Investments in early education, when a child’s brain is rapidly developing, can lead to better academic and personal achievement lasting a lifetime. That is why every child and family must have access to quality childcare and early education. Through investments in programs like Head Start and by taking new steps to offer affordable childcare to families of all income levels, we can ensure that every child starts life on a level playing field with equal chances for a healthy, successful life.

Colleges and universities are engines of our economy, but the rapidly rising costs of tuition have excluded too many students from attendance. And countless students who do attend find themselves saddled with crushing debt. That is why I believe every student should have access to a debt-free degree. That means increasing investment in financial assistance programs like the Pell Grant, allowing student debt to be refinanced and discharged in bankruptcy, and protecting Public Service Loan Forgiveness and income-based repayment plans. And with more job opportunities requiring an advanced degree, I believe we must also protect access to postgraduate education. My bill, the POST GRAD Act, would help make advanced degrees more affordable by reinstating subsidized loans for graduate students.

I believe America has an indispensable role to play in promoting health, human rights, opportunity, and freedom around the world. And therefore, I believe a strong commitment to foreign aid is vital. 

We already spend less than 1% of our federal budget on foreign aid, but our small investments in humanitarian, health, and education assistance reap rewards for the American people by helping to reduce violence and promote stability. 

Foreign aid also helps our country build new friendships abroad and to create a more prosperous and peaceful world. Even military leaders say diplomacy and development are key components of maintaining American security. 

That is why I believe we should be investing more in foreign assistance. Each year, I support requests of billions of dollars in appropriations for clean water, the Peace Corps, international basic education, global health programs, and other forms of economic and material aid that have been shown to save lives and promote peace for very little investment on our part.

I do not believe that nuclear weapons should be considered as a first option, nor do I believe they should be used hastily. That is why I cosponsored legislation to prohibit the president from conducting a first-use nuclear weapon strike without congressional approval. A nuclear strike is a clear act of war and therefore, the power rests with the United States Congress. 

Nuclear proliferation is also a serious threat, which requires early action to prevent. That is why I’m supportive of diplomatic efforts to stop burgeoning nuclear programs in unfriendly countries like North Korea and Iran. Past experiences have shown that diplomacy can be an effective means of reducing the threat of a nuclear conflict. I believe the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which effectively stopped Iran’s nuclear program, was a success of diplomacy and peace and should be supported. I oppose President Trump’s attempts to weaken this agreement by pulling out of it. That decision risks conflict with our allies while paving the way for Iran to resume their nuclear program. 

I’m committed to strengthening the U.S.-Armenia relationship. Our countries share deep economic ties, and I’m proud to support our foreign aid to Armenia each year. But I know we can do more. That is why I have also called for a new double tax treaty to help businesses here who also do business in Armenia to thrive and bring our countries closer in mutual prosperity. 

Standing with Armenia also means standing with the people of Artsakh who have been under attack by Azerbaijan since their peaceful call for self-determination. Azerbaijan’s violent response is unacceptable. That is why I condemned the violence and joined my House colleagues to send a letter to the president urging him to work with both sides to bring peace to the people of Artsakh. I have also called to suspend aid to Azerbaijan if they continue in their aggression against the people of Artsakh. 

Finally, it is time we recognize the historical reality of the Armenian Genocide. The horrific and intentional murder of Armenians will not be forgotten and cannot be ignored. I’ve been a proud cosponsor of the House resolution to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide each Congress. This resolution would put the U.S. on the right side of history, and I will continue to speak out until our government does the right thing and acknowledges the tragedy of the Armenian Genocide.

The US and Israel share a great friendship based on common security interests and shared values. I believe we must stand by Israel by continuing our robust foreign assistance, speaking out against those who try to delegitimize Israel through boycotts, divestments, and sanctions, and supporting the goal of a two-state solution that will finally bring peace and security for both Israelis and Palestinians.  

But steps like the destruction of Palestinian villages in the West Bank in order to build settlements make a negotiated two-state solution more difficult, which is why I have supported calls for Israel to halt these destructions. I am also troubled by the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and President Trump’s decision in early 2018 to withhold more than 80 percent of U.S. contributions to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA). This aid is critical to providing services in Gaza, where more than 50 percent of the children live beneath the poverty level and 95 percent of tap water is not safe to drink. The decision to cut aid will exacerbate humanitarian and security issues. 

Ultimately, I continue to believe that a negotiated agreement that establishes two states living side-by-side in peace and security remains the only solution to the ongoing conflict. Questions of borders, governance, terrorism, and refugees loom large. But these problems can be resolved through the Israelis and Palestinians sitting down to negotiate together.

Getting an idea off the ground isn’t always easy. Having access to local resources like advice on how to develop and grow a small businesses can make all the difference.

That is why I’m proud to have brought the first two Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) to the San Gabriel Valley. Small Business Development Centers are Small Business Administration (SBA) administered partnerships, typically with local colleges and universities that provide free, confidential services to small business owners. Any person who wants to start or expand their small business can get a business plan or a feasibility study.  They can get help in marketing and most importantly in finding financing.  

Where once the closest SBDC was in Long Beach, I am proud to say that thanks to all of our efforts, we now have two fully operational SBDCs – one at Pasadena City College and the other at the University of La Verne. These small business development centers have already helped many entrepreneurs get their ideas off the ground, and they can be of service to you too, so don’t hesitate to contact them for free advice and support. 

Pasadena City College SBDC
Foothill Campus
3035 E. Foothill Blvd., Room 122
Pasadena, CA 91107
Phone: (626) 585-3106
Email: SBDC@pasadena.edu 

SBDC hosted by University of La Verne
College of Business and Public Management
2180 Third Street
La Verne, CA 917507
Phone: (909) 448-1556
Email: ssnider@laverne.edu

Financial capital is critical for small businesses – it allows them to invest in new equipment and grow their payrolls. But that capital can be hard to come by.

That’s why I successfully fought to pass the Commercial Real Estate and Economic Development (CREED) Act into law. It extends the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) 504 loan refinance program for 5 years, allowing qualified small businesses to lock in long-term, stable financing, and enabling access to working capital to protect and create new jobs.

The CREED Act is completely funded by SBA fees, which means this law helps boost the economy without costing the taxpayers a dime. Since its passage, small businesses have been able to refinance qualified loans at low interest rates, helping them increase their capital and succeed.

A shocking 73% of small businesses are turned away for conventional loans by banks.  This is why we rely on loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) to seek sources of capital. I introduced the Investing in Main Street Act to address this very problem. The Small Business Investment Companies Program, or SBIC, is an investment program with an SBA guarantee that increases access to capital for high-growth, start-up businesses. Already, SBIC funding has helped companies like Tesla, Apple, and Intel get off the ground when they were considered to be small businesses. But a 60 year-old law – the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 - put a cap on how much banks or federal savings associations may invest in SBICs. The Investing in Main Street Act amends that outdated law to increase the percentage of capital and surplus that a bank or federal savings association may invest in SBICs.

This bill was passed unanimously by the House of Representatives in 2019. I am working towards getting it through the Senate and signed into law.

In October 2014, President Obama acted on my call for permanent protection for the San Gabriel Mountains and declared 346,000 acres as a national monument. This meant that we could finally begin directing much needed funds for new trails and cleanup to the monument, something that was difficult when it was just a part of the national forest budget. Immediately after the new designation was announced, over $4 million were pledged by various groups to help improve this area. This was a critical step towards making our treasured mountains, rivers, and forests a national priority.

But all of that was put at risk when President Trump signed an Executive Order directing the Secretary of the Interior to review all national monuments designated since 1996 for a potential rollback of their boundaries or complete nullification of their monument designation. I was shocked and dismayed that the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument was on the list for review. And so I led an effort to keep the monument designation in place. I sent a letter from the Democrats in the Los Angeles delegation urging Secretary Zinke to leave the San Gabriels’ monument status intact. We made the case that our local communities benefitted from the mountain’s federal status. As a result, at the end of the review, Secretary Zinke did not make any recommendations to change the San Gabriel Monument.

In order to further protect our outdoor spaces, I introduced the San Gabriel Mountains Foothills and Rivers Protection Act, which would establish a National Recreation Area (NRA) along the foothills and San Gabriel River corridor, and designate over 30,000 acres of protected wilderness and 45.5 miles of protected rivers in Southern California. This bill would expand the borders of the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument to include the western Angeles National Forest. It also establishes an NRA to enhance conservation, increase access for all communities by connecting park poor areas to open space, and improve the management of the area through improved resources, education, and public engagement. The 15,878 acres of expanded wilderness and 15,191 acres of new wilderness areas will benefit from the highest form of protection of any federal wildland. These areas of untouched nature will remain open to hiking, camping, and other recreation activities encouraged in the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument, but commercial activities and motorized vehicles will be prohibited in order to prevent over-development, pollution, and habitat destruction.

I strongly support the bipartisan DREAM and Promise Act to enable young undocumented students and workers who were brought to this country as children to remain here. The DREAM Act and Promise Act establishes a process for eligible DACA, Temporary Protected States (TPS), and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) recipients with a pathway to citizenship. This has the potential to provide immigration relief for over 2.5 million individuals, including 130,000 Asian American and Pacific Islander immigrants. Dreamers can apply for legal permanent residency if they came to the United States before the age of 18 and have been in the country for at least 4 years. Individuals who were eligible for TPS and DED on January 1, 2017 and who have been in the United States for at least 3 years are also eligible to apply for legal permanent status. 

I believe Congress must consider comprehensive immigration reform to fully address the issues that hamper our immigration system in a permanent manner. Businesses and farmers aren’t able to get legal access to the workers they need to stay competitive, which hurts our economy. There is also a huge backlog of family-based visas that must be cleared so that families can be reunited. We must make it easier for employers to bring the best and the brightest to the U.S. by eliminating country-specific limits on employment-based visas and exempting high skilled immigrants such as those with advanced degrees in science, technology and engineering. Passing these reforms will help bolster the U.S. economy and provide candidates for positions that are currently difficult for employers to fill. 

