{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where chamber = \"House\", state = \"CA\" and year = 2019 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["http://www.feinstein.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=C99FE82B-1C71-4DE7-8B63-0920209FE4C3", "Feinstein on Embassy Attack in Iraq", "2019-12-31", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Dianne Feinstein", "F000062", "www.feinstein.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WashingtonSenator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today released the following statement on the attack on the U.S. embassy in Baghdad:\r\nI am deeply concerned by the breach of our embassy in Baghdad. I have followed the situation closely; the American presence in Baghdad is based on the Iraqi government and security forces' ability and willingness to ensure the safety of our personnel there. This is a crucial test, and we will carefully evaluate the security situation in the coming days.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.feinstein.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=EAE0A8B1-6A3C-4F2E-908A-D66632AB226C", "Members Oppose Proposal to Increase Fees for Citizenship, Asylum Seekers", "2019-12-31", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Dianne Feinstein", "F000062", "www.feinstein.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WashingtonYesterday, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) joined several House and Senate colleagues in submitting comments to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services opposing the agency's latest proposed fee rule that would dramatically hike fees for immigration benefits, including those for asylum seekers and DACA recipients, and eliminate nearly all fee waivers and exemptions.\r\nIn addition to Senator Feinstein, the comments were submitted by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), House Immigration and Citizenship Subcommittee Chair Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), House Appropriations Chairwoman Nita M. Lowey (D-N.Y.), House Homeland Security Appropriations Chairwoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Calif.) and Senate Subcommittee on Border Security and Immigration Ranking Member Dick Durbin (D-IL).\r\nAs noted by the members, the proposed fee increase is based on an incomplete and flawed cost analysis, undermining Congress' ability to conduct oversight. It would also prevent poor families and vulnerable individuals from obtaining immigration benefits, including naturalization, and would make no measurable improvement to USCIS's historically high case backlog.\r\nA full version of the comments can be found here.\r\nBackground:\r\nOn November 14, 2019, the Trump administration proposed to increase fees for immigration benefits by a weighted average of 21 percent and eliminate almost all fee waivers and exemptions. When viewed as a whole, this proposal appears to be a pretext to make the U.S. immigration system inaccessible to working class families. The administration seeks to impose a new fee for asylum applicants, making the United States one of only four countries, alongside Iran, Fiji, and Australia, to charge a fee for this important form of humanitarian protection.\r\nThe proposal would also raise the naturalization fee by 83 percent and eliminate reduced fee options for low income applicants. USCIS justifies the fee increase by projecting a $1.2 billion funding shortfall, but fails to explain over half of this shortfall and includes an unauthorized transfer of funds to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.\r\nBefore DHS can implement the administration's proposal, DHS must provide the public with a complete and accurate assessment of its budget and a reasonable justification to increase fees.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/123119", "Dear Colleague: Happy New Year!", "2019-12-31", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Nancy Pelosi", "P000197", "www.speaker.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Dear Colleague,\nWishing you a happy and healthy New Year full of peace, love and joy!", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.feinstein.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=459E2585-C38E-426B-8AA9-827E0461759E", "Feinstein Condemns Anti-Semitic Attacks", "2019-12-30", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Dianne Feinstein", "F000062", "www.feinstein.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WashingtonSenate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today released the following statement on the series of anti-Semitic attacks in New York and New Jersey over the past week:\r\nSaturday's horrific attack at a rabbi's home in Monsey, N.Y., was the latest in a string of anti-Semitic attacks in New York and New Jersey that should shake all of us to our core.\r\nNo one in this country should be fearful of practicing their religion, yet that's exactly what we're witnessing. To enter a home and viciously stab five worshippers with a machete is an unthinkable act of terror, plain and simple.\r\nI agree with Senator Schumer and others that we need a comprehensive federal investigation into these attacks, including the motivations of the perpetrators and how we can prevent future attacks. We must stem the tide of these hate crimes.\r\nFreedom of religion is a foundation of our way of life, and more must be done to ensure that freedom is available to everyone.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pelosi.house.gov/media-center/pelosi-updates/fighting-for-the-people", "Fighting For The People", "2019-12-30", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Nancy Pelosi", "P000197", "pelosi.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Over 400 Bills And Counting  \n\tOur Democratic Majority in the House of Representatives has been hard at work this past year to deliver on our For The People agenda: lowering health care costs by reducing the price of prescription drugs, increasing paychecks by building the green and resilient infrastructure of the future, and cleaning up corruption in government.\n  \n\tSo far, we have passed and sent to the Senate more than 400 bills, of which 275 are bipartisan. Here is a look back at just some of the incredible legislation that we passed in the House in 2019:\n H.R. 1  For The People Act,to restore confidence in our democracy;\n\tH.R. 3  Lower Drug Costs Now Act,sweeping legislation to dramatically reduce drug prices by giving Medicare the power to negotiate directly with the drug companies; making lower drug prices negotiated by Medicare available to Americans with private insurance, not just Medicare beneficiaries; and stopping drug companies from ripping off Americans while charging other countries less for the same drugs;\n\tH.R. 4  Voting Rights Advancement Act,to finally restore the full strength of the Voting Rights Act after the disastrous 2013 Shelby v. Holder Supreme Court decision;\n\tH.R. 5  Equality Act,to finally and fully end discrimination against LGBTQ Americans;\n\tH.R. 6  American Dream and Promise Act,to provide a pathway to lawful permanent residence (and eventual citizenship) to those who have lived most of their lives in this country, including Dreamers and TPS and DED holders;\n\tH.R. 7  Paycheck Fairness Act,to ensure that women receive equal pay for equal work;\n\tH.R. 8  Bipartisan Background Checks Act,a commonsense measure to require background checks for all gun sales, closing the gun show and online loopholes; and alsoH.R. 1112  Enhanced Background Checks Act,to close the Charleston loophole;\n\tH.R. 9  Climate Action Now Act,to ensure that the U.S. honors our commitments on climate action detailed in the Paris Agreement;\n\tH.R. 582  Raise the Wage Act,to gradually raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2025, raising the wages of up to 33 million hard-working Americans;\n\tH.R. 987  Protecting People With Pre-Existing Conditions/Lowering Drug Costs,to strengthen protections for pre-existing conditions, end ACA sabotage, and bring down drug costs;\n\tH.R. 1585  Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act,a strong improvement and long-term reauthorization of VAWA;\n\tH.R. 1644  Save the Internet Act,to protect the free and open internet for all;\n\tH.R. 2722  Securing America's Federal Elections (SAFE) Act,to ensure the security and safety of our elections by upgrading our outdated and vulnerable election infrastructure;\n\tH.R. 4617  Stopping Harmful Interference In Elections For A Lasting Democracy (SHIELD) Act,which focuses on preventing foreign interference in our elections, including requiring campaigns to notify the FBI if a foreign power seeks to provide campaign assistance.\n\tH.R. 5068  Farm Workforce Modernization Act,to honor workers' dignity and support the farm economy; and\n\tH.R. 5430  United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act,which, thanks to Democrats' changes, now has the strongest enforcement mechanisms of any U.S. trade agreement, as well as critical victories for workers, lower prescription drug costs and environmental protections.\n We continue to call on Senator McConnell, the Grim Reaper, to take up our legislation For The People, so that we can deliver results for families and seniors across America!\n\n\nHappy Holidays  \n\tThe holiday season offers a special opportunity to reflect on the miraculous blessings of family, community and Country. As we celebrate in the company of our loved ones, I want to express my continued and profound gratitude for the honor of representing you in the Congress. Please accept my best wishes for a happy holiday and Happy New Year to you and your family.\nWith so many reasons to celebrate this year, it is important to remember to be safe. Please refer to these helpful links below to make sure you are ready.\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tMy office assisted a constituent experiencing issues with her mail delivery through the United States Postal Service (USPS). She contacted our office because her local mail carrier had been holding onto her mail and she was unable to reach USPS to resolve the issue. Our office contacted USPS on her behalf and conveyed the details of her situation. As a result, USPS contacted her to explain their concerns and worked with the constituent to resolve her mail delivery issues.\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tCaseworkers in my San Francisco office work to address any problems or concerns you may have with a federal government agency. To submit a Casework Authorization Form, pleasevisitmy website.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://waters.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-waters-statement-monsey-ny-attack-jewish-community-rise-extremist", "Rep. Waters Statement on the Attack on the Jewish Community in Monsey, NY & the Rise in Extremist Violence", "2019-12-30", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Maxine Waters", "W000187", "waters.house.gov", "waters", "https://waters.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-43) issued a statement on the violent attack on the Jewish community in Monsey, New York on the seventh day of Hanukkah, and the disturbing rise in extremist violence across the country:\n\n\"I'm saddened and pained by the anti-Semitic attack on the Jewish community in Monsey, New York on the seventh day of Hanukkah, a sacred period of rededication, joy, and light. The recent violent attacks in New York and New Jersey, and the escalating extremist violence targeting places of worship and religious communities across the country must be stopped. I extend my sincere condolences to the victims and their families. Our resolve as a country must be to stand together in unity and tolerance during such a difficult time.\"\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T23:45:33Z"], ["https://www.harris.senate.gov/news/press-releases/harris-leads-colleagues-in-letter-opposing-drastic-increases-to-immigration-related-fees", "Harris Leads Colleagues in Letter Opposing Drastic Increases to Immigration-Related Fees", "2019-12-30", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Kamala Harris", "H001075", "www.harris.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 30, 2019\n\t\t\t Harris Leads Colleagues in Letter Opposing Drastic Increases to Immigration-Related Fees \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Senator Kamala D. Harris (D-CA) led a group of her colleagues in sending a letter to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) official Samantha Deshommes expressing their strong opposition to a rule change that would drastically increase immigration fees and directly harm vulnerable immigrant populations.\r\nUnder the proposed rule change, the filing fee for individuals seeking naturalization would increase 83%, from $640 to $1,170. The renewal fee for DACA recipients would increase by 55%, from $495 to $765. The new rule would also establish a new fee for asylum seekers and increase fees for those seeking Temporary Protected Status. Finally, the rule would limit the availability of fee waivers across the board.\r\nUSCIS's efforts to limit the availability of fee waivers while increasing fees to, among other things, naturalize, seek asylum, or remain in the only country they know to be home, are a clear and concerted effort to harm low-income individuals, vulnerable populations, and communities of color,wrote the senators.Immigration is essential to American society and the American economy.The proposed changes are contrary to what we stand for as a nation.\r\nThe senators continued,We are a nation of immigrants.For centuries, immigrants have enriched our communities, strengthened our economy, and made our country a better place.We are deeply concerned by the myriad ways in which the proposed rulemaking subverts congressional intent to pursue the administration's unabashed and poorly-disguised anti-immigrant agenda.\r\nIn addition to Harris, the letter was signed by Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN).\r\nThe full text of the letter is availablehereor below:\r\nDecember 26, 2019\r\nSamantha Deshommes, Chief\r\nRegulatory Coordination Division\r\nOffice of Policy and Strategy\r\nU.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services\r\nDepartment of Homeland Security\r\n20 Massachusetts Avenue N.W., Mailstop #2140\r\nWashington, D.C. 20529-2140\r\nRE: Comment Letter for USCIS Proposed Fee Schedule and Changes to Certain Other Immigration Benefit Request Requirements: DHS Docket USCIS-2019-0010; RIN 1615-AC18\r\nDear Ms. Deshommes:\r\nWe write to express serious concerns regarding the proposed rulemaking published by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), on November 14, 2019. Several of its provisions increasing fees and making related regulatory changes would have a significant, adverse impact on vulnerable immigrant populations. Alarmingly, the rulemaking seeks to circumvent clear and established congressional intent and long-established principles underlying the U.S. immigration system. As members of the Senate committee of jurisdiction over immigration policy, we strongly object to several key provisions contained in the proposed rulemaking.\r\nI.USCIS is Seeking to Overstep Congressional Authority.\r\nThe rulemaking proposes to transfer funds to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in an apparent effort to go beyond USCIS's statutory authority and circumvent Congress's fundamental power of the purse.Congress, through the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), established the Immigration Examinations Fee Account (IEFA) for expenses in providing immigration adjudication and naturalization services. The INA clearly specifies that IEFA funds are for expenses in providing immigration adjudication andnaturalizationservices and the collection, safeguarding and accounting for fees deposited in and funds reimbursed from the Immigration Examinations Fee Account.' Critically, USCIS is not authorized to conduct immigration enforcement and border security activities, which are handled by ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) respectively.USCIS is charged with exclusively focusing on the administration of benefit applications. Accordingly, and as set forth in the relevant statutory language, IEFA funds are intended to support USCIS's mission to adjudicate immigration benefit requests.\r\nDespite the statutory language specifying that IEFA is for providingimmigration adjudication and naturalization services, (emphasis added)USCIS seeks to transfer over $112 million to ICE.In a threadbare attempt to shoehorn the proposed transfer into the requisite statutory language, USCIS states that such costs are authorized to the extent that such positions and costs support immigration adjudication and naturalization services. Nonetheless, USCIS confesses within the same section that the money is intended to support efforts that go beyond the moment of adjudication and then details a series of ICE activities, including investigations and removal efforts that fall squarely within the ambit of enforcement, not adjudication. Indeed, the initial rulemaking underscores that the true purpose of the transferred funds is for enforcement, not adjudication, by citing to the President's Fiscal Year 2019 and 2020 budget requests for a transfer from IEFA to ICEto support immigrationinvestigation and enforcementand immigration investigation andenforcement consistent with the Administration's Executive Orders (emphases added). The stated purpose for the proposed transfer of funds is a far cry from providingimmigration adjudication and naturalizations (emphasis added). In light of the foregoing, USCIS's justification that these funds will support immigration adjudication and naturalization services simply strains credulity.\r\nUSCIS's attemptto accept payments from applicants for adjudication of their immigration benefits and redirect those funds for immigration enforcement is improper and contravenes congressional intent. First, it subverts the statutorily specified purpose of the IEFA.Second,it is contrary to the mission and role USCIS was established to serve.\r\nII. USCIS's Proposed Revisions Will Disadvantage Vulnerable Communities.\r\nWe are also deeply concerned that USCIS's proposed changes to the fee schedule appear designed to disadvantage vulnerable communities. USCIS's proposed efforts to severely limit the availability of fee waivers and impose additional fees that have not previously been charged will undoubtedly impact the ability of countless immigrant families to participate in the communities they consider to be their homes. Conditioning such critical benefits on the ability to pay increased fees is contrary to the principle of equal access that is a central tenet of American democracy.\r\nFirst, therule proposes to limitfee waivers to immigration benefitrequests for which USCIS is required by law to consider a fee waiver or wherethe USCIS Director exercises favorable discretion as provided in the proposedregulation, among other proposed limitations. Fee waivers help applicants improve their stability, financially support themselves and their families, fully integrate into their communities, and eventually acquire citizenship. As such, fee waivers have the power to lift up and transform families, communities, and the country as a whole. As set forth in House Report accompanying the 2019 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, USCIS is expected to continue the use of fee waivers for applicants who can demonstrate an inability to pay the naturalization fee. USCIS's proposed limitation of fee waivers will cause considerable harm to families that contribute to their communities every day. Moreover, this proposal could make essential benefits such as naturalization, adjustment of status, and employment authorization functionally inaccessible for low-income immigrants.\r\nSecond, the proposed rulemaking includes a dramatic 83 percent increase to the filing fee for individuals seeking naturalizationfrom$640 to $1,170.Such a substantial increase will make naturalization unavailable to low-income individuals. In turn, without the opportunity to naturalize, such individuals will be unable to access significant benefits of citizenship that permit them to participate in their communities, thereby adversely impacting their U.S. citizen family members. The deleterious effect of this fee increase is compounded by USCIS's proposed elimination of the fee waiver for naturalization applications. USCIS must keep the pathway to citizenship affordable and accessible to ensure that individuals who contribute to their communities every day and are American in every way may access the benefits for which they qualify under our laws.\r\nThird, the proposed rulemaking establishesa new fee for asylum seekersindividuals fleeing persecution to seek refuge here in the United States. In doing so, USCIS seeks to join only three other countries in the world that charge a fee before considering the protection of asylum seekers:Iran, Fiji, and Australia.In addition, the proposed rulemaking would increase the fee for asylum seekers to apply for employment authorization at the same time that USCIS has separately proposed to extend the waiting period before asylum applicants can even request employment authorization.The proposal would also impose fee increases for applicants for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), who were admitted to the United States after natural disasters or civil wars in countries such as Sudan, Nicaragua, Haiti, and El Salvador.The world is facing the most significant displacement and refugee crisis in modern history.Asylum seekers represent some of the world's most vulnerable individuals. Many of them flee with little more than the clothes on their backs and pennies to their names seeking the most basic notions of safety and security for themselves and their families. Closing our doors to these individualsbased on theirinability to pay flies in the face of the basic intent of U.S. refugee law and policy and the United States' historic role as the world's humanitarian leader.\r\nFourth, the proposed rulemaking includes an increased fee for renewal of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) from $495 to $765a 55 percent increase.DACA recipients, whose status has already been placed in jeopardy by the Trump administration's cruel decision to terminate their protections, are students, teachers in our communities, military service members, doctors, and other individuals who enrich our society and contribute to our economy.Imposing a higher fee on these young people hampers their abilities to fully participate in the only communities they know to be their homes.\r\nAt bottom, USCIS's efforts to limit the availability of fee waivers while increasing fees to, among other things, naturalize, seek asylum, or remain in the only country they know to be home, are a clear and concerted effort to harm low-income individuals, vulnerable populations, and communities of color. Immigration is essential to American society and the American economy. The proposed changes are contrary to what we stand for as a nation.\r\nIII. USCIS Has Severely Limited Opportunity for Public Comment.\r\nGiven the vast and predictably adverse consequences of the proposed rulemaking, USCIS's decision to break with the standard 60-day public comment period was deeply troubling. Executive Order 12866, which governs the regulatory planning and review process, states that agencies should allow not less than 60 days for public comment in most cases to afford the public a meaningfulopportunity to comment on any proposed regulation. The decision to provide less than 60 days is all the more alarming in light of the greater length of the proposed rulemaking as compared to the most recent preceding USCIS fee rules, its complexity, the significant public attention it has received, and multiple requests for extensions that have been submitted to OIRA and USCISincluding from members of Congress. To date, DHS has provided a singleextension to December 30, 2019. This is simply insufficient to furnish an opportunity for thorough review and public comment.\r\n***\r\nUSCIS's mission statement once averred, USCIS secures America's promise as a nation of immigrants. . . . This administration removed that statement and the proposed rulemaking supplies the latest evidence as to why. This administration's policies have systematically targeted immigrants and communities of color by cruelly separating children from their families, restricting access to immigration benefits, banning immigrants from the United Sates because of their Muslim faith, and closing our doors to vulnerable individuals seeking safety in the United States.The proposed rulemaking disproportionately increases fees and eliminates fee waivers for the benefit categories most commonly used by low-income immigrants and makes critical benefits to vulnerable individuals essentially inaccessible.\r\nWe are a nation of immigrants. For centuries, immigrants have enriched our communities, strengthened our economy, and made our country a better place.We are deeply concerned by the myriad ways in which the proposed rulemaking subverts congressional intent to pursue the administration's unabashed and poorly-disguised anti-immigrant agenda.\r\nSincerely,\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/123019", "Dear Colleague on Democrats\u2019 Health Care Progress For The People", "2019-12-30", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Nancy Pelosi", "P000197", "www.speaker.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Dear Democratic Colleague,\nThis holiday season, as we wish everyone a Happy and Healthy New Year, Democrats can take great pride in the progress that we have made to advance the good health of the American people.\nGood health is nothing to be taken for granted, and this was driven home to us this weekend when the news of John Lewis's sad diagnosis descended upon us. John is an angel among us, and now the whole world is praying for him. He always reminds us of the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr: Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health is the most shocking and most inhumane.\nThat is why our Democratic House proudly took transformative action to lower prescription drug prices for America's seniors and families by passing H.R. 3: the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act. We applaud our Chairs, Frank Pallone, Richie Neal and Bobby Scott, our outstanding Freshman Class and all Members for their leadership on this legislation, which delivers on our For The People promise to lower health care costs by lowering the crushing burden of prescription drug prices that impacts almost every family in America.\nAmericans should not have to pay more for our medicines than what Big Pharma charges for the same drugs overseas  and that is why we are proud that H.R. 3 finally gives Medicare the power to negotiate lower drug prices and makes those lower prices available to millions of Americans with private insurance. H.R. 3 represents the most expansive improvement to Medicare since its creation, as we reinvest more than half-a-trillion dollars in historic new vision, dental and hearing benefits for Medicare.\nOur historic H.R. 3 legislation stands among the many acts of Congress that we have sent over to the Senate to lower health care costs, strengthen access to health care and protect people with pre-existing conditions.\nOur challenge is a great one, because at every turn, President Trump and his Republican allies in the Congress have worked to sabotage the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and dismantle the pre-existing condition benefit for 130 million Americans. The Trump Administration continues to firmly support the recent ruling in the 5th Circuit, which they hope will move them one step closer to obliterating every protection and benefit of the Affordable Care Act.\nThe grave threat from this GOP lawsuit is why, on Day One of this Congress, under the leadership of Congressman Colin Allred, we voted to throw the full legal weight of the House of Representatives into the fight to protect people with pre-existing conditions. We will continue our fight in the courts and in the Congress to defend and strengthen affordable health care for all Americans.\nWhen we return to Washington, our priority will be to continue a drumbeat across America to press the President and the GOP Senate to pass the Lower Drug Costs Now Act into law. And we also look forward to ending the financial unfairness of surprise billing, which has bipartisan support in the Congress and among the American people.\nBest wishes to you and your loved ones for a glorious Holiday Season and a Healthy and Happy New Year.\nThank you for your leadership and friendship.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bass.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-bass-statement-recent-acts-anti-semitism", "Rep. Bass Statement On Recent Acts Of Anti-Semitism", "2019-12-29", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Karen Bass", "B001270", "bass.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "\"Yesterday's shocking attack inside a rabbi's home on the seventh night of Hanukkah is heartbreaking and enraging.\n\"This follows a week of anti-Semitic acts and attacks on the Jewish community in New York, which have included physical intimidation, physical abuse and public harassment.\n\"Those that perpetrate these acts of hatred must be found, confronted and brought to immediate justice. Those who devise, promote and spread these ideologies must be stopped as well. This is not just a task for New York law enforcement or the New York community. This is a task for all of us. These attacks are on the rise throughout the country.\n\"My thoughts are with the Jewish community during this difficult time, as we come together as one to rebuke this hatred, completely and fully.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://cisneros.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-cisneros-visits-troops-middle-east-during-christmas", "Rep. Cisneros Visits Troops in Middle East During Christmas", "2019-12-28", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Gilbert Cisneros", "C001123", "cisneros.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "FULLERTON, CA - This past week, Representative Gilbert R. Cisneros, Jr. (CA-39) visited and spent Christmas with U.S. troops in the Middle East and Italy as part of a bipartisan Congressional Delegation (CODEL). The CODEL departed the U.S. on Sunday, December 22 and returned today, December 27. The CODEL visited U.S. Army Installation Camp Arifjan in Kuwait, United State Naval Forces Central Command in Bahrain, Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, and Naval Air Station Sigonella in Italy. Rep. Cisneros spent time with servicemembers from California's 39th District and across the country, and met with military and diplomatic leaders to discuss U.S. operations and dynamics in the region.\nWhen I was in the Navy over 20 years ago, I was forward deployed and spent the holidays away from family and friends, said Rep. Cisneros. I remember what that time was like for me, and it's why I chose to spend this Christmas visiting our courageous troops in the Middle East. While I know our servicemembers would have liked to have spent Christmas with loved ones, at a minimum, I hoped a visit from members of Congress would let them know that people are thinking about them back home.\nOn my trip, I met with servicemembers from the 39th District and across the country, as well as military and diplomatic leaders. I was grateful to meet several constituents, some friends and some who I met for the first time, and all were in good spirits despite being away from home. Whether it was their first or seventh time deployed, all of them understood the importance of their mission and duty. It was my honor to visit our men and women in uniform overseas, serve and share meals with them, and thank them for their unwavering service and sacrifice. Our servicemembers never stop fighting for our country, and our country should never stop fighting for them.\nThe other Representatives on the CODEL with Rep. Cisneros included:\n Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI-01), House Committee on Foreign Affairs\n\tRep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY-01), House Committee on Foreign Affairs\n\tRep. Max Rose (D-NY-11), House Committee on Homeland Security\n\tRep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01), House Committee on Foreign Affairs\n\tRep. Susan Wild (D-PA-07), House Committee on Foreign Affairs\n\tRep. Dean Phillips (D-MN-03), House Committee on Foreign Affairs\n\tRep. Aumua Amata Radewagon (R-AS), House Committee on Veterans' Affairs\n Rep. Cisneros is a Navy veteran and a member of the House Committee on Armed Services and House Veterans Affairs Committee.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://aguilar.house.gov/2019/12/27/aguilar-issues-end-year-report-constituents-1/", "Aguilar Issues End of Year Report to Constituents", "2019-12-27", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Pete Aguilar", "A000371", "aguilar.house.gov", "aguilar", "https://aguilar.house.gov/category/congress_press_release/", "scraper", "Press Releases\n\nAguilar Issues End of Year Report to Constituents\n\nRep. Aguilar issued a report to residents of California\u2019s 31st Congressional District to review his work on behalf of Inland Empire families in 2019. Reflecting on the past year, Aguilar commented:\n\n\u201cThis year marked the beginning of the 116th Congress, the most diverse in our nation\u2019s history. Since then, I\u2019ve joined my colleagues in working to create a fairer economy, fighting to lower the costs of health care and prescription drugs, standing up for our veterans and seniors, and rooting out corruption in Washington. I\u2019m proud of the work I\u2019ve done to introduce thoughtful legislation that addresses the priorities of Inland Empire families, and even more proud of the work my team and I have done to provide resources to people in our community. I look forward to another year of serving the Inland Empire, the community my family has called home for four generations.\u201d\n\nIn 2019, Rep. Aguilar has:\n\nResolved 355 cases constituents had with federal agencies such as Social Security, Medicare and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).\n\nHelped return nearly $600,000 that the federal government owed to residents of the 31st Congressional District.\n\nAnnounced over $71 million in federal funding for the Inland Empire, including over $1 million in terrorism preparedness funding and over $1 million for local fire departments.\n\nHosted a Job Fair to connect high school students with good-paying technical career opportunities in the Inland Empire after graduation.\n\nHosted a Citizenship and Naturalization Fair to help immigrant families in our community become naturalized citizens.\n\nHosted a Veterans Resource Fair to connect Inland Empire veterans with local resources on health care, housing, employment and assistance with VA claims.\n\nHosted a Senior Fair to provide Inland Empire seniors with free health screenings and help them obtain information on local food programs, health services, and Medicare, Social Security and veterans benefits.\n\nHosted two events to provide Inland Empire students with information about the US Military Service Academy nomination process.\n\nHosted 18 events and meetings to help connect local agencies with federal grant opportunities.\n\nParticipated in 140 meetings, tours and events with CA-31 residents.\n\nWorked five different jobs throughout the Inland Empire as part of his \u201cJob for a Day\u201d tour of the Inland Empire.\n\nHeld three events to connect Inland Empire residents with jobs through the 2020 Census and to promote the importance of the census.\n\nSecured $10 million for the Department of Defense Cyber Scholarship Program, which benefits students at California State University San Bernardino, through an appropriations bill signed into law by President Trump on December 20, 2019.\n\nPassed legislation that would increase home ownership rates in San Bernardino County by adjusting Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan limits through an appropriations bill signed into law by President Trump on December 20, 2019.\n\nPassed legislation to provide opportunities for DACA recipients by protecting them from deportation and making them eligible for federal employment.\n\nPassed the Santa Ana Wash Plan Land Exchange Act, a bill to conserve habitat for endangered species and spur over $47 million of investments into the San Bernardino County economy, which was signed into law by President Trump on March 12, 2019.\n\nIntroduced three bills which are pending before the House:\n\nThe REPORT Act, a bill to require the federal government to report on the causes of domestic terrorist attacks to help prevent future attacks.\n\nThe PREVENT Act, a bill to provide local law enforcement with additional resources to identify and respond to extremist threats.\n\nThe JOBS Act, a bill to connect Inland Empire Job seekers with local employment resources.\n\nAuthored seven amendments which were included in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2020, which has been passed by both the House and the Senate and will be signed into law by President Trump.\n\nAn amendment to expand the types of education military spouses can pursue using the tuition benefits offered under the Military Spouse Career Advancement Account to include Associate\u2019s and Bachelor\u2019s degrees as well as technical and vocational training.\n\nAn amendment to ensure military service members are debriefed on how to file claims and where to send the necessary documents to receive veterans\u2019 benefits as they transition to civilian life.\n\nAn amendment to prohibit the Department of Defense from participating in the deportation of service members or honorably discharged veterans with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) or Temporary Protected Status (TPS).\n\nAn amendment that directs the Department of Defense to provide guidance on how to apply for citizenship to immigrants who serve in the US Military and are transitioning to civilian life.\n\nAn amendment to allow students attending one or two-year certificate programs to qualify for the Department of Defense Cyber Scholarship Program.\n\nAn amendment to require a feasibility study on the use of FBI databases for the Department of Defense to screen for extremists who seek to enlist in the US military.\n\nAn amendment calling for budget experts to be present at Nuclear Weapons Council meetings to ensure costs are considered when decisions are made regarding the United States\u2019 nuclear weapons programs.\n\nServed on the bipartisan, bicameral conference committee that negotiated the 2019 Homeland Security funding deal to end the longest government shutdown in US History.\n\nIn addition to the legislation he\u2019s introduced and authored, Rep. Aguilar has helped the House pass more than 275 bipartisan bills. These include bills to end unfair taxes on military families, raise wages for working Americans, drastically lower the prices of prescription drugs and health care, implement background checks on all firearm purchases, and stand up for the rights of Dreamers and the LGBTQ community.