Mark Secures Funding for State Wide Family Engagement Centers
Dear Contra Costa Residents:
As we embark on two full weeks at home in Contra Costa County, we wanted to provide you with a snapshot of our most recent work in Washington and make sure you were aware of upcoming meetings in your area.
Tomorrow, Tuesday, March 27th I will be hosting a town hall meeting with Congressman Jerry McNerney in Antioch. During the town hall, attendees will have the opportunity to listen to a legislative update and to ask questions on issues of importance. There is still time to confirm your attendance by RSVPing here.
Antioch Town Hall with Congressman McNerney (CA-09)
Tuesday, March 27, 2018
6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Dallas Ranch Middle School
1401 Mt. Hamilton Drive
Antioch, CA 94531
Doors Open at 6:00 p.m.
MARK'S LEGISLATIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Funding in Omnibus for Statewide Family Engagement Centers
Last week, I successfully secured $10 million in federal funding for the Statewide Family Engagement Centers (SFECs) grant program in the Omnibus Appropriations Act, which passed the House and was signed into law. Research is indisputable that students whose families are actively involved in their education are more likely to earn higher grades, graduate high school, and pursue higher education. SFEC grants will help communities connect families with specialized resources to strengthen that connection. As a longtime supporter of services that support students in and out of the classroom, I am pleased that family engagement centers, which I originally proposed with my Republican colleague Congressman Glenn ‘GT' Thompson, have received the funding necessary to help students succeed. This work was among the reasons I was presented the 2018 Congressional Voice for Children Award by the National Parent-Teacher Association.
To learn more about my work on bipartisan family engagement, click here.
RECENT KEY VOTES
Omnibus Appropriations Act (H.R. 1625)
Last week, Congress passed and the President signed a spending bill in the final hours to avoid yet another shutdown in 2018. While I was pleased that the bill increases education funding, takes a small step forward in addressing the gun violence epidemic, and provides resources to help secure our elections from future attacks, I opposed this bill because it recklessly throws billions of additional taxpayer dollars to the Department of Defense, which has never completed an audit of its finances, has a reported $125 billion of wasteful spending, and it was recently found that over $800 million was lost on construction projects. This bill also fails to provide a solutions for Dreamers, and Members of Congress were given less than 24-hours to review the 2,000 page bill it before a vote was held.
Transportation Security
The House also voted on bills to improve security in our transportation systems last week. The Strengthening Local Transportation Security Capabilities Act (H.R. 5089) is a bill to enhance information sharing to improve our ability to prevent and respond to terrorist attacks on surface transportation facilities. The Strengthening Aviation Security Act (H.R. 4467) will require the Federal Air Marshal Service to conduct risk assessments in making decisions about how it deploys resources to protect the safety of flights. The Vehicular Terrorism Prevention Act (H.R. 4227) requires the Department of Homeland Security to develop a strategy for preventing acts of vehicular terrorism and to evaluate its current efforts to support emergency responders and the private sector in preventing and responding to these acts. I supported these bills, all of which passed in the House.
MARK AROUND TOWN
Honoring Andrew Mousalimas
Andrew Mousalimas of Pleasant Hill honorably served as a member of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) during World War II, where he and his fellow servicemen played a key role in helping secure an Allied victory. I proudly joined Mr. Mousalimas as he and his fellow members of the OSS were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, our nation's highest civilian honor.
Conversation with DVC Students
I met with some remarkable students from Diablo Valley College to talk about the high cost of tuition, financial aid, and barriers to veterans services for students. Education has always been the great equalizer in our country, and quality, affordable higher education should be available to all.
Meeting with Dion Aroner
My friend and former CA Assemblywoman, Dion Aroner, stopped by our Washington, DC office to talk about comprehensive care and streamlining services for seniors.
OPINIONS FROM THE DISTRICT
Hearing directly from you not only informs my work in Congress, but also is my favorite part of being your Representative. To share your opinions with me you can either email me or take our survey.
Below are some of the top issues you shared with me over the last week:
- 134 constituents asked that an effort to increase access to generic drugs, in turn decreasing cost, be included in the omnibus funding bill.
- 127 constituents wrote us in support of a long-term solution for Dreamers.
- 110 constituents wrote about their funding priorities for the upcoming spending bills.
LEGISLATION MARK RECENTLY SUPPORTED
Debt-Free College Act (H.R. 5384) – helps address the issue of rising student debt in our country by requiring the federal and state government to help students pay for the full cost of attendance in higher education without having to take on debt.
Student Non-Discrimination Act (H.R. 5374) – prohibits discrimination in public schools based on sexual orientation or gender identity and provides victims with meaningful and effective remedies.
CHIP Mental Health Parity Act (H.R. 3192) – ensures that all children and pregnant women on CHIP plans have the same mental health care guarantee that exists for other types of insurance.
Second Chance Reauthorization Act (H.R. 2899) – improves state and local grant programs to promote successful prisoner reentry and improve public safety.
Child Care at Responsible Employers (CARE) Act (H.R. 5401) – provides incentives to employers to invest in on-site child care to help provide assistance to working families.
Ammunition Background Check Act (H.R. 5383) – helps enforce existing law by requiring background checks on ammunition purchases.
LETTERS MARK RECENTLY SENT
Letter to the Department of Health and Human Services opposing the harmful new "Conscience Rights" regulation that will allow health care providers to deny services to women, LGBT individuals, and other patients.
Letter calling on the Federal Communications Commission to abandon their plan to drastically cut back the Lifeline program that has successfully provided phone and internet services to people who cannot afford them.
Letter to United Airlines asking them to examine allegations that United managers have intimated, questioned, and retaliated against workers engaging in protected union activities.
MARK'S RECENT STATEMENTS
Congressman DeSaulnier's Statement on Trump's Attacks on Mueller Investigation
"Interfering with Special Counsel Mueller's investigation is a red line that cannot be crossed. If President Trump does not heed warnings to let the investigation continue independently, we will have a major constitutional crisis. In that moment, if all elected officials do not put country before party we will have lost democracy," said Congressman DeSaulnier. "Congress must do its job and protect the Special Counsel. I wish that all my colleagues - Republican and Democrat alike - would join in passing legislation to ensure the investigation continues without interruption."
MARK IN THE NEWS
I joined Phil Matier to discuss how Republican Leadership rushed a 2,000+ page budget through Congress without adequate time for Members to read and analyze the bill, the President's empty threats to veto the spending bill, and the inspiring March For Our Lives events that took place this weekend in the Bay Area, throughout the country, and around the world.
I spoke with ABC 7's Dan Ashley to discuss the opioid crisis and my work in Congress.