November 10, 2023

Protecting American Education

There’s no such thing as a free lunch. When our terror-friendly adversaries pour money into our colleges and universities, it’s safe to say they want something in return. As reports have found, these adversaries seek increased access, political influence, and even the suppression of certain topics. This is happening all over the country. For example, Qatar – one of the most vocal pro-Hamas, anti-Semitic countries in the world – has given over $1 billion to U.S. universities from 2011 to 2016. 

That is why I'm pleased to report the Ways and Means Committee passed my bill, the Defending Education Transparency and Ending Rogue Regimes Engaging in Nefarious Transactions (DETERRENT) Act, which is designed to increase transparency and accountability to ensure these universities follow the law in reporting these ‘donations.’ The DETERRENT Act brings much-needed transparency, accountability, and clarity to foreign gift reporting requirements for colleges and universities across the nation.

Intern in My Office

The application to intern in my D.C. or District office during the Spring session is now open! If you are a high school or college student looking to learn more about Congress and the legislative process, an internship in my office can be a fun, educational, and exciting opportunity. 

Candidates must possess excellent writing and verbal communication skills. In addition, we are seeking highly collaborative team players with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.  

If you are a hardworking, dedicated individual who has a desire to help improve our Southern California communities, then an internship in my office might be for you! Visit my website to learn more and apply.

Improving Community Safety

Illegal street racing, takeovers, and sideshows have become a serious safety concern for our local communities. These reckless activities harm innocent drivers, first responders, and local businesses and have become a major public safety issue. It is unfortunate to see this behavior grow across our country, and I'm proud to announce bipartisan action that will strengthen law enforcement coordination and combat this dangerous trend.

Rep. Brittany Pettersen (D-CO) and I introduced the They’re Fast, We’re Furious Act to address illegal auto racing and unlawful takeovers impacting communities across the country. This bipartisan bill would establish a Street Racing Prevention and Intervention Task Force under the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to coordinate local, state, and federal strategic responses to street racing, organized takeovers, and sideshows. The task force would address the impacts of street racing and develop best practices to combat the problem, creating safer communities and saving lives.

Advancing Health Care Technology

Current IRS rules banning the coverage of wearable technology for medical conditions are based on a 1974 tax case and are long overdue for an update. I introduced the Wearable Equipment Adoption and Reinforcement and Investment in Technology (WEAR IT) Act to modernize the law and keep pace with new digital health technologies. The legislation will allow Americans with either Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), or Archer Medical Savings Accounts (MSAs) to use their funds to purchase life-saving wearable devices that can help mitigate, prevent, and treat medical conditions.

This commonsense legislation will help over 34.5 million Americans who have HSA or FSA accounts save on health care costs at a time when our nation needs it the most. No longer would patients need to buy separate devices such as a heart rate monitor or a catastrophic fall detector, when they can now have access to these functions in a single device.

What I'm Reading

Thanks for taking the time to read about what I've been doing on behalf of Southern California families. Be sure to connect with my official Facebook, X, and Instagram pages, where I post the latest news and updates. It is an honor to serve you in Congress.

Sincerely,

Rep. Michelle Steel
Member of Congress