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://ruiz.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/president-biden-signs-ruiz-s-burn-pits-bills-law,President Biden Signs Ruiz’s Burn Pits Bills into Law,2021-12-28,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Raul Ruiz,R000599,ruiz.house.gov,ruiz,https://ruiz.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – This week, President Joe Biden signed into law two bills authored by Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-36) to address the military's use of toxic burn pits as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2022. Ruiz's bills will expand the Burn Pits Registry and enhance medical training on the health effects of burn pits.

""Today is an incredible step forward in our fight to get our veterans affected by toxic burn pit exposure the care they deserve,"" said Dr. Ruiz. ""With my legislation included and now signed into law, this year's NDAA will help address the urgent public health crisis facing our veterans by expanding the Burn Pit Registry and helping physicians quickly identify at-risk servicemembers. Today is a great victory for our nation's veterans and servicemembers, and I look forward to continuing the fight to give them the timely care they need and end the use of burn pits once and for all.""

""ROA hails Rep. Ruiz's holistic approach to raising awareness and broadening treatment eligibility to take care of servicemembers who have been affected,"" said Retired Officer's Association (ROA) executive director, retired Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Phillips.

BACKGROUND

Ruiz's two bills that were signed into law as part of this year's NDAA are:

1. H.R. 4397, the Department of Defense (DOD) Burn Pits Health Provider Training Act, which requires DOD to implement mandatory training for all medical providers working under DOD on the potential health effects of burn pits.

2. H.R. 4400, Burn Pit Registry Expansion Act, which requires DOD and VA to expand the Burn Pits Registry to include Egypt and Syria.

As the co-founder of the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Burn Pits Caucus, Ruiz has been a consistent advocate for servicemembers exposed to toxic burn pits and their families.

Earlier this year, Ruiz joined Jon Stewart, House Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Mark Takano (CA-42), Congresswoman Elaine Luria (VA-02), and Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin (MI-08) in introducing H.R. 3967, the Honoring our PACT Act, comprehensive legislation to get veterans who have been exposed to burn pits and other toxins the health care and benefits they've earned and deserve.

In June, the House Veterans Affairs Committee advanced H.R. 3967, which includes several of Ruiz's provisions to help veterans who have been exposed access crucial health care services.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://ruiz.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/ruiz-statement-epa-emergency-orders-thermal-mobile-home-parks,Ruiz Statement on EPA Emergency Orders for Thermal Mobile Home Parks,2021-12-28,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Raul Ruiz,R000599,ruiz.house.gov,ruiz,https://ruiz.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Palm Desert, CA – Today, Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-36) issued the following statement on emergency orders issued by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to the owners of three Thermal mobile home parks with drinking water systems that present a danger to residents.

""I am deeply concerned and outraged that an EPA investigation has identified three local mobile home parks in addition to the Oasis Mobile Home Park with high levels of arsenic in their water,"" said Dr. Ruiz. ""My constituents deserve the peace of mind that they can safely turn on their faucets without being exposed to toxins. I will fight every step of the way to ensure families have safe, clean drinking water, hold responsible parties accountable, and put an end to these environmental injustices.""

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://torres.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congresswoman-norma-j-torres-releases-statement-news-bukele,Congresswoman Norma J. Torres Releases Statement on News of Bukele Administration Shutting Down Corruption Investigations,2021-12-28,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Norma J. Torres,T000474,torres.house.gov,torres,https://torres.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"""This reporting confirms what we already knew: The Bukele Administration is making secret pacts with violent gangs to rig crime statistics and public perception, while shutting down investigations into its corrupt and dangerous dealings. This further demonstrates that we can't trust or partner with the Salvadoran government, which has proven time and time again it is only working in its own self-interest, not for the people. I'm glad the U.S. State Department and Treasury have taken action to sanction some of these individuals, but our work here is not done, and we can't lose sight of how the Salvadoran people are suffering due to this government's corruption and anti-democratic actions. I thank German Arriaza for bravely coming forward with this information. His unfortunate need to flee the country reflects the intimidation we see from this government against actors who work for transparency, including former Attorney General Melara, the Constitutional Court judges, and CICIES. I will continue to fight in Congress to ensure the U.S. doesn't enable corruption or violate our international agreements. We should instead partner with those committed to upholding the rule of law and democratic institutions to help support the Salvadoran people.""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://barragan.house.gov/2021/12/27/navy-congresswoman-barragan-announce-interim-agreement-supporting-community-sports-organizations/,"Navy, Congresswoman Barragán Announce Interim Agreement Supporting Community Sports Organizations",2021-12-27,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Nanette Diaz Barragán,B001300,barragan.house.gov,barragan,https://barragan.house.gov/news,scraper,"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 27, 2021

SAN PEDRO, Calif. – The Department of the Navy and Congresswoman Nanette Diaz Barragán announced an interim agreement allowing community organizations continued access to Navy property at Defense Fuel Support Point (DFSP) San Pedro.

The agreement will allow for continued community use of all 11 ball fields for six months while the Navy and local governments negotiate a longer-term solution for community access to the property.

“We are grateful the community’s leaders made us aware of this issue and are pleased a solution is in hand,” said Rear Admiral Stephen Barnett, Commander, Navy Region Southwest. “We recognize how important these ballfields are to families and community, and the importance of organized athletics as a part of children’s lives. This Navy is committed to finding a long-term solution working together to reach agreement with local government leaders.”

In June 2020, changes were made to Department of Defense policy that require the payment of fair market value for use of government property by non-military and non-profit non-federal government entities. Previously, property at Defense Fuel Support Point (DFSP) San Pedro was made available for use by community sports groups for free, or for a small administrative fee.

“I appreciate the Navy taking this initial step so that our kids can get ready for the next season of baseball and softball without interruption,” Congresswoman Barragán said. “Kids in San Pedro and our surrounding communities have been using these ballfields for decades – the leagues and the ballfields are in integral part of our communities. I am happy that we were able to put a spotlight on the issue and bring the Navy and the City of Los Angeles to the table to discuss a long-term solution. This is about our kids. In a community where open public space is scarce, continued access to these fields is crucial to the health and well-being of our children. I look forward to the Navy and the City of Los Angeles reaching a solution that puts kids and our community first and will continue to advocate on behalf of my constituents to make sure that happens.”

Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach, California, and its Detachments – located in Fallbrook and Norco, California – exist to provide weapons storage, loading, maintenance, and assessment support to ships of the United States Pacific Fleet. These facilities also support Coast Guard vessels and Marine Corps units stationed afloat and ashore.

###

Nanette Diaz Barragán is proud to represent California’s 44th Congressional District, which includes the communities of Carson, Compton, Florence-Firestone, Lynwood, North Long Beach, Rancho Dominguez, San Pedro, South Gate, Walnut Park, Watts, Willowbrook and Wilmington. She serves as chairwoman of the House Homeland Security Committee’s Subcommittee on Border Security.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://juliabrownley.house.gov/brownley-statement-on-president-bidens-signing-of-fy2022-national-defense-authorization-act/,Brownley Statement on President Biden’s Signing of FY2022 National Defense Authorization Act,2021-12-27,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Julia Brownley,B001285,juliabrownley.house.gov,juliabrownley,https://juliabrownley.house.gov/category/press-releases/,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) released the following statement on President Biden’s signing of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022, which includes several key legislative provisions she authored that support Naval Base Ventura County, ensure continued funding for critical firefighting response aircraft, and address gender equity in our Armed Forces.

“As the proud representative of Naval Base Ventura County, one of my top priorities in Congress is to ensure that we continue to advance our nation’s security interests and provide our servicemembers with the support and resources they need to continue their mission and do their jobs effectively and safely,” said Congresswoman Julia Brownley.

“I am pleased the final bill includes several provisions I authored, including $15 million for upgrading the California Air National Guard’s Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System, which is essential to fighting wildfires in California and throughout the country, and a provision to address gender disparities in of out-of-pocket uniform costs, as part of my work to ensure full equality to the women who bravely serve our country.

“The NDAA also included other major victories for our men and women in uniform, and their families, including a 2.7% base pay increase for military personnel, expanding the in-home child care program, and increasing parental leave.

“In addition, the NDAA makes historic changes to better combat sexual assault in the military, including removing the commander from decisions related to the prosecution of sexual assault crimes and creating an Office of Special Victim Prosecutor to prosecute these crimes.

“The final, bipartisan FY2022 National Defense Authorization Act honors our nation’s military and their mission to protect our country and its people, support our servicemembers, strengthen our security, and advance our leadership in the world. I am committed to continuing to work with the Biden Administration to support Naval Base Ventura County and to fight for resources for new and existing commands at Port Hueneme and Point Mugu, which not only strengthens the base, but the local economy more broadly.”

Other provisions in the FY2022 National Defense Authorization Act that Brownley helped to spearhead include:

Language requiring DOD to eliminate gender disparities in uniform costs, which responds to a recent GAO report, requested by Brownley last year that found women service members were facing higher out-of-pocket costs for uniforms.

$15 million to make necessary improvements to upgrade the current Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS). The MAFFS units operated by California’s 146th Airlift Wing are critical to state-wide firefighting capabilities. Brownley worked with Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (D-CA), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, to ensure these California Air National Guard assets are able to continue to play a vital role in the fight against wildfires and that their efforts be fully supported by DOD.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://gomez.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2535,"REP. GOMEZ, SEN. PADILLA, AND LOS ANGELES CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION LEAD EFFORT TO FUND LA RIVER RESTORATION PROJECT",2021-12-24,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Jimmy Gomez,G000585,gomez.house.gov,gomez,https://gomez.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Today, Congressman Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Senator Alex Padilla (CA), and members of the Los Angeles Congressional delegation sent a letter to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to urge federal funding for the Los Angeles River Ecosystem Restoration Project.

The letter requests $272.8 million in federal funding appropriated in the recently enacted Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) legislation and in Fiscal Year 2023 through the USACE Fiscal Year 2023 Work Plan for the project.

In their letter, the lawmakers emphasized the economic, environmental, and social benefits that federal investment on the project could yield for the Los Angeles community.

“We are at a critical moment where we can sustainably transform the Los Angeles River from a concrete canal back into a place of community and ecological restoration,” wrote the lawmakers. “This project emerged from the input of thousands of Angelenos and will directly benefit hundreds of thousands of people who live in historically disadvantaged communities with severely limited access to nature. Importantly, funding this project will help spur economic recovery and support vital aquatic ecosystem restoration, one of the key aspects of the USACE’ mission, in the heart of the City of Los Angeles.”

In addition to Rep. Gomez and Sen. Padilla, the letter was signed by Reps. Alan Lowenthal (CA-47), Linda Sánchez (CA-38), Ted Lieu (CA-33), Grace Napolitano (CA-32), Tony Cárdenas (CA-29), Adam Schiff (CA-28), Judy Chu (CA-27), Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-40), Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Karen Bass (CA-37), Julia Brownley (CA-26), and Brad Sherman (CA-30).

The full text of the letter is available here.

This letter builds on Rep. Gomez’s body of work to support restoration of the LA River.

In April 2019, Rep. Gomez led his Los Angeles Congressional Delegation colleagues in urging the House Appropriations Committee to allocate $2.73 billion for the Los Angeles River Ecosystem Restoration Project.

In February 2020, Rep. Gomez and colleagues announced a $1.857 million investment by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers into this project, the first federal funding for the L.A. River since fiscal year 2017.

In June 2020, Rep. Gomez led his Los Angeles colleagues in Congress in requesting $53 million for the public-private partnership-designated restoration project.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://aguilar.house.gov/2021/12/23/aguilar-announces-300000-for-san-bernardino-county-housing-authority/,"Aguilar Announces $300,000 for San Bernardino County Housing Authority",2021-12-23,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Pete Aguilar,A000371,aguilar.house.gov,aguilar,https://aguilar.house.gov/category/congress_press_release/,scraper,"San Bernardino, CA— Rep. Aguilar announced $338,091 for the Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program at the Housing Authority of the County of San Bernardino (HACSB). This US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funding will help provide families the resources they need to become home owners and achieve professional goals such as career development and higher education.

“For too many people in our community, the dream of home ownership is increasingly out of reach as home prices throughout our state continue to soar. In Congress, one of my top priorities is expanding affordable home ownership opportunities for families in the Inland Empire because everyone deserves a chance to be successful. I look forward to seeing this funding boost this important program and help more families in the Inland Empire secure financial independence and a home of their own,” said Aguilar.

George Silva, Family Empowerment Services Manager for the FSS Program at HACSB, said, “We are excited and proud to have been approved for renewed funding to support the Housing Authority of the County of San Bernardino (HACSB) Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program. The FSS program provides individuals and families with resources to overcome barriers to self-sufficiency, empowering them to pursue personal and professional goals such as higher education, career development, and homeownership, while building savings in an escrow account. Upon successful completion of the FSS program contract, participants graduate from the program are eligible to receive the balance of that escrow account. Many families use those savings toward a down-payment on a home. The Family Self-Sufficiency grant provides administrative funding which directly supports HACSB’s FSS program. The grant funds three (3) HACSB Self-Sufficiency Specialist positions. The Self-Sufficiency Specialists work collaboratively with individuals and families participating in HACSB’s FSS program to develop self-sufficiency-oriented goals and action plans to increase economic opportunity, with the final goal being economic self-sufficiency. The Self-Sufficiency Specialists also develop partnerships with local service providers such as America’s Job Center of California and the SAC Health Institute to offer free career training resources as well as health and wellness care to FSS program participants. Through the connection to these and other resources, families are able to increase their income and reduce or eliminate the need for government assistance. Four families graduated from HACSB’s FSS program in 2021, with an average savings balance of more than $12,000.”

Rep. Aguilar serves as Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus and as a member of the House Appropriations Committee, the committee responsible for funding HUD and other federal agencies and programs.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://aguilar.house.gov/2021/12/23/aguilar-issues-end-of-year-report-to-constituents/,Aguilar Issues End-of-Year Report to Constituents,2021-12-23,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Pete Aguilar,A000371,aguilar.house.gov,aguilar,https://aguilar.house.gov/category/congress_press_release/,scraper,"Press Releases

Aguilar Issues End-of-Year Report to Constituents

San Bernardino, CA—Today, Rep. Aguilar issued a report to residents of California’s 31st Congressional District to review his work on behalf of Inland Empire families during 2021. Reflecting on the past year, Aguilar commented:

“This past year has been incredibly challenging for Inland Empire families, and my focus has been on providing our region with the resources needed to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic and support our economy. As we enter a new year with the pandemic still devastating communities like ours, I will continue working to support the small businesses, frontline workers, first responders and families who are the backbone of San Bernardino County. I am proud of the work my team and I have done to support Inland Empire residents during these unprecedented times and I remain committed to working across the aisle to build a better, brighter future for the Inland Empire. I look forward to another year of serving the Inland Empire, the community my family has called home for four generations.”

This year, Rep. Aguilardelivered for the Inland Empireby:

Helping 857 residents resolve outstanding issues with federal agencies, such as accessing the Social Security, Medicare and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits they have earned;

Returning more than $200,000 that the federal government owed to CA-31 residents by federal agencies, including IRS refunds, veterans’ benefits, and Social Security payments;

Announcing over $1 billion in direct federal funding for the Inland Empire, including funding for local police and fire departments, infrastructure projects, health care programs, and affordable housing services;

Hosting virtual roundtables and telephone townhall meetings to help residents and small businesses access critical information and resources during the COVID-19 crisis;

Throughout the past year, Rep. Aguilar fought for legislation to help Inland Empire families by:

Passing the American Rescue Plan, which gave most Americans direct payments of up to $1,200, provided funding to help safely reopen schools, and gave critical assistance to help small businesses keep workers on payroll and their doors open. It specifically provided $423 million to San Bernardino County, including nearly $240 million to cities in the 31st district, $26.1 million for Inland Empire public transit projects to reduce smog and traffic; and $585 million to K-12 schools in the 31st Congressional district;

Passing the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to repair roads, bridges and freeways, expand public transportation, reduce smog pollution, invest in regional airports and create good-paying jobs for Inland Empire residents;

Passing the Build Back Better Act in the House to provide tax cuts to middle-class families, lower health care costs, expand access to child care, support small businesses and combat climate change;

Introducing 11 pieces of legislation, including 5 bipartisan bills:

Introduced the bipartisan Wounded Warriors Access Act to streamline the process for veterans to access their claims files at the VA;

Introduced the REPORT, PREVENT, and PROTECT Acts to help the federal and local governments respond to incidents of domestic terrorism and prevent future attacks.

Introduced the bipartisan FHA Fairness Act to increase access to Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans for homebuyers in the Inland Empire;

Introduced the bipartisan Jerry Lewis VA Clinic Act to rename the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) clinic in Redlands after former Congressman Jerry Lewis, who previously represented the city of Redlands in Congress;

Introduced the bipartisan Protecting Students’ Civil Rights Act to ensure that institutions of higher education address discrimination on college campuses;

Introduced a resolution to support US Citizenship and Immigration Services and reducing their case backlog;

Introduced the Shielding Our Military from Extremists Act to help prevent white supremacists and other domestic extremists from enlisting in the military and preserve the integrity of our Armed Forces;Co-led the introduction of the Homeownership for Dreamers Act to ensure that DACA recipients are eligible for Federal Housing Administration (FHA) home loans; and

Introduced the bipartisan National GIS Day Resolution to designate November 17, 2021 as National GIS Day and encourage the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to drive economic growth;

Authoring a key amendment that passed the House of Representatives in the Protecting Our Democracy Act to protect election officials facing threats because of their work to support the democratic process;

Directing the Government Accountability Office to conduct a report on the infrastructure needs of Hispanic Serving Institutions across the country, including Cal State San Bernardino and the University of Redlands;

Passing legislation that would make it easier for residents in San Bernardino County to become first-time homebuyers with FHA loans;

Passing legislation to improve wildland fire detection capabilities and support full-time federal wildland firefighters to help fight fires in California year-round;

Participating in 7 hearings on the Committee on House Administration to support voting rights, strengthen the democratic process and ensure safe and secure elections;

Serving on the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol to uncover the truth and provide the accountability;

Hosting Chairman Price of the powerful House Appropriations Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Subcommittee on a tour to advocate for infrastructure and housing investments in the Inland Empire, including the San Bernardino International Airport runway repair project, affordable housing developments and expanded public transit options like the Redlands Passenger Rail;

Launching a Community Project Funding tour to advocate for federal funding for nearly $7 million for projects in the 31st congressional district, including at Habitat for Humanity, Mary’s Mercy Center, Inc, and the San Bernardino International Airport.

In addition to the legislation he’s introduced and authored, Rep. Aguilar helped the House pass hundreds of bipartisan bills during the first year of the 117th Congress. This includes bills to provide relief to the American people in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, expand access and increase affordability of health care, bring transparency to the VA system, strengthen voting rights and protect Dreamers and immigrant families across the country.

Rep. Aguilar has represented California’s 31st Congressional District since 2015. He serves as Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus and sits on the House Appropriations Committee, Committee on House Administration and the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://sarajacobs.house.gov/news/press-releases/treasury-issues-new-general-licenses-to-support-education-in-afghanistan-following-jacobs-and-merkley-call-for-action,Treasury Issues New General Licenses to Support Education in Afghanistan Following Jacobs and Merkley Call for Action,2021-12-23,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Sara Jacobs,J000305,sarajacobs.house.gov,sarajacobs,https://sarajacobs.house.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Rep. Jacobs and Senator Merkley led bicameral letter last week

San Diego, CA - The U.S. Department of the Treasury issued three General Licenses to facilitate the continued flow of humanitarian assistance and other support for the Afghan people. This change followed calls from Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (D-CA-53), Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and others urging the Biden Administration to provide safeguards for NGOs to carry out education programming in Afghanistan.

Last week, Jacobs and Merkley led a bicameral letter signed by 37 members of the House and Senate urging the State Department and Treasury to issue new General Licenses to support education activities led by international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Afghanistan. Without the permission granted by these licenses, it is difficult for NGOs to provide humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan. General License 19, issued by Treasury on December 22, specifically addresses the concern raised by Jacobs, Merkley and their colleagues.

“I applaud the Biden Administration and Secretary Yellen for issuing new licenses to allow NGO-led efforts to support education in Afghanistan after Senator Merkley and I raised this issue last week. This is an important step forward in protecting education in Afghanistan. The United States must continue to provide these critical safeguards and deliver robust humanitarian support for the Afghan people,” said Congresswoman Jacobs.

The Jacobs/Merkley letter was endorsed by 13 NGOs that provide humanitarian and development assistance abroad, including CARE, Save the Children, International Rescue Committee, Basic Education Coalition, Islamic Relief USA, Norwegian Refugee Council USA, Helping Hand for Relief and Development, InterAction, Global Campaign for Education-US, Global Citizen, Creative Associates International, Inc., Humanity & Inclusion, and UNICEF-USA.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://barragan.house.gov/2021/12/22/barragan-leads-hispanic-caucus-members-in-call-for-stronger-epa-methane-rule/,Barragán leads Hispanic Caucus Members in Call for Stronger EPA Methane Rule,2021-12-22,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Nanette Diaz Barragán,B001300,barragan.house.gov,barragan,https://barragan.house.gov/news,scraper,"Member Sign-on Letter Highlights Importance of a Strong Methane Rule for Latinos and Communities of Color

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 22, 2021

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Nanette Diaz Barragán, the chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Climate Change Task Force, led 15 of her Congressional Hispanic Caucus colleagues on a letter requesting the Environmental Protection Agency strengthen its recently proposed methane rule to require regular inspections of smaller oil and gas wells and prevent routine flaring.

These improvements will help to address the climate crisis and improve public health in Latino communities and communities of color that are disproportionately impacted by emissions from oil and gas wells.

“There is no time to waste in curbing methane pollution and tackling the climate crisis. Our children’s health, the safety of those living in oil and gas communities, and the future of the planet all hang in the balance. We must tackle this growing crisis head on before it is too late,” the members of Congress wrote.

Methane emissions from fossil fuel production causes severe public health impacts for communities living nearby, including the development and exacerbation of asthma, cardiopulmonary problems, and cardiovascular mortality. A methane rule that addresses the two requests in the letter would benefit the public health of 1.81 million Latinos living within a half mile radius of oil or gas wells.

Congresswoman Barragán was joined on the letter by Congressmembers Raul Ruiz, M.D. (Calif.), Teresa Leger Fernández (N.M.), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.), Adriano Espaillat (N.Y.), Jesús G. “Chuy” García (Ill.), Linda Sánchez (Calif.), Raúl Grijalva (Ariz.), Veronica Escobar (Texas), Grace Napolitano (Calif.), Darren Soto (Fla.), Mike Levin (Calif.), Ruben Gallego (Ariz.), Ritchie Torres (N.Y.), Jimmy Gomez (Calif.), and Tony Cárdenas (Calif.).

The letter was also supported by the following environmental groups: GreenLatinos, EarthJustice, and Environmental Defense Fund.

A PDF of the letter is linked here and full text is below.

December 22, 2021

Dear Administrator Regan,

We write to express our appreciation for the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) historic action to combat methane emissions in the agency’s recent announcement to strengthen regulations on new and modified sources, and to expand safeguards to existing sources of methane from oil and gas production.[1] We celebrate the much-needed progress EPA is making on methane emissions through this proposal, including necessary protections to zero-out emissions from intentionally polluting equipment like pneumatic controllers.

We also want to raise up the need for the rule to be expanded in two key ways:

Smaller leak prone wells should be covered with regular inspections under the rule; and

The wasteful practice of flaring should be addressed more vigorously before the rule is finalized by eliminating routine flaring as leading states have done.

These improvements must be addressed in a final rule to ensure EPA is protecting frontline communities (often communities of color and low-income communities) from pollution, safeguarding public health, holding oil and gas companies accountable, and acting on climate.

As you know, methane is a major contributor to the global climate crisis, as a short-lived climate pollutant that has approximately 80 times the warming potential of carbon dioxide over the first 20 years after its release. Just as importantly, establishing a strong rule for methane will also reduce health-harming co-pollutants, including Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) that contribute to ozone, as well as toxic and hazardous chemicals like benzene. The reduction of these co-pollutants will be key to reducing localized air pollution, and the associated negative health impacts that often disproportionately impact communities of color who live near oil and gas development and production sites. For example, 1.81 million Latinos live within a half mile radius of an oil and gas well[2].

Smaller, leak prone wells number in the hundreds of thousands across the country and generate just a trickle of usable product, but are large and disproportionate emitters of methane. Nationwide, more than 7 million people live nearby one of these wells, including nearly half a million children and nearly 2 million people of color[3]. These communities bear the brunt of the environmental, economic, and public health impacts resulting from leaks. While EPA has recognized in the proposal that a “low production” exemption is not appropriate, under the current proposal operators that calculate lower potential emissions (less than 3 tons per year of methane) could still escape regular leak monitoring. This is problematic because these smaller, leak prone wells can release more methane or natural gas into the air than they produce. Also, large leaks can occur at smaller well sites.[4] EPA must address this issue by enacting comprehensive requirements for frequent leak inspections, without exceptions for smaller wells.

Flaring is another wasteful and avoidable practice that is rampant in the oil and gas production sector. When companies rush to extract oil, some forgo investments necessary to capture and sell gas and instead burn it as a waste product, emitting a host of climate and health-harming pollutants, which can exacerbate public health disparities in environmental justice communities. In fact, one study[5] found that pregnant women exposed to excessive amounts of flaring pollution can lead to premature births and reduced birth weight. Further, studies have shown that Latino, Black, and indigenous communities are disproportionately exposed to flaring and its associated health risks,[6] including the development and exacerbation of asthma, cardiopulmonary problems, and cardiovascular mortality. Wasting this gas is an urgent problem, one made even more apparent as we enter a winter with higher natural gas prices and potential shortages. Leading operators have virtually eliminated flaring across all their operations and some states have already moved to eliminate flaring, except in emergency situations. EPA should follow the lead taken in the states and move to end routine flaring.

There is no time to waste in curbing methane pollution and tackling the climate crisis. Our children’s health, the safety of those living in oil and gas communities, and the future of the planet all hang in the balance. We must tackle this growing crisis head on, before it is too late. We look forward to your response and to continuing to work together to address this important issue.

SIGNATORIES

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Nanette Diaz Barragán is proud to represent California’s 44th Congressional District, which includes the communities of Carson, Compton, Florence-Firestone, Lynwood, North Long Beach, Rancho Dominguez, San Pedro, South Gate, Walnut Park, Watts, Willowbrook and Wilmington. She serves as chairwoman of the House Homeland Security Committee’s Subcommittee on Border Security.

[1] https://www.epa.gov/controlling-air-pollution-oil-and-natural-gas-industry/epa-proposes-new-source-performance

[2] https://www.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/CATF_Pub_LatinoCommunitiesAtRisk.pdf

[3] Data from Environmental Defense Fund’s “Proximity to Environmental Stressors GIS Assessment Tool”

[4] https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10962247.2020.1808115

[5] https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/doi/full/10.1289/EHP6394",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://lofgren.house.gov/media/press-releases/lofgren-announces-158-million-federal-infrastructure-funding-mineta-san-jose,Lofgren Announces $15.8 Million in Federal Infrastructure Funding for Mineta San Jose International Airport,2021-12-22,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Zoe Lofgren,L000397,lofgren.house.gov,lofgren,https://lofgren.house.gov/media/press-releases,page_html,"SAN JOSE, CA – Today, U.S. Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (CA-19) announced that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will provide Mineta San Jose International Airport with a total of $15,797,290 in Airport Infrastructure Grants.

This funding was included in the recently-enacted bipartisan infrastructure package, which Rep. Lofgren voted for in November.

""I supported the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to upgrade our infrastructure in Santa Clara County, in California and nationwide. I am glad these federal funds are coming in to help improve Mineta San Jose International Airport and ensure it can continue to meet the growing needs of the South Bay,"" said Rep. Lofgren.

Thanks to the bipartisan infrastructure legislation, $25 billion in Airport Infrastructure Grants are going to airports around the country in the next five years – $1.5 billion of which is expected to go to California airports. The funding can be used for airport improvements such as runway, terminal, and noise-reduction projects. Mineta San Jose International Airport will work with the FAA to identify eligible projects

This funding follows prior federal funding allocations for Mineta San Jose International Airport. In June, Lofgren announced $55.5 million in COVID-19 relief funding for the airport. In March 2021, Lofgren announced $1.6 million for the airport and its concessions thanks to the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriation Act. In April 2020, Lofgren announced more than $65.6 million in funding from the CARES Act.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-03-30T11:08:25Z
https://obernolte.house.gov/media/press-releases/floor-debate-opposition-raising-debt-ceiling-without-repayment-plan,Floor Debate: Opposition to raising the debt ceiling without repayment plan,2021-12-22,2021,2021-12,Republican,House,CA,Jay Obernolte,O000019,obernolte.house.gov,obernolte,https://obernolte.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Madam Speaker – I rise today to oppose this $2.5 trillion debt limit increase which this Congress is voting on without any discussion of how this debate will ever be repaid.

Over the past year, Congress’ record levels of spending has sparked record-breaking inflation. Just last week, our nation hit its highest inflation rate in 40 years with current annual inflation for the twelve months ending in November at 6.8%. As a consequence, real average hourly earnings decreased by half a percent in November. Surging costs for food, energy, housing, and other items have left the average American family reeling. In my California district, the average price of a tank of gasoline has increased over $20 since January, while the price of natural gas is up more than 25 percent.

Congress is not only spending at a level that is well beyond our self-imposed limits, but also beyond what our economy can safely handle, and Madam Speaker, instead of reducing our spending and finding places to save as any American family would, this institution is working to push through another multi-trillion-dollar social spending package that would drive our debt and our inflation further into crisis.

Madam Speaker, this unconscionable spending is the epitome of irresponsible governance. We must take measures to end this reckless spending and put our financial house in order. To that end I have introduced two bills that the House might better spend its time considering in the coming weeks instead of continuing debate on the reckless social spending bill.

My Constitutional Amendment to balance the budget would amend the U.S. Constitution to ensure total federal spending for a fiscal year does not exceed the total amount of federal revenue. It includes off-ramps that encourage bipartisanship in times of crisis and would end the seemingly-endless cycle of budget deficits.

Likewise, my Finding Federal Savings Committee Resolution would help to cut back on government waste by creating a bipartisan committee in this body to identify underperforming and nonessential federal programs and recommend their elimination or modification. Neither of these ideas are partisan, nor are they radical. They simply take steps to solve a problem that this body has continued to kick down the road for future generations to repay.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://obernolte.house.gov/media/press-releases/ndaa-passes-congress-wins-high-desert-military-bases,NDAA passes Congress with wins for High Desert Military Bases,2021-12-22,2021,2021-12,Republican,House,CA,Jay Obernolte,O000019,obernolte.house.gov,obernolte,https://obernolte.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"The updated National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) which will be signed into law in the coming days includes key initiatives for military instillations in California’s 8th District. The bill also includes U.S. Congressman Jay Obernolte’s (R-Hesperia) Federal Career Opportunities in Computer Science Work Act, which will require the government to create career paths in fields such as computer science and data analytics to ensure that the talented personnel needed to help combat cybercrimes are working in federal government.

“I was proud to see the National Defense Authorization Act pass with key initiatives I fought for to support the missions of our local bases, the communities surrounding them, and the cybersecurity of our nation,” said Rep. Obernolte. “It also excludes several harmful items that I had concerns about in the initial House version, including red flag provisions and the creation of an ‘Office of Extremism’ at the Department of Defense. This is a substantially better bill, and I am pleased to see it pass with bipartisan support and proceed to the President’s desk.”

Rep. Obernolte’s Federal Career Opportunities in Computer Science Work Act, originally introduced and passed in the U.S. House of Representatives as H.R. 3533,will increase national security and speed technological advancement by improving the federal government’s ability to recruit and manage experts in the data sciences. Currently, the federal government does not include occupations that allow government civilians to focus on software development, data science or artificial intelligence (AI) outside of pure research and development, a significant shortcoming in developing the capacity to respond to crisis situations that occurred this year such as the Colonial Pipeline hack and JBS meat processing hack.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://ruiz.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/ruiz-fights-rising-medicare-out-pocket-costs-local-seniors,Ruiz Fights Rising Medicare Out-of-Pocket Costs for Local Seniors,2021-12-22,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Raul Ruiz,R000599,ruiz.house.gov,ruiz,https://ruiz.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-36) called for the reversal of monthly increases in out-of-pocket costs for Medicare Part B. Recently, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a nearly $22 monthly increase in Medicare Part B premiums will take effect in 2022. In a letter to CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, Ruiz called for the agency to reverse these harmful price increases that would place an unfair burden on seniors in Southern California and across the country, citing the flawed decision-making model behind the premium increase.

