Grace Meng

Early life and education

Zhaowen "Grace" Meng was born to a Taiwanese American family on October 1, 1975, in Queens, New York. She was raised in the Bayside and Flushing sections of that borough. She is of waishengren Taiwanese descent, and is the daughter of Jimmy Meng, the first Asian to serve in the New York State Assembly, and Shiao-Mei Meng. She attended Nathaniel Hawthorne Middle School and Stuyvesant High School with the intent to become a teacher, according to a classmate.

New York Assembly

Meng's father, Jimmy Meng, was elected in 2004 to New York's 22nd assembly district, becoming the first Asian American to be elected to the New York State Assembly. He served one term and declined to seek reelection in 2006.

Elections

Meng ran for Assembly in 2006 to succeed her father, but was taken off the ballot when Democrat Ellen Young challenged her residency status. Young succeeded Jimmy Meng, taking office in January 2007.

Grace Meng's district residency issues were resolved, and she ran for Assembly again in 2008. Meng's primary victory over Young "sent shock waves through the Democratic Party in Flushing". Meng went on to win the November election, defeating Young (who remained on the ballot as the nominee of the Independence Party and the Working Families Party), 87%-13%. In 2010, Meng was reelected unopposed.

Tenure

Meng was the author of the Reverse Mortgage Act of 2009 that prohibited proceeds received from reverse mortgages from being considered as income, so senior citizens can get their partial property tax exemption. Seven other of her pieces of legislation were signed into law.

In 2009, Meng was named one of City & State's "New York City Rising Stars: 40 Under 40".

Linda Sun

During Meng's time as a member of the New York Assembly, Linda Sun worked as a member of her staff. In 2024, Sun was arrested and charged with several federal felony violations for acting as an unregistered agent of the People's Republic of China. Meng was not charged with any wrongdoing. In response to Sun's arrest, Meng commented, "Like every American patriot, I am deeply, deeply concerned about the national security threat that the Chinese Communist Party's government poses to the United States, and I believe we need to protect our nation from it."

U.S. House of Representatives

2012 election

In June 2012, Meng faced fellow Assembly member Rory Lancman and New York City Council member Elizabeth Crowley in a primary election for New York's 6th congressional district and won. She received the endorsement of the Queens County Democratic Party, and a New York Times reporter wrote that she was "poised to become the biggest political star from New York City's fastest-growing demographic group." Meng said her focus would be to create jobs, improve transportation, and grow tourism opportunities in her borough. Like her father, she garnered local community support from the Henan Association of Eastern America, a local Henan hometown association co-founded by Meng's grandmother.

Meng's father, Jimmy Meng, was arrested during an FBI sting investigation in 2012. He later pleaded guilty to wire fraud in connection with a bribery scheme.

On November 6, 2012, Grace Meng defeated Republican New York City Councilmember Dan Halloran, making her the first Asian American elected to Congress from New York.

Tenure

Inaugurated on January 3, 2013, Meng helped form the Bipartisan Freshman Caucus, asserting that "the American people are just sick and tired of blaming each other without getting anything done."

Her district includes the Queens neighborhoods of Auburndale, Bayside, Briarwood, Elmhurst, Flushing, Forest Hills, Fresh Meadows, Glendale, Kew Gardens, Kew Gardens Hills, Maspeth, Middle Village, and Rego Park.

On February 10, 2014, Meng introduced the bill To amend the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to include the desecration of cemeteries among the many forms of violations of the right to religious freedom (H.R. 4028; 113th Congress) into the House. The bill would amend the findings of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 by including the desecration of cemeteries among the various violations of the right to religious freedom. Meng said that "this legislation would be a new and important tool in our fight against the desecration of cemeteries" because it would "combat religiously-motivated vandalism of cemeteries and also prevent developers from building over cemeteries, a new and emerging threat in places where there are no Jewish communities left to protect burial grounds."

In 2015, Meng opposed the Iran Nuclear Deal, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action supported by President Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry. A press release issued by Meng stated that she didn't support immediate sanctions relief, and believed that the inspections procedure laid out in the deal were flawed. She called for a new deal to be negotiated. Two years later, she boycotted Donald Trump's inauguration. In February 2017 she became Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) in Atlanta.

