Recently, the Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act of 2022, which will connect veterans who were exposed to burn pits or other dangerous toxins in service to our country with the healthcare and benefits... September 2, 2022 Dear John, This week, the Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA) is encouraging veterans looking to submit a claim for coverage in relation to toxic burn pits to do so as soon as possible. Below, you will find history about the Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act of 2022, which authorized this coverage, and resources to navigate submitting a claim. I've been meeting with local law enforcement, small business owners, seniors, and veterans here in Orange County to hear their perspectives on the state of our country and issues coming before Congress soon. Read on to learn more about what I've done this week on behalf of Orange County families. Make sure to follow my Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to get these updates in real-time. Honoring Our Commitment to Our Veterans Recently, the Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act of 2022, which will connect veterans who were exposed to burn pits or other dangerous toxins in service to our country with the healthcare and benefits they have earned, was signed into law. I voted for the PACT Act because America must fulfill our promises to our veterans. For the nearly one in five veterans who may qualify for benefits due to exposure to toxic burn pits, this is a monumental victory. I encourage all veterans seeking compensation under this legislation to submit a claim as soon as possible to ensure quicker processing. Learn more below or call my office for assistance. Learn More About the PACT Act Find Out if You're Covered I had a productive meeting with my Law Enforcement Advisory Board. I was joined by Police Chiefs from all over the district. We discussed the challenges they are facing – from recruitment & retention to funding & securing the southern border. I’m proud to support our police & thankful to them for taking the time to share their perspectives with me. This week my office hosted a self-defense class for seniors in Garden Grove. With violent crime on the rise across the country – especially towards women and members of the AAPI community – it is more important than ever that we empower individuals to protect themselves. Thank you to everyone who turned out! Orange County Opposes Student Debt Cancellation Last week, I asked you whether you agree with the Administration's decision to cancel student debt at taxpayers' expense. Over 70% of you said that you oppose the plan. This plan is deeply unfair to those who responsibly paid down their debts, served in our military, worked their way through school, or never took out student loans in the first place. Furthermore, forcing these people to foot the bill for yet another massive government spending plan amidst historic inflation and skyrocketing prices is absurd. Our education financing system is deeply flawed, and there's no doubt that borrowers are struggling, but this plan is a band-aid on a much bigger problem. We need real solutions to bring costs down, reform student lending, and ensure quality and affordable educations are accessible to Americans. That's why I'm working to pass the REAL Reforms Act, which is a real solution that will reform the system to support lenders, borrowers, and institutions of higher learning. Learn More About the REAL Reforms Act I met with my Veterans Advisory Board to discuss veterans’ healthcare, records retrieval, and veterans’ issues coming before Congress. Our OC veterans are heroes, and I’m thankful to be able to hear directly from them so I can better serve them in Congress. It was great to join the Taiwanese American Chamber this week for their annual banquet. The Taiwanese American community in OC is incredible, and it’s always great to be with business owners and community leaders in our district. Thanks to the Chamber for having me! Are you or someone you know thinking about applying to one of the military service academies? Be sure to join my office to learn all about the application process, receiving a Congressional nomination, and how my office can assist you! Thursday, September 8 6pm-8pm 17967 Bushard Street. Fountain Valley, CA 92708 Questions? Email [email protected], call (714) 960-6483, or visit the link below. Learn More U.N.: China may have committed crimes against humanity The UN is finally saying what we’ve known to be true for years: the CCP is committing human rights atrocities against millions. They must be held accountable. Read more www.washingtonpost.com Apply for the 2022 Congressional App Challenge My office is now accepting submissions for the Congressional App Challenge (CAC). The CAC is a great way for middle and high school students from across the country to explore and improve their computer-based skills by creating original apps. This competition encourages computer science and innovation skills and offers an opportunity for students to explore potential careers in the STEM field. Each winning app may be put on display in the U.S. Capitol Building for one year and will be featured on the House of Representatives website. Winning students are also invited to the #HouseofCode Capitol Hill Reception in Washington D.C. The CAC is open to 6th - 12th grade students residing in or attending school in California’s 48th District. Teachers and/or students should verify their eligibility with our office by calling (714) 960-6483. Learn More and Sign Up What I'm Reading Californians told not to charge electric cars days after ... Californians may need to take measures to conserve energy, including by avoiding charging electric vehicles, to prevent strain to the state's power grid over the Labor Day weekend, officials said-a week after state regulators voted on a plan to... Read more www.newsweek.com Biden to ask Congress to approve $1.1B arms sale to Taiwan President Biden is preparing to ask Congress to approve more than a billion dollars worth in arms sales for Taiwan as the country continues to face aggression from communist China. Congressional sources confirmed the deal to Fox News on Tuesday.... Read more www.foxnews.com I’ll be using this newsletter as a way to keep you up to date on my work on behalf of our Orange County community, so make sure you sign up for regular updates. You can also connect with my official Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages, where I’ll be posting the latest news and updates. Sincerely, Rep. Michelle Steel Member of Congress ‌ ‌ ‌ Rep. Steel | 1113 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by [email protected]