May 20, 2022

Weekly Wrap Up

May 20

The Weekly Rundown 

Congressman Correa is a cosponsor of the Consumer Fuel Price Gouging Prevention Act, and voted for the passage of this important legislation to make it unlawful to increase gasoline and home energy fuel prices in an excessive or exploitative manner during a period of an energy emergency.

Congressman Correa and House Democrats passed 2 bills to address and restore the baby formula supply in a safe and secure manner. The Infant Formula Supplemental Appropriations Act authorizes $28 million to remain available until September 30, 2023 to the FDA in emergency funding to address the shortage of infant formula. Meanwhile, the Access to Baby Formula Act will give parents participating in the WIC program flexibility to buy different brands that are available. The Access to Baby Formula Act was passed by the House on Wednesday and by the Senate on Thursday – it now heads to President Biden’s desk. 

In response to federal law enforcement agencies’ reports of rising domestic violent extremists and incidences across America, Congressman Correa joined his House colleagues to pass the bipartisan Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act to provide law enforcement with new resources and tools to address the growing threat that domestic violent extremists pose to our communities. The bill authorizes the creation of offices within DHS, DOJ, and the FBI to prosecute domestic terrorism cases.

The House passed the Targeting Resources to Communities in Need Act to ensure that communities suffering from persistent poverty receive a more equitable share of federal investments. 

The House passed legislation to reauthorized the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to strengthen the nation’s workforce development system through training, career, and supportive services for adults, dislocated workers, and youth. 

Committees 

On Tuesday and Wednesday, the Agriculture Committee held a markup to consider a number of bills including the Butcher Block Act and the Meat and Poultry Special Investigator Act. 

On Thursday, the subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security held a hearing on clemency and the Office of the Pardon Attorney.

On Wednesday, the subcommittee on Border Security, Facilitation, and Operations held a hearing to examining DHS’s efforts to combat the opioid epidemic. 

On Thursday, the Committee on Homeland Security held a markup on 5 bills to address issues including cybersecurity, cyber training, and issuing CBP personnel containment devices to protect them from accidental exposure to illegal narcotics in the course of carrying out inspections activities.

Catch Us In The News

  •  OC Register | Representatives Lou Correa has long advocated for medical marijuana and controlled cannabis availability. However, he has also warned that regulations requiring cannabis enterprises to function mostly in cash are a result for disaster.
  • OC Register | Congressman Correa said “He’s a very smart man, he’s a very wealthy individual, he’s a very smart businessman, and this doesn’t make sense. Why in God’s name would he put it all on the line for this?”
  • Jewish Insider | Reps. Lou Correa (D-CA) and Andre Carson (D-IN) are gathering signatures on a letter calling for an investigation into the death of Shireen Abu Akleh, a Palestinian-American journalist who was killed last week during an Israeli raid in the West Bank city of Jenin.

What We’re Reading

  • NYT|  Thursday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggested that children ages 5 to 11 receive a booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Children in this age group who had their last dosage at least five months ago are instantly eligible for additional doses.
  • The Hill | Just days after a shooter fatally murdered 10 people in Buffalo, New York, in an act that President Biden termed "domestic terrorism," the House passed a bill on Wednesday that wants to create domestic terrorism offices throughout the U.S. government.
  • LA Times | Seven months after a major spill polluted the beaches and wetlands around Huntington Beach, legislation to close down operations on three offshore oil rigs off the Orange County coast failed to pass in a state Senate committee on Thursday, facing opposition from California's powerful oil industry and labor unions.

Looking Ahead

Stay tuned, next week Congressman Correa will be back for a District Work Period. Check back here next week to read more about how Congressman Correa is working to help Orange County.