Last night, I attended the first public hearing of the Select Committee on the January 6th Attack on the Capitol. I was in the House Gallery that day — for my own mental health, I hadn’t watched many videos from the attack. But I thought that it was important to attend last night, to bear witness and to show my support for the committee’s bipartisan efforts. The hearing proved to be incredibly impactful. 

The new video footage released last night — as well as the extensive testimony from those at the scene and from many in former President Trump’s inner circle — show how close we were to losing our democracy. The hearing also highlighted the work we have to do to defend it.

The devastating mass shootings in Buffalo, Uvalde, and across the country make it all the more clear that we have to take action. The pain our country is feeling is real, and our community is demanding a real response. 

This week, the House passed the Protecting Our Kids Act, comprehensive legislation to make our schools and neighborhoods safer. The bill strengthens background checks; raises the age to purchase a semiautomatic weapon; bans bump stocks, high capacity magazines, and ghost guns; and cracks down on illegal gun trafficking. 

The House also passed the Federal Extreme Risk Protection Order Act, which empowers family members and law enforcement to seek a federal court order to temporarily remove access to guns from those who pose a danger to themselves or others, while incentivizing states to adopt their own “red flag laws.” I am proud to be a member of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force and to have helped advance both bills.

The leaked draft decision revealing the Supreme Court’s plans to overturn Roe v. Wade has raised serious concerns that data collected by apps and websites could be used to target or arrest people if abortion is criminalized. This includes location data, search histories, and reproductive health data collected by menstruation, ovulation, and pregnancy tracking apps each month.
 
I’ve heard from so many people who are panicked about their personal reproductive health data falling into the wrong hands. That’s why I am introducing new legislation — the My Body, My Data Act — to protect personal reproductive health data and reaffirm our right to make our own decisions about our bodies. 
 
As a young woman, reproductive health care is my health care. And like tens of millions of Americans, I’ve used period tracking apps to help manage my reproductive health. It’s unconscionable that information could be turned over to the government or sold to the highest bidder and weaponized against us, and especially against low-income people and people of color who will be most impacted if Roe is overturned.
 
The Washington Post profiled the bill last week, and I was happy to do an Instagram Live with "She Pivots," Marie Claire's new podcast, to talk about the bill and why it’s so important. 

This week, my office hosted a reception at the San Diego History Center for this year’s CA-53 Congressional Art Competition, celebrating the students who participated and announcing our winner. 

I was excited to speak at Olympian High School in Chula Vista for this year’s Senior Class Breakfast. Earlier this year, Olympian students emailed me with some great policy questions, and I was happy to be able to visit and answer them in person — and to congratulate them on their upcoming graduation! I even got to sign a few yearbooks!

It was so inspiring to hear their optimism and enthusiasm for becoming more civically engaged.

Assisting with federal casework is a big part of what our office does, and my staff in San Diego can help you navigate the process.

You can also call our San Diego office directly at (619) 280-5353.

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For news throughout the week, you can also follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok at @RepSaraJacobs.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend. 

Warmly,