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Dear friend,
If you closely followed all the news coming out of Washington, D.C. this week, you know the topics that made headlines. The news cycle keeps running, but I want to reassure you that my focus remains on responding to the crises at hand: controlling this virus and providing relief to struggling Americans in the midst of this pandemic.
Fewer COVID-19 cases are being reported in San Diego, vaccines continue to be administered and some businesses are reopening. These are all positive signs, but we are far from resuming our normal lives. Please be safe and help keep those around you safe as well.
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.
Legislative work
Addressing key gaps in our national COVID-19 response through legislation
This week, I re-introduced the bipartisan Health STATISTICS Act to improve our nation's real-time response to COVID-19.
Currently, reporting COVID-19 cases and vaccine statistics, such as patient demographics or cause-of-death information, is not compulsory. This granular data is key to track and fight the virus, but is missing from our COVID-19 response. We must break down the data siloes that make it difficult for researchers to combine different data sources. This will allow researchers to accurately analyze the effects of the virus nationwide. Expanding data accessibility and infrastructure will ensure we understand the full scope of the pandemic and address it accordingly.
This bill answers escalating calls from experts, lawmakers and public health professionals to fix detrimental information gaps and barriers exposed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
I also introduced the Tracking COVID-19 Variants Act with Rep. Ami Bera (CA-07) and Sen. Tammy Baldwin (WI) this week. This legislation provides crucial funding to scale up national genomic sequencing efforts. Sequence-based surveillance is vital to track virus mutations and further protect public health. In combination with other efforts like my Health STATISTICS Act, this bill would ensure our country is ready to combat the next phase of COVID-19 guided by science and accurate information.
Vote to pass budget resolution and start reconciliation process
On Wednesday, I helped the House pass a Budget Resolution for Fiscal Year 2021 to begin budget reconciliation – a legislative tool to ensure the swift passage of President Biden's $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package. In my experience, it's better to start the clock and set a deadline for Congress.
When we passed the emergency COVID bill late last year, we knew more resources were needed to fight the virus and provide additional relief for many Americans who have been devastated financially. Bipartisanship has intrinsic value, and we should prioritize it, but this process will guarantee support for those bearing the brunt of this crisis, no matter the politics.
Watch my floor speech on the budget resolution and reconciliation, HERE.
Virtual town hall on COVID-19 vaccine efficacy and distribution
On Wednesday evening, I held a virtual town hall with two San Diego health experts to discuss COVID-19 vaccine efficacy and distribution. Dr. Shane Crotty, professor at La Jolla Institute for Immunology and Dr. Corinne McDaniels-Davidson, director of the Institute for Public Health at San Diego State University answered questions from attendees and provided timely information about the vaccine and the effects of this virus on our bodies and our communities. Thank you to our special guests as well as our attendees for your engagement and participation. Let's keep learning together and let science guide the way forward.
Watch the recording of the virtual town tall, HERE.
Meeting with students from Congregation Beth Am
On Monday, I met with a group of students from Congregation Beth Am to discuss various topics including the US-Israel relationship, regional threats and rising antisemitism. We also spoke about the need for cooperation in scientific research to develop drought-resistant farming and combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
NEW: Participate in our weekly poll!
Last week, we introduced a new section in our e-newsletter for readers to weigh in on a relevant topic. Thank you to everyone who participated. Here's this week's question:
There are currently two COVID-19 relief plans being considered to help the American people: Republican senators proposed a plan worth $618 billion, while President Biden's plan calls for $1.9 trillion in federal spending. What do you think is the best course of action for Congress to help families and businesses given the severity of this crisis?
Click here to submit your answer via Google Forms. We'll share the results in next week's e-newsletter. We appreciate your engagement and feedback.
Last week's question was "Do you approve of President Biden's wide-ranging executive orders during his first days in office?" Here are the results:
490 Responses: 68% Yes, 20.2% No, 3.3% Somewhat, 2.4% Not entirely, 6.1% Other
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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