Dear friend,

I hope you and your loved ones continue to stay safe and well.

As we continue to wait for final election results, I want to remind my constituents to be patient. Counting votes is democracy in action. Thank you to all the poll workers, and every citizen who voted and made their voice heard by casting a vote. I'm honored and humbled to serve the people of San Diego, Poway, and Coronado in the U.S. House of Representatives for the next two years. The weight of this job is not lost on me, and I will keep working hard for everyone, regardless of political party or ideology.

I continue my work in the district to stay in touch with the people I represent. Below is another update on some of the work my staff and I have done this week to serve you.

District Work

RESULTS Meeting

On Thursday, I spoke with local members of RESULTS, an organization advocating for an end to poverty. The San Diego chapter focuses on policy issues related to COVID-19, inequality and tax policies, health and nutrition, and housing.

During this meeting, we discussed my co-sponsoring of the Rent Relief Act of 2019 and support for the HEROES Act. As Congress continues debating COVID-19 relief, we must come together to pass a bill that helps Americans now. This includes rent relief, which is an important issue in my district. San Diego still lacks access to affordable housing, and we need to keep working to improve basic fair housing law.

Veteran's Day

Next Wednesday, we will be honoring our veterans for their sacrifice and service to our country. I'm proud to represent a district with deep connections to our armed forces. My office has been a proud partner of the Vietnam War Commemoration for the past three years to honor this population of veterans.

In 2007, Congress passed a bill allowing the Secretary of Defense to administer a program commemorating the Vietnam War's 50th anniversary. The Commemoration recognizes those who served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces from November 1, 1955, to May 15, 1975.

The commemoration also recognizes former prisoners of war and families listed as missing in action. It also pays tribute to American citizens’ wartime contributions at home, highlights technology, science, and medical advances made during the war and recognizes the contributions of our Allies.

These are challenging times for our communities and our country, but we should do our best to take care of each other and reflect on this Veteran's Day. I want to thank all our brave and courageous Vietnam Veterans, and all veterans, for your service and resolve.

This Week's Casework Success Story

The One Harbor Drive Homeowners Association in Downtown San Diego contacted my office at the end of September to request assistance with obtaining a “highly qualified workers” exemption from the Spanish consulate. The association needed two engineers to inspect new maintenance machines in Madrid, which required San Diego-based engineers to sign off before shipment.

Currently, Spain does not allow the entry of American citizens due to COVID-19 except under certain conditions. My staff worked with the homeowners association and the engineering company to gather paperwork to justify the reason for travel and indicate how precautions were in place for travelers. This week, the consulate approved the exemption, allowing the engineers to finalize process of obtaining the building equipment.

Open Medicare Enrollment

Open enrollment for Medicare has begun and ends on December 7th. You can review coverage options and sign up for a health care package that fits your needs by visiting http://medicare.gov.

Five important facts about getting started:

1. Some people get Medicare automatically, and some will have to sign up. You may have to sign up if you’re 65 (or almost 65) and not getting Social Security.
2. You can sign up or change how you receive your coverage during certain times of the year.
3. If you sign up for Medicare Part B when you’re first eligible, you can avoid a penalty.
4. You can choose how you get your Medicare coverage.
5. You may be able to get help with your Medicare costs.

Service Academy Nominations Deadline

The deadline for Service Academy Nominations is Monday, November 30th. Due to teleworking, we urge those who apply to send applications by USPS in lieu of certified mail (UPS, FedEx.) For more information, click here.

Sincerely,

Dear friend,

I hope you and your loved ones continue to stay safe and well. I continue my work in the district to stay in touch with the people I represent. Below is another update on some of the work my staff and I have done this week to serve you.

Legislative Work

Introduction of Temporary Family Visitation Act (TFVA)

Last Friday, Rep. Francis Rooney (FL-19) and I introduced the bipartisan Temporary Family Visitation Act (TFVA) to ease obstacles for travelers looking to temporarily enter the United States to visit family.

Under the current system, travelers who plan trips to the U.S. must apply for a B-2 visitor visa. Before a visa is approved, applicants are interviewed to assess potential intent to overstay their visit or remain in the U.S. permanently. Factors considered include financial and personal ties to their home country, as well as any indicators a traveler would want to move to the U.S. indefinitely, such as family connections or employment opportunities within the U.S. This makes visa approval difficult for those who wish to visit their family solely for special occasions; their applications are at a higher risk of denial simply because they have family ties in the United States.

The Temporary Family Visitation Act would mitigate this issue by establishing a new B-3 nonimmigrant visa category specifically intended for relatives of U.S. citizens and permanent residents. This bill will make it easier to unite families for special occasions like graduations, weddings, and childbirths while strengthening our tourism-driven economy in San Diego.

Problem Solvers Caucus Budget Principles Endorsement

Earlier this week, the Problem Solvers Caucus endorsed a set of bipartisan principles I introduced with Rep. Tom Reed (NY-23) to help balance our federal budget once we emerge from this crisis.

