Growing up in Northern California in a diverse middle class community very similar to the 33rd Congressional district, my parents raised me to believe that if I worked hard, I would get a good education, get a good job and own my own home – in short, that I could achieve the American dream. Today, I am a member of the first generation of Americans who may live to see our children’s standard of living fall below our own if we do not collectively do something about it now. That is why I am running to be your Congressman in Washington. I stand as part of a new generation of American leaders who will fight to give our kids the same opportunities our parents gave to us. I am running to preserve the American dream.

So many of our parents and grandparents came to Los Angeles because this is a place where dreams can come true. Our families may be from different parts of the world and we may now live in different neighborhoods, but we share a common dream. I want to fight for this dream for all of us, especially those in the middle class. Today, our great country faces an economic crisis that is as daunting as any challenge we have faced in half a century. At this crucial time, we need leadership that builds on the hard work of our parents and grandparents.

One thing that President Barack Obama constantly reminds us is that government alone cannot solve our problems. As much as our current political leaders have not fought for our dreams, the reality is that each of us is responsible for creating greater opportunities for future generations. We need to demand that our public schools function better even if we do not have children in public schools. We need to support our local businesses so they will thrive and continue to provide jobs for people who live in our community. We need to demand more support for our working mothers. This campaign is not just about changing Washington, it is also about changing our community and each of us must play a part in making that happen.

As much as it is critical that each of us get involved in making our community better, we need someone to speak for us in the halls of Congress. We need someone who will wake up every day thinking about how our government in Washington can work better for us… someone who will fight for more help from Washington to make our schools better and to create higher wage jobs in our community. We need someone to work for federal support to make housing more affordable.

With all of the problems that our nation faces, it should come as no surprise that Congress has not heard the voices of average Americans and solved problems like the unemployment and underemployment crisis, the education crisis and the housing crisis. When the banking industry needed a bailout, Congress reacted in record time. But where is Congress when our small businesses need help to survive?

It is time for new leadership that is committed to making Congress more responsive to our needs. We simply must reduce the power that special interests have in Washington. And I will have at least 12 town hall meetings every year with you so I can continue to hear from you. At this important time in our nation’s history, we do not have the luxury of having Members of Congress who do not lead.

Working together, with an active partner in Washington, we will fix our public schools so that students can graduate with an education that will prepare them to achieve their dreams. We will support and create businesses in our community that will provide higher paying jobs. We will build affordable housing in our community in which future generations of Angelenos will live and thrive. We will ease the burdens on working women.

Working together, we will restore the American dream for our children and show the world that here, in Los Angeles, dreams still do come true.