Rose Penelope Yee

Rose Penelope Yee earned a B.S. in civil engineering from the University of San Agustín and an M.B.A. from the Asian Institute of Management. Yee's career experience includes co-founding and working as the CEO of Green Retirement, Inc.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

As the co-founder of Green Retirement, one of the nation’s first Certified Public Benefit Corporations, I have decades of experience in values-driven finance, helping workers grow their savings through socially responsible investing. My leadership has been recognized nationally. I was named a "Captain of the Industry" by the National Association of Plan Advisors, received the “B Economy Leadership Award”, and co-founded WeTheChange, a community of purpose-driven women leaders acting collectively as a force for good.

Locally, I serve as the Chair of the Shasta County Democratic Central Committee, where I authored and won unanimous approval for a resolution calling for an end to the genocide in Gaza, a permanent ceasefire, and recognition of the State of Palestine. In 2024, I was the California Democratic Party endorsed candidate in District 1 against Congressman Doug LaMalfa.

I was raised during the martial law era in the Philippines. I learned the power of grassroots democracy early on from my parents – my father was a human rights lawyer, and my mother was a journalist there. My blend of business leadership experience, financial expertise, and community organizing efforts uniquely qualifies me to represent the North State.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

People: I support Medicare for All to ensure healthcare is a human right, establishing a Federal Jobs Guarantee with a $25 living wage, and expanding affordable housing to protect families from price gouging.Peace: I support ending rampant militarism, ending unconditional military aid to human rights abusers, reducing the bloated military budget, and redirecting that spending toward a $1,000 annual Peace Dividend paid directly to citizens.Planet: I support an urgent, green-job-led response to the climate emergency to make clean energy affordable and increase our resilience against wildfires and flooding.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am passionate about ending wars, redirecting military spending back to our communities, abolishing ICE, climate resilience, Medicare For All, ending corruption, and preventing Trump from further damaging our Democracy.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Ben Cohen, Co-Founder, Ben & Jerry's

Jerry Greenfield, Co-Founder, Ben & Jerry's

India Walton, activist and former Democratic nominee for Mayor of Buffalo, NY.

Progressive Victory

Citizens Against AIPAC Corruption (Track AIPAC)

Marin Green Party

14 Friends of Palestine

Butte DSA

North State Medicare 4 All

Redding Resistance

AAPI for Justice Northern California

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I'm a business leader with a degree in Civil Engineering and a Masters in Business Management.

I co-founded Green Retirement, a California Benefit Corporation and a founding B Corp, a financial firm that specializes in fossil-free and environmentally and socially-responsible investing in 401k’s with clients all over the country. I'm a founding signatory to the Divest/Invest movement to stop the financing of the extractive fossil fuel industry.

I've been recognized by my industry. In 2015, The National Association of Plan Advisors gave me a Captain of Industry Award in its inaugural recognition of the role of women in the industry. I've have been recognized by the responsible business community: I was awarded the B Economy Leadership Award by B Corporations in 2017. For organizing and founding WeTheChange, a collective of B Corp women CEOs, I and my co-founders received the B Collective Award in 2018 and 2019. For the work that I've demonstrated as an environmentally and socially responsible business leader, I was recognized by Conscious Company Media as one of the World Changing Women of 2020. I've served on nonprofit boards, the latest of which was the American Sustainable Business Network.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

We need to protect our democracy. As such, I will advocate for the repeal of Citizens United and the public financing of elections. I will also push for creative ways of curbing the influence of money on our electoral process. One such thing I would put for consideration is to limit the spending on advertising by the candidate and any political action committees to $5,000.00 for federal offices and $2,000 for state offices and down ballot races.Americans are hurting. Wages have not increased in relation to the cost of living. Groceries, gas, and rent have gone way up. We need to stop the profiteering of big business. I will advocate for rent stabilization, a measure aimed at eliminating private equity from the rental market. I will advocate for a living wage and the right of employees to unionize so as to offer more purchasing power to workers. I will push for a Federal Jobs Guarantee that will offer living wage jobs and a pathway to the middle class. I will advocate the use of the CPI-E index for Social Security recipients so that it reflects th higher cost of living index for the elderly. I will fight against privatization of Social Security.Healthcare is a human right. We need a universal single payer nonprofit system like Medicare for All.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Political Economy; Public and Women's Health; Economic, Social and Environment Justice

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I admire Wright Patman, the congressman from Texas' first congressional district, who first got elected in 1928 and served for 24 terms. He fought against monopolies, especially those in banking and finance. He was responsible for the impeachment of Andrew Mellon, and during his tenure was working to protect the people's interests by enacting the Robinson-Patman Act that prohibited price fixing and uncompetitive trade practices.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

Goliath by Matt Stoller; Finding the Money film; Substack articles by Matt Taibi, Danny Haiphong, Matt Stoller; Independent media via podcasts by Sabby Sabs, Glenn Greenwald, Due Dissidence, Bad Faith, Status Coup News, Revolutionary Blackout

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Elected officials should embody servant leadership. They are public servants and should serve the interests of the voters. They should be guided by the values of justice, integrity and kindness and be authentic and humble.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I feel a sense of responsible to the voters of District 1. I will make sure that I'm worthy of their vote and their trust.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

My core responsibility is to fight in Congress for the interests of the voters in District 1. My top priorities are centered around materially uplifting the lives of my constituents: (1) Healthcare Freedom - access quality healthcare via Medicare for All; (2) Educational Freedom - Increased federal funding for rural schools and tuition-free public colleges and universities, (3) Economic Freedom - Protect Social Security from privatization and workers' rights to unionize, enact living wage laws, and a Federal Jobs Guarantee, (4) Freedom to live in a safe environment - Invest in climate change solutions like a Conservation Corp to manage and maintain our forests to mitigate wildfire risks; protect a woman's right to have control over her body and achieve equal rights, (5) Freedom to participate in a true democracy - Remove billionaire control over our electoral process by repealing Citizens United, publicly finance elections, put a limit to campaign advertising. and eliminate the revolving door by banning lobbying.

What legacy would you like to leave?

If elected as congresswoman, I hope to leave a record of standing up for District 1 voters interests, responsible and transparent governance, and promoting a culture of care and kindness.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Northeastern California Building and Trades Council; Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield of Ben & Jerry; North State Medicare for All; Vote Common Good; AAPI for Justice Northern California; and many others elected officials and business leaders.

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

Financial transparency and government accountability are a must. This should be instituted at all levels of government and for all elected officials.

Campaign website

Yee's campaign website stated the following:

Healthcare Freedom

We all deserve the freedom to get the healthcare we need without risking bankruptcy or being forced to give up control over our own bodies.

Educational Freedom

We all deserve the freedom to develop our talents by seeking the education and training we need without taking on crippling student loan debt.

Financial Freedom

We all deserve the freedom to work at a single job that pays enough to support us, to live without anxiety over unaffordable rent, and to retire without fear of sinking into poverty if anything goes wrong.

Freedom to Live in a Safe Environment

We all deserve the freedom to drink tap water without hesitation, to invest in our homes without fear of raging wildfires, and to enjoy healthy forests, grasslands and waterways.

Freedom to Participate in a Real Democracy

We need to free ourselves from the excessive influence of corporations and the wealthy, and prioritize the welfare of all Americans above handouts for millionaires and billionaires.[2]

—Rose Penelope Yee's campaign website (2024)[3]

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