url,title,date,year,month,party,chamber,state,member_name,bioguide_id,domain,scraper,source,date_source,text,has_text,collected_at,updated_at
https://levin.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-levin-announces-winner-of-2022-congressional-app-challenge,Rep. Levin Announces Winner of 2022 Congressional App Challenge,2022-12-31,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Mike Levin,L000593,levin.house.gov,levin,https://levin.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Oceanside, CA – Today, Representative Mike Levin announced Rini Khandelwal, a student at Del Norte High School, as the winner of the 2022 Congressional App Challenge for California’s 49th Congressional District. Khandelwal created “TeenSpace,” an iOS trivia game app that aims to increase safety awareness on topics such as active shooter scenarios, relationships, and drug use by making learning more engaging for teens. Khandelwal was inspired to create “TeenSpace” when her high school faced two bomb threats in March 2022 and an active shooter threat in May 2022.

“This year’s submissions highlighted the extraordinary creativity and desire of the next generation to find solutions to real challenges using technology,” said Rep. Levin. “Our 2022 winner, Rini Khandelwal’s TeenSpace, will make learning about safety more engaging and help protect students and communities.”

Rep. Levin would like to thank all of the students who participated, including a few notable applicants:

First Runner Up: “Project Democracy”

An app that promotes civic engagement and participation in the democratic process

Designed by Liam Dowd and Jevon Mao of Santa Margarita Catholic High School

Second Runner Up: “OnlineCounselor”

An app created to help high school students select their courses for an upcoming school year

Designed by Noah Simon of Del Norte High School

Honorable Mention: “Senior Tech Helper”

An app that provides comprehensive instructions and guides to help senior citizens with a wide range of technology concepts

Designed by Zane Braunstein of Capistrano Valley High School

The Congressional App Challenge launched in 2015 as an effort to promote Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education, and to encourage students to learn coding and computer science skills. Students in participating congressional districts compete against their peers by creating original software applications. Winning apps are featured on the U.S. House of Representatives’ website and the Congressional App Challenge’s website, and are also displayed in an exhibit in the U.S. Capitol Building.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://pelosi.house.gov/news/press-releases/pelosi-statement-on-the-passing-of-his-holiness-pope-benedict-xvi,Pelosi Statement on the Passing of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI,2022-12-31,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Nancy Pelosi,P000197,pelosi.house.gov,pelosi,https://pelosi.house.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"San Francisco – Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued this statement on the passing of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI:

""Paul and I join our fellow Catholics in mourning the passing of Pope Benedict XVI: a global leader whose devotion, scholarship and hopeful message stirred the hearts of people of all faiths.

""Spiritually, I am always moved by Pope Benedict's powerful encyclical, ‘God is Love,' where he quotes St. Augustine highlighting our moral duty as public servants to fight for justice.

""Officially, it was my privilege to visit His Holiness in the Vatican and, in 2008, to join in welcoming him to our nation's capital.

""May it be comfort to His Holiness Pope Francis and the Vatican community that so many pray for Pope Benedict during this sad time.""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://barragan.house.gov/2022/12/30/la-times-l-a-county-public-defender-remains-jailed-in-venezuela-after-nearly-9-months/,LA Times: L.A. County public defender remains jailed in Venezuela after nearly 9 months,2022-12-30,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Nanette Diaz Barragán,B001300,barragan.house.gov,barragan,https://barragan.house.gov/news,scraper,"Los Angeles Times:

Cindy Carcamo

PUBLISHED: December 30, 2022 at 2:12 PM PST

When Eyvin Hernandez stopped calling while vacationing in Colombia in late March, his

younger brother thought the worst had happened.

Hernandez, a Los Angeles County deputy public defender, finally left a voice message on April

4, saying he was detained in Venezuela but should be free in 45 days.

“They don’t have anything on me,” he said. “I’m not a spy. I’m not a terrorist.”

Nearly nine months later, Hernandez and his brother, Henry Martinez, are still separated.

Hernandez, 44, is being held at a maximum-security military prison in Venezuela and has been

charged with criminal association and conspiracy, which can result in up to 16 years in prison.

U.S. State Department officials have determined that Hernandez is being wrongfully detained —

a classification that triggers enhanced government attention.

On Dec. 21, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-San Pedro) and

other congressional representatives sent a letter to President Biden, asking his administration to

work to secure Hernandez’s freedom.

“Expeditious action is needed,” the letter stated. “The judicial system in Venezuela is highly

compromised, and any trial against Mr. Hernandez is unlikely to produce a fair result.”

A few days before Hernandez was due to return to L.A., a friend asked him to accompany her to

the Colombia-Venezuela border, near the Colombian town of Cúcuta, Martinez said.

Hernandez’s family said he had had no intention of entering Venezuela.

At the border, Hernandez and his friend were intercepted by what reports have variously

described as a paramilitary group, a gang or official Venezuelan forces. Hernandez and his friend

were turned over to Venezuelan security forces and jailed. The friend is also still detained in

Venezuela.

The Venezuelan government did not respond to requests for comment.

There has been an alarming increase in wrongful detentions of U.S. citizens in Venezuela and

elsewhere around the globe in recent years, according to the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation,

which tracks such cases and helps detainees’ families.

Earlier this month, basketball star Brittney Griner was released in a prisoner swap after nearly 10

months of detention in Russia on charges that she was carrying a small amount of cannabis oil.

In October, Venezuela freed seven American prisoners in exchange for the release of two

nephews of President Nicolás Maduro’s wife, who were serving time in U.S. prisons for drug

Smuggling.

Hernandez’s family and supporters question why he was not included in the exchange.

“When a U.S. citizen is detained overseas, the Department works to provide all appropriate

assistance,” U.S. State Department officials said in a statement to The Times.

In recent years, armed conflict has dramatically increased along the Colombia-Venezuela border.

The U.S. State Department classifies the region as a high-risk area where U.S. citizens are

threatened with detention under Maduro’s authoritarian government.

Martinez said he thinks the U.S. government has let his brother down, allowing him to languish

in what he describes as a “dungeon.”

In phone calls to his family, Hernandez said he was in solitary confinement at one point. His cell

has no windows, and he is allowed to walk only in circles for 30 minutes in an outside area the

size of two vehicles. He is sleep-deprived because the lights in his cell are kept on all the time,

and he subsists mostly on a diet of stale tortillas, he told them.

“This place is meant to break you psychologically and spiritually,” Hernandez said in a secretly

recorded jailhouse message in August. “If you don’t get us out soon, then there might not be

anyone left to save.”

Hernandez was born in El Salvador in 1978, and his family fled with him to Los Angeles when

he was 3, just before the country’s civil war. He grew up in South L.A. and attended UCLA,

earning a degree in physics and math, then graduating from the law school in 2005.

Hernandez then joined the L.A. County public defender’s office. His most recent assignment was

handling felony cases in downtown L.A., and he has trained and mentored many public

defenders, according to his family.

When Hernandez seems especially down during their phone calls, Martinez tries to reassure him.

“‘It’s not going to be forever, man,’” Martinez says he tells him. “‘Stay strong. You’re going to

be home soon.’”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://huffman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/huffman-announces-golden-gate-bridge-to-receive-400-million-for-seismic-retrofit-under-democrats-infrastructure-law,Huffman Announces Golden Gate Bridge to Receive $400 Million for Seismic Retrofit Under Democrats' Infrastructure Law,2022-12-30,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Jared Huffman,H001068,huffman.house.gov,huffman,https://huffman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"San Rafael, CA – Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) shared the news that San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge will soon receive $400 million from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) under Democrats' historic Infrastructure Law. These funds will be used to strengthen one of the Bay Area's most essential transportation arteries and bolster its resilience against earthquakes.

“The Golden Gate Bridge is not only an iconic part of the Bay Area, but a vital thoroughfare for countless folks in the region,” said Rep. Huffman. “Thanks to the Infrastructure Law, this $400 million investment will allow us to fortify the Bridge, making it more resilient to disasters and ensuring that this structure can continue serving our community and all who visit. I’m glad to have played a part in securing this funding alongside President Biden, Speaker Pelosi, Secretary Buttigieg, and all my Bay Area colleagues.”

“We want to thank Congressman Huffman, Speaker Pelosi, the Biden Administration, and the entire Bay Area congressional delegation for this vital funding that will secure the Golden Gate Bridge for generations,” said Denis Mulligan, General Manager of the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District. “The Bridge turned 85 years old this year, and this investment will ensure that the Golden Gate Bridge stands stronger than ever.”

In May of 2022, Rep. Huffman sent a letter to Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Pete Buttigieg advocating for this funding to be made available for the Golden Gate Bridge.

The FHWA found that the Golden Gate Bridge is currently in ""fair condition"" but noted that continued deterioration would result in a ""poor"" rating within the next three years. The Bridge's north and south approaches were retrofitted in 2013, leaving only the main suspension span to be upgraded. The newly-announced federal funding will allow this remaining section to undergo vital seismic upgrades and ensure the Bridge's continued structural integrity.

Passed by the Democratic Congress, the Infrastructure Law was signed by President Biden on November 15, 2021. This historic legislation established a competitive Bridge Investment Program, delivering $12.5 billion to build, repair and replace key bridges across the country. This initiative represents the single largest investment in America's bridges since the construction of the interstate highway system.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://matsui.house.gov/media/in-the-news/forbes-fda-sesame-become-9th-major-food-allergen-january-1-2023,"FORBES: FDA: SESAME TO BECOME 9TH MAJOR FOOD ALLERGEN ON JANUARY 1, 2023",2022-12-30,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Doris O. Matsui,M001163,matsui.house.gov,matsui,https://matsui.house.gov/media,scraper,"With 2023, there should be more open sesame. Once January 1, 2023, rolls around, manufacturers will have to start listing sesame as an allergen on the labels of any food products that may contain this seedy ingredient. As a December 15 U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announcement emphasized, come the New Year sesame will be subject to new labeling and manufacturing requirements. The requirements will be similar to those that the eight current official major food allergens are subject to right now. That’s because at the turn of the year sesame will be officially joining milk, eggs, fish, Crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, and soybeans as the ninth major food allergen.

This sesame sea change has been in the works for a while, seeded when the Food Allergy Safety, Treatment, Education, and Research (FASTER) Act was signed into law on April 23, 2021. The FASTER Act specifically indicated that sesame should be added to the list of major allergens. The FASTER Act isn’t simply about sesame, though. It also has mandated that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services prepare a report for Congress on a variety of food allergy issues. This includes covering how food allergies and allergic reactions are being monitored and prevented, what new food allergy diagnostics and therapeutics are being developed, and how federal food allergy activities should be expanded and improved, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAAI).

The process of getting the FASTER Act didn’t exactly move super-fast in normal time but it did seem to move faster than usual in Congressional time. When Congress competes with molasses in a race, often you may want to place your bets on the sugary substance prevailing. According to the Congressional Management Foundation, it takes an average of seven years for a bill to go from being first introduced in Congress to becoming a law. That’s if the bill even ends up getting passed. The road to getting the FASTER Act passed took a comparatively shorter amount of time, about two years after Rep. Doris O. Matsui (D-California) had first introduced an earlier version of the bill to the U.S. House of Representatives in April 2019.

The culmination of this two-year sesame street should be good news to those in the U.S. population that have sesame allergies. A study published on August 2, 2019, in JAMA Network Open estimated that 0.23% of the population have a “convincing sesame allergy.” Of course, not everyone is allergic to the same degree. Allergic reactions to sesame can range from mild discomfort, such as hives, to anaphylaxis, which can be an oh-my-goodness-can’t breathe, life-threatening emergency. Therefore, it is important to take real sesame allergies seriously.

The trouble is it hasn’t been that easy to spot sesame in food. Sure, you may be able to readily spot sesame seeds on your buns, depending on what buns you are talking about and whether you have a mirror. Sure, it can be relatively easy to spot sesame seeds on a chip whether that chip is in your hand or on your shoulder. But sesame can be present in much harder to detect ways. For example, various cereals like granola and muesli can have sesame in them, making them potential cereal killers if you have a very severe sesame allergy. Sesame can get very saucy too, hiding out in various dressings, marinades, and dips like baba ghanoush, hummus, and tahini. You could inadvertently meet in different processed meats. Sesame hasn’t been barred from energy bars, either. It can be in your soup as well. And while we’re on roll here, we might as well mention sushi rolls, which often have sesame seeds on them.

Then there’s the cooking issue. Restaurant menus don’t always say things like “Harry Styles-shaped flambé cooked in sesame oil.” And chances are your server won’t ask, “And sir or madam, would you prefer your dish be cooked in sesame oil, olive oil, or lard?” In general, just because something doesn’t taste like sesame doesn’t mean that sesame isn’t necessarily present.

Plus, like the entertainer Ye, sesame can go by different names. FARE, which stands for Food Allergy Research & Education and is a non-profit organization focusing on food allergy awareness, research, education, and advocacy, warns that those allergic to sesame should avoid anything containing the following ingredients: benne, benne seed, benniseed, gingelly, gingelly oil, gomasio (sesame salt), halvah, sesame flour, sesame oil, sesame paste, sesame salt, sesame seed, sesamol, sesamum indicum, sesemolina, sim sim, tahini, tahina, tehina, or til. Watching Sesame Street should be fine, as long as you aren’t eating a bowl of tahini at the same time.

The FASTER Act should make it faster for those with sesame allergies to sesame-see what may be in their food. And the value of this new development should be an open sesame and shut case.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://mikethompson.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/thompson-releases-statement-117th-congress-constituent-services,Thompson Releases Statement on 117th Congress Constituent Services Accomplishments,2022-12-30,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Mike Thompson,T000460,mikethompson.house.gov,mikethompson,https://mikethompson.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Today, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05) released the following statement and statistics outlining important constituent service and legislative milestones over the last two years.

“The 117th Congress has been one of the most productive sessions of Congress in our nation’s history,” said Thompson. “We passed significant legislation that sets our country up for a strong and secure future while investing from the bottom up and middle out. Infrastructure, health care, climate change, supply chains, American manufacturing, and more were all addressed, and I remain focused on continuing to build on the progress we made over the last two years.

“I am particularly proud of the work my office was able to accomplish on behalf of the people of our district. I take pride in our constituent services, and with over 178,000 responses to constituent mail, over 4,000 cases closed, over $24 million returned to our district, my office delivered for many constituents. Going into the 118th Congress, constituent services will again take a front seat and I plan on improving these numbers.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://mikethompson.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/thompson-secures-key-conservation-easement-provision-government-funding,Thompson Secures Key Conservation Easement Provision in Government Funding Bill,2022-12-30,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Mike Thompson,T000460,mikethompson.house.gov,mikethompson,https://mikethompson.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Today, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05) announced that his legislation to shut down abusive conservation easement transactions was included in the final 2023 government funding bill.

“Abuse of conservation easements has cost taxpayers billions of dollars and provided wealthy developers with a loophole to abuse our tax code,” said Thompson. “Shutting down these tax shelters is a no-brainer. By closing this loophole, we ensure that taxpayers are defended and that conservation easements remain a successful and cost-effective means of protecting our shared natural heritage.”

Taxpayers are able to claim a charitable tax deduction when they donate a conservation easement to a qualified land trust. By placing a conservation easement on a piece of qualified property and then donating the easement to an entity dedicated to land conservation, the taxpayer essentially protects the piece of land permanently. This makes the deduction a very successful and cost-effective way of conserving wild spaces.

However, bad actors have abused the program, essentially using the deduction as an investment vehicle: in simple terms, a group of investors would buy a piece of land, overstate the appraisal value of the land, then donate the easement and claim a deduction far greater than what they invested. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has designated these easement deals as “listed transactions,” meaning they are subjected to greater than usual scrutiny, and the Justice Department has repeatedly, and often successfully, pursued bad actors in court for abusing the easement program as a tax shelter.

Rep. Thompson’s legislation, H.R. 4164 (the Charitable Conservation Easement Program Integrity Act), was bipartisan and bicameral and will save taxpayers billions of dollars. The bill was backed by numerous Justice Department indictments, a bipartisan Senate Finance Committee report, and multiple formal statements issued by IRS.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://panetta.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-panetta-announces-winner-local-student-congressional-app,Congressman Panetta Announces Winner of Local Student Congressional App Competition,2022-12-30,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Jimmy Panetta,P000613,panetta.house.gov,panetta,https://panetta.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Salinas, CA – U.S. Representative Jimmy Panetta (D-Carmel Valley) announced the winner of his district's Congressional App Challenge, Toma Brasoveanu (pronounced Brah-show-va-nu), a seventh-grade student from Pacific Collegiate School in Santa Cruz. The Congressional App Challenge promotes student innovation, creativity, and engagement in computer science through competition and the creation of a new application.

Toma's app, ""Pill Alarm,"" alerts and reminds users when they need to take their medication. Toma was inspired to create ""Pill Alarm"" by his mother, Megan Moodie-Brasoveanu, who lives with a neuromuscular condition that requires medication at regular intervals. Toma wanted to design an app to help his mother track and safely take her pills on time. ""Pill Alarm"" is Toma's first app.

""The Congressional App Challenge provides students with a unique, hands-on experience to test their skills in computer science and explore innovative ideas outside of the traditional confines of the classroom,"" said Rep. Panetta. ""Toma and this years' runners-up saw problems in our communities and worked hard to develop technological solutions to address them. On behalf of our congressional district, congratulations to Toma and every student who participated in the competition this year, we cannot wait to see what the future holds for each of you.""

""'Pill Alarm"" is different than most medicine tracking apps because it's based on user-set intervals instead of fixed times of day. That's really important for people like my mom, who need to make sure they get their medication safely, at exactly the right time,"" said Toma Brasaoveanu. ""Winning the App Challenge has really boosted my confidence in my app-building skills! I want to say thank you to Congressman Panetta and his staff for this great opportunity, to Stephanie Sumarna for running the program, and to my teacher, Elizabeth Shaw, at Cabrillo College who's been a big supporter of mine and showed me the App Challenge. I also want to thank my mom for collaborating with me on the ""user end"" of the app and my dad for helping me debug issues that came up. Congratulations to all the other winners for building cool apps!""

Placing second in the competition are Daniel Garnica, Tushar Singh, Angel Vazquez, and Mark Ramilo from Seaside High School with their app ""Sea Our Side"" which highlights activities to do when you are in the City of Seaside. In third place were Oscar Yanez, Robert Cruz, Annie Dorantes, and Roman Frilles from Seaside High School for their app ""Kelp"" which helps tourists and locals find restaurants in the Monterey Bay area.

Winning apps are eligible to be displayed in the U.S. Capitol building and featured on the House of Representatives website, www.House.gov.

Officially launched by the U.S. House of Representatives in 2015, the Congressional App Challenge is a nationwide effort allows students to compete against their peers by creating an application or ""app,"" for desktop/PC, web, tablet, mobile, or other devices. The Congressional App Challenge is open to all middle and high school students in California's 20th Congressional District.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://panetta.house.gov/media/press-releases/panetta-announces-30-million-grant-santa-cruz-county-auxiliary-lane-and-trail,Panetta Announces $30 Million Grant for Santa Cruz County Auxiliary Lane and Trail Expansion,2022-12-30,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Jimmy Panetta,P000613,panetta.house.gov,panetta,https://panetta.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Salinas, CA – U.S. Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-20) announced a $30 million grant for Santa Cruz County to build the final phase of its planned Watsonville-Cruz Multimodal Corridor Program. This major project will construct auxiliary lanes and a bus on shoulder facility along State Route 1. In addition, the funding will be used to purchase four zero emission buses for Santa Cruz County and build a new segment of the Santa Cruz Coastal Rail Trail, including bicycle and pedestrian overcrossings for SR 1.

Funding was secured through the National Infrastructure Project Assistance Program, known as Mega grants. Congress created this new competitive grant program as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to invest in complex projects with no other funding solution. Projects like the Watsonville-Cruz Multimodal Corridor Program qualify for a Mega grant if they help meet national or regional economic, mobility, or safety goals. The Watsonville-Cruz program is one of nine projects nationwide to be chosen for this round of Mega funding.

""For far too long and far too often, too many people have been stuck in traffic on Highway 1 getting between Watsonville and Santa Cruz, leading to a decrease in our productivity and an increase in our carbon output,"" said Rep. Panetta. ""The Multimodal Corridor Program will bring much needed relief to our congestion and climate change problems with an extra lane for public transportation, improvements for the safety of pedestrians and cyclists, and, ultimately, the reduction of our carbon emissions. I'm proud that Congress passed the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in order to make this type of crucial federal investment in our roads and green buses that will help alleviate traffic, improve our livelihoods, and allow us to play our part to stem the effects of climate change.""

""This grant award is proof that the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is working for Santa Cruz County by providing necessary funding for the final phase of the Highway 1 Auxiliary Lane and Bus on Shoulder Project, reducing congestion and improving safety for all users,"" said Guy Preston, SCCRTC Executive Director. ""The project will also help deliver a critical section of the coastal rail trail through Aptos and fund the purchase four zero emission buses for Santa Cruz METRO. This multi-modal project aligns with our shared goals of climate action, healthy communities, safety and equity.""

This multimodal project will build the final phase of a three-phase auxiliary lane and bus on shoulder operational improvement program for Santa Cruz County. The innovative bus on shoulder facility will provide transit vehicles an opportunity to bypass congestion and improve on-time performance and reliability of regional bus routes. The new zero emission buses will connect Watsonville with educational and job centers. The new 1.25-mile segment of the Coastal Rail Trail will provide much needed pedestrian and bicycle overcrossings reconnecting communities separated by the freeway.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://pelosi.house.gov/news/press-releases/dear-colleague-to-all-members-on-the-speakers-new-pay-order,Dear Colleague to All Members on the Speaker's New Pay Order,2022-12-30,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Nancy Pelosi,P000197,pelosi.house.gov,pelosi,https://pelosi.house.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Dear Colleague,

As you know, our hard-working, patriotic Congressional staffers are integral to the functioning of the House of Representatives: ensuring this institution can effectively carry out our legislative and constituent responsibilities. To that end, we must do all we can to retain and recruit the best talent in our nation — and to build a Congressional workforce that reflects the communities we are honored to serve.

It is my privilege as Speaker to announce that the House will raise the maximum annual rate of pay for staff to $212,100. This increase in the Speaker's Pay Order is consistent with the recent raise in the Executive Branch Level II and Senior Executive Branch maximum annual salary rate.

As Speaker, it has been a key priority for me to bring the brightest minds and a diversity of backgrounds here to Capitol Hill — at every level of public service. That is why we have:

raised the maximum annual pay twice: ensuring parity among employees of the House, employees of the Senate and employees of the Executive Branch;

set a first-ever minimum annual pay for staff at $45,000: a fairer, more competitive salary that has helped open the doors of public service to those who may not have been able to afford to do so before;

delivered a 21 percent increase in the MRA in the FY22 omnibus: ensuring every office has the resources to fairly compensate staff;

and established the House Office of Diversity and Inclusion: helping make the House more inclusive, open and representative of the full range of voices and values of our communities.

This work must continue into the 118th Congress and beyond, as we carry on our dutiful stewardship of this historic institution.

Thank you for your commitment and leadership to serve the American people. Best wishes to you and your loved ones for a Happy, Healthy New Year!

NANCY PELOSI

Speaker of the House",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://sherman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-sherman-secures-over-21-million-for-us-israel-cooperative,Congressman Sherman Secures Over $21 million for U.S.-Israel Cooperative Research,2022-12-30,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Brad Sherman,S000344,sherman.house.gov,sherman,https://sherman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC - Today, Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA) announced the inclusion of over $21 million in funding for U.S.-Israel Cooperative Programming in the government funding bill that President Biden signed last evening. Congressman Sherman led over 80 bipartisan Members in sending a series of letters to the House Appropriations Committee urging the funding of a variety of U.S.-Israel cooperative programs.

Congressman Sherman wrote the U.S.-Israel Energy Cooperation Act, which became law in 2007. Since then, Congressman Sherman has led efforts to fund U.S.-Israel joint research projects. These programs fund joint research projects involving both Israeli and American scientists. The Israeli government matches the U.S. investment, so our research dollars go further.

Sherman said, ""It is important that we make Israel relevant, even to Americans who don't focus on Middle East policy. Every American could benefit from break-throughs that could come from this research. All too often, when people hear ‘something happened in Israel,' they think of some recent terrorist incident, in a word – Tsuris. Hopefully, when we think of Israel we think not of Tsuris, but of Science.""

The programs funded are:

-U.S.-Israel Binational Agricultural Research & Development program: $2,000,000.

-U.S.-Israel bilateral cooperative program for COVID-19 research & development: $3,080,000.

-USAID-Israel International Development Cooperation Program for sustainability: $2,000,000.

-U.S.-Israel Binational Industrial Research & Development Foundation (energy): $2,000,000.

-U.S.-Israel Center of Excellence in Energy Engineering and Water Technology: $4,000,000.

-U.S.-Israel Binational Industrial Research and Development Foundation (cyber): $2,000,000.

-U.S.-Israel Cybersecurity Cooperation grant program: $6,000,000.

These programs are not aid programs. They leverage relatively small U.S. investments to create private sector and academic innovation and often generate returns for the United States – like the U.S.-Israel Binational Agricultural Research and Development Fund (BARD), which has generated a $16.5 return for every dollar invested.

Congressman Sherman's co-leads in fighting for these programs were:Ted Deutch, Congressman Chris Pappas, Congressman Bill Johnson, Congressman David Kustoff, Congressman Jim Langevin, and Congressman Andrew R. Garbarino.

The following Members of Congress signed letters in support of these programs:Alma S. Adams, Rick W. Allen, Jake Auchincloss, Cynthia Axne, Jim Banks, Andy Barr, Gus M. Bilirakis, Carolyn Bourdeaux, Brendan F. Boyle, Julia Brownley, Tony Cardenas, Yvette D. Clarke, Gerald E. Connolly, Jim Costa, Joe Courtney, Angie Craig, Eric A. ""Rick"" Crawford, Jason Crow, Suzan K. DelBene, Antonio Delgado, Brian Fitzpatrick, Lizzie Fletcher, Bill Foster, Josh Gottheimer, Vicente Gonzalez, Hakeem Jeffries, John Katko, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Doug LaMalfa, Doug Lamborn, John B. Larson, Debbie Lesko, Mike Levin, Ted W. Lieu, Alan Lowenthal, Elaine G. Luria, Stephen F. Lynch, Nicole Malliotakis, Carolyn B. Maloney, Kathy Manning, Lucy McBath, David B. McKinley, Jerry McNerney, Alex X. Mooney, Grace F. Napolitano, Richard E. Neal, Troy E. Nehls, Tom O'Halleran, Burgess Owens, Jimmy Panetta, Dean Phillips, Kathleen M. Rice, Maria Elvira Salazar, Linda T. Sanchez, John P. Sarbanes, Mary Gay Scanlon, Adam B. Schiff, Bradley Scott Schneider, Kim Schrier, David Schweikert, Albio Sires, Elissa Slotkin, Adrian Smith, Abigail Davis Spanberger, Haley M. Stevens, Marilyn Strickland, Thomas R. Suozzi, Eric Swalwell, Dina Titus, Ritchie Torres, Jefferson Van Drew, Juan Vargas, Marc A. Veasey, Ann Wagner, Jackie Walorski, Susan Wild, Frederica S. Wilson, and Lee Zeldin.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://pelosi.house.gov/news/press-releases/pelosi-announces-golden-gate-bridge-to-receive-400-million-for-seismic-retrofit,Pelosi Announces Golden Gate Bridge to Receive $400 Million for Seismic Retrofit Under Democrats' Infrastructure Law,2022-12-29,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Nancy Pelosi,P000197,pelosi.house.gov,pelosi,https://pelosi.house.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"San Francisco – Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced today that San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge will soon receive $400 million from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) under Democrats' historic Infrastructure Law. These funds will be used to strengthen one of the Bay Area's most vital arteries and bolster its resilience against earthquakes.

""For more than eight decades, the Golden Gate Bridge has stood as a symbol of the innovative spirit of the Bay Area and our nation,"" Speaker Nancy Pelosi said. ""The Federal Highway Administration's $400 million investment will help ensure that this iconic landmark continues to safely and reliably serve our region for many years to come. As a proud Representative of San Francisco, it was my privilege to work alongside President Biden, Secretary Buttigieg and the entire Bay Area Delegation to ensure our region receives its fair share of the Infrastructure Law's once-in-a-generation investment in America's bridges.""

""The Golden Gate Bridge is an international icon and key transportation link for the Bay Area that serves tens of millions of residents and visitors every year, and this vital funding allows us to finish strengthening the Bridge against disasters,"" said Denis Mulligan, General Manager of the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District. ""Thanks to Speaker Pelosi, the Biden Administration, and the entire Bay Area Congressional delegation, the Golden Gate Bridge will be protected for generations to come.""

The FHWA found that the Golden Gate Bridge is currently in ""fair condition"" but noted that continued deterioration would result in a ""poor"" rating within the next three years. The Bridge's north and south approaches were retrofitted in 2013, leaving only the main suspension span to be upgraded. The newly-announced federal funding will allow this remaining section to undergo vital seismic upgrades and ensure the Bridge's continued structural integrity.

Passed by the Democratic Congress, the Infrastructure Law was signed by President Biden on November 15, 2021. This historic legislation established a competitive Bridge Investment Program, delivering $12.5 billion to build, repair and replace key bridges across the country. This initiative represents the single largest investment in America's bridges since the construction of the interstate highway system.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://pelosi.house.gov/news/press-releases/pelosi-announces-san-francisco-will-receive-30-million-for-community-projects,Pelosi Announces San Francisco Will Receive $30 Million for Community Projects from Government Funding Package,2022-12-29,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Nancy Pelosi,P000197,pelosi.house.gov,pelosi,https://pelosi.house.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"San Francisco – Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced that nearly $30 million in new federal funding is headed to San Francisco to support vital community projects. These investments – which will support neighborhood-serving organizations that are helping meet the needs of Bay Area families – were included in the government funding package signed into law today by President Biden.

""The new federal funding headed to our City for critical community projects is a major victory for San Francisco families,"" Speaker Nancy Pelosi said. ""Thanks to Democrats' tenacious negotiating, this year's government funding package delivers deeply needed federal funds for projects across the country that help meet specific needs of our communities. From easing food insecurity and homelessness to expanding vital health services to caring for local veterans, these investments will help us seize the biggest opportunities and tackle the biggest challenges that San Franciscans face.""

A full list of San Francisco community projects receiving funding for Fiscal Year 2023 include:

San Francisco General Hospital Foundation on behalf of Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center – $1,000,000 for the Transform Mental and Behavioral Health Fund

San Francisco Community Clinic Consortium – $2,200,000 for Community Health Center Improvements

Larkin Street Youth Services – $1,550,000 for Services for Youth Experiencing Homelessness

HealthRIGHT 360 – $2,500,000 for the Integrated Care Center

Mission Neighborhood Centers, Inc. – $2,000,000 for Child Care Facilities Expansions

The National AIDS Memorial – $750,000 for the Center for Health and Social Justice

Chinatown Media and Arts Collaborative – $2,500,000 for Edge on the Square Chinatown Media and Arts Collaborative Building Renovation

Friends of the Children - SF Bay Area – $750,000 for Friends of the Children Bayview Youth Center

Lavender Youth Recreation and Information Center, Inc. (LYRIC) – $2,000,000 for Youth Center Renovation

United Playaz, Inc. – $4,000,000 for 1044 Howard Building Purchase and Improvements

Project Open Hand – $1,451,000 for Community Nutrition and Wellness Expansion

San Francisco Recreation and Park Department – $3,000,000 for Japantown Peace Plaza Renovation

The Friendship House Association of American Indians – $750,000 for the Village SF Urban Indian Project

Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy – $3,000,000 for the Golden Gate National Recreation Area Energy Production and Storage Project

San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency – $2,500,000 for Bayview Community-Based Transportation Implementation

""We are deeply appreciative of Speaker Nancy Pelosi's leadership to secure funding to provide timely and comprehensive mental health services for San Francisco,"" said Kim Meredith, CEO of San Francisco General Hospital Foundation. ""Not only will our Transforming Mental and Behavioral Health program draw together experts to develop innovative models for treating the mental health needs of the predominately underserved and underinsured population that Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital serves, but it will also help find solutions to the national effort, including the systemic causes of homelessness not just in this District, but nationwide.""

""The San Francisco Community Clinic Consortium and its member clinics serve over 100,000 low income vulnerable San Franciscans,"" said Deena Lahn, Vice President, Policy and External Affairs of San Francisco Community Clinics Consortium. ""During the worst parts of the Covid pandemic and continuing today, our community clinics remained open to provide information, vaccinations and treatment to communities who would otherwise be ignored. The funds provided through the Community Project Funding will fund critical equipment and renovation to help meet the needs of our patients and ensure that we can continue to provide high quality, up to date medical care for our hard working patients, regardless of their ability to pay.""

""We are incredibly grateful to Speaker Pelosi's leadership for supporting our FY23 Community Project proposal,"" said Sherilyn Adams, Executive Director of Larkin Street Youth Services. ""With these critical resources Larkin Street will be able to amplify our efforts to stably house and improve economic outcomes for youth experiencing homelessness in San Francisco by providing immediate access to shelter, transitional housing with intensive case management, and educational programming to help close the post-pandemic learning gap. This funding will also support progress towards our collective long-term goal of ending youth homelessness in San Francisco.""

""Congresswoman Pelosi's community project funding to fully renovate the current administrative floor of HealthRIGHT 360's Integrated Care Clinic in San Francisco will exponentially expand capacity of client assessments for substance use disorder treatment intakes, and will allow us to continue our focus of treatment on demand for those that need the most help by providing better access to treatment,"" said Vitka Eisen, Chief Executive Officer of HealthRIGHT 360. ""Thank you, Congresswoman Pelosi, for continuing to bring important federal funding home to San Francisco to address our underserved and often marginalized communities that need the most help, and for living our mantra that healthcare is a right, not a privilege.""

""The MNC Family is more than grateful and appreciative to Speaker Pelosi for her continued support and generosity, that will impact and improve young lives for generations ahead,"" said Richard Ybarra, Chief Executive Officer of Mission Neighborhood Centers. ""These funds will advance the completion of our new Inspiring Children early care campus at 1240 Valencia (former police station).""

""The National AIDS Memorial is deeply appreciative of Speaker Pelosi's support of funding our work toward building a National Center for Health & Social Justice in San Francisco,"" said John Cunningham, Chief Executive Officer of National AIDS Memorial. ""Still relevant today, the Center will transform the enormous human tragedy exacerbated by societal indifference and the triumphs and lessons of the AIDS crisis into an enduring movement so that never again will a community be harmed due to stigma, prejudice, discrimination, or hate. San Francisco has long stood at the forefront of our nation's fight for social justice and the Center will educate and inspire compassion and action in its citizens, the nation, and the global community.""

""Speaker Pelosi's ultimate legacy is that of a tireless and fearless public servant,"" said Malcolm Yeung, Founding Board Member of the Chinatown Media and Arts Collaborative. ""No issue is too big and, equally important, no issue is too small. The Speaker's leadership means everything to our Chinatown community.""

""This appropriation is a significant contribution to Edge On The Square, anticipated to be the soul and new icon of Chinatown,"" said Mabel Teng, Executive Director and Founding Board Member of the Chinatown Media and Arts Collaborative. ""We are rolling up our sleeves to build the unprecedented Asian American storytelling platform with a just vision of America through the lens of immigrants.""

""Friends of the Children extends our sincere gratitude and thanks to Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi for her unwavering commitment to supporting children in Bayview Hunters Point,"" said Timothy Waters, Executive Director of Friends of the Children – SF Bay Area. ""This funding to secure the acquisition of the Bayview Youth Center will enable Friends of the Children – SF Bay Area to continue on our path to mentor and serve 400 children. By creating an incredible space for our program, this support will positively impact generational change as our paid, professional mentors further the hopes and dreams of the youth and families we serve.""

""These federal funds will increase the current LYRIC space by 40% which will allow us to serve more LGBTQQ+ youth, especially trans and non-binary youth, here in San Francisco,"" said Adam-Michael Royston, Vice President of LYRIC. ""The LYRIC center is the second oldest LGBTQQ+ youth center in the country and with trans youth under attack across the country we have seen a tremendous increase in our services – specifically mental health and gender affirming care and these funds will allow us to serve more than 3,000 youth in San Francisco a year.""

""We are so appreciative to be included in the Community Project Funding!"" said Rudy Corpuz, Executive Director of United Playaz. ""Our project to purchase and rebuild 1044 Howard Street/United Playaz Way would not have happened without these important funds! This new building will become home to our literacy program Real Playaz Read and our growing ReEntry program serving individuals coming home from incarceration. It Takes The Hood To Save The Hood!""

""For 37 years, Project Open Hand's mission has been to serve meals with love to the Bay Area, providing life-saving nutrition for residents who need it most,"" said Paul Hepfer, Chief Executive Officer of Project Open Hand. ""The funds allocated to our organization by Congresswoman Pelosi will ensure that our programs and capacity continue to reach those in critical need of the medically tailored meals that we provide. On behalf of our clients and our staff, Project Open Hand would like to convey our sincerest appreciation for this funding and recognition of the important work that our founder, Ruth Brinker, began back in 1985, and that we continue to this day.""

""We are so grateful to Speaker Nancy Pelosi for her steadfast support of the Japantown Peace Plaza renovation,"" Phil Ginsburg, General Manager of San Francisco Recreation and Park Department. ""For 110 years, this space has been vital to generations of Japanese American, Asian American and Pacific Islander families and is one of only three Japantowns left in the U.S. With $3 million in federal funding, the Peace Plaza will continue to flourish as an essential open space that is home to so many community organizations, small business, and artists.""

""This investment contributes to the development of the Village SF, a six-story building in the heart of the city that provides cultural programs, social services, housing, and medical and dental care, for the 9,000 Native Americans and Alaska Natives who live in San Francisco,"" said Gabriel Pimentel (Apache), Executive Director of Friendship House Association of American Indians. ""The Village SF is just the beginning of Friendship House's vision for a thriving and healthy Native community in the heart of every city in America.""

""The park partners of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area are grateful to Speaker Pelosi and for this federal Community Project funding that will bring to life the dream of a solar project within the Presidio. Addressing climate resilience in Bay Area national parks is a priority, as we continue to ensure these park lands serve as places of welcome and belonging for people from San Francisco and across the world for decades to come,"" said Christine Lehnertz, President & CEO, Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy.

""Installing solar panels in the Presidio will save energy costs and further our goal of being a carbon-neutral park,"" said Jean Fraser, CEO of the Presidio Trust. ""This project will educate the Presidio's millions of visitors about the power Americans have to reduce climate change by using alternative energy sources.""

""This award will generate broad and important safety benefits that are directly aligned with community needs and values in Bayview-Hunters Point,"" said Jeffrey Tumlin, Director of Transportation at San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency. ""It will have a direct impact by improving pedestrian and bicycle safety in the Bayview Neighborhood, one of San Francisco's most disadvantaged communities. Specifically, this project will improve pedestrian safety along the 3rd St. corridor, improving resident access to transit, local businesses, parks, and community centers.""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://costa.house.gov/media/press-releases/costa-issues-statement-amigos-act-signed-law,Costa Issues Statement on the AMIGOS Act Signed into Law,2022-12-28,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Jim Costa,C001059,costa.house.gov,costa,https://costa.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Congressman Jim Costa (CA-16), Co-Chair of the Congressional Portuguese American Caucus, released the following statement after President Joseph R. Biden signed into law, the Advancing Mutual Interests and Growing our Success (AMIGOS) Act. Costa is an original co-sponsor and was instrumental in passing this legislation.

“Portuguese-Americans have made significant contributions in the San Joaquin Valley and throughout the United States,” said Costa. “The AMIGOS Act will help create more American jobs and increase investment across the country, while strengthening the bonds between United States and Portugal.”

The AMIGOS Act was signed into law as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023. This legislation will grant Portuguese citizens eligibility for E-1 and E-2 Visas, which allow individuals to enter the United States to conduct ""substantial trade"" or invest a ""substantial amount of capital"" respectively.

###

Congressman Jim Costa represents a large Portuguese American population in California's San Joaquin Valley and is a Co-Chair of the Congressional Portuguese American Caucus",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://desaulnier.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/private-bill-authored-congressman-desaulnier-make-maria-isabel-bueso,Private Bill Authored by Congressman DeSaulnier to Make Maria Isabel Bueso Permanent Resident Becomes Law,2022-12-28,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Mark DeSaulnier,D000623,desaulnier.house.gov,desaulnier,https://desaulnier.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11) announced that the private bill he authored to permanently allow Isabel Bueso and her family to remain in the United States so Isabel can continue to receive treatment for her rare, life-threatening disease (H.R. 785) was signed into law by President Biden. Following House passage of H.R. 785 in June, the bill was championed in the U.S. Senate by Senators Dianne Feinstein and Alex Padilla (both D-CA).

“Since Isabel and her family were threatened by the Trump Administration with deportation three and half years ago, I have been honored to work alongside them in the pursuit of justice by leading the effort in Congress to allow them to stay here permanently. Isabel’s medical condition is permanent and her status in the U.S. to get treatment should be too,” said Congressman DeSaulnier. “I am so relieved for the Buesos that they will finally get long overdue peace of mind now that President Biden has signed this bill into law so they can spend their time focusing on Isabel’s care instead of unnecessary paperwork and worry.”

“There are no words to express our feelings and gratitude for giving us the opportunity to create a solid future in this country. Congressman DeSaulnier’s support and dedication to our struggle, finding a way forward and making it happen in spite of obstacles, is a testament to his commitment to making life better for his constituents and others. I hope that more people can get the relief like I did and that this will inspire others to know that their Members of Congress can help,” said Isabel Bueso.

Isabel’s story rose to national prominence when the Trump Administration cancelled medical deferred action, which led to people like her with rare, life-threatening diseases facing deportation. Isabel came to the United States legally from Guatemala in 2003 to receive life-saving treatment as part of a medical trial for Maroteaux-Lamy Syndrome, also known as Mucopolysaccharidosis Type VI. Since then, she and her family have resided lawfully in the East Bay and her participation in those trials has helped identify an effective, life-saving treatment, which the drug manufacturer says Isabel cannot receive in Guatemala.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://harder.house.gov/media/press-releases/harder-torches-government-bureaucrats-in-reaction-to-new-report-on-impacts-of-building-delta-tunnel-project,Harder Torches Government Bureaucrats in Reaction to New Report on Impacts of Building Delta Tunnel Project,2022-12-28,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Josh Harder,H001090,harder.house.gov,harder,https://harder.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON — Today, Representative Josh Harder released the following statement in reaction to the Army Corps of Engineers’ newly released 700 page draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Delta Conveyance Project, also known as the Delta Tunnel.

The report finds that building the Delta Tunnel project may have significant negative impacts on the Central Valley’s agricultural resources including its water supply, air quality, endangered species, essential fish habitat, and environmental justice outlook. Additionally, the Army Corps of Engineers has failed to schedule even one single in-person public hearing on the Delta Tunnel project.

