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Dear Friend,
Today, I voted to advance the Build Back Better Act, the most robust investment in middle-class families in over 70 years and the most significant climate legislation in American history. It will strengthen our middle class and the U.S. economy by reducing everyday costs for working Americans, building the clean energy economy of the future, and investing in families and children.
The historic bill includes several of my top legislative priorities, including our deal to reduce prescription drug prices, $555 billion to reduce climate pollution, and an expanded child tax credit to help make raising a family more affordable.
All of this is possible without adding to our national deficit: the bill is predicted to create 1.5 million jobs per year for 10 years, ease inflationary pressure and generate revenue to help pay for these once-in-a-generation investments.
Though the legislation is still a work in progress, I look forward to making sure the final version sets our nation and children up for a prosperous future.
Read my full statement on the Build Back Better Act, HERE.
Below is another update on some of the work my staff and I have done this week to serve you.
Helping a Local Association With An Unexpected Tax Filing Situation
The president of an international trade association based in La Jolla contacted my office in October to request help with the Internal Revenue Service. The organization received a failure-to-file penalty after their accountant abruptly quit his job in the middle of the pandemic without notifying any of his colleagues. The group then hired a new accountant who is catching up on the work left behind. Given these particular circumstances, my staff worked with the organization to gather supporting evidence and documents and submit a one time-abatement request. This week, the request was approved for a total saving of $4,560.47.
Signing Ceremony at the White House as Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework Becomes Law
On Monday, I attended a signing ceremony at the White House to enact the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act. This historic package includes my POWER ON Act to help deploy more renewable energy. I'm thrilled to know how this law will make a real difference in the daily lives of San Diegans, from improved roads and bridges to new, good-paying jobs to greater access to transit, broadband, safe drinking water and more. Funding will also shore up our national cyber and grid security and keep us competitive against countries that have made major investments in infrastructure, including China.
Introduction of the Precision Medicine Answers for Kids Today Act
On Tuesday, Reps. Eric Swalwell (CA-15), Tom Emmer (R-MN) and I introduced legislation to better diagnose and treat genetic disorders like cancer and rare diseases, particularly in children. This legislation was included in a larger bill, CURES 2.0, which would improve how drug treatments and therapies are delivered to patients. The Precision Medicine Answers for Kids Today Act will help eliminate barriers, such as lack of insurance coverage and the inability to consult relevant health professionals, to allow better access to genetic and genomic testing. Thanks in part to the cutting-edge research in my district, genetic testing and genome sequencing are crucial tools to help give families answers to what is making their children sick. Our bill will make these tools more accessible and affordable, allowing health professionals to better target treatments and improving children's lives by getting answers sooner.
Committee Hearings
"Securing America's Future: Supply Chain Solutions for a Clean Energy Economy"
On Tuesday, the Environment and Climate Change and Energy Subcomittees of the Committee on Energy and Commerce held a hearing on supply chain solutions for a clean energy economy. Due to the fact that different technologies have different demands for critical minerals, I asked Ethan Zindler, Head of Americas at BloombergNEF, if we should we be making strategic decisions about which technologies to support based on the amount of critical minerals they demand (e.g., hydrogen and advanced nuclear versus batteries)?
I also asked how the U.S. could collaborate with its allies to create more secure and sustainable supply chains for critical minerals and low-carbon technologies.
"Demystifying Crypto: Digital Assets and the Role of Government"
On Wednesday, I participated in a Joint Economic Committee hearing on cryptocurrencies. I engaged with the witnesses to better understand this phenomenon and how the government can develop fair rules people can trust without stifling innovation. I asked Ms. Alexis Goldstein, Director of Financial Policy at Open Markets Institute, about the effectiveness of a provision included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework requiring brokers to report cryptocurrency gains in a 1099B form starting in 2024 to address tax evasion. I also asked Tim Massad, Research Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School and Adjunct Professor of Law at Georgetown Law Center, about the potential consequences of a review of stable coins by the Financial Stability Oversight Committee.
This Sunday: Mid-Coast Trolley Extension of the Blue Line!
San Diego is celebrating an infrastructure milestone five years in the making: the Mid-Coast Trolley Extension! The blue line now has nine new stations along 11 miles of new light rail tracks. I fought hard to get $1B in federal funds for this project in Congress, and now we're thrilled to open this extension to the public. The grand opening ceremony is open to the public from 11 A.M. to 3 P.M. this Sunday at the UC San Diego Campus Trolley Station.
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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