November 2015 E-News Report
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Dear Friend,
A collaborative, bipartisan approach to solving key legislative challenges in Washington is what many of my colleagues and I have been working towards for years. Fortunately, that’s exactly what has been happening over the past several weeks. From the bipartisan budget deal that put off the risk of defaulting on our debt, to the vetoed National Defense Authorization Act making its way back to the House floor, there is renewed hope in Washington that we can take care of our nation’s business and reverse the trend of the past five years of only passing bills through legislative brinkmanship.
Beyond the recent positive trends coming out of DC, I’d like to also make you aware of two events I am hosting next week, forums on college affordability and El Niño, as well as other efforts I have been working on in Washington and San Diego. As always, don’t hesitate to contact me to let me know your opinion on federal issues and, if you are a constituent, request assistance with a federal agency.
Warm regards,
College Affordability Forum at Grossmont College
Are you aware of the recent changes made to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)? Do you want to learn more about student loans? Please join me on Tuesday, November 10, at my College Affordability Forum taking place at Grossmont College. This event will feature a representative from the Department of Education, financial aid officers, and a student rights’ expert who will discuss how to receive, keep, and repay financial aid. The program will include brief presentations from the various experts, as well as a question and answer portion to answer any questions you may have. Experts will also be discussing the recent changes to the FAFSA, which were announced by President Obama this September. Event details are below. Space is limited, so please RSVP here.
Date: Tuesday, November 10, 2015
Time: 6:00 pm Registration | 6:30 pm Program
Location: Griffin Gate located inside the Griffin Center at Grossmont College (8800 Grossmont College Drive, El Cajon, CA 92020).
Parking: Free parking in Lots 5 and 7, adjacent to the Griffin Center. Click here for a campus map. No permit required.
What will El Niño mean for you?
Please join me and experts from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as they discuss the El Niño weather phenomenon and how our region may be affected. The informational session will include scientific background about what El Niño is and what to expect, how you and your family can be better prepared, and what the federal government’s role would be in the event our region is overwhelmed. We will also have various community partners providing valuable information on emergency response efforts in the county. The event will conclude with a Q&A session with the experts. Event details are below. Click here to reserve your seat!
Date: Thursday, November 12, 2015
Time: 6:30 pm Registration | 7:00 pm Program
Location: Parma Payne Goodall Alumni Center at San Diego State University, 5250 55th Street, San Diego, 92115
Parking: Free parking available in upper level student spaces in Parking Structure 5. No permit required.
Congress Passes Two Year Bipartisan Budget
Last week, I voted for the Bipartisan Budget Agreement (BBA). The budget deal provides a two-year relief from budget cuts, known as sequestration, which have been holding the economy back. Along with setting two-year spending priorities, the BBA also affirms the full faith and credit of the United States by extending the debt limit through March 15, 2017, avoiding a disastrous default. Medicare and Social Security are strengthened under the agreement. A 52 percent jump in Medicare premiums expected to hit seniors in 2016 is averted. It also prevents an expected 20 percent cut in Social Security disability payments by ensuring the disability insurance trust fund does not run out at the end of 2016.
National Defense Authorization Act - S. 1356
In October, President Obama vetoed the FY 2016 National Defense Authorization Act primarily over his objection to additional funds being placed in the Overseas Contingency Operations account, which is not subject to sequestration, rather than the main Pentagon budget. In the President’s view, defense spending shouldn’t be shielded from cuts while critical non-defense spending is subject to mandatory cuts. One of the positive outcomes of the Bipartisan Budget Agreement was it gave budgetary relief for both defense and non-defense spending, enabling the House and Senate Armed Services Committees to go back to the table and renegotiate an NDAA that President Obama is more likely to sign into law. The new FY2016 bill, S. 1356, passed the House yesterday with my support. It will hopefully be brought up in the Senate next week.