“Building the Delta Tunnel will crush our farmers, endanger our environment, and put our whole community at risk. I refuse to let that happen. Everyone in the Valley knows the Delta Tunnel is a terrible idea and a greedy water grab. Now, we have a report that makes those facts clear as day,” said Rep. Harder. “The Army Corps of Engineers’ refusal to host a single in-person public hearing on this project is an embarrassment and a disservice to everyone in our community. Six weeks of public comment on a project that will impact us for hundreds of years is unacceptable and another demonstration of Sacramento putting itself first and the Valley last. Today, I’m calling on the Army Corps to reverse its decision and hold a real, in-person public hearing before the end of January so they can hear directly from Valley farmers and families about what this disastrous project would mean to all of us.”

Rep. Harder’s office will be following this press release with additional announcements and actions in opposition to the Delta Tunnel project in the coming days and weeks. This comes on the heels of Rep. Harder’s new bill, the Stop the Delta Tunnel Act, which would stop the project’s construction once and for all.

A summary of the EIS report can be found online here. The full report can be found online here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://juliabrownley.house.gov/biden-signs-brownley-bill-to-designate-oxnard-post-office-recognizing-civil-rights-champion-john-r-hatcher-iii/,Biden Signs Brownley Bill to Designate Oxnard Post Office Recognizing Civil Rights Champion John R. Hatcher III,2022-12-27,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Julia Brownley,B001285,juliabrownley.house.gov,juliabrownley,https://juliabrownley.house.gov/category/press-releases/,scraper,"Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) issued the following statement regarding the recent enactment of legislation she authored to designate the U.S. Post Office located at 1961 North C Street in Oxnard, California as the “John R. Hatcher III Post Office Building.” John R. Hatcher III was a prominent community leader, staunch civil rights champion, and a lifelong resident of Oxnard.

“John Hatcher left a lasting legacy on our community, and I am proud to have spearheaded this effort to designate a post office bearing his name,” said Congresswoman Julia Brownley. “John was deeply passionate about advancing civil rights and a longtime advocate for the Black community across Ventura County, and this is a fitting tribute to John’s life and legacy.

“I would also like to thank Senators Padilla and Feinstein for their help moving this important bill through the Senate and onto the President’s desk.”

The son of a civil rights leader in Birmingham, AL during the Jim Crow era, John R. Hatcher III followed in his father’s footsteps and spent his life fighting for equality. Hatcher was a member of the NAACP for more than 60 years, nearly four decades of which he served as president of the Ventura County Chapter, in addition to eight years as the NAACP Southern Area president covering six states.

Hatcher was a veteran of the United States Air Force, serving more than 22 years before working as a civil servant for the Department of the Navy. A recipient of the African-American Achievement Award at California State University, Channel Islands, Hatcher aided in the establishment of the Ventura County African-American Chamber of Commerce, Tri-County Sentry newspaper, and naming the Thurgood Marshall School in the Oxnard School District.

President Biden signed the bill on Tuesday, December 27, 2022.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://mikethompson.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/chairman-thompson-commends-atf-action-ghost-guns,Chairman Thompson Commends ATF for Action on Ghost Guns,2022-12-27,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Mike Thompson,T000460,mikethompson.house.gov,mikethompson,https://mikethompson.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Today, Chair of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task ForceRep. Mike Thompson (CA-05) commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Director Steve Dettelbach for releasing guidance on the agency’s Ghost Gun rulemaking.

“Ghost guns are sought out by criminals and other people prohibited from purchasing a firearm because these untraceable weapons could be sold without a background check,” said Thompson. “I commend ATF Director Dettelbach for releasing a guidance letter to industry which will provide clarification about how the ghost gun rule will be enforced to ensure that frames and receivers have a serial number and require a background check to be sold.”

The ATF’s ghost gun guidance letter follows action by the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force to urge the ATF to provide clear guidance and vigorously enforce the rule cracking down on the illegal sale of ghost guns. Prior to the release of this guidance, some ghost gun retailers sought to evade the ghost gun rule by selling frames and receivers separate from the easily accessible tools and parts needed to complete the firearm.

In December, Chairman Thompson met with Director Dettelbach to discuss gun violence prevention issues including the implementation of the ghost gun rule. In October Thompson led a letter to the ATF signed by 135 members of Congress on the ghost gun rule implementation. Read the letter here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://panetta.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-panetta-announces-15-million-hhs-grants-expand-local-covid-19,Congressman Panetta Announces $1.4 Million in HHS Grants to Expand Local COVID-19 Vaccination Efforts,2022-12-27,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Jimmy Panetta,P000613,panetta.house.gov,panetta,https://panetta.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"SALINAS, CA – Today, Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-Carmel Valley) announced nearly $1.4 million in Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) grants to expand local COVID-19 vaccination efforts. Funding will support health centers across the congressional district to administer updated COVID-19 vaccines. Salud Para La Gente in Watsonville will receive a $298,093 HHS grant, Monterey County will receive a $432,157 HHS grant, Santa Cruz County will receive a $174,595 HHS grant, and Clinica de Salud Del Valle De Salinas will receive a $491,628 HHS grant to bolster COVID-19 vaccination, particularly among underserved populations across our congressional district.

""Widespread, up-to-date vaccination against COVID-19 is how we protect ourselves, families, and friends and keep on going forward. This federal funding is critical to expanding the work of our community health care workers who have worked tirelessly to vaccinate our communities and leave no one behind,"" said Rep. Panetta. ""I'm proud that the federal government continues to play its part so that we at the local level can get vaccinated and get back to work, get together, get on the road to travel, and, ultimately, get back to living our normal lives.""

""This supplemental award of $298,093 from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services allows us to continue to keep our patients and community safe through the winter and into the new year, by supporting expanded Covid-19 vaccine activities,"" said Dori Rose Inda, Chief Executive Officer of Salud Para La Gente.

""The County of Monterey Health Department is appreciative of receiving additional federal funding in the amount of $432,157 to support the continuation of COVID-19 vaccination efforts for our Medi-Cal and uninsured County residents who continue to be most disproportionately impacted by COVID-19,"" said Elsa Mendoza Jimenez, Director of the Monterey County Health Department Director. ""The Health Department operates 10 Federally Qualified Health Centers in Salinas, Marina, and Seaside and serves approximately 40,000 patients. This HRSA funding will be used to expand COVID vaccination efforts which will support a broad range of activities aimed to boost COVID Vaccination confidence. For e.g., the funding will be used to conduct outreach and education to increase vaccine confidence and demand, continue to increase vaccination efforts, and provide enabling services.""

""We are so grateful for this funding as it will allow us to continue to reduce disease in our community, work towards equity, and provide outreach to our most vulnerable populations,"" said Amy Peeler, Chief of Clinic Services in Santa Cruz County.

""We are extremely grateful that our Nation has provided these resources so that our families, all American Families, can protect themselves against these new viruses. We will make strong efforts to get the vaccines distributed throughout our community,"" said Dr. Max Cuevas, Chief Executive Officer at Clinica de Salud del Valle de Salinas.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://vargas.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-vargas-statement-on-supreme-court-blocking-termination-of-title-42,Rep. Vargas’ Statement on Supreme Court Blocking Termination of Title 42,2022-12-27,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Juan Vargas,V000130,vargas.house.gov,vargas,https://vargas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C (December 27, 2022) — Congressmember Vargas released the following statement regarding the Supreme Court’s decision to delay the termination of Title 42, a Trump-era immigration policy that blocks migrants from seeking asylum in the United States:

“The conservative-controlled Supreme Court’s decision to block the end of Title 42 is outrageous,” said Rep. Vargas. “Over the last two and a half years, migrants have been cruelly expelled from our country under the guise of Title 42. It should have never been implemented in the first place, and it is long overdue to expire. Title 42 was never about public health—it was always about denying due process to asylum seekers fleeing persecution and extreme famine. Seeking asylum is legal in the United States.

“Immigration has been used as the scapegoat of partisan attacks for far too long. Delaying the end of Title 42 will only create more chaos and place further strain on our already dysfunctional immigration system. I urge the Biden Administration to continue fighting to restore humanity and justice to our broken immigration system. It is time to end this cruel Trump-era policy once and for all.”

###

Vargas represents California’s 51st Congressional District which includes the southern portion of San Diego County, all of Imperial County and California’s entire U.S.-Mexico border. Vargas was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2012 and is currently serving his fifth term in Congress. He serves on the House Financial Services Committee and House Foreign Affairs Committee.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://khanna.house.gov/media/press-releases/release-ro-khanna-secures-funding-projects-ca-17-and-other-critical-investments,RELEASE: RO KHANNA SECURES FUNDING FOR PROJECTS IN CA-17 AND OTHER CRITICAL INVESTMENTS IN THE GOVERNMENT FUNDING BILL,2022-12-26,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Ro Khanna,K000389,khanna.house.gov,khanna,https://khanna.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Santa Clara, CA –Today, Representative Ro Khanna (CA-17), announced that $24,351,000 in Community Project Funding that he previously secured for California's 17th District in the House spending bills has been included in the final 2023 appropriations government funding package. This funding responds directly to some of the most pressing needs in Silicon Valley. Rep. Khanna also worked to secure $459 million for regional tech hubs in the CHIPS and Science Act, $42 million for implementation of the Department of Defense's Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response Action Plan, and $300 million for the National Labor Relations Board in the spending bill that passed the House and Senate.

""I am proud to have secured $24,351,000 in Community Project Funding in this bill to strengthen education, housing, public health, infrastructure, and our response to climate change in California's 17th District,"" said Rep. Ro Khanna. ""I'm grateful to have worked alongside my colleagues in the South Bay to include these investments that will create good-paying jobs and benefit our community for years to come. The bill includes funding for programs in the CHIPS and Science Act and the Inflation Reduction Act to lower costs for working families across America. It also gives the National Labor Relations Board the first increase in funding since 2014 to help protect workers' rights. Finally, it sets aside significant funding for reducing civilian casualties in U.S. military operations, including $17 million above the amount authorized in the National Defense Authorization Act.""

Rep. Khanna championed funding for 14 projects that will directly benefit California's 17th District residents. These include:

City of Cupertino, De Anza College - California Youth Leadership Corps at De Anza College ($351,000)

City of Fremont - Commercial District Wi-Fi Access Expansion ($1,500,000)

City of Milpitas - Carbon Neutral Homes Incentive Program ($3,000,000)

City of Newark - Thornton Ave Alternate Route Corridor Pavement Rehabilitation ($2,000,000)

City of San Jose - Gap Year Funding for the SureStay Emergency Interim Housing Site ($2,500,000)

City of Santa Clara - Anna Drive Neighborhood Flood Protection Project ($3,000,000)

City of Sunnyvale - Stevens Creek Trail Extension Project ($3,000,000)

Construction Trades Workforce Initiative - Establishing Union Construction Pre-Apprenticeship Pathways and Programs ($1,000,000)

County of Santa Clara - Bridge to Self-Sufficiency ($3,000,000)

East Bay Community Energy - Fremont Municipal Critical Facility Resilience ($1,000,000)

Gardner Family Health Network, Inc. - Alviso Health Center Solar Panels and Energy Storage Initiative ($500,000)

Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority - VTA Operations Control Center ($2,000,000)

Second Harvest of Silicon Valley - Second Harvest of Silicon Valley Consolidated Operational Facility ($750,000)

Sunnyvale Community Services - New Roof and Solar Energy System ($1,500,000)

The twelve-bill government funding package will create good-paying American jobs, grow opportunity for the middle class and small businesses, and provide a lifeline for working families. Taken together, the funding for California's 17th District and the funding increases for critical government programs will continue to reverse decades of disinvestment in our communities.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://calvert.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-calvert-statement-fiscal-year-2023-omnibus-appropriations-bill-0,Rep. Calvert Statement on the Fiscal Year 2023 Omnibus Appropriations Bill,2022-12-23,2022,2022-12,Republican,House,CA,Ken Calvert,C000059,calvert.house.gov,calvert,https://calvert.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Today, Congressman Ken Calvert (CA-42) issued the following statement after voting against the Fiscal Year 2023 Omnibus Appropriations bill:

“Americans understand that when Congress jams through an omnibus 4,000 page, $1.7 trillion bill just hours before Christmas there are going to be a lot of winners and losers – and on balance taxpayers are getting a raw deal. After President Biden and Speaker Pelosi have spent more than $3 trillion outside of our normal appropriations process over the past two years, it’s unconscionable to now ask taxpayers to pay for an 8% increase in non-defense programs. I voted against the bill because this reckless level of spending is unsustainable and inflationary.

Funding our government is one of the most basic and fundamental Constitutional responsibilities held by Congress. As a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, I’m proud of the important work we completed earlier this summer. Unfortunately, our Senate counterparts failed to do their job. Americans are now seeing the disastrous results of a dysfunctional Senate thrusting us into a last-minute effort to catch up on essential legislation and negotiations that should have occurred months ago. Taxpayers deserve our best work, not a hurried attempt long after the assignment was due. The Republican House Majority must ensure Congress returns to a timely appropriations process next year.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://carbajal.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1317,"Carbajal: Final Bipartisan Defense Policy Bill Includes Key Support for Central Coast Military Families, Vandenberg SFB",2022-12-23,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Salud O. Carbajal,C001112,carbajal.house.gov,carbajal,https://carbajal.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"President Biden signed measure crafted with help of Carbajal to raise pay and housing allowances for servicemembers, expand research partnerships with local universities, extend support for FireGuard program

Today, Congressman Salud Carbajal shared that the final version of the Fiscal Year 2023 defense policy bill, which passed the House of Representatives earlier this month and was signed into law by President Biden today, includes important support for the Central Coast’s military families and numerous provisions that he pushed to include in the new law.

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23 NDAA) includes multiple provisions championed by Congressman Carbajal in his role on the House Armed Services Committee that will support operations at Vandenberg Space Force Base, promote the welfare of U.S. servicemembers and military families, and invest in research partnerships with Central Coast colleges and universities.

“Over my past three terms in Congress, I’ve had the privilege to work every year with my colleagues on the House Armed Services Committee to craft bipartisan legislation that invests in keeping Americans safe today and in the future; and that is what we have done again this year,” said Rep. Carbajal. “I’m proud that this bill also reflects the values and priorities of the Central Coast, its communities, and its servicemembers. It supports our cornerstone installation, Vandenberg Space Force Base, and the military families that call our area home–as well as the research institutions that are innovating to keep the United States on the cutting edge and protecting its interests around the globe.”

In addition, the new law includes standalone measures previously co-authored by Rep. Carbajal to support and reauthorize Coast Guard operations, expand health benefits for federal firefighters, and update maritime liability laws in the wake of the Conception boat fire.

The following provision are included in the 2023 NDAA:

Support for Vandenberg Space Force Base Operations and Future Endeavors on the Central Coast

Language supporting the ‘Range of the Future’ initiative at Vandenberg, which will expand commercial space launch opportunities and provide economic benefits to the region, expressing Congress’ support for the need to build on the report secured by Carbajal’s efforts in last year’s NDAA.

Rep. Carbajal also commissioned a study to ensure that military airspace routes can interact safely with on and offshore wind installations, including the future sites off Morro Bay sold at auction earlier this month.

Promoting the Welfare of Servicemembers and Central Coast Military Families

The FY23 NDAA supports a historic $4.6% pay raise for U.S. servicemembers.

Adds funds for the DoD to increase service member housing allowance by 2% and requires a report on a more transparent, fair, and flexible way to calculate the basic allowance for housing.

Increases funds for the commissaries to help offset higher prices.

Establishes a five-year pilot program to reimburse members of the Armed Forces for certain childcare costs incident to a permanent change of station or assignment; and authorizes childcare fee reductions for children of military child development center employees

Requires independent trained investigators outside of the immediate chain of command to investigate claims of sexual harassment, and places sexual harassment and other offenses under the jurisdiction of the Special Trial

Requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Inspector General, in coordination with the Department of Defense, to report on procedures being followed to assist veterans in obtaining or reconstructing service and medical records that were damaged or destroyed in the July 1973 fire at the National Records Processing Center.

This report builds on Carbajal’s efforts to support veterans whose records were lost in the fire.

Enhances Wildfire Safety

Extends the National Guard support for the FireGuard program until 2029.

The FireGuard program utilizes Department of Defense resources to help local jurisdictions detect and monitor wildfires. Rep. Carbajal successfully fought to provide a long term authorization of the program in 2021. Previously, the program had to be reauthorized on a yearly basis.

Language to allow the Department of Defense to transfer aircraft to other departments for the purposes of aiding search and rescue operations or emergency operations related to wildfires

Support for Partnerships with Local Universities

UCSB: Rep. Carbajal secured increased funding for research programs that are conducted in partnership with U.C. Santa Barbara and other universities: an additional $4 million for biotechnology research, and a $9 million increase for cold and complex environment-sensing research.

Cal Poly SLO: Carbajal also supported a $10 million increase for aerospace engineering research, which is done in partnership with Air Force Research Lab and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

Other Measures Included in FY23 NDAA

The defense policy package signed by President Biden today also includes the following bills co-authored by Rep. Carbajal:

The Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2022, crafted in part by Rep. Carbajal in his role as Chairman of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee

The Federal Firefighters Fairness Act, which ensures federal firefighters receive the same access to job-related disability and retirement benefits as state, county, and municipal firefighters.

The Small Passenger Vessel Liability Fairness Act, which updates maritime liability laws to help victims of boating disasters, a reform inspired by the 2019 Conception boat fire.

The FY23 NDAA also:

Authorizes $800 million for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which provides support and assistance to the Ukrainian Armed Forces

Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to establish a voluntary pilot program to promote the safe storage of personally owned firearms

Requires transition of non-tactical vehicle fleets at the Department of Defense to electric or zero-emission vehicles by 2035

Additional details and a summary of all the provisions included in the FY23 NDAA can be found here.

Related News

Carbajal, Bacon Reintroduce Bill to Expand Benefits for Veteran Survivors of Sexual Assault

March 18, 2026 | Posted in Press Releases

Carbajal to Support Bill to Rein in Trump’s Military Powers

March 4, 2026 | Posted in Press Releases

Carbajal Statement on Trump Administration Strikes in Iran

February 28, 2026 | Posted in Press Releases

Carbajal Raises Environmental and Community Concerns Over Vandenberg’s Proposed Super Heavy Launch Pad

January 13, 2026 | Posted in Press Releases

Carbajal Co-Leads Bill to Protect Military Families from Deportation

January 8, 2026 | Posted in Press Releases",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://carbajal.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1318,Biden Signs Carbajal’s Maritime Liability Reforms Inspired by Conception Boat Fire,2022-12-23,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Salud O. Carbajal,C001112,carbajal.house.gov,carbajal,https://carbajal.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Today, President Joe Biden signed legislation that includes a measure authored and championed by Congressman Salud Carbajal (CA-24) that updates maritime liability laws to help victims of boating disasters, a reform inspired by the 2019 Conception boat fire.

The Small Passenger Vessel Liability Fairness Act, first proposed by Carbajal and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), changes an 1851 law that can prevent maritime accident victims and their families from receiving compensation from those responsible for the accident.

The new law signed today requires owners of small passenger vessels to be held legally responsible for damages in future boating accidents and incidents, regardless of the value of the boat. The period of time during which victims can file a claim is also increased from 6 months to 2 years.

“As Chairman of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee, I’m proud to see important reforms that I’ve fought for signed by President Biden today – including long-overdue updates to maritime liability laws that have denied victims’ families compensation for wrongful deaths at sea,” said Congressman Carbajal. “This is an important change, inspired by the families of the 34 precious lives lost on the Conception in 2019, that will ensure families of future maritime disasters do not face the same antiquated laws when seeking the support they deserve.”

“We originally drafted language to update maritime liability rules in the wake of the Conception boat fire because current law is fundamentally unfair to victims of maritime tragedies,” Senator Feinstein said. “Basing current maritime liability rules on a law written in 1851 is ridiculous. Owners of small passenger vessels who are found to be legally responsible for damages should be required to make those payments, and that’s what our bill does.”

The measure was included in the final Fiscal Year 2023 defense policy bill, which passed the House and Senate in an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote over the past few weeks.

Due to changes made to the bill prior to initial passage out of the House in March, the new law only applies to future liability claims.

“Unfortunately, in the course of bipartisan negotiations earlier this year on our bill, there were some that felt that making this change retroactive for all past maritime accidents, as I had proposed, would go too far,” said Rep. Carbajal. “As I have made clear since March, I completely disagree with that line of thinking, especially when it comes to getting justice for victim’s families—but I believe fixing our laws for the future will be the best case for proving them wrong. I am actively exploring the pathway to building on today’s success by enabling restitution for the families of Conception victims that I have worked with and gotten to know over the past three years.”

Background on the Small Passenger Vessel Liability Fairness Act:

The Limitation of Liability Act of 1851 stipulates that the owner of a vessel may not be held financially liable for any losses incurred as a result of the fire – including loss of life – because the boat had no value after it was destroyed.

This meant that the families of the 34 persons killed in the 2019 Conception boat fire could not seek damages from the boat owner in the aftermath of the incident.

In September 2021, Carbajal and Feinstein introduced the Small Passenger Vessel Liability Fairness Act to reform the 1851 law. The measure was drafted in consultation with the Coast Guard and the Justice Department and with the support of Representative Julia Brownley (D-CA) from Ventura County.

“We must ensure passengers and their families can recover just compensation for wrongful deaths and injuries that result from vessel owner negligence. I appreciate the good work that Senator Feinstein and Congressman Carbajal have done to advance the Small Passenger Vessel Liability Fairness Act, and I am so pleased to see this important legislation signed into law by President Biden,” said Congresswoman Brownley.

Additional Background:

Today’s liability reform measure is the second new law championed by Carbajal, Feinstein, and Brownley in the aftermath of the Conception boat fire.

In the months following the fire, the lawmakers introduced the Small Passenger Vessel Safety Act to raise the safety standards on vessels similar to the Conception.

This bill became law in January 2021.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://carbajal.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1319,Carbajal’s Federal Firefighter Fairness Act Signed into Law,2022-12-23,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Salud O. Carbajal,C001112,carbajal.house.gov,carbajal,https://carbajal.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Today, President Joe Biden signed into law a measure authored by Congressman Salud Carbajal (CA-24) to improve disability and retirement benefits for federal firefighters by ensuring they receive the same access to job-related disability and retirement benefits as state, county, and municipal firefighters.

“Federal firefighters have been on the front lines in California fighting wildfires as we experience longer and more extreme fire seasons, but their threshold to prove work-related illness is much higher than their state or local counterparts here in California and around the nation,” said Congressman Carbajal. “That’s why I have worked for years to get this bipartisan commonsense bill to improve federal firefighters’ health and retirement benefits across the finish line. I’m proud today, after five years sponsoring and advocating for this bill, to see it signed into law by President Biden.”

“I’m grateful to my House and Senate colleagues who saw the importance of this bill and who helped me in pushing it through, including Speaker Pelosi, Leader Hoyer, Chairman Adam Smith and Chairman Bobby Scott, Congressman Bill Johnson, my original co-leads Chairman Takano and Congressmen Bacon and Fitzpatrick, and the champions of our Senate companion bill Chairman Tom Carper and Senator Susan Collins.”

The Federal Firefighters Fairness Act creates the presumption that federal firefighters who become disabled by serious diseases, including heart disease, lung disease, certain cancers, and other infectious diseases, contracted the illness on the job.

Federal firefighters do not have the presumption that many local firefighters have – and are forced to identify specific exposures that may have caused their illness. This burden of proof makes it extraordinarily difficult for federal firefighters to qualify for workers comp and disability benefits related to their work.

The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) estimates this measure would improve benefits for more than 10,000 firefighters across the U.S.

""Cancer is the number one killer of fire fighters and eliminating this threat is the IAFF's highest priority. Our sisters and brothers employed by the federal government face the same dangers and exposures as all our members, but they have long been denied their hard-earned worker's compensation benefits. The IAFF applauds Senators Tom Carper and Susan Collins and Representatives Salud Carbajal and Don Bacon for leading the fight to make sure federal fire fighters can keep their health insurance, salary, and other benefits so that they can focus on their treatments and recovery from cancer,"" said IAFF General President Edward A. Kelly. ""Supporting our brother and sister fire fighters in their battles against cancer goes right to the core of what we do as a union and what our nation owes to fire fighters. Thank you to all elected leaders who have corrected this long-standing disparity and we appreciate the shared commitment to protecting those who protect others.”

“We applaud Representative Salud Carbajal and Senator Tom Carper for the inclusion of the Federal Firefighter Fairness Act in the NDAA,” said Everett Kelley, National President to the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE). “This bill will help federal firefighters’ access to health and safety benefits in the workplace. Specifically, this bill creates an automatic presumption of disability for federal firefighters who develop heart disease or certain forms of cancer so that they can qualify for workers’ compensation.”

""For decades, occupational illnesses have been medically and scientifically proven to occur at exceptionally higher frequencies among all firefighters across our nation. This 24 year battle was long overdue for our federal firefighters who serve on our federal installations as well as the frontlines of wildland fires. This law will not only positively affect our firefighters, but also their families at home,” said Charlie Martinez, Vice President of the California Professional Firefighter's Fifth District, which represents the federal firefighters in California including Vandenberg Space Force Base, IAFF Local F-116. “I cannot begin to describe the many lives that will be affected by this! All federal firefighters owe a huge thank you to Congress for recognizing and passing this legislation.""

The Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 2021 was introduced by Carbajal and Reps. Don Bacon (R-NE), Mark Takano (D-CA), and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) in April 2021.

The measure, which Carbajal has sponsored since his first year in Congress, first passed the House in May 2022, and again as a part of the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act.

Senators Tom Carper (D-DE) and Susan Collins (R-ME) are the lead sponsors of a bipartisan companion bill in the U.S. Senate.

Background on the Federal Firefighters Fairness Act:

Federal firefighters are regularly exposed to injury, disease and stress while protecting our national interests at military installations, nuclear facilities, VA hospitals, and other federal facilities. Numerous studies have found heart disease, lung disease, certain cancers, and other infectious diseases to be occupational hazards of firefighting.

In order to receive disability benefits under current federal law, federal firefighters are required to pinpoint the precise incident or exposure that caused a disease for it to be considered job-related. This burden of proof is extraordinarily difficult for firefighters to meet because they work in such a wide variety of environments and conditions.

California was the first state to pass a firefighter’s presumptive illness law in 1982. In 2019, Montana and Florida passed the same law making it 48 out of 50 states with health presumption laws for state and local firefighters. These laws do not cover federal firefighters.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://carbajal.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1321,"Carbajal Delivers Nearly $16,700,000 for Santa Barbara County Community Projects",2022-12-23,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Salud O. Carbajal,C001112,carbajal.house.gov,carbajal,https://carbajal.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Today, Congressman Salud Carbajal announced that $16,651,540 in direct federal funding for community projects that benefit residents of Santa Barbara County is set to become law after passing both chamber of Congress this week.

Rep. Carbajal has been advocating for these federal funds since April 2022, and helped ensure they were included in the omnibus spending package crafted over the past six months and sent to President Biden’s desk by the U.S. House of Representatives earlier today.

The funds secured by Carbajal will help fund expand U.S. Highway 101 carpool lanes, support upgrades to public spaces in Santa Barbara, Lompoc, and Santa Maria.

“As the Central Coast’s Representative, my first and foremost responsibility is to deliver real results for our communities and its residents – and today I’m proud to do that again by delivering nearly $17 million for Santa Barbara County to support projects that will improve our quality of life,” said Rep. Carbajal. “With these funds, we will be able to make critical upgrades that will reduce traffic, renovate public spaces, and improve access to food and clean water across the Central Coast.”

Rep. Salud Carbajal specifically requested and pushed for funding for these and other Central Coast projects through the House Appropriations Committee.

In total, Rep. Carbajal secured $22,466,540 for 14 projects across all three counties that he represents in Congress.

The full list of projects secured for Santa Barbara County can be found below:

$7,000,000 to support construction of one of the two remaining sections of carpool lane expansion on U.S. Highway 101 between Santa Barbara and Ventura. Once completed, these carpool sections will complete 30 continuous miles of three-lane traffic between Ventura and Goleta.

Construction of the remaining HOV lane sections is expected to begin in March 2023 and be completed by summer 2026.

“We are incredibly grateful to Congressman Carbajal for including $7 million of federal funds for the Highway 101: Montecito project in the congressional budget process,"" said Marjie Kirn, executive director of Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG). ""This much-needed funding is essential for the high-priority regional project. With these funds, we can look forward to seeing the reinvestment of tax-payer dollars go to safety and congestion relief that will have a significant positive impact on the economy, interregional bus service efficiencies and quality of life for countless residents and visitors alike across our community.""

$2,000,000 to help fund the acquisition and retrofit of a new building to serve as an upgrade location for the Orcutt Branch Library in Orcutt.

Unlike most library facilities in Santa Barbara County which are owned outright, the Orcutt branch is reliant on a leased facility, and the current space is no longer adequate to serve the growing community.

“Funding for a permanent library and community center will greatly benefit the residents in and around Orcutt,” Santa Barbara County Supervisor Bob Nelson said. “It’s been a pleasure working with Congressman Carbajal throughout this process, and thanks to his advocacy, coupled with the work of library staff, supporters and residents, the largest unincorporated area in the County has made major strides in establishing an educational and constructive home for our families and youth.”

$1,500,000 to fund part of the total costs of the full-scale renovation of Dwight Murphy Field in Santa Barbara, including a brand new 36,000 square-foot playground.

Costs of the project, for which construction is expected to begin as early as summer 2023, are shared by the City of Santa Barbara, the Gwendolyn Strong Foundation, and private donors.

“The City of Santa Barbara is tremendously grateful for Congressman Carbajal’s support for the revitalization of Dwight Murphy Field. The new amenities, including the multi-sport field, youth baseball and community green space, outdoor fitness gym, and inclusive playground, will bring vital upgrades to serve youth sports, recreation enthusiasts, neighborhood residents, and families from all over Santa Barbara. Gwendolyn’s playground, Santa Barbara’s first inclusive play space, will ensure that all children, regardless of ability, will be able to play together,” said Parks and Recreation Director Jill Zachary.

$1,500,000 to support the retrofitting of the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County’s new south county warehouse in Goleta. Once completed, the warehouse will have the capacity to store more than 750,000 pounds of food. Retrofit construction on the facility is estimated to be completed in June 2023.

“The Foodbank of Santa Barbara County, our staff, Trustees, supporters and volunteers are thrilled with this vital grant that will allow us to complete key elements of our new Sharehouse – comprising both a warehouse and an education center, which will allow us to bring significantly increased amounts of food and food literacy education across the whole of SB County,” Foodbank of Santa Barbara County CEO Erik Talkin shared. “Thanks so much to Representative Carbajal and his staff to working tirelessly to make this happen.”

$1,384,040 to help Santa Barbara County stabilize roughly 975 feet of railing roadway on San Marcos Road, a key fire suppression and emergency access road during closures of State Route 154. Funding will also help restore embankments and shoulders that are prone to landslides and other roadway failures.

“The County greatly appreciates Representative Carbajal’s leadership on this project, which will protect a vital transportation link between the Eastern Goleta Valley and State Route 154 and the Santa Ynez Valley beyond,” said Scott D. McGolpin, Director of the County of Santa Barbara Public Works Department. “Over the last twenty year,this roadway and slopes adjacent have been severely impacted by several storm-related disasters. These much needed roadway improvements will not only protect access for those who use the road during detours of State Route 154, but also for the people who live in the area and rely on a safe roadway everyday.”

$1,267,500 to fund renovations and upgrades for the City of Lompoc’s Pioneer Park, including the construction of a new playground and baseball fields.

Federal funds secured by Carbajal would cover roughly a third of the expected cost, with additional funds provided by the City of Lompoc and Community Development Block Grants.

“I want to thank Congressman Carbajal for investing in Lompoc with this funding for Pioneer Park,” said Lompoc Mayor Jenelle Osborne. “His support will make it possible for the City of Lompoc to move forward on a park long overdue for improvements. This park is located near a large number of apartment complexes, so it is the outdoor space used for a variety of purposes, from weekend barbecues to baseball games and birthday parties. Partnerships such as this with our federal officials make a real difference locally.”

$1,000,000 to support construction and equipment needs of Marian Regional Medical Center’s Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/GYN) Residency Program Clinic in Santa Maria.

The funds approved today cover part of the costs associated with the construction of a new 8,700 square-foot clinic for the OB-GYN clinic.

""Marian Regional Medical Center is tremendously grateful to Congressman Carbajal for prioritizing the health of the Santa Maria community and for advocating to secure funding for the hospital's much-needed OB/GYN Residency Program Clinic,"" said Sue Andersen, President & CEO of Marian Regional Medical Center. ""Marian's OB/GYN Residency Program has flourished over the past four years and the hospital is now at a crucial point where there is the need to expand and open a standalone OB/GYN Residency Program Clinic. This will allow Marian to expand its prenatal and postpartum care for the community's underserved and medically-vulnerable OB/GYN patients.""

$500,000 to support the construction of the Santa Maria Japanese Community Center to honor the original Japanese settlers to the Santa Maria valley.

The 10,000 square foot facility would feature memorabilia documenting the lives of the Issei first generation immigrants, part of the 7-acre Smith-Enos History Farm House project supported by the City of Santa Maria and local community groups.

“We are excited about this additional funding for the future community center, which builds upon the $350,000 donation from the Santa Maria Japanese Community Center, and other funding. The structure and grounds will serve as a gathering spot for all cultures within our community, and honor the Issei generation and its contributions to the agricultural industry in the Santa Maria Valley,” Santa Maria Mayor Alice Patino said.

$500,000 to help water districts reliant on Lake Cachuma to respond to record drought by supporting an emergency pumping facility project that is needed to allow Lake Cachuma’s water to continue supporting its surrounding regions.

Lake Cachuma provides more than 70% of the water supply to 200,000 residents of Goleta, Santa Barbara, Montecito, and Carpinteria, but record low levels in the reservoir make normal gravity-feed methods of extracting water difficult.

“On behalf of the Member Agencies of COMB and the COMB Board of Directors, an expression of sincere appreciation is extended to Congressman Carbajal for his efforts in securing community project funding for a vital project that will provide water to more than 200,000 people on the South Coast of Santa Barbara County. This lifeline infrastructure project is critically needed during unprecedented drought conditions and will serve to sustain health and safety in our community,” said Janet Gingras, General Manager of the Cachuma Operation and Maintenance Board.

Additional Background

The full list of projects secured by Carbajal for Fiscal Year 2023, as well as more information on the rules governing what projects could be requested, can be found here.

This is the second year that Rep. Carbajal and his colleagues have been permitted to request specific Community Project Funding (CPF). In Fiscal Year 2022, Rep. Carbajal delivered nearly $18 million for nine community projects on the Central Coast.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://carbajal.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1322,"Carbajal Delivers Over $4,000,000 in Funding for SLO County Projects",2022-12-23,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Salud O. Carbajal,C001112,carbajal.house.gov,carbajal,https://carbajal.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Today, Congressman Salud Carbajal announced that over $4,000,000 in direct federal funding for community projects that benefit residents of San Luis Obispo County is set to become law after passing both chamber of Congress this week.

Rep. Carbajal has been advocating for these federal funds since April 2022, and helped ensure they were included in the omnibus spending package crafted over the past six months and sent to President Biden’s desk by the U.S. House of Representatives earlier today.

sults for our communities and its residents – and today I’m proud to do that again by delivering more than $4 million for San Luis Obispo County to support projects that will improve our quality of life,” said Rep. Carbajal. “With these funds, we will be able to make critical upgrades to our roads and highways, bridges and piers to keep commerce and people moving smoothly throughout our region.”

Rep. Salud Carbajal specifically requested and pushed for funding for these and other Central Coast projects through the House Appropriations Committee.

In total, Rep. Carbajal secured $22,466,540 for 14 projects across all three counties that he represents in Congress.

The full list of projects secured for San Luis Obispo County can be found below:

$2,065,000 to help fund the Prado Road Bridge Replacement project in the City of San Luis Obispo, which includes improvements and modifications to the adjacent intersection of Prado Road/South Higuera Street to provide additional capacity to serve existing and future traffic demands.

The planned replacement would not only widen the bridge, but also add bike lanes and lighting to improve pedestrian and public safety.

“We greatly appreciate Rep. Carbajal’s work to secure funding for the Prado Bridge replacement project in the recently passed budget. Replacing this 70-year-old bridge with a structurally sound bridge that includes bike lanes, improved lighting, and pedestrian walkways will make the intersection safer and prepare the intersection for the future Prado Road overpass,” said San Luis Obispo Mayor Erica Stewart.

$500,000 for the rehabilitation and retrofit of the Swinging Bridge in Arroyo Grande, which connects residential neighborhoods with the downtown commercial district known as The Village.

“The City of Arroyo Grande and I sincerely thank Congressman Carbajal for his support in securing funding for the Swinging Bridge Project. Through the Congressman’s efforts, $500,000 was recommended by the Appropriations Committee through the Fiscal Year 2023 Community Project Funding program. This funding will enable the City to rehabilitate its Swinging Bridge, restoring an iconic bridge that provides a vital asset and benefit to the community of Arroyo Grande and the State of California,” said Arroyo Grande Caren Ray Russom.

$1,500,000 to make key replacements and upgrades to Morro Bay’s North T-Pier, which is utilized for Morro Bay’s commercial fishing industry, Coast Guard operations, recreational tourism, and residential communities.

Upgrades are essential to improve the safety of the pier, as it will also serve as the primary hub for operations of any offshore wind infrastructure constructed off the Morro Bay coast.

“The T-Pier project will ensure safety in and around Morro Bay harbor for our fishing industry, our citizens, and our visitors,” said Morro Bay Mayor Carla Wixom. “The project will enhance the local and regional economic benefits provided by the T-Pier and harbor. Congressman Carbajal is a strong advocate for our City, and we appreciate his work with his colleagues in Congress to secure funding for the T-Pier – critically important infrastructure serving our national interests.”

Additional Background

The full list of projects secured by Carbajal for Fiscal Year 2023, as well as more information on the rules governing what projects could be requested, can be found here.

This is the second year that Rep. Carbajal and his colleagues have been permitted to request specific Community Project Funding (CPF). In Fiscal Year 2022, Rep. Carbajal delivered nearly $18 million for nine community projects on the Central Coast.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://carbajal.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1323,"Carbajal Delivers Nearly $9,000,000 for Ventura Community Projects",2022-12-23,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Salud O. Carbajal,C001112,carbajal.house.gov,carbajal,https://carbajal.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Today, Congressman Salud Carbajal announced that nearly $9,000,000 in direct federal funding for community projects that benefit residents of Ventura County is set to become law after passing both chamber of Congress this week.

Rep. Carbajal has been advocating for these federal funds since April 2022, and helped ensure they were included in the omnibus spending package crafted over the past six months and sent to President Biden’s desk by the U.S. House of Representatives earlier today.

The funds secured by Carbajal will help expand U.S. Highway 101 between Ventura and Santa Barbara, add air conditioning to E.P. Foster Library, and construct a safe beach access for Mondo’s Cove.

“As the Central Coast’s Representative, my first and foremost responsibility is to deliver real results for our communities and its residents – and today I’m proud to do that again by delivering nearly $9 million to support projects that will improve our quality of life in Ventura County,” said Rep. Carbajal. “With these funds, we will be able to make critical upgrades that will reduce traffic, upgrade our public spaces, and make Ventura County an even better place to call home.”

Rep. Salud Carbajal specifically requested and pushed for funding for these and other Central Coast projects through the House Appropriations Committee.

In total, Rep. Carbajal secured $22,466,540 for 14 projects across all three counties that he represents in Congress.

The full list of projects secured for Ventura County can be found below:

$1,000,000 to cover the costs of designing and installing concrete and metal access stairwells to create a safe beach access at Mondo’s Cove, a popular beach for families and residents of all ages from across Ventura County.

Once permitted, the construction of this beach access is estimated by the County of Ventura to take between five to seven months.

“I am grateful for Representative Carbajal’s continued support of the Mondo’s Beach Project,” said Matt LaVere, Ventura County Supervisor for District 1. “This project will address a long-standing need for a stairway that will allow community members and visitors to safely access this popular beach. This destination has been a favorite for families and children across the County.”

$750,000 to help fund installation of air conditioning at E.P. Foster Library in downtown Ventura. Funds will help cover the costs of design, permitting, equipment and labor for the much-needed addition to the 60 year-old library that only has heat and ventilation systems.

Once completed, the City of Ventura plans to utilize E.P. Foster as a cooling center for older Ventura residents during heat events.

“The City of Ventura is thankful for Congressman Salud Carbajal’s leadership in securing federal funding for a much-needed air conditioning system at the E.P. Foster Library. This library opened in 1921 at its present location and is in the heart of our historic downtown region,” said Ventura Mayor Joe Schroeder. “The library provides vital educational resources and programming to our children, seniors, veterans, students, and families. This funding will allow us to make upgrades to the facility so that it can also be used as a cooling center during high-temperature events.”

$7,000,000 to support construction of one of the two remaining sections of carpool lane expansion on U.S. Highway 101 between Santa Barbara and Ventura. Once completed, these carpool sections will complete 30 continuous miles of three-lane traffic between Ventura and Goleta.

“We are incredibly grateful to Congressman Carbajal for including $7 million of federal funds for the Highway 101: Montecito project in the congressional budget process,"" said Marjie Kirn, executive director of Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG). ""This much-needed funding is essential for the high-priority regional project. With these funds, we can look forward to seeing the reinvestment of tax-payer dollars go to safety and congestion relief that will have a significant positive impact on the economy, interregional bus service efficiencies and quality of life for countless residents and visitors alike across our community.""

Additional Background

The full list of projects secured by Carbajal for Fiscal Year 2023, as well as more information on the rules governing what projects could be requested, can be found here.

This is the second year that Rep. Carbajal and his colleagues have been permitted to request specific Community Project Funding (CPF). In Fiscal Year 2022, Rep. Carbajal delivered nearly $18 million for nine community projects on the Central Coast.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://chu.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-chu-statement-fy23-omnibus-spending-bill,Rep. Chu Statement on FY23 Omnibus Spending Bill,2022-12-23,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Judy Chu,C001080,chu.house.gov,chu,https://chu.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC – Today, the House of Representatives voted to pass the Senate amendment to H.R. 2617, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, which provides $1.7 trillion to fund the federal government through fiscal year 2023. Rep. Judy Chu (CA-27) voted in favor of the legislation and issued the following statement:

""I was proud to vote today for legislation that ensures the government stays open and makes significant and important investments in our national priorities—both at home and abroad. The legislation includes continued support to President Zelensky and the Ukrainian people in their fight against Putin's war of aggression, as well as important safeguards to protect our electoral system and reestablish the peaceful transfer of power in our democracy. I am thrilled that the package also includes over $33 million in community project funding I requested that will go directly to the San Gabriel Valley to support projects that range from expanding access to dental care, increasing outdoor recreation in the San Gabriel Mountains through an Urban Shuttle system, and investing in affordable housing.

""As a member of the Ways and Means Committee, I am also proud that this legislation includes multiple changes to the tax code I championed that will benefit Americans. The Encourage Americans to Save Act, which I authored, will refashion the saver's tax credit into a more generous saver's match—a federal matching contribution up to $1,000 per year into a retirement savings account. Importantly, the Saver's Match will be permanent and refundable, ensuring that it will help countless low- and middle-income Americans achieve a stable retirement in the future. The ABLE Age Adjustment Act, which I proudly co-led, will allow more Americans with disabilities to save for retirement and disability-related expenses in tax-advantaged accounts. Additionally, I am very pleased that this legislation will create a new benefit category for Medicare beneficiaries struggling with addiction by expanding coverage to Intensive Outpatient Services for individuals with mental health or substance use disorders who presently fall in a coverage gap—requiring more care than typical outpatient visits but less care than intensive inpatient services like hospitalization or around-the-clock supervision.

