For more than twenty years, Mark Takano has worked to improve the lives of Riverside County residents, both as an elected official and as a teacher at Rialto High School
Born and raised in Riverside, Mark's commitment to public service began at an early age. His family roots in Riverside go back to his grandparents who, along with his parents, were removed from their respective homes and sent to Japanese American Internment camps during World War II. After the war, these two families settled in Riverside County to rebuild their lives.
Mark attended La Sierra High School in the Alvord Unified School District, and in 1979 he graduated as the school's valedictorian. Mark attended Harvard College and received his bachelor's degree in Government in 1983. As a student, he bussed tables to help make ends meet. During his senior year, he organized a transcontinental bicycle ride to benefit the international development agency Oxfam America.
As a teacher for more than 20 years, I bring practical knowledge to Congress about which educational reforms will actually impact classroom performance positively, and I plan to work with my colleagues to implement them. I know that future economic prosperity requires a strong investment in education and workforce training today.
Investing in Early Childhood Education
We know that the fastest brain development occurs between birth and age five, and early childhood education programs, like Head Start, accelerate emotional and academic development and lead to future success. I firmly believe that an investment in our children is an investment in our future, which is why I support strengthening and increasing access to early childhood education programs.
K-12 Education
I have seen firsthand the challenges our K-12 education system faces and am committed to addressing those challenges in Congress. I support repealing and replacing the flawed “No Child Left Behind” law that prescribes “one-size-fits-all” requirements on schools, teachers, and students. Instead, I will advocate for a system that prepares Americans to compete in the global economy through an emphasis on science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) education, partnerships with community colleges and industry, and engaging teaching methods.
Toward that end, I introduced HR 2897, the Access to Complete Education Act, which establishes a grant program for school districts to strengthen core curricula in one or more of the following subjects: music and arts, foreign languages, civics and government, economics, history, geography, and physical education and health.
Higher Education
Access to quality higher education is a hallmark of American society. Unfortunately, the rising cost of college has become a serious impediment for many students. In addition to addressing the underlying causes of the rising cost, I will continue to support Pell Grants, fight to keep the interest rates on federal student loans low, and work to protect students against those for-profit colleges that leave students with unsustainable debt and worthless degrees.
In fact, I have led multiple efforts to encourage the Department of Education to issue gainful employment regulations that would require for-profit colleges to provide students with meaningful degrees.
I will also advocate for college-based job training and workforce development programs that help ensure our students are ready to join the workforce upon graduation. That is why I introduced HR 1271, the Job Skills for America’s Students Act, which promotes job training and skills development partnerships between businesses and educational institutions by providing a tax credit to companies who enter into such partnerships. For more information about the Job Skills for America’s Students Act, click here.
California is known for its beautiful mountains, shoreline, and diverse landscape. As a member of the Science, Space and Technology Committee and the Subcommittee on Environment, I am in the unique position to work with my colleagues to help protect the environment by working to ensure clean air and water for future generations to come, combating climate change, and promoting scientific innovation, technology and clean energy sources.
Clean Air and Water
When I was a child, I remember clear and beautiful sunny days, but over the years the air quality in Riverside County has degraded. I will work to ensure that we do all that we can to reverse the impact of pollution, so generations to come can enjoy the Riverside County I knew as a child. Working with my colleagues from the Inland Empire, I believe we can do this by coming together to improve and expand both the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act. Originally passed in 1963 and expanded in the following years, the Clean Air Act gives the Environmental Protection Agency the authority to enforce regulations to protect the public from hazardous airborne contaminants. The Clean Water Act, passed in 1972, protects our waters sources to make sure they are drinkable and swimmable. Both pieces of legislation are critical to the health and well-being of our Inland community and I am committed to supporting and protecting legislation that ensures the health of our environment for generations to come.
Climate Change
Climate change is real and is one of the most serious issues we face as a global community. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Earth’s average temperature has risen by 1.4 degrees Fahrenheit over the last century and is projected to rise between 2 to 11.5 degrees Fahrenheit over the next century. Though small, these changes in temperature can have a tremendous effect on our planet. We have already seen the impact. From changes in weather patterns, to an increase in droughts, floods, and superstorms, we know that the ice caps will continue to melt and water levels will continue to rise if we do nothing to combat climate change. I am committed to policies that promote the research and development of alternative energy technologies, strengthening environmental standards that lower our emissions, and invest in initiatives that conserve energy and expand the use public transportation.
Scientific Innovation and Technology
California is the innovation destination of the world. We are the environmental problem solvers and pioneers in developing new reusable sources of energy. However, to maintain this status, we must continue to invest in policies that encourage scientific invention and the creation of new technology. This does not just mean promoting new research at the University of California, Riverside, but also advancing STEM education in K-12 education. Inspiration and interest in the sciences must be sparked at a young age, so our students will be prepared to join the green workforce of the future. To learn more about my vision to support “Green Collar Jobs,” please visit my Jobs and the Economy page.