\n\nRep. Aguilar has represented California\u2019s 31st Congressional District since 2015. In the 116th Congress he sits on the House Appropriations Committee, where he serves as Vice Chair, and on the Committee on House Administration. Rep. Aguilar was selected by his colleagues to serve as a Chief Deputy Whip in the House Democratic Caucus, as a Member of the Steering & Policy Committee, and as Whip of the New Democrat Coalition.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T23:45:33Z"], ["https://aguilar.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/aguilar-issues-end-year-report-constituents-1", "Aguilar Issues End of Year Report to Constituents", "2019-12-27", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Pete Aguilar", "A000371", "aguilar.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Aguilar issued a report to residents of California's 31st Congressional District to review his work on behalf of Inland Empire families in 2019. Reflecting on the past year, Aguilar commented:\nThis year marked the beginning of the 116th Congress, the most diverse in our nation's history. Since then, I've joined my colleagues in working to create a fairer economy, fighting to lower the costs of health care and prescription drugs, standing up for our veterans and seniors, and rooting out corruption in Washington. I'm proud of the work I've done to introduce thoughtful legislation that addresses the priorities of Inland Empire families, and even more proud of the work my team and I have done to provide resources to people in our community. I look forward to another year of serving the Inland Empire, the community my family has called home for four generations.\nIn 2019, Rep. Aguilar has:\n Resolved 355cases constituents had with federal agencies such as Social Security, Medicare and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).\n\tHelped return nearly $600,000 that the federal government owed to residents of the 31st Congressional District.\n\tAnnounced over $71 million in federal funding for the Inland Empire, including over $1 million in terrorism preparedness funding and over $1 million for local fire departments. \n\tHosted a Job Fair to connect high school students with good-paying technical career opportunities in the Inland Empire after graduation.\n\tHosted a Citizenship and Naturalization Fair to help immigrant families in our community become naturalized citizens.\n\tHosted a Veterans Resource Fair to connect Inland Empire veterans with local resources on health care, housing, employment and assistance with VA claims.\n\tHosted a Senior Fair to provide Inland Empire seniors with free health screenings and help them obtain information on local food programs, health services, and Medicare, Social Security and veterans benefits.\n\tHosted two events to provide Inland Empire students with information about the US Military Service Academy nomination process.\n\tHosted 18 events and meetings to help connect local agencies with federal grant opportunities.\n\tParticipated in 140 meetings, tours and events with CA-31 residents.\n\tWorked five different jobs throughout the Inland Empire as part of his Job for a Day tour of the Inland Empire.\n\tHeld three events to connect Inland Empire residents with jobs through the 2020 Census and to promote the importance of the census.\n\tSecured $10 million for the Department of Defense Cyber Scholarship Program, which benefits students at California State University San Bernardino, through an appropriations bill signed into law by President Trump on December 20, 2019.\n\tPassed legislation that would increase home ownership rates in San Bernardino County by adjusting Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan limits through an appropriations bill signed into law by President Trump on December 20, 2019.\n\tPassed legislation to provide opportunities for DACA recipients by protecting them from deportation and making them eligible for federal employment.\n\tPassed the Santa Ana Wash Plan Land Exchange Act, a bill to conserve habitat for endangered species and spur over $47 million of investments into the San Bernardino County economy, which was signed into law by President Trump on March 12, 2019.\n\tIntroduced three bills which are pending before the House:\n\t\tThe REPORT Act, a bill to require the federal government to report on the causes of domestic terrorist attacks to help prevent future attacks.\n\t\t\tThe PREVENT Act, a bill to provide local law enforcement with additional resources to identify and respond to extremist threats.\n\t\t\tThe JOBS Act, a bill to connect Inland Empire Job seekers with local employment resources.\n\t\t\n\tAuthored seven amendments which were included in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2020, which has been passed by both the House and the Senate and will be signed into law by President Trump.\n\t\tAn amendment to expand the types of education military spouses can pursue using the tuition benefits offered under the Military Spouse Career Advancement Account to include Associate's and Bachelor's degrees as well as technical and vocational training.\n\t\t\tAn amendment to ensure military service members are debriefed on how to file claims and where to send the necessary documents to receive veterans' benefits as they transition to civilian life.\n\t\t\tAn amendment to prohibit the Department of Defense from participating in the deportation of service members or honorably discharged veterans with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) or Temporary Protected Status (TPS).\n\t\t\tAn amendment that directs the Department of Defense to provide guidance on how to apply for citizenship to immigrants who serve in the US Military and are transitioning to civilian life.\n\t\t\tAn amendment to allow students attending one or two-year certificate programs to qualify for the Department of Defense Cyber Scholarship Program.\n\t\t\tAn amendment to require a feasibility study on the use of FBI databases for the Department of Defense to screen for extremists who seek to enlist in the US military.\n\t\t\tAn amendment calling for budget experts to be present at Nuclear Weapons Council meetings to ensure costs are considered when decisions are made regarding the United States' nuclear weapons programs.\n\t\t\n\tServed on the bipartisan, bicameral conference committee that negotiated the 2019 Homeland Security funding deal to end the longest government shutdown in US History.\n In addition to the legislation he's introduced and authored, Rep. Aguilar has helped the House pass more than 275 bipartisan bills. These include bills to end unfair taxes on military families, raise wages for working Americans, drastically lower the prices of prescription drugs and health care, implement background checks on all firearm purchases, and stand up for the rights of Dreamers and the LGBTQ community.\nRep. Aguilar has represented California's 31st Congressional District since 2015. In the 116th Congress he sits on the House Appropriations Committee, where he serves as Vice Chair, and on the Committee on House Administration. Rep. Aguilar was selected by his colleagues to serve as a Chief Deputy Whip in the House Democratic Caucus, as a Member of the Steering & Policy Committee, and as Whip of the New Democrat Coalition.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/122719", "Congressman Jimmy Gomez Delivers Weekly Democratic Address", "2019-12-27", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Nancy Pelosi", "P000197", "www.speaker.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  Congressman Jimmy Gomez of California delivered the Weekly Democratic Address. In this week's address, the Congressman discussed the historic progress made by House Democrats For The People, including vital improvements to the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, which passed through the House of Representatives on a bipartisan 385  41 vote. Video and audio of the Weekly Democratic Address can be downloaded here.\nBelow is a full transcript of the address:\nHi, I'm Congressman Jimmy Gomez.\nI'm proud to represent California's 34th Congressional District, in the heart of Los Angeles.\nAs we approach 2020, it's important to take a look back at this past year with the Democratic Majority.\nWe stood up for our Constitution and held President Trump accountable for abusing the power of his office and obstructing Congress to cover it up.\nWe also passed nearly 300 bipartisan bills, including: the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act  our transformational legislation to negotiate lower drug prices so millions of Americans can afford the life-saving medicine they need.\nThe Equality Act: legislation to extend civil rights protections to our LGBTQ family, friends and neighbors.\nThe Paycheck Fairness Act: legislation reaffirming the basic idea, equal pay for equal work.\nThe Climate Action Now Act: an urgently-needed bill, which aims to keep the United States in the Paris Climate Agreement.\nAnd the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement or USMCA for short: a historic trade agreement with Canada and Mexico.\nThis last legislative victory was not easy, and it was far from guaranteed. In late spring, Speaker Nancy Pelosi appointed nine Democratic Members  including myself  to negotiate with the U.S. Trade Representative to make significant changes to the Administration's version of USMCA, a version many people referred to as NAFTA-lite.\nAs a former labor organizer, I knew we had the opportunity to finally begin to right the wrongs of NAFTA.\nAfter six months of negotiations, meetings, phone calls, proposals and counter-proposals, the USMCA Working Group  under the leadership of Speaker Pelosi  brokered a new agreement that not only recognized the value of America's workers, but also secured measurable and profound progress in the areas of enforcement, prescription drugs and environmental protection.\nThis unprecedented trade agreement was made possible through the fortitude and resolve of the trade working group and the House Democratic Caucus.\nWe refused to compromise our values. And ultimately, we turned President Donald Trump's original trade deal  considered weak in almost every measure  into a real agreement with teeth.\nThat's why the AFL-CIO  a federation of labor unions representing over 12.5 million workers  for the first time in almost 20 years, endorsed a trade agreement.\nThat's why the USMCA passed the House of Representatives with overwhelming bipartisan support: 385 to 41.\nThis new and improved USMCA is a victory for the American people.\nAnd, as an advocate for working families, I am encouraged that this new deal sets the floor  not the ceiling  for future trade agreements.\nThe new consensus on trade was only made possible because of the new Democratic House Majority.\nAs we enter 2020, House Democrats will continue to deliver results For The People.\nAnd, with that, I would like to thank you and wish you and your family and your loved ones a happy and healthy new year!", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://aguilar.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/aguilar-s-key-defense-provisions-are-heading-president-s-desk", "Aguilars key defense provisions are heading to the presidents desk", "2019-12-26", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Pete Aguilar", "A000371", "aguilar.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The U.S. Senate passed has approved Senate Bill 1790, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2020 after the bill was passed with bipartisan support in the House on Dec. 11.\nIn addition to authorizing military and defense spending for the upcoming fiscal year, this year's NDAA establishes a 12-week paid family leave policy for federal employees and provides a much-needed pay raise for military personnel.\nThe bill also includes seven key provisions authored by U.S. Rep. Pete Aguilar.\n\nThe amendments to the NDAA were adopted in July 2019 when the House originally passed the bill.\n\nThe NDAA also includes a provision to protect jobs from downsizing at March Air Reserve Base as a result of an amendment cosponsored by Rep. Aguilar.\nOf the seven amendments he offered, all were approved by the Senate and included in the final version of the bill, which will soon be signed into law by the president. The bill will:\n Expand the types of education military spouses can pursue using the tuition benefits offered under the Military Spouse Career Advancement Account to include associate and bachelor's degrees as well as technical and vocational training.\n Ensure military service members are debriefed on how to file claims and where to send the necessary documents to receive veterans' benefits as they transition to civilian life.\n Prohibit the Department of Defense from participating in the deportation of service members or honorably discharged veterans with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) or Temporary Protected Status (TPS).\n Directs the Department of Defense to provide guidance on how to apply for citizenship to immigrants who serve in the U.S. military and are transitioning to civilian life.\n Allow students attending one or two-year certificate programs to qualify for the Department of Defense Cyber Scholarship Program.\n Require a feasibility study on the use of FBI databases for the Department of Defense to screen for extremists who seek to enlist in the U.S. military.\n Call for budget experts to be present at Nuclear Weapons Council meetings to ensure costs are considered when decisions are made regarding the United States' nuclear weapons programs.\n\n\t\n\t\tThis year's NDAA ensures our national security while reflecting our nation's values, Aguilar said. By making sure military families have access to the resources they need to succeed, helping our veterans transition into civilian life, protecting immigrants who risk their lives to serve our country, and providing a well-deserved pay raise to our troops, this bill will improve quality of life for our brave service members and their families.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bass.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-bass-statement-recent-attacks-burkina-faso", "Rep. Bass Statement On Recent Attacks In Burkina Faso", "2019-12-26", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Karen Bass", "B001270", "bass.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON -  Today, Congressmember Karen Bass (D-Calif.), Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, issued the following statement in response to the recent jihadist attack in Burkina Faso that killed 35 civilians, most of them women. Seven members of security forces were also killed in this assault.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/122419", "Dear Colleague on Holiday Warm Wishes and Prayer for World Peace", "2019-12-24", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Nancy Pelosi", "P000197", "www.speaker.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Dear Colleague,\nOn December 16th, our bipartisan Congressional delegation marked the 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge in Belgium and Luxembourg. As we were there to thank our surviving veterans, they urged us to pray for peace.\nThis week, as we observe the holidays in our own faith traditions, let us pray for world peace. Let there be peace on Earth and let it begin with us in our hearts, in our families, in our communities and in America.\nHappy Holidays.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.feinstein.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=32137BC0-A896-483F-A240-D0C63C7520E2", "Feinstein Calls on Commerce Secretary to Accelerate Designation of Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary", "2019-12-23", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Dianne Feinstein", "F000062", "www.feinstein.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WashingtonSenator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today called on Commerce Secretary Ross to accelerate the designation of the proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary in an effort to combat rising carbon levels in the oceans.\r\nCalifornia's waters are rising in acidity at twice the global average, threatening marine life and contributing to a growing number of costly fishery disasters, Feinstein wrote to Secretary Ross. In addition to creating 600 new jobs, designating the proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary' would protect sacred sites of the Chumash people, major animal migratory routes, and kelp habitat.\r\nFull text of the letter follows:\r\nDecember 23, 2019\r\nThe Honorable Wilbur L. Ross, Jr.  Secretary, U.S. Department of Commerce  1401 Constitution Avenue, N.W.  Washington, D.C. 20230\r\nDear Secretary Ross,\r\nI am deeply concerned by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) recent study on ocean acidification impacts on the California coastline, and I urge you to take immediate action to combat rising carbon levels in our oceans, including by accelerating the designation of the proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary.\r\nCalifornia's waters are rising in acidity at twice the global average, threatening marine life and contributing to a growing number of costly fishery disasters. In addition to creating 600 new jobs, designating the proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary would protect sacred sites of the Chumash people, major animal migratory routes, and kelp habitat. California has lost nearly 90% of its kelp forests, which can absorb carbon at twice the rate of land-based forests. The designation of this area would provide an invaluable opportunity to replenish kelp in an area acutely affected by ocean acidification, and I urge NOAA to act as soon as possible.\r\nAlthough NOAA approved this marine sanctuary proposal in 2015, the agency has yet to move forward with the designation process. NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries' (NMS) March 2019 coordination report (attached) stated there is not active evaluation within NOAA at this time to consider moving this site forward for designation, despite the report identifying that the proposed area contains an internationally significant ecological transition zone, supporting high biological diversity and densities of numerous important species. I respectfully request that you provide a response detailing why NMS is not actively evaluating this important proposal.\r\nI urge you to move forward with and finalize the designation of the proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary as soon as possible. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me with any questions, or have your staff contact Alexis Segal at alexis_segal@feinstein.senate.gov in my office.\r\nSincerely,\r\nDianne Feinstein  United States Senator\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.feinstein.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=7C4D52CB-D970-42F8-8838-591E7FF3F8DE", "Feinstein on Departure of Boeing CEO", "2019-12-23", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Dianne Feinstein", "F000062", "www.feinstein.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WashingtonSenator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today released the following statement on the resignation of Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg:\r\nThe decision by Boeing's board to replace its CEO is the right one.\r\nBoeing's failure to prevent a second deadly crash of its Max 8 aircraft last year, despite knowing of the significant threat of additional crashes, shook the public's confidence in the company.\r\nIt's clear Boeing needs to reset its commitment to safety, and hopefully this is a step in that direction.\r\nThe Federal Aviation Administration should take note of this decision and look at ways it can improve. We know the FAA was also aware of problems following the first crash and took no action until after the second tragedy. That's simply unacceptable.\r\nThe bottom line is that neither airline companies nor their regulators should gamble with lives. It's time both sides rededicate themselves to a culture of safety.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.feinstein.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=BF93DC6A-5E89-48F4-B222-11D3A5D8164B", "Feinstein Applauds Rite Aid for Commitment to Promote Breast Cancer Research Stamp", "2019-12-23", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Dianne Feinstein", "F000062", "www.feinstein.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WashingtonSenator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today announced that Rite Aid has agreed to promote the Breast Cancer Research Stamp during next year's Breast Cancer Awareness Month.\r\nThe announcement comes after Senator Feinstein in October called on retailers to help promote the stamp. Feinstein released the following statement:\r\nIn October I called on some of the nation's top retailers, banks and consumer sites to promote the Breast Cancer Research Stamp. I'm pleased to announce that Rite Aid last week pledged to carry and promote the stamp during next year's Breast Cancer Awareness Month.\r\nThe Breast Cancer Research Stamp, which Congress reauthorized just last week, has already raised $90 million in the fight against breast cancer. But we can do better. I renew my call for other retailers and banks to join us in this life-and-death fight, and I thank Rite Aid for making this commitment.\r\nFull text of the letter from Rite Aid follows:\r\nDecember 17, 2019\r\n\r\nThe Honorable Dianne Feinstein  United States Senate  331 Hart Senate Office Building  Washington, DC 20510\r\nDear Senator Feinstein:\r\nRite Aid applauds your commitment to breast cancer awareness and increased funding for research.\r\nWe are proud to inform you that in conjunction with National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, starting October 1, 2020, Breast Cancer Research Stamps will be available in all Rite Aid's 2,464 stores, including our 541 stores in California. Additionally, we will implement in-store and social media campaigns to promote awareness and the purchase of the Breast Cancer Research Stamps.\r\nMoreover, we would like to extend an invitation for you to formally launch this important initative in one of our California stores next October. We would also appreciate the opportunity to personally update you on our plans the next time we are in Washington and discuss the health care services our pharmacists are providing to our customers and the communities we serve.\r\nThank you for your leadership on this issue and service to our nation.\r\nSincerely,\r\nHeyward Donigan  Chief Executive Officer\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://barragan.house.gov/congresswoman-barragan-releases-statement-on-house-resolution-5430-the-united-states-mexico-trade-agreement/", "Barragn: U.S.-Mexico Trade Agreement Falls Short on Climate Change", "2019-12-23", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Nanette Barrag\u00e1n", "B001300", "barragan.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 23, 2019  Contact: Matt Dernoga 202-225-8220  Congresswoman Barragn Releases Statement on House Resolution 5430, the United States-Mexico Trade Agreement  WASHINGTON, D.C.  Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragn (CA-44) released a statement after voting against the United States-Mexico Trade Agreement (USMCA). The Agreement was first announced by the Trump administration in November of 2018. Since then, House Democrats have worked to improve the labor, environmental, and enforcement provisions of the Agreement.  Although there were labor and enforcement improvements made with the USMCA, climate change is a crisis that must be urgently addressed and accounted for in our trade agreements. The USMCA falls far short of that so I joined national environmental organizations and the youth climate movement to oppose the agreement.  ### Nanette Diaz Barragn is proud to represent California's 44th Congressional District, which includes the communities of Carson, Compton, Florence-Firestone, Lynwood, North Long Beach, Rancho Dominguez, San Pedro, South Gate, Walnut Park, Watts, Willowbrook and Wilmington.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://cox.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-tj-cox-david-schweikert-request-transparency-translated-tax-forms", "Reps. TJ Cox, David Schweikert Request Transparency for Translated Tax Forms", "2019-12-23", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "TJ Cox", "C001124", "cox.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. TJ Cox (CA-21) and Rep. David Schweikert (AZ-6) along with 67 other members of Congress, sent a bipartisan letter to the IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig, asking him to provide more transparency about translation services at the IRS.\nCurrently, when taxpayers provide an incorrect Taxpayer Identification Number (typically their Social Security Number) to the IRS, they are automatically enrolled in the Backup Withholding B Program, which orders the taxpayer to begin backup withholding of their wages until the issue is resolved.\nRight now, the letter issued to alert a taxpayer that they have been enrolled in this program (a B Notice) is only available in English. This presents an unnecessary barrier for hard-working taxpayers who have limited English proficiency. This letter asks that the IRS provide transparency in how it chooses which documents are translated and the process for translating correspondence sent to taxpayers.\nEvery year, taxpayers are unintentionally breaking the law because the IRS has failed to provide them tax forms in a language they understand. As Members of Congress, we must ensure that federal information of all types, but especially sensitive information like letters and forms from the IRS, are made accessible to all Americans, regardless of their English proficiency. said Rep. TJ Cox.\nEnsuring that the IRS provides translation services to taxpayers with limited English proficiency will not only ease the burden on those taxpayers but will help improve taxpayer compliance throughout the filing process. I am pleased to be a co-leader of this letter to the IRS to help more Americans file their taxes without an added stress during a burdensome time, said Rep. David Schweikert.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pelosi.house.gov/media-center/pelosi-updates/historic-progress-in-congress-for-california", "Historic Progress in Congress for California", "2019-12-23", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Nancy Pelosi", "P000197", "pelosi.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Key Victories for San Franciscans  This week, the Congress passed a strong appropriations package, which achieves critical victories for the health, financial security and well-being of the American people with key wins for California!\n\nCongressional Democrats proudly fought for and secured key investments to create good-paying jobs, rebuild our infrastructure, promote health, combat homelessness, advance progress for our communities and protect our environment. For San Francisco, the funding package includes tens of millions of additional dollars for the rescanning and retesting of Hunters Point, a one million dollar increase in funds appropriated to enhance the San Francisco Bay, preservation for San Francisco's pristine drinking water, as well as bold investments in job-creating infrastructure for initiatives for the Embarcadero Seawall seismic and flood protection upgrade. Here are some of the key victories for California in the FY20 Appropriations funding bills:\n\nFunding Critical Efforts to End the HIV/AIDS Epidemic:\n Key funding was provided for the initiative to End the Epidemic by 2030, with $140 million in new funding to the CDC, $70 million to Ryan White, and $50 million for Community Health Centers to support testing, prevention with PrEP and syringe access services, care, and treatment at the local level.\n\tHighest level of funding in HOPWA's history, an increase of $17 million over last year's levels. These increased funds will help protect legacy cities like San Francisco from funding cuts due to formula changes.\n\tRejected the President's proposed largest cuts ever to global AIDS, and instead provided $1.56 billion for the Global Fund, a 15.6% increase to be sustained over the three-year replenishment cycle, and held PEPFAR steady.\n\tAt least a $36 million increase to NIH Centers for AIDS research and AIDS research at NIAID.\n\tIn July 2020, San Francisco and Oakland will host the 23rd International AIDS Conference, last hosted in the Bay Area in 1990. $5.1 million was included for the U.S. contribution to the AIDS2020 Conference.\n Combating Homelessness and Supporting Affordable Housing:\n Homeless Assistance Grants to support permanent supportive and rapid rehousing increased $141 million over last year's levels, including $80 million for homeless youth and $50 million for survivors of domestic violence.\n\tHOME program to support affordable housing and Community Development Block Grants each increased by $100 million.\n Fully Funding Wildfire Suppression and ending the cycle of fire borrowing:\n $5.553 billion for wildland fire management, $1.6 billion above the 2019 enacted level and $32 million above the President's budget request.\n\tFor the first time, the fire-fix won in FY 18 is being used to allow a $2.25 billion budget cap adjustment for fire suppression funding, preventing the Department of the Interior and the U.S. Forest Service from having to borrow funds from other activities that ensure the health of our forests and watersheds, and prevent wildfires.\n\t\t\n Congresswoman Pelosi speaks at her weekly press conference to discuss the For The People agenda and the House of Representative's historic vote to defend our democracy.\n\nEconomic Justice for California  \n\tTwo years ago this month, the then-Republican House passed their Tax Scam For The Rich, which handed 83 percent of the tax cuts to the wealthiest 1 percent, ultimately raised taxes on 86 million middle class families and added $2 trillion to the debt in the process. To pad their giveaways to the wealthiest and big corporations, Republicans devised a bare-knuckle partisan raid on suburban, middle-class communities across America by capping the State and Local Tax deduction. This cruel action was a double tax that punished communities that do not vote their way, which seriously hurt middle class families, homeowners, schools and first responders across America  particularly in California. This week,Democrats restored fairness for middle class communities by repealing the unfair SALT deduction cap,reversing the immense and unjust giveaway to the wealthiest tax bracket, and providing additional tax benefits to the teachers and first responders who shouldered the burden of a ransacking of state and local governments. We will continue to work to advance economic justice in America, and to rebalance the tax code with real reform that puts working and middle class families first.\n\n\n\n\n\nA Strong USMCA for American Workers  Yesterday, the House passed an historic trade agreement that is truly worthy of the American people: a new and dramatically improved U.S.-Canada-Mexico Trade Agreement.We are hopeful that the USMCA will serve as a template for future trade agreements. Hard-working Americans need more from the USMCA than just the same broken NAFTA with better language but no real enforcement. After months of serious negotiations, key changes were made to the USMCA that make this a truly transformative agreement for America's workers. Now, with our changes, the USMCA now has the strongest enforcement mechanisms of any U.S. trade agreement. The USMCA also contains critical victories for workers' rights, for lower prescription drug costs and for environmental protections. While the Administration's draft stacked the deck against labor violation claims, our changes enact new rules and monitoring tools to protect American workers, prosecute labor violations and ensure that Mexico is complying with labor reforms. To combat the existential threat of the climate crisis, we strengthened rules and enforcement tools, are lowering pollution and increasing resilient infrastructure, and are setting American on a firm footing for progress when we have a President who bring us back into the Paris Climate Accords. The Administration's unfair hand-outs to Big Pharma have also been eliminated, and new measures were taken to lower drug costs and improve access life-saving medicines. This is a strong agreement that honors our promises For The People, and makes a difference for millions of workers and families across America.\n\nToday is the last day to sign up for health insurance through Covered California and be covered on January 1st. After today you have until January 31st to sign up for coverage by February 1st. Sign up today!\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tMy office assisted a constituent experiencing issues receiving her family's green cards through the United States Postal Service (USPS). Upon a determination by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) that the documents were sent through the USPS, our office contacted USPS on her behalf and conveyed the details of her situation. As a result, USPS was unable to locate the green cards but provided a letter advocating for her family's application fees to be waived in order to issue new green cards.\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tCaseworkers in my San Francisco office work to address any problems or concerns you may have with a federal government agency. To submit a Casework Authorization Form, pleasevisitmy website.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://porter.house.govdocumentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=90", "Rep. Porter Provisions to Support Military Families and Scientific Research Signed into Law", "2019-12-23", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Katie Porter", "P000618", "porter.house.govdocumentsingle.aspx", null, null, "legacy", null, 0, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://ruiz.house.gov/media-center/e-newsletters/president-trump-signs-dr-ruizs-legislation-address-military-burn-pits-law", "President Trump Signs Dr. Ruiz's Legislation to Address Military Burn Pits into Law", "2019-12-23", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Raul Ruiz", "R000599", "ruiz.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Great news! The President signed into law my two pieces of legislation to help end the military's use of toxic burn pits and get exposed veterans the care they need. This was included in this year's National Defense Authorization Act.\nSince 2017, the story of my constituent and friend, Jennifer Kepner, anAir Force veteran who suffered from pancreatic cancer likely from her burn pit exposure, has inspired my fight to end the use of burn pits once and for all. When I sat down with Jennifer at her kitchen table and heard about her battle with cancer, I knew that we had to act for all veterans and servicemembers exposed to toxic military burn pits.\nI am thrilled with the progress we made last week to protect future generations of servicemembers from the harmful effects of burn pit exposure. Here's what my two amendments will do:\n Require the Department of Defense to submit an implementation plan to Congress tophase out the use of burn pits.\n\tRequire the Department of Defense tocompile a detailed list of all locations where the military used toxic burn pits.\n \nThis legislation is important because it helps VA providers and veterans identify the risks of cancer and autoimmune and pulmonary diseases.This will ultimately save lives and help our veterans get the care they need.\nDespite the progress we made this week, our fight isn't over. I will continue working tirelessly to get veterans exposed to burn pits the health care and benefits they have earned and deserve.\nSincerely,    \n\tRaul Ruiz, M.D.  \n\tMember of Congress", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://ruiz.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/president-trump-signs-three-dr-ruiz-s-major-legislative-priorities-law", "President Trump Signs Three of Dr. Ruiz\u2019s Major Legislative Priorities into Law", "2019-12-23", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Raul Ruiz", "R000599", "ruiz.house.gov", "ruiz", "https://ruiz.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington D.C. \u2013 Today, President Trump signed into law three major legislative priorities of Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-36) \u2013 two of which will help servicemembers and veterans affected by toxic military burn pit exposure, with the third provision more than doubling the investment in mental health services for law enforcement officers. With the President's signature today, Dr. Ruiz has now had four legislative priorities signed into law in 2019.\n\nPassing as part of the bipartisan, $738 billion National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), two pieces of Ruiz's legislation signed into law aim to end the use of toxic military burn pits. The bipartisan legislation calls on the Department of Defense to produce an implementation plan to phase out the use of active military burn pits and provide a comprehensive list of all locations where the toxic burn pits have been used.\n\n\"This is a monumental step forward in our fight to end the use of burn pits once and for all,\"said Dr. Raul Ruiz (CA-36). \"Having the list of toxic burn pit locations will help VA providers and veterans identify who is at risk for cancers, autoimmune and pulmonary diseases in order to provide treatment quickly and ultimately save lives. I am glad to share this victory with Jennifer Kepner's family and the servicemembers and veterans affected by toxic burn pit exposure.\"\n\nDr. Ruiz's amendment to double our nation's investment in mental health services for local law enforcement officers was also signed into law this week as part of the government funding bill. As a result of Dr. Ruiz's amendment and continued advocacy, funding for the Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act Grants increased from $2 million to $5 million. The funds will go toward training, peer mentoring, and mental health programs for local law enforcement officers.\n\n\"This week we celebrate more than doubling the funds for law enforcement mental health programs to address the higher rates of PTSD, suicide, and depression among peace officers as a result of their extremely stressful experience keeping our communities safe,\" said Dr. Ruiz.\"This truly was a locally inspired team effort with our local law enforcement leaders.\"\n\nBackground\n\nEach year, more than three times as many officers die by suicide than by shootings. In addition, officers are five times as likely to experience PTSD and four times as likely to experience depression than the general population.\n\nWith the President's signature this week, Dr. Ruiz now has had four provisions signed into law in 2019, focusing on health care, veterans, and law enforcement needs.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T23:45:33Z"], ["https://khanna.house.gov/media/newsletter-archive/2019-year-review", "2019 Year in Review", "2019-12-22", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Ro Khanna", "K000389", "khanna.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Happy holidays, Silicon Valley!