, San Francisco Board of Supervisors
• The Honorable George Miller, US Representative for California
• The Honorable Nancy Pelosi, Democratic Leader of the US House of Representatives
• The Honorable Jackie Speier, US Representative for California
• The Honorable Katy Tang, San Francisco Board of Supervisors
• The Honorable Scott Wiener, San Francisco Board of Supervisors
• The Honorable Norman Yee, San Francisco Board of Supervisors

Fred Ross award campaign

In early 2013, mainly Democratic Socialists of America aligned activists, together with many elected officials across the United States came together to urge President Barack Obama to award posthumously the Presidential Medal of Freedom to the legendary organizer, Fred Ross, Sr.. The Saul Alinsky trained radical was the first to organize people through house meetings, a mentor to both Cesar Chavez and DSAer Dolores Huerta, and a pioneer in Latino voter outreach since 1949 when he helped elect Communist Party USA affiliate Ed Roybal as Los Angeles’s first Latino council member, "Ross’ influence on social change movements remains strong two decades after his death in 1992".

Congressional endorsers of the proposal included Anna Eshoo .

PDA connection

In June 2013 Progressive Democrats of America assigned activists to deliver their material to almost every US Congressman and several Senators. Gregory Lutter, was assigned as contact for Rep. Eshoo.

Lifting travel ban on Cuba

A May 03, 2013 Press release from the radical controlled and Institute for Policy Studies affiliated Latin America Working Group's Cuba Team stated:

Due to your action/emails/phone calls we have 59 signatures from House representatives urging President Obama to support travel to Cuba by granting general licenses for ALL current categories of travel.

By eliminating the laborious license application process, especially for people-to-people groups, that is managed by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the majority of the bureaucratic red tape that holds up licensable travel to Cuba would disappear and actually facilitate what the President wanted to see in 2011, liberalized travel regulations.

Signatories included Rep. Eshoo .

Cuba trip, 2014

Barbara Lee, Rosa DeLauro, Anna Eshoo, Betty McCollum, CDA's Sarah Stephens, meeting with Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez, June 21, 2014

At Paladar Atelier, Betty McCollum, Barbara Lee, Anna Eshoo, Rosa DeLauro June 21, 2014

Portia Siegelbaum, left

In June 2014 a delegation organized by the Center for Democracy in the Americas traveled to Havana Cuba. It consisted of Sarah Stephens of CDA, US Congresswomen Barbara Lee, Anna Eshoo, Rosa DeLauro, Betty McCollum, and former Congtrsswoman Laura Richardson, Bettina Duval, Alicia Daly, Heather McGhee and other, The delegates had several meetings in Havana, including on June 21, when the Congressmembers and Sarah Stephens met with Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez.

The delegates also visited the Foundation of Nature and Man.

On June 18, Lee, Eshoo, and DeLauro also met with former Communist Party USA journalist Portia Siegelbaum, now living in Cuba, married to a Cuban.

EMILY's List

Eshoo has been supported by EMILY's List during her campaigning.

JStreet PAC endorsement

In 2024 JStreet PAC endorsed Anna Eshoo.

JStreet endorsement

The socialist infiltrated, anti-Israel "two state solution" JStreet PAC endorsed Anna Eshoo in her 2014 Congressional race.

JStreet endorsed her again 2016.

Throughout her career in Congress, Rep. Eshoo has been a passionate advocate for human rights across the globe. She is a strong supporter of Israel and vocal advocate for a two-state solution.

ARA endorsements

The Alliance for Retired Americans Political Action Fund endorsed Anna Eshoo in 2012, 2014.

2015 Cuba visit

House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi traveled with a congressional congregation to Cuba mid February 2015.

The trip is the first official House delegation to travel to the island nation since President Barack Obama announced late last year an easing of trade restrictions with the Castro regime.

“This delegation travels to Cuba in friendship and to build upon the announcement of U.S. normalization of relations and other initiatives announced by President Obama,” Pelosi (D-Calif.) said. “This delegation will work to advance the U.S.-Cuba relationship and build on the work done by many in the Congress over the years, especially with respect to agriculture and trade.”

