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Dear friend,
I was honored to spend the past week working for the 52nd district in Washington, D.C. Our hard work as lawmakers to make transformative investments for our future, specifically through President Biden's Build Back Better agenda, continues. As of this week, we have an increasingly clearer picture of a framework that we will vote on in the coming weeks, and I am encouraged by the conversations that we are having to come to an agreement.
Below is another update on some of the work my staff and I have done recently to serve you.
The Importance of Carbon Pricing in the Build Back Better Act
While negotiations continue, I want to remind the people I represent about some of the priorities in President Biden's agenda that I care for the most.
To address the climate crisis, we must ensure polluters pay the cost of their climate pollution. I strongly support the Clean Electricity Payment Program and believe we should pass it as part of the reconciliation package. If it does not have the support of the Senate, we must add a price on carbon pollution to the Build Back Better Act.
A price on carbon pollution is the only single budgetary tool that substantially reduces greenhouse gas emissions and raises significant revenue to reinvest in the American people and economy.
This is why I joined Rep. Ted Deutch as a co-lead on the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act and have been pushing for a carbon fee to be a part of this climate bill since the start of the negotiations. Earlier this year, I also spoke to Energy Secretary Jennifer M. Granholm and emphasized how the employment of a carbon price would complement the American Jobs Plan.
I encourage my colleagues in the House, Senate counterparts, and President Biden to include a price on carbon pollution in the final version of the Build Back Better Act. The climate crisis is here, and we must act now.
Subcommittee on Energy Hearing: "Offshore Wind, Onshore Benefits: Growing the Domestic Wind Energy Industry"
On Thursday, I participated in a hearing of the Subcommittee on Energy of the Committee on Energy and Commerce to discuss offshore wind. I asked Heather Zichal, Chief Executive Officer of the American Clean Power Association, about the policy barriers involved in deploying more offshore wind projects off the coast of California compared to the East Coast. I also asked David Hardy, Chief Executive Officer of Orsted Offshore North America, what we can learn from policies in places like Europe where the build out of this energy source is well ahead of the U.S. I firmly support that offshore wind can help us reach our clean energy and climate ambitions. We need to act on climate now! See my full remarks here.
Visit to NAVWAR Facilities
Last week, I visited the current NAVWAR headquarters facilities for a tour and update on the Navy Old Town Campus Revitalization Project with Rep Sara Jacobs (CA-53). San Diego is the ideal location for NAVWAR given our region's highly skilled workforce, military footprint, private aerospace and defense ecosystem, and world class university system. The Navy's plans to redevelop the area and build modern facilities will improve NAVWAR's contributions to the joint force worldwide, while creating new opportunities for economic growth, housing, and transportation expansion. The Navy is expected to announce final project plans in 2022.
CA-52 Community Spotlight
Congratulations to Ken Altman on being named the 2020 Farmer of the Year by the San Diego County Farm Bureau earlier this month! A member of my staff attended this wonderful celebration at the world-famous San Diego Zoo Safari Park, which is located in my district.
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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