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{{Short description|American politician (born 1941)}}
{{Infobox_Congressman
{{BLP sources|date=November 2016}}
| name =Mike Honda
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2023}}
| image name = honda_mike.jpg
{{Infobox officeholder
| date of birth= ], ]
| name = Mike Honda
| place of birth= ]
| image = Mike honda.jpg
| death_date =
| office = Member of the <br>]<br>from ]
| death_place =
| term_start = January 3, 2001
| state = ]
| term_end = January 3, 2017
| district = ]
| predecessor = ]
|term_start = ], ]&ndash;
| successor = ]
| preceded = ]
| constituency = {{plainlist|
| succeeded = Incumbent
*] (2001–2013)
| party = ]
*] (2013–2017)}}
| religion = Non-denominational ]
| office1 = Vice Chair of the ]
| spouse = Widowed
| leader1 = {{plainlist|
*]
*]
*] (acting)
*]}}
| term_start1 = 2005
| term_end1 = 2013
| predecessor1 = ]
| successor1 = ]
| office3 = Member of the ]<br />from the ] district
| term3 = December 2, 1996 - November 30, 2000
| predecessor3 = ]
| successor3 = ]
| office2 = ]
| leader2 = ]
| alongside2 = ]
| term_start2 = 2003
| term_end2 = 2005
| predecessor2 = Position established
| successor2 = ] (2017)
| birth_name = Makoto Honda<ref name="CA birth index">{{Cite web |title=Makato Honda, Born 06/27/1941 in California &#124; CaliforniaBirthIndex.org |url=https://www.californiabirthindex.org/birth/makato_honda_born_1941_2350784 |website=www.californiabirthindex.org}}</ref>
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1941|6|27}}
| birth_place = ], U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = ]
| spouse = Jeanne (d. 2004)
| children = 2
| education = ] (], ])
| module = {{Listen|pos=center|embed=yes|filename=Rep. Mike Honda Honors Norman Mineta.ogg|title=Mike Honda's voice|type=speech|description=Mike Honda honors ], the first chair of the ]<br/>Recorded December 15, 2010}}
}} }}
'''Michael Makoto Honda''' (born June 27, 1941) is an American politician. A member of the ], he served in Congress from 2001 to 2017.


Initially involved in education in California, he first became active in politics in 1971, when then ] mayor ] appointed Honda to the city's Planning Commission. Mineta later joined both the
'''Michael Makoto (Mike) Honda''' (]: マイク・ホンダ) (born ], ]) is an ] ] politician. He currently serves as ] for ], which encompasses ]. ()
Bush and Clinton cabinets. After holding other positions, Honda was elected to the ] ] in 1990, and to the ] in 1996, where he served until 2001.


In November 2003, ] chair ] appointed Honda as deputy chair of the DNC. In February 2005, Honda was elected a vice chair of the Democratic National Committee under the chairmanship of ]. In 2009, Honda was reelected for a second term as DNC vice chair, under the chairmanship of former Virginia governor ]; he served in this role until 2013.
==Background==
A ], he was born in ] and spent his early childhood in an ] in ]. His family became ] ]s in ] in ] after their return in 1953.


Honda became the subject of an ethics investigation by the ] in 2015 for the alleged use of taxpayer resources to bolster his 2014 re-election campaign. He was defeated for re-election in 2016 by fellow Democrat ].
He graduated from ] and then ] in 1968 with a bachelor's degree in ] and ] and earned a master's degree in 1974. From 1965 to 1967 he served in the ], working in ].


==Early life and teaching==
A science teacher, he served as the ] at two ]s. In 1971, Honda was appointed by San Jose Mayor ] to San Jose's Planning Commission, and won election to the ] ] in 1981. He was a member of the ] ] (1990) and the ] (1996-2001).
]
A third-generation ] ("]"),<ref>{{Cite news |title=In Asian-Majority District, House Race Divides Calif. Voters |work=NPR.org |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2014/04/21/299055627/in-asian-majority-district-house-race-divides-calif-voters |access-date=2016-12-10}}</ref> Makoto Honda was born in 1941 in ],<ref name="CA birth index" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Mike Honda - U.S. Congress Votes Database - The Washington Post |url=http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/H001034/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070325091820/http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/h001034/ |archive-date=March 25, 2007 |access-date=2016-12-10 |website=projects.washingtonpost.com}}</ref> the son of Fusako (Tanouye) and Giichi Honda. His father, Giichi (nicknamed "Byron"), was one of 6,000 Military Intelligence Service (MIS) agents, although the family was subjected to internment.<ref>{{Cite news |title=My dad's dreams: Camp to Congress |work=POLITICO |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2011/11/my-dads-dreams-camp-to-congress-067486 |access-date=2016-12-10}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Onishi |first=Norimitsu |date=2007-05-12 |title=A Congressman Faces Foes in Japan as He Seeks an Apology |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/12/world/asia/12honda.html |access-date=2016-12-10 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> His grandparents were from ] prefecture and immigrated to the United States in the early 1900s,<ref name="iht2007">{{Cite web |title=A congressman faces foes in Japan as he seeks an apology |url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/05/12/asia/12honda-web.php |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070606084636/http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/05/12/asia/12honda-web.php |archive-date=June 6, 2007 |access-date=2015-05-12}} "Honda, a Democratic congressman and third-generation Japanese-American"</ref> and both of his parents were born in California.<ref name="iht2007" />

When he was one year old, he and his family were sent to ], a ] in southeastern Colorado.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 15, 2011 |title=From Camp to Congress: My Father's Dream |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/rep-mike-honda/from-camp-to-congress-my_b_1094930.html |access-date=April 23, 2015 |website=The Huffington Post}}</ref><ref name="honda.house.gov">{{Cite web |title=Meet Congressman Mike Honda |url=http://honda.house.gov/meet-mike |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150407123512/http://honda.house.gov/meet-mike |archive-date=April 7, 2015 |access-date=April 23, 2015 |publisher=Honda.house.gov |df=mdy-all}}</ref> In 1953, his family returned to California, where they became ] ]s in ] in ].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Immigration &#124; Congressman Mike Honda |url=http://honda.house.gov/priorities/immigration |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150507193851/http://honda.house.gov/priorities/immigration |archive-date=May 7, 2015 |access-date=April 23, 2015 |publisher=Honda.house.gov |df=mdy-all}}</ref>
]
Honda started at ], and then transferred to and graduated from ].<ref name="honda.house.gov" /> He entered ], but interrupted his studies from 1965 to 1967 to serve in the ] in ], where he learned to speak ].<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 28, 2013 |title=Rep Honda on Peace Corps Service &#124; Congressman Mike Honda |url=http://honda.house.gov/news/in-the-news/rep-honda-on-peace-corps-service |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150421061755/http://honda.house.gov/news/in-the-news/rep-honda-on-peace-corps-service |archive-date=April 21, 2015 |access-date=April 23, 2015 |publisher=Honda.house.gov |df=mdy-all}}</ref> He returned to San Jose State, where, in 1968, he received a bachelor's degree in biological sciences and Spanish. He earned a master's degree in education from San Jose State in 1974.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sequester Hits SJSU Science Students {{!}} SJSU NewsCenter |url=https://blogs.sjsu.edu/newsroom/2013/sequester-hits-sjsu/ |access-date=2024-11-03 |website=blogs.sjsu.edu}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Mike Honda |url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-CDOC-108hdoc226/pdf/GPO-CDOC-108hdoc226-2-6-4.pdf |access-date=November 3, 2024 |website=govinfo.gov}}</ref>

In his 30-year career as an educator, Honda was a science teacher, a principal at two public schools, and a school board member, and he conducted educational research at Stanford University.{{citation needed|date=November 2016}}


==Political career== ==Political career==
===Teaching and state positions===
Honda was elected to the ] as a Democrat in 2000, succeeding ] ]. ], he served as a member of the ] and the ]. In ], ] ] appointed Honda to the influential ]. Honda also serves as Regional ] for ] and ] of the ].
In 1971, San Jose Mayor ] appointed Honda to the city's Planning Commission. In 1981, Honda was elected to the San Jose Unified School Board. He was elected to the ] ] in 1990, and to the ] in 1996, where he served until 2001.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Arena: - Rep. Michael Honda Bio |url=http://www.politico.com/arena/bio/rep_michael_honda.html |access-date=2016-10-27 |website=Politico.com}}</ref>


===DNC and national positions===
Honda is most famous for introducing resolution AJR 27, which demanded Japan to apologize and compensate for its WW2 actions.
In the ], Honda won the Democratic nomination for the 15th district, which had once been represented by ], and won the general election by a 12-point margin. He remained the incumbent in the resultant elections of ], ], ], ], ], and ].


In November 2003, chairman of the Democratic National Committee ] appointed Honda as deputy chair of the DNC. In February 2005, Honda was elected a vice chair of the Democratic National Committee under the chairmanship of ]. In 2009, Honda was reelected for a second term as DNC vice chair, under the chairmanship of former Virginia Governor ]; he served in this role until 2013.{{citation needed|date=February 2017}}
Rep.Honda has the causes of civil rights groups, such as the ] and ]. However, he has drawn criticism for his refusal to criticize human rights violations in China, a stand he by saying that he believes "things can change" in the country. Honda visited ] in ] and was warmly welcomed by its people for his strong stance against Japan.


Due to redistricting after the 2010 US census, Honda began representing the ] at the beginning of the ] on January 3, 2013. The district incorporates ], which is the only ]-majority district in the continental United States. The district encompasses all or part of the cities of ], ], ], ], ], ], and ]. Honda was narrowly re-elected in ] against ], but lost a rematch to Khanna in ].
On ], ], he was elected a vice-chair of the ] under the chairmanship of ]. His term is expected to last until 2009.