""However, while I believe this bill includes necessary funding I strongly support, I was frustrated that Republican congressional negotiators refused to include a number of critical priorities for the American people. For instance, even as abortion access faces unprecedented attacks by the Supreme Court and extreme politicians around the country, this bill fails to increase much needed funding for reproductive rights, including the Title X Family Planning Program, and even maintains the dangerous Hyde Amendment which keeps low-income women from being able to access safe abortion care. Further, this bill fails to provide relief to the millions of families stuck in our broken immigration system or extend the expanded Child Tax Credit, which lowered child poverty by nearly 50 percent during 2021. Finally, while I am proud of the increases in domestic spending to support Americans, I remain deeply concerned about the continued, excessive increase in spending for the Department of Defense, which in this package surpasses even the President's budget request.""

$33,545,000 in Community Project Fundingfor the San Gabriel Valley:

$750,000 for the Charles White Park Renovation in Altadena, CA

$215,000 for the Chinatown Service Center for Expanding Dental Access for Underserved Communities

$900,000 for the Pasadena Outreach Response Team to provide behavioral health and related services to people experiencing homelessness

$3,000,000 for the Claremont Wildlands Conservancy Clara Oaks Acquisition

$3,000,000 for the Colorado Street/Boulevard Corridor Complete Street in Arcadia CA

$480,000 for the Garfield Health Center for Expanding Access to Health Care in Rosemead

$5,000,000 for the Glendora People Movement Project

$750,000 for the LA-San Gabriel Mountains Urban Shuttle System

$1,200,000 for the Multimodal Improvement Project at Valley Boulevard in Alhambra, CA

$500,000 for the Family Resource Center at Pasadena City College

$1,500,000 for the Pasadena On-Street Dining Project

$10,000,000 for the San Gabriel Basin Restoration Fund

$4,000,000 for the San Gabriel Valley Regional Housing Trust's Affordable Housing Project Pipeline

$1,500,000 for the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments' Mobile Crisis Program

$750,000 for the Transitional Housing Units for Reducing Homelessness Among Foster Youth

Other highlights in the omnibus include:",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://correa.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-correa-brings-back-nearly-30-million-in-federal-tax-dollars-for-for-community-projects-in-ca-46,REP. CORREA BRINGS BACK NEARLY $30 MILLION IN FEDERAL TAX DOLLARS FOR FOR COMMUNITY PROJECTS IN CA-46,2022-12-23,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,J. Luis Correa,C001110,correa.house.gov,correa,https://correa.house.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"“This is what taxpayer equity looks like, bringing your taxpayer dollars home to uplift our community.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Representative Lou Correa (CA-46) announced that he’s secured nearly $30 million in federal funding for vital community projects across California’s 46th Congressional District. Correa secured the requests in the Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) omnibus appropriations bill, which President Biden is slated to sign into law. Rep. Correa worked in lockstep with community leaders to identify priorities for CA-46 constituents, and fought for them during the annual funding process.

Once this bill has been signed into law, the funding will be distributed to various local governments and community organizations throughout California’s 46th district, and will be used for designated community projects.

“I am so proud to have secured nearly $30 million for 15 community projects right here in our district,” said Rep. Correa. “From supporting mental health care and tackling housing insecurity, to combatting the climate crisis and so much more, I am honored to say that we are making monumental investments that will make California’s 46th district better—one project at a time. This is what taxpayer equity looks like, bringing your taxpayer dollars home to uplift our community.”

Rep. Correa championed funding for 15 projects that will directly benefit California’s 46th District residents. These include:

$1,000,000 for the Anaheim Community Foundation, Anaheim, CA for mental health and related support services

$2,000,000 for the Anaheim Union High School District, Anaheim, CA for a theater and performing arts program, including equipment and technology installation

$2,200,000 for the Chapman University, Orange, CA for computational clusters, lab infrastructure, and postsecondary research activities

$1,500,000 for the Children's Health of Orange County, Orange, CA for facilities and equipment

$3,000,000 for the County of Orange, Santa Ana, CA for facilities and equipment

$2,500,000 for the Downtown Business Improvements Initiative

$2,000,000 for the Orange County Health Authority, Orange, CA for a health information technology initiative

$3,000,000 for the Orange County Housing Finance Trust

$3,452,972 for the Orange County Sanitation District for a Supercritical Water Oxidation Project

$2,000,000 for the Santa Ana College, Santa Ana, CA for CTE pathways to certificate and degree programs

$750,000 for the Santa Ana-Garden Grove Rails to Trails

$2,000,000 for the Santiago Creek Festival Grounds

$3,000,000 for the Sustainability Education Center for Education and Workforce Development

$500,000 for the Taller San Jose Hope Builders, Santa Ana, CA for skills training and employment placement services for low-income young adults facing significant barriers

$1,000,000 for the Veteran Housing Assistance Program",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://correa.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-correa-statement-on-voting-to-fund-government-deliver-for-working-families,"REP. CORREA STATEMENT ON VOTING TO FUND GOVERNMENT, DELIVER FOR WORKING FAMILIES",2022-12-23,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,J. Luis Correa,C001110,correa.house.gov,correa,https://correa.house.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Representative Lou Correa (CA-46) released the below statement after voting to pass Fiscal Year 2023 government funding legislation:

“Today, I voted to pass annual government funding legislation and send it immediately to President Biden’s desk,” said Rep. Correa. “This legislation delivers historic investments in American families and workers, and especially for California’s 46th congressional district. I am proud to have helped shepherd it across the finish line.”

“After a long night of negotiations and conversation with House and Senate Members, I am relieved that an extension of Trump's immoral, and unjust, Title 42 policy was not included in this legislation—as a result of the relentless, and proactive, advocacy of me and my colleagues. Yet, I remain disappointed that protections for our nation’s DREAMERs didn’t make it into the final bill text, which I made clear in my testimony to the House Rules Committee yesterday evening—pleading for my colleagues to take long overdue action to protect DREAMERs.”

“I will continue to push until we fulfill our promise to every immigrant in this country—and deliver after three decades of inaction. As we enter the 118th Congress, I will continue to work with and remind my colleagues that nearly 80% of Americans support a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers. This issue is about keeping America strong.”

You can watch a full clip of Rep. Correa’s remarks to the House Rules Committee here.

Background: This omnibus package includes a significant increase in non-defense discretionary funding—larger than the boost won in last March’s government funding bill for Fiscal Year 2022. This funding was a top Democratic priority and will go toward supporting critical social programs that invest in our families, workers and communities.

Key Democratic victories on health care include:

Ensuring permanent, mandatory and continuous coverage for the 40 million children enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP.

Record Medicaid funding for Puerto Rico and permanent enhanced Medicaid funding for all other territories, helping expand affordable, quality care to more Americans.

Historic funding for the critical Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting initiative, which improves health outcomes for pregnant people and young families who live in underserved communities.

Strong guardrails to prevent disruption to families’ health coverage, as states resume Medicaid recertifications next year.

New investments in mental health services, which will improve access to medication-assisted treatment, expand our mental health workforce and increase coverage of mental health services.

Improving diversity in FDA clinical trials and providing FDA regulation of cosmetics.

Passing the PREVENT Pandemics Act, which uses lessons learned from COVID-19 to improve our preparedness for future public health emergencies.

To honor our sacred duty to our veterans, Democrats secured a $21 billion increase for veterans’ health care. This will include supporting the VA as it implements the landmark PACT Act.

Additional key Democratic victories include:

Creating a nationwide permanent Summer EBT Program so that 29 million kids can get healthy, nutritious meals throughout the summer.

For the first time in more than a decade, more funding for the National Labor Relations Board, which helps defend the right to organize.

Emergency disaster support to help victims of hurricanes and wildfires throughout our country, to address the water crisis in Jackson, Mississippi, and $1 billion for Puerto Rico’s electrical grid.

Reforming the Electoral Count Act of 1887, which will help thwart future attempts to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power like we saw on January 6th.

Critical Community Project Funding, to support vital projects that meet the needs of our families in our districts.

This legislation also includes robust defense funding, which will increase pay for our heroic troops and meet the basic needs of our military families. This includes another consequential round of security, economic and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, as the United States continues to support their fight for Democracy.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://costa.house.gov/media/press-releases/costa-applauds-annual-defense-bill-signed-law,Costa applauds Annual Defense Bill Signed into Law,2022-12-23,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Jim Costa,C001059,costa.house.gov,costa,https://costa.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Congressman Jim Costa (CA-16), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, applauds President Joseph R. Biden for signing H.R. 7776 - National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023. This bipartisan legislation will strengthen America’s national security, honor the heroism of American servicemembers and make critical investments in cutting-edge technology. Costa helped pass this legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.

""Our national security depends on critical investments to combat the rising threats here at home and abroad,” said Costa. “This year’s defense bill will bolster America’s national security, support our servicemembers, and promote our leadership on the world stage, as Putin's brutal war in Ukraine continues. With this bill, we will confront challenges facing our nation and continue to grow the best, strongest military in the world.”

Since 1961, the United States Congress has passed an annual defense bill to fund and strengthen the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). This bill allows the U.S. Armed Forces to pay, train, and equip U.S. servicemembers; support America’s allies around the world; and carry out essential national security operations.

With this year’s NDAA, Costa and House Democrats have advanced a range of key priorities, including:

Honoring America’s servicemembers and their families

Key pay increases for service members and their families, including a 4.6 percent pay raise for service members, funds for the DoD to increase the basic allowance for housing, an increase in the maximum allowable income to receive the Basic Needs Allowance and an additional $210 million for commissary funding.

Combats sexual harassment in the military by requiring independently-trained investigators – outside the immediate chain of command – to investigate sexual harassment, as well as placing cases under the jurisdiction of the Special Trial counsel.

Supports first responders by enacting the Federal Firefighters Fairness Act to ease firefighters’ access to workers’ compensation.

Strengthen our National Defense and Security

New investments in science and technology competitiveness for next-generation capabilities in hypersonics, electronic warfare, and artificial intelligence.

Invests in Counterterrorism and targets ISIS by continuing U.S. military support to our partners in Iraq and Syria to fight ISIS and other terrorists in surrounding areas.

Strengthens our Navy against China by investing $32.6 billion for Navy shipbuilding, an increase of $4.7 billion for the procurement of 11 battle force ships.

Accelerates innovation across science and technology by increasing funding for basic research, strengthening the pipeline for future innovation, and creating a new class of biomanufacturing capabilities and facilities.

Supports Key Global Alliances and Protecting Human Rights

Resources for U.S. allies and partners, including $800 million for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) and robust funding for the European Deterrence Initiative and Pacific Deterrence Initiative, to address Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.

Bolsters U.S.-Portuguese Relations by extending trade and investor visas to Portuguese citizens to increase international business between the United States and Portugal. Costa was instrumental in getting the AMIGOS Act in the defense bill.

Condemns the ""September violations of the November 9, 2020 ceasefire agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan,"" and makes clear that the ""use of force or threat of force"" to pursue diplomatic objectives is ""completely unacceptable.""

Prohibits DoD procurement of any products mined, produced, or manufactured by forced labor from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China and prohibits the sale of goods produced by forced labor in military commissaries and exchanges.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://costa.house.gov/media/press-releases/costa-secures-24-million-local-projects,Costa secures $24 million in Local Projects,2022-12-23,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Jim Costa,C001059,costa.house.gov,costa,https://costa.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Image

December 23, 2022

WASHINGTON – Congressman Jim Costa (CA-16) voted to fund $24 million in Community Project Funding for 15 local projects in the San Joaquin Valley, through the Fiscal Year 2023 government funding bill. This funding responds directly to some of the most pressing needs in Fresno, Madera, and Merced Counties. The bill now heads to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law.

“One of my top priorities in Congress is to deliver taxpayer dollars back home to boost our regional economy,” said Costa. “These projects will support underserved communities and promote economic development, while providing more opportunities for Valley residents to get ahead. I am proud to deliver federal investments that will help build stronger, healthier, and more resilient communities across our Valley.”

Costa championed funding for 15 local projects that will directly benefit Fresno, Madera, and Merced County residents. These include:

$4.4 million for the City of Fresno to improve Fresno Yosemite International Airport's primary runway, which is used for daily commercial flights, transportation of goods, wildfire suppression, and homeland security.

$4 million for the County of Fresno to revitalize streets, sidewalks, and roads in the disadvantaged community of Calwa. This will ensure all residents benefit from safer travel routes and improved sidewalk facilities that are ADA-compliant.

$3.68 million for the Merced County Association of Governments to provide equitable and sustainable transportation to Yosemite National Park by converting the Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System (YARTS) fleet to clean diesel buses.

$3 million for the City of Atwater to improve access to clean drinking water, sanitation services, and water management, which will create opportunities for economic growth in the region by revitalizing water infrastructure in a rural, underserved community.

$1.95 million for the County of Madera to improve and expand Highway 41. The project addresses safety and congestion concerns on the primary route between Fresno and Yosemite National Park. The project improves safety, reduces greenhouse gases, and eases traffic congestion.

$1.35 million for the City of Gustine to improve internet access and bridge the digital divide by connecting low-income residents to affordable, reliable high-speed internet, including 5G access for businesses throughout the community.

$1.5 million for the Fresno Center to support and expand services for transportation, mental health, HIV prevention, and treatment for substance use disorders.

$1.5 million for Community Regional Medical Center to expand and enhance its microbiology lab, which would improve patient care services like COVID-19 testing and other essential healthcare laboratory work.

$1 million for the City of Fresno to address homelessness by immediately helping dozens of formerly homeless residents move out of motel shelters and into permanent affordable tiny homes.

$703,000 for Madera County Sheriff's Office to purchase a Rapid DNA system, which will bolster law enforcement's ability to quickly obtain accurate analysis, identify victims' remains, and relieve the backlog in crime laboratories.

$500,000 for the Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission to train residents for firefighting and land conservation jobs with agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service, Cal Fire, and Bureau of Reclamation.

$484,047 for Reading and Beyond to revitalize and re-establish the California Bridge Academy in Fresno and Madera counties. The plan integrates employment and training services for minorities and low-income individuals.

$457,000 for Merced County Sheriff's Office to purchase a Rapid DNA system, which will bolster law enforcement's ability to quickly obtain accurate analysis, identify victims' remains, and relieve the backlog in crime laboratories.

$200,000 for Fancher and Redbank Creek projects to increase water supply, improve regional flood protection, and enhance environmental protection in a disadvantaged region.

$150,000 for the Central California Veterans Home Support Foundation to help maintain the Fresno Veterans Home Memorial, a historical landmark that honors the service and sacrifice of local veterans who served our country.

Background

Under the guidelines issued by the Appropriations Committee, each Representative was permitted to request funds for up to 15 projects in their community for the Fiscal Year 2023. Projects are restricted to a limited number of federal funding streams, and only state and local governments and eligible non-profit entities are permitted to receive funding. Costa continuously advocated for these projects, and all were included in the government funding package.

In compliance with House Rules and Committee requirements, Congressman Costa has certified that he and his immediate family have no financial interest in any of the projects that he has requested. Please find the financial disclosure letters for all projects here.

In addition, this bill secures critical funding to uplift American families, tackle food insecurity, and strengthen our national defense, including:

Tackling Food Insecurity: Creates a nationwide permanent Summer EBT program, so that 29 million kids can access healthy, nutritious meals throughout the summer.

Addressing Violence Against Women: Provides $700 million for Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) prevention and prosecution programs, providing services and assistance to victims of domestic violence and assault.

Supporting our Veterans: Secured a $21 billion increase for veterans’ healthcare and to support the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) as they implement the historic PACT Act.

Addressing the Drought Crisis: Costa secured $134 million in Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act storage funds to assist in reducing the impacts of the drought crisis and building long-term drought resiliency.

Combatting the Climate Crisis: Includes the Growing Climate Solutions Act, which eliminates barriers to participate in voluntary carbon markets and incentivizes sustainable farming practices. (Costa is an original co-sponsor of the bill)

Protecting Democracies: Continues critical military and economic assistance to support Ukraine in its defense against Russia, which includes training, equipment, weapons, supplies, and humanitarian aid.

Safeguarding our Elections: Reforms the Electoral Count Act of 1887 to help prevent future attempts to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power as we saw on January 6, 2021.

Enhancing Cyber-Security: Implements a ban on the Chinese-owned TikTok app on federal devices, due to national security and data privacy concerns.

Protecting Women’s Rights: Includes the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, which would prohibit discrimination and require employers to provide reasonable accommodations to pregnant workers. (Costa is a co-sponsor of the bill)

Tackling the Opioid Crisis: Includes the Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment Act, bipartisan legislation that eliminates the outdated bureaucratic requirement—known as the “x-waiver”—currently preventing Americans from accessing lifesaving addiction treatment. (Costa is a co-sponsor of the bill)

Combatting Global Hunger: Provides $50 million to both the Food for Peace and the McGovern-Dole Food for Education programs to support food security and fight world hunger.

Supporting Armenia: Provides $60 million in security and economic assistance for Armenia, including $2 millionin assistance for Artsakh, which Costa advocated for in this Congress.

Enhancing Border Security: Make responsible investments in border security, including border technology, to improve inspections at ports of entry, hire more staff, and strengthen body-worn camera programs at CBP and ICE.

A detailed summary of the bill is available here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://desaulnier.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-desaulnier-secures-over-21-million-contra-costa-county-and,Congressman DeSaulnier Secures Over $21 Million for Contra Costa County and Expands Local National Historic Park,2022-12-23,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Mark DeSaulnier,D000623,desaulnier.house.gov,desaulnier,https://desaulnier.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman DeSaulnier (CA-11) announced that he successfully included $21.7 million in federal funding for 15 projects to benefit Contra Costa County in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (H.R. 2617), which passed the House of Representatives today by a vote of 225-to-201 and will soon be signed into law by President Biden. Also included in the bill is language Congressman DeSaulnier authored to add the Nystrom Elementary School to the Rosie the Riveter/WWII Home Front National Historic Park.

“My priority in Congress is that I work for you to improve your daily lives and the funding included in this bill will do just that by bolstering public safety, reducing commute times and improving quality of life, increasing access to education, and more,” said Congressman DeSaulnier. “I could not be prouder to have secured this funding for our community in partnership with local agencies.”

“I am also delighted that the critical role families in Richmond and West Contra Costa County played in our nation’s World War II home front effort is being recognized. By expanding the Rosie the Riveter/WWII Home Front National Historic Park, visitors will learn more about the East Bay’s trailblazing history,” concluded Congressman DeSaulnier.

The 15 projects included in the bill are:

$3,000,000 for the 100 38th Street Supportive and Family Affordable Apartments for Formerly Homeless, Veterans, and Large Families Project being undertaken by Eden Housing Inc.

$500,000 for Choice in Aging, Pleasant Hill, CA for increasing access to and awareness of community-based alternatives to nursing homes

$631,200 for the Citywide Traffic System Upgrade Phase 2 Project in the City of Concord

$3,000,000 for the Concord-Port Chicago Building Restoration Project being undertaken by East Bay Regional Park District

$1,000,000 for the Construction Trades Workforce Initiative’s construction apprenticeship program in the East Bay

$1,000,000 for the Contra Costa Community College District for an open educational resources project to reduce textbook expenses for students

$600,000 for the Court Appointed Special Advocates Program, Inc. of Contra Costa for mental health services and education programming for former foster youth

$150,000 for the First 5 Contra Costa Children and Families Commission, for a childcare workforce compensation assessment to build a sustainable, well-compensated pipeline of childcare professionals

$4,185,000 for the Lamorinda Smart Signal System Project

$300,000 for the Office of Neighborhood Safety Community Violence Intervention Programs Project in Richmond

$470,000 for Opportunity Junction’s Antioch medical assistant job training program and supportive services

$3,100,000 for the School Street Safe Routes to School Project in Lafayette

$1,180,000 for the Strategies for Supporting Youth in the Community Project for the Contra Costa County Probation Department to help law enforcement minimize violence and reduce arrests of young adults

$105,000 for White Pony Express to add three local schools in Pittsburg, Brentwood, and Martinez to its School Pantry Program to support the nutritional needs of low income children in school

$2,520,000 for the Ygnacio Valley Road Fiber InfrastructureProject in Walnut Creek",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://desaulnier.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/legislation-authored-chair-desaulnier-support-people-disabilities,Legislation Authored by Chair DeSaulnier to Support People with Disabilities Signed into Law,2022-12-23,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Mark DeSaulnier,D000623,desaulnier.house.gov,desaulnier,https://desaulnier.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions Subcommittee Chair Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11) announced that legislation he authored to help people with disabilities live and work more independently was signed into law by President Biden as part of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (NDAA) (H.R. 7776). The bipartisan legislation, the 21st Century Assistive Technology Act (H.R. 9028), will expand access to assistive technology (AT).

“Throughout my time in public service, breaking down the barriers faced by individuals with disabilities has been a top priority and access to technology is another critical step in this process,” said Congressman DeSaulnier. “I am proud to have introduced this legislation with Congressman Sempolinski to help uplift individuals with disabilities and ensure they can more easily connect, work, and thrive in their communities, and I am grateful President Biden has signed it into law.”

“Whether it’s a high-tech device or something as simple as a magnifying glass, assistive technology is critical to helping people with disabilities live, work, and participate in their communities independently. As more Americans look to exercise their right to live at home, instead of institutions, the 21st Century Assistive Technology Act will take a key step to increase the quality of life, and expand work and educational opportunities, for people across the country,” said Committee on Education and Labor Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” (VA-03). “I am grateful for Congressman DeSaulnier’s and Congressman Sempolinski’s leadership on this bill.”

The provisions in the 21st Century Assistive Technology Act will increase the quality of life, and expand work opportunities, for people with disabilities through increased access to technology, equipment, and services. Specifically, the legislation:

Facilitates access to AT by streamlining funding to focus on the four state-level activities, including state financing activities, device reutiization programs, device loan programs, and device demonstrations.

Enhances capacity building and services for Protection & Advocacy agencies and increases the grants for states with minimum allotments once the program reaches $8 million in funding.

Establishes technical assistance support for state-level activities and Protection & Advocacy systems.

Encourages Innovation and Collaboration: If the amount appropriated exceeds $49 million, the legislation provides funding for “Projects of National Significance” that may focus on the needs of specific populations, such as youth in transition, or on collaboration among state agencies that provide AT and other services to people with disabilities.

Congressman DeSaulnier is a member of the House Education and Labor Committee and the Bipartisan Disabilities Caucus.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://gomez.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2728,REP. GOMEZ BRINGS $25+ MILLION BACK HOME TO LOS ANGELES TO SUPPORT 15 LOCAL COMMUNITY PROJECTS,2022-12-23,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Jimmy Gomez,G000585,gomez.house.gov,gomez,https://gomez.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Jimmy Gomez (CA-34) announced the inclusion of $25,463,951 in federal funding for 15 community projects in California’s 34th Congressional District in this year’s government funding package, which was passed by both the House and Senate and is headed to President Biden’s desk for his signature.

“I came to Washington to deliver for working families and ensure our taxpayer dollars are felt and seen in our district,” said Congressman Jimmy Gomez (CA-34). “That’s why I fought to secure federal funding for 15 local projects that will build more affordable housing, expand access to health care services for underserved, low-income residents, and invest in arts and culture to make LA a better place to live for all and ensure no one is left behind. I look forward to seeing these projects break ground and begin serving our community.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://huffman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/12/23/2022/huffman-votes-to-pass-funding-bill,Huffman Votes to Pass Funding Bill,2022-12-23,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Jared Huffman,H001068,huffman.house.gov,huffman,https://huffman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Community Projects, Aid to Ukraine, Climate Action, Special Education Funding All Included in Comprehensive Omnibus

Washington, D.C. – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2023, which included significant victories for California’s Second Congressional District championed by Representative Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael). The legislation includes over $12.48 million in federal funding for projects in CA-02 that the Congressman nominated as part of the Community Project Funding process.

This government funding package also includes emergency supplemental funding to respond to the devastation that recent natural disasters and extreme weather events have left behind and emergency resources to support the Ukrainian people and protect global democracy. The investments in the bill will lower the cost of living for hardworking people, create better-paying jobs, and help communities and families in need.

“The appropriations process is one of the most consequential aspects of our work in Congress, allocating funding that supports the needs of my constituents and folks across the country. This year’s bill is truly a reflection of Democrats’ priorities: from lowering costs for hardworking people and investing in local communities to defending democracy worldwide and taking bold climate action,” said Rep. Huffman.

“For the second year in a row, I was able to secure funding for special projects right here in California’s Second District. I have worked side-by-side with folks in our community to identify projects that address some of the most pressing needs of our region. Thanks to that partnership, 14 of those initiatives will receive funding to move forward, undoubtably improving the lives of folks along the North Coast. And once again, I’m grateful to see increased funding for special education services through IDEA – a priority of mine since my first day in Congress,” he said.

“We had some hard-fought victories in this legislation, including keeping Manchin’s dirty permitting deal out of the final bill, but I know there is more work ahead. Unfortunately, the fire victims tax relief Rep. Mike Thompson has championed didn’t make it in the package. Nevertheless, we’ll keep working to get fire victims whatever support we can. I was also disappointed to see the terrible north Atlantic right whale provision that was folded in, but I’m committed to working with the Biden administration to save the right whale from extinction,”Huffman concluded.

As part of the package, Rep. Huffman secured more than $12.48 million in Community Project Funding for northwest California:

$200,000 for the Career Technical Education Foundation Sonoma County for whole-school transformation efforts in Santa Rosa

$2,000,000 for the Electric Vehicle Charger Program Expansion in San Rafael

$750,000 for the Ending Veteran Homelessness and Creating Workforce Housing in Marin County

$791,200 for the Equitable Energy Resilience and EV Infrastructure in Novato

$294,000 for the Fighting Climate-Driven Collapse in Coastal Habitats in Fort Bragg

$750,000 for the Front Street Complete Street and Cultural Inclusion in Crescent City

$820,000 for the Housing Mendocino Coast - Hazelwood in Fort Bragg

$200,000 for the Jewish Community Free Clinic for an electronic health records initiative in Santa Rosa

$650,000 for the Marin City Public Housing - Lighting Energy Efficiency Upgrades in Marin

$775,000 for the Redwoods Rural Health Center for facilities and equipment in Redway

$550,000 for the Sheriff’s Office Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) and Records Management Systems (RMS) Update in Crescent City

$1,800,000 for the SMART Rail Extension to Healdsburg - Preliminary Design in Sonoma and Marin

$2,000,000 for the Trinity Headwaters Forest Conservation for Community Benefit Project

$901,575 for the West County Health Centers, Inc. for facilities and equipment in Guerneville

Further Community Project Funding for CA-02 include:

$500,000 for the Hamilton Airfield Wetlands Restoration in Novato

$500,000 for the Marin Clean Energy Storage Program

$1,250,000 for the Tolowa Waste Water Infrastructure Improvements in Smith River

More information on the Community Project Funding requests can be found here.

Rep. Huffman also successfully advocated to include multiple funding and policy priorities for northwest California in the final package:

Special education funding increases for children with disabilities by providing $14.2 billion for IDEA Part B Grants to States, an increase of $850 million (or 6%) above the FY2022 enacted level.

The Fishery Resource Disasters Improvement Act, legislation championed by Rep. Huffman, which makes improvements to provide fishermen with disaster relief more quickly. The package also provides an additional $300,000,000 for fishery disaster relief.

A reauthorization of the Shasta-Trinity marina fee retention authority, following legislation Rep. Huffman has championed. This critical request supports the outdoor recreation economy in Trinity County.

Extends payments in lieu of taxes (PILT) to local governments through fiscal year 2023. Rep. Huffman co-led an appropriations request letter to extend this program.

$6,800,000 for the Prescott Grant Program led by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) for rescue, recovery, and rehabilitation efforts for stranded marine mammals.

$68,000,000 for Sanctuaries and Marine Protected Areas. This request will help support the Greater Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries.

The bill provides $4.2 billion for wildland fire management, which includes $2.6 billion in cap adjusted fire suppression funding. In addition, the bill includes $1.6 billion for wildfire preparedness and suppression activities.

Other provisions Rep. Huffman pushed to secure in the legislation include:

The Driftnet Modernization and Bycatch Reduction Act, which will phase out the use of harmful drift gillnets that produce enormous bycatch, killing and entangling unintended marine life.

Report language highlighting the growth in cage-free egg facilities and the importance of the Department in Agriculture in helping producers convert to cage-free housing. While serving in the California State Legislature, Rep. Huffman was the author of California's humane egg law that helped lead the nation in cage-free standards.

Report language highlighting concerns with chemical recycling, requesting that the EPA continue to regulate gasification and pyrolysis – two of the most common forms of so-called chemical recycling technologies – as “municipal waste combustion units,” despite an earlier move by the Trump administration to strip this provision from the Clean Air Act. Rep. Huffman led his colleagues in a letter to the EPA raising these concerns in July and introduced the Protecting Communities from Plastics Act to address the plastic production crisis.

A provision that Rep. Huffman co-led with Rep. Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) that would allow civil penalties to fund remediation of environmental or public health hazards for environmental enforcement cases.

Support for wildfire smoke taint research on wine grapes to identify the compounds responsible for smoke taint, establish a reliable database of background levels of smoke taint compounds occurring naturally in wine grapes, develop mitigation methods to reduce or eliminate smoke taint, and study compounds that can act as a barrier between the grapes and smoke compounds. Additionally, it supports research to establish standard methodologies for sampling and testing smoke exposed grapes and smoke affected wines.

Report language directing the Forest Service to develop tools to monitor and eradicate illegal marijuana grows on federal lands. The language also supports drone usage by Bureau of Land Management to identify illegal marijuana grows. This is a key pillar of Rep. Huffman’s Northwest Wilderness, Recreation, and Working Forests Act.

Report language supporting the Forest Service’s collaboration with the Bureau of Land Management to define, identify, and complete an inventory of old growth and mature forests on Federal lands.

The bill also includes supplemental funding to address the impact of unprecedented natural disasters and to support the Ukrainian people and defend global democracy.

Helps communities recover: Responds to the devastation that recent natural disasters and extreme weather events have left behind and helps families, small businesses, and entire communities get back on their feet and repair damaged infrastructure

Supports Ukraine: Provides necessary emergency funding to support the Ukrainian people and protect global democracy in the face of Russia’s continued and grievous invasion of Ukraine. Putin’s unyielding pursuit of power has led to a grievous loss of life and humanitarian devastation. Russia has committed countless war crimes, and this bill provides the Ukrainian people with the help they desperately need.

A detailed summary of the legislation is available here.

###

Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://issa.house.gov/media/press-releases/statement-congressman-darrell-issa-0,Statement by Congressman Darrell Issa,2022-12-23,2022,2022-12,Republican,House,CA,Darrell Issa,I000056,issa.house.gov,issa,https://issa.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-50) made the following statement:

""Congress does itself no favors when it puts off for months what it could achieve in days, negotiates in secret, spends what it does not have, and leverages a looming government shutdown and impending holiday season as a motivation to vote yes and get it all over with.

""That there are worthwhile items among $1.7 trillion in spending is not disputable – but it's also not the point. As a native of Cleveland, I’ve known many losing sports teams that included star players. It did not change the reality that the teams were not successful enough and needed to be rebuilt.

""Fundamentally, this omnibus process brings into full display how House Democrats have abused their majority and why the American people took it away. Speaker Pelosi’s ensuing scramble to squeeze every partisan advantage right up to the last moment before a Republican majority takes over should inspire voters to wait a very long time before considering returning her team to power.

""My late friend and longtime Congressional colleague Elijah Cummings had a favored refrain that he said to me many times: 'We are better than this.'

""It was a seemingly simple statement, but it captured a recognition that the Congress as an institution should honor its highest ideals, not its narrowest interests.

""I cannot support this unnecessary and unjustified omnibus spending package.""

###

Darrell Issa is the Representative of California’s 50th Congressional District. The District encompasses the central and northeastern parts of San Diego County and a portion of Riverside County, including the communities of Fallbrook, San Marcos, Valley Center, Ramona, Escondido, Santee, Lakeside, El Cajon, Temecula, and the mountain and desert areas of the San Diego-Imperial County line. Issa served as the Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform from 2011-2015.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://juliabrownley.house.gov/brownley-applauds-passage-of-fy2023-government-funding-package/,Brownley Applauds Passage of FY2023 Government Funding Package,2022-12-23,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Julia Brownley,B001285,juliabrownley.house.gov,juliabrownley,https://juliabrownley.house.gov/category/press-releases/,scraper,"Secures Over $20 Million for Community Projects Throughout Ventura County

Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) applauded the passage of the Fiscal Year 2023 government funding package and delivers historic investments in America’s families, workers, and communities including significant increases to critical social programs that continue health coverage for 40 million children enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP, improve our preparedness for future public health emergencies, expand veterans’ access to health care, and strengthen emergency disaster support to victims of hurricanes and wildfires throughout our country. This legislation also includes 14 community projects Brownley championed, totaling more than $20 million for Ventura County.

“Congress has a responsibility to ensure that our government works for the people,” said Congresswoman Julia Brownley. “This bipartisan, bicameral legislative package not only keeps our government open, but it delivers historic investments in America’s working families and our communities, it honors our commitment to our veterans, and it strengthens democracy at home and abroad.

“This government funding bill expands quality, affordable health care for vulnerable communities including millions of children ensuring a healthier and stronger future for our country.

“The omnibus bill also includes a pay increase for our service members, including the men and women in uniform at Naval Base Ventura County. This increase will help our military families meet their basic needs – as they continue to defend our democracy around the world.

“For those who have served our nation, this funding package upholds our promise to our veterans and secures a significant increase in veterans’ health care and, specifically, expands access to care and treatment of toxic exposure.

“This legislative package also delivers emergency disaster relief to help victims of hurricanes and wildfires throughout our country, and it improves our nation’s preparedness for future public health emergencies.

“Additionally, I have worked closely with leaders throughout our community to bring federal funding to the areas where resources are needed the most and return taxpayers’ investments to our region,” added Brownley. “I am proud to deliver critical investments in our local energy, water, and sewage infrastructure systems, to expand public services including a senior center, regional food bank, and library, and to support the community projects that continue to help our community and its residents thrive.”

The 14 community projects Brownley secured in the bill include:

$4,000,000 for the Bridge Replacement at Las Posas Road (U.S. 101) and Ventura Boulevard in Camarillo

$550,800 for the California State University Channel Islands for a cybersecurity degree program including equipment

$2,846,400 for the City of Oxnard for Water Pipeline Replacement

$2,000,000 for the City of Santa Paula for the Harvard Boulevard Water and Sewer Pipeline Replacement

$1,684,000 for the City of Simi Valley for the Sewer Line Replacement near Easy Street and Arroyo Simi

$2,000,000 for Food Share for facility construction

$1,853,625 for the Microgrid Installation for the Municipal Service Center in Thousand Oaks

$300,000 for a work-based learning cybersecurity program at Moorpark College

$750,000 for the new Moorpark City Library

$628,600 for faculty professional development at Oxnard College

$375,000 for the Port of Hueneme’s Comprehensive Climate Action and Adaptation Plan

$1,000,000 for the City of Simi Valley Senior Center Patio Shelter

$640,000 for the Ventura County Family Justice Center Oxnard Satellite

$1,500,000 for the Robles Diversion Improvement Project along the Ventura River for Ventura County

“The government funding package and these community investments will create good-paying jobs, develop opportunities for working families and small businesses, and support our community’s economic growth – a real win-win-win for our region as a whole.”

Additional legislative provisions that Brownley also secured in the final omnibus bill include:

Passage of Brownley’s CONTRACT Act, bipartisan legislation spearheaded by Rep. Brownley, Rep. Rodney Davis (R-IL), Senator James Inhofe (R-OK), Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS), and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA). The legislation will eliminate financial disincentives that make it hard for federal contract towers to recruit and hire trained, well-qualified, retired Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) controllers. Currently, FAA air traffic controllers are required by law to retire at 56 years of age, but under current law will lose a portion of their retirement benefits if they continue to work. This provision specifically eliminates this penalty for those who choose to work as controllers at federal contract towers, which will also enhance aviation safety at contract tower facilities, like Oxnard Airport.

Passage of Brownley’s American Indian and Alaska Native Veterans Mental Health Act, which addresses the mental health needs of Native veterans and mandates that every VA medical facility have a minority veteran coordinator trained in the delivery of culturally competent mental health care for Native veterans.

The omnibus government funding package passed the House by a vote of 225-201-1. The bill will now go to President Biden’s desk for his signature. The full text of the bill is available here. Summaries of the bill are available here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://levin.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-mike-levin-delivers-nearly-50-million-for-fifteen-local-projects-in-government-funding-legislation,Rep. Mike Levin Delivers Nearly $50 Million for Fifteen Local Projects in Government Funding Legislation,2022-12-23,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Mike Levin,L000593,levin.house.gov,levin,https://levin.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Legislation is now headed to President Biden for Signature

Washington, D.C. – Today, the House of Representatives passed government funding legislation that includes key projects and priorities Rep. Mike Levin (D-CA) secured for North County San Diego and South Orange County. The bill includes $7 million to modernize the SPRINTER Corridor in San Diego County, $4.48 million for mobile behavioral health crisis response teams in San Diego County, $4 million to improve safety and enhance bicycle and pedestrian connectivity on SR-74 in San Juan Capistrano, $3.75 million to purchase a twin-engine firefighting helicopter in San Diego County to help with wildfire response, $3.47 million for the Orange County Intelligence Assessment Center Project, $3 million to build Veterans Memorial Park in Carlsbad, and numerous other projects totaling nearly $50 million for local governments and institutions in the 49th District.

The legislation also contains several of Rep. Levin’s bills, including the Drug Manufacturing Innovation Act to facilitate new manufacturing technologies to address supply chain issues and lower prices, the SOBER HOMES Act to improve the quality of recovery housing, the Mark O’Brien VA Clothing Allowance Improvement Act to make it easier for veterans with service-connected conditions to receive the clothing allowances they deserve, and the Veteran Home Energy Savings Act to increase veterans’ buying power when purchasing energy-efficient homes. The bill also contains language allowing the Environmental Protection Agency to transfer some of the $300 million in federal funding the San Diego congressional delegation previously secured to the International Boundary and Water Commission so that it can implement projects to curb the flow of pollution in the Tijuana River watershed.

“My number one focus is delivering results on our local priorities, and I am thrilled that this bipartisan funding legislation is on the way to President Biden’s desk with key investments to address some of the biggest challenges facing our region,” said Rep. Levin. “This funding will help modernize the SPRINTER Corridor in North County, make our streets safer for pedestrians in Solana Beach, invest in mobile behavioral health crisis response teams, promote water security, and much more. I’m also glad this legislation includes funding for key priorities such as the removal of nuclear waste from San Onofre, the cleanup of cross-border water pollution, and food security for students when school is not in session. The emergency funding to support Ukraine is also paramount for the defense of democracy and to address the humanitarian crisis stemming from Putin’s invasion. I look forward to seeing President Biden sign this bill and ensuring these investments deliver tangible results in our communities over the coming months and years. While I am proud of what we accomplished in this bill, I believe Congress must fund the government in an orderly and transparent way in the future so that the process is not rushed at the end of the year.”

The bill also includes funding Rep. Levin fought to secure for other local priorities, including $53 million for consolidated interim storage of nuclear waste, $1.61 billion for the Impact Aid program, which supports K-12 schools serving children in military families like those at San Onofre Elementary and Mary Fay Elementary, $1.79 million for Oceanside Harbor Dredging, and permanent authorization of a program that provides families who have children eligible for free and reduced-price school meals with an electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card when school is not in session.

To support Ukraine, the legislation provides $45 billion in military and economic aid. That includes more than $9 billion for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative and $11.88 billion to replenish U.S. stocks of equipment sent to Ukraine. The legislation also includes a provision to allow LT Ridge Alkonis to continue to receive pay and benefits.

See below for a description of each project:

Recipient: City of San Clemente

Avenida Cordoba/Via Avila Storm Drain Improvements: The Avenida Cordoba/Via Avila Storm Drain Improvements project will improve storm drains on Via Avila/Avenida Cordoba. Currently, the stormwater runoff at this intersection does not properly outlet into the canyon. The project has been fully designed and will facilitate proper drainage into the outlet canyon east of Via Avila to alleviate street flooding and maintain roadway integrity during flooding events. Not only will this project relieve flooding on asphalt streets, but it will also help recharge local, natural groundwater systems and drainage, thereby supporting the natural environment and promoting water security, which is a top regional priority. The City of San Clemente will receive $1.6 million for this project.

Recipient: South Coast Water District

Coastal Recycled Water Expansion Program Del Obispo Recycled Water Project: This project includes two phases of infrastructure implementation that will install 8,900 linear feet of recycled water pipeline and convert 37 sites from potable to recycled water usage, saving over 35 million gallons of potable water per year. The Project will increase the overall water supply availability by producing new local potable water supplies in place of imported water and ultimately benefit the Colorado River Basin and northern California. It will also significantly decrease imported drinking water use, increase water supply reliability, and improve regional self-reliance by using existing locally available water resources. The South Coast Water District will receive $3.453 million for this project.

Recipient: City of Del Mar

Del Mar Climate Resiliency and Access Improvement Project: The Del Mar Climate Resiliency and Access Improvement Project would enhance mobility and adaptation to the effects of climate change in the City of Del Mar and the surrounding area. The City of Del Mar is requesting $1,768,200 in funding for the Climate Resiliency and Access Improvement project which will help to implement 1) pre-construction monitoring and project notification for a future sand replenishment project, 2) complete a conceptual design for a flood mitigation project, and 3) connect existing trails to expand pedestrian access and create a scenic loop trail network through the entire city.

With California facing the ever-growing threats of climate change, the City of Del Mar is committed to providing local solutions to meet the immediate needs of its residents and visitors. With the partnership of Rep. Levin’s office and the House Appropriations Committee, the City is requesting funding to help implement common-sense solutions to provide greater public access to natural open spaces and public recreation opportunities and increase safety for residents. This project would implement several initiatives to increase mobility and make the city resilient to the effects of climate change. The city of Del Mar will receive $750,000 for this project.

Recipient: MiraCosta Community College District

Future Technologies to Upskill Rapidly and Effectively (FuTURE): MiraCosta College’s Technology Career Institute (TCI) prepares our workforce for careers in critical and growing sectors of our local economy through hands-on training. The courses and programs currently offered at TCI in engineering, manufacturing, biomedical equipment, and emerging technologies address skills gaps in middle-to-high skilled occupations where there is critical need. TCI has partnered with over 150 companies in the San Diego area to provide a talent pipeline for growing businesses in transportation, biotech, and communications. This funding would help TCI expand its capacity to serve more students using the latest technology. TCI will use this funding to expand their course offerings to include virtual and augmented reality, artificial intelligence, robotics, and automation. With this funding, TCI expects to train at least 445 students. This program will also make education and certificates at TCI more accessible to a diverse community. With this funding, TCI will be able to reduce tuitions that typically run from $1,500 to $7,500 down to no more than $1,000 for any individual. It will also help them provide child care and transportation services for participants in the short-term, intensive training program. MiraCosta Community College District will receive $1 million for this project.

