The safe return of students to the classroom is a top priority for families across Contra Costa. As the County has shifted into the red tier and vaccines give us hope that the pandemic may soon be under control, I hope you will join us for a town hall on Tuesday, March 30th at 1:00 p.m. PT on the impact of coronavirus on students and getting back to school. The town hall will feature experts to discuss school safety, learning loss, and mental and behavioral health support, including State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, Contra Costa Superintendent of Schools Lynn Mackey, and Dr. Petra Steinbuchel, director for the UCSF Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Portal.
To RSVP and submit a question for the town hall, click here or on the image below before 10 a.m. PT the day of the event. You will receive the Zoom log-in information via email prior to the town hall. The event will also be broadcast live on my Facebook page.
Sincerely,
Mark DeSaulnier
Member of Congress
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Congressman DeSaulnier Supports Comprehensive Immigration Reform
The United States is made up of people whose ancestors, or who themselves, arrived in this country searching for a better life. For far too long, and during the four years of the Trump Administration especially, hatred and xenophobia against immigrants have shown us that immigration reform is urgent and necessary. As we turn the page on a dark chapter of our history, it is long past time for meaningful and compassionate immigration reform. That is why Congressman DeSaulnier voted in support of both the American Dream and Promise Act (H.R. 6) and the Farm Workforce Modernization Act (H.R. 1603). Both of these bills provide a pathway to citizenship for people who make this country great, specifically for Dreamers, TPS holders, and farm workers.
House Passes Historic Initiatives for Women’s Rights
This week, the House led two historic initiatives for women’s rights. The first is a bill that removes the deadline for ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment (H.J.Res. 17). When first passed in 1972, an arbitrary deadline was set requiring 38 states to adopt the ERA by 1982. By removing the deadline, the ERA can finally become the law of the land, enshrining the principle of women’s equality and an explicit prohibition against sex discrimination in the nation’s foundational document. The second bill, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act (H.R. 1620), renews the landmark legislation and includes new investments in the prevention of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, and makes significant improvements to services and protections for survivors. The bill also extends protections to combat discrimination against LGBTQ+ Americans and communities of color. The Congressman joined his colleagues in voting in support of both these bills. H.J.Res. 17 passed the House by a vote of 222-to-204 and H.R. 1620 passed by a vote of 244-to-172.
SMALL BUSINESS RESOURCES
We know that many local small businesses have been experiencing hardship throughout the pandemic. To receive free small business tips, online training, and information on upcoming events in your area, sign up for the Biden Small Business Administration's newsletter by clicking here. To view our town hall, click here or on the image below. You can also find the PowerPoint slides here.
IN THE NEWS
To learn more about Congressman DeSaulnier's efforts to hold the Sackler family accountable for their role in fueling the opioid epidemic, click here or on the image below.
Congressman DeSaulnier is committed to supporting workers as we begin the crucial transition to cleaner energy options here in Contra Costa and across the country. For more on this, click here or on the image below.
