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Dear friend,
San Diegans finally breathed a sigh of relief -- without a mask in many cases -- as California's economy fully reopened this past Tuesday. Over 1.7 million individuals in San Diego County over the age of 12 trusted the science and are fully vaccinated. Thanks to this tremendous effort, we can safely resume the activities we were unable to do for over a year. We celebrate how far we've come, but also honor those we've lost along the way as well as our essential workers and health care experts.
This week, I continued my work in Washington, D.C. Below is another update on some of the work my staff and I have done this week to serve you.
Legislative Work
OPRA II and Juneteenth
This week, the House passed the bipartisan Ocean Pollution Reduction Act II (OPRA II) under unanimous consent. This bill will simplify the Point Loma Wastewater Treatment Plant's waiver process, further reduce the facility's pollution output to the ocean, and increase our region's supply of fresh water. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate to pass this bill that delivers a big win to the city of San Diego. Click here to watch my full remarks.
After passing by unanimous consent in the Senate, the House also voted to make Juneteenth a federal holiday. President Biden signed this bill into law yesterday. Celebrated by Black communities for years, Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in our country. This holiday will give us time to reflect on our history and honor the ongoing struggle for equality and justice for Black Americans.
Moment of Silence for COVID-19 Victims
On Monday, I joined a bipartisan group of House and Senate members to honor the 600,000 Americans who have died due to COVID-19. This number is a grim reminder of the mark this virus left on our communities. As we move forward and continue our recovery, we will never forget those who lost their lives due to this pandemic.
Meeting with Sergeant Major Troy E. Black
On Thursday, I met with Sergeant Major Troy E. Black, who serves as the 19th Sergeant Major of the U.S. Marine Corps. We discussed some of the greatest challenges facing San Diego's military community and how I can best continue my work to support those who serve.
District Work
Vaccines 4 Teens Event
This morning, I held a press conference at Rady Children's Hospital to discuss the importance of COVID-19 vaccines for everyone, including adolescents. During this event, we recognized Genevieve and Olin Shockley from Scripps Ranch who participated in Pfizer's COVID-19 Vaccine Study in Adolescents this past December and January. We owe a debt of gratitude to these teenagers who bravely committed to the two-year study to help pull us out of this public health crisis.
Dr. John Bradley, Medical Director of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Rady Children's Hospital, also spoke about the safety and effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine. Thank you to the hospital's staff for your hard work and for hosting us today, and the Shockley family for your selfless contributions.
Change of Command at MCRD San Diego
This afternoon, I had the pleasure of attending the change of command ceremony at the historic Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD). I thank outgoing Brigadier General Ryan Heritage for his leadership as the Marine Corps continued recruiting and developing new Marines during COVID-19, and his excellent work to integrate women into recruit training in San Diego for the first time. I look forward to working closely with Briagadier General Jason Morris as MCRD loosens COVID restrictions and resumes normal operations.
Participate in Our Weekly Poll!
This section in our e-newsletter allows readers to weigh in on current events. Thank you to everyone who has participated so far. Here's this week's question:
Juneteenth, the day which commemorates the end of slavery, is now a federal holiday after swift votes in Congress and being signed into law by President Biden. Do you believe recognizing this date on a national level will lead to a more equal and fair future in our country?
Click here to submit your answer via Google Forms. Last week's question was: President Biden is currently in Europe on his first international trip since taking office. Do you believe his work will help reestablish ties between the U.S. and our partners around the world?
Here are the results:
300 Responses: 67% Yes, it's important to remind world leaders that the U.S. is a partner, not an adversary. 22% No, I don't think his work will help U.S. foreign relations. 7.3% I believe our foreign ties have always remained strong over the years. 3.7% 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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