Recipient: City of Encinitas

Leucadia Streetscape Drainage Improvements, Encinitas, CaliforniaThe section of North Coast Highway 101 that traverses the community of Leucadia is relatively flat and lies at a low point between a rail corridor and coastal bluffs. The drainage infrastructure in place on North Coast Highway 101 is not sufficient to handle moderate storm events. This project would fund new drainage infrastructure with pipes up to 66 inches in diameter that will address longstanding flooding through the corridor that leaves ponding on North Coast Highway 101 and negatively impacts local residences and businesses. The City of Encinitas will receive $4 million for the project.

Recipient: City of Oceanside

Loma Alta Creek Sewer Relocation, Oceanside, California: This project will relocate a sewer main from a location within a creek bed to a roadway, which will minimize the chance of environmental damage in the event of a Sanitary Sewer Overflow. This project will renew the pipeline and minimize risk of sewer spills into a waterway. Not only will this project benefit the greater Oceanside community by improving its wastewater infrastructure, but it will also protect and improve aquatic resources and water quality in the Loma Alta Creek, a Clean Water Act listed waterway. The City of Oceanside will receive $3.453 million for the project.

Recipient: City of Solana Beach

Lomas Santa Fe Drive, Solana Beach, California: Lomas Sante Fe Drive is an essential east-west transportation corridor in Solana Beach, California, that provides access to schools, a public library, shopping centers, community facilities, the beach, the Coastal Rail Trail along Highway 101, and San Dieguito Regional Park. However, the corridor lacks modern multi-modal infrastructure for pedestrian and cyclist safety and vehicular traffic calming.

The overall objective of the community project funding request is to transform this automobile-oriented roadway into a more pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly corridor by constructing a multi-use trail, widening sidewalks, extending curbs, improving Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance, improving signal timing to increase pedestrian and driver awareness, and reducing congestion.

This newly constructed multi-modal transportation corridor will allow residents, students, commuters, and visitors to more safely travel by bicycle, foot, automobile, or transit to two community shopping centers, schools, offices, and community facilities. The project will benefit the community by providing a continuous multi-use trail accessible to users of all ages and abilities and will encourage walking and bicycling in lieu of auto trips. The City of Solana Beach will receive $7 million for this project.

Recipient: County of San Diego

Mobile Crisis Response Team (MCRT) Enhancement, County of San Diego: Many calls to law enforcement agencies involve a behavioral health crisis but do not require law enforcement intervention. Behavioral health professionals can more effectively address non-violent behavioral health incidents. In 2020, the County of San Diego Behavioral Health Services (BHS) department launched the Mobile Crisis Response Team (MCRT) program to help people who are experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis by dispatching behavioral health experts to emergency calls instead of law enforcement, when appropriate. Teams are comprised of clinicians, case managers, and peer support specialists who travel to these individuals anywhere they are in the county. The MCRTs provide assessment, crisis intervention services, and connections to treatment and other services such as transportation as needed. MCRT services are offered through two contracted organizations and serve individuals of all ages. Services are designed to improve health equity, ensure appropriate levels of care, increase safety, and reduce law enforcement interventions. The requested funding would enhance the MCRT program by adding overnight and weekend coverage for four MCRT teams, seven days per week. Each team is composed of one clinician, one case manager, and one peer and administrative support specialist, and would cost $1.12 million including salaries, benefits, and associated operational/indirect costs. The County of San Diego will receive $4.48 million for this project.

Recipient: County of Orange

Orange County Intelligence Assessment Project: In 2007, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department established the Orange County Intelligence Assessment Center (OCIAC) Fusion Center, which serves as the focal point for receiving, analyzing, gathering, and sharing threat-related information between the federal government and state, local, tribal, and private sector partners. OCIAC participants include the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and local police departments. OCIAC fields about 1,100 tips each year and serves as the central point for vetting and sharing information with the FBI and DHS. OCIAC supports local and federal agencies in responding to white supremacist groups, violence against faith-based communities, and cybercrime.

The County is purchasing a 120,000-square-foot office building that will house and bring together OCIAC, the Sheriff’s Crime Analysis Unit, and relevant technology staff. The building will contain a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF) used by analysts and personnel from multiple law enforcement agencies. This building will require $12 million in equipment and supplies.

The County has requested $3.47 million to cover part of the cost of equipment, supplies, and cybercrime software. This funding would help the County protect the region and advance public safety. The equipment purchases would include workstations and specialized technology for analysts and law enforcement personnel, smart boards for Fusion Center conference rooms to enable intelligence data sharing, and an emergency generator. This funding will also help the County purchase software programs to search cell phone communication and perform complex cyber investigations. This enhanced OCIAC will serve all Orange County residents and will better preserve public safety. The County of Orange will receive $3.47 million for this project.

Recipient: County of San Diego

San Diego County Twin-Engine Firefighting Helicopter Project: The funds will be used to purchase a twin-engine firefighting helicopter. San Diego County’s existing helicopters are being aged out and must be replaced. Each one is a single engine helicopter that is built out of a 1970s airframe. Because they are single engine, the helicopters don’t have the ability to drop water at night. A twin-engine helicopter allows for firefighting both day and night, and increases the amount of water deployed with each drop. In cases of engine failure, a single engine significantly increases the risk to the crew and anyone being hoisted during a rescue. A twin-engine helicopter can still function and safely land if one of the engines goes out. In rural San Diego County, there are thousands of acres of forest at risk of fire. There are also over 100,000 structures in the designated high fire risk area in the County. Over 80% of the area qualifies as a disadvantaged community. These forests and communities have suffered from devastating wildfires and fire risk is only getting more severe. During the past two decades, over 600,000 acres have burned, nearly 5,000 homes have been destroyed, and dozens of lives have been lost. The County of San Diego will receive $3.75 million for this project.

Recipient: City of Vista

Sidewalk Improvement and Enhanced Street Lighting Project, Vista, California: This project will fund the installation of frontage improvements that will enhance safety and improve multimodal transportation access along the south side of Nevada Avenue, from N. Santa Fe Avenue to Lemon Avenue, and east side of Lemon Avenue, from Nevada Avenue to Raintree Place.

Specific improvements include road widening and new curbs, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant corner ramps, restriping roads and crosswalks, and installing new lights. The City of Vista Sidewalk Improvement and Enhanced Street Lighting Project is a good use of taxpayer funds because it will ensure that pedestrians in the Townsite neighborhood have access to safe pedestrian facilities and improve lighting throughout the neighborhood for the benefit of residents and users of multiple modes of transportation. The City of Vista will receive $2.231 million for this project.

Recipient: North County Transit District

SPRINTER Corridor Service Improvement Project, San Diego County, California: This funding would complete the design of phase two of the project, which will modernize the SPRINTER signal system. The broader project seeks to increase the frequency of service from 30-minute headways to 15-minute headways by making improvements to the rail signals and double tracking 9.5 miles along the SPRINTER corridor.

This project is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because increased service frequencies will especially help low-income, minority, housing-burdened, and linguistically isolated people by improving access to public services, health care, educational institutions, and employment opportunities. This project also directly supports local, regional, and statewide plans to foster economic prosperity and social equity. Investment in this project will generate a viable mobility alternative to using personal vehicles, which will decrease harmful emissions and improve air quality. The North County Transit District will receive $7 million for this project.

Recipient: Orange County Transportation Authority

State Route 74 (SR-74) Improvements, Orange County, California: This project will close a 1.1-mile gap in general purpose lanes and enhance bicycle and pedestrian connectivity on SR-74 (Ortega Highway) in San Juan Capistrano, California, between Calle Entradero and Reata Road.

The project will construct one additional lane in each direction and a five- to eight-foot shoulder on each side to accommodate a total of 2.2 miles of Class II bicycle lanes. It will also construct approximately 850 feet of new sidewalk, reconstruct 1,200 feet of existing sidewalk, install a signalized intersection and pedestrian crossing, and construct a 12-foot-wide striped median. The project addresses the long-standing needs of the local community to accommodate planned growth and development in the surrounding areas and provide multimodal improvements consistent with local and regional planning documents and statewide transportation objectives. The Orange County Transportation Authority will receive $4 million for this project.

Recipient: City of Dana Point

Stonehill Drive Utility Undergrounding Project, Dana Point, California: This community project funding request will help the city of Dana Point, CA relocate overhead powerlines and other equipment underground on Stonehill Drive, a publicly owned street. Undergrounding power lines and other equipment helps protect the natural landscape, enhance road safety, and reduce the risk of wildfires. Undergrounding utilities can also reduce the likelihood and consequence of impacts to the electric grid in the case of extreme weather, wildfire, or natural disaster. The City of Dana Point will receive $750,000 for this project.

Recipient: City of Carlsbad

Veterans Memorial Park Project, Carlsbad, California: The City of Carlsbad General Plan’s Open Space, Conservation and Recreation Element identifies the Veterans Memorial Park as a future community park. The design intent is a family-oriented park with an array of multi-generational and inclusive amenities that are incorporated into active and passive recreational elements. Objectives that informed the design include avoidance of sensitive habitat areas, maximization of stormwater retention, and safety and visibility. Honoring veterans for their service, minimizing environmental impacts, and celebrating the site’s natural beauty are also integral components. The project involves design; permitting; public outreach; construction grading; establishing utility connections and site drainage; constructing hardscape, electrical, and landscape; developing parking lots and amenities; and incorporating public art. This project will benefit Carlsbad’s estimated 114,250 residents and four million visitors each year, including those from neighboring cities that lack access to new park facilities. For this reason, the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) has identified the Veterans Memorial Park as a regional open space park, indicating that the park will serve a regional need. It will facilitate passive and active recreation for individuals of all ages and abilities; promote health and wellness and active lifestyles; and provide space for community events, among other benefits. The City of Carlsbad will receive $3 million for this project.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://lieu.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-lieu-secures-22601025-local-projects-has-two-bills-signed-law,"REP. LIEU SECURES $22,601,025 FOR LOCAL PROJECTS, HAS TWO BILLS SIGNED INTO LAW",2022-12-23,2022,2022-12,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) announced that coastal Los Angeles County will receive $22,601,025 in Community Project Funding as part of the annual spending bill that passed today. In addition to the funding for community projects, Rep. Lieu also had two bills he authored signed into law: The Driftnet Modernization and Bycatch Reduction Act and the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area Boundary Adjustment Study Act. Both bills will serve to benefit the important ecosystems in and around Los Angeles County. All these initiatives were included in the final 2023 appropriations government funding package.

""I am pleased to have secured $22,601,025 in Community Project Funding for our community,"" Rep. Lieu said.""These projects will help tackle some of the most pressing needs in our district including providing mental health and housing care for vulnerable people, endangered wildlife protection and supportive programming for young students.

""Additionally, I am pleased that my driftnet modernization bill, as well as my Santa Monica Mountains survey bill were included in this year's Omnibus. Drift gillnet fishing is not a sustainable way to fish and phasing out the practice will aid the health of our oceans for generations. My bill on Santa Monica Mountains will help us determine whether we should expand the boundary of the Santa Monica recreation area and potentially allow for more federal scientific and conservation resources in the area. Both bills, in addition to the millions of project funding going to our district, are significant wins for our community. I am pleased to end this year on such a high note. I cannot wait to continue fighting for my constituents next Congress.""

Rep. Lieu championed funding for 15 projects that will directly benefit California's 33rd District residents. These include:

$1,000,000 for the Boys Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor, San Pedro, CA for developing a digital program for student support

$1,000,000 for the City of Hermosa Beach, CA for mobile mental health crisis response teams

$3,452,972 for the City of Los Angeles for a Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant Modernization project

$1,500,000 for the City of Santa Monica, CA for behavioral health and other supportive services

$2,000,000 for the County of Los Angeles Alternatives to Incarceration Office (CEO), Los Angeles, CA for a youth job training program and supportive services

$1,000,000 for the Friendship Foundation, Redondo Beach, CA for inclusive programs for students with disabilities

$1,000,000 for the Manhattan Beach Safe Cycling Project

$1,150,000 for the Pacific Palisades Pedestrian Trail

$3,000,000 for the PATH Permanent Supportive Housing Marina Del Rey

$1,000,000 for the Ready to Succeed, Santa Monica, CA for support for college-going foster youth, including scholarships

$898,053 for the St. Joseph Center, Venice, CA for job skills training and supportive services to those experiencing homelessness

$1,000,000 for the Torrance Temporary Housing Program

$1,600,000 for the UCLA SeaChange: Carbon Sequestration Pilot

$500,000 for the Venice Family Clinic, Venice, CA for facilities and equipment

$2,500,000 for the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing

On the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area Boundary Adjustment Study Act: The legislation will commission the National Park Service to conduct a three-year Special Resource Study to determine whether to add much of the Santa Monica Bay watershed to the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (SMMNRA) or to create a new national recreation area.

On the Driftnet Modernization and Bycatch Reduction Act:The bill will phase out the use of large mesh drift gillnets off the coast of California and set a path toward more sustainable fishing in the region.

On the Omnibus: The twelve-bill government funding package will create good-paying American jobs, grow opportunity for the middle class and small businesses, and provide a lifeline for working families. Taken together, the funding for California's 33rd District and the funding increases for critical government programs will continue to reverse decades of disinvestment in our communities. The bill will also Reform the Electoral Count Act of 1887, which will help thwart future attempts to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power like we saw on January 6th.

A detailed summary of the bill is available here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://lindasanchez.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/s-nchez-votes-pass-government-spending-package-secures-funding-15,"Sánchez votes to pass government spending package, secures funding for 15 community projects in CA-38",2022-12-23,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Linda T. Sánchez,S001156,lindasanchez.house.gov,lindasanchez,https://lindasanchez.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Linda T. Sánchez (CA-38) voted to pass the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, a package of twelve government funding bills that will help lower the cost of living for hardworking families, create better-paying jobs, and assist communities most in need. The package also includes emergency supplemental funding to better respond to increasingly catastrophic natural disasters and extreme weather events, as well as emergency resources to support the Ukrainian people.

The package includes several measures that Congresswoman Sánchez sponsored and fought to deliver, including: $28,428,707 for 15 different community projects in California's 38th Congressional District, Congresswoman Sánchez's bill to improve access to retirement savings for small business owners, and a bill co-authored by Congresswomen Sánchez and Grace F. Napolitano (CA-32) to rename the West Covina Post Office after the late Congressman Esteban E. Torres.

""I am deeply proud to vote for this bipartisan government funding package and send it to President Biden for his signature today,"" said Congresswoman Linda T. Sánchez. ""This legislation will make life better for working families by creating good-paying jobs and investing directly in communities that need it most. It also addresses some of the biggest challenges we face today, from strengthening our national security to investing in emergency disaster relief—which is critical for wildfire victims in California and across the country.""

Congresswoman Sánchez continued: ""As the Ukrainian people continue to valiantly fight back against unprovoked Russian aggression, the United States and our allies must continue to stand with them. I am grateful that this funding package includes critical aid for the Ukrainian people, which will help put an end to this needless war and ensure a democratic future for Ukraine.""

""Small businesses fuel our economy and allow our communities to thrive. Unfortunately, the hard-working Americans who keep our small businesses running are often left with few options to save for retirement. I am glad that the spending package includes my bill, the Starter K Act, to help small business owners provide their employees with streamlined, cost-effective retirement plans.""

""Finally, I am proud to have secured funding for 15 community projects that were specifically requested by residents, local organizations, and cities in my district. From creating more affordable housing to improving public transport, these are critical investments that will directly benefit our communities,"" Congresswoman Sánchez said.

The projects, which are listed in alphabetical order, include:

$3,000,000 for the City of Artesia. The funding will be used to transform an unused parcel of land at the Artesia Botanical Gardens into usable park space for residents to enjoy. The City of Artesia will maintain the existing forest area and enhance it with educational features to teach children and families about caring for plants and trees, California's climate, and the benefits of preserving forestry.

$4,000,000 for Foothill Transit. The funding will be used to procure double deck zero emissions buses in the San Gabriel Valley of LA County. With this capital project, Foothill Transit will continue to lead the way to cleaner, smarter transit in one of the most congested regions in the country. The buses will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve residents' quality of life and access to vital resources such as medical services and groceries.

$500,000 for Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles. The funding will support construction of 18 new-construction homes in Santa Fe Springs to be sold with an affordable mortgage to low-income families. This is Habitat LA's contribution to the Lakeland Development project, a public-private partnership working to expand affordable housing in the area.

$1,420,000 for the City of Hawaiian Gardens. The funding will be used to upgrade athletic facilities, fields, and concession stands at parks and sports fields across the City of Hawaiian Gardens. The goal of these upgrades is to provide safe recreational facilities for the community to enjoy.

$2,500,000 for the LA County Department of Public Works' South Whittier Communities Bikeways Access Project. The funding will be used for the installation of bike lanes and bike boulevards, wayfinding signage, roadway resurfacing, landscaping medians, streetlights, and more.

$620,000 for the LA County Department of Public Works' Sunshine Shuttle Route C Electric Buses and Charging Infrastructure Project. The funding will be used to acquire two electric buses for the Sunshine Shuttle service, replacing existing buses that are now beyond their service life. Sunshine Shuttle provides Los Nietos and South Whittier area residents access to shopping centers, community centers, medical facilities, parks and recreation areas, libraries, job training, and employment sites for Cal-WORKS recipients.

$2,500,000 for the City of La Mirada. The funding will be used to construct landscaped median improvements in the City of La Mirada, which will improve traffic safety, enhance the aesthetics of the streetscape, and provide ecological and environmental benefits.

$2,211,745 for the City of Montebello. This funding will be used to upgrade radio systems used by the City of Montebello's Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and public safety agencies. Better radio communications will help ensure first responders, fire, and law enforcement professionals can communicate effectively in situations that often mean the difference between life or death.

$976,962 for the City of Norwalk. The City of Norwalk's Senior Center and the Norwalk Arts and Sports Complex function as emergency, temporary shelters for those in need during emergency events. However, these facilities do not currently have generators. This funding will be used to procure and install a dedicated emergency backup generator at each of these locations.

$2,200,000 for the Norwalk La-Mirada Unified School District (NLMUSD). One of the cornerstones of NLMUSD is the Career Technical Education (CTE) pathways and Dual Enrollment access to college-based curriculum for college credit. This funding will help NLMUSD build a virtual learning environment so that students in CTE pathways, Dual Enrollment, and other programs can have remote access to educational materials on demand.

$1,050,000 for the City of Pico Rivera. The funding will be used to transform an underutilized and blighted bus depot into a colorful and vibrant neighborhood park that features 14 new canopy trees and drought resistant native landscaping, a grassy knoll and performance amphitheater, decorative fencing, creative solar panel shade structures, a butterfly garden, community-based artwork, children's play areas, free Wi-Fi hotspot, and more. The PAD Park will also commit space dedicated to incubating small, home-grown businesses such as galleries, cafés, bakeries, and other vendors.

$2,000,000 for the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments. The funding will be used to implement a Workforce Development Program for adults and at-risk youth from disadvantaged communities (DACs) who are experiencing homelessness. Funding will be prioritized for residents of the City of Montebello's Operation Stay Safe. The Program will provide participants with paid work experiences and supportive services, placing them on a pathway to economic security.

$2,200,000 for the City of Santa Fe Springs. The funding will be used to bring Water Well No. 12 into operation and provide safe, affordable drinking water for residents and businesses. Water Well No. 12 was constructed in 2015 but has never been in operation due to its inability to pass state and federal drinking water standards.

$750,000 for the City of Whittier. The funding will be used to convert 8 acres of underutilized property at Whittier Union High School's Sierra Education Complex into shared community recreation space. When complete, the space can be used for youth sports programs that serve more than 2,000 young people annually.

$2,500,000 for Water Replenishment District of Southern California. The funding will be used to treat three PFAS-affected wells, helping to ensure residents of Whittier, Montebello, and La Habra have access to clean drinking water.

The package includes H.R. 7832, legislation co-authored by Reps. Sánchez and Napolitano to designate the U.S. Postal Service facility at 396 South California Avenue in West Covina the ""Esteban E. Torres Post Office.""

""Congressman Esteban Torres was a trailblazer for Latinos and a champion for the working class,"" said Congresswoman Linda T. Sánchez. ""He was deeply proud of where he was from and who he represented. Renaming the post office in his honor is a fitting tribute to Congressman Torres' decades of service. I look forward to President Biden signing this bill into law very soon and ensuring his legacy lives on in our community.""

A full list of the Community Projects Requests submitted by Congresswoman Sánchez to the Appropriations Committee can be found here.

A detailed summary of the FY 2023 omnibus spending package is available here.

The legislation now heads to President Biden's desk for his signature.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://lofgren.house.gov/media/press-releases/lofgren-secures-community-project-funding-totaling-136m-ca-19-government,Lofgren Secures Community Project Funding Totaling $13.6+M for CA-19 in Government Funding Legislation,2022-12-23,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Zoe Lofgren,L000397,lofgren.house.gov,lofgren,https://lofgren.house.gov/media/press-releases,page_html,"Included Is Funding to Expand Access to Healthcare, Build Up Community Spaces, Boost Workforce Training, Add Affordable Housing, Protect the Environment, and more

SAN JOSE, CA – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, government funding legislation, that included 15 Lofgren-requested projects for California's 19th Congressional District. When President Biden signs the bill into law, the omnibus package will provide local projects with a total infusion of $13,602,000 from the federal government.

""From funding affordable housing to expanding access to healthcare to protecting our environment, this funding will make a difference in the South Bay,"" said Rep. Lofgren. ""I thank the local governments, schools, and nonprofits that submitted strong project proposals that will allow them to better support the individuals and families they serve. These organizations and so many others play an important role in our communities, and I will continue to strongly support their vital work.""

The government funding package builds on the successes of President Biden and House Democrats and will create jobs, provide aid to families struggling with inflation, and protect healthcare access. This funding for California's 19th District, coupled with the increases for critical government programs, will help communities in the South Bay and across our nation.

Santa Clara County Project Details

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-03-30T11:08:25Z
https://mikethompson.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/thompson-secures-12-million-uc-davis-smoke-taint-research,Thompson Secures $1.2 Million for UC Davis Smoke Taint Research,2022-12-23,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Mike Thompson,T000460,mikethompson.house.gov,mikethompson,https://mikethompson.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Washington – Today, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05) announced that $1,205,966 for University of California, Davis to conduct smoke exposure research is included in the final 2023 appropriations government funding bill.

“The research being accomplished at UC Davis is vital to the wellbeing of grape growers and the entire wine community,” said Thompson. “I am proud to have secured this funding for UC Davis to invest in equipment that will benefit their research and help us understand the impact of wildfires on grapes and other agricultural products in our region.

“Proud to have secured this funding and I look forward to seeing President Biden sign this bill into law.”

The funding amount for projects in Yolo County included in the government funding bill is $1,205,966 for UC Davis to acquire two pieces of equipment which are essential for grape smoke exposure research.

Rep. Thompson also secured $3.7 billion for the Emergency Relief Program (ERP, formerly known as WHIP+) for agricultural losses sustained in 2022 due to wildfires, drought, freeze, and other natural disasters. Our growers have been facing an unprecedented drought, and this program will help producers to rebuild and recover by providing financial assistance to cover a portion of their losses. This program is important because it helps to ensure that farmers and ranchers have the resources they need to continue operating their businesses, even in the face of natural disasters. It also helps to stabilize rural communities and keep the agricultural sector strong, which is vital for maintaining a secure and reliable food supply for the country.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://mikethompson.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/thompson-secures-inclusion-retirement-security-first-responders,Thompson Secures Inclusion of Retirement Security for First Responders,2022-12-23,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Mike Thompson,T000460,mikethompson.house.gov,mikethompson,https://mikethompson.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Today, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05) announced his bipartisan legislation to amend the federal tax code in order to allow first responders the ability to access their retirement funds penalty free upon reaching their eligible retirement age was included in Congress’ end of year spending package.

""First responders, firefighters, and other public safety employees put their lives on the line every day to keep us safe,"" said Thompson. ""Faced with this risk and increased stress, they deserve to be able to access their retirement savings the day they are eligible without penalty. Proud to have secured these changes which will go a long way in ensuring that first responders can retire with the peace of mind and financial security they deserve.""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://mikethompson.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/thompson-secures-key-district-priorities-and-354-million-local-contra-costa,Thompson Secures Key District Priorities and $3.54 Million for Local Contra Costa County Projects,2022-12-23,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Mike Thompson,T000460,mikethompson.house.gov,mikethompson,https://mikethompson.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Washington – Today, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05) announced that $3,547,600 for two projects in Contra Costa County is included in the final 2023 appropriations government funding bill. This funding includes $2,547,600 for the Martinez Municipal Fishing Pier Renovation Project and $1,000,000 for the for the Transition Aged Youth Diversion Program.

“Working with local Contra Costa County leaders to identify projects that will help our community is one of my top priorities every year,” said Thompson. “I am glad that two vital Contra Costa County projects were included in the government funding bill passed today. These projects will revitalize Martinez fishing pier and support local youth in pursuing a healthy and successful life.

“Proud to have secured this funding and I look forward to seeing President Biden sign this bill into law.”

The funding amounts for projects in Contra Costa County included in the government funding bill are:

$2,547,600 for the Martinez Municipal Fishing Pier Renovation Project which will allow the City of Martinez to renovate the Martinez Municipal Fishing Pier by repairing the structure of the existing timber fishing pier, replacing deck railings, and installing ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant decking

$1,000,000 for the District Attorney’s Office of Contra Costa County to implement the Transition Aged Youth Diversion Program. This program will help shift away from punitive measures and seeks to focus on healing, restoration, and accountability as well as a means to address recidivism rates.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://mikethompson.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/thompson-secures-key-district-priorities-and-373-million-local-lake-county,Thompson Secures Key District Priorities and $3.73 Million for Local Lake County Projects,2022-12-23,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Mike Thompson,T000460,mikethompson.house.gov,mikethompson,https://mikethompson.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Washington – Today, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05) announced that $3,738,600 for three projects in Lake County is included in the final 2023 appropriations government funding bill. This funding includes $2,000,000 for the Burns Valley Sports Complex and Recreation Center, $988,600 for the Lakeport Armory Facility Repurposing Project, and $750,000 for the Middle Creek Flood Damage Reduction and Ecosystem Restoration Project.

“Working with local leaders to identify projects that will help our community is one of my top priorities every year,” said Thompson. “I am proud that three vital projects in Lake County were included in the government funding bill passed today. These projects will boost local revenue, create jobs, provide state-of-the-art first responder facilities, improve water quality, reduce flood risk, and restore wetlands.

“Proud to have secured this funding and I look forward to seeing President Biden sign this bill into law.”

“The Burns Valley Sports Complex is one of the most transformative projects we are working on for our community. We are so appreciative of Congressman Thompson’s support and that he is back representing the City of Clearlake! The $2 million contribution is the last piece of the funding puzzle that we expect will allow us to break ground in 2023,” said Clearlake Mayor Dirk Slooten.

These community projects are so vital to the growth of Lake County. I thank Congressman Thompson for being the continuing champion in advocacy and representation for Lake County. When I was first seated in 2019, when I heard about the National Guard Armory I was wondering what path would be taken and here we are with more funding to bring that to fruition,” said Eddie Crandell, Chair of the Lake County Board of Supervisors.

“The Middle Creek restoration project has been on-going for at least 30 years. We know Congressman Thompson is very familiar with the amount of impact this project will have on the health and revitalization of the Lake. The funding for this project will assist in another foundational reserve that gives the Army Corps more indication that Lake County is serious about bringing this project to the finish line for the people of Lake County.

“The Sports Complex will provide a place for the youth and families to gather and spend time at a venue that is seriously lacking in Lake County. Kids need more to do and families need more positive places to share memories. This project will provide that very place. Again, I would like to thank Congressman Thompson, his colleagues and his staff that have supported us with the funding Lake County so desperately needs!”

The funding amounts for projects in Lake County included in the government funding bill are:

$2,000,000 for the Clearlake Burns Valley Sports Complex and Recreation Center Project which will support the construction of a large sports and recreation center complete with baseball fields, soccer fields, a 20,000 square foot rec center, a small amount of retail space, a public works corporation yard, and an 80-unit affordable housing project.

$988,600 for Lake County to rehabilitate and repurpose a decommissioned National Guard Armory facility for the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and the county’s Emergency Operations Center.

$750,000 for the Middle Creek Flood Damage Reduction and Ecosystem Restoration Project which will restart an authorized Corps of Engineers project, Middle Creek, CA, to reduce flood and catastrophic loss, improve water quality, and restore vital wetlands habitat with cultural significance for the surrounding tribal communities.

Rep. Thompson also secured $3.7 billion for the Emergency Relief Program (ERP, formerly known as WHIP+) for agricultural losses sustained in 2022 due to wildfires, drought, freeze, and other natural disasters. Our growers have been facing an unprecedented drought, and this program will help producers to rebuild and recover by providing financial assistance to cover a portion of their losses. This program is important because it helps to ensure that farmers and ranchers have the resources they need to continue operating their businesses, even in the face of natural disasters. It also helps to stabilize rural communities and keep the agricultural sector strong, which is vital for maintaining a secure and reliable food supply for the country.

Thompson also secured $1,205,966 for UC Davis to acquire two pieces of equipment which are essential for grape smoke exposure research in our district. Research on smoke taint is vital to help winemakers and grape growers better understand the effects of smoke taint, as well as develop strategies for mitigating its impact. This is important because smoke taint can significantly reduce the value and marketability of affected wines, which can have serious economic consequences for the wine community.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://mikethompson.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/thompson-secures-key-district-priorities-and-404-million-local-solano,Thompson Secures Key District Priorities and $4.04 Million for Local Solano County Projects,2022-12-23,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Mike Thompson,T000460,mikethompson.house.gov,mikethompson,https://mikethompson.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Washington – Today, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05) announced that $4,049,000 for three projects in Solano County is included in the final 2023 appropriations government funding bill. This funding includes $2,000,000 for the SolTrans 100 Percent Battery Electric Commuter Coaches Project, $1,219,000 for the Mare Island Preservation and Restoration Project, and $830,000 for the Vallejo Gun Violence Prevention Initiative.

“Working with local leaders to identify projects that will help our community is one of my top priorities every year,” said Thompson. “I am proud that three vital projects in Solano County were included in the government funding bill passed today. These projects will help reduce community’s greenhouse gas emissions, preserve historic buildings on Mare Island, revitalize our local economy, and help law enforcement keep our community safe.

“Proud to have secured this funding and I look forward to seeing President Biden sign this bill into law.”

“We are thrilled, and grateful, that Congressman Thompson and Congress recognize the incredible heritage of the former Mare Island Naval Shipyard and its contribution to—and impact on—both our country and the world. Even as Congressman Thompson hands off Mare Island as a result of redistricting, he has given to the Island and Vallejo one last gift with these critically needed funds to preserve and protect Mare Island’s history,” said Kent Fortner, President of the Mare Island Historic Park Foundation.

“We appreciate Congressmen Mike Thompson’s support in helping us transition to a fully zero emission fleet. This funding will go directly to new all-electric highway buses. We appreciate all the efforts, as does our community, for a cleaner greener future,” said SolTrans.

""Gun violence has become an epidemic across our Nation, and sadly, the City of Vallejo isn't exempt from the statistics,"" said Acting City Manager Terrance Davis. ""We are incredibly grateful to Congressman Thompson for his support of a Community Project for $830,000 that will be put towards the Vallejo Police Departments' Gun Violence Prevention Program, which will help us improve public safety and combat this grave issue that impacts us all.""

The funding amounts for projects in Solano County included in the government funding bill are:

$2,000,000 for the SolTrans 100 Percent Battery Electric Commuter Coaches Project which will support the purchase of four electric buses for the City of Vallejo to reduce emissions from public transportation.

$1,219,000 for the Mare Island Preservation and Restoration Project which will restore the splendor and functionality of the Admiral’s Mansion and St. Peter’s Chapel landmarks at the former Mare Island Naval Shipyard to support revitalizing the economy of the City of Vallejo.

$830,000 for the Vallejo Gun Violence Prevention Initiative to provide critical resources and strategies to get dangerous firearms, particularly untraceable ghost guns, off our streets.

Rep. Thompson also secured $3.7 billion for the Emergency Relief Program (ERP, formerly known as WHIP+) for agricultural losses sustained in 2022 due to wildfires, drought, freeze, and other natural disasters. Our growers have been facing an unprecedented drought, and this program will help producers to rebuild and recover by providing financial assistance to cover a portion of their losses. This program is important because it helps to ensure that farmers and ranchers have the resources they need to continue operating their businesses, even in the face of natural disasters. It also helps to stabilize rural communities and keep the agricultural sector strong, which is vital for maintaining a secure and reliable food supply for the country.

Thompson also secured $1,205,966 for UC Davis to acquire two pieces of equipment which are essential for grape smoke exposure research in our district. Research on smoke taint is vital to help winemakers and grape growers better understand the effects of smoke taint, as well as develop strategies for mitigating its impact. This is important because smoke taint can significantly reduce the value and marketability of affected wines, which can have serious economic consequences for the wine industry.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://mikethompson.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/thompson-secures-key-district-priorities-and-654-million-local-napa-county,Thompson Secures Key District Priorities and $6.54 Million for Local Napa County Projects,2022-12-23,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Mike Thompson,T000460,mikethompson.house.gov,mikethompson,https://mikethompson.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Washington – Today, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05) announced that $6,546,139 for three projects in Napa County is included in the final 2023 appropriations government funding bill. This funding includes $4,000,000 for the Napa Valley Vine Trail Project, $1,796,139 for OLE Health’s Electronic Records Project, and $750,000 for the Napa Intensive and Permanent Mental Health Housing Project.

“Working with local leaders to identify projects that will help our community is one of my top priorities every year,” said Thompson. “I am proud that three vital projects in Napa County were included in the government funding bill passed today. These projects will connect our communities, promote economic growth, provide vital support to those experiencing mental health issues or substance abuse, and help our health care providers better serve our region.

“Proud to have secured this funding and I look forward to seeing President Biden sign this bill into law.”

“On behalf of Napa County, City of St Helena, Town of Yountville and the Napa Valley Vine Trail Coalition, we are very grateful for this transformational funding.” said Chuck McMinn, Founder and President of the Napa Valley Vine Trail Coalition. “The community funded project will accelerate the engineering, survey and easement work in 2023 to be positioned for shovel-ready grants at the state and regional level. As the alternative transportation ‘spine’ of the Napa Valley, the Napa Valley Vine Trail Gap Closure Project will connect two existing shared-use trail segments completing 31-continuous-miles providing a safe alternative along busy SR29 completing the transportation network gap and a step forward to achieve Vision Zero for the County.”

""Improving our health records system is an expensive but critical upgrade. As a nonprofit health center, it would not be possible for us to make this switch without significant financial support, like that offered by the funding in the appropriations bill. Thank you, Congressman Thompson, for your tireless advocacy in Congress for OLE Health and the vulnerable members of our community that we serve,” said Alicia Hardy, CEO and President of Ole Health.

“Affordable housing and transitioning clients from homelessness to permanent housing is a priority of the City of Napa. Every housing unit we can create helps, and we are grateful to Congressman Thompson for advocating for local programs that address this critical need. We look forward to working with Mentis on expanding their incredibly successful program to create independent living opportunities for those with co-occurring mental health needs,” said Napa Mayor Scott Sedgley.

The funding amounts for projects in Napa County included in the government funding bill are:

$4,000,000 for the Napa Valley Vine Trail Project which will support the planning, engineering, and environmental work to close the 10-mile gap in the Vine Trail segments from Napa to Yountville and St. Helena to Calistoga to boost the local economy and promote safety for cyclists and pedestrians.

$1,796,139 for OLE Health’s Electronic Records Project which will implement a new system to better coordinate patient care with providers throughout our community.

$750,000 for the Napa Intensive and Permanent Mental Health Housing Project which will allow the City of Napa to expand its permanent housing model to support individuals dealing with mental health and substance abuse needs by constructing and furnishing units to support the addition of eight additional clients.

Rep. Thompson also secured $3.7 billion for the Emergency Relief Program (ERP, formerly known as WHIP+) for agricultural losses sustained in 2022 due to wildfires, drought, freeze, and other natural disasters. Our growers have been facing an unprecedented drought, and this program will help producers to rebuild and recover by providing financial assistance to cover a portion of their losses. This program is important because it helps to ensure that farmers and ranchers have the resources they need to continue operating their businesses, even in the face of natural disasters. It also helps to stabilize rural communities and keep the agricultural sector strong, which is vital for maintaining a secure and reliable food supply for the country.

Thompson also secured $1,205,966 for UC Davis to acquire two pieces of equipment which are essential for grape smoke exposure research in our district. Research on smoke taint is vital to help winemakers and grape growers better understand the effects of smoke taint, as well as develop strategies for mitigating its impact. This is important because smoke taint can significantly reduce the value and marketability of affected wines, which can have serious economic consequences for the wine industry.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://mikethompson.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/thompson-secures-key-district-priorities-and-68-million-local-sonoma-county,Thompson Secures Key District Priorities and $6.8 Million for Local Sonoma County Projects,2022-12-23,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Mike Thompson,T000460,mikethompson.house.gov,mikethompson,https://mikethompson.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Washington – Today, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05) announced that $6,800,000 for three projects in Sonoma County is included in the final 2023 appropriations government funding bill. This funding includes $4,000,000 for the Roseland Boys and Girls Club Project, $1,500,000 for the State Route 121/12/8th Street East Intersection Improvements Project, and $1,300,000 for the Providence Rohnert Park House Project.

“Working with local Sonoma County leaders to identify projects that will help our community is one of my top priorities every year,” said Thompson. “I am proud that three vital projects in Sonoma County were included in the government funding bill passed today. These projects will support local youth, improve traffic safety, and develop supportive housing in Rohnert Park.

“Proud to have secured this funding and I look forward to seeing President Biden sign this bill into law.”

“We are incredibly grateful for the Congressman’s dedication to the most vulnerable youth in our community. When our new flagship clubhouse opens in the Spring, we will serve 2,500 youth and families in Roseland. This has been our dream for 15 years,” said Jennifer Weiss, CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Sonoma Marin. “Together, the Clubs & the Congressman share a vision of a thriving Roseland & this community center helps us bring that to life.”

“The State Route 121/12/8th Street East Intersection Improvements Project has been in the planning stages for over a decade,” said Sonoma County Supervisor Susan Gorin. “We are so grateful for this funding to move forward and to Congressman Thompson for helping to make this a reality.”

“Providence is grateful for Representative Thompson’s ongoing support to secure funding to provide supportive housing to at-risk seniors experiencing homelessness throughout Sonoma County,” said Providence.

The funding amounts for projects in Sonoma County included in the government funding bill are:

$4,000,000 for the Roseland Boys and Girls Club Project which will support the construction of a gymnasium for the new Boys and Girls Club Child Care Center in Roseland to provide academic enrichment to local youth.

$1,500,000 for the State Route 121/12/8th Street East Intersection Improvements Project which will create a roundabout at the intersection to reduce the number of conflict points and lower the speeds of approaching vehicles to improve safety.

$1,300,000 for the Providence Rohnert Park House Project which will build out essential supportive service spaces and resident common areas on the first floor of a 76-unit permanent supportive housing building in Rohnert Park for seniors aged 55+ who have a documented history of long-term homelessness and incomes at or below 30 percent of the area median income.

Rep. Thompson also secured $3.7 billion for the Emergency Relief Program (ERP, formerly known as WHIP+) for agricultural losses sustained in 2022 due to wildfires, drought, freeze, and other natural disasters. Our growers have been facing an unprecedented drought, and this program will help producers to rebuild and recover by providing financial assistance to cover a portion of their losses. This program is important because it helps to ensure that farmers and ranchers have the resources they need to continue operating their businesses, even in the face of natural disasters. It also helps to stabilize rural communities and keep the agricultural sector strong, which is vital for maintaining a secure and reliable food supply for the country.

Thompson also secured $1,205,966 for UC Davis to acquire two pieces of equipment which are essential for grape smoke exposure research in our district. Research on smoke taint is vital to help winemakers and grape growers better understand the effects of smoke taint, as well as develop strategies for mitigating its impact. This is important because smoke taint can significantly reduce the value and marketability of affected wines, which can have serious economic consequences for the wine industry.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://mikethompson.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/thompson-secures-key-wins-health-care-and-medicare-beneficiaries,Thompson Secures Key Wins for Health Care and Medicare Beneficiaries,2022-12-23,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Mike Thompson,T000460,mikethompson.house.gov,mikethompson,https://mikethompson.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Today, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05) released the following statement after his provisions on marriage and family therapists and telehealth were included in the government funding bill.

“Access to health care is essential to the wellbeing of our community in the wake of COVID-19,” said Thompson. “I’ve long supported policies that increase access to care, including expanding the number of mental health care providers to Medicare beneficiaries and extending the expansion of telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic. These policies, which I secured in the government funding bill, will help our communities receive the care they need, particularly in underserved and hard-to-reach areas.”

Rep. Thompson authored H.R. 945 to provide for permanent Medicare coverage of mental health services provided by mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists. This would expand the number of mental health providers available to Medicare beneficiaries, as many seniors cannot access the care they need as either they live a long way from a provider, or the providers in their area are overbooked.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://obernolte.house.gov/media/press-releases/omnibus-bill-spikes-federal-spending-yet-again-increasing-deficit-and-national,"Omnibus bill spikes federal spending yet again, increasing the deficit and national debt",2022-12-23,2022,2022-12,Republican,House,CA,Jay Obernolte,O000019,obernolte.house.gov,obernolte,https://obernolte.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"U.S. Congressman Jay Obernolte (R-Hesperia) voted against the Omnibus spending bill in the U.S. House of Representatives on Friday, citing objections to the bill’s high top-line spending number and failure to address the nation’s skyrocketing national debt.

“The Omnibus bill increases federal spending by over 9 percent, which is in addition to the 7 percent increase enacted by Congress last year. As a result, the bill will add an additional $260 billion to our national debt, which already exceeds $31 trillion, over $94,000 for every American. This 4,155-page bill does not contain a single provision to lower the deficit over time or bring our national debt under control,” said Rep. Obernolte. “In fact, the bill waives statutory requirements Congress put in place to help reduce our federal deficit. It also fails to address the border crisis perpetrated by this Administration’s disastrous policies and instead explicitly bars CBP funding from being used to improve border security and processing at all. These are major problems that will impact every individual and family in our district, whether through further inflation and increased prices at the grocery store or through diminished safety on our streets.”