Ruiz's letter reads in part:

""While I understand that health care costs are higher because of the pandemic, they should not be paid for on the backs of our seniors who are on fixed incomes… I urge you to reconsider your decision to increase premiums based on these flawed factors so that seniors don't have to cut corners on things like food or medicine in order to pay for their health insurance.""

You can read the full letter here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://aguilar.house.gov/2021/12/21/aguilar-announces-100000-for-loma-linda-veterans-association-for-research-education/,"Aguilar Announces $100,000 for Loma Linda Veterans Association for Research & Education",2021-12-21,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Pete Aguilar,A000371,aguilar.house.gov,aguilar,https://aguilar.house.gov/category/congress_press_release/,scraper,"Loma Linda, CA— Rep. Aguilar announced $183,125 for Biological Research Related to Deafness and Communicative Disorders at the Loma Linda Veterans Association for Research and Education (LLVARE). This National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) funding will help develop and improve diagnosing and treatments for hearing loss.

“We owe it to our veterans to make sure they have the best quality health care once they return civilian life,” said Rep. Aguilar. “I’m proud to announce this funding to ensure groundbreaking research to better the lives of veterans in the Inland Empire and across the country can continue.”

Dr. Wei Dong, Research Scientist of the Auditory Research Group, VA Loma Linda Health Care System said, “About 15% of the Americans aged 18 and over report that they have some trouble hearing due to noise overexposure or aging. We will use a new approach optical coherence tomography (OCT), a real-time anatomical imaging and functional system, to study the mechanics of hearing and establish the relationship between cochlear mechanics and otoacoustic emissions which will allow us to detect subtle cellular changes in function precisely never before possible. The results from this work will allow us and others to develop more sensitive and more accurate methods to detect and diagnose sensory hearing loss, which will in turn lead to new and better treatments for this ailment.”

The LLVARE is one of the leading nonprofit organizations in the country focusing on veteran health care through medical research.

Rep. Aguilar serves as Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus and as a member of the House Appropriations Committee, the committee responsible for funding federal programs and agencies like HHS.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://barragan.house.gov/2021/12/21/barragan-and-booker-urge-epa-to-strengthen-standards-for-freight-pollution-sources/,Barragán and Booker Urge EPA to Strengthen Standards for Freight Pollution Sources,2021-12-21,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Nanette Diaz Barragán,B001300,barragan.house.gov,barragan,https://barragan.house.gov/news,scraper,"Dear Administrator Regan:

We write to inquire about the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) plans to address the high levels of air pollution in the communities surrounding our nation’s freight shipping facilities and freight transportation corridors, and to urge you to strengthen emissions standards for pollution sources involved in the freight transportation system.

As you may know, 13 million people live near marine ports and rail yards[1] and another 45 million live and attend school within 300 feet of the highway and rail corridors used to move freight.[2] Unfortunately, those who are in the direct vicinity of the freight movement network are exposed to high volumes of air pollutants, including nitrogen oxides and particulate matter, and these exposures are linked to serious health problems, including asthma, lung, and heart disease. This is an environmental justice issue, given that these freight-adjacent communities disproportionately include low-income people and people of color.

We appreciate the EPA’s demonstrated commitment to combatting environmental racism and advancing equal access to clean air, land, and water. We specifically applaud the steps the EPA has taken to set criteria pollutant and greenhouse gas emissions standards for medium- and heavy-duty trucks. We encourage you to expand these efforts to include other freight sources, including locomotives, ocean-going vessels, and aircraft.

These mobile sources of pollution are particularly important to address, given the EPA’s sole authority to set new emission standards for them. Congress directed the EPA to continue to review and revise the emission standards for these sources and, generally, to ensure that standards generally reflected state of the art technologies. See, e.g., 42 U.S.C. §§ 7521(a)(3)(A) (trucks), 7547(a)(3) (nonroad, including OGVs), 7547(a)(5) (locomotives), 7571(a)(2) (aircraft). In the 10-20 years since the EPA updated emissions standards, new control technologies have emerged, including affordable options for electrifying many of these vehicles and eliminating emissions altogether.

For these reasons, we urge you to update emissions standards for freight-related mobile sources, specifically locomotives, ocean-going vessels, medium- and heavy-duty trucks, non-road diesel engines, and aircraft. We wish to partner with you to identify and reduce barriers to quickly advance this effort with the goal of completing the relevant rulemaking procedures by 2025. To that end, we respectfully request that you provide us with answers to the following questions:

What is the EPA’s regulatory schedule for updating emissions standards for freight-related mobile sources?

What is the EPA’s regulatory schedule for updating emissions standards for other freight-related emissions, including non-mobile sources such as cargo handling equipment and harbor craft?

What work, if any, is being done on updating emissions standards for freight-related mobile sources?

When did the EPA last conduct technology assessments for freight-related mobile sources?

What is the latest emission inventory and risk assessment data that the EPA has collected for each freight-related mobile source?

What opportunities are available to streamline rulemaking by addressing multiple pollution source categories together, as the EPA has done in the past?

Thank you for taking the time to answer these questions. We look forward to reviewing your responses and working with you to achieve the important goals of advancing environmental justice, protecting public health, and ensuring the right to clean air along freight movement hubs and corridors.

SIGNATORIES",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://issa.house.gov/media/press-releases/statement-congressman-darrell-issa,Statement by Congressman Darrell Issa,2021-12-21,2021,2021-12,Republican,House,CA,Darrell Issa,I000056,issa.house.gov,issa,https://issa.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON D.C. - Today, Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-50) issued the following statement:

""With the encouragement and support of family, friends and especially constituents throughout the region I have represented since 2001, I am announcing that next year I will seek election in California’s new 48th Congressional District. It is a community I know very well, have represented in Congress before, and hope to continue to serve for years to come.""

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,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://levin.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-mike-levin-honors-local-educator-and-advocate-dr-joely-proudfit-as-constituent-of-the-month,Rep. Mike Levin Honors Local Educator and Advocate Dr. Joely Proudfit as Constituent of the Month,2021-12-21,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Mike Levin,L000593,levin.house.gov,levin,https://levin.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Oceanside, CA – Today, U.S. Representative Mike Levin (D-CA) announced that Carlsbad resident, educator, and activist, Joely Proudfit, Ph.D., is the December Constituent of the Month. A Luiseño/Payómkawichum woman, a true Native to Southern California, Dr. Proudfit is indigenous to Southern California where her ancestors have been since time immemorial. Dr. Proudfit first tapped into her activism in college as a way for her to stay connected to her Native ancestry and support Native voices. Now a renowned and tenured professor, Dr. Proudfit dedicates her life’s work to the education and promotion of proper representation for Native Americans and Indigenous peoples in media and society. Dr. Proudfit is also the first Indigenous woman appointed to California’s Commission on the Status of Women and Girls by Governor Newsom.

See below for Rep. Levin’s statement recognizing Dr. Joely Proudfit in the Congressional Record:

“Madam Speaker, it is my great honor to recognize Carlsbad resident, educator, and fierce advocate for Indigenous peoples, Dr. Joely Proudfit, for my December Constituent of the Month. A Native Southern Californian and a Luiseño/Payómkawichum woman, Dr. Proudfit first tapped into her passion for activism in college as a way for her to stay connected to her Native ancestry and support Native peoples. As the first member of her family to complete a high school diploma, and now a renowned and tenured professor, Dr. Proudfit has dedicated her life’s work to furthering the education and promotion of proper representation for Native Americans and Indigenous peoples in media and society.

“Dr. Proudfit strives to serve as a role model to Native youth by encouraging all who enter her classroom that anyone can achieve success with self-determination and a desire for knowledge. Dr. Proudfit also uses her platform as an educator and highly visible advocate to shed light on the harmful stereotypes and false narratives perpetuated around American Indians and to change perceptions of tribal communities.

“What makes California’s 49th District so special is the rich blending of cultures, backgrounds, and walks of life throughout our communities. The voices and stories of Native Americans have fallen to the shadows far too often. I am so grateful to have leaders and role models like Dr. Proudfit who are the voices we need for these communities to be seen and heard. The contributions and voices of Native and Indigenous peoples are fundamental to our national story, and Dr. Proudfit’s work to lift up tribal communities has made our community and our country stronger. I’m proud to recognize her as my December Constituent of the Month.”

Representative Levin’s Constituent of the Month program recognizes outstanding North County San Diego and South Orange County Residents who have gone above and beyond to help their neighbors, give back to their community, and represent the best of our country. Rep. Levin’s November Constituent of the Month was Marine Corps Bronze Star veteran, Captain Derek Herrera. His October Constituent of the Month was Oceanside resident and Vista Family Health Center Physician Assistant, Edilberto Canseco.

To nominate a resident of the 49th District to be the Constituent of the Month, fill out this nomination form.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://levin.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-mike-levin-leads-letter-calling-on-cpuc-to-reconsider-proposed-changes-to-net-metering-policies,Rep. Mike Levin Leads Letter Calling on CPUC to Reconsider Proposed Changes to Net Metering Policies,2021-12-21,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Mike Levin,L000593,levin.house.gov,levin,https://levin.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Oceanside, CA – Today, U.S. Representative Mike Levin (D-CA) led a letter to California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) President Marybel Batjer urging the CPUC to reconsider recently proposed changes to net energy metering (NEM) policies that would disincentivize continued adoption of rooftop solar in California. The CPUC’s proposed changes would slash the value of solar exports by approximately 80% while imposing the highest fees on solar customers in investor-owned utility territories, severely damaging the growth of rooftop solar in California.

“Net metering policies have catalyzed the growth of rooftop solar in California. In addition to the sector’s positive economic impact, the growth of rooftop solar has also helped advance our efforts to address the climate crisis and increase grid resilience. Existing policies have made rooftop solar a smart clean energy investment for all Californians, regardless of income level – currently, nearly 50 percent of the state’s market is in low- and moderate-income neighborhoods, and over 150,000 Californians eligible for income-driven discounts on their electric bills have their own solar systems,” the Members wrote. “We are grateful for your previous commitments to advance rooftop solar and support a sustainable solar industry as part of an equitable clean energy transition. However, we are deeply concerned that CPUC’s December 13, 2021 proposed decision would actually have the opposite effect, potentially putting rooftop solar out of reach for many Californians, undermining grid resilience, and making it harder for our nation to reach its national clean energy targets.”

The letter was signed by Representatives Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-CA), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Ro Khanna (D-CA), Alan Lowenthal (D-CA), Katie Porter (D-CA), Jared Huffman (D-CA), and Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA).

Click here or see below for their full letter:

The Honorable Marybel Batjer

President

California Public Utilities Commission

505 Van Ness Avenue

San Francisco, CA 94102

Dear President Batjer:

Thank you for your continued efforts to move California towards an equitable and secure clean energy future. We write to express our concerns with the California Public Utilities Commission’s (CPUC) recent proposed decision and its potential impact on the future of net energy metering (NEM) and rooftop solar in California.

Net metering policies have catalyzed the growth of rooftop solar in California. In addition to the sector’s positive economic impact, the growth of rooftop solar has also helped advance our efforts to address the climate crisis and increase grid resilience.

Existing policies have made rooftop solar a smart clean energy investment for all Californians, regardless of income level – currently, nearly 50 percent of the state’s market is in low- and moderate-income neighborhoods, and over 150,000 Californians eligible for income-driven discounts on their electric bills have their own solar systems.

When paired with energy storage, rooftop solar provides critical back-up power during grid outages, saving ratepayers money and providing a common good. Ensuring the continued growth of California’s rooftop solar sector is critical as our state faces increasingly severe wildfires and other threats to grid stability, as net metering policies help residential and commercial customers adopt storage and keep their lights on during increasingly-common power outages. Continuing to grow the rooftop solar industry will reduce the need for back-up diesel generation, which harms both the environment and public health. With the state facing an urgent lack of generating resources, we believe we should be doing everything we can to rapidly deploy renewables and storage.

We are grateful for your previous commitments to advance rooftop solar and support a sustainable solar industry as part of an equitable clean energy transition. However, we are deeply concerned that CPUC’s December 13, 2021 proposed decision would actually have the opposite effect, potentially putting rooftop solar out of reach for many Californians, undermining grid resilience, and making it harder for our nation to reach its national clean energy targets.

We are concerned that the proposed decision would severely damage the growth of rooftop solar in California. It is our understanding that the proposed decision would slash the value of solar exports by approximately 80% while imposing the highest fees on solar customers in investor-owned utility territories. Solar-user fees would be 700% higher than what other state regulatory commissions have implemented, such as New York.

The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed the Build Back Better Act, which includes the largest federal investment in clean energy and climate provisions in our nation’s history. Alongside complementary state action, these investments are critical to meeting President Biden’s national target of achieving a 50 to 52 percent reduction from 2005 levels in economy-wide net greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and a 100 percent carbon-free power grid by 2035.

However, we are deeply concerned that the proposed decision would make rooftop solar less accessible to all Californians, jeopardize its sustainable growth, increase costs to ratepayers, and threaten our ability to achieve these national targets. We respectfully urge you to reconsider this proposed decision and consider supporting reasonable reforms that will ensure the solar and storage industries continue to grow so that we can meet our climate and energy resilience goals.

Sincerely,

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://levin.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-mike-levin-releases-2021-progress-report,Rep. Mike Levin Releases 2021 Progress Report,2021-12-21,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Mike Levin,L000593,levin.house.gov,levin,https://levin.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Levin Passed Seven Bills in the House with Two Signed Into Law; Saved Constituents $13.4 Million through Casework Services

Oceanside, CA – Today, U.S. Representative Mike Levin (D-CA) released his 2021 Progress Report highlighting legislative accomplishments and constituent service successes. Rep. Levin had two of his bills signed into law this year: the bipartisan Training in High-demand Roles to Improve Veteran Employment (THRIVE) Act to improve veterans’ job training and education benefits, and the Responsible Education Mitigating Options and Technical Extensions (REMOTE) Act, which would protect education benefits for veterans amid the challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Also this year, Rep. Levin and his staff responded to more than 58,000 constituent messages and helped more than 1,100 constituents with issues involving federal agencies, saving them more than $13,400,000 total. Institutions in the 49th District received more than $240 million in federal grants, and local small businesses received $9.5 million in federal aid.

Read Rep. Levin’s Progress Report Letter:

Dear Neighbor,

This past year has been a time of incredible progress for our community and our country. We began the year in one of the most challenging phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. The rate of COVID hospitalizations was at its highest point ever, and more than 10 million Americans were unemployed.

Since then, more than 200 million Americans have been fully vaccinated, we’ve added nearly six million jobs, and the number of Americans filing for unemployment reached its lowest point since 1969.

We still have more work to do to put COVID-19 behind us, but we’ve made a lot of progress thanks to the American Rescue Plan, a historic piece of legislation that provided relief to struggling families, frontline workers, and local schools and businesses. In fact, families and organizations in California’s 49th District received more than $350 million in federal relief from that bill.

My colleagues and I also passed the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, a once-in-a-generation investment in our nation’s crumbling infrastructure. Along with the Build Back Better Act, this legislation would create 1.5 million good-paying American jobs each year while also lowering costs for working families. I’ll keep fighting to reach an agreement on many of the policies included in the Build Back Better Act.

We have much more work to do ahead, but first, I want to share a few other highlights.

As a member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, Natural Resources Committee, and Select Committee on the Climate Crisis, I worked with members of both parties to introduce 31 pieces of legislation this year, including seven bills or amendments that passed the House of Representatives, and two that were signed into law. That’s on top of the 16 bills that I introduced and had signed into law during the 116th Congress.

Also this year, my staff and I responded to more than 58,000 constituent messages and helped more than 1,100 constituents with issues involving federal agencies, saving them more than $13,400,000 total. Institutions in our District received more than $240 million in federal grants this year, and local small businesses received $9.5 million in federal aid.

I know there is much more to do in 2022, and I look forward to building on this progress.

Thank you,

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://lofgren.house.gov/media/press-releases/lofgren-announces-625000-federal-funding-santa-clara-county-s-veterans,"Lofgren Announces $625,000 in Federal Funding for Santa Clara County’s Veterans Treatment Court",2021-12-21,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Zoe Lofgren,L000397,lofgren.house.gov,lofgren,https://lofgren.house.gov/media/press-releases,page_html,"SAN JOSE, CA – Today, U.S. Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (CA-19) announced that the U.S. Department of Justice will provide the Santa Clara County Superior Court with $625,000 to expand services at its Veterans Treatment Court.

""Veterans selflessly served our country, and we owe them a debt of gratitude,"" said Rep. Lofgren. ""Veterans with substance use or mental health disorders often need treatment and help, not incarceration. As such, California's treatment courts have a proven track record. This grant will help Santa Clara County veterans receive the services they need to get back on their feet.""

Santa Clara County was among the first jurisdictions in the country to establish a treatment court to address substance use and mental health disorders through intervention and other services, including Medication-Assisted Treatment, rather than incarceration.

This grant comes from the Department of Justice's Adult Drug Court and Veterans Treatment Court Discretionary Grant Program, and will be used to serve 240 local veterans over four years through coordinated case management.

Government funding legislation, which Rep. Lofgren voted for in December 2020, provided $25 million for Veterans Treatment Courts for Fiscal Year 2021, an increase of $2 million over previous funding levels. This year, Rep. Lofgren also led nearly 100 of her colleagues in urging the House Appropriations Committee to support funding for treatment courts in Fiscal Year 2022.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-03-30T11:08:25Z
https://ruiz.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/dr-ruiz-joins-bipartisan-group-doctors-congress-encourage-covid-booster,Dr. Ruiz Joins Bipartisan Group of Doctors in Congress to Encourage COVID Booster Participation,2021-12-21,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Raul Ruiz,R000599,ruiz.house.gov,ruiz,https://ruiz.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (D-CA) joined a group of bipartisan doctors in Congress in launching a radio PSA to encourage COVID-19 vaccine booster shot participation, especially for seniors and those with underlying health conditions. In the PSA, Dr. Ruiz along with U.S. Senators Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS) and John Barrasso, M.D. (R-WY), and Representatives Ami Bera, M.D. (D-CA) and Kim Schrier, M.D. (D-WA) said in part:

""I come to you today, not only as a Member of Congress but as a physician concerned for your health and your safety, and that of our nation… With COVID cases back on the rise and only about a quarter of eligible Americans having taken the booster, I urge you to talk with your trusted doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible about taking action. This holiday season… you should consider getting a COVID vaccine booster – especially if you are a senior or someone with underlying health conditions… This holiday season, the best gift you can give the people you love is the gift of life. Get your booster and live life fully.""

You may click HERE to listen to the PSA.

Full text of the PSA:

Dr. Marshall: Hi, I'm Senator Marshall from the great state of Kansas. I come to you today, not only as a Member of Congress but as a physician concerned for your health and your safety, and that of our nation.

Dr. Schrier: And, we come to you today from both sides of the aisle. With COVID cases back on the rise and only about a quarter of eligible Americans having taken the booster, I urge you to talk with your trusted doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible about taking action.

Dr. Barrasso: This holiday season, I have three reasons why you should consider getting a COVID vaccine booster – especially if you are a senior or someone with underlying health conditions. First, the effectiveness of your COVID vaccination drops to about 50 percent after 6 months of getting the jab.

Dr. Ruiz: Second, with the booster, you are 14 times less likely to end up being hospitalized if you get sick with COVID. And third, with the booster, you are 10 times less likely to die. For now, it appears the Delta variant will still dominate. But, the good news is we know the booster will help prevent hospitalizations and save lives.

Dr. Bera: And Omicron? Well, we don't know as much about it but you will likely benefit from the COVID booster as well. Finally, please consider this friendly advice: whether you are exposed to Delta or Omicron, the flu, or common cold… healthy eating, daily exercise, seven hours of sleep nightly, and avoiding stress all will serve you well.

Dr. Marshall: Like my grandmother always said, ""If you have your health, you have everything."" This holiday season, the best gift you can give the people you love is the gift of life. Get your booster.

Dr. Bera: Get your booster.

Dr. Schrier: Get your booster.

Dr. Barrasso: Get your booster and live life fully.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://torres.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congresswoman-norma-j-torres-announces-36-million-inland-empire-airports,Congresswoman Norma J. Torres announces $36 million for Inland Empire Airports,2021-12-21,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Norma J. Torres,T000474,torres.house.gov,torres,https://torres.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Norma Torres (CA-35) announced that Ontario International Airport (ONT) received federal grants totaling more than $36 million and that Chino Airport (CNO) received an additional $350,000 in federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), legislation championed by Congresswoman Torres.

""As the Inland Empire recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, travel and e-commerce remains crucial to keeping our economy up and running,"" said Representative Torres. ""Across our state, the demand for travel and air-transported materials is higher than ever, while those responsible for providing those services are still struggling with the crushing economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. I'm glad our community is already receiving support from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and I'll continue to fight for funding and assistance to ensure our regional infrastructure is prepared to keep our recovery on track.""

With the rise in e-commerce, Ontario International Airport has served an increasingly vital role in the nation's supply chain. The ARPA grants for $24,818,964 and $2,332,785 will help with costs related to operations, personnel, sanitization, and helping stop the spread of COVID-19 at the airport and provide relief for rent and other fees, respectively. $9,684,906 from the IIJA will go to projects deemed eligible by the Federal Aviation Administration. In July, ONT received $5 million in federal funds for runway repairs, due to Congresswoman Torres' efforts.

The $59,000 from ARPA will also address costs related to operations, personnel, cleaning, sanitization, and janitorial services at Chino Airport. The $295,000 from IIJA will fund eligible projects, such as noise mitigation and airport upgrades and improvements.

ONT was the fastest-growing airport in the United States in 2019, according to Global Traveler. Located in the Inland Empire, ONT is approximately 35 miles east of downtown Los Angeles in the center of Southern California. It is a full-service airport, which before the coronavirus pandemic, offered nonstop commercial jet service to 26 major airports in the U.S., Mexico and Taiwan.

To date, Congresswoman Torres has announced $3.5 billion in coronavirus relief for the Inland Empire. To learn more, click here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://garamendi.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-garamendi-senators-van-hollen-and-cardin-urge-us-secretary-education,Rep. Garamendi & Senators Van Hollen and Cardin Urge U.S. Secretary of Education to Include Peace Corps Volunteers in new Student Loan Relief,2021-12-20,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,John Garamendi,G000559,garamendi.house.gov,garamendi,https://garamendi.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC—Congressman John Garamendi (D-CA and U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Ben Cardin (D-MD) led a bicameral letter to Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona urging the U.S. Department of Education to include returned Peace Corps volunteers in the Biden Administration's recent improvements to the Public Student Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program. The members were joined in sending the letter by over a dozen of their colleagues. Congressman Garamendi is the only returned Peace Corps volunteer currently serving in the U.S. House of Representatives and co-chairs the bipartisan Congressional Peace Corps Caucus.

On October 6, 2021, the Department announced reforms including a new temporary waiver period that allowed some borrowers to receive credit towards Public Student Loan Forgiveness for periods of public service that would have not previously qualified under the program. The newly available temporary waiver period fixed issues that prevented some public servants from receiving Public Student Loan Forgiveness credit during their service due to the repayment status of their student loans.

Unfortunately, returned Peace Corps volunteers, who had faced similar challenges in receiving the student loan relief that they were otherwise due, were not made eligible for the temporary waiver period and are precluded from having their service count through the adjustments to Public Student Loan Forgiveness.

In their letter to Secretary Cardona, Rep. Garamendi and Senators Van Hollen and Cardin said, ""We strongly support your Department's efforts to reform, strengthen, and expand the Public Student Loan Forgiveness Program, including the time-limited waivers for additional student borrowers announced on October 6, 2021. We simply request that you provide for current and returned Peace Corps volunteers by creating a new waiver or expanding current waivers to allow volunteers to credit their full service overseas towards PSLF or Temporary Expanded Public Service Loan Forgiveness, even if their federal student loans were placed into deferment or forbearance status during their service.""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://issa.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-issa-joins-suit-support-navy-service-members-seeking-exemption,Congressman Issa Joins Suit in Support of Navy Service Members Seeking Exemption from Vaccine Mandate,2021-12-20,2021,2021-12,Republican,House,CA,Darrell Issa,I000056,issa.house.gov,issa,https://issa.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-50) joined Congressman Mike Johnson (LA-04) and 36 additional House Republican colleagues in filing an amicus brief in U.S. District Court. The filing is in support of 35 Navy service members seeking a religious exemption from the Biden Administration’s reckless military vaccine mandate. Eight U.S. Senators also joined the filing.

“We will fight every day for the men and women who fight for us – even if it is one service member at a time,” said Rep. Issa. “I am proud to join my colleagues in directly communicating to this court that these members of the Navy have constitutional rights that no one – not even President Biden – can take away.”

This action follows Congressman Issa’s recent advocacy to bring new attention to this issue, including a letter to President Biden urging a pause of the military vaccine mandate and a national op-ed detailing the mandate’s threat to force readiness and national security.

Click HERE to view the brief in full.

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,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://lieu.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-lieu-leads-14-members-urging-medicare-cover-use-cutting-edge-test,REP LIEU LEADS 14 MEMBERS IN URGING MEDICARE TO COVER USE OF CUTTING-EDGE TEST FOR CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE,2021-12-20,2021,2021-12,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) sent a letter along with 13 of his colleagues urging the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Chiquita Brooks-LaSure to support using coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) to help diagnose heart disease. CCTA is a noninvasive imaging procedure that detects coronary artery disease and quantifies the narrowing of arteries among patients with chest pain. Currently, Medicare does not reimburse providers at the cost of performing the test, thereby increasing the expense for patients. In their letter, the Members urge CMS to reimburse providers for this test to increase access and reduce costs for patients.

In the letter, the Members write:

Dear Administrator Brooks-LaSure:

We know CMS strives to ""put beneficiaries first"" by ""empowering patients to work with their doctors to make health care decisions that are in their best interest."" Further, CMS consistently pledges to support innovative approaches to improve quality, access and affordability. Value-based care requires value-based payment for pathways that show cost savings and improved outcomes. That is why we are contacting CMS regarding coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA). CCTA is one such approach that saves lives and improves diagnostic quality, all while also remaining cost-effective.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Approximately 655,000 Americans die from heart disease annually – roughly 25% of deaths, despite advances in treatment and diagnostic strategies for coronary artery disease (CAD). Over the past two decades, an effective test for CAD has emerged based on strong clinical science, cost-effectiveness and the ability to positively impact patient outcomes: coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA). Despite this, Medicare reimbursement rates for CCTA remain significantly lower than both clinical value as well as hospitals' cost of providing the exam, resulting in a substantial barrier to patient access. The CY 2022 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) proposed reimbursement once again fails to address the flawed methodology that leads to this inadequacy. We therefore urge you to work with stakeholders to address this problem by grouping CCTA with similar medical services, enabling hospitals to submit accurate charges and CMS to reimburse the test appropriately.

CCTA is a noninvasive imaging procedure that detects CAD and quantifies the narrowing of arteries among patients with chest pain. CCTA utilizes a CT scanner, intravenous contrast, and vasoactive agents such as beta-blockers and nitrates to slow the heart and obtain still-framed, high-resolution 3D pictures of a patient's coronary arteries. Through this technology, CCTA detects blockages – both hard and the more difficult to find soft plaques – which may be more likely to cause heart attacks and death. Clinical data supporting CCTA as a first-line test that improves patient outcomes has matured to the point where clinical guidelines throughout the world have adopted this approach .

CCTA's value to patients and the healthcare system has three main components:

1. Over 70% of patients referred for CCTA do not have significant coronary narrowing

These patients can be reassured that their symptoms are not coronary heart disease-related and have no additional cardiac testing is necessary, representing both peace of mind and systemic medical cost savings.

2. Patients with early stage CAD but without a significant blockage can be treated with medication for underlying CAD risk factors. This ability to visualize pre-clinical CAD and act upon it is the main driver behind improved outcomes following CCTA.

3. In patients where CCTA shows possible or definite blockage, doctors can appropriately order additional tests or procedures (such as FFRCT or cardiac catheterization with revascularization). CCTA allows more precise selection of patients who are most likely to benefit from additional procedures.

Thus, CCTA prevents test layering, identifies patients who will most benefit from appropriate medications, and can significantly decrease downstream costs by optimizing care and treatment for each patient. In fact, due the cost savings of CCTA, several large private insurance companies in the U.S. now support its use as a first-line test.

Despite the value and effectiveness of CCTA, Medicare reimbursement for CCTA has fallen by 30% since 2017. Medicare reimbursement for CCTA has been less than the hospital's cost for performing the test for over a decade and renders providing the test to patients cost prohibitive, as hospitals will do so at a financial loss limiting the use and frequency.

The issue lies with CMS' methodology for determining reimbursement. CCTA's reimbursement is low because OPPS regulation requires hospitals to submit CCTA claims under general CT services. However, unlike general CT services, CCTA requires additional staff work to administer vasoactive medications prior to the scan, a specially trained technologist to acquire the scan, and special post-processing and 3D workstation software to interpret the study. CCTA has clinical and resource utilization that more closely mirrors SPECT and stress echocardiography. Generic CT costs do not sufficiently capture the complexity of cardiac CT services, which utilize approximately 2-3 times as many resources.

This failure of Medicare to capture the cost of providing CCTA is creating a disparity among beneficiaries. Healthcare consulting firm ADVI used 2019 hospital outpatient claims to explore specific health equity variables: race, income, and urban/rural location. Among the key findings of ADVI's claims analysis:

• Despite ischemic heart disease diagnoses being evenly distributed across incomes, wealthier Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) have higher testing rates than the lowest income MSAs.

• Cardiac CTs were predominately performed in urban areas at teaching hospitals.

o 96% occurred in urban areas while approximately 77% of Medicare beneficiaries live in urban areas.

o Per capita cardiac CT imaging rates were higher in urban areas than rural areas and testing rates were highest in the top income MSAs.

o 70% of cardiac CTs were administered at teaching hospitals (major or minor teaching status).

• Despite non-white beneficiaries making up ~20% of the Medicare population, they only account for 14% of cardiac CT procedures.

These findings suggest that inadequate cardiac CT reimbursement creates a barrier to non-white patients and those in rural settings. We believe that failure to address the inadequate payment for cardiac CT will further widen healthcare disparities and continue to hinder access for Medicare beneficiaries.

To address inadequate cardiac CT reimbursement, we urge CMS to group cardiac CT codes with services more similar in clinical intensity, resource utilization, and cost. To render better alignment with clinical homogeneity, we request that CMS move CPT® codes 75572 and 75573 (contrast-enhanced cardiac CT codes) to Ambulatory Payment Classification (APC) 5572 and move CPT® code 75574 to APC 5573 (stress cardiac MRI or stress echocardiography). Further, we urge CMS to provide hospitals and practices flexibility to submit charges for cardiac CT procedures under revenue codes outside of general CT. This will allow future cost estimates to more accurately reflect true cardiac CT costs.

We hope that CMS will put beneficiaries first and support this value-based approach to improve quality, access and affordability. We encourage CMS to use its authority to ""right-size"" cardiac CTA reimbursement in the near term AND allow for more accurate estimation of cost long term. We look forward to working with you to alter reimbursement methodology to incentivize increased access, so that all providers across the U.S. can offer the benefits of CCTA to their patients.

Thank you for your consideration.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://lofgren.house.gov/media/press-releases/lofgren-announces-720000-federal-funding-assist-santa-clara-county-families,"Lofgren Announces $720,000 in Federal Funding to Assist Santa Clara County Families Living in Public Housing",2021-12-20,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Zoe Lofgren,L000397,lofgren.house.gov,lofgren,https://lofgren.house.gov/media/press-releases,page_html,"SAN JOSE, CA – Today, U.S. Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (CA-19) announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will provide the Santa Clara County Housing Authority with $432,432 and the Housing Authority of the City of San Jose with $288,288 under the Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program.