We must do more for families seeking asylum at the border. I have visited family detention centers and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) processing centers, witnessing firsthand the hopelessness and despair immigrants are experiencing in those settings. We need a more humane way of processing asylum cases by making sure that everyone fleeing horrific conditions or persecution is allowed to make their case before an immigration judge and held in less restrictive settings. I do not believe that immigrants seeking refuge in the United States should be labeled as criminals. They should be afforded fair proceedings and due process rights as dictated by our laws. 

Children who enter the country either unaccompanied or with family should never be separated from their loved ones. The Trump Administration’s “zero-tolerance” policy of separating children, including those under the age of five, from their parents is cruel and has caused irreversible trauma and heartache in these children’s lives. We need to do more to help children and their families who have no choice but to flee dangerous conditions and seek refuge in the United States. 

The Muslim Travel Ban is tearing families apart and causing misery and psychological trauma. Spouses and fiancés are separated.  Weddings, funerals, graduations have all been missed.  Over 5,000 adopted children of US citizens cannot join their families. That is why I introduced the NO BAN Act. This bill would repeal all three versions of President Trump’s Muslim Ban, putting an immediate end to this family separation. It requires a report on the total number of waivers that were granted and the total number that were denied, so we know the truth about what’s happening.  And it says that if a President does want to implement such a ban, they will have to produce actual evidence of a threat, so that in the future, no individuals are denied entry into the U.S. solely based on their religion

I introduced the POWER Act to stop disreputable employers from exploiting immigrants. Immigrants from across the country report that some employers threaten them with deportation to intimidate workers from protecting themselves against abuse.

While current law does protect all workers, regardless of immigration status, it doesn’t go far enough to protect the victims of this abuse. The POWER Act would change that. My bill allows worker protection agencies to ask the Department of Homeland Security to provide immigrants with temporary lawful status and an employment authorization if they have filed a workplace claim against an unscrupulous employer.

Nobody’s rights should be determined by their zip code, but in recent years, numerous state legislatures have taken action to impede a woman’s constitutional right to access safe, legal abortions. That is why I introduced the Women’s Health Protection Act, the most supported pro-choice bill in Congress. This bill creates federal protections against state laws that fail to protect women’s health and that intrude upon personal decision-making. It prohibits medically unwarranted restrictions that single out abortion services or the facilities that provide them. We have seen an unprecedented number of state-based attacks on a woman’s right to choose, and the Women’s Health Protection Act is our way to fight back. 

And as Chair of the Contraception and Family Planning Task Force of the Pro Choice Caucus, I am fighting to ensure that women have access to birth control so they can decide when and where to have a child. I firmly believe we should be investing in evidenced-based public health programs like the Title X Family Planning Program, but without imposing so-called “gag rules” that prevent doctors from giving their patients complete and accurate medical information. I also strongly support comprehensive sex education and the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program, so that our young people have medically accurate information that help them make the best and safest decisions for themselves. These programs provide comprehensive sex education, cancer and STI screenings, and access to contraception for low-income Americans. And I’m fighting to ensure a woman’s decision to access contraception is between her and her doctor, not her and her boss. 

American innovation hinges on creativity -- it allows our kids to dream big and our artists to create works that inspire us all. The jobs that result are thanks entirely to our willingness to foster creative talent, and an environment where it can thrive. To ensure that creative works are a part of the legislative debate in Congress, I, along with former Congressman Howard Coble (R-NC), launched the Congressional Creative Rights Caucus in 2013. Today, I lead the caucus with our co-chair, Congressman Doug Collins (R-GA). This bipartisan caucus includes 55 members spanning both ends of the political spectrum.

We started this caucus because we see a need to advocate for the rights of individual creators. The caucus strives to educate Members of Congress and the general public about the importance of preserving and protecting the rights of the creative community in our country. American creators of motion pictures, music, software, books, visual arts and others rely on Congress to protect their creative rights, human rights, First Amendment rights, and property rights. I pledge to drive home the critical message that creative rights matter.

The Creative Rights Caucus hosts quarterly events on the hill. We partner with groups representing industries such as film and television, music, photography, visual artists and authors. The caucus hosts an annual event called “Beyond The Red Carpet: Movie & TV Magic Day”, which attracts over 500 attendees, including over 40 Members of Congress. A speaking program and exhibit booths offer a behind-the-scenes look at our American film and television industry.

After speaking with so many stakeholders from my district in California and in DC, I made it a priority to ensure that the Copyright Office has the modern tools that it needs to best serve creators in our country. 

It is so critical to have a robust, central entity that supports our copyright system. Our nation’s core copyright industries add over a trillion dollars to our economy per year while providing jobs to over 5 million people. At the center of it all is the Copyright Office, which has proven to be an invaluable resource and an important partner to lawmakers, international counterparts and creative industries.