More on the Omnibus bill:

The $1.7 trillion Omnibus spending bill was introduced in the early hours of Tuesday morning as part of a last-ditch effort to secure White House priorities in a funding package before control of the House of Representatives changes hands on January 3. Among the items included in the 4,155-page bill are:

$800 billion in non-defense discretionary funding

$12.319 billion for the Internal Revenue Service, on top of the nearly $80 billion provided to the IRS in the Inflation Reduction Act

$400 million increase in border patrol funding that is expressly prohibited from being used to “acquire, maintain or extend border security technology and capabilities to improve Border Patrol processing”

While prohibiting increased protection for our own border, $410 million is included for border security for Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Tunisia, and Oman

Furthermore, the bill actively prevents Border Patrol funding from being used to help secure the border or improve processing at a time where border authorities are encountering up to 1,200 migrants a day (and climbing) and El Paso has declared a state of emergency due to the additional migrant influx expected if Title 42 is allowed to expire. In San Bernardino County, the sheriff’s department has reported a 656 percent increase in fentanyl related deaths since 2018, largely as a result of illicit fentanyl being smuggled across the southern border with Mexico.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://panetta.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-panetta-advances-central-coast-priorities-national-defense-authorization,Rep. Panetta Advances Central Coast Priorities in the National Defense Authorization Act,2022-12-23,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Jimmy Panetta,P000613,panetta.house.gov,panetta,https://panetta.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"December 23, 2022

Washington, DC –U.S. Representatives Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), member of the House Armed Services Committee, advanced critical priorities for the central coast of California in the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Today, President Joseph Biden signed the NDAA into law.

""Our district is home to many critical defense installations for our national security which provide millions of dollars and thousands of jobs for our local economy. This year's NDAA supports our military families and advances our installations' ability to train our personnel and secure our innovative and technological edge,"" said Rep. Panetta, Member of the House Armed Services Committee. ""This bipartisan defense bill reflects a united commitment to global democracy, spurring innovation and education, and importantly, supporting the Force and their families which are not only the bedrock of our national security, but also a foundation for our community.""

Background:

The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is an annual defense bill that outlines our nation's domestic and international security objectives. It is paired with the annual appropriations for defense bill that funds the NDAA policy priorities.

As a Member of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) representing 17 defense installations for the nation, Rep. Panetta is uniquely situated to work on the defense bill with his HASC colleagues and champion CA-20 specific objectives, including military education, language proficiency, advancing innovation, and supporting special operations forces (SOF) capabilities.

Defense installations in CA-20 include; the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS), Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center (DLIFLC), Naval Research Laboratory, Fleet Numerical Oceanography and Meteorology, United States Coast Guard, Presidio of Monterey, Fort Hunter Liggett, Camp Roberts Maneuver Training Center, Army Analytics Group Research Facilitation Team (AAG/RFT), The Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, Defense Manpower Data Center Defense Resource Management Institute (DRMI), 514th Signal Company (SATCOM), Personnel and Security Research Center, Major General William H. Gourley VA-DoD Outpatient Clinic, TRADOC Analysis Center Monterey, and Ord Military Community (OMC)

Rep. Panetta Wins:

Increases access to critical Basic Needs Allowance (BNA), including in high-cost areas of living.

Expands Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) and extends authority to adjust BAH in high-cost areas of living.

Expanded advanced degree opportunities for enlisted servicemembers, which comprise about 80% of the Armed Forces, at the Naval Postgraduate School (introduced as the ""Smart Act"" in the House).

Seeks to establish a consortium of military education institutions to conduct research and develop common, research-based criteria to improve military education, including on cyber capabilities and applied research.

Creates a program to support the development of patentable inventions in the Department of the Navy, inspired by the Naval Research Laboratory.

Creates a joint information operations course to prepare the Joint Force to employ synchronized information-related capabilities in the information environment, including cyberwarfare.

Improves our Middle East allies' ability to self-defend against Iranian missile threats through an integrated air and missile defense (IAMD) capability for the region (introduced as the ""DEFEND Act"" in the House and Senate).

Seeks to create a program to provide separating special operations forces servicemembers access to Preservation of the Force and Family (POTFF) resources and programs.

Enforces Congressional notification of military information support operations in the information environment.

Requires the National Defense Strategy (NDS) be submitted in unclassified form and notes that the timely release of an unclassified version of the NDS allows Congress to explain the NDS to the public and debate policy and budgetary choices within the Congress.

Directs an assessment of Russia's strategy for invasion and occupation of Ukraine; reviews the impact of sanctions; requires a report on lessons learned from Russia's further invasion of Ukraine; and reviews the use of Russian proxy forces in the war in Ukraine.

Expands on improvements to our force posture in the Arctic to secure supply chains and deter Russian and Chinese advancements in the region.

Includes several provisions to improve Taiwan's self-defense capabilities through initiatives such as joint training exercises.

Increases the capabilities of the United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) to deter and respond to ongoing threats posed by China, including enhancing maritime domain awareness and expanding training with foreign partners.

Requires notification to the congressional defense committees of any activities related to the development of a new or modified nuclear weapons for which a specific line-item budget request is not required.

Seeks to improve United States Africa Command's (USAFRICOM) ability to provide rapid infrastructure, good governance, and improved security through equipment and training with our African partners to further deter malign Russian and Chinese actions.

Improves understanding and utilization of Department of Defense Cyberspace Operations Forces.

Directs the United States Air Force to identify opportunities to deploy innovative technological solutions such as stratospheric balloons, aerostats, or satellite technology capable of rapidly delivering wireless internet anywhere on the planet.

Increases congressional oversight of the privatized military family housing program by requiring an annual briefing on the health and status of military housing privatization projects enterprise wide.

Seeks to improve Information Operations capabilities to counter malign influence in Africa, particularly disinformation conducted through state-linked actors, China, and Russia.

Directs the Administrator of NNSA to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services on NNSA's plan to implement the university-based defense nuclear policy collaboration program to advance the next generation of nuclear nonproliferation experts.

Directs the Secretary of the Air Force to provide a report on the use of electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles (eVTOL) validated by the Agility Prime program.

Directs a report that addresses how strike and combatant engagement data archived by U.S. and NATO forces can be shared to support safe and efficient explosive remanent clearance operations in Afghanistan.

Representative Panetta supported the following initiatives in the NDAA:

Improving the Lives of Service Members and Their Families

Supports an increase in military basic pay by 4.6% for service members.

Builds on reforms to the Uniform Code of Military Justice, including placing sexual harassment and other offenses under the jurisdiction of the Special Trial Counsel and requiring independent trained investigators outside of the immediate chain of command to investigate claims of sexual harassment.

Establishes a five-year pilot program to reimburse members of the Armed Forces for certain childcare costs incident to a permanent change of station or assignment.

Authorizes childcare fee reductions for children of military child development center employees.

Extends critical recruitment and retention incentive programs.

Requires the DoD to study, with the intent to revise, the basic pay tables to modernize and more realistically and fairly compensate service members.

Requires the Inspector General of the Department of Defense (DoD IG) to conduct a comprehensive review of the medical care for individuals undergoing Navy Sea, Air, and Land (SEAL) training.

Requires Congressional notification to modify the scope of services provided at military medical treatment facilities.

Requires an independent analysis of the quality and patient safety review process for health care provided under the direct care component of the TRICARE program.

Supports Spouse Employment

Authorizes financial reimbursement for moving expenses for spouses with home businesses.

Provides noncompetitive appointment authority to certain spouses of military personnel and disabled veterans.

Improves Quality of Life

Authorizes funds to offer assistance to local educational agencies with military dependent students and for local educational agencies eligible to receive a payment for children with severe disabilities.

Authorizes travel allowance for members of the Armed Forces assigned to Alaska and a briefing on special duty pays.

Authorizes the Secretaries of the military departments to reimburse service members for up to $4,000 for any expense related to pet relocation arising from a permanent change of station to or from a location outside the continental United States.

Addressing Climate Change

Requires the transition of DoD non-tactical vehicle fleets to electric or zero-emission vehicles by 2035.

Establishes an energy resilience testbed initiative to designate military instillations to conduct demonstration projects on energy technologies including energy storage, electric vehicles, building efficiency, clean energy generation, and electrification.

Creates a pilot program for the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) within the DoD to reduce emissions and promote collaboration with airports. Greater adoption of SAF in jet fuel can reduce carbon emissions in the aviation industry and decrease the pollutants emitted from planes that are associated with harmful health impacts on communities near airports and under flight pathways.

Establishes a pilot program for the development of innovative electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

Increasing Support and Oversight of the Unlawful Invasion of Ukraine.

Expresses strong support of the Ukrainian people and their resistance against Russia's illegal, unprovoked further invasion.

Strongly supports U.S. commitments to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) alliance and European allies and partners, financially supports the European Deterrence Initiative (EDI) and further engagement in Europe, urges all countries that have not yet done so to quickly ratify Sweden's and Finland's accession to NATO, and supports strategies to adapt DoD posture to the new security environment following the further invasion of Ukraine.

Lays out a roadmap to build on the comprehensive Ukraine accountability and end-use monitoring strategies recently unveiled by the Biden administration and requires a comprehensive assessment of the oversight framework for U.S. assistance to Ukraine.

Expands the prohibition on the use of funds for the recognition of Russian sovereignty over Crimea to cover all territory internationally recognized to be the sovereign territory of Ukraine, including Crimea and the territory Russia falsely claims to have annexed.

Supports continued robust assistance to the Baltic countries, including for Baltic security cooperation.

Extends the prohibition on military-to-military cooperation with Russia for five years.

Requires all main operating bases in the U.S. European Command area of responsibility to adopt installation energy plans to increase energy resiliency and sustainability to reduce reliance on Russian energy and improve climate resilience.

Includes the Stop Russian GOLD Act, which would impose sanctions on persons who knowingly participate in a significant transaction of gold with Russia.

Preventing and Mitigating Civilian Harm

Requires the creation and operation of a Civilian Protection Center of Excellence to centralize, standardize, and improve policies regarding civilian harm mitigation in the DoD's operations and activities.

Requires greater specificity regarding the geographic location of strikes resulting in civilian casualties and information regarding the specific authority used to undertake such strikes in annual reporting to Congress.

Mandates that the newly formed Center for Excellence in Civilian Harm Mitigation contract with a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) to independently report on how the DoD distinguishes between civilians and combatants in military operations.

Extends, for a decade, a global ex-gratia authority that requires the United States to make payments for damage, personal injury, or death to a civilian that is inadvertently caused by the use of force by the U.S. Armed Forces, a coalition that includes the United States, or a military organization supporting the United States.

Supports Adoption of New Technologies

Provides additional investment for the defense test and evaluation enterprise, enhancing the Department's ability to transition increasingly complex capabilities such as electronic warfare, hypersonics, and artificial intelligence rapidly from the laboratory into the hands of the warfighter.

Requires the DoD to report out actual delivery times for software programs to ensure frequent deliveries of working software.

Accelerates the use of 5G technology to support the DoD's vision of connected, datacentric warfighting.

Requires the DoD to set a target date for deploying 5G on military installations and extends the requirement for quarterly briefings on the DoD's 5G deployment.

Requires a reoccurring roadmap of the DoD's R&D efforts in the field of quantum computing, which has the potential to radically advance encryption and artificial intelligence.

A full summary of the provisions included the FY23 NDAA is available here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://panetta.house.gov/media/press-releases/us-rep-panetta-passes-government-funding-legislation-investing-families-and-0,U.S. Rep. Panetta Passes Government Funding Legislation Investing in Families and California’s Communities,2022-12-23,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Jimmy Panetta,P000613,panetta.house.gov,panetta,https://panetta.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representative Jimmy Panetta (D-Carmel Valley) joined a bipartisan majority in the House and Senate to pass the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 and send it to President Joe Biden for his signature. The government funding package includes critical investment in American families and communities along the central coast of California. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 provides $1.7 trillion in discretionary resources across the fiscal year 2023 appropriations bills.

""Families in our diverse congressional district deserve the peace of mind that Congress is doing the necessary work to deal with our demanding kitchen table issues and defend our shared democratic values at home and abroad,"" said Rep. Panetta. ""This year's appropriations bill invests in solutions to ensure that more working families are able to keep their hard-earned money, water resources are created, workforce housing is constructed, our men and women in the military and law enforcement are cared for, and that democracy is defended. With this major piece of legislation, we're investing in the values we share, the families we love, and opportunities for people to flourish all across our communities, country, and globe.""

Through this legislation, Rep. Panetta was able to pass several of his bills that he authored and secured close to $23 million for local projects benefiting our congressional district. Those Community Funded Projects support the infrastructure, water, affordable housing, education, health care, mental health, public safety, and environmental needs of California's central coast. Rep. Panetta was able to include key priorities in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, including:

Congressman Panetta's bipartisan Public Service Retirement Fairness Act, which makes tax code changes to permit public sector retirement plans for teachers to access low-cost collective investment trusts.

Congressman Panetta's bipartisan Family Attribution Modernization Act, which modernizes current tax law that penalizes small businesses in community property states, and disproportionately impacts women business owners.

Congressman Panetta's legislation to dedicate the King City Post Office to former postmaster Chief Rudy Banuelos.

Congressman Panetta's coauthored legislation making the VA health care system more accessible and accountable for our veterans.

$4.4 billion in grants for state and local law enforcement law enforcement agencies

$1.1 billion for the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to conduct research and education Activities and $15 million for the Minor Crop Pest Management (IR-4) program to address INSV and other crop-related pests.

$25 million in equitable relief for specialty crop insurance providers.

$6.591 million for the Department of Labor's farmworker housing program, a program Congressman Panetta championed in the House-passed Labor, Health, and Human Services bill.

$3 million for the pollinator-friendly practices on roadsides and highway rights-of-way program created by Congressman Panetta's Monarch and Pollinator Highway Act.

$540,000 for Santa Cruz Harbor operations and maintenance, with a focus on dredging.

Changes to allow Airport Improvement Program (AIP) funds be made available to small and non-hub airports for new terminal construction, opening up funds to modernize Central Coast airports.

Congressman Panetta co-authored legislation to increase funding to support home visits for expectant and new parents. This language, named for the late Congresswoman Jackie Walorski, helps parents in communities that are at-risk for poor maternal and child health outcomes and sets all children up for success.

The Electoral Count Act, bipartisan legislation to protect our democracy from false claims during the certification of future presidential elections.

Directions to states to help local school districts to better track how they are using funds reserved for homelessness.

Requirements for the collection of data for childcare for homeless children.

The package includes $44.9 billion in much-needed emergency security, economic, and humanitarian aid to support the Ukrainian people and $40.6 billion for other purposes including assisting communities across the country recovering from drought, hurricanes, flooding, wildfire, natural disasters, and other emergencies. The bill also includes $5 billion in mandatory funding for the Cost of War Toxic Exposures Fund established in the Honoring Our PACT Act of 2022 and additional funding to ensure veterans receive the medical care and benefits they have earned.

The text of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 is available here. A list of bill highlights is here. A full summary of the appropriations provisions in the bill is here. A summary of the disaster supplemental is here and a one-page fact sheet is here. A summary of the Ukraine supplemental is here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://pelosi.house.gov/news/press-releases/dear-colleague-to-all-members-on-extension-of-remote-voting-covered-period,Dear Colleague to All Members on Extension of Remote Voting 'Covered Period',2022-12-23,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Nancy Pelosi,P000197,pelosi.house.gov,pelosi,https://pelosi.house.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Dear Colleague,

In 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 January 4, 2021, pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution 8, until the 117th Congress adjourns sine die on January 3, 2023.

Sincerely,

NANCY PELOSI

Speaker of the House",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://pelosi.house.gov/news/press-releases/transcript-of-pelosi-floor-speech-on-the-consolidated-appropriations-act-2023,"Transcript of Pelosi Floor Speech on the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023",2022-12-23,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Nancy Pelosi,P000197,pelosi.house.gov,pelosi,https://pelosi.house.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi delivered remarks on the Floor of the House of Representatives in support of H.R. 2617, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023. Below are the Speaker's remarks:

Speaker Pelosi. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I thank the gentleman for yielding and his extraordinary leadership as the Chairman of the Rules Committee for so many years. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and to the Members of your Committee for bringing us expeditiously to the Floor for this very, very important legislation.

This will probably be my last speech as Speaker of the House on this Floor, and I'm hoping to make it my shortest. Members have planes to catch, gifts to wrap, toys to assemble, carols to sing, religious services to attend to. And in terms of singing songs, one that I always think of at this time and in this setting is a British song – an English song: ‘Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat, pleased to put a penny in the old man's hat.'

Yes indeed, the goose is getting fat. We have a big bill here, because we have big needs for our country. We have the largest defense appropriation ever and, again, to help us honor our oath of office to protect and defend and what the Constitution says: ‘provide for the common defense.' But at the same time, pleased to put a penny in the old man's hat. We address the needs of America's working families with special focus on our children.

So, I rise in strong bipartisan support of this bipartisan omnibus government funding bill for us today to keep from shutting government down, but more importantly, to meet the needs of the American people.

Let me applaud the magnificent Appropriations Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro. She is a maestro with a baton. She has just done such a job of reflecting the values of our country in terms of how we allocate our resources, and there is plenty else in the bill that is outside the realm of the Appropriations Committee, all of it very, very important.

I want to commend Chairman Pat Leahy in the Senate, Vice Chair Richard Shelby for their bipartisan support, congratulate them for their service to the Congress for many years, wish them much success with much gratitude as they end their service in Congress.

And I want to recognize the outstanding work of all of the staffs on both sides of the aisle and both sides of the Capitol, but I want to point out my brilliant Policy Director, Richard Meltzer. I also want to acknowledge Wendell Primus, Robert Edmonson, Alex Urry and so many other policy professionals, again, on both sides of the aisle who helped strengthen the bill.

Mr. Speaker, this bill is about our heroes, honoring our heroes, our heroic veterans with a major increase in veterans' health care, a national security imperative that falls under the non-defense discretionary even though we know it is part of our national security responsibility. Honoring the heroes of 9/11, delivering benefits to families that have long been wrongfully denied and bolstering funding for health programs for first responders and survivors there. Our firefighters and first responders, heroes, those who weigh in when emergency disaster calls upon them for relief resources.

And the extraordinary heroes in Ukraine, fighting on the front lines in the battle for Democracy. In this legislation, we proudly deliver another consequential round of security, economic and humanitarian aid. And it really is not – as the President of Ukraine said the other night, it isn't about charity, it's about security. It is about working together. And what a special honor it was for us to be on the Floor when President Zelenskyy spoke powerfully about the courage and commitment, heroism, hope of the people.

And of course, our everyday heroes: America's working families. People who make our country work, our families grow, our communities thrive. Securing for our children, securing critical investments for their health, housing, education, economic well-being and more on top of, under President Biden, forming nearly 10 million jobs, largely in the private sector but with the public policy to enable that to happen. Indeed, this bill puts People Over Politics.

Mr. Speaker, it was sad to hear the Minority Leader earlier say that this legislation is the most shameful thing to be seen on the House Floor in this Congress. I can't help but wonder, had he forgotten January 6th? Indeed, this is a day of immense patriotism. Immense patriotism. We reform the Electoral Count Act of [1887] to thwart future attempts to disrupt the peaceful of transfer of power. And as I've said before, here in the heart of our Democracy.

Mr. Speaker, this is truly a package For The People. And with immense gratitude to Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro, Chairman Patrick Leahy, Vice Chair Shelby, I urge strong bipartisan ‘aye' vote, yield back the balance of my time and wish everyone a happy, healthy and safe New Year. Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy Hannukah. Whatever it is you celebrate, be safe. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://ruiz.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/government-funding-package-presidents-desk-nearly-21m-investment,Government Funding Package Off to President's Desk with Nearly $21M Investment for Coachella Valley Projects,2022-12-23,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Raul Ruiz,R000599,ruiz.house.gov,ruiz,https://ruiz.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives sent its Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 government funding package to President Biden’s desk, which includes bold investments that will benefit local projects in California’s 36th District, legislation authored by Congressman Raul Ruiz (CA-36) to honor the legacies of two local heroes, and provisions to address the crisis at the Salton Sea. The legislation will also increase funding for mental health programs for law enforcement officers.

The funding package – also known as an omnibus – invests over $20 million in the 36th District that will improve clean water access in Hemet and the Eastern Coachella Valley, improve roads and bridges in Indio and Desert Hot Springs, expand clean transportation in the region, and strengthen access to child care for local families.

“This is good news for our local economy and communities. With the $21 million in federal funding that I secured, local families from Hemet to Coachella to Blythe will see critical projects move forward that will drive economic development and strengthen our infrastructure,” said Dr. Ruiz. “I look forward to President Biden quickly signing this legislation into law to deliver these bold investments to our region.”

The legislation also includes Dr. Ruiz’s bills to rename the La Quinta Post Office and a Palm Springs post office in honor of fallen Marine Cpl. Hunter Lopez and Agua Caliente Tribal Chairman Richard Milanovich, respectively. The omnibus will expand the Bureau of Reclamation’s ability to carry out projects at the Salton Sea and allow the agency to partner with local actors and enter into grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements. These provisions are based on Dr. Ruiz’s legislation, the Salton Sea Projects Improvements Act.

Additionally, Dr. Ruiz led efforts to increase funding for the Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act Grant program under the Department of Justice. Working closely with local law enforcement, Dr. Ruiz successfully secured a $10 million investment for the program. After meeting with local law enforcement in the wake of Palm Springs Officers Zerebny and Vega’s deaths, Dr. Ruiz has worked to increase funding for the program by $8 million.

“I am also thrilled to see the House send my bills that will honor the legacies of Cpl. Hunter Lopez and Agua Caliente Tribal Chairman Richard Milanovich to President Biden’s desk,” continued Dr. Ruiz. “Along with my provisions to bolster the federal response to the crisis at the Salton Sea and increase mental health funding for our local law enforcement, this year’s funding package will make a positive difference in the lives of my constituents.”

Lastly, Dr. Ruiz’s bill, the Physician Wellness Program Act, was included in the funding package. The bill would expand access to hospital-based mental health care programs created to give providers the mental health and wellness resources they need.

These provisions – as well as the nearly $21 million community investment – was met with praise from local leaders.

“I applaud the passage of Dr. Ruiz’s Salton Sea legislation to empower Reclamation to work with local agencies including the Salton Sea Authority to address the public health and environmental crisis impacting our region,” said G. Patrick O’Dowd, Salton Sea Authority Executive Director.

“The federal government owns some 40 percent of the land in and around the Salton Sea but has had its hands tied when it comes to participating in state-run remediation projects,” said Frank Ruiz, director of Audubon California’s Salton Sea Program. “This legislation will significantly expand the ability of the Bureau of Reclamation to partner with the region’s other major landowners – state, local, and Tribal governments – to address the expanding public health and environmental crisis at the Salton Sea. Audubon California is grateful for Rep. Ruiz’s persistence in bringing much-needed federal attention to our region.”

“Exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, physicians today are experiencing higher levels of burnout — which may impact their ability to care for their patients,” said Martin Massiello, President and Chief Executive Officer of Eisenhower Health. “Eisenhower Health cares deeply about the physical and emotional wellbeing of all physicians, and has worked with Congressman Ruiz’s Office to devise solutions addressing burnout factors physicians face daily. The Physician Wellness Program Act of 2022 will remove a significant barrier that prevented health care organizations like Eisenhower Health from providing comprehensive wellness programs for their physicians. With the passage of this new law, hospitals can now provide counseling, mental health and suicide prevention services, substance use disorder prevention and treatment programs and related wellness services to our physicians without the fear of violating the Stark Law. Eisenhower Health looks forward to supporting its physicians in these very important ways. And we are grateful to Congressman Ruiz for sponsoring the new law and advocating for our physicians’ wellbeing.”

“DAP Health is extremely grateful for this investment in our campus expansion project to increase our ability to close the gap in primary and mental healthcare, as well as provide comprehensive services to increasing numbers of our community in need. This generous funding will enable DAP Health to expand service delivery in Indio and Palm Springs and increase capacity from 10,000 to 25,000 people,” said David Brinkman, CEO of DAP Health.

“The Hemet Public Works Department has identified over $100 million of capital improvement projects through 2027. Thanks to Congressman Ruiz's leadership and advocacy, water delivery to over 30,000 Hemet customers will remain uninterrupted,” said City of Hemet Public Works Director Noah Rau. “Our ultimate goal has been met here, and that is regional partnership for the betterment of Riverside County communities. The City of Hemet is incredibly grateful for the representation Congressman Ruiz is providing for us at the Capitol, and we remain committed to working with his office to bring the concerns of Hemet constituents to Congress.”

“We are incredibly grateful to have the City of Hemet's priorities brought to the forefront of the federal budget. By advocating for this project, Congressman Ruiz is serving a critical win for our community. On behalf of the entire City Council, thank you for your partnership and continued representation of the 36th District,” said Hemet Mayor Malcolm Lilienthal.

“We are grateful to Congressman Ruiz for his help securing resources for critical mental health services in the Coachella Valley. Congressman Ruiz’s efforts in securing funds for the Coachella Recovery Village will help connect those in need with vital behavioral health, substance use services, and housing,” said Dr. Matthew Chang of Riverside University Health System.

“IID is pleased to work with Congressman Ruiz on this important energy infrastructure improvement project that will benefit thousands of customers in the communities of Mecca and North Shore in the Coachella Valley. Improving the resiliency of our energy grid in those communities has been a priority for IID and with the Congressman’s support, we are now able to proceed with constructing the first phase of this project,” said Alex Cardenas, President, IID Board of Directors.

“The passage of the federal Omnibus Bill and Congressman Ruiz’s community projects is key to advancing economic development and sustaining thriving communities throughout the County of Riverside,” said City of Indio Mayor Oscar Ortiz. “Here in Indio, the funding will support critical upgrades to the Interstate 10 and Monroe Street Interchange, enhancing safety and increasing accessibility to Indio’s neighborhoods, businesses and amenities with additional traffic lanes, sidewalks, bike lanes and upgraded traffic lights.”

“We are thankful for Dr. Ruiz’s ongoing advocacy on behalf of the region’s transportation and clean energy goals, and for the selection of SunLine in this funding opportunity,” said Lauren Skiver, CEO/General Manager of SunLine Transit Agency. “This funding will allow the Agency to expand our public fueling infrastructure, helping to connect the state’s investments in the hydrogen economy to private trucking and the motoring public.”

BACKGROUND

Today’s legislation includes funding for the following projects:

Imperial Irrigation District – Mecca and North Shore Energy Infrastructure Resiliency Project

$2.4 million to reduce energy service interruption resulting from outages often caused by extreme weather events such as high winds and rainstorms.

City of Hemet – Water Main Replacement

$1.2 million to replace an aging transmission line from Park Hill’s tank site to the City’s distribution system.

Coachella Valley Water District – Valley View Mobile Home Park Water Consolidation Project

$3.45 million to install new water mains along Airport Blvd, Fillmore Street, Avenue 55, and Desert Cactus Drive to consolidate nine small water systems into Coachella Valley Water District potable water system.

City of Indio – Interstate 10 and Monroe Street Interchange

$1.5 million for the Interstate 10 (I-10) and Monroe Street Interchange Project to reconstruct and widen the Monroe Street interchange on the I-10 freeway.

City of Desert Hot Springs – Bridges Over Water Project

$2.5 million to construct two new bridges over low water crossings. These two bridges will be along Indian Canyon Drive.

Desert Aids Project (Palm Springs, CA) – Campus Expansion

$2 million request to help fund four components of their campus expansion project.

Morongo Band of Mission Indians – Fire Station

$1 million for the construction of a new fire station on the Morongo Indian Reservation.

Riverside County of Education (Several Cities in CA-36) –Workforce Expansion, Equity, and Engagement Project

$1.4 million request to increase and expand the early education workforce pipeline to address the shortage of child care providers in Riverside County. The Riverside County Early Education Workforce Project will use this funding to increase its workforce by adding 115 licensed child care providers to the early education workforce.

Riverside Health System – Coachella Recovery Village

$1 million to increase infrastructure capacity, including crisis, residential, outpatient services for mental health / primary care / Substance Use Disorder in homelike settings and housing the homeless population.

SAC Health (Blythe, CA) – Bus Station

$150,000 to build an all-weather bus bench/shelter and pave the parking lot in front of their new SAC Health Blythe location. This funding would allow individuals to safely access SAC Health through both public and private transportation.

San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital (Banning, CA) – Equipment Purchase

$452,000 request to purchase two pieces of equipment. The hospital provides the only Emergency Department in the Pass Area with the next closest facility being 35 minutes to an hour away depending on traffic

Torres- Martinez Desert Tribe (Thermal, CA) – Workforce Development, Job-Training Program, and Apprenticeship Program

The Torres-Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indian Tribe to assist in the completion of the Torres-Martinez Manufacturing and Fabrication Career Development and Job-Training Facility for the implementation of the Torres-Martinez Native American Workforce Development, Job-Training and Apprenticeship Program.

Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians – Dillon Road Corridor

$2.7 million to reconstruct and widen a principal arterial roadway through Tribal lands in Riverside County.

SunLine Transit (Thousand Palms) – Public Fueling Station

$2.5 million to upgrade its 350-bar hydrogen public station to include a 700-bar fueling capability for light (personal vehicles) and heavy-duty (truck) vehicles effectively helping to transition the station to dispense hydrogen.

The portions of Dr. Ruiz’s legislation, the Salton Sea Projects Improvements Act, that are included in the omnibus are as follows:

The Bureau of Reclamation may enter into grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to carry out projects at the Salton Sea to improve air quality from lakebed dust, fish and wildlife habitat, recreational opportunities, and water quality.

The Bureau of Reclamation may partner with the State of California, Tribal and local governments, water districts, the Salton Sea Authority, non-profit organizations, and institutions of higher education to implement these projects.

More information on Dr. Ruiz’s legislation to rename the La Quinta and Palm Springs Post Offices can be found here. More information on Dr. Ruiz’s Physician Wellness Program Act can be found here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://ruiz.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-passes-historic-investment-tribal-health-end-year-funding-package,House Passes Historic Investment in Tribal Health in End-of-Year Funding Package,2022-12-23,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Raul Ruiz,R000599,ruiz.house.gov,ruiz,https://ruiz.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a government funding package for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023, which included historic investments in the Indian Health Service (IHS). Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-36) championed the funding, successfully pushing for a historic federal investment of $4.9 billion dollars for FY23. At Dr. Ruiz’s urging, the funding bill also includes advanced appropriations for the IHS for the first time ever—a historic measure that will allow the IHS to continue providing essential services in case of potential funding disruptions.

“Tribal health facilities are the primary source of health care for Native communities in my district and across the country. In order to address the health disparities Tribal communities face, it is essential that we provide robust support for the IHS,” said Dr. Ruiz. “Over the years, I have worked to significantly increase our nation’s investment by more than $800 million. Today’s historic investment of $4.9 billion plus much-needed advanced funding will improve access to care for many. I will continue leading the charge in Congress to strengthen the IHS and help ensure the federal government fulfills its trust responsibility to Tribal Nations.”

Dr. Ruiz has led efforts to increase funding for the IHS, successfully advocating for the American Rescue Plan’s $2 billion investment. At Dr. Ruiz’s urging, the American Rescue Plan also included two years of 100% Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) for Medicaid services provided at Urban Indian Organizations. He is now working to permanently extend this.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://sarajacobs.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-sara-jacobs-secures-wins-for-san-diego-children-in-omnibus-votes-yes,"Rep. Sara Jacobs Secures Wins for San Diego, Children in Omnibus; Votes Yes",2022-12-23,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Sara Jacobs,J000305,sarajacobs.house.gov,sarajacobs,https://sarajacobs.house.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (CA-53) voted today to pass the omnibus package that funds the federal government and includes her provisions of $16 million for 14 San Diego community projects, $300 million to address the Tijuana River Valley crisis, $800 million for cities like San Diego to care for migrants and asylum seekers, a $1.85 billion increase to expand child care access to low-income families, and more. The package now heads to President Biden’s desk for his signature.

Congresswoman Sara Jacobs said:

“Bringing federal dollars home to San Diego is one of my most important responsibilities – so I’m proud to have secured more than $16 million for 14 San Diego projects that span the 53rd district. These community projects tackle many of our most pressing local needs – from addressing the child care crisis to supporting children and expanding health care access.

“Finding affordable child care in San Diego is nearly impossible. Too many families are paying more than 40% of their income on child care – and that’s if they’re lucky enough to find availability. That’s why I’m so glad to have secured nearly $6 million to address our local child care crisis by training child care workers, strengthening the early childhood education training pipeline, and expanding access to child care for City of San Diego employees and military families. I also led more than half the Democratic Caucus to push for the highest possible funding for CCDBG, securing a $1.85 billion increase to expand child care access to low-income families in San Diego and across the country.

“For over three decades, wastewater, trash, and other pollutants have flowed through the Tijuana River Valley, plaguing both sides of the border. In 2019, our San Diego congressional delegation secured $300 million to address this crisis, but bureaucratic red tape has prevented these funds from getting to our community. I’m proud that Congressman Vargas and I fixed this technicality and that these funds can finally be spent to quickly and effectively clean up the Tijuana River. As we continue to push for comprehensive immigration reform, it’s so important that we care for immigrants and asylum seekers and treat them with dignity and respect. I secured $800 million for cities like San Diego to help provide the basics like food, shelter, and first aid to those who’ve fled natural disasters, conflict, and violence.”

Congresswoman Sara Jacobs’ Wins in the Omnibus:

Securing over $16 Million for 14 San Diego Community Projects:

$100,000 for the Adulting for Higher Schoolers: Engaging Students in Career Exploration and Preparation for Life

$220,000 for San Diego County’s Behavioral Modification Program for At-Risk Youth

$580,000 for the University of San Diego’s Violence, Inequality, and Power (VIP) Lab Fellows Program

$752,000 for the El Cajon Behavioral Health Center Renovation and Expansion

$2,000,000 for the City of San Diego's Municipal Workforce Child Care Pilot Program

$1,200,000 for the No Shots Fired

$2,024,846 for the San Diego Armed Services YMCA Center for Military Families Infrastructure Improvement Project

$1,200,000 for the San Diego Community College District’s LGBTQIA+ Pride Centers

$3,750,000 for San Diego County’s Twin-Engine Firefighting Helicopter

$524,972 for San Diego State University’s Bridge: Early Childhood Mental Health Program

$250,000 for San Diego’s Community Information Exchange (CIE)

$800,000 for the City of San Diego's Summer for All of Us – Come Play Outside Expansion

$1,095,000 for the University of California, San Diego's Health CommUnity Mobile Unit

$1,600,000 for the University of California, San Diego's Convergence – A Partnership to Increase Access to Affordable Child Care in San Diego

Delivering on San Diego Priorities:

Secured a legislative fix authorizing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to transfer $300 million to the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) for the San Diego region to address the cross-border pollution flowing through the Tijuana River Valley

Secured $800 million for FEMA’s Emergency Food and Shelter humanitarian program to help cities like San Diego care for migrants and asylum seekers through shelter, food, transportation, basic health and first aid, COVID-19 testing, the construction and expansion of shelters, and more

Addressing Child Poverty and the Child Care Crisis:

Helped secure a $1.85 billion increase for the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), as a result of her efforts leading more than half the Democratic Caucus in calling for the highest possible funding level for CCDBG to address the nation’s child care crisis

Directed funding to the U.S. Census Bureau to create more frequent and timely measures of poverty and material hardship, including measures focused on child poverty and children and family well-being – a critical step in determining the size and scale of these crises in order to tackle them. This funding results from Congresswoman Jacobs’ efforts urging House Appropriations leaders to prioritize these measures

Moving Forward on War Crimes Accountability:

Secured language allowing the U.S. to provide assistance to the International Criminal Court (ICC)’s investigation into the Situation in Ukraine, in line with Congresswoman Jacobs’ bipartisan Investigate Russian War Crimes Act, which she introduced with Congresswoman Victoria Spartz

Reducing and Ensuring Transparency of Civilian Harm:

Provided $42 million to implement the Department of Defense’s Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response Action Plan",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://sherman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-sherman-secures-over-20-million-in-federal-funding-to,Congressman Sherman Secures Over $20 Million in Federal Funding to Support Valley Projects,2022-12-23,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Brad Sherman,S000344,sherman.house.gov,sherman,https://sherman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. -- Congressman Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks) announced today that Congress has passed his requests of over $20 million in federal funds for projects that will address crucial needs across the San Fernando Valley and Los Angeles. Last year, Congressman Sherman secured nearly $9 million in federal funding for numerous valley projects and priorities.

""These funds will address community needs across the Valley, including improvements to our public parks, funds for at risk youth, additional resources to address homelessness, and additional support to aid in our recovery from the pandemic,"" said Congressman Sherman. ""I'm pleased that my colleagues and I were able to achieve this bipartisan government funding bill that will respond directly to many of our community's most pressing needs.""

""Representative Sherman has always been the tip of the spear when it comes to fighting for federal funding that invests in our communities directly,"" said Mayor Eric Garcetti earlier this year. ""Thanks to his tireless advocacy, the City will be able to make much needed improvements … enhancing the quality of people's lives, promoting healthier futures, and creating new opportunities for our residents.""

Below is a list of the funding secured by Congressman Sherman:

Hope of the Valley Rescue Mission

Amount Secured: $2,000,000

The funding would be used to support Hope of the Valley's efforts to provide mental health services for the homeless.

El Proyecto Del Barrio

Amount Secured: $1,000,000

The funding would be used for the Center for a Healthy Community which serves both the Winnetka and Northridge community offering dental services and women's specialty care that is of highest need in our geographical areas.

Pierce College

Amount Secured: $2,000,000

The funding would be used for the Biotech Baccalaureate Degree program at Pierce College.

Boys & Girls Club of the West Valley

Amount Secured: $450,000

The funding would be used to support the Boys & Girls Club's after school programs for students in the Valley.

California State University, Northridge

Amount Secured: $1,000,000

The funding would be used for upgrades to the Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, and Communication at Cal State Northridge.

City of Los Angeles Accessory Dwelling Units Accelerator Program

Amount Secured: $750,000

The funding would pair low-income seniors with homeowners that are willing to rent their ADUs for a minimum period of five years.

City of Los Angeles Park Ballfield Improvements

Amount Secured: $4,000,000

The funding would be used for improvements to the ballfields at four public parks operated by the city of Los Angeles and located across the San Fernando Valley.

Connecting Canoga Park – City of Los Angeles

Amount Secured: $1,500,000

The funding would be used to ""Connect Canoga Park"" by bridging the digital divide, reduce access barriers and increase reliable and affordable internet access.

Encino Community Center

Amount Secured: $1,200,000

The project would be used to renovate a historical building to use as a community cultural center in Encino.

Extended Care Program

Amount Secured: $301,649

The funding would be used for Beit T'Shuvah's ""Stepping Stone"" Extended Care Program that provides addiction recovery, mental health care, career training and job placement assistance and other residential treatment support.

Haven Hills Inc.

Amount Secured: $500,000

The funding would be used to provide critical renovations and repairs to two domestic violence shelter facilities and a walk-in center.

Labor Community Services of Los Angeles

Amount Secured: $600,000

The funding would be used to expand the successful ""Basic Needs"" Programs in the San Fernando Valley.

South Valley Transportation & Infrastructure Improvement – City of Los Angeles

Amount Secured: $750,000

The funding would be used to upgrade high impact intersections in the South San Fernando Valley as well as repairs and restorations.

Studio City Recreation Center – City of Los Angeles

Amount Secured: $3,000,000

The project would be used to construct a new gymnasium and community center in Studio City CA.

TreePeople

Amount Secured: $1,149,662

The funding would be used to implement a greening project in the San Fernando Valley.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://swalwell.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/swalwell-funds-15-million-local-projects-passage-government-funding-bill,SWALWELL FUNDS $15 MILLION IN LOCAL PROJECTS WITH PASSAGE OF GOVERNMENT FUNDING BILL,2022-12-23,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Eric Swalwell,S001193,swalwell.house.gov,swalwell,https://swalwell.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell (CA-15) announced that more than $15 million dollars is on its way to the East Bay and will be dedicated to 15 local projects in California's 15th Congressional District. Representative Swalwell secured funding for these projects as part of the Fiscal Year 2023 government funding package which passed the House of Representatives earlier today.

""I am thrilled to see this funding for Community Projects headed to California's Fifteenth Congressional District,"" said Swalwell. ""Whether it's supporting affordable housing in Hayward, mitigating food insecurity in Livermore, or increasing student support programs at local community colleges, funding for these projects will help meet the needs of our communities. These project requests came directly from local governments and nonprofits in our community and I look forward to seeing their impact in the months and years to come.""

Each of the Community Project Funding requests that Representative Swalwell championed for on behalf of his district – 15 out of 15 – were included in today's bill. The community non-profits and public institutions that will receive direct federal funding are listed below.

$2,150,000 for Union Sanitary District's Enhanced Treatment and Site Upgrade Campus Solar Project

$2,000,000 for the City of Pleasanton's PFAS Treatment and Well Rehabilitation Project

$2,000,000 for One Nation Dream Maker's Last Mile Delivery Program

$1,400,000 for the Alameda County ALL IN Eats Food Hub

$1,000,000 for East Bay Community Energy's Municipal Critical Facility Resilience Project

$1,000,000 for the Chabot - Las Positas Community College District's East Bay College Agile Network

$1,000,000 for Habitat for Humanity East Bay/Silicon Valley's Sequoia Grove Affordable Housing Project

$1,000,000 for the Construction Trade Workforce Initiative's Building Construction Pre-Apprenticeship Program

$1,000,000 for Goodness Village Livermore's Affordable Housing Project

$709,000 for the City of Hayward's Hayward Evaluation and Response Teams (HEART) Program

$700,000 for Bay Area Community Health's Refugee Mobile Health Clinics

$477,0000 for East Bay Agency for Children's Post-Covid Student and Teacher Recovery and Resilience Building Program

$285,000 for Hayward/ South Alameda County NAACP's Black Integrated Community Engagement Program

$250,000 for the Muslim Community Center's Rental Assistance Program

$100,000 for Dublin Chamber of Commerce's Emerging Business Community Outreach Program

The Fiscal Year 2023 government funding package also includes $44.9 billion in much-needed emergency aid to support the Ukrainian people and $40.6 billion for other purposes including assisting communities across the country recovering from drought, hurricanes, flooding, wildfire, natural disasters, and other emergencies.

A detailed summary of the legislation is available here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://takano.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rep-takano-announces-305-million-in-community-project-funding-for-41st-district,Rep. Takano Announces $30.5 Million in Community Project Funding for 41st District,2022-12-23,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Mark Takano,T000472,takano.house.gov,takano,https://takano.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC – Today, Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) released the following statement and announced that all fifteen of his Community Project Funding (CPF) requests, totaling $30,578,944, were included in the Fiscal Year 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Bill that passed the House today.

“I’m excited to yet again bring home critical federal funding for Riverside through the Community Project Funding process, delivering transformational assistance to our community,” said Rep. Mark Takano. “Each of these 15 projects came directly from the community and will improve quality of life for my constituents. I voted to support these critical projects in the omnibus appropriations bill.”

“As Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, I’m also thrilled that this bill delivers $300 billion for the VA, demonstrative of our commitment to honoring the sacrifices veterans have made on behalf of our country and living up to our promises to support them and their families by acknowledging the true cost of war,” said Rep. Mark Takano. “I look forward to getting this bill to President Biden’s desk and quickly delivering the resources VA needs to help care for our veterans and their families.”

