Updates on Impeachment, Isabel, and Other Work in Washington
IMPEACHMENT UPDATE
The House of Representatives will vote on impeachment of President Trump this week. As a member of the Rules Committee, Congressman DeSaulnier will begin consideration of the process for impeachment on Tuesday with the full House vote on the articles of impeachment expected on Wednesday.
Congressman DeSaulnier took questions and provided an update on the impeachment process by hosting a Facebook Town Hall.
AT A GLANCE
In this week's Digest, you will find information on Congressman DeSaulnier's:
- Continued work to #SaveIsabel;
- Successful effort to honor the Port Chicago 50; and
- Opposition to a bill to increase defense spending.
#SAVEISABEL
Announcement of Approval for Award-Winning Advocate Isabel Bueso
Last week, after months of fighting back against the Trump Administration, Congressman DeSaulnier announced that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) granted Concord resident Maria Isabel (Isabel) Bueso and her family deferred action for a period of two years. Isabel rose to national notoriety as the face of the Trump Administration's cancellation of deferred action, which led to people like her with rare, life-threatening diseases facing deportation. While we celebrate this important step, the Congressman remains committed to finding a long-term solution for Isabel and the hundreds of others whose lives were upended.
To learn more, click HERE.
IN THE NEWS
Congressman DeSaulnier joined MSNBC's Richard Lui to discuss this upcoming week's impeachment proceedings and talk about the role he will play as a member of the House Committee on Rules
Congressman DeSaulnier joined KQED News to discuss the impeachment process and what comes next
LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
DeSaulnier Effort Honoring the Port Chicago 50 Passes in House
A measure authored by Congressman DeSaulnier to honor and provide federal recognition of the Port Chicago 50 passed in the House of Representatives as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (S. 1790). If signed by the President, which is expected to happen this month, it would represent the first time that federal law recognizes the racial bias experienced by the Port Chicago 50 and the first official call from Congress that the Secretary of the Navy recommend remediation for the Port Chicago 50. This effort is an important first step toward righting this historical injustice and properly honoring the Port Chicago 50, and Mark will continue fighting to get the justice these brave service members deserve.
Also included in the bill is a provision authored by DeSaulnier to improve financial transparency for America's veterans who experience hardship when receiving both separation pay and disability pay. S. 1790 also takes a significant step by providing paid family leave for federal workers.
To learn more, click HERE.
Congressman DeSaulnier Opposed Bill to Increase Defense Spending
Each year, Congress passes a bill (known as the National Defense Authorization Act, or "NDAA") laying out the guidelines for military spending. While this year's bill had significant improvements over other years, including providing paid family leave for federal workers for the first time, Congressman DeSaulnier voted against the bill because it increases the defense budget by another $30 billion, bringing the total spending to a whopping $738 billion for this year alone with no requirement for an in-depth spending analysis or accountability. Although Congressman DeSaulnier voted against this bill, it passed by a vote of 377-to-48.
Congressman DeSaulnier Votes to Lower Drug Costs
For too long, pharmaceutical companies have used federally-funded research and turn it into astronomical profits for their companies. As a result, Americans pay more for prescription drugs than people in most other high-income countries. Last week, Mark joined House Democrats to take a stand against pharmaceutical companies and pass the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act (H.R. 3) to help make prescription drugs more affordable and help families focus less on affording their treatment and more on getting healthy. H.R. 3 passed, with Mark's support, by a vote of 230-to-192.
BY THE NUMBERS
.png)
IN THE COMMUNITY
Congressman DeSaulnier joined the East Bay Regional Park District and local leaders at Miller/Knox Regional Shoreline to honor the contributions of retiring EBRPD Director Whitney Dotson.
Our office joined VFW Post 1525 at Memory Gardens in Concord to participate in the Wreaths Across America program. The program remembers, honors, and teaches about those who have made the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of our nation.