""It's no secret that there's an affordable housing crisis in our community, and it requires action from all levels of government,"" said Rep. Lofgren. ""As lawmakers work to ensure that every family in our community can find housing they can afford, we must also provide services that families currently living in public housing need to thrive. These important grants will help local families find the resources they need to meet their long-term financial and employment goals.""

Under the FSS program, public housing tenants or recipients of housing vouchers must set long-term financial and employment goals. Next, FSS coordinators help connect families to the services they need to reach those goals, such as transportation, childcare, and employment training. As families meet their goals, the FSS program deposits credits in an escrow account that the family receives after graduating from the program. The escrow account not only provides a financial incentive for families to become financially self-sufficient, but also helps low-income families build savings or meet unexpected expenses. Congress provided $105 million in funding for the FSS program in Fiscal Year 2021, $25 million more than the previous year. Rep. Lofgren voted in favor of the funding package in December 2020.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-03-30T11:08:25Z
https://ruiz.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/ruiz-delivers-much-needed-federal-funding-salton-sea,Ruiz Delivers Much-Needed Federal Funding to the Salton Sea,2021-12-20,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Raul Ruiz,R000599,ruiz.house.gov,ruiz,https://ruiz.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-36) announced the arrival of $1 million in federal funding from the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) to address the crisis at the Salton Sea.

""I am thrilled to see that $1 million in federal disaster funding is on its way to our communities to address declining water levels at the Salton Sea,"" said Dr. Ruiz. ""I understand firsthand what the crisis at the Salton Sea means to my constituents and how it has ramifications for our public health, local economy, and ecosystem. This significant federal funding that I voted to bring home will strengthen our all-hands-on-deck approach to this public health and environmental crisis.""

Earlier this year, Ruiz voted for the Extending Government Funding and Delivery Emergency Assistance Act (P.L. 117-43), which invests $200 million in Reclamation's efforts to address drought conditions throughout the West. The $1 million Ruiz voted to secure will fund mitigation efforts due to declining water levels at the Sea.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://sarajacobs.house.gov/news/press-releases/congresswoman-jacobs-announces-24-million-in-new-federal-funding-for-san-diego-international-airport-thanks-to-bipartisan-infrastructure-bill,Congresswoman Jacobs Announces $24 Million in New Federal Funding for San Diego International Airport Thanks to Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill,2021-12-20,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Sara Jacobs,J000305,sarajacobs.house.gov,sarajacobs,https://sarajacobs.house.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"San Diego, CA - Today, Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (D-CA-53) announces that San Diego International Airport will receive $24,160,074 in new federal funding for fiscal year 2022 thanks to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the bipartisan infrastructure bill signed by President Biden in November.

The funding comes from the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Airport Infrastructure Grant program, one of three new aviation programs created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. For a full list of airport funding, click here.

San Diego International and other local airports are set to receive similar levels of funding each year for the next five years. In addition to the $24 million allocated to San Diego International, other local airports will also receive funding, including $763,000 for Gillespie Field, $295,000 for Montgomery-Gibbs, and $295,000 for Brown Field Municipal Airport. Airports can submit proposals to the FAA for how they plan to use the funding in the coming weeks.

“The bipartisan infrastructure bill is delivering for San Diego. I am proud to announce that San Diego International Airport will receive more than $24 million dollars in federal funding - and that’s just the beginning. San Diego International is the third busiest airport in California and a huge economic asset for our region. The increased travel around the holidays shows how important it is to upgrade our transportation infrastructure. This federal funding will help make the travel experience better for local residents and make our city a more attractive destination for visitors from around the world. I am excited that $24 million dollars in funding is on the way for San Diego International, along with funding for the other airports in San Diego County. My office will continue to push every lever to make sure San Diego gets the funding we need,” said Congresswoman Jacobs.

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, included $15 billion in formula funding to help redevelop airports across the country. Projects that qualify for funding include: improvements to runways and taxiways, terminal development and noise prevention. The law also includes an additional $5 billion nationally for FAA towers and facilities funding, which the FAA will distribute among airports in need. The bipartisan infrastructure bill also includes an additional $5 billion in funding for the Airport Terminal Program, a competitive grant program for terminal upgrades.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://sarajacobs.house.gov/news/press-releases/congresswoman-jacobs-leads-letter-calling-on-white-house-to-improve-us-policies-to-address-afghanistans-humanitarian-and-economic-crisis,Congresswoman Jacobs Leads Letter Calling on White House to Improve U.S. Policies to Address Afghanistan’s Humanitarian and Economic Crisis,2021-12-20,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Sara Jacobs,J000305,sarajacobs.house.gov,sarajacobs,https://sarajacobs.house.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"San Diego, CA — Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (D-CA-53) led a letter to the White House today calling on the Biden administration to urgently update U.S. policies to address the humanitarian and economic collapse in Afghanistan. The letter was led by Jacobs and Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (D-WA-07) and CPC Vice Chair Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García (D-IL-04) and was signed by four dozen members.

In a letter addressed to the President and senior Treasury Department officials, the lawmakers emphasized their support for his decision to withdraw troops from the country, but urged that the new phase of the U.S.-Afghan relationship must avoid harsh economic measures that will directly cause loss of life and other harm to Afghan families and children. Specifically, they urge “conscientiously but urgently modifying current U.S. policy regarding the freeze of Afghanistan's foreign reserves and ongoing sanctions.” They write, “We fear, as aid groups do, that maintaining this policy could cause more civilian deaths in the coming year than were lost in 20 years of war.”

Citing United Nations estimates that 1 million Afghan children are at risk of starving to death, the members of Congress note that the U.S. freeze of $9.4 billion in Afghanistan’s foreign reserves in August, along with the imposition of broad economic sanctions, are driving “soaring inflation and the shuttering of commercial banks and vital private businesses, plunging the country — which relies overwhelmingly on imports that require hard currency — deeper into economic and humanitarian crisis.” Similarly, they note that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has denied Afghanistan access to special reserve assets intended to help developing countries alleviate the impact of the pandemic.

The consequences of these policies for the Afghan people have been immediate and catastrophic. United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres has warned that “after decades of war, suffering and insecurity, [Afghans] face perhaps their most perilous hour,” imploring countries “to take action and inject liquidity into the Afghan economy to avoid collapse.” World Food Programme surveys indicate that 95 percent of Afghan households are not consuming enough food. The United Nations Development Program reports that Afghanistan will face “universal poverty by the middle of next year,” with the poverty rate expected to rise from 72 percent to as high as 98 percent. Afghanistan’s economic pain and humanitarian collapse both threaten to trigger a new refugee crisis throughout the region.

“No increase in food and medical aid can compensate for the macroeconomic harm of soaring prices of basic commodities, a banking collapse, a balance-of-payments crisis, a freeze on civil servants’ salaries, and other severe consequences that are rippling throughout Afghan society, harming the most vulnerable,” write the lawmakers. “We deplore the new Taliban government’s grave human rights abuses, crackdowns on civil society and repression of women and LGBTQ people. However, pragmatic U.S. engagement with the de facto authorities is nevertheless key to averting unprecedented harm to tens of millions of women, children and innocent civilians. Punitive economic policies will not weaken Taliban leaders, who will be shielded from the direct consequences, while the overwhelming impact of these measures will fall on innocent Afghans who have already suffered decades of war and poverty.”

The lawmakers note that engagement with the Taliban to coordinate central bank access to urgently needed hard currency can provide the necessary leverage to secure human rights improvements, and that a failure to avert economic catastrophe in Afghanistan creates risks to U.S. national security, by deterring Taliban cooperation on counterterrorism efforts, fueling anti-American resentment, and creating ungoverned spaces fertile for militant groups to seize. “U.S. economic policy should not undermine the national-security imperative of seeking stability in Afghanistan, and instead should minimize the risk of threats emanating from the country,” the lawmakers conclude. “We stand ready to work closely with you as you expeditiously review current U.S. policy in light of the extraordinary economic and humanitarian risks confronting the people of Afghanistan.”

Representatives Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04), and Sara Jacobs (CA-53) were joined by Representatives Alma Adams (NC-12), Karen Bass (CA-37), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Donald S. Beyer Jr. (VA-08), Jamaal Bowman, Ed.D (NY-16), Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), Cori Bush (MO-01), Tony Cárdenas (CA-29), André Carson (IN-07), Judy Chu (CA-27), Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Danny K. Davis (IL-07), Peter A. DeFazio (OR-04), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11), Debbie Dingell (MI-12), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Al Green (TX-09), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Henry C. “Hank” Johnson (GA-04), Mondaire Jones (NY-17), Kaiali’i Kahele (HI-02), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18), Andy Levin (MI-09), Alan Lowenthal (CA-47), Betty McCollum (MN-04), James P. McGovern (MA-02), Grace Meng (NY-06), Marie Newman (IL-03), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Katie Porter (CA-45), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Mark Takano (CA-41), Rashida Tlaib (MI-13), Juan Vargas (CA-51), and Nydia Velázquez (NY-07).

The letter can be found online here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://costa.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/costa-statement-senate-parliamentarian-s-decision-immigration-reform,Costa Statement on Senate Parliamentarian’s Decision on  Immigration Reform in Build Back Better Act,2021-12-19,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Jim Costa,C001059,costa.house.gov,costa,https://costa.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"FRESNO - Rep Jim Costa issued the following statement after the Senate parliamentarian's decision late Thursday to reject immigration reform included in the Build Back Better Act. The reform measures would have provided temporary protections and work permits for 7 million undocumented individuals, including Dreamers, Temporary Protection Status (TPS) holders, essential workers, and 1 million farmworkers.

""I am extremely disappointed with this decision by the Senate parliamentarian to remove critical immigration reform from the Build Back Better Act,""Costa said. ""Immigrants play a vital role in our economy as essential workers, many in the San Joaquin Valley working tirelessly on the farms that feed our nation. I remain committed in fighting for the rights of those who came to our country to seek a better life for themselves and their families. For we should remember, America historically has been a nation of immigrants past and present, a beacon of light around the world.""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://levin.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-mike-levin-statement-on-build-back-better-act-status,Rep. Mike Levin Statement on Build Back Better Act Status,2021-12-19,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Mike Levin,L000593,levin.house.gov,levin,https://levin.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Oceanside, CA – Today, U.S. Representative Mike Levin (D-CA) issued the following statement on the status of the Build Back Better Act:

“The Build Back Better Act is the best chance we have to limit the increasingly devastating effects of the climate crisis and protect our planet for our children and grandchildren. With this monumental bill, we could stop fossil fuel companies from polluting our oceans and our air. We could drastically lower greenhouse gas emissions that have put us on a path to a world of widespread food insecurity, worsening public health, and perpetual national security crises. With the Build Back Better Act, we could also make life easier for millions of working families by extending the refundable Child Tax Credit. Lower child care costs, prescription drug costs, and education costs would help Americans everywhere make ends meet. The Build Back Better Act is the best chance we have to improve the quality of life for everyone, and it is incredibly frustrating to have this legislation derailed by one individual, Senator Joe Manchin. While today’s setback is disappointing beyond words, I remain hopeful that we can reach an agreement on many of the policies this bill includes. The future of our people and our planet depends on it.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://sarajacobs.house.gov/news/press-releases/statement-from-congresswoman-jacobs-on-build-back-better-act,Statement from Congresswoman Jacobs on Build Back Better Act,2021-12-19,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Sara Jacobs,J000305,sarajacobs.house.gov,sarajacobs,https://sarajacobs.house.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"San Diego, CA - Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (D-CA-53) releases the following statement on the Build Back Better Act following Senator Manchin’s comments this morning:

“When I ran for Congress in the midst of this global pandemic, the number one concern I heard from families was child care. I promised them I’d come to Washington and fight to bring down the cost of care and expand tax cuts like the Child Tax Credit that are so meaningful for millions of families across the country and right here in San Diego. And I won’t stop now.

“Extending the Child Tax Credit, child care, health care, lower drug costs, addressing climate change – these priorities are too important to give up on.

“Senator Manchin’s comments are infuriating, but they are not the end. I’m not going to stop fighting for a better future.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://scottpeters.house.gov/press-releases/rep-peters-statement-on-senator-manchin-s-opposition-to-the-build-back-better-act,Rep. Peters' Statement on Senator Manchin's Opposition to the Build Back Better Act,2021-12-19,2021,2021-12,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) released the following statement after Senator Joe Manchin publicly announced his sudden opposition to the Build Back Better Act:

""Those of us in elected office need to take the votes we think are right for the country and for the people we represent. I'm extremely disappointed in Senator Manchin's announcement this weekend that he won't support Build Back Better, but it's his decision.

""After many months of discussion, Senator Manchin now must identify what he can support that addresses his policy priorities and his concerns about debt, deficit, and inflation. For instance, the tax measures address many of the inequities in the Trump tax scam, which he opposed. Could he support the measure to stop tax cheats? Or the provision for an international minimum tax for profitable corporations that often pay no taxes? Both of those provisions would directly address the deficit.

""If he's concerned about starting programs to help families that can't be funded for a long time, like family leave or child care or pre-kindergarten, could he support extending the child tax credit alone? This would give many parents the resources they need to help their children be successful, and would empower them to choose how to use that money, on child care, early schooling, or to support stay-at-home parenting.

""Senator Manchin has expressed concern about the high cost of prescription drugs for seniors. Could he support a package that included our proposal to allow Medicare to negotiate prices and to cap out-of-pocket costs at $2000 per year, and $35 per month for insulin?

""If he is concerned about the reliability of the electric grid or relying on foreign supply chains, could he support federal investments to produce cleaner technologies in the U.S. or incentives to build essential interstate transmission lines?""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://barragan.house.gov/2021/12/18/spectrum-news-1-nikola-delivers-first-battery-electric-big-rigs-to-port-of-la/,Spectrum News 1:  Nikola delivers first battery electric big rigs to Port of LA,2021-12-18,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Nanette Diaz Barragán,B001300,barragan.house.gov,barragan,https://barragan.house.gov/news,scraper,"BY SUSAN CARPENTER SAN PEDRO

PUBLISHED 8:30 AM PT DEC. 18, 2021

LOS ANGELES — The first two battery-electric semis to roll off the production line from Nikola Corp. were delivered to the Port of Los Angeles Friday. Southern California trucking company Total Transportation Services Inc. will operate the trucks at the port as part of a pilot program to provide feedback on their operation in the real world.

“We’re constantly hearing about things occurring that are a direct result of climate change because of increased greenhouse gases, so it’s very important that we do our part,” said Chris Cannon, chief sustainability officer for the Port of LA. “We’ve got to get zero-emissions trucks out there and get them operating.”

As part of the Clean Air Action Plan the port announced in 2017, 100% of the 12,000 freight trucks operating at the port must be zero-emissions by 2035. About 100 vehicles at the port currently meet that criteria.

…

There are currently 16 zero-emissions projects operating the Port of LA, according to the port’s environmental specialist, Jacob Goldberg. Those include a partnership with Toyota, UPS and Shell, which is building hydrogen fueling stations at the port and in Ontario, near the warehouses those trucks service.

“The transition to zero-emissions is underway and the technology is available today, but it’s not happening quickly enough,” said Congresswoman Nanette Diaz Barragan, who represents California’s 44th District in the U.S. House of Representatives.

To urge it along, Barragan authored the Climate Smart Ports bill that is part of Build Back Better legislation the U.S. Senate is currently considering. Her bill includes $3.5 billion in zero-emissions technology investments to reduce air pollution at the ports from diesel-fueled equipment and trucks.

Trucks traveling in and out of the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach emit nearly 2,600 tons of nitrous oxides every year, along with high levels of carbon dioxide, diesel particulate and other harmful pollutants, she said.

“This is a major reason why people living in port communities such as Wilmington and San Pedro and along our major freight corridors are burdened with higher rates of asthma and have lower life expectancy than residents of other communities,” Barragan added.

…",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://aguilar.house.gov/2021/12/17/aguilar-announces-1-million-for-riverside-san-bernardino-county-indian-health/,Aguilar Announces $1 Million for Riverside-San Bernardino County Indian Health,2021-12-17,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Pete Aguilar,A000371,aguilar.house.gov,aguilar,https://aguilar.house.gov/category/congress_press_release/,scraper,"San Bernardino, CA— Rep. Aguilar announced $1,075,100 for the Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI) at Riverside-San Bernardino County Indian Health, Inc. (RSBCIHI). This US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) funding will allow critical services such as diabetes treatment and prevention education, fitness classes and telemedicine services for patients to continue.

“Our tribal communities are too often not afforded the ability to access high-quality health care,” said Aguilar. “I’m proud to announce this funding to ensure more residents in the Inland Empire have access to quality, affordable medical care they need.”

Holly Brawner, RSBCIHI Diabetes Program Director said, “According to the SDPI 2020 Report to Congress, diabetes has a 14.6% prevalence rate among adult Native Americans. Our goal at Riverside-San Bernardino County Indian Health Diabetes Program is to be a contributing factor in the decrease of that percentage. During these past years the community and many individuals have been empowered to take diabetes head-on and be successful!”

Rep. Aguilar serves as Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus and as a member of the House Appropriations Committee, the committee responsible for funding federal programs and agencies like HHS.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://barragan.house.gov/2021/12/17/barragan-asks-state-to-revise-rules-to-establish-3200-foot-buffer-between-oil-gas-extraction-and-homes/,"Barragán Asks State to Revise Rules to Establish 3,200-foot buffer between Oil & Gas Extraction and Homes",2021-12-17,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Nanette Diaz Barragán,B001300,barragan.house.gov,barragan,https://barragan.house.gov/news,scraper,"Dear Supervisor Ntuk:

The recently released Draft Rule for Protection of Communities and Workers from Health and Safety Impacts from Oil and Gas Production Operations developed by the California Geologic Energy Management Division (CalGEM) does not go far enough to protect frontline communities. I strongly urge CalGEM to consider the health and safety of our frontline communities by enhancing the Draft Rule to include existing wells in the 3,200-foot set-back zone. Additionally, CalGEM should end all permitting for fossil fuel extraction within the 3,200-foot setback zone until the rule goes into effect.

While the Draft Rule would prevent drilling of new oil and gas production sites within 3,200 feet of homes, schools, health centers, and other sensitive sites within California, it falls short of protecting frontline communities who presently live, study, and work near existing fossil fuel wells. Nearly seven million Californians—mostly people of color—live within one mile of an oil or gas well. This is a reality my constituents live with every day, where we have urban oil drilling taking place within 3,200 feet of homes, schools, and businesses. Studies link proximity to oil and gas wells to increased risk of asthma and other respiratory illnesses.

It’s no accident that my district has some of the highest asthma rates in the country. Low-income communities and communities of color who live with existing gas and oil wells in their neighborhoods will continue to experience a shorter life expectancy and worse health outcomes unless CalGEM revises the Draft Rule to include existing wells in the establishment of the 3,2000-foot setback zone between wells and sensitive receptors.

In Wilmington, California, located in my Congressional District, oil wells can be found between homes, behind baseball fields, in the parking lots of churches and stores, and directly next to the local Boys & Girls Club site. The population of Wilmington is also 86 percent Latino. The environmental racism impacting Wilmington is tragically all too common throughout California, where oil and gas wells are predominately located within communities of color.

Furthermore, these disproportionately impacted communities are not only harmed by the health hazards of fossil fuel production, but also lack access to the health services needed to treat the medical conditions caused by prolonged exposure to pollutants from oil and gas extraction. In California, 84 percent of oil and gas wells are placed within medically underserved areas. This is no mistake, the oil industry has continuously sought to expand operations in disadvantaged, vulnerable communities.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://correa.house.gov/news/press-releases/12/16/2021/weekly-wrap-up,Weekly Wrap Up,2021-12-17,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,J. Luis Correa,C001110,correa.house.gov,correa,https://correa.house.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"(December 17)

This week Rep. Correa was in Washington D.C. for votes to raise the debt limit ceiling and went back to Orange County to Honor a WWII Veteran.

The Congressman met with Bill Rowe to honor and present him with the Congressional Record to WWII for his 100th birthday. Bill is an American hero and an Army Air Corps 1st pilot who flew 15 missions, and we thank him for his service to our country.

The Weekly Rundown

On Monday, Congressman Correa cosponsored the National Wildland Fire Risk Reduction Program Act, which is a comprehensive science authorization bill that will address the nation’s preparedness and response to wildfires by identifying and investing in research and development, setting up warning and forecast systems, developing observation and sensing technologies, and standardizing data collection efforts. The congressman also cosponsored the Humane Cosmetics Act to substantially restrict the use of animal testing for cosmetics.

On Tuesday, Congressman Correa joined his colleagues in urging congressional leadership to provide more support to small businesses by expediting a targeted relief package to fund all previously approved Restaurant Revitalization Fund applications and allows businesses in the hospitality, fitness, live events, and travel industries to apply for federal funds.

On Tuesday evening, Congressman Correa voted to increase the debt ceiling and prevent the United States from defaulting on its obligations. Then, the congressman voted to pass a resolution to recommend that the Department of Justice pursue criminal charges against former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows for failing to appear for a deposition with the select committee investigating the January 6 attack on the US Capitol. The congressman also joined his colleagues to pass the Combating International Islamophobia Act to address worldwide Islamophobia. To listen to Congressman Correa’s remarks supporting this important legislation, click here.

On Wednesday, Congressman Correa moderated a Blue Dog Coalition roundtable on the supply chain crisis, alongside Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger. The congressman was also joined by Gene Seroka, the Director of the Port of Los Angeles. Congressman Correa also led a bipartisan letter with Fullerton Congresswoman Young Kim to urge congressional leadership to create a Select Committee on the Supply Chain Crisis.

On Thursday, Congressman Correa led his colleagues in two efforts to continue support for Afghan refugees. The first effort was to urge President Biden to increase direct vaccine donations to Afghan refugees through Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and the Humanitarian Buffer. The second effort to support Afghan refugees was to call on the House Appropriations Committee to provide more aid to humanitarian organizations addressing the Afghan refugee crisis.

Catch Us In The News

Spectrum News 1 | Congressman Correa drafted a letter of support this week for Raul Rodriguez, a DACA recipient who was barred from entering the U.S. for 10 years after traveling to Mexico as part of the process he was undertaking to gain U.S. citizenship. Mr. Rodriguez’s is now separated from his wife and 3-month old twin boys and is seeking to appeal his case.

Marijuana Moment | Rep. Correa recently talked with Dennis McDonough, Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, about how cannabis can ease PTSD in veterans. Rep. Correa has been working with the administration to allow for more research into the medical uses of cannabis.

What We’re Reading

OC Register | The Department of Justice recently announced an indictment containing charges against three oil companies for the 25,000 gallon oil spill that occurred off of Huntington Beach earlier this year. Read more about the companies and the indictment by clicking here.

WSJ | In response to a shortage of truck drivers that has worsened the ongoing supply chain crisis, the Biden Administration is taking steps to support training and recruitment opportunities to increase the number of truck drivers nationally. Retention and quality are the main priorities of the initiative, which you can read more about here.

WaPo | In the ongoing effort to address the root causes of migration from Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador—the three countries known as the Northern Triangle—Vice President Kamala Harris announced $1.2 billion in investments from private sector companies like PepsiCo, Mastercard, and Cargill to bolster economic opportunity and increase stability in the region.

Looking Ahead

Stay tuned as Congressman Correa heads back to the district to have final meetings with constituents before the holiday season.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://costa.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-jim-costa-announces-valley-airports-receive-95-million-bipartisan,Rep. Jim Costa announces Valley airports to receive $9.5 million from Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,2021-12-17,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Jim Costa,C001059,costa.house.gov,costa,https://costa.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"FRESNO – Today, Rep. Jim Costa announced that $9,558,501 in new federal funding under the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is headed to the San Joaquin Valley to make much-needed improvements to regional airports. This is a part of the Fiscal Year 2022 funding made available to airports nationwide. The funds will help airports with future expansion and improvement projects. Fresno-Yosemite International Airport will receive $4,674,140.

""Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this new $4.6 million grant will deliver good-paying jobs while making renovations to Fresno-Yosemite International Airport,"" said Rep. Costa. ""By helping fund the airport's future expansion plans, we will ensure that all travelers flying to and from the San Joaquin Valley will have an easier and safer journey.""

Fresno-Yosemite International Airport will receive a similar portion of funding from the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law each year for the next five years, as part of a program for airport development. In addition to these guaranteed funds, the airport can compete with other airports across the country for grants from an additional $5 billion nationally for terminal improvements.

On Nov. 15, President Biden signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which included $15 billion in formula funding to help redevelop airports across the country. Projects that qualify for funding include: improvements to runways and taxiways, terminal development, and noise prevention. The law also includes an additional $5 billion nationally for FAA towers and facilities funding, which the FAA will distribute among airports in need.

""Under the leadership of President Biden and House Democrats, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has already proven to be a tremendous victory for Californians,"" continued Rep. Costa. ""I was proud to support this historic legislation in the House, and I will keep fighting to ensure every family can benefit from these investments as we rebuild and reimagine our state's infrastructure.""

Other airports in Rep. Costa's district receiving funds, include:

Fresno Chandler Executive: $295,000

Madera Municipal: $295,000

Firebaugh: $110,000

Los Banos Municipal: $159,000

Gustine: $110,000

Castle Airport: $159,000

Merced Regional: $295,000

Chowchilla: $159,000

Other Valley airports receiving funds, include:

Visalia Municipal: $295,000

Tulare Mefford Field: $159,000

Woodlake: $110,000

Reedley Municipal: $159,000

Meadows Field Bakersfield: $1,538,361

Bakersfield Municipal: $159,000

New Coalinga Municipal: $110,000

Hanford Municipal: $159,000

Mariposa-Yosemite: $159,000

Modesto City County-Harry Sham Field: $295,000

Porterville Municipal: $159,000",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://garamendi.house.gov/media/press-releases/garamendi-announces-48-billion-new-funding-roads-and-bridges-headed-california,Garamendi Announces $4.8 Billion in New Funding for Roads and Bridges Headed to California,2021-12-17,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,John Garamendi,G000559,garamendi.house.gov,garamendi,https://garamendi.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congressman John Garamendi (D-CA), a senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, announced that California will receive $4.8 billion in new federal funding under the Infrastructure and Jobs Act to create good-paying jobs for Californians improving roads and bridges across the state. This is the first round of funding under the five years of federal investment in California highways authorized by this new law.

""With this new funding from the new infrastructure law, we're putting Californians to work rebuilding roads and bridges in communities across the state,"" said Garamendi. ""These federal dollars represent a strong first step toward strengthening our state's essential infrastructure – and with them, we'll cut down commute times, help small businesses get goods to market, and keep travelers safe on our roads.""

The historic and bipartisan Infrastructure and Jobs Act, signed into law by President Biden on November 15th, secured new federal funding for highway and bridge repair for communities across the nation. The funds, administered by the Federal-aid Highway Program, can be used for the construction, reconstruction, or improvement.

The American Society of Civil Engineers gave California a C- grade on its Infrastructure Report Card, finding many deficiencies that require immediate attention. With this funding – and more to come – the Infrastructure and Jobs Act will create good-paying union jobs strengthening this crippled infrastructure.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://lofgren.house.gov/media/press-releases/lofgren-announces-14-million-federal-funding-san-jose-police-department-help,Lofgren Announces $1.4 Million in Federal Funding for the San Jose Police Department to Help Deliver Justice for Sexual Assault Survivors,2021-12-17,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Zoe Lofgren,L000397,lofgren.house.gov,lofgren,https://lofgren.house.gov/media/press-releases,page_html,"SAN JOSE, CA – Today, U.S. Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (CA-19) announced that the U.S. Department of Justice will provide the San Jose Police Department with $1,425,000 to analyze 655 untested Sexual Assault Kits from 1986-2018.

This grant is part of a $48 million national allocation that Congress included in the Fiscal Year 2021 government funding legislation to reduce Sexual Assault Kit backlogs. Rep. Lofgren voted in favor of the package in December 2020.

""Sexual assault survivors deserve meaningful access to justice,"" said Rep. Lofgren. ""This grant will help the San Jose Police Department process its backlog of untested Sexual Assault Kits and help prevent a backlog from ever forming again.""

In Congress, Rep. Lofgren has been a leader in protecting the rights of sexual assault victims, including by shepherding the passage of the Survivors' Bill of Rights Act in 2016. That legislation ensures survivors have access to an evidence collection kit and know the result of a forensic examination in federal criminal cases. This August, Rep. Lofgren joined bipartisan colleagues in reintroducing legislationto also provide those rights in state cases.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-03-30T11:08:25Z
https://torres.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/torres-includes-key-central-america-rule-law-provisions-national-defense,Torres Includes Key Central America Rule of Law Provisions in National Defense Authorization Act,2021-12-17,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Norma J. Torres,T000474,torres.house.gov,torres,https://torres.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON — Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) applauded the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (NDAA), which includes key oversight provisions she championed to ensure U.S. military aid to Central America is transparent, aligned with our strategic objectives, and focused on helping the people of those countries, not corrupt leaders.

""The U.S. has a critical role to play in strengthening democracy and rule of law in the Northern Triangle, and this has long been a priority for me,"" said Congresswoman Norma J. Torres. ""Unfortunately, we have seen corrupt and undemocratic leaders use the security forces against their people and our own interests in the region. I'm glad to have these provisions included in the NDAA that will create more transparency regarding actions the U.S. is taking in Central America to ensure our whole-of-government approach is centered on the promotion of human rights, strengthening the rule of law, and protecting democratic institutions, to prevent additional misuse of American resources. These measures will help address the root causes of migration from Central America, and will advance our national security as a whole.""

As a result of the provisions introduced by Congresswoman in the FY22 NDAA:

The Defense Department (DOD) must submit a report on El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras within six months that includes an update on any ongoing or planned security cooperation activities between the U.S. and these countries, as well an analysis of the security sector's role in the protection of human rights and adherence to the rule of law and efforts to investigate credible information of human rights violations, including the use of U.S. defense resources in such violations.

The DOD must receive certification from Congress prior to transferring any U.S. vehicles to Guatemala,

The Government Accountability Office must evaluate how DOD monitors misuse of U.S. resources in Northern Triangle Countries and how it remedies reports of misuse,

The Defense Department must undergo an independent evaluation of SOUTHCOM that investigates how SOUTHCOM's Northern Triangle programs promote rule of law and human rights and how they advance our National Defense Strategy, and submit the completed report to Congress within 30 days. SOUTHCOM is responsible for U.S. security cooperation with Central and South America.

Congresswoman Torres was born in Guatemala and is the only Central American currently serving in Congress. As Co-Chair of the Central America Caucus, she has been outspoken about addressing the misuse of U.S. military aid by corrupt Guatemalan officials, specifically abuse by Guatemalan officials of DOD-donated armored Jeeps in 2018 to intimidate the UN-backed anti-corruption commission, CICIG, and the U.S. Embassy. She again raised concern when these jeeps may have been used in 2021 against peaceful community leaders in El Estor, Guatemala.

Congresswoman Torres is a member of the House Appropriations Committee, which allocates all federal discretionary spending. Through her appropriations work, Congresswoman Torres has ensured that aid to Central America is conditioned on adherence to rule of law and anti-corruption standards. This year, the House appropriations bill zeroed-out Foreign Military Financing (FMF) to the Northern Triangle for the third year in a row for Guatemala and Honduras and a second year for El Salvador. It also focused International Military Education and Training (IMET) on human rights and professionalization training in the region.

###

Torres incluye reglas clave sobre el estado de derecho en Centroamérica en la Ley de Autorización de la Defensa Nacional

WASHINGTON —La congresista Norma J. Torres (CA-35) aplaudió la aprobación de la Ley de Autorización de Defensa Nacional para el año fiscal de 2022 (NDAA), que incluye reglas claves de supervisión que apoyo para garantizar que la ayuda militar estadounidense a Centroamérica sea transparente, alineada con nuestra objetivos estratégicos y enfocados en ayudar a la gente de esos países, no a líderes corruptos.

