The DeSaulnier Digest: TOMORROW: Make Your Voice Heard at the Voting Booth!
On the eve of Election Day, I encourage you one last time to make your voice heard through our democratic process. I am reminded of the great Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis who said that the most important title in our country is that of citizen. As fellow citizens, I hope you will join me in exercising your right to vote.
To check the location of your polling place or a ballot drop box, please click here. Remember, if you are in line at your polling place by 8:00 p.m., you must be allowed to vote, so stay in line. If you are participating in the election with a vote-by-mail ballot, drop the ballot off at a secure drop box by 8:00 p.m. tomorrow, November 5th.
Happy voting!
Sincerely,
Member of Congress
IN THE NEWS
Mark Secures MEGA Grant Funding to Reduce Traffic in the East Bay
Congressman DeSaulnier joined Speaker Emerita Pelosi and the Contra Costa Transportation Authority last week to announce $166 million in Department of Transportation funding to tackle congestion in the 680 corridor, including new technology to monitor traffic in real-time. Ahead of the announcement, Mark spoke with ABC7 about the importance of utilizing smart technology to reduce commute times and air pollution. Hear his remarks here or click on the image below.
IN THE COMMUNITY
Congressman DeSaulnier Presents Federal Funding He Secured for Local Projects
Mark presented three separate checks to celebrate federal funding he secured for investments in infrastructure and public safety with local community leaders:
- $3 million for the Livermore Amador Valley Transit Authority (LAVTA) to expand hydrogen fueling for their fleet, secured with Congressman Eric Swalwell (CA-14);
- $198,000 for the City of Dublin to install situational awareness cameras around local schools and community parks to improve public safety; and
- $450,000 for the Seneca Family of Agencies to help local law enforcement, county agencies, and community partners to better protect children from commercial sexual exploitation in Contra Costa.
These projects were part of the $15.2 million in federal funding that Congressman DeSaulnier secured for 15 projects across Contra Costa County and Alameda County this year.
Mark Hosts Youth Town Hall on Concussion Prevention at Dublin High School
Congressman DeSaulnier gathered former NFL players, medical professionals, and student athletes at Dublin High School to discuss preventing concussions. Student athletes asked the Congressman and expert panelists questions about identifying concussions, changes in attitudes around safety in athletics, and legislation that could reduce the estimated 1.9 million concussions in the U.S. among young people each year. Mark has introduced legislation to create national standards for concussion protocol and increase awareness of concussion symptoms to protect young people.
Mark Welcomes Disability Rights Advocate Isabel Bueso to Walnut Creek District Office
Congressman DeSaulnier met with Isabel Bueso in his Walnut Creek District Office to celebrate her new status as a permanent resident of the United States. Isabel was born in Guatemala with a rare genetic disease and was invited to come to the Bay Area at age 7 for a clinical trial at UCSF, which saved her life. Years later, then-President Trump attempted to end the legal program that allowed Isabel and her family to remain in the U.S. where she continues to receive life-saving care. In 2022, Congressman DeSaulnier authored a private bill (H.R. 785) to permanently allow Isabel and her family to remain in the U.S., which was signed into law by President Biden.
Congressman DeSaulnier Visits Local Company TriNet in Dublin
Mark toured TriNet, a company located in Dublin that assists small businesses with the HR burden of navigating payroll and benefits. As a former East Bay restaurant owner, Congressman DeSaulnier also sat down with both corporate leaders and local employees to discuss his work to support small businesses in CA-10 and around the country.
Mark Meets with Seniors at Sequoia Living Viamonte in Walnut Creek
Congressman DeSaulnier met with local seniors in Walnut Creek to discuss issues of importance ranging from protecting Social Security and Medicare to immigration reform and defending democracy. Mark provided updates on the work he is doing in Congress and answered questions from the audience.
LEGISLATIVE NEWS
Congressman DeSaulnier Introduces Bill to Make Higher Education More Accessible
The percentage of college students with disabilities has nearly doubled during the last two decades – with as many as 21% reporting a disability in 2020. While landmark legislation like the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA) helps ensure students with disabilities receive proper academic support and accommodations from preschool through high school, many of these resources disappear when a student transitions to higher education. Congressman DeSaulnier introduced the Improving Access to Higher Education Act (H.R. 10080), which would address the needs of students with disabilities and help improve college access and completion. This first of its kind legislation takes a comprehensive approach to providing students and institutions with improved training, greater resources, and expanded services—bringing us one step closer to ensuring that all Americans can earn a degree, find a job, and achieve the American Dream.
POST OF THE WEEK
BY THE NUMBERS
