Tony Cardenas is a Democratic member of the U.S. Congress from California's east San Fernando Valley area, winning election in 2012. The first Latino to represent that House district, Cardenas sits on the Natural Resources; Budget; and Oversight and Government Reform committees. Previously, he was a member of the Los Angeles City Council. As chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee on Gang Violence and Youth Development, Cardenas was instrumental in reducing crime as well as expenditures on crime abatement programs. He was also vice chairman of the city's Public Safety Committee. It was in the California Assembly, where he served three terms, that Cardenas began working on juvenile justice issues. His legislation overhauled the state's gang prevention and intervention programs. He also focused on ensuring that state finances were managed responsibly. As chairman of the Assembly Budget Committee, C�rdenas oversaw the most robust reserve budget ever in California. Cardenas holds a B.A. from the University of California, Santa Barbara.