The DeSaulnier Digest: Join Our Veterans Town Hall and Resource Fair on Friday
I am hosting a Veterans Town Hall and Resource Fair this Friday, November 22nd from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Center for Community Arts Auditorium in Walnut Creek.
From 1:00 to 2:00 p.m., I'll provide an update on my efforts in Congress to pass legislation that supports veterans and take your questions. Following that, federal and local agencies and veteran service organizations will share resources on accessing the benefits veterans have earned from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
RSVP to join us by clicking here or on the flyer below.
Sincerely,
Mark DeSaulnier
Member of Congress
IN THE COMMUNITY
Mark Wraps Up Busy District Work Period
Congressman DeSaulnier headed back to Capitol Hill after a productive District Work Period in CA-10 during which he attended 24 events and meetings. The Congressman also hosted two town halls - a Walk and Talk Town Hall at the Lafayette Reservoir and a Youth Town Hall on Concussion Prevention at Dublin High School. Stay tuned on our social media for information on future town halls and events!
LEGISLATIVE UPDATES
Congressman DeSaulnier Votes to Strengthen Social Security for Hardworking American Retirees
Social Security represents our promise to seniors of a secure retirement. Although public employees in California and other states have retirement systems separate from Social Security, many retirees have also held jobs in the private sector and have contributed to Social Security. As a result, the Social Security benefits of affected retirees are reduced by the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP). In order to end these unjust penalties, Congressman DeSaulnier voted to pass the Social Security Fairness Act (H.R. 82), which would eliminate the GPO and the WEP. With Congressman DeSaulnier’s support, this bill passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 327-to-75, and now awaits consideration in the U.S. Senate.
House Passes Bill to Improve Access to Federal Student Aid
Each year, about 17 million students complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), a form that determines students’ eligibility for federal financial aid. Unfortunately, release of the FAFSA for the 2024-2025 school year was significantly delayed while the U.S. Department of Education worked to update the form. That delay, combined with a number of technical glitches, caused undue stress and hardship for countless students and their families. The House of Representatives recently considered the FAFSA Deadline Act (H.R. 8932), a bill that would require the Department of Education to make the FAFSA available to students by October 1st each year. H.R. 8932 passed the House by a vote of 381-to-1 with Congressman DeSaulnier’s support.
Mark Opposes Efforts to Bypass Science and Environmental Regulations
Various federal laws exist to help minimize the impact of geothermal drilling and mining on our environment. Last week, the House voted on two bills, the Critical Mineral Consistency Act (H.R. 8446) and the Harnessing Energy at Thermal Sources Act (H.R. 7409), which would undermine these important protections. H.R. 8446 would change the definition of “critical mineral” used by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), ignoring the best available science to determine what critical minerals are essential, and allowing for expedited permitting for additional minerals. H.R. 7409 would exempt certain geothermal drilling from federal review under the Endangered Species Act and the National Environmental Policy Act, undermining the Bureau of Land Management’s authority to protect federal lands. Despite the Congressman’s opposition, both bills passed the House of Representatives by votes of 225-to-181 (H.R. 8446) and 245-to-155 (H.R. 7409).
POST OF THE WEEK
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