""Estados Unidos tiene un papel importante que cumplir en el apoyo de la democracia y el estado de derecho en el Triángulo Norte, y esto ha sido una prioridad para mí,"" dijo la congresista Norma J. Torres. ""Desafortunadamente, hemos visto a líderes corruptos y antidemocráticos usar las fuerzas policiales contra su gente y nuestros propios intereses en la región. Me alegra tener estas medidas incluidas en la NDAA que crearán más transparencia con las acciones que Estados Unidos está tomando en Centroamérica para garantizar que estamos enfocado en la promoción de los derechos humanos, el fortalecimiento del estado de derecho, y la protección de las instituciones democráticas, para evitar el mal use de los recursos de estadounidense. Estas medidas ayudarán a abordar las causas fundamentales de la migración desde Centroamérica y apoyar nuestra seguridad nacional.""

Como resultado de las medidas siendo incluidas por la congresista en la NDAA del año fiscal 22:

El Departamento de Defensa (DOD) debe presentar un reporte sobre El Salvador, Guatemala y Honduras dentro de seis meses que incluya una actualización sobre cualquier actividad de cooperación de seguridad en curso o planificada entre los EE. UU. y los países anteriores, y también un análisis del papel del sector de seguridad en la protección del estado de derecho y los derechos humanos y los esfuerzos hecho para investigar información creíble sobre las violaciones de derechos humanos, incluido el uso de la ayuda militar de Estados Unidos en tales violaciones.

El DOD debe recibir una aprobación del Congreso antes de transferir cualquier vehículo estadounidense a Guatemala,

La Oficina de Responsabilidad Gubernamental debe evaluar cómo el DOD monitorea el mal uso de los recursos estadounidenses en los países del Triángulo Norte y cómo soluciona los casos de mal uso.

El Departamento de Defensa debe iniciar una evaluación de SOUTHCOM que investigue cómo los programas del de SOUTHCOM sobre el Triángulo Norte protege el estado de derecho y los derechos humanos y cómo ayuda nuestra Estrategia de Defensa Nacional, y enviar un reporte sobre la evaluación al Congreso dentro de 30 días. SOUTHCOM es responsable de la cooperación de seguridad de Estados Unidos con Centro y Sur América.

La Congresista Torres nació en Guatemala y es la única centroamericana en Congreso. Como copresidenta del Caucus de Centroamérica, ha sido clara sobre cómo abordar el abuso de la ayuda militar estadounidense por parte de oficiales corruptos de Guatemala, específicamente los oficiales Guatemaltecos y sus abusos de los Jeeps donados por el Departamento de Defensa en 2018 para intimidar a la comisión anticorrupción respaldada por la ONU y la Embajada de Estados Unidos, CICIG. Nuevamente expresó su preocupación cuando estos jeeps pudieron haber sido utilizados en 2021 contra líderes comunitarios pacíficos en El Estor, Guatemala.

La congresista Torres es miembro del Comité de Apropiaciones de la Cámara de Representantes, que asigna todos los gastos federales. A través de su trabajo de apropiaciones, la congresista Torres se ha asegurado de que la ayuda a Centroamérica esté condicionada al cumplimiento del protección del estado de derecho y la anticorrupción. Este año, el proyecto de ley de apropiaciones de la Cámara de Representantes redujo el Financiamiento Militar Extranjero (FMF) a el Triángulo Norte a cero por tercer año consecutivo para Guatemala y Honduras y un segundo año para El Salvador. El proyecto de ley también enfocó la Educación y Entrenamiento de la Militar Internacional (IMET) sobre los derechos humanos y profesionalización en la región.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://bera.house.gov/news/press-releases/reps-bera-chabot-castro-and-wagner-urge-president-biden-to-promptly-nominate-us-ambassador-to-asean,"Reps. Bera, Chabot, Castro, and Wagner Urge President Biden to Promptly Nominate U.S. Ambassador to ASEAN",2021-12-16,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Ami Bera,B001287,bera.house.gov,bera,https://bera.house.gov/news,scraper,"Today, Representatives Ami Bera, M.D. (D-CA) and Steve Chabot (R-OH), Chair and Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, Central Asia, and Nonproliferation, and Representatives Joaquin Castro (D-TX) and Ann Wagner (R-MO), Co-Chairs of the Congressional Caucus on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, sent a letter to President Joe Biden urging him to promptly nominate an individual to serve as the Ambassador of the United States to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

In the letter, the Members wrote:

""As your Administration continues to make progress on filling vacant ambassadorships, it is imperative that the United States harness the growing momentum in our relationship with Southeast Asia by naming an ambassador to ASEAN. Many of our most pressing challenges require solutions that draw on multilateral organizations like ASEAN. Naming an Ambassador will be crucial for our efforts to further cooperate with the group on our many shared priorities including countering COVID-19, strengthening trade and investment ties, enhancing regional security, and addressing environmental challenges.""

Click here or see below for the full letter.

The Honorable Joseph R. Biden

President of the United States

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear Mr. President,

We urge you to promptly name a qualified individual to serve as the Ambassador of the United States to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The ten ASEAN nations are home to more than 662 million people and have a combined GDP of $3.2 trillion. By 2050, Southeast Asia is projected to become the world's fourth largest economy. The region's economic vibrancy, strategic location, and demographic diversity all make it a critical partner for the United States. Filling this important position—which has been vacant since January 2017—would enhance our ability to effectively work with ASEAN to further our shared interests in the region and beyond.

The United States has long supported ASEAN's central role to promoting prosperity, peace, and stability in the Indo-Pacific. As Members of Congress committed to advancing U.S. relationship with our Southeast Asian partners, we appreciate your Administration's continued prioritization of the region and the numerous high-level visits from U.S. officials since you took office. As your Administration continues to make progress on filling vacant ambassadorships, it is imperative that the United States harness the growing momentum in our relationship with Southeast Asia by naming an ambassador to ASEAN. Many of our most pressing challenges require solutions that draw on multilateral organizations like ASEAN. Naming an Ambassador will be crucial for our efforts to further cooperate with the group on our many shared priorities including countering COVID-19, strengthening trade and investment ties, enhancing regional security, and addressing environmental challenges.

In particular, the nomination and timely confirmation of a U.S. Ambassador to ASEAN is essential given the continued crisis in Burma. With the dry season on the horizon, we are deeply concerned the military junta will further escalate the violence in attempt to crush dissent and exacerbate the humanitarian crisis. We appreciate ASEAN's leadership on this pressing matter thus far and its decision to downgrade Burma's participation at the recent ASEAN Summit. Having a U.S. Ambassador to show continued support ASEAN's centrality and to engage ASEAN members as we work toward a durable political solution in Burma will be crucial moving forward.

Southeast Asia is one of the most dynamic, fastest-growing regions in the world, and ASEAN continues to be a vital partner in our shared efforts to advance regional peace, stability, and prosperity. As the first non-ASEAN country to name an Ambassador to ASEAN in 2008, the United States benefits from robust cooperation with our ASEAN friends. A confirmed U.S. Ambassador to the region would further reaffirm U.S. commitment to the region and work with regional partners to advance our shared interests.

Sincerely,

Ami Bera, M.D.

Chairman

Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, Central Asia, and Nonproliferation

Steve Chabot

Ranking Member

Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, Central Asia, and Nonproliferation

Joaquin Castro

Co-Chair

Congressional Caucus on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations

Ann Wagner

Co-Chair

Congressional Caucus on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://correa.house.gov/news/press-releases/correa-espaillat-garcia-statement-on-parliamentarian-striking-immigration-plan-c-from-build-back-better-act,"Correa, Espaillat, García Statement on Parliamentarian Striking Immigration Plan ‘C’ from Build Back Better Act",2021-12-16,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,J. Luis Correa,C001110,correa.house.gov,correa,https://correa.house.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — Today, Representatives Lou Correa (CA-46), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), and Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04) released the following statement regarding the Senate Parliamentarian’s ruling barring the inclusion of work authorization and deportation protections for our nation’s undocumented immigrants in the Build Back Better Act:

“We are deeply disappointed by the Senate Parliamentarian’s decision tonight barring the inclusion of Plan ‘C’ in the Build Back Better Act — yet another rejection of immigration reform that without a doubt has a significant budgetary impact,” said the members. “For the past 35 years we’ve promised our communities that we would deliver for them, and we can’t let an unelected bureaucrat decide the future of our nation’s most vulnerable — and hardworking — neighbors.”

“We’ve said it before, and we will say it again: at this point, the Senate can — and must reinstate a pathway to citizenship in the Build Back Better Act, even if that means disregarding the Senate Parliamentarian and bringing that vote to the Senate floor,” the members concluded. “History will take note of those who for so long have championed delivering for our communities, but have delivered nothing but inaction, empty promises, and dreams deferred.”

###

Declaración de Correa, Espaillat, García, sobre La Decisión de la Parlamentaria parlamentario Contra el Plan de Inmigración ""C"" en la Ley Para Reconstruir Mejor

WASHINGTON, DC - Hoy, los Representantes Lou Correa (CA-46), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), y Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04) emitieron el siguiente comunicado sobre el fallo de la parlamentario del Senado que prohíbe la inclusión de autorización de trabajo y protecciones de deportación para los inmigrantes indocumentados de nuestra nación en la Ley para Reconstruir Mejor (Build Back Better Act):

“Estamos profundamente decepcionados por la decisión de la parlamentaria del Senado dada a conocer esta noche de prohibir la inclusión del Plan 'C' en la Ley Para Reconstruir Mejor, es otro rechazo más a la reforma migratoria que sin duda tiene un impacto presupuestario significativo”, dijeron los miembros. ""Durante los últimos 35 años, hemos prometido a nuestras comunidades que cumpliríamos con ellos, y no podemos permitir que una burócrata no elegida decida el futuro de los vecinos más vulnerables y trabajadores de nuestra nación"".

“Lo hemos dicho antes, y lo diremos de nuevo: en este punto, el Senado puede, y debe, restablecer un camino hacia la ciudadanía en la Ley Para Reconstruir Mejor, incluso si eso significa ignorar a la parlamentaria del Senado y llevar ese voto al pleno del Senado”, concluyeron los miembros. “La historia tomará nota de aquellos que durante tanto tiempo han hecho promesas a nuestras comunidades, pero no han entregado más que la inacción, las promesas vacías y los sueños aplazados”.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://gomez.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2529,"CONGRESSMAN GOMEZ, CATHAY MANOR RESIDENTS HOST PRESS CONFERENCE TO CALL FOR THE REMOVAL OF DON G. TOY, CEO AND PRESIDENT OF C.C.O.A HOUSING CORPORATION",2021-12-16,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Jimmy Gomez,G000585,gomez.house.gov,gomez,https://gomez.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"LOS ANGELES – Today, Congressman Jimmy Gomez (CA-34) joined residents and community leaders at a press conference at Cathay Manor Apartments to call for the resignation of Don G. Toy, Chief Executive Officer and President of C.C.O.A Housing Corporation.

Cathay Manor, a 16-story, 270-unit residential apartment building, is owned and operated by the C.C.O.A. Housing Corporation, a nonprofit entity that developed Cathay Manor with financing through the HUD’s Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly program and currently receives project-based Section 8 rental assistance.

Residents of the building have cited insufficient building maintenance, pest infestations, and numerous building safety concerns. Residents have also cited frequent and sustained elevator outages that prevent the elderly tenants from accessing food and medical services.

“For far too long, the residents of Cathay Manor—many of whom are elderly and disabled—have had to live in substandard housing,” said Congressman Jimmy Gomez. “Under the management of Don Toy and the C.C.O.A. Housing Corporation, this residential building has fallen into an unacceptable state of disrepair. That’s why I’m calling on the Department of Housing and Urban Development to end Toy’s involvement at Cathay manner as quickly as possible, to take swift and appropriate enforcement action, and to ensure Cathay Manor remains as affordable housing for the residents of Chinatown.”

Congressman Gomez also toured the building to meet with residents and community leaders to listen to their concerns.

""HUD must support residents’ demands to remove Don Toy from any involvement at Cathay Manor, pursue an investigation of C.C.O.A. Housing Corporation's finances, and address the building's countless health and safety issues,” said Frances Huynh, from the Chinatown Community for Equitable Development. “There needs to be accountability. Cathay Manor tenants have the right to live in safe and affordable housing free from abuse and neglect.""

“We support Congressmember Jimmy Gomez proposal to dismiss Don Toy—we are very happy,” said Ne Hung Hom, president of the Cathay Manor Resident Council. “Don Toy has abused us seniors for years.""

This call for action follows months of advocacy for Cathay manor residents by the Office Congressman Gomez. In September, the Office of Congressman Gomez contacted HUD to express concerns about the deteriorating conditions at Cathay Manor. Last month, Congressman Gomez sent a letter to HUD to urge movement to make this building a safer place to live.

In addition to hosting the press conference, Congressman Gomez also sent a letter to HUD to call for Don Toy's immediate resignation. The letter is available for review here and below.

###

December 15, 2021

The Honorable Marcia L. Fudge

Secretary

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

451 7th Street, S.W.

Washington, DC 20410

Dear Secretary Fudge:

I write on behalf of the residents of Cathay Manor Apartments (“Cathay Manor”) to strongly urge the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to call for the resignation of Don G. Toy, Chief Executive Officer and President of the Chinese Community on Aging (C.C.O.A) Housing Corporation. The substandard housing conditions at Cathay Manor jeopardize the health and well-being of its residents, and it’s no longer in the best interest of HUD or my constituents for Mr. Toy to continue in his role.

Cathay Manor, a 16-story, 270-unit residential apartment building, is owned and operated by the C.C.O.A. Housing Corporation, a nonprofit entity that developed Cathay Manor with financing through the HUD’s Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly program and currently receives project-based Section 8 rental assistance.

As noted in my November 2021 letter, residents reported concerns about the unsafe, unhealthy, and physically deteriorating conditions at Cathay Manor. The most recent Real Estate Assessment Center (REAC) inspection score of 28c issued on October 13, 2021 confirmed tenant reports of rodent and roach infestations, exposed wires and electrical hazards, inoperable fire protection, mold and mildew, and broken sanitation systems, to name a few.

Recently, the Los Angeles City Attorney filed 16 misdemeanor charges against C.C.O.A. Housing Corporation and Mr. Toy relating to their alleged “failure over the past two months to address the inoperable elevators, their failure to properly maintain and repair the building and equipment contained in that building, their failure to test and maintain equipment in accordance with Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) fire safety protocols, and their failure to comply with the City’s orders to comply with the law.” Simply put, Mr. Toy’s dereliction of responsibilities has jeopardized the health and wellbeing of elder and disabled residents of Cathay Manor.

On December 7, HUD staff notified my office that it demanded Mr. Toy immediately hire a management agent to provide management services during this critical time. Mr. Toy was notified November 5, 2021 and was sent a Notice of Default December 7, 2021, making it clear that serious problems persist with his leadership.

This follows a community town hall organized by Cathay Manor residents, at which my office heard directly from constituents about the poor progress to improve living conditions. It is unconscionable that Mr. Toy remains in place, continuing to collect rent and taxpayer dollars, as he willfully refuses to perform his most basic obligations.

The health and well-being of Cathay Manor’s residents is of upmost importance to me. I will not stand to see elderly residents uprooted from their communities, where they hold a strong sense of cultural belonging and can access essential services in their native language. HUD must act with urgency to address the deficiencies at Cathay Manor and ensure the residential building retains its Section 8 Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) contract, which is up for renewal on December 20, 2022. I again urge you to end Mr. Toy’s involvement at Cathay Manor as quickly as possible and take swift and appropriate enforcement action.

Sincerely,",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://harder.house.gov/media/press-releases/after-harder-led-letter-biden-administration-releases-new-plan-fix-truck,"After Harder-Led Letter, Biden Administration Releases New Plan to Fix Truck Driver Shortage",2021-12-16,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Josh Harder,H001090,harder.house.gov,harder,https://harder.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON — Today, the Biden administration announced a new plan to strengthen America's trucking workforce in order to fix the supply chain and bring prices down nationwide. This comes in response to Representative Josh Harder's (CA-10) November 4thletter in which he and 78 bipartisan colleagues urged the administration to quickly implement the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's (FMCSA) Under-21 Commercial Driver Pilot Program and close the 80,000 person truck driver shortage.

""Last month I called on the Biden administration to get government out of the way and let our businesses and workers do what they do best."" said Rep. Harder. ""I'm happy to say that today's announcement shows the administration is well on its way toward doing exactly what I pushed for: cutting red tape and getting more truck drivers on the road. More drivers mean lower shipping costs for our businesses, and lower shipping costs means Central Valley families paying less at the store.""

Today, the Biden administration announced the following actions will be complete in the next 60 days. Read the full announcement including the below and much more online here.

Acknowledging that safety is the highest priority for truck drivers, FMCSA will launch a pilot for drivers ages 18-21 as mandated by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, incorporating Registered Apprenticeships to ensure rigorous training standards and pairing each young driver with an experienced mentor.

The Department of Labor (DOL) and Department of Transportation (DOT) will host a series of national Apprenticeship Accelerator meetings to help more firms develop new programs and release a quick-start toolkit for apprenticeships in the trucking sector.

DOL Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS), DOL Employment and Training Administration, and DOT's Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration will conduct a roundtable to discuss efforts to facilitate a commercial driver's license (CDL) for transitioning service members and veterans. The meeting will include representatives from the United Services Military Apprenticeship Program as well as Veterans Affairs.

In FY21, VETS initiated and implemented Employment Navigator and Partnership Pilot (ENPP) to more effectively assist transitioning service members with the establishment of career goals and to connect them with best-in-class employment partners to facilitate positive employment outcomes. ENPP is currently at 16 military installations. DOL will expand the ENPP program to now include the trucking industry.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://huffman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/icymi-rep-huffman-joins-speaker-pelosi-for-telephone-town-hall-on-build-back-better-act,ICYMI: Rep. Huffman Joins Speaker Pelosi for Telephone Town Hall on Build Back Better Act,2021-12-16,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Jared Huffman,H001068,huffman.house.gov,huffman,https://huffman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Huffman and Pelosi Responded Live to Constituent Questions

Washington, D.C. – Earlier this month, Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) joined Speaker Nancy Pelosi for a Telephone Town Hall to discuss Democrats’ work to Build Back Better ForThe People, including historic investments in families, health care, and combating the climate crisis. Speaker Pelosi and Rep. Huffman were also joined by special guest, California’s Surgeon General, Dr. Nadine Burke Harris.

to a recording of the December 2 Telephone Town Hall.

Tele-Town Hall Highlights

“We are in a race against time with this climate crisis,” Rep. Huffman said. “With the Build Back Better Act having cleared the House last month and being poised for passage out of the Senate this month [we hope] we are closer than ever to actually producing climate action that finally matches the scale and the urgency of this global crisis. In doing that, we will create millions of great jobs and help position the United States as the global leader on clean energy and climate solutions in the 21st century.”

“Everyone on this call, for their entire lives, has been part of an economy where we were almost entirely dependent on the tender mercies of the fossil fuel industry to power a lot of our economy and almost all of our transportation,” Huffman said. “As we think about this fossil fuel rollercoaster, which has always taken us into wild gyrations of prices and gouging adventures […] with the tyranny of the pump, […] our answer can’t be to double down on the same fossil fuel rollercoaster. At some point, we have got to get off of the rollercoaster, and the Build Back Better Act is our best chance, in my life and certainly in the last century, I would say, to finally get off that dysfunctional rollercoaster.”

“Passing the Build Back Better Act is going to have a profound, positive impact well beyond our own borders. The world is watching our country right now very closely,” said Huffman.

Question and Answer

Caller: “We in California have a tradition and history of being the most innovative region in the world, in particular the Bay Area. I am wondering if the Build Back Better plan has any language about incentivizing and really leveraging the talent pool here in California in particular to tackle the problems that are ahead in climate change?”

Rep. Huffman: “I definitely think that innovation in the Bay Area will benefit from the provisions in the Build Back Better Act. Broadly, the incentives for renewable energy and energy efficiency are going to reward the companies and the innovators that they hire who are successful and able to step in and do that work. We also have specific tax credits that go to carbon removal technology, some of which is still be invented and pioneered as we speak. This is a forward-looking innovation. We have got green energy partnerships that are going to get tax advantages that used to only be provided for fossil fuel partnerships so that levels the playing field for innovators to get in there and do their good work. There are a number of others: renewable fuels, biodiesel, alternative fuels, and lots of funding available mainly through the tax code. There is just a whole bunch of R&D and innovation wound up in all of that.

“As I conclude this answer, let me just say Speaker Pelosi honors me by deferring to me on these questions about some of the climate matters, but she takes a backseat to no one on climate action, climate policy, and leadership. I have seen that in the way she has helped steer this legislation with a very slim majority in the House over the threshold and I have seen it at two Global Climate Summits now where I have joined her. She is truly a great leader. For everyone on this call from San Francisco, you are fortunate to have a climate leader second to none as your representative.”

Background

The Build Back Better Act contains key investments that Rep. Huffman has fought for in his role on the House Natural Resources and Transportation and Infrastructure Committees, including:

An end to fossil fuel leasing in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

An end to new offshore fossil fuel leasing in federal waters along the Atlantic and Pacific Coasts and the Eastern Gulf of Mexico.

$27.15 billion in investments in forestry programs to help combat forest fires and contribute to healthy, resilient forests.

Including $500 million for wildfire management.

$1 billion for Pacific salmon restoration and conservation.

A number of investments for Tribes, including $945 million for Indian Health Service health facility construction, maintenance, and improvement; $500 million for tribal and Native Hawaiian climate resilience and adaptation; $490 million for tribal public safety and justice; and $25 million for emergency drought relief for tribes.

Measures to raise public money, including:",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://sarajacobs.house.gov/news/press-releases/congresswoman-jacobs-senator-merkley-lead-bicameral-push-to-safeguard-education-in-afghanistan,"Congresswoman Jacobs, Senator Merkley Lead Bicameral Push to Safeguard Education in Afghanistan",2021-12-16,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Sara Jacobs,J000305,sarajacobs.house.gov,sarajacobs,https://sarajacobs.house.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"San Diego, CA-- Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (D-CA-53), together with U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), led a group of 37 lawmakers to urge the Biden Administration to provide safeguards for NGOs to carry out education programming in Afghanistan. This is a follow-up to the lawmakers’ September 2nd letter asking for OFAC general licenses for humanitarian assistance, which the Biden Administration ultimately granted.

“However, despite this critical step, the general licenses contain a critical omission: safeguards for education programming. This is in contrast to past and current general licenses authorizing NGO action in areas where sanctioned groups are present that do include these critical carve outs for education, including the licenses for Ethiopia, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen,” the lawmakers wrote in their letter to Secretary Yellen and Secretary Blinken. “Continued access to education is a stated priority of the U.S. Administration and allies in the wake of the Taliban gaining control. But without the legal safeguards in place for education programming, the Administration’s laudable commitment to continue providing humanitarian assistance and support for at-risk Afghans is under threat.”

“We urge the Administration to immediately take action to support Afghans’ right to education by amending the OFAC general licenses on humanitarian assistance to explicitly authorize education activities,” they continued.

Specific steps requested by the lawmakers include directing the Treasury Department to amend the general licenses issued on September 24 to explicitly authorize education activities and requesting the Administration to collaborate with NGOs to develop a definition of “basic human needs” informed by UN definitions.

This letter is endorsed by 13 NGOs that provide humanitarian and development assistance abroad, including CARE, Save the Children, International Rescue Committee, Basic Education Coalition, Islamic Relief USA, Norwegian Refugee Council USA, Helping Hand for Relief and Development, InterAction, Global Campaign for Education-US, Global Citizen, Creative Associates International, Inc., Humanity & Inclusion, and UNICEF-USA.

In addition to Jacobs and Merkley, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Diane Feinstein (D-CA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Richard J. Durbin (D-IL), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Jack Reed (D-RI), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Cory A. Booker (D-NJ) and U.S. Representatives Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA-06), Gerald Connolly (D-VA-11), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI-13), Jim Costa (D-CA-16), Ilhan Omar (D-MN-05), James R. Langevin (D-RI-02), Jesus G. “Chuy” Garcia (D-IL-04), Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX-15), J. Luis Correa (D-CA-46), Jake Auchincloss (D-MA-04), Tom Malinowski (D-NJ-07), Grace Meng (D-NY-06), Jamie Raskin (D-MD-08), Earl Blumanauer (D-OR-03), Ted W. Lieu (D-CA-33), Seth Moulton (D-MA-06), James P. McGovern (D-MA-02), Lois Frankel (D-FL-21), Dina Titus (D-NV-03), Mike Quigley (D-IL-05), Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ-03), David N. Cicilline (D-RI-01), Karen Bass (D-CA-37), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA-07).

Full text of the letter is available here and follows below.

###

Dear Secretary Yellen and Secretary Blinken:

In September a group of 32 lawmakers called on the Biden administration to ensure that humanitarian aid can continue to reach Afghans in need despite the takeover of the Taliban, a designated and sanctioned terrorist group, by urgently issuing a broad general license for humanitarian activities implemented by NGOs in Afghanistan. We are grateful that the Department of Treasury issued two general licenses on September 24 to support the continued flow of assistance to the people of Afghanistan.

However, despite this critical step, the general licenses contain a critical omission: safeguards for education programming. This is in contrast to past and current general licenses authorizing NGO action in areas where sanctioned groups are present that do include these critical carve outs for education, including the licenses for Ethiopia, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen. As a consequence, NGOs working in Afghanistan on education programming do so with fear of legal reprisals or opt out of operating all together, unable to assume such risk.

Continued access to education is a stated priority of the U.S. Administration and allies in the wake of the Taliban gaining control. But without the legal safeguards in place for education programming, the Administration’s laudable commitment to continue providing humanitarian assistance and support for at-risk Afghans is under threat.

Education is a basic need and right enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights alongside those to food, housing, and medical care, and is a lifesaving intervention. It is a crucial component of every global humanitarian response and often one of the first services that communities demand. Education provides a safe place for children to learn and play in otherwise volatile contexts, and increases their access to critical services that support health and psychosocial needs. Children enrolled in educational programs have increased access to vaccinations, medications, mental health support, and nutrition through feeding programs. Participating in education can also help prevent the likelihood that a child will be engaged in child labor or recruited into armed groups, and can prevent early marriage and pregnancy. In this way, access to education from the onset of a crisis supports children’s wellbeing in the short term and contributes to longer-term recovery goals.

Despite ongoing and now increased humanitarian challenges, in the past decades Afghanistan has made marked progress in the education sector, especially in bridging the gender gap, in part due to impactful investments by the United States and other donors. Between 2001 and 2020, Afghan children’s enrollment in schools grew from 900,000 to more than 9.5 million students, 39 percent of whom were girls. But now under Taliban control, where the authorities have sent mixed messages about the opportunities for female education, those gains are at risk of being wiped out without international support and safeguards for NGO-implemented activities that support education.

We urge the Administration to immediately take action to support Afghans’ right to education by amending the OFAC general licenses on humanitarian assistance to explicitly authorize education activities. Additionally, to forestall future misunderstandings the Administration should collaborate with NGOs and civil society organizations to develop a definition of “basic human needs” informed by the humanitarian cluster system and the Universal Declaration on Human Rights as a reference for future sanctions regimes.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent humanitarian issue.

Sincerely,",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://barragan.house.gov/2021/12/15/congressional-progressive-caucus-urges-senate-opposition-to-fossil-fuel-handouts-in-build-back-better/,Congressional Progressive Caucus Urges Senate Opposition to Fossil Fuel Handouts in Build Back Better,2021-12-15,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Nanette Diaz Barragán,B001300,barragan.house.gov,barragan,https://barragan.house.gov/news,scraper,"“The Build Back Better Act has rightfully been touted as the largest-ever federal investment in climate action. But to meet this moment, Congress needs to be concerned not only about quantity, but quality. If the Senate eliminates every mechanism in this bill designed to push polluters into a clean energy future, we simply will never get there — and that is unacceptable. Today, we urge the Senate to resist the fossil fuel industry’s efforts to remove basic guardrails on the tax credits for carbon sequestration.

“The House-passed version of Build Back Better requires fossil fuel emitting plants to store 75 percent or more of their carbon pollution — an eminently reasonable requirement, as the fossil fuel industry itself touts carbon capture’s ability to achieve a 90 percent sequestration rate. But now, special interest groups are pushing our Senate colleagues to remove the requirement altogether, and provide a no-strings-attached taxpayer handout to the biggest polluters. For Congress to pass such a policy — especially as the South and Midwest are still recovering from the latest climate change fueled disaster — would be an insult to basic tax fairness and to every member of our communities demanding environmental justice. It’s simple: a bill that aims to tackle climate change and rapidly decarbonize our economy cannot include gifts for polluters.

“President Biden has demonstrated leadership on the world stage in making the ambitious, yet necessary, commitment that the United States will halve its carbon emissions from 2005 levels by 2030. In order to meet that mandate, our colleagues must oppose any efforts to remove the limited guardrails that currently exist on carbon sequestration subsidies and protect our national effort to rapidly transition to solar, wind, and other renewable energies. As the Senate debates the Build Back Better Act, this House-passed legislation’s promise to address climate change at the scope of the crisis, and deliver on the President’s transformational vision, must not be weakened.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://chu.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-chu-and-ferguson-announce-relaunch-bipartisan-creative-rights,Reps. Chu and Ferguson Announce Relaunch of Bipartisan Creative Rights Caucus,2021-12-15,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Judy Chu,C001080,chu.house.gov,chu,https://chu.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC — Today, Reps. Judy Chu (CA-27) and Drew Ferguson (GA-03) announced the re-launch of the Creative Rights Caucus (CRC) with Reps. Chu and Ferguson serving as co-chairs. The CRC co-chairs issued the following statements:

""I am so proud to be partnering with Rep. Drew Ferguson to relaunch the Creative Rights Caucus,"" said Rep. Chu. ""I helped to found the CRC because I wanted more of my Congressional colleagues to understand that the creative industries aren't just movie stars and high powered producers; these are a core part of our economy. In fact, in 2019, creative industries, including television, movies, recording artists, and many other creators, contributed 1.5 trillion dollars to our GDP and employed over 5.7 million workers. Most are blue collar jobs such as electricians, carpenters, make up artists, and more. But with many creative industries forced to pause operations during the pandemic, middle class workers were suffering. I'm proud that Congress stepped in and passed critical aid by fixing unemployment insurance so that the mostly gig-based entertainment workers were included in the relief and through programs like the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant. The creative industries are a vital part of the economy all across the country, from California to Georgia. That is why I am so happy to have a co-chair like Rep. Ferguson who knows and understands the individuals who are most hurt by things like piracy. I look forward to collaborating together to protect the rights of creators and help showcase their important work to our colleagues in Congress.""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://costa.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/costa-celebrates-full-passage-ndaa-which-gives-pay-raise-service-members,"Costa Celebrates Full Passage of NDAA, Which Gives Pay Raise to Service Members and Honors Special Guerilla Unit Veterans",2021-12-15,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Jim Costa,C001059,costa.house.gov,costa,https://costa.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Congressman Jim Costa (CA-16) released the following statement after Senate passage of the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), legislation that provides a pay raise for service members, ensures protections for victims of sexual assault, and works to counter extremism in the military. The 2022 NDAA passed the House for a second time last week and now heads to President Biden's desk to be signed into law. The bill also includes a bipartisan amendment led by Rep. Costa that expands eligibility for interment in national cemeteries to all members of the Special Guerilla Units who fought in support of the United States during the Vietnam War.

""This bill invests in our ongoing commitments to our military, and in the livelihoods of those who serve and defend our freedoms, from increasing pay to making historic efforts to promote diversity in the ranks."" said Rep. Costa ""This bill also appropriately honors SGU veterans who fought alongside American soldiers in the Vietnam War.""