====Early committees and caucuses====
==Support of American-Muslims==
] bus program]]
Honda has been a defender of the civil rights of American-Muslims. Soon after the Sept. 11th attacks, Honda spoke at a convention of the American Muslim Alliance (AMA) in October 2001. He told those in attendance not to change their identity or name. "My last name is Honda. You cannot be more Japanese than that." The congressman remembered what he and specially his parents had to go through when Pearl Harbor was attacked. "We were taken in a vehicle with windows covered, we had no idea where we were being taken." Because of that episode in his life the congressman explained that he understood what the Muslims could be going through in America, after the attack on September 11th."<ref>{{cite web|title=Media Report of the 6th AMA National Convention|date=Oct 18, 2001|url=http://groups.yahoo.com/group/paksmit/message/2796}} Retrieved on Dec. 26, 2006</ref>
From 2001 to 2007 Honda served on the ] and was the ranking member of its Energy Subcommittee from 2005 to 2007. He also served on the ] from 2001 to 2007. In 2007, Speaker of the House ] appointed Honda to the ]. From 2011 to 2013, he was ranking member of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Subcommittee. From 2001 to 2003, and again from 2011 to 2013, Honda also was appointed to serve on the ].{{citation needed|date=November 2016}}


Honda was a member of the following (and other) committees, commissions, and caucuses:
In the ] Rep. ] (R - VA) issued a letter to his constituents stating his view that Rep-elect ] (D-MN) decision to use the Quran is a threat to "the values and beliefs traditional to the United States of America... I fear that in the next century we will have many more Muslims in the United States if we do not adopt the strict immigration policies”.<ref name="Howsare">{{cite news| title=Anti-Muslim letter goes out to hundreds - not all are amused| author=Erika Howsare| date=12/19/2006| url=http://www.c-ville.com/index.php?cat=141404064431134&ShowArticle_ID=11041812060944420}} Retrieved Dec. 20, 2006</ref>
* ''']'''
** ] (Ranking Member)
** ]
* ] (chair emeritus from 2004 to 2010)
* ] (founder and chair)
* ] (vice chair and founding member)
* Congressional Hepatitis Caucus (co-chair)
* ] (vice chair for new members)
* ] (co-chair)
* ] (founder and chair)
* ] (appointed commissioner since 2005)

====Major appropriations====
As of August 2015, Honda had secured over $1.3 billion in appropriations since 2001.<ref>{{Cite web |title=My Accomplishments |url=http://honda.house.gov/meet-mike/my-accomplishments |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150509071701/http://honda.house.gov/meet-mike/my-accomplishments |archive-date=May 9, 2015 |access-date=August 8, 2015 |publisher=Congressman Mike Honda |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

Some of Honda's most notable appropriations were for the ] into Silicon Valley. During his five years on the House Transportation Committee, he secured $11 million in direct earmarks attached to a number of bills. Also during his time on that committee, he facilitated the BART projects qualification for the New Starts Program, which authorized another $900 million in funds,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Young |first=Don |title=Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (2005; 109th Congress H.R. 3) |url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/109/hr3 |access-date=April 23, 2015 |publisher=GovTrack.us}}</ref> the first $400 million of which Honda managed to appropriate over the three-year period of FY2012-14.{{citation needed|date=February 2017}} During the 2014 midterm election cycle, Honda's opponent ] alleged that Honda only secured $2 million for the project.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 25, 2014 |title=CA17: Khanna & Honda argue Honda's record |url=http://www.ibabuzz.com/politics/2014/02/25/ca17-khanna-honda-argue-hondas-record |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161113032554/http://www.ibabuzz.com/politics/2014/02/25/ca17-khanna-honda-argue-hondas-record/ |archive-date=November 13, 2016 |access-date=April 23, 2015 |publisher=Ibabuzz.com}}</ref> In response, a number of local officials including a Congresswoman, a state senator, a former US Secretary of Transportation, and former and current Valley Transportation Authority chairs, sent the Khanna campaign an open letter refuting its claims and requesting that they correct their campaign language.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 3, 2014 |title=Leaders who worked with Rep. Mike Honda on BART Extension to San Jose Call on Ro Khanna to Stop Misleading Attacks |url=http://mikehonda.com/leaders-who-worked-with-rep-mike-honda-on-bart-extension-to-san-jose-call-on-ro-khanna-to-stop-misleading-attacks |access-date=April 23, 2015 |publisher=Mikehonda.com}}</ref>

The $11 million in direct appropriations was part of:
*H.R. 2673 (FY2004 Consolidated Appropriations Act, became Public Law 108-199)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bonilla |first=Henry |title=Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2004 (2004; 108th Congress H.R. 2673) |url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/108/hr2673 |access-date=April 23, 2015 |publisher=GovTrack.us}}</ref>
*H.R. 4818 (FY 2005 Consolidated Appropriations Act, became Public Law 108-447)<ref>{{Cite web |last=James "Jim" Kolbe |title=Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005 (2004; 108th Congress H.R. 4818) |url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/108/hr4818 |access-date=April 23, 2015 |publisher=GovTrack.us}}</ref>
*H.R. 3058 (the Transportation, Treasury, Housing and Urban Development, the Judiciary, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act for 2006, became Public Law 109-115)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Joseph "Joe" Knollenberg |title=Transportation, Treasury, Housing and Urban Development, the Judiciary, the District of Columbia, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006 (2005; 109th Congress H.R. 3058) |url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/109/hr3058 |access-date=April 23, 2015 |publisher=GovTrack.us}}</ref>

The $400 million from the New Starts Program was allocated as follows:
*$100M for FY 2012 in H.R. 2112, The Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2012, which became Public Law 112-55<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kingston |first=Jack |title=Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2012 (2011; 112th Congress H.R. 2112) |url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/112/hr2112 |access-date=April 23, 2015 |publisher=GovTrack.us}}</ref>
*$150M for FY 2013 in H.R. 933, the FY 2013 Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, which became Public Law 113-6<ref>{{Cite web |last=Harold "Hal" Rogers |title=Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013 (2013; 113th Congress H.R. 933) |url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/113/hr933 |access-date=April 23, 2015 |publisher=GovTrack.us}}</ref>
*$150M for FY 2014 in H.R. 3547, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014, which became Public Law 113–76.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 17, 2014 |title=H.R.3547 - 113th Congress (2013-2014): Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014 &#124; Congress.gov &#124; Library of Congress |url=http://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/3547 |access-date=April 23, 2015 |publisher=Beta.congress.gov}}</ref>

==Legislation==
{{Overly detailed|date=February 2017}}

===Raising the minimum wage===
Honda has been a long-time supporter of organized labor, and has supported numerous bills for creating a living wage. In 2013 and 2014, he cosponsored the ] (H.R. 229), the ] (H.R. 650), and the ] (H.R. 1010), which would raise the federal minimum wage. Honda was also a supporter of the San Jose's successful ballot initiative that raised the city's minimum wage to $10 per hour.{{citation needed|date=February 2017}}

===Defense===
As former chairman of the Afghanistan Taskforce for the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and former co-chair of the CPC's Peace and Security Taskforce, Congressman Honda has consistently critiqued the war strategy through a series of Congressional briefings, legislation, published opinion pieces ("Alternative Strategies to Obama's Afghan Agenda", "A Different Kind of Surge"), and Congressional letters to the Administration.{{citation needed|date=November 2016}} Honda advocated an orderly withdrawal of U.S. military forces from Afghanistan and a significant realignment of U.S. aid to focus on strengthening government institutions, capacity building, economic development, and humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan. Honda criticized the Obama administration for failing to seek Congressional approval for U.S. military operations in Libya. He is critical of the wide-scale use of drones and is a cosponsor of the Targeted Lethal Force Transparency Act (H.R. 4372) requiring an annual report on the number of civilians and combatants killed and injured in drone strikes.{{citation needed|date=November 2016}}

===Education===
In 2008, Honda worked with then-Senator Barack Obama to introduce the Enhancing STEM Education Act. Honda introduced the House version, H.R. 6104, and Obama introduced the Senate version, S.3047, on the same day.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 21, 2008 |title=H.R.6104 - 110th Congress (2007-2008): Enhancing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education Act of 2008 &#124; Congress.gov &#124; Library of Congress |url=http://beta.congress.gov/bill/110th-congress/house-bill/6104 |access-date=April 23, 2015 |publisher=Beta.congress.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=May 21, 2008 |title=S.3047 - 110th Congress (2007-08): Enhancing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education Act of 2008 |url=http://beta.congress.gov/bill/110th-congress/senate-bill/3047 |access-date=August 8, 2015 |publisher=Library of Congress}}</ref>

The bills sought to enhance the coordination among state and federal governments to improve STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education by creating a committee on STEM education at the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and an Office of STEM at the Department of Education, instituting a voluntary State Consortium on STEM education, and creating a National STEM Education Research Repository. Portions of this bill (notably, creating a committee on STEM education at OSTP), as well as Honda's INVENT Act<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 27, 2007 |title=H.R.1492 - 110th Congress (2007-2008): Innovations for our Nation's Vital Educational Needs for Technology Act |url=http://beta.congress.gov/bill/110th-congress/house-bill/1492 |access-date=August 8, 2015 |publisher=Library of Congress}}</ref> (which would develop curriculum tools for use in teaching innovation and fostering inventiveness at the K-16 level), were eventually included in the America COMPETES Act reauthorization, which President Obama signed into law on January 4, 2011.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 4, 2011 |title=Text - H.R.5116 - 111th Congress (2009-2010): America Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education, and Science Reauthorization Act of 2010 |url=http://beta.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/house-bill/5116/text |access-date=August 8, 2015 |publisher=Library of Congress}}</ref>

Honda led the Congressional authorization for The Equity and Excellence Commission, a commission that began in 2011 and reported its findings to the Secretary of Education in late 2012. The commission is a federal advisory committee chartered by Congress, operating under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA); 5 U.S.C., App.2. The commission had 27 members from a range of backgrounds, including education, law, tax, government, business, and civil rights. The committee met 17 times in Washington, DC and across the country. In November 2012, the commission presented its findings in a report titled "For Each and Every Child: A Strategy for Education Equity and Excellence."<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Report |url=http://www.foreachandeverychild.org/The_Report.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141125204856/http://foreachandeverychild.org/The_Report.html |archive-date=November 25, 2014 |publisher=For Each and Every Child}}</ref> The findings focused around five recommendations: (1) restructuring the financing of schools, focusing on equitable resources; (2) supporting quality teachers and school leaders; (3) supporting early childhood education; (4) promoting increased parental engagement; and, (5) addressing changes in accountability and governance in the education system. Opposed by special interests, including the teachers' unions, the commission's recommendations went largely ignored.{{citation needed|date=February 2017}}

===Environment===
Honda secured millions of dollars in federal funding for the cleanup and demolition of the former Almaden Air Force Station atop Mt. Umunhum.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rogers |first=Paul |title=After 30 years, work to clean up Almaden Air Force Station finally kicks off |url=http://www.insidebayarea.com/argus/ci_15480655 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140607010603/http://www.insidebayarea.com/argus/ci_15480655 |archive-date=June 7, 2014 |access-date=June 5, 2014 |website=Inside Bay Area |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Contaminated with standard-use hazardous materials during its military use (lead paint, asbestos, etc.), the site was remediated, demolished, and is slated to open for public access in spring 2017. Honda has also advocated for programs such as the Land and Water Conservation Fund.{{citation needed|date=February 2017}}

In 2014, Honda introduced the Climate Change Education Act (H.R. 4461),<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 10, 2014 |title=Text of H.R. 4461 (113th): Climate Change Education Act (Introduced version) |url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/113/hr4461/text |access-date=August 8, 2015 |publisher=GovTrack.us}}</ref> legislation that aims to improving public understanding of the impact of greenhouse gases on the environment and the steps that individuals and communities can take to combat the global warming crisis.{{citation needed|date=February 2017}}

===Faith and religion===
] in February 2017.<ref name="sfgate-5feb2017">{{Cite news |last1=Jill Tucker |last2=Jenna Lyons |date=February 5, 2017 |title=Thousands rally at SF Civic Center against travel ban, border wall |work=] |url=http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Protesters-rally-at-SF-Civic-Center-against-10908931.php |access-date=February 7, 2017}}</ref>]]
In 2014, Honda introduced the Freedom of Faith Act (H.R. 4460).<ref>{{Cite web |title=H.R. 4460, To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to repeal the sunset of the special immigrant non minister religious worker program, via GovTrack.us |url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/113/hr4460 |access-date=May 19, 2014}}</ref>

