{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where state = \"CA\" and year = 2020 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["http://www.feinstein.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=29C073CE-C8B5-41CD-B359-EB69F9831D94", "Feinstein to Park Service: Restart Lease Negotiations for San Franciscos Iconic Cliff House", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CA", "Dianne Feinstein", "F000062", "www.feinstein.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WashingtonSenator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today called on the National Park Service to negotiate a lease extension of the Cliff House building for use as a restaurant.\r\nI regret that an agreement has not yet been reached to extend the contract to use San Francisco's historic Cliff House building as a restaurant.\r\nThis is an important San Francisco landmark, and the National Park Service should immediately renew negotiations to maintain its role in the community. A building has stood on this site for more than 150 years and has long served as a gathering place. That role should persist  the building should not be converted to an office building.\r\nI urge the National Park Service, the Hountalas family and their proposed partner to return to the negotiation table. I encourage the National Park Service to explore all possible opportunities to maintain the historic role of this building as a restaurant and visitor destination. Our history is too important to set aside so readily.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bass.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-bass-lead-letter-president-elect-biden-combating-aircraft-noise", "Norton, Bass Lead Letter to President-Elect Biden on Combating Aircraft Noise", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CA", "Karen Bass", "B001270", "bass.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The disruption to human health and local economies by aircraft noise has long been overlooked or altogether ignored by the FAA, said Congresswoman Bass. I urge the Biden administration to appoint FAA officials who will finally address this issue that has plagued many of my constituents.\nThe letter was also signed by Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA), Congresswoman Judy Chu (D-CA), Congressman Ted Lieu (D-CA), Congressman Stephen Lynch (D-MA), Congresswoman Grace Meng (D-NY), Congressman Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Congressman Adam Smith (D-WA), Congressman Thomas Suozzi (D-NY), Congressman Ed Case (D-HI), Congressman Ro Khanna (D-CA), Congressman Alan Lowenthal (D-CA), Congressman Gregory Meeks (D-NY), Congressman Mike Quigley (D-IL), Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), and Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D-CA).\nThe full text is below.\nDecember 28, 2020\nThe Honorable Joseph R. Biden, Jr.  \n\tPresident-elect of the United States  \n\tOffice of the Biden-Harris Transition  \n\tWashington, DC 20500\nDear President-elect Biden:\nYou will soon name several new appointees to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), including the Deputy FAA Administrator, the Chief Operating Officer of the Air Traffic Organization, the Associate Administrator for Airports, and the Assistant Administrator for Policy, International Affairs, and Environment. While the FAA and the aviation industry face many high-profile challenges, as Members of the Quiet Skies Caucus of the U.S. House of Representatives, we write to bring to your attention the overlooked problem of the disruption to human health and local economies from aircraft noise. We urge you to appoint officials who will include creative approaches to solving noise problems in the work ahead.\nWe represent Americans from diverse locales across the country, united by grave concern over the toll that noise can take on the people living with a constant drone of aircraft. Planes fly low or late at night, near homes and schools; flights arrive and depart within minutes of each other; and the FAA's NextGen project has concentrated flight paths without consideration of the people below. As a result of these policies, millions of Americans suffer from sleep disruption; exacerbation of high blood pressure and other chronic diseases; learning loss in schools; and economic losses to businesses ranging from tourism to technology to entertainment.\nFor decades the agency has consistently downplayed and overlooked the toll of noise disruption on human lives and communities. The NextGen project to update the technology used to control air traffic has brought foreseeable problems that could have been headed off if the agency, early in its planning stages, had considered what happens on the ground as well as what happens in the skies and included in the process business owners, local elected officials, airport noise roundtables, health advocates, and others likely to be affected.\nAs Members of Congress, we all fly as part of our work. We agree that the FAA's mission to maintain the safety and efficiency of our airspace is paramount. But we also believe that better noise control and full participation from all involved and affected can only enhance that safety and efficiency, not detract from it. The new appointees at the FAA should be committed to inventive problem-solving, to listening and bringing all affected parties into the discussion, and to finding win-win solutions. These leaders should embrace bold ideas, work in good faith with the Quiet Skies Caucus and Congress, and pledge to alleviate noise disruption on the ground, with a renewed focus on inclusiveness.\nWe look forward to learning of your choices for the FAA and to working with your administration in the 117th Congress to combat aircraft noise. Thank you for your leadership, and congratulations on your presidency.\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harder.house.gov/media/press-releases/harder-announces-free-mobile-coronavirus-testing-van-coming-communities", "Harder Announces Free Mobile Coronavirus Testing Van Coming to Communities Throughout Central Valley", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Josh Harder", "H001090", "harder.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Modesto, CA  Today, Representative Josh Harder (CA-10) announced the launch of a new COVID-19 mobile testing van for Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties  scheduled to start Monday, January 4th. Curative, one of the largest providers of oral COVID-19 testing in the country, will be launching a mobile testing unit on Monday January 4th and will serve locations across Rep. Harder's district in both Stanislaus and San Joaquin Counties. Curative offers a self-administered oral test, which uses saliva instead of a nasal swab. The test is free to all individuals, including those without insurance, and can be administered to children.\n \n\tWe heard from communities across the Valley that we're low on testing capacity  so we went and found some more, said Rep. Harder. The first step in combating the virus is understanding where it is  this will give us a better chance to do that while also giving people more opportunities to get tested.\n \nInterested residents can visit www.curative.com/CA10 to make an appointment. Appointments will be available starting four days before date of test. Walk-up availability is limited. More information on the test itself is available at www.curative.com. More information on local testing, including a bilingual flyer, is available here.\nThe testing van will be available on a weekly basis at the following locations, 10am  4pm, starting Monday, January 4th:\nMondays: Patterson - Hammon Senior Center Parking Lot, 1033 W Las Palmas Ave, Patterson\nTuesdays: Riverbank - Riverbank Community Center Parking Lot, 3600 Santa Fe St, Riverbank\nWednesdays: Manteca - City Hall Parking Lot, 1001 West Center Street, Manteca\nThursdays: Oakdale - Family Resource Center Parking Lot, 631 W F St, Oakdale\nFridays: Ceres - Central Valley Opportunity Center; Ceres Parking Lot, 3860 Brickit Ct., Suite A, Ceres\nSaturdays: Modesto - King Kennedy Center Parking Lot, 601 Martin Luther King Dr, Modesto\nSundays: Tracy - Ritter Family Ball Park, 2300 N. Tracy Blvd, Tracy", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://lee.house.gov/news/press-releases/coin-redesign-act-celebrating-prominent-american-women-and-others-passes-both-chambers-of-congress_--", "Coin Redesign Act Celebrating Prominent American Women and Others Passes Both Chambers of Congress", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Barbara Lee", "L000551", "lee.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.31.20\n\t\t\t Coin Redesign Act Celebrating Prominent American Women and Others Passes Both Chambers of Congress     \n\t\t\tWashington, D.C. Representatives Barbara Lee (D-CA), Anthony Gonzalez(R-OH), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) today joined Senators Catherine CortezMasto(D-NV) and Deb Fischer (R-NE)in celebrating the bicameral passage of their bipartisan legislation, the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020. \r\n\r\nH.R. 1923, the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020 allows the Department of the Treasury and U.S. Mint to mint and issuenewquarter-dollar coins. The first series of quarters in this program commemorates the centennial of the ratification of the 19th Amendment granting some women the right to vote. The design on the reverse of those quarters will represent prominent American women in a range of fields, including but not limited to suffrage, civil rights, abolition, government, and humanities. This series will also include women from ethnically, racially, and geographically diverse backgrounds. \r\n\r\nThe 114th Congress created a United StatesSemiquincentennialCommission to facilitate activities in 2026 to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. This bill allows for the issuance offivedifferent designs emblematic of the United States'Semiquincentennial, including one dedicated to the contributions made by women to our nation's founding or a monumental moment in American History.Additionally, from 2027-2030,quarter dollars willcommemorate sports played by American youthandhalf-dollar commemoratingParalympicsports. \r\nWomen have played a critical role in shaping this country since its founding but have often been excluded or gone unrecognized. This bill is an important step in recognizing the contributions women have made in furthering civil rights and making our country a more equitable place. This bill's passage also coincides with the centennial of the 19th Amendment which gave some women the right to vote,said Congresswoman Lee.When women gathered in Seneca Falls in July 1848, it was to give white women the right to vote  no Black women were invited to participate. As we commemorate women's suffrage and celebrate the first series of coins in the package to depict prominent American women, it is also my hope that diverse American women will be chosen and depicted, celebrating our nation's leaders, thinkers, and innovators.  \r\n\r\nSome of the greatest and most influential figures in our nation's history have been women, although these voices and stories have too often gone untold. In this centennial anniversary of the 19th Amendment, it is fitting that we take this opportunity to highlight the role women have played in shaping our great nation and ensure their inclusion in the fabric of our nation's story,said Congressman Gonzalez.I am excited to see this legislation head to the President's desk to be signed into law. \r\n\r\nI'm proud to see this legislation honoring the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment and recognizing the many American women who have contributed to the fight for suffrage and civil rights, science, government, and the arts pass the House of Representatives,said Senator CortezMasto.While our nation still has steps to take in honoring the right to vote for women of color, the 19th Amendment has firmly established every woman's right to vote for the last 100 years and has brought women into the halls of power across our country. And by ensuring that prominent women are featured in the U.S. Mint'sSemiquincentennial, we are recognizing our history and inspiring future generations of young women to dream big. From business boardrooms to research labs to state legislatures, like Nevada's first majority-women legislature, this bill recognizes the decades of contributions women have made and will make to our shared history. \r\nI am happy that we were able to work together in a bipartisan, bicameral way to pass this legislation,said Senator Fischer.These coins will pay tribute to the women heroes and trailblazers who have played a major role in our nation's history. Their leadership, stories, and sacrifices are going to inspire generations of women to come. \r\n\r\nAs a member of the U.S.SemiquinentennialCommission, I am thrilled to see us take steps to prepare for the celebration of our 250th Independence Day and especially excited to ensure that celebration includes not just the founding fathers we so often think of, but more diverse contributions made to our nation's founding. The inclusion of women is vital, and so it is fitting that we make sure a woman is included on the coins we'll circulate to mark the occasion,said Congresswoman Watson Coleman.For so long, we've allowed a pervasive narrative that women, Black, indigenous and other people of color are new to leading. The truth is, we've been doing it since the dawn of time, but with little recognition. With measures like these we pay a small amount of what's due and inspire everyone to dream big. \r\n\r\nSince our institution's founding in 1792, the men and women of the United States Mint have taken great pride in rendering the story of our nation in enduring examples of numismatic art,said United States Mint Director David J. Ryder.We look forward to honoring the many contributions of women in American history, as well as celebrating the 250thAnniversary of our Great Nation and the shared pastimes that are important to all of us.\r\n\r\n\"As we commemorate the Suffrage Centennial in 2020 and the 250th anniversary of our country's founding in 2026, I can't think of a better way of righting our history than to include historical American women,said Rosie Rios, 43rd Treasurer of the United States.I would like to thank Congresswoman Barbara Lee and her office for taking a leadership role in partnering to craft this legislation and continue the journey of having women represented on our currency and coins, something that is used every day around the world. By seeing ourselves honored and valued in our history, our daughters and sons can be inspired to also see their own future.\" \r\n\r\nThis bill will include the following package of coins: \r\n\r\n \r\nFrom 2022-2025, up to 5 quarters annually depicting prominent American women;\r\nIn 2026, up to 5 quarters commemorating the USSemiquincentennial(250th) anniversary,including one quarter design featuring women;\r\nAll circulating coins (obverse and reverse) will be redesigned for 2026 for the celebration;\r\nFrom 2027-2030, a series of 5 quarters annually honoring American youth sports and a half-dollar design depicting a sport in the Paralympics;\r\nGives authority for permission for the Mint to design and strike Olympic medals. \r\n \r\n\r\nThis year marks the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, guaranteeing women's constitutional right to vote. 68 million women can vote today because of the work of the women's suffrage movement and this bill honors these efforts.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://lindasanchez.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/s-nchez-highlights-accomplishments-38th-congressional-district-during", "S\u00e1nchez Highlights Accomplishments for 38th Congressional District During 116th Congress", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Linda T. S\u00e1nchez", "S001156", "lindasanchez.house.gov", "lindasanchez", "https://lindasanchez.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2014 U.S. Representative Linda T. S\u00e1nchez (D-CA) today highlighted accomplishments for the 38th Congressional District during the second session of the 116th Congress. S\u00e1nchez has devoted her career to helping working people get ahead: advocating for families, improving America's education system, and bringing jobs to Southern California.\n\n\"I take seriously my responsibility to be the voice for California's 38th District in Washington,\" said Congresswoman Linda S\u00e1nchez. \"In 2020, my Democratic colleagues and I have been able to deliver significant wins for our constituents and the country, despite historic opposition from the other party and the Administration. The cornerstone of my work is and continues to be serving my constituents, especially in these difficult and unpredictable times.\"\n\nIn the 116th Congress, Congresswoman S\u00e1nchez served on the Ways and Means Committee where she lead on issues of importance to working families such as family caregiving and nursing homes, fair taxation, improving education at all levels, and worker-first priorities for labor. Additionally, S\u00e1nchez served as Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus' Immigration Task Force and Co-Chair of the Labor Caucus, and as a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and Democratic Women's Caucus.\n\nOn Sunday, January 3rd, Congresswoman S\u00e1nchez will be sworn in as the Representative for California's 38th Congressional District in the 117th Congress. At that time, she will begin her tenth term serving the people of Los Angeles and Orange Counties in Southern California.\n\nHighlighted district and legislative accomplishments are below. For additional information, please visit here.\n\nFor a complete listing on House Democrats' work For The People in the 116th Congress, please visit here.\n\nHighlighted District Accomplishments\n\nCOVID-19 Response\n\nSince March 2019, Congresswoman S\u00e1nchez's office has received thousands of constituent requests for assistance related to the pandemic. The office has resolved more than 1,000 constituent issues this calendar year, and for issues outside of the federal scope, our team continues to share information regarding state and local resources.\n\nSupport for Small Businesses\n\nAdditionally, the District office has been laser-focused on providing information and assistance for small businesses. The office has assisted hundreds of small businesses, including more than 200 local businesses with Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program.\n\n2020 Census\n\nCongresswoman S\u00e1nchez prioritized Census response this year, as the district faced several challenges for an accurate count. As a result of this sustained effort, in partnership with many local organization, CA-38 had a response rate of 73.9% which is significantly higher than the state average of 69.6% and L.A. County average of 65%.\n\nWhittier Narrows Dam\n\nCongresswoman S\u00e1nchez, working together with Congresswomen Napolitano and Chu, secured $192.5 million for long-needed repairs to the Whittier Narrows Dam. The Whittier Narrows Dam Safety Project is part of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Dam Safety and Seepage Program and was included in the FY2021 Omnibus Appropriations bill. This will ensure construction of the project commences on schedule. This important milestone will make our communities more resilient in the face of increasingly dangerous and damaging storms.\n\nVirtual Constituent Engagement\n\nThis year, the offices pivoted to a virtual model of constituent support and held hundreds of virtual events to meet with local leaders, community members and constituents.\n\nHighlighted Legislative Accomplishments\n\nHealth\n\nThe Congresswoman continues to be a leader on the Ways and Means Committee, specifically on the topics of caregiving, nursing homes, and Alzheimer's disease. She is acutely focused on these issues and health disparities in the Latino community as it relates to much of her legislative work in this portfolio. She authored an op-ed regarding the importance of the ACA: \"Being a woman is a preexisting condition? Here's what is at stake for health care.\"\n\nHer top bills include:\n\nCOVID-19 Health Legislation\n\nThe Facilitating Virtual Visitation for Nursing Home Residents Act, The Stronger Medicaid Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic Act, (included in the HEROES Act and updated HEROES Act), and The Public Health Emergency COBRA Extension Act\n\nLegislation with Reps. C\u00e1rdenas and Castro that would allow those who are uninsured to receive COVID-19 tests at no-cost. This legislation was included in the larger Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which passed the House of Representatives.\n\nHealth Legislation\n\nThe Community-Based Independence for Seniors Act, The CHANGE Act, The Fairness in Nursing Home Arbitration Act,The Medicare Adult Day Services Act, The Compassionate Care Act.\n\nTaxation\n\nAs a senior member of the Committee on Ways and Means and the Select Revenue Measures Subcommittee, the Congresswoman continues to be a leader of federal taxation issues in Congress and several of her priorities have been included in the House of Representatives-passed COVID packages this year.\n\nCOVID-19 Tax Legislation\n\nHer previously committee-passed bipartisan Working Parents Relief Act that would allow families to set aside more pre-tax dollars to cover the skyrocketing costs of childcare was partially included in the HEROES Act.\n\nRelated to the Congresswoman's ongoing work to provide families with more flexibility to afford childcare, she led a letter to the Treasury Department advocating for an interpretation to allow workers to change the amount of money set aside for dependent care expenses. This provision was also included in the HEROES Act.\n\nThe Providing Essentials for Frontline Workers Act (included in the HEROES Act), The WORK NOW Act (modified version included in the updated HEROES Act),The Helping Independent Tracks Succeed (HITS) Act, and TheMechanical Insulation Incentive Act.\n\nTax Legislation\n\nBuilding Apprentice Skills in Career Training, Credit for Caring Act is a bi-partisan bill that would provide a non-refundable federal tax credit of up to $3,000 to family caregivers to help address the financial burdens of caregiving and help working family caregivers remain employed and not have to leave their jobs and risk their financial security.\n\nImmigration\n\nCongresswoman S\u00e1nchez continued her term as Chair of the Immigration Task Force for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), where she led over a dozen meetings with advocacy groups and CHC members to build consensus to develop a new roadmap toward immigration reform. The Congresswoman developed key principles to guide a legislative strategy and will continue leading conversations with key Congressional members and the Biden Administration to move immigration reforms in the 117th Congress.\n\nThe Congresswoman also secured a deal to provide emergency relief funding and led legislation to provide access to COVID-19 testing and treatment for all, including undocumented people and mixed-status families.\n\nImmigration Issues\n\nCalled for DHS and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) to provide the agency's plans to provide flu vaccines to migrants in CBP custody, ahead of flu season during COVID-19.\n\nThe Congresswoman led a letter to DHS Acting Secretary Wolf on the agency's stance and plan to provide flu vaccinations to migrants, including children and family units currently detained at U.S. CBP facilities, ahead of this year's flu season.\n\nLed an effort to oppose Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) modifications to the Student Exchange and Visitor Program (SEVP) that affected international student's ability to take online classes during the pandemic, causing undue harm to our international students, student bodies, and institutions of higher learning in and around the district.\n\nLabor\n\nThe Congresswoman hosted quarterly virtual meetings with local union representatives to hear directly from workers regarding the challenges they faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing a direct voice for working families to Congress. She was a vocal supporter of legislative efforts to protect worker's economic security and ensure safety on the job, especially frontline workers.\n\nCongresswoman S\u00e1nchez once again served as Co-Chair the Labor and Working Families Caucus, including 74 members, and worked to expand the Caucus. The Congresswoman welcomed like-minded colleagues to leadership on key labor issues by helping form the new Congressional Labor Caucus. The Labor Caucus will build on the legacy of the Labor and Working Families Caucus by expanding support for legislative efforts that strengthen workers' rights and rebuild America's middle class.\n\nLabor Legislation\n\nCoronavirus Frontline Workers Fair Pay Act and a bipartisan resolution Expressing support for the designation of Journeyman Lineworkers Recognition Day\n\nOversight\n\nThe Congresswoman, along with Reps. Lieu, Cicilline, Eshoo, and Gallego introduced a comprehensive package of oversight bills \u2013 the Restoring Public Trust Act \u2013 which included her RIGGED Act to end nepotism at the White House.\n\nOversight Legislation\n\nThe Relatives in Government Getting Employment Dishonorably Act and The Financial Accountability in Reporting Act\n\nEducation\n\nThe Congresswoman remains focused on improving education at all levels. The Safe Schools Improvement Act has the highest number of cosponsors ever with 231. The Congresswoman led the Orange County delegation encouraging the O.C. Board of Education to abide by health guidelines, including mandating local school districts to mandate masks and physical distancing guidelines.\n\nEducation Legislation\n\nThe Safe Schools Improvement Act, The Put School Counselors Where They're Needed Act, and The National School Counselors Week Resolution\n\nSocial Security\n\nAs an active member of the Social Security Subcommittee on Ways and Means, the Congresswoman has prioritized protecting beneficiaries during the COVID-19 pandemic this year while she fights for longer term reform. She secured inclusion of a version of her legislation to provide a boost to widows and widowers in emergency Social Security legislation introduced by Chairman Larson. She also joined with her colleagues to push for a temporary fix to this year's woefully inadequate cost-of-living-adjustment (COLA), forgiveness for Social Security overpayments during the pandemic, and fewer administrative hurdles for beneficiaries to receive their Economic Impact Payments (EIP).\n\nCongresswoman S\u00e1nchez continues to fight for permanent improvements to Social Security through her legislation to strengthen benefits and the solvency of the Social Security program. She testified before the Committee on the importance of the program to Latinx families and communities of color.\n\nSocial Security Legislation\n\nProtecting Our Widows and Widowers in Retirement (POWER) Act, H.R. 2654 - Strengthening Social Security Act of 2019, and the Social Security COVID-19 Correction and Equity Act\n\nWorker and Family Support\n\nThis year, the Congresswoman expanded her leadership role on critical legislation to help working families endure and recover from the pandemic. She joined Committee leadership in spearheading the Childcare for Economic Recovery Act through the House, including testifying before the Rules Committee. She also helped broker a provision to provide emergency assistance for vulnerable populations in both Heroes Act versions between the Ways and Means Committee and CHC and secured a provision to provide family care for essential workers in the original Heroes Act. The Congresswoman also advocated for crucial programs to help working families, including sharing constituent stories on the importance of enhanced pandemic unemployment benefits. She also published an op-ed in Latino Magazine on the importance of programs like paid family leave and federal support for family caregivers in the Latinx community.\n\nWorker and Family Support Legislation\n\nH.R. 7327 - Childcare for Economic Recovery Act, H.R. 6460 \u2013 Family Care for Essential Workers Act,H.R.6862 - Social Services Pandemic Disaster Relief Act(co-led with Reps. Davis, Chu, and Gomez) (included in both versions of the Heroes Act ), H.R. 7846 - The Support Working Families Act of 2020 (bill co-led with Rep. Porter)\n\nTransportation and Infrastructure\n\nThe Congresswoman has continued to lead efforts to restore the Whittier Narrows Dam, including leading a push to secure funding of the restoration in the FY 2021 House and Senate Energy and Water Appropriations Acts. She continues to work with the City of Pico Rivera, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the Appropriations Committee to mitigate the project's impact on the community. She drafted and secured compromise language included in the FY 2021 House Energy and Water report directing the Corps to study ways to minimize the impact on the community. The Congresswoman has also testified before House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee urging the WRDA process to better serve disadvantaged communities and hosted the Committee to tour the Whittier Narrows Dam in Pico Rivera this year. The Congresswoman has also continued to push for a major infrastructure investment, as well as advocate for federal infrastructure grants that would benefit local agencies like L.A. Metro (rail and bus electrification projects) and WRD that serve the 38th District.\n\nSmall Business\n\nCongresswoman S\u00e1nchez has fought to secure lifesaving help for small businesses to weather the COVID-19 pandemic and joined aggressive oversight to ensure the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program serve truly small and minority-owned businesses. She has joined with her colleagues on efforts to expand PPP eligibility for nonprofits and increase transparency and accountability of SBA programs to prevent large corporations from taking advantage of funds intended for small businesses. The Congresswoman has engaged with the Small Business Committee on policy problems raised by local labor and small business owners during the rollout of PPP.\n\nThe Congresswoman has also continued to be supportive of manufacturing businesses in the district, many of whom contract with NASA and the Air Force. She has joined her colleagues in pushing the Air Force to keep the National Security Space Launch program on schedule, which local small manufacturing businesses depend on for contracting work.\n\nSmall Business Legislation\n\nThe Supporting Entrepreneurs and Economic Development (SEED) Act\n\nEnergy and Environment\n\nThe Congresswoman pushed back against the Trump administration's political and environment attacks against the state of California. She has joined with her colleagues to combat PFAS (forever chemicals found in nonstick cookware and firefighting foam) contamination by urging appropriators to fund new grant programs for states and localities to decontaminate water supplies, as well as cosponsoring legislation passed by the House to regulate PFAS chemicals. The Congresswoman has continued to support appropriations for local and national environmental priorities including water conservation programs, energy efficiency and renewable energy research, and the L.A. River Restoration project.\n\nAgriculture and Animals\n\nThe Congresswoman continued her leadership on nutrition issues in the start of the pandemic by urging the Secretary of Agriculture to use authority under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act to allow WIC food package substitutes as a result of panic buying. The effort was endorsed by the National WIC Association and her letter garnered more than 60 Congressional member signatures. She also signed onto numerous letters to the Administration to ensure families receive pandemic nutrition assistance and cosponsored legislation to expand nutrition assistance through SNAP and other programs during the crisis. The Congresswoman once again received a 100 percent scorecard rating from the Humane Society for her record and cosponsorship of animal protection bills.\n\nNutrition Legislation\n\nH.R. 6811 \u2013 WIC Act of 2020\n\nDefenseand Foreign Affairs\n\nThe Congresswoman vocally defended the Armenian Community as the latest conflict between Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Artsakh erupted this year. She joined her colleagues in the Congressional Caucus on Armenia to push for the U.S. to engage in fostering a peace process that would respect the rights of Armenians and residents of Artsakh. The Congresswoman engaged directly with the State Department to urge the Administration to increase its involvement and restore demining programs in Artsakh.\n\nShe also joined with her colleagues to commemorate the Armenian Genocide. The Congresswoman also continued to expand her participation in NATO PA by serving out her term as Vice-Chair of the Economics and Security Committee. She was elected Special Rapporteur of the Civil Dimension of Security Committee and has further developed relationships with NATO counterparts and colleagues in the U.S. delegation. The Congresswoman maintained her strong support for Israel through responsiveness to all corners of the Jewish community in the 38th District, including supporting security assistance for Israel, strides in the regional peace process, and humanitarian assistance in the Gaza Strip.\n\nCivil Rights\n\nCongresswoman S\u00e1nchez led the fight for transparency in the Census Bureau's plan to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. She engaged with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus to provide oversight of all operations, including updated messaging strategies and new engagement plans. The Congresswoman supported the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, bipartisan legislation led by the Congressional Black Caucus: unprecedented reforms to fundamentally transform the culture of policing by curbing police brutality, ending racial profiling, increasing transparency and accountability, as it saves lives.\n\nCivil Rights Letters\n\nU.S. Census Bureau and Department of Commerce seeking information about the Bureau's contingency plans to conduct the 2020 Census during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on outreach on how historically marginalized communities, people experiencing homelessness, and those with low broadband access would be reached.\n\nCivil Rights Legislation\n\nGeorge Floyd Justice in Policing Act, Law Enforcement Trust and Integrity Act, Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation resolution, Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, s 2020 Observance of Juneteenth Independence Day, Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African-Americans Act, and the Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act\n\nVeterans\n\nThe Congresswoman has continued to support numerous legislative efforts related to veterans. She will continue to explore new legislative opportunities after a meeting she had with local leaders on the topics of homelessness, mental health, and health care. The Congresswoman's Fair Credit Reporting for Servicemembers passed the U.S. House of Representatives on January 29, 2020 as part of the Comprehensive CREDIT Act.\n\nVeterans Legislation", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://pelosi.house.gov/news/press-releases/pelosi-statement-on-house-filing-amicus-brief-in-gohmert-v-pence", "Pelosi Statement on House Filing Amicus Brief in Gohmert v. Pence", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CA", "Nancy Pelosi", "P000197", "pelosi.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Contact: Speaker's Press Office,\n202-226-7616\n\nWashington, D.C.  Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued this statement after the House of Representatives filed an amicus brief in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas in the case of Gohmert v. Pence, which attempts to unconstitutionally grant the Vice President the power to personally choose presidential electors, against the results of the popular vote and the certified Electoral College results:\n\nPresident-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris decisively won the 2020 election, with a record number of votes and an historic margin of victory. Yet, President Trump and Republicans in Congress have refused to respect the will of the American people and instead have spread dangerous conspiracy theories and brought over fifty extreme, failed lawsuits in a brazen attempt to overturn the certified results of the 2020 election.\n\nThe Gohmert lawsuit has zero legal merit and is yet another sabotage of our democracy.\n\nThere is no doubt that, despite this desperate unpatriotic charade, on January 6, Joe Biden will be confirmed by the acceptance of the vote of the Electoral College as the 46th President of the United States.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://sherman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congress-passes-sherman-bill-to-support-non-profit-provided-affordable", "Congress Passes Sherman Bill to Support Non-Profit Provided Affordable Housing", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Brad Sherman", "S000344", "sherman.house.gov", "sherman", "https://sherman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Congress passed the Building Up Independent Lives and Dreams Act or \"BUILD\" Act, legislation led by Congressman Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks), Congressman Barry Loudermilk (R-GA), Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE) and Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD). The passage of this legislation represents a significant step towards helping nonprofits like Habitat for Humanity help struggling families access housing through zero percent interest mortgages.\n\n\"We've heard of different local Habitat for Humanity chapters who make more than 5 loans a year having difficulty complying with the mandatory TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosure form, citing increased costs and complexity. The BUILD Act is a straightforward way to address these challenges with a narrow regulatory tweak that will ensure non-profits can focus on working in their communities to build homes, rather than sitting in an office,\" said Congressman Sherman.\n\nFollowing the 2008 mortgage crisis, Congress established the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to create rules of the road to protect consumers against the predatory mortgage lending practices which contributed to the crisis. To protect borrowers from being unknowingly pushed into mortgages they cannot afford, the CFPB established the TILA-RESPA integrated disclosure (TRID), also known as the \"know before you owe\" disclosure. TRID requires that, prior to a mortgage signing, lenders must provide borrowers with a simplified disclosure detailing all of mortgage costs the borrower will owe. The TRID forms include a loan estimate and closing disclosure, designed to allow consumers to easily identify high-cost mortgages such as those with ballooning interest rates.\n\nHowever, these disclosures are often not relevant to mortgages made by charitable organizations, like Habitat for Humanity, which provide low- or no-fee zero percent interest mortgages. Habitat provides homeownership opportunities to low-income families by building homes that are financed with a zero percent interest loans, or other affordable mortgage loan products. Small and mid-sized Habitat for Humanity chapters have experienced challenges in complying with TRID requirements because of the cost of the necessary software to complete these forms and training required to use the software.\n\nThe BUILD Act will address this issue by providing a narrow exemption from TRID requirements for legitimate nonprofits making low-cost zero interest mortgages. Rather than provide the loan estimate and closing disclosure forms, these nonprofits will have the option to instead use the three forms that were previously acceptable, the Truth in Lending form, the Good Faith Estimate, and the HUD-1 form. The same exemption is currently available for all organizations making five or fewer mortgage loans per year, and the BUILD Act would simply expand this exemption to include these nonprofits.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/123120", "Pelosi Appoints Rear Admiral Margaret Grun Kibben First Woman to Serve as Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Nancy Pelosi", "P000197", "www.speaker.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  Speaker Nancy Pelosi today announced her appointment of Rear Admiral Margaret Grun Kibben as House Chaplain, following the House retirement of Father Pat Conroy. Kibben will be the first woman to serve as Chaplain in either chamber of Congress.\nIt is my honor to announce the appointment of Rear Admiral Margaret Grun Kibben to serve as Chaplain of the United States House of Representatives: the first woman to serve in this historic position, which has been enshrined in our Democracy since the First Congress in 1789, said Speaker Pelosi. Kibben brings decades of decorated experience in the military and the ministry, as a retired Rear Admiral who served as the U.S. Navy's Chief Chaplain and the chaplain of the Marine Corps. Her integrity, experience and patriotism will serve the Congress and the Country well, as she ministers to the needs of Members. This historic appointment was made possible by the values-based leadership of Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, and I thank him and all Members of the bipartisan group leading the search  Representatives Eshoo, Price, Connolly, Moolenaar, Luetkemeyer, McMorris Rodgers and Stauber  for their successful work. Their recommendation was accepted by Leader McCarthy and me.\nThe service of Father Pat Conroy has been a blessing to Members on both sides of the aisle, continued Speaker Pelosi. Throughout his service, Father Pat fulfilled the calling of St. Ignatius of Loyola: for the greater glory of God.' His service has been a spiritual and moral anchor for Members, grounding our institution in the values of faith and country and reminding our Members of our responsibilities to our great nation and constituents. All Members wish Father Pat well as he enjoys his well-deserved retirement from the House.\nRear Adm. Margaret Kibben entered active duty in 1986 through the Navy's Theological Student Program. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Goucher College, a Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry from Princeton Theological Seminary and a Master's in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College. In her final active duty assignment in the Navy, Kibben was the U.S. Navy's 26th Chief Chaplains. Prior to this assignment, Kibben served as the 18th Chaplain of the Marine Corps. Kibben served as the senior chaplain in Afghanistan. Her Navy assignments include the U.S. Naval Academy, the Chaplain Corps Resource Board, command chaplain aboard USS San Diego (AFS 6) and Fleet Chaplain, U. S. 3rd Fleet. With the U.S. Marine Corps, Kibben served as chaplain for Headquarters and Service Battalion, Security Battalion, the Brig, Marine Corps Air Facility and HMX-1, Marine Corps Base Quantico and 2nd Force Service Support Group, Camp Lejeune. Kibben's personal awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit (two awards), Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal (three awards) and Navy Commendation Medal (three awards).", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/123120-0", "Pelosi Statement on House Filing Amicus Brief in Gohmert v. Pence", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Nancy Pelosi", "P000197", "www.speaker.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued this statement after the House of Representatives filed an amicus brief in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas in the case of Gohmert v. Pence, which attempts to unconstitutionally grant the Vice President the power to personally choose presidential electors, against the results of the popular vote and the certified Electoral College results: \nPresident-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris decisively won the 2020 election, with a record number of votes and an historic margin of victory. Yet, President Trump and Republicans in Congress have refused to respect the will of the American people and instead have spread dangerous conspiracy theories and brought over fifty extreme, failed lawsuits in a brazen attempt to overturn the certified results of the 2020 election.\nThe Gohmert lawsuit has zero legal merit and is yet another sabotage of our democracy.\nThere is no doubt that, despite this desperate unpatriotic charade, on January 6, Joe Biden will be confirmed by the acceptance of the vote of the Electoral College as the 46th President of the United States.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://lee.house.gov/news/press-releases/coin-redesign-act-celebrating-prominent-american-women-and-others-passes-both-chambers-of-congress", "Coin Redesign Act Celebrating Prominent American Women and Others Passes Both Chambers of Congress", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Barbara Lee", "L000551", "lee.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.30.20\n\t\t\t Coin Redesign Act Celebrating Prominent American Women and Others Passes Both Chambers of Congress \n\t\t\tWashington, D.C. Representatives Barbara Lee (D-CA), Anthony Gonzalez(R-OH), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) today joined Senators Catherine CortezMasto(D-NV) and Deb Fischer (R-NE)in celebrating the their bipartisan legislation, the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020, passing both chambers of Congress.  \r\nH.R. 1923, the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020 allows the Department of the Treasury and U.S. Mint to mint and issuenewquarter-dollar coins. The first series of quarters in this program commemorates the centennial of the ratification of the 19th Amendment granting some women the right to vote. The design on the reverse of those quarters will represent prominent American women in a range of fields, including but not limited to suffrage, civil rights, abolition, government, and humanities. This series will also include women from ethnically, racially, and geographically diverse backgrounds. \r\nThe 114th Congress created a United StatesSemiquincentennialCommission to facilitate activities in 2026 to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. This bill allows for the issuance offivedifferent designs emblematic of the United States'Semiquincentennial, including one dedicated to the contributions made by women to our nation's founding or a monumental moment in American History.Additionally, from 2027-2030,quarter dollars willcommemorate sports played by American youthandhalf-dollar commemoratingParalympicsports. \r\nWomen have played a critical role in shaping this country since its founding but have often been excluded or gone unrecognized. This bill is an important step in recognizing the contributions women have made in furthering civil rights and making our country a more equitable place. This bill's passage also coincides with the centennial of the 19th Amendment which gave some women the right to vote,said Congresswoman Lee.When women gathered in Seneca Falls in July 1848, it was to give white women the right to vote  no Black women were invited to participate. As we commemorate women's suffrage and celebrate the first series of coins in the package to depict prominent American women, it is also my hope that diverse American women will be chosen and depicted, celebrating our nation's leaders, thinkers, and innovators.  \r\n\r\nSome of the greatest and most influential figures in our nation's history have been women, although these voices and stories have too often gone untold. In this centennial anniversary of the 19th Amendment, it is fitting that we take this opportunity to highlight the role women have played in shaping our great nation and ensure their inclusion in the fabric of our nation's story,said Congressman Gonzalez.I am excited to see this legislation head to the President's desk to be signed into law. \r\n\r\nI'm proud to see this legislation honoring the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment and recognizing the many American women who have contributed to the fight for suffrage and civil rights, science, government, and the arts pass the House of Representatives,said Senator CortezMasto.While our nation still has steps to take in honoring the right to vote for women of color, the 19th Amendment has firmly established every woman's right to vote for the last 100 years and has brought women into the halls of power across our country. And by ensuring that prominent women are featured in the U.S. Mint'sSemiquincentennial, we are recognizing our history and inspiring future generations of young women to dream big. From business boardrooms to research labs to state legislatures, like Nevada's first majority-women legislature, this bill recognizes the decades of contributions women have made and will make to our shared history. \r\nI am happy that we were able to work together in a bipartisan, bicameral way to pass this legislation,said Senator Fischer.These coins will pay tribute to the women heroes and trailblazers who have played a major role in our nation's history. Their leadership, stories, and sacrifices are going to inspire generations of women to come. \r\n\r\nAs a member of the U.S.SemiquinentennialCommission, I am thrilled to see us take steps to prepare for the celebration of our 250th Independence Day and especially excited to ensure that celebration includes not just the founding fathers we so often think of, but more diverse contributions made to our nation's founding. The inclusion of women is vital, and so it is fitting that we make sure a woman is included on the coins we'll circulate to mark the occasion,said Congresswoman Watson Coleman.For so long, we've allowed a pervasive narrative that women, Black, indigenous and other people of color are new to leading. The truth is, we've been doing it since the dawn of time, but with little recognition. With measures like these we pay a small amount of what's due and inspire everyone to dream big. \r\n\r\nSince our institution's founding in 1792, the men and women of the United States Mint have taken great pride in rendering the story of our nation in enduring examples of numismatic art,said United States Mint Director David J. Ryder.We look forward to honoring the many contributions of women in American history, as well as celebrating the 250thAnniversary of our Great Nation and the shared pastimes that are important to all of us.\r\n\r\n\"As we commemorate the Suffrage Centennial in 2020 and the 250th anniversary of our country's founding in 2026, I can't think of a better way of righting our history than to include historical American women,said Rosie Rios, 43rd Treasurer of the United States.I would like to thank Congresswoman Barbara Lee and her office for taking a leadership role in partnering to craft this legislation and continue the journey of having women represented on our currency and coins, something that is used every day around the world. By seeing ourselves honored and valued in our history, our daughters and sons can be inspired to also see their own future.\" \r\n\r\nThis bill will include the following package of coins: \r\n\r\n \r\nFrom 2022-2025, up to 5 quarters annually depicting prominent American women;\r\nIn 2026, up to 5 quarters commemorating the USSemiquincentennial(250th) anniversary,including one quarter design featuring women;\r\nAll circulating coins (obverse and reverse) will be redesigned for 2026 for the celebration;\r\nFrom 2027-2030, a series of 5 quarters annually honoring American youth sports and a half-dollar design depicting a sport in the Paralympics;\r\nGives authority for permission for the Mint to design and strike Olympic medals. \r\n \r\n\r\nThis year marks the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, guaranteeing women's constitutional right to vote. 68 million women can vote today because of the work of the women's suffrage movement and this bill honors these efforts.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://mcnerney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-mcnerney-announces-2020-congressional-app-challenge-winner", "Rep. McNerney Announces 2020 Congressional App Challenge Winner", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CA", "Jerry McNerney", "M001166", "mcnerney.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Stockton, CA  Today, Congressman Jerry McNerney (CA-09) announced that the winner of the 2020 Congressional App Challenge for the 9th Congressional District is Mountain House High School student, Advithi Kethidi. Advithi's app, HourShop, enables students to receive community service hours and help those in need.\nAdvithi came up with the idea for her app during the COVID-19 pandemic, when she realized the danger and difficulty high-risk populations encounter when running typical errands, such as getting groceries. She also found that students were being deprived of the opportunities to collect volunteer hours because of stay-at-home orders. Advithi designed her app as a solution for both of these situations: to provide an efficient way for students to earn community service hours during the pandemic while allowing high-risk individuals and families to stay home and stay safe.\nThe promise of technology and this generation's acute familiarity with these tools opens a world of possibilities to address our most pressing issues, while also presenting people with new opportunities, said Congressman McNerney. Advithi saw a need in our community  one that many are currently facing  and she designed a solution to not only connect people, but to provide a new way to give back. That is the beauty of technology: it can be harnessed to expand access to much needed services and revolutionize how members of our community engage with one another. I commend her for her thoughtfulness and hard work throughout the development of this award-winning app.\nThe Congressional App Challenge is a nationwide competition intended to engage students' creativity and encourage their participation in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) fields. Students compete with peers by creating and exhibiting their software application for web, PC, tablet, mobile, raspberry Pi or any other platform of their choice. The contest was open to all middle school and high school students who reside in California's 9th Congressional District.\nYou can watch Advithi's explanation of her app here: https://youtu.be/LK70vsb424g\n###\nRep. Jerry McNerney proudly serves the constituents of California's 9th Congressional District that includes portions of San Joaquin, Contra Costa, and Sacramento Counties. For more information on Rep. McNerney's work, follow him on Facebook and on Twitter @RepMcNerney.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pelosi.house.gov/news/press-releases/pelosi-announces-creation-of-select-committee-on-economic-disparity-fairness-in", "Pelosi Announces Creation of Select Committee on Economic Disparity & Fairness in Growth", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CA", "Nancy Pelosi", "P000197", "pelosi.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Contact: Speaker's Press Office,\n202-226-7616\n\nWashington, D.C.  Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued this statement announcing the creation in the 117th Congress of the new Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth:\n\nAs House Speaker, I am proud to announce the creation of the new, bipartisan Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth, which will be an essential force in Congressional Democrats' action to combat the crisis of income and wealth disparity in America. It is molded after the mission of the Temporary National Economic Committee, founded by President Roosevelt and the Congress after the Great Depression to study and combat the concentration of wealth in America and its role in triggering economic collapse.\n\nAs President Roosevelt said before founding this Committee, The liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than their democratic state itself the liberty of a democracy is not safe if its business system does not provide employment and produce and distribute goods in such a way as to sustain an acceptable standard of living.'\n\nThe past several decades have shown with devastating clarity the marked imbalance between the financial fortunes of CEOs and workers. The reverence of those who amass profits by stagnating wages has seriously undermined the lives and livelihoods of many Americans, while slowing economic growth in our country. This year, the disturbing, dangerous trend of economic disparity has also been accelerated by the coronavirus economic crisis.\n\nThe devaluing of work has had a negative impact on consumer confidence, job creation and economic growth. And the situation of families no longer believing that their children will have a brighter future than they is seriously damaging and demoralizing to our society.\n\nThat is why we are creating this Select Committee, which will be a resource to the Congress to make policy related to economic fairness, access to education and workforce development. Working with the Committees of Jurisdiction, the Select Committee will study and recommend proposals to make our economy work for everyone, powering American economic growth while ensuring that no one is left out or left behind in the 21st Century Economy.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pelosi.house.gov/news/press-releases/transcript-of-pelosi-weekly-press-conference-today-90", "Transcript of Pelosi Weekly Press Conference Today", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CA", "Nancy Pelosi", "P000197", "pelosi.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Contact: Speaker's Press Office,\n202-226-7616\n\nWashington, D.C.  Speaker Nancy Pelosi held her weekly press conference today in the Capitol Visitor Center. Below are the Speaker's remarks:\n\nSpeaker Pelosi. Good morning. Welcome to the last weekly of this year  of this year, of this session of Congress and of this Congress. Until next week, when we'll be in a new Congress. I wish you a Happy New Year as we go forward.\n\nSadly, the Congress received the news last evening of the passing of a new Member of Congress, Luke Letlow from Louisiana, due to be sworn in this Sunday, but taken by the coronavirus yesterday. He leaves his wife and two babies, and we extend great sympathy to his family. So sad. Forty-one years old, coronavirus, blood clot complication. Could happen to anyone. And it has happened to nearly 350,000 Americans.\n\nMany of those deaths could have been avoided. As we go forward, we must, we must make sure that we are scientific and determined to crush the virus in whatever form it takes. In the meantime, though, let us extend deepest sympathy to their family and to to those little babies who have lost their daddy.\n\nSo, here we are in time, as I mentioned, the last meeting of the year for us. Let's just talk about the last week or so. In the last week or so, we sent to the President the legislation, it took some time for it to be enrolled because it was a lot  a big bill. He received it on Christmas Eve, 3:30 in the afternoon. He did sign it on Sunday evening and we were very pleased with that because it had very strong bipartisan vote in the House and in the Senate.\n\nIn the course of, though, of that week, the President announced his support for the $2,000 direct payment, which we madly embraced, and said, We join with the President in supporting this,' came in on Christmas Eve, were blocked by the Republicans for having a Unanimous Consent to bill  bring up that legislation. But on Monday, in regular session, we brought it forth and it passed with strong bipartisan support. We were very pleased then to send that over to Mitch McConnell and the Senate.\n\nThe President of the United States has expressed his support for the $2,000. The Democrats and Republicans in the House have passed that legislation. Who is holding up that distribution to the American people? Mitch McConnell and the Senate Republicans.\n\nDemocratic Leader Schumer, yesterday, asked for Unanimous Consent to bring it up in the Senate, which was blocked by Mitch McConnell and the Republicans in the Senate. In blocking it, they are in denial of the hardship that the American people are experiencing now. Health wise, financially, in every way. Their lives and livelihood in many cases are on the brink. So, they're in denial of that need in denying this benefit.\n\nI do hope that in the days ahead  we only have a few days left in this session  that they will see the light and understand what the suffering  the suffering that is going on in our country.\n\nNow, I've said before, it's amazing to see the patience that some people have with other people's suffering. These Republicans in the Senate seem to have an endless tolerance for other people's sadness. We urge Mitch McConnell to stop his obstruction and to bring that legislation to the Floor of the Senate. And we urge Republicans in the Senate to encourage him to do so.\n\nIt's really important to note though how important this money in the pockets of American people are. If they have the resources, they spend it. They inject demand into the economy. That is job-creating. It's important to note that with the bill that we passed last week, that the President signed  that we sent over last week and that the President signed on Sunday evening, brought us up to a, nearly a trillion dollars for small businesses in our country  a trillion and just about $950 billion, and we support that. We know that small businesses are the lifeblood of our economy. The most optimistic thing you can do is to start a small business, your hopes and dreams, your ideas, your vision.\n\nBut for those small businesses to take advantage of that money, they have to have customers. It's not enough to keep the doors open if nobody's walking through. And that's why these direct payments are so necessary.\n\nAnd for those small businesses to thrive, they must have services provided by state and local government. Our health care providers, our heroes: health care providers, transportation, sanitation, first responders, police and fire, our teachers, our teachers, our teachers. And that's why in this next session of Congress, in the new Congress with the new President, we must pass legislation that not only honors our heroes, but recognizes the services that they provide enable our lives to function, our businesses to thrive, our economy to prosper and our people to be healthy. So, that will be a very important part of what we do next.\n\nBut you would think that there would at least be the immediate recognition that the money in the pockets of the American people helps those small businesses thrive. Just for  I've had the poster here before. It's a bigger number now than before: about $950 billion, nearly a trillion dollars to small business. $160 billion, $160 billion to state and local government. 950, 160. State and local government: health care workers, police and fire, teachers, sanitation, transportation, food workers. 160, 950.\n\nBut we need more here to exploit the opportunity that is here. And, in the meantime, this $2,000 will go a long way, not only to sustain the financial security of America's working families, but will help small business to thrive as well. So, these things are all connected\n\nAt the same time, as we had a good day on Monday passing, in bipartisan fashion, the CASH Act. The CASH Act, Caring for Americans with Supplemental Help  Caring for Americans with Supplemental [Help], the CASH Act. We also, that day, had an overwhelming vote to override the President's veto of the National Defense Authorization Act, the NDAA. Overwhelming, overwhelming vote: [322]-87. One hundred and nine Republicans voted to override the President's veto. We hope that the Senate will follow suit. They had a big, strong vote in the Senate in favor of this bill. Hopefully, they will stand by their votes there and sustain the veto, excuse me, overturn the veto of the President. We'll see. Okay, so that's what happened in the past week.\n\nIn the past week, we have also seen reports of the vaccine distribution not measuring up to what we need to have a fair, equitable distribution of the vaccine that is free. I support what President-elect Joe Biden said yesterday, that in his Administration, the 100 million vaccinations in a short period of time, that he would engage the national Defense Production Act to make sure that we not only have the vaccines, but the means to make the inoculation. It's one thing to be in the lab, another thing to be in the arm.\n\nThere's a lot in between in terms of logistics, in terms of administration, in terms of materials. And one of the things that is holding up the further vaccinations in the country is this Administration, the Trump Administration's lack of cooperation on the distribution of syringes and other things that go into that, and holding up some of the vaccine as well.\n\nSo, this has to be done better. This has to be done better. And let's hope in the last few weeks of the Trump Administration, that they will follow the science, that they will make the vaccines available, that they will make the syringes and other materials available, so that you can have many more people vaccinated even before the inauguration.\n\nThis vaccine  this pandemic is horrible. I mean, in every way, the lives and livelihoods of the American people are affected by it in a massive way. However, it has also pulled back the curtain to reveal further disparities in our economy and in our society. They have become  come into sharper focus because of the pandemic. And that is why I have asked the Rules Committee that we will be taking up the new rules package on Monday, or Sunday night if the schedule allows, but following the vote for Speaker, I will have them announce in the next day or so, when they put forth the rules package, a Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth.\n\nAs we go into this new Congress, we have to have a scientific start on crushing the virus. We have to honor heroes, state and local government, and we have to put money into the pockets of the American people. Hopefully, we can do this on this side of the weekend, rather than waiting until later, the third point, direct payments. That has always been our goal: crush the virus, honor our heroes, money in the pockets of the American people.\n\nClearly, the disparities in income and equity in our country are vast. We've known that. They've only gotten worse, and the pandemic, again, puts it in sharper focus. And that's why I'm proud to announce the creation of a new bipartisan Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth, which will be a central force for the Congress to combat the crisis of income and wealth disparity in America.\n\nOur Members are full of exuberance and many suggestions, on both sides of the aisle. Yesterday, some proposed to me, $2,000 a month as this  as we go through this bad time. Others, Congresswoman Jayapal, has a wage guarantee legislation. Others have, Congresswoman Murphy, has the income  the [Employee] Retention Tax Credit, which is in  which is in the bills that the President just signed, somewhat.\n\nBut there are others: sovereign wealth funds to give the profit  the benefit  the income to poor families in America, other bonding issues to try to address the fact that the middle class is the backbone of our democracy. When that is weakened, so is our democracy. So, this is to address not only the middle class, but those who aspire to the middle class. But the disparity has only grown and so I, as a model for this, as you may recall, when we did Mr. Clyburn's committee, we used the Truman Committee as a reference to how to save money, save lives.\n\nThis is something that  it's modeled after the mission of the Temporary National Economic Committee founded by President Roosevelt and the Congress after the Great Depression to study and combat the concentration of wealth in America and its role in triggering economic collapse. This is what President Roosevelt said at the time. He said, The liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than their democratic state itself the liberty of a democracy is not safe if its business system does not provide employment and produce and distribute goods in a way as to sustain an acceptable standard of living.'\n\nThat is why we are creating this Select Committee, which will be a resource to the Congress to make policy related to economic fairness, access to education and workforce development, et cetera. And, again, we'll work with the committees of jurisdiction. This is not a legislative committee. It is a committee to make recommendations. The committees of jurisdiction, have all done a great job, our Education and Labor Committee, Ways and Means Committee, Energy and Commerce Committee, Financial Services, the list  they have done a great job in trying to address these concerns legislatively. We need a bigger spotlight on the problem, and on some of the solutions so that we can all participate in the very worthy suggestions that are made. And again, we will empower American economic growth, while ensuring that no one is left behind in the 21st century economy that we are putting forth.\n\nSo, we have a  we're very excited about our new President-elect, and that in three weeks, we will have a new president. It's pretty exciting, President and Vice President making history, that we have the gavel, that we have held the Congress. We look forward to what's happening in Georgia on Tuesday. So, every day is action packed. But I just wanted to review some of what happened in the past week to take us to this point.\n\nThis point, $2,000 direct payment to the American people being held up by Mitch McConnell, the same person who put $160 billion tax break for the wealthiest people and firms in America in the CARES Act. $160 billion in the CARES Act for the wealthiest in our country, refusing $2,000 to those who need it most, the same Republicans in the Congress who eagerly passed the tax bill that gave 83 percent of the benefits to the top one percent, taking us well into debt. Nearly $2 trillion for our children to pay off so that they could have a tax break for the wealthy with a mythology that it would trickle down. And it has not, nor has it ever. Mitch McConnell, remove the obstacle that you have the American people having the opportunity to have that direct payment, and do it now.\n\n* * *\n\nAny questions? Yes ma'am.\n\nQ: Madam Speaker, do you plan to seat Ms. Miller-Meeks on Sunday, and are you confident that you're going to have a Dem Majority present?\n\nSpeaker Pelosi. Yes, and yes, definitely. Yes.\n\nQ: On the stimulus checks, we're hearing on the Senate side that time is running out. Are you going to commit to bringing this idea back, the $2,000 checks, next week if it does die in this Congress?\n\nSpeaker Pelosi. Well, let us  let us be hopeful that it can happen this week, because the sooner it happens, the sooner the checks go out. So, we're not giving up on it. The President of the United States, Donald Trump, is advocating for it. The Congress, in a bipartisan way in the House, has voted for it. It would have bipartisan support in the Senate if Mitch McConnell would only allow it to come to the Floor, instead of being an obstruction to those checks going to the American people.\n\nQ: One additional question, we're just hearing from Josh Hawley that he's going to object on January 6th and force a debate on Electoral College votes. Could you comment on that move from the Republican?\n\nSpeaker Pelosi. I have no doubt that on next Wednesday, a week from today, that Joe Biden will be confirmed by the acceptance of the vote of the Electoral College as the 46th President of the United States.\n\nYes, ma'am.\n\nQ: Madam Speaker, an overview from you: you've kept your Caucus together with a fighting spirit this year through very hard times. Did the events of 2020 help keep your Caucus cohesion? And secondly, what are your thoughts on a slimmer Majority next year, next week?\n\nSpeaker Pelosi. Well, we are very excited about having won the House. We have the gavel, the Speaker's gavel. We also have 132 other gavels of chairs and subcommittees, and they are again, many of them in the hands, this past term of Freshmen and newer Members of Congress. And we're excited about that. Eighteen Freshmen had gavels, that was historic. There has been nothing even close to that before.\n\nThe  I have every confidence. Our Caucus is unified around our common ethical belief in our responsibility to America's working families. That's what brings us together. Of course, we have our differences in approach, and some other ideas. And that's our vitality. I would not want to be a leader of a party that was rubber stamp, lockstep. That's called Republicans. We, the Democratic Party, are democratic in every way, including respecting the views of all in our Caucus.\n\nSo, I have  I have great confidence that on an agenda that is there for America's working families, we will have the unity that we need to proceed under the leadership of Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, the Biden-Harris Administration, and hopefully with the Democratic Senate. We'll see what next week brings.\n\nOkay, thank you all. Thank you all very much.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pelosi.house.gov/news/press-releases/transcript-of-pelosi-weekly-press-conference-today-91", "Transcript of Pelosi Weekly Press Conference Today", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CA", "Nancy Pelosi", "P000197", "pelosi.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Contact: Speaker's Press Office,\n202-226-7616\n\nWashington, D.C.  Speaker Nancy Pelosi held her weekly press conference today in the Capitol Visitor Center. Below are the Speaker's remarks:\n\nSpeaker Pelosi. Good morning. Welcome to the last weekly of this year  of this year, of this session of Congress and of this Congress. Until next week, when we'll be in a new Congress. I wish you a Happy New Year as we go forward.\n\nSadly, the Congress received the news last evening of the passing of a new Member of Congress, Luke Letlow from Louisiana, due to be sworn in this Sunday, but taken by the coronavirus yesterday. He leaves his wife and two babies, and we extend great sympathy to his family. So sad. Forty-one years old, coronavirus, blood clot complication. Could happen to anyone. And it has happened to nearly 350,000 Americans.\n\nMany of those deaths could have been avoided. As we go forward, we must, we must make sure that we are scientific and determined to crush the virus in whatever form it takes. In the meantime, though, let us extend deepest sympathy to their family and to to those little babies who have lost their daddy.\n\nSo, here we are in time, as I mentioned, the last meeting of the year for us. Let's just talk about the last week or so. In the last week or so, we sent to the President the legislation, it took some time for it to be enrolled because it was a lot  a big bill. He received it on Christmas Eve, 3:30 in the afternoon. He did sign it on Sunday evening and we were very pleased with that because it had very strong bipartisan vote in the House and in the Senate.\n\nIn the course of, though, of that week, the President announced his support for the $2,000 direct payment, which we madly embraced, and said, We join with the President in supporting this,' came in on Christmas Eve, were blocked by the Republicans for having a Unanimous Consent to bill  bring up that legislation. But on Monday, in regular session, we brought it forth and it passed with strong bipartisan support. We were very pleased then to send that over to Mitch McConnell and the Senate.\n\nThe President of the United States has expressed his support for the $2,000. The Democrats and Republicans in the House have passed that legislation. Who is holding up that distribution to the American people? Mitch McConnell and the Senate Republicans.\n\nDemocratic Leader Schumer, yesterday, asked for Unanimous Consent to bring it up in the Senate, which was blocked by Mitch McConnell and the Republicans in the Senate. In blocking it, they are in denial of the hardship that the American people are experiencing now. Health wise, financially, in every way. Their lives and livelihood in many cases are on the brink. So, they're in denial of that need in denying this benefit.\n\nI do hope that in the days ahead  we only have a few days left in this session  that they will see the light and understand what the suffering  the suffering that is going on in our country.\n\nNow, I've said before, it's amazing to see the patience that some people have with other people's suffering. These Republicans in the Senate seem to have an endless tolerance for other people's sadness. We urge Mitch McConnell to stop his obstruction and to bring that legislation to the Floor of the Senate. And we urge Republicans in the Senate to encourage him to do so.\n\nIt's really important to note though how important this money in the pockets of American people are. If they have the resources, they spend it. They inject demand into the economy. That is job-creating. It's important to note that with the bill that we passed last week, that the President signed  that we sent over last week and that the President signed on Sunday evening, brought us up to a, nearly a trillion dollars for small businesses in our country  a trillion and just about $950 billion, and we support that. We know that small businesses are the lifeblood of our economy. The most optimistic thing you can do is to start a small business, your hopes and dreams, your ideas, your vision.\n\nBut for those small businesses to take advantage of that money, they have to have customers. It's not enough to keep the doors open if nobody's walking through. And that's why these direct payments are so necessary.\n\nAnd for those small businesses to thrive, they must have services provided by state and local government. Our health care providers, our heroes: health care providers, transportation, sanitation, first responders, police and fire, our teachers, our teachers, our teachers. And that's why in this next session of Congress, in the new Congress with the new President, we must pass legislation that not only honors our heroes, but recognizes the services that they provide enable our lives to function, our businesses to thrive, our economy to prosper and our people to be healthy. So, that will be a very important part of what we do next.\n\nBut you would think that there would at least be the immediate recognition that the money in the pockets of the American people helps those small businesses thrive. Just for  I've had the poster here before. It's a bigger number now than before: about $950 billion, nearly a trillion dollars to small business. $160 billion, $160 billion to state and local government. 950, 160. State and local government: health care workers, police and fire, teachers, sanitation, transportation, food workers. 160, 950.\n\nBut we need more here to exploit the opportunity that is here. And, in the meantime, this $2,000 will go a long way, not only to sustain the financial security of America's working families, but will help small business to thrive as well. So, these things are all connected\n\nAt the same time, as we had a good day on Monday passing, in bipartisan fashion, the CASH Act. The CASH Act, Caring for Americans with Supplemental Help  Caring for Americans with Supplemental [Help], the CASH Act. We also, that day, had an overwhelming vote to override the President's veto of the National Defense Authorization Act, the NDAA. Overwhelming, overwhelming vote: [322]-87. One hundred and nine Republicans voted to override the President's veto. We hope that the Senate will follow suit. They had a big, strong vote in the Senate in favor of this bill. Hopefully, they will stand by their votes there and sustain the veto, excuse me, overturn the veto of the President. We'll see. Okay, so that's what happened in the past week.\n\nIn the past week, we have also seen reports of the vaccine distribution not measuring up to what we need to have a fair, equitable distribution of the vaccine that is free. I support what President-elect Joe Biden said yesterday, that in his Administration, the 100 million vaccinations in a short period of time, that he would engage the national Defense Production Act to make sure that we not only have the vaccines, but the means to make the inoculation. It's one thing to be in the lab, another thing to be in the arm.\n\nThere's a lot in between in terms of logistics, in terms of administration, in terms of materials. And one of the things that is holding up the further vaccinations in the country is this Administration, the Trump Administration's lack of cooperation on the distribution of syringes and other things that go into that, and holding up some of the vaccine as well.\n\nSo, this has to be done better. This has to be done better. And let's hope in the last few weeks of the Trump Administration, that they will follow the science, that they will make the vaccines available, that they will make the syringes and other materials available, so that you can have many more people vaccinated even before the inauguration.\n\nThis vaccine  this pandemic is horrible. I mean, in every way, the lives and livelihoods of the American people are affected by it in a massive way. However, it has also pulled back the curtain to reveal further disparities in our economy and in our society. They have become  come into sharper focus because of the pandemic. And that is why I have asked the Rules Committee that we will be taking up the new rules package on Monday, or Sunday night if the schedule allows, but following the vote for Speaker, I will have them announce in the next day or so, when they put forth the rules package, a Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth.\n\nAs we go into this new Congress, we have to have a scientific start on crushing the virus. We have to honor heroes, state and local government, and we have to put money into the pockets of the American people. Hopefully, we can do this on this side of the weekend, rather than waiting until later, the third point, direct payments. That has always been our goal: crush the virus, honor our heroes, money in the pockets of the American people.\n\nClearly, the disparities in income and equity in our country are vast. We've known that. They've only gotten worse, and the pandemic, again, puts it in sharper focus. And that's why I'm proud to announce the creation of a new bipartisan Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth, which will be a central force for the Congress to combat the crisis of income and wealth disparity in America.\n\nOur Members are full of exuberance and many suggestions, on both sides of the aisle. Yesterday, some proposed to me, $2,000 a month as this  as we go through this bad time. Others, Congresswoman Jayapal, has a wage guarantee legislation. Others have, Congresswoman Murphy, has the income  the [Employee] Retention Tax Credit, which is in  which is in the bills that the President just signed, somewhat.\n\nBut there are others: sovereign wealth funds to give the profit  the benefit  the income to poor families in America, other bonding issues to try to address the fact that the middle class is the backbone of our democracy. When that is weakened, so is our democracy. So, this is to address not only the middle class, but those who aspire to the middle class. But the disparity has only grown and so I, as a model for this, as you may recall, when we did Mr. Clyburn's committee, we used the Truman Committee as a reference to how to save money, save lives.\n\nThis is something that  it's modeled after the mission of the Temporary National Economic Committee founded by President Roosevelt and the Congress after the Great Depression to study and combat the concentration of wealth in America and its role in triggering economic collapse. This is what President Roosevelt said at the time. He said, The liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than their democratic state itself the liberty of a democracy is not safe if its business system does not provide employment and produce and distribute goods in a way as to sustain an acceptable standard of living.'\n\nThat is why we are creating this Select Committee, which will be a resource to the Congress to make policy related to economic fairness, access to education and workforce development, et cetera. And, again, we'll work with the committees of jurisdiction. This is not a legislative committee. It is a committee to make recommendations. The committees of jurisdiction, have all done a great job, our Education and Labor Committee, Ways and Means Committee, Energy and Commerce Committee, Financial Services, the list  they have done a great job in trying to address these concerns legislatively. We need a bigger spotlight on the problem, and on some of the solutions so that we can all participate in the very worthy suggestions that are made. And again, we will empower American economic growth, while ensuring that no one is left behind in the 21st century economy that we are putting forth.\n\nSo, we have a  we're very excited about our new President-elect, and that in three weeks, we will have a new president. It's pretty exciting, President and Vice President making history, that we have the gavel, that we have held the Congress. We look forward to what's happening in Georgia on Tuesday. So, every day is action packed. But I just wanted to review some of what happened in the past week to take us to this point.\n\nThis point, $2,000 direct payment to the American people being held up by Mitch McConnell, the same person who put $160 billion tax break for the wealthiest people and firms in America in the CARES Act. $160 billion in the CARES Act for the wealthiest in our country, refusing $2,000 to those who need it most, the same Republicans in the Congress who eagerly passed the tax bill that gave 83 percent of the benefits to the top one percent, taking us well into debt. Nearly $2 trillion for our children to pay off so that they could have a tax break for the wealthy with a mythology that it would trickle down. And it has not, nor has it ever. Mitch McConnell, remove the obstacle that you have the American people having the opportunity to have that direct payment, and do it now.\n\n* * *\n\nAny questions? Yes ma'am.\n\nQ: Madam Speaker, do you plan to seat Ms. Miller-Meeks on Sunday, and are you confident that you're going to have a Dem Majority present?\n\nSpeaker Pelosi. Yes, and yes, definitely. Yes.\n\nQ: On the stimulus checks, we're hearing on the Senate side that time is running out. Are you going to commit to bringing this idea back, the $2,000 checks, next week if it does die in this Congress?\n\nSpeaker Pelosi. Well, let us  let us be hopeful that it can happen this week, because the sooner it happens, the sooner the checks go out. So, we're not giving up on it. The President of the United States, Donald Trump, is advocating for it. The Congress, in a bipartisan way in the House, has voted for it. It would have bipartisan support in the Senate if Mitch McConnell would only allow it to come to the Floor, instead of being an obstruction to those checks going to the American people.\n\nQ: One additional question, we're just hearing from Josh Hawley that he's going to object on January 6th and force a debate on Electoral College votes. Could you comment on that move from the Republican?\n\nSpeaker Pelosi. I have no doubt that on next Wednesday, a week from today, that Joe Biden will be confirmed by the acceptance of the vote of the Electoral College as the 46th President of the United States.\n\nYes, ma'am.\n\nQ: Madam Speaker, an overview from you: you've kept your Caucus together with a fighting spirit this year through very hard times. Did the events of 2020 help keep your Caucus cohesion? And secondly, what are your thoughts on a slimmer Majority next year, next week?\n\nSpeaker Pelosi. Well, we are very excited about having won the House. We have the gavel, the Speaker's gavel. We also have 132 other gavels of chairs and subcommittees, and they are again, many of them in the hands, this past term of Freshmen and newer Members of Congress. And we're excited about that. Eighteen Freshmen had gavels, that was historic. There has been nothing even close to that before.\n\nThe  I have every confidence. Our Caucus is unified around our common ethical belief in our responsibility to America's working families. That's what brings us together. Of course, we have our differences in approach, and some other ideas. And that's our vitality. I would not want to be a leader of a party that was rubber stamp, lockstep. That's called Republicans. We, the Democratic Party, are democratic in every way, including respecting the views of all in our Caucus.\n\nSo, I have  I have great confidence that on an agenda that is there for America's working families, we will have the unity that we need to proceed under the leadership of Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, the Biden-Harris Administration, and hopefully with the Democratic Senate. We'll see what next week brings.\n\nOkay, thank you all. Thank you all very much.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://ruiz.house.gov/media-center/e-newsletters/dr-ruiz-celebrates-2019-and-looks-ahead-2020", "Dr. Ruiz Celebrates 2019 and Looks Ahead to the New Year", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Raul Ruiz", "R000599", "ruiz.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "I am thrilled with all that we have accomplished this year tolower out-of-pocket health care costs,stand up for our veteransand law enforcement officers, and advocate for our seniors!\nAs we look ahead to 2020, we must continue to build on what we've accomplished. Here are some of the reasons why I'm celebrating 2019:\n We cut through the red tape:Our office helped close more than 500 constituent cases to help our friends, families, and neighbors get the benefits they deserve and secure more than $2 million from Social Security, Medicare, the VA, and the IRS.\n\t\t\n\tWe stood up for our veterans:The president has signed into law two of my provisions to address our military's use of toxic burn pits. My bill, the Burn Pits Registry Enhancement Act passed the House earlier this year, andmy two amendments included in this year's NDAAwere signed into law just this month.\n\t\t\n\tWe fought for humanity at our borders:The House passed my bill, theHumanitarian Standards for Individuals in CBP Custody Act, to restore humanity to our treatment of migrants under CBP's custody and responsibility.\n\t\t\n\tWe supported local law enforcement:With local law enforcement collaboration, my amendment to this year's Consolidated Appropriations Act more than doubled our nation's funding for mental health services for law enforcement agencies.\n\t\t\n\tWe stood up against abuse of taxpayer dollars:My legislation, thePublic Service Integrity Act, wouldensure our elected officials never use their office to enrich themselves and passed thepassed the House as part of theFor the People Act.