Renewable Energy
We must renew our commitment to a cleaner and more sustainable environment. As gas prices continue rise, the direct impact is felt daily, especially in Southern California. While I am supportive of efforts to responsibly expand our domestic production of traditional fossil fuels, I believe we must acknowledge that domestic oil and natural gas production are at some of their highest levels ever – yet high gas prices persist. Drilling alone will not be enough to meet the energy needs of the 21st century and the development of clean and renewable sources of energy will have to be a large part of any real solution. Instead of spending billions of dollars on subsidies to some of the world's richest oil companies, I believe we need to invest those billions into the clean sources of energy like wind and solar that will power the future.
Battery and Energy Storage
Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas and Electric are now mandated by the California Public Utilities Commission to procure 1.3 gigawatts of energy storage to their grids by 2020, making 33% of their electricity come from renewable energy. This is approximately enough energy to power 1 million homes. This will help ensure that California can also meet its renewable energy goals and greenhouse gas reduction requirements. According to the DOE Global Energy Storage Database, there are 231 storage projects in California and 138 battery specific storage projects.
I believe that battery energy storage is the future of renewable energy and that cheap grid scale storage means that renewables can compete with fossil fuels on cost alone. Not only is this better for our environment, it makes our national grid more secure from natural disasters. I recently introduced H.R. 3263, the Battery Storage Innovation Act to support the development of the battery storage industry and am Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Battery Energy Storage Caucus.
Water Resources Reform and Development Act
In 2014, I voted for the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA), the first water resources bill to pass the House of Representatives since 2007. It is critical to ensure a state of good repair for our nation’s water infrastructure and I was encouraged to see this piece of legislation pass the House with overwhelming bipartisan support.
In 2012, candidates and outside groups spent $6 billion on the Presidential election alone. This is unacceptable and I believe this Congress must enact comprehensive campaign finance reform. Furthermore, we must overturn the Supreme Court’s ruling in the Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, and, if necessary, I will support a Constitutional Amendment to do so.
Corporations and so-called “issue/advocacy” groups are using the Supreme Court’s interpretation of free speech to exert undue influence. Everyday voters do not have the resources or organizing power that certain companies and groups have. That is why I have cosponsored bills to prohibit issue/advocacy groups from interfering with political campaigns and reform the way companies spend money on politics, requiring more transparency and accountability. The health of our democracy may be in serious jeopardy if we do not reduce the influence of money.
Voting Rights
The right to vote is a critical component of American democracy. However, many Americans, including the elderly, new voters, the disabled, and minorities, are facing new state laws that make it harder for them to participate in this fundamental American right.
Proponents of voter ID laws, which require voters to present a government issued photo ID, claim they are designed to reduce voter fraud. These laws are nothing but artificial excuses to disenfranchise certain voting populations.
Between 2000 and 2010, 649 million votes were cast in general elections, yet there were just 13 credible cases of in-person voter impersonation. As a result of voter ID laws, however, in 2008, 2.2 million registered voters did not vote because they didn’t have proper ID, and most of them were minorities, of lower socio-economic status, seniors, or young voters.
That is why I support the Voter Empowerment Act, a comprehensive voting rights bill intended to modernize our voter registration system, reduce long lines at polling places, and ensure equal access to the ballot box for all Americans. I am also a firm supporter of H.J.Res 44, the Pocan-Ellison Right to Vote Amendment, which would amend the United States Constitution explicitly guarantees our citizens the right to vote.
The Supreme Court’s decision to strip a crucial element of the Voting Rights Act, preclearance requirements, could seriously undermine the ability of millions of Americans to participate in the political process. I believe we should be making the act of casting a ballot easier, not harder. Congress owes it to American citizens to acknowledge the gravity of this issue. Voting is a fundamental right and I will work hard in Congress to eliminate existing barriers.
I am a vocal advocate for quality, affordable health care for everyone in the Inland Empire. My top priorities are to support the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, protect and strengthen Medicare and Medicaid, and attract physicians to provide care in our region.
The Affordable Care Act
The Affordable Care Act established a framework to provide access to health care for millions of Americans. The federal and state health insurance marketplaces allowing individuals and small businesses to shop for insurance plans launched on October 1, 2013. These sites will make it easier to compare plans and learn about subsidies to help those who cannot afford to purchase health insurance on their own. In California, that means residents can turn to Covered California to learn more about their insurance options, compare, and purchase plans. Open enrollment continues through March 31, 2014, but the sooner you choose a plan the sooner you get coverage.
The Affordable Care Act ended pre-existing condition exclusions and lifetime caps for all Americans, allowed young adults to stay on their parents’ plans longer, and saved seniors millions in prescription drug costs. As your representative, I will fight to protect the Affordable Care Act and ensure that the law is implemented in a fair manner. For additional resources about the Affordable Care Act, click here.
Protecting Medicare and Medicaid
Medicare and Medicaid provide access to care for some of our must vulnerable populations. I strongly oppose Republican attempts to turn Medicare into a privatized voucher program that shifts costs to seniors and those with disabilities. I support allowing Medicare and Medicaid to negotiate prescription drugs prices, which could lower costs for seniors and save the federal government $130 billion. I will stand firm against efforts to decrease benefits for seniors, or transform Medicaid into a block grant program.
Each year, Congress struggles to find a fix to the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR). Without further Congressional action, Medicare physician payments could be cut by 24.4% at the end of March. A reduction in Medicare payments would have a devastating effect on physicians, health care providers, and patients across the country. Bipartisan, bicameral legislation has been proposed by the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee to eliminate the SGR and reform Medicare payments. I will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress to find a solution that ends the uncertainty of the SGR once and for all and ensures that Medicare patients can continue to be served by their physicians.
Health Care Workforce
Residents of the Inland Empire struggle to find access to care. In Riverside County, there are only thirty-four physicians for every 100,000 people. That’s why I’m thrilled that the UC Riverside School of Medicine will be opening this fall. The School of Medicine will help attract health care providers to train and practice in the Inland Empire. In addition, I support expanding the Medicare Graduate Medical Education (GME) Program that helps defer the cost of residency positions and trains physicians to meet California’s growing health care needs. We also need to increase our nursing workforce. As a former Riverside Community College (RCC) Board Member, I am proud of the first-rate education and training that the RCC School of Nursing offers students in the Inland Empire. I will continue work to ensure that we strengthen incentives to draw health care providers to our region.
Further Reform
While I’m committed to the reforms included in the Affordable Care Act, we must continue to pursue proposals to lower costs and ensure that everyone has access to care. That’s why I’m a cosponsor of H.R. 261, the Public Option Deficit Reduction Act. This bill would create a public health insurance option within the health insurance exchanges. Not only will a public option increase access to care, it will help to drive down costs by competing with private plans. It’s estimated that a public option could lower health insurance premiums by between five to seven percent. According to the Congressional Budget Office, a public option would save $104 billion from 2013 to 2022. This money can be used to strengthen subsidies and make private plans in the exchanges more affordable for working families, or help pay down the deficit. I will continue to look innovative ways to lower costs and provide the best quality care to the people of Riverside County.
The Inland Empire was hit particularly hard by the foreclosure crisis. Although recent trends show that the number of foreclosures is dropping and home prices are beginning to rise, the federal government can do more to keep people in their homes and ensure that everyone has access to quality, affordable housing.
Rent on the Rise in Riverside
In response to stories I’ve heard from constituents about rising rental prices and incomes that aren’t keeping pace, my staff looked at Census data from the Inland Empire to get a better picture of the forces at work in our region. We found that one in three renters in the Inland Empire is spending more than fifty percent of their income on rent. While these numbers have risen, the median income in our area is still more than $5,000 below its 2007 level. Families in the Inland Empire are feeling the burden and forced to spend less on other necessities, including food, clothing, transportation, medical care, or saving for retirement.
There are a number of factors contributing to this rise, including a growing Inland Empire population, an overall shortage of housing stock, and a recovering housing market being driven by investors, not homeowners. These investors present additional challenges to the rental market, including a lack of competition for rental prices, lowered housing availability, and potentially undermining the recovery of the housing market by creating new and risky financial products backed by renters who are being pushed beyond their financial limits. To help address these issues, I believe that Congress must offer proper oversight of these new financial products, and restore funding to programs that provide housing assistance, housing counseling, and help to end homelessness for veterans.
Supporting Documents
Assisting Homeowners and Fighting Foreclosure
Homeownership is a powerful economic stimulus that benefits our neighborhoods and helps children excel. Studies show that children living in owned homes do better in school, have fewer behavioral problems, and are more likely to succeed in the workplace. Homeownership also benefits local communities by encouraging civic engagement and strengthening neighborhood stability. As your Representative, I will support efforts to help working families on the path to owning their own home. The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) insures loans made by private lenders, making it easier for more borrowers to obtain a mortgage. Other tax incentives, like the home mortgage interest deduction, help defer the cost of owning a home.
The mortgage crisis and the economic downturn have left thousands of families in our region struggling to stay in their homes. I support reforms that help homeowners refinance their mortgages and make the foreclosure process more consumer-friendly. We must stop the practice of robo-signing by big banks and improve resources for homeowners that find themselves underwater in their loans.
Affordable Housing
It’s a challenge to find affordable housing, especially in California. More than eighteen million households across the nation are severely burdened by their housing costs, and spend more than fifty percent of their income on housing costs. This is a particular concern in our region, where large investors purchased hundreds of homes after the housing market collapse and have begun renting them to local families. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) oversees several programs, including rental assistance vouchers, which help low-income families afford the cost of housing. These vouchers serve more than four million households, with more than half of them headed by single women with children. While HUD programs can be a lifeline to many families, the number of vouchers doesn’t meet the demand and thousands are left on long wait lists. In Riverside County alone, 20,000 families are on the waiting list for rental assistance and the waiting list is currently closed. As a Member of Congress, it is my goal to strengthen and improve rental assistance programs at HUD, help families find safe and affordable housing, and put them on the path to self-sufficiency. For local housing resources, please visit http://www.riversideca.gov/housing/.