Honda has been a defender of the civil rights of ]. Soon after the ] in 2001, Honda spoke at a convention of the American Muslim Alliance (AMA) in October 2001.<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 2001 |title=AMA National Convention Urges U.S. to Listen to Muslims |page=84 |work=Washington Report on Middle East Affairs |url=http://www.wrmea.org/wrmea-archives/231-washington-report-archives-2000-2005/december-2001/3949-muslim-american-activism.html}}</ref> He told those in attendance not to change their identity or name. "My last name is Honda. You cannot be more Japanese than that." The congressman remembered what he and especially his parents had to go through when Pearl Harbor was attacked. "We were taken in a vehicle with windows covered, we had no idea where we were being taken."{{citation needed|date=November 2016}}

In the ], Rep. ] (R-VA) issued a letter to his constituents stating his view that the decision of Representative-elect ] (D-MN) to use the Quran in his swearing-in ceremony is a threat to "the values and beliefs traditional to the United States of America... I fear that in the next century we will have many more Muslims in the United States if we do not adopt the strict immigration policies". In response, Honda penned a response to Goode expressing his surprise and offense by that letter and declaring "No person should be labeled as un-American based on his or her religion, and it is outrageous to cast aspersions on Representative-elect Ellison purely because of his religious background."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Muslims question GOP |url=http://www.archives2006.ghazali.net/html/muslims_question_gop.html#Honda |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304214439/http://www.archives2006.ghazali.net/html/muslims_question_gop.html#Honda |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |access-date=August 8, 2015 |publisher=Archives2006.ghazali.net}}</ref>

===Government reform===
In 2007, Honda voted for the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007, which was the legislative response to the ] scandal and introduced comprehensive new transparency requirements for lobbyists and for Members of Congress. In 2012, he cosponsored H.R. 1148, the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge (STOCK) Act, which criminalized insider trading by Members of Congress and required numerous disclosures.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 4, 2012 |title=What is the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge (STOCK) Act? |url=http://insidertrading.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=004520 |access-date=August 8, 2015 |publisher=ProCon.org}}</ref> He voted for H.Res. 895, which created the first-ever independent ethics office, the Office of Congressional Ethics.{{citation needed|date=February 2017}}

===Health care===
Honda has advocated for the expansion of health coverage for all through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and is a big proponent of the public option. As the Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, Honda was successful in ensuring that the ACA addressed racial and ethnic health disparities, including improvements in data collection, and measures to increase the number of health care providers from different backgrounds.{{citation needed|date=February 2017}}

As the chairman and chair emeritus of Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, he sponsored and supported the Health Care Equality and Accountability Act, which would have expanded access to care for individuals with limited English proficiency, increased health workforce diversity, and encouraged further studies on the minority health issues. As a member of the TriCaucus with the Congressional Black Caucus and ], Honda has introduced legislation focused on health disparities in correlation to an annual health disparities summit.{{citation needed|date=February 2017}}

Honda has led efforts to address tuberculosis by seeking changes to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) formula for direct funding for tuberculosis treatment and education to include highly impacted counties. He was successful in getting report language in the 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Bill to have the CDC review its funding distribution policies.{{citation needed|date=February 2017}}

Honda has been a leader in Congress for viral hepatitis and founded and co-chairs the Congressional Viral Hepatitis Caucus. He is a cosponsor of the Viral Hepatitis Testing Act (H.R. 3723), which will authorize new prevention and testing programs for hepatitis B and hepatitis C, and implement screening for veterans for hepatitis C.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Viral Hepatitis Testing Legislation Introduced in Congress |url=http://nvhr.org/content/viral-hepatitis-testing-legislation-introduced-congress |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140609205349/http://nvhr.org/content/viral-hepatitis-testing-legislation-introduced-congress |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 9, 2014 |access-date=August 8, 2015 |publisher=NVHR}}</ref> He also cosponsored the Viral Hepatitis Testing Act (H.R. 3381) in the 112th Congress, the Viral Hepatitis and Liver Cancer Control and Prevention Act (H.R. 3974) in the 111th Congress, and the National Hepatitis B Act (H.R. 3944) in the 110th Congress.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Honda |first=Mike |date=October 29, 2009 |title=Viral Hepatitis and Liver Cancer Control and Prevention Act of 2009 (2009; 111th Congress H.R. 3974) |url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/111/hr3974 |access-date=August 8, 2015 |publisher=GovTrack.us}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Honda |first=Mike |date=October 23, 2007 |title=National Hepatitis B Act (2007; 110th Congress H.R. 3944) |url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/110/hr3944 |access-date=August 8, 2015 |publisher=GovTrack.us}}</ref>

Honda has supported mobile health technology innovation and introduced the Health Care Innovation and Marketplace Technologies Act of 2013 (H.R. 2363).<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 14, 2013 |title=H.R.2363 - 113th Congress (2013-2014): Health Care Innovation and Marketplace Technologies Act of 2013 |url=http://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/2363 |access-date=August 8, 2015 |publisher=Library of Congress}}</ref>

This bill establishes an Office of Wireless Health at the FDA,<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 13, 2013 |title=Text of H.R. 2363 (113th): Health Care Innovation and Marketplace Technologies Act of 2013 (Introduced version) |url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/113/hr2363/text/ih#link=5&nearest=H702CB0FC90DF4938B4D32D63322E3DB8 |access-date=August 8, 2015 |publisher=GovTrack.us}}</ref> award grant for the development of effective product, process, or structure that enhances the use, particularly by patients, of health information technology, and provides medical professionals tax incentives to implement qualified health information technology in their practices.{{citation needed|date=November 2016}}

Honda has been an advocate for women's health including supporting provisions in the ] such as the elimination of gender-based discrimination in insurance prices, recognizing that being a woman is not a preexisting condition that should force women to pay higher premiums. Honda opposed the ] to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which would have prohibited the use of federal funds "to pay for any abortion or to cover any part of the costs of any health plan that includes coverage of abortion" except in cases of rape, incest or danger to the life of the mother. The amendment was dropped by co-author Rep. ] in exchange for an executive order promised by President Obama which would address the concerns of the Stupak-Pitts amendment supporters.{{citation needed|date=November 2016}}

Honda has supported Medicare and Medicaid programs throughout his career, fighting for the health rights of seniors and low-income families. He introduced the People's Budget, the Congressional Progressive Caucus 2012 budget alternative, which would keep Medicare and Medicaid solvent while closing the national debt within 10 years.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The People's Budget: Budget of the Congressional Progressive Caucus - Fiscal Year 2012 |url=http://grijalva.house.gov/uploads/The%20CPC%20FY2012%20Budget.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110426170342/http://grijalva.house.gov/uploads/The%20CPC%20FY2012%20Budget.pdf |archive-date=April 26, 2011 |access-date=August 8, 2015 |publisher=U.S. House of Representatives}}</ref>

Honda supports the permanent repeal of the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) and cosponsored the SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act of 2014 (H.R. 4015) which would have repealed the SGR and improved the physician payment system to reward value over volume.{{citation needed|date=November 2016}}

===Human rights===
On the issue of comfort women, in 2007 Honda proposed US H.Res. 121, which stated that Japan should formally acknowledge, apologize, and accept historical responsibility in a clear and unequivocal manner, refute any claims that the issue of comfort women never occurred, and educate current and future generations "about this horrible crime while following the recommendations of the international community with respect to the 'comfort women'."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Honda |first=Mike |title=A resolution expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Government of Japan should formally acknowledge, apologize, and accept historical responsibility in a clear and unequivocal manner for its Imperial Armed Forces' coercion of young women into sexual slavery, known to the world as "comfort women", during its colonial and wartime occupation of Asia and the Pacific Islands from the 1930s through the duration of World War II. (2007; 110th Congress H.Res. 121) |url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/110/hres121 |access-date=August 8, 2015 |publisher=GovTrack.us}}</ref>

Honda stated, "the purpose of this resolution is not to bash or humiliate Japan." On July 30, 2007, the House of Representatives passed Honda's resolution after 30 minutes of debate, in which no opposition was voiced. Honda was quoted on the floor as saying, "We must teach future generations that we cannot allow this to continue to happen. I have always believed that reconciliation is the first step in the healing process." Honda later secured report language in the Fiscal Year 2014 Consolidated Appropriation Act (submitted July 2013) urging the Secretary of State to encourage the Government of Japan to address issues raised in H.Res.121. President Obama signed the spending bill into law on January 17, 2014.{{citation needed|date=November 2016}}

Honda works on the elimination of human trafficking. He cosponsored the Fraudulent Overseas Recruitment and Trafficking Elimination Act of 2013 (H.R. 3344).<ref>{{Cite web |title=RCP Congressional Bill Tracker - H.R. 3344 |url=http://dyn.realclearpolitics.com/congressional_bill_tracker/bill/113/hr3344 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140609212707/http://dyn.realclearpolitics.com/congressional_bill_tracker/bill/113/hr3344 |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 9, 2014 |access-date=August 8, 2015 |publisher=Dyn.realclearpolitics.com}}</ref> The bill addresses predatory recruiters who use international labor recruitment as a human trafficking medium. On January 23, 2014, Honda hosted a training at the San Jose International Airport for airport and airline employees on how to detect signs of human trafficking.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2014-03-19 |title=Oakland Airport Training - Airline Ambassadors |language=en-US |work=Airline Ambassadors |url=http://airlineamb.org/2014/03/19/oakland-airport-training/#.WrNQSq6nHX4 |access-date=2018-03-22}}</ref>

Honda is a cosponsor of the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act (H.R. 15), which entails comprehensive immigration reform to increase high skill visas, reunite families, and provide a pathway to citizenship for those living in the shadows.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 26, 2014 |title=Cosponsors - H.R.15 - 113th Congress (2013-2014): Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act |url=http://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/15/cosponsors |access-date=August 8, 2015 |publisher=Library of Congress}}</ref>

===LGBT issues===
Honda has been recognized as a long-time supporter of equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, with a 100% scorecard rating from the ] since 2001.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Your Elected Officials: Mike Honda |url=http://www.hrc.org/elected-officials/profile/house/136 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924041925/http://www.hrc.org/elected-officials/profile/house/136 |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |access-date=August 8, 2015 |publisher=Human Rights Campaign |df=mdy-all}}</ref> HRC endorsed Honda for his 2014 reelection. In the 1990s, he supported same-sex partner benefits as a Santa Clara County Supervisor. In 2008, he was a co-founder of the Congressional Equality Caucus, when there were only two openly gay congresspersons.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Members |url=http://lgbt-polis.house.gov/members |archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20181121164107/https://lgbt-polis.house.gov/members |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 21, 2018 |access-date=August 8, 2015 |publisher=Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus}}</ref> He opposed the use of taxpayer funds to protect the ] in the United States Supreme Court.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kim |first=Mallie Jane |date=October 20, 2011 |title=House Could Spend $1.5M Defending Marriage Act, Congressman Fights Back |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2011/10/20/house-could-spend-15m-defending-marriage-act-congressman-fights-back |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111021165822/https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2011/10/20/house-could-spend-15m-defending-marriage-act-congressman-fights-back |archive-date=October 21, 2011 |access-date=March 21, 2018 |website=USAtoday}}</ref>

