October 10, 2018

Dear Friend,

It's deeply troubling that our service men and women might return home from battle only to take their own lives because they are tortured by something they experienced during their service. I asked the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) how they are working with the Department of Defense (DOD) to curb veteran suicide during a meeting of the Veterans' Affairs Committee.

I was joined by the Somers family from Coronado, who lost their son, Daniel, to suicide after he suffered post-traumatic stress (PTS) following his service in Iraq. They are now tireless advocates for fixing and reforming the broken health care system at the VA.

Increasing Collaboration

Watch my remarks here.

The National Director of Suicide Prevention for the VA said they would like more information from the DOD about risk factors for suicide. The VA could identify mental health issues sooner if they had access to information about servicemembers’ promotions, disciplinary action, and family support systems.

I also asked what kind of outreach was being done for veterans with other than honorable discharges. Only 115 servicemembers nationwide are enrolled in suicide prevention programs specifically tailored to them, and the VA agreed more outreach was needed.  

Fighting for San Diego Veterans

San Diego has the third largest population of veterans in the country, many of whom are battling mental health issues. Veterans who have experienced homelessness in the last year are particularly at risk, with suicide rates almost double those of veterans without a history of homelessness. We’ve made progress with the HUD-VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program, which assists San Diego veterans in their search for affordable housing, but there is still work to be done.

I will continue fighting for mental health care and homelessness services for San Diego veterans and will work with both the VA and the DOD to find solutions that ensure we don’t lose another veteran to suicide. 

July 31, 2018

Dear Friend,

Do you like to code? Have an idea for a new app?

We’re inviting students who code, program, or love computer science to design a software application and enter it in the Congressional App Challenge.

What's the App Challenge?

The App Challenge encourages student participation in STEM subjects, so they can be better prepared to fill the jobs of the future.

San Diego has some of the best leaders in science, technology, engineering, and math. Our city has become a global force in innovation thanks to our investments in these fields—and the most important investment we can make is in the next generation. 

How to Enter

Register online here. 

You can compete as individuals or in teams of up to four. Submit your app along with a short video explaining the app and what you’ve learned throughout the competition process.

Visit my website for more details and a complete list of rules and regulations.

The entries will be judged by a panel of local judges, who work in San Diego’s academic, technology, and entrepreneurial fields. The winning app will be featured on the U.S. House of Representatives’ website and displayed in a U.S. Capitol exhibit along with the winners from other states and districts.

Submissions are due October 15, 2018.

2017 Winner

Padraig MacGabann of Coronado High School won last year with his impressive submission, Rescue, an emergency response app designed to contact first responders more efficiently and to provide important details about the emergency. 

I look forward to seeing what apps San Diego students come up with this year. Good luck, and happy coding!

June 22, 2018

Dear Friend,

I strongly oppose the Trump Administration's recent policies regarding immigrant families. 

When families come to our borders, they are often fleeing government violence, domestic violence, and religious persecution. They follow generations of people who came to America seeking a better life and they deserve to be treated with respect and care. 

Keeping Families Together

I demanded an immediate end to the family separation policy in a speech on the House floor last week. Thankfully, Congress can do something to end the practice.

I helped introduce the Keep Families Together Act, which prohibits Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials from separating children from their parents, except in extraordinary circumstances, like trafficking indicators or other concerns of risk to the child. It also requires DHS to develop policies and procedures allowing parents and children to locate each other and reunite if they have been separated. 

I'm urging my colleagues to support and help pass this bill so we can end the abhorrent practice of separating families. 

For more information on my work to keep families together, read my interview with the San Diego Union Tribune.

Share Your Thoughts

As your representative, I'd like to know where you stand. Share your thoughts and join my email updates.

Do you think Congress should come together and pass the Keeping Families Together Act?

Yes, we need to keep families together.

No.

I'm not sure.

Moving Forward

I oppose the President's Executive Order because I believe it violates previous court rulings that said minors cannot be detained in an adult detention facility for more than 20 days. Any attempt to indefinitely detain children with their parents violates these court rulings. 

Instead, I believe we need to address the serious lack of judges that decide immigration cases, and focus on bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform. I stand ready to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to achieve this. 

Dear Friend,

I visited San Diego small businesses during national Small Business Week to learn how they are helping to grow our economy and create jobs in our region. I met each business owner and learned what their company does and how Small Business Administration loans have helped them expand their business. 

Clayton's Coffee Shop -- Coronado

I kicked off the day at Clayton's Coffee Shop, a community landmark since the 1940s.  I met the owner, Mary, who started her business in her twenties. Since then, she has been able to upgrade Clayton's Coffee Shop through small business loans, including a renovation to Clayton's Mexican Take Out, which is connected to the coffee shop.

Now that they've mastered coffee and carne asada, Mary's next plans are to open a bakery at a second location.

Biosero -- Sorrento Valley

Biosero financed their new building with an SBA loan. Now, they're able to create more software and lab workflows for San Diego's top life science industry-- and create jobs in the process.

Their software helps accelerate scientific discovery by providing researchers with robotic technology and software that connects different parts of lab equipment. This automation is helping spur discovery in genomics, drug development, agriculture, and more.

I learned how to program one of the robots to execute an automated process. This type of automation helps industries from bio to agriculture run lab tests. One plate transfer can contain as many as 96 test tubes.

Sherpa Clinical Packaging -- Sorrento Valley

Sherpa Clinical Packaging designs packaging and labeling for pharmaceutical clinical trials. The packaging is designed to minimize shipping costs and can be tailored for blind drug trials and other specifications.

Their expertise helps get drugs to patients faster, whether they live in cities across the country or around the world. I was able to see the machine that cuts out the packaging based on a design by the drug company and Sherpa Clinical Packaging before it's folded and glued.

Sherpa Clinical Packaging used their SBA loan to expand to a second building, where new packaging equipment and cold storage rooms will increase capacity by 400 percent. They'll be able to get more drugs to patients and create jobs in our region.

JXR Constructors - Kearny Mesa

I closed out the day with JXR Constructors, a veteran owned small business, at the VA San Diego to see their current construction site. They're extending a stairwell in one of the building wings to connect the VA's planned extension to the existing structure.

I met the owner, Jesus, who is also a Marine Corps veteran. Jesus has a background in professional construction management experience. He started his business in 2012 and serves both the government and private sector.

They're using an SBA loan to purchase a new warehouse for their construction equipment. The veteran owned and operated business is expanding, thanks to contracting opportunities that have opened up since they certified with SBA.

Small businesses, or companies with fewer than 100 employees, represent 98 percent of firms in San Diego. I'll continue to support small businesses by increasing access to capital and talent, leveling the playing field, and decreasing overly burdensome government regulations.

Sincerely,