Preventing Homelessness
Too many people are homeless in the United States. We are one of the world’s wealthiest nations and yet many of our citizens are unable to find safe, affordable housing. The Department of Housing and Urban Development distributes grants to local communities to help provide permanent housing, transitional housing, emergency shelter, and support services for the homeless. However, grants alone are not enough to tackle this problem. We must address the underlying causes of homelessness. Poverty, unemployment, reductions in the social safety net, a lack affordable housing, mental illness, and addiction all contribute to our growing homeless population.
As a member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, I’m particularly concerned about the high number homeless veterans. In 2010, more than 144,000 veterans were homeless at some point during the year. I will support partnerships between the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Veterans Affairs that provide health care and affordable housing vouchers to the men and women who have served in our armed forces. I will work with my colleagues to increase investment in programs that help transition people into housing and offer a wide array of support services so they can find permanent housing.
With more than 12 million immigrants living in the United States without legal status, millions of close family members waiting abroad to join their loved ones, and the continued detention and deportation of members of our community, it is clear that our immigration system is broken. That is why I support comprehensive immigration reform (CIR) that addresses all aspects of the issue and includes a path to citizenship. I created this short video to help others better understand immigration reform.
Pathway to Citizenship
I support a comprehensive immigration reform plan that includes a fair pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. It is not enough to expand visas for high skilled employees and agricultural workers while hoping that the rest of the 11 million immigrants living in this country self-deport. Those who have worked hard, have lived in this country without committing serious criminal offenses, and believe in the American Dream should be given the opportunity to follow a path to become citizens. However, supporting a pathway like this does not prioritize undocumented immigrants over those currently awaiting naturalization and clearing any backlog should be prioritized.
DREAM Act
I believe that young people who were brought to the United States at a young age and raised as American's deserve the opportunity to stay in this country and receive an education. The DREAM Act would provide temporary legal status for these immigrants, provided they attend college or join the military. This legislation also removes the federal penalties for states that do not take into account immigration status in the provision of college financial aid. The DREAM Act was passed by the House of Representatives in 2010, but was held up by Senate. As the 113th Congress addresses immigration reform, I will be pushing for the DREAM Act’s inclusion in any comprehensive bill.
Uniting Families
Millions of families spend years apart because of the large backlog of family-based visas. We need to address the limitations and inefficiencies in our system that have led to this backlog and prioritize family-based immigration. That is why I am a cosponsor of the Reuniting Families Act, a bill that would do just that.
In addition, I am proud to be an original cosponsor of the “Uniting American Families Act.” Under current law, LGBT Americans are denied the opportunity to sponsor their permanent partners for residency in the United States. Many of these couples are married under the laws of the states in which they reside, but they are treated differently than are straight married couples. Family unification is one of the fundamental principles of our nation’s immigration laws, and the Uniting American Families Act will ensure that all binational couples are treated equally and fairly. The passage of this Act will strengthen these families and make our nation more economically competitive.
The U.S. Economy and Workforce
Many immigrants fill gaps in our workforce that would otherwise leave some businesses struggling to find employees. This is especially true in states like California, where agriculture is a large part of the economy. Furthermore, it is to America’s advantage to encourage the immigration of foreign citizens with backgrounds in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), who will spur the development of innovative and efficient technologies.
One of my top priorities in Congress is to help bring jobs back to the Inland Empire and spur economic investment in our region. Despite recent improvements in the nation’s economic outlook, the unemployment rate in Riverside County has remained higher than the national average, and any recovery will be gradual. To address persistent unemployment, I will support bold investment in transportation and infrastructure, strengthening our small businesses, research and development into new technology, and workforce training programs to prepare workers to compete in the 21st century.
Investments in Infrastructure
Investing in our local infrastructure will put people back to work and improve our community for future generations. With interest rates at record lows, now is the time to issue bonds to build and renovate our roads, highways, bridges, and schools. These investments will help to revitalize the construction sector, reduce traffic, and improve our public education system. Freight transportation in Southern California creates nearly one million jobs and generates more than $30 billion in tax revenue for local communities. Between our ports, freeways, airports, and rail yards, more than $287 billion in goods and merchandise is transported through Southern California each year. To keep goods and people moving smoothly, I will work with my colleagues from the Inland Empire to ensure that Riverside County is getting its fair share of federal funding for transportation and infrastructure projects.
Small Business
To grow our economy and get people back to work, we must ensure that small businesses have the resources they need to continue growing, innovating, and creating jobs. During these tough economic times, small businesses are finding it harder and harder to gain access to capital so they can expand and hire workers. I support cutting red tape and making it easier for small businesses to get micro-loans to help them grow and compete. Small businesses are the foundation of the American economy, and we must make it easier for them to compete for and win federal contracts. I look forward to meeting with local business leaders in the Inland Empire, hearing their stories, and collaborating with them to find ways that the federal government can work for them. To learn more about opportunities for small businesses that already exist, please visit the Small Business Administration.
Promoting Research and Innovation
With resources like UC Riverside in our own backyard, the Inland Empire can be a leader in research and innovation that creates green jobs. Already, UCR is conducting advanced biomedical research, and the new Medical School will bring additional jobs to our region. As a member of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, I will work to ensure that our nation’s research institutions continue to receive the federal funding that allows them to compete and excel on the global stage. I support research and development tax credits to help foster a business climate that encourages innovation, and will work with community leaders to build partnerships between researchers, businesses, and local manufacturers.