In July 2019, Meng reintroduced the Community College Student Success Act to improve graduation rates at under-resourced public community colleges to have the necessary funding to develop and implement support services for their low-income and minority students. It replicates nationwide the success of the CUNY Accelerated Study in Associate Programs which helps students earn associate degrees within 3 years by offering a range of financial, academic, and personal assistance. The program has been found to double the graduation rates of participants.

On February 23, 2021, Meng introduced House Resolution 151, "Condemning all forms of anti-Asian sentiment as related to COVID-19," responding to the growth of hate crimes against Asian-Americans, in the wake of Trump's repeated characterization of COVID-19 as "Kung Flu" and the "Chinese virus". It urged education and reporting about harassment. It drew initial support from 140 co-sponsors, and by March 3, 46 more, all Democrats.

Meng voted with President Joe Biden's stated position 100% of the time in the 117th Congress, according to a FiveThirtyEight analysis.

She was among the 46 Democrats who voted against final passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 in the House.

Meng voted in favor of three military aid package supplementals for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan respectively in April 2024, along with most Democrats.

Abortion

For 2021, Meng was given a 100% rating from NARAL Pro-Choice America.

Syria

In 2023, Meng was among 56 Democrats to vote in favor of H.Con.Res. 21, which directed President Joe Biden to remove U.S. troops from Syria within 180 days.

Gaza Strip famine

In July 2025, Meng said in a statement about the famine caused by the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip: "It is important to recognize that Israel has facilitated the entry of over 1.8 million tons and over 96,000 trucks into Gaza, while Hamas continues to hold hostages, extort the aid system, and refuse ceasefire deals to stay in power and prolong the war."

Committee assignments

For the 119th Congress:

• Committee on Appropriations
  • Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (Ranking Member)
  • Subcommittee on National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs

Caucus memberships

• Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (chair)
• Black Maternal Health Caucus{{cite web|title=Caucus Members
• Congressional Equality Caucus
• Congressional Progressive Caucus
• Medicare for All Caucus
• Blue Collar Caucus
• Rare Disease Caucus

Personal life

Meng married Wayne Kye (계원종, 桂源鍾), a Korean American dentist and assistant professor at NYU, in June 2005. The couple resides in Queens with their two sons, Tyler Kye (계창명, 桂昌明) and Brandon Kye (계창호, 桂昌浩). They attend a Protestant church in Forest Hills, Queens.

In November 2013, Meng was robbed and assaulted by a purse-snatcher in the Eastern Market area of Washington, D.C. She suffered injuries to her head, left knee, hand, and face, and was treated at George Washington University hospital.

