• Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) joined senators Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) in sending a letter to White House Counsel Don McGhan seeking answers from the White House regarding a recent decision to publish emails containing sensitive personal information from citizens concerned about President Donald Trump’s Advisory Commission on Election Integrity. According to a press release from Feinstein’s office, more than 100 emails published by the White House contained names, phone numbers, and employer information. In their letter, the senators inquired whether the White House would provide credit-monitoring services for individuals whose information was shared. “Since our nation’s founding, whether by mail, phone, or email, people have contacted their elected representatives to voice their opinions. At no time have Americans contacted their elected representatives with the expectation their representatives would subsequently publicly disclose their personal information without permission,” the letter reads. “The decision by the White House to publish the emails commenting on the Commission without redacting personal information demonstrates, at best, a lack of sensitivity to and simple disregard for the very concerns raised in many of the emails.”
• Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) issued a statement after Republican efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act failed during an early morning vote on July 28. “Tonight, the message sent by the American people was vindicated: Republicans must no longer play politics with people’s lives. Tonight, veterans and working families who rely on Medicaid are more secure. Seniors in nursing homes and children with complex medical conditions are more secure,” Harris said in the statement. “And cancer patients and those with preexisting conditions are more secure. And it’s because of the tireless efforts of Americans all across the country who wrote letters, made phone calls, showed up at rallies and town halls, told their stories and made their voices heard. You did this.” Sen. Harris also released a statement on July 26 regarding President Donald Trump’s tweeted announcement that transgender individuals would be barred from serving in the military. “The President’s deicision to force transgender individuals out of the military is discriminatory, wrong, and un-American. We should not punish or turn away courageous people who are willing to risk their lives to serve our country—we should embrace them,” she said in the statement. “As we mark the anniversary today of the desegregation of our armed forces, I stand with our transgender service members and all those who selflessly defend our country.”
• Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) led a group of 19 congressional colleagues in sending a letter to Department of Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, urging him to maintain the boundaries and designations of California’s four National Marine Sanctuaries in the face of Executive Order 13795, “Implementing an America-First Offshore Energy Strategy.” “The Central Coast knows too well the risk that oil drilling poses after experiencing multiple destructive spills off our coastline,” Rep. Carbajal said in a statement. “Our oceans face unprecedented challenges today, whether it is increased development on our coasts, a warming ocean climate, or rising levels of pollution. California’s marine sanctuaries are vital to maintaining a healthy ocean ecosystem and a robust coastal economy. I urge this administration to listen to the strong consensus of California residents and reject this unwanted review of our marine sanctuaries.”
• State Assemblymember Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara) issued a statement on July 21 following the Assembly’s yes vote on the Cap and Trade extension. “Since the birth of the environmental movement in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties, California and its leaders have led the way nationally and internationally to combat climate change,” Limón said. “Climate change is a real threat that affects our community and I am committed to promoting policies that will meet the 2030 and 2050 greenhouse gas reduction goals.”
This article appears in Aug 3-10, 2017.