\n I hope you had an outstanding 2019, and I wish you peace and prosperity in 2020!\nI look forward to continuing to work hard next year to lower health care costs,grow our local economy with American jobs, and strengthen our critical infrastructure.\nSincerely, Raul Ruiz, M.D.  Member of Congress", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://ruiz.house.gov/media-center/e-newsletters/dr-ruiz-looks-back-2020", "Dr. Ruiz Looks Back on 2020", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Raul Ruiz", "R000599", "ruiz.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Dear Friends,\n\nAs we look back on what a year 2020 has been, it's important to remember the good things that give us joy and hope for the future. Today, I'm reflecting on all that we have overcome and achieved this past year, and looking forward to what 2021 will bring.\n\nYear in Review: Looking Back on the 116th Congress\nThis Congress, we made incredible progress for our veterans, helped expand access to crucial health care services, and helped grow American jobs. Here are just a few legislative wins from the 116th Congress:\n The Medicaid Services Investment and Accountability Act became law.This bill will strengthen the Medicaid program for children with complex medical needs, seniors, and people with disabilities.\n\tThe Easy Medication Access and Treatment for Opioid Addiction Act became law.This legislation will fight the opioid epidemic by helping patients begintheir road to recovery, increase access to care, and save lives.\n\tThe Beneficiary Enrollment Notification and Eligibility Simplification (BENES) Actbecame law. Language from my bill, the BENES Act, was signed into law to help reduce gaps in coverage for seniors who sign up for Medicare Part B.\n As your representative, I am committed to helping you cut through the red tape. I am thrilled my office helped over 1,200 constituents resolve their cases with federal agencies this year. Clickhereto learn more about real results for seniors, veterans, and CA-36 residents.\nI am ready to take on 2021  a year that promises to bring new opportunities, obstacles, and hope. Join me as I continue our look back on the year by following my posts onFacebook,Twitter, andInstagramusing #YearInReview.\nI wish you and your family a happy holiday season, and I look forward to serving you in the New Year and the 117th Congress!\nSincerely,    \n\tRaul Ruiz, M.D.  \n\tMember of Congress\n\nIn Case You Missed It:\n Are you a CA-36 resident interested in serving in the Biden-Harris Administration? Find out how to applyhere.\n\tHave questions about the COVID-19 vaccine?Here's what you need to know.\n\tIf you have a background in health care, California needs your help battling COVID-19. Find out about joining the California Health Corpshere.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/123020", "Pelosi Announces Creation of Select Committee on Economic Disparity & Fairness in Growth", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Nancy Pelosi", "P000197", "www.speaker.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued this statement announcing the creation in the 117th Congress of the new Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth:\nAs House Speaker, I am proud to announce the creation of the new, bipartisan Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth, which will be an essential force in Congressional Democrats' action to combat the crisis of income and wealth disparity in America. It is molded after the mission of the Temporary National Economic Committee, founded by President Roosevelt and the Congress after the Great Depression to study and combat the concentration of wealth in America and its role in triggering economic collapse.\nAs President Roosevelt said before founding this Committee, The liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than their democratic state itself the liberty of a democracy is not safe if its business system does not provide employment and produce and distribute goods in such a way as to sustain an acceptable standard of living.'\nThe past several decades have shown with devastating clarity the marked imbalance between the financial fortunes of CEOs and workers. The reverence of those who amass profits by stagnating wages has seriously undermined the lives and livelihoods of many Americans, while slowing economic growth in our country. This year, the disturbing, dangerous trend of economic disparity has also been accelerated by the coronavirus economic crisis.\nThe devaluing of work has had a negative impact on consumer confidence, job creation and economic growth. And the situation of families no longer believing that their children will have a brighter future than they is seriously damaging and demoralizing to our society.\nThat is why we are creating this Select Committee, which will be a resource to the Congress to make policy related to economic fairness, access to education and workforce development. Working with the Committees of Jurisdiction, the Select Committee will study and recommend proposals to make our economy work for everyone, powering American economic growth while ensuring that no one is left out or left behind in the 21st Century Economy.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/123020-0", "Transcript of Pelosi Weekly Press Conference Today", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Nancy Pelosi", "P000197", "www.speaker.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  Speaker Nancy Pelosi held her weekly press conference today in the Capitol Visitor Center. Below are the Speaker's remarks: \nSpeaker Pelosi. Good morning. Welcome to the last weekly of this year  of this year, of this session of Congress and of this Congress. Until next week, when we'll be in a new Congress. I wish you a Happy New Year as we go forward.\nSadly, the Congress received the news last evening of the passing of a new Member of Congress, Luke Letlow from Louisiana, due to be sworn in this Sunday, but taken by the coronavirus yesterday. He leaves his wife and two babies, and we extend great sympathy to his family. So sad. Forty-one years old, coronavirus, blood clot complication. Could happen to anyone. And it has happened to nearly 350,000 Americans.\nMany of those deaths could have been avoided. As we go forward, we must, we must make sure that we are scientific and determined to crush the virus in whatever form it takes. In the meantime, though, let us extend deepest sympathy to their family and to to those little babies who have lost their daddy.\nSo, here we are in time, as I mentioned, the last meeting of the year for us. Let's just talk about the last week or so. In the last week or so, we sent to the President the legislation, it took some time for it to be enrolled because it was a lot  a big bill. He received it on Christmas Eve, 3:30 in the afternoon. He did sign it on Sunday evening and we were very pleased with that because it had very strong bipartisan vote in the House and in the Senate.\nIn the course of, though, of that week, the President announced his support for the $2,000 direct payment, which we madly embraced, and said, We join with the President in supporting this,' came in on Christmas Eve, were blocked by the Republicans for having a Unanimous Consent to bill  bring up that legislation. But on Monday, in regular session, we brought it forth and it passed with strong bipartisan support. We were very pleased then to send that over to Mitch McConnell and the Senate.\nThe President of the United States has expressed his support for the $2,000. The Democrats and Republicans in the House have passed that legislation. Who is holding up that distribution to the American people? Mitch McConnell and the Senate Republicans.\nDemocratic Leader Schumer, yesterday, asked for Unanimous Consent to bring it up in the Senate, which was blocked by Mitch McConnell and the Republicans in the Senate. In blocking it, they are in denial of the hardship that the American people are experiencing now. Health wise, financially, in every way. Their lives and livelihood in many cases are on the brink. So, they're in denial of that need in denying this benefit.\nI do hope that in the days ahead  we only have a few days left in this session  that they will see the light and understand what the suffering  the suffering that is going on in our country.\nNow, I've said before, it's amazing to see the patience that some people have with other people's suffering. These Republicans in the Senate seem to have an endless tolerance for other people's sadness. We urge Mitch McConnell to stop his obstruction and to bring that legislation to the Floor of the Senate. And we urge Republicans in the Senate to encourage him to do so.\nIt's really important to note though how important this money in the pockets of American people are. If they have the resources, they spend it. They inject demand into the economy. That is job-creating. It's important to note that with the bill that we passed last week, that the President signed  that we sent over last week and that the President signed on Sunday evening, brought us up to a, nearly a trillion dollars for small businesses in our country  a trillion and just about $950 billion, and we support that. We know that small businesses are the lifeblood of our economy. The most optimistic thing you can do is to start a small business, your hopes and dreams, your ideas, your vision.\nBut for those small businesses to take advantage of that money, they have to have customers. It's not enough to keep the doors open if nobody's walking through. And that's why these direct payments are so necessary. \nAnd for those small businesses to thrive, they must have services provided by state and local government. Our health care providers, our heroes: health care providers, transportation, sanitation, first responders, police and fire, our teachers, our teachers, our teachers. And that's why in this next session of Congress, in the new Congress with the new President, we must pass legislation that not only honors our heroes, but recognizes the services that they provide enable our lives to function, our businesses to thrive, our economy to prosper and our people to be healthy. So, that will be a very important part of what we do next. \nBut you would think that there would at least be the immediate recognition that the money in the pockets of the American people helps those small businesses thrive. Just for  I've had the poster here before. It's a bigger number now than before: about $950 billion, nearly a trillion dollars to small business. $160 billion, $160 billion to state and local government. 950, 160. State and local government: health care workers, police and fire, teachers, sanitation, transportation, food workers. 160, 950.\nBut we need more here to exploit the opportunity that is here. And, in the meantime, this $2,000 will go a long way, not only to sustain the financial security of America's working families, but will help small business to thrive as well. So, these things are all connected\nAt the same time, as we had a good day on Monday passing, in bipartisan fashion, the CASH Act. The CASH Act, Caring for Americans with Supplemental Help  Caring for Americans with Supplemental [Help], the CASH Act. We also, that day, had an overwhelming vote to override the President's veto of the National Defense Authorization Act, the NDAA. Overwhelming, overwhelming vote: [322]-87. One hundred and nine Republicans voted to override the President's veto. We hope that the Senate will follow suit. They had a big, strong vote in the Senate in favor of this bill. Hopefully, they will stand by their votes there and sustain the veto, excuse me, overturn the veto of the President. We'll see. Okay, so that's what happened in the past week. \nIn the past week, we have also seen reports of the vaccine distribution not measuring up to what we need to have a fair, equitable distribution of the vaccine that is free. I support what President-elect Joe Biden said yesterday, that in his Administration, the 100 million vaccinations in a short period of time, that he would engage the national Defense Production Act to make sure that we not only have the vaccines, but the means to make the inoculation. It's one thing to be in the lab, another thing to be in the arm. \nThere's a lot in between in terms of logistics, in terms of administration, in terms of materials. And one of the things that is holding up the further vaccinations in the country is this Administration, the Trump Administration's lack of cooperation on the distribution of syringes and other things that go into that, and holding up some of the vaccine as well. \nSo, this has to be done better. This has to be done better. And let's hope in the last few weeks of the Trump Administration, that they will follow the science, that they will make the vaccines available, that they will make the syringes and other materials available, so that you can have many more people vaccinated even before the inauguration.\nThis vaccine  this pandemic is horrible. I mean, in every way, the lives and livelihoods of the American people are affected by it in a massive way. However, it has also pulled back the curtain to reveal further disparities in our economy and in our society. They have become  come into sharper focus because of the pandemic. And that is why I have asked the Rules Committee that we will be taking up the new rules package on Monday, or Sunday night if the schedule allows, but following the vote for Speaker, I will have them announce in the next day or so, when they put forth the rules package, a Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth.\nAs we go into this new Congress, we have to have a scientific start on crushing the virus. We have to honor heroes, state and local government, and we have to put money into the pockets of the American people. Hopefully, we can do this on this side of the weekend, rather than waiting until later, the third point, direct payments. That has always been our goal: crush the virus, honor our heroes, money in the pockets of the American people.\nClearly, the disparities in income and equity in our country are vast. We've known that. They've only gotten worse, and the pandemic, again, puts it in sharper focus. And that's why I'm proud to announce the creation of a new bipartisan Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth, which will be a central force for the Congress to combat the crisis of income and wealth disparity in America.\nOur Members are full of exuberance and many suggestions, on both sides of the aisle. Yesterday, some proposed to me, $2,000 a month as this  as we go through this bad time. Others, Congresswoman Jayapal, has a wage guarantee legislation. Others have,Congresswoman Murphy, has the income  the [Employee] Retention Tax Credit, which is in  which is in the bills that the President just signed, somewhat. \nBut there are others: sovereign wealth funds to give the profit  the benefit  the income to poor families in America, other bonding issues to try to address the fact that the middle class is the backbone of our democracy. When that is weakened, so is our democracy. So, this is to address not only the middle class, but those who aspire to the middle class. But the disparity has only grown and so I, as a model for this, as you may recall, when we did Mr. Clyburn's committee, we used the Truman Committee as a reference to how to save money, save lives.\nThis is something that  it's modeled after the mission of the Temporary National Economic Committee founded by President Roosevelt and the Congress after the Great Depression to study and combat the concentration of wealth in America and its role in triggering economic collapse. This is what President Roosevelt said at the time. He said, The liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than their democratic state itself the liberty of a democracy is not safe if its business system does not provide employment and produce and distribute goods in a way as to sustain an acceptable standard of living.' \nThat is why we are creating this Select Committee, which will be a resource to the Congress to make policy related to economic fairness, access to education and workforce development, et cetera. And, again, we'll work with the committees of jurisdiction. This is not a legislative committee. It is a committee to make recommendations. The committees of jurisdiction, have all done a great job, our Education and Labor Committee, Ways and Means Committee, Energy and Commerce Committee, Financial Services, the list  they have done a great job in trying to address these concerns legislatively. We need a bigger spotlight on the problem, and on some of the solutions so that we can all participate in the very worthy suggestions that are made. And again, we will empower American economic growth, while ensuring that no one is left behind in the 21st century economy that we are putting forth. \nSo, we have a  we're very excited about our new President-elect, and that in three weeks, we will have a new president. It's pretty exciting, President and Vice President making history, that we have the gavel, that we have held the Congress. We look forward to what's happening in Georgia on Tuesday. So, every day is action packed. But I just wanted to review some of what happened in the past week to take us to this point.\nThis point, $2,000 direct payment to the American people being held up by Mitch McConnell, the same person who put $160 billion tax break for the wealthiest people and firms in America in the CARES Act. $160 billion in the CARES Act for the wealthiest in our country, refusing $2,000 to those who need it most, the same Republicans in the Congress who eagerly passed the tax bill that gave 83 percent of the benefits to the top one percent, taking us well into debt. Nearly $2 trillion for our children to pay off so that they could have a tax break for the wealthy with a mythology that it would trickle down. And it has not, nor has it ever. Mitch McConnell, remove the obstacle that you have the American people having the opportunity to have that direct payment, and do it now. \n* * *\nAny questions? Yes ma'am.\nQ: Madam Speaker, do you plan to seat Ms. Miller-Meeks on Sunday, and are you confident that you're going to have a Dem Majority present?\nSpeaker Pelosi. Yes, and yes, definitely. Yes. \nQ: On the stimulus checks, we're hearing on the Senate side that time is running out. Are you going to commit to bringing this idea back, the $2,000 checks, next week if it does die in this Congress? \nSpeaker Pelosi. Well, let us  let us be hopeful that it can happen this week, because the sooner it happens, the sooner the checks go out. So, we're not giving up on it. The President of the United States, Donald Trump, is advocating for it. The Congress, in a bipartisan way in the House, has voted for it. It would have bipartisan support in the Senate if Mitch McConnell would only allow it to come to the Floor, instead of being an obstruction to those checks going to the American people.\nQ: One additional question, we're just hearing from Josh Hawley that he's going to object on January 6th and force a debate on Electoral College votes. Could you comment on that move from the Republican? \nSpeaker Pelosi. I have no doubt that on next Wednesday, a week from today, that Joe Biden will be confirmed by the acceptance of the vote of the Electoral College as the 46th President of the United States. \nYes, ma'am.\nQ: Madam Speaker, an overview from you: you've kept your Caucus together with a fighting spirit this year through very hard times. Did the events of 2020 help keep your Caucus cohesion? And secondly, what are your thoughts on a slimmer Majority next year, next week? \nSpeaker Pelosi. Well, we are very excited about having won the House. We have the gavel, the Speaker's gavel. We also have 132 other gavels of chairs and subcommittees, and they are again, many of them in the hands, this past term of Freshmen and newer Members of Congress. And we're excited about that. Eighteen Freshmen had gavels, that was historic. There has been nothing even close to that before. \nThe  I have every confidence. Our Caucus is unified around our common ethical belief in our responsibility to America's working families. That's what brings us together. Of course, we have our differences in approach, and some other ideas. And that's our vitality. I would not want to be a leader of a party that was rubber stamp, lockstep. That's called Republicans. We, the Democratic Party, are democratic in every way, including respecting the views of all in our Caucus.\nSo, I have  I have great confidence that on an agenda that is there for America's working families, we will have the unity that we need to proceed under the leadership of Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, the Biden-Harris Administration, and hopefully with the Democratic Senate. We'll see what next week brings.\nOkay, thank you all. Thank you all very much.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/123020-1", "Dear Colleague on End of 116th Congress", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Nancy Pelosi", "P000197", "www.speaker.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Dear Democratic Colleague,\nAs we prepare to close the 116th Congress, I write to express my deep appreciation for the unity of House Democrats in fighting For The People. It is with great optimism that we prepare for a new Congress and a new Administration.\nCongress has passed and the President has signed a coronavirus relief bill to help fight the virus and put money in the pockets of the American people, but much more needs to be done to honor our heroes at the state and local level. Supporting them will facilitate making the much-anticipated vaccine more readily and fairly available.\nWe must join in the Biden-Harris Administration's Build Back Better initiative for job creation and economic opportunity, including its protections of our planet. The pandemic has pulled back the veil of inequality, sharpening our focus on the disparities that rage in our economy and our society. In our work, we must promote justice in the economy, in health care, in law enforcement and in the environment.\nAs we go forward, we do so with pride in the work of our Caucus, Committee Chairs and Committee Members and with confidence that we will get the job done. It is imperative that we do so connecting with the hopes and dreams of our constituents and with prayers for a better future for all.\nThanks for your leadership and your friendship.\nBest wishes for a Happy New Year.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gomez.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2182", "Rep. Jimmy Gomez, House Colleagues, Demand Immediate Trump Administration Withdrawal Of Any New Oil And Gas Leases Off California Coast", "2020-12-29", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Jimmy Gomez", "G000585", "gomez.house.gov", "gomez", "https://gomez.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 In an effort to head off last minute lame-duck Trump Administration efforts to expand offshore oil and gas drilling along the California coast, Congressman Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), today, joined a letter with 21 House colleagues from the California Delegation in expressing their strong opposition to any expansion of oil and gas drilling off the coast of California.\n\nIn a letter to Department of Interior Secretary David Bernhardt, co-led by Representatives Alan Lowenthal (CA-47), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Jared Huffman (CA-2), and Mike Levin (CA-49), the Members demand the outgoing Trump Administration immediately withdraw any new oil and gas leasing off California from consideration in any future federal program.\n\n\u201cThe inevitable onshore and offshore risks associated with offshore drilling impact public health, the environment, and our climate,\" wrote the lawmakers. \"For these reasons, every single coastal governor along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, Republican and Democrat alike, has stood in opposition to offshore drilling. In coastal communities, where livelihoods are built around fishing, tourism, and recreation, it is critically important to guard against oil leaks or spills that could harm these ocean dependent economies and fragile marine ecosystems.\u201d\n\nThe letter also points out that just three months ago President Trump, in response to loud outcry from coastal communities across the nation, issued a ten-year moratorium on offshore drilling in waters off Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina.\n\nThe letter highlights California\u2019s intimate history with off shore oil drilling impacts, most notably the 1969 oil spill off the coast of Santa Barbara, California, which at the time was the largest oil spill in the United States. This tragedy killed thousands of marine mammals, fish, and birds, and oil washed up on the beaches for hundreds of miles along Central and Southern California. In the 50 years since, there have been no new oil and gas leases in California state waters and no federal leases off California for more than 35 years.\n\nThe Members also highlight that the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster just 10 years ago highlights that offshore oil drilling is no safer today than it was in 1969.\n\nWhile it is unlikely that the Trump Administration would be able to formalize any new leases before the Biden Administration takes office on January 20, the Members conclude their letter by demanding Secretary Bernhardt put an immediate halt during the Trump Administration\u2019s remaining time in office to any consideration of new oil and gas leasing off California.\n\nClick here to read the full text of the letter.\n\nThe letter was led by Congressmen Alan Lowenthal (CA-47), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Jared Huffman (CA-2), and Mike Levin (CA-49). In addition, the letter was cosigned by Congressmembers Mike Thompson (CA-5), Doris O. Matsui (CA-6), Ami Bera (CA-7), Jerry McNerney (CA-9), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11), Barbara Lee (CA-13), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Anna G. Eshoo (CA-18), Jimmy Panetta (CA-20), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Adam B. Schiff (CA-28), Grace Napolitano (CA-32), Ted W. Lieu (CA-33), Karen Bass (CA-37), Maxine Waters (CA-43), Nanette Diaz Barrag\u00e1n (CA-44), and Juan Vargas (CA-51).", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["http://www.feinstein.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/op-eds?ContentRecord_id=4D9828DA-9F91-4640-8A66-6267AB268F90", "Washington has to help with L.A.'s meth addiction", "2020-12-29", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CA", "Dianne Feinstein", "F000062", "www.feinstein.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Originally published in the Los Angeles Times\r\nBy Dianne Feinstein\r\nAlthough opioids  especially oxycodone and fentanyl  dominate addiction news, another deadly drug has been lurking in the background, causing tens of thousands of fatalities: methamphetamine.\r\nMeth addiction isn't new, but it has quickly emerged in recent years as a particularly deadly threat, and Los Angeles has been hard-hit.\r\nBetween 2008 and 2018, meth-related deaths in L.A.increased tenfold, from 43 to 435, according to county statistics. By 2018, meth was involved in 44% of all drug overdose deaths in Los Angeles County.\r\nLast summer, Mark Casanova, of Homeless Health Care Los Angeles,told The Timesthat meth accounted for 70% of drug use among L.A.'s homeless population. Between 2005 and 2019, according to county data, more than 185,000 individuals who entered publicly funded treatment programs in Los Angeleswere admitted for meth.\r\nIt's way cheaper [than many other street drugs], it lasts longer, you can smoke it or inject it, it's easy to get, Casanova said.\r\nIn September, Sen. Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa) and I introduced the Methamphetamine Response Act. The bill, which would direct the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy to develop and implement a plan to address the growing use of meth, passed the Senate in November. Unfortunately, the House has not yet addressed the bill and likely will not pass it before the 116th Congress ends.\r\nWhat did pass the House and Senate, as part of the massive omnibus end-of-year legislation that was signed into law Sunday, was a directive to the drug control policy office to finalize regulations for designating emerging drug threats. The office began the process in May; now it should finish that work as quickly as possible.\r\nThe meth surge isn't confined to California, of course. According to ananalysisby researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, between 2008 and 2017, the number of people admitted nationwide for meth-related treatment rose from 260,000 to 373,000, a 43% increase. And the number admitted for meth treatment who were also using heroin increased from nearly 14,000 to more than 88,000, a stunning 530% increase. Such multiple-substance use exacerbates the dangers.\r\nBy the end of 2019,Drug Enforcement Administration data showmeth availability was growing as street prices declined. Those increases continued this year even as prices started to rise again and much of the country faced public health restrictions due to COVID-19. And between March and May of this year, one lab found that nationwide urine drug testing positivity rates for methincreasedby approximately 20%.\r\nWe're also seeing larger drug busts  again particularly in California, where the majority of meth interdictions at ports of entry occur. In October, U.S. Customs and Border Protectionseized3,000 pounds at the port of Otay Mesa, and the DEAseized2,224 pounds of meth in Riverside County. Both seizures are among the largest on record for the agencies and indicate growing demand for the drug.\r\nWhat Washington must do to address this crisis was laid out in the Methamphetamine Response Act.\r\nFirst, the drug control policy office should declare meth an emerging drug threat. Based on the use and death statistics, it's clear that it meets the criteria, and as such, it should trigger a government-wide response.\r\nSecond, the office must develop and implement a plan that is specific to meth. Addiction is complex, and while a crucial component of the overall U.S. strategy is to reduce the flow of drugs, the problem cannot be solved through law enforcement efforts alone.\r\nThat's why, in addition to providing an assessment of the current availability of meth, the policy office must set short- and long-term goals focused on reducing demand, which means expanding prevention and treatment programs, as well as on reducing supply. To ensure accountability, the meth plan should also include performance measures related to those goals.\r\nWe know that fentanyl and other opioids are ravaging our country and that we must do all we can to prevent this, but we can't ignore the risks that other drugs pose in the process.\r\nWe must act now to prevent methamphetamine from turning into a full-blown national epidemic. This is a problem that won't go away on its own.\r\nDianne Feinstein, a Democrat, is the senior U.S. senator from California.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bass.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-bass-issues-statement-regarding-arrest-international-boxer-justin", "Rep. Bass Issues Statement Regarding Arrest of International Boxer Justin Juuko", "2020-12-29", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CA", "Karen Bass", "B001270", "bass.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "\"The Ugandan government must stop unlawfully arresting, detaining, and beating citizens who have opposing views. This action is clearly trying to intimidate Ugandans who oppose the government before the upcoming presidential elections.\n\"On December 12th, the government arrested international boxer Justin Juuko, a Ugandan citizen and California resident. Reportedly, Juuko was arrested along with Garrypaul Mayanja, an FDC activist in Masaka, a district in south-central Uganda. The two were were reportedly conducting training for polling agents ahead of the general election on January 14. The charges must be investigated, and the government should release Mr. Juuko unharmed at once.\n\"Just last week, international human rights activist and attorney Nicholas Opiyo was arrested and is still being unjustly held in custody until January 11th. Opiyo's work on human rights has earned him numerous international awards. He founded Chapter Four Uganda, an organization that advocates for legal protections to human rights, provides training and support for other Ugandan human rights law organizations, and coordinates legal responses to civil rights violations. Mr. Opiyo is being targeted and denied bail for his tireless efforts in advancing human rights and must be released immediately.\n\"Both of these men are being detained simply for their human rights advocacy and their right to peacefully challenge the current government. The Ugandan government must make the safety of all activists and opposition of the current regime a priority. The continued repression of civil society ahead of the upcoming elections cannot be tolerated.\n\"I urge the Ugandan government to release Mr. Juuko, Mr. Opiyo, and all other activists and opposition leaders at once, listen to the will of the people, and have free and fair presidential elections in January.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://carbajal.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=771", "Carbajal, Colleagues Demand Immediate Trump Administration Withdrawal Of Any New Oil And Gas Leases Off California Coast", "2020-12-29", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Salud Carbajal", "C001112", "carbajal.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Santa Barbara, CA  In an effort to head off last minute efforts by the Trump Administration to expand offshore oil and gas drilling along the California coast, Rep. Carbajal joined a letter with 21 House colleagues from the California Delegation in expressing their strong opposition to any expansion of oil and gas drilling off the coast of California. In a letter to Department of Interior Secretary David Bernhardt, co-led by Representatives Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Alan Lowenthal (CA-47), Jared Huffman (CA-2), and Mike Levin (CA-49), the Members demand the outgoing Trump Administration immediately withdraw any new oil and gas leasing off California from consideration in any future federal program. The Members wrote, The inevitable onshore and offshore risks associated with offshore drilling impact public health, the environment, and our climate. For these reasons, every single coastal governor along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, Republican and Democrat alike, has stood in opposition to offshore drilling. In coastal communities, where livelihoods are built around fishing, tourism, and recreation, it is critically important to guard against oil leaks or spills that could harm these ocean dependent economies and fragile marine ecosystems. The letter also points out that just three months ago President Trump, in response to loud outcry from coastal communities across the nation, issued a ten-year moratorium on offshore drilling in waters off Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. The letter highlights California's intimate history with off shore oil drilling impacts, most notably the 1969 oil spill off the coast of Santa Barbara, California, which at the time was the largest oil spill in the United States. This tragedy killed thousands of marine mammals, fish, and birds, and oil washed up on the beaches for hundreds of miles along Central and Southern California. In the 50 years since, there have been no new oil and gas leases in California state waters and no federal leases off California for more than 35 years. The Members also highlight that the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster just 10 years ago highlights that offshore oil drilling is no safer today than it was in 1969.  While it is unlikely that the Trump Administration would be able to formalize any new leases before the Biden Administration takes office on January 20, the Members conclude their letter by demanding Secretary Bernhardt put an immediate halt during the Trump Administration's remaining time in office to any consideration of new oil and gas leasing off California. Click here to read the full text of the letter.  The letter was led by Congressmen Alan Lowenthal (CA-47), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Jared Huffman (CA-2), and Mike Levin (CA-49). In addition, the letter was cosigned by Congressmembers Mike Thompson (CA-5), Doris O. Matsui (CA-6), Ami Bera (CA-7), Jerry McNerney (CA-9), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11), Barbara Lee (CA-13), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Anna G. Eshoo (CA-18), Jimmy Panetta (CA-20), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Adam B. Schiff (CA-28), Grace Napolitano (CA-32), Ted W. Lieu (CA-33), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Karen Bass (CA-37), Maxine Waters (CA-43), Nanette Diaz Barragn (CA-44), and Juan Vargas (CA-51).\r\n ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://khanna.house.gov/media/in-the-news/19-house-democrats-join-ro-khanna-voting-against-bloated-military-budget", "19 House Democrats Join Ro Khanna in Voting Against Bloated Military Budget", "2020-12-29", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Ro Khanna", "K000389", "khanna.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Just 20 House Democrats opted to break with their party and their Republican counterparts late Monday to vote against overriding President Donald Trump's veto of the National Defense Authorization Act, a sprawling bill that greenlights over $740 billion in military spending for fiscal year 2021.\nRep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), one the few House Democrats who voted against overriding the president's NDAA veto,applaudedhis colleagues for having the courage tonight to vote no on the bloated defense budget.\nThey are changing the culture of endless war and calling for more investment instead in the American people, said Khanna.\nThe veto override ultimately succeeded in the House by a322-87margin and now heads to the Senate, where Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and other members of the Democratic caucus arethreatening to hold upthe NDAA in an effort to force a vote on $2,000 direct payments.\n\nHere are the 20 Democrats who voted against overriding Trump's NDAA veto: Reps. Earl Blumenauer (Ore.), Suzanne Bonamici (Ore.), Yvette Clarke (N.Y.), Mark DeSaulnier (Calif.), Adriano Espaillat (N.Y.), Tulsi Gabbard (Hawaii), Jess Garca (Ill.), Jimmy Gomez (Calif.), Jared Huffman (Calif.), Pramila Jayapal (Wash.), Joe Kennedy (Mass.), Ro Khanna (Calif.), Barbara Lee (Calif.), Jim McGovern (Mass.), Grace Meng (N.Y.), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.), Ilhan Omar (Minn.), Mark Pocan (Wis.), Ayanna Pressley (Mass.), and Rashida Tlaib (Mich.).\nNearly 70 House Republicans also voted against the veto override, but more out ofallegiance to the presidentthan opposition to out-of-control military spending.\nTrump vetoed the NDAA last week not because of the bloated military budget, but rather because he objected to the exclusion of a repeal of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act and inclusion of a provision ordering the Pentagon to rename military installations named after Confederate generals.\nIn aninterviewonDemocracy Now!ahead of Monday's vote, Khanna said that while Trump's reasons for opposing the NDAA don't align with progressive objections, the bottom line is, $740 billion is way too much defense spending.\nWe're spending money on the modernization of nuclear weapons. And we can't find money to get food in to people who need it? Khanna said. We can't find money to get more rental assistance for folks who are going to face evictions? We can't find money to get $2,000 into the pockets of Americans? The priorities are wrong, and so I'm not going to vote to override his veto.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://lowenthal.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-lowenthal-colleagues-demand-immediate-trump-administration", "Congressman Lowenthal, Colleagues, Demand Immediate Trump Administration Withdrawal Of Any New Oil And Gas Leases Off California Coast", "2020-12-29", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Alan Lowenthal", "L000579", "lowenthal.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "In an effort to head off last minute lame-duck Trump Administration efforts to expand offshore oil and gas drilling along the California coast, Congressman Alan Lowenthal (CA-47), today, led a letter with 21 of his House colleagues from the California Delegation in expressing their strong opposition to any expansion of oil and gas drilling off the coast of California. In a letter to Department of Interior Secretary David Bernhardt, co-led by Congressmen Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Jared Huffman (CA-2), and Mike Levin (CA-49), the Members demand the outgoing Trump Administration immediately withdraw any new oil and gas leasing off California from consideration in any future federal program. The Members wrote, The inevitable onshore and offshore risks associated with offshore drilling impact public health, the environment, and our climate. For these reasons, every single coastal governor along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, Republican and Democrat alike, has stood in opposition to offshore drilling. In coastal communities, where livelihoods are built around fishing, tourism, and recreation, it is critically important to guard against oil leaks or spills that could harm these ocean dependent economies and fragile marine ecosystems. The letter also points out that just three months ago President Trump, in response to loud outcry from coastal communities across the nation, issued a ten-year moratorium on offshore drilling in waters off Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. The letter highlights California's intimate history with off shore oil drilling impacts, most notably the 1969 oil spill off the coast of Santa Barbara, California, which at the time was the largest oil spill in the United States. This tragedy killed thousands of marine mammals, fish, and birds, and oil washed up on the beaches for hundreds of miles along Central and Southern California. In the 50 years since, there have been no new oil and gas leases in California state waters and no federal leases off California for more than 35 years. The Members also highlight that the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster just 10 years ago highlights that offshore oil drilling is no safer today than it was in 1969. While it is unlikely that the Trump Administration would be able to formalize any new leases before the Biden Administration takes office on January 20, the Members conclude their letter by demanding Secretary Bernhardt put an immediate halt during the Trump Administration's remaining time in office to any consideration of new oil and gas leasing off California. Click here to read the full text of the letter. The letter was led by Congressmen Lowenthal, Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Jared Huffman (CA-2), and Mike Levin (CA-49). In addition, the letter was cosigned by Congressmembers Mike Thompson (CA-5), Doris O. Matsui (CA-6), Ami Bera (CA-7), Jerry McNerney (CA-9), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11), Barbara Lee (CA-13), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Anna G. Eshoo (CA-18), Jimmy Panetta (CA-20), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Adam B. Schiff (CA-28), Grace Napolitano (CA-32), Ted W. Lieu (CA-33), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Karen Bass (CA-37), Maxine Waters (CA-43), Nanette Diaz Barragn (CA-44), and Juan Vargas (CA-51).", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://mikethompson.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/thompson-releases-end-of-congress-report", "Thompson Releases End of Congress Report", "2020-12-29", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CA", "Mike Thompson", "T000460", "mikethompson.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington  Today Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05) released a report on the 116th Congress, outlining important constituent service and legislative milestones over the last two years. A statement from Thompson is below.\nIt's the greatest honor of my life to represent my community in Congress and I work hard every day to ensure that my staff and I are serving our district. Despite the tough year we have all had, I am proud to have continued my work solving problems for people and responding to their concerns and questions. Through our outstanding casework operation, we resolved more than 3,000 cases for constituents and returned over $5.3 million to them in the 116th Congress, critical funding in such a hard economic year. This includes over $40,000 in economic impact payments to constituents who did not initially receive their payments as intended from the CARES Act.\nOn the legislative side, 13 of my bills were signed into law.From expanding access to telehealth during the pandemic, to providing low-income tax credits, to expanding access to affordable housing in our disaster counties, my legislation is helping our constituents confront the multiple disasters facing our communities.As Chair of the Select Revenue Measures Subcommittee, I was able to move legislation to help green the tax code, create incentives to hires veterans and disadvantaged employees and support the hardworking men and women in our district.I look forward to continuing to serve our district and provide the best service possible through my legislative and casework operations.