Rep. Takano secured funding for 15 projects that will directly benefit California’s 41st District. The projects are:

$1,000,000 for the City of Moreno Valley Homeless to Work Program

$3,000,000 for the City of Perris Community Program Enhancement Project

$1,000,000 for the Consortium for Early Learning Services Early Care and Education Workforce Advancement Project

$1,000,000 for the Riverside University Health System Behavioral Health Wellness Center

$3,452,972 for the Eastern Municipal Water District for the Well 56 PFAS Removal Project

$750,000 for the Integrated Solutions for Community Wellness and Stable Housing Project

$1,623,000 for the Jurupa Unified Children & Family Services Behavioral Health Center

$2,300,000 for the Mission Boulevard Pavement Rehabilitation – Phase 3, Ben Nevis to Bellegrave

$1,000,000 for the MoVal Emergency Shelter/Rapid Rehousing Program

$3,000,000 for the Riverside Community College District Inland Empire Education and Jobs Initiative

$2,000,000 for the Arlanza Family Health Center Revitalization Project

$3,000,000 for the Sunrise at Bogart Permanent Supportive Housing Development

$3,000,000 for the Third Street Grade Separation Project

$1,000,000 for the University of California, Riverside Northside Regional Agriculture Innovation Center

$3,452,972 for the Western Municipal Water District PFAS Treatment and Prevention Project",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://torres.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-torres-celebrates-inland-empire-victories-fy2023-government-funding,Rep. Torres Celebrates Inland Empire Victories in FY2023 Government Funding Bill,2022-12-23,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Norma J. Torres,T000474,torres.house.gov,torres,https://torres.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35), a member of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee, today voted to pass the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, a package of twelve government funding bills focused on helping families and communities across the United States. Congresswoman Torres used her position on the powerful committee to help shape the priorities included in the package, which will fund the government for FY2023, lower the cost of living for hardworking people, create good-paying jobs, and help communities and families in need.

""I remember as a young mom coming to Washington, D.C. and advocating for the Child Care and Development Block Grant, and now as a Member of Congress, I was proud to vote for a package that provides $8 billion – a 31 percent increase – to help families with the cost of childcare. This is just the tip of the iceberg, and this year's government funding bill makes critical investments in the programs and services that Inland Empire residents rely on while addressing some of our nation's biggest challenges,"" said Congresswoman Torres. ""As a member of the Appropriations Committee, I am proud of our work to develop this package because it contains provisions that are crucial to our communities, and all together, this package will help working families across the United States and Inland Empire.""

As a result of Rep. Torres' efforts, this government funding bill:

Makes historic investments in childcare: Provides $8 billion for the Child Care and Development Block Grant to aid families struggling with childcare costs and support states in improving the quality of care.

Promotes affordable transportation and housing: Promotes transportation equity, accelerates infrastructure project delivery, and ensures Thriving Communities Initiative will also focus on affordable housing by providing over $28 million in total to the Departments of Transportation and Housing and Urban Development.

Reforms how the military justice system handles cold cases: Directs the Department of Defense to ensure best practices and standards are shared across military investigative divisions, including when closed cases should be conveyed to outside organizations for peer review of Inspector General review and establishes procedures for guaranteeing effective turnover of cases to a new investigator.

Helps students afford basic needs: Delivers $10 million for Basic Needs Grants with at least 25 percent of funds distributed to HBCUs, HSIs, and other MSIs to help address the basic needs of students including, temporary housing, secure sleeping arrangements, free or subsidized food, and access to on-campus childcare.

Cracks down on sexual misconduct in the judiciary: Directs the Federal Judiciary to increase transparency when it comes to the reporting of sexual misconduct in the workplace and collection of this data, and for the first time, to share with Congress when a Judge has been found to have committed workplace misconduct and to conduct an outside independent study of the Judiciary's workplace misconduct prevention systems, which will craft new independent systems where needed.

Supports democracy and anti-corruption efforts abroad: Funds programs to address the root causes of migration, including $65 million for combating corruption and impunity – particularly in the Northern Triangle of El Salvador, Honduras & Guatemala – and $75 million for violence prevention efforts for women in these countries too.

Aids 9-1-1 operators: Directs the Office of Management and Budget to reclassify public safety telecommunicators by the end of FY23 and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to develop a plan for a competitive grant program to provide 911 call centers and agencies with resources to help 911 professionals address critical training needs.

In the bill, Rep. Torres also championed funding for 15 projects – totaling almost $20 million – that will directly benefit Inland Empire residents. A detailed summary of the legislation is available here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://valadao.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=482,Congressman Valadao Leads Request for Answers from Interior on Biological Opinions,2022-12-23,2022,2022-12,Republican,House,CA,David G. Valadao,V000129,valadao.house.gov,valadao,https://valadao.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman David G. Valadao (CA-21) led Republican Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (CA-23) Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife Cliff Bentz (OR-02), Western Caucus Chairman Dan Newhouse (WA-04), and the entire California Republican delegation in a renewed request to Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland to provide answers about the Department of Interior’s (Department) reconsultation process on the 2019 Biological Opinions (BiOps). The reconslutation of the 2019 BiOps has caused significant uncertainty for Central Valley farmers about the future of their water supply, and Congressman Valadao has led several efforts to obtain answers from Interior about their attempts to reverse them. All requests for information have gone unanswered.

In the letter, lawmakers raise concerns about political influence on the Department in its attempt to cancel the BiOps:

“We are concerned that this reconsultation process represents a departure from common practice, raising questions about whether outside entities may have exerted undue influence on the Department’s decisions,” the lawmakers wrote.

The members highlighted that their August 8th request for information has gone unanswered, and if this pattern continues additional action could be taken in the Republican majority:

“If the Department should continue to refuse to provide requests for information, the House Committee on Natural Resources will take additional steps to secure the information to fulfill our constitutional oversight duties,” the members wrote.

Background:

The 2019 Biological Opinions (BiOps) were independently peer-reviewed and informed by the most accurate, best available science. The corresponding operations plans for the Central Valley Project and State Water Project employ the 2019 BiOps science and data to ensure greater water reliability and availability for communities and farms across California, while continuing to protect at-risk species. Unfortunately, the Biden administration’s Bureau of Reclamation has ignored science and reinitiated consultation of these BiOps with no explanation, despite multiple requests for transparency.

Read the full letter here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://valadao.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=483,Congressman Valadao Statement on Omnibus Spending,2022-12-23,2022,2022-12,Republican,House,CA,David G. Valadao,V000129,valadao.house.gov,valadao,https://valadao.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman David G. Valadao (CA-21) released the following statement after voting against the Fiscal Year 2023 Government Funding Bill.

“The American people are tired of Congress kicking the can down the road and pushing through trillions of dollars in government spending at the last minute. As an appropriator, it’s very frustrating that this is how we’re going about funding the government,” said Congressman Valadao. “Every Central Valley family is paying more for basic necessities thanks in part to Democrats’ unprecedented spending spree over the last two years. Instead of adjusting our spending like every family across my district is doing, Congress is spending even more money we don’t have. Republicans are committed to cutting wasteful government spending to lower costs, and I look forward to working toward a regular order appropriations process in the new year.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://vargas.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-vargas-secures-nearly-35-million-for-california-s-51st-congressional-district-in-government-funding-package,Rep. Vargas Secures Nearly $35 Million for California’s 51st Congressional District in Government Funding Package,2022-12-23,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Juan Vargas,V000130,vargas.house.gov,vargas,https://vargas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"December 23, 2022

WASHINGTON, D.C. (December 23, 2022) – Today, Representative Vargas voted to secure $34,623,332 in Community Project Funding in the Fiscal Year 2023 government funding package. This funding responds directly to some of the most pressing needs in California’s 51st Congressional District, including improving transportation systems and creating more opportunities for underserved communities.

“I am proud to have secured almost $35 million to help my district where it needs it most,” said Rep. Vargas. “These investments will create good-paying jobs and safeguard and strengthen California’s 51st District. My constituents will benefit from long overdue updates to our transportation systems, academic support for DREAMers, better access to healthcare and family services, and more parks and green spaces for underserved communities. I’m proud to have secured these much-needed investments to help communities across my district, and I’ll continue fight for critical funding to ensure my constituents receive what they need to thrive.”

Rep. Vargas championed funding for 15 projects that will directly benefit California’s 51st District residents. These include:

$4,5000,000 for Bayshore Bikeway Barrio Logan and New Zero Emission Bus Division Project – Planning Phase

$3,500,000 in funds will go toward the Barrio Logan Segment of the Bayshore Bikeway, a 2.4-mile, Class 1, shared-use path that will serve people walking, biking, and using other non-motorized modes. Currently 85% of the entire bikeway is complete. The project will close a major gap in the Bayshore Bikeway with a connection to downtown San Diego, the Bayfront promenade, convention center and direct access to Naval Base San Diego and many working waterfront employment centers, businesses and activity centers.

$1,000,000 will go toward the planning phase for the New Zero Emission Bus Division Project. The project will provide critical additional space to achieve regional climate and mobility goals as well as zero emission bus expansion.

$10,000,000 for the Beach and Boat Launch at Harbor Park, Beyer Park Phase II Construction, and San Ysidro Community Activity Center Enhancements

The port of San Diego’s Board of Port Commissioners have approved a Coastal Development Permit for Harbor Park that allows the completion of the design, the bidding and awarding of construction contracts, and the start of construction. $3,000,000 in funds will go towards an expansion of the existing 12-acre Bayside Park, including an enlarged and improved beach that will allow visitors especially those from surrounding disadvantaged communities to have easy access to the bay; a pocket marsh and salt marsh planting; a pedestrian boat launch for kayaks, paddleboards, and other watercraft.

This project provides for the design and construction of approximately eight useable acres, out of approximately 43 total acres of a community and neighborhood park on Beyer Boulevard. This project is split into two phases, and $3,000,000 in funding will be put toward Phase II, which includes a pedestrian walkway, dog park, comfort station, parking lot, exercise stations, and athletic fields

$4,000,000 will go toward construction improvements for the San Ysidro Community Activity Center. The project proposes implementation of the General Development Plan on an existing 0.35-acre facility to include a children’s play area, tetherball foursquare, hopscotch, handball courts, and landscaping. Additional updates will include ADA accessible parking spaces fronting the existing sidewalk, installation of additional security lighting in parking medians, replacement of an existing curb ramp to serve relocated accessible parking spaces, and more.

$1,500,000 for Light Up San Diego Streetlight Improvement Program – Logan Heights

Funding will go toward replacing old infrastructure to improve the reliability of streetlights, lower the City’s maintenance effort, and lead to savings associated with outages where series circuits currently exist. Approximately, 30 streetlights throughout Logan Heights would realize these benefits upon conversion.

$2,325,360 for Summer Math Academies and Teacher Success and San Diego Community College District Dreamer Resource Centers

San Diego Community College District proposes to establish a districtwide Dreamer Support Program to coordinate community outreach and engagement activities, promote targeted support for students, and track academic success outcomes for undocumented students. $1,200,000 in funds will be used to scale existing services available on the college campuses, further develop Dreamer Resource Centers at City and Mesa Colleges, establish a Dreamer Resource Center at Miramar College, and provide cultural competency training to ensure that the campuses at-large are knowledgeable and equip to serve undocumented students, their families, and community members.

$1,125,360 will go toward the Summer Math Academies for students and teachers as a way to deepen 6-12 Black, Latinx, low-income, and military-connected students’ mathematical knowledge in San Diego’s lowest income serving communities (e.g. Barrio Logan, Chula Vista), and to elevate mathematical teaching and learning in San Diego County.

$3,452,972 for Smugglers Gulch Dredging

Significant amounts of sewage, trash, and sediment have entered the Tijuana River Valley (TRV) in the U.S. While the City of San Diego and County of San Diego have regularly dredged these areas, there is a need for a more extensive and coordinated effort to collect the decade’s worth of sediment and trash that has accumulated. Completing this dredging prior to implementation of the SCC-funded Smuggler’s Gulch Improvements will increase the efficiency and effectiveness of those solutions. The funding will serve all residents and visitors of the TRV and will also benefit nearby residents in Imperial Beach.

$1,095,000 for the UC San Diego Health CommUnity Mobile Unit

The UC San Diego CommUnity Mobile Unit will increase healthcare access, improve preventative healthcare services delivery, and build capacity for local community-based organizations serving San Diego residents in California’s 51st District.

$4,000,000 for the Brandt Road Bridge Replacement Project

The Brandt Road Bridge is a main collector route which, at present, is primarily used by the agricultural industry to cross the Alamo River. Funds will go toward a proposed new single span bridge to be built to current standards and improve the operational safety of the road and bridge crossing.

$500,000 for the San Diego County, CA for outreach and recruitment of foster care families to support children

Resource parents are valued partners in Child Welfare Services. They provide a safe and nurturing home while parents actively work in reunifying with their children. The $500,000 in funding would provide strategies for engagement, ongoing support, and training for Resource parents.

$2,000,000 for the Critical Mineral Analytical Training Center

The University of California Riverside will use this funding to purchase equipment for a critical minerals analytical facility to meet the needs of the emerging lithium industry in the Salton Sea region of the Imperial Valley. The facility will train generations of students for the lithium-based workforce in the region and, in addition, provide data essential to the initial development and day-to-day operations of lithium extraction.

$5,250,000 for Wildlife Fuel Management and Control Strategy and San Diego County Twin-Engine Firefighting Helicopter Project

$3,750,000 will be used to purchase a twin-engine firefighting helicopter to replace older single-engine helicopters built out of a 1970’s airframe.

San Diego County has experienced several catastrophic wildfires over the past two decades. County Fire established the Community Risk Reduction Division to better safeguard homes and communities through a cohesive pre-fire strategy, focusing on public education, defensible space inspections, structure hardening and fuels management. $1,500,000 in funding would initially be spent to conduct environmental analysis of the area to be treated.

The twelve-bill government funding package will create good-paying American jobs, create more opportunities for underserved communities, and provide a lifeline for working families.

The bill now moves to President Biden’s desk for his signature. A detailed summary of the bill is available here.

###

Vargas represents California’s 51st Congressional District which includes the southern portion of San Diego County, all of Imperial County and California’s entire U.S.-Mexico border. Vargas was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2012 and is currently serving his fifth term in Congress. He serves on the House Financial Services Committee and House Foreign Affairs Committee.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://vargas.house.gov/media/press-releases/san-diego-delegation-secures-transfer-of-300-million-to-combat-cross-border-pollution,San Diego Delegation Secures Transfer of $300 Million to Combat Cross-Border Pollution,2022-12-23,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Juan Vargas,V000130,vargas.house.gov,vargas,https://vargas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C (December 23, 2022) — Today, Congressmember Vargas and his San Diego Delegation colleagues applauded the passage of their provision to combat cross-border pollution in the Fiscal year 2023 government funding package. This provision authorizes the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to transfer $300 million to the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) for the purposes of planning, study, design, and construction, of wastewater treatment works in the Tijuana River Valley.

“In 2019, my San Diego Delegation colleagues and I secured $300 million to address the ongoing cross-border pollution in my district,” said Rep. Vargas. “I’m extremely pleased our provision that we fought to get across the finish line for three years was ultimately included in this government funding package. With its passage, we’ve cleared the path for the IBWC and EPA to move forward to address harmful pollutants in the Tijuana River Valley and create healthier, safer communities on both sides of the border. I’m dedicated to continuing working with my colleagues to reduce pollution and improve our constituents’ lives.”

“Bureaucratic red tape has prolonged the decades-long crisis in the Tijuana River Valley, preventing much-needed funding from getting to our communities,” said Congresswoman Sara Jacobs. “I’m glad Congressman Vargas and I could correct this technicality and ensure $300 million gets into the right hands to clean up this mess. This funding will make an incredible difference for San Diegans, our economy, and our health.”

""Today's passage of the government funding bill is another milestone on the path to making San Diego a cleaner and safer community,"" said Rep. Scott Peters. ""The entire San Diego congressional delegation, led by Rep. Vargas, has been dogged in our work to ensure these critical funds we worked hard to secure can be fully utilized. I am extremely grateful to Speaker Pelosi and our Senators for helping us get it done. We celebrate this victory to clean up the Tijuana River Valley and coastline and we will keep fighting to fix it.”

“Pollution from the Tijuana River Valley has plagued our region for generations, leading to degraded water quality that has too frequently closed our beaches and negatively impacted our servicemembers who train in the Pacific Ocean,” said Rep. Levin. “I’m proud that this government funding legislation will finally allow the EPA to transfer some of the $300 million in federal funding our delegation helped secure to the International Boundary and Water Commission to curb the flow of this pollution. This transfer authority will allow the funds to be used as intended so that we can improve our region’s water quality and end this long-standing environmental disaster. San Diego has waited long enough.”

The Fiscal Year 2023 government funding package now goes to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law.

###

Vargas represents California’s 51st Congressional District which includes the southern portion of San Diego County, all of Imperial County and California’s entire U.S.-Mexico border. Vargas was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2012 and is currently serving his fifth term in Congress. He serves on the House Financial Services Committee and House Foreign Affairs Committee.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://calvert.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-calvert-provisions-included-fiscal-year-2023-omnibus-appropriations-bill,Rep. Calvert Provisions Included in the Fiscal Year 2023 Omnibus Appropriations Bill,2022-12-22,2022,2022-12,Republican,House,CA,Ken Calvert,C000059,calvert.house.gov,calvert,https://calvert.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Today, Representative Ken Calvert (CA-42) issued the following statement on the Fiscal Year 2023 omnibus appropriations bill:

“The Fiscal Year 2023 omnibus appropriations bill is more than 4,000 pages long and incorporates a year’s worth of work by the Appropriations Committee as well as a host of other significant policy changes. I wholeheartedly agree that the process of crafting the bill and rush to pass it before the holidays are a terrible way to govern. The Republican-controlled House in the next Congress must do everything in its power to ensure we don’t find ourselves in a similar position next year.

Like most members of Congress, there are portions of the omnibus appropriations bill that I support and portions that I oppose. While I weigh how I will cast my vote on final passage of the bill, I wanted to highlight provisions that I supported and fought to have included in the bill.”

Omnibus Appropriations Bill Provisions Included at Rep. Calvert’s Request:

DEFENSE

Thanks to Rep. Calvert’s leadership, the omnibus appropriations bill includes increased funding for the Defense Department’s Accelerate the Procurement and Fielding of Innovative Technologies (APFIT) program. Rep. Calvert led the effort to establish APFIT in the Fiscal Year 2022 Defense Appropriations bill. The FY2023 bill increases APFIT funding by $50 million, bringing the program’s total funding to $150 million.

“Ensuring American warfighters have a technological edge is a critical component of our national security,” said Rep. Calvert. “The APFIT program is designed to eliminate avoidable delays in fielding the latest technology. With these resources in place, we can put cutting edge tools and resources in the hands of our men and women in uniform. As we confront evolving threats, from China and other adversaries, it is essential that American innovation is not bogged down by a burdensome bureaucracy.”

TRANSPORTATION

The bill includes funding for the following transportation projects in the 42nd Congressional District:

$2 million for the Magnolia Avenue Improvements Project in Corona

$1.6 million for the Limonite Gap Pedestrian Bridge Project in Eastvale

$2.6 million for the I–215 and Keller Road Interchange Project in Murrieta

$4 million for the Scott Road/Bundy Canyon Road Improvements Project in Menifee

$3 million for the I–15 Express Lanes Southern Extension Project in Temescal Valley

$2 million for the Auto Center Drive Bridge Improvements Project in Lake Elsinore

$2 million for the Ontario Avenue/I–15 Multimodal Corridor Enhancements Project in Corona

""The significant funding I have been able to secure for Riverside County transportation projects will benefit residents by improving our local roads and highways,"" said Rep. Calvert. ""Our region continues to experience growth and the traffic congestion challenges that coincide with that growth. We must continue to invest in projects that expand capacity and provide solutions to these challenges in both the short and long term. I'm thankful for the work our cities and regional transportation agencies have put in to prepare these projects that are poised to receive federal funding.""

HEALTH CARE

The bill includes $2 million for facilities and equipment at the Loma Linda University Medical Center – Murrieta. The requested funding would be used to purchase new equipment by Loma Linda University Medical Center for its Murrieta location.

""The funding to facilitate the expansion of inpatient care at Loma Linda University Medical Center – Murrieta is critical to ensure the growing region of southwest Riverside County has access to medical care,"" said Rep. Calvert. ""I'm thankful for the leadership, foresight, and investments being made in our region by the Loma Linda University Medical Center to support healthy families in our community.""

The bill also includes $575,000 for the Corona Valley Community Clinic Equipment Acquisition project, which was requested by nonprofit Neighborhood Healthcare – a Federally Qualified Health Center. The requested funding would be used to purchase equipment for a new community-based primary care health clinic in Corona. Neighborhood Healthcare offers over ten unique medical services, including primary, prenatal, behavioral health, women's health, and more.

""I am thrilled to be able to support the launch of Corona Valley Community Clinic by securing funding to help equip its new community-based primary care health clinic,"" said Rep. Calvert. ""Corona families will see new, expanded health care options thanks to this new facility and investments here in our community.""

HOMELESS

The bill also includes $800,000 for the Norco Temporary Homeless Housing and Outreach project, which was requested by the City of Norco. The requested funding would be used to expand homelessness services.

""Addressing California's homeless crisis is a challenge facing virtually every city in our state, and I am happy to support the efforts of the City of Norco to provide solutions,"" said Rep. Calvert. ""The funding being provided to Norco will enable them to build off the work that has already been accomplished to provide housing services as well as clean up homeless encampments.""

PUBLIC SAFETY

The bill included $515,000 for the Rapid DNA project, which was requested by the Riverside County Sheriff's Department. The funding would be used to procure Forensic Rapid DNA technology.

""The funding I was able to secure will allow the Riverside County Sheriff's Department to acquire breakthrough Rapid DNA technology that will enable them to more quickly process DNA samples,"" said Rep. Calvert. ""With this tool in place, the Sheriff's Department will be able to bring criminals to justice more expeditiously. I appreciate Sheriff Chad Bianco and his team for working on this important project that will allow them to better serve the people of Riverside County.""

""The Riverside County Sheriff's Department appreciates Congressman Ken Calvert's support for our Rapid DNA project,"" said Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco. ""This equipment is a huge asset for our department. It will single-handedly improve the quality and timeliness of our Coroner forensic services by drastically reducing processing time to identify victim remains from months down to hours. This funding will help reduce the backlog of unidentified decedents in the County and bring closure to families.""

VETERANS

The bill also includes $3 million for the Military Articulation Platform Expansion project, which was requested by the Riverside Community College District. The requested funding would be used to expand services and college credit opportunities for veterans.

""I am proud to support and work with RCCD to expand its Military Articulation Platform project, which helps Veterans and students advance their educational and career goals,"" said Rep. Calvert. ""RCCD has done extraordinary work supporting veterans and helping them take what they have learned in service to our nation and translating that knowledge into a promising career.""

WATER INFRASTRUCTURE

The bill includes $2.5 million for the Quail Valley Septic-to-Sewer Conversion Project, which was requested by the Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD). The requested funding would be used for the development of publicly owned sewer connections for the Quail Valley residential community, which currently relies on failing septic systems.

""The Quail-Valley-Septic to Sewer Conversion Project is a vital effort to improve both the health of the immediate community as well as the environmental impacts throughout the watershed,"" said Rep. Calvert. ""I'm grateful for the work done by EMWD to put this project forward. Together, I know we continue to make progress on this important issue which impacts Menifee, Canyon Lake and Lake Elsinore.""

The bill also includes $3 million for the Canyon Lake Water Treatment Plant, which was requested by the Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District. The requested funding would be used for upgrades to the Canyon Lake Water Treatment Plant.

""By improving the Canyon Lake Water Treatment Plant we can improve our local water supplies and reduce PFAS contamination in our water system,"" said Rep. Calvert. ""As California finds itself once gain in a period of prolonged drought it's essential for our water districts to maximize local water supplies. I'm thankful for Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District's work on this project and efforts to ensure residents have access to safe, high quality, and affordable water.""

The bill also includes $8.5 million for the Murrieta Creek Flood Control Project, which was requested by the Riverside County Flood Control and Water Conservation District. The construction will be carried out by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The requested funding would be used to initiate construction on Phase 2B of the Murrieta Creek project. The cities of Temecula and Murrieta are partners in the project and supported the funding request.

""The funding for the Murrieta Creek project will allow us to continue with the important work that remains in providing flood protection to the communities of Temecula and Murrieta,"" said Rep. Calvert. ""We have made significant progress on the project to-date and by funding additional phases we can ensure our local communities' needs are met.""

The bill also includes $50 million for the Prado Dam Dam Safety Project. The funding was included in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers budget request and supported by Rep. Calvert to construct the Prado Dam Safety Modification Project, improvements that were identified in a recently completed Dam Safety Modification Study.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://chu.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/representatives-chu-maloney-bush-kaptur-moore-statement-next-steps,"Representatives Chu, Maloney, Bush, Kaptur, Moore Statement on Next Steps with Equal Rights Amendment",2022-12-22,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Judy Chu,C001080,chu.house.gov,chu,https://chu.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC — Today, Representatives Judy Chu (CA-27), Carolyn B. Maloney (NY-12), Cori Bush (MO-01), Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), and Gwen Moore (WI-04) released the following statement outlining the next steps in the fight for the adoption of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). This statement comes after the Congresswomen marched from the House steps to the Senate yesterday alongside advocates to demand a vote on the House-passed H.Res.17, legislation to eliminate the arbitrary deadline to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). Companion legislation in the Senate, S.J.Res.1, which is led by Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), is cosponsored by all 50 members of the Senate Democratic caucus and Republican Senators Murkowski and Susan Collins (R-ME).

""2023 marks the 100th year anniversary since the Equal Rights Amendment was introduced. Our government's failure to finalize ratification of the ERA has prevented our country from enshrining gender equality in the Constitution. While we are disappointed that the Senate was unable to hold a vote on the ERA this year, Majority Leader Schumer has committed to meeting with advocates at the top of the new year and stated that he will aim to hold a vote on the ERA before the end of next March. We are thankful for Senator Schumer's support, and we remain hopeful that this new year will be the last year our Constitution goes without mention of equal rights for all.""

Yesterday, advocates and Members additionally held a meeting on the Senate side, where they spoke about the importance of the ERA. In this meeting, Congresswoman Maloney also relayed Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer's (D-NY) intentions to meet with the advocates in January and work towards scheduling a vote on the ERA before the end of March.

Those who joined the meeting included ERA advocate and author Kate Kelly, and advocates from Feminist Majority Foundation, National Organization for Women, ERA Coalition, and Generation Ratify.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://costa.house.gov/media/press-releases/costa-issues-statement-trinity-health-not-moving-forward-purchase-madera,Costa Issues Statement on Trinity Health not moving forward with purchase of Madera Community Hospital,2022-12-22,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Jim Costa,C001059,costa.house.gov,costa,https://costa.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"FRESNO, Calif. - Congressman Jim Costa (CA-16) released the following statement after Trinity Health announced that it will not move forward with acquiring Madera Community Hospital.

“It disappoints me greatly that Trinity Health decided to walk away from its affiliation agreement with Madera Community Hospital.

For more than 18 months we have worked with Madera Hospital and its Board of Directors, the California Attorney General, and state and local leaders to help maintain access to Madera Hospital and the full services that only this acute hospital provides in Madera County. I believe the Attorney General fairly assessed the application and required reasonable conditions to protect the community.

Unfortunately, these conditions did not meet the needs that Trinity Health care systems required. I am hopeful that we can find another solution — another partner — who can come in and continue the necessary medical coverage the citizens of Madera County deserve. The people of Madera County should not have to travel more than 30 minutes for healthcare. We must find a way to help.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://costa.house.gov/media/press-releases/costa-victim-rights-legislation-heading-president-bidens-desk-be-signed-law,Costa Victim Rights Legislation heading to President Biden’s Desk to be Signed into Law,2022-12-22,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Jim Costa,C001059,costa.house.gov,costa,https://costa.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON - Congressman Jim Costa, Chair of the Crime Survivors and Justice Caucus, released the following statement after the House passed the Respect for Child Survivors Act to help victims of child abuse and strengthen law enforcement's response to hold perpetrators accountable. Costa’s legislation now heads to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law.

“We have a moral duty to protect children from abuse and harm,” said Costa. “Our legislation ensures victims of child abuse have access to the essential services provided by Children's Advocacy Centers in the San Joaquin Valley and nationwide. All children deserve the care and support they need to heal from their trauma. As Chairman and Co-founder of the Crime Survivors and Justice Caucus, I am proud to fight for legislation that protects the most vulnerable in our communities.”

The Respect for Child Survivors Act will formalize a partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Children’s Advocacy Centers (CACs) to implement the use of multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) when investigating child sexual abuse and exploitation cases, including in situations where the interviewed victim is now an adult. Multidisciplinary teams would be composed of appropriate investigative personnel, mental health professionals, medical personnel, family advocacy case workers, child advocacy center personnel, and prosecutors. This legislation was inspired by the FBI’s failings during the Larry Nassar investigation.

This legislation also includes another bill led by Costa to reauthorize the Victims of Child Abuse Act (VOCAA), which provides funding to Children's Advocacy Centers to support victims of child abuse and strengthen law enforcement's response to hold perpetrators accountable. Children's Advocacy Centers (CACs) provide support, advocacy, and other essential services for children and families who have been affected by sexual or physical abuse.

Costa led the House version of this legislation. He is a strong supporter of Children’s Advocacy Centers and leads the Congressional letter requesting robust federal funding for CACs every year. Costa successfully reauthorized the Victims of Child Abuse Act back in 2018.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://lofgren.house.gov/media/press-releases/lofgren-and-leahy-introduce-bicameral-refugee-protection-act-2022,Lofgren and Leahy Introduce Bicameral Refugee Protection Act of 2022,2022-12-22,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Zoe Lofgren,L000397,lofgren.house.gov,lofgren,https://lofgren.house.gov/media/press-releases,page_html,"WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Zoe Lofgren (CA-19), Chair of the House Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship, and U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) led the bicameral introduction of the Refugee Protection Act of 2022.

In response to the previous Administration's attempts to shut the nation's doors to refugees and asylum seekers, the Refugee Protection Act of 2022 builds upon prior iterations of the legislation introduced by Leahy and Lofgren by bolstering the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP), restoring due process for asylum seekers, and expanding protections for refugees, for immigrants cooperating with law enforcement, and for foreign nationals assisting U.S. troops.

""Today, there are more refugees, asylum-seekers, and internally-displaced persons than at any time in history. The ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Venezuela, among others, keep adding to this growing crisis,"" said Chair Lofgren. ""The United States has long been a global leader in offering safety and protection to victims of terror, abuse, and brutal regimes. The Refugee Protection Act provides long-needed fixes to our nation's refugee and asylum programs and ensures we continue to lead by example in assisting the world's most vulnerable people.""

""One of the most important causes of my time in the Senate has been fighting for refugees and asylum seekers fleeing the horrors of oppression and persecution,"" said Sen. Leahy. ""The world is in the midst of an historic refugee crisis, exacerbated by the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan, the war in Ukraine, and other conflicts. Now, more than ever, the United States must recommit to its time-honored role as a safe haven for the persecuted and the oppressed. I am proud to reintroduce an updated version of the Refugee Protection Act one final time so that we can carry on the cause of protecting the world's most vulnerable.""

The House bill is cosponsored by 8 Members of the U.S. House of Representatives: Representatives Nadler, Jayapal, Panetta, Sara Jacobs, Lowenthal, Norton, Scanlon, and Blumenauer.

The Refugee Protection Act of 2022 is endorsed by a wide range of refugee, asylum, immigration, and faith-based organizations. A section-by-section analysis can be found here. Text of the legislation can be found here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-03-30T11:08:25Z
https://matsui.house.gov/media/in-the-news/fox-26-sesame-become-9th-major-food-allergen-jan-1-fda-says,"FOX 26: SESAME TO BECOME 9TH ‘MAJOR FOOD ALLERGEN’ ON JAN. 1, FDA SAYS",2022-12-22,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Doris O. Matsui,M001163,matsui.house.gov,matsui,https://matsui.house.gov/media,scraper,"The FASTER Act will add sesame to the list of major food allergens effective Jan. 1, 2023.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued new guidance Monday on food allergen labeling requirements, ahead of designating sesame as a ""major food allergen"" which will go into effect Jan. 1, 2023.

The FDA issued a new and revised ""questions and answers"" document related to labeling food allergens, including requirements in the Food Allergy Safety, Treatment, Education, and Research (FASTER) Act of 2021 and the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection (FALCPA) Act of 2004.

The FALCPA also amended the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) by defining the term ""major food allergen"" and requiring that foods or ingredients that contain a major food allergen be specifically labeled with the name of the allergen source.

Oil-coated tuna steak is pressed into two kinds of sesame seeds before cooking. (Photo by Marice Cohn Band/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

This law previously identified eight foods as major food allergens: milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat and soybeans.

In April, President Joe Biden signed into law a bill that would make sesame the ninth U.S. major food allergen and requires food makers to clearly label packaging by January 2023.

More than 1.5 million people are allergic to sesame, the edible seeds of the sesame plant that are a common ingredient in dishes around the world, according to Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE). Reports suggest the allergy to sesame has increased ""significantly"" worldwide over the past two decades, the nonprofit said.

The legislation passed in the Senate in March and the House in April, receiving bipartisan support.

Allergy expenses are costly, study finds

One study estimated that U.S. households with child food allergies spend $24.8 billion annually — breaking down to roughly $4,184 per year per child — based on expenses for medical bills and treatments, buying special foods and leaving employment to care for a child with a food allergy.

Sesame is often used when a label reads ""natural flavors"" or ""natural spices,"" adding a layer of difficulty when shoppers read product labels at the grocery store, according to FARE.

""The President’s signing today of the FASTER Act is a major victory for the entire food allergy community across the nation,"" FARE CEO Lisa Gable said in a statement. ""I cannot thank President Biden enough, along with the thousands of food allergy champions who made today a reality, most notably Senator Tim Scott (R-SC), Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT), Representative Doris Matsui (D-CA-06), and Representative Patrick McHenry (R-NC-10) who garnered overwhelming support for this bill in Congress.""

Childhood food allergies have slowly increased in the U.S. over the past several decades. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention reports that the prevalence of food allergy in children increased by 50% between 1997 and 2011.

Between 1997 and 2008, the prevalence of peanut or tree nut allergy appeared to have more than tripled in U.S. children, according to FARE.

Today, roughly 32 million Americans have life-threatening food allergies, including 5.6 million children under age 18. That number breaks down to one in 13 children, or roughly two in every classroom, FARE states.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://panetta.house.gov/media/press-releases/us-rep-panetta-passes-legislation-codify-presidential-audits-under-federal-law,"U.S. Rep. Panetta Passes Legislation to Codify Presidential Audits Under Federal Law, Fix Program Failures",2022-12-22,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Jimmy Panetta,P000613,panetta.house.gov,panetta,https://panetta.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representative Jimmy Panetta (D-Carmel Valley) voted to pass the Presidential Tax Filings and Audit Transparency Act of 2022 to ensure our nation's tax laws are applied evenly and justly to all, including the President and Vice President of the United States. Rep. Panetta was an original cosponsor of the legislation which was introduced following a review by the Committee on Ways and Means and the Joint Committee on Taxation that showed significant failures by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to properly review and audit the former president.

Despite the Presidential Audit Program at the IRS to conduct mandatory audits on the President and Vice President, the Committee on Ways and Means found that under the previous administration the program was dormant. Despite what ex-President Donald Trump told the American people about being audited, the IRS failed to complete one audit of his tax returns. A review of the audit files repeatedly notes insufficient resources to do thorough and regular reviews through the Presidential Audit Program.

""The failures of the IRS to provide critical oversight of the previous administration demonstrate the need for fundamental reforms of the Presidential Audit Program,"" said Rep. Panetta. ""This legislation ensures that our nation's tax laws are applied fairly and evenly for all Americans, including those that are elected to our nation's highest office. As elected officials it's our responsibility to provide oversight and maintain public confidence in our institutions, and where there are clear failures, to work quickly to fix those issues for the next generation.""

The Presidential Tax Filings and Audit Transparency Act of 2022 would codify the IRS Mandatory Audit program to ensure the President and Vice President are adhering to our nation's tax laws, require the IRS to audit the President and Vice President within 90 days of filing and notify the public of its review, and ensure the IRS adequately staffs the program.

On December 20, 2022, Rep. Panetta voted to publicly release reports and their attached exhibits by the Committee on Ways and Means and the Joint Committee on Taxation detailing the failures of the IRS.

Ways and Means Chairman Richard Neal first requested President Trump's tax returns from the IRS in 2019, but the Trump Administration refused. Chairman Neal challenged the Administration in court, until the Biden Administration instructed the Treasury to produce the returns in July 2021. President Trump intervened in the case, but his counterclaims and appeals were dismissed, leading him to file an emergency application for a stay at the Supreme Court. In November 2022, the Supreme Court vacated a prior stay and denied further applications, leading to the release of the returns and information about the Presidential Audit program to the Ways and Means Committee.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://pelosi.house.gov/news/press-releases/transcript-of-pelosi-remarks-at-weekly-press-conference-1,Transcript of Pelosi Remarks at Weekly Press Conference,2022-12-22,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Nancy Pelosi,P000197,pelosi.house.gov,pelosi,https://pelosi.house.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi held her weekly press conference today in the Capitol Visitor Center. Below are the Speaker's remarks:

Speaker Pelosi. Good morning, everyone.

I'm sorry for the delay. We were just finalizing what you all are here to find out, is how we are proceeding and when we will finish. I'll get to that in a moment, but first I want to talk about last night.

Last night was so historic for us, to hear President Zelenskyy. It's been a momentous week for our Democracy. Yesterday, it was my high honor to welcome President Zelenskyy of Ukraine here in the United States Capitol. He delivered a magnificent, awe‑inspiring speech, I think all would agree, and the courage, heroism and determination of the Ukrainian people shone through. It was moving to hear his report on the front lines of war, from which – he had just come from the front lines, sharing with us the valor by citizen and soldier alike. He always said the people were on the forefront of this and the soldiers came to reinforce that, and declaring that, at all odds, Ukraine still stood.

I brought this picture, because it's one that I show on Winston Churchill's birthday. We have his birthday party every year. Just a couple of weeks ago, we had it in the Rayburn Room. Perhaps some of you were there. And I always show them the picture of Winston Churchill speaking to the Congress of the United States the day after Christmas 1941, following Pearl Harbor. And my father, Thomas D'Alesandro, Jr., Baltimore, was there. And this arrow points to where he is sitting here.

And so it always was a source of pride to me that my father was there that day, and now a source of pride that I could be there to hear another heroic leader of a country at war come ask for help. When Winston Churchill came, what he said – now think of this and think of last night – he said, ‘We are doing the noblest task in the world – not only defending our hearths and homes, but the cause of freedom in every land.' So much the theme, so much the common purpose of President Zelenskyy. But I'm so proud of this. And when I wrote to the Members about coming, I said, ‘I take great pride in the fact that my father was there for that. I hope that your children will take pride in the fact that you will be present for President Zelenskyy.'

So I was very proud of the turnout that we had even though it was a last‑minute notice, because we could not notice unless we knew for sure the president was coming, depending on what was happening in Ukraine, depending on weather and the rest. Again, Democracy on the line. What an honor it was to have the flag that was presented to President Zelenskyy by the troops. By the troops. And they asked him to bring it to us to say, ‘Thank you.' We don't have it here, but we're going to – having it framed so you'll see it in the halls of Congress for a long time to come. But thanking the Congress of the United States and the American people for their support, signed by the soldiers. Of course, they thanked the President of the United States, and we are very proud of his leadership in all of this.

We gave him a flag. When he said, ‘I'm bringing you a flag,' I said, ‘Well, I'm bringing you a flag.' And so we gave him a flag, in the latest manifestation of the unshakeable relationship between our two countries.

This week was also marked by a focus on Democracy here at home. Today, the world will see the final report of the bipartisan Select Committee to Investigate January 6th, after eighteen months of tirelessly defending Democracy. We salute Chairman Thompson – I just did in the Caucus – and Vice Chair Liz Cheney and all the Members of the Committee for their persistent, patriotic leadership.

The 117th Congress began with a violent assault on our Democracy, and now we hear its conclusions. We have a vital roadmap in ensuring justice will be done and that this won't happen again.

In keeping with our special focus of the week, the excellent work – this is an enormous undertaking – the omnibus package takes strong steps to defend Democracy. Included in the legislation: another round of security, economic and humanitarian aid for Ukraine.

As President Zelenskyy said last night: this money is not charity, it is an investment in global security and Democracy. Indeed, it is a worthwhile investment, and our bipartisan, bicameral support must continue, because the battle for Ukraine is a battle for Democracy itself.

Also in the omnibus – and this is pretty exciting for all of us – we're addressing some of the vulnerabilities in the January 6th attack. By reforming the Electoral Count Act, we will thwart future attempts to undermine the peaceful transfer of power. And thanks to Democrats' numerous negotiating – the negotiating on this. You know, the bill is the appropriations bill, and that is what keeps government open and meets the needs of the American people in the Appropriations Committee.

Probably bigger than that are the provisions in the bill – we call it ‘ash and trash' just as a – and that does remarkable things, and we had tremendous success with that, in fact the highest in terms of appropriations, the highest domestic – non-defense domestic number ever. We always want more, but nonetheless.

And again, thanks to the tenacious negotiating. Rosa DeLauro was a maestro – is a maestro. I mean, she's a tough negotiator but a maestro with a baton and a stick. We secured significant increase, heavily invested in families and workers, honor the commitment to our veterans and strengthen Democracy at home and abroad.

Most people don't know that veterans fall under the domestic agenda. It is a consequence of war, it is a part of our security, but it is not included in the defense budget. So when we're fighting for a bigger [non-defense] number, it is also to accommodate meeting the needs of our veterans. And we want to honor them every chance we get, and this year the PACT Act was something historic and needs to be funded. That will take some more time, but we do have funding in this bill for it too.

I hope the Senate will swiftly pass this package. Again, my delay related to how we see what will happen there on certain amendments, when we would get the bill, how much time it takes once it's passed to come over here. I know you're interested in schedule, so that's why I'm going to be more specific in the details there. Our hope would be that, if it was finished this afternoon, it takes us about five hours to get the bill, we'd go to Rules, we could pass it tonight. That would be our hope. But we're, shall we say, waiting to see how long the debate goes there.

We want people to be able to go home, and, as you know, there are storms across America. And hopefully, that will be a motivation for expedited discussion there or just submitting for the record or saving it for another day or whatever.

As you know, this is my – this – I thought last week might have been – but this is my final weekly press conference. And some of you have been covering Congress for a long time. Others are new. All of you are Guardians of Democracy.

You've heard me say again and again, if there were one freedom in the First Amendment, the freedom of the press, that would be the one that protects and defends all the other freedoms. Our Founders knew that freedom of the press is foundational to government of, by and for the people: informing the public about the work done in their name – in this case, here. As you know, I admire your public service. I've always enjoyed our conversation, turn to San Francisco sports.

Q. Who would do that?

[Laughter.]

Speaker Pelosi. 49ers, who are in yellow. Warriors, orange. Giants.

I wish you and all of your loved ones a happy holiday and turn to the last questions.

Yeah, Jake, what do you have?

Q. So just on the omnibus timing a little bit, digging a little deeper, so from the time the Senate passes it, it will take five hours –

Speaker Pelosi. Well, it takes a number of hours, if it is.

Q. To get to the House?

Speaker Pelosi. Uh‑huh.