In 2013, Honda worked with Mayor of Campbell Evan Low to raise awareness for the ban against blood donations from gay and bisexual men.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 21, 2013 |title="Campbell Mayor Evan Low pushing for change in FDA rules banning gays from donating blood", San Jose Mercury News |url=http://www.mercurynews.com/campbell/ci_23913135/campbell-mayor-evan-low-pushing-change-fda-rules |access-date=May 19, 2014}}</ref> In 2015, Honda revealed in a speech at the event Courageous Conversation, a one-day symposium that addresses how administrators can work to make their schools safer for their students, that his granddaughter Malisa is transgender. "As both an individual, and as an educator, I have experienced and witnessed bullying in its many forms. And as the proud jichan, or grandpa, of a transgender grandchild, I hope that my granddaughter can feel safe going to school without fear of being bullied. I refuse to be a bystander while millions of people are dealing with the effects of bullying on a daily basis."<ref name="huffingtonpost.com" />

===Manufacturing===
In 2013, Honda introduced the Market Based Manufacturing Incentives Act (H.R. 615), one of the main bills in the Democratic Party's Make it in America Agenda, which would create a commission of private-sector experts to designate market-changing technologies.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Honda |first=Mike |date=February 12, 2013 |title=Market Based Manufacturing Incentives Act of 2013 (2013; 113th Congress H.R. 615) |url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/113/hr615 |access-date=August 8, 2015 |publisher=GovTrack.us}}</ref> These technologies would be eligible for a consumer tax credit as long as they are made in the United States. Honda introduced the Scaling Up Manufacturing Act (H.R. 616).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Honda |first=Mike |date=February 12, 2013 |title=Scaling Up Manufacturing Act of 2013 (2013; 113th Congress H.R. 616) |url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/113/hr616 |access-date=August 8, 2015 |publisher=GovTrack.us}}</ref> The bill would provide companies a 25% tax credit on the costs associated with building their first manufacturing facility in the United States.{{citation needed|date=November 2016}}

Honda was a vocal supporter of the National Network for Manufacturing Innovation proposed by President Obama to help revitalize American manufacturing. He is a cosponsor of the bipartisan Revitalizing American Manufacturing Innovation Act (H.R. 2996) and has urged President Obama to locate a manufacturing hub in Silicon Valley to focus on the domestic development of the next generation of semiconductor manufacturing tools.{{citation needed|date=November 2016}}

Honda used his position as a member of the House Appropriations Committee and the Commerce, Justice, Science Subcommittee to prioritize funding for the National Institute of Standards and Technology's Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program which works with small and medium-sized manufacturers to help them create and retain jobs, increase profits, and save time and money.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Statement before the House Budget Committee The Honorable Michael M. Honda Members' Hearing Day March 25, 2014 |url=http://www.smallmanufacturers.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/MH-Budget-Committee-Member-Day-Testimony-FY-2015-for-Delivery.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140519113114/http://www.smallmanufacturers.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/MH-Budget-Committee-Member-Day-Testimony-FY-2015-for-Delivery.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 19, 2014 |access-date=October 27, 2021 |website=Smallmanufacturers.org}}</ref>

===Science and technology===
As the Representative for the heart of Silicon Valley, Honda has been intimately involved in technology and nanotechnology policy for many years. He has supported the principle of network neutrality, and is a cosponsor of the Open Internet Preservation Act (H.R. 3982).<ref>{{Cite web |title=H.R. 3982: Open Internet Preservation Act of 2014 |url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/113/hr3982 |access-date=May 19, 2014 |website=GovTrack.us}}</ref>

Honda was critical of the National Security Agency's surveillance of electronic communications as a violation of privacy. He is an original cosponsor of the Uniting and Strengthening America by Fulfilling Rights and Ending Eavesdropping, Dragnet Collection, and Online Monitoring Act (USA FREEDOM ACT - H.R 3361) which seeks to rein in the dragnet collection of data by the NSA, increase transparency of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, provide businesses the ability to release information regarding FISA requests, and create an independent constitutional advocate to argue cases before the FISC. Honda has been a proponent of government intelligence transparency and has pushed to require that top-line intelligence spending be disclosed during annual budget submission to Congress through his co-sponsorship of the Intelligence Budget Transparency Act (H.R. 3855).{{citation needed|date=February 2017}}

In 2002, he introduced one of the first nanotechnology bills in Congress, the Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Advisory Board Act of 2002,<ref>{{Cite web |title=H.R.5669, Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Advisory Board Act of 2002 |url=http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d107:h.r.5669: |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140926232047/http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d107:H.R.5669: |archive-date=September 26, 2014 |access-date=May 19, 2014}}</ref> which sought to establish a Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Advisory Board to advise the President on a range of policy matters. Such a board was recommended by the National Research Council in its review of the National nanotechnology Initiative, Small Wonders, Endless Frontiers.{{citation needed|date=November 2016}}

In 2003, he worked with then-Science Committee Chairman Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY), to introduce the Nanotechnology Research and Development Act of 2003.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 8, 2003 |title=Cosponsors - H.R.766 - 108th Congress (2003-2004): Nanotechnology Research and Development Act of 2003 |url=http://beta.congress.gov/bill/108th-congress/house-bill/766/cosponsors |access-date=August 8, 2015 |publisher=Library of Congress}}</ref>

This bill authorized federal investments in nanotechnology research and development, restructured the National Nanotechnology Initiative to improve interagency coordination and the level of input from outside experts in the field, and laid the path to address novel social, ethical, philosophical, legal, environmental health issues that might arise. H.R. 766 was passed overwhelmingly by the U.S. House of Representatives on May 7, 2003, signed into law on December 3, 2003, and to date has been funded at nearly $4 billion.{{citation needed|date=November 2016}}

Honda continued his interest in nanotechnology by convening the Blue Ribbon Task Force on Nanotechnology with then-controller Steve Westly in 2005.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Technology Transfer Center - Projects - Blue Ribbon Task Force on Nanotechnology |url=http://wesrac.usc.edu/TTC/projects/blueribbon.asp |access-date=August 8, 2015 |publisher=University of South Carolina Viterbi School of Engineering}}</ref> This group met numerous times to discuss and develop strategies to promote the San Francisco Bay Area and all of California as the national and worldwide center for nanotechnology research, development and commercialization. Under the direction of Working Chair Scott Hubbard, then-Director of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Ames Research Center, the Task Force spent a year developing recommendations that would assure California a leading position in what could be a trillion-dollar economic sector. The recommendations were included in the BRTFN report, Thinking Big About Thinking Small.{{citation needed|date=November 2016}}

Honda developed two pieces of legislation based on the report: 1) the Nanomanufacturing Investment Act of 2005<ref>{{Cite web |last=Honda |first=Mike |date=April 6, 2005 |title=Nanomanufacturing Investment Act of 2005 (2005; 109th Congress H.R. 1491) |url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/109/hr1491 |access-date=August 8, 2015 |publisher=GovTrack.us}}</ref> and 2) the Nanotechnology Advancement and New Opportunities Act.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Honda |first=Mike |date=August 1, 2011 |title=Nanotechnology Advancement and New Opportunities Act (2011; 112th Congress H.R. 2749) |url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/112/hr2749 |access-date=August 8, 2015 |publisher=GovTrack.us}}</ref>

Many provisions of these bills were included in larger pieces of legislation, the National Nanotechnology Initiative Amendments Act of 2009<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gordon |first=Bart |title=National Nanotechnology Initiative Amendments Act of 2009 (2009; 111th Congress H.R. 554) |url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/111/hr554 |access-date=August 8, 2015 |publisher=GovTrack.us}}</ref> and the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act, that passed the House of Representatives in the 111th Congress.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gordon |first=Bart |title=America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (2011; 111th Congress H.R. 5116) |url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/111/hr5116 |access-date=August 8, 2015 |publisher=GovTrack.us}}</ref>

Mike Honda was recognized by the Foresight Institute, which awarded him its Foresight Institute Government Prize in 2006.<ref>{{Cite web |title=FI sponsored prizes & awards |url=http://www.foresight.org/FI/fi_spons.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161231155630/http://www.foresight.org/FI/fi_spons.html |archive-date=December 31, 2016 |access-date=August 8, 2015 |publisher=Foresight.org |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

===Research and development tax credit===
Congressman Honda has supported expanding and making permanent the Research and Development tax credit, and in the 113th Congress is a cosponsor of the bipartisan H.R. 4438, the American Research and Competitiveness Act of 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 12, 2014 |title=Cosponsors - H.R.4438 - 113th Congress (2013-2014): American Research and Competitiveness Act of 2014 |url=http://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/4438/cosponsors |access-date=August 8, 2015 |publisher=Library of Congress}}</ref> He has called the research credit, "the best incentive in the tax code to ensure that companies continue to conduct their R&D in the U.S."{{citation needed|date=November 2016}}

===Seniors and retirement security===
Honda has been a vocal advocate for expanding the Social Security program. In the 113th Congress, Honda introduced H.R. 3118, the Strengthening Social Security Act, with Congresspersons ] (D-CA) and ] (D-NJ), which would increase benefits for current beneficiaries, eliminate the cap on how much of an individual's earnings can be paid into Social Security, change the benefits formula to increase payments by about $70 a month, and adopt a higher cost of living adjustment called CPI-E, designed to reflect the cost of healthcare for seniors.{{citation needed|date=February 2017}}

Also in the 113th Congress, Honda authored H.R. 4202, the CPI-E Act of 2014, which would apply CPI-E to index federal retirement programs other than Social Security, to include programs such as civil service retirement, military retirement, Supplemental Security Income, veterans pensions and compensations, and other retirement programs with COLAs triggered directly by Social Security or civil service retirement. As a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus Budget Taskforce, Honda also inserted this CPI-E provision into the FY 2015 CPC Budget, entitled the "Better Off Budget." Honda said during floor debate on the CPC budget, that the provision was intended to be a first step to applying CPI-E to all federal retirement programs, including Social Security.{{citation needed|date=February 2017}}

===Veterans===
Honda has been a leading voice to overhaul and improve the current VA system. As an appropriator, he worked with his colleagues in both parties to not only call for change, but to provide funds to create a new electronic health record program between the Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs. He is also working to ensure that the government makes use of the knowledge and experience of health information technology experts, such as those in Silicon Valley, to ensure this new platform will eliminate the current backlog of claims. Honda helped obtain $2.8 million in grants to aid homeless and at-risk veterans and their families in Silicon Valley.{{citation needed|date=January 2017}}

===Women's rights===
Honda has a 100% legislative score from ]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stand with Planned Parenthood |url=http://www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/elections-politics/congressional-scorecard/#/california/176 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140614213745/http://www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/elections-politics/congressional-scorecard/ |archive-date=June 14, 2014 |access-date=August 8, 2015 |publisher=Planned Parenthood Action Fund}}</ref> and from the ] (NARAL) and has been a long-time supporter of pro-choice legislation and for women's health due to his voting record. Honda has supported Paycheck Fairness Act and voted for the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act — the first piece of legislation to be signed by President Barack Obama in 2009.{{citation needed|date=November 2016}}

During the debate over the new health care bill, Honda voted against the ] to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which would have prohibited the use of federal funds "to pay for any abortion or to cover any part of the costs of any health plan that includes coverage of abortion" except in cases of rape, incest or danger to the life of the mother. The amendment was dropped by its co-author Stupak in exchange for an executive order promised by President Obama which would address the Stupak-Pitts concerns.{{citation needed|date=November 2016}}

