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Dear friend,
Monkeypox is now a public health emergency. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends vaccination for people who have been exposed to monkeypox and people who are at higher risk of being exposed. Activities that put a person at highest risk of catching the virus involve close, intimate contact with another infected individual. The 52nd district is one of the most severely affected population centers in the country, so please take care of yourself and those around you. Visit the County's website for information on this virus and available vaccines.
While the House of Representatives is currently in recess, the Senate is expected to pass the Inflation Reduction Act this weekend. If it passes, the House will reconvene next week to pass this historic legislation to lower the price of prescription drugs for seniors, cut carbon emissions, fight inflation, reduce the federal deficit, and invest in domestic energy production and manufacturing. It also includes a plan to lower the cost of prescription drugs for seniors by allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices for the first time in history – a plan based on the Reduced Costs and Continued Cures Act that I authored last year.
Below is another update on the work my staff and I have done recently to serve you.
This Week's Casework Success Story
Heath of Tierrasanta retired from the US Navy after serving honorably for 28 years, but had been unable to receive his retirement pay due to clerical errors. After submitting numerous trouble tickets to Navy Personnel Command and Defense Finance Accounting Services (DFAS), his retirement pay was still not established. After Heath contacted my office last month, my staff facilitated a Congressional Inquiry to DFAS and submitted all requested documentation. Heath just received his retirement pay this week which included back pay and totaled $17,691.
Securing Funds to Help Students Save Thousands of Dollars on Textbook Costs
On Wednesday, I met with leaders of Miramar College and the San Diego Community College District to celebrate $975,000 in federal community project funds. This money will benefit a program that provides free online textbooks and resources at Miramar, Mesa, and City Colleges. Investments like this one make college more accessible for all, and help provide a better trained workforce for San Diego's future.
Before our press conference, we spoke about the needs of the district and how federal grants could offer support, relief for DACA students, possibilities to help veterans in San Diego community colleges, and the latest in Congress.
Visiting the Site of a New Performing Arts Center in Liberty Station
I visited Liberty Station for a tour of Building 178, which will become a new performing arts center and a new home for Cygnet Theater. Construction for this venue was made possible with funds from the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant. This grant was established through the American Rescue Plan Act and supported struggling venues during COVID-19, including many right here in San Diego. I look forward to seeing the completion of yet another cultural venue in our region.
Discussing Alzheimer's Disease
This week, I also spoke at a roundtable discussion on Alzheimer's disease. We discussed the importance of early diagnosis, appropriate coverage and patient access, and health care readiness. Experts from the Milken Institute Center for the Future of Aging, UsAgainstAlzheimer's, and Georgetown University Medical Center also participated in this event. I enjoyed learning about the latest research and innovation in the 52nd district to fight diseases like Alzheimer's.
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.
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