\nAs we close out an eventful 2019, I want to reflect on the privilege it has been to represent you in Congress over the past three years. I am grateful for each of who took the time to make your voice heard by contacting me with your views and concerns. My Santa Clara and Washington, DC offices received 33,206 calls, e-mails, and letters from CA-17 residents who care deeply about their how the government works for their families and communities. Your passion is inspiring and helps me be a more informed and effective representative.\nI would like to highlight some of our work and accomplishments in Washington, DC and here in the Bay Area over the past year that has contributed to improving the lives of the people in our region and across the country.\nThe Impeachment Vote\nYesterday, I voted with a majority of my colleagues to impeach President Donald J. Trump. President Trump is now the third president in U.S. history to be impeached by the House of Representatives, with his case now moving to the Senate, which will conduct a trial that will decide whether he is to be removed from office. The President has abused his office by withholding congressionally-approved security aid to Ukraine while attempting to extort a politically beneficial investigation by Ukrainian officials. This is a clear case of President Trump placing his political interests ahead of the national interests. His conduct cannot be tolerated, and that is why I voted in favor of impeachment. I was elected, in part, to defend and uphold the rule of law in the United States. I cast my vote with this solemn duty in mind.\nWinning the Congressional Management Foundation(CMF) Democracy Award for Constituent Services\nThe Congressional Management Foundation (CMF) nominated our office as a finalist for the 2019 Democracy Awards, CMF's program recognizing non-legislative achievement by congressional offices and Members of Congress. Our office was subsequently recognized as the winner among the nominees for the best constituent services among 435 House offices. The President of CMF commented, This demonstrates that Rep. Khanna has made a significant commitment to being the best public servant for his constituents in California. Rep. Khanna and his staff are to be congratulated for not only being a model for colleagues in Congress, but for helping to restore trust and faith that our democratic institutions can work.\nCaseworkers in my Santa Clara office are available to help Silicon Valley residents navigate the bureaucracy of federal agencies. My staff can help you solve problems with immigration, visas, Social Security payments and VA paperwork, among other areas. Please note our new location at 3150 De La Cruz Blvd., Suite 240, Santa Clara, CA 95054. We are just north of the Trimble/De La Cruz exit off Highway 101.Visit my website for more information.\nOur office handles more immigration cases than any other congressional office in the region. For that work, as well as the many VA, Social Security, and other federal cases we handle, I am incredibly proud of the tremendous job we have done for our constituents.\nPassing My Fifth Piece of Legislation\nOn Tuesday, the House voted overwhelmingly (408-1) to pass my fifth bill, the Identifying Barriers and Best Practices Study Act (H.R. 4183). This simple and bipartisan bill would require the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a three-year study of disability and pension benefits that were provided to veteran members who served in special missions, such as pilots and divers, and who served on reserve components of the Armed Forces while on active duty. The multi-year study would examine disability and pension data from 2008 to 2018 in order to identify whether any barriers exist specifically for these veterans. Additionally, the study will request recommendations for overcoming those barriers for veterans. The brave men and women who served our country deserve access to the full measure of benefits they earned.\nIn addition to this important bill, I have also passed the VALOR Act, which makes it easier for veterans to access apprenticeships; the 21st Century IDEA, which improves user experience on government websites; and two resolutions regarding U.S. participation in Yemen: one which condemned crimes against humanity in the war and another which directed the withdrawal of U.S. armed forces from the conflict, absent congressional authorization.\nKeeping My Promise with 35 Consecutive Monthly Town Halls\nWhen I was first elected, I promised to hold monthly town hall meetings where constituents would be given the opportunity to ask me questions about any issue. Since February 2017, we have hosted 35 consecutive monthly town halls across CA-17. Every month I am again reminded how valuable these opportunities are to connect with our communities. I am always inspired by you at these meetings and consider your feedback to be the most important that I receive.\nRecouping Millions in Tax Dollars from Corrupt Defense Contractors\nIn May, defense contractor TransDigm refunded $16.1 million in excess profits to the Department of Defense (DoD) after I chaired a hearing of the House Oversight Committee to investigate its monopolistic business practices. The hearing was convened in response to my request of DoD's inspector to explain how TransDigm was price-gouging the U.S. Armed Forces for spare aircraft parts with profit margins of almost 4,500 percent.\nIn February, the inspector concluded that TransDigm was operating as a hidden monopolist. At the hearing, members on both sides of the aisle condemned TransDigm's behavior and demanded a refund. This is a good example of what happens when Congress exercises its oversight power to hold bad actors accountable to the American people. I was proud to lead this investigation resulting in the refund, and you can be assured that I will continue to closely monitor defense spending to improve competition and efficiency.\nSecuring Visas for Transplant Recipient in San Jose\nIn June, as reported in the San Francisco Chronicle, Lam Le and Hiep Nguyen were granted temporary visas in order to provide life-saving medical bone marrow to their brother, Tu Le of San Jose, who is undergoing treatment for a rare form of blood cancer. The two brothers applied for visitor visas in order to provide bone marrow for the procedure, but on June 3rd, 2019 were initially denied entry into the United States. I joined with Senator Harris and Rep. Zoe Lofgren to appeal to federal officials in the U.S. and the American consul in Vietnam. On June 18, 2019, we were informed that Mr. Nguyen and Mr. Le were granted B2 visas in order to donate blood.\nLocating a perfect match for a bone marrow transplant is extremely difficult. Even within one's own family, only around 30 percent of individuals in need of a transplant find a perfect match, and the chances go down for individuals of color. Thus, bringing Mr. Le's brothers to the United States for this live-saving procedure was of the utmost importance.\nYemen WPR Passes the House and Senate, Vetoed by President Trump\nIn April, the House of Representatives voted 247 to 175 to pass my bipartisan and bicameral joint resolution invoking the War Powers Resolution of 1973 to finally end unconstitutional U.S. military participation in the Saudi-led coalition's war in Yemen. This resolution was also passed by the Senate with a 54-46 bipartisan majority. Unfortunately, President Trump chose to veto the resolution and continue U.S. military complicity in the world's worst humanitarian catastrophe that has killed over 100,000 people with millions more on the brink of starvation.\nMy legislation was also passed with strong bipartisan support by the House as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act along with an amendment to prevent the U.S. from going to war with Iran. I regret that these amendments were also removed by the Senate Republican majority.\nHowever, I am encouraged by the direction Americans are pushing our party to take on foreign policy  promoting restraint and human rights, and for Congress to play a much larger role and assert its constitutional authority. We are now another step closer to ending this crisis. Our congressional pressure and the passage of our resolutions led the Trump Administration to suspend refueling of Saudi and Emirati bombers and resulted in a ceasefire at the port of Hodeida. Our bipartisan and bicameral success will also caution this and future administrations from going to war without first seeking authorization from Congress. I will not give up this fight and will continue to lead my colleagues in Congress to work with stakeholders and advocates for peace and to cut off all U.S. participation in this war.\nContinued Work to Address Odor and Airplane Noise Issues\nAddressing odor and airplane noise issues for constituents in CA-17 is one of my top priorities. This year, we successfully encouraged broad participation in the South Bay Odor Stakeholders Group and promoted group buy-in to the year-long Bay Area Air Quality Management District odor source study. Source identification will lead to improvements in mitigation, oversight and enforcement, and ultimately to improving the quality of life for residents. On airplane noise, our office has been working with the Santa Clara/Santa Cruz Counties Airport/Community Roundtable since it first convened in February of this year. We are engaged in promoting a collaborative path towards addressing community noise concerns with concrete actions.\nHonoring Local Veteran Heroes\nI was honored to present the Congressional Gold Medal to Mr. Shunso Watanabe for his service as a Nisei (second generation Japanese American) soldier during WWII and I also had the opportunity to recognize Mr. Takashi Jack Sato with a Bronze Star for his heroic service in the Korean War. These two veterans, along with six others recognized in a Veterans Day ceremony at my town hall, provide us all with role models in courage and service to our nation.\nA Few of My Op-Eds\nDon't Let China Win the Green Race\nThe New York Times\nRo Khanna and John Kerry\nThis Tax Policy Change Could Transform American Lives\nCNN\nSherrod Brown, Ro Khanna, and Bonnie Watson Coleman\nIt's Time to Secure the 2020 Election\nWashington Post\nRo Khanna, Michael McFaul, and Alex Stamos\nEnd the Afghanistan War\nUSA Today\nRo Khanna", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://aguilar.house.gov/2019/12/21/aguilar-secures-federal-funding-inland-empire-priorities-2020/", "Aguilar Secures Federal Funding for Inland Empire Priorities in 2020", "2019-12-21", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Pete Aguilar", "A000371", "aguilar.house.gov", "aguilar", "https://aguilar.house.gov/category/congress_press_release/", "scraper", "Press Releases\n\nAguilar Secures Federal Funding for Inland Empire Priorities in 2020\n\nPresident Trump signed into law H.R. 1865 and H.R. 1158, two legislative packages to provide government funding for fiscal year (FY) 2020. The funding bills included two key provisions offered by Rep. Pete Aguilar.\n\nThe first was added by Rep. Aguilar to the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development appropriations bill and encourages the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to reevaluate the formula that determines Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan limits in regions like San Bernardino County with Metropolitan Statistical Areas of 1,300 square miles or more. The changes would result in higher FHA loan limits and would increase access to affordable loans and increase home ownership rates in communities like the Inland Empire.\n\nThe second provision added by Aguilar secures an additional $3 million for the Department of Defense (DoD) Cyber Scholarship Program, bringing annual funding for next year to $10 million. The program grants full tuition to eligible students pursuing degrees in the cyber security field, including students at California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB).\n\n\u201cFrom helping more Inland Empire families become homeowners, to giving students in our community the training they need to secure good-paying jobs, my job in Congress is to support Inland Empire residents and make sure our community has the resources it needs. I fought for these provisions because they\u2019ll have tangible impacts on the lives of San Bernardino County residents, and I\u2019m proud they were signed into law by the president,\u201d said Rep. Aguilar.\n\nIn addition to the legislation added by Rep. Aguilar, these bipartisan funding bills include other key priorities for the Inland Empire, such as increased funding for gun violence prevention research and full funding for the 2020 Census. Rep. Aguilar added his provisions to the funding bills through his role on the House Appropriations Committee, where he serves as Vice Chair.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T23:45:33Z"], ["https://aguilar.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/aguilar-secures-federal-funding-inland-empire-priorities-2020", "Aguilar Secures Federal Funding for Inland Empire Priorities in 2020", "2019-12-21", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Pete Aguilar", "A000371", "aguilar.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "President Trump signed into law H.R. 1865 and H.R. 1158, two legislative packages to provide government funding for fiscal year (FY) 2020. The funding bills included two key provisions offered by Rep. Pete Aguilar.\nThe first was added by Rep. Aguilar to the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development appropriations bill and encourages the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to reevaluate the formula that determines Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan limits in regions like San Bernardino County with Metropolitan Statistical Areas of 1,300 square miles or more. The changes would result in higher FHA loan limits and would increase access to affordable loans and increase home ownership rates in communities like the Inland Empire.\nThe second provision added by Aguilar secures an additional $3 million for the Department of Defense (DoD) Cyber Scholarship Program, bringing annual funding for next year to $10 million. The program grants full tuition to eligible students pursuing degrees in the cyber security field, including students at California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB).\nFrom helping more Inland Empire families become homeowners, to giving students in our community the training they need to secure good-paying jobs, my job in Congress is to support Inland Empire residents and make sure our community has the resources it needs. I fought for these provisions because they'll have tangible impacts on the lives of San Bernardino County residents, and I'm proud they were signed into law by the president, said Rep. Aguilar.\nIn addition to the legislation added by Rep. Aguilar, these bipartisan funding bills include other key priorities for the Inland Empire, such as increased funding for gun violence prevention research and full funding for the 2020 Census. Rep. Aguilar added his provisions to the funding bills through his role on the House Appropriations Committee, where he serves as Vice Chair.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://speier.house.gov/press-releases?ID=2471D5D3-1394-4C59-9C8C-B2A6F7FB11DB", "Rep. Speier Leads Congressional Effort to Combat Airport Noise, Improve Government Transparency", "2019-12-21", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Jackie Speier", "S001175", "speier.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "San Mateo, CA  Today, Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D-CA) and Congresswoman Anna Eshoo (D-CA), announced the introduction of five bills to mitigate the scourge of airport noise that plagues communities across the country. Rep. Speier introduced an additional three bills to further address health problems tied to this pernicious form of noise pollution that impacts residents in her congressional district.\r\nThe nonstop noise from flights is seriously affecting residents sleep, mental health, and overall quality of life, Rep. Speier said. There is a certain expectation for noise when living near an airport, but this crosses a line. Residents who are at their wits end have used every available public channel to address this issue to no avail. Our legislation would create new pathways for change and improve overall responsiveness by the FAA  a public agency that has a responsibility to be accountable to the people. I appreciate all of the hard work and engagement from residents and local elected officials, as well as my colleagues in Congress, over the past several years. My constituents are long overdue for some peace and quiet.\r\nAdditional congressional action is needed to address the excessive aircraft noise over my Congressional District, and its why Ive joined my Bay Area colleagues to introduce five bills to allow flight curfews; ensure community engagement in FAA flight procedure; make the FAA responsible for noise pollution; enhance Congressional oversight; and empower local governments, Rep. Eshoo said. I wont give up on this issue until my constituents are relieved from the racket plaguing our communities.\r\nI have heard from constituents and I have heard the airplanes overhead, and I believe that the current noise levels in many communities on the central coast of California are far too high. That is why I am proud to join Representatives Speier and Eshoo to create new standards around airplane noise that respect the health, safety, and welfare of our communities, Rep. Panetta said. These bills are effective solutions to provide the much needed relief for the residents of the Central Coast and people across the country who are affected by airport noise on a daily basis.\r\nOur constituents are exhausted by the intensified airline noise they are experiencing due to the implementation of NextGen, said San Mateo County Supervisor Dave Pine, a longtime member of the San Francisco International Airport (SFO) Community Roundtable and whose district includes SFO. These bills seek to hold the FAA accountable for the noise and health impacts aircraft have on communities. The proposed voluntary nighttime curfew could provide some relief  and maybe some sleep.\r\nThese bills would remove all the roadblocks to progress that have existed for decades. Noise has never been a priority for the FAA. Noise has been magnified in recent years. As aviation continues to evolve, we have to keep in mind those below the aircraft, said South San Francisco Councilmember Mark Addiego.\r\nTo combat the bane of airport noise in affected communities, Rep. Speier has introduced the following three bills:\r\n Serious Noise Reduction Efforts Act (SNORE) Act: Establishes a program at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to noise insulate 200+ homes per year in specific areas or provide financial support to the cities impacted by noise.    Southbound HUSSH and NIITE Help Households (SHHH) Act: Supports formally initiating and continuing the standard processing of the proposed San Francisco International Airport (SFO) NIITE Departure Southbound Transition and the Oakland International Airport (OAK) HUSSH Departure Southbound Transition.    Low-frequency Energetic Acoustics and Vibrations Exasperate (LEAVE) Act: As an airplane leaves from an airport, its takeoff generates significant amounts of ground-based low-frequency noise and vibration impacting residents in the vicinity. The bill would lead to the establishment of standards and remedies related to ground-based noise (GBN). If enacted, the bill would permit a state cause of action for GBN if a state has undertaken a study of GBN at an airport, set a maximum, and the airport then exceeds the maximum, leading to substantial negative impacts on the community.\r\n  Rep. Speier was joined by Rep. Eshoo and Rep. Jimmy Panetta (CA-20) in the introduction of another five bills that focused on providing new methods to mitigate airport noise, prioritize health impacts of noise, and improve community engagement: \n Restore Everyones Sleep Tonight (REST) Act: Allows airports, at their option, to impose a curfew, under specified circumstances, at any time between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.   All Participating in Process Reaching Informed Solutions for Everyone (APPRISE) Act: Ensures that community knowledge and input is represented in the FAA flight procedure design process. An aviation roundtable technical representative will be allowed to fully participate in the FAA procedure design process for procedures affecting their communities.    Fairness in Airspace Includes Residents (FAIR) Act: Amends the FAAs prioritization of U.S. airspace use. Safety in managing U.S. airspace would remain the first priority. Secondary priorities would put noise and health impacts to residents and other environmental concerns on an equal basis with efficiency.    Responsive Employees Support Productive Educated Congressional Talk (RESPECT) Act: Requires FAA staff to answer questions submitted in writing by Members of Congress relating to flight procedures or other data affecting their district within 90 days and requires FAA staff to appear at a meeting or town hall with a Member of Congress with 30 days notice.   Notified Officials to Inform Fully and Impel Educated Decisions (NOTIFIED) Act: If a new or modified flight path is proposed through the FAA Procedure Based Navigation (PBN) process, the FAA would be required to notify City Councils, Boards of Supervisors, Members of Congress, and Aviation Roundtables within 5 miles of the flight path in question.\r\nOne-pagers of the bills are attached to this press release.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/122119", "Dear Colleague on Legislative Progress", "2019-12-21", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Nancy Pelosi", "P000197", "www.speaker.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Dear Democratic Colleague,\nAs we reflect on the blessings of family, community and country during this holiday season, I write to express my deep gratitude to you and to all Members of our Democratic Caucus for your courage, unity and outstanding leadership For The People.\nThis week, the House solemnly honored our oath of office by passing the articles of impeachment. It now remains for the Senate to present the rules under which we will proceed. We can then appoint managers. The vote on the Floor was overwhelming and inspiring, and the number of people who want to be mangers is indicative of our strong case.\nWe should all be proud of the courage of our Caucus and of our outstanding legislative action. In the last ten days of session alone, we passed H.R. 3, The Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act, passed a strong National Defense Authorization Act, kept government open by passing a robust bipartisan appropriations package that meets the needs of the American people, lifted the unfair SALT tax on middle class families and passed a transformative U.S.-Canada-Mexico Trade Agreement that is worthy of the American people.\nIn the first year of our Majority, Democrats have achieved historic progress to deliver on our For The People agenda.\n For lowering health care costs, we passed our landmark H.R. 3, The Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act, to dramatically reduce the price of prescription drugs, and bills to protect people with pre-existing conditions, crack down on junk plans and reverse the GOP health care sabotage that has driven up premiums and left more Americans without coverage.\n For increasing paychecks, we passed the Paycheck Fairness Act to secure equal pay for equal work, the Raise the Wage Act for a $15 federal minimum wage, and, again, a transformative U.S.-Canada-Mexico Trade Agreement.\n For cleaner government, we passed H.R. 1, the For The People Act, and H.R. 4, the Voting Rights Advancement Act, so that government works for the public interest, not the special interests.\nWe have passed more than 400 bills, of which 275 are bipartisan, which the Senate refuses to bring to the Floor, including bipartisan background checks legislation, the Dream and Promise Act, the Equality Act, the Climate Action Now Act, the Save the Internet Act, the SAFE Act to protect our elections, a strong VAWA Reauthorization, the Butch Lewis Act to protect pensions, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, the Deborah Sampson Act to reduce barriers for women veterans to access VA, and much more.\nWhen we return in the New Year, House Democrats will continue to accelerate a drumbeat to make our legislation too hot to handle until Senator McConnell, the Grim Reaper, takes up our bills, which are alive and well with the American people. As we do so, we will continue our legislative action For The People, with confidence in our mission to meet the needs of the American people, humility in how we go forward and patriotism and love in our hearts.\nAs we prepare to face the important challenges ahead, we must all take time to enjoy family and friends. Please accept my thanks and warmest personal regards for a glorious Holiday Season and a joyous Happy New Year.\nThank you for your leadership and your friendship.\nbest regards,", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://roybal-allard.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401663", "Maternity Care Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Roybal-Allard and Herrera Beutler Celebrate Maternity Care Victories in Appropriations Bill", "2019-12-20", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Lucille Roybal-Allard", "R000486", "roybal-allard.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, Congresswomen Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-40) and Jaime Herrera Beutler (WA-03), members of the Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Subcommittee and founding Co-Chairs of the Congressional Caucus on Maternity Care, celebrated key Maternity Care Caucus priorities that were included in HR 1865, the FY 2020 domestic appropriations bill which funds the Department of Health and Human Services.The U.S. spends significantly more per capita on childbirth than any other industrialized nation, but continues to rank far behind almost all other developed countries in healthy birth outcomes for both mothers and babies. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates 700 American women die annually due to pregnancy or delivery complications -- and this maternal mortality crisis is just the tip of the iceberg. U.S. infant mortality rates are higher than 33 other similarly wealthy countries, and more than 50,000 American women per year experience severe complications in pregnancy that adversely impact their health. These largely preventable tragedies at birth are most often found in communities of color. In addition, our nation has made some of the slowest progress in the world in reducing stillbirth rates, has unacceptably high rates of preterm births and cesarean sections, and is not adequately diagnosing and treating postpartum depression. I am proud we have won these fights to prioritize investments in critical maternal and infant health programs in this appropriations bill, said Rep. Roybal-Allard. These robust funding choices will help address pervasive health disparities that disproportionately impact mothers and babies in our minority communities. As Maternity Caucus Co-Chair, I believe we must make optimal maternal and infant health a national priority. I will keep working with my co-chair Congresswoman Herrera Beutler to robustly fund programs that have been shown to improve maternity care services and result in healthier mothers and babies in all our communities.\r\n  \r\nThe well-being of our nation is tied to us prioritizing the health and safety of mothers and their babies, said Rep. Herrera Beutler. As co-founder of the bipartisan Maternity Care Caucus, I'm thrilled we were able to advance critical funding to support moms including screening for maternal depression, midwifery education and advocacy, and expand maternal mortality review committees. I will continue to work with Congresswoman Roybal-Allard and my colleagues from both parties to improve crucial life-saving services for moms and babies.\r\n  \r\nKey Maternity Care Caucus priorities that were robustly funded in the measure include:  \r\n $687 million for the Maternal and Child Health Block Grant, a program that creates federal/state partnerships that enable each state/jurisdiction to address the health services needs of its mothers, infants and children, including children with special health care needs, and their families.  \r\n $125.5 million for the Healthy Start Program, which sustains a network of community-based programs that support low-income and disadvantaged pregnant women and their families.  \r\n $2.5 million within the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students to educate Midwives and to increase the diversity of the maternity care workforce.  \r\n $17.88 million for the HRSA Heritable Disorders Newborn Screening Program, which strengthens the newborn screening system to ensure infants born in every state receive rapid identification, early intervention, and potentially life-saving treatment.  \r\n $5 million for the HRSA Screening and Treatment for Maternal Depression Program.  \r\n $17 million for the CDC Newborn Screening Quality Assurance program, which provides unique technical experience and laboratory capabilities to help state public health labs establish testing for new conditions identified by newborn screening tests, and ensure test results for new conditions are accurate.  \r\n $58 million for the CDC Safe Motherhood Programs, which support a broad range of activities to improve the health of mothers and babies and reduce disparities in maternal and infant health outcomes.  \r\n   o $12 million of that money will be used to expand maternal mortality review committees.  \r\n $9 million for the CDC Hospitals Promoting Breastfeeding Initiative to help hospitals and other health systems increase breastfeeding initiation and duration rates, and eliminate inequities in breastfeeding support.  \r\n $1.56 billion for the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, which supports research on the causes and interventions for maternal and infant mortality and morbidity health disparities. HR 1865 was approved by both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate this week, and the president is expected to sign it by the December 20 midnight deadline. In 2015, the Congresswomen co-founded the bipartisan Caucus on Maternity Care to raise awareness about the status of childbirth in this country and the challenges facing America's maternity care system. ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.feinstein.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=C25B72FA-86FA-4B7D-B210-EED8B7530730", "Congress Approves Record-Level Climate Emergency Funding", "2019-12-20", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Dianne Feinstein", "F000062", "www.feinstein.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WashingtonSenator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), ranking member of the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee, today released the following statement on climate change provisions in the fiscal year 2020 Energy and Water Development appropriations bill that Congress passed last week:\r\nAs part of the funding package that Congress passed this week, we approved one the most sweeping bills ever to combat climate change. This year's energy and water funding bill takes the issue seriously and funds key programs that will actually address the climate emergency. \r\nOur bill provides the most funding ever for renewable energy programs and scientific research. For the first time it includes funding for programs to remove carbon from the atmosphere. \r\nThis funding bill represents concrete steps to combat climate change, but much more needs to be done. I'd like to thank Chairman Lamar Alexander and our House counterparts, Chairwoman Marcy Kaptur and Ranking Member Mike Simpson, for working closely with me to take this important first step. \r\nClean and Renewable Energy Funding\r\n \r\nA record $2.85 billion for the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy program, an increase of nearly $500 million over last year, to fund critical research to reduce the cost and accelerate adoption of carbon-free renewable energy.\r\n$7 billion for the Department of Energy's Office of Science, an increase of $415 million over last year, which supports advanced and sustainable energy research.\r\n$60 million is included in first-time funding for research on how to cost-effectively remove carbon directly from the air.\r\nThe highest-ever funding level for the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, which funds research and supports the development of cutting-edge energy companies.\r\n \r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.feinstein.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=D986D0A7-0FFE-463A-86BE-7C745149D5F0", "Senate Passes Bipartisan One Health Awareness Month Resolution", "2019-12-20", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Dianne Feinstein", "F000062", "www.feinstein.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WashingtonThe Senate yesterday unanimously passed a bipartisan resolution introduced by Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Martha McSally (R-Ariz.) designating January as National One Health Awareness Month to promote collaboration between public, animal and environmental health scientists.\r\nOne Health is a relatively new term being used by health experts  including at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  to better focus on the linkages between human, animal and environmental health and the need to develop comprehensive solutions. For instance, public health specialists are now working with physicians and veterinarians to minimize the inappropriate use of antibiotics in human and animal patients to combat antibiotic resistance.\r\nBy using the One Health' approach, global health problems including antibiotic resistance and the spread of infectious diseases can be more easily addressed, Senator Feinstein said. Our resolution will hopefully draw attention to the need for holistic approaches to addressing human health that take into account changes in environmental and animal health. With diminishing resources and a growing human population, fighting problems with a One Health' approach must be encouraged now more than ever.\r\nThe health of our population is dependent on the interconnection of people, animals, and the environment, said Senator McSally. I was glad to join Senator Feinstein in introducing this resolution designating January as National One Health Awareness Month to promote One Health' and its growing collaboration in order to make our world a healthier place.\r\nFull text of the resolution follows:\r\nDesignating January 2020 as ``National One Health Awareness Month'' to promote awareness of organizations focused on public health, animal health, and environmental health collaboration throughout the United States and to recognize the critical contributions of those organizations to the future of the United States.\r\nWhereas One Health is a collaborative, multisectoral, and transdisciplinary approach, working at the local, regional, national, and global levels, with the goal of achieving optimal health outcomes recognizing the interconnection between people, animals, plants, and their shared environment;\r\nWhereas the mission of One Health is to establish closer professional interactions, collaborations, and educational opportunities across the various medical, veterinary, and environmental health professions and their allied science professions to simultaneously improve public health, animal health, and environmental health;\r\nWhereas the increasing threats posed by emerging diseases shared between animals and people, foodborne, vector-borne, and waterborne diseases, and other environmental factors may support the need for an integrated effort by professionals from multiple disciplines, including health, science, technology, and engineering;\r\nWhereas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, up to 75 percent of new or emerging infectious diseases in people are spread by animals;\r\nWhereas, each year, International One Health Day is November 3; and\r\nWhereas One Health is essential to combating and strengthening the surveillance of emerging and reemerging diseases: Now, therefore, be it\r\nResolved, That the Senate designates January 2020 as National One Health Awareness Month to\r\n \r\npromote awareness of organizations that focus on One Health efforts to improve the quality of life for people and animals;\r\nrecognize the efforts made by such organizations in using a One Health approach to prevent epidemics; and\r\nrecognize the importance of using the One Health approach to simultaneously protect the health of people, animals, plants, and the environment in the United States.\r\n \r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bass.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-bass-secure-child-welfare-wins-2020-funding-deal", "Rep. Bass To Secure Child Welfare Wins In 2020 Funding Deal", "2019-12-20", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Karen Bass", "B001270", "bass.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  Today, Congressmember Karen Bass (D-Calif.), co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth, will secure the following wins when the two consolidated appropriations acts passed by the House of Representatives earlier this week are signed into law.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://carbajal.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=622", "Rep. Carbajal: 2019 in Numbers", "2019-12-20", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Salud Carbajal", "C001112", "carbajal.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, Rep. Salud Carbajal released a numerical summary of 2019 accomplishments on the Central Coast and in the U.S. House of Representatives. The summary includes the number of constituents served, number of bills Carbajal introduced, community events held and more. See the full summary below.\r\nIt has been a memorable year for our district and for our nation at large. I'm proud of what we achieved for our environment, health care, safety and democracy, said Rep. Carbajal. I'm also proud that, as a community, we continued coming together to address our challenges, talk about our priorities and fight for our common goals. I look forward to next year and I promise to keep working in the House majority to secure more wins and further amplify the voice of our Central Coast.\r\n\r\n\r\n    \r\n        \r\n            \r\n        \r\n    \r\n\r\n\r\n  \r\nThis year, Rep. Carbajal:\r\n \r\n    Hosted over 30 community events including town halls, roundtables and sidewalk office hours.\r\n    Responded to over 80,000 constituent letters.\r\n    Introduced 20 bills on issues ranging from environmental protections, affordable education and a strong agriculture workforce to gun violence prevention, maritime safety and disaster preparedness.\r\n    Helped over 700 constituents get $752,675.27 back through casework assistance with federal agencies.\r\n    Served as a member of the House Armed Services and Agriculture Committees, and served as vice chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.