The Copyright Office faces challenges posed by insufficient funds, operational challenges since it is held within the Library of Congress, and limited staff and infrastructure to perform its core functions. In addition, the Office must update its IT infrastructure in order to better serve a marketplace that requires sophisticated technology. 

To address these challenges, Rep. Tom Marino (R-PA) and I introduced the Copyright Office for the Digital Economy (CODE) Act. This bill would create an independent Office in which its core powers and duties would be transferred to its leadership from the Library of Congress. It would also task the new Office to study how it would update the Copyright registration and deposit process to bring it into the modern age.

I believe that Congress needs to ensure that our patent system continues to promote innovation and job creation – not abusive litigation practices. This is why I voted for H.R. 9, the Innovation Act, which would protect our nation’s patent system while improving incentives for future innovation.

Abusive patent litigation cost the US economy an estimated $29 billion in 2011 alone. In 2013, I coauthored a letter along with Rep. Blake Farenthold (R-TX) that urged the Federal Trade Commission to take a more proactive approach in protecting businesses, consumers and other downstream users of technology who have been sued by entities that seek to abuse our nation’s patent and court system. 

In addition, Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) and I introduced the Stopping the Offensive Use of Patents (STOP) Act, which helps businesses defend themselves from abusive entities by giving them a faster, cheaper alternative to litigation. The STOP Act allows businesses who have been targeted by a low quality business method patent to challenge the validity of that patent that the US Patent and Trademark Office.

I have consistently pushed for robust funding for state and local law enforcement departments so they can prevent, investigate, and prosecute intellectual property crimes.  Without a doubt, the innovation of new technologies promotes economic growth by creating thousands of American jobs.  However, many of these jobs are at risk due to intellectual property theft.  California’s economic recovery has been slower partly because Los Angeles County lost $5.2 billion in economic activity stemming from intellectual property theft in just one year alone.  Not only must we create legislation to help individuals gain intellectual property rights, but we must also ensure that our laws are strong enough to protect these rights.  

At a time of record unemployment, and with three-quarters of our economic growth tied to American innovation and intellectual property, the need to overhaul our outdated patent system had never been greater.  The world around us had modernized their patent systems to reflect the competitive nature of the global economy, while we in the U.S. were using a patent system that had not been updated in 60 years.  That’s why I proudly voted in favor of the America Invents Act, a law that modernizes our outdated patent system and enables American business to stay here, develop here, and create more products here.

This important law also included an amendment I authored that makes the complicated process of getting a patent a little easier for independent inventors.  Now the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office will work with intellectual property law associations across the country to establish pro bono programs to help independent inventors file patent applications under the modernized system.  These innovators play a special role in our economy and it is imperative that we in Congress do everything possible to support their creativity and entrepreneurial spirit.

The right to vote is one of our most sacred rights and is fundamental to American democracy.  Unfortunately since 2011, there has been a concerted effort by state legislatures to pass laws that suppress the voting rights of Americans (over 160 laws have been introduced). These measures have made it harder for millions of Americans to vote – especially the elderly, our youth, the disabled and minorities.

For more than 40 years, the Voting Rights Act (VRA) has been one of our best tools for combating discrimination—particularly in places with a history of discrimination. However, in 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court significantly weakened the VRA in its decision in Shelby County v. Holder by striking down the formula used in the VRA to determine which states and local governments would need to obtain court approval before changing their voting laws or practices. Although the VRA was designed to prevent abusive practices in areas that had a history of voting discrimination, the Court held that the formula was implemented based on data that was too old. Without new legislation to undo the damage done by Shelby, minority communities are now at risk of being disenfranchised.

• Restoring the Voting Rights Amendment Act (VRAA). I am a co-sponsor of the Voting Rights Amendment Act, a bipartisan bill which modernizes the VRA to address current circumstances. The bill would work to prevent discrimination on the basis of race, color, or membership in a language minority group, and would also require public notice and transparency regarding any changes to: (1) voting prerequisites, standards, or procedures; (2) polling place resources; or (3) demographics and electoral districts.

American democracy has been centered on the fundamental principle of one person, one vote and the notion that we all have an equal voice and say over government decisions that affect our lives and our nation. However, the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission in 2010 eroded this principle by allowing corporations to spend unlimited amounts of money on American elections. The decision has very dangerous implications for the rights of Americans, as corporations are now able to make unlimited campaign donations without disclosing who they are.  In 2014, the Supreme Court further expanded the influence of money in politics, in McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission, which invalidated aggregate limits on how much a single donor could spend per an election cycle, making it easier for the very the wealthy to influence elections.

I am working to ensure every American has an equal voice in our elections by:

• Overturning endless political spending under Citizens United. I am a cosponsor of the Democracy for All Amendment which would amend the U.S. Constitution to reverse the effects of Citizens United and McCutcheon decisions, and limit the ability of corporations and the wealthiest donors to buy unlimited influence in our elections. This constitutional amendment would allow Congress and the States to regulate and set reasonable limits on the raising and spending of money by candidates and others to influence elections.