Job-Training
As an educator and Member of the Riverside Community College Board, I’ve seen first-hand how job-training and vocational programs give students the skills they need to find a job and keep it. I support partnerships between community colleges, local businesses, experts, non- profits, and community leaders that give students hands on experience that will prepare them to succeed in the 21st century workforce. It’s time to reauthorize the Workforce Investment Act (WIA). This crucial law, which supports workforce development activities, like job search assistance and job training, is ten years overdue for reauthorization. While I support improving the effectiveness and accountability of WIA, I oppose efforts to consolidate the programs that provide services to our young and elderly workers, workers with disabilities, English language learners, and low-income workers.
Green Jobs
Growth in the green job sector has the potential to create quality, well-paid jobs that help improve the environment. Studies show that green jobs tend to be better paid on average and that they are more likely to be union jobs. Investments in green retrofits will improve energy efficiency and put people to work in communities across the country. As a member of the Congressional Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM) Caucus, I believe that we must prepare our students and workers to meet the demands of this emerging field. I will work with my colleagues promote policies that get students excited about STEAM fields so they can compete for green jobs of the future.
Employee Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA)
As a Co-chair of the Equality Caucus, I am a proud cosponsor of the Employee Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) which would prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in hiring and employment practices. I believe that this is a critical piece of legislation to further protect LGBT Americans and ensure that no one in this country is denied employment based on who they are.
Veteran Job-Training
Riverside County has the 8th largest veteran population of any county in the United States. As a result, I am committed to ensuring that our veterans and transitioning service members are workforce-ready and able to find well-paying jobs. As the Ranking Democrat on the Veterans’ Affairs Committee’s Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, I am constantly working with my colleagues to guarantee that all veterans have the tools and support they need to excel in the workforce.
Securing our nation from foreign threats, including terrorism, must be a priority of Congress. It is critical that our military personnel have the equipment, resources, and support they need to protect this country.
Addressing Emerging Threats
As our troops return home from Afghanistan and Iraq, our military will need to adjust capabilities and develop new tactics to combat emerging threats. I believe we should move away from the construction of next-generation nuclear weapons, place a greater emphasis on diplomatic solutions, and enhance our leadership in multilateral institutions. With the continued presence of terrorist organizations, it is critical that our anti-terrorism efforts are strategic and effective.
March Air Reserve Base
With March Air Reserve Base, the largest Air Reserve Base in the country, located in my district, I‘ve see firsthand the hard work and dedication of our military men and women. Not only does March play an important role in our national security, but the base is the largest employer in my district and has a yearly economic impact of roughly $500 million on the region. In Congress, I will fight to ensure that our military men and women – like those at March – receive the support they deserve.
Work for Warriors
The Work for Warriors Program (WFW) was established by the State of California in 2012 with the mission of reducing unemployment in the California National Guard (CNG) by 25%.
In 2013, I founded the bipartisan Congressional Work for Warriors Caucus with my colleague Paul Cook (CA-08). The caucus will promote and increase awareness of California’s extremely successful Work for Warriors program, with the eventual goal of expanding the program in California and seeing it replicated in other states.
We all have the right to live in safe and secure communities. It is my duty as your Congressman to promote policies that curb gun violence, support our first responders, address issues in our criminal justice system, and be an advocate for a practical approach to drug policy.
Gun Control
This past year our nation witnessed a succession of gun-related acts of violence – shootings in environments we frequent every day. We all have the right to feel safe in our movie theaters, centers of worship, and especially, our schools. What is clear from these horrific events is that we cannot afford to do nothing and we cannot accept these tragedies as routine. California has some of the strictest gun laws in the nation, including a ban on semi-automatic rifles, but without a federal assault weapons ban, which expired eight years ago, there are loopholes that make it relatively easy to obtain military style assault weapons in spite of strong state gun control laws. I believe that we need to reinstate permanently the federal assault weapons ban as well as a ban on large capacity ammunition magazines. I also support expanding the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), established by the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act, to ensure that only law abiding individuals are allowed to purchase guns. We have a responsibility to protect our children, which is why I also support mandating child safety locks on handguns to prevent accidental deaths.
First Responders
First Responders require our continued commitment and support to overcome the threats posed by terrorism, natural disasters, and other emergencies. Police, Firefighters, and Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) risk their lives every day so we can all remain healthy and secure in our homes, schools, and public places. I am committed to making sure the First Responders of the Inland Empire have the support they need to purchase vehicles and equipment, hire and train new staff, and educate the public about how to stay safe. In Congress, I will support full funding for programs like Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response (SAFER) and Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grants that provide funding to local communities.
Criminal Justice Reform
California has one of the largest prison populations in the United States, which has led to more funding going to incarcerate criminals than to teach our children. We must reform our priorities and do more, especially in California, to reduce our recidivism rate and support the successful reintegration of ex-offenders into society. The Federal government spends billions of dollars annually on funding our prisons and I believe there are a few simple reforms, like expanding the use of probation for low-level offenders and reexamining sentencing laws for drug offenders, that can reduce the cost of our prison systems, while maintaining public safety.