\nThompson reported 13 bills signed into law, 175,843 responses to constituent mail, 39 Town Halls and 657 Capitol and White House tours in the 116th Congress. He also was able to resolve 3,017 constituent cases and return $5,378,754.33 to constituent through the casework process over the past two years.\n###\nCongressman Mike Thompson is proud to represent California's 5th Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma Counties. He is a senior member of the House Committee on Ways and Means where he chairs the Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures. Rep. Thompson is Chairman of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force. He is also Co-Chair of the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Wine Caucus and a member of the fiscally-conservative Blue Dog Coalition.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://ruiz.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/trump-signs-spending-bill-could-send-millions-dollars-salton-sea", "Trump Signs Spending Bill That Could Send Millions of Dollars to the Salton Sea", "2020-12-29", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Raul Ruiz", "R000599", "ruiz.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "President Donald Trump on Sunday signed a roughly $900 billion stimulus package meant to tackle both COVID-19 relief as well as federal spending. Tucked in the 5,593-page-long law, courtesy of Southern California Democrats, are provisions that hold the potential to unlock millions of dollars of new federal spending to address the Salton Sea.\nThe bill notably modifies the Water Resources Development Act by authorizing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to expedite a study on the feasibility of constructing a perimeter lake around the Salton Sea. It's one of the large-scale plans floated to address the lake's woes, and this move could speed up the process.\nThe law also includes more than $150 million for the Army Corps to carry out such studies on water issues at the Salton Sea and elsewhere.\n\"I am proud of the results delivered to my constituents,\"Rep. RaulRuiz, D-Calif., said in a statement announcing Congress' passage of the appropriations bill. Alongside Rep. Juan Vargas, D-Calif.,Ruizand his officedrafted the bill's Salton Sea language.\nTrump sat on the bill for several days when he sided with Democrats in wanting to provide larger relief checks to Americans. Senate Republicans ultimately prevailed in blocking the move, and Trump signed the bill without getting more money out to taxpayers.\nAs the Salton Sea recedes, the region loses thousands of acres of vibrant migratory bird habitat and is left with a sandy mixture called \"playa,\" which is laden with pesticides and other toxic runoff from agriculture in the Imperial and Coachella valleys. Once airborne, that dust can harm human health, but the state and federal governments have been slow to implement solutions.\nAccording to the Pacific Institute, a think tank, the Salton Sea's level hasdropped nearly 10 feet since a water transfer was signed in 2003, sending water away from nearby farm fields thatdrain into California's largest lake.\nThe Salton Sea legislation and directives passed by Congress come at the end of a difficult year that brought much greater visibility to the challenges faced in the Salton Sea region, particularly public health challenges faced by disadvantaged communities, Altrena Santillanes, secretary of the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians tribal council and a director on the Salton Sea Authority's board, said in a statement.\nWe look forward to working with our Congressional delegation and the next administration to quickly mobilize federal action at the Salton Sea in the coming year,\" she added.\nWhile the state has so far allocated roughly $350 million to address the Salton Sea, spending about $53 million of that, the federal government has spent only about $20 million to date. The COVID-19 relief bill includes $559 million \"for water resource projects and direction to the Bureau of Reclamation to consider Salton Sea projects for funding,\" according toRuiz'soffice.\nAs G. Patrick O'Dowd, executive director of the Salton Sea Authority, sees it, there's still \"work to do to get the appropriations.\" But, the big win for the lake comes in pushing the Army Corps to complete its perimeter lake analysis.\n\"If the Corps has an acceptable perimeter lake study, that puts them in a position to fund the full project,\" he said.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/122920", "Pelosi Announces Select Committee on the Coronavirus Crisis Will Continue Work in the 117th Congress Under Leadership of Chairman Clyburn", "2020-12-29", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Nancy Pelosi", "P000197", "www.speaker.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced the extension of the Select Committee on the Coronavirus Crisis, under the continued leadership of Chairman and Whip Jim Clyburn, for the 117th Congress.  \n\t  \n\tAs Speaker, it is a privilege to once again appoint Whip Jim Clyburn as Chairman of the Select Committee on the Coronavirus Crisis, said Speaker Nancy Pelosi. As Chairman, he has been masterful as he has led the Committee's bipartisan, effective work to ensure oversight and accountability of our nation's pandemic response on behalf of the American people. His track record of success has helped ensure that the relief funds allocated by Congress are spent wisely and efficiently, while exposing the deadly and tragic failures of the Trump Administration's anti-science, anti-governance response to the crisis. Under Chairman Clyburn's leadership, the Committee will continue to be a vital force in our work to crush the virus and deliver relief as urgently, efficiently and effectively as possible.  \n\t  \n\tThe Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis has identified numerous ways in which our response to the pandemic can be more effective, efficient, and equitable. As the virus continues to spread, vaccine distribution proceeds and implementation of the new relief package begins, this work remains critically important to save American lives and livelihoods, said Chairman Clyburn.With a new administration soon to take office, I am hopeful that the Select Subcommittee will work on a bipartisan basis to help provide the leadership and support Americans need and deserve to get us beyond this pandemic.  \n\t  \n\tSince its establishment by the House of Representatives on April 23, 2020, the Select Subcommittee has conducted more than 30 investigations  many of which are still ongoing  holding 15 public hearings and briefings, reviewing hundreds of thousands of documents, and issuing nine staff reports. These investigations have shed light on how the outgoing Trump Administration failed to stop or even slow the spread of the coronavirus and failed to protect struggling Americans from economic harm. The Select Subcommittee has also identified critical steps that are needed to get the virus under control and prevent further unnecessary deaths and deprivation.\nThe Select Subcommittee's investigations have identified more than $4 billion in potential fraud in small business programs, led the Administration to halt a potentially wasteful $765 million loan, prompted Treasury to notify millions of eligible Americans who had not yet received their stimulus checks and returned more than $100 million in taxpayer dollars to the U.S. Treasury. These investigations also uncovered evidence that senior Administration officials interfered with the work of career scientists and advocated for a herd immunity strategy to actively encourage the spread of the virus.\nThe Select Subcommittee has also worked on a bipartisan basis to provide rigorous, ongoing oversight of critical vaccine development and distribution efforts.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/122920-0", "Dear Colleague to All Members on Extension of Remote Voting 'Covered Period'", "2020-12-29", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Nancy Pelosi", "P000197", "www.speaker.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Dear Colleague,\nIn light of the attached notification by the Sergeant-at-Arms, in consultation with the Office of Attending Physician, that a public health emergency is in effect due to a novel coronavirus, I am hereby extending the covered period designated on May 20, 2020, pursuant to section 1(a) of House Resolution 965, until the 116th Congress adjourns sine die on January 3, 2021.  \nSincerely,\nNANCY PELOSI\nSpeaker of the House", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/122920-1", "Pelosi Statement on Passing of Congressman-Elect Luke Letlow", "2020-12-29", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Nancy Pelosi", "P000197", "www.speaker.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued this statement on the passing of Congressman-elect Luke Letlow of Louisiana:\nTonight, the United States House of Representatives sadly mourns the passing of Congressman-elect Luke Letlow.\nCongressman-elect Letlow was a ninth generation Louisianan who fought passionately for his point of view and dedicated his life to public service.\nAs the House grieves Congressman-elect Letlow's passing, our sorrow is compounded by the grief of so many other families who have also suffered lives cut short by this terrible virus.\nMay it be a comfort to Luke's wife Julia and their children Jeremiah and Jacqueline that so many mourn their loss and are praying for them at this sad time.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bass.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-bass-applauds-inclusion-foster-youth-grants-omnibus-relief-bill", "Rep. Bass Applauds Inclusion of Foster Youth Grants  In Omnibus Relief Bill", "2020-12-28", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CA", "Karen Bass", "B001270", "bass.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "This pandemic has exposed the most vulnerable populations in our country  especially the nearly half a million young people in our child welfare system and those who age out' of foster care every year. This bill will provide emergency temporary supports and flexibilities for older foster youth, grandparents raising grandchildren & other kinship families, home visiting for at-risk pregnant & parenting families, foster care prevention services, and other child welfare services through the end of 2021. We are encouraged that direct relief will be delivered to these communities in need.\nCOVID-19 Child Welfare Provisions:\nIncreases funding and provides support for older youth who experienced foster care:\n Provides $350 million for the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood (Chafee) to support older foster youth and youth transitioning into adulthood.\n\tProvides $50 million for the Educational & Training Vouchers Program and increases maximum award amount to $12,000 per youth.\n\tTemporarily waives state match requirement for additional Chafee funding.\n\tRaises the maximum age for Chafee-eligible former foster youth through age 26.\n\tProvides temporary program flexibilities, including lifting the 30 percent spending cap on housing costs and accommodating pandemic-related disruptions in work and education.\n Prevents children from aging out of foster care and being at risk of homelessness during the pandemic:\n Prohibits states from requiring a child to leave foster care solely due to their age during the pandemic.\n\tFor youth who have aged out of foster care during the pandemic, requires states to permit youth to voluntarily re-enter care.\n\tAllows states to use additional Chafee funds to offset costs caused by these requirements for youth not eligible for federal matching funds.\n Expands access to Family First Prevention Services:\n During the public health emergency, waives state match for evidence-based mental health, substance abuse, and parenting skill services, to allow states to invest in prevention services that keep children safely at home.\n Provides emergency funding for the MaryLee Allen Promoting Safe and Stable Families program:\n Provides $85 million and waives state match for additional funds to support family preservation, family reunification, adoption, and other supportive services.\n Expands funding for the Court Improvement Program:\n Provides an additional $10 million for courts handling child welfare cases and temporary flexibilities to conduct virtual hearings, and waives the state match for the new funds.\n Expands access to kinship navigator programs:\n During the public health emergency, waives the state match and allows states to use models not yet in the Evidence Clearinghouse for kinship navigator programs, to provide greater access to federal funding to support grandparents and kin caregivers.\n Makes technical corrections needed in response to FMAP increase:\n Makes a technical correction to Title IV-E treatment of the 6.2% Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) increase for Family First Transition Act funding.\n\tMakes a technical correction to apply the 6.2% FMAP rate increase to the District of Columbia's foster care program in the same way it applies to states.\n Additional Child Welfare Provisions:\nProvides stable housing opportunities for young people age out of foster care:\n Provides three-year FUP vouchers to all young people who are between the ages of 18 and 24 and leaving foster care who are at risk of homelessnesswith the opportunity to extend those vouchers by two years (for a total of five years) by voluntarily participating in self-sufficiency activities.\n Makes higher education more accessible by simplifying the FAFSA process:\n Simplifies the needs analysis for education expenses so that no family contribution is required for anyone who is eligible for a maximum Pell grant award or for families eligible for means-tested family support programs like SSI, WIC, TANF, and SNAP.\n\tMakes it easier for former foster youth to establish independent status.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://carbajal.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=772", "Carbajal Statement on Bipartisan COVID-19 Relief Package Becoming Law", "2020-12-28", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Salud Carbajal", "C001112", "carbajal.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC  Carbajal issued the following statement after President Trump signed the bipartisan emergency COVID-19 relief package into law, days afterthreateningto veto the legislation:\r\n\"While I'm relieved President Trump dropped the political theater and signed the bipartisan emergency relief package into law, his stunt put critical relief in jeopardy and caused unemployment benefits for millions of Americans to lapse. \"I've been fighting for another relief package since May, which the President and Republican leadership blocked at every turn. Just today, the House voted to increase direct payments to $2,000. Given the President's stance, I hope the Senate will join us. \"Central Coast families, workers, and small business owners have waited too long for relief and, finally, help is on the way. I know this package isn't enough to overcome all the health and economic challenges created by this pandemic, and I will continue working to secure additional and needed relief in the new year.\"\r\nRep. Salud Carbajal represents California's 24th Congressional District, encompassing Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and part of Ventura County.\r\n###\r\nVideo Statement from Congressman Carbajal can be found here. Photos of Rep. Carbajal at ae Problem Solvers Caucus press conference on the bill are here.\r\nBill text is available here and a one-page summary of the bill is available here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://correa.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-lou-correa-joins-house-in-passing-new-stimulus-legislation-with-2000-individual-payments", "Rep. Lou Correa Joins House In Passing New Stimulus Legislation With $2,000 Individual Payments", "2020-12-28", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "J. Correa", "C001110", "correa.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 28, 2020\n\t\t\t Rep. Lou Correa Joins House In Passing New Stimulus Legislation With $2,000 Individual Payments \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t Critical COVID-19 Stimulus Legislation Puts Vital Aid In The Hands Of Americans In Need\n\t\t\t Washington, D.C.  Today, Congressman Lou Correa (CA-46) joinedhis House colleagues in passing the CASH Act, a tailored bill that increases individual stimulus payments to $2000 and increases eligible non-child dependents to include elderly relatives and children away at college.  Rep. Lou Correa said, Americans need support. Millions are out of work and millions more at risk of losing their homes and life savings. With vaccines rolling out and the end in sight, Congress has a duty to end this nightmare by ensuring Americans have the resources they need to survive the economic damage caused by this once-in-a-century pandemic. Providing Americans with emergency relief is our best tool at ensuring struggling Americans can continue staying afloat  Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the House has fought to provide Americans with additional support and assistance, but the Senate has blocked us at every turn. I strongly urge the Senate to join the House and President Trump in immediately passing this bill. Americans want this and we need to get it to them.  BACKGROUND: The Cash Act increases individual stimulus payments to $2000 from $600 and increases eligible non-child dependents to include elderly relatives and children away at college. The stand-alone and tailored legislation will provide $2,000 checks for fifteen million Americans.  Fighting For Orange County Working Families: Over the past nine months, Congressman Lou Correa has vigorously fought for his constituents in Washington, D.C., and has voted in support of six COVID-19 relief packages. Additionally, the Congressman has introduced four bills to address the pandemic, including expanding protections for TSA employees and travelers and the creation of a whistleblower hotline to protect taxpayer money spent on COVID-19 relief efforts. He has also cosponsored 38 other COVID-19 bills, including legislation to protect struggling small businesses, expand healthcare access, and invest in communities hit hard by the disease.  Congressman Correa has advocated for expanding food assistance benefits, housing and mortgage assistance, and community clinic funding to protect low and middle-income Orange County families most affected by the pandemic's devastation.  Congressman Correa also leads the charge to ensure taxpaying noncitizens and mixed-status families were included in federal relief programs. Prior to the Congressman's actions, households with a noncitizen parent were excluded from receiving federal stimulus assistance.  ###  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 more here. \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    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://correa.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-lou-correa-joins-house-to-overturn-veto-and-pass-bipartisan-national-defense-authorization-act", "Rep. Lou Correa Joins House To Overturn Veto & Pass Bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act", "2020-12-28", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "J. Correa", "C001110", "correa.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 28, 2020\n\t\t\t Rep. Lou Correa Joins House To Overturn Veto & Pass Bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t Bipartisan Legislation Includes Pay Raise, Benefits For Servicemembers Exposed To Agent Orange, and Rep. Correa's Amendment Increase Diversity In Armed Forces Leadership\n\t\t\t Washington, D.C.  Today, Congressman Lou Correa joined his colleagues in rejecting President Trump's attempt to block the bipartisan and bicameral National Defense Authorization Act, which includes a 3% pay raise for our troops, additional hazard pay for servicemembers in harm's way, benefits for veterans exposed to Agent Orange, and Congressman Correa's amendment to research how ROTC effects minority recruits' career advancement in our Armed Forces.  Rep. Lou Correa said, President Trump's veto of this year's NDAA has nothing to do with the legislation before us or with protecting our troops. Republicans and Democrats alike recognize this important legislation as a critical step for protecting our national security and the men and women who protect it.  We ask a lot of our men and women in uniform. We owe it to them to ensure they have the tools and support they need to accomplish their mission and get home. This year's NDAA puts our servicemembers needs first by increasing their pay, improving military housing, expanding childcare services, and finally providing benefits to veterans exposed to Agent Orange.  BACKGROUND:The bipartisan and bicameral National Defense Authorization Act will strengthen our security and advance America's leadership in the world. Included in this year's bill is Congressman Correa's ROTC Achievement Amendment which directs the Secretary of Defense to research how ROTC influences a recruit's careers and outcomes in an attempt to expand minority representation in the Armed Forces. The amendment aims to determine if individuals recruited in different levels of education are more likely to achieve or receive recommendations for higher positions.  This year's NDAA legislation also includes:       Authorizing hazardous duty pay for service members in harm's way,      Providing a 3.0 percent pay raise for our troops,      Creating an independent commission to make binding recommendations on modifying or removing all names, symbols, displays, etc. that honor the Confederacy or any person who served voluntarily with the Confederacy,      Ensuring paid parental leave is extended to all federal employees,      Addressing the shortage in military child care,      Providing long-overdue benefits to Vietnam-era veterans exposed to Agent Orange,      Requiring improvements in military housing,      Further protecting military communities from PFAS,      Constraining executive overreach relating to emergency construction authority and deployment of military personnel to the southern border,      Ensuring no backfill of the military construction funds taken for the President's border wall,      Authorizing $8.4 billion in military construction projects to fortify critical infrastructure and base realignment and closure clean up.       ###  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 more here. \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    \tNext Article\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/press-releases/costa-votes-increase-payments-struggling-americans-support-military-and", "Costa Votes to Increase Payments for Struggling Americans, Support Military and Veterans by Overriding Presidential Veto of NDAA", "2020-12-28", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Jim Costa", "C001059", "costa.house.gov", "costa", "https://costa.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(FRESNO) Congressman Jim Costa (CA-16) released the following statement after voting for HR 9051, the Caring for Americans with Supplemental Health (CASH) Act of 2020, a standalone COVID-19 relief bill that would increase economic impact payments from $600 to $2000:\n\n\"Americans are hurting from the impacts of COVID-19, and we must do all we can to help provide resources for their safety and survival,\" said Costa. \"Democrats pushed for higher stimulus during months of negotiations because it was the right thing to do. Today, we acted to help our communities get through these challenging times. I'm pleased the President supports it.\"\n\nThe bill passed with well more than the necessary two-thirds bipartisan majority of 275 votes, with 44 Republicans joining 231 Democrats.\n\nRep. Costa also voted to override President Trump's veto of the fiscal year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act:\n\n\"Congress has enacted a bipartisan defense authorization bill for 60 years in a row to ensure the military gets the support it needs,\" Costa said. \"I am proud to vote to override the President's veto, which showed a complete disregard to our troops. This bill is essential because it gives service members a raise, improves healthcare for veterans, and ensures the U.S. military remains the strongest in the world.\"\n\nThe override was also passed with a 2/3rd, bipartisan majority off 322 votes, with 109 Republicans joining 212 Democrats.\n\n###\n\n8.5.5", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://huffman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/huffman-speier-introduce-bill-to-increase-gun-safety-in-the-us-capitol", "Huffman, Speier Introduce Bill to Increase Gun Safety in the U.S. Capitol", "2020-12-28", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Jared Huffman", "H001068", "huffman.house.gov", "huffman", "https://huffman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Following Call to Leadership, Bill Would Hold Members of Congress to the Same Standard as Everyone Else to Ensure Safety of All\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 Today, Representative Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) and Representative Jackie Speier (D- Hillsborough) introduced the No Congressional Gun Loophole Act, which would exclude Members of Congress and from the Capitol Police Board\u2019s exemption for firearms on Capitol Grounds. While in the Capitol and House office buildings, the legislation would explicitly prevent Members from carrying firearms, nullifying the Capitol Police Board regulations that allow this, and would require Members of Congress to comply with District of Columbia gun safety and registration requirements. Currently, the over-50-year-old regulation exempts Members of Congress from the firearm rules that apply to everyone else who visits or works at the U.S. Capitol.\n\n\u201cThreats of political violence are on the rise, and it makes all of us less safe if Members of Congress and their staff don\u2019t have to comply with gun safety standards,\u201d said Rep. Huffman. \u201cMembers should not be above the law. These outdated and dangerous rules, that apply to everyone else who visits and works in the halls of Congress, must be modernized for everyone\u2019s safety.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs a survivor of gun violence, I know what it\u2019s like to battle for your life after being shot five times and left for dead. And statistics show that accidents happen when there are firearms around. The existing exemption for Representatives increases the risk of gun violence for Members, staff, and the public. It\u2019s long past time we close the Member loophole and protect all who enter the Capitol complex,\u201d Rep. Speier said.\n\nThis bill follows a recent letter to House leadership led by Rep. Huffman requesting a change in House Rules for the 117th Congress to ensure that Members of Congress are held to the same firearm safety rules as the public while they are on Capitol grounds. These actions were catalyzed by escalating rhetoric and threats of political violence, as well as increased attention to the current rules during Freshmen Member Orientation following the 2020 election. Currently, Members of Congress are exempt from the firearms prohibition in 40 U.S.C. \u00a7 5104 under the Capitol Police Board\u2019s regulations.\n\nHuffman and Speier were joined in this legislation by Representatives Andr\u00e9 D. Carson (D-IN) and Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC).\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://mcclintock.house.gov/newsroom/speeches/a-massive-wealth-transfer-that-s-either-inadequate-or-unnecessary", "A Massive Wealth Transfer Thats Either Inadequate or Unnecessary", "2020-12-28", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "Senate", "CA", "Tom McClintock", "M001177", "mcclintock.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman McClintock today delivered the following remarks on the House floor:\nA Massive Wealth Transfer That's Either Inadequate or Unnecessary  \n\tSpeech in Opposition to HR 9047  \n\tCongressman Tom McClintock\nDecember 28, 2020\nMr. Speaker:\n Let's get this straight: the small shopkeeper who's just lost their entire savings because of the lockdowns will get the same $2,000 grant as the government bureaucrat who's been enjoying a steady paycheck at home for the past ten months.\n This money is wholly inadequate for those who have been harmed by the lockdowns and wholly unnecessary for those who have not. And this free money doesn't come from heaven -- it comes from the future earnings of those who will be struggling to get back on their feet  making the post-lockdown recovery more difficult and prolonged.\n Much of the burden of this debt will fall on the young, who have already borne the brunt of the lockdowns. It is in a very real sense, a massive wealth transfer from the future to the present, from the young to the old and from those who have been hurt by the lockdowns to those who have not.\n There's only one way to end the suffering caused by the lockdowns. END THEM.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://mikethompson.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/thompson-legislation-to-prevent-fire-accidents-signed-into-law", "Thompson Legislation to Prevent Fire Accidents Signed Into Law", "2020-12-28", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CA", "Mike Thompson", "T000460", "mikethompson.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington  Today Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05) announced that his Portable Fuel Container Safety Act was signed into law as part of H.R. 133, the omnibus spending bill. The legislation was championed by his constituent Margrett Lewis.\nFlame accidents have tragic consequences, but the solution is smaller than a dime and cheaper than a nickel. When my constituent, Margrett Lewis, came to me with her family's story, I knew we had to do something, said Thompson. That's why I am proud to see this critical bill become law so we can implement the simple and cost-effective solution of flame mitigation devices. Thank you to Margrett for being a tireless champion for this bill and for helping to keep our communities safer from flame accidents.\nIt's bittersweet. This law, too late to save my daughter from the horrors of a burn unit, ensures that every year, 1,000s will be protected from tragic burn injuries and death. I'm so proud of her and her twin sister for moving forward, said Margrett Lewis, a local Sonoma mother who championed the drafting and passage of the bill.\nThe passage of this bill will undoubtedly reduce the occurrences of the phenomena of flame jetting' in this nation and the resulting burn injuries that are so painful, debilitating and disfiguring, said Napa County Fire Captain Steven G. Becker, who helped to bring this issue to Thompson's attention before the first bill introduction. With such a small monetary cost for the solution, the resulting reduction of the injuries, associated suffering and expense of what usually is lifelong treatment, the consumer will experience very little impact aside from increased safety.\nUnder current standards, flammable or combustible liquids can ignite within their containers causing more than 160,000 fires, injuring nearly 4,000 people, and killing 454 each year. Flame mitigation devices can help prevent these types of accidents, but currently there is no requirement for them to be used for the consumer containers found in most homes and for everyday use. Thompson's bill establishes safety standards to help prevent these tragic accidents and you can click here to learn more.\nThe Portable Fuel Container Safety Act will prevent hundreds of people from suffering disfiguring burns each year by implementing a low-cost safety improvement to prevent flame-jetting, said Harold A. Schaitberger, General President of the International Association of Fire Fighters which represents more than 323,000 professional fire fighters. This important, life-saving legislation is now law, thanks to Representative Thompson and his commitment to its passage.\nBurn injuries are among the most severe any patient can face. In addition to untold pain, burn survivors must endure a lengthy treatment, recovery, and rehabilitation period, sometimes lasting a lifetime.This legislation will create common-sense safety measures for portable fuel containers that will prevent thousands of injuries each year, said William L. Hickerson, MD, FACS, President of the American Burn Association. \nThe legislation is endorsed by the American Burn Association, the Congressional Fire Services Institute, the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the International Association of Fire Fighters, the National Association of State Fire Marshalls, the National Volunteer Fire Council, the National Fire Protection Association, and the Phoenix Society of Burn Survivors.\n###\nCongressman Mike Thompson is proud to represent California's 5th Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma Counties. He is a senior member of the House Committee on Ways and Means where he chairs the Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures. Rep. Thompson is Chairman of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force. He is also Co-Chair of the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Wine Caucus and a member of the fiscally-conservative Blue Dog Coalition.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pelosi.house.gov/news/press-releases/floor-speech-on-caring-for-americans-with-supplemental-help-act-of-2020", "Floor Speech on Caring for Americans with Supplemental Help Act of 2020", "2020-12-28", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CA", "Nancy Pelosi", "P000197", "pelosi.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Contact: Speaker's Press Office,\n202-226-7616\n\nWashington, D.C.  Speaker Nancy Pelosi delivered remarks on the Floor of the House of Representatives in support of increasing direct payments to Americans to $2,000 via H.R. 9051, the Caring for Americans with Supplemental Help (CASH) Act of 2020. Below are the Speaker's remarks:\n\nSpeaker Pelosi. Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. I thank the gentleman for yielding and I thank him for his masterful work in not only bringing this legislation to the Floor, but working in a bipartisan way on so many important initiatives in the COVID and the Omnibus bill that the President happily signed for us last evening. I thank him for his initiatives that are job-creating, that stimulate the economy and that help meet the needs of the American people.\n\nI'm interested in the comments made by Mr. Brady, because he said we could be putting more money into small business and we do, indeed, in the COVID package, around $300 billion. And I think it is important to note, Madam Speaker, that that brings it to about, almost a trillion dollars since March 27th  28th  when the President signed the CARES Act, about $950 billion for small business. Nearly a trillion dollars, very important.\n\nSmall business is the heart of our economy. What could be more optimistic for anyone to do than to follow their dream, start a small business, create jobs, create wealth, create capital? So important. We see the importance of that to the tune of about a trillion dollars, just under a trillion dollars in these past several months.\n\nBut, if you want to talk about job creation, I hope the gentleman will join us when we go forward to do state and local: our health care workers, honoring our heroes. They are at risk while losing their jobs and they risk their lives to save lives. We are talking about health care workers. We are talking about police and fire, our first responders. We are talking about transportation, sanitation, food workers. We are talking about our teachers, our teachers, our teachers, the custodians of our children for a large part of their day. They are at risk of losing their jobs because of the failure of the Republican side of the aisle to support funds for state and local governments to honor our heroes.\n\nWe want to honor them. We cheer them and applaud them. Let's give them pay. Let's let them have job security. Let's give them PPE, the equipment that they need to do their jobs. So, if you want to talk about saving jobs or growing jobs, for the purpose the distinguished gentleman from Texas mentioned, how are we going to administer  focus on the distribution and administration of the vaccine? Where do you think that happens but in city, county and state hospitals in large measure, by health care workers in those places wherever it is distributed on an individual basis? But, they are the heart of the matter.\n\nAnd that is why we need to go forward with another bill that invests in our state and local governments, not to talk about government, but to talk about services: health care services, education, transportation, making our lives possible, making our very existence possible by what they do. And, without them, how do we function?\n\nSo, again, let's create jobs. Let's save jobs. Let's grow jobs by administering this vaccine as fairly, as equitably as possible, and free to everyone in our country because we are not protected, none of us  unless all of us are protected, none of us is protected.\n\nSo, this $2,000  which, thank you for bringing to the Floor on Christmas Eve. Was roundly rejected by our Republican  asked for Unanimous Consent, this could already be, exist as a law if it happened, but it didn't. So, now, today we have another chance.\n\nSome of the Republicans said, Oh, if they really wanted that, they would have called for a vote that day.' That wasn't true. It's important to note that was a pro forma session and you had to have the consent of the Republicans to bring the bill to the Floor. They withheld their consent.\n\nSo, here we are today, in a legislative day, where we just act with the Majority to bring the legislation to the Floor. I hope it will enjoy a strong bipartisan support. The President of the United States has put this forth as something that he wants to see and part of his signing the legislation yesterday. I hope that will be  that view will be shared by the Republicans in the Senate. Because we will pass this bill today. Either under suspension or under a rule, where it just requires a majority vote. Under suspension, as you know, two-thirds vote, requires Republican, a large number of Republican votes, which I hope we will have, because I do think the American people would love to see that unity on their behalf.\n\nWe are a consumer economy. Putting money into the hands of the American people is a boost to our economy. Not much. This isn't a big stimulus package. It's a  the COVID bill is an emergency supplemental. But this piece will make it, will make it something very important to growing  sustaining our economy.\n\nAnd I thank you, Mr. Chairman, for the work that your committee did. Brandon, thank him, and the others, for putting in the Dependent clause. Otherwise, sixteen years and under would get the direct payment. But me, as a mother of five, grandmother of nine, I know that children are dependent after sixteen years, especially if they are still in school. And there are others who are dependent because of one thing or another, some physical challenges that they may have in life. Who knows what goes on in a family. But, nonetheless, if they are dependent, they will be receiving the direct payment, another important boost for America's working families, another important boost for our economy as we go forward.\n\nSo, let us  let me, again, thank the Chairman for his work. It's a simple vote to put more money. Our goals have been: crush the virus, crush the virus, honor our heroes who help us crush the virus, and put money in the pockets of the American people. Today, we would be doing that right now. This legislation would be a lifeline for millions of Americans. It improves on the previously passed relief bill by including dependents, ensuring that families with children in college and adults living with disabilities or elderly family members can also receive relief.\n\nRepublicans have a choice. Republicans have a choice: vote for this legislation or vote to deny the American people the bigger paychecks this need. To reject this would be in denial of the economic challenges that people are facing and it would deny them, again, the relief they need. And with that, I urge a strong bipartisan vote for the aptly named CASH act.\n\nThank you, Mr. Chairman.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pelosi.house.gov/news/press-releases/pelosi-statement-on-national-defense-authorization-act-veto-override", "Pelosi Statement on National Defense Authorization Act Veto Override", "2020-12-28", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CA", "Nancy Pelosi", "P000197", "pelosi.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Contact: Speaker's Press Office,\n202-226-7616\n\nWashington, D.C.  Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued this statement after the House voted on an overwhelmingly bipartisan basis to override the President's veto of the National Defense Authorization Act:\n\nWith this overwhelmingly bipartisan vote, the House has upheld our sacred Constitutional responsibility to keep our country and our people safe. The National Defense Authorization Act has been passed on a bipartisan and bicameral manner for sixty years, and it will become law, despite the President's dangerous sabotage efforts.\n\nThe President's reckless veto would have denied our servicemembers hazard duty pay; our families paid family leave, child care, housing improvements and health protections; and our veterans their benefits. It would have senselessly deprived our allies and country of key protections for global peace and security  including for cyber-security, following a massive attack on our country. And it would have undermined our nation's values and work to combat racism, by blocking overwhelmingly bipartisan action to rename military bases and infrastructure after officials who served in the Confederacy.\n\nThe President must end his eleventh-hour campaign of chaos, and stop using his final moments in office to obstruct bipartisan and bicameral action to protect our military and defend our security.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://porter.house.govdocumentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=223", "Rep. Porter Bills to Improve Mental Health Coverage, Protect Americans with High Medical Expenses Signed into Law", "2020-12-28", "2020", "2020-12", "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://speier.house.gov/press-releases?ID=92A79772-5E42-4225-874F-4EC9ECF9D801", "Reps Speier and Huffman Introduce Bill to Increase Gun Safety in the U.S. Capitol", "2020-12-28", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Jackie Speier", "S001175", "speier.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC  Today, Representatives Jackie Speier (D-CA) and Jared Huffman (D-CA) introduced the No Congressional Gun Loophole Act, which would remove Members of Congress longstanding exemption from the Capitols gun safety regulations. The legislation would explicitly prevent Members from carrying firearms in the Capitol and House office buildings and require Members of Congress to comply with District of Columbia gun safety and registration requirements. Currently, a Capitol Police Board regulation from 1967 exempts Members of Congress from rules that prevent everyone else who visits or works at the U.S. Capitol from carrying a firearm.\r\nAs a survivor of gun violence, I know what its like to battle for your life after being shot five times and left for dead. And statistics show that accidents happen when there are firearms around. The existing exemption for Representatives increases the risk of gun violence for Members, staff, and the public. Its long past time we close the Member loophole and protect all who enter the Capitol complex,Rep. Speier said.\r\nThreats of political violence are on the rise, and it makes all of us less safe if Members of Congress and their staff dont have to comply with gun safety standards, Rep. Huffman said. Members should not be above the law. These outdated and dangerous rules, that apply to everyone else who visits and works in the halls of Congress, must be modernized for everyones safety. \r\nThis bill follows a recent letter to House leadership requesting a change in House Rules for the 117th Congress to ensure that Members of Congress are held to the same firearm safety rules as the public while they are on Capitol grounds. These actions were undertaken in the wake of escalating rhetoric and threats of political violence, as well as increased attention to the current rules during Freshmen Member Orientation following the 2020 election. Currently, Members of Congress are exempt from the firearms prohibition in 40 U.S.C.  5104 under the Capitol Police Boards regulations.\r\nReps. Speier and Huffman were joined in this legislation by Representatives Andr D. Carson (D-IN) and Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC).\r\n\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://takano.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rep-takano-votes-to-override-president-trumps-veto-of-the-ndaa", "Rep. Takano Votes to Override President Trump\u2019s Veto of the NDAA", "2020-12-28", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Mark Takano", "T000472", "takano.house.gov", "takano", "https://takano.