E-Newsletter 7/3/12
Statement
Below is a roundup of what I've been up to in the East Bay and in Washington. I look forward to discussing these and other issues with you at my next Town Hall Meeting on Saturday, July 21st.
Bringing Jobs Home From Overseas
We need to focus on exporting American-made goods, not American jobs. Today I joined Josie Camacho, Alameda Labor Council Executive Secretary Treasurer and Richard Valle, CEO, Tri-Ced and Alameda County Supervisor at a press conference at Tri-Ced Community Recycling in Union City to highlight the need to curb outsourcing of American jobs. I'm a co-sponsor of the Bring Jobs Home Act, H.R. 5542, which would provide a tax incentive for companies that bring production back to this country and eliminate tax breaks for companies that move jobs overseas. This is a simple bill and I'm urging Congressional leadership to bring it to the floor for a vote right away.
Gay Rights
I'm honored that today, ThinkProgress named me one of the "11 Most Pro-Gay Representatives" in the U.S. House of Representatives. I have long been a supporter of equal rights for all, and I will continue my fight to ensure this becomes a reality.
Compromise on Student Loan Rates & Transportation Funding
For months, I have joined with President Obama and others in calling on House Republicans to bring to the floor bipartisan transportation legislation to create jobs as well as legislation to prevent interest rates on college loans from doubling. On Friday, Republican leaders finally allowed a vote on a bill that addresses both priorities. We voted to protect 7 million students -- including 570,000 Californians -- from owing an extra $1,000 per year on their student loans. The same legislation reauthorized our transportation programs to get people to work rebuilding our infrastructure.
Both are critical to Americans' economic security and I voted in support of the legislation that the President will soon sign into law. I did not support all provisions of this bill, but with Republicans once again bringing us to the brink of allowing these important programs to expire, Congress had to act. I will continue working to make college affordable for all Americans and to boost transportation infrastructure investment.
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