\r\n    Supported a wide variety of bills that stand up for Central Coast values. Fifty-two percent of the bills Rep. Carbajal co-sponsored in 2019 were bipartisan efforts.\r\n    As a whole, the democratically controlled House has passed more than 275 bipartisan bills that are waiting for action from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.\r\n \r\n\r\nRep. Salud Carbajal represents California's 24th congressional district, encompassing Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and part of Ventura County.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://cardenas.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/c-rdenas-correa-escobar-call-investigation-reports-cbp-officials-issuing", "Crdenas, Correa, Escobar Call for Investigation into Reports of CBP Officials Issuing Fake Court Notices to Asylees", "2019-12-20", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Tony C\u00e1rdenas", "C001097", "cardenas.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC Today, Congressman Tony CrdenasCA-29), along with Representatives J. Luis Correa (CA-46) and Veronica Escobar (TX-16), led a coalition of more than 50 House Members in calling on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) to open an investigation into recent reports that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials are issuing fake court notices and barring refugees from entering the United States after being granted asylum. In a letter to the DHS OIG, the congressional delegation asked that a full report of the investigation be sent to the United States House of Representatives and should agency officials be found criminally liable that they are held accountable.\nThe letter was signed by Rep. Tony Crdenas (CA-29); Rep. J. Luis Correa (CA-46); Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Rep. Pete Aguilar (CA-31); Rep. Don Beyer Jr. (VA-08); Rep. Earl Blumenauer (OR-03); Rep. Andre Carson (IN-07); Rep. Katherine Castor (FL-11); Rep. Judy Chu (CA-27); Rep. Gil Cisneros (CA-39); Rep. Katherine Clark (MA-05); Rep. Gerry Connolly (VA-11); Rep. Peter DeFazio (OR-04); Rep. Rosa DeLauro (CT-03); Rep. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13); Rep. Bill Foster (IL-14); Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-07); Rep. Jess \"Chuy\" Garca (IL-4); Rep. Sylvia Garcia (TX-29); Rep. John Garamendi (CA-03); Rep. Jimmy Gomez (CA-34); Rep. Ral Grijalva (AZ-03); Rep. Pramila Jayapal (WA-07); Rep. Ro Khanna (CA-17); Rep. Zoe Lofgren (CA-19); Rep. Alan Lowenthal (CA-47); Rep. Jim McGovern (MA-2); Rep. Jerry Nadler (NY-10); Rep. Grace Napolitano (CA-32); Rep. Joe Neguse (CO-02); Rep. Scott Peters (CA-52); Rep. Kathleen Rice (NY-4); Rep. Linda Snchez (CA-38); Rep. Jan Schakowsky (IL-09); Rep. Darren Soto (FL-09); Rep. Mark Takano (CA-41); Rep. Norma Torres (CA-35); Rep. Rashida Tlaib (MI-13); Rep. Juan Vargas (CA-51); Rep. Maxine Waters (CA-43); Rep. Peter Welch (VT); Rep Susan Wild (PA-07); Rep. Nydia Velzquez (NY-07); Rep. Danny K. Davis (CA-53); Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23); Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC); Rep. Karen Bass (CA-37); Rep. Jimmy Panetta (CA-20); rep. Jared Huffman (CA-02)\nAccording to news reports, refugees who have been granted asylum are intentionally being given incorrect information by CBP officials as a strategy to keep them out of the U.S. This type of behavior by a government agency is abhorrent, violates the rule of law, and is antithetical to our values and the very essence of what we stand for as a nation, the Members wrote. We request that DHS Inspector General answer our questions, investigate this matter, and issue a full report to the United States House of Representatives. Additionally, if the investigation finds that officials are criminally liable, we demand that they are held accountable immediately and referred to the Department of Justice for prosecution.\nThe text of the letter is copied below, and the full letter can be found here.\n\n\nDecember 20, 2019\n\nThe Honorable Joseph V. Cuffari\nInspector General\nU.S. Department of Homeland Security\n245 Murray Lane SW\nWashington, D.C. 20528\n\n\nDear Inspector General Cuffari:\n\nWe write to request the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) open an investigation into recent reports that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials are issuing fake court notices and barring refugees from entering the United States after being granted asylum. According to news reports, refugees who have been granted asylum are intentionally being given incorrect information by CBP officials as a strategy to keep them out of the U.S. This type of behavior by a government agency is abhorrent, violates the rule of law, and is antithetical to our values and the very essence of what we stand for as a nation.\nIn January, DHS began implementation of the so-called Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) a policy that has broad disapproval from lawmakers. Under MPP, families and children fleeing violence and seeking asylum are forced to remain in Mexico as they wait for their asylum case to be adjudicated. To date, over 54,000 migrants have been placed in this program.\nReports indicate four individuals have been denied the ability to stay in the U.S. after being granted asylum. In one case, a Cuban refugee was forced by DHS to return to Mexico even after his request for asylum in the U.S. was granted by a judge because DHS decided to appeal his case. These appeals can take months or even years to complete.\nThis is not an insignificant burden. People who are forced to remain in Mexico face ongoing threats of murder, sexual violence, kidnapping, and other harm. To date, the State Department designated 31 travel advisories in Mexico including five Mexican states explicitly noting do not travel due to unsafe conditions in Mexico. The warning notes that these states are hotspots of drug cartel activity and are either hosting trafficking routes or extensive drug-crop cultivation. The fact that federal government officials are putting people at risk and forcing refugees who have been granted asylum to remain in Mexico is unacceptable. CBP officials are allegedly providing fraudulent documents to refugees who have already been adjudicated as needing protection in an effort to dissuade them from staying in the country. Even CBP Acting Commissioner Mark Morgan recently stated, that [fake documents] shouldn't be happening. We need immediate answers about these practices.\nWe call for a full and thorough investigation to determine the extent of these practices, examining, among other things the following questions:\n Were CBP officials given any guidance with regards to individuals who obtained relief (this includes musters, official guidance from CBP or DHS leadership)?\n\tWas CBP or DHS leadership aware that officials were issuing fake hearing notices to asylum seekers who had been granted asylum to the U.S.? When did CBP officials start issuing fake hearing notices to asylum recipients? Who approved such notices?\n\tIf CBP confirms such notices, provide the following information on individuals who have been returned to Mexico following an immigration judge's decision to grant any form of relief or terminate the case, including:\n  Nationality;\n\tFamily Unit status;\n\tWhether they were granted relief or had their case terminated;\n\tPort of entry at which they were returned to Mexico;\n\tDate of the relief grant or termination;\n\tDate that CBP has asked them to return to the port of entry;\n\tWhether ICE OPLA in fact sought an appeal in their case, and the status of any such appeal;\n\tWhether the individual in fact returned to the port of entry on the date provided on the MPP tear sheet.\n  Have CBP officials provided any guidance to officers on how to process individuals who return to a port of entry on the date listed on the MPP tear sheet, who do not have a court hearing because they have previously been granted relief or have had their cases terminated?\n\tHas the Inspector General received complaints on this issue? If so, when were they received and how many?\n\tHow many fake hearing notices have been provided to asylum recipients to date?\n\tHas any CBP senior official intimated or explicitly ordered CBP officers to issue false documents to asylum seekers?\n We request that DHS Inspector General answer our questions, investigate this matter, and issue a full report to the United States House of Representatives. Additionally, if the investigation finds that officials are criminally liable, we demand that they are held accountable immediately and referred to the Department of Justice for prosecution.\nWe look forward to a prompt response to our above concerns.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://cisneros.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-cisneros-announces-ca-39-district-congressional-app-challenge-winners", "Rep. Cisneros Announces CA-39 District Congressional  App Challenge Winners", "2019-12-20", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Gilbert Cisneros", "C001123", "cisneros.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "FULLERTON, CA  Today, Representative Gilbert R. Cisneros, Jr. (CA-39) announced the winning team for the 2019 Congressional App Challenge (CAC) for California's 39th District: Lillian Lee, Thomas Li, and Jeffrey Liu from Glen A. Wilson High School. Their winning mobile app entitled weSearch provides a platform for people to better organize, update, and carry out search parties to find missing people. The features of the app include a listing page of detailed information on the missing person, the ability to join a search party, a built-in chat to communicate with other members of the party, and a map to track movement and coverage.\nThe District Staff of Representative Cisneros recognized and celebrated the winning students and participants during an awards ceremony on Tuesday night. The CA-39 CAC had 74 participants from various middle and high schools and teamed up with the Fullerton School District to include 60 elementary school participants.\nIt's clear that the students in the 39th District are exceptional. I want to congratulate Lillian, Thomas, and Jeffrey from Glen A. Wilson High School for winning the Congressional App Challenge with their innovative app, weSearch, said Rep. Cisneros. Along with our continued support for STEAM education, it's this type of hard work, creativity, and ingenuity that will help solve major problems in our community and country. Thank you to all the 39th District students who participated in this app challenge and the educators who teach, encourage, and inspire them every day.\n\"It's great to see how far the team has come, especially considering just how much work they've put into this app since the beginning of the school year. I believe that each student added their own special element to the app and they were able to come together to produce something that was really special, said Courtney Bushyeager, Advisor of the Code Team at Glen A. Wilson High School.\n  \n\tJacki Cisneros (Congressman Cisneros' wife) with winners Jeffrey Liu and Lillian Lee. (Not pictured: Thomas Li)\nThe following are Lilian, Thomas, and Jeffrey's accompanied responses with their submitted app:\nAbout this App:\nAccording to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, hundreds of thousands of US citizens alone go missing annually, yet there is little technology that addresses this problem. Our app, weSearch, strives to undertake the goal of decreasing these high numbers by providing a platform where search parties can be efficiently organized and carried out, and where people are given another method of circulating the news of their missing loved ones.\nweSearch is easily accessible due to it being a mobile web app, and its functions are intuitive enough so that they can be quickly learned by users. One of our main features, the listings page, allows users to click on a report to view detailed information on the missing person and join the search party for them immediately. From there, users can communicate with each other with a built-in chat for that specific search party instead of going through the hassle of exchanging phone numbers or using another third-party app.\nEach search party is also equipped with a map. When each user is connected to the app, their locations will be tracked so that all party members will know where everyone has been. This prevents someone from getting lost while searching and also allows people to quickly locate each other. Furthermore, the map shows through a heat-map-like display to show how thoroughly an area has been searched. Red means that the area has already been thoroughly searched and that the user should search elsewhere, and nothing at all means that the area has not yet been searched. It saves time by ensuring that search parties are maximizing their time in order to search as efficiently as possible.\nThough weSearch is mainly dedicated towards organizing search parties, it additionally assists those who want to get the word out about a missing person. As mentioned before, weSearch has a listings page that displays reports for missing persons. These reports can be user-submitted, meaning that anyone can post a report about their missing family and friends, granting them a greater chance for them to be reunited.\nInspiration:\nOne day when we were talking to a friend of ours, he brought up something interesting that he learned in his psychology class: the missing child experiment. Researchers placed fake missing child posters all over town and then had the missing child stand nearby. The results of the experiment showed that only a couple individuals out of hundreds took action. The experiment confirmed a phenomenon, called the unresponsive bystander effect, which states that if others are around, bystanders believe that they don't need to do anything since somebody else could handle the issue.\nMissing people tear families apart, cause distress and worry from close friends, and bring about immense pain to the missing person's loved ones to the point that they suffer as much the missing person themselves. The fact that people didn't bother to give enough attention to or take action in the search for missing people was extremely unsettling.\nWhen someone is reported missing, search parties are formed, missing posters are plastered everywhere, and Amber Alerts flood phones. Clearly, the problem does not lie in the circulation of the news but the community. As stated in the unresponsive bystander effect, people are unwilling to involve themselves in a situation where they will be inconvenienced, even when viewing missing people reports and alerts. This defeats the alerts' whole purpose of garnering the attention that the victims deserve.\nThus, while weSearch's main purpose is to organize search groups efficiently while also providing the tools to do so in order to find more missing people, it also serves to connect the world together in order to help promote the search for them. We believe it to be absolutely essential for there to be a solution which would encourage and develop community engagement in searching for these people. The heartbreak that families and friends experience during this extended period of loss is too much a problem to leave unattended. Planning to overcome the barrier of the unresponsive bystander effect, our team hopes to encourage and, ultimately, increase participation in the search for missing people by building a community of active searchers and reporters to relieve the heartache that millions of families undergo.\nProblems while making app:\nCSS, the language used to style websites, was an area in which we had several issues throughout our project. Many of these issues occurred because editing the styling in one file would occasionally result in undesired changes in others. For example, altering the size of the logo in the header, which was based on its parent's container size, would work for one page, but would consequently make the logo too big on another since the container would be sized differently depending on the page. Thankfully, GitHub allows for a sort of version control; we were able to fix errors by going back into GitHub commits to pinpoint exactly what change caused the error. From there, we were able to recover a working version and resolve the problem quickly.\nAnother challenge that we faced was about the heatmap interface. At first, we took a screenshot of a Google Maps around our area and then put that directly onto a canvas. However, this was impractical since we had no easy way to obtain map tiles. Any map that we wanted would have to be taken as a screenshot from Google Maps first, which is highly impractical in the long run. Furthermore, searches would be limited to the boundary set by the image. We researched online to look for potential solutions and found a map API (publicly available code created by other people) called Leaflet that allowed us to draw directly over the map tiles which was possible because Leaflet provided its own map images, allowing us to easily pass the coordinates from the phone's GPS to Leaflet where it would draw markers representing each person's location over the map.\nAnother obstacle that we had to overcome was how, on the map, markers would be duplicated whenever it was updating someone's location. This issue was resolved by using Javascript objects to cache the markers which allowed for existing markers to be moved instead of adding a new marker to the map each time. Since Javascript objects allow association between a variable and another variable, it was possible to associate each user with their own marker. When a user had to be updated, the program would check if there was an existing association for the user; if there was one, then the position of the marker would be updated. Otherwise, a new marker would be created and then matched with that new user.\nImprovements to make in the Future:\nIf we were to make improvements to our app weSearch, we would add much more functionality and improve its user-friendliness to make the user experience in the app more enjoyable.\nOur first improvement would be to add filters on what is shown in the listings. Currently, the app shows all the reports that have ever been submitted by users. If we're expecting a global audience to participate in the search for missing people, we can't expect them to be scrolling through millions of submitted reports. Instead, what could be done is setting up filters and a search in order to show only the reports relevant to what the user wishes to view. Possible filters could be sorting by location, the date last seen, and more. An added search bar would make the process even faster by directly pulling key terms from the reports, such as the missing person's name. This would further increase participation in the community since it shows more plausible searches for the user based on their preferences.\nThe second improvement that we would like to work on is the map. Currently, the live GPS data from the user does not update very frequently as motion is shown in a staggered. To prevent this from happening, we plan on making the map update the GPS location of the users more frequently. This update comes with the additional benefit of obtaining more precise data of where the user has been searching and for how long. It not only benefits the user, but also supplies other search party members with the more accurate data so that they can maximize their time searching.\nA third improvement that we would like to make is to the chat room. Currently, the only functions on the chat are sending messages and photos. Though we have the bare basics of a chat, we hope to develop a button to start or join a video call. The searchers will then be able to talk to each other live without the hassle of texting if they are too occupied or an emergency comes up. Furthermore, if they have headsets, they can search handsfree if they need to dig around the area for clues as to where the missing person has gone. Everyone knows that communication is key, and improving it can only help the search go faster.\n---\nAbout the Congressional App Challenge\nIn 2013, the House of Representatives passed the Academic Competition Resolution of 2013 that establishes an annual academic competition in the fields of STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) to be held among students in each congressional district. Under partnership with the Internet Education Foundation, the first official CAC was launched in 2015 with the hope of inspiring students across the United States to find interest and pursue careers in computer science. Now in its fifth year, the CAC has become a way for young coders across the country to showcase their technological capabilities and be recognized for their use of new and emerging tech.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://cisneros.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-cisneros-cosponsors-bipartisan-legislation-restore-servicemembers-ability", "Rep. Cisneros Cosponsors Bipartisan Legislation to Restore Servicemembers Ability to Transfer Education Benefits", "2019-12-20", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Gilbert Cisneros", "C001123", "cisneros.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC - Representative Gilbert R. Cisneros, Jr. (CA-39) cosponsored bipartisan legislation to restore eligibility to servicemembers seeking to transfer their educational benefits to dependents. The Post-9/11 GI Bill Transferability Entitlement Act ensures that all servicemembers who have completed ten years of service in the Armed Forces are eligible to transfer their benefits to dependents at any time, both while serving on active duty and as a veteran.\nCongress has a responsibility to fulfill the promises it has made to our men and women in uniform, said Rep. Cisneros. As a Navy Veteran, I'm disappointed that the Department of Defense's policy makes it harder for our servicemembers  who have sacrificed so much for our country  to transfer their education benefits to their family. Today, I'm joining my colleagues in correcting this injustice and ensuring every veteran and servicemember and their family get the benefits they've earned.\nA recent Department of Defense (DoD) policy change requires servicemembers to commit an additional four years of military service at the time of their application to transfer benefits. The policy change also prevents servicemembers with more than sixteen years of military service from transferring education benefits to their eligible dependents. Representative Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-20) introduced the legislation, and Representatives Jason Crow (D-CO-06), Adam Kinzinger (R-IL-16), and Michael Waltz (R-FL-06) joined Rep. Cisneros in cosponsoring it.\n\"By requiring additional years of military service to transfer educational benefits to dependents, the administration is breaking our commitment to military families and creating confusion among servicemembers. My bill will ensure that those who served in the Armed Forces and their families can receive the education and training they have earned and were promised,\" said Congressman Panetta.\n\"It is only fair for all of our servicemembers to have the option to transfer the unused education benefits which they have earned to their loved ones who have sacrificed so much.\" Congressman Waltz said. \"This is not just a family-financial issue but a strategic issue for our volunteer military which affects recruitment and retention  and this legislation assures we'll continue to have the finest fighting force in the world.\"\n\"We have a responsibility to the brave men and women who answer the call of duty and put their own lives at risk. We must keep these promises and alleviate any barriers to Veterans from receiving the benefits they deserve and earned from their selfless service,\" said Congressman Kinzinger.\nDaniel Elkins, Legislative Director with EANGUS, said, Every servicemember who has earned the Post-9/11 GI Bill, regardless of duty status, earned it at a great cost to themselves and their families. We need to honor this sacrifice and ensure that our Veterans can use the benefits they earned in the way that is best for them and their family.\nThe Post-9/11 GI Bill Transferability Entitlement Act will make it easier for veterans and their families to use their well-earned educational benefits. Our active duty service members, veterans, and their families have made tremendous sacrifices for our country, and this bill is one impactful way to honor their service and dedication, said University of California President Janet Napolitano. \"More than 2,000 veterans and students with military affiliation are enrolled in education programs at UC. We proudly provide on-campus support services across the system to ensure a seamless transition into student life. And we applaud Congressman Jimmy Panetta for introducing this important bill that will further support our veterans.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://cisneros.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-cisneros-praises-signing-fy-2020-ndaa", "Rep. Cisneros Praises Signing of FY 2020 NDAA", "2019-12-20", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Gilbert Cisneros", "C001123", "cisneros.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC  Today, Representative Gilbert R. Cisneros, Jr. (CA-39) praised the signing of the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) into law. Rep. Cisneros is a Navy veteran, Member of the House Armed Services Committee, and a conferee on the NDAA Conference Committee reconciling the House and Senate versions of the FY 2020 NDAA. The annual NDAA authorizes funding for Department of Defense (DoD) and involves millions of military and civilian personnel, thousands of facilities, and commands located around the world.\nAs a Member of the House Armed Services Committee and the House-Senate NDAA Conference Committee, I'm proud to have worked with my Republican and Democratic colleagues to get the NDAA across the finish line, said Rep. Cisneros. With the passage of this legislation, our servicemembers and their families get the resources they need and our national security is strengthened. I'm pleased the bipartisan NDAA includes several of my provisions to improve military healthcare and service to military families, promote diversity and inclusion, repeal the unfair Widow's Tax, and toughen our stance against our adversaries. As a Navy veteran, I will continue to fight for our servicemembers in the 39th District and around the world.\nCISNEROS PRIORITIES INCLUDED IN NDAA:\nPaid Parental Leave\nAs the father of two young boys, I know how important it is for parents to be present in our children's lives, said Rep. Cisneros. We need to support working moms and dads and ensure they never have to choose between long hours at work or taking care of their children. I'm glad that the NDAA invests in our federal workers and provides them with long overdue paid parental leave.\nThe NDAA provides federal employees with 12 weeks paid parental leave in the case of birth, adoption, or fostering. The federal government is the nation's largest employer, but federal workers currently have no guaranteed access to paid family or medical leave. Rep. Cisneros is a co-sponsor of both H.R. 1534, the Federal Employee Paid Leave Act, and H.R. 1185, the FAMILY Act.\nRepeal of the Widow's Tax\nAfter losing a loved one who makes the ultimate sacrifice for our country, the last thing a military spouse should have to worry about is added taxes, said Rep. Cisneros. I'm glad the NDAA includes a common-sense fix that corrects this injustice in our tax code and ensures surviving spouses receive the full benefits they deserve. Our military families deserve our steadfast support and deepest gratitude.\nWhen a servicemember makes the ultimate sacrifice for our country, their spouse receives annuity payments from both the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and DoD. The VA program, called the Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) program, supports the military families of servicemembers who lost their lives in the line of duty. DoD's plan, called the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP), is an insurance plan that servicemembers pay into with monthly premiums. Under current law, the family's SBP payment is reduced, dollar for dollar, by the DIC payment. The FY20 NDAA repeals this reduction over a three year phase-in, allowing surviving families to collect both payments in full. Rep. Cisneros is a co-sponsor of H.R. 553, the Military Surviving Spouses Equity Act.\nExpands Veteran Women's Health Transition Training Pilot Program\nMany servicewomen face unique issues related to their transition to civilian life that go unaddressed, said Rep. Cisneros. The NDAA includes my legislation that will help ensure transitioning servicewomen are aware of the health services available to them, including eligibility for gender-specific services and mental health programs. We need to make it easier for our servicemembers to receive the care they need and deserve, and I'll continue to work to ensure that our government is committed to serving those who have served us.\nThe FY20 NDAA incorporates legislation introduced by Rep. Cisneros and Rep. Chrissy Houlahan that directs DoD to encourage female servicemembers separating or retiring from the Armed Forces to participate in the Women's Health Transition Training Program which informs women about the services offered by the Department of Veterans Affairs and offers guidance through the process. Rep. Cisneros also introduced legislation that passed the House earlier this year to require the VA to enhance the program for more servicewomen.\nStudies have shown that women veterans do not connect with the VA until an average of 2.7 years post military service or until health issues have manifested, contributing to higher rates of mental health issues. The promising pilot program run by the Air Force and the VA aims to increase transitioning servicewomen's knowledge of the VHA health care system, enrollment process, and eligibility for gender-specific services.\nReform of the Feres Doctrine, Enabling Medical Malpractice Claims\nUnder current law, servicemembers on active duty who are victims of medical malpractice in a Military Treatment Facility are prevented from filing claims for personal injury or death. The FY20 NDAA creates a pathway for a servicemember to file a claim for themselves or a family member in the case of medical malpractice providing our servicemembers an opportunity to seek justice. As Vice Chair of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel, Rep. Cisneros participated in a hearing on the need to reform the Feres Doctrine, where he highlighted the insufficiencies in the current compensation programs available for servicemembers who are victims of medical malpractice.\nProhibits Involuntary Separation of Servicemembers Covered Under DACA or TPS\nLanguage in the FY20 NDAA prohibits a servicemember who is protected under Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) or Temporary Protected Status (TPS) from being involuntarily separated from the military and requires that a veterans military service be considered in any determination for removal proceedings.\nSupport for Servicemembers Seeking U.S. Citizenship\nThe FY20 NDAA requires the Department to provide counseling to servicemembers who are not citizens on how to apply as well as inclusion of questions on the pre-separation counseling checklist on immigration status to ensure those leaving the military know how to apply for citizenship. Rep. Cisneros wrote a letter signed by 46 other Members of Congress seeking answers regarding Department of Defense (DoD) policy on the process for non-citizen servicemembers seeking naturalization and how DHS, specifically the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), evaluates servicemember applications for naturalization.\nEnabling Non-Citizen Family Members of Servicemembers to Remain in the United States\nFamilies belong together, especially the families of our active-duty servicemembers who serve overseas, said Rep. Cisneros. We need to move forward with common-sense fixes to our immigration policy to keep military families together and strengthen the link between service and citizenship. I'm glad the NDAA includes language I introduced to preserve the Parole in Place program and provide much-needed certainty to military families and uphold our American values.\nLanguage in the FY20 NDAA requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to consider whether granting a request for parole in place from a member of the Armed Forces for a family member would enable military family unity that would constitute a significant public benefit. The Parole in Place (PIP) program enables the Department of Homeland Security, using discretionary legal authority, to grant parole in one-year increments to non-citizen parents, children, spouses, and widows or widowers of servicemembers and veterans who were not dishonorably discharged. Rep. Cisneros introduced the Military Family Parole in Place Act, which would protect the family of veterans and members of the U.S. Armed Forces from the threat of deportation and amend the Immigration and Nationality Act and preserve the PIP program.\nRequires a New Strategic Plan for Diversity and Inclusion\nThe diversity of our Armed Forces is a reflection of the diversity of our nation, and it's critical that diversity is also reflected in our leadership ranks, said Rep. Cisneros. As a Navy veteran and a Latino, I can speak from personal experience. I believe that preserving and promoting diversity across our military, including enlisted personnel and the officer corps, supports creative problem solving and decision making. More importantly, a diverse military force reflects our values as a democratic society, improving public perception and trust in our armed forces.\nAs the Department of Defense has acknowledged, diversity is a strategic imperative, critical to mission readiness and accomplishment, and a leadership requirement. Unfortunately, today the diversity rates in the military, particularly in the officer ranks, is lacking. The FY20 NDAA includes Rep. Cisneros' provision that requires the Secretary of Defense to update and implement the Department of Defense Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Plan. Rep. Cisneros also co-led a bicameral letter to the Chairpersons and Ranking Members of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees urging them to promote diversity and inclusion within the Department of Defense (DoD).\nIntegration of Marine Corps Basic Training\nThe Marine Corps is the only remaining military service that does not conduct gender integrated basic training. The FY20 NDAA includes an amendment supported by Rep. Cisneros that directs the Marine Corps to gender integrate basic training at Parris Island within five years and San Diego within eight years.\nSupport for World Language Study in Eligible Local Schools\nRep. Cisneros supported an amendment to the FY20 NDAA that enables the Secretary of Defense to provide support for the establishment, improvement, or expansion of world language study for elementary school and secondary school students at institutions that host a Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps or DoD Education Activity institutions.\nFunding Increase for Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Other Minority Serving Institutions\nCurrently, minority institutions like Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) receive less than one half of one percent of all DoD science and engineering funding. The FY20 NDAA includes legislation Rep. Anthony Brown and Rep. Cisneros co-introduced, the Harnessing Opportunity to Maximize Expansion, Capture, and Organization of Minority Innovation in the Next Generation of Research Act (HOMECOMING Act) to increase the funding line for research programs at HBCUs and other minority serving institutions to approximately $46.7 million.\nComprehensive Mental Healthcare Policy and Suicide Prevention\nThis provision requires the Department of Defense to develop a comprehensive mental health policy that looks at the availability of mental health services for servicemembers and the effectiveness in how these services are delivered. Previously, Rep. Cisneros sent Acting Secretary Shanahan (DoD) and Secretary Wilkie (VA) a bipartisan letter to express his concerns with the suicide epidemic affecting servicemembers and veterans and to ask for clarity regarding the Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) efforts to respond to this crisis. At a House Veterans Affairs Committee hearing, Rep. Cisneros spoke with Secretary Wilkie about his concerns that there are veterans and servicemembers who may simply not be aware of mental healthcare services available to them.\nImproves Protections for Military Families in Privatized Military Housing\nOur military families make a commitment to our country, and we owe it to them to improve their quality of life, said Rep. Cisneros. Investment on military construction and family housing has plummeted over the decade, and servicemembers defending our nation should never have to worry about the well-being of their families. I'm glad the NDAA includes needed protections and investments in housing for our military families.\nThe FY20 NDAA adopts numerous provisions that reform the oversight and management of military family housing and establishes rights and responsibilities for military family housing landlords and tenants. Specifically, Rep. Cisneros helped secure language that prohibits the use of non disclosure agreements; authorizes an additional $140.8 million to hire additional civilian personnel to improve oversight and management of military family housing; creates a public database for complaints related to military housing; and requires the Department of Defense to develop a health and safety hazard assessment tool for housing and provide a summary report to potential occupants.\nImproves Protections for Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Survivors\nSexual assault in the military is unacceptable and needs to be addressed immediately, said Rep. Cisneros. We have a responsibility to our servicemembers to ensure that sexual allegations are properly investigated and prosecuted, and that survivors' rights are enforced. We must strive to change the culture at all levels of our military and provide justice to all our servicemembers.\nThe FY20 NDAA includes several provisions that improve protections for sexual assault survivors. The legislation includes Rep. Cisneros' Prevention of Sexual Assault in Armed Forces Act, which requires the establishment of a Defense Advisory Committee for the Prevention of Sexual Misconduct. The FY20 NDAA also improves and expands Special Victims Counsel authorities to provide additional training for counsels and additional advice for survivors, and requires improved communication between military commanders, military investigative authorities, and civilian authorities regarding protective orders.