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) released this statement after voting to override President Trump\u2019s veto of the FY21 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).\n\n\u201cPresident Trump vetoed the NDAA over Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, a policy that he is massively misinformed about that has nothing to do with the underlying legislation. I voted to override his veto because the Fiscal Year 2021 NDAA includes important provisions that will provide veterans with long-overdue access to benefits and protect jobs in my district,\u201d said Rep. Mark Takano. \u201cAs Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans\u2019 Affairs, I was able to successfully include a provision to provide benefits to Vietnam-era veterans exposed to Agent Orange. We were finally able to add three new diseases to the presumptive list for Agent Orange exposure, which could ensure that more than 34,000 veterans will have access to the care and benefits they\u2019ve earned. I also fought to secure language that will help protect nearly 300 jobs at March Air Reserve Base in Moreno Valley. This vote to override this veto is about putting our veterans and our national security above the President\u2019s temper tantrums.\u201d\n\nAs Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans\u2019 Affairs, Rep. Takano helped negotiate a provision that will provide long-overdue benefits to Vietnam-Era veterans exposed to Agent Orange, including adding Parkinsonism, bladder cancer, and hypothyroidism to the list of diseases associated with exposure to Agent Orange. This work builds on the monumental passage of the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019 and foreshadows future work the House Committee on Veterans\u2019 Affairs will be doing in the 117th Congress.?\n\nRep. Mark Takano was also able to secure a provision in the NDAA to protect nearly 300 jobs at March Air Reserve Base. The language included in NDAA prohibits DMA from consolidating or transitioning to any alternative content delivery methods until the Secretary of Defense submits to Congress its justification for and risk mitigation efforts regarding safety risks posed to servicemembers and their families; vulnerabilities of new content delivery methods; technological limitations; and financial liabilities or costs to servicemembers. The language also stipulates that no consolidation or transition may occur before 180 days after this report is submitted to Congress.\n\n###\n\nPress Contact\n\nDayanara Ramirez (202) 225-2305", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/122820", "Floor Speech on Caring for Americans with Supplemental Help Act of 2020", "2020-12-28", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Nancy Pelosi", "P000197", "www.speaker.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  Speaker Nancy Pelosi delivered remarks on the Floor of the House of Representatives in support of increasing direct payments to Americans to $2,000 via H.R. 9051, the Caring for Americans with Supplemental Help (CASH) Act of 2020. Below are the Speaker's remarks:\nSpeaker Pelosi. Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. Ithank the gentleman for yielding and I thank him for his masterful work in not only bringing this legislation to the Floor, but working in a bipartisan way on so many important initiatives in the COVID and the Omnibus bill that the President happily signed for us last evening. I thank him for his initiatives that are job-creating, that stimulate the economy and that help meet the needs of the American people.\nI'm interested in the comments made by Mr. Brady, because he said we could be putting more money into small business and we do, indeed, in the COVID package, around $300 billion. And I think it is important to note, Madam Speaker, that that brings it to about, almost a trillion dollars since March 27th  28th  when the President signed the CARES Act, about $950 billion for small business. Nearly a trillion dollars, very important. \nSmall business is the heart of our economy. What could be more optimistic for anyone to do than to follow their dream, start a small business, create jobs, create wealth, create capital? So important. We see the importance of that to the tune of about a trillion dollars, just under a trillion dollars in these past several months. \nBut, if you want to talk about job creation, I hope the gentleman will join us when we go forward to do state and local: our health care workers, honoring our heroes. They are at risk while losing their jobs and they risk their lives to save lives. We are talking about health care workers. We are talking about police and fire, our first responders. We are talking about transportation, sanitation, food workers. We are talking about our teachers, our teachers, our teachers, the custodians of our children for a large part of their day. They are at risk of losing their jobs because of the failure of the Republican side of the aisle to support funds for state and local governments to honor our heroes. \nWe want to honor them. We cheer them and applaud them. Let's give them pay. Let's let them have job security. Let's give them PPE, the equipment that they need to do their jobs. So, if you want to talk about saving jobs or growing jobs, for the purpose the distinguished gentleman from Texas mentioned, how are we going to administer  focus on the distribution and administration of the vaccine? Where do you think that happens but in city, county and state hospitals in large measure, by health care workers in those places wherever it is distributed on an individual basis? But, they are the heart of the matter. \nAnd that is why we need to go forward with another bill that invests in our state and local governments, not to talk about government, but to talk about services: health care services, education, transportation, making our lives possible, making our very existence possible by what they do. And, without them, how do we function? \nSo, again, let's create jobs. Let's save jobs. Let's grow jobs by administering this vaccine as fairly, as equitably as possible, and free to everyone in our country because we are not protected, none of us  unless all of us are protected, none of us is protected.\nSo, this $2,000  which, thank you for bringing to the Floor on Christmas Eve. Was roundly rejected by our Republican  asked for Unanimous Consent, this could already be, exist as a law if it happened, but it didn't. So, now, today we have another chance.\nSome of the Republicans said, Oh, if they really wanted that, they would have called for a vote that day.' That wasn't true. It's important to note that was a pro forma session and you had to have the consent of the Republicans to bring the bill to the Floor. They withheld their consent.\nSo, here we are today, in a legislative day, where we just act with the Majority to bring the legislation to the Floor. I hope it will enjoy a strong bipartisan support. The President of the United States has put this forth as something that he wants to see and part of his signing the legislation yesterday. I hope that will be  that view will be shared by the Republicans in the Senate. Because we will pass this bill today. Either under suspension or under a rule, where it just requires a majority vote. Under suspension, as you know, two-thirds vote, requires Republican, a large number of Republican votes, which I hope we will have, because I do think the American people would love to see that unity on their behalf.\nWe are a consumer economy. Putting money into the hands of the American people is a boost to our economy. Not much. This isn't a big stimulus package. It's a  the COVID bill is an emergency supplemental. But this piece will make it, will make it something very important to growing  sustaining our economy.\nAnd I thank you, Mr. Chairman, for the work that your committee did. Brandon, thank him, and the others, for putting in theDependent clause. Otherwise, sixteen years and under would get the direct payment. But me, as a mother of five, grandmother of nine, I know that children are dependent after sixteen years, especially if they are still in school. And there are others who are dependent because of one thing or another, some physical challenges that they may have in life. Who knows what goes on in a family. But, nonetheless, if they are dependent, they will be receiving the direct payment, another important boost for America's working families, another important boost for our economy as we go forward.\nSo, let us  let me, again, thank the Chairman for his work. It's a simple vote to put more money. Our goals have been: crush the virus, crush the virus, honor our heroes who help us crush the virus, and put money in the pockets of the American people. Today, we would be doing that right now. This legislation would be a lifeline for millions of Americans. It improves on the previously passed relief bill by including dependents, ensuring that families with children in college and adults living with disabilities or elderly family members can also receive relief.\nRepublicans have a choice. Republicans have a choice: vote for this legislation or vote to deny the American people the bigger paychecks this need. To reject this would be in denial of the economic challenges that people are facing and it would deny them, again, the relief they need. And with that, I urge a strong bipartisan vote for the aptly named CASH act.\nThank you, Mr. Chairman.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/122820-0", "Pelosi Statement on National Defense Authorization Act Veto Override", "2020-12-28", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Nancy Pelosi", "P000197", "www.speaker.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued this statement after the House voted on an overwhelmingly bipartisan basis to override the President's veto of the National Defense Authorization Act:\nWith this overwhelmingly bipartisan vote, the House has upheld our sacred Constitutional responsibility to keep our country and our people safe. The National Defense Authorization Act has been passed on a bipartisan and bicameral manner for sixty years, and it will become law, despite the President's dangerous sabotage efforts.\nThe President's reckless veto would have denied our servicemembers hazard duty pay; our families paid family leave, child care, housing improvements and health protections; and our veterans their benefits. It would have senselessly deprived our allies and country of key protections for global peace and security  including for cyber-security, following a massive attack on our country. And it would have undermined our nation's values and work to combat racism, by blocking overwhelmingly bipartisan action to rename military bases and infrastructure after officials who served in the Confederacy.\nThe President must end his eleventh-hour campaign of chaos, and stop using his final moments in office to obstruct bipartisan and bicameral action to protect our military and defend our security.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://lieu.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/paralysis-nations-empowering-cities", "Paralysis of nations is empowering cities", "2020-12-27", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Ted Lieu", "L000582", "lieu.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The Demolition of U.S. Diplomacy.The Long Rise and Sudden Fall of American Diplomacy. Diplomacy, Disrupted. A cursory tour of recent headlines paints a less than rosy picture of the state of American statecraft. The impeachment and impending trial marks the starkest example of what happens when diplomacy is mismanaged.\nPartisan gridlock, ideological inflexibility, growing distrust and polarization have essentially paralyzed traditional nation-states  rendering them often unwilling or unable to solve our increasingly urgent problems. Inaction on climate change has become another popular  and near constant  reminder that this growing trendline is not going to reverse itself. The recently completedCOP25, which was held in Madrid, is only the most recent example of nations failing to take any real action or to commit to any substantive agreements on the issue of climate. What happens, though, when the people and places with the potential to fix parts of our broken system are not empowered to do so?\nWhen it comes to solving global crises, cities, states, NGOs and even corporations are stepping up to fill the gap countries are leaving behind.\n\nCities in particular are taking diplomacy into their own hands: They're setting upoffices of international affairs,and global city networks are coalescing to tackle issues like migration, human rights, inclusivity, terrorism and healthcare.\nCities are home toover 50 percentof the global population, a number that will skyrocket to nearly70 percent by 2050. Cities produce over80 percent of Global GDPand oversee the global supply chain, global trade, and global banking. They are also the greatest global producers ofknowledge and creativity. Cities are arguablymore accountable than nation-states, more closely connected to their constituents, more aware of the everyday problems that confront everyday people, and as a result, comparably adept and motivated to get things done quickly, efficiently and without a big fuss. Cities should be on the frontlines of diplomacy.\nOfficial Washington is not built to handle this type of diplomacy  despite its growing importance. Treaties are exclusively negotiated, signed, and enforced by national leaders (and their legislative branches), and in general, international relations and international law are the domains of nation-states alone. Subnational entities are viewed asmere appendages of their nation-states, which are expected to represent them at the global level in all international affairs. Indeed, we can't even talk about international diplomacy without employing the word nation.\nThe City and State Diplomacy Act, a new bipartisan bill proposed in the House would allow U.S. cities and states to have a greater voice in U.S. diplomacy. Co-sponsored by Reps. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) and Joe Wilson (R-S.C.), the bill would establish a permanent Office of Subnational Diplomacy within the State Department. It would create more opportunities for formal cooperation between America's state and local leaders and their counterparts around the world.It would also serve as the State Department's lead interlocutor in generating, negotiating, and executing agreements with foreign countries, as well as maintaining international networks, identifying policy gaps, and coordinating resources.\nSupporters of the bill expect that this office would have apositive effect on trade, environmental issues, and tourism, among other areas. This would also provide much-needed support when it comes tocoordinatingsubnational commitments on greenhouse gas emissions reduction.\n\nIt would also benefit U.S. business.The U.S. corporate sector is proportionally less internationally-connected than foreign counterparts. Corporations in Germany, France, the UK, Japan and many other leading national economies have markedly more international branches than domestic. Those in the U.S. have proportionally more domestic than international branches. American firms must be empowered to compete. A Subnational Diplomacy Office would provide the latitude needed to do just that.\nA recent example of successful subnational engagement occurred in May at the Fifth U.S.-China Governors Collaboration Summit, which was hosted by former Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin in Lexington. Despite tense relations between Washington and Beijing, the summit saw over 400 public and private stakeholders from the worlds of business, academia, and government from the United States and China commit to cooperate on initiatives ranging from economics to trade and education. Five months later, the State Department announced that Chinese diplomats would be required to notify authorities before holding meetings with U.S. officials  a response to level the playing field for long-standing restrictions on U.S. diplomats in China. The mission of the Office of Subnational Diplomacy could help to navigate this type of diplomatic row and facilitate more productive interactions.\nWhen the federal and local governments inevitably disagree on foreign policy, there needs to be a conflict resolution mechanism. According to original research by sociologist Benjamin Leffel, declassified archives show President Ronald Reagan's Secretary of State George Schultz pressuring U.S. local leaders to not divest from South African apartheid  and local leaders defying him in turn. This is just one example where a dedicated office at State was needed to provide a space to negotiate disagreements on foreign policy, and this need will only grow over time.\nThe concept isn't a new one. During the Obama administration, the U.S. Special Representative for Global Intergovernmental Affairs (a position held by co-author Reta Jo Lewis) was the first office dedicated to subnational diplomacy efforts. And the need for such an office dates back decades. According to Leffel's research, in the 1980s, several U.S. embassies abroad sent cables to the State Department asking for a federal office toassist local government officials and groups to plan their overseas visits in order to optimize their chances of meeting their trade, investment and tourism goals.\nNational governments should harness the power and ambition of their local leaders to help solve global challenges.The power of subnational engagement has been underestimated, though there are advocates who realize its potential. The Office of Subnational Diplomacy could be a productive way for the United States to get all hands on deck regarding global cooperation.\nCities and states are increasingly relevant, indeed critical, to solving the global challenges that confront us today. National governments can choose to work with the current or against it.History provesthat cities and states will move forward and upward with or without them.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pelosi.house.gov/news/press-releases/pelosi-statement-on-trump-signing-bipartisan-coronavirus-relief-and-omnibus", "Pelosi Statement on Trump Signing Bipartisan Coronavirus Relief and Omnibus Funding Bill", "2020-12-27", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CA", "Nancy Pelosi", "P000197", "pelosi.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Contact: Speaker's Press Office,\n202-226-7616\n\nWashington, D.C.  Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued this statement after the President signed the bipartisan coronavirus relief and omnibus funding bill:\n\nThe signing of the bipartisan, bicameral coronavirus relief legislation is welcome news for the fourteen million Americans who just lost the lifeline of unemployment benefits on Christmas Weekend, and for the millions more struggling to stay afloat during this historic pandemic and economic crisis.\n\nThis relief legislation is a down payment on what is needed to crush the virus, put money in the pockets of the American people and honor our heroes  our health care workers, first responders, transit and sanitation workers and teachers. We need to ensure robust support for state and local government to distribute and administer a vaccine, keep workers employed and prevent devastating service cuts  and we must do so as soon as possible.\n\nNow, the President must immediately call on Congressional Republicans to end their obstruction and to join him and Democrats in support of our stand-alone legislation to increase direct payment checks to $2,000, which will be brought to the Floor tomorrow. Every Republican vote against this bill is a vote to deny the financial hardship that families face and to deny the American people the relief they need.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/122720", "Pelosi Statement on Trump Signing Bipartisan Coronavirus Relief and Omnibus Funding Bill", "2020-12-27", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Nancy Pelosi", "P000197", "www.speaker.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued this statement after the President signed the bipartisan coronavirus relief and omnibus funding bill:\nThe signing of the bipartisan, bicameral coronavirus relief legislation is welcome news for the fourteen million Americans who just lost the lifeline of unemployment benefits on Christmas Weekend, and for the millions more struggling to stay afloat during this historic pandemic and economic crisis.\nThis relief legislation is a down payment on what is needed to crush the virus, put money in the pockets of the American people and honor our heroes  our health care workers, first responders, transit and sanitation workers and teachers. We need to ensure robust support for state and local government to distribute and administer a vaccine, keep workers employed and prevent devastating service cuts  and we must do so as soon as possible.\nNow, the President must immediately call on Congressional Republicans to end their obstruction and to join him and Democrats in support of our stand-alone legislation to increase direct payment checks to $2,000, which will be brought to the Floor tomorrow. Every Republican vote against this bill is a vote to deny the financial hardship that families face and to deny the American people the relief they need.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://levin.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-mike-levin-delivers-weekly-democratic-address", "Congressman Mike Levin Delivers Weekly Democratic Address", "2020-12-25", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Mike Levin", "L000593", "levin.house.gov", "levin", "https://levin.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Congressman Mike Levin of California, Chair of the House Veterans\u2019 Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, delivered the Weekly Democratic Address. In this week\u2019s address, the Congressman discussed House Democrats\u2019 landmark legislative work to ensure our troops, veterans and their loved ones have the health and financial security they deserve, especially during this difficult holiday season. Video and audio of the Weekly Democratic Address can be downloaded here.\n\nBelow is a full transcript of the address:\n\n\u201cHi, I\u2019m Congressman Mike Levin. I\u2019m proud to represent North County San Diego and South Orange County, with Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton at the heart of my district.\n\n\u201cAs we celebrate the holidays this year, we also mourn the loss of more than 320,000 Americans to this pandemic \u2013 including more than 5,500 veterans, a profound tragedy for our nation. Each individual lost was somebody\u2019s parent or grandparent, a son or daughter, a friend or co-worker who will be deeply missed, especially during this holiday season.\n\n\u201cThe holidays are also challenging for many families who are struggling to make ends meet, for our heroic frontline workers and for small businesses that are trying to endure this pandemic.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m proud that Democrats negotiated an emergency coronavirus relief and omnibus package to save lives and livelihoods and crush the virus. This agreement is an important initial step, which we must build on under the Biden-Harris Administration.\n\n\u201cWe also took important action last week to honor the service and sacrifice of those who have worn the uniform. As Chair of the House Veterans\u2019 Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, I was proud to sponsor the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020.\n\n\u201cThis landmark legislation is the product of years of bipartisan work and the strong leadership of House Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee Chairman Mark Takano and Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee Ranking Member Jon Tester. It includes numerous legislative initiatives from dozens of House Democrats and provisions from nearly 60 House-passed bills.\n\n\u201cIt includes the Homeless Veteran Coronavirus Response Act, a bill I introduced to expand and strengthen VA services for homeless veterans during the pandemic, allowing the VA to use existing funds for a wider range of services.\n\n\u201cIt includes the Reducing Veteran Homelessness Act, a bill I introduced to fill gaps in HUD-VASH case management.\n\n\u201cIt includes the Protect the GI Bill Act, a bill I introduced to increase transparency and accountability among educational programs that receive funding from the VA, and it includes the Pandemic Assistance for Student Veterans Act, which will minimize the impact of the pandemic on student veterans.\n\n\u201cIt also includes the Brian Tally VA Employment Transparency Act to support veterans who are the victims of medical malpractice by the VA or its contractors, and the Bill Mulder Transition Improvement Act to make the transition process easier for servicemembers returning to civilian life.\n\n\u201cAll of these provisions are critically important for the economic success and financial security of our veterans, and I was incredibly proud to lead them.\n\n\u201cHowever, Speaker Pelosi said it best on the House Floor last week when she called the Deborah Sampson Act, led by Congresswoman Julia Brownley, \u2018the crown jewel in this package.\u2019 The Deborah Sampson Act takes long overdue steps to address the inequities and barriers that women veterans face when accessing VA care and benefits.\n\n\u201cThe legislation expands access to care for women veterans, combats sexual harassment and assault, increases cultural competency for all VA staff and improves data collection to ensure that our nation\u2019s nearly two million women veterans get the care, benefits and resources they\u2019ve earned.\n\n\u201cWith this legislation, we are fulfilling President Lincoln\u2019s promise to care for those \u2018who shall have borne the battle\u2019 and for their families, caregivers and survivors.\n\n\u201cWhile we celebrate this extraordinary accomplishment, I know that many troops, veterans and their loved ones are spending this holiday apart from one another. Please know that I deeply appreciate your service and sacrifice, and House Democrats will keep fighting for you in the new year.\n\n\u201cThank you, and happy holidays.\u201d\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://mikelevin.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-mike-levin-delivers-weekly-democratic-address", "Congressman Mike Levin Delivers Weekly Democratic Address", "2020-12-25", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Mike Levin", "L000593", "mikelevin.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 25, 2020\n\t\t\t Congressman Mike Levin Delivers Weekly Democratic Address \n\t\t\tWashington, D.C.  Congressman Mike Levin of California, Chair of the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, delivered the Weekly Democratic Address. In this week's address, the Congressman discussed House Democrats' landmark legislative work to ensure our troops, veterans and their loved ones have the health and financial security they deserve, especially during this difficult holiday season. Video and audio of the Weekly Democratic Address can be downloaded here.\r\nBelow is a full transcript of the address:\r\nHi, I'm Congressman Mike Levin. I'm proud to represent North County San Diego and South Orange County, with Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton at the heart of my district.\r\nAs we celebrate the holidays this year, we also mourn the loss of more than 320,000 Americans to this pandemic  including more than 5,500 veterans, a profound tragedy for our nation. Each individual lost was somebody's parent or grandparent, a son or daughter, a friend or co-worker who will be deeply missed, especially during this holiday season.\r\nThe holidays are also challenging for many families who are struggling to make ends meet, for our heroic frontline workers and for small businesses that are trying to endure this pandemic.\r\nI'm proud that Democrats negotiated an emergency coronavirus relief and omnibus package to save lives and livelihoods and crush the virus. This agreement is an important initial step, which we must build on under the Biden-Harris Administration.\r\nWe also took important action last week to honor the service and sacrifice of those who have worn the uniform. As Chair of the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, I was proud to sponsor the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020.\r\nThis landmark legislation is the product of years of bipartisan work and the strong leadership of House Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Mark Takano and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Ranking Member Jon Tester. It includes numerous legislative initiatives from dozens of House Democrats and provisions from nearly 60 House-passed bills.\r\nIt includes the Homeless Veteran Coronavirus Response Act, a bill I introduced to expand and strengthen VA services for homeless veterans during the pandemic, allowing the VA to use existing funds for a wider range of services.\r\nIt includes the Reducing Veteran Homelessness Act, a bill I introduced to fill gaps in HUD-VASH case management.\r\nIt includes the Protect the GI Bill Act, a bill I introduced to increase transparency and accountability among educational programs that receive funding from the VA, and it includes the Pandemic Assistance for Student Veterans Act, which will minimize the impact of the pandemic on student veterans.\r\nIt also includes the Brian Tally VA Employment Transparency Act to support veterans who are the victims of medical malpractice by the VA or its contractors, and the Bill Mulder Transition Improvement Act to make the transition process easier for servicemembers returning to civilian life.\r\nAll of these provisions are critically important for the economic success and financial security of our veterans, and I was incredibly proud to lead them.\r\nHowever, Speaker Pelosi said it best on the House Floor last week when she called the Deborah Sampson Act, led by Congresswoman Julia Brownley, the crown jewel in this package.' The Deborah Sampson Act takes long overdue steps to address the inequities and barriers that women veterans face when accessing VA care and benefits.\r\nThe legislation expands access to care for women veterans, combats sexual harassment and assault, increases cultural competency for all VA staff and improves data collection to ensure that our nation's nearly two million women veterans get the care, benefits and resources they've earned.\r\nWith this legislation, we are fulfilling President Lincoln's promise to care for those who shall have borne the battle' and for their families, caregivers and survivors.\r\nWhile we celebrate this extraordinary accomplishment, I know that many troops, veterans and their loved ones are spending this holiday apart from one another. Please know that I deeply appreciate your service and sacrifice, and House Democrats will keep fighting for you in the new year.\r\nThank you, and happy holidays.\r\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/122520", "Congressman Mike Levin Delivers Weekly Democratic Address", "2020-12-25", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Nancy Pelosi", "P000197", "www.speaker.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  Congressman Mike Levin of California, Chair of the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, delivered the Weekly Democratic Address. In this week's address, the Congressman discussed House Democrats' landmark legislative work to ensure our troops, veterans and their loved ones have the health and financial security they deserve, especially during this difficult holiday season. Video and audio of the Weekly Democratic Address can be downloaded here. \nBelow is a full transcript of the address:\nHi, I'm Congressman Mike Levin. I'm proud to represent North County San Diego and South Orange County, with Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton at the heart of my district.\nAs we celebrate the holidays this year, we also mourn the loss of more than 320,000 Americans to this pandemic  including more than 5,500 veterans, a profound tragedy for our nation. Each individual lost was somebody's parent or grandparent, a son or daughter, a friend or co-worker who will be deeply missed, especially during this holiday season.\nThe holidays are also challenging for many families who are struggling to make ends meet, for our heroic frontline workers and for small businesses that are trying to endure this pandemic.\nI'm proud that Democrats negotiated an emergency coronavirus relief and omnibus package to save lives and livelihoods and crush the virus. This agreement is an important initial step, which we must build on under the Biden-Harris Administration.\nWe also took important action last week to honor the service and sacrifice of those who have worn the uniform. As Chair of the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, I was proud to sponsor the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020.\nThis landmark legislation is the product of years of bipartisan work and the strong leadership of House Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Mark Takano and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Ranking Member Jon Tester. It includes numerous legislative initiatives from dozens of House Democrats and provisions from nearly 60 House-passed bills.\nIt includes the Homeless Veteran Coronavirus Response Act, a bill I introduced to expand and strengthen VA services for homeless veterans during the pandemic, allowing the VA to use existing funds for a wider range of services.\nIt includes the Reducing Veteran Homelessness Act, a bill I introduced to fill gaps in HUD-VASH case management.\nIt includes the Protect the GI Bill Act, a bill I introduced to increase transparency and accountability among educational programs that receive funding from the VA, and it includes the Pandemic Assistance for Student Veterans Act, which will minimize the impact of the pandemic on student veterans.\nIt also includes the Brian Tally VA Employment Transparency Act to support veterans who are the victims of medical malpractice by the VA or its contractors, and the Bill Mulder Transition Improvement Act to make the transition process easier for servicemembers returning to civilian life.\nAll of these provisions are critically important for the economic success and financial security of our veterans, and I was incredibly proud to lead them.\nHowever, Speaker Pelosi said it best on the House Floor last week when she called the Deborah Sampson Act, led by Congresswoman Julia Brownley, the crown jewel in this package.' The Deborah Sampson Act takes long overdue steps to address the inequities and barriers that women veterans face when accessing VA care and benefits.\nThe legislation expands access to care for women veterans, combats sexual harassment and assault, increases cultural competency for all VA staff and improves data collection to ensure that our nation's nearly two million women veterans get the care, benefits and resources they've earned.\nWith this legislation, we are fulfilling President Lincoln's promise to care for those who shall have borne the battle' and for their families, caregivers and survivors.\nWhile we celebrate this extraordinary accomplishment, I know that many troops, veterans and their loved ones are spending this holiday apart from one another. Please know that I deeply appreciate your service and sacrifice, and House Democrats will keep fighting for you in the new year.\nThank you, and happy holidays.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/122520-0", "Dear Colleague to All Members: Merry Christmas!", "2020-12-25", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Nancy Pelosi", "P000197", "www.speaker.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Dear Colleague,\nJoy to the World!\nWith these words, we celebrate Christmas. Whatever the differences in our faith traditions, may we be joined in spirit for joy for America and for the American people.\nWhatever the hardships and sadness the American people may be suffering, may our determination to meet our responsibility to others give our country and our people hope.\nWhatever our disagreements, may there be peace on earth, and let it begin with us.\nPlease accept my thanks and warmest personal regards for a peaceful holiday season and Happy New Year!\nHappy Holidays!", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://garamendi.house.gov/media/press-releases/readiness-chairman-garamendi-s-statement-president-trump-s-veto-fy-21-ndaa", "Readiness Chairman Garamendi\u2019s Statement on President Trump\u2019s Veto of FY 21 NDAA", "2020-12-24", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "John Garamendi", "G000559", "garamendi.house.gov", "garamendi", "https://garamendi.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC\u2014Congressman John Garamendi, Chairman of the Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness, issued the statement below in response to President Trump vetoing the bipartisan and bicameral Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Garamendi served on the Bicameral Conference Committee for the FY 2021 NDAA that negotiated the final version of the legislation:\n\n\"The President's veto of the NDAA is a reckless decision that harms our troops, military readiness, and national security. Issuing this veto while the United States is in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, and in the wake of brazen cybersecurity attacks from foreign governments, is a chaotic and irresponsible decision by the President,\" Garamendi said.\n\n\"Vetoing this legislation denies our service members a much-deserved pay raise, improvements to their housing, and critical resources that will strengthen their ability to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. It also stymies the progress the Readiness Subcommittee secured in the legislation to require the military to aggressively tackle the global climate crisis, prioritize increasing its energy resiliency, and address contamination associated with per- and polyfluorinated (PFAS) compounds around military installations.\n\n\"This is a strong, bipartisan NDAA that earned the support of veto-proof majorities in the House and Senate. I intend to support an override of the President's veto of the FY 2021 National Defense Authorization Act,\" Garamendi concluded.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://pelosi.house.gov/news/press-releases/pelosi-statement-on-house-republicans-blocking-unanimous-consent-request-to", "Pelosi Statement on House Republicans Blocking Unanimous Consent Request to Increase Economic Impact Payments", "2020-12-24", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CA", "Nancy Pelosi", "P000197", "pelosi.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Contact: Speaker's Press Office,\n202-226-7616\n\nSan Francisco  Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued this statement on House Republicans blocking Democrats' Unanimous Consent request to increase economic impact payments to $2,000, as the President called for:\n\nToday, on Christmas Eve morning, House Republicans cruelly deprived the American people of the $2,000 that the President agreed to support. If the President is serious about the $2,000 direct payments, he must call on House Republicans to end their obstruction.\n\nHouse and Senate Democrats have repeatedly fought for bigger checks for the American people, which House and Senate Republicans have repeatedly rejected  first, during our negotiations when they said that they would not go above $600 and now, with this act of callousness on the Floor.\n\nOn Monday, I will bring the House back to session where we will hold a recorded vote on our stand-alone bill to increase economic impact payments to $2,000. To vote against this bill is to deny the financial hardship that families face and to deny them the relief they need.\n\nHopefully by then the President will have already signed the bipartisan and bicameral legislation to keep government open and to deliver coronavirus relief.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/122420", "Pelosi Statement on House Republicans Blocking Unanimous Consent Request to Increase Economic Impact Payments", "2020-12-24", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Nancy Pelosi", "P000197", "www.speaker.gov", null, null, "legacy", "San Francisco  Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued this statement on House Republicans blocking Democrats' Unanimous Consent request to increase economic impact payments to $2,000, as the President called for:\nToday, on Christmas Eve morning, House Republicans cruelly deprived the American people of the $2,000 that the President agreed to support. If the President is serious about the $2,000 direct payments, he must call on House Republicans to end their obstruction.\nHouse and Senate Democrats have repeatedly fought for bigger checks for the American people, which House and Senate Republicans have repeatedly rejected  first, during our negotiations when they said that they would not go above $600 and now, with this act of callousness on the Floor.\nOn Monday, I will bring the House back to session where we will hold a recorded vote on our stand-alone bill to increase economic impact payments to $2,000. To vote against this bill is to deny the financial hardship that families face and to deny them the relief they need.\nHopefully by then the President will have already signed the bipartisan and bicameral legislation to keep government open and to deliver coronavirus relief.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://aguilar.house.gov/2020/12/23/aguilar-issues-report-constituents-116th-congress-comes-close/", "Aguilar Issues Report to Constituents as 116th Congress Comes to a Close", "2020-12-23", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Pete Aguilar", "A000371", "aguilar.house.gov", "aguilar", "https://aguilar.house.gov/category/congress_press_release/", "scraper", "Press Releases\n\nAguilar Issues Report to Constituents as 116th Congress Comes to a Close\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 the 116th Congress, which convened on January 3, 2019. Reflecting on the past two years, Aguilar commented:\n\n\u201cThis past year has been incredibly challenging for Inland Empire families, and my focus has been on providing our region with the resources needed to navigate this crisis. As we enter a new year with the pandemic still devastating communities like ours, I will continue working to support the small businesses, frontline workers, first responders and families who are the backbone of San Bernardino County. The incoming Biden-Harris Administration marks an opportunity for us to work together to build a better country with a brighter future for all who live here. I look forward to getting to work.\u201d\n\nDuring the 116th Congress, Rep. Aguilar delivered for the Inland Empire by:\n\nHelping 1,102 Inland Empire residents resolve outstanding issues with federal agencies, such as accessing the Social Security, Medicare and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits they have earned;\n\nReturning more than $1.3 million that the federal government owed to CA-31 residents by federal agencies, including IRS refunds, veterans\u2019 benefits, Social Security payments and more;\n\nAnnouncing over $340 million in federal funding for the Inland Empire, including funding for local first responders and fire departments, Inland Empire schools and job training programs;\n\nAnnouncing more than $174 million in federal funds to help support Inland Empire residents during the coronavirus crisis;\n\nHosting small business town hall meetings to help businesses navigate coronavirus relief resource;\n\nSecuring $10.5 million and a national distinction to help Cal State San Bernardino become a key pipeline for national cybersecurity jobs;\n\nHelping Inland Empire veterans connect with local resources on health care, housing, and employment and providing assistance with VA claims through Veterans Resource Fair\n\nProviding Inland Empire seniors with free health screenings and help obtaining information on local food programs, health services, and Medicare, Social Security and veterans benefits through a Senior Fair;\n\nNominating local students to the US Military Service Academies;\n\nHosting 28 events and meetings to help connect local agencies with federal grant opportunities; and\n\nParticipating in more than 220 meetings, tours and events with CA-31 residents.