Senator Harris Hits the Ground Running in 2018
Friend,
We’ve had an extremely busy year so far, and Senator Harris has spent every moment of it fighting tirelessly to ensure that voices across California are heard.
Just last week, in response to President Donald Trump’s remarks at the State of the Union, Senator Harris released a statement affirming that President Trump's words rang hollow, “You cannot reject bipartisan plans to improve health care and protect Dreamers or sow hate and division - and then turn around the next day and say you want to work together.” The Senator also provided her reaction to the State of the Union on MSNBC and CNN.
On January 9th, Senator Harris was appointed to the Senate Judiciary Committee, vowing to “provide a voice for our most vulnerable communities” as well as protect California from “this Administration’s repeated attacks on our values.”
A few days later, to commemorate Martin Luther King Day on January 15th, the Senator served as Grand Marshal for the 33rd Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Kingdom Day Parade and Breakfast in Los Angeles and highlighted the need to “understand that a fight for the ideals of who we are as a country is the essence, is the whole definition of what it means to be a patriot and this is a fight about love of country.” This sentiment carried on in her January 22nd vote opposing the Stopgap Spending bill, which highlighted her continued fight for a long-term funding bill that supports our military, community health centers, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, disaster relief for Californians, and provides Dreamers a pathway to citizenship.
What's Happening in D.C.?
Bills
Scientific Integrity Act: Cosponsored. Works to protect scientific integrity in Federal research and policymaking, and for other purposes. Full text of the bill is available here.
COAST Anti-Drilling Act: Cosponsored. Amends the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to permanently prohibit the conduct of offshore drilling on the outer Continental Shelf in the Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic, North Atlantic, and Straits of Florida planning areas. Full text of the bill is available here.
The Music Modernization Act: Cosponsored. Sets up a new simplified licensing entity to make it easier for digital music companies to obtain a license and play songs, as well as ensure songwriters are paid the royalties they are owed. This bill that would be the “most significant change in music licensing laws in decades” to ensure songwriters are paid fair value for their songs. Full text of the bill is available here.
The Pay Our Military Act of 2018: Cosponsor. Continues appropriations for military pay and death benefits in the event of a Government shutdown. Full text of the bill is available here.
Letters
Harris, Feinstein, California House Delegation Urge Interior Department to Allow Californians to Comment on Offshore Drilling Proposal: U.S. Senators Kamala D. Harris and Dianne Feinstein (both D-Calif), and nearly two dozen fellow members of the California delegation urged the Department of Interior and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) to provide Californians with more opportunities to directly address the Trump Administration’s controversial offshore drilling plan in their own communities. Full text of the letter is available here.
Harris, Democratic Colleagues Raise Concerns Over Private Debt Collectors in Higher Education: U.S. Senator Kamala D. Harris led a group of Democratic senators in a letter to Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos and Federal Student Aid COO Dr. A. Wayne Johnson over the use of private sector collection agencies who are contracted to pursue defaulted student loan borrowers. Full text of the letter is available here.
Harris, Feinstein Demand Information on Trump Administration’s Attempt to Prosecute Elected Officials: In response to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen’s testimony in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee where she stated the Department of Justice (DOJ) is looking into prosecuting elected officials from states like California, U.S. Senators Kamala D. Harris and Dianne Feinstein (both D-Calif.) sent a letter demanding additional information. Full text of the letter is availablehere.
Harris and 21 U.S. Senators Call on Trump Administration to Ban Drilling Off Their Coasts: In the wake of Florida’s exemption from President Trump’s controversial offshore drilling plan, U.S. Senator Kamala D. Harris joined a group of Democratic senators from coastal states and pressed Interior, Secretary Ryan Zinke, in a letter demanding the same treatment as Florida. Full text of the letter is available here.
In these difficult times, let’s continue to draw strength from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and those who have come before us to ensure we lift each other's voices and let them sing.
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Best,
Julie
Julie Chávez Rodríguez
State Director
U.S. Senator Kamala D. Harris
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