Ahead of the June primary election, the Southern California News Group compiled a list of questions to pose to the candidates who wish to represent you. You can find the full questionnaire below. Questionnaires may have been edited for spelling, grammar, length and, in some instances, to remove hate speech and offensive language.

Name: David Pan

Current job title: Professor

Age: 62

Political party affiliation: Republican

Incumbent: No

Other political positions held: Commissioner on the Commission on Unalienable Rights of the US State Dept, 2019-2020

City where you reside: Irvine

Campaign website or social media: davidpanforcongress.com

From voter ID to war powers and from immigration to tariffs, Congress has tackled many issues over the past year. What do you, though, see as the top three issues impacting Californians, and what specifically could you do as a lawmaker to address these issues? (Please answer in 250 words or less, and keep your response to future proposals.)

The top issues impacting Californians are high costs, underperforming schools, and public safety. I would address these issues by directly supporting families rather than funding the government. I have a plan to phase out our welfare and entitlement system and redirect this money toward a universal basic income of $16,000 per year for every American 21 and over. Current Social Security and Medicare benefits can be guaranteed for everyone 37 and older by changing the system for younger people, who could immediately begin receiving the universal basic income.

Rather than being channeled through a government bureaucracy, this money would go to individuals so that they can directly address their needs and invest in their dreams. Health care currently costs 18% of GDP, which is 6% more than any other country in the world, but the U.S. ranks 43rd in life expectancy. I would reform our health care system by requiring health care providers to post their prices.

This change will eliminate the huge bureaucracy that has been built up to manage the haggling over prices that currently dominates our system. In addition, I would require health insurers to offer high-deductible catastrophic plans that are combined with health savings accounts. Since the people receiving care would also be paying for care, such plans would reduce health care costs overall. I would promote a school voucher program to provide parents with the means to choose charter or private schools for their children if they are not satisfied with their current public schools.

Speaking of voter ID, the president has implored Congress to approve legislation that would require people to show proof of citizenship in order to vote. What role do you believe the federal government plays in telling states how to conduct their own elections, as dictated by the U.S. Constitution? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)

I support voter ID and think that states should retain control over the election process.

What, in your opinion, should the federal government focus on when it comes to immigration policy? For example, do you place a priority on border security, visas for high-skilled workers, refuge for asylum seekers, etc., and why? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)

I am very committed to border security and the full enforcement of our laws. I support immigration reform that provides visas for the skilled and unskilled workers needed for our economy. Hard-working and law-abiding residents should be able to stay in the country, and I would support a process for these residents to obtain legal status in a way that does not privilege them ahead of legal immigrants.

It’s been over a year since Gov. Gavin Newsom asked the federal government for supplemental disaster aid to help Southern California communities rebuild after the devastating Palisades and Eaton wildfires, but neither President Donald Trump nor Congress has acted. What would you do to push for the funding, besides writing letters to the Trump administration or the leaders of Congress? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)

I would encourage the state and individual communities to provide detailed requests for specific needs along with explanations for why the state of California is unable to address those needs.

Do you support a ban or restriction on congressional lawmakers and their families from buying or selling individual stocks? Why or why not? And what would you propose to ensure lawmakers aren’t using their positions to engage in insider trading? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)

I support restrictions on the buying and selling of individual stocks by lawmakers and their families. Insider trading based on lawmakers’ privileged information should be illegal.

Do you support stronger regulations on pollution and carbon emissions? If so, how would you ensure those regulations aren’t overly burdensome on small businesses or lower-income families? And if not, how do you propose lawmakers protect the environment and curtail the impacts of climate change? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)

I support environmental regulations that have an immediate and measurable impact on health and safety. Unfortunately, restrictions on carbon emissions generally do not meet this test and should not be implemented. We should maintain a broad-based energy policy that does not subsidize or penalize particular energy sources.

President Donald Trump has significantly increased spending for the U.S. Department of Defense. Would you, as a member of Congress, approve additional dollars for the military if the president were to ask for more funding? How would you ensure that any military spending does not end up putting the American people or national security in harm’s way? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)

The US faces significant long-term challenges from China, Russia, and Iran, and we need to increase defense spending to meet them. I would approve additional military spending that would help to protect our national security.

As the war in Iran demonstrates, the alternative to US military power would be a world that is increasingly held hostage to the demands of authoritarian and totalitarian governments willing to terrorize the US and the rest of the world for their own interests. The US needs to continue its policy of building up its military to respond to current threats and insisting that our allies do the same.

Under what specific circumstances do you believe the U.S. should engage in a war? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)

The US should engage in a war when our national interests are endangered, such as when our people are directly attacked or other countries are trying to undermine our Constitution.

Do you believe a president should seek congressional approval before engaging in military action overseas? Why, or why not? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)

I believe that the president should have latitude in making immediate determinations about military action when it is necessary. Prolonged military action should be approved by Congress in order to provide the funding for such action.

Congress, in theory, is supposed to serve as a check on the president through budgetary, legislative and oversight powers. Do you believe Congress has fulfilled that obligation during the past two administrations, with one being a Democrat and the other a Republican? Why or why not? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)

In general, Congress has been unable to check the unsustainable expansion of our national debt. This is one of the gravest dangers that our country faces, and my plan envisions a balanced budget through the gradual elimination of our welfare and entitlement programs. Congress can take responsibility for the budget by directly addressing the problem of these programs that are driving multi-trillion-dollar budget deficits.

Governments around the world are increasingly considering an age ban or other restrictions on social media use among young people, citing mental health and other concerns. Should Congress adopt such restrictions? If so, what specific restrictions do you propose? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)

I agree with the concerns about social media. I believe restrictions on social media should be implemented locally rather than through the federal government.

Statistically, violent crime rates in California are on the decline, yet residents still don’t feel safe or at ease in their communities. How do you see your role in Congress in addressing the underlying issues that make Californians feel unsafe in their own neighborhoods? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)

Homelessness has not been solved in California, leading to concerns about public safety. We need to enforce our laws to eliminate homelessness, which is driven for the most part by mental health and substance abuse issues. When such issues are the cause of homelessness, we need to mandate treatment. For families that are free of these issues, we should provide temporary housing so that they can get back on their feet. The government should not provide permanent housing for the homeless. Rather, the universal basic income would provide people with the means to find their own housing.

There are term limits to serve in the California Legislature, but none to serve in Congress. Would you advocate for term limits for House members? Why or why not? If you support term limits, how many years maximum should a House member be allowed to serve? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)

I would support term limits of 12 years for Congress.

What’s a hidden talent you have? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)

I don’t have any particular hidden talents, though I enjoy surfing.