\n\nThroughout the past two years, Rep. Aguilar fought for legislation to help San Bernardino County families by:\n\nPassing the CARES Act, a $2 trillion stimulus and aid bill that gave most Americans direct payments of up to $1,200, provided $350 billion in relief to small business owners, expanded unemployment insurance benefits for affected workers, supplied approximately $200 billion to hospitals and health care providers, and granted $150 billion to state and local governments for emergency response;\n\nPassing H.R. 133, a bill that includes $600 direct payments to most Americans, extends unemployment benefits provides rent and nutrition assistance funding, and funds forgivable loans and grants for small businesses;\n\nPassing the Santa Ana Wash Plan Land Exchange Act, which was signed into law in 2019, resulting in an estimated $47 million in investments into local infrastructure projects and expanded conservation areas for threatened or endangered plants and animals within the Santa Ana Wash;\n\nAdding amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2021 to:\n\nRecruit and retain top military cybersecurity talent from institutions like California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB) by permanently authorizing a successful direct-commissioning pilot program established by Rep. Aguilar in 2017;\n\nEnhance the transparency of the country\u2019s nuclear security by making certain funding for the nuclear program contingent on the release of reports currently being withheld by the Trump Administration; and\n\nCombat white supremacist, extremist and criminal-gang activity in the military by requiring the Pentagon to report the total number of allegations, investigations, and inquiries related to this type of activity each year;\n\nWorking to secure funding for and pass key initiatives as Vice Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, including:\n\n$12 million for the Department of Defense Cyber Scholarship Program, which benefits students at California State University San Bernardino;\n\n$46.5 million for the National Science Foundation\u2019s Improving Undergraduate STEM Education: Hispanic-Serving Institutions program, for which CSUSB may compete;\n\n$67 million for the National Science Foundation\u2019s Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program, which trains teachers at 22 California State University campuses including CSUSB;\n\nRobust funding for the Fish and Wildlife Service\u2019s Land and Water Conservation Fund, which supports San Bernardino County\u2019s Regional Conservation Investment Strategy;\n\n$6.7 billion for VA Veterans Health Administration\u2019s medical facilities, including the VA Loma Linda Healthcare System;\n\nRequiring HUD to ensure DACA recipients can access FHA loans and become first-time homebuyers; and\n\nMandating the Office of Refugee Resettlement to invest in technology to track separated children in their care so they can be reunited with their parents;\n\nPassing amendments to H.R. 2, the Moving Forward Act, to make the Inland Empire more competitive in applying for federal grants to reduce emissions and fight pollution;\n\nAuthoring H.R. 8974, the FHA Fairness Act to increase access to Federal Housing Administration loans for homebuyers in the Inland Empire;\n\nIntroducing the JOBS Act to help Inland Empire job-seekers and businesses connect with employment resources;\n\nReintroducing the REPORT Act, a bill drafted in response to the December 2, 2015 terror attack in San Bernardino that requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to submit a report to Congress after an act of terrorism occurs in the United States; and\n\nServing on the Committee on House Administration, participating in hearings to expose voter disenfranchisement and assisting in the passage of legislation to create the Women\u2019s History Museum and the Museum of the American Latino.\n\nIn addition to the legislation he\u2019s introduced and authored, Rep. Aguilar helped the House pass hundreds of bipartisan bills in the 116th Congress. These include bills to provide relief to the American people in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, reform our law enforcement agencies, invest in our nation\u2019s infrastructure, expand access and increase affordability of health care, bring transparency to the VA system, and protect Dreamers and immigrant families across the country.\n\nRep. Aguilar has represented California\u2019s 31st Congressional District since 2015. He sits on the House Appropriations Committee, where he serves as Vice Chair, and on the Committee on House Administration. Rep. Aguilar was recently elected by his colleagues to serve as Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus for the 117th Congress.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://aguilar.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/aguilar-issues-report-constituents-116th-congress-comes-close", "Aguilar Issues Report to Constituents as 116th Congress Comes to a Close", "2020-12-23", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "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 the 116th Congress, which convened on January 3, 2019. Reflecting on the past two years, Aguilar commented:\nThis past year has been incredibly challenging for Inland Empire families, and my focus has been on providing our region with the resources needed to navigate this crisis. As we enter a new year with the pandemic still devastating communities like ours, I will continue working to support the small businesses, frontline workers, first responders and families who are the backbone of San Bernardino County. The incoming Biden-Harris Administration marks an opportunity for us to work together to build a better country with a brighter future for all who live here. I look forward to getting to work.\nDuring the 116th Congress, Rep. Aguilar delivered for the Inland Empire by: \n Helping 1,102 Inland Empire residents resolve outstanding issues with federal agencies, such as accessing the Social Security, Medicare and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits they have earned;\n\tReturning more than $1.3 million that the federal government owed to CA-31 residents by federal agencies, including IRS refunds, veterans' benefits, Social Security payments and more;\n\tAnnouncing over $340 million in federal funding for the Inland Empire, including funding for local first responders and fire departments, Inland Empire schools and job training programs;\n\tAnnouncing more than $174 million in federal funds to help support Inland Empire residents during the coronavirus crisis;\n\tHosting small business town hall meetings to help businesses navigate coronavirus relief resource;\n\tSecuring $10.5 million and a national distinction to help Cal State San Bernardino become a key pipeline for national cybersecurity jobs;\n\tHelping Inland Empire veterans connect with local resources on health care, housing, and employment and providing assistance with VA claims through Veterans Resource Fair\n\tProviding Inland Empire seniors with free health screenings and help obtaining information on local food programs, health services, and Medicare, Social Security and veterans benefits through a Senior Fair;\n\tNominating local students to the US Military Service Academies;\n\tHosting 28 events and meetings to help connect local agencies with federal grant opportunities; and\n\tParticipating in more than 220 meetings, tours and events with CA-31 residents.\n Throughout the past two years, Rep. Aguilar fought for legislation to help San Bernardino County families by: \n Passing the CARES Act, a $2 trillion stimulus and aid bill that gave most Americans direct payments of up to $1,200, provided $350 billion in relief to small business owners, expanded unemployment insurance benefits for affected workers, supplied approximately $200 billion to hospitals and health care providers, and granted $150 billion to state and local governments for emergency response;\n\tPassing H.R. 133, a bill that includes $600 direct payments to most Americans, extends unemployment benefits provides rent and nutrition assistance funding, and funds forgivable loans and grants for small businesses;\n\tPassing the Santa Ana Wash Plan Land Exchange Act, which was signed into law in 2019, resulting in an estimated $47 million in investments into local infrastructure projects and expanded conservation areas for threatened or endangered plants and animals within the Santa Ana Wash;\n\tAdding amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2021 to:\n\t\tRecruit and retain top military cybersecurity talent from institutions like California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB) by permanently authorizing a successful direct-commissioning pilot program established by Rep. Aguilar in 2017;\n\t\t\tEnhance the transparency of the country's nuclear security by making certain funding for the nuclear program contingent on the release of reports currently being withheld by the Trump Administration; and\n\t\t\tCombat white supremacist, extremist and criminal-gang activity in the military by requiring the Pentagon to report the total number of allegations, investigations, and inquiries related to this type of activity each year;\n\t\t\n\tWorking to secure funding for and pass key initiatives as Vice Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, including:\n  $12 million for the Department of Defense Cyber Scholarship Program, which benefits students at California State University San Bernardino;\n\t$46.5 million for the National Science Foundation's Improving Undergraduate STEM Education: Hispanic-Serving Institutions program, for which CSUSB may compete;\n\t$67 million for the National Science Foundation's Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program, which trains teachers at 22 California State University campuses including CSUSB;\n\tRobust funding for the Fish and Wildlife Service's Land and Water Conservation Fund, which supports San Bernardino County's Regional Conservation Investment Strategy;\n\t$6.7 billion for VA Veterans Health Administration's medical facilities, including the VA Loma Linda Healthcare System;\n\tRequiring HUD to ensure DACA recipients can access FHA loans and become first-time homebuyers; and\n\tMandating the Office of Refugee Resettlement to invest in technology to track separated children in their care so they can be reunited with their parents;\n  Passing amendments to H.R. 2, the Moving Forward Act, to make the Inland Empire more competitive in applying for federal grants to reduce emissions and fight pollution;\n\tAuthoring H.R. 8974, the FHA Fairness Act to increase access to Federal Housing Administration loans for homebuyers in the Inland Empire;\n\tIntroducing the JOBS Act to help Inland Empire job-seekers and businesses connect with employment resources;\n\tReintroducing the REPORT Act, a bill drafted in response to the December 2, 2015 terror attack in San Bernardino that requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to submit a report to Congress after an act of terrorism occurs in the United States; and\n\tServing on the Committee on House Administration, participating in hearings to expose voter disenfranchisement and assisting in the passage of legislation to create the Women's History Museum and the Museum of the American Latino.\n In addition to the legislation he's introduced and authored, Rep. Aguilar helped the House pass hundreds of bipartisan bills in the 116th Congress. These include bills to provide relief to the American people in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, reform our law enforcement agencies, invest in our nation's infrastructure, expand access and increase affordability of health care, bring transparency to the VA system, and protect Dreamers and immigrant families across the country.\nRep. Aguilar has represented California's 31st Congressional District since 2015. He sits on the House Appropriations Committee, where he serves as Vice Chair, and on the Committee on House Administration. Rep. Aguilar was recently elected by his colleagues to serve as Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus for the 117th Congress.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bass.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-bass-statement-arrest-ugandan-human-rights-lawyer-nicholas-opiyo", "Rep. Bass Statement on Arrest of Ugandan Human Rights Lawyer Nicholas Opiyo", "2020-12-23", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "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\t2021Rayburn 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://cardenas.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cardenas-announces-2020-congressional-app-competition-winners", "C\u00e1rdenas Announces 2020 Congressional App Competition Winners", "2020-12-23", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Tony C\u00e1rdenas", "C001097", "cardenas.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 23, 2020\n\t\t\t Crdenas Announces 2020 Congressional App Competition Winners \n\t\t\tSAN FERNANDO VALLEY, CA  Last week, Congressmen Tony Crdenas (CA-29) virtually met with the winners of the 2020 Congressional App Competition for California's 29th Congressional District. This year's winning team consisted of Josh Bowden, Achintya Gupta, Aniket Gupta, and Sejin Choi, all juniors at Granada Hills Charter High School. The group created the Math4Fun app, which allows people to practice math concepts in a fun way.\r\nAs an engineer, I am excited to see thousands of students across the country express an interest in coding and computer sciences at an early age, said Congressman Crdenas. I am especially proud of the brilliant students of the 29th District, and applaud the work of Josh, Achintya, Aniket, and Sejin. The world is changing, and we must encourage the next generation of Americans to pursue careers in the STEM fields and prepare them for the economy of the future. Thank you to all of the students who participated in the 2019 Congressional App Competition.\r\nTo learn more about Math4Fun, watch the students' Congressional App Challenge submission here.\r\nCongressman Tony Crdenas is a member of the Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) Caucus. Crdenas has a degree in engineering from the University of California, Santa Barbara.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://correa.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-lou-correa-urges-president-elect-biden-to-end-family-separation", "Rep. Lou Correa Urges President-Elect Biden To End Family Separation", "2020-12-23", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "J. Correa", "C001110", "correa.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 23, 2020\n\t\t\t Rep. Lou Correa Urges President-Elect Biden To End Family Separation \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t Correa Joined 87 Members of Congress In Calling For Immediate Action To Help Separated Children\n\t\t\t Washington, D.C.  Today, Congressman Lou Correa joined 87 of his colleagues in sending a letter to President-elect Joe Biden urging him to assist the children harmed by the Trump Administration's inhumane family separation policy.  In the letter, Congressman Correa urged the President-elect to exercise existing legal authorities to give safe refuge to the children, including the almost 630 children that remain separated from their families and help them reunite with their parents. While long term solutions are available to children hurt by family separation, Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) or parole-in-place are two examples of programs that would allow separated children to come out of the shadows and live in the United States formally.  Rep. Lou Correa said, President Trump and his Administration separated thousands of children from their parents in a deliberate attempt to threaten lawful asylum seekers and prevent families fleeing violence from coming to our shores. I joined my colleagues in applauding President-elect Joe Biden for his commitment to ending family separation and urged him to dismantle the inhumane immigration policies that allowed such a tactic to be used.  We are a nation of immigrants. Many of our families fled violence, persecution, and famine for a shot at a better life. Our immigration system should reflect that history and welcome new Americans with open arms and compassion.  See the letter here.  Read the letter:     December 22, 2020    President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr.  Biden-Harris Transition  1401 Constitution Avenue, NW  Washington, DC 20230    Dear President-elect Biden:  We write to urge you to assist the children harmed by the Trump Administration's inhumane family separation policy. We wholeheartedly agree with you that this policy violates every notion of who we are as a nation,1 and believe that the United States has a duty to help the victims of this horrific policy. To that end, we urge you to use your legal authority to assist the children in the United States, particularly those whose parents have not yet been located, ensuring their safe refuge while the search continues and allowing them to safely reunite with their parents.  As you know, since 2017 the Trump Administration has separated thousands of children from their parents and legal guardians at our border without clear evidence that keeping them together presented a danger to the children.2 When the Trump Administration implemented its nationwide family separation policy, it knew that hundreds of children would likely never be reunited with their parents.3 Nevertheless, it cruelly deported parents without their children and compounded its culpability by failing to record meaningful contact information for many of these parents.4 More than 300 children separated by the Department of Homeland Security were under the age of five at the time of the separation.5  As of today, tragically, the parents of almost 630 separated children still have not been located.6 We commend you for committing to stand up a federal task force to find the parents of these children on Day One of your presidency. We applaud this initiative and are eager to work with you to find these missing parents and reunite families. At the same time, we strongly recommend that your Administration use its legal authority to establish a means by which the children victimized by this  Thank you for your attention to this request. We look forward to working with you throughout your Administration.  ###  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 more here. \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    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://eshoo.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-eshoo-introduces-legislation-change-congressional-oath-office", "Rep. Eshoo Introduces Legislation to Change Congressional Oath of Office", "2020-12-23", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Anna Eshoo", "E000215", "eshoo.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Representative Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA) announced today that she will introduce legislation to update the Congressional oath of office to include a pledge to put the Constitution above any person or political party.\nOver 156 million Americans made their voices heard in this year's election and a majority of them chose a new president. Yet many Members of Congress have disregarded their oath by refusing to accept the results of the election by signing an amicus brief to a lawsuit seeking to overturn the election, said Rep. Eshoo. This is the first time in our nation's history that a majority of a major party have sought to overthrow an election. This is an attack on our constitutional system of government and a violation of the Congressional oath of office because it puts loyalty to the president over the will of the people.\nBackground\nAt the beginning of every new Congress, Members take an oath and swear to defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. The Constitution requires every Member to take an oath to support the Constitution, but it leaves the precise wording for Congress to determine. The Supreme Court has said that Congress can add any additional pledges it deems appropriate, and the oath has been amended several times in our country's history, most notably during the Civil War when many Members abandoned their oath to join the Confederacy.\nRep. Eshoo's legislation amends the Congressional oath of office to require every Member of Congress to swear to put their obligation to the Constitution before that of any person or political party. The new oath of office reads as follows (addition in bold):\nI, _____, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I place this obligation above that to any individual, political party, or faction; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://kevinmccarthy.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/mccarthy-applauds-new-soda-ash-royalty-rate", "McCarthy Applauds New Soda Ash Royalty Rate", "2020-12-23", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "Senate", "CA", "Kevin McCarthy", "M001165", "kevinmccarthy.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today,House Republican LeaderKevin McCarthy(CA-23)applauded the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM)actionssetting a new U.S. royalty rate for soda ash of 2% for 10 years.\nFor years, unnecessarily high royalty rates for non-energy solid minerals in the United States have made it difficult for domestic producers to compete in the market. With today's announcement by BLM, our constituents will be protected from unfair advantages by foreign companies that are often state-subsidized, improving our standing in the minerals development industry. The globalmarketis ever-changing, and the decreased rate will help to stimulate local economies across the country. We applaud President Trump and Interior Secretary Bernhardt for taking this critical and important step to make America more competitive in thesoda ashindustry.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://khanna.house.gov/media/newsletter-archive/2020-review", "2020 in Review", "2020-12-23", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CA", "Ro Khanna", "K000389", "khanna.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Happy holidays!\nAs 2020 comes to a close, I would like to highlight some of the work I have done in Washington, D.C. and the Bay Area over the past year to improve the lives of people in our district and across the country.\nThis was an especially difficult year. We experienced COVID-19 and its economic fallout, international conflicts, racial injustice, the loss of a beloved Supreme Court Justice, and a historic Presidential election. I know many of you are struggling, but I want you to know that I have and will continue to serve you as best as I can. It is an honor to represent you in Congress.\nBattling COVID-19 and Providing Relief\nIn March, stay-at-home orders officially went into effect in California and elsewhere across the nation. In our district, Dr. Sarah Cody in Santa Clara led the way and took swift action that saved lives. In response, Congress passed the $2.2 trillion CARES Act, which included funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19 testing, a one-time $1,200 stimulus check for individuals making less than $75,000 a year, and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to help small businesses.\nI believe the CARES Act was a positive step forward in providing relief, but more was needed. That is why I joined Speaker Pelosi in sending a letter to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Small Business Administrator Jovita Carranza to ensure that small business loans provided by the PPP were available to startups in Silicon Valley. Also, I know that a one-time stimulus check is not enough, which is why I partnered with Rep. Tim Ryan to introduce the Emergency Money for the People Act. Our bill would provide a recurring monthly check of $2,000 to every American making less than $130,000 per year ($260,000forjoint return filers).\nAdditionally, while more Americans than ever worked from home during the pandemic, many were forced to work in high-risk conditions without appropriate equipment, safety standards, or job protections. These workers are doctors and nurses, grocery and drug store employees, delivery drivers, and many others who are integral to keeping the country functioning during the pandemic. Because they deserve better support and protection, I joined Senator Elizabeth Warren to introduce the Essential Workers Bill of Rights, which outlines necessary health and safety protections, universal paid sick, family, and medical leave, and support for childcare for essential workers during the pandemic.\nIn May, I introduced the Emergency Medical Supplies Procurement Act with Senator Bernie Sanders to address ongoing medical supply shortages across the country. This bill would provide an additional $75 billion to produce personal protective equipment, ventilators, pharmaceuticals, and other necessary medical supplies and hospital infrastructure.\nI also sent two letters to House and Senate leadership on medical supply shortages, one in August and the other in October. The first letter advocated for the mass distribution of free facial coverings to all Americans, funding for a Public Service Announcement campaign encouraging mask usage, and research into mask efficacy and optimal design. The second letter urged Congressional leadership to develop a comprehensive plan to prevent and mitigate the impact of future pandemics.\nAlthough the House passed a $3.4 trillion HEROES Act in May, and an updated $2.2 trillion HEROES Act in October, the Senate failed to pass or even vote on either version of the HEROES Act. Instead, Congressional leadership settled on and passed a new $900 billion COVID-19 relief package earlier this week.\nThis new COVID-19 relief package is a much-needed lifeline for the millions in crisis due to the pandemic, which is why I voted for it. However, I believe it is much less than we need. I will continue to push leadership to prioritize sending stimulus checks of $2,000 per month, boosting unemployment benefits, funding state and local governments, and increasing food, rent and mortgage assistance throughout the pandemic. Struggling American families need help now. We cannot afford to wait.\nPolice Brutality and Reform\nIn May, the country was horrified when they witnessed a police officer kill George Floyd. His shocking murder was yet another painful entry in the long legacy of racial discrimination in our country. Police killings of unarmed Black people are evidence that systemic racism in America persists, is pervasive, and necessitates bold, transformative reform.\nI joined over 200 of my colleagues in cosponsoring the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which included my bill, the PEACE Act, to change the standard for the use of force for law enforcement officers so that deadly force is used only as a last resort. I was proud to vote with a majority of my colleagues to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act in the House.\nThe bill would also lower the criminal standard to convict law enforcement officers for misconduct in federal prosecutions, end qualified immunity for law enforcement, authorize the Department of Justice to issue subpoenas in investigations of police departments for a pattern or practice of discrimination, and create a national registry of complaints and records of police misconduct.\nSupreme Court Term Limits\nIn September, we lost of one of the greatest judicial minds in our nation's history, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. She was a trailblazer and true champion of both gender and racial equality. While we mourn her loss, we must honor her legacy by continuing the fight for greater equality for all.\nWhat we cannot do is allow our country to face a national political crisis every time a vacancy occurs on the Supreme Court. That is why I introduced the Supreme Court Term Limits and Regular Appointments Act. My bill would establish 18-year term limits on Supreme Court justices. After their 18-year terms, justices would be allowed to continue their service on lower courts if they choose. Current justices would be exempt from the term limits. Going forward, the bill would create a regular appointment process to allow every president to nominate a new justice to the Supreme Court during each odd year, guaranteeing each president the opportunity to nominate two justices per four-year term.\nNo War Against Iran Bill Passes with Bipartisan Support\nIn January, Iranian general Qasem Soleimani was assassinated without Congressional notification or approval. I consider that attack a dangerous act of military interventionism. In response, Iran struck our bases in Iraq, causing brain injuries to our soldiers. In response, I introduced the No War Against Iran Act, which passed with a bipartisan majority of the House restricting any taxpayer funding for an unauthorized, unconstitutional war with Iran.\nThe Constitution is very clear on the delegation of power when it comes to matters of war and the power of the purse. Passing this bill was an important step towards reclaiming the important checks and balances established by the Framers, and preventing the Soleimani assassination from leading to a full-scale war. We must pursue a responsible, thoughtful foreign policy that prioritizes diplomacy and open communication.\nThe 21st Century Jobs Act\nIn October, I introduced the 21st Century Jobs Act. This bill would create a Federal Institute of Technology, with approximately 30 locations across the country, and allocates $900 billion in Research and Development funding for emerging technologies like advanced manufacturing, synthetic biology, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and cybersecurity. The 21st Century Jobs Act also includes:\n Funding for better and more widespread STEM instruction in public schools, specifically focused on computer science.\n\tSTEM scholarships for students left behind.\n\tTax incentives for the federal government's contractors to locate part of their workforce in rural and forgotten areas across America, and\n\t$8 billion toward teacher training in STEM fields.\n Government investments in science in the decades after World War II created the greatest middle class the world has ever seen. This bill will make sure the jobs of the future are in the U.S., and that they will be spread around our great nation, rather than focused on a small set of superstar cities.\nTwo New Laws, Honoring a Fallen Hero, and Supporting Veterans\nI am proud to report that I have had five bills become law in my four years in Congress. That makes me one of the most successful California legislators in Congress.\nThe Identifying Barriers and Best Practices Study Act was passed by the Senate and signed by the President in October. This new law requires the Government Accountability Office to study and report on disability and pension benefits provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs to members of the National Guard and members of reserve components of the Armed Forces.\nIn November, the Information Technology Modernization Centers of Excellence Program Act passed the Senate and was signed into law by the President earlier this month. It requires the General Services Administration to establish an Information Technology Modernization Centers of Excellence Program to help bring state of the art technology and cybersecurity to the federal government. This program makes government more efficient and more helpful to the American people.\nLast year, I introduced a bill renaming the post office in Cupertino, CA after fallen Navy SEAL, Petty Officer 2nd Class (SEAL) Matthew G. Axelson. Axelson was originally from Cupertino. He was killed during combat operations in Afghanistan in 2005. The bill passed the House in September, passed the Senate earlier this month, and was signed into law this week.\nOn December 7th, the House passed the Health Care Access for Urban Native Veterans Act. This bill would authorize the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense to share medical facilities and services with urban Native American organizations.\nWorking to Serve You in the District\nIn March, our Santa Clara office quickly adapted to county health orders and developed protocols for effectively serving constituents while working from home. This included both answering phones live and upgrading our online service system. As a result, our office successfully completed casework for more than 450 COVID-19 related requests, including issues related to small business loans, unemployment assistance and stimulus checks while also resolving casework for over 1,000 constituents with federal agency issues.\nWe were also able to meet the challenge of conducting virtual events since March. In addition to two monthly town halls, I hosted multiple forums and roundtables to tackle issues such as the local response to COVID-19 and wildfires, essential workers' rights, mental health and domestic violence in the age of COVID-19, the US Census, and a Series on Race in the wake of the George Floyd's death. \nA Few of My Op-eds\nHOW WE STOP WAR WITH IRAN\nCNN\nRo Khanna and Bernie Sanders\nBIOMANUFACTURING WILL BRING RURAL AMERICA TO THE FORE IN NATIONAL RESPONSE TO COVID-19\nDes Moines Register\nRo Khanna Tom Vilsack\nGUEST OPINION: REBUILDING OUR ECONOMY WITH HIGHER EDUCATION, APPRENTICESHIPS\nCourier Times\nRo Khanna and Brian Fitzpatrick\nRETHINKING U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY: MASKS, NOT MISSILES\nMercury News\nRo Khanna and William J. Perry", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://lee.house.gov/news/press-releases/congressional-pro-choice-leaders-urge-biden-to-take-immediate-steps-to-protect-reproductive-rights", "Congressional Pro-Choice Leaders Urge Biden to Take Immediate Steps to Protect Reproductive Rights", "2020-12-23", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Barbara Lee", "L000551", "lee.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.23.20\n\t\t\t Congressional Pro-Choice Leaders Urge Biden to Take Immediate Steps to Protect Reproductive Rights \n\t\t\tWashington, D.C. The Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus  led by U.S. Reps. Barbara Lee and (D-CA) and Diana DeGette (D-CO)  sent a letter to President-elect Joe Biden outlining the steps they hope his administration will immediately take to preserve, protect, and advance sexual and reproductive health for everyone in the U.S. and around the world.\r\nIn the letter, which was co-signed by all nine Pro-Choice Caucus Task Force Chairs, the Congressional pro-choice leaders said the House's pro-choice majority in the upcoming Congress presents a unique and timely opportunity to protect American's reproductive rights. And they called on the president-elect to use his executive authority to undo many of the actions taken by the Trump administration in recent years to curtail Americans' access to abortion services.\r\nThe Caucus serves as the first line of defense against anti-choice legislation and regulations,the lawmakers wrote.We are committed to protecting and advancing sexual and reproductive health and stand ready to partner with your administration on policies, regulations, and budgets to ensure that all people are free and equal to exercise bodily autonomy.\r\nIn their letter to Biden, the lawmakers outlined several actions they want the incoming administration to take immediately  including issuing an executive order to, among other things:\r\n \r\nRevoke the Global Gag Rule; \r\nLift the FDA's in-person dispensing requirement for mifepristone, a medication used to safely and effectively end an early pregnancy or treat an early miscarriage.\r\nProhibit states from blocking family planning providers that also provide abortions from participating in Title X;\r\nExpand U.S. foreign assistance support for abortion care to the maximum extent allowed under the Helms amendment, namely by immediately clarifying that funds can be used to support abortion care provided in cases of rape, incest or life endangerment of the pregnant person;\r\nRescind the Trump Administration's birth-control coverage exemption rules, which allow virtually any employer to refuse to cover birth control for their employees, contrary to the ACA;\r\nRescind the Trump Administration's Refusal of Care rule, which invites many individuals and entities to withhold health care services and information from patients without regard for the patient's wellbeing;\r\nRescind the Trump Administration's Public Charge rule, which discourages immigrants from accessing basic services and public programs; and\r\nRescind the 1303 abortion coverage rule, which requires separate billing and payment transactions for abortion coverage provided under certain ACA health plans.\r\n \r\nThe lawmakers also called on the incoming administration to:\r\n \r\nRe-enter the United States into the World Health Organization;\r\nDisband the Commission on Unalienable Rights\r\nRestore funding to the UN Population Fund (UNFPA)\r\nReverse the Trump Administration's restrictions on biomedical research that involves fetal tissue; and\r\nHalt all non-final regulations that will limit access to health care, including reproductive health care.\r\n \r\nIn addition to DeGette and Lee, the letter was signed by: Reps. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Julia Brownley (D-CA), Jackie Speier (D-CA), Ted Deutch (D-FL), Katherine Clark (D-MA), Suzan DelBene (D-WA), Judy Chu (D-CA), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), and Norma Torres (D-CA).\r\nTo read the full text of the lawmakers' letter to the Biden Administration,click here. \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    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://lee.house.gov/news/press-releases/reps-lee-price-schakowsky-meeks-castro-spanberger-and-sherman-spearhead-letter-to-president-elect-biden-with-150-total-signers-urging-diplomatic-steps-to-return-both-iran-and-us-to-jcpoa_", "Reps. Lee, Price, Schakowsky, Meeks, Castro, Spanberger, and Sherman Spearhead Letter to President-elect Biden with 150 Total Signers Urging Diplomatic Steps to Return Both Iran and U.S. to JCPOA", "2020-12-23", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Barbara Lee", "L000551", "lee.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.23.20\n\t\t\t Reps. Lee, Price, Schakowsky, Meeks, Castro, Spanberger, and Sherman Spearhead Letter to President-elect Biden with 150 Total Signers Urging Diplomatic Steps to Return Both Iran and U.S. to JCPOA   \n\t\t\tWashington, D.C.-Today,Representatives Barbara Lee (D-CA), David Price (D-NC),Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Gregory Meeks (D-NY), Joaquin Castro (D-TX), AbigailD.Spanberger (D-VA), and Brad Sherman (D-CA)sent aletter to President-elect Joseph R. Bidenwitha total of150signers expressing support for renewed diplomacy to halt and reverse Iran's nuclear program, to address other pressing issues, and to reduce the likelihood of violent regional conflict. The letter expresses support for both Iran and the U.S. returning to compliance with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also known as the Iran nuclear agreement.The seven members circulating the letter releasedthe following statement:\r\nOne of the most pressing foreign policy challengesfacingthe incoming Biden administration will be halting and reversing Iran's nuclear program,which was left largely unconstrained after President Trump withdrew from theJCPOA.The Trump administration's incoherent and provocative policies toward Iran and our multilateral relationshipsonlyadvanced the Iranian nuclear program,failed to effectively address Iran's other malign behavior, and greatly increased the likelihood of violent confrontation and conflict.\r\nAs Congressional leadersregardless of our support or opposition to the JCPOA in 2015  weareunited in our support for swiftly taking the necessary diplomatic steps to restore constraints on Iran's nuclear program and return both Iran and the United States to compliance with theJCPOAas a starting point for further negotiations. \r\nWe are sending this letter to endorse President-elect Biden's call for diplomacy as the best path to halt and reverseIran's nuclear program, decrease tensions in the region, andfacilitate our nation'sreincorporation into the international community. \r\nThe 150 signatories include the following Members of the U.S. House of Representatives:David Price, Barbara Lee, Jan Schakowsky, Gregory Meeks, Joaquin Castro, AbigailD.Spanberger, and Brad Sherman, Alma S. Adams, Ph.D., Pete Aguilar, Colin Allred, Cindy Axne, Karen Bass, Ami Bera, M.D., Donald S. Beyer Jr., Sanford D. Bishop, Jr., Earl Blumenauer, Lisa Blunt Rochester, Suzanne Bonamici, Julia Brownley, Cheri Bustos, G. K. Butterfield, Salud O. Carbajal, Andr Carson, Sean Casten, Judy Chu, David Cicilline, Gilbert R. Cisneros, Jr., Katherine M. Clark, Yvette D. Clarke, Emanuel Cleaver, II, Steve Cohen, Gerald E. Connolly, Jim Cooper, Jim Costa, Joe Courtney, TJ Cox, Jason Crow, Sharice L. Davids, Danny K. Davis, Peter A. DeFazio, Diana DeGette, Rosa DeLauro, Suzan Delbene, Mark DeSaulnier, Debbie Dingell, Lloyd Doggett, Mike Doyle, Veronica Escobar, Anna Eshoo, Adriano Espaillat, Dwight Evans, Abby Finkenauer, Lizzie Fletcher, Bill Foster, Ruben Gallego, John Garamendi, Jess G. Chuy Garcia, Vicente Gonzalez, Al Green, Ral M. Grijalva, Deb Haaland, Josh Harder, Jahana Hayes, Denny Heck, Brian Higgins, Jim Himes, Steven Horsford, Jared Huffman, Sheila Jackson Lee, Pramila Jayapal, Eddie Bernice Johnson, Henry C. Hank Johnson, Jr., Marcy Kaptur, William R. Keating, Robin L. Kelly, Joseph P. Kennedy, III, Ro Khanna, Daniel T. Kildee, Derek Kilmer, Andy Kim, Ann Kirkpatrick, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Ann McLane Kuster, James R. Langevin, Rick Larsen, John B. Larson, Brenda L. Lawrence, Andy Levin, Mike Levin, Dave Loebsack, Zoe Lofgren, Alan Lowenthal, Stephen F. Lynch, Tom Malinowski, Carolyn B. Maloney, Doris Matsui, Betty McCollum, James P. McGovern, Jerry McNerney, Gwen Moore, Seth Moulton, Jerrold Nadler, Richard E. Neal, Joe Neguse, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Jimmy Panetta, Bill Pascrell, Jr., Donald M. Payne, Jr., Ed Perlmutter, Chellie Pingree, Stacey E. Plaskett, Mark Pocan, Katie Porter, Ayanna Pressley, Mike Quigley, Jamie Raskin, Harley Rouda, Lucille Roybal-Allard, C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, Bobby L. Rush, Tim Ryan, Linda T. Snchez, John Sarbanes, Mary Gay Scanlon, Adam Schiff, Kim Schrier, M.D., Robert C. Bobby Scott, Jos E. Serrano, Albio Sires, Adam Smith, Jackie Speier, Eric Swalwell, Mark Takano, Mike Thompson, Dina Titus, Rashida Tlaib, Paul D. Tonko, Norma J. Torres, Lori Trahan, Lauren Underwood, Filemon Vela, Nydia M. Velzquez, Peter Visclosky, Maxine Waters, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Peter Welch, Jennifer Wexton, and John Yarmuth.\r\nA copy of the letter can be viewedhereand the text is copied below.\r\nDear President-elect Biden:\r\nCongratulations on your election to become the next President of the United States, and we wish you success on behalf of our nation. We particularly welcome your commitment to the restoration of American leadership and diplomacy. With respect to Iran, we agree that diplomacy is the best path to halt and reverse Iran's nuclear program, decrease tensions in the region, and facilitate our nation's reincorporation into the international community. We are united in our support for swiftly taking the necessary diplomatic steps to restore constraints on Iran's nuclear program and return both Iran and the United States to compliance with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) as a starting point for further negotiations.\r\nThe JCPOA, an agreement you helped champion, verifiably constrained Iran's nuclear program until after the United States' unilateral withdrawal. Since 2019, Iran has changed course by increasing its stockpile of low-enriched uranium and enriching uranium to a higher purity level, while also installing advanced centrifuges beyond the agreement's limits. As a result, Iran's breakout time of one year, as estimated under the JCPOA by the U.S. intelligence community, has decreased to a few months.\r\nThe Trump administration's maximum pressure campaign has left Iran with an unconstrained nuclear program, failed effectively to address Iran's other malign behavior, and greatly increased the likelihood of violent confrontation and conflict. This incoherent and provocative policy has increased regional tension and attacks against our troops and our partners and emboldened Iranian hardliners. As a result, the risk of potentially devastating miscalculation remains unnecessarily high. Re-engaging multilaterally on preventing the development of an Iranian nuclear weapon and re-opening channels of communication are essential to reversing these dangerous developments.\r\nThe Trump administration's unilateral withdrawal from the internationally negotiated and UN-endorsed JCPOA undermined global non-proliferation efforts, fractured U.S. relationships with key allies, diminished U.S. leadership and influence, and reduced U.S. leverage in addressing other national security issues with Iran. Iran's other destabilizing activities in the region, such as its support for terrorism, development of ballistic missiles, human rights violations against its own people, and holding of foreign political prisoners, including Americans, warrant strong and coordinated international diplomacy. The JCPOA does not prevent our ability to address these destabilizing activities. An unrestrained Iranian nuclear program would exacerbate these other threats posed by Iran and inspire a nuclear arms race in the Middle East.\r\nWe know preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon through diplomacy will be a top priority of your administration, and we strongly believe that the JCPOA provides a critical framework to achieve this goal effectively. We strongly endorse your call for Iran to return to strict compliance with the nuclear deal, the United States to rejoin the agreement, and subsequent follow-on negotiations. We understand that returning to the agreement will require the selective lifting of some sanctions and rigorous implementation to verifiably ensure Iranian compliance.\r\nAmericans have seen first-hand how withdrawing from multilateral agreements and abandoning our allies jeopardizes our national security goals. As a result, it is critical to not be discouraged by efforts to preclude diplomacy. Reinstating our international agreements and engaging in sustained diplomacy are the best ways to achieve long-term non-proliferation and urgent national security objectives, including the prevention of Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon and the laying of a foundation for progress on other critical issues.