This is the second in a series of Q&A’s with members of the House of Representatives who represent parts of Orange County.

Congress is meant to conduct oversight of the executive branch, and Republican Rep. Young Kim said she is prepared to ensure it does just that.

Kim, R-Anaheim Hills, said she is an “independent voice” for her district, someone who can appreciate the federal government’s willingness to crack down on abuse, fraud or waste in various agencies but who also wants to ensure key programs, including those in the foreign aid and national security spaces, can still operate.

“I look forward to working with the (Trump) administration to make government more efficient and reduce wasteful spending, but I will not be afraid to push back if I disagree, just as I did with the previous (Biden) administration,” Kim said, pointing to her steadfast opinion that future federal disaster relief aid to California after the recent catastrophic wildfires should not come with any conditions or strings. “My focus is my district, always.”

This year, as legislative work in Washington, D.C., gets underway, we’re reintroducing our readers to the six House members who represent at least a portion of Orange County, veterans and newcomers alike. We asked each lawmaker five questions, tailored to their policy expertise, committee assignments or votes.

Kim, 62, represents California’s 40th Congressional District, which includes Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. She is a former state legislator who was one of the first Korean American women elected to Congress. Prior to politics, Kim worked in the finance industry and started her own women’s clothing business.

Read on to find out more about what Kim thinks of how Congress can provide a check to the executive branch and what a tax plan will need to include before it can get her vote.

Q: At the start of the new year, you were part of a group of Republicans who met with then-President-elect Trump to advocate for a federal deduction on state and local taxes, also known as SALT. With spending negotiations now also including discussions about conditions for disaster relief aid and the Trump administration’s efforts to overhaul whole agencies and to halt outright federal funding, how likely do you think a deal on SALT will be reached?

A: Republicans would not have the House majority without me and my SALT Caucus colleagues from California, New York and New Jersey. A tax bill cannot pass out of the House without a fix to the $10,000 cap in SALT deductions. Californians pay enough already in state and local taxes in addition to skyrocketing living costs. They shouldn’t be punished even more at the federal level.

A tax bill must provide relief to middle-class families in California I represent in order to get my vote. President Trump has said this is a priority, and I will hold him to that. I will keep fighting to provide tax relief to our community.

Q: You are now the only Republican House member representing any Orange County communities. Does that change how you approach your work this year?

A: I remain focused on delivering for my community and finding common sense solutions to the pressing crises facing Californians and all Americans. I am proud of my record of effectiveness and bipartisanship and will continue to work across the aisle to get things done.

Q: President Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk and billed as an effort to reduce wasteful government spending, has upended agencies and raised several legal questions. How can Congress keep Musk and his team’s work in check, particularly if any of his work ultimately breaks the law?

A: The role of Congress is to conduct oversight of the executive branch, and I will do exactly that. I have proven that I am an independent voice for our communities.

I look forward to working with the administration to make government more efficient and reduce wasteful spending, but I will not be afraid to push back if I disagree, just as I did with the previous administration, and like I have been in the fight for wildfire aid for Southern California. My focus is my district, always.

Q: As a member of the House’s China panel, which investigates and gives policy recommendations to Congress on China’s economic, tech and security developments, what is your stance on tariffs as a tool for countering China, especially given concerns that it could lead to rising costs for local businesses? How do you weigh the economic impact of these tariff policies against the need for a tough approach on China?

A: I want to strengthen America’s economy, expand our domestic supply chains and create jobs, but we can accomplish these goals while also promoting free trade with like-minded partners and allies.

We also need to hold our adversaries accountable. Tariffs often end up being a tax on the American consumer that will force families to stretch budgets even more and hurt the bottom line for small businesses as prices go up due to tariffs on imported goods. Tariffs imposed on our partners and allies often lead to retaliation, harming industries that sell their products abroad and strain important relationships.

Q: In a series of social media posts about USAID (U.S. Agency for International Development) — the U.S. agency that delivers humanitarian assistance overseas — you said, “Reforms must be done with precision and care so that America’s standing and ability to project soft power are maintained abroad.” Are you concerned about how fast the Trump administration has moved to dismantle and overhaul the agency? And in your belief, does President Trump have the constitutional authority to just outright eliminate USAID?

A: The Trump administration has rightfully sounded the alarm about misuse of taxpayer dollars at USAID, and, unfortunately, the wasteful spending at USAID on some programs takes away from some of the targeted, valuable and effective programs at USAID — such as PEPFAR (President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief), the global HIV/AIDS program — to strengthen our national security, promote soft power and project U.S. leadership on the world stage. I am glad that there are waivers being issued for lifesaving humanitarian assistance programs. Now, we need to make sure that programs with approved waivers are able to proceed and deliver critical assistance.

When the U.S. is not there for our friends around the world, the Chinese Communist Party quickly sweeps in to fill the void. In fact, we are already hearing that Beijing has shown up and offered to fill the USAID void for some countries, including in Nepal and Cambodia, in the region that I oversee on the East Asia & Pacific Subcommittee. While the administration has the authority to reorganize federal agencies to boost efficiency, Congress must have a say, and I look forward to working with the administration to streamline our foreign assistance, so every taxpayer dollar is stretched as far as possible to further America’s interests.

Q: Bonus question: Anything else you’d like your constituents to know about your plans for the year?

A: I came to Congress to bring common sense, break through the partisan gridlock, and deliver results for my community. I’ll continue to be an independent fighter as I work on policies to make life more affordable, protect public safety, strengthen our national security and keep the American dream alive for future generations.