Millions of Americans have worked hard their entire lives and depend on Social Security and Medicare during their retirement. I will fight to preserve and protect these vital programs, so that all seniors can have the dignified retirement they have earned.
Preserving Social Security
Social Security is a promise that we have made to our nation’s seniors. Work hard, pay your share, and you will be taken care of in your retirement. Seniors have contributed to Social Security by paying payroll taxes during their working years and they have earned their benefits. As Congress considers proposals to reduce the deficit, I will oppose measures that undermine our social security system and cut benefits to seniors.
We need to strengthen Social Security for future retirees, not use it to pay down our debt. While Social Security benefits are indexed for inflation, they are not keeping pace with the high costs of health care and prescription drugs that many seniors face. I oppose efforts to move to a chained consumer price index (CPI), an alternative measure of inflation that would slowly decrease seniors’ benefits over time. Although the changes might be small at first, by the time a typical retiree reaches age 75 they could face a benefit cut of $560 a year. That number only grows with time. Instead of reducing seniors’ benefits, we should do more to ensure that payments are keeping pace with inflation. That’s why I support using the Consumer Price Index for the Elderly (CPI-E), which better reflects seniors’ higher costs of living. I will do all that I can to ensure that seniors receive the benefits for which they have worked so hard.
Protecting Medicare and Medicaid
Medicare and Medicaid provide access to care for some of our must vulnerable populations. I will fight back against attempts to turn Medicare into a privatized voucher program that shifts costs to seniors and those with disabilities. I support allowing Medicare and Medicaid to negotiate prescription drugs prices, which could lower costs for seniors and save the federal government $130 billion over ten years. We also must look for ways to strengthen and improve access to affordable long-term care for seniors. Medicaid programs serve as an important safety net for seniors by helping pay the cost of long-term care. I oppose proposals to turn Medicaid into a block grant, and I will fight for increased federal contribution to state Medicaid programs. The Affordable Care Act expanded Medicaid coverage to millions of low-income Americans, and the federal government must continue its commitment to ensure that the program in every state is strong and robust.
Each year, Congress struggles to find a fix to the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR). Without further Congressional action, Medicare physician payments could be cut by 24.4% at the end of March. A reduction in Medicare payments would have a devastating effect on physicians, health care providers, and patients across the country. Bipartisan, bicameral legislation has been proposed by the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee to eliminate the SGR and reform Medicare payments. I will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress to find a solution that ends the uncertainty of the SGR once and for all and ensures that Medicare patients can continue to be served by their physicians.
Health Care Reform and Seniors
The Affordable Care Act made key improvements to our health care system that will directly benefit seniors and Medicare recipients. The law is already working to close the Medicare Part D coverage gap for prescription drugs, known as the “donut hole,” and by 2020 the donut hole will be eliminated completely. The law also eliminated copayments for preventive services in Medicare so patients won’t be charged for visiting the doctor for routine check-ups, and extended the life of the Medicare Trust Fund. As your representative from the Inland Empire, I will fight to protect the Affordable Care Act and ensure that the law is implemented in a fair manner.
Riverside County is one of California’s fastest growing areas. While the population continues to expand, the infrastructure of the Inland Empire has not kept pace. The 2010 report from the American Society of Civil Engineers for the Inland Empire, grades the Inland Empire’s transportation system at a D plus, and gives overall infrastructure for the area a C plus. Deteriorating infrastructure costs Inland Empire drivers time and hundreds of dollars each year in extra fuel costs.
Transportation Survey
My office conducted a transportation survey of my district in May 2013 and recently published the results here. 548 community members responded to the survey that asked which transportation and infrastructure issue was most important to them. Respondents from Riverside, Moreno Valley, and Jurupa Valley were most concerned about freeway maintenance, while residents of Perris wanted to see increased public transit options. Other concerns included transit options for the disabled as well as increased pedestrian and cyclist safety.
Transportation Tour
In September 2013 and again in August 2014, I went on a “Transportation Tour” of my district, hosted by the Riverside Transit Agency and the Riverside County Transportation Commission. The tour included stops along the new Perris Valley Line as well as RTA headquarters. I met with business leaders and community stakeholders who expressed the importance of expanding public transportation in the region to attract business.
Public Transportation Access for the Elderly
According to a report from Transportation for America, “Aging in Place, Stuck Without Options,” 69 percent of seniors living in the Riverside-San Bernardino area will have poor public transportation access by the year 2015. Studies show that a very small percentage of Americans relocate later in life and this creates what researchers call “naturally occurring retirement communities.” These seniors need access to affordable public transportation near their homes. For those seniors who no longer drive, lack of access to public transit means fewer trips to the doctor, fewer trips to buy groceries and fewer visits with families and friends.
I wrote a report detailing the need for transit access for elderly and disabled residents and calling for increasing funding for public transit, specifically bus transit. You can read the report here.