The delegation includes Democratic Reps. Eliot Engel of New York, Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, Collin Peterson of Minnesota, Anna Eshoo of California, Nydia Velazquez of New York, Jim McGovern of Massachusetts, Steve Israel of New York and David Cicilline of Rhode Island. Engel is the ranking member of the Foreign Affairs Committee.

The lawmakers will meet with Cuban government officials, Cardinal Jaime Ortega y Alamino and local community leaders.

Pelosi and Israel met with Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez, in Havana February 18, 2015.

The delegates also met Cuban Vice President Miguel Diaz-Canel, marking the first time Cuba's heir apparent to power has received an official American delegation.

Nancy Pelosi and the eight other House Democrats concluded their two-day visit by meeting Diaz-Canel, 54, who is first in line to the seat of power held by brothers Fidel Castro and Raul Castro since 1959.

The nine Democrats, all supporters of U.S. President Barack Obama's policy change on the Communist-led island, were due to be escorted directly to the airport after the meeting.

Diaz-Canel and the Americans talked about Cuba's market-style economic reforms, bilateral relations and prospects of the U.S. Congress lifting the country's 53-year-old trade embargo of Cuba, official Cuban media reported.

Ultimate Women's luncheon

Tom Steyer, Anna Eshoo, Mark DeSaulnier.

NIAC connection

National Iranian American Council March 18, 2016:

Last week, #IranianAmerican and allied organizations met with Congresswoman Anna Eshoo to help ensure Iranian Americans will not be second class citizens due to #VisaWaiver changes. Thank you, Congresswoman, for supporting legislation that will help fix this discriminatory law! #NoSecondClassCitizens

With Ashkaan Daneshi and Mohammad Modarres.

NIAC Annual Bay Area Soirée

NIAC Annual Bay Area Soirée & Fundraiser, November 10th, 2018.

Please join the National Iranian American Council (NIAC) this Saturday November 10, 2018 at 6:30pm in Palo Alto for their annual Bay Area soirée and fundraiser, to celebrate advances for the Iranian American community, its allies, and the people that make it possible.

Keynote remarks:

Congresswoman Anna Eshoo, U.S. Representative of California’s 18th congressional district

Special remarks:

• Hooman Majd, Iranian-American author, writer and commentator
• Stephen Walt, Professor of international affairs at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.

Featured remarks:

• Trita Parsi, NIAC Founder
• Jamal Abdi, NIAC President

Date: Saturday, November 10, 2018

Time: 6:30pm – 9pm

Where: The address for this event will be provided upon RSVP.

Letter with NIAC

Washington, D.C. – December 2018, National Iranian American Council worked with Rep. Jared Huffman and a group of 13 lawmakers who sent a letter to the the State Department regarding the dire humanitarian impact of U.S. sanctions on the Iranian people. On February 15, the State Department sent its response to the lawmakers. Rep. Huffman’s letter requested responses on the following questions:

Is it a deliberate strategy of the Trump administration to starve the Iranian people or deprive them of basic medicines? If not, what substantive steps has the administration taken to ensure the Iranian people have continued access to life-saving medicines?

Which foreign nations have expressed concern about the humanitarian impact of U.S. sanctions on Iran, and what have they asked the administration to do to ensure the free flow of humanitarian goods to Iran?

According to a report in The Guardian, the United Kingdom, France and Germany have pushed both the State and Treasury Departments to produce a “white list” that would “give clear guidelines about what channels European banks and companies should follow to conduct legitimate transactions with Iran without fear of future penalties.” Has the State or Treasury Departments acted upon this proposal to establish a white channel to ensure the flow of humanitarian goods? If not, why not?

What additional measures have been contemplated to ensure the free flow of humanitarian goods to the Iranian people? If these were rejected, why were they rejected?

Are broader license authorizations or exemptions necessary to ensure the flow of humanitarian goods to Iran? If not, what is the evidence for this assessment?

Other signatories included Reps Barbara Lee, Mark Pocan, Bobby Rush, Ro Khanna, Jim McGovern, Tulsi Gabbard, Zoe Lofgren, Don Beyer, Mark DeSaulnier, Jan Schakowsky, Matt Cartwright, Earl Blumenauer, Anna Eshoo.

NIAC Applauds Khanna-Gaetz Amendment

Press release Friday July 12, 2019: CONTACT: Mana Mostatabi.

