Celebrating Veterans Day
Dear Contra Costa Resident:
As the House of Representatives begins its legislative work this week, we wanted to provide you with a special announcement and a snapshot of recent news and issues before Congress over the past week.
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
This week I will host three town hall meetings, across a variety of mediums to discuss how the Republican tax plan will impact you and your family. The details for our town halls are below.
RECENT KEY VOTES
Save Local Business Act (H.R. 3441)
Protecting workers rights is of fundamental importance if the economy is going to improve for every day Americans. This bill would allow employers to evade liability for wage theft, child labor violations, and equal pay violations. It cripples the ability of workers to negotiate, and is nothing more than an attack on worker rights, which is why I opposed this measure.
Hydropower Policy Modernization Act (H.R. 3043)
Improving our nation's dedication to renewable energy is essential if we are going to protect our environment for future generations. Unfortunately, this bill makes it easier for industry to undermine licensing requirements that were put in place to ensure that our environment is protected when new hydropower projects are built. I opposed this bill and will instead continue to push for both clean energy and high environmental standards.
Micro Offering Safe Harbor Act (H.R. 2201)
The Dodd-Frank Act was one of the most important pieces of legislation in the last hundred years. It put protections in place to prevent another global economic crisis. This bill is an attempt to undermine those protections by allowing bad actors to offer more securities without having to comply with SEC registration requirements and state securities laws. I opposed this bill, which was a clear effort to continue to deregulate at the expense of consumers.
MARK'S LEGISLATIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Congressman DeSaulnier Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Fight Opioid Epidemic:
Given that 75% of opioid abusers reported that their first exposure was a prescription drug, action must be taken to curb the abuse of these medications. For that reason, Rep. Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (R-GA) and I introduced the Empowering Pharmacists in the Fight Against Opioid Abuse Act, which would require federal agencies to develop and distribute materials to better educate pharmacists on when they are allowed by law to decline to fill a prescription for a controlled substance.
MARK AROUND TOWN
Mark Speaks at Veterans Day Vigil at The Crosses in Lafayette
On Veterans Day, I was proud to attend events across Contra Costa to commemorate the sacrifices of our men and women in uniform who bravely put country before self and fought and died protecting our rights and freedoms. In Lafayette, I spoke at the Veterans Day vigil at the crosses to thank all who have served, are currently serving, and to honor those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our nation.
Since opening our doors in January 2015, we have assisted over 500 veterans with housing, student loans, and VA benefits. The primary contact for veterans casework in my district office is Ryan-Thomas Brown, who himself is a Marine Corps veteran. If you are a veteran and need assistance, please do not hesitate to contact him at 925-933-2660 or Ryan-Thomas.Brown@mail.house.gov.
OPINIONS FROM THE DISTRICT
Hearing directly from you not only informs my work in Congress, but also is my favorite part of being your Representative. To share your opinions with me you can either email me or take our survey.
Below are some of the top issues you shared with me over the past week:
- 363 constituents expressed their staunch opposition the Republican tax plan, which would provide massive tax cuts to the wealthy and would, according to independent research, raise taxes for more than 2.2 million middle class households in California.
- 204 constituents expressed support for the Special Counsel Integrity Act (H.R. 3771), which would prevent the President from firing any Special Counsel. While I am a strong supporter and advocate for the legislation, the authors of the bill are only accepting co-sponsors on a one-for-one basis of Democrats and Republicans. Since Republicans do not support this legislation, you will not see my name reflected on the legislation, but please know that I will continue fighting in Congress to ensure the rule of law is protected.
LEGISLATION MARK RECENTLY SUPPORTED
Public Safety and Second Amendment Rights Protection Act (H.R. 4240)
Every day, 32 people are murdered as a result of gun violence. In states that have strong background checks, that number dramatically decreases. I support this legislation, which closes the loopholes that allow dangerous people to buy guns legally. Nothing is more important than keeping our public safe.
Congressional Sexual Harassment Training Act (H.R. 4155)
Brave men and women have been selflessly sharing their stories about being sexually assaulted – from the California legislature to Hollywood to Congress. We must all do our part and be part of the solution. That is why I support this bill, which requires that all Members and staff in Congressional offices regularly participate in sexual harassment training.
LETTERS MARK RECENTLY SENT
Letter to committee leadership on Center for Disease Control's REACH Program
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) program is the only federally funded, community-based program that addresses racial and ethnic health disparities. This evidence-based program has proven results with intervention programs on smoking cessation, health eating, and the expanded use of vaccines. I sent a letter to the heads of the health Appropriations Committee to request its full funding to continue its important work.
Letter to Congressional and Senate Leaders and Appropriations Committee Leadership urging full funding for key transit infrastructure program
This week I signed a letter to leaders in the Senate and the House of Representatives calling for the full authorized funding of $2.3 billion for the Federal Transit Administration's Capital Investment Grant program, commonly known as New Starts, Small Starts, and Core Capacity programs. These programs have been critical for communities to fund improvements to their transit systems, while also providing opportunities for work, as manufacturers, suppliers, and service firms are all needed to move these transportation projects forward.
MARK'S RECENT STATEMENTS
Representatives DeSaulnier and Demings Ask Oversight Republican to Include Voting Machine Vendors In Cybersecurity Hearing
"While election machines are generally not connected to the internet, the software they use on election day is vulnerable to hackers. When this software is compromised and voter data is stolen, as in Illinois, it is essential that we know what information was taken, who stole it, and for what purpose. The integrity of future elections depends on it," said Congressman DeSaulnier. To read the full release, click here.
MARK IN THE NEWS
Matier in the Morning: At Issue: Tax Reform
Mark joined Phil Matier with CBS SF Bay Area to discuss how the Republican tax plan could impact hard working families in California. To watch Mark's interview, click the video below:
