Dear Neighbor,

It's been a busy week in Washington, and I wanted to update you on the work we've been doing to improve lives in California's 44th District.  This week, I introduced a bill to lower dental care costs for Medicaid recipients, pushed back against Republican's obsession with Big Oil, and we got our first look at President Biden's budget request, which includes funding to continue lowering costs for American families.  You can check out more on these below.  Also, please don't forget to sign up for my first Town Hall in West Long Beach next Thursday at the bottom of this email.  We hope to see you there! 

Millions of low-income individuals in Los Angeles and across the country have trouble accessing proper dental care, which can worsen chronic health problems like diabetes, heart disease, and oral cancer. Adults with low incomes; Black, Hispanic, and other people of color; tribal communities, people with disabilities, and rural Americans have steep barriers when it comes to accessing quality, affordable dental care.  It is no surprise that the CDC's Division of Oral Health reports that Black and Latino American adults suffer from untreated cavities at twice the rate of white adults. 

That's why this week, I reintroduced the Medicaid Dental Benefit Act with my Senate colleague, Ben Cardin of Maryland.   This bill requires Medicaid programs to provide mandatory adult dental and oral health care services.  It would ensure all adults who rely on Medicaid have access to routine and preventative dental care like cleanings and x-rays, and more extensive care like root canals, crowns, restorations, and dentures.  

Dental care is essential to your overall health and shouldn't be a luxury, and I'm proud to introduce this bill to ensure that all Americans have access to comprehensive oral healthcare, regardless of their income. 

This week, Republicans on the Energy and Commerce Committee passed  fifteen harmful bills for our environment and climate, over the objections of Democrats. One bill, called the Keeping America's Refineries Act, a bill that would block commonsense EPA safety requirements for refineries at the cost of worker safety and our communities. 

The bill would give refineries a free pass from considering safer alternatives to hydrofluoric acid - a corrosive, highly toxic chemical that is used in over one-third of refineries in the U.S., including Wilmington and Torrance. There was a refinery explosion in Torrance in 2015 where debris from that explosion nearly landed on tanks of hydrofluoric acid, which could have been devastating for refinery workers and residents nearby. 

Take a look at my remarks in the Environment subcommittee last week opposing this reckelss bill and supporting the United Steelworkers, which oppose this bill. 

Republicans claim to be the party of the blue-collar worker, but they have consistently jeopardized worker's safety and health to please Big Oil executives.  Congress should be passing laws to ensure that these workers are safe doing these dangerous jobs, not deregulating dangerous chemicals so oil companies can make more money. 

The past two years, President Biden and Congressional Democrats have brought the economy back from the brink and made the largest investment in our nation's infrastructure and the fight against climate change in U.S. History.  This year, the President's budget works to reduce the deficit by $3 trillion.  It also ensures the wealthy pay their fair share by increasing capital gains taxes, eliminating the carried interest loophole, and increase the corporate tax rate to 28%.  It also will boost Medicare solvency for the next 25 years. 

This is HUGE NEWS.  Over 80 million Americans rely on Medicare for prescription drugs, doctors visits, and other treatments at an affordable cost.  While some Republicans have called for the sunset of Social Security and Medicare (meaning Congress would have to re-authorize the program every five years), putting millions of Americans at risk, President Biden and the Democrats will ensure Medicare and Social Security are around for you, your children, and your grandchildren. 

Already, President Biden has reduced the deficit by $1.7 trillion, compared to the previous administration, which increased the deficit by $7.8 trillion with tax cuts for the wealthy.  

As your Congresswoman, I will do everything I can to ensure that these important provisions end up in the final government's budget for next year.  This budget will continue on President Biden's promise to use the full weight and power of the American government to help communities in Los Angeles and across the nation. 

As a result of redistricting, new boundaries for Congressional Districts went into effect at the beginning of the year.  California's 44th Congressional District now includes the communities of Bellflower, Carson, Harbor City, Harbor Gateway, Lakewood, Long Beach, Lynwood, Paramount - along with communities that I've represented for the last six years in Carson, North Long Beach, Lynwood, Rancho Dominguez, San Pedro, South Gate, West Carson, and Wilmington. 

I wanted to reach out and introduce myself to our new communites, and invite everyone to our first town hall of the year, happening next Thursday at Stephens Middle School in West Long Beach.

I'll be sharing updates on our work in Washington to lower costs for families, expand access to healthcare, and fight climate change in Los Angeles and the rest of the country.  Let us know you're coming! Call us at (310) 831-1799, email us at [email protected], or complete this form! We hope to see you there! 

Sincerely,

Member of Congress

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Contact Me

Washington D.C. Office
2312 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-8220

San Pedro Office (Coming Soon!)
638 S Beacon St
San Pedro, CA 90731
Phone: (310) 831-1799

Long Beach Office
4201 Long Beach Blvd

Suite 422
Long Beach, CA 90807
Phone: (310) 831-1799

South Gate City Hall Office
8650 California Ave
South Gate, CA 90280
Phone: (310) 831-1799

Carson City Hall Office
701 E. Carson St
Carson, CA 90745
Phone: (310) 831-1799