\nAddresses Civilian Casualties\nTwo key provisions in the FY20 NDAA address civilian casualties. First, an amendment Rep. Cisneros successfully secured in the legislation directs a two year reporting requirement to the Director of National Intelligence and Secretary of Defense to submit a coordinated, corroborated report on civilian casualties resulting from U.S. strikes against terrorist targets outside areas of active hostilities. The second provision Rep. Cisneros advocated for directs an independent study of DoD standards, processes, procedures, and policy relating to the accounting, tracking, and reporting of civilian casualties resulting from U.S. military operations.\nResponding to the Threat of Climate Change\nThe FY20 NDAA addresses and responds to the threat of climate change in a number of ways. Rep. Cisneros called for language in the NDAA to require the Department to plan for the effects of climate changes in planning for and constructing new military facilities. DoD must now develop installation master plans that assess climate vulnerabilities and plan for how to mitigate climate risks. The NDAA also authorizes $100 million for the Readiness and Environmental Protection Initiative (REPI), which supports land conservation efforts in cooperation with local communities to prevent incompatible development around military bases and ranges. Additionally, it authorizes $283 million for military construction projects that improve energy resiliency or energy conservation efforts at a military installation.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://costa.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/costa-announces-20-million-dollar-grant-fresno-county-head-start-program", "Costa Announces $20 Million Dollar Grant for Fresno County Head Start Program", "2019-12-20", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Jim Costa", "C001059", "costa.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "(Washington)  Congressman Jim Costa (CA-16) announced that the Fresno County Economic Opportunities Commission has been awarded a $20,032,315 grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Grant will help the commission's Head Start program care for pregnant women and provide education services for children: I'm excited about the impact this money will have on Fresno County families and children. Investing in our young people is vital to ensuring they have the tools to succeed in school and later in life. This money is a big win for the valley and I'm proud of work my office does in securing funds for the district, said Costa. This initial allocation will help us continue to serve 3,058 families with educational and comprehensive services for prenatal women and children ages 0 to 5, said Kathleen Shivaprasad, Fresno EOC Head Start Director 0-5. We spread these funds across Fresno County with 35 classroom sites and 20 home base service areas. We thank the community and our elected officials for their continued support.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://cox.house.gov/media/press-releases/cox-helps-central-valley-get-fair-share-federal-dollars", "Cox Helps Central Valley Get Fair Share of Federal Dollars", "2019-12-20", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "TJ Cox", "C001124", "cox.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "On Tuesday, the House of Representatives passed a pair of key Fiscal Year 2020 funding bills (H.R. 1865 and H.R. 1158), also called minibus bills. Rep. TJ Cox (CA-21) has been very active in this process, fighting for Central Valley priorities often ignored in the funding process. Without legislative action to authorize necessary operating expenses, the government was set to shut down on December 20th. A shutdown would have resulted in a freeze in military pay, critical health and safety programs across the country being halted, and billions of dollars in lost revenue from the economy.\n\n\n\tThroughout theappropriationsprocess, Rep. TJ Cox (CA-21) has been fighting for Central Valley priorities that are often ignored in Washington, D.C. As Vice-Chair on Rural Poverty for the Majority Leader's Task Force on Poverty and Opportunity, Congressman Cox introduced an amendment to address the issue of poverty in our communities with impactful and timely solutions.His amendmentimpactsthe 10-20-30 rule,which is the guideline thatinstructs agencies todirectat least 10 percent of funding from any given federal program to communities where at least 20 percent of the population has lived at, or beneath, the poverty line for the last 30 or more years. The amendment is revenue neutral and does not add a penny to the federal deficit. Rep. Cox's amendment updates the 30-year portion of the formula by updating 1980 Census data with more recent 2010 Census data to more accurately direct investment into communities that have been left behind, such as the Central Valley.\n\n\n\tYouwouldn't use a map from 1980 toshow you where togo on a road trip.So why are we using data from 1980 to show ushow to lift up communities that needhelp?said Rep. TJ Cox.The Valley often gets left behind when it comes to federal spending, even when small investments in infrastructure could helpCentralValley communities thrive.This amendment will allowusto tap a tremendous amount of federal resources to build more affordable homes, start more businesses and improve the health, environment and well-being of our citizens. I'm proud that my amendment was adopted and we're finally getting the equity we deserve.\n\n\n\tRep. Cox took on this challenge partly because he's seen howmodest investments in rural communities can jump startprosperity.Prior to joining Congress, Rep. Coxcreated over 1,500 jobs and built rural health clinics, job training facilities, a community multi-use sports complex, a clean bioenergy plant, and community learning centers throughout the Central Valley.\n\n\n\tTheseare just some of theagencies that follow 10-20-30, and by updatingthe Census data, the Central Valley will be able to unlock more federal funds:\n\tDepartment of Agriculture  Rural Development\n\t Rural Housing Service\n\t\tRural Business  Cooperative Service\n\t\tRural Utilities Service\n\t Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration\n\t Public Work\n\t\tRegional Innovation\n\t Environmental Protection Agency\n\tDepartment of the Treasury, Community Development Financial Institutions Fund", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://cox.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-tj-cox-introduces-end-valley-fever-now-act", "Rep. TJ Cox Introduces End Valley Fever Now Act", "2019-12-20", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "TJ Cox", "C001124", "cox.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. TJ Cox (D-CA)hasannounced the introduction of H.R.5438,theEnd Valley Fever Now Actto address the potentially deadly disease,caused by breathing toxic spores found in the soil in California's Central Valley. There were 2,937 cases in Kern County in 2018, according to the Kern County Department of Public Health.\n\t\n\n\n\tValley Fevercan be deadlyandtroubling data showsit'sonly going to getworsewith climate change,said Rep. Cox.In discussions across the Central Valley and at my valley fever town hall in October, I heard from patients, experts, and advocates whoselives have been impacted bythe disease.Wemustbring more awareness and educationas well as access to faster diagnosis and clinical trials.My bill does just that for the thousandswho have contracted Valley Fever and the millionsacross California and the Southwest at risk forinfection.Central Valley families should be able to work and play outdoors withoutfear of valley fever,and for those who do have it, we need the best,most advanced care to save their lives.\n\n\n\tRep. Cox is joined by original co-sponsorsReps.Jim Costa(CA-16),Josh Harder(CA-10),Ruben Gallego(AZ-7),Ral M. Grijalva(AZ-3),Ann Kirkpatrick(AZ-2),TomO'Halleran(AZ-1),Jimmy Panetta(CA-20)and co-sponsorsRep.Julia Brownley(CA-26),Susan Davis(CA-53), andJuan Vargas(CA-51).\n\t\n\n\n\tAs the number of Valley Fever cases increases due to changing weather patterns and climate change, we must do more to understand this illness and how we can remove barriers to care for impacted individuals,said Rep. Grijalva.This legislation funds much-needed research on Valley Fever while improving access to clinical trials for those living in endemic areasincluding Southern Arizona. This will provide us with new information on how we can better diagnose and treat new cases and help our communities.\n\n\n\tValley Fever is a huge problem in our area  especially for our farmers and farmworkers  we have to be more aggressive in offering and improving access to treatment, and warning folks about the risks involved,said Rep. Harder.This bill signals our commitment to bringing the federal support we need to the Valley to help folks affected by this dangerous condition.\n\n\n\tValley fever is a serious and sometimes deadly disease that's on the rise and disproportionately affects our farm laborers. We need to take steps to ensure patients are getting the care they need. This bill will provide training for doctors to learn more about thedisease and help remove some of the financial barriers that can prevent patients from receiving treatmentsaidRep. Costa.\n\t\n\n\n\tValley fever is an issue all too familiar to me; this largely unexplored disease disproportionately affects Arizonans and constituents in my district, infecting thousands every year and contributing to far too many deaths,said Rep.O'Halleran.This bill will provide physician training, education, and funding to study the effectiveness of current diagnosis and treatment practices, and work towards ending this disease.\n\n\n\tIn college, I fell victim to a Valley Fever infection,and I remember how awful and incredibly inconvenient it was. Nearly two-thirds of Valley Fever cases are contracted in Arizona and there is still so much unknown about the disease. I am proud to support this bill because we need to be able to fund the research and resources needed to fight the disease. I know we have the intelligence and science technologies to learn more about it and find ways to combat it, we just need the funding to do it. Speaking from experience, it's time to end Valley FeversaidRep.Kirkpatrick.\n\t\n\n\n\tI am proud to join with Congressman Cox and our colleagues to introduce legislation that will enhance our ability to identify and treat valley fever, which affects so many people in the American SouthwestsaidRep.Ruben Gallego.\n\n\n\tCases of Valley Fever in communities across the Central Coast have skyrocketed over the last few years. The End Valley Fever Now Act will help train our local medical providers to diagnose and treat those exposed to this disease. It will also help us to be more proactive in vaccine development by collecting critical clinical data,said Congressman Panetta. Our legislation is an important step forward in combatting this disease and protecting our community members.\n\t\n\n\n\tStakeholders and advocates in the Central Valley have shared strong support for thispromisinglegislation:\n\n\n\tThe Valley Fever Institute strongly supports the End Valley Fever Now Act that would provide funding for much needed Physician Training and Education. Even in Kern County, we still see cases of Valley Fever going undiagnosed and misdiagnosed. Fighting against this disease requires our state and local representatives to work together to bring every available resource to health authorities fighting Valley Fever on the front linessaid Royce H. Johnson, MD,Medical Director of the Valley Fever Institute at Kern Medical.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://cox.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-tj-cox-secures-energy-tax-incentives-strengthen-valley-economy", "Rep. TJ Cox Secures Energy Tax Incentives to Strengthen the Valley Economy", "2019-12-20", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "TJ Cox", "C001124", "cox.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "On Tuesday, the House of Representativespasseda pair of key Fiscal Year 2020 funding bills(H.R. 1865 and H.R. 1158), also called minibus bills.Rep. TJ Cox (CA-21)has been very active in this process, fighting for Central Valley priorities often ignored in the funding process. Without legislative action to authorize necessary operating expenses, the government was set to shut down on December 20th. A shutdown would have resulted in a freeze in military pay, critical health and safety programs across the country being halted, and billions of dollars in lost revenue from the economy.\n\n\t\n\t\tThisyear,I heard froma number ofsmall businesses in the Valley who told me theyhadpaused plans to expand and uncertainty left them unable to plan for future investmentsbecause these creditshad expired.I tooktheir concerns directly toHouse leadership and got their commitmentthat thesecreditswould be extended,generatinginvestment and creatingjobs in our nation's rural economies,said Rep. Cox.\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\tKey Energy Tax Extenders Included in the Funding Agreement:\n\t\n\t\n\t\tBiodiesel and renewable diesel tax credit (through Dec.312022)\n\t\tAlternative fuel tax credits (through Dec. 31, 2020)", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://eshoo.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-passes-bill-restore-state-and-local-tax-deductions", "House Passes Bill to Restore State and Local Tax Deductions", "2019-12-20", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Anna Eshoo", "E000215", "eshoo.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  The House of Representatives passed the Restoring Tax Fairness for States and Localities Act which eliminates the marriage penalty and the $10,000 cap on the state and local tax (SALT) deduction implemented under the 2017 Republican Tax Bill.\nThe Republicans took a sledgehammer to the deductibility of state and local taxes in their huge tax bill of 2017 by capping the SALT deduction at $10,000 for both individuals and married couples. This has had a huge impact on 194,160 of my constituents who claimed an average deduction of $63,083 in 2017. I voted against the bill precisely because of this unfair policy which represents an assault on the middle class, Rep. Eshoo said. The good news is that the House passed the Restoring Tax Fairness for States and Localities Act to eliminate the marriage penalty this year and the SALT deduction cap altogether in 2020 and 2021.\nTo watch Rep. Eshoo's floor speech, click HERE.\nThe Restoring Tax Fairness for States and Localities Act passed by a vote of 218 to 206. The legislation eliminates the marriage penalty by doubling the cap to $20,000 for joint filers for 2019 and fully restores the SALT deduction for 2020 and 2021. The cost of the plan is fully offset by returning the top individual tax rate from 37 percent back to 39.6 percent, the rate prior to the 2017 Republican Tax Bill.\nRep. Eshoo is an original cosponsor of the Restoring Tax Fairness for States and Localities Act. In June, Rep. Eshoo testified before the Ways and Means Committee to advocate for a repeal of the cap on the SALT deduction that is retroactive for the 2018 tax year.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://eshoo.house.gov/news-stories/press-releases/house-passes-bill-to-restore-state-and-local-tax-deductions/", "House Passes Bill to Restore State and Local Tax Deductions", "2019-12-20", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Anna Eshoo", "E000215", "eshoo.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "House Passes Bill to Restore State and Local Tax Deductions \r\n                    December 20th, 2019\r\n                        \r\n                        Eshoo: Capping the SALT deduction represents an assault on the middle class\nWASHINGTON, D.C.  The House of Representatives passed the Restoring Tax Fairness for States and Localities Act which eliminates the marriage penalty and the $10,000 cap on the state and local tax (SALT) deduction implemented under the 2017 Republican Tax Bill.\nThe Republicans took a sledgehammer to the deductibility of state and local taxes in their huge tax bill of 2017 by capping the SALT deduction at $10,000 for both individuals and married couples. This has had a huge impact on 194,160 of my constituents who claimed an average deduction of $63,083 in 2017. I voted against the bill precisely because of this unfair policy which represents an assault on the middle class, Rep. Eshoo said. The good news is that the House passed the Restoring Tax Fairness for States and Localities Act to eliminate the marriage penalty this year and the SALT deduction cap altogether in 2020 and 2021.\nTo watch Rep. Eshoo's floor speech, click HERE.\nThe Restoring Tax Fairness for States and Localities Act passed by a vote of 218 to 206. The legislation eliminates the marriage penalty by doubling the cap to $20,000 for joint filers for 2019 and fully restores the SALT deduction for 2020 and 2021. The cost of the plan is fully offset by returning the top individual tax rate from 37 percent back to 39.6 percent, the rate prior to the 2017 Republican Tax Bill.\nRep. Eshoo is an original cosponsor of the Restoring Tax Fairness for States and Localities Act. In June, Rep. Eshoo testified before the Ways and Means Committee to advocate for a repeal of the cap on the SALT deduction that is retroactive for the 2018 tax year.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://kevinmccarthy.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/mccarthy-secures-2-million-more-in-valley-fever-funding-will-continue", "McCarthy Secures $2 Million More in Valley Fever Funding, Will Continue Fighting to Stamp Out This Disease", "2019-12-20", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "CA", "Kevin McCarthy", "M001165", "kevinmccarthy.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Friends, With 2019 coming to a close, I'd like to give you a quick update on one pressing issue affecting our community  Valley Fever. As many of you know, Valley Fever is an infectious disease caused by inhaling the spores of a fungus typically found in the Central Valley. As of November 30, 2019, the California Department of Public Health has reported an over ten percent increase in California cases compared to the first eleven months of 2018, and yet there is still no approved cure or vaccine, and treatments remain limited. This is clearly a significant public health concern, and the University of California recently estimated that direct and indirect lifetime costs of 2017 cases will amount to approximately $700 million overall. It's time to stamp out Valley Fever. In order to fight this orphan disease, increasing awareness and funding through legislation, grants, and leveraging existing government programs to incentivize drug development is key. Here are a few highlights of the progress we have made this year. I secured a $2 million increase in funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to expand Valley Fever surveillance, research, and awareness efforts in the federal government's 2020 budget. Additionally, I also secured a provision in the Fiscal Year 2020 Defense Appropriations Bill that encourages the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs to research Valley Fever's effect on service members stationed in our community and limit its impact on military readiness.\n  Valley Fever roundtable hosted by McCarthy in March of 2019.\nThis funding follows a meeting earlier this year when I invited leading researchers, patient advocates, doctors, and officials from the CDC and National Institutes of Health (NIH) to the United States Capitol for a roundtable discussion on Valley Fever. I encouraged my colleagues in the House to attend this meeting to hear directly from these experts on the need to further invest in research and efforts to eradicate this disease.This was an important opportunityfor members to receive updates, and a productive discussion to advance our fight against Valley Fever. Shortly after the roundtable, I  along with U.S. Senator Martha McSally (R-AZ) and Congressman and Congressional Valley Fever Task Force Co-Chair David Schweikert (AZ-06)  introduced the FORWARD Act to address the short-term, medium-term, and long-term challenges to detecting, treating, and eventually eradicating Valley Fever. Since then, I have also written two letters advocating for continued drug, vaccine, and diagnostic development. The first was addressed to Health and Human Services Secretary Azar urging inclusion of Valley Fever in the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Tropical Disease Priority Review Voucher (PRV) Program. This would help incentivize needed investment into Valley Fever drug and vaccine development. The FDA has since indicated it is in the process of reviewing Valley Fever for inclusion in the PRV Program. The public comment period is currently open. The second letter was to NIH Director Collins in support of a Small Business Innovation Research grant request of $3 million to conduct studies to develop better diagnostic tools for Valley Fever, including a rapid diagnostic blood test.The Valley Fever Institute at Kern Medical would participate in this study by recruiting patients to enroll and test the accuracy of these new diagnostics upon award of the grant.\n  Valley Fever Symposium hosted by McCarthy in the city of Bakersfield, 2013.\nLastly, the Valley Fever Institute is participating in an ongoing NIH Valley Fever research study to help us better understand the disease impact and treatment regimen. It is important that we spread awareness of this study and encourage individuals to enroll so we can work together as a community to turn the page on Valley Fever. Addressing Valley Fever will require a multifaceted approach involving state, local, federal, and agency collaboration. Though progress has been made to eradicate this disease, there's more work to be done. For years, combating Valley Fever has been a top priority of mine, and throughout my time in Congress, I am proud to say that I have secured millions of dollars to help with better understanding Valley Fever, and I will continue fighting for our community so that this disease can finally be eliminated. If you're interested in learning more about Valley Fever, please visit the CDC's website.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://kevinmccarthy.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/mccarthy-statement-on-recent-actions-regarding-a-proposed-visitor-center", "McCarthy Statement on Recent Actions Regarding a Proposed Visitor Center in Lake Isabella", "2019-12-20", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "CA", "Kevin McCarthy", "M001165", "kevinmccarthy.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Kevin McCarthy released the following statement on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers decision to begin the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and site selection processes for a new United States Forest Service visitor center in Lake Isabella:\nEach year, tens of thousands of visitors come to Lake Isabella to enjoy the recreational opportunities the reservoir, the Sequoia National Forest, and the local community have to offer.A top priority for our community has been to build a new visitor center, especially since the Forest Service's original one was demolished as part of the Main and Auxiliary Dam construction project.Getting to this point took far longer than I would have preferred, but after working with senior U.S. Army Corps Engineers and U.S. Forest Service officials for years to advance a new Lake Isabella visitor center, I am pleased the Corps, in conjunction with the Forest Service, has started the NEPA process on this project and that the Bob Powers Gateway Preserve is under consideration.\nTourism is an important part of the local economy, and this visitor center will help ensure that people who visit the Kern River Valley can learn about local recreational opportunities while also providing one convenient place to obtain permits needed to fully enjoy the surrounding Federal lands. I look forward to continue working with Army Corps, Forest Service, and Kern County officials and local leaders to bring this new visitor center to fruition.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://mcclintock.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/statement-in-response-to-the-speaker-s-announcement-that-she-is-indefinitely", "Statement in Response to the Speaker\u2019s Announcement that she is Indefinitely Delaying Transmittal of the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate for Trial", "2019-12-20", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "CA", "Tom McClintock", "M001177", "mcclintock.house.gov", "mcclintock", "https://mcclintock.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Congressman Tom McClintock today issued the following statement in response to the Speaker's announcement that she is indefinitely delaying transmittal of the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate for trial:\n\nThe Speaker of the House has no authority superior to, or independent of, the House of Representatives. The transmittal of official acts of the House is strictly a ministerial function of that office.\n\nIf the Speaker can refuse to transmit acts of the House at whim, she creates an entirely unconstitutional veto power over any measure the House enacts.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T23:45:33Z"], ["https://panetta.house.gov/media/press-releases/bipartisan-country-caucus-touts-lengthy-list-wins-2020-ndaa", "Bipartisan For Country Caucus Touts Lengthy List of Wins in 2020 NDAA", "2019-12-20", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Jimmy Panetta", "P000613", "panetta.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. On Friday, the Chairs of the bipartisan For Country Caucus  which is comprised of veterans serving in Congress  celebrated a lengthy list of accomplishments for the military, veterans and military families in the 2020 Fiscal Year National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which President Donald J. Trump will sign into law today.\nAs a veteran, I understand the importance of supporting our military and fosteringglobal security, stability and economic prosperity, said Caucus co-chairman Rep. Don Bacon (R-Maine). The 2020 NDAA has made major improvements to help our military and their family members such as authorizinga 3.1 percent pay increase, the largest in a decade, approving$743 billion for national defense, including $5.3 billion in emergency funding for military installations affected by recent natural disasters andpermanently ends the widow tax' mandatory offset to survivor benefits. \nAs veterans, we know what it means to not only serve but also to complete the mission, Caucus co-chairman Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.) said. The legislation behind these policies is a testament to our commitment to bipartisanship as well as our desire to serve our communities and country.\nAs veterans who have served this nation both in the military and now in Congress, we have the capacity to heal this country and overcome divides,\" said Caucus Vice Chair Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.). \"I am so proud of the bipartisan work we have accomplished and look forward to another year of finding common ground and elevating the issues that affect us all.\"\nAs military veterans, we are mission-focused to achieve results, Caucus Vice Chair Rep. Michael Waltz (R-Fla.) said. Although our caucus may be in its infancy, each of us has taken the military ethos of service and our shared value of bipartisanship to make our country a better place and to make Congress more efficient. I am proud that together, we were able to accomplish our mission and deliver a strong list of polices to improve the lives of service members and their families.\nNotable For Country Caucus-sponsored legislation included:\n Reimbursing Gold Star families for the costs of transporting fallen servicemembers' remains to a national cemetery\n\tSupporting paid parental leave\n\tBetter Military Housing Act (Tenant Bill of Rights),which sets minimum acceptable livability standards for military personnel and their families\n\tPhase out of the Widow's Tax\n\tAuthorization of 4,000 additional visas for Afghan allies as well as extending the application period to 2021\n\tRequiring full military honors for veterans awarded the Medal of Honor or prisoner-of-war medal\n\tExpanding financial assistance to civilian providers of child care services for survivors of servicemembers killed in the line of duty\n\tRequiring senior military officials to meet with survivors of deceased service members to receive feedback on issues affecting survivors", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://panetta.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-panetta-co-introduces-end-valley-fever-now-act", "Congressman Panetta Co-Introduces the End Valley Fever Now Act", "2019-12-20", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Jimmy Panetta", "P000613", "panetta.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC Today Congressman Jimmy Panetta (CA-20) announced he co-introduced H.R. 5438, the End Valley Fever Now Act to address the potentially deadly disease caused by breathing toxic spores found in soil. Congressman TJ Cox (CA-21) is the lead sponsor of the bill.\n\"Cases of Valley Fever in communities across the Central Coast have skyrocketed over the last few years. The End Valley Fever Now Act will help train our local medical providers to diagnose and treat those exposed to this disease. It will also help us to be more proactive in vaccine development by collecting critical clinical data,\" said Congressman Panetta. \"Our legislation is an important step forward in combatting this disease and protecting our community members.\"\n\"Valley Fever can be deadly and troubling data shows it's only going to get worse with climate change,\" said Congressman Cox. \"In discussions across the Central Valley and at my valley fever town hall in October, I heard from patients, experts, and advocates whose lives have been impacted by the disease. We must bring more awareness and education as well as access to faster diagnosis and clinical trials. My bill does just that for the thousands who have contracted Valley Fever and the millions across California and the Southwest at risk for infection. Central Valley families should be able to work and play outdoors without fear of valley fever, and for those who do have it, we need the best, most advanced care to save their lives.\"\n\"As the number of Valley Fever cases increases due to changing weather patterns and climate change, we must do more to understand this illness and how we can remove barriers to care for impacted individuals,\" said Congressman Ral M. Grijalva (AZ-03). \"This legislation funds much-needed research on Valley Fever while improving access to clinical trials for those living in endemic areasincluding Southern Arizona. This will provide us with new information on how we can better diagnose and treat new cases and help our communities.\"\n\"Valley Fever is a huge problem in our area  especially for our farmers and farmworkers  we have to be more aggressive in offering and improving access to treatment, and warning folks about the risks involved,\" said Congressman Josh Harder (CA-10). \"This bill signals our commitment to bringing the federal support we need to the Valley to help folks affected by this dangerous condition.\"\n\"Valley fever is a serious and sometimes deadly disease that's on the rise and disproportionately affects our farm laborers. We need to take steps to ensure patients are getting the care they need. This bill will provide training for doctors to learn more about the disease and help remove some of the financial barriers that can prevent patients from receiving treatment,\" said Congressman Jim Costa (CA-16).\n\"Valley fever is an issue all too familiar to me; this largely unexplored disease disproportionately affects Arizonans and constituents in my district, infecting thousands every year and contributing to far too many deaths,\" said Congressman Tom O'Halleran (AZ-01). \"This bill will provide physician training, education, and funding to study the effectiveness of current diagnosis and treatment practices, and work towards ending this disease.\"\n\"In college, I fell victim to a Valley Fever infection, and I remember how awful and incredibly inconvenient it was. Nearly two-thirds of Valley Fever cases are contracted in Arizona and there is still so much unknown about the disease. I am proud to support this bill because we need to be able to fund the research and resources needed to fight the disease. I know we have the intelligence and science technologies to learn more about it and find ways to combat it, we just need the funding to do it. Speaking from experience, it's time to end Valley Fever,\" said Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick (AZ-02).\n\"I am proud to join with Congressman Cox and our colleagues to introduce legislation that will enhance our ability to identify and treat valley fever, which affects so many people in the American Southwest,\" said Congressman Ruben Gallego (AZ-07).", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://ruiz.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-ruiz-votes-usmca-support-workers-grow-local-economy-and", "Congressman Ruiz Votes for USMCA to Support Workers, Grow Local Economy, and Protect Environment", "2019-12-20", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Raul Ruiz", "R000599", "ruiz.house.gov", "ruiz", "https://ruiz.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-36) voted in favor of the United States Mexico Canada (USMCA) Trade agreement passed by the House of Representatives yesterday to improve labor standards to grow American jobs, strengthen environmental protections, and increase investments to address water pollution along the U.S.-Mexico border. The USMCA includes more than $500 million for border water infrastructure programs to address pollution issues in waterways like the New River, which is a tributary to the Salton Sea.\n\nThe final USMCA trade agreement came together following months of negotiations between the House Democrats' USMCA Working Group and the U.S. Trade Representative. The Working Group negotiated specifically for commitments from Mexico to increase their labor standards, to strengthen enforcement of labor and environmental commitments, and to remove provisions that could have locked in high drug prices for consumers.\n\n\"NAFTA needed an upgrade to improve our local economy, protect our workers, and enhance environmental standards,\" said Dr. Raul Ruiz (CA-36). \"I voted yes on the USMCA only after hard-fought victories that strengthen labor standards, increase wages, improve environmental protections, and prevent Big Pharma from locking in high drug prices. In particular, this bill provides over $500 million to improve pollution in waterways along the border like the New River, which dumps polluted water into the Salton Sea. This agreement is a step in the right direction to level the playing field for American jobs and increase American exports to help our local economies.\"\n\n\"The Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce applauds Congressman Ruiz for his support of the USMCA,\" said Joshua Bonner, President and CEO of the Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce. \"USMCA will help to modernize the original NAFTA agreement and continue to strengthen trade with our two most important regional partners, Mexico and Canada. We appreciate the Congressman actively engaging our local business community throughout this process.\"\n\nBackground:\n\nThe United States, Mexico, and Canada signed the USMCA in November 2018. Since then, a Democratic Working Group comprised of nine House Democrats negotiated with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer on four key issues with the USMCA: drug prices, labor, environment, and enforcement provisions.\n\nAfter months of tough negotiating, Democrats secured landmark changes to the USMCA for American workers, delivering a much stronger agreement than the first draft of the USMCA the Trump Administration had put forward. This agreement now has the strongest enforcement mechanisms of any U.S. trade agreement, as well as critical victories for workers, environmental protections, and lower prescription drug costs:", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T23:45:33Z"], ["https://waters.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-maxine-waters-historic-floor-speech-trump-impeachment-us-house", "Rep. Maxine Waters Historic Floor Speech on Trump Impeachment in U.S. House", "2019-12-20", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Maxine Waters", "W000187", "waters.house.gov", "waters", "https://waters.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-43), Chair of the House Financial Services Committee, delivered a speech in support of H.Res.755 - Impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United States, for high crimes and misdemeanors. Her remarks, as prepared for delivery, are below. Watch the full video here.\n\nLadies and gentlemen, unfortunately the rules of debate won't allow me to cite all of the reasons why this president should be impeached. There are many. However, Madam Speaker and Members of this House, to quote the late Maya Angelou: \"When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.\" This day was not inevitable, but it was predictable because this president has shown himself time and time again to believe that he is above the law and has no respect for our Constitution or our democracy.\n\nBased on all that we know about Donald Trump, we could have predicted he would have abused the power of the presidency by \"corruptly [soliciting] the Government of Ukraine\" and Ukrainian president Zelensky to publicly announce investigations into [his] political opponent, former Vice President Joseph R. Biden.\"\n\nThis impeachment resolution includes evidence that this president withheld $391 million of taxpayer funds that Congress appropriated \"for the purpose of providing vital military and security assistance to Ukraine to oppose Russian aggression,\" \u2013 another blatant abuse of power.\n\nOur investigations revealed that this president advanced \"a discredited theory promoted by Russia alleging that Ukraine \u2014 rather than Russia \u2014 interfered in the 2016 United States Presidential election\" \"for corrupt purposes in pursuit of personal political benefit.\"\n\nNever before in our history have we experienced a president who has so clearly conducted himself in a \"manner offensive to, and subversive of, the Constitution\" and \"directed\" his Cabinet members, \"Executive Branch agencies, and other White House officials \"to defy lawful subpoenas\" from Congress. Was he attempting to hide wrongdoing?\n\nIt is without question that this president \"has demonstrated that he will remain a threat to national security and the Constitution if allowed to remain in office, and has acted in a manner grossly incompatible with self-governance and the rule of law,\" because at every turn, he has shown us who he is.\n\nIt's no secret that this president could have been impeached a long time ago. Today, we stand here with an irrefutable case and an indisputable set of facts that this president absolutely abused his power and obstructed Congress.\n\nAny other individual who would have been caught conducting themselves in the way this president has would have been prosecuted to the full extent of the law.\n\nIt is shameful that members of this House are willing to disregard the Constitution, turn a blind eye to hard facts, and ignore a confession from the president himself.