The NDAA includes historic policy changes that benefit service members and their families while continuing to support the military's challenges at home and abroad. Specifically, the legislation:

Makes historic changes to the military justice system to combat sexual assault in the service

Authorizes a 2.7 percent pay increase for those currently serving

Authorizes record funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities

Takes steps to ensure diversity and inclusivity

Authorizes 2 weeks of paid parental bereavement leave for all federal employees

Investments to make the Department of Defense more climate-resilient

The bill also includes:",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://harder.house.gov/media/press-releases/harder-announces-59000-grant-modesto-city-county-airport,"Harder Announces $59,000 Grant for Modesto City–County Airport",2021-12-15,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Josh Harder,H001090,harder.house.gov,harder,https://harder.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON — Today, Representative Josh Harder (CA-10) announced that Modesto City-County Airport will receive a $59,000 grant from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The grant is paid for by the American Rescue Plan Act, which Rep. Harder voted to pass into law this March. The grant will go toward operations, personnel, and cleaning at the airport, another important step toward updating the Central Valley's infrastructure. This year alone, Rep. Harder has secured over $450,000 in federal FAA grants for airports in California's 10th Congressional District. These investments are critical to fixing California's supply chain and bringing prices down across the Central Valley.

""Our local airports are an essential piece of the Valley's supply chain and every dollar we can deliver to keep them up and running counts. Funding our airports means more goods at lower prices for our families and opportunities for our local businesses to connect with markets outside of the Valley,"" said Rep. Harder. ""When I voted to pass the America Rescue Plan in March, I promised to make sure as many dollars were delivered directly to our Valley as possible. This grant is yet another win for our community.""

Read the grant online here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://huffman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/huffman-delivered-1529-million-in-tax-cuts-for-hardworking-district-families-in-2021,Huffman Delivered $152.9 Million in Tax Cuts for Hardworking District Families in 2021,2021-12-15,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Jared Huffman,H001068,huffman.house.gov,huffman,https://huffman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Child Tax Credit Tax Cuts are Helping Hardworking Families Afford Gas, Groceries, Get Back to Work

San Rafael, CA – As another round of Child Tax Credits hits bank accounts, Representative Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) announced that Democrats will have delivered approximately $152.9 million in tax cuts hardworking families in California’s Second Congressional District this year. The expanded Child Tax Credit has helped over 103,000 children according to new estimates from the Joint Economic Committee. And many of these families will see even more tax cuts when they file their taxes next year.

“House Democrats worked hard to secure these automatic payments, which put more money in the pockets of hardworking parents to pay for childcare, groceries, and more so they can go to work and help fuel our economy, all while building better lives for their families,” said Rep. Huffman. “Republicans can claim to be the party of family values, but none of them voted for the American Rescue Plan, which included these essential payments. The Child Tax Credit has been a game changer for hundreds of thousands of California families, putting more of their own money back in their pockets each month to afford rising costs – and Democrats will keep pushing to expand the tax credit through the Build Back Better Act.”

“As a father of two, the credit has helped us a lot. In such an uncertain time, it has allowed us to buy food as costs have increased but my wages haven’t. While many families lost their jobs, we have been able to work – but not as continuously as we would like. The pandemic has changed everyone's routines, schedules, and needs. Having this help has made a huge difference,” said Marco of Novato, CA.

The American Rescue Plan expanded the Child Tax Credit to up to $3,600 per child for children ages 0 to 5, and $3,000 per child for children ages 6 to 17. The American Rescue Plan also authorized advance monthly payments of that tax cut beginning in July and running through December 2021 - allowing families to get up to $300 a month per child for children ages 0 to 5 or $250 a month per child for children ages 6 to 17 each month. Families will get their remaining expanded Child Tax Credit when they file their 2021 tax return next year.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://issa.house.gov/media/press-releases/icymi-rep-issa-fox-news-op-ed-bidens-vaccine-mandate-will-decimate-our,ICYMI: Rep. Issa Fox News Op-Ed - Biden's vaccine mandate will decimate our military,2021-12-15,2021,2021-12,Republican,House,CA,Darrell Issa,I000056,issa.house.gov,issa,https://issa.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON D.C. - Today, Congressman Issa published an op-ed in Fox News outlining how President Biden's vaccine mandate threatens to throw tens of thousands of U.S. active-duty service members out of the military.

The full op-ed can be viewed HERE or below:

Biden's vaccine mandate will decimate our military

by Congressman Darrell Issa

December 15, 2021, is the deadline for every active-duty member of the Army to comply with President Biden’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate. This follows earlier deadlines for the Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps.

It is also the day that may set into motion one of the most grievous injuries ever perpetrated upon our military by its Commander in Chief.

Why? Because President Biden is threatening to discharge every member of the military who expresses a religious exemption or nothing more than a cautionary reluctance to immediately obey his sweeping vaccine mandate. This would be as unnecessary as it is unjustified.

According to recent data from the Department of Defense, well more than 90 percent of every military branch has received a vaccination – with Navy and Air Force personnel surpassing a vaccination rate of 95 percent. That is a vaccination rate far greater than not only the nation at large (72 percent), but also any state in the nation (Vermont has the nation’s highest vaccination rate at 75 percent.)

But that’s not good enough for President Biden. He is declaring an unacceptable failure perhaps the most successful health utilization program in our nation’s history.

That’s why my colleagues and I also wrote to President Biden today and called on him not to be careless with the clear Constitutional powers of his office and abuse his authority as the Commander in Chief. It is well past time for this Administration – which has already profoundly let down our men and women in uniform with its disastrous and deadly withdrawal from Afghanistan – to turn back from its reckless campaign of brinksmanship that he and his Administration have undertaken against our best and brightest.

Every day, another member of our military contacts my office seeking a way to ward off President Biden ending their career. They’re at a loss to understand the extent to which they’re being targeted by this White House.

They’re not dissidents in our ranks. They’re warfighters and battle strategists, engineers and linguists, and soldiers and scholars. But they’re also fathers and mothers to children who need them and daughters and sons to parents who burst with pride at their service to our country.

They are acting on the principles drilled into them throughout their career, and they don’t deserve to immediately lose their commissions or careers because of it.

But that’s what is about to happen.

As of today, however, as many as 50,000 soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines are on the brink of being dismissed from service for disagreeing with the Biden mandate or seeking a religious exemption. Some have informed me that instead of being thrown out, they will quit the duty they love, give up the mission they have trained for, and separate from their brothers in arms whose lives they swore to protect – and who swore to protect theirs.

A final point about why this is so important.

Think about the myriad Biden vaccine mandates on private sector employees, health care professionals, the federal workforce, and its contractors.

All were challenged successfully by a union, a lobby, a business interest, even attorneys general from more than a dozen states. All were stayed, delayed, or halted.

Only the military vaccine mandate remains unchanged, barreling towards its devastating toll.

Every one of those service members stepped forward in the prime of their lives, volunteered to defend this country, and fight for all of us when we need it. Now, when they need it, who will fight for them?

Military personnel have no lobby. No union rep. No chamber of commerce. There is no court and no cover for them.

They only have their honor. And they only have us.

Mr. President: That ought to be enough. End this mandate.

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,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://levin.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-mike-levin-statement-on-indictment-of-amplify-energy-over-orange-county-oil-spill,Rep. Mike Levin Statement on Indictment of Amplify Energy Over Orange County Oil Spill,2021-12-15,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Mike Levin,L000593,levin.house.gov,levin,https://levin.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Oceanside, CA – U.S. Representative Mike Levin (D-CA) issued the following statement on the indictment of Amplify Energy Corp. and two subsidiaries, Beta Operating Co. and San Pedro Bay Pipeline Co., over its mishandling of the Orange County oil spill:

“The indictment against Amplify Energy and its subsidiaries reveals a stunning level of negligence and incompetence. For more than 12 hours, they allowed 25,000 gallons of crude oil to leak into our ocean. Not only did they fail to stop the leak quickly, they declined to notify authorities for nearly 17 hours after it was first detected. It is clear that Amplify should not be operating off the California coast, and I expect they will be held accountable. As I’ve said before, it’s time to end new offshore drilling and phase out existing drilling along our coast. I’m glad the House-passed Build Back Better Act includes a provision to end new drilling and strengthen oversight of existing drilling operators. We must put our ocean and our coastal economy first.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://sarajacobs.house.gov/news/press-releases/sixth-child-tax-credit-payments-arrive-for-san-diego-families-benefiting-more-than-100-000-children-in-ca-53,"Sixth Child Tax Credit Payments Arrive for San Diego Families, Benefiting More Than 100,000 Children in CA-53",2021-12-15,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Sara Jacobs,J000305,sarajacobs.house.gov,sarajacobs,https://sarajacobs.house.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Congresswoman Jacobs pushing for continuation of expanded Child Tax Credit in Build Back Better Act

San Diego, CA - Today, the Treasury Department distributed the sixth round of enhanced monthly Child Tax Credit payments, which Congresswoman Jacobs fought to include in the American Rescue Plan. This legislation made historic progress by expanding the Child Tax Credit to include more low-income households; increasing the maximum credit amount for families; and creating a new process for benefits to be paid directly to recipients monthly.

Since July, the payments have reached the families of approximately 129,000 children in 83,000 households in California’s 53rd District in San Diego, returning over $192 million to local families across 2021. Nationally, the Child Tax Credit has contributed to a 28 percent reduction in child poverty compared to what the poverty rate would have been in its absence.

Last month, Congresswoman Jacobs voted for the Build Back Better Act, which would extend the Child Tax Credit expansion through 2022 and make the tax credit fully refundable. This means that the Child Tax Credit would continue to be available to the 27 million children who previously earned a partial credit or no credit due to low parental income.

To mark the December monthly payments, Congresswoman Jacobs released the following statement:

“Supporting kids and families is one of the smartest investments we can make, and I am so proud to have helped secure the expanded Child Tax Credit in the American Rescue Plan. Six months of direct payments have reached 129,000 children in my district in San Diego, and millions of more families across the country. The Child Tax Credit is improving lives and helping families afford all the costs that come with raising kids, from school supplies and clothes to child care and saving for college. These payments are making real, tangible change for families in our district and now we need to fight to keep them going.

“We can’t lift millions of children out of poverty only to let them fall back down. The House did its job and extended the new Child Tax Credit payments by passing the Build Back Better Act. Now we need the Senate to do the same, and soon, so that families will receive their next payment without delay in January.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://sherman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/sherman-introduces-bill-to-increase-pressure-on-china-to-allow-us,Sherman Introduces Bill to Increase Pressure on China to Allow U.S. Oversight of Audits,2021-12-15,2021,2021-12,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-CA), who Chairs the Subcommittee on Investor Protection and Capital Markets, along with Congresswoman Victoria Spartz (R-IN) and Congressman Andy Barr (R-KY) introduced the Accelerating Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act – legislation that would increase accountability for the auditors of U.S.-listed foreign companies currently not subject to oversight by U.S. regulators.

In 2020, Congress passed, and the President signed into law, the Kennedy-ShermanAct (Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act) which prohibits the shares of foreign companies from continuing to be listed on U.S. exchanges if a company's auditor is not overseen by the U.S. Public Company Accounting Oversight Board's (PCAOB) for three years in a row. For over a decade, Chinese authorities have effectively blocked the PCAOB from conducting effective oversight of audit firms based in China and Hong Kong. However, these audit firms currently serve as the primary auditor for 191 companies publicly traded in the U.S. with a combined global market capitalization of $1.9 trillion.[1]

The Accelerating Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act would put additional pressure on China by requiring foreign auditors to allow PCAOB inspections or risk publicly traded companies being de-listed from U.S. exchanges if inspections do not happen after two consecutive years rather than three. This legislation represents a House companion to S.2184, a bill introduced by Senators John Kennedy (R-LA) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) which was passed by the Senate on June 22, 2021. Sherman also held a hearing in his subcommittee on this bill on October 26, 2021.

""The Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act may be the most significant piece of investor protection legislation passed in several years,"" said Congressman Sherman, Chair of the Investor Protection and Capital Markets subcommittee. ""It is designed to assure Financial Statement integrity of 191 U.S.-listed companies with over $1.9 trillion in market capitalization. The purpose is not to de-list any company, but to persuade China to allow the audit oversight that U.S. investors need, and the U.S. investors get when investing in all U.S. companies as well as companies in over 50 foreign jurisdictions.""

""As someone who spent over a decade in public accounting and auditing, I understand and value the importance of investor protection and proper quality control of audits. It's our responsibility to protect the public and I am happy to co-lead a bipartisan, bicameral initiative to start leveling the playing field and increase accountability for Chinese companies listed on U.S. stock exchanges,"" said Congresswoman Spartz.

""This bill builds off of the bipartisan Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act to protect investors, ensure the integrity of financial statements and create a level playing field for issuers on U.S. exchanges,"" said Congressman Barr, Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on National Security, International Development and Monetary Policy. ""I am pleased to join Reps. Sherman and Spartz in this effort to hold China accountable.""

Text of the legislation is available here.

A recording of the Subcommittee hearing featuring this legislation is available here.

Sources:

[1] https://pcaobus.org/oversight/international/china-related-access-challenges",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://desaulnier.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-desaulnier-host-end-year-town-hall,Congressman DeSaulnier to Host End of Year Town Hall,2021-12-14,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Mark DeSaulnier,D000623,desaulnier.house.gov,desaulnier,https://desaulnier.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Walnut Creek, CA – Today, Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11) announced he will host an end of year town hall on Thursday, December 16th from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. PT to give an update on the bipartisan infrastructure bill and the Build Back Better Act and the support these bills will provide for American families. The event will be held live on Zoom and on Congressman DeSaulnier's Facebook page (facebook.com/repmarkdesaulnier).

This will be Congressman DeSaulnier's 150th town hall and mobile district office hour since coming to Congress. Contra Costa residents will have an opportunity to submit questions before the town hall and live throughout the event.

End of Year Town Hall

Thursday, December 16th

12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. PT

This event is open to the public and press.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://harder.house.gov/media/press-releases/harder-introduces-new-bill-hold-edd-accountable-failing-central-valley,Harder Introduces New Bill to Hold EDD Accountable for Failing Central Valley Families,2021-12-14,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Josh Harder,H001090,harder.house.gov,harder,https://harder.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON —Representative Josh Harder (CA-10) has introduced a new bill, the Fix the Unemployment Backlogs Act, which will create a federal standard for state unemployment agencies addressing backlogs of claims. This comes in response to California Employment Development Department (EDD)'s catastrophic failures throughout and before the COVID-19 pandemic.

""It's beyond clear that Sacramento can't be trusted with our unemployment system. Over the last two years, EDD gave out billions in taxpayer dollars to Russian gangsters and Nigerian crime rings while families in the Central Valley called hundreds of times a day and never once got an actual person on the phone,"" said Rep. Harder. ""So I've introduced a bill to set a federal standard for unemployment agencies like EDD. Either they treat our taxpayer dollars right or we cut their funding and find someone else who can do it better.""

The bill mandates that any state unemployment agency with a backlog of more than 45,000 cases has six months to bring that backlog down to zero or face losing its administrative funding. During the height of the pandemic, EDD had a backlog of more than 250,000 cases, defined as a case that has gone 21 days without an initial status determination. State unemployment agencies' administrative funding pays for everything from lights to internet to employee payroll and is funded by the federal government.

Click here for more EDD backlog data

Read the bill online here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://issa.house.gov/media/press-releases/issa-leads-congressional-colleagues-calling-pelosi-stop-blocking-vote,Issa Leads Congressional Colleagues Calling on Pelosi to Stop Blocking Vote Nullifying Biden Vaccine Mandate,2021-12-14,2021,2021-12,Republican,House,CA,Darrell Issa,I000056,issa.house.gov,issa,https://issa.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-50) along with Congressman Fred Keller (PA-12) and 107 of their colleagues, wrote a letter to Speaker Pelosi urging her to bring Senate Joint Resolution 29, which previously passed in the Senate, to the House Floor. The legislation would nullify President Biden’s destructive vaccine mandate for private businesses.

“The reckless and unconstitutional vaccine mandate that President Biden wants to force upon the nation threatens the jobs of millions of workers and the future of thousands of businesses in every corner of the country – and we won’t rest until they are free from it for good,” said Rep. Issa. “Speaker Pelosi is blocking a vote on this mainstream measure because she wants to shield Democrats from casting a vote of conscience. She has no interest in shielding the American people from this irresponsible mandate.”

“President Biden’s vaccine mandate violates the individual liberties of over 80 million American workers. These are the men and women who kept our economy going throughout the pandemic – now this administration wants to stop them from being able to provide for their families unless they submit to the president’s unconstitutional mandate, said Rep. Keller. “With the support of every House Republican and a bipartisan majority of Senators for our resolution to eliminate this mandate, I call on Speaker Pelosi to schedule an immediate vote on this Congressional Review Act.”

The letter to the speaker can be found HERE.

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,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://ruiz.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/ruiz-introduces-common-sense-legislation-protecting-concertgoers,Ruiz Introduces Common-Sense Legislation to Protecting Concertgoers,2021-12-14,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Raul Ruiz,R000599,ruiz.house.gov,ruiz,https://ruiz.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-36) announced H.R. 5827, the Protecting Outdoor Concerts Act, to keep workers, concertgoers, and Valley residents safe at major concert events. This common-sense legislation directs the FAA to authorize large outdoor concerts and music festivals to seek temporary flight restrictions to secure their airspace, providing them the same protections that major sporting events already have.

""I care about the safety of my constituents and concertgoers and the positive impact our festivals have on our economy,"" said Dr. Ruiz. ""Current law denies major open-air concerts the same protections that are afforded to major sporting events. Whether an audience is protected shouldn't depend on whether they are watching a football team or listening to a band. My bill, the Protecting Outdoor Concerts Act would provide festivals like Coachella the same protections as other major events like the Rose Bowl or the Indy 500. With my bill, we will ensure the safety of workers, residents, and visitors alike at these events that drive economic growth in our region.""

""As we welcome back fans to outdoor venues, AEG welcomes the introduction of the Protecting Outdoor Concerts Act,"" said Martha Saucedo, AEG's Chief External Affairs Officer. ""AEG always places the safety of concert-goers first. We urge Congress to act on this important piece of legislation expeditiously.""

BACKGROUND

Under current regulations, the FAA may only grant a temporary flight restriction (TFR) to protect persons or property, or to prevent the unsafe congestion of aircraft in the vicinity of an aerial demonstration or major sporting event. Major concerts are unable to apply for TFRs under current law.

H.R. 5827 would direct the FAA to add outdoor concerts or festivals with an attendance of 30,000 people or more per day to the list of eligible events.

In 2019, the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival hosted 99,000 per day at the Empire Polo Club in Indio.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://sarajacobs.house.gov/news/press-releases/jacobs-fitzpatrick-introduce-bipartisan-resolution-calling-on-the-international-community-to-prioritize-children-in-covid-19-rebuilding-efforts,"Jacobs, Fitzpatrick Introduce Bipartisan Resolution Calling on the International Community to Prioritize Children in COVID-19 Rebuilding Efforts",2021-12-14,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Sara Jacobs,J000305,sarajacobs.house.gov,sarajacobs,https://sarajacobs.house.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"The resolution urges the United States to increase support for international partners, including UNICEF, Education Cannot Wait, and the Global Partnership for Education

Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (D-CA-53) and Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01) have introduced a bipartisan resolution calling upon the United States and the international community to prioritize children, including the work done by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in COVID-19 rebuilding efforts. Last week marked the 75th anniversary of UNICEF.

The resolution highlights the negative impacts on children worldwide caused by the pandemic and the importance of UNICEF in providing aid to vulnerable populations globally. The non-binding resolution calls upon the United States to increase support for addressing the health and educations needs of every child; urges the Department of State, the United States Agency for International Development, and other agencies to partner with UNICEF; calls for vaccine equity and support for vaccine programs in sub-Saharan Africa; and urges the United States to support Giga, a global initiative to connect every school to the internet.

Congresswoman Jacobs is a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and worked at UNICEF’s Innovation Unit before being elected to Congress. Congressman Fitzpatrick is also a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. UNICEF-USA, Global Partnership for Education, Education Cannot Wait, Jesuit Refugee Service/USA, and Global Campaign for Education-US have endorsed the legislation.

“The last two years have been devastating for the world, and we must do everything we can to ensure the needs of children are prioritized as we rebuild from the pandemic. School closures, increased violence and conflict, and loss of loved ones have made the pandemic especially hard on children. I am proud to lead this resolution with Congressman Fitzpatrick to shine a light on the need to put children at the forefront of global recovery efforts and to raise greater awareness of their needs in Congress. The 75th anniversary of UNICEF is an important opportunity to recommit ourselves to helping kids around the world thrive,” said Congresswoman Sara Jacobs.

“As we recently celebrated the 75th Anniversary of UNICEF, we are reminded of the critical work they do to protect the well-being of children across the globe. Underserved youth cannot be left out of the equation as the world begins to rebuild from the COVID-19 pandemic. I am proud to join Rep. Jacobs in urging the United States to increase support to organizations like UNICEF, Education Cannot Wait, and the Global Partnership for Education, who are our allies in the mission to ensure that every child has access to educational opportunities and vital health care services,” said Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick.

“UNICEF’s recent report on the impacts caused by COVID-19 notes that children out of school lose learning and are more exposed to physical, emotional and sexual violence, exploitation and abuse. Every child has the right to learn, and UNICEF USA commends Reps. Jacobs and Fitzpatrick for this bipartisan resolution on UNICEF’s 75th anniversary calling for greater support for education globally,” said Michael J. Nyenhuis, President and CEO of UNICEF USA.

“As a key partner in JRS/USA’s efforts to increase access to education for children and adolescents who have been forcibly displaced, we commend UNICEF for 75 years of lifesaving work,” said Giulia McPherson, Director of Advocacy & Operations at Jesuit Refugee Service/USA. “Through its support for Education Cannot Wait, UNICEF has redoubled its efforts to ensure that learners affected by conflict and crisis have access to the services they need. Thank you to Rep. Sara Jacobs and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick for championing this work by introducing this critical resolution as we encourage the U.S. to continue to support these important investments.”

“For 75 years, UNICEF has worked tirelessly to ensure the human right to quality, inclusive education for all children and youth -- especially engaging young people who were previously excluded due to gender, disability, poverty, ethnicity or language, as well as children and youth who have been displaced or affected by emergencies,"" said Jennifer Rigg, Executive Director of the Global Campaign for Education-US. ""We applaud Representatives Sara Jacobs and Brian Fitzpatrick for recognizing UNICEF and encouraging the U.S. to increase support for international partners -- including UNICEF, Education Cannot Wait, and the Global Partnership for Education -- to address the education and related needs of every child.""

“As the UN global fund for education in emergencies and protracted crises, Education Cannot Wait (ECW), fully supports this crucial resolution calling for increased support for ECW’s efforts, and those of our partners, UNICEF and Global Partnership for Education, in delivering life-saving education and health services for every child as the world recovers and builds from the global pandemic,” said Yasmine Sherif, Director of Education Cannot Wait. “For girls and boys already caught in armed conflicts, forced displacement and climate change-induced disasters, COVID-19 represents a true ‘crisis upon crises’; improved access to quality education and health provides them with hope, safety and the opportunity for a better future.”

Covid continues to cause unprecedented disruptions to education, leaving millions of children – especially girls and other vulnerable children – out of school,” said Alex Palacios, Director, North America, Private Sector and Foundations, Global Partnership for Education. “As a critical member of the Global Partnership for Education’s broad public-private partnership, UNICEF is at the forefront of efforts to ensure education continues for children around the world. We commend Representatives Sara Jacobs and Brian Fitzpatrick for their call for continued support for global education.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://khanna.house.gov/media/press-releases/release-khanna-grijalva-quigley-announce-legislation-repeal-fossil-fuel-subsidy,"RELEASE: KHANNA, GRIJALVA, QUIGLEY ANNOUNCE LEGISLATION TO REPEAL FOSSIL FUEL SUBSIDY FOR ENHANCED OIL RECOVERY",2021-12-13,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Ro Khanna,K000389,khanna.house.gov,khanna,https://khanna.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC – December 13, 2021 – Today, Representatives Ro Khanna (CA-17), Chair of the House Oversight Subcommittee on the Environment, Raúl Grijalva (AZ-03), Chair of the House Natural Resources Committee, and Mike Quigley (IL-05), member of the House Committee on Appropriations, introduced the End Polluter Welfare for Enhanced Oil Recovery Act to repeal a tax giveaway that enables the fossil fuel industry to profit off capturing carbon emissions and using them to increase oil production.

The version of Build Back Better that was passed by the House did not include any of the domestic fossil fuel subsidies repeal passed by the Senate Finance Committee earlier this year. But the transition to a clean energy future relies on eliminating the special privileges that the fossil fuel industry currently enjoys over other industries.

The End Polluter Welfare for Enhanced Oil Recovery Act would reform one of the largest domestic fossil fuel subsidies, The Tax Credit for Carbon Sequestration (Section 45Q). Right now, fossil fuel companies receive a tax credit for injecting carbon dioxide into oil wells to extract more oil, a process known as enhanced oil recovery (EOR). In the United States, of all carbon captured, 95% is used for EOR. This means increased oil and gas production, more pollution and additional costs for American taxpayers. Just this one subsidy is predicted to amount to $7.8 billion dollars over the next ten years. The public should not be on the hook for increasing the profits of the fossil fuel industry.

""Using carbon capture as an excuse to continue drilling for oil is not a climate change solution,"" said Rep. Ro Khanna. ""It's our responsibility here in Congress to expose the fossil fuel subsidies in our tax code and work to end them. Unlike when they were first created, these subsidies no longer create jobs. Instead, they undermine efforts to tackle the climate crisis. I'm proud to introduce this bill to end one of the biggest fossil fuel subsidies and set us on the path to a clean energy economy.""

""The American people are tired of giving handouts to the oil and gas industry and demand real action on climate change,"" said Rep. Grijalva. ""Rather than subsidize companies trying to squeeze the last drops of profit out of wells past their expiration date, we need to do everything in our power to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and limit carbon pollution. I'm proud to cosponsor this bill, and I look forward to enacting reforms to our tax code that incentivize real emissions reduction, not more drilling and pollution.""

""The American people do not want to subsidize oil and gas production with their hard-earned tax dollars. We are living every day with a warming climate that has been largely caused by increased fossil fuel emissions. We should be encouraging oil and gas companies to move to clean energy sources, not subsidizing their continued mining of fossil fuels. I'm proud of the steps this bill takes to correct the tax code and properly align incentives with a clean energy future,"" said Rep. Quigley.

""We need to transition off fossil fuels, not double down on subsidies for oil drilling. Repealing these fossil fuel handouts is the right thing to do for our climate and communities who are seeing their air and water poisoned by this destructive industry,"" said Jim Walsh, Senior Energy Policy Analyst, Food & Water Watch.

""Subsidizing the oil and gas industry to capture carbon dioxide and use it for extracting still more oil is a colossal waste of public resources, and makes no sense in the context of global climate catastrophe,"" said Basav Sen, Climate Justice Project Director, Institute for Policy Studies.

""A tax credit for enhanced oil recovery is a subsidy to drill more oil. We're in a deep hole addressing the climate crisis, and the first thing we need to do is stop digging. This bill is a example of the real climate leadership we need to get us out of this mess,"" said Collin Rees, Senior Campaigner, Oil Change International.

""Zero Hour endorses this legislation because at a time when climate disasters continue to become more commonplace, it is simply unacceptable for tax dollars to continue subsidizing the industry that continues to cause climate change and environmental destruction,"" said Zanagee Artis, Co-founder, Zero Hour

""Grassroots American Indians and Alaskan Natives in our Indigenous Environmental Network are demanding to stop any provisions in the Build Back Better Act that would allow subsidies for Enhanced Oil Recovery. EOR is not a low carbon oil and will result in a net increase in greenhouse gas emissions. Climate change and global warming is real in Native lands that is becoming a life and death situation for many of our people,"" said Tom B.K. Goldtooth, Executive Director, Indigenous Environmental Network

""The climate clock is ticking quickly. The urgent necessity of a transition away from fossil fuels is self-evident. In the bleak light of the worsening climate crisis, why give taxpayer money away to oil and gas companies to support an industry practice - Enhanced Oil Recovery - that forces the last drops out of a fossil fuel well? What possible policy goal can be served by undermining and counteracting the movement away from fossil fuels to renewable wind and solar energy? Why in the world would we pay these companies to further poison our air, water, soil and future? It is long past time to stop the subsidies for this destructive practice and invest in a clean, sustainable future,"" said Michelle Deatrick, Chair, DNC Environment and Climate Crisis Council.

The full list of organizations that have endorsed the End Polluter Welfare for Enhanced Oil Recovery Act include: Food & Water Watch, Greenpeace USA, Sierra Club, Sunrise Movement, Climate Justice Alliance, Our Revolution, Indigenous Environmental Network, Friends of the Earth, Oxfam America, Evergreen Action, Zero Hour, Institute for Policy Studies Climate Policy Program, Progressive Democrats of America, DNC Environment and Climate Crisis Council, Earthworks, Grassroots Global Justice Alliance, Oil Change International, Great Plains Action Society, U.S. PIRG, Environment America, and the Center for International Environmental Law.

The full text of the legislation can be viewed here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://valadao.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=220,Representatives David G. Valadao and Jimmy Panetta Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Support Domestic Producers,2021-12-13,2021,2021-12,Republican,House,CA,David G. Valadao,V000129,valadao.house.gov,valadao,https://valadao.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, Representatives David G. Valadao (CA-21) and Jimmy Panetta (CA-20) introduced the China Trade Cheating Restitution Act. This bipartisan legislation requires the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to distribute delinquency interest collected on antidumping duties between 2000 and 2014 to domestic producers of goods subject to these duties.

“The U.S. Customs and Border Protection has a legal responsibility to distribute all antidumping duties and interest to those facing unfair foreign competition, and it is unacceptable for the agency to withhold more than a decade’s worth of collected interest from these producers,” said Congressman Valadao. “I am happy to work across the aisle with Rep. Panetta to support our domestic industries and address this truly bipartisan issue. It is critical Congress works together to ensure these producers receive the payments they are due.”

“Since 2000, the federal government has collected dumping duties on Chinese garlic imports, but has failed to pay the required restitution to the impacted producers,” said Congressman Panetta. “The bipartisan legislation that I authored and introduced with my Californian colleague, David Valadao, will right this wrong by requiring CBP to pay all collected duties and their interest to those in agriculture that deserve it. By dumping garlic into our market, Chinese importers have long inflicted serious economic harm, especially, on our California producers. With this legislation, we are ensuring that the federal government lives up to its responsibilities not only to prevent dumping, but also to provide the proper remedy to our producers of American agriculture.”

Background

The Continued Dumping and Subsidy Offset Act of 2000 (CDSOA) requires the CBP to distribute to U.S. producers all antidumping duties and accrued interest collected on dumped imports of their industry’s products that arrived prior to October 1, 2007.

In 2014, the CBP revealed that CDSOA distributions had not included several types of interest payments collected and was subsequently instructed by Congress to include these payments in distributions moving forward; however, producers in industries like garlic, honey, and others have not been compensated for the undisbursed interest payments collected prior to this instruction.

The bill can be found here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://barragan.house.gov/2021/12/10/barragan-kelly-ruiz-beatty-chu-and-jayapal-call-on-leadership-to-modernize-medicaid-to-include-mandatory-adult-dental-coverage/,"Barragán, Kelly, Ruiz, Beatty, Chu and Jayapal Call on Leadership to Modernize Medicaid to Include Mandatory Adult Dental Coverage",2021-12-10,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Nanette Diaz Barragán,B001300,barragan.house.gov,barragan,https://barragan.house.gov/news,scraper,"Dear Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Schumer,

Thanks to your leadership, the Build Back Better Act promises to be the most significant investment in health equity and access to health care since the passage of the Affordable Care Act. Through provisions such as those to extend Medicaid coverage to one year postpartum and close the Medicaid coverage gap, this legislation stands to address longstanding inequities in access to health care. However, the legislation does not address one of the starkest health inequities in the health care system. The current patchwork of adult dental coverage in the Medicaid program has devastating consequences, in particular for people with low incomes; Black, Hispanic, Asian and Pacific Islander populations, and other people of color; tribal communities; people with disabilities; and those in rural America.

We now have a unique opportunity to close a glaring gap in Medicaid coverage and ensure that every person who relies on the program receive the dental care they need, regardless of where they live. As the Build Back Better Act is considered by the Senate, we urge you to support the addition of provisions that would make comprehensive dental care a mandatory component of Medicaid coverage for all enrolled adults while maintaining current provisions in the House-passed bill.