In 2013, Honda voted for the reauthorization of the ] (VAWA), which included updated protections for Native American women, immigrant women, and provided specialized support and resources for LGBT, religious and ethnic communities. VAWA reauthorization also included the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act, which Honda has also supported.{{citation needed|date=November 2016}} Honda introduced the Domestic Violence Judicial Support Act of 2013, which would strengthen the judicial programs that comprise the basis of VAWA. To support full implementation of the Obama Administration's Executive Order 13595 and the U.S. National Action Plan (NAP) on Women, Peace, and Security, and to secure Congressional oversight, Honda introduced the Women, Peace, and Security Act of 2013, along his female colleagues Congresswomen ], Eddie Bernice Johnson, and Niki Tsongas.{{citation needed|date=November 2016}}

===Civilian body armor ban===
In July 2014, Honda introduced a bill to ban level 3 body armor for anyone not in law enforcement.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 31, 2014 |title=Responsible Body Armor Possession Act Keeps Military Armor out of the Wrong Hands |url=http://honda.house.gov/news/press-releases/responsible-body-armor-possession-act-keeps-military-armor-out-of-the-wrong |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140809164608/http://honda.house.gov/news/press-releases/responsible-body-armor-possession-act-keeps-military-armor-out-of-the-wrong |archive-date=August 9, 2014 |access-date=August 8, 2015 |publisher=Congressman Mike Honda |df=mdy-all}}</ref> In September, it was referred to the subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 26, 2014 |title=H.R.5344 - 113th Congress (2013-2014): Responsible Body Armor Possession Act |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/5344 |access-date=August 8, 2015 |publisher=Library of Congress}}</ref> This bill would ban anyone except law enforcement and military personnel from obtaining level 3 body armor. He was quoted as saying: "We should be asking ourselves, why is this armor available to just anyone, if it was designed to be used only by our soldiers to take to war?".<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 6, 2014 |title=Rep. Mike Honda Introduces Bill Banning Civilians from Buying Body Armor |url=http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Rep-Mike-Honda-Introduces-Bill-Banning-Civilians-from-Buying-Body-Armor-270223431.html |access-date=August 8, 2015 |publisher=NBC Bay Area}}</ref>

==Ethics investigation==
It has been alleged that Honda and key members of his congressional staff violated House rules by using taxpayer resources to bolster his 2014 re-election campaign. In September 2015, the House Ethics Committee decided to extend the review of the matter after the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) released its report on the allegation.<ref>
*{{Cite news |date=August 28, 2015 |title=Ethics report: Rep. Mike Honda, staff appear to have violated federal law, House rules |work=San Jose Mercury News |url=http://www.mercurynews.com/nation-world/ci_28750105/congressman-mike-honda-grapples-ethics-reports-release |access-date=September 5, 2015}}
*{{Cite news |last=Koehn |first=Josh |date=September 4, 2015 |title=10 Biggest Takeaways from the Mike Honda Ethics Probe Report |work=San Jose Inside |url=http://www.sanjoseinside.com/2015/09/04/10-biggest-takeaways-from-the-mike-honda-ethics-probe-report |access-date=September 5, 2015}}
*{{Cite news |date=September 3, 2015 |title=Ethics panel investigating Rep. Mike Honda of California |work=U.S. News & World Report |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2015/09/03/ethics-panel-investigating-rep-honda |access-date=September 5, 2015}}
*{{Cite news |last=Koehn |first=Josh |date=July 15, 2015 |title=Office of Congressional Ethics Conducts Review of Mike Honda |work=San Jose Inside |url=http://www.sanjoseinside.com/2015/07/15/office-of-congressional-ethics-conducts-review-of-mike-honda |access-date=September 5, 2015}}
*{{Cite web |last=Times |first=Los Angeles |date=September 3, 2015 |title=Report finds 'reason to believe' Rep. Honda's campaign blurred ethics lines |url=https://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-ethics-honda-20150903-story.html |access-date=October 26, 2016 |website=]}}
*{{Cite web |title=Rep. Honda ethics probe to continue |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2015/09/honda-ethics-probe-to-continue-213323 |access-date=October 26, 2016 |website=]|date=September 3, 2015 }}
*{{Cite web |title=OnPolitics - USA TODAY's politics blog |url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/onpolitics |access-date=October 26, 2016 |website=]}}
*{{Cite news |title=Ethics probe finds California Rep. Honda may have mixed official and campaign business |newspaper=] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2015/09/03/ethics-probe-finds-california-rep-honda-may-have-mixed-official-and-campaign-business |access-date=October 26, 2016}}
*{{Cite web |date=September 4, 2015 |title=Watchdog: Rep. Honda likely violated House rules &#124; TheHill |url=https://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/house/252712-watchdog-rep-honda-likely-violated-house-rules/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904184407/http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/house/252712-watchdog-rep-honda-likely-violated-house-rules |archive-date=September 4, 2015 |url-status=live |access-date=October 27, 2021}}</ref> The OCE report noted "there is substantial reason to believe that Representative Honda improperly tied official events to past or potential campaign or political support."<ref>{{Cite web |title=OFFICE OF CONGRESSIONAL ETHICS : UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES : Review No. 15-2070 |url=http://oce.house.gov/disclosures/Review_No_15-2070_Referral.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905170036/http://oce.house.gov/disclosures/Review_No_15-2070_Referral.pdf |archive-date=September 5, 2015 |access-date=2016-11-12 |website=Oce.house.gov}}</ref> As of August 8, 2016, the House Ethics Committee had not decided whether Honda violated House rules.<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 10, 2016 |title=Legal defense fund |newspaper=LA Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-honda-legal-defense-fund-20160808-snap-story.html}}</ref>{{Update inline|date=March 2023}}

==Personal life==
Honda's wife, Jeanne, was a kindergarten teacher at Baldwin Elementary School in San José. She died in 2004.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 18, 2004 |title=Jeanne Yoshida Honda - wife of congressman |url=http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Jeanne-Yoshida-Honda-wife-of-congressman-2794802.php |access-date=April 23, 2015 |website=San Francisco Chronicle}}</ref> He has two children: Mark, an aerospace engineer, living in Torrance, and Michelle, a marketing and communications manager, in San Jose. Michelle is the mother of one daughter and two sons.{{citation needed|date=February 2017}}

In February 2015, Honda's announcement that he is a "proud ''jiichan''", or grandfather, of his transgender granddaughter Malisa, gained regional, national, and international coverage.<ref name="huffingtonpost.com">{{Cite web |date=February 18, 2015 |title=A Grandfather's Love: Congressman Mike Honda Opens Up About His Transgender Granddaughter |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/marsha-aizumi/a-grandfathers-love-mike-honda-transgender-granddaughter_b_6705162.html |access-date=April 23, 2015 |website=The Huffington Post}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=February 19, 2015 |title=Transgender grandchild: Rep. Mike Honda says 8-year-old's gender change not a phase |work=San Jose Mercury News |url=http://www.mercurynews.com/bay-area-news/ci_27559981/transgender-grandchild-congressman-mike-honda-says-8-year |access-date=April 23, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Schwarz |first=Hunter |date=January 28, 2015 |title=California Rep. Mike Honda tweets about transgender granddaughter |newspaper=] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2015/02/19/congressman-tweets-about-transgender-granddaughter-as-awareness-increases |access-date=April 23, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=February 19, 2015 |title=Congressman announces granddaughter is transgender |publisher=CNN |url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/02/19/politics/mike-honda-transgender-granddaughter |access-date=April 23, 2015}}</ref>

==Electoral history in the U.S. House of Representatives==
{{Election box begin no change|title=]<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090324192927/http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/sov/2000_general/us_rep.pdf |date=March 24, 2009 }} "United States Representative in Congress, (retrieved July 29, 2009)</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change| |party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Mike Honda|votes=128,545|percentage=54.3}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change| |party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=]|votes=99,866|percentage=42.2}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change| |party=Libertarian Party (United States)|candidate=Ed Wimmers|votes=4,820|percentage=2.0}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change| |party=Natural Law Party (United States)|candidate=Douglas C. Gorney|votes=3,591|percentage=1.5}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change| |party=independent (politician)|candidate=Phillip Kronzer (write-in)|votes=82|percentage=0.0}}
{{Election box total no change| |votes=236,904|percentage=100}}
{{Election box turnout no change| |percentage=}}
{{Election box gain with party link without swing| |winner=Democratic Party (United States)|loser=Republican Party (United States)}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change|title=]<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101111170350/http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/sov/2002_general/congress.pdf |date=November 11, 2010 }} "United States Representative in Congress," (retrieved July 29, 2009)</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change| |party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Mike Honda (])|votes=87,482|percentage=65.8}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change| |party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Linda Rae Hermann|votes=41,251|percentage=31.0}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change| |party=Libertarian Party (United States)|candidate=Jeff Landauer|votes=4,289|percentage=3.2}}
{{Election box total no change| |votes=133,022|percentage=100}}
{{Election box turnout no change| |percentage=}}
{{Election box hold with party link without swing| |winner=Democratic Party (United States)|loser=Republican Party (United States)}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change|title=]<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090325020641/http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/sov/2004_general/us%20reps%20all%20formatted.pdf |date=March 25, 2009 }} "United States Representative in Congress," (retrieved July 29, 2009)</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change| |party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Mike Honda (incumbent)|votes=154,385|percentage=72.1}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change| |party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Raymond L. Chukwu|votes=59,953|percentage=27.9}}
{{Election box total no change| |votes=214,338|percentage=100}}
{{Election box turnout no change| |percentage=}}
{{Election box hold with party link without swing| |winner=Democratic Party (United States)}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change|title=]<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121115135046/http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/sov/2006_general/congress.pdf |date=November 15, 2012 }} "United States Representative in Congress," (retrieved July 29, 2009)</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change| |party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Mike Honda (incumbent)|votes=115,532|percentage=72.4}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change| |party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Raymond L. Chukwu|votes=44,186|percentage=27.6}}
{{Election box total no change| |votes=159,718|percentage=100}}
{{Election box turnout no change| |percentage=}}
{{Election box hold with party link without swing| |winner=Democratic Party (United States)}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change|title=]<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081221042514/http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/sov/2008_general/23_34_us_reps.pdf |date=December 21, 2008 }} "United States Representative in Congress," (retrieved July 29, 2009)</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change| |party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Mike Honda (incumbent)|votes=170,977|percentage=71.7}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change| |party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Joyce Stoer Cordi|votes=55,489|percentage=23.3}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change| |party=Green Party (United States)|candidate=Peter Myers|votes=12,123|percentage=5.0}}
{{Election box total no change| |votes=238,589|percentage=100}}
{{Election box turnout no change| |percentage=}}
{{Election box hold with party link without swing| |winner=Democratic Party (United States)}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change|title=]<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110520072810/http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/sov/2010-general/58-united-states-representative.pdf |date=May 20, 2011 }} "United States Representative in Congress," (retrieved January 22, 2014)</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change| |party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Mike Honda (incumbent)|votes=126,147|percentage=67.6}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change| |party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Scott Kirkland|votes=60,468|percentage=32.4}}
{{Election box total no change| |votes=186,615|percentage=100}}
{{Election box turnout no change| |percentage=}}
{{Election box hold with party link without swing| |winner=Democratic Party (United States)}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change|title=]<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019044155/http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/sov/2012-general/12-us-reps.pdf |date=October 19, 2013 }} "United States Representative in Congress," (retrieved January 22, 2014)</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change| |party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Mike Honda (incumbent)|votes=159,392|percentage=73.5}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change| |party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Evelyn Li|votes=57,336|percentage=26.5}}
{{Election box total no change| |votes=216,728|percentage=100}}
{{Election box turnout no change| |percentage=}}
{{Election box hold with party link without swing| |winner=Democratic Party (United States)}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change|title=]<ref> "United States Representative in Congress," (retrieved January 22, 2014)</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change| |party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Mike Honda (incumbent)|votes=69,561|percentage=51.8}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change| |party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=]|votes=64,847|percentage=48.2}}
{{Election box total no change| |votes=134,408|percentage=100}}
{{Election box turnout no change| |percentage=}}
{{Election box hold with party link without swing| |winner=Democratic Party (United States)}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box open primary begin no change
| title = ] election, 2016<ref name="vote.sos.ca.gov"> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160614185741/http://vote.sos.ca.gov/returns/us-rep/district/17 |date=June 14, 2016 }} "United States Representative in Congress," (retrieved 18 June 2016)</ref>
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = Ro Khanna
| votes = 52,059
| percentage = 39.1
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = Mike Honda (])
| votes = 49,823
| percentage = 37.4
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| candidate = Peter Kuo
| votes = 12,224
| percentage = 9.2
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| candidate = Ron Cohen
| votes = 10,448
| percentage = 7.8
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = ]
| votes = 5,533
| percentage = 4.2
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Libertarian Party (United States)
| candidate = Kennita Watson
| votes = 3,125
| percentage = 2.3
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 133,212
| percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box end}}