WASHINGTON DC – Moments ago, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to pass a bipartisan amendment from Reps. Ro Khanna (D-CA) and Matt Gaetz (R-FL) to bar funding for an unauthorized war with Iran. The amendment passed with a final vote count of 251-170. The Khanna-Gaetz amendment was offered as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and builds on the momentum from last month’s Senate vote on the Kaine-Udall amendment, which also would have also blocked the Trump administration from launching an unauthorized war with Iran.

In response to the passage of the Khanna-Gaetz amendment, NIAC Action President Jamal Abdi issued the following statement:

“The House of Representatives should be applauded for its vote today to stop an unauthorized war with Iran before it starts, and we call on the Senate to follow suit. With the passage of the amendment from Representatives Ro Khanna and Matt Gaetz, legislators moved one step closer to pulling the U.S. back from the edge of a war that the American people do not want and that Congress has never authorized. With nearly all of the 2020 presidential candidates calling for the U.S. to return to the Iran nuclear deal, and now with the House passing the Khanna-Gaetz amendment, a bipartisan consensus against the Bolton-Pompeo approach to Iran has clearly emerged.

“The Iranian-American community and the broader American public know that war with Iran would be a disaster. That’s why a majority in the House and Senate now are on the record voting for provisions to rule out an unauthorized war with Iran. It is imperative that legislators ensure that the final defense authorization bill includes the Khanna-Gaetz amendment.

“We applaud Reps. Khanna and Gaetz for their leadership. Without the help of Chairmen Eliot Engel, Adam Smith and Jim McGovern as well as Reps. Anna Eshoo, Seth Moulton, Anthony Brown, Barbara Lee and countless Americans who spoke out against war with Iran, this vote would not have been possible.”

NIAC Action Commends Resolution on JCPOA

July 16 2019 Washington DC – Moments ago, Reps. Barbara Lee, Jan Schakowsky, and David Price introduced a resolution calling for the United States to return to compliance with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), or Iran deal, from which President Trump withdrew in May 2018.

In response, NIAC President Jamal Abdi issued the following statement:

“Donald Trump’s decision to abandon the Iran nuclear deal has put the U.S. on the brink of war with Iran and threatened to undo the hard won constraints against Iran’s nuclear program. Thankfully, many Members of Congress recognize that there is no military solution to the present crisis, and that the best way to de-escalate is for the U.S. to return to compliance with the nuclear deal. Representatives Lee, Schakowsky and Price should be commended for their years of leadership in advancing peace and diplomacy, including by introducing this important resolution.

“There remains strong political will in Congress to restore U.S. credibility and engage Iran diplomatically–despite Trump and Bolton’s push for war. For Members of Congress and Presidential contenders, it is good and important to call out Trump’s dangerous moves that have taken us to the brink of war. Yet, the root cause of this crisis was Donald Trump’s decision to kill a strong nuclear agreement with Iran, which is why signaling support for a return to compliance is so important. The Lee-Schakowsky-Price resolution helps solidify the growing consensus for a JCPOA return while signaling that the window for diplomacy is not shut, nor is the opportunity to restore U.S. credibility with both the international community and the Iranian people.

The resolution was co-sponsored by Reps. Don Beyer, Earl Blumenauer, Steve Cohen, Gerry Connolly, Lloyd Doggett, Anna Eshoo, Ruben Gallego, Raul Grijalva, Deb Haaland, Pramila Jayapal, Ro Khanna, Andy Levin, Alan Lowenthal, Donald Payne, Jr., Mark Pocan, Jamie Raskin, Peter Welch, John Yarmuth.

Laird connection

Anna Eshoo and Jimmy Panetta with John Laird.

On May 31, (2018) Santa Cruz Indivisible is launching its California Leadership Series to bring prominent California leaders to Santa Cruz to discuss important issues facing California and the nation.

At our first event—A Conversation with Our Members of Congress—California Secretary for Natural Resources John Laird will moderate a discussion with Congresswoman Anna Eshoo and Congressman Jimmy Panetta.

HR 109 endorser

By February 20 2019 endorsers of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's HR 109 (Green New Deal) included Anna Eshoo.

External links

• Eshoo's website with the House of Representatives