\n\nHistory will remember those who were willing to speak truth to power.\n\nYes, I called for Trump's impeachment early. This is our country. Our foremothers and forefathers shed their blood to build and defend this democracy. I refuse to have it be undermined.\n\nI wholeheartedly support this resolution, and I am proud that in the final analysis, justice will have been served in America and Donald Trump will have been impeached.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T23:45:33Z"], ["https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/122019", "Pelosi Invites President Trump to Deliver State of the Union Address on February 4th", "2019-12-20", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Nancy Pelosi", "P000197", "www.speaker.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  Speaker Nancy Pelosi sent the following letter today to President Trump regarding the State of the Union address.\nIn the letter, the Speaker wrote, In the spirit of respecting our Constitution, I invite you to deliver your State of the Union address before a Joint Session of Congress on Tuesday, February 4, 2020 in the Chamber of the U.S. House of Representatives.\nBelow is the text of the letter to the President:\n* * *\nDecember 20, 2019\nThe President\nThe White House\n1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Northwest\nWashington, D.C. 20500\n\nDear Mr. President:\nIn their great wisdom, our Founders crafted a Constitution based on a system of separation of powers: three co-equal branches acting as checks on each other. To ensure that balance of powers, the Constitution calls for the President to from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union.\nIn the spirit of respecting our Constitution, I invite you to deliver your State of the Union address before a Joint Session of Congress on Tuesday, February 4, 2020 in the Chamber of the U.S. House of Representatives.\nThank you for your attention to this matter.\nSincerely,\n\nNANCY PELOSI\nSpeaker of the House", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://nunes.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398803", "Delivering USMCA for American workers and farmers", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "CA", "Devin Nunes", "N000181", "nunes.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Delivering USMCA for American workers and farmers\r\n  \r\n     \r\n\r\n  \r\n    f \r\n    t \r\n    #\r\n    e\r\n    \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      Washington,\r\n      December 19, 2019\r\n    \r\n    \r\n    \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n\r\n  \r\n\r\n  \r\n    \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n\r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n    \r\n        \r\n            \r\n        \r\n        \r\n            \n\r\n        \r\n    \r\n\r\n\r\nToday, with my support, the House of Representatives voted to pass the United StatesMexicoCanada Agreement (USMCA). I have long believed that trade is vital to the Central Valley's economic health. With its passage, USMCA will generate over $68 billion in economic activity and produce 176,000 new jobs for American workers. Moreover, agricultural products that had zero tariffs under NAFTA will continue to be tariff free, while American dairy farmers will now have access to previously unopened Canadian markets. Modernized for the 21st century, USMCA will deliver tremendous economic benefits to the Central Valley.You can watch my remarks on the passage of USMCA by clicking on the above image.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.feinstein.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=182C52EA-45C4-4F7F-A82B-7EAB455BCCAF", "Feinstein, Wyden, Murrary, Colleagues Demand HHS Rescind Rule Allowing Taxpayer-Funded Discrimination", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Dianne Feinstein", "F000062", "www.feinstein.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington  Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) joined Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Patty Murray, (D-Wash.), and every member of the Senate Democratic caucus to demand that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) rescind its proposed rule that would allow recipients of HHS grants and contracts to discriminate on the basis of religion. In a letter to HHS Secretary Alex Azar, the senators also expressed concern with the agency's decision to bypass the rulemaking process and immediately permit this discrimination.\r\nThis is yet another step in the Trump Administration's efforts to erode civil rights protections and leave millions of people across the country again subject to discrimination, the senators wrote. Taken together, these actions leave vulnerable populations unable to access the services they need. We strongly urge the Department to enforce existing federal nondiscrimination regulations that protect against discrimination based on sex and religion and rescind this proposed rule.\r\nHHS annually awards more than $500 billion in taxpayer-funded grants and contracts to support a wide range of critical programs and services including for public health, early childhood education, youth homelessness, the elderly, federally funded adoption and foster care, and much more. By no longer enforcing existing nondiscrimination regulations, HHS is allowing funding recipients to cite their religious faith as justification for choosing not to serve certain peoplepotentially leaving people of various religious affiliations and LGBTQIA+ people without the services necessary to support their health and well-being.\r\nRead the full text of the letter here.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.feinstein.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=6544C141-3DFB-4E1F-8E9F-9F4048B420E5", "Congress Approves Energy and Water Funding Bill", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Dianne Feinstein", "F000062", "www.feinstein.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), ranking member of the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee, issued the following statement today on the fiscal year 2020 Energy and Water Development appropriations bill:\r\nThe funding package passed by Congress helps address the energy and water infrastructure needs of California and our country. It takes climate change seriously and supports finding real solutions to mitigate its effects, including significant investments in clean energy.\r\nScience should be at the heart of every decision we make regarding our energy and water policies, and that's exactly what this bill does. It rejects the administration's proposed cuts to the Office of Science and other critical programs and instead invests in research and innovation to meet today's challenges.\r\nCalifornia water infrastructure\r\nThe bill provides $565 million for Army Corps of Engineers and Bureau of Reclamation water infrastructure and drought resilience programs in California.\r\nDrought remains one of the greatest issues that California faces. Climate change is exacerbating the problem and we must drastically reduce our carbon emissions. But we also have to start dealing with the fact that our aging water infrastructure is not equipped to handle another historic drought. That's why this bill invests in water conservation and storage so we're ready for the next major drought.\r\nThe bill provides:\r\n \r\nAn additional $206 million to fund California and Western drought programs under the WIIN Act, including $134 million for water storage, $20 million for water recycling, $12 million for desalination and $40 million for environment and science projects. That funding will support projects throughout the state including the Sites Reservoir Project, the Los Vaqueros Reservoir expansion, restoration of the Friant-Kern Canal and water recycling and desalination projects in Southern California, Sacramento and the San Joaquin Valley.\r\n$55 million for WaterSMART grants and $64 million for the Title XVI Water Reclamation and Reuse program.\r\nAdditional $8 million for desalination research and development.\r\n$28 million for the San Joaquin River Restoration project.\r\n$5 million to update Army Corps Flood Control manuals to help the Oroville Dam and other dams operate more safely and efficiently.\r\n$50 million for donor and energy transfer ports, such as the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.\r\n \r\nClean energy\r\nThis legislation includes record levels of funding to address climate change. This bill goes beyond rhetoric, making real investments in developing clean energy solutions. It also includes federal funding for the first time to spark the development of efficient carbon-capture technology. This bill represents real action to combat climate change. \r\nThe bill provides:\r\n \r\nA record $2.85 billion for the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy program, an increase of nearly $500 million over last year, to fund critical research to reduce the cost and accelerate adoption of carbon-free renewable energy.\r\n$7 billion for the Department of Energy's Office of Science, an increase of $415 million over last year, which supports advanced and sustainable energy research.\r\n$60 million in first-time funding for research on how to cost-effectively remove carbon directly from the air.\r\nThe highest-ever funding level for the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, which funds research and supports the development of cutting-edge energy companies.\r\n \r\n\r\nAdditional projects \r\n \r\nCalifornia cliffs: Includes $4 million for shore protection projects in places like San Diego County where three people were killed in August after a sea cliff collapsed at Grandview Beach.\r\nEnergy efficiency and renewable energy programs: Provides $2.8 billion for energy efficiency and renewable energy programs, the most ever appropriated. This funding will help combat climate change by supporting sustainable transportation programs that develop new fuels, lightweight materials, and vehicle engines; energy efficiency programs that develop standards and technologies to reduce energy bills; and renewable energy programs that work to lower the cost of solar, wind, geothermal and water power technologies.\r\nBasic scientific research: The bill fully funds the requested operational levels of scientific facilities at the national laboratories, including Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory.\r\nEnvironmental cleanup: Provides $31 million to continue the cleanup of the Old Town and Bayview sites at the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. This will allow the laboratory to build new facilities on those sites without using additional green space.\r\n \r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.feinstein.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=7BDB56D6-4A7E-4A38-B3FD-77D483D9BABB", "Feinstein to California, Trump Administration: Work Together on California Water", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Dianne Feinstein", "F000062", "www.feinstein.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WashingtonSenator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today called on Governor Gavin Newsom and Interior Secretary David Bernhardt to work together to develop consistent standards for water projects in California.\r\nI am deeply worried that we are on a disastrous course for California's water management that will harm both California's communities and its environment, Senator Feinstein wrote. To avoid this outcome, I urge California and the Department of the Interior to make every effort to develop consistent standards for coordinated operations of the Central Valley and state water projects in order to meet both parties' responsibilities under the federal and state Endangered Species Acts.\r\nFull text of the letter follows:\r\nDecember 19, 2019\r\nThe Honorable Gavin Newsom  Governor  State Capitol, Suite 1173  Sacramento, CA 95814\r\nThe Honorable David Bernhardt  Secretary, Department of the Interior  1849 C Street, N.W.  Washington DC 20240\r\nDear Governor Newsom and Secretary Bernhardt,\r\nI am deeply worried that we are on a disastrous course for California's water management that will harm both California's communities and its environment. To avoid this outcome, I urge California and the Department of the Interior to make every effort to develop consistent standards for coordinated operations of the Central Valley and State Water Projects in order to meet both parties' responsibilities under the federal and state Endangered Species Acts.\r\nI urge you both to consider the long-term impacts of a protracted disagreement and lengthy litigation impeding progress on all fronts. The Department of the Interior and California are on a course to establish conflicting rules for the operation of the Central Valley and State Water Projects. This will create two severe problems:\r\n \r\nIt will become much more difficult to coordinate operations to optimize benefits to water users and the environment. Inconsistent regulatory standards and the lack of agreement on how to use shared facilities will frustrate opportunities to increase water supplies during major storm events when Delta pumping is unlikely to harm fish. Environmental interests will likewise lose out, with less ability to coordinate state and federal operations to achieve timed pulse flows or other outflows of sufficient magnitude to make a difference in benefitting endangered or threatened species.\r\nWith no agreed-upon regulatory baseline and with California and Interior fighting in court, it will become impossible to develop voluntary settlements of the State Water Board's Delta outflows plan. The voluntary settlements are critical to ensuring water supply reliability and achieving the combination of habitat investments and increased flows necessary to restore salmon and other native species. The settlements will also allow for the implementation of essential environmental improvements now rather than having them held up by years of litigation.\r\n \r\nThere is only one way to avoid this potential crisis, and that is for the federal government and California to work together. I urge you both to come to a mutually beneficial agreement, and I stand ready to help in any way I can.\r\nSincerely,\r\nDianne Feinstein  United States Senator\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.feinstein.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=B50D290E-5047-4786-A7D8-A672F6E8D3E7", "Feinstein on 5th Circuit ACA Decision", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Dianne Feinstein", "F000062", "www.feinstein.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WashingtonSenate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) released the following statement on the 5th Circuit decision regarding the Affordable Care Act:\r\n After multiple failed attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act, President Trump decided to back a lawsuit that would take health insurance away from millions of Americans.\r\n By ruling in favor of President Trump and against the Affordable Care Act, the 5th Circuit has endangered a law that has been incredibly effective since its passage in 2010. All told, more than 20 million Americans have gained health coverage as a result of the law.\r\n If the courts find the law unconstitutional because of a Republican lawsuit, the number of uninsured would skyrocket. In California alone, the health care consumer group Families USA predicts 3.8 million individuals could lose coverage. And all Americans with pre-existing conditions, some 135 million nationwide, could lose protections.\r\n It would be a disaster.\r\n It's time for Republicans to stop their war on the Affordable Care Act and join with us to make it stronger. It's a successful law that has revolutionized health insurance in America. Stop trying to undermine it.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bass.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/bass-slams-senates-plan-impeachment", "Bass Slams Senate's Plan For Impeachment", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Karen Bass", "B001270", "bass.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Los Angeles, CA Office  \n\t\t4929 Wilshire Blvd  \n\t\tSuite 650  Los Angeles,CA 90010  \n\t\tPhone: (323) 965-1422  \n\t\tFax: (323) 965-1113\n\tWashington, DC Office  \n\t\t2059 Rayburn HOB  Washington, DC 20515  \n\t\tPhone: (202) 225-7084  \n\t\tFax: (202) 225-2422", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bass.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/bass-slams-senates-plan-impeachment-trial", "Bass Slams Senate's Plan For Impeachment Trial", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Karen Bass", "B001270", "bass.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Los Angeles, CA Office  \n\t\t4929 Wilshire Blvd  \n\t\tSuite 650  Los Angeles,CA 90010  \n\t\tPhone: (323) 965-1422  \n\t\tFax: (323) 965-1113\n\tWashington, DC Office  \n\t\t2059 Rayburn HOB  Washington, DC 20515  \n\t\tPhone: (202) 225-7084  \n\t\tFax: (202) 225-2422", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bera.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-bera-votes-to-pass-usmca", "Rep. Bera Votes to Pass USMCA", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Ami Bera", "B001287", "bera.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC  Today, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed in a bipartisan manner the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Today's vote follows months of negotiations by House Democrats to secure improvements to the original USMCA negotiated by the Trump Administration.\nI'm pleased to see that House Democrats were able to secure important changes to the original USMCA draft, said Rep. Bera. The version of USMCA that passed today includes strong protections for American workers, important enforcement mechanisms to ensure all countries are compliant, and key environmental protections. \nThe revised version of USMCA is a win for the U.S. economy and American families, and will bring important jobs to California.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://calvert.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-calvert-usmca-will-create-jobs-and-opportunities-throughout-inland-empire", "Rep. Calvert: \u201cUSMCA will create jobs and opportunities throughout the Inland Empire\u201d", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "CA", "Ken Calvert", "C000059", "calvert.house.gov", "calvert", "https://calvert.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Congressman Ken Calvert (CA-42) issued the following statement following the bipartisan passage (385 to 41) of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) in the House of Representatives:\n\n\"Just a day after a divisive and partisan impeachment vote, I am glad House Democrats have joined Republicans in finally supporting the USMCA, the President's top domestic policy priority. Their delay to take action has come at the expense of American workers and the U.S. economy, but better late than never.\n\n\"I applaud President Trump for modernizing and improving upon our most economically important trade deal. Southern California is a gateway to the world, which makes free and fair trade agreements vital for our region's economic future. The USMCA will create jobs and opportunities throughout the Inland Empire. It will also help our position in further negotiations with China and I look forward to supporting the President in his efforts to secure a better trade deal in the New Year.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T23:45:33Z"], ["https://cardenas.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/c-rdenas-statement-opposing-nafta-20", "Crdenas Statement on Opposing NAFTA 2.0", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Tony C\u00e1rdenas", "C001097", "cardenas.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DCCongressman TonyCrdenas(CA-29) releases the following statement on his vote against the United StatesMexicoCanada Agreement (USMCA):\nToday, I voted against NAFTA 2.0 because I do not believe it was a fair deal for American workers. While I do appreciate the efforts of my Democratic colleagues to fix the problems of the original NAFTA deal, this new trade agreement does not go far enough in protecting American workers and raising American wages, and it does not meet the environmental standards of a trade deal in the 21st century. Additionally, there was not a single mention of climate change in the text of the bill. As Democrats who are unified in our commitment to combat the growing climate crisis, it is unfortunate the final text of the bill omitted any mention of climate change. I am a strong supporter of free and fair trade, and should we make a trade deal that includes strong labor protections and meaningful environmental standards, I will be the first to sign. \n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://chu.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-chu-statement-usmca", "Rep. Chu Statement on USMCA", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Judy Chu", "C001080", "chu.house.gov", "chu", "https://chu.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2014 Today, Rep. Judy Chu (CA-27) joined a bipartisan majority in voting to pass H.R. 5430, a bill to implement the US-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement (USMCA), the updated version of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). This new agreement includes significant improvements with respect to labor, the environment, access to affordable medicines, and enforcement. The bill provides new labor enforcement at the individual company and factory level, requires independent labor experts certify that those companies and factories are following the labor protections under this agreement, imposes fines on goods that are made under union-busting tactics, and blocks goods from repeat offenders from entering the US. It also provides funding to clean up water pollution along the Tijuana River Valley and invest in water infrastructure. Rep. Chu issued the following statement:\n\n\"For too long, free trade agreements have meant lost jobs or lower wages for American workers. And the initial USMCA negotiated by the Trump Administration was no different, preserving the race to the bottom for workers' wages that incentivized moving jobs to other countries. That is why Democrats fought for new labor protections that would make this deal actually work for our country and our workers. It does that first by focusing labor enforcement at the individual factory level, which means we'll be able to find bad actors more easily. Second, independent labor experts will ensure those factories are following the labor protections under this agreement. Finally, USMCA also imposes fines on goods that are made under union-busting tactics, and blocks goods from repeat offenders from entering the US. These measures are significant, but they are meaningless without being enforced. That is why I am so pleased that Democrats were able to close loopholes from past agreements that let other countries bypass our labor requirements, and include protections for whistleblowers who witness violations of labor provisions.\n\n\"This deal is not perfect. While it does include some environmental accountability, it does not go nearly far enough in helping us address the urgent crisis of climate change. We still need agreements to lower our greenhouse gas emissions and bring us in line with the Paris Agreement. But this is still an important and significant step that will mean more and better jobs, more affordable goods, and a healthier economy. I am proud to vote yes on the USMCA.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T23:45:33Z"], ["https://chu.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-chu-votes-restore-salt-deduction-middle-class", "Rep. Chu Votes to Restore SALT Deduction for Middle Class", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Judy Chu", "C001080", "chu.house.gov", "chu", "https://chu.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2014 The House of Representatives today voted to restore important tax cuts for the middle class that were stripped out of the tax code by Republicans in their 2017 Tax Scam. H.R. 5377, the Restoring Tax Fairness for States and Localities Act of 2019, eliminates the $10,000 limit on the state and local tax (SALT) deduction for 2020 and 2021 and it eliminates the marriage penalty for 2019 to allow married couples filing jointly to claim a SALT deduction of $20,000. The bill also increases the existing above-the-line deduction for teachers' out-of-pocket classroom expenses from $250 to $1000 and establishes a new $1000 above-the-line deduction for the unreimbursed out-of-pocket work expenses of professional first responders. These provisions are paid for by restoring the top marginal income tax rate from 37% to 39.6%. Rep. Judy Chu (CA-27) issued the following statement:\n\n\"Nobody should be taxed twice. This is the principle behind the state and local tax (SALT) deduction. And it has been incredibly successful at helping millions of middle class families afford homes while supporting local governments that struggle to provide important services like education, public safety, and infrastructure. But by capping SALT, Republicans effectively raised taxes on millions while forcing states and localities to choose to either raise taxes or cut services.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T23:45:33Z"], ["https://cisneros.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-cisneros-provides-tax-relief-39th-district-residents", "Rep. Cisneros Provides Tax Relief to 39th District Residents", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Gilbert Cisneros", "C001123", "cisneros.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC  Today, Representative Gilbert R. Cisneros, Jr. (CA-39) voted to provide immediate tax relief to 39th District residents and lift the cap on the State and Local Tax Deduction (SALT). His bipartisan Restoring Tax Fairness for States and Localities Act would eliminate the marriage penalty by doubling the cap to $20,000 for joint filers for 2019 and would fully restore the SALT deduction for 2020 and 2021. The Act would increase the tax deduction available for teachers and establish a new tax deduction for first responders. The cost of this plan would be fully offset by returning the top individual tax rate from 37 percent, back to 39.6 percent, as was in place prior to the 2017 tax bill.\nThroughout this year, I've heard from countless constituents who are struggling after being hit with a larger tax bill. Our current tax system and the cap on the SALT deduction have unfairly burdened too many hard-working families, teachers, and first responders in the 39th District. They deserve relief, said Rep. Cisneros. I'm proud to have worked with my Republican and Democratic colleagues to introduce this important legislation. I'm even more proud that the House took action and moved us one step closer to lowering taxes for the people of the 39th District. I urge the Senate to follow the House's leadership and pass this bipartisan bill.\nIn the 39th District, 350,480 constituents filed tax returns in 2016. Of those returns, 139,630 filed for a SALT return, about 40 percent, for an average SALT deduction of $16,882. Also in 2016, there were 2.3 million joint returns filed by Orange, Los Angeles, and San Bernardino county residents. In all three counties, 18% of taxpayers claimed the SALT deduction, for a total deduction worth $3.2 billion.\nAbout 94 percent of America's public school teachers bought school supplies in 2014-15, according to a U.S. Department of Education survey. Approximately 94 percent spent an average of $500 on these supplies, and nearly 1 out of 10 spent more than $1,000. In 2017, 8,830 teachers in the 39th District filed tax returns claiming the above the line educator's expense deduction.\nRep. Cisneros is a member of a SALT working group that was formed earlier this year and was chaired by Ways and Means Select Revenue Measures Subcommittee Chairman, Mike Thompson (D-CA-05). Earlier this month, Rep. Cisneros spoke on the House floor urging his colleagues to act to lift the cap on SALT. He co-introduced the bipartisan H.R. 1591, the Salt Relief and Marriage Penalty Elimination Act, to make the SALT deduction equal to the standard deduction taken by taxpayers, encouraging homeownership and charitable giving. Rep. Cisneros also urged the House Ways and Means Committee to eliminate the $10,000 cap on the SALT deduction.\nRep. Cisneros has also advocated for H.R. 878, the Educators Expense Deduction Modernization Act, to increase the tax deduction for teachers, and H.R. 5342, the Supporting America's First Responders Act of 2019, to establish a deduction for first responders.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://cisneros.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-cisneros-votes-favor-usmca-trade-deal", "Rep. Cisneros Votes in Favor of USMCA Trade Deal", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Gilbert Cisneros", "C001123", "cisneros.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Representative Gilbert R. Cisneros, Jr. (CA-39) voted in favor of the new U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement (USMCA), which includes critical improvements secured by House Democrats. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the trade agreement with Canada and Mexico supports approximately 12 million U.S jobs.\nFor decades, NAFTA has harmed workers and small business owners throughout the 39th District. With significant improvements secured by House Democrats, the new bipartisan USMCA will bolster the United States economy, create high-paying jobs, protect workers' rights, strengthen environmental standards, and improve access to affordable prescription drugs, said Rep. Cisneros. This type of bold trade agreement is long overdue. I have heard from constituents and constituent owned businesses that this new USMCA will create a strong North American market for products designed and manufactured in the 39th District. When we support American workers and American small businesses, America succeeds.\nDemocrats Secure Transformative Fixes to USMCA\nAfter months of tough negotiating, Democrats secured landmark changes to the USMCA for American workers, delivering an agreement that is infinitely stronger than the first draft of USMCA the Administration had put forward. The new USMCA has the strongest enforcement mechanisms of any U.S. trade agreement, as well as critical victories for workers, lower prescription drug costs, and environmental protections:\n Strongest Ever Enforcement: While the original USMCA draft would have allowed any nation to stop an enforcement complaint from being heard, the new draft prevents nations from panel blocking and creates strong rules of evidence to help the U.S. win more cases.\n  Landmark Worker Protections: The original USMCA draft stacked the deck against labor violation claims with weak monitoring and the requirement that violence against workers be sustained or recurring to trigger enforcement. The new draft enacts a new rapid-response enhanced labor protection to protect American workers. It provides for facility-based enforcement and establishes Labor Attachs to provide on-the-ground information about labor practices. It also creates stronger rules to protect workers from violence and prosecute labor violations, as well as tough new monitoring tools to ensure that Mexico is complying with its labor reforms.\n  Restored Environmental Protections: The original USMCA draft had weak environmental rules and stacked the deck against any environmental violation claim by requiring proof it impacted trade. The new draft recognizes the environment's connection to trade and establishes Environment-Focused Attachs in Mexico City that will regularly monitor Mexico's environment laws, regulations, and practices. Additionally, the new draft includes a commitment that all Parties will adopt, implement, and maintain seven multilateral environment agreements, with the possibility of more to be added.\n  Lower Prescription Drug Prices: The original USMCA contains unacceptable giveaways for Big Pharma that would have locked in high prescription drug prices for American seniors and families. The new draft eliminates these unfair hand-outs to big corporations, like decade-long market exclusivity for biologics, and secures provisions to lower drug costs and improve access to life-saving medicines.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://correa.house.gov/news/press-releases/lou-correa-votes-to-pass-democrat-improved-usmca-trade-deal", "Lou Correa Votes To Pass Democrat-Improved USMCA Trade Deal", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "J. Correa", "C001110", "correa.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 19, 2019\n\t\t\t Lou Correa Votes To Pass Democrat-Improved USMCA Trade Deal \n\t\t\tWashington, DC - Today, Congressman Lou Correa (D-CA-46) applauded the passage of the United StatesMexicoCanada Agreement (USMCA) to replace and improve the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).  Rep. Correa said, After months of negotiations, we have a trade agreement that recognizes that trade is more than just moving goods and services. A good trade agreement must also protect American, Canadian, and Mexican workers, protect the environment and protect each respective economy.  The USMCA represents an enormous victory for all with both business and labor walking away with a big win. After many months of work, I am proud of the improvements House Democrats have made to this trade agreement. The new agreement contains a first-of-its-kind enforcement mechanism with capable enforcement and meaningful penalties to protect American and Mexican workers from abuse and exploitation.  Additionally, the Democrat-revised USMCA also improves enforcement by eliminating the loopholes that allowed states and companies to circumvent and block oversight mechanisms. By establishing the new standard that labor violations are trade-related violations, the USMCA puts added pressure on companies and states to act in the best interests of their employees.  The USMCA is also a win for our businesses. As every business owner knows, a company without customers isn't a company for long. The USMCA ensures American businesses have more customers and more opportunities to hire new workers, build new products, and grow their businesses while creating a level playing field for all.  While this is not a perfect trade deal, it represents an enormous improvement over the status quo. We will continue to work in defense of labor rights and workers here and abroad. When labor prospers, we all prosper. I applaud Speaker Pelosi, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer for their dedication and hard work on behalf of American workers and businesses. It's time for all Americans to start sharing in the new prosperity now!  Rep. Lou Correa represents California's 46th Congressional District. He serves as Chair of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security, and as the Vice Chair of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet.Read morehere.  ### \n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n \n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://costa.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/op-ed-rep-jim-costa-here-s-how-i-will-vote-impeachment-president-trump", "Op-Ed: Rep. Jim Costa: Heres how I will vote on impeachment of President Trump", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Jim Costa", "C001059", "costa.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The House of Representatives will soon vote on two articles of impeachment. Based on the facts I've learned over the last two months  and after carefully listening to constituents who both strongly support and oppose the president  I will vote for both articles.\nThis saddens me. It's not why I ran for Congress, or why I serve today.\nI know my decision will disappoint President Trump's supporters in the Valley, many of whom I consider friends.\nThis may be the most difficult vote I will cast in my congressional career, and I want you to understand how I made this important decision with the utmost seriousness and respect for our country.\nOver the past two months, I have worked hard to examine the facts and make a fair determination as to whether there was wrongdoing that constitutes impeachable offenses.\nI have carefully listened to all the available information, including classified briefings by our intelligence agencies, statements by President Trump, and his appointees who have testified or otherwise spoken out.\nAs a member of House Committee on Foreign Affairs, I listened to the depositions by respected career diplomats from the State Department and decorated military servicemembers. I have had conversations with my Republican and Democratic colleagues.\nIn addition, I have gone back and re-read what our Founding Fathers -- Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay -- wrote in the Federalist Papers, and why they determined there should be a provision to remove a president. It is clear they were intentionally broad in how they defined the high crimes and misdemeanors warranting impeachment.\nWhile the process of impeachment clearly has political implications for all Americans, I have chosen to ignore politics and do what is right based on the oath of office I have taken: To uphold and defend the constitution of the United States from all enemies foreign and domestic. This is the same oath of office every president takes.\nThere are disturbing facts from President Trump's own administration  hand-picked appointees  that informed my decision.\nU.S. Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland testified under oath that there was a quid pro quo, directed by President Trump, to withhold $391 million of military aid to Ukraine until that country's president agreed to investigate former vice president Joe Biden and his son. He said all top administration officials knew about the plan.\nFormer National Security Advisor John Bolton described this as a drug deal he didn't want anything to do with. White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney told Americans there would be political interference in our country's foreign policy, and to get over it. At a press conference on the South Lawn, the president himself openly encouraged Ukraine and China to investigate Biden.\nThere is much more corroborating evidence that all points to President Trump violating his oath of office.\nThe two most difficult votes any member of Congress will cast is to declare war, putting the lives of American men and women at risk, and to impeach a president.\nI do not know of anyone who runs for Congress wishing to cast either of these votes. I want you to know that I have not made this decision lightly.\nThis is a difficult time in our nation's history. My hope is that we can move beyond this dark time and heal our divisions to come together as the great nation we are.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://costa.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/costa-fights-valley-agriculture-secures-landmark-trade-deal", "COSTA FIGHTS FOR VALLEY AGRICULTURE, SECURES LANDMARK TRADE DEAL", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Jim Costa", "C001059", "costa.