Q. So you – that'll – be –

Speaker Pelosi. Until we have the bill, we cannot signal a Rules Committee.

Q. Right.

Speaker Pelosi. The Rules Committee needs an hour's notice, and then we hope that it would not be a long Rules meeting. Hopefully, we could get expedited procedure in that hour of notice and that we could just move this even more quickly.

When you do the bill, just so you know this, because I'm an appropriator and I take great pride in the work of appropriators, after you have the bill – so we have a bill, okay. Now, they may amend it and we'll see what happens. But when you have the bill, you sit side by side and read everything in it, so that it is – what is being written in the parchment is exactly what is the bill. That takes a long time for thousands of pages.

Then, when that was finished and we get the signal from the Senate that they want us to send the bill, you go to the Senate Floor. And it's a beautiful thing. You go over to the Senate and you take section, by section, by section, by section, House and Senate. Not as long as reading every word, but confirming the sections. What is that called? It has a name. But it is part of the process.

So all that is done now. It's just a question of the amendments. You know what many of them are. Probably fifteen. Maybe four to six have a chance to be passed. Other compromises made. And it's just a question of how long people decide to talk on the Floor.

We would hope that, with this smaller amount of amendments, it would come over sooner, be closest to what we sent – we sent over.

So again, in terms of your planes, I think it's tomorrow, but it could be tomorrow morning, which we hope.

Yes, ma'am?

Q. Madam Speaker, thank you for your comments.

I just want to ask you in this time of transition, have you had any conversations with Leader McCarthy or do you intend to? And if he prevails as Speaker, what advice would you give him?

Speaker Pelosi. Well, I don't think anybody needs any advice from anybody. You've heard me say even about our own distinguished Leadership, I'm not going to be the mother‑in‑law who comes in and say, ‘This is the way my son likes his turkey stuffing, his scrambled eggs,' or anything else. They have to have their own vitality about it all, and they do. And so as far as he is concerned, I – yes, we have some – we haven't had any formal conversations, but we interact. And I'm just hoping that on January 3rd, that they will be expeditiously able to elect a Speaker, so that we can get on with the work of the Congress.

And just so you know, this may interest you. What I have said to everybody is the hardest thing that I had to do, since you're asking this question, I was Speaker and Minority Leader under President Bush, under President Obama, under what's-his-name, and just Speaker under President Biden. But three different – three different Presidents, two different roles.

The hardest thing that I had to do, in all of – say, let's just talk about the three – the hardest thing that I had to do, and I said this in friendship and in love and all the rest of that, is when we had a Democratic President and we were in the Majority – Minority, and we were in the Minority, as Minority Leader, to sustain a Presidential veto. Because the Republicans would roll out stuff that sounded like a chocolate sundae, but it's more like doggie doo. But it looked good, and it played well in districts. And people would say, ‘Oh, this is good.'

‘No, it ain't good. It's terrible. It undermines the Affordable Care Act. We have to sustain the Presidential veto. This is not a casual vote. This is not a casual vote.'

So I'd rather be writing the Affordable Care Act or any other massive legislation than to have to go to my Members and say, ‘My friend, in friendship, I really need your vote to sustain the President's veto.' That was – that was the hardest.

Yes, ma'am?

Q. Madam Speaker, I wonder if you've thought at all as you are set to leave Leadership about what it's meant for your female colleagues here –

Speaker Pelosi. Yeah.

Q. – about women who might want to join Congress, seeing you as a person who has blazed a lot of trails here.

Speaker Pelosi. I appreciate that question as well.

I – when I came to Congress, there were 23 women, 13 Democrats – no, 12 Democrats and 11 Republicans. Out of 435 people, there were 23. Over 400 men and 23 women. Come on, you know, get out of here.

So some of us just made a decision: we have to change this. We have to recruit. We have to fund. We have to encourage women to run, give confidence to them that not only are they – should they be here, they are needed to be here.

And we now have 90 Democrats. They have 30, I think, something Republicans, and they've made some progress lately. And that's good, but we need more. And we need more people of color and the rest. And I take great pride that our Caucus is about 70 percent women, people of color, LGBTQ, the beautiful diversity of America.

In terms of women, though, they're always asking me, I get asked all the time, ‘What advice do you have?'

I say, ‘The best advice I ever had that I extend to you is be yourself. You're the only person in the history of the world who is you. What you have is authentic, is special, is unique, and that diversity is necessary at the table.'

Also, I want women to have confidence. So sometimes when I act a little more, shall we say, like myself –

[Laughter]

– it's because I want them to know: it's okay to assert yourself, to have confidence in what you bring to the table, and also to understand your uniqueness.

So I mean, I'm overwhelmed by women telling me how I've given them confidence or what a role model and this. And I said, ‘Don't worry about any role model, be yourself.'

Q. Madam Speaker?

Speaker Pelosi. What do you got?

It seems appropriate that Chad would have one of the last questions. If you don't think it's appropriate, we don't have to have him have it. I leave it up to you in this democratic forum.

[Laughter]

Q. I thank you for the comment. In any event, thank you.

Considering the consternation on the Republican side of the aisle with picking a Speaker, as somebody who has been Speaker and has been through Speaker's races before, does that bother you about what that says about the stability of the House of Representatives if they're having trouble picking a Speaker –

Speaker Pelosi. No.

Q. And might you be the last Speaker for a while until they pick a Speaker?

Speaker Pelosi. No. I think they'll have a Speaker.

I think that my interest, and all of us have an interest to the integrity of the institution, the strength and respect that the institution commands and should command. And so that's why I said I hope that they would be able to resolve their differences on January 3rd and just come through with a vote to proceed.

Q. It doesn't weaken the House if it takes a while? It doesn't weaken the House if it takes a few days?

Speaker Pelosi. No, no, no. We're a democratic institution. No, I wouldn't read too much into that. But I do – but I do think it's – the sooner the better, because we have important work to do. Whether we agree or disagree, we have important work to do.

Q. Madam Speaker, going back to the Ukraine and Democracy theme.

Speaker Pelosi. Yes, please.

Q. Going back to the Ukraine and Democracy theme. What message does that send to our biggest adversary on the other side of the globe, what happened yesterday, the events of yesterday?

And what message, on the flip side, does it send to our allies, like Taiwan, when our appropriators have pulled billions of dollars that was in the NDAA for military defense out of the omnibus appropriations bill?

Speaker Pelosi. Pulled it out of the appropriations bill?

Q. Out of the – it was not included in the appropriations –

Speaker Pelosi. Well, the bill – the defense number is bigger than it's ever been.

Q. But specifically for Taiwan, about $10 billion in grant money was pulled out of the appropriation –

Speaker Pelosi. But it is – I'm not exactly familiar with that piece, but our commitment to Taiwan is a clear one in terms of our support for them to be able to defend themselves.

But to the basic, the first part of your question, the important purpose, in my view, of last night – and that's why I'm glad the president spoke in English – was to deliver a message to the American people of appreciation, of gratitude and of connection in terms of being about Democracy, theirs and ours. So it was an important message for our country.

The response that he received from the Members of Congress was overwhelming. It was overwhelming. And that was an important message for his people – for our people to see, for Ukrainians to see, for Russians to see and for our allies to see. It was the connection between our two countries, the commitment to Democracy that we associate ourselves with in terms of the courage of the people of Ukraine.

Q. What about China?

Speaker Pelosi. Hmm?

Q. China?

Speaker Pelosi. Oh, you were talking about China. I thought you were talking about Russia. Yeah, China can see that as – China can see that as well. That's a whole other subject. That's another press conference for whoever wants to take that up.

But China, you know, I've been on the China case since Tiananmen Square. Even before that, I had met with His Holiness the Dalai Lama and had concerns about treatment in Tibet. And then when Tiananmen Square came, we were more active in terms of the trade, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, human rights and all the rest of that.

It will be interesting to see how China calibrates its activities with Russia in all of this. But I think it was an important message.

And isn't it interesting that December to December – see, I invited him – October 24th – I was asked by – I went to Croatia for a meeting of something called the Crimea Platform Initiative, which was about 50 countries represented with speakers to talk about how we would work together for Democracy in Ukraine and the military, supported the military effort.

At that time, October 24th, in a meeting with the delegation from Ukraine, they asked for a Joint Session. They asked for some other things too, like Patriots. I got that on the trip too. But then the question, it was a question of time.

And I have to say, Leader McConnell was so supportive right from the start, right from the start. That was a real comfort level to come back and see, in a bipartisan, bicameral way, that we can do this, and that it would happen in Easter Week, when the visit from Churchill was Easter Week – excuse me, Christmas Week, the day after Christmas. This, a few days before Christmas, is inspiring. It's very inspiring.

So again, it's a message that is inspirational as well as strong and informative as to our bipartisan, bicameral support for Ukraine as well as admiring the leadership of our President, President Biden.

Q. Madam Speaker?

Speaker Pelosi. One last.

Q. The D'Alesandro family were present for Churchill. You knew President Kennedy, the Pelosi family, through you serving in the House, through all of this history. You have been in the Democratic Leadership now for two decades.

Speaker Pelosi. Uh‑huh.

Q. Speaker of the House twice. This is a major transition moment –

Speaker Pelosi. Yeah.

Q. – to now move into a different role in the House your family has long been connected to.

Could you offer us some thoughts about how you will approach your new role in the House in the new year, both on policy and on your role with the Democratic Party? How do you see 2023 for Congresswoman Pelosi?

Speaker Pelosi. Well, we could have a whole seminar on that, but we won't because we're waiting to hear from the Senate.

Here's the thing. As Speaker of the House, I have awesome power.

As a – now transitioning to a different role, I expect to have strong influence, but not on my Members, just in terms of encouraging more women, for example, to run, to talk about civics and how we have to – it used to be a requirement when I was little, a hundred years ago, but now it's an elective and most people are not familiar. So I'll have to see what that path is.

But the Speaker of the House is a very big job, and just wrapping it up will take time, with the Library of Congress for the papers, with the Historian of the Capitol – of the Congress – in terms of interviews and the rest of that.

And in just – I think that probably the most overwhelming thing I'll be doing forever is saying thank you. Thank you to my Members. Thank you to the intellectual resources that have helped us with policy. Thank you for those who have helped us politically to attain our Majorities and our strength in the Congress.

I think my life will be about accountability to the record, the history, and thank you to those who made all of that possible.

You mentioned John F. Kennedy. I'll close with this. You've heard me say it many times. I'll say it now again, because it identified with what President Biden has been doing.

When I was in school, I went to President Kennedy's Inauguration on the East Front, freezing cold, freezing cold. The whole world, every child in America knows that, in that speech, he said to the citizens of America: ‘Ask not what our country can do for you, but what you can do for our country.' You've said it. I see you all mouthing it.

The very next sentence is what struck me, the very next sentence.

‘To the citizens of the world, ask not what America can do for you, but what we can do working together for the freedom of mankind.'

That's what President Kennedy said. Not condescension, not doing something for, but working together.

And I've said this to President Biden, and I said it at the Saint Patrick's Day lunch, because that's a, you know, Kennedy connection there. I said to President Biden, ‘You have fulfilled in so many ways what President Kennedy was signaling, working together with all of the countries to come together to support Ukraine, not by dictating what we think is the way to go, but to listening, working together, so that everybody felt committed to a plan for the freedom of mankind.'

And that's how I tie being there as my father's daughter at the Inauguration to what happened this week and what our responsibilities are later.

But I – my goal and my wish is that the Members, our new Leadership in the House, based on the foundation that we have laid or forming their own approach, will do even better than the significant legislative successes that I have had as Speaker of the House.

Thank you all. Happy holidays. Merry Christmas. Happy Kwanzaa. Happy Hanukkah. Whatever you celebrate, enjoy your families.

Q. Good luck to you.

Speaker Pelosi. Yes, thank you. Thank you.

Q. The Giants lost out on Correa. You have to comment on the Giants losing out on Correa.

[Laughter]

Q. He went to the Mets.

Speaker Pelosi. The Giants?

Q. The San Francisco Giants were supposed to get Correa, and he's now a Met. You must comment on this, as the preeminent fan of the San Francisco Giants.

Speaker Pelosi. Yeah. Well, I was celebrating when he was coming to the Giants. Yeah. But, you know, we'll talk sports later, okay?

Q. Sure.

Speaker Pelosi. Right now, we just want to see who's winning on these amendments –

[Laughter.]

Speaker Pelosi. – so we can meet the needs of the American people and go home.

Thank you all.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://pelosi.house.gov/news/press-releases/transcript-of-speaker-pelosi-s-remarks-at-bill-enrollment-ceremony-for-the-james,Transcript of Speaker Pelosi’s Remarks at Bill Enrollment Ceremony for The James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023,2022-12-22,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Nancy Pelosi,P000197,pelosi.house.gov,pelosi,https://pelosi.house.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Chairman Gregory Meeks, Congresswoman Jackie Speier and Congressman Donald Norcross held a bill enrollment ceremony for H.R. 7776, the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023. Below are the Speaker's remarks:

Speaker Pelosi. Good afternoon. Today, the Congress sends to the President a strong bipartisan, bicameral National Defense Authorization bill.

Let us salute all those who worked so tirelessly to assemble this vital legislation, larger than most of the bills that we sign. Chairman Adam Smith, the Chair of the Armed Services Committee. Ranking Member Mike Rogers, who worked very cooperatively, in a bipartisan way, to get this done. The entire Armed Services Committee, some of whom are with us today: Chairs of subcommittees, Jackie Speier of California, Donald Norcross of New Jersey. And the entire Armed Services Committee, as I mentioned. Thanks to the leadership of Chairman Gregory Meeks, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, and Chairman Adam Schiff, the NDAA also authorizes vital funding for the State Department and Intelligence Community.

This legislative package fulfills our Constitutional obligation to protect and to provide for the common defense, to protect and defend our Constitution. The NDAA will ensure that Americans are safe and America is secure. Honoring our brave servicemen and women, investing in our technological advantages, and growing them, and bolstering our global leadership. It is a remarkable piece of legislation.

Inspired by President Zelenskyy's moving words in the House Chamber, the Congress remains committed to defending liberty and Democracy, here and around the world. As I mentioned earlier, in December – earlier events today – in December of 1941, my father, Congressman Thomas D'Alesandro Jr., had the privilege of witnessing Winston Churchill's historic address as a Member of Congress here. As Sir Winston told his allies that day, and I quote, ‘We are doing the noblest work in the world – not only defending our hearth and homes, but the cause of freedom in every land.' This remains our sacred mission today. And with this year's NDAA, we take another strong step to honor that charge.

Now, it's with great pride that I sign the legislation, so that we can send it to the President.

***

Now usually, we would hold up the bill.

[Laughter]

Who wrote this – understand that there are parchment paper for these bills.

We will just hold this part. It was really important that the bill that we will be hopefully passing later today and signing that soon. The omnibus bill will fund many of the provisions that are in this bill, so they go hand-in-hand. But this a remarkable bill. I congratulated not only Chairman Smith, but Ranking Member Rogers, for their brave work on this beautiful piece of legislation. And I thank my colleagues for making it so.

***

And so much of what is in here addresses the needs of members – servicemembers' families, whether it's housing, health, the list goes on and on. So it measures strength not only in our procurement, but in our supporting our men and women in uniform in a very strong way, including a raise. Thank you.

Now Members, I would like you, if you wish – to get this going – if you want to take a photo, visually or whatever in front of the flag.

This is the flag that President Zelenskyy gave me last night, as a gift from the troops in the field. He had been with them and then came to see us, and they gave him this flag to give to the Congress to thank us and the American people and the President for what we had done. Many Members have asked to have a picture taken with it individually, so we invite them to come by this afternoon to do so. We already had it framed. We're just looking for where it's going to be heading next. But can you imagine? The soldiers signed it and gave it to him to bring to us.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://scottpeters.house.gov/press-releases/rep-peters-thanks-select-committee-for-historic-investigation-of-events-on-january-6,Rep. Peters Thanks Select Committee for Historic Investigation of Events on January 6,2022-12-22,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Scott H. Peters,P000608,scottpeters.house.gov,scottpeters,https://scottpeters.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"SAN DIEGO – Today, Rep. Scott Peters (CA-52) issued this statement after the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol held its last public meeting and released an executive summary of its final report:

""I supported establishing this bipartisan committee because the American people have a right to know what led to the attack on the Capitol on January 6th, how it occurred, and what it means for our democracy. I thank Chair Bennie Thompson, Vice Chair Liz Cheney and the Members of the Select Committee for their historic work. Their service is a shining example of how an investigation of this scale should be carried out.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://torres.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congresswoman-torres-secures-almost-20-million-local-projects-end-year,Congresswoman Torres Secures Almost $20 Million For Local Projects in End-of-Year Government Funding Bill,2022-12-22,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Norma J. Torres,T000474,torres.house.gov,torres,https://torres.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Pomona, CA – Today, Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) announced that $19,525,505 in Community Project Funding has been included in this year's government funding package. Rep. Torres previously secured this funding for California's 35th Congressional District as part of a package that originally passed the House of Representatives earlier this year. After this end-of-year government funding bill becomes law, its funds will go towards 15 community projects, supporting working families, small businesses, students, first responders, seniors, and countless other community members.

""I am proud to have secured almost $20 million for local projects in this year's government funding bill. From building affordable housing to improving our water infrastructure to expanding services for seniors and students, these projects will meet long overdue community needs in the Inland Empire and are essential to ensuring our communities will thrive in the future. I am eager to work with all those who were selected for funding because together we're getting the Inland Empire back on track,"" said Congresswoman Torres.

Rep. Torres championed funding for 15 projects to directly benefit the residents of California's 35th Congressional District, including:

$2,000,000 for the City of Chino to reopen previously closed wells, and ensure that the water is clean and safe for use

$439,094 for the City of Ontario, CA for expanding wellness programs, meal services, and transportation services for seniors

$1,600,000 for the City of Pomona to reopen a previously closed well, and to ensure the water is safe for residents

$4,000,000 for the Courtplace Housing Development to construct affordable housing in Fontana

$750,000 for the Downtown Main Street Economic Recovery and Revitalization Project- Phase 2, which is helping to revitalize downtown Upland

$532,500 for the Empowering Success Now, Fontana, CA for afterschool and tutoring programs for youth in Fontana

$300,000 for the Health Service Alliance-Montclair Community Health Center, Montclair, CA for a new mobile health unit to help underserved communities access health services

$4,000,000 for the La Casita Community Center to help upgrade and expand a recreational facility for teens

$201,834 for the Los Angeles County Fire Department, Los Angeles, CA for new CPR and cardiac equipment to address cardiac emergencies

$800,000 for the Montclair Police Body-Worn Camera Program to help protect the community

$272,077 for the Ontario-Montclair School District, Ontario, CA for STEAM programs, including equipment and technology, to encourage students in these fields

$750,000 for the Pacific Electric Trail Improvement Project to improve and expand recreational access in Fontana

$2,280,000 for the Prado Regional Park Food Court Rehabilitation to make the facility more accessible

$1,500,000 for the Unincorporated Fontana Safe Routes to School to help ensure students can safely walk to school

$100,000 for the Western University of Health Sciences, Ontario, CA for health career student support programs to inspire the next generation of STEM students

The government funding bill is expected to pass Congress imminently and be signed into law by President Biden shortly after. A detailed summary of the bill is available here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://calvert.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-calvert-statement-ukrainian-president-zelenskyys-address-congress,Rep. Calvert Statement on Ukrainian President Zelenskyy's Address to Congress,2022-12-21,2022,2022-12,Republican,House,CA,Ken Calvert,C000059,calvert.house.gov,calvert,https://calvert.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Today, Congressman Ken Calvert (CA-42) issued the following statement following Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's address to Congress:

“In the early days of Russia’s invasion, a Ukrainian medic transporting injured troops from the front lines summed up the stakes for his country, ‘Either we fight them off or we will all die. We’re hanging on and will do so to the end.’ Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy echoed that message before Congress this evening.

After months of fighting, the world has witnessed the resolve of the Ukrainian people, we’ve been moved by their bravery, and many skeptics have been proven wrong about their ability to put up a fight against the once mighty Russian military.

While the heroic resistance to the invading Russian forces is aimed at liberating Ukraine, we should bear in mind that in reality this fight is the frontline of defending liberty and democracy for greater Europe. There should be no question that Putin’s ambition and desires do not and would not end in Ukraine.

I believe America’s financial and technical contributions to this greater struggle for the independence and freedom of our allies across Europe are a worthwhile investment. In addition to strengthening our democratic international partners, significantly weakening Russia’s potency for aggression is not an insignificant secondary benefit in this endeavor.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://chu.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-chu-statement-ways-means-vote-release-president-trumps-tax-returns,Rep. Chu Statement on Ways & Means Vote to Release President Trump’s Tax Returns to the Public,2022-12-21,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Judy Chu,C001080,chu.house.gov,chu,https://chu.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Last night, the House Ways and Means Committee voted to make eight years of President Trump's tax returns available to the public. Rep. Judy Chu (CA-27), a member of the Ways and Means Committee, voted in favor of the final motion and issued the following statement:

""I was proud to vote in favor of accountability and transparency in government and to begin to restore the American public's trust in our highest officials. The Ways and Means Committee has a duty to the American people to ensure the nation's tax laws are administered properly and that public officials—particularly the President—are complying with them. While House Democrats took that duty seriously, it's regrettable—but not surprising—our colleagues on the other side of the aisle did not join us. The Presidential Mandatory Tax Audit has been in place since 1977, but was dormant during the Trump Administration. In fact, the mandatory audit of President Trump's returns only began after Chairman Neal made his request for these materials, and what is astonishing is that none of the audits for all of the years of Trump's presidency have been completed to this day.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://costa.house.gov/media/press-releases/costa-announces-25-million-grant-highway-41,Costa Announces $25 million grant for Highway-41,2022-12-21,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Jim Costa,C001059,costa.house.gov,costa,https://costa.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"FRESNO, Calif. - Congressman Jim Costa (CA-16) secured a $25 million federal grant through the U.S. Department of Transportation to upgrade approximately 4 miles of the Madera 41 South Expressway from a 2-lane rural to a 4-lane highway.

This federal grant will be used to help construct a divided four-lane highway and widen the lateral 6.2 canal crossing near Avenue 15 in Madera County. Costa advocated for the project since the beginning through letters of support and voted to pass the federal budget for the Fiscal Year 2022, which made this grant possible.

“This funding is critical to improving access to some of the fastest-growing communities in Madera County and the San Joaquin Valley,” said Costa. “I am proud to secure this federal grant to widen highway 41, enhance safety and address congestion along this critical transportation artery in our Valley.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://matsui.house.gov/media/in-the-news/sacramento-bee-sacramento-area-get-bike-paths-roadwork-flood-protection-and-more,"SACRAMENTO BEE: SACRAMENTO-AREA TO GET BIKE PATHS, ROADWORK, FLOOD PROTECTION AND MORE FROM BUDGET EARMARKS",2022-12-21,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Doris O. Matsui,M001163,matsui.house.gov,matsui,https://matsui.house.gov/media,scraper,"The $1.7 trillion federal spending bill moving quickly through Congress has millions of dollars for Sacramento-area roads, bike paths, water projects and more. There’s money for sidewalk and bike path projects in Folsom. For job training and counseling at The Opportunity Center in Sacramento and help for Habitat for Humanity to aid first-time, lower income people who want to buy homes. In West Sacramento, funds will be available to convert the I Street railroad drawbridge from motor vehicle access to a bikeway and walkway. In Elk Grove, funding would be used to build a bike and pedestrian crossing over Highway 99 along the Laguna Creek Inter-Regional Trail System. Congress is expected to approve the bill as soon as Thursday. The projects are part of what’s called earmarking, a controversial process where members of Congress can ask for funding for community projects.

Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., secured 18 Sacramento-area projects worth $48 million. Reps. Doris Matsui and Ami Bera, Sacramento Democrats, also sponsored projects. Critics call this pork; lawmakers who use the process call it serving the local communities that they know best. Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Elk Grove, has tried to ban earmarks. He called the process a ”tawdry, corrupt, and irresponsible practice,” and did not seek any such project funding. But for most lawmakers, Democrat and Republican, the process thrives. Earmarks were banned in 2011, after controversy over projects such as the “Bridge to Nowhere,” a proposal in 2005 to connect the Alaskan city of Ketchikan to an island with the city’s airport and 50 residents.

Earmarks were revived last year as “community funding projects,” and any member requesting funding had to publicly explain why the money was needed.

Budget-writers then included what they saw as worthy projects in the legislation now moving through Congress. The budget bill would fund the federal government through the rest of fiscal 2023, which ends Sept. 30. Current funding runs out Friday, and despite strong opposition from many Republicans, the new bill is expected to win bipartisan approval.

Among the Sacramento-area projects:

Sacramento River Basin Floodplain Reactivation, $7.8 million. Padilla explained that he funding will help “build resiliency in California’s natural infrastructure and water systems by: supporting the abundant return of migratory birds along the Pacific Flyway; revitalizing river food webs and supporting the recovery of salmon populations; recharging groundwater aquifers; and improving flood protection.”

Bryte Park all-weather field in West Sacramento. $750,000 to help buy and install equipment and materials for the all-weather soccer field.

The Opportunity Center, Sacramento. $750,000 to help provide job training and placement, small business enterprise resources, and supportive services to help lift up the community, according to the plan submitted earlier this year by Matsui. The Sacramento Democrat said the money would pay “for the project’s site construction, improvements, fees and project management.”

Cornerstone–Habitat for Humanity. $750,000 to provide aid for qualified, low income first homebuyers. Matsui’s office said the Cornerstone project is a “collaborative affordable housing community created by Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sacramento and Mutual Housing of California.”

I Street bridge deck conversion in West Sacramento. $4.9 million for converting the top deck of the historic double-deck I Street railroad drawbridge from motor vehicle access to a dedicated bikeway and walkway. Matsui said the project will connect “two designated disadvantaged, low-income community zones.”

ZEV Fleet Infrastructure Program, Sacramento. $4.3 million to install electric vehicle infrastructure and catalyze expanded electrification of the City of Sacramento municipal fleet. Matsui said the project will includes construction and installation of 78 Level 2 chargers, four DC fast chargers, and electrical infrastructure upgrades at 17 city locations. The chargers are aimed at supporting the replacement of 250 light-duty vehicles, including 144 work trucks, with EVs by the end of 2027.

Laguna Creek Inter-Regional Trail Crossing at Highway 99 in Elk Grove. $2 million to build a bike and pedestrian crossing over the highway. People now must leave the trail to cross at busy crosswalk. The project would create seven miles of uninterrupted bike path.

Gold Line Light Rail Station conversions. $3.64 million for converting four light rail stations to accommodate new light rail vehicles, according to the Bera’s office. Stations include Watt/Manlove, Mather Field, Sunrise in Rancho Cordova and Historic Folsom Station.

Sacramento Native American Health Center, $1 million to support construction and other costs for the new site at 3800 Florin Road. Matsui’s office said the facility will offer medical, behavioral, dental, and supportive services.

SMUD’s neighborhood electrification project, $3 million. This will help provide clean energy technology for up to 300 single family homes.

Sacramento Area Sewer District’s Franklin community septic to sewer conversion project, $3 million. The project will change septic systems to the public sewer in the community.

Pannell Community Center, $1.98 million. The Meadowview neighborhood project will include the first phase of improvements, including enhanced air filtration and circulation, retrofits for enhanced insulation and partial electrification, energy storage system and a charger to support emergency response vehicles and equipment charging needs, Matsui’s office said.

White Rock Road, Sacramento County, $4 million for building a new three mile multi-use path parallel to White Rock Road. It would provide connections to existing bicycle facilities on White Rock Road and the growing Sacramento regional bike and active transportation network, Bera’s office said.

Riley Street safety improvements in Folsom. $4 million would go to upgraded sidewalks and bike lanes on both sides of Riley Street from Sutter Street to East Bidwell Street. ▪ Elk Grove-Rancho Cordova-El Dorado Connector Authority’s Capital SouthEast Connector, $4 million. The funds will help build a multi-use bike path, expand broadband and other improvements.

American River Watershed Folsom Dam Project, $3.05 million. The funds will help modify and automate the existing Folsom Dam temperature control shutters. That should help the ability to control the downstream water temperatures to help improve habitat conditions for salmonid species.

Elk Grove’s Old Town streetscape project, $2 million. The funds should help ease traffic congestion, make sure the the area is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act and is safe for cyclists and pedestrians.

Mather Community Campus’ Human Assistance Facility Renovation Project in Sacramento County, $1.5 million. The project will renovate facilities at the campus, a one-year employment and rehabilitative transitional housing program for veterans and families.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://panetta.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-panetta-votes-release-report-and-exhibits-failures-irs-mandatory,Rep. Panetta Votes to Release Report and Exhibits on the Failures of the IRS Mandatory Presidential Audit Program and Cosponsors Legislation to Fix the Program,2022-12-21,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Jimmy Panetta,P000613,panetta.house.gov,panetta,https://panetta.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC – Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-Carmel Valley) voted to release reports and their attached exhibits by the Committee on Ways and Means and the Joint Committee on Taxation on the failures of the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) mandatory program to audit presidential and vice-presidential tax returns. Representative Panetta also cosponsored legislation to codify the program and ensure audits are completed in the future.

Since 1977, the IRS is supposed to conduct mandatory examinations of the federal income tax returns filed by Presidents and Vice Presidents of the United States. Under United States Code section 6103(f), the Ways and Means Committee can request, receive, and place into the congressional record any information associated with the IRS Presidential Audit Program. After two requests by the Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee and multiple court decisions over the past six years, the IRS recently released information to the Ways and Means Committee concerning the IRS audit of former President Donald Trump's tax returns. The staff of the Ways and Means Committee and the Joint Committee on Taxation reviewed the information associated with presidential audit program and each wrote a report. The reports found that during the former president's time in office, the IRS began one mandatory audit for his 2016 tax year and failed to do anything else. To demonstrate that failure by the IRS and to lay the proper foundation to codify the mandatory Presidential Audit Program, the Ways and Means Committee voted to place the reports and their exhibits into the congressional record, making them public. Moreover, based on that evidence, Chairman Neal, with the support of Representative Panetta as a cosponsor, introduced legislation to mandate the Presidential Audit Program under federal law.

""The mandatory Presidential Audit Program is crucial to ensuring that the highest officeholders in the land pay their taxes just like you and me. Unfortunately, the evidence shows that this program is broken, as the IRS failed to carry out any audits during the previous administration,"" said Congressman Panetta. ""As members of the Committee on Ways and Means, we have a duty to ensure that the IRS does its job and that the Presidential Audit Program works in the future. Fortunately, the Chairman, my fellow members of the Ways and Means Committee, and myself always have taken this issue very seriously and appreciated the gravity of releasing an individual's tax information. However, this evidence is necessary to not only prove to the American people the failures of the IRS, but also needed as foundational evidence for how we can best fix this program through the formulation of legislation that ensures that our tax laws are administered fairly.""

The legislation proposed by Chairman Neal codifies the Presidential Audit Program and provides the resources necessary for the IRS to prioritize the audits of Presidents and Vice Presidents. Chairman Neal first requested President Trump's tax returns from the IRS in 2019, but the Trump Administration refused. Chairman Neal challenged the Administration in court, until the Biden Administration instructed the Treasury to produce the returns in July 2021. President Trump intervened in the case, but his counterclaims and appeals were dismissed, leading him to file an emergency application for a stay at the Supreme Court. In November 2022, the Supreme Court vacated a prior stay and denied further applications, leading to the release of the returns and information about the Presidential Audit program to the Ways and Means Committee.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://pelosi.house.gov/news/press-releases/dear-colleague-to-all-members-on-president-volodymyr-zelenskyy-of-ukraine,Dear Colleague to All Members on President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine Addressing a Joint Meeting of Congress,2022-12-21,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Nancy Pelosi,P000197,pelosi.house.gov,pelosi,https://pelosi.house.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Dear Colleague,

It is with great pride and solemnity that, tonight, we will welcome President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine to address a Joint Meeting of Congress. This special session is anticipated to begin at 7:30 p.m. E.T.

I encourage you to read my letter of invitation to President Zelenskyy. As the fight for freedom in Ukraine wages on, we look forward to hearing his inspiring message of courage, unity and determination.

Please note that, for security reasons, the House Sergeant at Arms has announced that there will be no guests allowed in the House Gallery – with the exception of official guests of President Zelenskyy.

On a personal note: this is a moment fraught with meaning for me. My father, Congressman Thomas D'Alesandro, Jr., was a Member of the House in 1941 when Winston Churchill came to the Congress on the day after Christmas to enlist our nation's support in the fight against tyranny in Europe. Eighty-one years later this week, it is particularly poignant for me to be present when another heroic leader addresses the Congress in a time of war – and with Democracy itself on the line.

I hope that you will be there to be a part of a very special evening, which will be etched into history as well as part of your legacy.

NANCY PELOSI

Speaker of the House",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://pelosi.house.gov/news/press-releases/pelosi-invites-president-volodymyr-zelenskyy-of-ukraine-to-address-joint-meeting,Pelosi Invites President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine to Address Joint Meeting of Congress,2022-12-21,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Nancy Pelosi,P000197,pelosi.house.gov,pelosi,https://pelosi.house.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi sent the following letter on behalf of the bipartisan Congressional leadership to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine inviting him to address a Joint Meeting of Congress on Wednesday, December 21, 2022. The invitation comes as Ukraine continues to fight back against Russia's illegal, unprovoked invasion.

""In the face of Putin's horrific atrocities, Ukrainian freedom fighters have inspired the world with an iron will and an unbreakable spirit — fighting back against Russia's brutal, unjustified invasion,"" Speaker Pelosi wrote in a letter to President Zelenskyy. ""During this dark moment, your courageous, patriotic, indefatigable leadership has rallied not only your people, but the world, to join the frontlines of the fight for freedom.""

Speaker Pelosi continued: ""It is with immense respect and admiration for your extraordinary leadership that I extend on behalf of bipartisan Congressional leadership an invitation to address a Joint Meeting of Congress on Wednesday, December 21, 2022.""

Below is the text of the letter to the President:

* * *

December 20, 2022

His Excellency Volodymyr Zelenskyy

President of Ukraine

01220, Kyiv, 11 Bankova Str.

Dear Mr. President:

It is with immense respect and admiration for your extraordinary leadership that I extend on behalf of bipartisan Congressional leadership an invitation to address a Joint Meeting of Congress on Wednesday, December 21, 2022.

America and the world are in awe of the heroism of the Ukrainian people. In the face of Putin's horrific atrocities, Ukrainian freedom fighters have inspired the world with an iron will and an unbreakable spirit — fighting back against Russia's brutal, unjustified invasion.

During this dark moment, your courageous, patriotic, indefatigable leadership has rallied not only your people, but the world, to join the frontlines of the fight for freedom. America and our allies have proudly answered your call: imposing devastating sanctions on Putin and ensuring Ukraine has the resources it needs to win this war. And it was a privilege to hear from you and from Speaker Stefanchuk at the First Parliamentary Summit of the International Crimea Platform about how the importance of the free world's unshakable solidarity with Ukraine.

The fight for Ukraine is the fight for democracy itself. We look forward to hearing your inspiring message of unity, resilience and determination. Thank you for your leadership and consideration of this request.

best regards,",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://pelosi.house.gov/news/press-releases/transcript-of-pelosi-remarks-at-photo-opportunity-with-his-excellency-volodymyr,"Transcript of Pelosi Remarks at Photo Opportunity with His Excellency Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine",2022-12-21,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Nancy Pelosi,P000197,pelosi.house.gov,pelosi,https://pelosi.house.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi joinedHis Excellency Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, for a photo opportunity ahead of his address to a Joint Meeting of Congress. Below are the Speaker's remarks:

Speaker Pelosi. Good evening. It is a profound privilege, and with great pride, that I welcome President Zelenskyy to the Capitol of the United States. We have talked about the fact that, recently, a few months ago, we had the privilege of welcoming the first lady to this Temple of Democracy. She made a great case, for the need for more weapons, more humanitarian, more economic assistance, by talking about the children. I've told the president again and again that the children and the war – using women as a weapon of war is something that the Russians are going to have to answer for.

But today, at this time, here we are today to welcome the brave, courageous President Zelenskyy, in order to praise not only him, but the courageous, unified people of Ukraine, for what they are doing to protect Democracy. Over the last ten months since the invasion, you, Mr. President, and the Ukrainian people have met Putin's brutality with a strong will. Your visit comes as the Congress prepares to, again, pass another consequential round of security, economic and humanitarian assistance. Within the next 48 hours, hopefully, this will be done.

And I want to applaud President Biden's plans to deliver a Patriot defense system, additional HIMARS and other vital military equipment. We are very, very pleased at that decision by the President and the determination to get that done. And I give tribute to you, Mr. President, for making the case so clearly about how this is needed.

I was telling the president earlier that my father was a Member of Congress when Winston Churchill came here in 1941, the day after Christmas, really within a week in 81 years of today. And he made the case for calling upon America to help fight tyranny in Europe. He said at that time, ‘We are doing the noblest work in the world – not only defending hearth and homes, but the cause of freedom in every land.' That is exactly what the people of Ukraine are doing. Their own homes, their own hearth, but freedom and Democracy throughout the world.

Eight decades later, it is my official honor – my father was there as a Member of Congress 81 years ago – it's my official honor now to welcome President Zelenskyy to make an address to a Joint Session. And I said to the Members, my father being there that day was a source of pride, part of our family legacy. President Zelenskyy speaking to Congress today, and you being in the Chamber, will be a bright part of your own legacy.

Thank you, Mr. President, for honoring us with your presence. The entire Congress – Democrats and Republicans, House and Senate – look forward to hearing your message of unity, courage and determination. With that, I'm pleased to yield to the distinguished President of Ukraine, the courageous, determined, unified President of Ukraine, President Zelenskyy.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://ruiz.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/senate-passes-dr-ruizs-legislation-confirm-tribal-trust-land-agua,Senate Passes Dr. Ruiz's Legislation to Confirm Tribal Trust Land for Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians,2022-12-21,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Raul Ruiz,R000599,ruiz.house.gov,ruiz,https://ruiz.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Senate passed legislation authored by Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-36) to take more than 2,500 acres of land in the San Jacinto Mountains into trust for the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. H.R. 897, the Agua Caliente Land Exchange Fee to Trust Confirmation Act, is now headed the President’s desk to become law. Once signed into law, the bill would allow the Tribe to further their conservation efforts and practice consistent forest management.

“I am thrilled to see my bill, the Agua Caliente Land Exchange Fee to Trust Confirmation Act, pass the Senate and head to President Biden’s desk,” said Dr. Ruiz. “This soon-to-be law fulfills an agreement between the federal government and the Tribe and will bolster conservation of local lands, help protect our environment, and honor the federal government’s trust responsibility to Tribal nations. I look forward to supporting Chairman Milanovich and the Tribe manage these lands in accordance with their traditions and with respect for the environment and wildlife.”

“I am honored to have partnered with the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians to help reclaim sacred lands with long-standing cultural and natural resource values to the Cahuilla people,” said Senator Padilla. “Enactment of our legislation will finalize a decades-long endeavor between the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians and the federal government to allow for better land management and finally allow the Tribe to be the primary steward of these lands for the benefit of future generations. I thank my partners Congressman Ruiz and Senator Feinstein their work on this legislation, and I look forward to the President signing our bill into law.”

“The Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument was established in 2000,” said Tribal Chairman Reid D. Milanovich, of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. “The legislation establishing the Monument rightfully acknowledges the special cultural value of the mountains to the Tribe, including significant cultural sites, village sites, and petroglyphs located there. The Tribe has worked hard to preserve the resources and values of our mountains, and has made significant contributions to the cooperative management of these lands.”

“The Tribe has a long recognized history of maintaining public access to trails within the Monument boundary and is committed to keeping access the same as it was when it was managed by BLM,” Milanovich said. “The Bureau of Land Management and my tribe worked for 17 years, from 2002 to 2019, to finalize a land exchange agreement enabling a consolidation of “checkerboard” land ownership in and around the Tribe’s Reservation , and to provide more logical and consistent management for these 2,560 acres that are the subject of H.R. 897. These lands have longstanding cultural and natural resource value to the Cahuilla people.”

BACKGROUND

The Palm Springs area east of Mt. San Jacinto is home to the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians (ACBCI) and has been officially set aside by the United States government since 1876. All the land traditionally held by the Cahuilla people has been divided into even and odd parcels – known as a “checkerboard” – between the tribe, government, and private landowners.

Over the past few decades, ACBCI has been involved in a series of land transfers with the United States government to consolidate their land and reclaim historically and culturally valuable areas.

H.R. 897 would fulfill a 1999 agreement between the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians to acquire and exchange lands within the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument and allow these lands to be managed in a cooperative and coordinated manner. A land exchange for these parcels between BLM and ACBCI was finalized in March 2019.

The land that was acquired by ACBCI from the BLM through the land exchange is in a remote wilderness area within the Monument and will be managed as conservation land similar to how the land was managed by the BLM.

Taking this land into trust will complete the BLM-ACBCI agreement and allow ACBCI and BLM to consolidate the “checkerboard” land ownership in and around the Agua Caliente Indian Reservation. The goal of consolidating the land ownership is to provide more logical and consistent land management.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://sarajacobs.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-sara-jacobs-statement-on-president-zelenskyys-address-to-congress,Rep. Sara Jacobs’ Statement on President Zelenskyy’s Address to Congress,2022-12-21,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Sara Jacobs,J000305,sarajacobs.house.gov,sarajacobs,https://sarajacobs.house.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Following Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s address to a Joint Meeting of Congress, Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (CA-53) released the following statement:

“It was incredible to witness history and welcome President Zelenskyy to Congress. The United States’ continued support for Ukraine against Russia’s unprovoked aggression must remain a top priority. We need to see Ukraine through this winter, the end of this conflict, and the eventual reconstruction and recovery. That’s why I’m glad the House will pass $45 billion in additional funding for Ukraine and my provision of allowing the U.S. to provide assistance to the ICC’s investigation so we can ensure accountability and justice. Earlier this month, I was back in Ukraine and saw firsthand that their strength and resolve are stronger than ever. Our unwavering support – through weapons and economic and humanitarian aid – will continue turning that resolve into results on the battlefield so we can help end this war.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://sarajacobs.house.gov/news/press-releases/reps-jacobs-keating-mcgovern-and-sen-leahy-announce-letter-to-president-biden-calling-on-the-administration-to-review-us-policy-towards-cluster-munitions-and-prohibit-their-use-by-the-us-military,"Reps. Jacobs, Keating, McGovern, and Sen. Leahy Announce Letter to President Biden Calling on the Administration to Review U.S. Policy Towards Cluster Munitions and Prohibit Their Use by the U.S. Military",2022-12-21,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Sara Jacobs,J000305,sarajacobs.house.gov,sarajacobs,https://sarajacobs.house.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Today Representative Sara Jacobs (D-CA) joined Chairman Bill Keating (D-MA) of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe, Energy, the Environment, and Cyber; Chair Jim McGovern (D-MA) of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission; and Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, in sending a letter to President Biden urging him to review the Administration’s cluster munitions policy. Subsequent to this requested review, the authors are urging the Biden administration to take all the necessary steps to revise the Department of Defense’s (DoD) 2017 Policy on Cluster Munitions and ultimately ban the development, sale, and use of these weapons while expediting the destruction of our stockpile of cluster munitions.

