Fighting for military families

Dear Friend,

I’m back home in San Diego for a few weeks and wanted to send a quick update on what I’ve been up to – from celebrating Women’s Equality Day with Navy Region Southwest to discussing military quality of life issues with service members and military families at a town hall hosted by the San Diego Military Advisory Council.

Keep reading for more August highlights:

Improving Quality of Life for Service Members and Military Families

We are failing to adequately support our service members and their families, which is hurting our military readiness and our national security. We need to do so much more to improve housing, child care, and food security for military families who already sacrifice so much for us.

That’s why I was so glad to join a town hall hosted by the San Diego Military Advisory Council. It was so great to hear stories and answer questions from service members and veterans, so I could share the work I am doing to better their lives and make good on the promises that we’ve made to them.

Celebrating Women’s Equality Day and the 19^th Amendment

Last week, I joined Navy Region Southwest to keynote their Women’s Equality Day celebration and honor the passage of the 19^th Amendment that granted many women the right to vote.

As we take on more hurdles to equality – from attacks on reproductive rights to the lack of child care – we can draw inspiration from the trailblazing women who came before us, harness women’s talents, and push for all our fundamental rights.

Expanding Access to Higher Education

Too many Americans don’t have equal access to quality higher education. And with the Supreme Court’s attack on affirmative action coupled with rising tuition costs and the student debt crisis, programs like the University of San Diego’s TRIO Upward Bound – that help low-income, first-generation to college, and underrepresented communities get into college – are more important than ever. So I was excited to speak at the program’s inaugural event and celebrate their work to level the playing field and open up life’s possibilities for more young people.

Fighting to End Discrimination Against LGBTQ+ People

As a new wave of anti-LGBTQ+ hate spreads across the country, we have to make sure we’re celebrating the LGBTQ+ community and finding joy amid this darkness. That’s why I was so excited to speak at the Human Rights Campaign’s annual San Diego dinner that highlights their efforts to end discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community and achieve equality and fairness for all people. I’m in this fight for the long haul, and I’m grateful for HRC’s partnership in that work.

I also toured the amazing new Hillcrest Youth Center, where young LGBTQ+ people can exist freely and authentically.

Helping San Diego Seniors Find Housing

It’s hard for everyone – especially our seniors – to find housing that’s affordable in San Diego. So I was happy to visit Serving Seniors, a housing center that helps seniors experiencing poverty or homelessness thrive, and to discuss how we can work to incentivize more building and improve tax credits.

Investing in Transit-Focused Infrastructure to Address the Climate Crisis

In San Diego, all of us have felt, seen, and suffered the consequences of climate change – like these heat waves, humidity, and droughts. That’s why we need to take action and mobilize all levels of government to address the climate crisis — and part of that response should include transit-focused infrastructure. So I was glad to speak at the inaugural celebration of the Union Grantville apartment complex, which is strategically built near public transit to decrease commuting time and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Touring Local Health Care Facilities

Last week, I was excited to tour the City Heights Family Health Clinic and learn more about their services, from pregnancy tests to cancer screenings to prenatal care for uninsured, low-income, and medically underserved communities.

I also toured Rady’s Children’s Hospital and heard about how they’re coping with drug shortages, attacks on gender-affirming care, and threats to federal funding for health care. We can’t let politics get in the way of health care providers delivering essential care.