{{Election box begin no change|title=]<ref name="vote.sos.ca.gov" />}}
Rep. Honda wrote a reply, telling Goode "I was surprised and offended to hear about a constituent letter you wrote in response to Representative-elect Keith Ellison's intention to use a Koran during his ceremonial swearing in ceremony. ...it is outrageous to cast aspersions on Representative-elect Ellison purely because of his religious background. Following the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks, Muslims have been the subject of profoundly warped stereotypes in this country; stereotypes that are largely derived from a small percentage of extremist practitioners. An entire religious group has become scapegoats for the actions of a few fanatics whose beliefs they do not subscribe to. As one of the many Japanese Americans who were interned during World War II because of war hysteria and racial prejudice, I find it particularly offensive that you are equating Representative-elect Ellison’s beliefs with those of radical extremists and condemning him based on their actions. In your letter, you suggested that all Muslims in this country are immigrants and that immigration laws must be changed to 'preserve the values and beliefs traditional to the United States of America' by stopping Muslims from entering. Representative-elect Ellison was born in the United States, and his family has lived here since 1742. He was raised Catholic before becoming a Muslim during college. The spread of ideas and philosophies cannot be stopped by barricading our borders, nor should it be. …Instead of fearing our diversity, Americans, and Members of Congress in particular, must embrace it. America became a great nation through the collaboration of Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, and other religious and ethnic groups working together to advance our culture and economy."<ref>{{cite web|title=Rep. Honda 'Surprised and Offended' by Goode's Anti-Muslim Remarks| date= December 21, 2006| url= http://www.cair.com/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=2472&theType=NR}} Retrieved on Dec. 22, 2006</ref>
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change| |party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=]|votes=142268|percentage=61.0}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Mike Honda (incumbent)|votes=90924|percentage=39.0| }}
{{Election box total no change| |votes=233192|percentage=100}}
{{Election box turnout no change| |percentage=}}
{{Election box hold with party link without swing| |winner=Democratic Party (United States)}}
{{Election box end}}


==Comfort women== ==See also==
{{Portal|California}}
On the issue of ], Honda proposed a resolution in the Congress calling for ] to formally acknowledge, apologize, and accept historical responsibility in a clear and unequivocal manner. More than 200,000 Korean, Chinese, Filipino, Indonesian, and other women and girls in the 1930s and '40s were enslaved to provide sex for imperial Japanese soldiers. <ref>http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2006/10/15/congress_backs_off_of_wartime_japan_rebuke/<ref> He was criticized by some Japanese, but gained respect from many East Asians. <Ref>] 일본을 규탄하는 일본계 美정치인 (Japanese American who denounces Japan)
* ]
</ref> <ref>Korea-times 2006-12-14 일본계 혼다 의원 “일본에 위안부 사과” 촉구 "Japanese American Honda asks Japanese Government to apologize to the comfort woman." </ref> Although Honda has stated that "The purpose of this resolution is not to bash or humiliate Japan," he has a consistent record of singling Japan out as a foreign nation to reprimand.
<ref>] - "Comfort Women" Resolution Likely to Pass U.S. Congress </ref>


==Trivia== ==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}
Despite his last name, which he shares with the famous ], his primary car is a ], but also owns a ] ].


==External links== ==External links==
{{Commons category|Mike Honda}}
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* {{C-SPAN|85565}}


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Latest revision as of 18:28, 16 December 2024

American politician (born 1941)
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Mike Honda
Member of the
U.S. House of Representatives
from California
In office
January 3, 2001 – January 3, 2017
Preceded byTom Campbell
Succeeded byRo Khanna
Constituency
Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee
In office
2005–2013
Leader
Preceded byGloria Molina
Succeeded byTulsi Gabbard
Deputy Chair of the Democratic National Committee
In office
2003–2005Serving with Susan Turnbull
LeaderTerry McAuliffe
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byKeith Ellison (2017)
Member of the California Assembly
from the 23rd district
In office
December 2, 1996 - November 30, 2000
Preceded byDominic Cortese
Succeeded byManny Diaz
Personal details
BornMakoto Honda
(1941-06-27) June 27, 1941 (age 83)
Walnut Grove, California, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseJeanne (d. 2004)
Children2
EducationSan Jose State University (BA, MA)
Mike Honda's voice Mike Honda honors Norman Mineta, the first chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus
Recorded December 15, 2010

Michael Makoto Honda (born June 27, 1941) is an American politician. A member of the Democratic Party, he served in Congress from 2001 to 2017.

Initially involved in education in California, he first became active in politics in 1971, when then San Jose mayor Norman Mineta appointed Honda to the city's Planning Commission. Mineta later joined both the Bush and Clinton cabinets. After holding other positions, Honda was elected to the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors in 1990, and to the California State Assembly in 1996, where he served until 2001.

In November 2003, Democratic National Committee chair Terry McAuliffe appointed Honda as deputy chair of the DNC. In February 2005, Honda was elected a vice chair of the Democratic National Committee under the chairmanship of Howard Dean. In 2009, Honda was reelected for a second term as DNC vice chair, under the chairmanship of former Virginia governor Tim Kaine; he served in this role until 2013.

Honda became the subject of an ethics investigation by the United States House Committee on Ethics in 2015 for the alleged use of taxpayer resources to bolster his 2014 re-election campaign. He was defeated for re-election in 2016 by fellow Democrat Ro Khanna.

Early life and teaching

Honda (leftmost) with his family

A third-generation Japanese American ("sansei"), Makoto Honda was born in 1941 in Walnut Grove, California, the son of Fusako (Tanouye) and Giichi Honda. His father, Giichi (nicknamed "Byron"), was one of 6,000 Military Intelligence Service (MIS) agents, although the family was subjected to internment. His grandparents were from Kumamoto prefecture and immigrated to the United States in the early 1900s, and both of his parents were born in California.

When he was one year old, he and his family were sent to Camp Amache, a Japanese-American internment camp in southeastern Colorado. In 1953, his family returned to California, where they became strawberry sharecroppers in Blossom Valley in San Jose.

Honda as a teacher at Sunnyvale High School

Honda started at Andrew P. Hill High School, and then transferred to and graduated from San Josė High Academy. He entered San Josė State University, but interrupted his studies from 1965 to 1967 to serve in the United States Peace Corps in El Salvador, where he learned to speak Spanish. He returned to San Jose State, where, in 1968, he received a bachelor's degree in biological sciences and Spanish. He earned a master's degree in education from San Jose State in 1974.

In his 30-year career as an educator, Honda was a science teacher, a principal at two public schools, and a school board member, and he conducted educational research at Stanford University.

Political career

Teaching and state positions

In 1971, San Jose Mayor Norman Mineta appointed Honda to the city's Planning Commission. In 1981, Honda was elected to the San Jose Unified School Board. He was elected to the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors in 1990, and to the California State Assembly in 1996, where he served until 2001.

DNC and national positions

In the 2000 United States House of Representatives elections, Honda won the Democratic nomination for the 15th district, which had once been represented by Norm Mineta, and won the general election by a 12-point margin. He remained the incumbent in the resultant elections of 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, and 2012.

In November 2003, chairman of the Democratic National Committee Terry McAuliffe appointed Honda as deputy chair of the DNC. In February 2005, Honda was elected a vice chair of the Democratic National Committee under the chairmanship of Howard Dean. In 2009, Honda was reelected for a second term as DNC vice chair, under the chairmanship of former Virginia Governor Tim Kaine; he served in this role until 2013.

Due to redistricting after the 2010 US census, Honda began representing the California's 17th congressional district at the beginning of the 113th Congress on January 3, 2013. The district incorporates Silicon Valley, which is the only Asian American-majority district in the continental United States. The district encompasses all or part of the cities of Cupertino, Fremont, Milpitas, Newark, Santa Clara, San Jose, and Sunnyvale. Honda was narrowly re-elected in 2014 against Ro Khanna, but lost a rematch to Khanna in 2016.

Early committees and caucuses

Honda (center) at the August 2006 ribbon-cutting ceremony for the opening of a zero-emissions, hydrogen fuel cell bus program

From 2001 to 2007 Honda served on the United States House Committee on Science, Space and Technology and was the ranking member of its Energy Subcommittee from 2005 to 2007. He also served on the United States House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure from 2001 to 2007. In 2007, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi appointed Honda to the United States House Committee on Appropriations. From 2011 to 2013, he was ranking member of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Subcommittee. From 2001 to 2003, and again from 2011 to 2013, Honda also was appointed to serve on the House Budget Committee.

Honda was a member of the following (and other) committees, commissions, and caucuses:

Major appropriations

As of August 2015, Honda had secured over $1.3 billion in appropriations since 2001.

Some of Honda's most notable appropriations were for the extension of the BART system into Silicon Valley. During his five years on the House Transportation Committee, he secured $11 million in direct earmarks attached to a number of bills. Also during his time on that committee, he facilitated the BART projects qualification for the New Starts Program, which authorized another $900 million in funds, the first $400 million of which Honda managed to appropriate over the three-year period of FY2012-14. During the 2014 midterm election cycle, Honda's opponent Ro Khanna alleged that Honda only secured $2 million for the project. In response, a number of local officials including a Congresswoman, a state senator, a former US Secretary of Transportation, and former and current Valley Transportation Authority chairs, sent the Khanna campaign an open letter refuting its claims and requesting that they correct their campaign language.