• Fighting for open and transparent campaign funding. I voted for H.R. 1 – a landmark anti-corruption bill. This bill would clean up our campaign finance laws to take dark money out of politics and increase disclosure requirements, both of which help voters understand what influences our decision making. And it also puts more power into the hands of our own auditors, the Office of Government Ethics to conduct more oversight and enforcement and put in stricter lobbying requirements. It’s not enough for us to demand integrity, we have to demonstrate it as well. This transparency will help our government run more efficiently and honestly, which is better for all of us.

After nine years with no VA health clinic in the San Gabriel Valley, I’m thrilled to announce the opening of the San Gabriel Valley Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC). The SGV CBOC, located at 7 West Foothill Boulevard in Arcadia, will offer Veterans access to primary care, mental health care, telehealth, and basic laboratory services on an interim basis for the next three to five years until a larger, full-service clinic in the San Gabriel Valley is completed. 

From tuition to pensions, and everything in between, veterans’ benefits are indispensable lifelines for our nation’s heroes. These benefits provide access to a wide variety of resources to help veterans and their families. That is why I support efforts to protect and strengthen veterans’ benefits.

I am committed to ensuring that veterans in the San Gabriel Valley get the health care they have so rightfully earned. Any delay of treatment, whether through claims backlogs or waiting lists, is unacceptable.  We must make sure that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals in every city ensure timely care, not only for the visible wounds, but also for the invisible wounds. 

That is why I voted for H.R. 3055, Commerce, Justice, Science, Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, Interior, Environment, Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act, 2020. This bill included $217.5 billion in funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs, which will help fund programs like medical care, mental health services, suicide prevention and outreach activities, and homeless assistance programs.  This Democratic-led appropriations bill invests in the services and healthcare our veterans need. 

Many veterans struggle to find a job that meets their skills after returning home from war. It can be difficult for veterans to adjust to a new workforce, but after the sacrifice they have made for us, we need to be there for them. 

I have consistently supported bills – like the Veterans Skills to Jobs Act signed into law in 2012 – to enhance veterans’ job training resources, and let veterans translate military training and skills into civilian credentials and licenses. It is vital that we recognize any relevant training a veteran received while serving in the Armed Forces if he or she applies for any federal license requiring special training or credentials.  This recognizes the value of our veterans’ skills in the civilian economy. And we must encourage the private sector to do the same. Our veterans have impressive, unparalleled training be it as medics, mechanics, truck drivers, electricians, and many other highly skilled professions.

I am also especially concerned about the high rates of homelessness among our nation’s veterans. Veterans who are unable to secure employment often end up becoming homeless. I support legislation and programs that seek to reduce homelessness among our veterans by providing access to housing, employment assistance, reintegration services, and more. I have repeatedly urged appropriators to give the highest possible funding for programs such as the HUD-VA Supportive Housing, or HUD-VASH, which offers vouchers for homeless veterans to find stable and supportive housing. 

I believe that as a nation, we are not doing enough to keep guns out of the hands of individuals who seek to cause harm in our communities. The epidemic of mass shootings show us how dangerous it can be when guns land in the wrong hands. Enough is enough. That’s why I support giving the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) the authority to research gun violence, reinstating the assault weapons ban, preventing those who are on the No-Fly list from being able to buy a gun, and instituting criminal background checks for every gun sale. Implementing these common-sense steps to prevent gun violence, that the majority of Americans overwhelmingly support, will make our country a safer place for all of us and our future generations. 

Eighty years ago, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Social Security into law, creating an enduring promise to America’s seniors that the retirement program they paid into their entire working lives would provide them a stable source of income.

One of my top priorities is to preserve — not privatize — Social Security.  

In an effort to protect Social Security from cuts and to strengthen it for years to come, I support:

• H.Res.393 – Resolution expressing support for policies to protect and expand Social Security and secure its long-term future in a fair and responsible manner.  In my district, 108,000 seniors depend on Social Security, and I intend to make sure it’s always there for them and also for their children. With an average benefit of $1,188 a month, Social Security keeps beneficiaries in my district able to afford necessary expenses and maintain their independence in their golden years. 

• The One Social Security Act (H.R. 3150)to prevent benefit cuts in 2016. Social Security's Disability Insurance Fund is set to start running out of money in late 2016, which would require a 20 percent cut in benefits and impact 11 million people.  This is simply unacceptable.  This bill would merge the two trust funds, Disability Insurance and Social Security, into a single trust fund covering all of Social Security.  This action would prevent a benefit cut to all Social Security beneficiaries. I will continue to support legislation that puts seniors first and prevents benefit cuts.  

Medicare is our promise to American seniors.  After a lifetime of work, Americans can count on the stability and security of reliable, dependable, high-quality health insurance. As a member of the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, which has jurisdiction over much of the Medicare program, I am committed to making Medicare work for American seniors. 