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "(WASHINGTON)  Congressman Jim Costa (CA-16) released the following statement after House passage ofHR 5430, the United States Mexico Canada Agreement(USMCA): One of my top priorities this year has been to secure new trade opportunities for agriculture,said Costa.Throughout this process, I've worked in a bipartisan fashion with Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to bring people to the table and hammer out a deal. This agreement cements favorable terms that will benefit the farmers, ranchers, and dairy men and women in the San Joaquin Valley, throughout California, and across America. It also marks an important win for American workers and goes a long way to improve environmental standards by reducing pollution between California and Mexico. I am proud to support the USMCA because ultimately, good trade agreements mean good paying jobs. Getting to yes on an updated NAFTA shows that the United States can reach agreements on trade. The Administration's trade policies toward China and Europe have hurt Valley agriculture. I call on the Administration to take the momentum from this vote and finalize agreements that provide additional markets to California products. Agriculture industry leaders are praising Rep. Costa, who vigorously fought for an updated USMCA that sets a new standard for what Americans should be able to expect from trade agreements: Rep. Costa has always understood the value of trade and exports for California agriculture,said Jamie Johansson, President of the California Farm Bureau Federation.We appreciate his leadership on helping to bring USMCA to a vote before the House of Representatives. The favorable, bipartisan vote should ultimately lead to much-needed certainty California farmers and ranchers need during turbulent times for international trade markets. This holiday season will be a bit brighter for America's dairy farmers as today's vote brings us one step closer to finalizing USMCA and securing a more certain future for the dairy industry,said Jim Mulhern, president and CEO of National Milk Producers Federation.California's dairy industry appreciates the work that Congressman Costa has invested to ensure USMCA will provide expanded market opportunities and a more level playing field for dairy exports. Now we are counting on the Senate to act quickly and finalize USMCA in order to deliver its improvements to North American trade. The USMCA also delivers landmark changes for American workers and is a win for our economy and American families by delivering:\n Worker Protections: Stronger rules to protect workers from violence and create tough new monitoring tools to ensure that Mexico is complying with its labor reforms.\n\t\t\n\tRestored Environmental Protections: Establishes environment-focused attachs in Mexico City that will regularly monitor Mexico's environmental laws, regulations, and practices.\n\t\t\n\tPrescription Drugs: Secures provisions to lower drug costs and improve access to life-saving medicines.                       \n\t\t\n ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://cox.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-tj-cox-applauds-passage-usmca-0", "Rep. TJ Cox Applauds Passage of USMCA", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "TJ Cox", "C001124", "cox.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. TJ Cox (CA-21)released the following statement on passage of the trade deal updating the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA):\n\n\n\tRepresenting the top ag district in the top ag state, I hear every day about how market uncertainty has made it nearly impossible for family farms to make ends meet,said Rep. Cox.That is why I worked with the Speaker directly to ensure the needs of Central Valley farmers and families were being met in this trade deal.\n\n\n\tOver the past year I've been proud to work with pro-trade and pro-agriculture members from both sides of the aisle to developa trade deal that delivers for American workers, protects the environment, and improves conditions for workers throughout North America.We pushed the White House and House leadership to work quickly, because the combination of trade uncertainty and backwards trade policy executed by this administration has cost Central Valley farms millions and damaged trading relationships worldwide.\n\n\n\tNo doubt our trade relationships with our top partners needed an update. International trade has changed dramatically since NAFTA's signing in 1994. Technology has connected us and dramatically changed the world economy. I'm proud that the agreement we're unveiling develops a framework for 21st century trade and shows multilateral agreements can bring shared prosperity.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://cox.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-tj-cox-delivers-8-million-increase-citrus-greening-research-after-rep", "Rep. TJ Cox Delivers $8 Million Increase for Citrus Greening Research After Rep. Barbara Lee Visit", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "TJ Cox", "C001124", "cox.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "On Tuesday, the House of Representatives passed a pair of key Fiscal Year 2020 funding bills(H.R. 1865 and H.R. 1158),also called minibus bills.Rep. TJ Cox (CA-21)has been very active in this process, fighting for Central Valley priorities often ignored in the funding process.Without legislative action to authorize necessary operating expenses, the government was set to shut down on December 20th. A shutdown would have resulted in a freeze in military pay, critical health and safety programs across the country being halted, and billions of dollars in lost revenue from the economy.\n\nCongressman Coxhas advocated forCentral Valleyagriculture since day one. In order to make sure the Central Valleygetsneededresources,Coxhosted Rep. Barbara Lee in the districtin May. Rep. Lee, who is the onlyCaliforniamemberof Congresson theAgricultureAppropriationsSubcommittee, was able to learn how important the citrus industry is to the Central Valley and how important the need for strong research funding is needed in order to combat pest and disease that threaten farmers crops.\n\nFarmers and ranchers are the lifeblood of the Valley and without strong investment at the federal level, they are left defenseless against the challenges they face daily. I was excited to show Rep. Lee around my district so she can see firsthand how these federal resources are being responsibly utilized and how important the agriculture industry is to theState of California and to the United States.\n\nRep. Cox secured funding for agriculture priorities that will help the Valley family farmers and ranchers of California's 21stDistrict through the following funding programs:\n\nCitrus Greening Research  Citrus Health Response Teamis a critical investmentthatensures that publicly funded researchis strengthenedin order to protect the California Citrus industry from the devastatingeffectsof Citrus Greening.\n\n Congressman Cox led the effort amongst citrus state membersto secure an increase of$8 milliondollars from 2019 levels.\n \nAgriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI):Due to California's broad and diverse specialty crop industry, robust support for public research is needed to ensure that the mostaffectiveand safe tools are available to farmers and ranchers to combat pest and disease targeting their crops and animals.\n\n Congressman Cox joined lawmakers in petitioning appropriators to increase federal funding for agriculture research, resulting in $425 million being appropriated. This is a $10 million increase from 2019.\n \nFarm & Ranch Stress AssistanceNetwork:Due to the recent downturn in the agriculture economy, stress from the trade war and in general the struggles farmers and ranchers face daily, resources have never been needed more to ensure that adequality trained and equipped mental health services are available to farmers and ranchers in their most desperate time of need.\n\n This $10 millionallocation is critical to helping get this program functioning, after it was established in the 2018 farm bill.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://cox.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-tj-cox-secures-additional-investments-asthma-and-health-care", "Rep. TJ Cox Secures Additional Investments in Asthma and Health Care", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "TJ Cox", "C001124", "cox.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "On Tuesday, the House of Representatives passed a pair of key Fiscal Year 2020 funding bills(H.R. 1865 and H.R. 1158), also called minibus bills.Rep. TJ Cox (CA-21)has been very active in this process, fighting for Central Valley priorities often ignored in the funding process. Without legislative action to authorize necessary operating expenses, the government was set to shut down on December 20th. A shutdown would have resulted in a freeze in military pay, critical health and safety programs across the country being halted, and billions of dollars in lost revenue from the economy.\n\nThe bill  H.R. 1865, Division A -- funds $30 million for the National Asthma Control Program to help those with Asthma better control and treat their complex medical condition.\n\nAs a proud member of the bipartisan Asthma and Allergy Caucus,I securedan additional $1 million in funding for the National Asthma Control Program,said Rep. TJ Cox. Asthma is far too common in the Central Valley, with our kids missing school and parents missing work due to Asthma, we must do more. That is why I have introduced four bills that help those with Asthma best manage their condition.\n\nRep. Cox has prioritized asthma treatment and has introduced:\n\nI am committed to helping people get the care and support they need to stay out of hospitals and in their communities, said Rep. TJ Cox.\n\nThe bill included $1.44 billion for the Impact Aid program, which will help schools on federal lands like Central Union School District with schools at NAS Lemoore.\n\nAll students deserve to have every opportunity to succeed, that includes a safe environment to learn in, said Rep. TJ Cox,  That's why I secured an additional $40 million to the Impact Aid program, and introducedH.R. 3647 Impact Aid Infrastructure Actthat provides a one-time set of funds to help schools get projects underway.\n\nThis bill includes funding for community health centers with $50 million set aside for a new AIDS initiative.\n\nCommunity Centers are the backbone of the Central Valley providing care to people when they need it, where they need it, saidRep. TJ Cox.\n\nThis bill funds a 6.7% increase in funds to the NIH over last year.\n\nI supported an increase in funding to the NIH so they can continue theirground breakingresearch. Most of the drugs we use today that are manufactured by big pharma companies started in the labs of the NIH, saidRep. TJ Cox.\n\nThis bill funds $5.9 billion for Substance Use and Mental Health Services, $140 million over lastyearsbill.\n\nAs a member on the bipartisan Freshman Working Group on Addiction, we worked to secure additional funding to stomp out this crisis from our communities, saidRep. TJ Cox.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://desaulnier.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-desaulnier-statement-passage-restoring-tax-fairness-states", "Congressman DeSaulnier Statement on Passage of Restoring Tax Fairness for States and Localities Act", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Mark DeSaulnier", "D000623", "desaulnier.house.gov", "desaulnier", "https://desaulnier.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 Today, Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11) issued the following statement on passage of the Restoring Tax Fairness for States and Localities Act (H.R. 5377) in the House of Representatives. The bill, which passed the House by a vote of 218-to-206, would restore fairness and equality to residents in high cost-of-living areas who were negatively impacted by the 2017 Republican tax bill. Specifically, the Republican tax bill limited the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction, which resulted in double-taxing an average $13,000 of annual income for Californians.\n\n\"In passing their tax bill in 2017, Republicans punished places like the Bay Area that have high costs of living, but contribute greatly to our competitive global economy,\" Congressman DeSaulnier said. \"This bill begins to correct the damage done to middle-class families and correct the imbalance in our tax code that favors the ultra-wealthy.\"\n\nBefore these changes made to SALT in the Republican tax bill, homeowners in Contra Costa County had an average SALT deduction of $18,672. More than 43% of tax returns filed in California's 11th District claimed the SALT deduction, which made it the 38th highest user of the deduction nationwide.\n\n#", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T23:45:33Z"], ["https://desaulnier.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-desaulnier-statement-usmca", "Congressman DeSaulnier Statement on USMCA", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Mark DeSaulnier", "D000623", "desaulnier.house.gov", "desaulnier", "https://desaulnier.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 Today, Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11) issued the following statement on today's passage of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) in the U.S. House of Representatives. The legislation passed by a vote of 385-to-41 with Congressman DeSaulnier voting against.\n\n\"The version of the USMCA passed by the House represents important progress in areas that affect Americans across the country,\" Congressman DeSaulnier said. \"Although negotiations with Democrats made this legislation far better than what was presented to us by the Trump Administration, I do not have confidence that American workers and the environment are adequately protected. With the harm workers in my district suffered after NAFTA was enacted, we must do more to protect against outsourcing and simultaneously provide stronger environmental protections to combat the effects of climate change while the White House denies its impacts.\"\n\n#", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T23:45:33Z"], ["https://eshoo.house.gov/media/press-releases/eshoo-votes-impeach-president-trump", "Eshoo Votes to Impeach President Trump", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Anna Eshoo", "E000215", "eshoo.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  Congresswoman Anna G. Eshoo voted to adopt two Articles of Impeachment against the President of the United States, Donald J. Trump. Below are Rep. Eshoo's remarks delivered on the House floor: \nMadam Speaker, I rise today to defend our Constitution and our democracy by voting for the two Articles of Impeachment.\nThe words of our sacred oath define our duty, and those words must be kept. Our Founders' primal fear was that powerful members of our government would become, in Hamilton's words: mercenary instruments of foreign corruption.\nPresident Trump abused the powers of the presidency by ignoring and injuring national security and other vital national interests to obtain an improper personal benefit. He also betrayed our nation by abusing his high office to enlist a foreign power in corrupting democratic elections.\nArticle Two I agree with because it details the obstruction of Congress by the President by directing unprecedented, categorical, and indiscriminate defiance of subpoenas issued by this House of Representatives and [abusing] the powers of the presidency in a manner subversive to the Constitution.\nI believe the Constitution is the soul of our nation, and by defending it, we are saying we will not be soulless.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://eshoo.house.gov/news-stories/press-releases/eshoo-votes-to-impeach-president-trump/", "Eshoo Votes to Impeach President Trump", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Anna Eshoo", "E000215", "eshoo.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Eshoo Votes to Impeach President Trump \r\n                    December 19th, 2019\r\n                        \r\n                        Washington, D.C.  Congresswoman Anna G. Eshoo voted to adopt two Articles of Impeachment against the President of the United States, Donald J. Trump. Below are Rep. Eshoo's remarks delivered on the House floor: \nMadam Speaker, I rise today to defend our Constitution and our democracy by voting for the two Articles of Impeachment.\nThe words of our sacred oath define our duty, and those words must be kept. Our Founders' primal fear was that powerful members of our government would become, in Hamilton's words: mercenary instruments of foreign corruption.\nPresident Trump abused the powers of the presidency by ignoring and injuring national security and other vital national interests to obtain an improper personal benefit. He also betrayed our nation by abusing his high office to enlist a foreign power in corrupting democratic elections.\nArticle Two I agree with because it details the obstruction of Congress by the President by directing unprecedented, categorical, and indiscriminate defiance of subpoenas issued by this House of Representatives and [abusing] the powers of the presidency in a manner subversive to the Constitution.\nI believe the Constitution is the soul of our nation, and by defending it, we are saying we will not be soulless.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://garamendi.house.gov/media/press-releases/garamendi-votes-eliminate-cap-state-and-local-tax-deduction-s-harming", "Garamendi Votes to Eliminate Cap on the State and Local Tax Deduction Thats Harming Californians", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "John Garamendi", "G000559", "garamendi.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DCToday, Congressman John Garamendi (D-CA) voted to pass the Restoring Tax Fairness for States and Localities Act (H.R. 5377), which passed the House by a vote of 218-206. The legislation would eliminate the $10,000 cap on the State and Local Tax Deduction (SALT) that was implemented in the 2017 Republican tax law and has disproportionately harmed California.\nThe 2017 Republican tax bill's cap on SALT is terrible public policy that forces my constituents to pay additional federal taxes on previously taxed income. This law has cost Californians over $12 billion, it puts a financial strain on middle-class families, and disincentivizes home ownership. This policy is particularly devastating for seniors who own homes and live on fixed incomes. I vowed to do everything in my power to restore the SALT deduction after the Republican tax plan was signed into law, and I'm pleased to vote for the Restoring Tax Fairness for States and Localities Act today. I commend Rep. Thomas Suozzi (D-NY) for introducing this legislation, and I will work to ensure it becomes law, Garamendi said. \nBackground:\nThe Restoring Tax Fairness for States and Localities Act would eliminate the marriage penalty the State and Local Tax Deduction (SALT) cap altogether in 2020 and 2021. It would be paid for by restoring the top marginal income tax rate from 37 to 39.6 percent. This rate increase would only affect taxpayers with incomes approaching a half million dollars per year and above. Finally, the bill would underscore the important contributions of critical state and local government employees: teachers and first responders. It would double the existing above-the-line deduction for teachers' out-of-pocket classroom expenses, from $250 to $500. It would also establish a $500 above-the-line deduction for the unreimbursed out-of-pocket work expenses of professional first responders. The bill is fully paid for.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://garamendi.house.gov/media/press-releases/garamendi-votes-pass-usmca-support-california-s-farmers-and-workers", "Garamendi Votes to Pass USMCA to Support Californias Farmers and Workers", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "John Garamendi", "G000559", "garamendi.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DCToday, Congressman John Garamendi (D-CA) voted to pass the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) to support workers, farmers, ranchers, and manufacturing in the United States. The bipartisan bill passed the House by a vote of 385-41 and is expected to pass the Senate and be signed into law by the President.\nThis agreement includes the strongest possible enforcement mechanisms to support and protect American workers and improve market access for American farmers. As a rancher and a farmer, I know how critically important it is to correct the flaws in NAFTA and pass a trade agreement that supports America's farmers and workers, Garamendi said. I'm grateful for the months of negotiations House Democrats undertook to secure landmark changes to the USMCA that deliver for America's workers, and our economy. The transformative changes House Democrats secured in this agreement earned the support of the AFL-CIO, the California Farm Bureau Federation, and other key stakeholders. I'm pleased this legislation has passed the House, and I will work to ensure it becomes law, Garamendi concluded.\nCalifornia farmers and ranchers welcome passage of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, and appreciate Rep. Garamendi's support of the agreement. The USMCA will benefit all of Californiarural and urbanby allowing most California-grown agricultural products improved access to customers in Mexico and Canada. Farmers, ranchers and the thousands of Californians whose jobs depend on agricultural exports look forward to earning the benefits this trade agreement will bring, said California Farm Bureau Federation President Jamie Johansson.\nA fact sheet on the USMCA from the House Committee on Ways and Means can be viewed here.\nA list of notable endorsements for USMCA is included below:\nCA Endorsements:\nAlmond Alliance of California\nBay Area Council\nCalifornia Apple Commission\nCalifornia Association of Winegrape Growers\nCalifornia Bean Shippers Association\nCalifornia Blueberry Commission\nCalifornia Canning Peach Association\nCalifornia Chamber of Commerce\nCalifornia Cherry Export Association\nCalifornia Cherry Export Council\nCalifornia Cotton Ginners and Growers Association\nCalifornia Dairies, Inc\nCalifornia Date Commission\nCalifornia Dried Plum Board\nCalifornia Farm Bureau Federation\nCalifornia Fig Advisory Board\nCalifornia Grain and Feed Association\nCalifornia Pear Growers Association\nCalifornia Pork Producers Association\nCalifornia Rice Commission\nCalifornia Seed Association\nCalifornia Strawberry Commission\nCalifornia Walnut Commission\nCalifornia Warehouse Association\nCalifornia Wheat Association\nNapa/Solano County Cattlemen's Association\nOlive Growers Council of California\nSacramento Metro Chamber\nSolano County Farm Bureau\nSun-Maid Growers of California\nWestern Growers\nUnited Dairymen of California\nNational Endorsements:\nAFLCIO\nAerospace Industries Association\nAmerican Farm Bureau Federation\nAgricultural Retailers Association\nAmerican Association of Port Authorities\nAmerican Wind Energy Association\nFarm Equipment Manufacturers Association\nInternational Dairy Foods Association\nInternational Brotherhood of Teamsters\nOutdoor Industry Association\nMotion Picture Association of America\nNational Association of Manufacturers\nNational Cattlemen's Beef Association\nNational Confectioners Association\nNational Electrical Manufacturers Association\nNational Milk Producers Federation\nNational Retail Federation\nThe Fertilizer Institute\nU.S. Dairy Export Council\nUnited Fresh Produce Association\nUSA Rice\nU.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce\nUnited Steelworkers (USW) International", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gomez.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1848", "Congressman Jimmy Gomez Statement on the House Passage of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Jimmy Gomez", "G000585", "gomez.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Jimmy Gomez Statement on the House Passage of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act \r\n    \r\n     \r\n\r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      Washington,\r\n      December 19, 2019\r\n    \r\n    \r\n    \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n\r\n  \r\n\r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n\r\n  \r\n    \r\n      Washington, D.C.  Today, in response to the House passage of H.R. 5430  the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act  Congressman Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), a member of the House Democratic Working Group on trade, released the following statement:  \r\n  \r\nI began my political career advocating for our country's proud labor movement  working for both the United Nurses Association of California and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees  and it was with them and their dignity in mind that I pursued meaningful improvements to our trade agreement with Canada and Mexico. Under the leadership of Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Chairman Richard Neal, our working group was successful in brokering an agreement that not only recognized the value of America's workers, but also secured measurable and profound progress in the areas of enforcement, prescription drugs, and the environment.  \r\n  \r\nThis unprecedented trade agreement was made possible through the fortitude and resolve of the members of the House Democratic Working Group. We refused to adhere to an arbitrary timetable in the name of political expediency, and ultimately, turned President Donald Trump's original trade deal  considered weak in almost every measure  into a real agreement with teeth.  \r\n  \r\nThe claims by Congressional Republicans and the White House that today's vote was a win for the president and his party represent a myopic take on the final product and the process that brought it to fruition. This agreement isn't a life raft for President Donald Trump. Passing the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act today symbolized a victory for the American people. It's much bigger than any person or party.  \r\n  \r\nWhile we didn't get everything we wanted in this agreement  as is expected with any multilateral negotiation of this magnitude  the achievements secured in this deal by the House Democratic Working Group were leaps and bounds from where we started on our first day. Fortunately, my House Democratic colleagues and I are dedicated to addressing some of the areas we hoped to strengthen through the legislative process, including climate change provisions and greater enforcement of environmental safeguards. And as a proud member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, I am encouraged by the reality that this deal is the floor  not the ceiling  for future progressive trade agreements.  \r\n  \r\n\"I'm deeply appreciative of Speaker Pelosi and Chairman Neal for giving me the opportunity to take part in this historic trade agreement, one that will have a substantive impact of communities across the country for generations to come.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harder.house.gov/media/press-releases/harder-statement-affordable-care-act-lawsuit", "Harder Statement on Affordable Care Act Lawsuit", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Josh Harder", "H001090", "harder.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  Representative Josh Harder (CA-10) released the following statement in response to an appeals court ruling that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) individual mandate is unconstitutional. The case will return to a lower court, which will determine whether or not to throw out the entire law. If the law is repealed, millions of Americans would lose health care coverage. Republicans have yet to agree on a health care proposal that will preserve insurance protections for individuals with preexisting conditions.\n \n\tThis could mean the end of health care coverage for literally millions of people  including almost 100,000 Central Valley residents with preexisting conditions like my little brother, David.\n\tWashington Republicans  including the president  have been trying to kill the ACA for years. They failed in Congress dozens of times and they failed in front of the Supreme Court, but this last-ditch attack could actually work in front of a radical judge in Texas. I will keep fighting not only to lower the cost of care but also to protect the expanded coverage that has literally saved thousands of lives.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harder.house.gov/media/press-releases/harder-votes-pass-historic-bipartisan-trade-deal-mexico-and-canada", "Harder Votes to Pass Historic Bipartisan Trade Deal with Mexico and Canada", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Josh Harder", "H001090", "harder.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  Representative Josh Harder (CA-10) voted to pass the bipartisan United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), an updated North American trade deal, which will provide access to foreign markets for our farmers and Valley businesses while also protecting workers. Rep. Harder pushed for passage of a final deal by the end of the year in July and cheered the announcement of a final agreement earlier this month.\n\tThis is a bipartisan win for our farmers who need to sell their products overseas. Our winemakers and dairy farmers especially will benefit from market access in Canada. These are huge industries for the Valley, and it's critical that they have the certainty they need to turn a profit, said Rep. Harder. This is the model we should work from on all future trade deals. Everyone came to the table to work this out, and we got the labor protections we need to stop jobs from being shipped overseas. I look forward to working with my colleagues to stop these trade wars and create new, better trade deals for our workers and farmers.\n\t\"House passage of the USMCA represents a victory for California family farmers and ranchers who have advocated for the agreement, said California Farm Bureau Federation President Jamie Johansson. It's also a victory for tens of thousands of Californians who work in processing, marketing and moving California-grown food and farm products to customers in Canada and Mexico.\"\n\tThis holiday season will be a bit brighter for America's dairy farmers as today's vote brings us one step closer to finalizing USMCA and securing a more certain future for the dairy industry, said Jim Mulhern, president and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation. California's dairy industry appreciates the work that Congressman Harder has invested to ensure USMCA will provide expanded market opportunities and a more level playing field for dairy exports. Now we are counting on the Senate to act quickly and finalize USMCA in order to deliver its improvements to North American trade.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://juliabrownley.house.gov/brownley-statement-on-support-for-passage-of-the-u-s-mexico-canada-agreement-implementing-legislation/", "Brownley Statement on Support for Passage of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementing Legislation", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Julia Brownley", "B001285", "juliabrownley.house.gov", "juliabrownley", "https://juliabrownley.house.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 Congresswoman Brownley (D-Westlake Village) released the following statement on her vote to support the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) implementing legislation (H.R. 5430):\n\n\u201cNorth American trade is vital to Ventura County\u2019s economy and our national economy. In fact, California\u2019s 26th Congressional District exports over $1 billion worth of goods and services to Canada and Mexico and over 24,000 jobs in Ventura County depend on U.S.-Canada-Mexico trade, including many in the agricultural industry, which is a proud part of our local heritage and critical to our local and regional economy.\n\n\u201cNationwide, more than 12 million American jobs \u2014 across the agriculture, manufacturing, services and technology sectors \u2014 depend on trade with Canada and Mexico. USMCA will not only protect these jobs, but update the old NAFTA to address e-commerce, which didn\u2019t meaningfully exist when NAFTA was written.\n\n\u201cFor months, House Democrats and I have fought to improve the USMCA, to better protect American jobs and the environment, and to strengthen our trade relationships with the United States\u2019 most important trading partners. The renegotiated agreement is now something that will work for the American people.\n\n\u201cI am grateful to Speaker Pelosi, my colleagues on the USMCA working group, and our Senate colleagues for their efforts to improve the USMCA, including adding provisions to enhance enforcement of labor and environmental standards, which are an improvement over NAFTA and other previous proposals.\n\n\u201cThat said, enforcement will not happen on its own and we must continue to be vigilant to ensure the new standards set by USMCA are fully enforced. The implementing legislation that we approved today in the House contains hundreds of millions in real funding to ensure enforcement of labor and environmental standards, including funds to stop pollution from Mexico from entering the U.S. via our waterways, which is a good first step.\n\n\u201cWhile we did not achieve all the environmental standards we had hoped for, we did successfully include language that will allow the Paris Climate agreement and other future international environmental agreements to be added by the parties at a later date. As a member of the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis, I will continue to work to address this issue.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T23:45:33Z"], ["https://kevinmccarthy.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/mccarthy-applauds-passage-of-usmca", "McCarthy Applauds Passage of USMCA", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "CA", "Kevin McCarthy", "M001165", "kevinmccarthy.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, the House passed the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Congressman Kevin McCarthy released the following statement:\nThe passage of USMCA is a victory for American workers, our economy, and intellectual property reforms, all of which will help ensure that America remains a world leader in the 21st century. Though I am pleased with the results of today's vote, we cannot overlook the Democrats' procrastination in bringing the bill to the House Floor. It is because of their misguided prioritization of partisan impeachment over solutions for citizens that USMCA was the very last vote before the House adjourned for the year.\nFrom fairer measures for agricultural producers to provisions that will help the United States remain a global force in cutting-edge technology, USMCA is expected to have positive effects nationwide, and especially California.In 2018 alone, our state exported over $48 billion in goods and services to Canada and Mexico  nearly 20 percent of all U.S. exports. With over a million jobs in our state supported by trade with Canada and Mexico, Californians are on track to benefit from this upgraded agreement. Not to mention, USMCA would help California agricultural product exporters by repealing Canada's unfair milk pricing systems, stopping the discrimination of American wine, and expanding access for U.S. dairy products and poultry in Canada and Mexico. The modernization of sanitary and phytosanitary measures will also help to ensure that American agricultural exports are not blocked due to spurious food safety or animal and plant health concerns.\nI urge the Senate to quickly take up this measure, and call on President Trump to sign this incredible win for Americans into law as soon as possible.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://kevinmccarthy.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/mccarthy-statement-on-newsom-visit-to-bakersfield", "McCarthy Statement on Newsom Visit to Bakersfield", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "CA", "Kevin McCarthy", "M001165", "kevinmccarthy.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Kevin McCarthy released the following statement on Governor Gavin Newsom's Bakersfield visit to discuss homelessness initiatives:\n\"Homelessness is a severe crisis in California and our community. As policy makers and community members, we must explore every potential solution to this problem. This must transcend politics, and federal, state, and local collaboration on this matter is the only way we can end homelessness. I am glad that Governor Newsom recognizes the unique perspective that the city of Bakersfield offers when it comes to helping our neighbors, and I am hopeful that we can work together to spur progress to improve the lives of all Californians.\"\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://lamalfa.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/farm-workforce-modernization-act-passes-house", "Farm Workforce Modernization Act Passes House", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "CA", "Doug LaMalfa", "L000578", "lamalfa.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "(Washington, DC)  Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) helped negotiate and write H.R. 5038, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, which passed the House of Representatives today on a bipartisan vote of 260-165-1. The bill makes significant changes to the H-2A visa program including allowing year round workers that are vital to the nations struggling dairy farmers. The bill allows farmers to transition to a fully legal workforce and is coupled with mandatory E-Verify after the bill is fully implemented.\nI'm happy to see a good, commonsense, and bipartisan bill pass the House that is fair to farmers, farmworkers, and to U.S. citizens. In California, and across the U.S., farmers have been calling for a reliable and legally documented workforce for years. The Farm Workforce Modernization Act addresses these issues in a constructive manner that provides much-needed certainty for workers and farmers. Itensures those crossing the border for agricultural work can do so with legal documentation  which is better for all, including the rule of law.said Rep. Doug LaMalfa.Today's strong vote in the House should help ensure the Senate will continue the effort we started.\nThe men and women who work America's farms feed the nation. But, farmworkers across the country are living and working with uncertainty and fear, contributing to the destabilization of farms across the nation, said Rep. Zoe Lofgren. Our bill offers stability for American farms by providing a path to legal status for farmworkers. In addition, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act addresses the nation's future labor needs by modernizing an outdated system for temporary workers, while ensuring fair wages and workplace conditions. I urge the Senate to follow the House's lead and swiftly pass the first-of-its-kind bipartisan immigration compromise in decades that improves America's agricultural labor programs and laws.\nThe bill has garnered the wide-spread support of more than 300 agriculture groups and labor organizations.