Adult dental coverage is optional for state Medicaid programs. As a result, adult dental benefits vary widely across states, and some states don’t cover it at all. This puts care out of reach for millions of people; further stresses underfunded tribal health systems; and compounds systemic barriers to care in marginalized communities. Despite increases in health coverage nationwide, cost barriers to dental care for low-income adults have only increased in recent years, with Black and Hispanic communities reporting the highest financial hurdles to accessing the care they need. But making adult dental coverage mandatory in Medicaid can help alleviate these inequities.

Moreover, disparities in adult dental coverage are harming America’s children. When parents lack dental coverage, their children are more likely to face delays in getting needed care or forego care altogether. These gaps most harm children of color and those in low-income families.

However, when state Medicaid programs provide dental coverage to parents, children are more likely to get the dental care they need.

These changes are also vital for America’s economy and workforce. Robust Medicaid adult dental coverage can improve employability, while reducing associated racial inequities in the job market. Good oral health can also increase wages for women in the workforce. These gains could be pivotal for people recovering from pandemic unemployment, which most hurt women, tribal communities, and communities of color.

This policy is both cost-effective and popular, as evidenced by broad support for the Medicaid Dental Benefit Act (H.R. 4439). Recent research suggests that extending Medicaid adult dental benefits could lead to significant savings. With improved oral health, the policy could save at least $273 million annually in medical costs related to diabetes, heart disease, and pregnancy. It could also lower overall state spending on dental care. In addition, greater access to dental care would reduce other unnecessary health spending, such as averting hospital emergency department visits for dental pain. This could save the U.S. health system $2 billion per year.

By adding Medicaid adult dental coverage to the Build Back Better Act, Congress can deliver stable and comprehensive dental coverage to all adults who count on Medicaid, no matter where they live. Doing so can continue to promote a sustainable economic recovery and to reduce vast health inequities across our country.

Sincerely,",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://harder.house.gov/media/press-releases/harder-milestone-over-10-million-saved-constituents,Harder Milestone: Over $10 Million Saved for Constituents,2021-12-10,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Josh Harder,H001090,harder.house.gov,harder,https://harder.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON — Today, Representative Josh Harder (CA-10) announced that his office has now saved constituents $10,148,106 in government benefits or mistaken bills from government agencies. Due to significant failures at the California Economic Development Department (EDD), Rep. Harder's team has focused on bridging the issue by cutting through red tape and getting constituents answers.

""My job is to fight for Valley families, and I'm thrilled we've been able to get to work to make sure folks get the money they deserve,"" said Rep. Harder. ""The government already takes way too much money from Valley families and I'm glad we've been able to claw some of it back. If you, a loved one, a neighbor, or a friend are dealing with bureaucratic red tape or a government issue, reach on out to my office for help.""

Anyone in need of assistance should go online to Harder.House.gov or call Rep. Harder's office in Modesto at (209) 579 5458.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://lieu.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-lieu-statement-house-passage-reforms-protect-our-democracy,REP LIEU STATEMENT ON HOUSE PASSAGE OF REFORMS TO PROTECT OUR DEMOCRACY,2021-12-10,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Ted Lieu,L000582,lieu.house.gov,lieu,https://lieu.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) issued the following statement after the House passed the bipartisan Protecting Our Democracy Act, or PODA. PODA is a comprehensive package of reforms to strengthen America's democratic institutions against abuse of power and corruption.

Included in the reforms package is Congressman Lieu's Inspectors General Protection Act, which will require federal agencies and departments to notify Congress before enacting a personnel change, and require the President to report to Congress if an IG has not been nominated for 210 days after a position becomes vacant.

""The former President and his administration made numerous attempts at undermining our system of government and our democracy,"" Lieu said. ""We cannot allow that to happen again. I'm pleased the Protecting Our Democracy Act – a package of historically bipartisan reforms to restore checks and balances, strengthen accountability and transparency, and protect America's elections from foreign interference – passed the House. I'm also grateful the package includes my legislation, the IG Protection Act, to strengthen the independence and integrity of the federal government's inspectors general. I thank Chairman Schiff and all my colleagues who have worked on this critical legislation to prevent future abuses of power and safeguard our Republic.""

The Protecting Our Democracy Act is sponsored by Chairpersons Adam Schiff (D-CA; House Intelligence), Peter DeFazio (D-Ore; Transportation and Infrastructure) Richard Neal (D-MA; Ways & Means Committee), Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn; House Appropriations), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY; Judiciary Committee), Carolyn Maloney (D-NY; House Oversight), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA; House Administration), Gregory Meeks (D-NY; House Foreign Affairs), and John Yarmuth (D-KY; Budget Committee). It includes legislation authored by Reps. Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Jackie Speier (D-CA), Gerry Connolly (D-VA), Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), Eric Swalwell (D-CA), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA), Madeline Dean (D-PA), and Katie Porter (D-CA). Additionally, the legislation is supported by Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA).

PODA will:

PREVENT PRESIDENTIAL ABUSES

Prevent Abuse of the Pardon Power: Requires the Department of Justice to provide materials to Congress concerning any self-serving presidential pardon or commutation in cases involving the President or his/her relatives, contempt of Congress, or obstruction of Congress; clarifies that the President and Vice President are ""public officials"" and pardons are ""official acts"" and ""things of value"" for purposes of the federal bribery statute, and prohibits self-pardons by the President.

Ensure No President is Above the Law: Suspends the statute of limitations for any federal offense committed by a sitting president or vice president, whether it was committed before or during their terms in office, to ensure that presidents and vice presidents can be held accountable for criminal conduct just like every other American and not use their offices as a shield to avoid legal consequences.

Enforce the Foreign and Domestic Emoluments Clauses of the Constitution: Codifies the Constitution's Foreign and Domestic Emoluments Clauses by prohibiting federal officials from accepting foreign emoluments without Congress's consent and prohibiting the President from accepting domestic emoluments; strengthens the process for civil actions brought by Congress for violations of the Foreign Emoluments Clause; enhances financial disclosure requirements related to emoluments; and provides enhanced enforcement mechanisms for Congress and for entities within the Executive Branch.

RESTORE OUR SYSTEM OF CHECKS AND BALANCES, STRENGTHEN ACCOUNTABILITY, AND TRANSPARENCY

Enforce Congressional Subpoenas: Strengthens Congress' tools to enforce lawfully-issued subpoenas while preserving the accommodations process; codifies a cause of action for Congress to enforce its subpoenas, including those issued to government officials; expedites the judicial process for congressional subpoena enforcement actions; empowers courts to levy fines on government officials who willfully fail to comply with congressional subpoenas; and specifies the manner in which subpoena recipients must comply.

Reassert Congressional Power of the Purse: Strengthens Congress' power of the purse by enhancing the Impoundment Control Act (ICA), including by adding penalties for failure to comply; increasing transparency and reporting requirements for the Executive Branch; and strengthens congressional budget oversight tools under the ICA and Antideficiency Act (ADA) to prevent federal agencies from misusing federal funds.

Strengthen Congressional Oversight of Presidential Emergency Declarations: Imposes a limit on Presidential declarations of emergencies and any powers triggered by such declarations unless extended by a vote of the Congress; requires the President to provide all Presidential Emergency Action Documents (PEADs) to Congress.

Provide Security from Political Interference in Justice: In order to limit political interference in criminal and civil enforcement matters, requires the Attorney General to maintain a log of certain communications between the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the White House; requires the Attorney General to provide the log to the DOJ Inspector General (DOJ IG) bi-annually, and requires the DOJ IG to report to Congress any inappropriate communications or communications evidencing improper political interference.

Protect Inspector General Independence: Permits the President or the head of an agency to only remove an Inspector General (IG), including IGs of the Intelligence Community (IC), for cause; clarifies that IGs of the IC have sole authority to determine matters of urgent concern, which include foreign interference in our elections; enhances congressional reporting requirements when an IG is removed; requires the President or an agency head to give 30 days' notice before placing an IG on administrative leave; and requires the President to provide to Congress documentation of cause before removing an IG.

Protect Whistleblowers: Enhances protections for federal whistleblowers, including measures to protect the anonymity of whistleblowers; clarifies the right of government employees, including those in the IC, to provide information directly to Congress; creates a private right of action for whistleblowers who are publicly outed by government officials; and limits the conditions under which a government official or employee may disclose a whistleblower's identity or other whistleblower information, including limitations on the sharing of IC whistleblower complaints with persons named as subjects in the complaint.

Provide Accountability for Acting Officials: Makes a series of changes with respect to the appointment, tenure, and qualifications of acting officials of executive agencies; limits the tenure of acting heads of agencies to no more than 120 days.

Strengthen Hatch Act Enforcement and Penalties: Strengthens the Office of Special Counsel's (OSC) ability to investigate violations of the Hatch Act; clarifies that employees of the Executive Office of the President and the Office of the Vice President can be investigated and disciplined for Hatch Act violations; authorizes Merit Service Protection Board (MSPB) to issue fines for Hatch Act violations committed by senior political appointees, and increases the maximum fine for Hatch Act violations by senior political appointees to $50,000.

Promoting Efficient Presidential Transitions: Promotes orderly presidential transitions by requiring that if the Administrator of General Services does not ascertain a winner in a presidential election within 5 days of the election, each eligible presidential candidate and the vice-presidential candidate shall be treated as the winner, until an ascertainment is made, or a winner is certified by Congress.

Presidential and Vice-Presidential Tax Transparency: Requires the president and Vice President, or major party candidates for those offices, to provide ten years of tax returns to the Federal Elections Commission (FEC), who is required to make them public. If a covered person does not provide their tax records, the Secretary of the Treasury is required to provide them to the FEC.

PROTECT OUR ELECTIONS

Ensure Reporting of Foreign Interference in Elections: Requires that political committees report to the FBI and the Federal Elections Commission (FEC) certain foreign contacts; requires that each political candidate and immediate family member of a candidate notify a designated campaign committee official of certain foreign contacts; requires the FBI to report to the congressional intelligence committees any reporting received pursuant to these provisions.

Prevent Foreign Interference in Elections: Clarifies that the definition of a ""thing of value"" in the Federal Election Campaign Act prohibition on foreign donations to political campaigns and candidates includes information sought or obtained for political advantage; enhances criminal penalties for violations of such prohibition; requires that political campaigns certify that they understand the prohibition. The bill would also clarify campaign finance law to extend the ban on contributions by foreign nationals to include ballot initiatives and referendums.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://aguilar.house.gov/2021/12/09/aguilars-election-officials-safety-provision-passes-the-house/,Aguilar’s Election Officials’ Safety Provision Passes the House,2021-12-09,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Pete Aguilar,A000371,aguilar.house.gov,aguilar,https://aguilar.house.gov/category/congress_press_release/,scraper,"Press Releases

Aguilar’s Election Officials’ Safety Provision Passes the House

Washington, DC — Today, the House passed H.R. 5314, the Protecting Our Democracy Act. This bill includes a key provision spearheaded by Rep. Pete Aguilar. This provision amends the Help America Vote Act to require each state’s chief election official to create a database of elections officials who have received threats and need their personal identifiable information protected to guarantee our nation can hold safe and fair elections. Participants of the program can request anyone, including businesses or government agencies, to remove their PII within 72 hours. This makes it harder for bad actors to access election officials’ information and ensures these officials can support the democratic process without fearing for their lives.

“Elections officials across the country have faced threats against them and their families while upholding our democratic process. Our democracy only works when elections are safe and fair. This provision will help make sure that elections officials will be safe so that they can continue the important work and support our nation’s elections,” said Aguilar.

The Protecting Our Democracy Act is a comprehensive bill that strengthens our nation’s institutions from future presidents who seek to corrupt and abuse the power of their office. This bill removes statutes of limitations to ensure that both president and vice presidents will be held accountable for any criminal actions like every other American, adds penalties for failure to comply with congressional subpoenas, expands whistleblower protections and strengthens enforcement of the Hatch Act to strengthen our nation’s system of checks and balances.

Rep. Aguilar serves on Select Committee to Investigate January 6th and the Committee on House Administration’s Subcommittee on Elections.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://barragan.house.gov/2021/12/09/bipartisan-bill-would-create-interscholastic-athletic-administrators-day-2/,Bipartisan Bill Would Create Interscholastic Athletic Administrators’ Day,2021-12-09,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Nanette Diaz Barragán,B001300,barragan.house.gov,barragan,https://barragan.house.gov/news,scraper,"Whereas each December, we recognize the positive contributions of interscholastic athletic administrators;

Whereas the position of school athletic administrator is recognized as a profession, which, like other academic professions, benefits greatly from continued education and certification;

Whereas school athletic programs develop young people physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally by the life lessons learned through participation and competition;

Whereas interscholastic athletic participation is an integral part of a student’s educational experience and enhances the learning and maturation process;

Whereas athletic administrators are committed to developing and maintaining comprehensive education-based athletic programs which seek the highest development of all student–athletes;

Whereas athletic administrators fulfill professional responsibilities with, integrity, commitment to equality, industriousness to long hours, and fairness;

Whereas athletic administrators preserve, enhance, and promote the educational values of athletics in our schools through professional growth in the areas of education, leadership, and service;

Whereas athletic administrators embody high standards of ethics, sportsmanship, and personal conduct and encourage coaching staffs, student athletes, and community members to commit to these high standards, as well;

Whereas during the COVID-19 pandemic, athletic administrators continue to be at the forefront of developing and implementing safety practices, exhibiting wisdom in preparation, adaptation, change, and collaboration; and

Whereas the athletic programs run by these administrators have impacts that extend well beyond the playing field, athletic venues, and even the school;

Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives —

(1) Supports the annual recognition of Interscholastic Athletic Administrators’ Day, this year on December 14, 2021;

(2) Commends athletic administrators for their commitment and leadership provided to student athletes at the secondary school level; and

(3) Commends the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association as the leading organization that prepares those who lead secondary school athletics throughout the country, providing, continuous learning, compassion, and preparation within the profession.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://barragan.house.gov/2021/12/09/daily-breeze-battleship-iowa-in-san-pedro-closes-in-on-final-approval-as-national-navy-museum-site/,Daily Breeze:  Battleship Iowa in San Pedro closes in on final approval as national Navy museum site,2021-12-09,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Nanette Diaz Barragán,B001300,barragan.house.gov,barragan,https://barragan.house.gov/news,scraper,"By DONNA LITTLEJOHN | Daily Breeze

UPDATED: December 9, 2021 at 12:31 p.m.

The USS Iowa took a significant step forward this week when the House of Representatives voted for the World War II battleship in San Pedro to become the first National Museum of the Surface Navy.

The legislation, sponsored by U.S. Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragan, D-San Pedro, now goes to the Senate, where it is expected to be approved this month. It would then go to President Joe Biden for his signature.

Once fully approved, the designation for the battleship will make it the first and only museum in the nation dedicated to the men and women who have served in the surface forces of the U.S. Navy.

The Surface Navy comprises personnel on all Navy vessels that have traveled on the ocean’s surface since the nation’s founding.

A fundraising campaign has been ongoing for the museum, with the effort expected to cost $60 million. The opening date is set for Oct. 13, 2025 — the 250th birthday of the Navy.

Included in the overall plan is moving the historic battleship south to the Southern Pacific Slip, where it would be closer to the new waterfront development, dubbed West Harbor, set to open in 2023.

“This legislation honors the men and women who have served — and continue to serve — in the surface forces of the United States,” Barragan said, “by designating this museum as a monument to their sacrifice.”

The ship, which was brought to the San Pedro waterfront in 2012, is now a visitor attraction and a monument to those who served.

The ship was commissioned in 1943 and was considered the most powerful American warship of its time. It served in the Pacific during World War II, transporting President Franklin D. Roosevelt during the first transatlantic leg of his journey to the 1943 Tehran Conference with other Allied leaders.

The Iowa also was present during the Japanese surrender at Tokyo Bay 76 years ago.

The ship was brought back into service during the Cold War and was active during the Korean War.

Jonathan Williams, CEO and president of the Battleship Iowa Museum, said the designation will raise “the profile of the importance of Surface Navy in trade, commerce and humanitarian assistance at the busiest port complex in the Western Hemisphere.”

The legislation was first introduced by Barragan and U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein in September 2020.

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted to support the museum proposal at that time.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn said the ship had gained a “second life” as a floating museum to teach visitors about the importance of the Navy in the nation’s history.

Hahn supported bringing the ship to San Pedro in 2010 while she was the Los Angeles City Council member representing the 15th District.

The House of Representatives passed the bill Tuesday night, Dec. 7.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://barragan.house.gov/2021/12/09/dwc-hearing-on-caregivers/,DWC Hearing on Caregivers,2021-12-09,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Nanette Diaz Barragán,B001300,barragan.house.gov,barragan,https://barragan.house.gov/news,scraper,"December 9, 20212

Democratic Women’s Caucus panel with grandmothers and caregivers on how pieces of Build Back Better would be beneficial.

This clip is of Congresswoman Barragán giving a personal story on the need for paid family leave, and her question on a grandmother caregiver.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://bera.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-bera-chairs-house-foreign-affairs-hearing-on-strengthening-biosecurity-through-deterrence-and-detection,Rep. Bera Chairs House Foreign Affairs Hearing on Strengthening Biosecurity Through Deterrence and Detection,2021-12-09,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Ami Bera,B001287,bera.house.gov,bera,https://bera.house.gov/news,scraper,"Representative Ami Bera, M.D. (D-CA), Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, Central Asia, and Nonproliferation, today chaired a Subcommittee hearing on the importance of strengthening biosecurity through deterrence and detection.

""The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the grave consequences that low-probability, high-impact biological threats can have on our daily lives if we are not prepared,"" said Chair Bera. ""It is a national security imperative that the United States dedicate appropriate resourcing and sustained attention to biological security to counter and prepare for a wide range of threats, including naturally occurring events, medical center accidents, or deliberate biological weapon attacks. We cannot afford to be stagnant in our preparations and planning for the biological threats of tomorrow.""

Expert witnesses included The Honorable Andy Weber; Senior Fellow, Council on Strategic Risks; Jaime Yassif, Ph.D., Senior Fellow, Global Biological Policy and Programs, Nuclear Threat Initiative; Amesh Adalja, Ph.D., Senior Scholar, Center for Health Security, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health; and Kevin Esvelt, Ph.D., Director, Sculpting Evolution Group, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Click here to watch a recording of the hearing.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://calvert.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-calvert-re-selected-serve-steering-committee,Rep. Calvert Re-Selected to Serve on Steering Committee,2021-12-09,2021,2021-12,Republican,House,CA,Ken Calvert,C000059,calvert.house.gov,calvert,https://calvert.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Today, Congressman Ken Calvert (CA-42) announced he has been re-selected to serve on the House Republican Steering Committee as the Region XII Representative. The Steering Committee is responsible for selecting Republicans for House Committee membership as well as their leadership positions. Their decisions must ultimately be approved by the full Republican Conference. Region XII includes members from the states of California, Nevada, and Alaska, as well as the territory of American Samoa.

""It's an honor to once again be selected by my colleagues to serve on the Steering Committee,"" said Rep. Calvert. ""The Republican Conference is full of incredibly talented, passionate and experienced members. As a member of the Steering Committee, I look forward to helping our Conference advance our policy goals by maximizing the contributions of Republican members on our committees.""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://correa.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-correa-amendments-in-the-protecting-our-democracy-act-pass-in-the-house,Rep. Correa Amendments in the Protecting Our Democracy Act Pass in the House,2021-12-09,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,J. Luis Correa,C001110,correa.house.gov,correa,https://correa.house.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — Today, Congressman Lou Correa (CA-46) released the following statement applauding the House passage of his amendments as part of the Protecting Our Democracy Act.

Rep. Correa said, ""My first amendment would close a Freedom of Information Request loophole that allows federal agencies to disregard the oversight of Congress and treat oversight requests from Members of Congress as Freedom of Information requests from the public. This amendment would strengthen the ability of Congress to get information from the Executive Branch in a timely manner.

My second amendment would propel our government into the 21st century and require all Congressionally mandated reports to be transmitted to Congress in machine readable format. It's common sense, and we should be able to search and find information within hundreds of pages of reports.

My amendments strengthen Congressional oversight of the Executive Branch by enhancing government transparency. Our democracy depends on transparency and oversight. We are restoring the checks and balances that Congress needs to have over the presidency.""

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://huffman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/stansbury-colleagues-introduce-tribal-water-security-bill,"Stansbury, Colleagues Introduce Tribal Water Security Bill",2021-12-09,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Jared Huffman,H001068,huffman.house.gov,huffman,https://huffman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"As climate and drought impact water supplies, the WaterSMART Access for Tribes Act will help Tribes access critical funds for resilient water infrastructure

WASHINGTON — As much of the United States continues to experience extreme drought and many communities continue to lack access to clean drinking water, U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01), member of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife and Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples introduced the bipartisan WaterSMART Access for Tribes Act with Representatives Jared Huffman (Calif.-02), Leger Fernández (N.M.-03), Steven Horsford (Nev.-04), Ruben Gallego (Ariz.-07), Tom Cole (Okla.-04), Grace Napolitano (Calif.-32), Joe Neguse (Colo.-02), and Jim Costa (Calif.-16).

The WaterSMART Access for Tribes Act gives the Secretary of the Interior the authority to waive or reduce cost-share requirements to implement drought and water projects under the Bureau of Reclamation’s WaterSMART program. To date, fewer than five percent of the projects funded under WaterSMART since its inception in 2010 have been led by Tribes or Pueblos. Rep. Stansbury is introducing the legislation in response to testimony submitted before the House Committee on Natural Resources from several witnesses, including the National Congress of American Indians, the Colorado River Indian Tribes, and the Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation on the need to make these funds more accessible to address Tribal water needs.

“The climate crisis is causing severe drought throughout the West, and as we look to best manage increasingly limited resources, we have an obligation to make sure we do so equitably,” said Rep. Huffman. “Everyone in America deserves access to clean, reliable water – but the cost-share requirements under WaterSMART are often a barrier for Tribes. Our bill makes the necessary changes so Tribes can access this important federal funding, and I’m grateful to Rep. Stansbury for leading the charge.”

“Water is fundamental to the health, well-being, economic, and cultural needs of our Indigenous communities. For far too long, federal programs like the WaterSMART program have included cost-share requirements that have acted as barrier to Tribes accessing crucial water infrastructure dollars,” said Rep. Stansbury. “This bill addresses those barriers, and along with funding in the bipartisan infrastructure law and Build Back Better Act, will help unlock millions of dollars to support Tribal water needs. Addressing these needs is crucial to responding to drought and the lasting impacts of climate change and decades of underinvestment in Tribal water needs.”

“From Gallup to Dulce to Taos, Tribal communities across New Mexico continue to suffer from increased droughts and rising temperatures due to climate change,” said Rep. Leger Fernández. “The WaterSMART Access for Tribes Act will meet Tribal communities where they are to provide long-term solutions for their water needs. I'm proud to support this bill that will help Tribes pursue a sustainable and equitable water future. We know that Agua es Vida.”

“Clean, affordable drinking water is a human right,” said Rep. Horsford. “As Western states confront historic drought caused by the climate crisis, the WaterSMART Access for Tribes Act will help Tribal governments access funding for important water management projects. Alongside the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, this bipartisan bill is an important step forward to lower the cost of water conservation and protect our precious water resources for years to come.”

“Abundant, safe and reliable supplies of water are critical to quality of life for tribal communities,” said Congressman Tom Cole, Co-Chair of the Congressional Native American Caucus and a member of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma. “By removing certain financial barriers, tribes will have more opportunities for improving water infrastructure and conservation practices. These WaterSMART initiatives will not only ensure access to clean drinking water but greatly improve the lives and health of current and future generations.”

The WaterSMART Access for Tribes Act builds on Rep. Stansbury’s career in water and sustainability. As a state legislator in the New Mexico House of Representatives, Rep. Stansbury passed a number of key pieces of legislation on climate and water, including the bipartisan Water Data Act, which created a nationally-leading framework for leveraging the power of data to transform water management. The success of the Water Data Act has attracted partnerships across the state and the country, including the WaterSMART program and other federal, state, Tribal and local entities, research institutions, and non-profit organizations.

The WaterSMART (Sustain and Manage America’s Resources for Tomorrow) program consolidates several water conservation authorities under the Bureau of Reclamation to support water conservation, water-use efficiency, drought planning, and water reuse and recycling projects.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://levin.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-mike-levin-introduces-bipartisan-bill-to-provide-free-or-reduced-cost-school-meals-to-eligible-military-children,Rep. Mike Levin Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Provide Free or Reduced-Cost School Meals to Eligible Military Children,2021-12-09,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Mike Levin,L000593,levin.house.gov,levin,https://levin.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representatives Mike Levin (D-CA), Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Sanford Bishop (D-GA), and Richard Hudson (R-NC) introduced the Military Dependents School Meal Eligibility Act to make it easier for military families to qualify for school meal programs. Nearly one in seven military families report experiencing food insecurity, but many do not qualify for programs like the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP) because servicemembers’ housing allowances are considered income and push them out of eligibility. The Military Dependents School Meal Eligibility Act would stop counting servicemembers’ Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) as part of their income when determining eligibility for school meal programs, which would then qualify almost all children of entry-level, active duty servicemembers for school meals, up through ranks E-6. It would also automatically enroll children of eligible servicemembers into school meal programs so servicemembers are no longer required to do burdensome paperwork every time they relocate.

A fact sheet on the bill is available here. Text of the legislation is available here.

“The men and women who risk their lives for our country should never struggle to feed their children, and it’s unacceptable that nearly one in seven military families face food insecurity,” said Rep. Levin. “Our bipartisan legislation will help address that injustice by taking a more accurate measurement of servicemembers’ income and automatically enrolling the children of eligible active duty servicemembers in school meal programs. While we must do more to improve the financial security of our men and women in uniform, this is an important step towards ensuring military parents around Camp Pendleton and across the country can focus on fulfilling their mission rather than on where their kids will find their next meal.”

“I’ve always said that joining the military is more than just a job – it’s a family commitment to our country. That's why it's so disappointing that we find ourselves in a position where food insecurity is becoming a growing concern amongst our military families. This is not a challenge military families should be faced with, and we must do something to address it immediately,"" said Rep. Rodgers. ""While this bill won't fix everything, it will take an important step towards providing critical food security to military children and promote their success in the classroom, reduce financial stress for military families, and allow active duty servicemembers at Fairchild Airforce Base and across the country to focus on serving our nation. Kids who have balanced, nutritious meals do better in school and experience better health outcomes. This is a commonsense piece of legislation, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to lead on it for our servicemembers and their families.”

“We have an obligation to our service members to ensure that their basic needs are met, which includes making sure that their families have access to the nutritious food needed to lead healthy and productive lives. When children in military families go hungry, their school success is put at risk,” said Rep. Bishop. “School meal programs have been an effective safety net for America’s school children since the end of World War 2. I am proud to join my colleagues in assuring that school children in our military families — like those from Fort Benning, Robins Airforce Base, and the Marine Corps Logistics Base in Albany — also have access to school meal programs.”

“Our servicemembers and their families have enough challenges to worry about and putting food on the table should not be one of them,” said Rep. Hudson. “I’m proud to sponsor this bipartisan legislation that will ensure military dependents at Fort Bragg and across our nation have access to school meals. I look forward to working with my colleagues to advance this common sense bill that offers one more measure of support for our nation’s men and women in uniform and their families.”

The Military Dependents School Meal Eligibility Act has been endorsed by the National Education Association, Food Research Action Center, Blue Star Families, MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger, San Diego Hunger Coalition, School Nutrition Association, California Association of Food Banks, and others.

“It’s important to note that, while the military’s Basic Allowance for Housing is adjusted regionally to account for different housing costs, base pay is not adjusted by region,” said San Diego Hunger Coalition President and CEO Anahid Brakke. “In an expensive area like San Diego County, the unintended consequence is that a bigger housing allowance makes military families ineligible for nutrition assistance programs like SNAP and free and reduced-price school meals, but their base pay isn’t high enough to cover their other basic expenses in such a high-cost area. I applaud Congressman Levin for responding to the nutritional needs of his district with legislative action that will support military families by allowing for military dependents to be directly certified for free and reduced-price meals at school.”

“We are so grateful that Reps. Mike Levin, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Sanford Bishop, and Richard Hudson are taking leadership to address military hunger, which is truly an urgent matter of mission readiness, retention, recruitment, and racial justice,” said Josh Protas, Vice President of Public Policy at MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger. “As detailed in MAZON’s recent report, Hungry in the Military, children from military households are more likely to enter military service than their counterparts in civilian households, but if they experience food insecurity at a young age, they are at much greater risk of obesity, diabetes, and other diet-related chronic health conditions that could make them unfit to serve. By removing barriers to federal school meals programs and calling on the Department of Defense to directly certify children in military families, the Military Dependents School Meal Eligibility Act will take important steps to ensure the health and well-being of our servicemembers and their families.”

""Too many children in need slip through the cracks in the complex and burdensome free and reduced-price meal application process,"" said School Nutrition Association President Beth Wallace, MBA, SNS. ""America owes it to the men and women who serve our country to ensure every eligible military dependent receives the benefits of nutritious school meals. By directly certifying eligible students for school meals, we can support the health and success of military dependents and ease burdens on our active-duty service members.""

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://torres.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/justice-department-awards-900000-bachelor-s-degree-program-california,"Justice Department Awards $900,000 for Bachelor’s Degree program at California Institution for Women",2021-12-09,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Norma J. Torres,T000474,torres.house.gov,torres,https://torres.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) today announced the Department of Justice will award $900,000 to Cal State LA for its Degrees of Hope program, which provides an opportunity for individuals incarcerated at the California Institution For Women in Chino to earn a bachelor's degree in person.

""We know how crucial education is to inmate rehabilitation and success,"" said Congresswoman Torres. ""We have seen this program to be immensely effective at men's facilities, and it is past time to offer the same opportunity to incarcerated women. In addition to earning a degree, which expands career opportunities and economic mobility, this program will help individuals develop strong positive relationships and reduce the likelihood of homelessness, which are key to preventing re-offenses. As a Member of the Appropriations Committee, I was proud to support funding for the Second Chance Act, which makes this new program possible.""

Cal State LA has offered a face-to-face bachelor's degree program at California State Prison, Los Angeles County for six years, with a 0% recidivism rate among students. However, no women in the state have access to the benefits of an onsite bachelor degree program. Degrees of Hope will address this inequity by creating the state's first baccalaureate degree program for incarcerated women, and will directly address key reoffending risks including low educational attainment, homelessness, economic marginalization, and lack of positive relationships.

The federal funding is being awarded from the Department of Justice's Second Chance Act grant program, which funds efforts help incarcerated individuals successfully reintegrate into their communities when released.

For more information on the program, see full grant text here, or read success stories from Cal State LA here.

###

Departamento de Justicia Entrega beca de $900,000 para programa de licenciatura en el Institución de California para Mujeres

WASHINGTON – Congresista Norma J. Torres (CA-35) anunció hoy que el Departamento de Justicia entregara $900,000 a Cal State LA para su programa de Degrees of Hope, lo cual ofrece una oportunidad para individuos encarcelado en el Institución de California para Mujeres en Chino para recibir si licenciatura en persona.

""Nosotros sabemos cómo de importante es la educación para el rehabilitación y éxito para los residentes de detención,"" dijo Congresista Torres. ""Hemos visto que este programa es muy efectivo en las instituciones para hombres, y que ya es hora de que ofrecemos las mismas oportunidades para mujeres. Además de obtener un diploma, lo cual amplia la oportunidades profesionales y movilidad económica, este programa ayudara individuos desarrollar conexiones positivas y reducir la probabilidad de quedarse sin hogar, los cuales son metas claves para prevenir reincidencia. Como miembro del comité de Apropiación, estaba orgullosa de apoyar la ley de Segundas Oportunidades.""

Cal State LA ha ofrecido un programa en persona para la licenciatura en el Prisión de el Estado de California, Los Angeles para seis años, con una tasa de reincidencia del 0% entre los estudiantes. Sin embargo, ninguna mujer en el estado tiene acceso a los beneficios de un programa de licenciatura en persona. Degrees of Hope abordará esta desigualdad por creando el primer programa de licenciatura del estado para mujeres encarcelado, y reducir causas claves de reincidencia, como el bajo nivel de educación, la falta de vivienda, las desigualdades económicas, y la falta de conexiones positivas.

