In the News

It only took seven months but Republicans in Congress finally fulfilled President Barack Obama’s request for emergency funding to fight the Zika virus. The president asked Congress for $1.8 billion back in February. On Sept. 28, Congress sent the president a spending bill, which included $1.1 billion for Zika. Why did it take so long? Because of the same political game playing that we’ve seen in past attempts to fund the government. In May, the Senate passed a bipartisan bill on an overwhelming ... Read more

On Aug. 6, 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed landmark legislation — the Voting Rights Act (VRA) — into law. It knocked down barriers many states had put in place that disenfranchised minority voters. The impact of the new law was immediate. Nearly a million African-Americans registered to vote in the first four years after the VRA was signed into law. It was a watershed moment in the history of our nation that meant millions of Americans who were previously denied the right to have a say ... Read more

Ask any teacher and they will tell you it takes strength and perseverance to lead a classroom. Grading papers, inspiring students, calling parents, and moving from one subject or class to another, are some of the tireless activities we think of that teachers toil away at throughout their long working days. This is the image many of us have of our best teachers — individuals whose persistence would stop at nothing to deliver us an excellent education. Yet, the required attributes of a great teach... Read more

Pride Month is a time to celebrate our progress and to recommit toward total equality today. With the shooting deaths of 49 people at a popular gay nightclub in Orlando, this year’s Pride activities will take a somber tone. This deadliest mass shooting in the history of our country brought senseless sorrow and loss to the victims and their loved ones. The world expressed its grief and support for the LGBT community and the community of Orlando. In a familiar refrain: We are all Orlando. The shoo... Read more

Women aviators who served during World War II are closer to having the right to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery. A bill that makes it possible for members of the Women Airforce Service Program to once again be buried at Arlington, the most prominent of the country's veteran cemeteries, cleared the Senate unanimously on Tuesday with minor amendments. Sens. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, and Barbara Mikulski, D-Maryland, lead the effort. The bill was introduced in the House by Reps. Susan Davis, D-S... Read more

Nothing brought home the future effects that climate change will have on us more acutely than the massive methane gas leak that struck Porter Ranch in California. The health impacts were startling. Resident’s reported instances of dizziness, nausea, vomiting, headaches, or nosebleeds. Children, who can be particularly vulnerable, were among those reporting illnesses. It was a rare opportunity to look into the future of what climate change, if ignored, has in store for humanity. Rising temperatur... Read more

Hearing from my constituents is an important and rewarding part of my job as a Member of Congress. Since my job is to represent my constituents, I can only do it well if I know what’s on their minds. I am so lucky to represent a district with such engaged citizens who take the time to call, write and email me with their comments, concerns and questions about the federal issues affecting them. Whether it’s a group of letters from a local Girl Scout troop telling me how much they love their librar... Read more

When members of Congress take the oath of office, we swear we will “faithfully discharge the duties of the office.” It is not an oath we should take lightly, which is why it was so disappointing to hear Republicans say they won’t even consider a Supreme Court nominee, declaring that the next president should fill the vacancy on the court. This is an insult to the institutions we were chosen to uphold and ignores decades of precedent surrounding the process of nominating justices to the highest c... Read more

For many children, the arrival of summer can mean summer camp or a family vacation. For millions of low-income children, however, summer can mean wondering where they’ll get their next meal. For years, many children eligible for free and reduced priced meals have been unable to access meals during their summer break, making hunger an unnecessary part of their summer months. Our country has a long history of providing support for children in need. At the end of World War II General Lewis Hershey,... Read more

Cardoza read an article about Bronze Stars and contacted Davis’ office to see if he could still get it. Davis made the arrangements. Read more