The $11 million in direct appropriations was part of:

  • H.R. 2673 (FY2004 Consolidated Appropriations Act, became Public Law 108-199)
  • H.R. 4818 (FY 2005 Consolidated Appropriations Act, became Public Law 108-447)
  • H.R. 3058 (the Transportation, Treasury, Housing and Urban Development, the Judiciary, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act for 2006, became Public Law 109-115)

The $400 million from the New Starts Program was allocated as follows:

  • $100M for FY 2012 in H.R. 2112, The Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2012, which became Public Law 112-55
  • $150M for FY 2013 in H.R. 933, the FY 2013 Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, which became Public Law 113-6
  • $150M for FY 2014 in H.R. 3547, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014, which became Public Law 113–76.

Legislation

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Raising the minimum wage

Honda has been a long-time supporter of organized labor, and has supported numerous bills for creating a living wage. In 2013 and 2014, he cosponsored the Original Living American Wage Act (H.R. 229), the WAGES Act (H.R. 650), and the Fair Minimum Wage Act (H.R. 1010), which would raise the federal minimum wage. Honda was also a supporter of the San Jose's successful ballot initiative that raised the city's minimum wage to $10 per hour.

Defense

As former chairman of the Afghanistan Taskforce for the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and former co-chair of the CPC's Peace and Security Taskforce, Congressman Honda has consistently critiqued the war strategy through a series of Congressional briefings, legislation, published opinion pieces ("Alternative Strategies to Obama's Afghan Agenda", "A Different Kind of Surge"), and Congressional letters to the Administration. Honda advocated an orderly withdrawal of U.S. military forces from Afghanistan and a significant realignment of U.S. aid to focus on strengthening government institutions, capacity building, economic development, and humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan. Honda criticized the Obama administration for failing to seek Congressional approval for U.S. military operations in Libya. He is critical of the wide-scale use of drones and is a cosponsor of the Targeted Lethal Force Transparency Act (H.R. 4372) requiring an annual report on the number of civilians and combatants killed and injured in drone strikes.

Education

In 2008, Honda worked with then-Senator Barack Obama to introduce the Enhancing STEM Education Act. Honda introduced the House version, H.R. 6104, and Obama introduced the Senate version, S.3047, on the same day.

The bills sought to enhance the coordination among state and federal governments to improve STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education by creating a committee on STEM education at the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and an Office of STEM at the Department of Education, instituting a voluntary State Consortium on STEM education, and creating a National STEM Education Research Repository. Portions of this bill (notably, creating a committee on STEM education at OSTP), as well as Honda's INVENT Act (which would develop curriculum tools for use in teaching innovation and fostering inventiveness at the K-16 level), were eventually included in the America COMPETES Act reauthorization, which President Obama signed into law on January 4, 2011.

Honda led the Congressional authorization for The Equity and Excellence Commission, a commission that began in 2011 and reported its findings to the Secretary of Education in late 2012. The commission is a federal advisory committee chartered by Congress, operating under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA); 5 U.S.C., App.2. The commission had 27 members from a range of backgrounds, including education, law, tax, government, business, and civil rights. The committee met 17 times in Washington, DC and across the country. In November 2012, the commission presented its findings in a report titled "For Each and Every Child: A Strategy for Education Equity and Excellence." The findings focused around five recommendations: (1) restructuring the financing of schools, focusing on equitable resources; (2) supporting quality teachers and school leaders; (3) supporting early childhood education; (4) promoting increased parental engagement; and, (5) addressing changes in accountability and governance in the education system. Opposed by special interests, including the teachers' unions, the commission's recommendations went largely ignored.

Environment

Honda secured millions of dollars in federal funding for the cleanup and demolition of the former Almaden Air Force Station atop Mt. Umunhum. Contaminated with standard-use hazardous materials during its military use (lead paint, asbestos, etc.), the site was remediated, demolished, and is slated to open for public access in spring 2017. Honda has also advocated for programs such as the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

In 2014, Honda introduced the Climate Change Education Act (H.R. 4461), legislation that aims to improving public understanding of the impact of greenhouse gases on the environment and the steps that individuals and communities can take to combat the global warming crisis.

Faith and religion

Honda speaks at a San Francisco protest of the U.S. immigration ban in February 2017.

In 2014, Honda introduced the Freedom of Faith Act (H.R. 4460).

Honda has been a defender of the civil rights of American Muslims. Soon after the September 11 attacks in 2001, Honda spoke at a convention of the American Muslim Alliance (AMA) in October 2001. He told those in attendance not to change their identity or name. "My last name is Honda. You cannot be more Japanese than that." The congressman remembered what he and especially his parents had to go through when Pearl Harbor was attacked. "We were taken in a vehicle with windows covered, we had no idea where we were being taken."

In the Quran oath controversy of the 110th United States Congress, Rep. Virgil Goode (R-VA) issued a letter to his constituents stating his view that the decision of Representative-elect Keith Ellison (D-MN) to use the Quran in his swearing-in ceremony is a threat to "the values and beliefs traditional to the United States of America... I fear that in the next century we will have many more Muslims in the United States if we do not adopt the strict immigration policies". In response, Honda penned a response to Goode expressing his surprise and offense by that letter and declaring "No person should be labeled as un-American based on his or her religion, and it is outrageous to cast aspersions on Representative-elect Ellison purely because of his religious background."

Government reform

In 2007, Honda voted for the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007, which was the legislative response to the Jack Abramoff scandal and introduced comprehensive new transparency requirements for lobbyists and for Members of Congress. In 2012, he cosponsored H.R. 1148, the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge (STOCK) Act, which criminalized insider trading by Members of Congress and required numerous disclosures. He voted for H.Res. 895, which created the first-ever independent ethics office, the Office of Congressional Ethics.

Health care

Honda has advocated for the expansion of health coverage for all through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and is a big proponent of the public option. As the Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, Honda was successful in ensuring that the ACA addressed racial and ethnic health disparities, including improvements in data collection, and measures to increase the number of health care providers from different backgrounds.

As the chairman and chair emeritus of Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, he sponsored and supported the Health Care Equality and Accountability Act, which would have expanded access to care for individuals with limited English proficiency, increased health workforce diversity, and encouraged further studies on the minority health issues. As a member of the TriCaucus with the Congressional Black Caucus and Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Honda has introduced legislation focused on health disparities in correlation to an annual health disparities summit.

Honda has led efforts to address tuberculosis by seeking changes to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) formula for direct funding for tuberculosis treatment and education to include highly impacted counties. He was successful in getting report language in the 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Bill to have the CDC review its funding distribution policies.

Honda has been a leader in Congress for viral hepatitis and founded and co-chairs the Congressional Viral Hepatitis Caucus. He is a cosponsor of the Viral Hepatitis Testing Act (H.R. 3723), which will authorize new prevention and testing programs for hepatitis B and hepatitis C, and implement screening for veterans for hepatitis C. He also cosponsored the Viral Hepatitis Testing Act (H.R. 3381) in the 112th Congress, the Viral Hepatitis and Liver Cancer Control and Prevention Act (H.R. 3974) in the 111th Congress, and the National Hepatitis B Act (H.R. 3944) in the 110th Congress.

Honda has supported mobile health technology innovation and introduced the Health Care Innovation and Marketplace Technologies Act of 2013 (H.R. 2363).

This bill establishes an Office of Wireless Health at the FDA, award grant for the development of effective product, process, or structure that enhances the use, particularly by patients, of health information technology, and provides medical professionals tax incentives to implement qualified health information technology in their practices.

Honda has been an advocate for women's health including supporting provisions in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act such as the elimination of gender-based discrimination in insurance prices, recognizing that being a woman is not a preexisting condition that should force women to pay higher premiums. Honda opposed the Stupak–Pitts Amendment to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which would have prohibited the use of federal funds "to pay for any abortion or to cover any part of the costs of any health plan that includes coverage of abortion" except in cases of rape, incest or danger to the life of the mother. The amendment was dropped by co-author Rep. Bart Stupak in exchange for an executive order promised by President Obama which would address the concerns of the Stupak-Pitts amendment supporters.

Honda has supported Medicare and Medicaid programs throughout his career, fighting for the health rights of seniors and low-income families. He introduced the People's Budget, the Congressional Progressive Caucus 2012 budget alternative, which would keep Medicare and Medicaid solvent while closing the national debt within 10 years.

Honda supports the permanent repeal of the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) and cosponsored the SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act of 2014 (H.R. 4015) which would have repealed the SGR and improved the physician payment system to reward value over volume.

Human rights

On the issue of comfort women, in 2007 Honda proposed US H.Res. 121, which stated that Japan should formally acknowledge, apologize, and accept historical responsibility in a clear and unequivocal manner, refute any claims that the issue of comfort women never occurred, and educate current and future generations "about this horrible crime while following the recommendations of the international community with respect to the 'comfort women'."

Honda stated, "the purpose of this resolution is not to bash or humiliate Japan." On July 30, 2007, the House of Representatives passed Honda's resolution after 30 minutes of debate, in which no opposition was voiced. Honda was quoted on the floor as saying, "We must teach future generations that we cannot allow this to continue to happen. I have always believed that reconciliation is the first step in the healing process." Honda later secured report language in the Fiscal Year 2014 Consolidated Appropriation Act (submitted July 2013) urging the Secretary of State to encourage the Government of Japan to address issues raised in H.Res.121. President Obama signed the spending bill into law on January 17, 2014.

Honda works on the elimination of human trafficking. He cosponsored the Fraudulent Overseas Recruitment and Trafficking Elimination Act of 2013 (H.R. 3344). The bill addresses predatory recruiters who use international labor recruitment as a human trafficking medium. On January 23, 2014, Honda hosted a training at the San Jose International Airport for airport and airline employees on how to detect signs of human trafficking.

Honda is a cosponsor of the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act (H.R. 15), which entails comprehensive immigration reform to increase high skill visas, reunite families, and provide a pathway to citizenship for those living in the shadows.

LGBT issues

Honda has been recognized as a long-time supporter of equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, with a 100% scorecard rating from the Human Rights Campaign since 2001. HRC endorsed Honda for his 2014 reelection. In the 1990s, he supported same-sex partner benefits as a Santa Clara County Supervisor. In 2008, he was a co-founder of the Congressional Equality Caucus, when there were only two openly gay congresspersons. He opposed the use of taxpayer funds to protect the Defense of Marriage Act in the United States Supreme Court.

In 2013, Honda worked with Mayor of Campbell Evan Low to raise awareness for the ban against blood donations from gay and bisexual men. In 2015, Honda revealed in a speech at the event Courageous Conversation, a one-day symposium that addresses how administrators can work to make their schools safer for their students, that his granddaughter Malisa is transgender. "As both an individual, and as an educator, I have experienced and witnessed bullying in its many forms. And as the proud jichan, or grandpa, of a transgender grandchild, I hope that my granddaughter can feel safe going to school without fear of being bullied. I refuse to be a bystander while millions of people are dealing with the effects of bullying on a daily basis."