• I oppose efforts to cut or privatize Medicare to pay for deficits created by the Republican Tax Cut.  Since 2011, Republicans have been including in their budgets plans to privatize Medicare through a voucher system, also known as “premium-support”.  A voucher system would mean less benefits and higher out of pocket health care costs.  Beneficiaries would receive a premium-support payment that may not completely offset the premium for the Medicare plan of their choice.  This would leave many beneficiaries out in the dark as they struggle to figure out how they would foot their medical bills. This is clearly a terrible deal for seniors. 

I also do not believe that our deficits should be balanced on the backs of our Seniors. We cannot ask America’s seniors to pay for tax cuts for corporations and billionaires. 

• I support expanding Medicare benefits to support our seniors. I believe that Medicare should cover basic services like vision, hearing and dental, and that we should be working to improve services in the Medicare program. I have authored several bills that would expand Medicare access to mental health providers like psychologists, access to Medical Nutrition Therapy for individuals diagnosed with eating disorders, and coverage for custom breast prosthetics for Medicare beneficiaries who undergo mastectomies. 

America’s seniors are suffering under the skyrocketing costs of prescription drugs in this country. No one should be forced to ration their medication or skip meals in order to afford the medication that keeps them alive and healthy. That is why I support a number of policy proposals aimed at reducing the prices of prescription drugs for our seniors:

• I support giving Medicare the authority to negotiate directly for prescription drug prices. This would allow Medicare to use its considerable negotiating power to get a better price for American Seniors. 

• I support increasing the availability of generics, and ending pay-for-delay agreements wherein a brand name drug company pays a generic company to keep their product off the market. 

• I support transparency in the prescription drug market and at the pharmacy counter. That is why I support ending pharmacist “gag clauses,” which prevent pharmacists from letting patients know if there is a cheaper, generic option available to them at the pharmacy counter. 

I am also deeply concerned about the impact the opioid crisis and addiction have on our community, and every community across the country. I believe that we need to focus on all aspects of this crisis: prevention, treatment, and recovery. To prevent more individuals from becoming addicted, I am committed to helping patients access non-addictive alternatives to opioids to treat pain. I have worked to pass bills that would expand treatment options for those suffering from addiction, including those in the senior population. Finally, I believe we need to ensure that those in recovery have a safe and supportive environment to rebuild their lives. Rest assured that I am working on all of these issues in my role in Congress.

I called for a Congressional hearing and Congress held the first hearing on military abuse since 1979.  In fact, it might have been the first official hearing on hazing in every branch of the services in Congressional history.

But in the hearing, I heard each branch say that they have hazing under control.  That their policies are working. But the stories of Harry and others show that we clearly have work to do to eliminate hazing in the military. 

I authored and secured an amendment in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2013 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that required thorough reports on the hazing policies, the tracking and reporting protocol, and training procedures for each military branch.  Congress received the reports from each branch of the military in 2014.  I believe that the reports we received from the Navy, Army, Marine Corps, and Air Force show that substandard tracking systems are resulting in unreliable data, as there is no uniform procedure to track hazing throughout the military branches. 

In 2014, I introduced an amendment to the FY2015 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that required the first ever independent report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) on the anti-hazing efforts of each branch of the military and the Coast Guard. On February 9, 2016, Congress received an independent assessment of hazing in the military. The report concluded that Department of Defense (DOD) has not fully implemented anti-hazing policies, does not know the extent of current implementation, training for servicemembers is unclear, and hazing tracking systems are incomplete and underdeveloped. 

Given these objective findings, I testified in front of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) in March 2016. I called for stronger anti-hazing policies in the FY2017 NDAA. Congress should receive annual reports on DOD’s anti-hazing efforts. Further, DOD must implement department-wide tracking systems that are uniform, comprehensive, and include information on protected classes such as race and religion. Training should be improved for all command levels so all servicemembers can identify it and stop it when they encounter it. Lastly, DOD needs to evaluate the prevalence of hazing in a meaningful way. It is only with these changes that we can eradicate hazing in the military. 

I am pleased to say that all four of these policy recommendations were included in the House-passed version of the FY2017 NDAA. Congress has just  begun to see the results from these studies, and I will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that all branches of the military and the Coast Guard are effectively implementing anti-hazing policies and reporting incidents as they occur.   

At the time of Harry’s death, I didn’t know how common his tragedy was - how many other service members had suffered as he did.  But the letters started pouring in – day after day, week after week.  Mothers, friends and service members themselves wrote in excruciating detail what they and their loved ones endured.

I am committed to being a voice for other victims of military hazing, who often feel like they have nowhere to turn. I encourage families and servicemembers to share their stories. Congress needs to hear from you. 

The San Gabriel Mountains are often the only place that the two million urbanized residents of the San Gabriel Valley can go to hike, camp, and enjoy the outdoors. These rugged mountains provide over 70% of LA County’s open space and host over 3 million visitors a year. Meanwhile, the surrounding region is one of the most park-poor in the country.

As beautiful as these mountains are, they are in critical need of safe and proper facilities, clean up efforts, and educational programs. San Gabriel Valley residents and environmental groups have pushed for additional conservation, resources, and facilities in the Mountains and throughout the San Gabriel River Watershed to protect the natural resources we have left and expand recreational opportunities for communities in the region. 