I became a member of the Problem Solvers Caucus when I first entered Congress in 2013. Equally divided with 25 Democrats and 25 Republicans, the bipartisan coalition is committed to finding common ground on many of the key issues facing the nation.

There is no question we should borrow money to save American lives and livelihoods. But once our country recovers, we must be mindful of the future, get our budget back on track, and form an agenda which tackles medium and long-term deficit reduction that members of both parties can get behind.

District Work

PsychArmor Site Visit

This week, I visited PsychArmor's new facility to meet with CEO Tina Atherall and her staff. This local nonprofit organization offers essential support for military service members, veterans, and their families by providing free online training videos thoughtfully put together by national subject matter specialists.

One of the courses they showed me during my visit was "15 Things Veterans Want You to Know," created by Dr. Heidi Squier, a Navy veteran. 

PsychArmor's work is critical in helping our nation's service members and veterans successfully transition to civilian life, and shares with those who have not served more about military culture to help bridge the civilian-military divide.

Meeting with Akilah Templeton, new CEO of VVSD

On Wednesday, I spoke with Akilah Templeton, the president and new CEO of Veterans Village of San Diego (VVSD). She previously worked as the executive director of U.S. Vets in Inglewood, CA, a nonprofit provider of overall services to homeless and at-risk veterans before coming to San Diego.

VVSD has been helping veterans since 1981 and is a one-of-a-kind program that has been nationally acknowledged. VVSD is a constant leader in assisting homeless military veterans by hosting Stand Down, an annual intervention program supporting more than 800 homeless veterans and their families with the dedication of 3,000 tireless and committed volunteers and more than 150 service providers. 

Their important work will be uplifted under Akilah’s leadership and it was my pleasure to speak with her to discuss her vision for the organization’s future.

Farm Bureau Discussion

On Thursday morning, I met with members of the San Diego Farm Bureau to discuss the impacts of COVID-19, the need to expand rural broadband access, and the importance of passing comprehensive immigration reform. San Diego is the 12^th largest farm economy in California, housing a large number of nurseries, and is among the leaders in cut flower production. Congress should work with farmers to expand programs that deliver fresh, local produce to the community and improve educational opportunities for the next generation to learn about where their food comes from.

U.S. - Mexico Water Market Intelligence Roundtable

I joined San Diego Regional Chamber President and CEO Jerry Sanders, U.S. Chamber Vice President for Environmental Affairs and Sustainability Chuck Chaitovitz, and other interagency leaders and Mexican decision-makers for a virtual conversation on ways to ease market entry and bolster exports for U.S. water technologies, products, and services along the U.S.-Mexico border.

I presented keynote remarks during the roundtable discussion, where I talked about U.S.-Mexico water market intelligence and the potential to link water and wastewater solutions along our southern border to clean energy initiatives. We must invest in smart infrastructure at our border that also benefits the future of our planet. 

This Week's Casework Story

Retired Chief Petty Officer Graham reached out to my office in September regarding his lost Purple Heart medal along with his U.S. Navy citation. My district staff requested an official congressional inquiry into his lost medal and received CPO Graham's new Purple Heart Medal from the Navy in late October. CPO Graham appreciated our assistance and shared how he received his medal in combat:

"I was a Navy EOD Team Leader in support of Army ODA 5212 in the summer of 2012 in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. We were operating out of VSP Zombolay in Helmand Province. We were deep into enemy territory on a dismounted patrol in September 2012 with Afghan Local Police. My buddy SFC Henderson, who was 10 feet behind me, stepped on an IED. The IED injured both of us, instantly rendering him a double amputee and ultimately killing him. The blast picked me up and threw me 15 feet forward, landing directly on my head, briefly suffering loss of consciousness and multiple injuries.  My team member was able to step up into the role of team leader and lead the patrol back to base safely."

I want to thank CPO Graham for his service and courage in combat and for reaching out to our office. My district staff is always ready to help service members and veterans in any way possible.

To stay up to date on my work throughout the week, you can follow me on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or need assistance with a federal agency, reach out to us through our website or by calling the district office at 858-455-5550.

Sincerely,

Dear friend,

I hope you and your loved ones continue to stay safe and well. I'm back in the district this week and had several meetings to stay in touch with the people I represent. Below is another update on some of the work my staff and I have done this week to serve you.

Legislative Work

Letter on Interconnections Seam Study

This week, Rep. Elissa Slotkin (MI-8) and I sent a letter to Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Dan Brouillette requesting answers on actions taken by political appointees within the DOE concerning the Interconnections Seam Study.

The study's findings showed that expanding and increasing electric transmission capacity across transmission lines that bridge the “seams” in the grid could save consumers billions of dollars and eliminate up to 35 megatons of carbon dioxide pollution per year by 2038.

While the study is essentially complete, reports indicate that Trump Administration appointees indefinitely delayed its release because they deemed its preliminary findings to be too anti-coal. We need to get to the bottom of this because impartial scientific research is what we need to rely upon to secure our energy reliability and address the climate crisis.

