The DeSaulnier Digest: Mark's Efforts to Support Bay Area Workers and Families
Today marks the 79th anniversary of the explosion at Port Chicago, which killed 320 sailors and civilians and injured 390 more. In the aftermath of the explosion, which was the worst home front disaster in World War II, 50 African American men who bravely stood up against unsafe working conditions were discriminately charged with and convicted of mutiny. In their honor, I am leading the fight in Congress to exonerate these men and restore honor to their names.
Sincerely,
Mark DeSaulnier
Member of Congress
IN THE COMMUNITY
DeSaulnier Hosts Transportation Town Hall
Congressman DeSaulnier hosted a town hall in San Ramon last week to discuss the transportation issues most pertinent to the Bay Area, including repairing our roads and bridges, reducing congestion and commute times, and ensuring public transit is safe, clean, and reliable, all to lessen the effects of climate change. Thank you to everyone who joined us for this important conversation!
Congressman DeSaulnier Presents Funding to First 5
Mark was proud to join First 5 Contra Costa to present funding he secured in Congress to help the organization expand and retain its current workforce of childcare professionals in Contra Costa County. We look forward to the many benefits this project will bring to area families.
Congressman DeSaulnier Speaks with Dublin Chamber of Commerce
Mark joined the Dublin Chamber of Commerce to provide a legislative update and to talk about the benefits that the CHIPS and Science Act, Inflation Reduction Act, and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will bring to the Bay Area.
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
DeSaulnier Introduces Three Bills to Support Transparency and Accountability in Transportation Projects and Incentivize Greener Transportation
As a member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, one of Congressman DeSaulnier's top priorities is improving transportation in the Bay Area. To advance these priorities, Congressman DeSaulnier authored the Metropolitan Planning Enhancement Act (H.R. 4482), which would increase transparency and accountability around how local transportation investments are made, and the Transportation Megaprojects Accountability and Oversight Act (H.R. 4608), which would establish additional transparency requirements for big transportation projects that cost over $2.5 billion. In addition, Congressman DeSaulnier authored the Incentivizing Value Capture for Greener Transportation Act (H.R. 4609), which would support affordable transit-oriented development and inclusive economic development.
Congressman DeSaulnier Opposes Bloated Pentagon Budget
Each year, Congress must pass a bill to authorize defense spending and policies at the Department of Defense. This year, the bill not only included excessive spending, but it also contained harmful provisions, including racist, anti-choice, transphobic, and anti-vax measures. Because of these provisions and the fact that the Pentagon has not completed a full audit, Congressman DeSaulnier voted against the National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 2670). Despite his opposition, the bill passed by a vote of 219-to-210.
IN COMMITTEE
Mark Leads Effort to Increase Transparency in Health Care
As the top Democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee's Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions Subcommittee, Congressman DeSaulnier recently co-led introduction of the Transparency in Coverage Act (H.R. 4507), a bill that would strengthen existing regulations that require price transparency for medical services and prescription drugs while also bringing new transparency to business practices of pharmacy benefit managers. Mark recently spoke about his bill during an Education and the Workforce Committee meeting, during which the bill passed out of the Committee by a vote of 38-to-1. Click here or the image below to see Mark's comments in support of this bill.
IN THE NEWS
Thanks to the Democrat-passed American Rescue Plan, over 24,000 retirees in the Bay Area will receive their full pension benefits. As the then-Chair of the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor & Pensions, Congressman DeSaulnier helped lead the effort to secure this funding. To learn more, click here or on the image below.
POST OF THE WEEK
BY THE NUMBERS
