The latest from Washington
Dear Neighbor,
I want to update you on another week of work here in the district and back in Washington serving the residents of CA-49! I also want to thank everyone for all the kind birthday wishes. I am so thankful for you all and the great honor of working on your behalf here in Congress. Please scroll down to read more on my recent updates.
Legislative Action
- This week, the House voted and passed the bipartisan Providing Urgent Maternal Protections for Nursing Mothers (PUMP) Act. The PUMP Act extends existing safeguards for nursing mothers and makes it easier for employees to take legal action against employers who fail to comply. It also prevents workers from being docked wages for nursing breaks if they perform work during the break.
- I voted in favor of a resolution recommending that the House of Representatives find Stephen K. Bannon in contempt of congress for refusal to comply with a subpoena duly issued by the Select Committee to investigate the January 6th attack on the United States Capitol. The way we respond to the attack on our democracy on January 6 is of the utmost importance, and that means we must hold Steve Bannon accountable for his involvement.
- I also cosponsored my colleague Rep. Blumenauer’s End Oil and Gas Tax Subsidies Act. We must hold oil and gas industries accountable, and this bill eliminates 11 of the most egregious tax breaks the fossil fuel industry lines their pockets with. It’s time we stop favoring polluters.
Natural Resources Field Hearing on the OC Oil Spill
In case you missed it, I joined my colleagues Rep. Katie Porter and Rep. Alan Lowenthal in Orange County at the headquarters of the Irvine Ranch Water District to learn more about the effects of the recent oil spill on our constituents and coastal businesses. Watch the full hearing here.
I also wrote an op-ed on ending offshore drilling off our California coast with Senator Dianne Feinstein, Rep. Jared Huffman, and Rep. Alan Lowenthal. Read it here.
Veterans’ Affairs DAMA Subcommittee Hearing
Far too often, veterans do not receive the benefits they have earned because of red tape and complicated VA processes. We must fix that.
My commonsense, bipartisan bills to address these issues were discussed in the Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs this week. Read more about my Commitment to Veteran Support and Outreach Act and the Mark O’Brien VA Clothing Allowance Improvement Act here.
Carlsbad AquaFarm
On Monday, Thomas and everyone at Carlsbad Aquafarm gave me an incredible tour of their farm, and I was so impressed by the innovative labs and technologies. Proud to have Southern California’s only shellfish farm right here in CA-49!