Los fondos federales provienen del programa del Departamento de Justicia de la Ley de Segundas Oportunidades, que financia los esfuerzos para ayudar a las personas encarcelados a reintegrase con éxito a sus comunidades.

Para más información sobre este programa, para ver el texto completo sobre el premio haga clic aqui, o para leer los testimonios de Cal State LA haga clic aquí.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://barragan.house.gov/2021/12/08/house-passed-ndaa-includes-barragan-bill-to-designate-the-u-s-s-iowa-battleship-as-the-national-museum-of-the-surface-navy/,House-Passed NDAA Includes Barragán Bill to Designate the U.S.S. Iowa Battleship as the National Museum of the Surface Navy,2021-12-08,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Nanette Diaz Barragán,B001300,barragan.house.gov,barragan,https://barragan.house.gov/news,scraper,"Legislation also includes Barragán’s bills to give non-citizen military servicemembers information on naturalization and to increase security for public transportation systems

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 8, 2021

WASHIGNTON, D.C. – The National Defense Authorization Act passed the U.S. House last night and includes Congresswoman Nanette Diaz Barragán’s legislation to designate the battleship U.S.S. Iowa Museum as the National Museum of the Surface Navy. Once it becomes law, as expected, this bill will make the Battleship Iowa the first and only museum in the nation dedicated solely to the men and women who have served in the surface forces of the U.S. Navy.

“This legislation honors the men and women who have served – and continue to serve – in the surface forces of the United States by designating this museum as a monument to their sacrifice,” Congresswoman Nanette Diaz Barragán said. “In decades past, the Iowa defended our nation. Today, the battleship serves our local community and visitors worldwide by educating the next generation. The U.S.S. Iowa is now not only a tourist attraction and hallmark of California’s 44th Congressional District, but also a living monument to the surface forces of the U.S. Navy.”

Commissioned in 1943, the U.S.S. Iowa was the most powerful American warship of her time. The ship saw action across much of the Pacific during World War II and even transported President Franklin D. Roosevelt during the first transatlantic leg of his journey to the 1943 Tehran Conference with the other Allied leaders. The Iowa was present during the Japanese surrender at Tokyo Bay 75 years ago and continued to serve our country throughout the Cold War. It was active during the Korean War and supported NATO in the 1980s after being recommissioned.

Since 2012, the battleship has been berthed in San Pedro, acting as a museum and monument to those who have served. The museum and its dedicated team also offer vital resources to educate students, including Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics programs, field trips, and the “Camp Battleship” youth overnight camping program aboard Battleship Iowa. Additionally, the Battleship Iowa Museum promotes veterans causes through hosting job fairs, Los Angeles Fleet Week, Memorial Day and Veteran Day ceremonies, and serving as a veterans’ resource center.

“We are deeply grateful for Congresswoman Barragan’s commitment to our community and our organization by seeing the vision of the National Museum of the Surface Navy at the Battleship Iowa. The Congresswoman’s support of this designation not only establishes the first and only museum to sailors that have served aboard U.S. Navy ships since 1775, but also significantly raises the profile of the importance of Surface Navy in trade, commerce, and humanitarian assistance at the busiest port complex in the Western Hemisphere. There is no doubt that this designation is one of the most significant developments in recent years for San Pedro, the Los Angeles region, and our nation,” said CEO & President of the Battleship Iowa Museum Jonathan Williams.

When Congresswoman Barragán and Senator Dianne Feinstein first introduced the legislation in September 2020, retired Rear Admiral Mike Shatynski, Chairman of the Board for the museum, said: “In 1775, Congress founded our Navy by commissioning a handful of surface ships. For 244 years, our country’s Surface Navy has protected free trade on the seas, provided humanitarian assistance, and promoted international relations. I am grateful to Congresswoman Barragan and Senator Feinstein that we will be able to recognize the millions of Surface Navy sailors and their families for their service to our country and the world.”

A video of Congresswoman Barragán, Rear Admiral Shatynski, and Museum CEO Williams aboard the Iowa speaking about the legislation when it was first introduced in September 2020 is available here.

The final version of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22 NDAA) has been agreed to by leaders of both the U.S. House and Senate. The Senate is expected to vote on it later this week. President Biden must then sign it into law.

The FY22 NDAA passed by the House this evening also includes two additional Barragan bills:

Creating a program informing non-citizen military service members of options to become naturalized citizens. At both the time of enlistment and the time of separation from the military, non-citizens will be informed of existing programs or services that may aid in their naturalization process.

The Strengthening Local Transportation Security Capabilities Act, which will improve information sharing by putting more federal intelligence analysts and resources near high-risk surface transportation assets, including public transportation rail and bus systems. The bill would also provide new terrorism-focused training, and improve cooperation between federal, state and local law enforcement partners.

“Transit systems are a lifeline to our communities, providing mobility to millions of Americans traveling every day. In my district, my constituents rely on L.A. Metro rail and bus systems to get to work, doctor appointments or to visit friends and family. I want them to be safe,” Congresswoman Barragán said. “In Los Angeles and throughout the country, transit systems are designed to be easily accessible for the passengers. That accessibility makes them difficult to protect and potential targets for terrorists – both domestic and foreign. This bill is critical for providing the necessary resources to keep our transit systems, and all who use them, safe and secure.”

Additionally, the FY 22 NDAA:

secures a 2.7 percent pay increase for our men and women in uniform;

invests in Historically Black Colleges and Universities to help build a fairer and more diverse Armed Services; and

makes key investments to address the threat of climate change and bolster energy resiliency.

A summary of all the provisions in the FY22 NDAA is available here.

###

Nanette Diaz Barragán is proud to represent California’s 44th Congressional District, which includes the communities of Carson, Compton, Florence-Firestone, Lynwood, North Long Beach, Rancho Dominguez, San Pedro, South Gate, Walnut Park, Watts, Willowbrook and Wilmington. She serves as chairwoman of the House Homeland Security Committee’s Subcommittee on Border Security.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://calvert.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-calvert-statement-national-defense-authorization-act,Rep. Calvert Statement on the National Defense Authorization Act,2021-12-08,2021,2021-12,Republican,House,CA,Ken Calvert,C000059,calvert.house.gov,calvert,https://calvert.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Congressman Ken Calvert (CA-42) voted along with a bipartisan majority of the House of Representatives (363 to 70) to pass the Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Rep. Calvert is the lead Republican on the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee.

""The final bipartisan, bicameral agreement on the NDAA rejects the ill-advised real dollar cuts to our defense budget proposed by President Biden and progressives in Congress. The $25 billion increase included in the NDAA will maintain our critical national security investments and help the U.S. address growing threats from China, Russia, and other adversaries. Now that the defense authorization is complete, Congress should quickly consider a defense appropriations bill reflecting this increased topline spending level. Every day we delay, more tax dollars are wasted and more national security challenges remain unresolved. House Democrats have recklessly dumped money everywhere in pursuing their radical agenda except on the men and women who serve and protect us, and the safety of the American people and our allies. It's time for that to change.""

NDAA Highlights

(Provided by the House Armed Services Committee Minority Staff)

Warfighter Innovation Fund

Includes a new $100 million fund and pilot program requested by Rep. Calvert to expedite the deployment innovative technologies to the warfighter.

Servicemember Pay and Benefits

The FY22 NDAA continues Congressional support to our servicemembers and their families:

Authorizes a 2.7% pay increase for servicemembers.

Extends military recruitment and retention bonuses and special pay authorities.

Provides nearly $1.5 billion to improve servicemember family housing.

Prevents President Biden's cuts to military health program, increases funding for vaccine research, and provides $35 million for research and treatment of Havana syndrome.

Increases parental leave, expands the in-home childcare pilot program, and improves support available to military families with special needs children.

Requires the DoD to conduct a thorough and independent review of suicide prevention and response programs at various military installations.

Vaccine Mandates",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://costa.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/costa-votes-strengthen-exports-out-american-ports,Costa Votes to Strengthen Exports Out of American Ports,2021-12-08,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Jim Costa,C001059,costa.house.gov,costa,https://costa.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON- Congressman Jim Costa (CA-16) released the following statement after House passage of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2021, which ensures shipping carriers treat American exporters fairly by accepting U.S. cargo after bringing imports into the country. The legislation, which Costa co-sponsored and secured key bipartisan support for, is a win for agricultural producers in the Central Valley impacted by supply chain gridlock seen in California ports.

""This legislation creates fair trade practices in American ports. We must do all we can to ensure California agriculture producers, and other U.S. exporters, can ship products without unnecessary delay – it's about a level playing field,"" Costa said. ""No ship arriving with imports should leave an American port empty when products are ready to go. Enacting strong regulations will help end these disruptions to the supply chain.""

Rep. Costa has taken a lead role to solve issues in our ports. In March, he organized a bipartisan letter with 100 members of the U.S. House of Representatives to Michael A. Khouri, Chair of the Federal Maritime Commission. At issue were vessel-operating common carriers (VOCCs), which serve as a vital link between American producers and overseas customers, refusing to take U.S. exports. The letter led to Rep. Costa working with Rep. John Garamendi to introducing the Ocean Shipping Reform Act.

Specifically the bill:

Ensures carriers do not unreasonably decline export cargo if it can be loaded safely, can arrive timely abroad, and is destined to a location to which the carrier is already scheduled.

Requires that fees imposed on exporters by the carriers for delays provide documented evidence.

Establishes more regulation over private-sector shipping.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://garamendi.house.gov/media/press-releases/garamendi-secures-key-wins-california-house-passed-national-defense,Garamendi Secures Key Wins for California in House-Passed National Defense Authorization Act,2021-12-08,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,John Garamendi,G000559,garamendi.house.gov,garamendi,https://garamendi.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC—Today, Congressman John Garamendi (D-CA), Chair of the Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness, voted to pass S. 1605, the bipartisan, bicameral text of the ""National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2022,"" by a bipartisan vote of 363-70. The annual legislation supports all aspects of the United States military, including all personnel, installations, and equipment for our national defense. The legislation now heads to the United States Senate, which is expected to also pass the bill and send it to President Biden's desk to be signed into law.

As Chair of the Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness, Garamendi authored the Readiness Subcommittee's provisions in the final NDAA. Garamendi also secured funding for several key projects at Travis and Beale Air Force Bases in his Congressional District. Specifically, the final legislation includes $33 million for Beale's 940 ARW Squad Operations and Maintenance Complex and provides $13 billion for military construction projects nationwide, building upon the $295.7 million in ongoing military construction projects Garamendi secured for Travis Air Force Base. Additionally, Garamendi helped secure $20 million in intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) planning and design funds to help build facilities like the Multi-Doman Operations Complex at Beale Air Force Base.

""I am pleased that Congress has once again come together to address critical issues facing our service members and the more than 1,000 military installations worldwide,"" Garamendi said. ""As Chairman of the Readiness Subcommittee, I am requiring the military to be an ally in the fight against the climate crisis and reduce unnecessary fossil fuel use across the U.S. military. Our bill aggressively identifies and cleans up Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) contamination at military installations to protect our service members and neighboring communities. This issue is close to home for me, as high levels of PFAS contaminants were found at Travis Air Force Base in my district.""

""This year's NDAA includes strong provisions to reverse the precipitous rise in military training deaths throughout the service branches in recent years, which are avoidable and completely unacceptable. I've held three hearings on this matter as Chair of the Readiness Subcommittee, including a May 2021 hearing that included powerful testimony from bereaved families of service members who died due to preventable training mishaps. The Readiness Subcommittee's contributions to this year's NDAA will transform the military command's culture of neglect into a culture of safety by establishing a joint safety council and accident investigation review board to fully investigate training accidents and prevent similar incidents in the future,"" Garamendi continued.

""I'm also pleased that several of my amendments to the NDAA to unlock new military resources to help fight wildfires were adopted in the legislation. As California's wildfire season continues to become longer and deadlier, all available military resources should be utilized to help track and fight fires,"" Garamendi continued.

""This year's NDAA also improves childcare facilities on bases to ensure military families have the quality childcare and daycare support they deserve. Our bill also updates the ‘Tenant's Bill of Rights' that I established last year to provide good-quality on-base housing for service members and their families,"" Garamendi continued.

""Throughout the NDAA markup process, I fought to support several ‘Buy American' amendments that were introduced at the hearing to ensure the military uses American materials and workers to the extent possible. I'm pleased that several of those provisions were included in this legislation,"" Garamendi concluded.

Specifically, this year's Readiness Subcommittee's contributions to the NDAA address:

Climate Change and Resiliency:

Installation Master-planning: Requires each military service branch to complete installation master plans at two of their most at-risk installations within one year.

Microgrids: Requires the Defense Department to amend the on-base building codes to incorporate microgrids early in the planning process, including renegotiating contracts for existing on-installation renewable energy projects to enhance installation resiliency during power disruptions.

Energy Efficiency Targets for Defense Data Centers: Requires the DOD to assess energy and water usage at existing data centers and set conservation goals for new data centers.

Requires DOD to Assess Strategic Vulnerabilities to Climate Change: Adds a climate and extreme weather facility resiliency assessment to the existing annual reporting requirement on the health of the organic industrial base, which supports American manufacturing.

Quality of Life Infrastructure, Family Housing, and Working Mothers

Effective Oversight of Military Privatized Housing. Requires that performance evaluations of certain officers and enlisted personnel with duties related to military privatized housing include an assessment of the extent to which the individual exercised effective oversight and leadership of military privatized housing.

Improves Child Development Centers and Child Care for Military Families: Requires the military departments to conduct regular safety inspections and develop 10-year facility improvement plans for child development centers on bases.

Facilities Sustainment, Restoration, and Modernization (FSRM) Projects: Requires the Defense Department to spend at least 5% of total building cost for repairing and improving FSRM facilities like barracks and dormitories.

Supports Active-duty Coast Guard Members: Adds the Coast Guard Mutual Assistance (CGMA) society to the list of mutual aid societies eligible to receive enhanced support from a military organization.

Preventing Avoidable Training Deaths and Building a Culture of Safety:

New Joint Safety Council: Establishes a DOD Joint Safety Council responsible for overseeing all operational safety matters and establishing better safety standards.

Accident Investigation Review Board: Establishes a DOD Accident Investigation Review Board to improve oversight and independent review of mishap investigations.

Plan to Prevent Tactical Vehicle Training Accidents: Requires the Army and Marine Corps to implement the recommendations contained in the Government Accountability Offices' investigative report on tactical vehicle mishaps.

Environmental Cleanup and PFAS Policy:

AFFF Spill Prevention: Requires best practices to prevent or mitigate AFFF spills.

National Guard Access to Defense Environmental Cleanup Funds: Allows DOD funding to be used for all environmental restoration and cleanup activities at National Guard installations, which are jointly controlled by the military and state governments.

Public Disclosure of Results of DOD Testing for PFAS: Builds on provisions from previous NDAAs to increase transparency with defense communities impacted by PFAS contamination. Includes Reps. Garamendi and Elissa Slotkin's (D-MI) ""Military PFAS Testing Disclosure Act"" (H.R.4339).

Contested Logistics and Operational Energy:

Contested Logistics Working Group: Creates a working group of program planners, energy staff, joint staff, and geographic combatant commands to enhance the integration of military department energy initiatives into operational planning and platform development.

Operational Energy: Requires DOD to assess and report on alternative fuels, including hydrogen, that can be used by the military instead of fossil fuels.

Global Bulk Fuel Management and Delivery: Requires the Secretary of Defense to designate a Combatant Command as the agency responsible for global bulk fuel storage, delivery, and distribution; directs the so-designated Combatant Command to conduct a strategy on the infrastructure and programs necessary to optimally support global bulk fuel management of the Department of Defense.

Supports Military Working Dogs: Includes Congressman Garamendi's ""Support Our Military Working Dogs Act"" (H.R.1739), which directs DOD to pay fees associated with the transfer of adopted dogs to the adoption agency or individual; Also allows the DOD's Joint Trauma Education and Training Directorate to provide veterinary care and services for military working dogs and their veterinary caretakers.

Burn Pits: Prohibit the use of open-air burn pits during overseas contingency operations unless an exemption is issued by the Secretary of Defense for a particular location and exigent reason. Improves public transparency of burn pits usage by requiring Congressional notification detailing the location, size, duration, and need of the burn pit, the number of personnel assigned to the location, and the personal protective equipment or other methods that will be used by those personnel to mitigate the health effects of said pit.

Additionally, Garamendi successfully added the following provisions to the NDAA at Armed Services Committee markup or on the House floor in September:

Combatting Wildfires: Garamendi successfully added the following amendments from his ""Military Support for Fighting Wildfires Act"" (H.R.5560) to the NDAA to allow U.S. military assets to be used in the fight against wildfires throughout the nation:

· Reauthorizing the FireGuard program with the California National Guard to use satellite tracking technology to track and fight California's wildfires.

· Directing the Department of Defense to implement its own recommendations on improving the use of unmanned aircraft systems by the National Guard, from Congressionally directed report.

· Requiring the DOD/OMB to review existing authorities for using Air Force and Air National Guard modular airborne fire-fighting systems and other military assets to fight wildfires. Then requires an update to the 2004 Congressionally directed report on any changes to the law needed to enhance those authorities.

Civil Reserve Air Fleet: Garamendi also successfully added an amendment to the legislation that strengthens transparency and oversight of the Civil Reserve Air Fleet (CRAF) to ensure that military air charter contracts go to US-based airlines.

Honoring Veterans: Garamendi successfully added an amendment to the legislation that authorizes the Maritime Administrator to use appropriated funds to purchase duplicate medals authorized under Congressman Garamendi's Merchant Mariners of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2020(Public Law 116–125). This awards the Congressional Gold Medal—one of our nation's highest honors—to the Merchant Marine Veterans of World War II.

Creating Local Jobs: The legislation includes Reps. Garamendi and Andy Kim's (D-NJ) ""Put Our Neighbors to Work Act"" (H.R.6764). This legislation creates more local jobs for military construction projects by increasing transparency and awareness of contracting and subcontracting business opportunities for multi-million-dollar military construction projects.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://garamendi.house.gov/media/press-releases/garamendi-sponsors-amendment-prevent-partisan-state-legislatures-overturning,Garamendi Sponsors Amendment to Prevent Partisan State Legislatures from Overturning Lawful Election Results,2021-12-08,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,John Garamendi,G000559,garamendi.house.gov,garamendi,https://garamendi.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC—Today, Congressman John Garamendi (D-CA) sponsored an amendment to the ""Protecting Our Democracy Act"" to prevent the partisan subversion of free and fair elections. Garamendi's amendment strikes an outdated provision in the Electoral Count Act of 1887 that would allow Secretaries of State and State Legislatures to decertify legitimate election results and install their preferred electors against the will of the voters.

Former President Trump attempted to employ this very method following his defeat to President Joe Biden when he asked his supporters in Congress to decertify the lawful results of the 2020 Presidential Election. This led to the actions of January 6th, 2021 when over 60% of the Republican Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives voted to decertify the 2020 election, subvert the will of the voters, and incite an insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. There is also an indication that President Trump intends to employ these same tactics in the 2024 election.

""Tragically, President Trump's craven effort to exploit loopholes in the Electoral Count Act of 1887 did not end on January 6th,"" Garamendi said. ""Over the last year, Republican state officials have been working to build on the Big Lie by allowing partisan lawmakers to reject the will of the voters and undermine American democracy. These dangerous actions undercut public trust and threaten the integrity of the world's greatest democracy. Simply put, this poorly written 19th-century law is failing us and needs to be modernized,"" Garamendi concluded.

Garamendi's amendment was not adopted as part of the legislation today, however, he secured assurances that the provision would be included in subsequent legislation.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://garamendi.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-garamendi-johnson-s-ocean-shipping-reform-act-passes-us-house,Reps. Garamendi & Johnson’s “Ocean Shipping Reform Act” Passes the U.S. House of Representatives,2021-12-08,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,John Garamendi,G000559,garamendi.house.gov,garamendi,https://garamendi.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC—Today, Congressman John Garamendi (D-CA), a senior member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, voted to pass his bipartisan ""Ocean Shipping Reform Act"" (H.R.4996), which the U.S. House of Representatives passed by a bipartisan vote of 364-60.

Garamendi introduced this compressive reform legislation with Congressman Dusty Johnson (R-SD) to make the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) a more effective federal regulator. The ""Ocean Shipping Reform Act"" (H.R.4996) will ensure a more competitive global ocean shipping industry, protect American businesses and consumers from price gouging, and establish reciprocal trade opportunities to reduce the United States' longstanding trade imbalance with export-driven countries like mainland China. The bipartisan legislation passed by the U.S. House of Representatives now heads to the United States Senate for consideration.

Last month, the Biden White House endorsed the legislation in a press release outlining progress that has been made to reduce port congestion and resolve disruptions in the global supply chain due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The White House's November 17 statement reads: ""Congress should provide the FMC an updated toolbox to protect exporters, importers, and consumers from unfair practices. There is bipartisan support for doing this, including a bipartisan bill sponsored by California Democrat John Garamendi and South Dakota Republican Dusty Johnson. Their proposed legislation includes good first steps towards the type of longer-term reform to shipping laws that would strengthen America's global competitiveness.""

""Access to the American market and its consumers is a privilege, not a right,"" Garamendi said. ""Congress must restore balance at our ports and tackle the longstanding trade imbalance our nation has with China and other countries head on. I am pleased that the ‘Ocean Shipping Reform Act' has passed the U.S. House of Representatives with overwhelming bipartisan support, bringing us one step closer to protecting American consumers and businesses from price gouging by foreign-flagged ocean carriers. I continue working with my Republican colleague, Congressman Dusty Johnson of South Dakota, to enact our bipartisan bill into law,"" Garamendi concluded.

""We've all been impacted by the backlog in the supply chain and shipping delays,"" said Johnson. ""China and the foreign flagged ocean carriers aren't playing fair, and accountability is long overdue. If you want to do business with American ports, you need to play by our basic rules. I am proud of the coalition Congressman Garamendi and I have worked to build over the last year. The Ocean Shipping Reform Act puts American consumers, farmers, retailers, truckers, manufacturers, and small businesses first. Our bill passed the U.S. House with strong bipartisan support and I look forward to seeing it pass the Senate.""

The ""Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2021"" (H.R.4996) would:

Establish reciprocal trade to promote U.S. exports as part of the Federal Maritime Commission's (FMC) mission.

Require ocean carriers to adhere to minimum service standards that meet the public interest, reflecting best practices in the global shipping industry.

Require ocean carriers or marine terminal operators to certify that any late fees —known in maritime parlance as ""detention and demurrage"" charges—comply with federal regulations or face penalties.

Shift burden of proof regarding the reasonableness of ""detention or demurrage"" charges from the invoiced party to the ocean carrier.

Prohibit ocean carriers from declining opportunities for U.S. exports unreasonably, as determined by the FMC in new required federal rulemaking.

Require ocean common carriers to report to the FMC each calendar quarter on total import/export tonnage and twenty-foot equivalent units (loaded/empty) per vessel that makes port in the United States.

Congress last overhauled the Federal Maritime Commission's authority to regulate the global ocean shipping industry under the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-258). The People's Republic of China was granted permanent normal trade relations with the United States, so-called ""most-favored nation"" status, in December 2001 following the country's admission to the World Trade Organization. In 2001, the United States' trade imbalance with the People's Republic of China was approximately $83 billion in nominal dollars, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. In 2020, our trade imbalance with mainland China was $310 billion, having increased year-over-year most years.

In late April 2020, the Federal Maritime Commission announced ""Fact Finding No. 29"" to investigate congestion, bottlenecks, and fees at our ports. In November 2020, the Commission expanded this investigation (Fact Finding No. 29) to include reports of ocean carriers declining to ship American exports.

On July 20, 2021, the FMC launched a new audit program to assess ocean carriers' compliance with federal regulations on detention and demurrage and increase the agency's monitoring of the marketplace for ocean cargo services. This action underscores the need for legislation.

The following organizations have endorsed the ""Ocean Shipping Reform Act"" (H.R.4996):",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://harder.house.gov/media/press-releases/harder-backed-bill-help-fix-american-ports-combat-china-passes-house,Harder Backed Bill to Help Fix American Ports & Combat China Passes House,2021-12-08,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Josh Harder,H001090,harder.house.gov,harder,https://harder.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON — Today, the Harder-backed bipartisan Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2021 passed the House of Representatives. The bill is intended to fix the dire situation at California's ports, combat China's influence over international shipping, and bring down the rapidly rising costs of consumer goods. It is the first major update of federal regulations for the global ocean shipping industry in almost 25 years.

""Fixing the situation at our ports and fighting China's influence on shipping prices means products get to our shelves faster, more efficiently, and most importantly – for a lower price,"" said Rep. Harder. ""I'm laser focused on making the Valley more affordable and I'm proud we were able to pass this bill through the House today to bring it one step closer to becoming law.""

Over the past two years, the cost to ship a container has increased by up to 500 percent, making it significantly more expensive to import consumer goods and export American products. Huge backlogs at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, which together account for 40 percent of the seaborn imports in the entire United States, have only made prices rise even higher. At the same time, China's growing dominance in international shipping has allowed the country to drive cross-Pacific shipping rates. Together, these issues are contributing to the rapidly increasing cost of goods impacting every family in the Central Valley.

The Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2021 would:

Establish reciprocal trade to promote U.S. exports as part of the Federal Maritime Commission's (FMC) mission.

Require ocean carriers to adhere to minimum service standards that meet the public interest, reflecting best practices in the global shipping industry.

Require ocean carriers or marine terminal operators to certify that any late fees —known in maritime parlance as ""detention and demurrage"" charges—comply with federal regulations or face penalties.

Shift burden of proof regarding the reasonableness of ""detention or demurrage"" charges from the invoiced party to the ocean carrier or marine terminal operator.

Prohibit ocean carriers from declining opportunities for U.S. exports unreasonably, as determined by the FMC in new required rulemaking.

Require ocean common carriers to report to the FMC each calendar quarter on total import/export tonnage and twenty-foot equivalent units (loaded/empty) per vessel that makes port in the United States.

Authorizes the FMC to self-initiate investigations of ocean common carrier's business practices and apply enforcement measures, as appropriate.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://harder.house.gov/media/press-releases/new-letter-harder-pushes-senate-include-35-insulin-cap-build-back-better-act,NEW LETTER: Harder Pushes Senate to Include $35 Insulin Cap in Build Back Better Act,2021-12-08,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Josh Harder,H001090,harder.house.gov,harder,https://harder.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON — Today, Representative Josh Harder (CA-10) and nearly 100 of his colleagues sent a letterurging the Senate to quickly make insulin affordable for all Americans as part of the Build Back Better Act. Today's letter — written to Majority Leader Chuck Schumer — specifically calls on the Senate to retain the House's lifesaving provision that caps out-of-pocket costs for insulin at $35 a month, implement this popular measure in 2022 to provide immediate relief for those struggling with high insulin costs, and expand the policy to apply to uninsured individuals across the country.

""Right now, families in the Central Valley pay 21 times more for their insulin than folks living in Australia, and the only reason for that is the greed of the pharmaceutical companies,"" said Rep. Josh Harder. ""It's past time we passed a bill to get prices under control so nobody has to choose between their insulin and their groceries ever again.""

In 2019, Rep. Harder commissioned a study on the cost of insulin in the Central Valley that found:

Almost one in three Americans live with diabetes.

Over 43,000 people in Rep. Harder's district are uninsured.

At least one brand of insulin costs Central Valley residents without insurance twenty-one times more than what it costs folks in Australia.

Over 20,000 seniors on Medicare in Rep. Harder's district have diabetes.

Businesses in the Central Valley charge an average of $578 for a monthly supply of the Novolog Flexpen and Australians pay only $28.

The report indicates that businesses could charge as little as $7-11 per month and still make a profit.

Rep. Harder and his colleagues specifically called on the Senate to do the following three things:

Maintain the Build Back Better Act provisions already passed by the House that cap the cost for a patient's monthly insulin prescription at $35 for all Medicare beneficiaries and privately insured people, making insulin affordable for the 32 million insured Americans with diabetes.

Amend the legislation to speed up its implementation and provide immediate relief for patients struggling with high insulin costs by allowing these life saving changes to take effect in 2022 instead of 2023.

Extend the $35 monthly insulin payment cap to uninsured people so America finally guarantees that every person with diabetes will only pay $35 for their monthly insulin and that no person ever dies due to insulin rationing again.

Read the letter below and online here:

Dear Majority Leader Schumer,

Thank you for your leadership in the Senate throughout the negotiations on the Build Back Better Act. We appreciate your work with us to include bold healthcare expansions in this bill. We write to emphasize the importance of retaining the current out-of-pocket payment cap for insulin at $35 per month and to request that you implement these payment caps earlier and expand them to uninsured people in the final bill.

The need for interventions to lower the cost of insulin has never been greater. The list price for the most effective insulins has risen over 1,000 percent since 1999.[1] Due to these skyrocketing prices and other high health insurance costs, one in four people with diabetes ration their insulin.[2] When a person with diabetes is forced to ration insulin due to cost, they are aware of the risks, such as loss of sight and kidney function, or even death, but they are left with no choice but to put their health in jeopardy. Sadly, despite the existence of effective diabetes treatment protocols, many people with diabetes have died from rationing their insulin due to cost. Death from insulin rationing is caused by diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) in which a person's blood turns acidic and causes organ failure.[3] Insulin rationing deaths are particularly cruel because nearly all people with diabetes know the risk of DKA and what it can do to their body, but they have no ability to prevent it because large pharmaceutical companies hold their life-saving insulin hostage at unattainable prices.

The House-passed Build Back Better Act contains provisions which cap the cost for a patient's monthly insulin prescription at $35 for all Medicare beneficiaries and privately insured people. Importantly, this cap applies regardless of if a patient has spent down their deductible or not. This provision will make insulin affordable for the 32 million insured adults with diabetes in the U.S.[4][5] In the current bill, these caps take effect in 2023. We urge you to amend the bill to implement the caps in 2022 to provide immediate relief for patients struggling with high insulin costs right now. The health security that this will offer to people with diabetes across the country will be transformational. Further, enabling better control of diabetes will decrease future healthcare costs for complications, such as dialysis for kidney failure which is funded by the U.S. government. We strongly urge you to fight to retain this crucial drug affordability benefit in the Senate Build Back Better Act.

As the Build Back Better Act advances in the Senate, we urge you to build on the House's work and extend the $35 monthly insulin payment cap to uninsured people. This can be done through payment from the government for the difference between the $35 patient payment and the list price of the insulin by utilizing the existing infrastructure in Medicaid for reimbursement of retail pharmacies. Being uninsured, even for a short period during a job transition or marriage status change, can be deadly for a person with diabetes who will have to pay full retail price for their insulin during that time. Expansion of the payment cap to uninsured people would guarantee that every person with diabetes will only pay $35 for their monthly insulin. Further, it will ensure that no Americans die due to insulin rationing again.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://harder.house.gov/media/press-releases/new-letter-harder-targets-bad-actors-housing-market-additional-penalties,NEW LETTER: Harder Targets Bad Actors in the Housing Market for Additional Penalties,2021-12-08,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Josh Harder,H001090,harder.house.gov,harder,https://harder.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON — Today, Representative Josh Harder (CA-10) sent a letter to Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Director Rohit Chopra urging the agency to increase penalties for bad actors in the housing market. The letter specifically calls out the American Advisors Group (AAG), the largest reverse-mortgage lender in the nation, who faced a civil money penalty of just $1.1 million after being caught in a nationwide scheme targeting senior citizens. AAG has reported annual revenue of more than $280 million in recent years.

""Our community is facing a crisis of affordable housing, and fraudsters in the market are only making it worse,"" said Rep. Harder. ""A fine of less than half a percent of recent revenues for the most dominant company in the space ripping off our seniors feels like a slap on the wrist for a bank heist. I'm calling on the CFPB to ratchet up penalties to make sure nobody is stealing from our seniors.""

AAG was penalized for sending mail to seniors' homes with both ""deceptively inflated home values"" and ""deceptive representations about the accuracy of home estimates"" in order to ""lure consumers into taking out reverse mortgages"" said the CFPB. AAG has reported annual revenue of more than $280 million in recent. A $1.1 million fine would only be 0.35% of the company's yearly revenue.