Access to public transportation for lower income communities
Public transportation is an essential component of our nation’s economy. As fuel prices continue to rise, increasing the cost of driving, many households must rely on public transit to go to work. According to “Missed Opportunity: Transit and Jobs in Metropolitan America,” from the Brookings Institution, 81 percent of lower income residents living in the Riverside metro area can reach less than 7 percent of low and middle income jobs via transit. As the economy continues to recover, we must ensure that people not only have jobs, but can also access them.
Master Infrastructure Plan for CA-41
The Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) is a long-range infrastructure plan for Southern California that is updated every four years. The RTP uses growth forecasts and economic trends to project over a 20-year timeframe the transportation needs of the entire region. The RTP helps transit agencies in Southern California more effectively invest their funds in projects. While regional transportation plans are done at the county and state level, long-range transportation and infrastructure planning is not done on the federal level. A federal level RTP would make an even stronger case for transportation investment because it would help to predict what would happen if we invest in infrastructure and also predicts what would happen long-term if we do not invest what is needed for our national infrastructure.
Ontario International Airport
The Inland Empire is one of the fastest growing areas in California. As we continue to grow, we need our airport to expand with us. Since August 2007, the number of flights available at Ontario International Airport has dropped by 47 percent and the number of destinations available has been cut by almost 60 percent. Ontario is an important economic asset to our region and has the capability to bring more jobs and business activity to the area. I support local control of the airport and will work with my colleagues from Southern California to continue to support the expansion of Ontario International Airport.
I support local control of the airport and am extremely pleased that we are in the final process of transferring control from Los Angeles World Airports to an Inland Empire Authority.
Transportation Funding Reauthorization
In November 2015, I voted in favor of the Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform (STRR) Act. This bill authorizes highway transportation funding for six years, an important timeframe that allows our nation’s transit agencies and urban planners to effectively design and implement long-term regional transportation programs.
Infrastructure Bank
Establishing a National Infrastructure Bank to leverage private dollars to make much needed investments in infrastructure projects across the country should be a priority. The California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank (I-Bank) is a state run entity that has the authority to issue tax-exempt and taxable revenue bonds and provide loans local governments to fund infrastructure projects. A National Infrastructure Bank would offer similar services at the federal level to states, by providing loans and loan guarantees to projects, issue bonds, and offer subsidies to help cover the interest payment on project bonds. This would allow the United States to make investments in critical infrastructure projects without adding to the deficit. This is why I am a cosponsor of H.R. 3337, the National Infrastructure Development Bank Act of 2015.
Parity in Transit benefits
Transportation is the second largest household cost for Americans. Under current law, a tax credit is provided to commuters to help decrease the financial burden of commuting to work. In the past, the pre-tax benefit for transit was $125 per employee, per month, while the benefit for parking was set at $245. The pre-tax benefit for both transit and parking is currently equal at $245 per employee for month. This policy has been extended on a short-term basis and expires at the end of 2013. H.R. 990, the Commuter Parity Act, would permanently make the transit tax benefit for public transit and parking equal and sustainable by capping both at $220 per employee, per month.
Complete Streets
H.R. 2071, the Safe Streets Act, was recently introduced and would require states to adopt Complete Streets policies within two years for new federally funded projects or road improvements. Complete Streets policies take into account the needs of all roadway users, including pedestrians, cyclists, drivers, the disabled, and the elderly when designing and implementing new transportation projects. This is especially important for the Riverside-San Bernardino area as more seniors “age in place” and to ensure that lower income communities have better access to transportation options.
Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Act
Despite the fact that last year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 16% of traffic related deaths were pedestrians and bicyclists, only 1 percent of the safety funding goes to infrastructure improvements to protect those two groups. This is why I am a cosponsor of H.R. 199, the Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Act, which would require the Department of Transportation to create and enforce separate measures for motorized and non-motorized safety. This bill gives states the flexibility to set their own bicycle and pedestrian safety targets and determine the best methods to meet them.
ITS Technology
One way to address issues presented by aging infrastructure, without a huge price tag, is through the use Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) technology. ITS uses existing technologies to improve efficiency, prevent accidents, and decrease gridlock. Examples of Intelligent Transportation Systems include using ramp meters to improve highway flow, electronic fare payment systems to ease travel on public transit, and programs that update drivers about real-time roadway conditions.
In October 2015, I introduced H.R. 3825, the Intelligent Technologies Initiatives Act of 2015, which would create a grant program for municipalities to help implement large scale ITS programs.
Public Transportation Caucus
A critical component of our Nation’s transportation infrastructure is public transportation. To be kept informed on the specific issues of mass transit, I joined the bipartisan Public Transportation Caucus. The caucus provides a forum for Members of Congress to work with public transportation stakeholders and leaders to learn about the unique issues of mass transit in the United States.
P3 Caucus
I am also a member of the Public-Private Partnerships (P3) Caucus. This caucus helps to raise awareness about infrastructure issues across the country and examines the role public-private partnerships as solutions to some of our biggest infrastructure funding needs.
I am honored to serve as Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.
Riverside County has the 8th largest veteran population of any county in the United States. The brave men and women in our community and across the country deserve our deepest gratitude and respect. I am committed to supporting our veterans by:
These priorities are critical to providing America’s veterans the care and support they deserve.
