U.S. House of RepresentativesCandidate for District 50

I have a proven record of supporting and enacting legislation to fight the effects of climate change, including bills to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In February, the Biden Administration announced plans to boost clean manufacturing and strengthen our efforts to combat the climate crisis. My USEIT Act, which became law in 2020, will be implemented as part of these actions and will incentivize carbon capture and utilization research and development. It will help move us toward a clean energy economy by reducing dangerous emissions and encouraging the development of new technologies and uses for carbon. My POWER ON Act passed as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Department of Energy recently announced that the bill will be implemented as part of their “Building a Better Grid” initiative. It will help boost renewable energy usage by modernizing our national grid and building more transmission lines to get renewable energy from where it’s produced to where it’s needed. Additionally, following the IPCC’s recent report calling on us to accelerate carbon dioxide removal to reach net-zero emission goals, I co-introduced the Federal Carbon Dioxide Removal Leadership Act to accelerate the deployment of direct air capture and other carbon removal technologies. This legislation proves the U.S. is serious about leading the world on climate solutions, creating good-paying jobs in the clean energy transition, and developing essential next generation technologies. Finally, I introduced the Build More Housing Near Transit Act to encourage development of affordable housing in transit-oriented, walkable neighborhoods. Getting more people off the roads and onto accessible public transportation will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, among other benefits.

Since coming to Congress, I have supported efforts to reform our broken immigration system and have worked to ensure our southern border is viewed as an opportunity, not a threat. Today, we continue to need federal legal protections for immigrants living, working, and going to school in the U.S. We need to invest in smart, targeted border security and efficient border infrastructure to reduce wait times and ensure economic and emotional needs are met in cross-border traffic. We need to reform the process for recruiting and retaining highly skilled immigrants, in addition to evaluating the labor needs of all our economic sectors in the midst of a nationwide labor shortage. In March of 2020, the House passed the American Dream and Promise Act to provide legal protections for immigrants under the (DACA) program, (TPS) or (DED) status. It would also provide a pathway to citizenship for up to 2.5 million immigrants, including roughly 45,000 Dreamers in San Diego. The House also passed the Farm Workforce Modernization Act to create a program for agricultural workers, their spouses and minor children to earn legal Certified Agricultural Worker (CAW) status through continued agricultural employment. Immigrants continue to be our hard-working friends, neighbors and coworkers who have paved a future for themselves here and contribute to our economy. We must keep America’s promise that if you work hard and play by the rules, we have a place for you. Additionally, I introduced the Temporary Family and Visitation Act to establish a new B-3 visa category allowing family members of U.S. citizens or permanent residents to visit the U.S. temporarily after demonstrating specific plans and financial support. This will help families reconnect for important events like births and weddings, while also boosting tourism and our local and national economies.

Free and fair elections are the bedrock of our democracy and every citizen with the right to vote deserves access to a ballot. In January this year, I voted to help the House pass the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. The Freedom to Vote Act would set national standards for voting access by ensuring safe, secure, and accessible elections for all Americans, among other provisions. The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act updates and restores key aspects of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. I also voted for the For the People Act in 2021, which would expand automatic voter registration and same-day registration, enhance election security from foreign and domestic interference, end partisan gerrymandering by requiring states to adopt independent redistricting commissions, and more. Lastly, I voted for the Protecting Our Democracy Act to reinforce our system of checks and balances, prevent future presidential abuse, and prohibit foreign interference in our elections. I also support overturning Citizens United and establishing a constitutional amendment to limit money in politics and return to a government of ‘We the People.’

I have been a long-time advocate of science-based water supply solutions, and I believe water recycling is key to combatting the worsening drought conditions caused by climate change. I am working with local elected officials and leaders to support San Diego’s Pure Water Project. The Pure Water Project will reduce waste water flowing into the ocean, create good paying jobs, and serve as a model for addressing water shortages. Phase One broke ground in 2021. My Ocean Pollution Reduction Act II, which I reintroduced this session of Congress, will give certainty to the future of the Pure Water project and work to further ensure water resources are protected, without weakening environmental standards. My bill will simplify the City of San Diego’s required permitting process to operate the Point Loma Wastewater Treatment Plant, solidify the region’s water security, and further cut the amount of wastewater that flows into the ocean from the plant. The rest of the San Diego Congressional Delegation have all joined as original cosponsors of my bill because they understand our need to deploy cost-effective technology to protect our region’s water sources. I also regularly engage with the community on this issue, including a recent meeting with the San Diego County Water Authority to discuss the drought in California, our region's efforts to maintain sufficient levels of water supply, and new clean energy opportunities.