Read the letter below and online here:

Dear Director Chopra,

I write today to shed light on the various corporations using deceptive practices in the housing market and urge the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to take action to address these issues.

Reverse mortgages offer a lifeline to senior homeowners by giving them an additional income to help them through emergencies or compensate for a fixed income. But deceptive and manipulative practices, such as inflating home prices and false advertising have turned this safety net into a trap. Most recently, American Advisors Group (AAG) inflated home estimates, resulting in many seniors entering into negotiations and paying out of pocket for home appraisals only to then learn that they won't actually get as much money as they were originally made to believe. Our seniors are already one of the most vulnerable populations and many are already facing financial insecurity. Scams such as these are a threat to seniors and must be punished by CFPB to the fullest extent.

Repeat offenders such as AAG have shown that a slap on the wrist from CFPB is not enough to stop bad actors and their fraudulent practices. Moving forward, I urge you to impose more severe penalties for reverse mortgage lenders that prey off of vulnerable populations, especially for repeat offenders such as AAG.

I look forward to your timely attention to this critical matter.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://huffman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/in-amicus-brief-congressmembers-huffman-grijalva-lowenthal-call-on-federal-court-to-strike-down-administrations-80-million-acre-oil-and-gas-lease-sale-in-us-gulf,"In Amicus Brief, Congressmembers Huffman, Grijalva, Lowenthal Call on Federal Court to Strike Down Administration’s 80 Million Acre Oil And Gas Lease Sale In U.S. Gulf",2021-12-08,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Jared Huffman,H001068,huffman.house.gov,huffman,https://huffman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"House Natural Resources Committee (HNRC) Water, Oceans, and Wildlife subcommittee Chair, Jared Huffman (CA-02); Full HNRC Chair, Raúl Grijalva (AZ-03); and HNRC Energy and Mineral Resources subcommittee Chair, Alan Lowenthal (CA-47) have filed an amicus brief with the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia calling on the court to vacate a controversial 80 million acre oil and gas lease sale in the Gulf of Mexico that was approved without adequate environmental analysis or consideration by the Biden administration.

The lawmakers filed the amicus brief in support of a lawsuit against the Biden administration’s Interior Department by a group of environmental organizations. The original suit requests the court to find that Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s (BOEM) review and approval of Lease Sale 257 violates the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Administrative Procedure Act (APA).

As the amicus brief explains, this lease sale is the largest oil and gas lease sale in history, opening some 80 million acres of the Gulf of Mexico to oil and gas extraction and development. The lease covers an area of the Gulf larger than 46 of the individual states in the U.S. and would allow oil and gas development for more than 50 years in the lease area.

The sale was approved by the Biden administration at the end of August, at which time Friends of the Earth. Sierra Club, Healthy Gulf, and the Center for Biological Diversity, represented by Earthjustice, filed their lawsuit calling for the court to vacate the sale.

The amicus brief also calls upon the court to vacate BOEM’s Lease Sale 257 decision and require BOEM to conduct a proper, complete environmental review of Lease Sale 257 in compliance with NEPA, the APA, and applicable federal law.

As the lawmakers wrote in the amicus brief, ""[we] are deeply concerned about BOEM’s failure to adequately analyze the environmental impacts of Lease Sale 257. [We] are particularly shocked that BOEM has now admitted that it has the ability to perform the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions analysis it previously said it could not perform and that BOEM is pushing forward with Lease Sale 257 even as it has sought to pause the entire leasing program in order to implement major reforms to the leasing program to address environmental issues including climate change and GHG emissions. As members of Congress with oversight responsibility, [we] are deeply troubled by BOEM’s determination to proceed with Lease Sale 257 despite its own findings that the largest lease sale in history has not had an adequate environmental review.”

The amicus brief also points out that BOEM ignored information warranting a supplemental Environmental Impact Study (EIS) regarding the lease sale and that cannot blame the plaintiffs for BOEM’s failure to evaluate the information plaintiffs provided to BOEM showing the need for further environmental review.

Each of the lawmakers has previously stated publicly that they support an administration pause of new oil and gas lease sales in order to adequately and comprehensively evaluate the federal oil and gas leasing program in order to adequately ensure that the program addresses environmental impacts from fossil fuel extraction.

The Member’s state in the amicus brief, “BOEM’s position changed from recognizing the need to pause the entire leasing program so it could conduct ‘comprehensive review’ of lease sales in light of the acknowledged climate change crises, … to plowing ahead with Lease Sale 257, opening up 80 million acres of the Gulf of Mexico to leasing based on the environmental documentation the Bureau has deemed in need of a comprehensive review. BOEM’s approval of Lease Sale 257 based on the earlier NEPA documents cannot be reconciled with the Interior Department’s conclusions that BOEM’s leasing program, including Lease Sale 257, ‘inadequately account for environmental harms.’”

The amicus brief concludes by calling on the court to vacate the lease sale.

You can read the entire amicus brief by clicking here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://issa.house.gov/media/press-releases/two-issa-led-judiciary-committee-bills-overwhelmingly-pass-house,Two Issa-Led Judiciary Committee Bills Overwhelmingly Pass the House of Representatives,2021-12-08,2021,2021-12,Republican,House,CA,Darrell Issa,I000056,issa.house.gov,issa,https://issa.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, two bills led by Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-50) -- Ranking Member of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property & the Internet -- H.R. 5720 and H.R. 5695, passed the House of Representatives.

H.R. 5720, the Courthouse Ethics and Transparency Act¸ will require online publication of financial disclosure reports for federal judges. Rep. Issa introduced the bill with Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02), and is cosponsored by Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler (NY-10), Congressman Chip Roy (TX-21), and Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-4). It would also require that federal judges submit periodic transaction reports for certain securities transactions. Companion legislation was introduced by Senator John Cornyn (TX) and Senator Chris Coons (DE).

“No part of our foundation of law and order can succeed without the considered, continuous and constant work of judges – and that’s why an impartial and evenhanded judiciary is imperative,” said Rep. Issa. “Under the Courthouse Ethics and Transparency Act, we will equalize the accountability of our third branch of government to the same standard of elected officials – and to the benefit of our system of justice.”

H.R. 5695 makes critical changes and needed technical adjustments to the U.S. Code. These adjustments organize previously passed legislation and make the law more comprehensive and legible.

“U.S. Code and legislation must be accessible and coherent for the American people,” said Rep. Issa. “This legislation promotes a more transparent and lucid government.”

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,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://levin.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-mike-levins-bill-to-protect-education-benefits-for-veterans-during-covid-19-passes-the-us-house-of-representatives,Rep. Mike Levin’s Bill to Protect Education Benefits for Veterans During COVID-19 Passes the U.S. House of Representatives,2021-12-08,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Mike Levin,L000593,levin.house.gov,levin,https://levin.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed Rep. Mike Levin’s (D-CA) Responsible Education Mitigating Options and Technical Extensions (REMOTE) Act, which he introduced with Rep. David Trone (D-MD) and Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Mark Takano (D-CA). The bill will protect education benefits for veterans amid the challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Many veterans stood to lose a significant portion of their education benefits when their classes were interrupted. For example, the law requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to make significant cuts to the housing benefits afforded to student veterans who are taking classes remotely, even though many student veterans transitioned to online coursework during the pandemic. Others were unable to continue classes at all and faced the expiration of their benefits. Meanwhile, student veterans working on campus through VA’s work study program were poised to lose income as physical locations closed. In response, Congress took action to provide flexibility and prevent cuts to veterans’ benefits. The REMOTE Act will preserve these modifications, which are otherwise scheduled to expire on December 21, through June 2022.

“While we’ve made a lot of progress in getting this virus under control, many veterans continue to take classes online due to the pandemic and need the protections in this legislation in order to continue their studies,” said Rep. Levin. “At a time when we are trying to keep veterans housed and encouraging them to pursue a higher education, the last thing we can afford is to let these protections expire and risk derailing their studies or, even worse, forcing them out of their homes. I’m encouraged to see our bill pass the House today to protect student veterans’ benefits and I’m optimistic we can get it to President Biden’s desk soon.”

“The REMOTE Act ensures that student veterans receive the education benefits they need during an ever-changing and evolving pandemic,” said Rep. Trone. “I applaud my colleagues in the House for supporting this important legislation to protect the benefits of those who served our country. I want to thank Chairman Takano and Chairman Levin for their leadership. Together, we are giving student veterans a greater opportunity to achieve academic success.”

For bill text, click here. For a bill summary, click here.

This legislation has been endorsed by the American Legion, Disabled Veterans of America (DAV), National Association of Veterans’ Program Administrators (NAVPA), Veterans Education Success (VES), and Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW).

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://ruiz.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-passes-ruiz-s-landmark-legislation-confirm-tribal-trust-land-agua,House Passes Ruiz’s Landmark Legislation to Confirm Tribal Trust Land for Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians,2021-12-08,2021,2021-12,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 unanimously 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, would allow the Tribe to further their conservation efforts and practice consistent forest management.

""I am thrilled that the House passed my bill, the Agua Caliente Land Exchange Fee to Trust Confirmation Act, with unanimous bipartisan support,"" said Dr. Ruiz. ""By fulfilling an agreement between the federal government and Agua Caliente, my legislation will honor the federal government's trust responsibility to Tribal nations. As this much-needed legislation heads to the Senate, I look forward to continuing to work alongside Chairman Grubbe to help the Tribe manage these lands in accordance with their traditions and with respect for the environment and wildlife.""

""The passage of H.R. 897 represents one of the final steps in bringing approximately 2,560 acres of land owned by the Tribe into trust for the Tribe and making those lands part of the Reservation,"" said Chairman Jeff L. Grubbe of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. ""The action of bringing this land into trust will improve land management that directly benefits ongoing management of trails, invasive species and endangered Big Horn Sheep habitat. In addition, the Tribe will manage conservation lands that have long-standing cultural and natural resource value to our people. These final steps mean that the Tribe once again is the primary steward of land for the benefit of all future generations. The Tribe looks forward to Senate approval and moving the bill on to the President's desk.""

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,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://scottpeters.house.gov/press-releases/rep-peters-stands-up-for-democracy-amid-threatening-political-landscape-supports-landmark-reform-package,"Rep. Peters Stands Up for Democracy Amid Threatening Political Landscape, Supports Landmark Reform Package",2021-12-08,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Scott H. Peters,P000608,scottpeters.house.gov,scottpeters,https://scottpeters.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Rep. Scott Peters (CA-52) voted to pass the Protecting Our Democracy Act, a sweeping package to strengthen and safeguard America's democratic institutions. The bill prevents presidential abuses of power, restores the Constitutional system of checks and balances, ensures greater governmental accountability and transparency, and protects our elections from foreign interference.

""In building the pillars of our democracy, the Founders of this country established the separation of powers for a reason,"" said Rep. Peters. ""As we witness increasingly worrying threats against our democratic system, we must reaffirm Congress' responsibilities to the American people as laid out in the Constitution. This legislation fortifies our existing system by preventing abuse of power, upholding the importance of accountability and transparency, and protecting the health of our democracy for generations to come.""

The Protecting Our Democracy Act will:

Prevent Presidential Abuses

Curbs abuse of the president's pardon power by increasing transparency in the pardon process and clarifying bans on any self-pardon used for corrupt ends.

Ensures no president is above the law, pausing the statute of limitations for any federal offense committed by a sitting president or vice president so that he/she may be held accountable for criminal conduct.

Deters foreign interference and blocks personal self-enrichment through improved provisions that prohibit the president from accepting an emolument – namely any profit, gain, advantage, or payment – from a foreign government without Congressional consent, and bars the president from receiving any benefit from the federal or state governments worth more than the presidential salary.

Restore Our System of Checks and Balances & Enhance Federal Accountability and Transparency

Enforces Congress' subpoena power so Congress can effectively provide oversight on cases of importance in a timely manner.

Reasserts Congress' power of the purse, as expressed in the Constitution, so that the president cannot redirect funds appropriated by Congress without severe penalty. Improves congressional budget oversight tools to prevent federal agencies from misusing federal funds and increases reporting requirements for the Executive Branch.

Strengthens Congressional oversight of emergency declarations made by the president.

Improves whistleblower protections so that instances of waste, fraud, and abuse within the federal government can come to light.

Secure Our Elections",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://sherman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/sherman-bill-to-protect-us-financial-system-from-16-trillion-libor,Sherman Bill to Protect U.S. Financial System from $16 Trillion LIBOR Uncertainty Passed by House,2021-12-08,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Brad Sherman,S000344,sherman.house.gov,sherman,https://sherman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, the House passed with bipartisan support Congressman Brad Sherman's (D-CA) Adjustable Interest Rate (LIBOR) Act -- legislation that protects an estimated $16 trillion of loans, securities, and other financial instruments from chaos and costly litigation when the London Interbank Offered Rate (""LIBOR""), often called ""the world's most important interest rate,"" is discontinued on June 30, 2023. The enactment of this bill will help ensure the discontinuation of LIBOR does not inflict harm on markets, investors, and consumers and avoids significant systemic disruptions to our financial system. The bill passed the House by a vote of 415 to 9.

""The passage of this bill represents an instance of Congress proactively moving to fix an impending crisis,"" said Congressman Sherman, Chair of the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Capital Markets and Investor Protection. ""Failure to transition away from LIBOR will leave parties unable to calculate the interest due on an estimated $16 trillion of debt instruments, a systemic risk to the economy.""

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell described the impact of the inability to calculate the interest due on an estimated $16 trillion of debt instruments as a quote ""big financial stability risk"" that would put tremendous strain both on our courts and the financial system. More recently, while testifying before the House Financial Services Committee, both Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell have stated that they believe it will be necessary for Congress to pass legislation to allow for a smooth transition away from LIBOR in the U.S. Earlier this year, while testifying during a hearing held by Congressman Sherman, officials from the Department of Treasury, Federal Reserve, Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and Federal Housing Finance Agency each affirmed that it is important that Congress promptly adopt federal legislation to provide a statutory fix for LIBOR-based contracts that lack sufficient fallback language.

The Adjustable Interest Rate (LIBOR) Actprovides a replacement interest rate for those loans, securities and other financial instruments which rely on LIBOR and will not be able to continue to function as originally intended after it is discontinued. This legislation has been narrowly tailored so that it will not affect LIBOR-based contracts which contain provisions that allow them to easily transition to a pre-agreed upon alternative interest rate.

Upon the passage of this bill Sherman concluded ""this legislation provides a structural bridge, removing uncertainty and reducing systematic disruption in the markets. I want to thank Chairwoman Maxine Waters and my colleagues for their help in advancing this bill and for demonstrating how Congress can come together and solve a crisis before it hits.""

See Sherman's speech describing the bill here.

Read the full text of the bill here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://swalwell.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/swalwells-homicide-victims-bill-passes-out-committee,Swalwell's Homicide Victims' Bill Passes Out of Committee,2021-12-08,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Eric Swalwell,S001193,swalwell.house.gov,swalwell,https://swalwell.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – The House Judiciary Committee voted unanimously Wednesday to advance the bipartisan Homicide Victims' Families Rights Act, a bill introduced by Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) and Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX), to give more rights to the families of homicide victims in federal cases.

The committee's vote sends the bill to the House Floor for consideration.

""I'm glad my fellow Judiciary Committee members agreed that we can and must do better for the families of homicide victims,"" Swalwell said. ""Advancing this bill means advancing justice and accountability so that grieving families have a better chance of getting the closure and healing they deserve.""

""Thirty years ago this week, on December 6, 1991, a quadruple murder at a yogurt shop in Austin, Texas, claimed the lives of four teenage girls,"" said Rep. McCaul. ""To this day we do not know who is responsible. As a father of five and a former federal prosecutor, it seems unimaginable to go without an answer as to why a loved one was taken so suddenly. Though nothing can bring victims of homicide back, this legislation will give families more rights to request a federal review of a cold case. We are one step closer to justice with the mark-up of this bill.""

Swalwell and McCaul are both former prosecutors: Swalwell was an Alameda County, CA deputy district attorney, while McCaul was a federal prosecutor and a Texas deputy attorney general.

The National District Attorneys' Association recently endorsed the bill.

""Prosecutors are responsible for protecting the communities they serve, seeking justice for victims of crime and ensuring the Constitutional rights of all individuals are protected. To that end, we must not forget the cold cases where justice has been delayed for families and loved ones,"" said Nelson Bunn, Executive Director of the National District Attorneys Association. ""Fortunately, Congressmen Eric Swalwell and Michael McCaul have introduced the Homicide Victims' Families' Rights Act, which will expand the rights of families of homicide victims and provide resources to ensure the Federal government does not turn justice delayed into justice denied for victims across the country.""

Using FBI data, the Murder Accountability Project calculated that the percentage of homicides for which someone is criminally charged has steadily declined from over 90 percent in 1965 to under 65 percent in 2018 – resulting in more than 250,000 Americans becoming victims of homicides for which no one has been charged since 1980.

The Homicide Victims' Families Rights Act would give relatives of homicide victims the right to have their loved one's federal case file reviewed after the case has gone cold for three years. If the federal investigator feels it would lead to probative leads, a full reinvestigation would then occur. The bill also would require the federal government to notify family members and similarly situated people of their rights, and to provide them with updates on any cold case review undertaken. It would also collect data on the problems with the cold cases.

A new set of eyes can discover previously overlooked facts, and tests that were not yet available when the homicide was first investigated can unearth new information.

""I hope this bill will serve as a model for state, local, and tribal governments to adopt so that all families of victims can seek justice for their loved ones and themselves,"" House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) said during Wednesday's markup.

Swalwell and McCaul drafted the Homicide Victims' Families Rights Act last year with the help of former federal prosecutor Glenn Kirschner and Katharine Manning, a former U.S. Department of Justice senior attorney advisor who specializes in victims' rights and services.

Other organizations supporting the bill include Homicide Family Advocates, the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Murder Accountability Project, Parents of Murdered Children, the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, the National Organization for Victim Assistance, and Ryan Backmann, survivor and founder of Project: Cold Case.

Swalwell spoke about his bill during the markup:",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://valadao.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=218,Bipartisan Ocean Shipping Reform Act Passes the House,2021-12-08,2021,2021-12,Republican,House,CA,David G. Valadao,V000129,valadao.house.gov,valadao,https://valadao.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, with the support of Congressman David G. Valadao, the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2021, a bipartisan piece of legislation introduced by Representative Dusty Johnson (R-SD) and Representative John Garamendi (D-CA), passed the House. The bill will implement new shipping regulations and reforms that will ensure fair trade and shipping practices between countries, as well as protect domestic exporters from punitive trade practices by global partners. Congressman Valadao was proud to co-sponsor this vital piece of legislation.

“The passage of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act is a major step forward for protecting the rights of American farmers and businesses,” said Congressman Valadao. “Not only will this legislation provide much needed updates to shipping regulations, but it will also ensure that Central Valley farmers, who are responsible for feeding the world, are able to send their goods around the world without being targeted by foreign trading partners. I am proud to have co-sponsored this bill, and I urge the Senate to move quickly so American exporters can have the protections they deserve.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://chu.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-chu-statement-national-defense-authorization-act-1,Rep. Chu Statement on National Defense Authorization Act,2021-12-07,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Judy Chu,C001080,chu.house.gov,chu,https://chu.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C – Today, the House passed S. 1605, the Senate version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2022. The FY22 NDAA authorizes a total of $678.2 billion for the Department of Defense.

This funding, which is $24 billion above President Biden's Budget Request and $8 billion above total FY21 defensive funding, would include a 2.7% pay increase for servicemembers. It also makes long-overdue changes to the Uniform Code of Military Justice to improve responses to sexual assault, authorizes funds to help relocate at-risk Afghans, and includes Rep. Judy Chu's (CA-27) amendment to extend the Department of Defense's (DOD) hazing reporting and tracking requirements while also expanding their scope.

Rep. Chu voted against the NDAA and issued the following statement:

""Even though it further inflated our already disproportionately large defense budget - even as we struggle to fund urgent priorities for families - the House's version of the National Defense Authorization Act that we passed in September was one I was proud to support because it made significant reforms. In particular, it would have allowed for ending the cruel and indefinite imprisonment at Guantanamo Bay. But, unfortunately, the Senate-passed version reinstated the prohibition on detainee transfers, and weakened other language so that we are left with an astronomically high amount of defense spending without necessary changes to improve the way it is spent. It also removed language that would have expanded the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument, established new wilderness areas, and created a National Recreation Area in the San Gabriel Valley to help more people appreciate this land for generations to come. It also removed language requiring that nonactive duty servicemembers and their dependents could access contraception cost-free, like their civilian counterparts, and removed significant provisions aimed at countering the rise of violent extremism within our military. This bill is already beyond what the President requested and what the House had passed, but without stronger reforms or the environmental provisions of the House's version, I cannot support today's bill.

""However, while I cannot vote for such a large increase in defense spending, I am pleased that this NDAA will be our first in 20 years not to fund the war in Afghanistan. And, with the inclusion of my amendment to extend hazing reporting and tracking requirements, this NDAA will help us better understand the problem of hazing in the military and what must be done to protect our troops. Additionally, it makes long overdue changes to the Uniform Code of Military Justice to better respond to and protect victims of sexual assault.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://correa.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-correa-continues-fighting-for-pathway-to-citizenship-in-build-back-better-act,Rep. Correa Continues Fighting for Pathway to Citizenship in Build Back Better Act,2021-12-07,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,J. Luis Correa,C001110,correa.house.gov,correa,https://correa.house.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Holds Press Conference with Reps. Espaillat, García, and Ocasio-Cortez

Washington, D.C. — Today, Congressman Lou Correa (CA-46) issued a statement following his joint press conference alongside Representatives Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), and leading immigration advocacy groups in urging the Senate to provide a pathway to citizenship in the Build Back Better Act.

Rep. Lou Correa said, “Americans want an immigration reform that will secure the freedom and prosperity of our Dreamers, TPS recipients, farmworkers, and essential workers. Now, after decades of failed promises, the Senate has the opportunity to keep that commitment and deliver a pathway to citizenship that is good for America in the Build Back Better Act.

Eight years ago, 68 Senators—including 14 Senate Republicans—voted for a pathway to citizenship for eleven million undocumented immigrants in this country. We don't have another eight years, five years, two years, or even two months to wait. I'm here with my colleagues today because The Time Is Now to create a pathway to citizenship for the moms, dads, daughters, and sons who have sacrificed so much to achieve their American dream but who remain in the shadows.

We can't truly 'Build Back Better' if the people who do so much of the building are left out of the blueprint. Time and time again, undocumented immigrants have delivered for our Nation, even when it's continued to leave them behind. During the pandemic, they grew our crops to keep us fed. They took care of our children and our elderly to help our families. And they worked as essential employees to help our country through its most difficult times.

Not providing a pathway to citizenship for these individuals means that people will be deported, and their lives will be shattered. They're not just workers. They are our friends and neighbors, and many Dreamers have only known their lives here in the United States.

I am calling for my colleagues in the Senate—Democrats, and Republicans to pass a pathway to citizenship and ensure we protect the millions of immigrants who have stood through our side to make sure America is Build Back Better.""

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://gomez.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2528,REP. JIMMY GOMEZ CALLS ON SENATE TO INCLUDE PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP IN BUILD BACK BETTER ACT,2021-12-07,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Jimmy Gomez,G000585,gomez.house.gov,gomez,https://gomez.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Representative Jimmy Gomez (CA-34) joined fellow Representatives Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Lou Correa (CA-46), Jesús “Chuy'' García (IL-04), Dina Titus (NV-01), Mondaire Jones (D-NY), Tony Cárdenas (CA-29), Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), Mark Takano (CA-41), Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-07), and Ro Khanna (CA-17), along with several national community organizations at a press conference calling on the Senate to include a pathway to citizenship in the Build Back Better Act.

The current version of the Build Back Better Act includes provisions that would provide temporary relief to undocumented immigrants, but the proposal stops short of including a pathway to citizenship. As the Senate takes up the Build Back Better Act, Rep. Gomez and colleagues came together to advocate for a clearly defined pathway to citizenship for the 11 million undocumented immigrants in this country.

During the press conference, Rep. Gomez recognized the crowd of young advocates in attendance and encouraged them to continue to fight for just immigration reform.

“We need to put the pressure on the Senate, ignore the Parliamentarian, and guarantee a pathway to citizenship for 11 million people in this country,” said Representative Gomez. “This is the moment we’ve been waiting for, and I want to say that you are that generation that’s going to right the wrongs of this country and set us on a better path.”

Participating organizations included the Los Angeles county-based Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), Make the Road New York (MRNY), Make the Road Nevada (MRNV), Make the Road Pennsylvania (MRPA), Center for Popular Democracy, Fair Immigration Reform Movement Action (FIRMA), Hamkae Center, HANA Center, Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR), Brighton Park Neighborhood Council (Chicago), MinKwon Center, NAKASEC Action Fund, and Woori Center.

Rep. Gomez is the son of immigrants and an original cosponsor of the U.S. Citizenship Act, which would provide millions of hardworking, undocumented immigrants with a pathway to earned citizenship, including DREAMers, Temporary Protective Status (TPS) recipients, and essential workers.

A video clip from Representative Gomez’s remarks is available here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://harder.house.gov/media/press-releases/new-letter-harder-pushes-governor-newsom-cut-state-gas-tax,NEW LETTER: Harder Pushes Governor Newsom to Cut State Gas Tax,2021-12-07,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Josh Harder,H001090,harder.house.gov,harder,https://harder.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON — Today, Representative Josh Harder (CA-10) sent a letter to California Governor Gavin Newsom urging him to immediately cut the state gas tax and work with state legislators to address the unsustainable rising cost of gas. Specifically, Rep. Harder urged the governor to work with leaders in Sacramento to cut the gas tax, stop any future increases in the tax, and explore other options for addressing the unsustainable rising price of gas in the state.

""Gas prices are out of control in the Central Valley and it's crushing our families. A mom with four kids wrote to me last week saying if things don't change, she'll have to pick between going to work and dropping her kids off at school. We can't let that happen,"" said Rep. Harder. ""So today I'm writing directly to Governor Newsom with a simple message. You have the power to cut gas prices with the stroke of a pen. Do it.""

This week, California families paid an average of $4.70 per gallon, the highest in the nation according to AAA. That price includes the California gas tax of 51.1 cents per gallon, recently raised again over the summer to keep up with inflation.

Read the full letter below and online here:

Dear Governor Newsom,

I write today to urge you to immediately cut the Gasoline State Excise Tax, halt future increases to the tax, and to work with the California Legislature to explore other legislative options for addressing the unsustainable rising cost of gas.

This morning, thousands of families across the Central Valley paid more than $70 to fill a standard fifteen-gallon tank on their way to work. That astounding number is due to the fact that the average price of a gallon of gas in our state is $4.70, the highest in the nation and $1.52 more than the average price at this time last year. High gas prices disproportionately impact working and middle class communities like mine in the Central Valley where families commute on a regular basis to get to work and are already struggling with low wages and high costs of living.

The Gas tax went up from 50.5 to 51.1 cents this summer to keep up with inflation. Next year that cost will likely increase again because of inflation. The cost of gas accounts for a significant portion of total household expenses, so raising the price of gas raises the price of living for families barely making ends meet.

The purpose of the gas tax's enactment in 2017 was to raise revenue for long overdue infrastructure projects at a time when our state desperately needed those funds. However, our state's finances are now in a significantly better place than they were four years ago when the gas tax was enacted. With a predicted state budget surplus of up to $31 billion dollars this year and the passage of a historic infrastructure bill that will send tens of billions of federal dollars to infrastructure projects throughout California, it's time for the gas tax to be reevaluated. This budget surplus and the federal resources on their way far exceeds the annual revenue of the gas tax and should allow the state to conduct infrastructure repairs without working families footing the bill.

Additionally, California is estimated to receive the following federal funding from recent infrastructure law:

$25.3 billion over five years for repairing roads in the state that are in poor condition;

$4.2 billion over five years for repairing bridges in the state that are in poor condition;

$3.5 billion for water infrastructure and eliminating lead pipes in the state;

$1.5 billion for airport infrastructure;

$384 million over five years to build a network of chargers for electric vehicles;

At least $100 million to install more broadband coverage; and

$84 million over five years for wildfire protection.

Without an immediate stop to increasing the gas tax, California families will get hit twice as hard as those in other states, especially as inflation increases the price of goods. My constituents simply can't afford another gas tax increase. That is why I urge you to cut the gas tax, stop future increases during these trying times, and explore other legislative options to get prices under control.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://khanna.house.gov/media/press-releases/statement-representatives-khanna-malinowski-and-connolly-issue-statement,"STATEMENT: REPRESENTATIVES KHANNA, MALINOWSKI, AND CONNOLLY ISSUE STATEMENT FOLLOWING FY2022 NDAA VOTE",2021-12-07,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Ro Khanna,K000389,khanna.house.gov,khanna,https://khanna.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC – December 7, 2021 – Representatives Ro Khanna (CA-17), Tom Malinowski (NJ-07), and Gerald E. Connolly (VA-11) issued the below statement this evening after voting against the Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act.

""While we back many critical measures in the National Defense Authorization Act that support our troops and military readiness, we could not vote for the final bill today. The House-passed National Defense Authorization Act, which garnered strong bipartisan support, included numerous provisions to advance the fight against autocracy and corruption around the world, including provisions to rebalance our relationship with Saudi Arabia in the face of the Kingdom's disastrous war in Yemen and its campaign of reaching into other countries to threaten and kill its critics. But a small group of senators—for reasons that are not publicly explained or challenged—exercised a veto over these measures, even though most have repeatedly gone through regular order, have been passed by the House with overwhelming bipartisan support, and enjoy bipartisan backing in the Senate. Passage of the Saudi Arabia-related measures would have sent a message to the Saudi leadership that U.S. support is not a blank check. Our relationship with Saudi Arabia will not be improved if every time its rulers defy U.S. concerns, we take it upon ourselves to sweep those concerns under the rug; the burden of maintaining this relationship must be more equally shared. We will push for these bipartisan measures to be urgently given floor time for bicameral passage.""

# # #

About the Office",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://lieu.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-lieu-statement-fy22-defense-authorization-bill,REP LIEU STATEMENT ON FY22 DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BILL,2021-12-07,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,CA,Ted Lieu,L000582,lieu.house.gov,lieu,https://lieu.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) issued the following statement after the House passed the final version of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022. The NDAA includes provisions authored by Congressman Lieu that will help ensure greater oversight of our military operations by Congress. Additionally, this year's NDAA takes historic action to combat sexual assault in the military, including reforms such as criminalizing sexual harassment under the Uniform Code of Military Justice and removing the Commander from key decisions related to sexual assault and related crimes.

""I'm pleased that this year's NDAA includes important reforms to address sexual assault in the military, as well as provisions I authored to continue the prohibition of coalition aircraft refueling in Yemen and reform the practice of assignment restrictions at the State Department. Additionally, another provision I authored could help us one day utilize working dogs to detect early stages of diseases like COVID-19 and future viruses. Ultimately, this bill will help keep Americans safe while holding the federal government and our military accountable for its foreign policy and national security decisions.""

Background on Rep. Lieu's Amendments:

Yemen Refueling Prohibition Amendment: Extends an existing prohibition on mid-air refueling of non-U.S. aircraft participating in hostilities in the civil war in Yemen for two years.

Assignment Restrictions Amendment: Reforms the practice of Assignment Restrictions at the State Department by changing the appeals process and increasing the number of officials needed to agree to sustain an assignment restriction. The Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DS) imposes Assignment Restrictions on some employees who otherwise hold Top Secret clearances, precluding them from serving in a particular country or working on issues related to that country in Washington. These restrictions are often discriminatory, biased, and counterproductive to the goals of diversity, inclusion, and retention of talent at the State Department.

COVID-19 Warrior Dog Amendment: Encourages the Department of Defense to fund additional research to determine the effectiveness of using scent detection working dogs to detect the early stages of diseases, including COVID-19, and upon detection, to alert the handler of the dog. The amendment requires a report to Congress from DOD on their plans to complete the research effort, and to rapidly transition to an operational program if the research demonstrates that the effort has merit.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z