Co-signers of the letter include: Representatives Blumenauer, Grijalva, Khanna, Lee, Malinowski, Murphy, and Norton.

Representative Sara Jacobs said, “The United States’ cluster munition policy stands in direct conflict with our values and our reputation as human rights defenders around the world,” said Congresswoman Sara Jacobs. “Cluster munitions keep killing long after their initial use, injuring and killing generations of civilians and preventing successful rebuilding and economic recovery in the countries where they’re used. We’ve seen Russia’s horrific use of cluster munitions in Ukraine – and we cannot faithfully criticize their actions while continuing to stockpile these deadly weapons ourselves. It’s long overdue to apply our values consistently to our national security policies and end the use, production, export, and stockpiling of cluster munitions.”

Representative Keating said, “In April of this year, my colleagues and I sent a letter to President Biden following Russia’s renewed invasion of Ukraine and Putin’s use of cluster munitions. The use of cluster munitions in Ukraine by the Russian government has renewed the discussion related to US policy toward cluster munitions. Recognizing the harm that these munitions have caused in Ukraine against civilians, I believe the time has finally come for the United States to ban their use and destroy and remaining stockpiles we have.”

Senator Leahy said, “Cluster munitions are notorious for the indiscriminate carnage they inflict on civilians, and for that reason the Biden Administration rightly condemned Russia for using them in Ukraine. The convention banning cluster munition has been signed by 123 countries, but not the United States. The White House should recognize that these weapons do not belong in the arsenals of civilized nations, and put the U.S. on a path to join the convention.”

“Every year, countless innocent civilians around the world are injured and killed by cluster munitions. These weapons cause horrific suffering and death, and the bottom line is that they have no place in the world today. America cannot fairly criticize Russia for using cluster munitions in Ukraine while continuing to stockpile these weapons for future use,” said Congressman McGovern. “As Co-Chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, I strongly believe that America must be a leader on this issue, stand up for human rights and the protection of civilians, and prohibit the use of these barbaric and indiscriminate weapons by our military.”

Background: The United States last used cluster munitions during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003, with the exception of a single attack in Yemen in December 2009. The U.S. has not exported cluster munitions of any kind since 2015, and they are no longer produced by any American company. The United States is also by far the world’s leading supporter of efforts to clear unexploded cluster munitions from battlefields and to aid the victims.

The Honorable Joseph R. Biden

President

The White House

Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President,

Since Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, the world has witnessed, again, the devastating consequences of cluster munitions. Preliminary data collected by the Cluster Munition Monitor 2022 has documented at least 689 reported casualties due to cluster munition attacks in Ukraine in the first half of 2022 alone.

In a special United Nations meeting on March 2, 2022, UN Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield criticized Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in part for using cluster munitions, which she said have “no place on the battlefield.” Shortly thereafter, her speech was revised, removing that phrase, because the United States itself has yet to renounce these weapons. It is time for the United States to become a leader in banning cluster munitions which have a long history of causing disproportionate and indiscriminate harm to civilians.

While we welcome your administration’s recent review of, and improvements to, U.S. policy on anti-personnel landmines, and support for policies related to the protection of civilians in conflict more broadly, we have seen no indication of a similar review regarding cluster munitions. As a first step, we urge you to review your administration’s cluster munitions policy and revise the Department of Defense’s (DoD) 2017 Policy on Cluster Munitions, with the goal of banning these weapons. Additionally, we urge you to expedite the destruction of stockpiled cluster munitions, whose destruction was initiated by President George W. Bush.

Recognizing the harm these munitions cause, the United States is by far the world’s leading supporter of efforts to clear unexploded cluster munitions from battlefields and to aid the victims. In Laos, these efforts are addressing DoD’s past use of the weapons, which continue to kill and maim civilians and make land inaccessible, 50 years later.

The United States last used cluster munitions during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003, except for a single attack in Yemen in December 2009. We have not exported cluster munitions of any kind since 2015 and they are no longer produced by any American company.

Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield was right. If the United States used cluster munitions today we would be criticized as we have condemned the Russians for using them in Ukraine. We should be leading the global effort to rid the world of these weapons, not continuing to stockpile them. The Convention on Cluster Munitions, which bans the weapons entirely, is supported by a majority of our NATO allies and 110 countries worldwide. We urge you to promptly order a review of U.S. policy on cluster munitions with the goal of halting their use, production, export, and stockpiling and putting the United States on a path to join the Convention on Cluster Munitions by a date certain.

[[CLOSING]]

[[SIGNATURES]]",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://carbajal.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1316,"Carbajal, Local Health Officials Announce $1,600,000 in New Federal Grants to Improve COVID-19 Booster Rates",2022-12-20,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Salud O. Carbajal,C001112,carbajal.house.gov,carbajal,https://carbajal.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Today, Congressman Salud Carbajal joined local health officials to announce four new federal grants totaling $1,634,218 aimed at raising the number of Central Coast residents who have received the new bivalent COVID-19 booster, which is designed to combat more recent variants of the novel coronavirus.

“While we have made great strides at reducing COVID-19’s control over our lives on the Central Coast, the constantly-improving tools that we have to keep this virus at bay won’t help anyone if people fail to take the time to use them,” said Rep. Carbajal. “In order to keep our communities and frontline workers protected from newer strains of COVID-19, and keep our hospitals from being overrun in this perfect storm of multiple infectious illnesses this winter, we need more people to get these boosters. I’m proud that the federal funding that I’ve supported for our federal health departments are coming back to help our local health officials get these shots in arms as quickly as possible.”

“The best thing you can give your family this holiday season is the gift of good health – and that means getting your booster and flu shots as soon as possible, and staying home if you’re feeling sick,”Rep. Carbajal added.

The following grants from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) were announced today by Rep. Carbajal:

$1,041,493 for Community Health Centers of the Central Coast

$265,765 for the County of Santa Barbara

$214,258 for Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics

$112,702 American Indian Health & Services

The funding is made possible by a 12% increase in the HHS annual budget which Rep. Carbajal voted to approve in March 2022.

""We are incredibly fortunate to receive this funding from our Federal partners and HRSA to increase COVID-19 vaccines and vaccine awareness, with a specific focus on underserved populations. As we know from our patients and as is reported regularly in the news, COVID is still an ongoing concern even as we pivot from the pandemic footing back into our role as a key provider in our County’s Health Care Safety Net Delivery System,” said Dana Gamble, Deputy Director of the Primary Care and Family Health Division at the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department. “This funding will ensure we have resources through May 2023 to support a number of our COVID activities designed to promote the widespread availability of vaccines in our community and increase the demand for the highly effective boosters.”

""Community Health Centers of the Central Coast (CHC) is honored to be selected for the Federal Government's continued investment in the health and wellbeing of our area's most vulnerable and underserved residents, such as farmworkers, low-income families, seniors, and the uninsured,” said Ron Castle, CEO of Community Health Centers of the Central Coast. “The Expanding COVID-19 Vaccination (ECV) Funding will serve as a vital resource in our work towards education of and providing the COVID-19 Vaccine and boosters. Being fully vaccinated continues to be the most effective way to mitigate the effects of COVID-19, and this funding through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) will allow CHC to continue this effort.""

“SBNC considers preventative health a key pillar of excellent health care services. Immunizations, known for decades to be safe and effective, are an important, but underutilized, part of preventative care,” said Dr. Susan Lawton, Chief Medical Officer for Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics. “Our primary care Family Medicine, Internal Medicine and Pediatrics providers all focus on keeping our seen patients up to date on recommended vaccines for their age. One area of focus for SBNC is creating a program whereby we can reach out to our assigned but not yet seen patients to spread the protection of vaccines throughout the community.”

“It is important more than ever, especially at the peak of the flu season and with an increase of in-person travel and loved ones coming together for the holidays, that we continue to vaccinate those that can be vaccinated,” said Scott Black, Chief Executive Officer, American Indian Health & Services. “AIH&S will work closely with other community partners in making sure that not only our patients have access to these vaccines, but that everyone in the community will have access to these vaccines. We are all one community.”

Currently, less than twenty percent of eligible Santa Barbara County residents have received the latest version of the COVID-19 booster. Nearly 70 percent of County residents have completed their primary series of vaccinations.

The public health officials and Rep. Carbajal also used today’s announcement to encourage Central Coast residents to be mindful of elevated rates of three different infectious diseases ahead of holiday gatherings and travel this month: COVID-19, seasonal influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

Central Coast residents were encouraged to get their updated boosters and flu shot as soon as possible, stay home from work or school when you are sick, and practice other good health habits including frequent hand washing, wearing a face covering, and covering your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing.

Central Coast residents can find a COVID-19 booster or flu shot near them by visiting vaccines.gov.

Rep. Carbajal also highlighted his recent work helping introduce the Protecting America from Seasonal and Pandemic Influenza Act (the “Influenza Act”), which would bolster federal response to seasonal and pandemic influenza as seasonal flu rates.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://huffman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-blake-moore-and-jared-huffmans-legislation-to-help-save-the-great-salt-lake-heads-to-the-presidents-desk,Congressman Blake Moore & Jared Huffman’s Legislation to Help Save the Great Salt Lake Heads to the President’s Desk,2022-12-20,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Jared Huffman,H001068,huffman.house.gov,huffman,https://huffman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Last night, Congressman Blake Moore’s Saline Lake Ecosystems in the Great Basin States Program Act passed the Senate. Introduced with Congressman Jared Huffman (D-CA) and led by Senators Merkley (D-OR) and Romney (R-UT) in the Senate, this legislation would establish a scientific monitoring and assessment program to help save the Great Salt Lake and other saline lakes in the West. The bill now heads to the White House to be signed into law by President Biden.

""Public waters like the Great Basin saline lakes are vital for the futures of wildlife and the communities whose livelihoods depend on them. How we manage them, especially in the face climate change and severe drought, should be led by science,” said Congressman Jared Huffman. “Our bill will get us the data needed to understand how water supplies and habitats are changing, assess future water needs, and develop management solutions to help these ecosystems thrive for generations – and I’m glad to see pass the Senate and on its way to become law.”

“I am so appreciative of Governor Cox, Speaker Wilson, Joel Ferry, and the state legislature for their consistent support of and collaboration on this critical legislation,” said Congressman Blake Moore. “I was grateful to use my role in Congress to play a part in this solutions-oriented approach to one of our region’s greatest challenges. Over the last two years, I have worked with Senator Romney and the Utah delegation to bring awareness and solutions to the challenges that threaten the Great Salt Lake and our neighboring saline lakes. I am thrilled this bill has received the support necessary to head to the president’s desk, and I thank all who have worked on this legislation to get it to the finish line.”

""This is a superb bill for the future of the Great Salt Lake and the animals and people who rely on it,” said Governor Spencer Cox. “It would address the economic value associated with the lake and the importance of migratory birds, help fill gaps in science around hydrology, integrate existing work being done on water quality, and assess future water needs. This legislation could be a key to ensuring the viability of the Great Salt Lake far into the future.""

“The Great Salt Lake continuing to shrink will result in lasting negative consequences to Utah’s ecosystem, economy and quality of life,” said Utah Senate President J. Stuart Adams. “The Utah Legislature’s efforts, combined with those in Congress, will have significant and positive impacts. I appreciate Congressman Moore’s work and leadership on this issue at the federal level and look forward to reviewing and utilizing the findings to further our efforts to protect the Great Salt Lake.”

“Saving the Great Salt Lake and protecting our available water sources is no small task and will require significant efforts from all Utahns – government, organizations, businesses, and individuals,” said Speaker Brad Wilson. “I appreciate Congressman Moore’s efforts to bring attention to and funding for the Great Salt Lake from a national level. As Utah’s leaders, we are doing everything we can to ensure Utah has enough water to meet our current needs and continue to support a growing and thriving population.”

“Our lands and waters—including saline lakes in Oregon like Lake Abert and Goose Lake—are integral to the survival of countless animals and migratory birds,” said Senator Merkley. “These ecosystems must be protected, but we can’t do that without sufficient data. With the passage of this bipartisan bill, we are one step closer to securing the studies and science needed to put long-term plans into action to ensure our saline lakes ecosystems can thrive for generations to come.”

“With the Great Salt Lake currently at the lowest levels ever recorded, we must do whatever is necessary to save it,” said Senator Romney. “I was proud to lead this legislation with Senator Merkley and Congressman Moore, which will establish a scientific foundation and ongoing monitoring system to inform coordinated management and conservation actions for threatened Great Basin saline lake ecosystems and the communities who depend on them. This legislation will complement and help elevate the work already being done by the State of Utah to understand this key resource and the role it plays as part of the larger landscape. I urge President Biden to sign our bill without delay so we can save this iconic and cherished part of Utah.”

“Great Salt Lake and the network of saline lake ecosystems in the arid West face very serious challenges with increasingly low water levels, placing local communities and millions of migratory birds at risk,” said Marcelle Shoop, Saline Lakes Program Director for the National Audubon Society. “The additional resources and technical expertise provided within this indispensable science-based program will build on current efforts locally to conserve these habitats, while advancing collaborative solutions across the Great Basin to protect people and birds. Audubon is grateful to Rep. Moore and Rep. Huffman, and Sen. Merkley and Sen. Romney, for championing this important bill.”

“This was a great effort to get this help through Congress at this time,” said Scott W. Paxman, General Manager and CEO of the Weber Basin Water Conservancy District. “The Great Salt Lake, as well as other saline lakes in the region, require all hands on deck. My hope is that the Saline Lake Ecosystems in the Great Basin States Program Act will bring many of us together to help us understand all of the issues impacting these lakes and thus bringing us closer to real solutions.”

The Saline Lake Ecosystems in the Great Basin States Program Act would provide the U.S. Geological Survey—in coordination with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and tribal, state, academic, and nonprofit organizations—resources to conduct scientific monitoring and assessments to establish effective management and conservation efforts to preserve essential Saline Lake habitats within the Great Basin network.

The Saline Lake Ecosystems in the Great Basin States Program Act builds on the important, work being done in the Utah State Legislature to address this issue. In addition, the bill has received support from Governor Cox and several organizations, including: the National Audubon Society, Compass Minerals, Trout Unlimited, Rio Tinto Kennecott, the Utah Waterfowl Association, the Utah Airboat Association, the Utah Wetlands Foundation, the Nature Conservancy in Utah, Friends of Great Salt Lake, the Weber Basin Water Conservancy District, the Great Salt Lake Brine Shrimp Cooperative, the Utah Audubon Council, and the National Wildlife Federation. The bill supports the work authorized under the , which passed the Utah State Legislature unanimously in 2019.

The bill is also cosponsored by Representatives Susie Lee (D-NV), Jay Obernolte (R-CA), Jim Costa (D-CA), Mike Thompson (D-CA), Burgess Owens (R-UT), John Curtis (R-UT), Chris Stewart (R-UT), and Mark Amodei (R-NV).

The bill text can be found . The coalition support letter can be found and Governor Cox’s support letter can be found .",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://huffman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-huffman-lauds-usps-announcement-to-transition-postal-fleet-to-electric-vehicles,Rep. Huffman Lauds USPS Announcement to Transition Postal Fleet to Electric Vehicles,2022-12-20,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Jared Huffman,H001068,huffman.house.gov,huffman,https://huffman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) released the following statement after the United States Postal Service (USPS) announced a historic $9.6 billion investment over the next five years to electrify its delivery fleet. The USPS investment includes electrifying 75% of its new purpose-built Next Generation Delivery Vehicles (NGDV) and a commitment to acquire 100% electric NGDVs starting in 2026. This $9.6 billion investment – which includes $3 billion in funding from the Inflation Reduction Act – installs modern charging infrastructure at hundreds of USPS facilities, electrifies 66,000 delivery vehicles, and modernizes mail delivery by creating a smarter network to more efficiently reach its 163 million delivery locations across the country and further strengthen the sustainability of this critical public service.

“This breakthrough agreement is fantastic news for the future of the USPS, our economy, and the planet. For nearly a decade, I’ve led the charge in Congress for this commonsense transition and now – thanks to the hard work of the Biden administration and the funding we provided in the Inflation Reduction Act, it’s finally happening,” said Rep. Huffman. “Moving the world’s largest civilian vehicle fleet to clean, reliable, cost-effective EV’s is a game changer. It will help revitalize our beleaguered Postal Service, save taxpayers billions of dollars in fuel and maintenance costs, and supercharge America's transition to zero-emission vehicles. I’m incredibly grateful to the many leaders who worked to make this happen – including CEQ Chair Brenda Mallory and Representative Caroline Maloney, who were tireless allies in making this happen.”

Rep. Huffman has been a leader on electrifying the USPS Postal Fleet since his first term in Congress. He has advocated to include funding for USPS vehicle electrification in yearly appropriations bills since 2014. Additionally, he has introduced legislation to provide the funding needed to transition to electric vehicles, such as the FLEET Act, first introduced in 2014, as well as the more recently introduced Postal Vehicle Modernization Act of 2021. This legislation would require at least 75% of the new USPS fleet electric or zero emission and provides $6 billion to enable the Postal Service to reach that 75% electric vehicle target. Budgetary provisions from that bill were included in the reconciliation package that passed out of the House last fall.

Following the announcement of the USPS’ NGDV contract with Oshkosh in 2021, Rep. Huffman has taken several actions to push for investigation into the contract and increase the number of electric vehicles:

Huffman joined Representative Marcy Kaptur in a House Resolution calling on the Biden administration to halt the contract until an investigation can be conducted. He also led a letter to the USPS Board of Governors requesting they halt the contract until the three vacancies on the Board of Governors are filled.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://huffman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-huffman-lowenthal-and-sens-merkley-booker-call-on-biden-to-set-plastic-pollution-reduction-standards,"Reps. Huffman, Lowenthal and Sens. Merkley, Booker Call on Biden to Set Plastic Pollution Reduction Standards",2022-12-20,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Jared Huffman,H001068,huffman.house.gov,huffman,https://huffman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Following the first meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC), which aims to develop an internationally legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, U.S. Representatives Jared Huffman (CA-02) and Alan Lowenthal (CA-47) and U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) led a letter to the Biden administration calling for them to set meaningful standards to address the global plastic pollution crisis at home and abroad.

“In light of the first meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC), which continues to work to develop an internationally legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, U.S. leadership in reducing environmental harm from plastics has never been more critical,” the members said in their letter. “The Protecting Communities from Plastics Act and the Break Free from Plastic Pollution Act address this issue head on by requiring that we make less single-use plastics, protecting environmental justice communities by strengthening bedrock environmental laws, and investing in understanding the human health impacts of plastics. These types of actions show leadership and demonstrate that the U.S. is eager and supportive of policies that will meaningfully reduce plastic pollution.”

The plastics sector is already responsible for more global greenhouse gas emissions than the entire aviation sector, and as the world transitions to clean and renewable energy, demand for oil is projected to shift to petrochemicals with plastics estimated to account for 20% of oil demand by 2050. This plastic pollution crisis also comes with decades of environmental injustices – driven by the siting of petrochemical and harmful waste management facilities in low-income communities and communities of color.

The letter was cosigned by Representatives Jared Huffman (CA-02), Alan Lowenthal (CA-47), Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Sean Casten (IL-06), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11), Lloyd Doggett (TX-35), Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-03), Ted Lieu (CA-33), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Jimmy Panetta (CA-20), Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18), Barbara Lee (CA-13), Mike Levin (CA-49), and Rashida Tlaib (MI-13), and Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Bernard Sanders (I-VT).

The full letter can be viewed here or below:

President Joseph R. Biden

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue

Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Biden:

We write to encourage your Administration to expand its current efforts on reducing plastic pollution and the harmful impacts that plastics have on our communities and our climate throughout their entire lifecycle. In light of the first meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC), which continues to work to develop an internationally legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, U.S. leadership in reducing environmental harm from plastics has never been more critical.

Plastic pollution can no longer be looked at as a stand-alone environmental issue. As plastic production globally has soared to over 360 million metric tons, plastic pollution has been found around the entire globe – from the deepest trenches in the ocean to within our bodies. Each year, nearly 11 million metric tons of plastic waste flow into the ocean from land-based sources alone. Without immediate action, that number is expected to triple by the year 2040[1]. There is growing scientific evidence that microplastics, and the toxic chemicals they contain, are impacting human health to degrees not yet understood[2].

Fossil-fuel derived petrochemicals are at the root of impacts to environmental justice communities, the climate crisis, and the plastic pollution epidemic. The plastics sector is already responsible for more global greenhouse gas emissions than the entire aviation sector, and as the world transitions to clean and renewable energy, demand for oil is projected to shift to petrochemicals with plastics estimated to account for 20% of oil demand by 2050[3]. As plastic production continues to grow, so will associated greenhouse gas emissions, threatening to put our climate goals further out of reach.

This plastic pollution crisis also comes with decades of environmental injustices – driven by the siting of petrochemical and harmful waste management facilities in low-income communities and communities of color, exposing entire communities to harmful air and water with major human health consequences for surrounding communities, including increased incidences of asthma, cancers, endocrine disruption, developmental disorders, and heart disease. For decades, much of our plastic waste has been sent overseas where informal waste pickers collect, sort, and sell approximately 60% of all plastics collected for recycling globally[4], and because of their work suffer hazardous working conditions including exposure to harmful air, water, and soil pollution. A global agreement to address plastic pollution should start at home, ensuring would-be sacrifice zones transition into communities who benefit from a clean, circular economy.

The U.S. is the top consumer of plastics and as a country we rank as high as third among countries contributing to coastal plastic pollution. As one of the leading drivers of this crisis, we have a responsibility to help move the world in the right direction. In light of the recent INC meetings, it is imperative that the United States work both at home and abroad to set high rules and standards to address the plastic production and waste crisis upstream at the source. We need to take leadership and urgent action, starting here at home, to protect our communities, our economy, and our climate from the continued threat from plastics.

The Protecting Communities from Plastics Act and the Break Free from Plastic Pollution Act address this issue head on by requiring that we make less single-use plastics, protecting environmental justice communities by strengthening bedrock environmental laws, and investing in understanding the human health impacts of plastics. These types of actions show leadership and demonstrate that the U.S. is eager and supportive of policies that will meaningfully reduce plastic pollution.

The global legally binding instrument is an unprecedented opportunity to address our plastic pollution crisis and our climate crisis in tandem. We applaud your Administration’s continued leadership on this issue and stand ready to support you in setting ambitious reduction targets for plastics at the domestic and international level. As the first INC concludes, the world will be looking to the U.S. to set a strong example through regulations and holding companies accountable for the waste they create. We urge you to set meaningful standards to address the global plastic pollution crisis at home and beyond.

Sincerely,

[Members of Congress]",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://khanna.house.gov/media/press-releases/icymi-khanna-publishes-op-ed-foreign-affairs-calling-new-economic-patriotism,ICYMI: KHANNA PUBLISHES OP-ED IN FOREIGN AFFAIRS CALLING FOR A NEW ECONOMIC PATRIOTISM,2022-12-20,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Ro Khanna,K000389,khanna.house.gov,khanna,https://khanna.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representative Ro Khanna (D-CA) published a piece in Foreign Affairs outlining how the American dream has been downsized. Khanna calls for a new economic patriotism to increase domestic production, bring jobs back from overseas, and promote exports. He argues that an agenda focused on regional revitalization will offer hope to places that have endured decades of decline and also reduce tensions with China.

Click here for the full Foreign Affairs article and see below for excerpts from the piece.

The New Industrial Age By Representative Ro Khanna

""For many citizens, the American dream has been downsized. In recent decades, the United States has ceased to be the world's workshop and become increasingly reliant on importing goods from abroad. Since 1998, the widening U.S. trade deficit has cost the country five million well-paying manufacturing jobs and led to the closure of nearly 70,000 factories. Small towns have been hollowed out and communities destroyed. Society has grown more unequal as wealth has been concentrated in major coastal cities and former industrial regions have been abandoned. As it has become harder for Americans without a college degree to reach the middle class, the withering of social mobility has stoked anger, resentment, and distrust. The loss of manufacturing has hurt not only the economy but also American democracy.""

[…] Americans should embrace a new economic patriotism that calls for increasing domestic production, bringing jobs back from overseas, and promoting exports. An agenda focused on regional revitalization will offer hope to places that have endured decades of decline as policymakers watched haplessly and offered little more than Band-Aids to people laid off as a result of automation and outsourcing. A commitment to rebuild the U.S. industrial base does not mean the country should turn its back on the world and adopt the kind of insular economic nationalism that powered the 2016 Brexit vote in the United Kingdom. Instead, the United States can revive important industries while still preserving key trading relationships, welcoming immigrants, and encouraging the dynamism and innovation of its people.

[…] The trade deficit is an important proxy for the decline of the United States' industrial base. In the first decade of this century, as MIT economist David Autor has shown, the United States lost 2.4 million jobs because labor-intensive industries moved to China. Beijing's new trade status and low wages, along with its undervalued currency, incentivized U.S. companies to relocate manufacturing facilities there. Two decades later, the job loss count is up to 3.7 million, owing to the mushrooming trade deficit with China. The deficit reflects the decline in domestic industry: manufacturing accounted for 71 percent of the world's trade in 2020, and nearly 73 percent of U.S. imports from China in 2019 were manufactured goods. Put bluntly, by running a trade deficit with Beijing, Washington creates jobs in China instead of in the United States.

[…] To become a more committed exporter, the United States needs to make more things at home. The administration can unleash manufacturing and production at a level not seen since World War II. First, it should set up a new Economic Development Council, which would report to the president, to invest in and build partnerships with industry. It would have the authority to study the trade deficit and solicit information from across the federal government, academia, and the private sector. This Economic Development Council should convene key agencies—including the Departments of Commerce, Defense, Energy, the Interior, State, and the Treasury, along with the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative—as well as private-sector representatives, to determine the necessary capital investment needed to make the United States the world's preeminent manufacturing power again. In crafting strategies for revitalizing deindustrialized parts of the country, it should look, for example, at the volumes of data that Hanson is compiling on both the economic and the social conditions in distressed economic regions. Executing a broad agenda of reindustrialization requires a coordinating body to ensure that all agencies are working in sync.

[…] Aluminum is another industry in which the United States has lost considerable ground to China. In 1980, the United States was the world's top producer, but it fell last year to ninth place in global aluminum production. China accounts for 57 percent of global aluminum production. In 2001, the United States had over 90,000 aluminum workers; today, it has about 56,000. Cheap and cost-effective aluminum smelting depends on low-cost energy sources, which is why China uses coal plants for aluminum production. The United States can use cleaner green energy to produce aluminum and take the lead in another industry of tomorrow, in the process bringing back tens of thousands of jobs.

[…] The Biden administration's Inflation Reduction Act and the CHIPS and Science Act have revitalized industry by investing hundreds of billions of dollars in key technologies of the future. As a result, a new $20 billion Intel semiconductor factory complex in Ohio will create more than 10,000 jobs in the state. The memory and data storage firm Micron, an American comp""any that also has three locations in Taiwan, will invest $100 billion and create 50,000 new jobs in upstate New York, and Kentucky will be home to a potentially $1 billion Ascend Elements lithium-ion battery facility. The return of these companies to the United States was enabled in part by automation. But they will still create many better-paying jobs than are now available. The United States is already on pace to bring back 350,000 jobs from overseas in 2022. Reshoring manufacturing to the United States is possible.

[…] Reindustrializing the United States need not come at the expense of the rest of the world. The United States and the G-7 should offer an alternative to China's vast Belt and Road Initiative, which finances infrastructure outside China. To do so, Washington should find out what developing countries need and want, respect their right to self-determination, and chart a development future that best serves their people instead of creating debtor countries as Chinese policies have done. Washington should also share technological know-how with friendly low-income countries so they can develop their own modern industries. Not every part of the supply chain can return to the United States, so Americans will need to help partners gain access to the materials and develop the production capability to build the goods the United States still needs to import.

[…] A new economic patriotism calls for a globalization rooted in the interests of ordinary Americans, not the unrestricted version that has shredded the United States' economic and social fabric over the past four decades. Rebalancing trade through domestic production will help lessen tensions with China, realize the promise of a thriving democracy at home, and ensure that globalization works for all Americans, not just some.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://khanna.house.gov/media/press-releases/release-khanna-padilla-introduce-landmark-police-reform-bill-prevent-use-lethal,"RELEASE: KHANNA, PADILLA INTRODUCE LANDMARK POLICE REFORM BILL TO PREVENT THE USE OF LETHAL FORCE",2022-12-20,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Ro Khanna,K000389,khanna.house.gov,khanna,https://khanna.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representative Ro Khanna (D-CA) and U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) joined forces to introduce the PEACE Act to change the federal standard for the use of force by federal officers to require that force be used only when necessary to prevent imminent death or serious bodily injury. The PEACE Act was passed by the House in the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act last Congress. This is the first time the bill has been introduced in the Senate.

Click here for the full House bill text and here for an article in TheGrio on the bill.

The groundbreaking use of force reform legislation would also incentivize states who wish to receiving additional public safety funding from the U.S. Department of Justice to enact similar legislation to require a comparable standard for local police officers. The federal effort builds on California's historic legislation (AB 392, ""Act to Save Lives"") enshrining the ""necessity"" standard.

""The use of force should always be a last resort. This bill is about preventing the deadly escalation of force to save innocent lives and protect police officer's lives as well. Everyone is safer when we prioritize communication and de-escalation,"" said Rep. Khanna. ""I'm proud to be introducing a historic police reform bill with Senator Padilla. This is a change that is long overdue.""

""We must ensure that law enforcement officers, who put their lives on the line every day to ensure our safety, have clear guidelines on the use of deadly force. Unfortunately, we've seen over and over again the tragic consequences, particularly in communities of color, when we don't. The PEACE Act will work to raise the standard on use of deadly force to save lives and hold the federal law enforcement officers who serve our communities to the high standard that Americans deserve,"" said Senator Padilla.

Raising the federal standard for the use of force and incentivizing states to do so through federal funding mechanisms wasthe first recommendation in a letter to House Leadership signed by 450+ organizations, including the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, Amnesty International USA, the American Civil Liberties Union and other civil rights groups around the country.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://lieu.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-lieu-leads-letter-cable-providers-aapi-programming,REP LIEU LEADS LETTER TO CABLE PROVIDERS ON AAPI PROGRAMMING,2022-12-20,2022,2022-12,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), Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Whip, led nine other Members of Congress in calling on the six largest cable companies in the country to expand their AAPI program offerings.

A 2021 Pew Research study found that the Asian American population nearly doubled between 2000 and 2019, and is projected to surpass 46 million by 2060, making it the fastest-growing racial or ethnic group in the United States. However, there are currently no non-premium Asian language channels being offered nationally by these six cable distributors.

The letter, sent to the CEOs of Altice USA, Charter Communications, Comcast, Cox Communications, DISH Network, and Verizon, expresses the need for increased AAPI access and representation in cable television content. The letter was also signed by Reps. Judy Chu, Grace Meng, Mark Takano, Dina Titus, Susie Lee, Alan Lowenthal, Thomas Suozzi, Pramila Jayapal, and Andy Kim.

In the letter, the Members write:

As Members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (""CAPAC""), we write today to request that DISH Network expand the availability of Asian American and Pacific Islander (""AAPI"") television programming across the country. Culturally specific and in-language programming brings comfort, empowerment, and a sense of belonging to viewers from these communities. For those outside of the AAPI community, AAPI-specific television programming can provide positive exposure to new cultures and help combat discrimination and harmful stereotyping against AAPIs.

According to data from the 2020 U.S. Census, the Asian population is the fastest growing racial group in the United States, having grown nearly 36 percent over the past 10 years. However, there are no non-premium Asian language channels currently being carried nationally by major multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs).

Cable providers like DISH Network have the ability to uplift AAPI voices and inform the public on critical issues and news that uniquely affect AAPI communities. Therefore, we ask that you provide the following information regarding what you are doing to ensure that our communities have access to AAPI-specific programming:

What steps are you taking to increase the number of non-premium Asian language channels you distribute?

Do you have plans to expand any current in-language programming to additional markets with growing Asian populations?

What issues or barriers do you face in carrying AAPI-specific television programming?

Would you like to provide any other information regarding AAPI-specific television content and your efforts regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion in relation to the AAPI community?

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

READ THE FULL TEXT OF THE LETTER HERE

Note: this letter was also sent to Mr. Hans Vestberg, CEO of Verizon, Mr. Dennis Mathew, CEO of Altice USA, Mr. Chris Winfrey, CEO of Charter Communications, Mr. Brian L. Roberts, CEO of Comcast, and Mr. Pat Esser, CEO of Cox Communications.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://lindasanchez.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/s-nchez-statement-ways-means-committee-decision-publicly-release,Sánchez statement on Ways & Means Committee decision to publicly release investigation findings,2022-12-20,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Linda T. Sánchez,S001156,lindasanchez.house.gov,lindasanchez,https://lindasanchez.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Tonight, Congresswoman Linda T. Sánchez (D-CA), a senior Member on the Ways and Means Committee, voted to publicly release the Committee's investigation of the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) Mandatory Audit Program under the prior administration. After the vote, Congresswoman Sánchez issued the following statement:

""As a senior member on the Ways and Means Committee, part of my job is safeguarding our tax code and ensuring that tax laws are applied evenly and fairly to all, regardless of wealth or power,"" said Congresswoman Linda T. Sánchez. ""Tonight's decision comes after four years of this Committee's work to review how the IRS enforces compliance with federal tax laws by a president. Our review found that under the prior administration, the program was dormant and failed to address the complexity of the president's situation.""

Congresswoman Sánchez continued: ""Releasing the findings of our investigation, coupled with our proposed legislation to ensure the IRS has the capacity to do its job fairly, will help ensure no one is above the law. I thank Chairman Richard Neal and my colleagues on this Committee for their commitment to ensuring that our tax laws are fair for all across the board — from working families to former presidents.""

The Committee's report is available HERE, and JCT's report (Attachment I) is available HERE.

Chairman Neal's Presidential Tax Filings and Audit Transparency Act of 2022(Attachment J).

Attachment A, Attachment B, Attachment C, Attachment D, Attachment F, Attachment G, & Attachment H.

Attachment E will be made available on the Committee's website as soon as possible.

The vote to go into Executive Session was 23-16, and the vote to transmit the documents to the House was 24-16.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://matsui.house.gov/media/in-the-news/mobihealth-news-digital-health-literacy,MOBIHEALTH NEWS: DIGITAL HEALTH LITERACY,2022-12-20,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Doris O. Matsui,M001163,matsui.house.gov,matsui,https://matsui.house.gov/media,scraper,"One significant obstacle for the legislation has been educating lawmakers about digital therapeutics, said Rep. Thompson and the AMCP's Mathieu.

""The biggest challenge we've encountered both as AMCP as well as the broader coalition is education. Truly, the question we get is, 'What is a prescription digital therapeutic?'"" Mathieu said. ""So, really our biggest role throughout 2022 has been to educate members of Congress. Once we've helped them understand exactly what it is and how it benefits patients, we've had a very positive response to the bill.""

Torous said the need for digital health literacy extends beyond legislatures to the public, who will ultimately be partially liable for paying for these therapeutics should the bill pass.

""I would almost argue that we need a bill to support digital health literacy for Americans to make sure everyone can equitably benefit from these as the ground layer before we begin talking about [making it mandatory],"" Torous said.

Pear's McCann argues improving digital health literacy is a role for companies that offer these treatments.

""It's the job of the companies to educate clinicians and educate patients as to how [prescription digital therapeutics] fits into mainstream medical care. And I think what you currently have is a very, very lumpy reimbursement environment, and so companies aren't able to resource educating patients and educating clinicians,"" McCann said. ""I think what we're looking for is a more regular reimbursement environment, like what is seen in the drug world, so that companies can then go out and solve the last mile issues of making the products mainstream medical treatment.""

The bipartisan and bicameral bill has now been dual referred to the Ways and Means Committee and Energy and Commerce Committee.

""The lead person in Energy and Commerce is Congresswoman [Doris] Matsui, and we have talked at length on this bill. And I know she's pretty excited about the possibilities, and we're continuing to talk to and educate our colleagues,"" Rep. Thompson said. ""And as I said, when you bring something new forward, there's a bit of time it takes to get people to understand it and to accept it.""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://matsui.house.gov/media/press-releases/matsui-advances-funding-sacramento-region-government-funding-package,MATSUI ADVANCES FUNDING FOR THE SACRAMENTO REGION IN GOVERNMENT FUNDING PACKAGE,2022-12-20,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Doris O. Matsui,M001163,matsui.house.gov,matsui,https://matsui.house.gov/media,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA), issued the following statement after the introduction of final text of the omnibus spending bill to fund the government for fiscal year 2023. The bill advances several Matsui-backed projects and priorities that will benefit the Sacramento region.

“Today, Congress reached an agreement on a funding bill that would make transformative investments to tackle some of our region’s most pressing challenges,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “I am proud to secure funding for several important community projects throughout the Sacramento region that were included in this legislation. These projects inject money right into our community, funding projects like new bike trails, electrifying our homes, and much improved sewer and water infrastructure. Sacramento is always innovating, and it’s crucial that we invest in the projects and priorities that help everyday Sacramentans.”

“This package also includes numerous additional legislative and regional priorities of mine that I fought hard to include,” Matsui continued. “With the funding in this package, we will have fully funded the Natomas Levee Project – something I have been working on with our regional partners for years. This package also funds projects that will make needed infrastructure improvements and expand quality, affordable health care throughout the Sacramento region.”

Congresswoman Matsui fought to include additional legislative priorities in the government funding package, such as:

Nationwide telehealth access for people with Medicare for an additional two years

H.R. 7249 The Anna Westin Legacy Act of 2022, legislation to provide education and training on eating disorders for health care providers and communities

The Norman Y. Mineta Japanese American Education Act which increases the Japanese American Confinement Sites grant program that supports the preservation of U.S. confinement sites that were used to detain Japanese Americans during World War II and establishes a program to provide grants to Japanese American nonprofits to educate about the historical significance of these events

Permanent Medicare coverage of in-home intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) for individuals with primary immunodeficiency (PI)

New investments in mental health services, which will improve access to medication-assisted treatment, expand the mental health workforce and increase coverage of mental health services

Enhanced FDA oversight to protect consumers and ensure the safety of cosmetics, personal care products and their ingredients

Vital disaster relief to help victims of wildfires across California

The legislation includes Community Project Funding advocated for by Congresswoman Matsui:

Transportation and Housing and Urban Development:

$4,933,861 for the City of West Sacramento’s I Street Bridge Deck Conversion for Active Transportation Project

Project will convert the top deck of the historic double-deck I Street railroad drawbridge from motor vehicle access to a dedicated bikeway/walkway.

$4,300,000 for the City of Sacramento’s ZEV Fleet Infrastructure Program

Program will install supportive EV charging infrastructure and catalyze expanded electrification of the City of Sacramento municipal fleet. The project includes construction and installation of 78 Level 2 chargers, 4 DC fast chargers, and electrical infrastructure upgrades at 17 City locations.

$2,000,000 for the City of Elk Grove’s Laguna Creek Inter-Regional Trail Crossing at State Route 99

Project would build a Class 1 bicycle/pedestrian overcrossing over SR-99 along the Laguna Creek Inter-Regional Trail System.

$750,000 for La Familia Counseling Center’s Opportunity Center

The Opportunity Center will provide job training and placement, small business enterprise resources, and supportive services to help lift up the community.

$750,000 for the City of West Sacramento’s Bryte Park All-Weather Field

The funding would be used for the purchase and installation of equipment and materials for the All-Weather Soccer Field.

$750,000 Habitat for Humanity’s Cornerstone Project

The funding would be used to provide Direct Homebuyer Assistance for qualified, low-income, first-time homebuyers The Cornerstone project is a collaborative affordable housing community created by Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sacramento and Mutual Housing of California.

Health Care:

$1,509,543 for UC Davis Behavioral Health Services

The funding will create an automated, asynchronous mental health platform, available to any patient 24/7.

$1,500,000 for CommuniCare Health Centers

The funding will implement an electronic health record system to provide the ability to share information electronically across health care entities and improve patient care.

$1,050,000 for the Food Literacy Center

The funding will be used to convert a 1-acre vacant plot into an active student garden and park with community programming focused on nutrition and wellness.

$1,000,000 for the Sacramento Native American Health Center

The funding will support construction and other associated costs for the new site at 3800 Florin Road. This approximately 35,000 square foot facility will offer medical, behavioral, dental, and supportive services. The location will also have a youth and family space.

Energy and Water:

$3,058,000 for the American River Watershed, Folsom Dam Raise

The funding will be used to complete the replacement of the existing Temperature Control system. Construction of the new system will improve environmental sustainability by allowing operators to preserve the amount of cold water behind Folsom Dam and deliver the water downstream as needed to promote a suitable aquatic habitat for downstream fish and fisheries.

$3,000,000 for SMUD’s Neighborhood Electrification Project

The project will provide clean energy technology for up to 300 single family homes, aiming for 100% electrification of homes when feasible. The project will increase home values as well as reduce customers’ utility bills, maintenance costs and pollution, fostering the health and welfare of the people in the community.

Interior:

$3,452,972 for the City of Sacramento’s Shasta Groundwater Well Project

The funding would be used for construction and material costs for Phase 2 of the Shasta Groundwater Well. This is part of a larger Sacramento Water Bank that saves water during wet periods to allow for groundwater usage during droughts.

$3,000,000 for the Sacramento Area Sewer District’s Franklin Community Septic to Sewer Conversion Project

The Project will convert on-site septic systems to the public sewer with the Sacramento Area Sewer District as their local sewer system provider. Currently, parcels in the Franklin Community have aging septic systems that need replacement.

Homeland Security:",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://matsui.house.gov/media/press-releases/matsui-and-guthrie-applaud-signing-bill-reauthorize-newborn-hearing-screening,MATSUI AND GUTHRIE APPLAUD SIGNING OF BILL TO REAUTHORIZE NEWBORN HEARING SCREENING AND INTERVENTION PROGRAM INTO LAW,2022-12-20,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,CA,Doris O. Matsui,M001163,matsui.house.gov,matsui,https://matsui.house.gov/media,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-06) and Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02) applauded President Biden for signing the bipartisan Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Act of 2022 into law.

Earlier this month, the House passed S.4052, the Senate companion to Matsui and Guthrie’s legislation H.R. 5561, the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Act of 2021.

“The first years of life are foundational for a child’s development, which is why early detection and intervention for hearing is so critical,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “The Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Act gives families access to newborn hearing screenings and ensures that those diagnosed can access appropriate follow up care and timely intervention services. Now that President Biden has signed our legislation into law, the early detection and intervention program can continue to improve health outcomes for newborns and young children across the country.”

“I’m thrilled the newborn hearing screening and intervention program will be extended for five more years,” said Congressman Guthrie. “Thanks to this program, newborns are screened for hearing loss, and this early detection allows parents and health care providers to intervene early with the help of this program to ensure children have the effective support needed to help reach their full potential. I would like to thank Congresswoman Matsui for working with me on this bill in the House and U.S. Senators Portman, Hassan, Cassidy, and Hickenlooper for their leadership in the Senate to ensure this vital program can continue to help children with hearing loss thrive.”

The Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Act reauthorizes the program for early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of deaf and hard-of-hearing newborns, infants, and young children. This program started in 1999, and the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Act funds the program through fiscal year 2027.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z