In recognition of the 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade earlier this week, I introduced a new bill today with my friend, Congresswoman Anna Eshoo. Our bill, the SAFER Health Act will strengthen and expand HIPAA to protect patients and ensure doctors can’t share personal health information related to abortion or pregnancy loss without consent.

We know that in our new post-Roe reality, Republican state Attorneys General and other right-wing groups will try to weaponize existing HIPAA loopholes and target reproductive health information to enforce their extreme abortion bans. That’s why I’m proud to fight for my legislation that would protect patients and providers against these gross invasions of our privacy. 

It was great to join the San Diego Hunger Coalition, USDA Deputy Undersecretary Stacy Dean, and local leaders to discuss solutions to end hunger and food insecurity in the San Diego region. I have so many new ideas about how to tackle this on the federal level after the conversation.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life was dedicated to creating an inclusive, just, and long-lasting democracy – a goal that we’re still trying to achieve. I was so glad to join with members of our community and Alliance San Diego, the Jackie Robinson YMCA, and SDSU’s Department of Africana Studies throughout this week to rededicate ourselves to Dr. King’s important work. 

Last week, I met local business owners in the Convoy District with Councilmember Kent Lee and the Asian Business Association. It was so great to hear from them about ways we can support local businesses and AAPI communities at the federal and local levels. And I stopped by Jasmine Seafood Restaurant for some delicious hot and sour soup – it’s a local institution for a reason!

At a time when we should be celebrating the Lunar New Year, we’re also mourning the lives lost to anti-AAPI violence in Monterey Park. Let this new year be an opportunity for us to celebrate the diversity of our communities and ensure that everyone is safe and treated equally and with respect – no matter where they come from.

I was so excited to celebrate the long-awaited opening of the Glickman Hillel Center! I’ve always been so proud to be a part of San Diego’s Jewish community, and I'm so glad that local students will now have such an important support system and a model for giving back.

My staff in San Diego is here to help if you need assistance with a federal agency, like small business loans, immigration challenges, issues with Social Security or Medicare, VA benefits, and more!

You can also call our San Diego office at (619) 280-5353. And, as always, please encourage your family, friends, and neighbors to subscribe to this newsletter so I can provide them with timely updates.
 
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Warmly,