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Dear friend,
I hope you and your loved ones continue to stay safe and well.
As we continue to wait for final election results, I want to remind my constituents to be patient. Counting votes is democracy in action. Thank you to all the poll workers, and every citizen who voted and made their voice heard by casting a vote. I'm honored and humbled to serve the people of San Diego, Poway, and Coronado in the U.S. House of Representatives for the next two years. The weight of this job is not lost on me, and I will keep working hard for everyone, regardless of political party or ideology.
I continue my work in the district to stay in touch with the people I represent. Below is another update on some of the work my staff and I have done this week to serve you.
District Work
RESULTS Meeting
On Thursday, I spoke with local members of RESULTS, an organization advocating for an end to poverty. The San Diego chapter focuses on policy issues related to COVID-19, inequality and tax policies, health and nutrition, and housing.
During this meeting, we discussed my co-sponsoring of the Rent Relief Act of 2019 and support for the HEROES Act. As Congress continues debating COVID-19 relief, we must come together to pass a bill that helps Americans now. This includes rent relief, which is an important issue in my district. San Diego still lacks access to affordable housing, and we need to keep working to improve basic fair housing law.
Veteran's Day
Next Wednesday, we will be honoring our veterans for their sacrifice and service to our country. I'm proud to represent a district with deep connections to our armed forces. My office has been a proud partner of the Vietnam War Commemoration for the past three years to honor this population of veterans.
In 2007, Congress passed a bill allowing the Secretary of Defense to administer a program commemorating the Vietnam War's 50th anniversary. The Commemoration recognizes those who served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces from November 1, 1955, to May 15, 1975.
The commemoration also recognizes former prisoners of war and families listed as missing in action. It also pays tribute to American citizens' wartime contributions at home, highlights technology, science, and medical advances made during the war and recognizes the contributions of our Allies.
These are challenging times for our communities and our country, but we should do our best to take care of each other and reflect on this Veteran's Day. I want to thank all our brave and courageous Vietnam Veterans, and all veterans, for your service and resolve.
This Week's Casework Success Story
The One Harbor Drive Homeowners Association in Downtown San Diego contacted my office at the end of September to request assistance with obtaining a "highly qualified workers" exemption from the Spanish consulate. The association needed two engineers to inspect new maintenance machines in Madrid, which required San Diego-based engineers to sign off before shipment.
Currently, Spain does not allow the entry of American citizens due to COVID-19 except under certain conditions. My staff worked with the homeowners association and the engineering company to gather paperwork to justify the reason for travel and indicate how precautions were in place for travelers. This week, the consulate approved the exemption, allowing the engineers to finalize process of obtaining the building equipment.
Open Medicare Enrollment
Open enrollment for Medicare has begun and ends on December 7th. You can review coverage options and sign up for a health care package that fits your needs by visiting http://medicare.gov.
Five important facts about getting started:
- Some people get Medicare automatically, and some will have to sign up. You may have to sign up if you're 65 (or almost 65) and not getting Social Security.
- You can sign up or change how you receive your coverage during certain times of the year.
- If you sign up for Medicare Part B when you're first eligible, you can avoid a penalty.
- You can choose how you get your Medicare coverage.
- You may be able to get help with your Medicare costs.
Service Academy Nominations Deadline
The deadline for Service Academy Nominations is Monday, November 30th. Due to teleworking, we urge those who apply to send applications by USPS in lieu of certified mail (UPS, FedEx.) For more information, click here.
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