\nThe passage of legislation that helps address dairy's unique workforce challenges is certainly a milestone and an opportunity we must pursue to the fullest, said Jim Mulhern, President and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation. Agricultural labor reform is long overdue. With today's action it is now imperative that the Senate act to fully address the needs of dairy farmers and all of agriculture, helping farmers do what they do best: feed our nation, and the world.\nToday is a milestone because this is the first time in decades that the full House, under either party, has enacted an agricultural labor immigration bill, said Arturo S. Rodriguez, President Emeritus, United Farm Workers. This bill will help bring stability to agricultural workers and to the agricultural industry. Experienced and professional agricultural workers who have earned the right to a stable future in the United States for themselves and their familieswill be liberated from the pervasive fear they face every day while performing one of the toughest jobs in America.\nHouse passage of the Farm Workforce Modernization Act today is an important first step towards solving one of most significant challenges facing farmers and ranchers today. The legislation points the way towards achieving many of the long-standing immigration reform goals of NCFC and others in agriculture. The sponsors should be recognized for their leadership on this issue. We look forward to continued engagement in the legislative process now that the bill has passed the House and will be sent to the Senate.  Chuck Conner, president and CEO, National Council of Farmer Cooperatives\nBackground:\nFarmers and ranchers across the United States are in desperate need of a high-quality, reliable workforce, and the current H-2A guest-worker program is in need of meaningful, bipartisan reform. The Farm Workforce Modernization Act creates a workforce solution for America's agriculture industry by providing stability, predictability, and fairness to one of the most critical sectors of our nation's economy.\nThe bill will:\n Establish a program for agricultural workers in the United States to earn legal status through continued agricultural employment and contribution to the U.S. agricultural economy.\n\tReform the H-2A program to provide more flexibility for employers, while ensuring critical protections for workers. The bill focuses on modifications to make the program more responsive and user-friendly for employers and provides access to the program for industries with year-round labor needs.\n\tEstablish mandatory, nationwide E-Verify system for all agricultural employment with a structured phase-in and guaranteed due process for authorized workers who are incorrectly rejected by the system.\n The full list of cosponsors includes: Rep. Mark Amodei (R-NV-02); Rep. James Baird (R-IN- 04); Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA-37); Rep. Anthony Brindisi(D-NY-22); Rep. Susan W. Brooks (R-IN-05); Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24); Rep. Tony Cardenas (D-CA-29); Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA-27); Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK-04); Rep. Luis J. Correa (D-CA-46); Rep. Jim Costa (D-CA-16); Rep. TJ Cox (D-CA-21); Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN-02); Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO-6); Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX-28); Rep. John Curtis (R-UT-03); Rep. David Scott (D-GA-13); Rep. Rodney Davis (R-IL-13); Rep. Antonio Delgado (D-NY-19); Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL-25); Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-TX-16); Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-1); Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-OH-11); Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA-3); Rep. Sylvia Garcia (D-TX-29); Rep. Bob Gibbs (R-OH-07); Rep. Josh Harder (D-CA-10); Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI-3); Rep. Peter King (R-NY-2); Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-CA-01); Rep. Al Lawson (D-FL-05); Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA-05); Rep. Paul Mitchell (R-MI-10); Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY-10); Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA-04); Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA-22); Rep. Tom O'Halleran (D-AZ-1); Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-20); Rep. Scott Peters (D-CA-52); Rep. Collin C. Peterson (D-MN-07); Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME-1); Rep. Tom Reed (R-NY-23); Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-CA-36); Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-CA-38); Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-OR-05); Rep. Kim Schrier (D-WA-08) ; Rep. Mike Simpson (R-ID-02); Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI-08); Rep. Lloyd Smucker (R-PA-11); Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA-07); Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA-19); Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY-21); Rep. Chris Stewart (R-UT-2); Rep. Steve Stivers (R-OH-15); Rep. Thomas Suozzi (D-NY-3); Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA-5); Rep. Scott Tipton (R-CO-3); Rep. Norma Torres (D-CA-35); Rep. Xochitl Torres Small (D-NM-02); Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI-06); Rep. Filemon Vela (D-TX-34); Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR-02); and Rep. Don Young (R-AK- At Large).\nCongressman Doug LaMalfa is a lifelong farmer representing California's First Congressional District, including Butte, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou and Tehama Counties.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://lamalfa.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/lamalfa-applauds-hud-long-term-disaster-relief-funds", "LaMalfa Applauds HUD Long-Term Disaster Relief Funds", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "CA", "Doug LaMalfa", "L000578", "lamalfa.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "(Washington, DC)  Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) issued the following statement after the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) announcement of $1.25 billion to support long-term disaster recovery in the State of California through the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Program.\nLaMalfa said: I am pleased that the Administration is continuing its commitment to supporting disaster recovery efforts throughout the North State. This funding will be used to assist in recovery from the Carr, Camp, and Wall wildfires. The release of these funds gives our local governments the resources necessary to return a sense of normalcy to our constituents. The North State has been resilient throughout these recent fire seasons, but there is still more work to be done. I will continue to work with Federal agencies to provide support for long-term recovery in the North State.\nCongressman LaMalfa supported the passage of H.R. 1892 and H.R. 2157, which authorized this disaster relief funding.\nCongressman Doug LaMalfa is a lifelong farmer representing California's First Congressional District, including Butte, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou and Tehama Counties.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://lamalfa.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/lamalfa-applauds-president-trump-s-trade-deal-with-china", "LaMalfa Applauds President Trumps Trade Deal with China", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "CA", "Doug LaMalfa", "L000578", "lamalfa.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "(Washington, DC)  Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) announced his strong support for President Donald Trump's Phase One trade deal with China, which will require Beijing to purchase U.S farm goods, commit to respecting intellectual property rights, and increase the transparency in their currency and financial services sectors,in exchange for partial relief from American tariffs.\nChina has not been playing by any rules for decades. President Trump made it a priority of his Administration to fight back against the atrocious trade practices of the People's Republic of China, which have stolen American patents and imported toxic goods to the United States. With this deal, the President has forced Beijing to take down its protectionist barriers to economic opportunity for American businesses, while also maintaining protections for our domestic manufacturing base,LaMalfa said.This is just the start. I look forward to continuing to work with this Administration to ensure our farmers and businesses get a fair deal in China, and every country that trades with the United States.\nAnnounced details of the Phase One trade agreement with China include:\n Maintains 25% tariffs on $250 billion in goods imported from China\n\tDefers 15% tariffs on $160 billion of Chinese imports scheduled forDecember 15\n\tDecreases 15% tariffs on $120 billion of goods imported from China to 7.5%\n\tThe United States and China will establish a trade dispute resolution system with prompt and effective enforcement\n\tChina has agreed to $50 billion in U.S. farm goods purchases per year, over two years  double the amount Beijing imported in 2017\n\tChina will have to strengthen protections for foreign companies\n\tChina will have to provide more transparency on their currency changes\n\tChina will have to open up their domestic market to American financial services\n\tChina will have to increase their protections for American intellectual property\n Congressman Doug LaMalfa is a lifelong farmer representing California's First Congressional District, including Butte, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou and Tehama Counties.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://lamalfa.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/lamalfa-applauds-usda-announcement-of-550-million-for-rural-broadband", "LaMalfa Applauds USDA Announcement of $550 Million for Rural Broadband", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "CA", "Doug LaMalfa", "L000578", "lamalfa.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "(Washington, DC)  Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) issued the following statement after the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) announcement of $550 million in second round funding for the ReConnect Program, which provides funds to expand broadband internet infrastructure in rural America.\nLaMalfa said:I appreciate the Administration's commitment to improving broadband connectivity and closing the digital divide in our rural communities. The ReConnect Program has already made improvements in internet access for rural America and I look forward to this program's continued success. I will continue to work here in Washington to ensure that rural America has the same access to top technology and the infrastructure that our North State communities need to thrive.\nBackground: In March 2018, Congress provided $600 million to USDA to expand broadband infrastructure in rural America. In December 2018, Secretary Perdue announced the ReConnect Program, which provides grants and loans to build broadband infrastructure. To date, USDA has awarded $191 million through the ReConnect program. The application window for the second round of funding will openJan. 31, 2020.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://lamalfa.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/lamalfa-helps-pass-national-defense-authorization-act", "LaMalfa Helps Pass National Defense Authorization Act", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "CA", "Doug LaMalfa", "L000578", "lamalfa.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "(Washington, DC)  Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) voted in favor of the National Defense Authorization Act which sets the priorities for military spending and troop pay. The bill's historic bipartisanship was sidelined as the New Democratic majority attempted to include many irrelevant provisions, such as blocking wall funding and altering military transgender policy. Those controversial poison pills were stripped from the bill allowing today's bipartisan vote.\nI am pleased to see a bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act finally pass the House.This bill contains an important pay raise for our service members and continues the work of rebuilding our defense capabilities,stated Rep. Doug LaMalfa.Its delayed passage, because of outrageous provisions added by Democrats, stalled much needed investments in modern weaponry and upgrading our nuclear capabilities. It would be much more productive if we avoided the virtue signaling and found a middle ground rather than retreating to partisan corners for months on end.\nThe 2020 NDAA strengthens America's national security and supports our men and women in uniform.\n Authorizes $738 billion in base and OCO funding, as well as an additional $5.3 billion in emergency funding for disaster recovery.\n\tSupports the Trump Administration's work to increase our lethality and restore the readiness of our forces.\n\tAdvances the National Defense Strategy and provides the resources necessary to counter Russia and China.\n\tProvides resources for unmanned submarines, the sixth-generation jet fighter, guided-missile destroyers, amphibious warships, P-8, E-2, and V-22 aircraft, Army hypersonics, next-generation helicopters, F-16 radars, 12 additional F-35s, F-15EX fighters, support for 5G, cyber, and ballistic missile defense programs, and more.\n\tProvides badly needed funding for nuclear modernization and supports all three legs of our nuclear triad. It allows for an increase in plutonium pit production as well as the deployment of low- yield nuclear weapons. This legislation also fully funds all ongoing nuclear warhead modernization programs.\n\tEstablishes the Space Force as the sixth Armed Service branch of the U.S. military.\n\tThis legislation also allows us to further counter our adversaries through sanctions and includes authorities against Russia, Syria, and North Korea.\n\tSupports a 3.1 percent pay raise for our troops, the largest increase in a decade, and includes a needed overhaul of privatized military housing.\n\tEstablishes a responsible process to end the Widow's Tax.\n Congressman Doug LaMalfa is a lifelong farmer representing California's First Congressional District, including Butte, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou and Tehama Counties.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://lamalfa.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/lamalfa-praises-usmca-deal", "LaMalfa Praises USMCA Deal", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "CA", "Doug LaMalfa", "L000578", "lamalfa.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "(Washington, DC)  Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) today praised the completion of bipartisan negotiations on the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. This agreement, which will replace NAFTA, had been delayed for a year over Democrat political concerns and labor union opposition.\nLaMalfa said:Despite a year of partisan delays, today's news of a final agreement on USMCA is great for America and our citizens. This trade deal will will open new markets for our farmers and protect America manufacturing. It sets a new standard for digital and intellectual property that should be the model of all agreements moving forward. I'm happy to see this deal finally come up for a vote after a year. It is a credit to President Trump and his negotiating team to have won support for such a far reaching reform of an outdated trade deal. I hope we can pass this rather than focusing on the sideshow of impeachment.\nCongressman Doug LaMalfa is a lifelong farmer representing California's First Congressional District, including Butte, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou and Tehama Counties.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://lamalfa.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/lamalfa-responds-to-partisan-impeachment", "LaMalfa Responds to Partisan Impeachment", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "CA", "Doug LaMalfa", "L000578", "lamalfa.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "(Washington, DC)  Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) issued the following statement after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced that she has directed Democrats to begin drafting articles of Impeachment. \nLaMalfa said: Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats are crossing a line America's Founders warned us not to cross. A purely partisan impeachment, which does not even have the full backing of the Democratic party, and lacks overwhelming support from the American people or Congress sets a terrible path for our future. Nothing presented to Congress so far has been an impeachable offense, even with their star witnesses in committee and that should end the issue. \nI know that there is a population of Americans and our own constituents who don't like President Trump. There were many who disliked President Obama with a similar passion. But, simply disliking a President cannot be the driving force behind impeachment. Today's actions weaken our nation and further divides America. \nCongressman Doug LaMalfa is a lifelong farmer representing California's First Congressional District, including Butte, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou and Tehama Counties.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://lamalfa.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/lamalfa-supports-freedom-of-religion-for-uighurs-in-xinjiang", "LaMalfa Supports Freedom of Religion for Uighurs in Xinjiang", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "CA", "Doug LaMalfa", "L000578", "lamalfa.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "(Washington, DC)  Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) issued the following statement after voting in favor of S. 178, the Uighur Intervention and Global Humanitarian Unified Response (UIGHUR) Act. The UIGHUR Act would impose sanctions on Chinese government officials personally responsible for the discriminatory acts and would require export licenses for items that allow China's government to commit human rights violations.\n\nLaMalfa said: The Uighur population and other minorities in China's Xinjiang province have endured unacceptable injustices from the communist central government in Beijing because of their religious beliefs. The policies of Chinese officials towards the Uighurs flies in the face of all moral and international standards of the freedom of religion. Uighurs have been driven out of their homes, moved into re-education camps, and forced to reject and relearn their religious, cultural, and political beliefs. The Uighurs, like every other group in the world, should have the freedom to practice their religious beliefs without fear of persecution. Any Chinese officials responsible for these actions should be held accountable for their horrific actions. The Chinese government should take note that Congress does not approve of Beijing's policies of suppression in Xinjiang or Hong Kong, and we will not stand for strong-handed, anti-democratic policies that deny basic human rights.\nCongressman Doug LaMalfa is a lifelong farmer representing California's First Congressional District, including Butte, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou and Tehama Counties.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://lamalfa.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/lamalfa-supports-funding-package", "LaMalfa Supports Funding Package", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "CA", "Doug LaMalfa", "L000578", "lamalfa.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "(Washington, D.C.)  Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) issued the following statement after voting for two bills, H.R. 1865 and H.R. 1158, that will fund both domestic and military portions of the government.Both bills passed with wide bipartisan support and now head to the Senate. The bills need to be signed byDecember 20thto avoid a government shutdown.\nLaMalfa said: \"Today's government funding package makes a significant down payment on border wall construction, invests in building more water infrastructure - specifically Sites Reservoir - and eliminates ill-conceived taxes on medical devices. While I'm not happy with the overall spending level of the bill, there is more good than bad in this package of bills. Importantly for Northern California, this package includes additional benefits to Camp and Carr Fire disaster areas through additional low income housing tax credits. It alsofully funds Secure Rural Schools and Payment- In-Lieu of Taxes (PILT) that our rural counties need in order to provide for transportation and law enforcement.\n Domestic, International and Tax Extenders (H.R. 1865)\n\t\tFunding Highlights:\n\t\t\t\tProvides $134 million in new funding for WIIN Act water storage projects, specifically including Sites Reservoir\n\t\t\t\t\tPayment in Lieu of Taxes fully funded through FY20\n\t\t\t\t\tFully funds Secure Rural Schools for FY20, and backfills funding for FY19\n\t\t\t\t\tPermanently repeals Obamacare taxes on medical devices, health insurers, and high-quality health insurance plans\n\t\t\t\t\tIncreases funding for apprenticeship programs to $175 million, a priority of the Trump Administration\n\t\t\t\t\tFully funds community care programs at the Department of Veterans Affairs, including an additional appropriation of $1.5 billion for the creation of an electronic health record system that can be used in tandem with the Department of Defense\n\t\t\t\t\t$2.8 billion for Alzheimer's disease research at the National Institutes of Health\n\t\t\t\t\tFunds the Trump Administration's childhood cancer initiative at $50 million\n\t\t\t\t\tProvides additional Low-Income Housing Tax Credits for the Carr and Camp Fire, and all areas affected by the 2017 and 2018 California wildfires\n\t\t\t\t\tExtends several tax benefits to the areas devastated by disasters in 2018 and 2019\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tPolicy Provisions:\n\t\t\t\tHyde Amendment, Weldon Amendment, and embryo research prohibitions maintained\n\t\t\t\t\tProhibits commercial consumption of horse meat\n\t\t\t\t\tBlocks Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions provisions against Israel\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n  National Security (H.R. 1159)\n\t\tFunding Highlights:\n\t\t\t\tFully funds the defense programs passed by the House last week, including $738 billion in defense programs, a 3.1% pay raise for our troops, and the establishment of Space Force\n\t\t\t\t\tProvides $1.4 billion for the border wall, and other infrastructure needed to get control of our borders\n\t\t\t\t\t$50 million for the Defense Community Infrastructure Program that could be used to assist communities surrounding military facilities, like Sierra Army Depot\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tPolicy Provisions:\n\t\t\t\tNo ban on President's ability to transfer funds for border wall\n\t\t\t\t\tMaintains the same number of detention beds, despite less being needed due to the President's executive actions on immigration\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://lamalfa.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/lamalfa-supports-measure-to-penalize-robocalls", "LaMalfa Supports Measure to Penalize Robocalls", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "CA", "Doug LaMalfa", "L000578", "lamalfa.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "(Washington, DC)  Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) issued the following statement after voting in favor of S. 151, the Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence (TRACED) Act.\nLaMalfa said: Robocalls have progressed from simply being the nuisance of sales calls to international scams that trick people out of their hard-earned savings. Robocalls particularly target seniors, costing them billions of dollars each year. This overdue legislation eliminates rules that allowed this tactic to evade enforcement and recognizes robocalls and spoofing for what it is: a crime.\nWith Congressman LaMalfa's support, the House passed H.R. 3575, the Stopping Bad Robocalls Act on July 24th, 2019, which also addressed issues surrounding exploitative robocalls. S. 151 includes several provisions from that measure and will now return to the Senate before going to the President for signature.\nCongressman Doug LaMalfa is a lifelong farmer representing California's First Congressional District, including Butte, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou and Tehama Counties.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://lee.house.gov/news/press-releases/congresswoman-lee-opposes-the-usmca-trade-agreement", "Congresswoman Lee Opposes the USMCA Trade Agreement", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Barbara Lee", "L000551", "lee.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.19.19\n\t\t\t Congresswoman Lee Opposes the USMCA Trade Agreement \n\t\t\tWashington, D.C. Today, Congresswoman Lee voted against the United States-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement (USMCA), and released the following statement:\r\nDue to Speaker Pelosi and the negotiators' tireless work, this USMCA is better than current NAFTA and what the Trump Administration presented in the original agreement.\r\nHowever, after careful consideration, I voted NO on the passage of USMCA.\r\nOur planet is feeling the effects of climate change every day, and the lack of strong environmental protections is something I cannot abide. The USMCA supports dirty fossil fuels, allows oil and gas corporations to run rampant, and fails to address toxic pollution. Without stronger environmental protections, this trade deal will have consequences to the climate for decades to come.\r\nI pledge to continue work to address climate issues relating to globalization and trade policy.\r\n### \n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n \n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://levin.house.gov/media/press-releases/representative-mike-levin-names-vista-postal-worker-constituent-month", "Representative Mike Levin Names Vista Postal Worker as Constituent of the Month", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Mike Levin", "L000593", "levin.house.gov", "levin", "https://levin.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Representative Mike Levin (D-CA) announced that Chyanne Thomas, a Vista postal worker who found two missing children in a two-week span, is his Constituent of the Month. Representative Levin also recognized the extraordinary work of postal workers and all delivery drivers during the Holiday season.\n\nEarlier this year, Representative Levin launched a Constituent of the Month program to recognize outstanding North County San Diego and South Orange County Residents who have gone above and beyond to help their neighbors, give back to their community, and make the country stronger. Levin\u2019s Constituent of the Month for October was longtime volunteer and civil rights activist Gwen Sanders. His Constituent of the Month for November was Charles Anderson, Commander of the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Tri-Cities Chapter 95.\n\nTo nominate a resident of the 49th District to be the Constituent of the Month, fill out this nomination form.\n\nSee below for Rep. Levin\u2019s statement recognizing Chyanne Thomas:\n\nThis Holiday season, I am proud to recognize Chyanne Thomas, a postal worker from Vista, as my Constituent of the Month. Chyanne is a hero for two children, their families, and our entire community. Chayanne\u2019s vigilance while on her regular delivery route resulted in the identification of two children who had been reported missing. Her quick and caring response allowed these two local children to be safely reunited with their concerned families.\n\nWhen Chyanne spotted Abby, a 15-year-old with autism, she sprang into action. She used the skills she had learned in a previous job working with children with disabilities to keep Abby calm and safe until police arrived. Two weeks later, Chyanne saw a missing 4-year-old girl alone during her route, and didn\u2019t hesitate to approach her and make sure she was okay until police and her parents arrived. Without Chyanne\u2019s awareness, compassion, and quick action, these two kids might still be missing.\n\nWhile Chyanne\u2019s action to save those children is extraordinary, I also want to recognize the incredible pressure all postal workers and delivery drivers are under during the Holiday season. They endure exhausting hours, grueling weather, and much more to ensure that families have their gifts before the Holidays. Much of their work is taken for granted on a daily basis, but the Holidays would not be the same without their dedication, and I am extremely grateful for their service.\n\nI launched a Constituent of the Month to recognize individuals in the 49th District who have gone above and beyond to help their neighbors and support our community. I know the families of those two missing children, as well as all families who are receiving Holiday packages, would agree that Chyanne is well-deserving of this recognition.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T23:45:33Z"], ["https://lieu.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-lieu-applauds-house-effort-restore-state-and-local-tax-deduction", "REP LIEU APPLAUDS HOUSE EFFORT TO RESTORE STATE AND LOCAL TAX DEDUCTION", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Ted Lieu", "L000582", "lieu.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON - Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) issued the following statement after the House passed the Restoring Tax Fairness for States and Localities Act of 2019. The bill would curb the $10,000 cap on the State and Local Tax (SALT) Deduction implemented in the 2017 House GOP tax bill and would also reverse the GOP's massive giveaway to the wealthiest tax bracket.\nCalifornia contributes more to the federal government in taxes than it receives back in services, Rep. Lieu said. Many of my constituents are already feeling the pain of being double taxed because they've been forced to pay federal taxes on money spent on state and local taxes. The harmful SALT deduction cap was a cornerstone of the regressive 2017 Republican tax bill, which made it possible for corporations to go without paying taxes while millions of average American families footed the bill. House Democrats are working for the people to support middle class families, which is why I am proud to have cosponsored this bill.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://lieu.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-lieu-champions-bipartisan-city-and-state-diplomacy-act-committee", "REP LIEU CHAMPIONS BIPARTISAN CITY AND STATE DIPLOMACY ACT IN COMMITTEE", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Ted Lieu", "L000582", "lieu.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  This week, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) championed his bipartisan bill, the City and State Diplomacy Act, during a House Foreign Affairs Committee markup. The bill, which subsequently passed out of committee, is co-led with Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) and focuses on providing federal support for state and local diplomacy efforts. The bill will establish an Office of Subnational Diplomacy at the State Department, which will coordinate overall U.S. policy and programs in support of city and state engagement with foreign governments and officials. Watch the congressman's remarks here.\nMr. Lieu's remarks as prepared:\nThank you, Mr. Chairman.\nAcross the country, our cities and states are laboratories of democracy. They are places where innovative policies are developed on everything from resource management to trade to public safety. \nBut our cities and states are also instruments of U.S. diplomacy. For years, mayors and governors have been engaging with their foreign counterparts around the globe to share best practices and strike agreements on a range of issues. \nThe growth of subnational cooperation has enabled cities and states to play an increasingly significant role in foreign policy and complement the efforts of the State Department. These engagements support U.S. trade and investment, facilitate cooperation on energy and the environment, increase the health and safety our citizens, and promote people-to-people exchanges.\nToday, global networks made up exclusively of local government officials are at the forefront of harnessing the power of cities to advance international cooperation, including the Global Parliament of Mayors, Urban20 and more. \nIt is in the interest of the United States to promote these subnational engagements, align them with national objectives to the extent possible, and leverage federal resources to enhance their impact. \nFor too long, however, our cities and states have been conducting this subnational diplomacy with little-to-no support from the federal government. That is a missed opportunity by both sides.\nMy legislation being considered today, the City and State Diplomacy Act, seeks to address this major gap.\nThis legislation will do two things to bolster city and state diplomacy. \nFirst, it will establish a new Office of Subnational Diplomacy at the State Department that will coordinate all federal resources needed to support our mayors and governors on the world stage. This Office will be headed by a senior official of an appropriate rank to represent the U.S. at international fora and develop the agreements necessary to facilitate more subnational engagement. \nSecond, the legislation authorizes State Department detailees to city halls and state capitols across the country to advise and assist our mayors and governors and help them achieve their specific international objectives. \nI am proud that this legislation has broad support not only from my colleagues across the aisle, but from across the country as well. This legislation will benefit every American city and state with international interests. \nI am also proud that this legislation has garnered the support of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the American Foreign Service Association, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, and a number of former senior State Department officials from both Republican and Democratic administrations. \nFinally, I would like to extend my deep thanks to Congressman Joe Wilson of South Carolina for partnering with me on this legislation, as well as to Chairman Engel and Ranking McCaul for bringing this legislation forward to markup.\nI yield back.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://lofgren.house.gov/media/press-releases/lofgren-announces-ca-19-winner-2019-congressional-app-challenge", "Lofgren Announces CA-19 Winner of 2019 Congressional App Challenge", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Zoe Lofgren", "L000397", "lofgren.house.gov", "lofgren", "https://lofgren.house.gov/media/press-releases", "page_html", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, Representative Zoe Lofgren (CA-19) announced that Avi Goel, a junior at Silver Creek High School, won the 2019 Congressional App Challenge for California's 19th Congressional District.\n\nGoel used JavaScript and TypeScript to create the iOS and Android app, titled \"Infinity News,\" which aims to aggregate credible news that is independently-vetted as trustworthy for users in an easy-to-navigate format.\n\n\"I congratulate Avi on his achievement in creating a technologically-savvy way to ensure the public focuses on facts. With his app, Avi showcased the best technical skills, and I commend him for not just exhibiting creativity, but putting that skillset to use on a topic that matters to our country, our republic, and to every country across the world,\" said Rep. Lofgren. \"I also thank every Santa Clara County student who submitted an app \u2013 all of the submissions were unique and impressive. I look forward to seeing our hometown STEM students of today leading the successful Silicon Valley companies of the future.\"\n\n\"Many Americans and people around the world are increasingly gleaning their information from news sources with major factual inaccuracy or extreme political bias,\" said Avi Goel. \"As a member of America's democracy and as a future voter, I wanted to create a platform that would allow me to find a good baseline of credible information on the issues of today, not just within our borders but around the world.\"\n\nClick here to view Goel's submission.\n\nThe annual Congressional App Challenge is a nation-wide effort to spur interest in coding, STEM and computer-science education among middle- and high-school students.\n\nEach district-winning app is eligible to be displayed in the U.S. Capitol Building and featured on house.gov. Winning students are invited to a #HouseofCode #Congress4cs reception in Washington, DC and receive $250 in Amazon Web Services credits. The Congressional App Challenge will publish all national winners online.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-03-30T11:08:25Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 6776, "expanded_columns": [], "expandable_columns": [], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "units": {}, "query": {"sql": "select url, title, date, year, month, party, chamber, state, member_name, bioguide_id, domain, scraper, source, date_source, text, has_text, collected_at, updated_at from releases where \"chamber\" = :p0 and \"state\" = :p1 and \"year\" = :p2 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "House", "p1": "CA", "p2": "2019"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=CA&year=2019", "results": [{"value": "Democrat", "label": "Democrat", "count": 6377, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=CA&year=2019&party=Democrat", "selected": false}, {"value": "Republican", "label": "Republican", "count": 399, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=CA&year=2019&party=Republican", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=CA&year=2019", "results": [{"value": "House", "label": "House", "count": 6776, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=CA&year=2019", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=CA&year=2019", "results": [{"value": "CA", "label": "CA", "count": 6776, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&year=2019", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=CA&year=2019", "results": [{"value": "2019", "label": "2019", "count": 6776, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=CA", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2019-12-19,https~3A~2F~2Flofgren~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fmedia~2Fpress-releases~2Flofgren-announces-ca-19-winner-2019-congressional-app-challenge", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=CA&year=2019&_next=2019-12-19%2Chttps~3A~2F~2Flofgren~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fmedia~2Fpress-releases~2Flofgren-announces-ca-19-winner-2019-congressional-app-challenge&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 1393.801914062351, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}