References

References

1. Meng, Grace. "Grace Meng".
2. Affairs, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World. "Grace Meng".
3. (2013). "Current Asian and Pacific Islander American members: Grace Meng 1975–". [[Congressional Record]].
4. (July 2, 2015). "U.S. Congresswoman Grace Meng: About". [[United States House of Representatives]].
5. (July 1, 2012). "Asian And All-American: A Political Star Rises In N.Y.". [[National Public Radio]].
6. Areddy, James T.. (October 21, 2024). "How Beijing Recruited New York Chinatowns for Influence Campaign". [[The Wall Street Journal]].
7. (June 12, 2005). "Grace Meng and Wayne Kye".
8. She received a [[Bachelor of Arts]] degree from the [[University of Michigan]] and a [[Juris Doctor]] from the [[Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law]] at [[Yeshiva University]]. One of her early mentors was [[Susan Wu Rathbone]], founder of the Queens Chinese Women's Association.Grace Meng, [https://www.congress.gov/115/crec/2018/05/09/CREC-2018-05-09-pt1-PgE616.pdf "Honoring the Life of Susan Wu Rathbone"]. ''[[Congressional Record]]'' (May 9, 2018): E616.
9. Hicks, Jonathan P.. (December 13, 2006). "City Sends 2 Foreign-Born First-Timers to the Assembly". The New York Times.
10. Stirling, Stephen. (July 25, 2008). "Young, Meng won't fight over primary signatures". Times Ledger.
11. (January 9, 2007). "DA: Jimmy Meng Aide Surrenders".
12. (November 6, 2012). "New York, 6th House District: Grace Meng (D)". National Journal.
13. Abbott, Jillian. (September 11, 2008). "Meng defeats Young in race for state Assembly".
14. "Elections Database".
15. Brandon Moseley. (May 3, 2021). "U.S. Rep. Grace Meng keynote speaker at Alabama Young Democrats convention".
16. (August 13, 2018). "Albany 40 Under 40 alumni".
17. Rashbaum, William K.. (July 23, 2024). "F.B.I. Searches $3.5 Million Home of Former Aide to Gov. Hochul: The early-morning raid took place on Long Island's North Shore at the house of Ms. Hochul's former deputy chief of staff, Linda Sun.". [[New York Times]].
18. Rashbaum, William K.. (September 3, 2024). "Former Aide to Hochul and Cuomo Is Charged as Chinese Agent: Linda Sun was accused of using her position to benefit the Chinese government in exchange for payments that went toward homes in New York and Hawaii, and a Ferrari.". [[New York Times]].
19. (September 3, 2024). "Former top Hochul aide Linda Sun, husband accused of acting as Chinese Communist Party's agents".
20. Chen, David W.. (June 28, 2012). "A Breakthrough Candidate and Potential Star". The New York Times.
21. (July 27, 2012). "Grace Meng's father charged with wire fraud in FBI sting".
22. Nir, Sarah Maslin. (March 13, 2013). "Ex-Queens Assemblyman Sentenced in Bribery Case". The New York Times.
23. "Grace Meng, Michael Grimm Win Seats In Congress".
24. Schneier, David. (February 28, 2013). "Meng talks nation's business at 112th – Queens Chronicle: Central/Mid Queens News". Qchron.com.
25. "H.R. 4028 – Summary". United States Congress.
26. Marcos, Cristina. (May 23, 2014). "Next week: Appropriations, VA reform, intelligence authorization". The Hill.
27. (May 29, 2014). "House Passes Meng Legislation to Make Desecration of Cemeteries a Violation of Religious Freedom". Jewish Political News and Updates.
28. (July 29, 2015). "Meng Opposes Nuclear Deal with Iran".
29. Kern-Jedrychowska, Ewa. (January 18, 2017). "Grace Meng Is Latest Elected Official to Boycott Trump Inauguration".
30. Toure, Madina. (February 26, 2017). "NYC Congresswoman and Assemblyman Score DNC Vice Chairmanships". Observer.
31. Mohamed, Carlotta. (August 2–8, 2019). "Meng Law to Improve Community College Graduation Rates". Times Ledger.
32. [https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-resolution/151/cosponsors Condemning all forms of anti-Asian sentiment as related to COVID-19], ''[[Congress.gov]]'', February 23, 2021. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
33. (March 16, 2021). "N.Y. Rep. Grace Meng On Her Bill To Address Anti-Asian Hate Crimes".
34. (April 22, 2021). "Does Your Member Of Congress Vote With Or Against Biden?".
35. Gans, Jared. (May 31, 2023). "Republicans and Democrats who bucked party leaders by voting no". [[The Hill (newspaper).
36. (April 20, 2024). "Roll Call 152 Roll Call 152, Bill Number: H. R. 8034, 118th Congress, 2nd Session".
37. (April 20, 2024). "Roll Call 151 Roll Call 151, Bill Number: H. R. 8035, 118th Congress, 2nd Session".
38. (April 20, 2024). "Roll Call 146 Roll Call 146, Bill Number: H. R. 8036, 118th Congress, 2nd Session".
39. "2021 Congressional Record on Reproductive Freedom". NARAL Pro-Choice America.
40. "H.Con.Res. 21: Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of … -- House Vote #136 -- Mar 8, 2023".
41. (March 8, 2023). "House Votes Down Bill Directing Removal of Troops From Syria".
42. (July 26, 2025). "‘Horrors upon horrors’: How US Congress responded to mass hunger in Gaza". Al Jazeera.
43. "List of Standing Committees and Select Committees of the House of Representatives". Clerk of the United States House of Representatives.
44. "Members". Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.
45. "About the CEC". CEC.
46. "Caucus Membrs". US House of Representatives.
47. "Rare Disease Congressional Caucus". Every Life Foundation for Rare Diseases.
48. (November 20, 2013). "Rep. Grace Meng attacked, robbed". [[Washington Post]].