\r\nWe look forward to working with you on these important matters.\r\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pelosi.house.gov/news/press-releases/pelosi-statement-on-president-trump-veto-of-national-defense-authorization-act", "Pelosi Statement on President Trump Veto of National Defense Authorization Act", "2020-12-23", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CA", "Nancy Pelosi", "P000197", "pelosi.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Contact: Speaker's Press Office,\n202-226-7616\n\nSan Francisco  Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued this statement on the President's veto of the bipartisan, bicameral National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA):\n\nThe President's veto of the National Defense Authorization Act is an act of staggering recklessness that harms our troops, endangers our security and undermines the will of the bipartisan Congress. For 60 years, the NDAA has been passed on a bipartisan and bicameral basis.\n\nIn a time when our country was just targeted with a massive cyberattack, it is particularly hard to understand the reasoning behind the President's irresponsibility. Disturbingly, Trump is using his final hours in office to sow chaos, including by denying our servicemembers a long-overdue pay raise and hazard duty pay; our families paid family leave, child care, housing and health protections; and our veterans the benefits that they need and deserve. The President's veto also deprives our country and allies of tools to protect global security  including for cyber-security.\n\nTrump's veto violates our national values, as it would block action to rename military bases and infrastructure named after those who served in the Confederacy  which is supported by an overwhelming majority of the American people, by House and Senate Democrats and Republicans and by our servicemembers and top military leaders.\n\nNext week, December 28, the House will take up the veto override with bipartisan support.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://ruiz.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/relief-bill-reaction-many-say-it-s-too-little-too-late", "Relief Bill Reaction; Many Say Its Too Little, Too Late", "2020-12-23", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Raul Ruiz", "R000599", "ruiz.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The financial help that many have been waiting for is finally here, but is it enough, and will we be seeing more? NBC Palm Springs has reaction from local political leaders and residents that stress more aid is needed.\nI think this will take us through the recovery, said Steven Mnuchin, United States Secretary of Treasury.\nAnyone who thinks this bill is enough doesn't know what's going on in America, said Sen. Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority Leader.\nLocal political leaders are pointing out how dire the situation is for people out of work.\nMany of our small business owners are on the verge of losing their business, the unemployed are on the verge of losing their unemployment insurance enhancement. families are struggling, we are desperate in getting our kids back to a safe school, saidDr. RaulRuiz, U.S. Representative, 36th District.\nLawmakers say after 8 months, it's disappointing how little there is for working families, but how much there is for President Trump's pet projects.\nI think it's a crying shame that they would wait till after Christmas, I mean $600 dollars is not a lot, but when you have nothing, it's a lot, said Sandra Goeppner, Palm Springs Resident.\nLocal Business owners say they can't help compare the aid people are getting in other countries.\nI have friends in other countries, not in the United States, like Canada, Australia. They have been taking 5-6 grand or four thousand dollars every single month since the beginning of the pandemic. I think when you tell me to stay home, I should get the same amount of money I used to make before, said Rami, Owner of Let's Smoke.\nTo some, more direct aid would just be a smarter investment.\n1200 was better but look at some countries, they've been providing some insularly income every month. helping people get through it. that is a good investment versus letting people get desperate and starve and get kicked out of their homes, said Eric Gibson, traveling from Lubbock, Texas.\nLawmakers say much more aid is still needed to help pay for things like first responders and teachers.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://ruiz.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/ruiz-secures-victories-salton-sea-medicare-enrollees-patients-and-more", "Ruiz Secures Victories for Salton Sea, Medicare Enrollees, Patients, and More in End-Of-Year Funding Bill", "2020-12-23", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Raul Ruiz", "R000599", "ruiz.house.gov", "ruiz", "https://ruiz.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 This week, Congress passed H.R. 133, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, which included several measures championed by Rep. Raul Ruiz, M.D. From additional funding for projects at the Salton Sea, to closing the coverage gap for seniors enrolling in Medicare Part B; from ending surprise billing to making major investments in cybersecurity education, Rep. Ruiz secured key victories for constituents in California's 36th Congressional District in this year's government funding bill.\n\n\"I am thrilled to have delivered outcomes for patients, seniors, families, students, and more in my district,\" said Rep. Ruiz. \"This legislation includes my measures to end surprise medical billing once and for all; expand Medicare coverage for seniors by closing coverage gaps in Medicare Part B; provide additional funding for projects at the Salton Sea; and increase scholarships that can be used for cybersecurity education by CSUSB and their Palm Desert campus. I am proud of the results delivered to my constituents.\"\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\nBelow are Dr. Ruiz's priorities included in H.R. 133, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021:\n\nEnding Surprise Billing \u2013 H.R. 133 will prohibit surprise bills being sent to patients from unanticipated out of network care, using key provisions from Dr. Ruiz's bill, H.R. 3502, the Protecting People from Surprise Medical Bills Act.\n\nClosing the Coverage Gap for Seniors: A key measure in Dr. Ruiz's bill, H.R. 2477, the BENES Act, was included in the H.R. 133 to close the Medicare Party B coverage gap if seniors don't sign up immediately upon turning 65.\n\nFunding for Salton Sea Projects: H.R. 133 included $153 million for investigations of Army Corps projects and direction to the Army Corps to carry out the investigation of a Salton Sea project. Also included is $559 million for water resources projects and direction to the Bureau of Reclamation to consider Salton Sea projects for funding. Dr. Ruiz advocated for additional Salton Sea funding this year.\n\nSalton Sea Project Authorization: H.R. 133 included language authored by Dr. authorizing the Army Corps to take the first step towards construction of the Northern Perimeter Lake Project at the Salton Sea.\n\nIncreased Funding for Law Enforcement Mental Health Programs: Dr. Ruiz was successful in increasing the funding for Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness grants from $5 million to $8 million in FY21 in H.R. 133.\n\nFunding for Teaching Health Centers \u2013 H.R. 133 includes Teaching Health Center funding for 3 years, which is the longest funding extension of teaching health centers since it was first enacted in the Affordable Care Act.\n\nFunding for Cybersecurity Programs \u2013 H.R. 133 includes $60 million for Cybercorps: Scholarships for Service and support for the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) Challenge which will boost cybersecurity education activities by CSUSB and their Palm Desert campus, which Dr. Ruiz advocated for this year.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://torres.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/torres-secures-funding-address-student-hunger-homelessness-basic-needs", "Torres Secures Funding to Address Student Hunger, Homelessness & Basic Needs", "2020-12-23", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Norma J. Torres", "T000474", "torres.house.gov", "torres", "https://torres.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) today announced that she secured $5 million to fund a pilot program of her legislation, the BASIC Act, as part of the Omnibus Appropriations package that passed out of Congress last night.\n\nThen-Senator and now Vice President-elect Kamala Harris introduced the counterpart of the Basic Assistance for Students in College (BASIC) Act in the U.S. Senate.\n\nThe legislation is designed to ensure college students \u2013 particularly Pell Grant recipients, attendees of community colleges and minority-serving institutions \u2013 are able to meet their basic needs while pursuing their education. The pilot program will provide grants to ensure institutions of higher learning have the resources they need to support their students' day-to-day needs, such as food pantries, child care and temporary housing.\n\n\"No student should have to fall sleep in a car because their rent money went to tuition, or hobble together a meal from someone else's scraps just to make ends meet,\" Rep. Torres said. \"If fully enacted, the BASIC Act will empower colleges and universities across the country to better meet their students' most fundamental needs, and prevent these hardships that impact young people across the country. The pilot program launching as a result of the funds I secured last night is only a down payment on the full potential of the BASIC Act, but it will make a world of difference to deserving your students and demonstrate to my colleagues in Congress why full funding is so important for this vital piece of legislation.\"\n\nThe Omnibus Appropriations package passed Congress on December 21st and now awaits a signature from the president to become law.\n\nMore information about the BASIC Act is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/122320", "Dear Colleague on Unanimous Consent Request to Increase Economic Impact Payments", "2020-12-23", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Nancy Pelosi", "P000197", "www.speaker.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Dear Democratic Colleague,\nJust when you think you have seen it all, last night, the President said that he would possibly veto the bicameral agreement negotiated between Republicans and Democrats. He said he would do so, unless the economic impact payments were increased to $2,000.\nIn the bipartisan negotiations, Leader Schumer and I repeatedly asked Republicans what would be the highest number the President would accept for direct payments, and they responded with Sphinx-like silence. In the negotiations, they would never go above $600 and in some cases, proposed $500.\nYesterday, I said that Democrats would go to the Floor and ask for Unanimous Consent to bring up a standalone bill to increase the payments. To do so requires the agreement of the Republican Leader. This agreement is necessary in the House and in the Senate.\nIf the President truly wants to join us in $2,000 payments, he should call upon Leader McCarthy to agree to our Unanimous Consent request.\nWe are scheduled to go in for a pro forma session tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. We are awaiting word from Leader Hoyer as to whether Leader McCarthy will agree to or reject our Unanimous Consent request.\nThe entire country knows that it is urgent for the President to sign this bill, both to provide the coronavirus relief and to keep government open.\nLet us pray!", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/122320-0", "Pelosi Statement on President Trump Veto of National Defense Authorization Act", "2020-12-23", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Nancy Pelosi", "P000197", "www.speaker.gov", null, null, "legacy", "San Francisco  Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued this statement on the President's veto of the bipartisan, bicameral National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA):\nThe President's veto of the National Defense Authorization Act is an act of staggering recklessness that harms our troops, endangers our security and undermines the will of the bipartisan Congress. For 60 years, the NDAA has been passed on a bipartisan and bicameral basis. \nIn a time when our country was just targeted with a massive cyberattack, it is particularly hard to understand the reasoning behind the President's irresponsibility. Disturbingly, Trump is using his final hours in office to sow chaos, including by denying our servicemembers a long-overdue pay raise and hazard duty pay; our families paid family leave, child care, housing and health protections; and our veterans the benefits that they need and deserve. The President's veto also deprives our country and allies of tools to protect global security  including for cyber-security.\nTrump's veto violates our national values, as it would block action to rename military bases and infrastructure named after those who served in the Confederacy  which is supported by an overwhelming majority of the American people, by House and Senate Democrats and Republicans and by our servicemembers and top military leaders.\nNext week, December 28, the House will take up the veto override with bipartisan support.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://roybal-allard.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401779", "Congresswoman Roybal-Allard Statement on Alex Padillas Appointment to U.S. Senate", "2020-12-22", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CA", "Lucille Roybal-Allard", "R000486", "roybal-allard.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "I am thrilled with Governor Newsom's decision to appoint California's Secretary of State, Alex Padilla, to serve as United States Senator from California. Secretary Padilla will serve for the remainder of Vice President-elect Kamala Harris' term in the United States Senate.Secretary Padilla is an Angeleno through and through, and I am proud to have watched his career as he has devoted himself in service to the people of California. From his role on the Los Angeles City Council as a member and later as president, to his work in the California State Senate, and finally as our Secretary of State, Alex has shown that he is a fierce advocate for Californians. Alex is a role model to so many Latino youth in our state, and I know that his appointment as our senator will show every Latino child that anything is possible in our nation.I know that Alex will take his love of our state to the U.S. Senate, and I look forward to working with him in the 117th Congress. I congratulate his family, his wife Angela, and his three sons on this historic achievement.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.feinstein.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=31DD0C4A-90BC-4677-AA6C-BC2465159C56", "Feinstein, Collins Bill to Create Smithsonian for Womens History Passes Congress", "2020-12-22", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CA", "Dianne Feinstein", "F000062", "www.feinstein.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WashingtonSenators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) today announced that the Smithsonian Women's History Museum Act passed the Senate as part of the yearend omnibus funding package. This bipartisan legislation will establish a Smithsonian museum honoring American women.\r\n Women have been a central part of American history from our founding to the present day in every way, whether it's science, business, the arts or politics, said Senator Feinstein. A permanent museum to celebrate those contributions and tell the stories of so many incredible women is long overdue. I'm pleased to see our bill to establish a Smithsonian museum for women's history finally pass.\r\n As our Women's Suffrage Centennial year draws to a close, I am delighted that Congress was able to work together in a bipartisan way to pass this legislation, said Senator Collins. I look forward to the creation of a museum in our nation's capital that celebrates the invaluable contributions women have made to our nation.\r\n \"On behalf of the Commissioners of the US Commission to study the potential for an American Women's History Museum, we offer our sincere praise and gratitude to Senators Collins and Feinstein for their years of leadership on this momentous piece of legislation. The personal energy and drive that they put forth was supported by ideas and input from women and men from across the country, of all ages and walks of life, in addition to leading authorities and experts on women's history and the museum community, said Jane Abraham, chair of the American Museum of Women's History Congressional Commission. We enthusiastically look forward to the day when our citizens and visitors visit the Smithsonian American Women's History Museum and gain a much deeper understanding and appreciation of the role that women played in building America. Congratulations Senators Collins and Feinstein!\"\r\n In December 2014, Congress created a congressional commission to study the potential for an American museum of women's history in Washington, D.C. This bipartisan commission unanimously recommended the creation of a new Smithsonian museum dedicated to women's history. Incorporating their recommendations, this bill will establish a national museum to collect, study and create programs on a wide spectrum of American women's experiences, contributions and history.\r\n The bipartisan bill is supported by the American Historical Association, the National Coalition for History, the Women's Business Development Center, Women in Aerospace, the National Foundation for Women Legislators, Women in Defense, the Women's Suffrage Centennial Commission and many other organizations.\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=7259109A-A6C0-44CA-8729-2E31E04A3482", "Feinstein: Padilla Excellent Choice for Senate Appointment", "2020-12-22", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CA", "Dianne Feinstein", "F000062", "www.feinstein.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WashingtonSenator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today released the following statement on Governor Newsom's decision to appoint California Secretary of State Alex Padilla to fill Senator Kamala Harris' Senate seat:\r\nGovernor Newsom has made an excellent choice by appointing Alex Padilla to fill Kamala Harris' Senate seat. I very much look forward to working closely with Alex and I believe that together we can be a strong team for California's benefit.\r\nAlex has a long record of public service at all levels of government. Before his tenure as California's secretary of state, Alex served eight years in the State Senate and another eight years on the Los Angeles City Council.\r\nCrucially, Alex is someone who understands the many challenges that Californians are facing, and I believe he is very well-suited to fight for them for years to come. I also believe Alex brings a critically important voice to the Senate as the first Latino senator from California.\r\nI look forward to continuing to work with Kamala Harris as vice president and look forward to getting to work with Alex as soon as possible.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://aguilar.house.gov/2020/12/22/aguilar-votes-pass-bipartisan-covid-19-relief/", "Aguilar Votes to Pass Bipartisan COVID-19 Relief", "2020-12-22", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Pete Aguilar", "A000371", "aguilar.house.gov", "aguilar", "https://aguilar.house.gov/category/congress_press_release/", "scraper", "Press Releases\n\nAguilar Votes to Pass Bipartisan COVID-19 Relief\n\nRep. Pete Aguilar voted for H.R. 133, a comprehensive legislative package that funds the government in Fiscal Year 2021 and provides relief to the American people during the ongoing coronavirus crisis. Some of the bill\u2019s key provisions include:\n\nDirect payments of up to $600 for each adult and child in a household, including citizens in mixed-status families;\n\n$25 billion for rent-assistance programs and a federal ban on evictions through January 2021;\n\n$13 billion for nutrition assistance programs;\n\n$10 billion for child care assistance to help child care providers open;\n\nMore than $300 billion in small-business assistance funding through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL), including dedicated funding for Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and Minority Depository Institutions (MDIs);\n\nAn extension of Unemployment Insurance and an extra $300 a week in unemployment benefits;\n\nTax credits to support employers providing paid sick leave;\n\nAn expansion of Pell grants that will reach more than 500,000 new students and ensure more than 1.5 million students can access the maximum benefit;\n\nFunding to accelerate the distribution of vaccines and ensure vaccines are free for everyone.\n\n\u201cThis bill will provide much-needed relief to Inland Empire families and small businesses as we enter the new year, and will help ensure members of our community can receive the vaccine free-of-charge as soon as possible. I welcome this bipartisan compromise, but I will continue to fight to help communities like San Bernardino County navigate this crisis. I look forward to working with the incoming Biden Administration to build on this support to provide lasting economic relief to our region and end the spread of this virus,\u201d said Aguilar.\n\nRep. Aguilar serves as Vice Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, the committee responsible for drafting and negotiating funding bills like H.R. 133, and was recently elected to serve as Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://bass.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-bass-congratulates-assemblymember-dr-shirley-weber-appointment", "Rep. Bass Congratulates Assemblymember Dr. Shirley Weber on Appointment as California's Secretary of State", "2020-12-22", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CA", "Karen Bass", "B001270", "bass.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON - Today, Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA) issued the following statement after Assemblymember Dr. Shirley Weber was appointed to serve as California's Secretary of State. Prior to being elected to the California State Assembly in 2012, Dr. Weber served on the San Diego Board of Education, and as a Professor of African-American Studies at San Diego State University.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bass.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-bass-congratulates-california-secretary-state-alex-padilla-united", "Rep. Bass Congratulates California Secretary of State Alex Padilla on United States Senate Appointment", "2020-12-22", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CA", "Karen Bass", "B001270", "bass.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "I've known Alex dating back to when he served our city as the youngest-ever President of the Los Angeles City Council. We served together in the State legislature where he passed landmark legislation to make California the first state in the nation to require chain restaurants to post calorie information directly on menus. More recently as our Secretary of State, Alex modernized our electoral process and led the effort to provide ballots by mail statewide so Californians could safely vote in this year's election.  \n\t  \n\tToday, our state gains yet another champion following a distinguished line of individuals who have shattered glass ceilings and hurdled obstacles in their way. After then-Senator Harris's historic election in 2016 as the first woman of color to represent California, we now have another historic barrier shattered as Alex will be the first Latino to serve California in the United States Senate.  \n\t  \n\tI look forward to continuing our fight for progress and representation in all facets of our government and am excited to work with Senator Padilla in the years to come.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bera.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-bera-votes-to-provide-urgent-relief-to-families-and-small-businesses-impacted-by-covid-19", "Rep. Bera Votes to Provide Urgent Relief to Families and Small Businesses Impacted by COVID-19", "2020-12-22", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Ami Bera", "B001287", "bera.house.gov", "bera", "https://bera.house.gov/news", "scraper", "Congressman Ami Bera, M.D. (CA-07) voted today to provide urgently needed relief to American families and small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. H.R. 133, which passed the House with overwhelming bipartisan support, provides $900 billion in emergency coronavirus relief and sufficient funding to fund the federal government through Fiscal Year 2021.\n\n\"Even though we're almost a year into this pandemic, a record number of Americans continue to die each day from the COVID-19 virus while the number of unemployed workers has reached historic numbers. As we enter the holiday season and with public health experts anticipating the next few months to be the deadliest part of the pandemic, American families and small businesses need to know that help is on the way,\" said Rep. Bera. \"While today's vote is an important step in defeating this virus and getting our economy on a path to recovery, much more assistance is needed. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the House and Senate, and with the incoming Biden Administration, to provide additional support to Americans early next year.\"\n\nThe COVID-19 relief package will:\n\nProvide direct payment checks to Americans worth up to $600 per adult and child;\n\nSupport small businesses with over $284 billion for first and second forgivable Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans;\n\nHelp keep families housed with $25 billion in rental assistance and an extension of the eviction moratorium through January 30, 2021;\n\nExpand nutrition assistance by $13 billion through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to help relieve the current hunger crisis;\n\nExtend increased unemployment insurance benefits for Americans out of work; and\n\nAccelerate the free and equitable distribution of safe COVID-19 vaccines.\n\nIncluded in the package are provisions championed by Representative Bera to end surprise medical billing for unexpected out-of-network emergency and scheduled care.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://carbajal.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=774", "Carbajal Statement on Appointment of Alex Padilla to the US Senate", "2020-12-22", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Salud Carbajal", "C001112", "carbajal.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC -- Rep. Salud Carbajal issued the following statement after Governor Gavin Newsom appointed California Secretary of State Alex Padilla to replace Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris in the Senate:\r\nCongratulations to my dear friend Alex Padilla! I've known Alex since we were both young staffers and, in the years since, he has proven himself to be a dedicated and effective public servant. Governor Newsom made an excellent choice in Alex, who will make history as the first Latino to represent California in the Senate.\r\nAs the son of Mexican immigrants, Alex embodies the American Dream. His story is a familiar one for many Latinos like me, and I know he will be a fierce advocate for working families and equal opportunity in the Senate. I'm excited for my friend, for our state, and for our country.\r\nRep. Salud Carbajal represents California's 24th congressional district, encompassing Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and part of Ventura County.\r\n###\r\nVideo of Congressman Carbajal congratulating Secretary of State Padilla on the appointment is available here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://cardenas.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cardenas-statement-on-padilla-appointment-to-us-senate", "C\u00e1rdenas Statement on Padilla Appointment to U.S. Senate", "2020-12-22", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Tony C\u00e1rdenas", "C001097", "cardenas.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 22, 2020\n\t\t\t Crdenas Statement on Padilla Appointment to U.S. Senate \n\t\t\tSAN FERNANDO VALLEY, CA Congressman Tony Crdenas (CA-29) releases the following statement on Governor Gavin Newsom's decision to appoint California Secretary of State Alex Padilla to succeed Vice President-elect Kamala Harris in the United States Senate:\r\nI am so incredibly proud of one of my closest and dearest friends, Alex Padilla, on being named the next U.S. Senator for the state of California. I've known Alex for over 25 years. A dedicated public servant of more than 20 years and a fierce advocate for working families, Alex has never forgotten his roots and has been an effective leader throughout his career. Someone who is constantly breaking barriers. Alex will be the first Latino to represent California in the U.S. Senate. Alex and I grew up two blocks away from each other, in a neighborhood where we were told we would not amount to anything. We came up in public service together. We served together on the LA City Council and we'll serve together again in the U.S. Capitol.\r\nAs Secretary of State, he's worked tirelessly for all Californians and to protect the integrity of our election systems. I know he'll bring that same dedication and generous spirit to the United States Senate. Looking forward to our continued work together.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://costa.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/costa-secures-funding-critical-valley-services", "Costa Secures Funding for Critical Valley Services", "2020-12-22", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Jim Costa", "C001059", "costa.house.gov", "costa", "https://costa.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "December 22, 2020\n\nFRESNO \u2013 Congressman Jim Costa (CA-16) released the following statement after the passage of H.R. 133, a $1.4 trillion omnibus package that makes strong investments in safe and stable communities by expanding access to housing, tackling food insecurity and improving access to healthcare:\n\n\"I'm pleased to provide more funding for programs that benefit the people of the valley,\" said Costa. \"Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, our communities are hurting like never before. This funding will go a long way in improving health care, helping our agriculture industry and ensuring that our most underserved residents continue receiving the assistance they need while we battle this global crisis.\"\n\nThe following programs benefit the San Joaquin Valley:\n\nImproving Valley Healthcare by:\n\nProviding 1,000 new Medicare-funded graduate medical education residency positions, which will benefit rural hospitals serving in areas with medical professional shortages, and those that have reached caps for medical residency.\n\nAssisting Rural Communities with:\n\n$730 million to expand broadband services;\n\n$24 billion for the Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program\n\n$1.4 billion for rental assistance for low-income families and the elderly.\n\nProviding for Valley Families with:\n\n$6 billion in funding for Women, Infants and Children program (WIC);\n\n$25 billion for child nutrition programs, including providing free or reduced-priced school lunches and snacks for children who qualify;\n\n$114 billion for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP) program.\n\nAssisting Valley Farmers by providing:\n\n$559 million for water resources projects, including those authorized by the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act, including:\n\n$206 million for improvements to the Friant-Kern Canal;\n\n$13.7 million for pre-construction for Sites Reservoir;\n\n$11.9 million for expansion of the Los Vaqueros Reservoir;\n\n$3 million for subsidence correction for Delta Mendota Canal;\n\n$1.7 million for San Luis Reservoir improvements; which begins the process for the seismic retro fit and increasing water supply behind the reservoir.\n\n$6 million for the control and eradication of invasive pests such as the navel orangeworm, nutria and the spotted lanternfly.\n\nFunding Conservation Efforts with:\n\n$1.5 million for monitoring Atmospheric Rivers to help better monitor and predict strength and intensity of storms;\n\n$900 million for the Land Water Conservation Fund;\n\n$5 billion for Wildland Fire Management;\n\n$2.7 billion for Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds;\n\n$91 million for Brownfields Cleanups;\n\n$90 million for Diesel Emissions Reduction Grants (DERA).", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://costa.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/costa-welcomes-long-awaited-covid-deal", "Costa Welcomes Long-awaited COVID Deal", "2020-12-22", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CA", "Jim Costa", "C001059", "costa.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "(FRESNO, CA)  Congressman Jim Costa (CA-16) released the following statement after House passage of stimulus legislation to provide needed relief to the American people:\n\t\t\t\t After months of impasse, Congress can finally deliver for the American people, said Costa. As a member of the Problem Solvers Caucus, I worked with members of the House and Senate on a bipartisan basis to forge a compromise that will provide overdue support to Americans still reeling from the pandemic. While it doesn't respond to all our needs, this is an important step that will buy the American people time as we look forward to more comprehensive relief next year.The deal, which was largely based on the Problem Solvers Caucus framework that Rep. Costa helped craft, includes important funding to strengthen our healthcare response, increase nutrition assistance, extend federal unemployment benefits, and provide small business relief:To provide financial relief to Americans:\n\t\t\t\tProvides $166 billion in in direct checks to Americans including $600 to individuals making up to $75,000 per year, $1200 to couples making up to $150,000 per year and an additional $600 per child.\n\t\t\t\t\tExtends the deadline for states and cities to use unspent money approved for them by the Cares Act, giving governments until year's end before the money must be returned.\n\t\t\t\tTo ensure Americans' health and safety: \n\t\t\t\tInvests $69 billion for testing, contact tracing and vaccine development and distribution to\n\t\t\t\t\tExtends Provider Relief Fund (PRF) funding for one year\n\t\t\t\t\tProvides $250 million for the FCC COVID-19 Telehealth Program to support efforts of healthcare providers to address coronavirus\n\t\t\t\tTo assist families and vulnerable communities: \n\t\t\t\tProvides $13 billion in total funding for nutrition assistance, including:\n\t\t\t\t\t\tTemporarily increases individual monthly Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by 15 percent for 6 months\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpands the Pandemic-EBT program to cover families with children in childcare\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tProvides $400 million in funding for The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), including funds for storage and administration, to support food banks and food pantries\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tProvides increased funding for school and childcare meal programs and benefits for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tExtends CARES Act unemployment assistance for16weeks withfederal supplemental unemployment insurance benefits expanded by $300 per week\n\t\t\t\t\tProvides $25 billion for rentaland housingassistance grants and extends eviction moratorium until Jan. 31, 2021\n\t\t\t\t\tProvides $10 billion for a new Child Care Stabilization Fund Grant program for childcare providers\n\t\t\t\t\tProvides $7 billion for broadband funding to bridge the digital divide and ensure affordable access to broadband during the COVID 19 pandemic\n\t\t\t\t\tProvides $54 billion in education funding, including emergency relief for K-12 and higher education\n\t\t\t\t\tExtends Student loan deferment to April 2021\n\t\t\t\tFor our small businesses: \n\t\t\t\tProvides $325 billion in funding for the Small Business Administration, including:\n\t\t\t\t\t\tStreamlines PPP loan forgiveness for loans under $150k\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tProvides eligibility for a second round of PPP loan eligibility, including 501 (c)(6) organizations, live venue operators, and restaurants\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tProvides $20 billion in additional funding for Economic Injury and Disaster Loan (EIDL) Grants\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tAs the representative for one of the top producing agricultural districts in the country, Congressman Costa played a pivotal role in strengthening and stabilizing our food supply chains, including protecting our food workers:\n\t\t\t\tOur food industry workers are critical to ensuring that no American goes hungry, said Costa. I'm thankful that our leaders recognized how important food security is to our national security and agreed to adopt the protections I outlined for essential farm workers.\n\t\t\t\tEnsuring the integrity of our food supply chains and assisting farmers, farmworkers, and producers:\n\t\t\t\tProvides $13billionin total funding foragriculture, including:\n\t\t\t\t\t\tStrengthens COVID-19 worker protections for our agricultural labor force on farms, in food processing and distribution facilities, and other food organizations\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t$100 million for the Specialty Crop Block Grant program\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t$400 million for a new Dairy Donation Program\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t$75 millionfor the Farming Opportunities Training and Outreach Programforsmall, disadvantaged, minority, and veteran farmers", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://eshoo.house.gov/media/press-releases/eshoo-casts-vote-coronavirus-relief-and-annual-government-spending-package", "Eshoo Casts Vote for Coronavirus Relief and Annual Government Spending Package", "2020-12-22", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Anna Eshoo", "E000215", "eshoo.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. Representative Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA) voted yesterday forthe $900 billion coronavirus relief package and $1.4 trillion annual government spending bill to provide desperately needed assistance to the American people and defeat COVID-19.\nThis aid package is a lifeline to the American people who continue to struggle as a result of the pandemic and it's the product of months of exhaustive bipartisan negotiations and compromise, said Rep. Eshoo. The package provides billions in new funding to help us stamp out the virus through testing, treatment, and vaccines; a new round of direct payments to individuals and families; hundreds of billions of dollars in new funding for struggling businesses; an extension of unemployment benefits and a weekly $300 federal benefit for the unemployed; financial assistance for renters and an extension of the eviction moratorium; and increased nutrition benefits for families and children. The package will also lower health care costs by ending surprise medical billing while strengthening and supporting community health centers and local hospitals. These are major wins for my constituents and the American people.\nNo compromise is perfect and I'm deeply disappointed that aid for states and local governments and our frontline health care workers and other essential employees working at the state and local level were excluded from this deal, Rep. Eshoo continued. I'm also disappointed the Administration and the Senate Majority Leader would not allow restaurants and their workers to receive our help. With 217 bipartisan cosponsors on the RESTAURANTS Act, these businesses and their workers should have been in this legislation. Nonetheless, this package is a major down payment in our work to tackle this unprecedented crisis and I'm hopeful that Congress will come together in the new year under a new administration to provide more relief and assistance to all who need it.\nThe coronavirus relief package includes:\n A new round of direct payments worth up to $600 per adult and child;\n\t\t\n\tAn extension of Unemployment Insurance benefits for millions and an additional $300 per-week federal unemployment benefit for Americans out of work;\n\t\t\n\t$284 billion for additional small business loans under the Paycheck Protection Program;\n\t\t\n\t$13 billion in increased nutrition assistance for families and children to help relieve the COVID hunger crisis;\n\t\t\n\t$10 billion for child care assistance to help get parents back to work and keep child care providers open;\n\t\t\n\tAn eviction moratorium and $25 billion to help renters pay their rent and stay in their homes;\n\t\t\n\t$82 billion in funding for colleges and K-12 schools to prevent students from falling behind;\n\t\t\n\tBillions of dollars to ensure the free, timely, and equitable distribution of safe, effective vaccines and an aggressive national testing strategy; and\n\t\t\n\t$7 billion in broadband and connectivity funding.\n The package also ends surprise medical billing and includes the following provisions authored or co-authored by Rep. Eshoo:\n H.R. 5534, the Comprehensive Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage for Kidney Transplant Patients Act which extends Medicare coverage for immunosuppressive drugs for kidney transplant patients;\n\t\t\n\tH.R. 1520, the Purple Book Continuity Act, which will help bring biosimilar drugs to market faster by increasing patent and exclusivity transparency;\n\t\t\n\tH.R. 6814, the Supporting Connectivity for Higher Education Students in Need Act, which creates a new program to expand internet connectivity for low-income students so they can continue their studies during the pandemic as colleges begin another semester of remote learning;\n\t\t\n\tH.R. 1420, the Energy Efficient Government Technology Act, which requires government agencies to develop plans to implement best practices for energy management, purchase more energy efficient information and communications technologies, and submit to periodic evaluation of their data centers for energy efficiency; and\n\t\t\n\tH.R. 2165, the 9-1-1 Fee Integrity Act which requires by statute that 9-1-1 fees can only be used for 9-1-1 purposes and prevents states from diverting 9-1-1 fees collected for unrelated purposes.\n In addition to pandemic relief, the bill provides an addition $1.4 billion to fund the government through the remainder of the fiscal year, avoiding a costly government shutdown before the holidays, and invests in critical priorities, including clean energy, affordable housing, public schools, and broadband. Rep. Eshoo secured a number of important wins including:\n $15 million for the Pancreatic Cancer Research Program at the DOD;\n\t\t\n\t$42.9 billion for the NIH for forward thinking investments in medical research;\n\t\t\n\t$597 million for critical biodefense and public health emergency preparedness at BARDA, plus $20 billion in emergency funding to support the manufacturing and procurement of COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics;\n\t\t\n\t$350 million for the Children's Hospitals Graduate Medical Education Program to support pediatric medical residents' training;\n\t\t\n\t$5.4 million for research on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome at the CDC to better understand this terrible disease;\n\t\t\n\t$100 million for the electrification of Caltrain;\n\t\t\n\t$8.9 million for environmental conservation of the San Francisco Bay;\n\t\t\n\t$33 million for construction of the Linac Coherent Light Source upgrade (LCLS-II) at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory;\n\t\t\n\t$85.2 million for the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) at NASA Ames; and\n\t\t\n\tDedicated funding for the National Science Foundation and National Institute of Standards and Technology to expand AI R&D, including with a focus onincreasing AI workforcediversity anddeveloping a framework forethical and safe AI.\n To read a copy of Rep. Eshoo's Statement for the Congressional Record, click HERE. A summary of the relief package can be found HERE.\nA summary of the spending deal can be found HERE.  \n\t\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://eshoo.house.gov/media/press-releases/eshoo-tests-negative-covid-19-while-quarantine", "Eshoo Tests Negative for COVID-19 While in Quarantine", "2020-12-22", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Anna Eshoo", "E000215", "eshoo.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. Representative Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA) released the following statement today: Last evening I was informed that I tested negative for COVID-19 following a potential exposure to the virus last week. Per CDC guidelines and in consultation with the Office of the Attending Physician, I'm eligible to end my period of quarantine tomorrow. My thanks to the many constituents for their kind messages of support in recent days.