Strengthening Gun Background Checks
I believe we need to do more to keep guns out of the hands of those who shouldn’t have them. Closing loopholes in our background check system will help achieve this while respecting constitutional rights. That is why I cosponsored bipartisan legislation last month to strengthen background checks on all commercial purchases of firearms. The Public Safety and Second Amendment Rights Protection Act expands background checks to cover sales at gun shows, over the Internet, and in classified ads, while providing exceptions to transfers between family and friends. I recently joined 146 of my House colleagues in a letter to the Speaker of the House urging him to act on gun violence prevention. “Our children should be safe in schools. People should be allowed to worship without threat of violence. Walking the neighborhoods of our cities should not be a high-risk activity. It is long past time that Congress addresses this national epidemic,” the letter states.
Introducing the Student Loan Fair Prepayment Act - H.R. 3786
Many people assume that if they pay a little extra on a student loan, the surplus goes toward paying down the principal amount. According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, one of the chief complaints made by borrowers is that their student loan payments are processed against their intent. Instead of applying prepayments towards the loan principal, as the borrower likely expects, loan-servicers will often credit the balance towards future monthly payments of which a large proportion is often interest. I introduced the Student Loan Fair Prepayment Act to ensure that extra payments to student loan debt are applied first to the principal of the highest interest-rate loan, unless the borrower requests otherwise. This technical change would save borrowers a significant amount and help them pay off their loans more quickly.
Advocating for Changes in Federal Homeless Assistance Funding
San Diego has the 5th largest homeless population and yet is 23rd in funding to end homelessness. Since coming to Congress, I have been a strong advocate for affordable housing and efforts to reduce homelessness. I also worked for years to encourage the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to adjust its funding formula to ensure San Diego gets its fair share of federal anti-homelessness assistance. I was pleased to join with Congressman Scott Peters this year as he led the effort to convince HUD to hold an open comment period to allow communities to weigh in on how funding is allocated. Read the latest San Diego Union Tribune coverage here.
Securing $10 Million Grant for San Diego Port Improvements
In September, I joined with Reps. Scott Peters, Juan Vargas and Duncan Hunter in a bipartisan letter of support for the Port of San Diego to receive a federal grant of $10 million that will support the Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal’s modernization plan. Last week, I was thrilled to join our Port of San Diego leaders and representatives from the Department of Transportation to announce that our community was awarded a grant to improve rail line facilities at the dock and add new storage facilities for fresh produce and dry bulk cargo. My hope is that the improvements from this grant will build on that by enhancing the quality, efficiency, and capability of the Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal. The fact that this grant was awarded to the Port of San Diego demonstrates the economic strength of San Diego and growth that is expected. A new shore power system for refrigerated cargo vessels will mean better environmental standards from reduced carbon emissions. The plan will also facilitate the port’s support of the military.
Community Snapshots
Promoting South County’s Economy
I was pleased to join Cindy Gompper-Graves, Monica Montaño, and everyone who attended the South County Economic Development Council’s annual economic summit. It was great to hear about all the excellent work happening in our South County communities!
Joining Military Families
I had the honor to speak recently at the annual San Diego Military Family Collaborative (SDMCF) conference about military challenges such as deployments, changes of station, having to make new friends, and other issues children of military families commonly face. I thanked SDMFC members for their work supporting our military community.
Defense E-News
As Ranking Member of the Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel, I spend a lot of time focused on the needs of our military, especially our men and women in uniform and their families. Since I am often asked about how defense and veterans policies coming out of Washington will impact San Diego County, I have started sending out a periodic E-News for anyone who is interested in defense and veterans issues. I will only be sending this information to people who sign up to receive these updates, so please click here to be added to the list.
Website | Contact
U.S. House of Representatives
1214 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515 United States
Phone: (202) 225-2040
Fax: (202) 225-2948 2700 Adams Avenue
Suite 102
San Diego, California 92116 United States
Phone: (619) 280-5353
Fax: (619) 280-5311
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