My efforts to protect San Gabriel Valley’s natural resources include:

• Introduced legislation to expand federal resources and protections for the San Gabriel Mountains. I introduced the San Gabriel Mountains Foothills and Rivers Protection Act, which would establish a comprehensive national recreation area in the foothill communities and river corridor, expand the boundaries of the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument, and expand wilderness within the mountains. Now I am urging Congress to pass this bill to secure permanent protections for the mountains. 
  
  In October 2014, President Obama acted on my call for permanent protection for the San Gabriel Mountains and declared 346,000 acres as the nation's newest national monument! Immediately after the new status was announced, over $4 million were pledged by various groups to help improve this area. This change, the biggest since 1908, is a crucial step at making our treasured mountains, rivers, and forests a national priority, but it is just a first step. I will continue to push for more protections and resources through my NRA bill. You can see the map of the new San Gabriel Monument here. 

I also consistently cosponsor legislation to protect and preserve nature, including protecting endangered species, providing funding for international conservation efforts, protecting forests, marine environments, and the many delicate natural habitats in need of our help.

Climate change is an existential threat that demands our bold, immediate action. As a member of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition, I support measures to phase out the use of fossil fuels, increase investments in clean energy technology, and place a price on greenhouse gas emissions. 

I am continually supporting strong protections for our public lands, waters, and natural resources here in Congress. I am also defending our environment from attacks under the Trump Administration. 

Pollutants significantly threaten public health by contaminating our air and water. Reducing pollution will lead to trillions in savings from fewer healthcare costs and lost work days, less environmental cleanup, and less environmental damage down the line. It also creates jobs as facilities upgrade and new technology develops. That is why I have spoken out against the Trump Administration’s rollbacks of environmental protections and any policies that attack the environment.

Healthy oceans are an integral part of a healthy environment. Our oceans and coasts are also major contributors to our economy, food supply, and recreation opportunities for local communities and visitors alike. In California, our active coastline is one of our greatest natural treasures, and a critical source of business through trade, tourism, and fishing. 

That is why I have consistently opposed offshore oil drilling in the Pacific, Atlantic, and Arctic waters around the United States. These are fragile, volatile environments where oil spill mitigation is difficult and no measures are currently in place to provide a rapid, adequate response in an emergency. An oil spill in the Pacific would ravage our shipping and fishing lanes, and oil on our shores would cripple our booming tourist economy.

Likewise, new or expanded oil drilling into protected public lands like the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge will hurt native communities, destroy priceless habitats and ecosystems, and lead to worsening global warming.

The federal minimum wage has stagnated at $7.25 per hour since 2009, resulting in millions of Americans struggling to make ends meet despite having a full-time job. No one who works hard every day and plays by the rules should live in poverty.  We should make sure that all workers can earn a living wage by raising the minimum wage. An increase in wages means an increase in consumer power that results in economic growth for our entire country. When workers have more money to spend, they tend to spend it in their communities. I have been so proud to see both Los Angeles County and the City of Pasadena taking steps to increase the minimum wage.  As a member of Congress, I am working to make that happen on the federal level as well.

In addition, all workers should have the freedom to decide for themselves whether to form unions to bargain for a better life and should not be penalized because of it. I have consistently supported legislation that enhances protections for workers that are discriminated against in the workplace based on their labor union association. I am proud to be an original cosponsor of the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, a comprehensive bill to protect workers’ rights to join unions and collectively bargain.

In 2018, the Supreme Court dealt a blow to public sector unions in the case Janus v. AFSCME by undermining their rights to collectively bargain on behalf of employees. But public sector unions improve working conditions for public servants, and they improve public services. That’s why I am a cosponsor of the Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act, which protects the rights of state and local government employees to collectively bargain.

We must also end discrimination in the workplace. Every worker in America should be able to earn a living free from discrimination based on race, religion, age, national origin, or sexual orientation. In addition, immigrant workers should not be retaliated against if they report an unfair labor practice. That is why I have introduced the Protect Our Workers from Exploitation and Retaliation (POWER) Act to ensure that workers who report such practices are able to maintain legal status while the claim is being investigated. 

In addition, workers who labor in hot conditions, risking illness or death from heat stress, should receive required water, shade, and rest periods. I introduced the Asuncion Valdivia Heat Illness and Fatality Prevention Act, named for a worker who died a preventable death from heat stroke after working for 10 hours straight in 105-degree temperatures. This legislation builds on legislation that I introduced as a member of the California Assembly that made California that first state in the nation to require paid shade and water breaks for those who work outside. It is time for a federal heat stress standard. 

I have also fought hard to extend federal employment discrimination law to protect workers based on sexual orientation and have strongly supported measures in Congress to prohibit discrimination on the basis of perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. 