\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://garamendi.house.gov/media/press-releases/former-deputy-secretary-interior-garamendi-s-statement-nomination-congresswoman", "Former Deputy Secretary of the Interior Garamendi\u2019s Statement on Nomination of Congresswoman Haaland as Secretary of the Interior", "2020-12-22", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "John Garamendi", "G000559", "garamendi.house.gov", "garamendi", "https://garamendi.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC\u2014Today, Congressman John Garamendi (D-CA)\u2014who served as Deputy Secretary of the Interior under President Bill Clinton\u2014issued the statement below in support of Congresswoman Deb Haaland's (D-NM) nomination to serve as Secretary of the Department of Interior. Garamendi currently serves as Chairman of the Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness, which Congresswoman served on throughout the 116th Congress.\n\n\"Congratulations to Congresswoman Haaland on her historic nomination. I've seen Congresswoman Haaland's commitment to public service firsthand while serving with her on the Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness,\" Garamendi said. \"As the former Deputy Secretary of the Interior under President Bill Clinton, I also have a firsthand perspective on the work and challenges that come with managing the Department of Interior.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://garamendi.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-garamendi-s-statement-passing-richard-rominger", "Rep. Garamendi\u2019s Statement on the Passing of Richard Rominger", "2020-12-22", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "John Garamendi", "G000559", "garamendi.house.gov", "garamendi", "https://garamendi.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC\u2014Today, Congressman John Garamendi (D-CA) issued the following statement on the passing of Richard Rominger:\n\n\"Patti and I are deeply saddened by Richard Rominger's passing, and our hearts are with Evelyn and their family during this difficult time,\" Garamendi said. \"I called Rich's cell phone this morning. He did not answer. I've called that number hundreds of times seeking advice and counsel, and I have always come away from the conversation with a gem of wisdom, a better solution to a problem, encouragement, and a precious gift of friendship. Not this time. My call was answered by his son confirming Richard Rominger's death. I'll keep Rich's number. He won't answer, but just calling will encourage me to stay true to the lessons he taught me. I know that Rich treated everyone with the same respect and desire to help. Perhaps they will keep that number, too.\"\n\nRichard and Evelyn Rominger served in President Bill Clinton's administration with Patti and John Garamendi. Richard was Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Patti ran the Foreign Agriculture Service's food and famine programs. Richard was always the bulwark of support for the American family farmer. He knew the challenges facing farm families and he knew how to use government to improve their lot. During the Clinton years the Department of Agriculture and Department of Interior, where Rep. Garamendi was also Deputy, teamed up to produce seminal studies on the effects of Climate Change, create the first Tahoe Summit, address droughts, support land conservation efforts nationwide, attack invasive species, and protect America's great forest.\n\nGovernor Jerry Brown recognized Richard's potential as a problem solver when he appointed Richard to serve as the Secretary of the California Department of Agriculture. A problem-solver was necessary with Medflies, drought, water wars, and agricultural labor problems in abundance. Undaunted by these challenges, Rominger steered a wise course that yielded a bumper crop of solutions.\n\nFollowing his time in government, Richard returned to Winters\u2014where he was raised\u2014to continue his work supporting the U.S. agriculture industry. Richard was named Agriculturalist of the Year by the California State Fair and received a Distinguished Service Award from the California Farm Bureau Federation for his lifelong commitment to the agricultural community.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://garamendi.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-garamendi-votes-additional-covid-19-economic-small-business-and-education", "Rep. Garamendi Votes for Additional COVID-19, Economic, Small Business, and Education Relief for American Families", "2020-12-22", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "John Garamendi", "G000559", "garamendi.house.gov", "garamendi", "https://garamendi.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC\u2014Today, Congressman John Garamendi (D-CA) voted to pass a bipartisan coronavirus relief package and government funding bill (H.R. 133) that will help save the lives and livelihoods of the American people. The legislation passed the House and is expected to pass the Senate tonight before heading to the President's desk to be signed into law.\n\n\"I'm pleased that this much-needed relief will finally come to American families,\" Garamendi said. \"The House offered a strong pathway for additional COVID relief back in May when it passed the Heroes Act. I am relieved that the Senate has finally come to the negotiating table and agreed to a compromise that will advance bipartisan legislation to address every aspect of the COVID-19 pandemic.\n\n\"This bill will accelerate the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine and includes funding to help stop the rapid spread of the virus. The House also secured another round of $600 direct payments to individuals and successfully fought to extend Unemployment Insurance payments for millions of Americans with an additional $300 per week for unemployed Americans. There's also $82 billion in funding to support our education system to help schools mitigate the transmission of the virus so we can safely reopen our classrooms. The critical PPP forgivable loan program that has helped small businesses weather this storm also receives an additional $284 billion in funding under this legislation,\" Garamendi continued.\n\n\"This emergency relief is an important step forward. However, it must serve as an initial building block that we will expand upon to provide additional COVID-19 relief under the Biden-Harris Administration. I will continue to work in a bipartisan manner to address the needs of our community while we continue to fight this virus,\" Garamendi concluded.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://juliabrownley.house.gov/brownley-applauds-congressional-passage-of-key-provisions-to-improve-nations-water-infrastructure/", "Brownley Applauds Congressional Passage of Key Provisions to Improve Nation\u2019s Water Infrastructure", "2020-12-22", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Julia Brownley", "B001285", "juliabrownley.house.gov", "juliabrownley", "https://juliabrownley.house.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 Yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate passed the Water Resources and Development Act (WRDA) of 2020 as part of H.R. 133, the Omnibus Appropriations and Emergency Coronavirus Relief Bill. The bill included key provisions authored by Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) to improve dam safety, to provide equity in resources for our ports, and to ensure proper maintenance and dredging of Ventura Harbor and Channel Islands Harbor.\n\n\u201cSafe and secure water infrastructure is crucial to ensuring that our country and our economy keep moving forward,\u201d said Congresswoman Julia Brownley. \u201cIn Ventura County, we know the importance of proper maintenance of our harbors and ports, which is critical for local businesses and for our way of life.\n\n\u201cI am pleased that the final bill included my dam safety bill, which will allow high risk dams to unlock federal resources to ensure life-threatening safety hazards are addressed. The Santa Felicia Dam in our region is a prime example of an aging asset that needs safety improvements, as failure would be catastrophic for our local communities.\n\n\u201cI am also pleased that the bill included language I supported to ensure that donor ports, like the Port of Hueneme, receive a fair share of resources from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund. The Port of Hueneme contributes far more than it receives back. Donor port equity will ensure that the Port of Hueneme \u2013 which is a key economic driver in our region \u2014 has resources to address infrastructure needs and keep goods flowing to fuel our local and regional economy.\n\n\u201cImportantly, the bill also authorizes additional funds to ensure that Ventura Harbor and Channel Islands Harbor receive crucial maintenance dredging, so that businesses that rely upon our harbors can continue to operate.\u201d\n\nHigh Hazard Dams\n\n\u201cThe Water Resources and Development Act (WRDA) of 2020 is an essential piece of legislation that will provide our agency with the eligibility to seek federal funding, which will offset the costs of critical public safety improvements needed for our Santa Felicia Dam, assuring our ratepayers and the residents of Ventura County of their well-being while also securing a key element in reaching regional water sustainability,\u201d said United Water Conservation District General Manager Mauricio E. Guardado, Jr. \u201cUltimately, WRDA 2020 will help agencies throughout our nation with much needed resources required for upgrading and/or replacing aging infrastructure without inflicting incredible financial burdens on local communities. We are extremely grateful to Congresswoman Julia Brownley, who has always been a champion for regional water sustainability, and to all of the legislators who joined together to deliver this much needed law to the President for his signature.\u201d\n\nThe FEMA High Hazard Dams program was created several years ago to address dam safety issues. When the program was originally created, Congress included language prohibiting dams with hydroelectric generation capacity from eligibility. The intent at the time was to ensure the federal dollars went towards publicly owned dams, and not-for-profit hydropower facilities. However, there are a number of dams nation-wide with small hydroelectric power features, which were unintentionally excluded from eligibility, including the Santa Felicia Dam in Ventura County. Last year, Brownley introduced legislation, H.R. 5504, to ensure that dams with small hydroelectric generation capacity, 1.5 megawatts or less, are eligible for the FEMA High Hazard Dams grant program.\n\nDam safety is a critically important issue across our country. The failure of dams can have catastrophic and deadly consequences for communities. The 1928 catastrophic collapse of the St. Francis Dam killed at least 431 people in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. Today, there are more than 80,000 dams in the United States, many of which would pose a \u201chigh\u201d or \u201csignificant\u201d hazard to life and property if a failure were to occur, including the Santa Felicia Dam.\n\nDonor Port Equity\n\n\u201cI applaud Congress for taking a decisive step toward giving greater parity to donor ports in HMT funding. This increased funding will bring infrastructure improvements and create jobs at the Port for years to come. Thank you to Congresswoman Brownley for her leadership in getting this over the finish line,\u201d said Port of Hueneme CEO & Port Director Kristin Decas.\n\nThe 2020 WRDA bill also includes language, which Brownley and other California Members of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee supported, to ensure that donor ports \u2013 those ports that contribute more to the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund than they receive back in resources \u2013 receive a fair share of resources. Specifically, the bill includes language that allocates 12% of HMTF expenditures to donor ports. In 2016, Brownley secured passage of legislation that formally designated the Port of Hueneme and the Port of San Diego as donor ports. Since then, the Port of Hueneme has received resources on an annual basis that have been set aside for donor ports. Other California donor ports include the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach.\n\nNearly 80 percent of traded goods that Americans rely on are moved through our Nation\u2019s ports, harbors, and inland waterways. So, keeping our ports in good repair is critical for our economy and America\u2019s global economic competitiveness.\n\nMaintenance Dredging\n\nThe 2020 WRDA bill also included language supported by Brownley to ensure adequate funds for maintenance dredging of smaller harbors, like Channel Islands and Ventura Harbor. Specifically, the bill sets aside 15% of HMTF expenditures for smaller harbors, including for breakwater and jetty repair needs. Ventura Harbor requires annual dredging to remain navigable, and Channel Islands Harbor requires bi-annual dredging to remain navigable. These dredging projects also provide sand for beaches down coast and to address coastal erosion, including at Hueneme Beach and Naval Base Ventura County.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://kevinmccarthy.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/mccarthy-on-passage-of-covid-relief-and-government-spending-bills", "McCarthy on Passage of COVID Relief and Government Spending Bills", "2020-12-22", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "Senate", "CA", "Kevin McCarthy", "M001165", "kevinmccarthy.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation (H.R. 133) to fund the federal government in Fiscal Year 2021 and provide additional relief to Californians and small businesses struggling during the coronavirus pandemic.Congressman McCarthy secured multiple priorities for our communityin this legislation.\nMcCarthy released the following statement:\nAmericans need their government to work for them. Republicans have fought to provide Americans the support they need during these challenging times, but Nancy Pelosi waited until the final hour to work with Republicans and President Trump to developcommonsensesolutionsthat could have become law months ago.\nI am grateful this relief will be signed into law by President Trump soon. The legislation includes many important provisions that will support ourfamilies andsmall businessesin our community and across the State, including COVIDvaccinedelivery so that we can restore our way life before the virus.\nWhile this legislation will provide needed relief, the best rescue package is to put our trust and confidence in the American people and reopen our country as soon as possible. As we enter the New Year, I am more committed than ever to fight for ourcitizens,small businesses, and for the individual liberties that have been threatened by government overreach.\nBackground  \n\t\nCongressman McCarthy helped to secure the following provisions important to CA-23 in the Fiscal Year 2021 appropriations component of H.R. 133:\n $4 million to support Valley Fever and other mycotic disease research at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention\n\t$9.3 million to build a new Army National Guard Vehicle Maintenance Shop in Bakersfield\n\t$16.7 million to build a new Vehicle and Aerospace Ground Equipment Maintenance Facility at the NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center\n\t$40 million to build a new, state-of-the-art Flight Test Engineering Laboratory Complex at Edwards Air Force Base\n\t$69.5 million to combat and suppress Citrus Greening Disease to protect California's fresh citrus industry\n\t$76 million to support Impact Aid Federal property payments for schools,like those in Sierra Sands Unified and Muroc Joint Unified School Districts, that serve military communities\n\t$125 million for the Bureau of Prisons to modernize and repair facilities like the Taft Correctional Institution\n\t$134 million to fund water storage infrastructure projects in California and the West authorized by the WIIN Act of 2016\n\t$149 million for the Diesel Emission Reduction Act and Targeted Airshed Grant programs to clean up the air in the Central Valley\n\t$206 million to repair subsidence on the Friant-Kern Canal to bring more water to Tulare and Kern County families and farmers.\n Congressman McCarthy also supported the following provisions important to CA-23 in the COVID relief component of H.R. 133:\n $28 billion in additional funding to support the development and purchase of vaccines,therapeutics, and tests and tomake the vaccine available at no charge to all Americans\n\t$15 billion to provide financial support for event venues, theaters, and museums impacted by COVID, which may assist entities like the Fox Theater and other local iconic institutionsthat have been shuttered\n\t$13 billion to provide financial assistance toAmerica's agricultural producers, which will help Kern, Tulare, and California farmers, ranchers, and workers\n\tExtension of the Paycheck Protection Program to help small business owners who have fought to keep their doors open and their employees on the payroll, as well as expansion of the Paycheck Protection Program to include eligibility for certain 501(c)(6) nonprofit organizations, and clarifying tax treatment related to PPP expenses so that our small businesses are not hit with an unexpected tax hike\n\tExtension of the CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Fund spending deadline through December 31, 2021 to allow states and localities to use these funds to meet local pandemic needs\n\tMore resources for child care centers and K-12 schools to help them safely reopen\n\tDirect payments to Americanindividuals andfamiliesof $600 per individual and child, phased out at certain income thresholds", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://lee.house.gov/news/press-releases/congresswoman-barbara-lee-statement-on-appointment-of-dr-shirley-weber-as-california-secretary-of-state", "Congresswoman Barbara Lee Statement on Appointment of Dr. Shirley Weber as California Secretary of State", "2020-12-22", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Barbara Lee", "L000551", "lee.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.22.20\n\t\t\t Congresswoman Barbara Lee Statement on Appointment of Dr. Shirley Weber as California Secretary of State \n\t\t\tOakland, CA Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) released the following statement congratulating Dr. Shirley Weber on her historic appointment to serve as California's Secretary of State:\r\nCongratulations to Assemblywoman Shirley Weber on her appointment to serve as California's Secretary of State. Dr. Weber has been a bold leader throughout her career, most recently on her groundbreaking bill to study and propose reparations for Black people, which Governor Newsom signed into law in September. She is a fighter for equality and a true public servant, and I know she will be a great Secretary of State for all Californians. \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    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://lee.house.gov/news/press-releases/congresswoman-barbara-lee-statement-on-appointment-of-secretary-padilla-to-california-senate-seat", "Congresswoman Barbara Lee Statement on Appointment of Secretary Padilla to California Senate Seat", "2020-12-22", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Barbara Lee", "L000551", "lee.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.22.20\n\t\t\t Congresswoman Barbara Lee Statement on Appointment of Secretary Padilla to California Senate Seat \n\t\t\tWashington, D.C. Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) released the following statement on Governor Gavin Newsom's appointment of California Secretary of State AlexPadillato represent California in the United States Senate:\r\nI congratulate Secretary of State AlexPadillaon his historic appointment to fill Vice-President-elect Kamala Harris's seat in the United States Senate. SecretaryPadillahas a track record as a skilled legislator and a steadfast advocate for justice, andI believe he will be a powerfulvoice in the Senate for those who continue to be denied our country's promise of equality.\r\nI look forward to working with him on behalf of all Californians to address the economic and public health crises we are facing, andtocreate a brighter future for our state and for communities across the country. \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    \tNext Article\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/rep-mike-levin-statement-on-appointment-of-ca-secretary-of-state-alex-padilla-to-united-states-senate", "Rep. Mike Levin Statement on Appointment of CA Secretary of State Alex Padilla to United States Senate", "2020-12-22", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Mike Levin", "L000593", "levin.house.gov", "levin", "https://levin.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Representative Mike Levin (D-CA) issued the following statement on the appointment of California Secretary of State Alex Padilla to fill Vice President-elect Kamala Harris\u2019s seat in the U.S. Senate.\n\n\u201cI am very excited to join Californians in celebrating Governor Gavin Newsom\u2019s historic appointment of Secretary of State Alex Padilla to serve in the U.S. Senate. I have known Secretary Padilla for many years, and I\u2019ve seen him fiercely defend our voting rights and protect our elections. As a fellow Southern Californian and the first Latino to represent our state in the U.S. Senate, I know he will continue to serve Californians honorably. I look forward to working with him to provide more relief for Californians during this pandemic, protect our environment, and so much more.\u201d\n\n\u201cI also want to thank Vice President-elect Kamala Harris once again for her service to our state as Senator. We worked side-by-side to address pollution at the Tijuana River Valley, secure eroding coastal bluffs, improve housing for military families, and much more. I know she will continue to be a tireless advocate for working Californians and all Americans.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://lieu.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-lieu-bill-establishing-inspectors-general-website-passes-congress", "REP LIEU BILL ESTABLISHING INSPECTORS GENERAL WEBSITE PASSES CONGRESS", "2020-12-22", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Ted Lieu", "L000582", "lieu.house.gov", "lieu", "https://lieu.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON -Today, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) issued the following statement after the House and Senate passed the Oversight.gov Authorization Act as a part of a larger omnibus bill. The bill establishes and authorizes funds for a central website where inspectors general can upload reports to be read by the public. Rep. Lieu introduced the House version of this bill with Rep. Jody Hice (R-GA). Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) introduced the Senate version.\n\n\"I'm thrilled that my Oversight.gov Authorization Act was included in the omnibus package that just passed Congress. Our bill will help the public more easily access reports and information from Inspectors General across the government. This is a win for transparency and accountability. IGs are an essential part of good governance-- They ensure taxpayer dollars are properly spent, and that federal agencies are meeting the needs of the American people.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://lieu.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-lieu-statement-padilla-appointment-senate", "REP LIEU STATEMENT ON PADILLA APPOINTMENT TO SENATE", "2020-12-22", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Ted Lieu", "L000582", "lieu.house.gov", "lieu", "https://lieu.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) issued the following statement after Governor Gavin Newsom announced that he will be appointing Secretary of State Alex Padilla to fill the Senate vacancy left by Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris.\n\n\"I'm thrilled that my friend, Alex Padilla, will be the next Senator from California. Alex and I worked together as State Senators, and I am confident he'll be a stellar U.S. Senator. I applaud Governor Newsom for making this historic appointment. I look forward to advancing our shared interests on key issues like climate change, criminal justice reform and infrastructure so that we can help Californians continue to prosper.\"\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://lindasanchez.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/icymi-s-nchez-napolitano-and-chu-secure-1925-million-whittier-narrows", "ICYMI: S\u00e1nchez, Napolitano, and Chu Secure $192.5 Million for the Whittier Narrows Dam Safety Project", "2020-12-22", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Linda T. S\u00e1nchez", "S001156", "lindasanchez.house.gov", "lindasanchez", "https://lindasanchez.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2014 In case you missed it, yesterday, Congresswomen Linda T. S\u00e1nchez (D-Whittier), Grace F. Napolitano (D-El Monte), and Judy Chu (D-Monterey Park) announced they had secured $192.5 million for the Whittier Narrows Dam Safety Project in the FY2021 Omnibus Appropriations bill.\n\n\"Restoring the Whittier Narrows Dam is a matter of life and death for the communities I represent, including the City of Pico Rivera where the Dam is located. That is why I have worked closely with my colleagues over the past decade to ensure the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has the funding it needs to begin this critical project and protect millions of downstream residents and small businesses from catastrophic flooding,\" said Congresswoman Linda T. S\u00e1nchez. \"I want to thank Reps. Napolitano and Chu, Senator Feinstein, and appropriators for working with me to ensure construction of the project commences on schedule as part of the omnibus appropriations act. This important milestone will make our communities more resilient in the face of increasingly dangerous and damaging storms. I am grateful to the Los Angeles District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for working with community leaders to address logistical concerns as construction gets underway. I am committed to working with the Corps, community leaders, and my colleagues in our Congressional delegation to minimize the construction's impact on the community as much as possible, while also ensuring continued funding for and timely completion of the project.\"\n\n\"We are proud to have secured $192.5 million in federal funding for this vital dam safety project, an enormous victory for San Gabriel Valley residents and millions more throughout our region,\" Napolitano said. \"Since first learning about flood risk concerns over a decade ago, I have encouraged the Army Corps of Engineers and my colleagues in Congress to make Whittier Narrows Dam the top budgetary priority and I am grateful they have listened to our calls. I want to thank Congresswomen S\u00e1nchez and Chu for joining me in pursuit of this funding year after year. I also want to express my gratitude to Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee Chairwoman Marcy Kaptur and our esteemed outgoing full Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Nita Lowey for recognizing the importance of Whittier Narrows Dam as one of the most significant flood control projects in the country with the funding to back it. Lastly, I want to thank the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and local leaders COL. Julie Balten, Deputy David Van Dorpe, South Pacific Division Commander Brig. Gen. Paul Owen, and the national Corps leadership of Assistant Secretary R.D. James and Lt. Gen. Scott Spellmon, for their continued efforts to study, design and prepare for this project. We will continue to work with the Corps as construction will soon begin, and we will fight to secure the remaining funds in the coming years.\"\n\n\"For years, the Whittier Dam has been suffering from underfunding that has put countless lives and homes along the San Gabriel River at risk,\" said Congresswoman Chu. \"That is why the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers rated the dam as having among the highest risk of failure in the whole country. And with climate change bringing greater storms to our area, that risk of breaking was growing. I had the opportunity to examine this dam up close on a tour earlier this year, and I am grateful to the engineers and professionals who are doing their best to maintain it. But they cannot do it alone. That is why I have fought for years to secure the necessary funding to repair this dam, and the $192.5 million in this legislation is a significant step in the right direction. I'm so grateful to the Corps for their hard work and prioritization of this project, to my colleagues Reps. Napolitano and S\u00e1nchez for their partnership as we worked for years to secure this funding, and to the House Appropriations Committee for including this important funding. I will continue to advocate for funding for this project until it has been completed.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://mikelevin.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-mike-levin-statement-on-appointment-of-ca-secretary-of-state-alex-padilla-to-united-states-senate", "Rep. Mike Levin Statement on Appointment of CA Secretary of State Alex Padilla to United States Senate", "2020-12-22", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Mike Levin", "L000593", "mikelevin.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 22, 2020\n\t\t\t Rep. Mike Levin Statement on Appointment of CA Secretary of State Alex Padilla to United States Senate \n\t\t\tWashington, D.C.  U.S. Representative Mike Levin (D-CA) issued the following statement on the appointment of California Secretary of State Alex Padilla to fill Vice President-elect Kamala Harris's seat in the U.S. Senate.\r\nI am very excited to join Californians in celebrating Governor Gavin Newsom's historic appointment of Secretary of State Alex Padilla to serve in the U.S. Senate. I have known Secretary Padilla for many years, and I've seen him fiercely defend our voting rights and protect our elections. As a fellow Southern Californian and the first Latino to represent our state in the U.S. Senate, I know he will continue to serve Californians honorably. I look forward to working with him to provide more relief for Californians during this pandemic, protect our environment, and so much more.\r\nI also want to thank Vice President-elect Kamala Harris once again for her service to our state as Senator. We worked side-by-side to address pollution at the Tijuana River Valley, secure eroding coastal bluffs, improve housing for military families, and much more. I know she will continue to be a tireless advocate for working Californians and all Americans.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pelosi.house.gov/news/press-releases/pelosi-statement-on-10th-anniversary-of-end-of-don-t-ask-don-t-tell", "Pelosi Statement on 10th Anniversary of End of Dont Ask, Dont Tell", "2020-12-22", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CA", "Nancy Pelosi", "P000197", "pelosi.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Contact: Speaker's Press Office,\n202-226-7616\n\nSan Francisco  Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement on the 10th anniversary of the historic end of the discriminatory Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy:\n\nTen years ago, our nation took bold action to end a fundamental injustice that had inflicted shame and distress on tens of thousands of brave, patriotic LGBTQ servicemembers. With the repeal of the hateful Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy, we strengthened our national security and reaffirmed the bedrock principle that those willing and able to serve be treated with dignity and respect, regardless of who they are or whom they love.\n\nLGBTQ Americans have always served in our military with honor and distinction, from the earliest days of America's history. Our nation owes them an immense debt of gratitude. Yet, three and a half years ago, the Trump Administration shamefully abandoned our founding promise of equality with its hateful transgender military ban. It is our great unfinished work to reverse this disgraceful ban and defend the freedoms of all who serve our nation  just as they defend ours.\n\nA decade after sending Don't Ask, Don't Tell' into the dustbin of history, House Democrats remain committed to honoring our extraordinary LGBTQ servicemembers and all those who don the uniform. As we celebrate this momentous anniversary, we will continue fighting to build on this progress and finally enact the Equality Act to fully end discrimination against all LGBTQ Americans once and for all.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://ruiz.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/federal-lawmakers-including-congressman-ruiz-say-covid-relief-bill", "Federal Lawmakers Including Congressman Ruiz, Say COVID Relief Bill is Insufficient", "2020-12-22", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CA", "Raul Ruiz", "R000599", "ruiz.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "President Donald Trump told lawmakers to amend the latest COVID-19 relief bill, 24 hours after congress passed it.\nTrump called the covid relief bill a 'disgrace,' in a video posted on his Twitter Tuesday night. He added that the bill delivered too much money to foreign countries, but not enough to Americans.\nThe measure comes at a crucial time for the economy as federal unemployment benefits are about to run out.\nIf President Trump signs the current $900 billion \"Pandemic Relief Package,\" Americans would see a $600 bump to their bank accounts as soon as next week.\nIt wasn't just President Trump that had concerns about the bill. Many Democrats, includingCongressman Dr. Raul Ruiz, wanted the package to be bigger saying the relief is \"insufficient.\"\nNews Channel 3's Peter Daut joined a video news conference featuringRuizand Southern California Congressmen Ted Lieu, Scott Peters, and Mike Levin Tuesday morning, just hours after Congress passed the bill. The Congressmen said that while the $900-billion package is better than nothing, it does not go far enough.\n\"This legislation falls well short of what our country needs,\"Ruizsaid.\nUnder the legislation, $600 stimulus checks will be sent to people who make less than $75,000 a year. They'll also get $600 for each of their dependents. It also includes $300 a week in federal unemployment benefits for the next 10 weeks.\nA top priority for Democrats that did not make it into the bill was aid for state and local governments.\n\"Unless we provide that aid, that means firefighters, police, teachers are all going to face tough times and potentially layoffs,\" said Rep. Scott Peter (D-52 district).\nIn May, House Democrats passed a $3.4 trillion package and then passed a version of that measure in October that was reduced to $2.2 trillion.\nBefore the election, Democrats rejected an offer from the Trump Administration for a $1.8 trillion package.\nCongressional Republicans, many of whom wanted to keep the price tag under $1 trillion, argue the bill reflects their position.\n\"We're agreeing to be smart about financing these extraordinary policies,\" said Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell.\nBut lawmakers on both sides, including Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, have blasted the bill's short time-frame, arguing they did not have enough time to fully read its more than five-thousand pages.\nNews Channel 3's Peter Daut askedRuizabout her comments.\n\"For COVID-relief, we had the sense of urgency from the American people that we needed to pass a bill,\"Ruizsaid.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://ruiz.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/local-reps-say-federal-stimulus-bill-provides-essential-not-enough-relief", "Local Reps Say Federal Stimulus Bill Provides Essential But Not Enough Relief", "2020-12-22", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CA", "Raul Ruiz", "R000599", "ruiz.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Southern California Democratic Reps. Lieu, Levin, Peters, andRuizlaud the eleventh hour passage of a bipartisan COVID-19 relief bill, but said the leaner than desired package leaves many gaps that the new administration will immediately need to address.\nThis relief package was far too small, said Rep. Ted Lieu, who represents Santa Monica as part of California's 33rd congressional District. We had the choice of either doing nothing or passing some relief to the American people, but to me, this is just a downpayment so hopefully we can do additional stimulus when Joe Biden and Kamala Harris come in on January 20.\nThe $900 billion package which Lieu, Peters and Levin worked to secure in Congress, is much smaller than the $2.2 trillion CARES Act passed in March.\nIt provides a round of $600 direct payments to adults and children, revives supplemental unemployment benefits to $300 a week for 11 weeks, and provides $280 billion of forgivable paycheck protection loans for small businesses.\nThe representatives said this was sorely needed aid for their struggling constituents, but emphasized that a lot of benefits will run out in a matter of weeks.\nI suggested, and a lot of the new dems in my caucus suggested, that we committed to smart measures like automatic stabilizers in the beginning. That would have prevented us from having to come together in these fits and starts to reauthorize money, said Rep. Scott Peters.\nPeters is Vice Chairman of the New Democrat Coalition and is involved in the push to include automatic stabilizers in relief legislation, which would tie government assistance to economic triggers.\nStabilizers could be tied to relief measures like PPP loans or direct payments to families. For example, extended unemployment benefits could be tied to the unemployment rate, so the level and duration of unemployment benefits would be directly related to economic conditions.\nPeters hopes the Biden administration will be more amenable to the concept, which would provide more economic certainty for people and decrease reliance on last minute congressional deals.\nThe representatives said this bill was passed in the nick of time to avert an impending recession and provide sorely needed relief to families struggling to put food on the table. They hope that more proactive COVID-19 relief legislation can be passed in the new year.\nThe HEROES Act was the ideal bill in the ideal moment, said Rep. Mike Levin, referring to the relief act that cleared the Democrat controlled house in May and died in the Republican controlled senate. This bill was left until there was a worsening public health crisis and economic fatigue in dealing with the pandemic, until the American people were desperate, until there was a political crisis at hand so that they can feed us a half baked sense of recovery.\nThe federal relief package, despite its limitations, is very welcome in Santa Monica and Southern California as it includes $82 billion for education, $10 billion for child care, $16 billion for vaccine development and distribution, and $13 billion for food stamps. It does not include state and local aid money, which is something the representatives said they intend on pushing for in the New Year.\nWe are looking forward to working with a new Biden administration to provide the aid that is necessary for states, local municipalities and also increase the support that's truly necessary, not only to help our struggling families, but also to prevent a great depression, saidRep. Raul Ruiz.We need this administration to safely and quickly end the pandemic, boost our local economy and build back better.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://schiff.house.gov/news/press-releases/schiff-secures-funding-for-local-priorities-in-omnibus-spending-bill", "Schiff Secures Funding for Local Priorities in Omnibus Spending Bill", "2020-12-22", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Adam Schiff", "S001150", "schiff.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.22.20\n\t\t\t Schiff Secures Funding for Local Priorities in Omnibus Spending Bill \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t Funding Bill Includes Investment in Housing Affordability, Public Health Initiatives, and Space Exploration\n\t\t\t Washington, D.C.  Today, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) released a statement following House passage of an omnibus appropriations bill with funding for 2021 local priorities, including affordable housing, public health, and space exploration:\r\nAs we come to the end of an unprecedented year of challenges, changes and rancor, last night the Congress passed our annual major spending bill, which includes many local and national priorities of mine, including funding for housing, homelessness, healthcare, and more,said Rep. Schiff.I am grateful that the House prioritized addressing the housing and homelessness crisis,which has only been exacerbated by COVID-19, by allocating more than $40 million for a new program of targeted vouchers to reduce homelessness.\r\nAmerican leadership in space exploration has been a key driver of our economic growth in the past century, including the development of many of our high-tech and emerging industries,Schiff continued.Answering the big questions about our planet and exploring the cosmos means investing today in the missions that will provide us with better understanding of the earth, and take robotic probes to Mars, the moons of Jupiter, and beyond, and I'm so proud to represent the talented team at Jet Propulsion Labs who lead the way in so much of that work. I'm pleased that the Appropriations legislation passed this week will prioritize these important investments, which will benefit the Southern California economy as well as the nation and humankind.\r\nAlthough we are still in the midst of a deadly pandemic, it is also critical that we invest now in the study of emerging infectious disease threats, so our nation is better prepared for future public health crises. This bill also creates a Chronic Disease Education and Awareness Program at the CDC, which will fund important research into the diseases that affect millions of Americans every day.\r\nHighlights of the appropriations bill include funding for the following Schiff priorities:\r\n \r\n$43.4 million for a new program of targeted incremental vouchers to reduce homelessness.\r\n$11 million for National Emerging Special Pathogens Training and Education Centers to maintain a sustainable infrastructure and culture of readiness for managing suspected and confirmed emerging special pathogen incidents across U.S. public health and health care delivery systems.\r\n$1.5 million to establish a new Chronic Disease Education and Awareness Program at Center for Disease Control, which utilizes a competitive grant process to strengthen the science base for prevention, education, and public health awareness for a variety of chronic diseases, such as lymphatic diseases and sleep disorders, that don't currently have dedicated resources.\r\nProviding $570 million for the Mars Exploration Program to further development of a mission to return samples from Mars' surface to Earth, targeted for 2026.\r\nProvides continued funding for the Europa Clipper Mission, to launch a spacecraft into the orbit of Jupiter's moon Europa by 2023, and maintains flexibility for NASA to choose the most appropriate launch vehicle for the spacecraft.\r\nProviding $2 billion in funding for Earth Science, to fuel the critical work of studying planet Earth and its inhabitants, including critical research and monitoring of the changing climate.\r\n \r\nThe full text of the bill can be viewed here.\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    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 7202, "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 \"state\" = :p0 and \"year\" = :p1 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "CA", "p1": "2020"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=CA&year=2020", "results": [{"value": "Democrat", "label": "Democrat", "count": 6842, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=CA&year=2020&party=Democrat", "selected": false}, {"value": "Republican", "label": "Republican", "count": 360, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=CA&year=2020&party=Republican", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=CA&year=2020", "results": [{"value": "House", "label": "House", "count": 6516, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=CA&year=2020&chamber=House", "selected": false}, {"value": "Senate", "label": "Senate", "count": 686, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=CA&year=2020&chamber=Senate", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=CA&year=2020", "results": [{"value": "CA", "label": "CA", "count": 7202, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?year=2020", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=CA&year=2020", "results": [{"value": "2020", "label": "2020", "count": 7202, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=CA", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2020-12-22,https~3A~2F~2Fschiff~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fnews~2Fpress-releases~2Fschiff-secures-funding-for-local-priorities-in-omnibus-spending-bill", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=CA&year=2020&_next=2020-12-22%2Chttps~3A~2F~2Fschiff~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fnews~2Fpress-releases~2Fschiff-secures-funding-for-local-priorities-in-omnibus-spending-bill&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 1127.5665191933513, "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"}