Manufacturing

In 2013, Honda introduced the Market Based Manufacturing Incentives Act (H.R. 615), one of the main bills in the Democratic Party's Make it in America Agenda, which would create a commission of private-sector experts to designate market-changing technologies. These technologies would be eligible for a consumer tax credit as long as they are made in the United States. Honda introduced the Scaling Up Manufacturing Act (H.R. 616). The bill would provide companies a 25% tax credit on the costs associated with building their first manufacturing facility in the United States.

Honda was a vocal supporter of the National Network for Manufacturing Innovation proposed by President Obama to help revitalize American manufacturing. He is a cosponsor of the bipartisan Revitalizing American Manufacturing Innovation Act (H.R. 2996) and has urged President Obama to locate a manufacturing hub in Silicon Valley to focus on the domestic development of the next generation of semiconductor manufacturing tools.

Honda used his position as a member of the House Appropriations Committee and the Commerce, Justice, Science Subcommittee to prioritize funding for the National Institute of Standards and Technology's Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program which works with small and medium-sized manufacturers to help them create and retain jobs, increase profits, and save time and money.

Science and technology

As the Representative for the heart of Silicon Valley, Honda has been intimately involved in technology and nanotechnology policy for many years. He has supported the principle of network neutrality, and is a cosponsor of the Open Internet Preservation Act (H.R. 3982).

Honda was critical of the National Security Agency's surveillance of electronic communications as a violation of privacy. He is an original cosponsor of the Uniting and Strengthening America by Fulfilling Rights and Ending Eavesdropping, Dragnet Collection, and Online Monitoring Act (USA FREEDOM ACT - H.R 3361) which seeks to rein in the dragnet collection of data by the NSA, increase transparency of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, provide businesses the ability to release information regarding FISA requests, and create an independent constitutional advocate to argue cases before the FISC. Honda has been a proponent of government intelligence transparency and has pushed to require that top-line intelligence spending be disclosed during annual budget submission to Congress through his co-sponsorship of the Intelligence Budget Transparency Act (H.R. 3855).

In 2002, he introduced one of the first nanotechnology bills in Congress, the Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Advisory Board Act of 2002, which sought to establish a Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Advisory Board to advise the President on a range of policy matters. Such a board was recommended by the National Research Council in its review of the National nanotechnology Initiative, Small Wonders, Endless Frontiers.

In 2003, he worked with then-Science Committee Chairman Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY), to introduce the Nanotechnology Research and Development Act of 2003.

This bill authorized federal investments in nanotechnology research and development, restructured the National Nanotechnology Initiative to improve interagency coordination and the level of input from outside experts in the field, and laid the path to address novel social, ethical, philosophical, legal, environmental health issues that might arise. H.R. 766 was passed overwhelmingly by the U.S. House of Representatives on May 7, 2003, signed into law on December 3, 2003, and to date has been funded at nearly $4 billion.

Honda continued his interest in nanotechnology by convening the Blue Ribbon Task Force on Nanotechnology with then-controller Steve Westly in 2005. This group met numerous times to discuss and develop strategies to promote the San Francisco Bay Area and all of California as the national and worldwide center for nanotechnology research, development and commercialization. Under the direction of Working Chair Scott Hubbard, then-Director of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Ames Research Center, the Task Force spent a year developing recommendations that would assure California a leading position in what could be a trillion-dollar economic sector. The recommendations were included in the BRTFN report, Thinking Big About Thinking Small.

Honda developed two pieces of legislation based on the report: 1) the Nanomanufacturing Investment Act of 2005 and 2) the Nanotechnology Advancement and New Opportunities Act.

Many provisions of these bills were included in larger pieces of legislation, the National Nanotechnology Initiative Amendments Act of 2009 and the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act, that passed the House of Representatives in the 111th Congress.

Mike Honda was recognized by the Foresight Institute, which awarded him its Foresight Institute Government Prize in 2006.

Research and development tax credit

Congressman Honda has supported expanding and making permanent the Research and Development tax credit, and in the 113th Congress is a cosponsor of the bipartisan H.R. 4438, the American Research and Competitiveness Act of 2014. He has called the research credit, "the best incentive in the tax code to ensure that companies continue to conduct their R&D in the U.S."

Seniors and retirement security

Honda has been a vocal advocate for expanding the Social Security program. In the 113th Congress, Honda introduced H.R. 3118, the Strengthening Social Security Act, with Congresspersons Linda Sanchez (D-CA) and Rush Holt (D-NJ), which would increase benefits for current beneficiaries, eliminate the cap on how much of an individual's earnings can be paid into Social Security, change the benefits formula to increase payments by about $70 a month, and adopt a higher cost of living adjustment called CPI-E, designed to reflect the cost of healthcare for seniors.

Also in the 113th Congress, Honda authored H.R. 4202, the CPI-E Act of 2014, which would apply CPI-E to index federal retirement programs other than Social Security, to include programs such as civil service retirement, military retirement, Supplemental Security Income, veterans pensions and compensations, and other retirement programs with COLAs triggered directly by Social Security or civil service retirement. As a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus Budget Taskforce, Honda also inserted this CPI-E provision into the FY 2015 CPC Budget, entitled the "Better Off Budget." Honda said during floor debate on the CPC budget, that the provision was intended to be a first step to applying CPI-E to all federal retirement programs, including Social Security.

Veterans

Honda has been a leading voice to overhaul and improve the current VA system. As an appropriator, he worked with his colleagues in both parties to not only call for change, but to provide funds to create a new electronic health record program between the Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs. He is also working to ensure that the government makes use of the knowledge and experience of health information technology experts, such as those in Silicon Valley, to ensure this new platform will eliminate the current backlog of claims. Honda helped obtain $2.8 million in grants to aid homeless and at-risk veterans and their families in Silicon Valley.

Women's rights

Honda has a 100% legislative score from Planned Parenthood and from the National Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL) and has been a long-time supporter of pro-choice legislation and for women's health due to his voting record. Honda has supported Paycheck Fairness Act and voted for the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act — the first piece of legislation to be signed by President Barack Obama in 2009.

During the debate over the new health care bill, Honda voted against the Stupak–Pitts Amendment to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which would have prohibited the use of federal funds "to pay for any abortion or to cover any part of the costs of any health plan that includes coverage of abortion" except in cases of rape, incest or danger to the life of the mother. The amendment was dropped by its co-author Stupak in exchange for an executive order promised by President Obama which would address the Stupak-Pitts concerns.

In 2013, Honda voted for the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), which included updated protections for Native American women, immigrant women, and provided specialized support and resources for LGBT, religious and ethnic communities. VAWA reauthorization also included the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act, which Honda has also supported. Honda introduced the Domestic Violence Judicial Support Act of 2013, which would strengthen the judicial programs that comprise the basis of VAWA. To support full implementation of the Obama Administration's Executive Order 13595 and the U.S. National Action Plan (NAP) on Women, Peace, and Security, and to secure Congressional oversight, Honda introduced the Women, Peace, and Security Act of 2013, along his female colleagues Congresswomen Jan Schakowsky, Eddie Bernice Johnson, and Niki Tsongas.

Civilian body armor ban

In July 2014, Honda introduced a bill to ban level 3 body armor for anyone not in law enforcement. In September, it was referred to the subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations. This bill would ban anyone except law enforcement and military personnel from obtaining level 3 body armor. He was quoted as saying: "We should be asking ourselves, why is this armor available to just anyone, if it was designed to be used only by our soldiers to take to war?".

Ethics investigation

It has been alleged that Honda and key members of his congressional staff violated House rules by using taxpayer resources to bolster his 2014 re-election campaign. In September 2015, the House Ethics Committee decided to extend the review of the matter after the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) released its report on the allegation. The OCE report noted "there is substantial reason to believe that Representative Honda improperly tied official events to past or potential campaign or political support." As of August 8, 2016, the House Ethics Committee had not decided whether Honda violated House rules.

Personal life

Honda's wife, Jeanne, was a kindergarten teacher at Baldwin Elementary School in San José. She died in 2004. He has two children: Mark, an aerospace engineer, living in Torrance, and Michelle, a marketing and communications manager, in San Jose. Michelle is the mother of one daughter and two sons.

In February 2015, Honda's announcement that he is a "proud jiichan", or grandfather, of his transgender granddaughter Malisa, gained regional, national, and international coverage.

Electoral history in the U.S. House of Representatives

2000 United States House of Representatives elections
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mike Honda 128,545 54.3
Republican Jim Cunneen 99,866 42.2
Libertarian Ed Wimmers 4,820 2.0
Natural Law Douglas C. Gorney 3,591 1.5
independent (politician) Phillip Kronzer (write-in) 82 0.0
Total votes 236,904 100
Turnout  
Democratic gain from Republican
2002 United States House of Representatives elections
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mike Honda (incumbent) 87,482 65.8
Republican Linda Rae Hermann 41,251 31.0
Libertarian Jeff Landauer 4,289 3.2
Total votes 133,022 100
Turnout  
Democratic hold
2004 United States House of Representatives elections
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mike Honda (incumbent) 154,385 72.1
Republican Raymond L. Chukwu 59,953 27.9
Total votes 214,338 100
Turnout  
Democratic hold
2006 United States House of Representatives elections
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mike Honda (incumbent) 115,532 72.4
Republican Raymond L. Chukwu 44,186 27.6
Total votes 159,718 100
Turnout  
Democratic hold
2008 United States House of Representatives elections
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mike Honda (incumbent) 170,977 71.7
Republican Joyce Stoer Cordi 55,489 23.3
Green Peter Myers 12,123 5.0
Total votes 238,589 100
Turnout  
Democratic hold
2010 United States House of Representatives elections
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mike Honda (incumbent) 126,147 67.6
Republican Scott Kirkland 60,468 32.4
Total votes 186,615 100
Turnout  
Democratic hold
2012 United States House of Representatives elections
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mike Honda (incumbent) 159,392 73.5
Republican Evelyn Li 57,336 26.5
Total votes 216,728 100
Turnout  
Democratic hold
2014 United States House of Representatives elections
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mike Honda (incumbent) 69,561 51.8
Democratic Ro Khanna 64,847 48.2
Total votes 134,408 100
Turnout  
Democratic hold
California's 17th congressional district election, 2016
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Ro Khanna 52,059 39.1
Democratic Mike Honda (incumbent) 49,823 37.4
Republican Peter Kuo 12,224 9.2
Republican Ron Cohen 10,448 7.8
Democratic Pierluigi C. Oliverio 5,533 4.2
Libertarian Kennita Watson 3,125 2.3
Total votes 133,212 100
2016 United States House of Representatives elections
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Ro Khanna 142,268 61.0
Democratic Mike Honda (incumbent) 90,924 39.0
Total votes 233,192 100
Turnout  
Democratic hold

See also

References

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External links

California Assembly
Preceded byDominic Cortese Member of the California Assembly
from the 23rd district

1996–2000
Succeeded byManny Diaz
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded byTom Campbell Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from California's 15th congressional district

2001–2013
Succeeded byEric Swalwell
Preceded byDavid Wu Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus
2004–2011
Succeeded byJudy Chu
Preceded bySam Farr Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from California's 17th congressional district

2013–2017
Succeeded byRo Khanna
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded byGary Milleras Former US Representative Order of precedence of the United States
as Former US Representative
Succeeded byDevin Nunesas Former US Representative
California's delegation(s) to the 107th–114th United States Congress (ordered by seniority)
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