Recapping Events Throughout Contra Costa
Throughout the month of August, we have been hard at work meeting with constituents and hosting events across Contra Costa County. Last week alone, we held three town halls – in Richmond, Danville, and San Pablo — with a combined total of over 1,000 attendees. Additionally, we held a veterans resource fair to better connect Contra Costa's veterans with information about the benefits they have earned and deserve. We also introduced two important pieces of legislation aimed at improving airline safety and reducing gun violence in the wake of the recent mass shootings in El Paso, Dayton, and Gilroy.
More information on our work is included below, and please stay tuned for information on future events.
I am continually impressed by how engaged Contra Costa is in our democracy and remain thankful for the opportunity to serve you in Congress.
Sincerely,
Mark DeSaulnier
Member of Congress
AT A GLANCE
In this week's Digest, you will find information on Congressman DeSaulnier's:
- Sweeping legislation to make air travel safer;
- Bill to use research to reduce gun violence; and
- Visits around town.
SAFE LANDINGS ACT
On January 7, 2017, an airplane at SFO came dangerously close to landing on a taxiway where four airplanes were lined up. More than 1,000 people's lives were at risk in what could have been the biggest airline catastrophe on record. In recent years, runway incursions in the U.S. increased by nearly 83%. With near-misses like the one at SFO on the rise, we need to act now to ensure that those incidents do not turn into accidents and that our aviation system remains the safest in the world. The Safe Landings Act addresses technology needs, training expansion, and establishes a new federal task force to research and identify safety risks as a result of human error. Congressman DeSaulnier spent two years doing research, reviewing numerous near-miss incidents, and holding more than 60 meetings to get the advice of multiple stakeholders in the aviation industry, including Captain Sullenberger, pilots unions, air traffic controllers, mechanics, ground safety crews, federal agencies (NTSB and FAA), and more.
ABC7's Eric Thomas took an in-depth look at our Safe Landings Act
KPIX provided this report from our press conference at SFO
The San Francisco Chronicle was on hand for the unveiling of the Safe Landings Act
The East Bay Times also provided coverage of the Safe Landings Act
IN THE NEWS
Mark joined KPIX's Phil Matier to discuss the issue of gun violence, the bills we passed in the House, and the need to rely on evidence-based research to enact meaningful change
Mark joined Fox News' Leland Vittert to discuss what it will take to make meaningful progress towards preventing gun violence
LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
Congressman DeSaulnier Introduces Bill to Develop Evidence-Based Solutions to Gun Violence
Mark introduced the Gun Safety Board and Research Act (H.R. 4177), a bill to enable evidence-based solutions to gun violence. The Board, which will be housed at the Department of Health and Human Services in recognition that gun violence is a public health epidemic, will be responsible for conducting research, evaluating federal and state policy proposals, and recommending best practices for reducing gun violence. Creating a way to re-introduce quality research into the gun violence prevention debate will help us rise above partisan politics and get to the roots of the problem. To learn more about this bill, click HERE. Also, the Mercury News highlighted our work in their editorial section, click the image below to read their take on our work to reduce gun violence.
BY THE NUMBERS
MARK AROUND TOWN
A standing-room only crowd joined us in Richmond for a town hall on immigration
Mark welcomed veterans to Heather Farm Park for a health care and benefits fair
Mark and staff celebrated National Night Out in communities throughout Contra Costa County
Nearly 800 people turned out for a town hall in Danville
We visited with West County seniors at a town hall in San Pablo