January 13, 2023

Friend,

After 15 votes over the course of four days, a Speaker of the House was finally elected one week ago. I was sworn in to represent California's 50th district in the early hours of Saturday morning and this week, we officially got to work in the 118th Congress.

This session, we must fight to lower costs for all Americans, tackle climate change, make housing and healthcare more affordable, reform a broken immigration system, protect safety net programs, keep communities safer, and unify a divided nation.

Below is another update on the work my staff and I have done recently to serve you.

Renee from University City contacted my office this past November to request assistance with processing her deceased mother’s 2019 tax return. In September of last year, Renee was notified that her mother was due a refund, but she did not receive any further updates. My staff worked with Renee to gather the documents showing her as the executor to the estate along with a copy of the tax return which were submitted to the Taxpayer Advocate Service. Last week, the refund for Renee’s mother’s estate was finally mailed for $77,290.

Veterans Affairs Life Insurance (VALife) is open for enrollment and provides low-cost coverage to Veterans with service-connected disabilities. Click below to find out how to apply and if you or someone you know is eligible to receive these benefits.

Yesterday, I spoke with Department of Homeland Security leadership, including officials from Border Patrol and CBP, about steps they are taking to prepare for the lifting of Title 42. We discussed the Biden Administration's latest changes to the humanitarian parole process which have resulted in fewer migrants at the border. During the briefing, Rep. Mike Levin (CA-49) and I emphasized the need for DHS to support local communities like ours that help asylum seekers make their way to host families around the country. We also reinforced the need for fast reimbursement from the federal government to cities and counties who have incurred costs related to shelter, transportation, and other supportive services for these migrants.

On Tuesday, I joined Navy Secretary Carlos del Toro for a naming celebration of the USS Telesforo Trinidad (DDG-139). In May 2021, I first supported efforts to request the naming of a ship after Trinidad, who received the Medal of Honor over 100 years ago. To this day, he remains the first and only Asian American (and first and only Filipino) in the U.S. Navy to receive a Medal of Honor. In May 2022, I had the honor of meeting the Trinidad family for a Memorial Day Commemoration and I'm thrilled his legacy will officially live on the high seas!

If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or need assistance with a federal agency, reach out to us through our website or by calling the district office at 858-455-5550.

To stay updated on my work throughout the week, you can also follow my social media accounts by clicking on the icons below.

Sincerely,