Dear friend, After months of intense work and negotiations, the White House released a very promising framework for the Build Back Better Act. I am encouraged by the historic investments in climate to drastically reduce emissions, make preschool universal for 3- and 4-year-olds, and construct affordable housing. Congress must continue to work on including paid family leave and prescription drug price reforms, and I continue to advocate for these policies. Below is another update on some of the work my staff and I have done recently to serve you.
This Week's Casework Success Story Joe from Carmel Valley contacted my office earlier this month with an issue he was having to secure safe and affordable housing for his disabled son. Joe was seeking to expedite the approval process for an exception to the Section 8 Department of Housing and Urban Development payment standard. This exception would allow Joe's son to secure housing near his parents. Shortly after my staff contacted the San Diego Housing Commission (SDHC) on Joe's behalf, SDHC expedited the process and notified him of the approval. Securing safe and affordable housing for Joe's son marks a new chapter in his journey toward independence, and our office was happy to help. "The very day after I sent in the HUD Privacy Act Waiver, we received the good news from the San Diego Housing Commission...We had been patient for greater than 45 days for such an approval, as well as the property manager who held the apartment for (my son) for 6 weeks. We would like to sincerely thank your office and colleagues, as well as the DC office of Congressman Scott Peters whom I contacted as well, for whatever role they played in this approval." - Joe from Carmel Valley
"Help Wanted: A Stronger Labor Market for Robust Growth" Hearing On Wednesday, I participated in a Joint Economic Committee hearing on the current state of our country's labor market. I urged changing our immigration laws to help address today's labor shortage and asked Skanda Amarnath, Executive Director at Employ America, and Dr. Betsey Stevenson, from the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy University of Michigan, about the role of the immigrant workforce in our economic growth. I also spoke about the value of the Child Tax Credit and how it empowers parents' choices to spend more of their hard-earned money on their families. Click here to watch my remarks during this hearing.
Letter to Secretary Xavier Becerra This week, I sent a letter to Xavier Becerra, Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, requesting permission for San Diego health officials to share unused COVID-19 vaccines with Mexico. The letter, which was also signed by Rep. Juan Vargas (CA-51), requests a briefing about the barriers to sharing the vaccine with our neighbors in Baja California. Earlier this month, San Diego County medical leaders attempted to donate unused vaccine doses to residents of Mexicali, Baja California. Shortly thereafter, officials from the White House Vaccine Force notified them that donations could only be managed from Washington, D.C. since they are federal property. We strongly encourage our federal government to allow health authorities to share precious, limited supplies of COVID-19 vaccines so that shots go in arms, not the trash.
Meeting with CA-52 Constituents On Thursday, I met with Lynn Dedrick and Leslie Hopwood from my district to speak about caregiving challenges during the pandemic. We discussed H.R. 3733 the Essential Caregivers Act, and what that bill would do for families like theirs. Mikko Cook, the co-founder of the Essential Caregivers Coalition, also joined this call and I heard about first-hand experiences of caretaking for the elderly during these difficult times. I want to thank Lynn, Leslie and Mikko for sharing their personal stories and meeting with me this week.
Meeting with Temple Adat Shalom Men's Club I was glad to join the Temple Adat Shalom Men's Club last weekend to provide a broad update on the current work in Congress. I spoke about drug pricing, affordable housing, the climate crisis, investments in infrastructure, and the state of current US-Israel relations. I remain committed to addressing these issues in Congress and for the people of California's 52nd 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. |