My first priority is to ensure that every veteran has access to quality and timely health care. A strong VA health care system is critical to connecting veterans with highly skilled doctors and medical staff that have the expertise required to treat the unique and complex health challenges our veterans face.
VHA doctors work exclusively with the veteran community and are familiar with military service and culture. As a result, VHA doctors can recognize service-connected issues that often go unnoticed or untreated by private healthcare providers. They can also access veterans’ service records to anticipate and address health conditions that are specific to certain regions or service histories.
According to studies, the VHA delivers care that is equal to or better than the care provided in the private sector. I stand with the overwhelming majority of veterans and veterans’ organizations who reject proposals to privatize VA health care.
Instead, I am focused on strengthening VHA’s capacity to provide quality care, streamlining the process for leveraging care in the community, and investing vital health services that veterans rely on, including the VHA’s program for suicide prevention, which is the largest suicide prevention program in the United States.
The most recent study revealed that 20 veterans die from suicide every day. This tragic fact is a call to action for improving access to mental health resources, and bringing veterans suffering from conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder under the VHA’s blanket of care. At the same time, we must work to erase the stigma associated with seeking help for mental health.
For many young Americans, military service is both an opportunity to serve as well as a bridge to a better future. As a public school teacher for more than 20 years, I strongly believe that we must provide returning servicemembers with the educational tools and support they need to make a successful transition into civilian life. I am working with my colleagues on the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee to shape the programs that ensure every veteran has access to an affordable and quality higher education or vocational training.
Specifically, I am fighting to expand and protect the G.I. Bill, enhance transition programs, and, most importantly, crackdown on for-profit education companies that continue to prey upon and exploit student veterans for their generous education benefits.
At the end of the 114th Congress, President Obama signed into law the Career-Ready Student Veterans Act, which I introduced to ensure that all educational programs meet state licensure and certification standards if they are to receive G.I. Bill payouts. This is just one step towards the protecting the G.I. Bill from the for-profit education industry, which frequently recruits students through ambitious promises but delivers crippling debt and few job opportunities instead.
I will continue pushing for a more comprehensive solution, including the PRO Students Act, which would remove the incentives that lead for-profit schools to aggressively target veterans.
After unacceptable instances of underperformance and misconduct at the Department of Veterans Affairs, VA must refocus its efforts on building a world-class workforce. Recruiting and retaining talented and passionate staff is critical to building a VA that offers veterans a consistently excellent experience.
In addition, strong and continuous leadership, organization-wide training and development, and accountability for those who fail to meet veterans’ needs are necessary steps toward earning the trust of the veterans community.
The Department of Veterans Affairs is vital to keeping the promise we make to veterans. I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure the VA is providing veterans the care, support, and respect they have earned through service to our nation.
As the first openly gay person of color elected to Congress, I understand what it is like to face discrimination. This is why I am dedicated to supporting and creating policies that promote and safeguard equal opportunities for all women, including protecting victims of domestic violence, ensuring equal pay for equal work, advocating for a woman’s right to choose, comprehensive sex education, and championing a family-friendly workplace.
Violence Against Women Act
One of my first acts as a Member of Congress was to cosponsor the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act. First passed in 1994, and reauthorized in 2000 and 2005, this landmark legislation is critical to our nation’s continuing efforts to combat and reduce instances of domestic violence and sexual assault. I am proud to have voted for the expansion the Violence Against Women Act that ensures further protections for members of the LGBT community, tribal communities, immigrant women, and includes provisions to make campuses safer for our students. I also look forward to working with my colleagues to eventually pass the International Violence Against Women Act to help end gender-based violence abroad.
Equal Pay for Equal Work
Women are an essential part of America's workforce. From entrepreneurs, to business leaders, to elected officials, women have provided valuable skills that help make our nation one of the world's most competitive. Unfortunately, for far too long, pay discrimination has affected working women, leaving them with less to bring home than their male counterparts. This is why I am a proud cosponsor of H.R. 1619, the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would require employers who pay men more than women for the same job to prove that the pay disparity is not based on sex, is related to the job, and is necessary for business. Beyond ending existing discrimination, the Paycheck Fairness Act would create training programs for women and girls to learn how to successfully negotiate their salaries and would provide assistance to businesses to promote equal pay practices.
Reproductive Rights
The government does not have a place in the private medical decisions of any woman. I will continue to defend a women’s right to choose and I will work to protect Roe v. Wade. I have stood up to multiple legislative attempts to limit a woman’s right to choose and attacks on women’s health. I also stand strongly in opposition to any attempt to defund Planned Parenthood, which provides critical services to women in my district. At a time when 28 states require waiting periods for women seeking an abortion, and 12 states have extreme abortion bans, I am an original cosponsor of H. R. 448, the Women’s Health Protection Act that creates federal protections against state restrictions on abortion access.
Paid Family Leave
I do not believe that new parents should have to make a choice between staying home with their new family and their paychecks. I support legislation that creates family-friendly workplace policies to provide for paid leave for parents following the birth, adoption, or fostering of a child.