The DeSaulnier Digest: Saturday's Town Hall
I am hosting my 200th town hall this Saturday, December 9th at 1:00 p.m. at Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill. Join us to hear updates on House Democrats' accomplishments over the last year and for a preview of our priorities going into 2024. I will also take your questions live. RSVP by clicking here or on the image below. The event will also be livestreamed on my Facebook page if you are not able to join us in person. We hope to see you there!
Sincerely,
Mark DeSaulnier
Member of Congress
D.C. MEETINGS
Congressman DeSaulnier Meets with UCSF Health
The Congressman met with UCSF Health in our D.C. office to discuss their shared efforts to advance health equity and improve quality of care.
IN COMMITTEE
DeSaulnier Reiterates the Importance of Reauthorizing the Federal Aviation Administration
Since a near miss incident at SFO in 2017, where pilots narrowly avoided a catastrophic collision, Congressman DeSaulnier has worked to improve aviation safety. During a recent Transportation and Infrastructure Committee hearing, the Congressman highlighted these issues and the impact of the Senate delaying passage of legislation to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). FAA reauthorization would provide needed funding to improve safety in air travel, advance aviation research, and ensure proper air traffic controller staffing levels, all of which are essential to a smooth air travel experience for passengers. Tune in by clicking here or on the image below.
Congressman DeSaulnier Discusses California High Speed Rail at Committee Hearing
At a recent Transportation and Infrastructure Committee hearing, Congressman DeSaulnier highlighted the challenges facing the California High-Speed Rail project. The project, which began construction in 2015, is struggling with delays, cost overruns, and a lack of federal oversight. Click here or on the image below to tune in.
Mark Opposes Republican Effort to Undermine Labor Unions
When unions thrive, so do workers, businesses, and the economy. Unfortunately, Republicans on the Education and the Workforce Committee are trying to advance legislation to create a National Right to Work law, which would undermine labor unions and tip the scales of power even further toward corporations. As the Ranking Democrat on the Heath, Employment, Labor, and Pensions Subcommittee, Congressman DeSaulnier spoke out against these efforts. You can watch his comments by clicking here or on the image below.
LEGISLATIVE UPDATES
House Expels George Santos for Ethics Violations
As a member of the House Ethics Committee, transparency and accountability in government are among Congressman DeSaulnier's top priorities. Last month, Ethics Committee members unanimously voted to release an investigative report that highlighted how ex-Congressman Santos exploited his House candidacy for personal gain. In light of the Ethics Committee's report, Congressman DeSaulnier supported House passage of a resolution (H.Res. 878) to expel Mr. Santos from the House. This resolution passed by a vote of 311-to-114, and accordingly, Santos was expelled from Congress.
House Votes to Undermine Transparency in Small Business Lending
While mortgage lenders have been required to collect demographic data on customers to ensure equity in the housing market, small business lenders have not historically been subject to similar requirements. Unfortunately, research shows that minority-, women-, and LGBTQ+-owned businesses are more likely to have loan applications denied or pay higher interest rates. In response, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued a rule to require demographic data collection by small business lenders. House Republican leadership recently advanced legislation (S.J.Res. 32) to overturn this rule, which passed the House by a vote of 221-to-202, despite Congressman DeSaulnier's opposition.
House Republicans Pass Anti-Immigrant Legislation
While a number of states are working on a humane response to an influx of migrants, House Republicans have advanced a bill (H.R. 5283) that would prohibit the use of federal funding for housing for migrants on public lands. This legislation is another attempt to vilify immigrants, and it will neither protect our public lands nor will it address ongoing humanitarian issues that cause migrants to seek refuge in our country. Despite Congressman DeSaulnier's opposition, this bill passed the House by a vote of 224-to-203.
POST OF THE WEEK
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