Congressman Sherman Hosts Over 4,000 & Announces “Passport Fair” in 1st Town Hall of the Year
Sherman Oaks, California – Last night, over 4,000 people joined Congressman Brad Sherman's (CA-32) Telephone Town Hall - Sherman's first Town Hall of 2024. Congressman Sherman also unveiled his upcoming "Passport Fair"on January 27 when Sherman's office, in cooperation with the Los Angeles Passport Agency, will help those dealing with passport renewal issues.
"Grateful to the over 4,000 who joined us last night for our first Town Hall of the year," said Congressman Sherman. "I'm very pleased to see the high turnouts that our Town Halls continue to achieve as it helps me keep my constituents informed during such a crucial period in our nation's history."
Congressman Sherman began the event by previewing the upcoming issues Congress will face in the new year: a looming government shutdown deadline along with the negotiations over an emergency national security spending package to provide critical aid to Ukraine and Israel and funding for the border. As a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Congressman Sherman also fielded questions on several foreign policy matters, namely the U.S. response to the ongoing war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas terrorists, challenges posed by China, and Russia's continuing war on Ukraine.
Sherman also used his opening remarks to inform the thousands on the line of the upcoming "Passport Fair" that the Congressman and the Los Angeles Passport Office are planning to convene on January 27th near the Congressman's office in Sherman Oaks. With the strain the passport system is currently enduring, Sherman stressed the importance of renewing passports as soon as possible and provided information on how his upcoming Passport Fair event can help people navigate through the difficult passport renewal process.
Congressman Sherman's Town Hall guest was newly elected California State Senator Caroline Menjivar, who represents Burbank and the San Fernando Valley. "Thank you so much, Congressmember, for continuing your town halls and letting me be your first guest speaker of 2024," said Senator Menjivar in her opening remarks. A United States Marine Corps veteran and the first LGBTQ legislator to represent the San Fernando Valley, Senator Menjivar introduced herself to the thousands of residents on the line and spoke on her work on behalf of Californians in the past year, as well as her legislative priorities moving forward. Senator Menjivar concluded her remarks by letting people know of her town hall that the Senator is planning for late January and of the assistance her office stands ready to provide to constituents in need.
During the Telephone Town Hall, Sherman requested input from residents by asking a series of survey questions about their thoughts on the many serious issues facing our nation. The results of some of the survey questions are as follows:
- Do you approve of President Biden's performance as President so far?
Approve: 67%
Disapprove: 23%
Unsure: 10%
- In your view, who carries the greatest responsibility for Israel and Hamas currently being at war?
Hamas: 57%
Israeli government: 18%
Both: 20%
Unsure: 6%
- What in your view is the most serious problem China poses?
China's policies on human rights - Uyghurs: 27%
China's military power – South China Sea & Taiwan: 27%
China's economic competition with the U.S.: 30%
There is no serious problem with China: 5%
Unsure: 10%