TruCon 2020

Last Friday, I joined a high-level conversation for the Truman National Security Project's 2020 Conference about the future of U.S. climate policy. My fellow panelists included Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes, and the Honorable Sherri Goodman, formerly the U.S. Deputy Undersecretary of Defense in Environmental Security.

We discussed climate as it relates to our national security and military preparedness, potential cross-border carbon adjustments in international trade, and finding bipartisan climate solutions in Congress and across the country.

Click here to watch our full discussion, beginning at 2:06:00.

District Work

Visit to MCAS Miramar

This week, I toured energy, communications, and logistics facilities at MCAS Miramar. I learned more about the excellent work Marines are doing locally to drive innovation at the 5G Learning Lab, maximize emergency energy preparedness with their microgrid, and develop emerging technologies to support national security objectives as well as our local communities. Thanks to Colonel Dockery, Lieutenant Colonel Newell, and the rest of the team for your work and insight. 

Virtual Meeting with Biocom Leadership and San Diego Life Sciences Experts

Meeting with Consul General of India

On Wednesday, I met with Consul General of India in San Francisco, Dr. TV Nagendra Prasad. We discussed ways to expand current partnerships in agriculture and high technology, and how to develop new opportunities in healthcare and renewable energy.

American Chiropractic Association Virtual Meeting

I also met with members of the American Chiropractic Association. Our discussion included legislation that would allow chiropractors to bill Medicare for the full scope of chiropractic services as allowed by state law, and treat them like any other provider in the Medicare program. This would remove barriers to care and reduce costs. I also spoke about my commitment to drive down health care costs and expand access for all Americans.

U.S. Service Academy Nominations Info Night

Thank you to all our liaisons and attendees for participating in Wednesday's service academy nominations info session. If you missed the meeting, you can watch it here. Applications are due by November 30th.

This Week's Casework Success Story

Reem from Poway contacted the office requesting assistance with expediting her application for a replacement green card. Reem recently became a permanent resident, but U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS) incorrectly listed her status on the card, subsequently compromising her ability to travel outside the United States. Due to USCIS' error, my staff worked with Reem to gather paperwork highlighting the agency's mistake. After identifying the incorrect status, USCIS approved the request and began production on a new card for Reem with her correct status. 

Financial Aid for 2021-2022

Federal student aid applications, FAFSA, for the 2021-2022 academic year are now open. Federal aid includes grants, scholarships, work-study programs, loans and aid for military families and international study.

FAFSA forms must be submitted by June 30, 2021, though each college may have its own deadline. Students should check with the colleges they are interested in attending and plan accordingly. Click here for more information on deadlines.

Sincerely,

Dear friend,

I hope you and your loved ones continue to stay safe and well. Below is another update on some of the work my staff and I have done this week to serve you.

Legislative Work

The House of Representatives remains in session and this week, we considered and passed many important bills related to energy, critical resources for veterans, the integrity of our voting systems and domestic terrorism.

Notable Bills that Passed the House

• Clean Economy Jobs and Innovation Act: This comprehensive bill brings us closer to a sustainable energy future to drive innovation and create clean jobs for American workers. It incorporates my efforts in Congress, including the SUPER Act in its totality, and critical provisions from the Super Pollutants Act and USE IT Act.
  
• Two of my bills to house homeless veterans and boost veterans’ mental health also passed in a series of votes to help our country’s veterans:
  • Sergeant Daniel Somers Veterans Network of Support Act was included in the Veterans Comprehensive Prevention, Access to Care, and Treatment Act.
  • Veteran HOUSE Act, passed as part of the DELIVER Act.

National Small Business Week

This year, National Small Business Week highlighted the resiliency of businesses across the country in the face of COVID-19. The pandemic undoubtedly shaped the way we do things, but it also uplifted businesses' creativity and ability to adapt to a new normal. As seen below, small businesses make up a critical part of San Diego's economy.

This Week's Casework Success Story

Esther from Coronado contacted our office at the beginning of September requesting assistance with the renewal of her passport. She was in the middle of a special and time-sensitive medical procedure and needed to travel by a certain date to complete the procedure. My staff worked with State Department officials and Esther to gather all the necessary medical documents to expedite this request. Esther received her passport in the mail and was able to travel in time thanks to these efforts.

Virtual Town Hall on Wildfires Assistance and Insurance Resources

Next week, I will participate in a virtual town hall with California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara to discuss wildfires assistance and insurance resources available to renters and homeowners. With many communities experiencing evacuations, loss of homes and the continued threat of COVID-19, it is imperative for you to have the most updated information on available services and resources. I will also be discussing federal policy challenges associated with the consequences of wildfires in our communities.

When: Tuesday, September 29th at 1:30 P.M. (PST)

Register in advance here: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ZLkGfqDzRsupFNTPPKkSqw

To stay up to date on my work throughout the week, you can follow me on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or need assistance with a federal agency, reach out to us through our website or by calling the district office at 858-455-5550.

Sincerely,