Finally, at a time when workers and their families are still struggling to get by, no one can risk missing a paycheck or losing a job due to an illness.  Many workers do not have paid leave they can use to take time off work when they are sick, or when they need to stay home to take care of a sick child or elderly relative. Too many workers face this fear when they or someone in their family is sick or needs medical care.  For the 40 million Americans who have no access to paid sick days, an everyday illness brings impossible choices between the jobs they need and the families they love.  Workers who can’t afford to stay home are forced to put their families – and the public's health – at risk. I am pushing for the legislation to provide workers with up to 12 weeks of income when they take time for their own health conditions, including pregnancy and childbirth recovery.

The cutting-edge work provided by the NASA Mars program means investment in the economy and thousands of jobs – not only at JPL, but in spin-off industries and businesses, and throughout the community. That is why I support increasing funding for NASA’s science and exploration programs in Congress’s annual appropriations process. I have also testified before the House Appropriations Committee to emphasize the importance of JPL’s work urge them to increase funding for the Mars program.

Thanks to these efforts, funding has  increased for NASA’s science programs. I am committed to fighting for the highest level of funding possible as these bills move through the legislative process so that the Mars Program can continue to plan for its long-term future and retain the talented people who have made it a success.

In addition to backing the Mars mission, I also support scientific research and investment in other areas critical to Space Exploration. I advocated full funding and independence for NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate, which is key to developing the next generation of advanced technologies – such as propulsion, robotics, satellite servicing, deep-space communications, power systems, and entry, descent, and landing – that will enable us to reach further into deep space.

Caltech is one of the leaders, along with the University of California Berkeley and the Universities of Washington and Oregon, in developing an advanced Earthquake Early Warning System (EEW) for the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). This system issues alerts, enhances public safety, and reduces losses and emergency response times through rapid forecasting. Until now, most natural disasters have been predictable via advances in radar and meteorological technology. That means hurricanes, tornados, even heat waves, can be anticipated, people can take shelter, protect their property, transportation systems can shut down, and emergency services can activate auxiliary power.

But we have not had this same ability with earthquakes. Caltech and its partners are changing that through a highly advanced network of censors linked to an automatic alert system. So far they have achieved an impressive six second advanced alert time! This allows people to take protective action and trigger automatic responses to safeguard critical infrastructure. For example:

• allow people to drop, cover and hold on and grant businesses time to shut down and move workers to safe locations,

• give medical professionals time to stop delicate procedures,

• protect travelers by providing time for trains to slow or stop, for elevator doors to open, for bridge traffic to clear, for slowing or stopping traffic, and even stopping landings and take-offs at airports, and

• enable emergency responders to prepare by opening fire station doors and starting generators.

And now, the EEW is available to the public through the ShakeAlert LA app. I encourage constituents to visit http://www.shakealert.org for more information and to download this application, which can provide up to 60 seconds of warning before shaking begins. But in order to expand, and be even more effective, this system needs additional resources. That is why I have requested funds through the House Interior Appropriations bill for EEW expansion on the West Coast. This system is not only critical for our communities; it is also a pivotal model for other seismically active areas in the U.S. and abroad, with the potential to help save billions from fewer economic losses, damage to property and infrastructure, and critical injuries.

The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) is comprised of Members of Congress of Asian and Pacific Islander descent and members who have a strong dedication to promoting the well-being of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. CAPAC has been addressing the needs of the AAPI community in all areas of American life since it was founded in 1994. CAPAC is non-partisan and bi-cameral.

CAPAC was created with the purpose of ensuring that legsilation passed by the United States Congress, to the greatest extent possible, provides for the full participation of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and reflects the concerns and needs of the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. We work to educate other members of Congress about the history, contributions and concerns of Asian American and Pacific Islanders, establish politcies on legislation and issues relating to persons of Asian and/or Pacific Islands ancestry who are citzens or nationals of, residents of, or immigrants to the United States, its territories and possesions, as well as work to protect and advance the civil and constitutional rights of all Americans.

American innovation hinges on creativity -- it allows our kids to dream big and our artists to create works that inspire us all. The jobs that result are thanks entirely to our willingness to foster creative talent, and an environment where it can thrive.To ensure that creative works are a part of the legislative debate in Congress, I, along with Congressman Howard Coble (R-NC), the Chairman of the IP Subcommittee, launched the Congressional Creative Rights Caucus in 2013. This bipartisan caucus includes 54 members spanning both ends of the political spectrum.

We started this caucus because we see a need to advocate for the rights of individual creators. The caucus will strive to educate Members of Congress and the general public about the importance of preserving and protecting the rights of the creative community in our country. American creators of motion pictures, music, software, books, visual arts and others rely on Congress to protect their creative rights, human rights, First Amendment rights, and property rights. I pledge to drive home the critical message that creative rights matter.

In 2014, the Creative Rights Caucus hosted the first-ever “Beyond The Red Carpet: Movie & TV Magic Day” on Capitol Hill. Over 400 attendees, including Patrick Duffy and Linda Gray, stars of the TNT/Warner Horizon Television series "Dallas", SAG-AFTRA actor RJ Mitte from AMC's "Breaking Bad", and 30 Members of Congress participated in the event.  A speaking program and thirteen exhibit booths offered a behind-the-scenes look at our American film and television industry.