- Support the Federal Funding of Education. Centralized education at the federal level promotes student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access. To fulfill these goals in our region requires sustained support of Pell Grants, Child Care Access Means Parents in Schools (CCAMPIS), and Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) programs. Consistent education for all is vital for ensuring all students have access to a quality education. Education through post-secondary is essential to workforce readiness, and workforce readiness is necessary to an economically healthier Inland Empire.
- Support for Federal Legislative and Funding Efforts to Mitigate and Prevent Wildfires via several bipartisan bills including Fix Our Forests Act of 2024 H.R. 8790 (Westerman/Peters), Community Protection and Wildfire Resilience Act H.R. 9760 (Obernolte/Huffman), and a future package of Senate Bills including Wildland Firefighter Paycheck Protection Act (Daines/Padilla), the Fire Suppression and Response Funding Assurance Act (Sullivan/Padilla), and Fire-Safe Electrical Corridors Act (Daines/Padilla).
- Oppose Cuts to Medicaid. The potential cuts to Medicaid, known as Medi-Cal in California, pose a significant threat to the health and well-being of the Inland Empire region, a diverse area that encompasses Riverside and San Bernardino counties with over 40% of the population relying on Medicaid for health care. Beyond the Inland Empire, 21% of the entire country relies on Medicaid with significant impacts in rural areas.
- Construct a New Courthouse for the Eastern Division of the Central District of California to Accommodate the Increased Number of Judges Needed to Serve This Community. Throughout the history of the Eastern Division, more cases have been filed here than there are judges seated here to hear, and therefore a substantial number of cases are assigned to judges in another Division (usually in Los Angeles).
- Support Transportation Reauthorization Bill. Inland Southern California is the 12th largest Metropolitan Statistical Area in the United States and continues to be one of the nation’s fastest-growing – larger than Detroit, Seattle, Tampa Bay, Denver, Baltimore, and many others yet constantly connected to all. Accordingly, the need to prioritize the safety, efficiency, and throughput of both people and goods in and on our transportation infrastructure has never been greater. For decades, our area’s advance entitlement and project delivery timeframes year-over-year exceed industry standards. Our transportation sectors and providers are ready to move with a multi-year bill, but we need your support.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
- Support S. 1157 (Cantwell) and H.R. 3238 (LaHood) – Affordable Housing Credit and Improvement Act (AHCIA).
- Extend the tax cuts and benefits of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act for small business owners and middle- and low-income families.
EDUCATION
- Support the federal funding of education.
- Support action to double the maximum Pell Grant to $13,000.
- Support the $80 million to help institutions provide affordable childcare for parents with low incomes through the Child Care Access Means Parents in Schools (CCAMPIS) program.
- Support $2.3 billion in career and technical training and adult education to support the long-term sustainability of our nation’s skilled workforce, including for state grants.
- Maintain current funding for Minority Serving Institutions.
ENVIRONMENT
- Support federal legislative and funding efforts to mitigate and prevent wildfires.
- Support funding for continued management of the Salton Sea.
- Support increased funding for water supply, water quality, and water storage projects.
HEALTHCARE
- Oppose cuts to Medicaid.
- Support H.R. 7635 (Matsui), the 340B PATIENTS Act, Drug Pricing Program.
JUDICIARY
- Construct a new courthouse for the Eastern Division of the Central District of California to accommodate the increased number of judges needed to serve this community.
- Fully fund the Judiciary’s budget request.
TRANSPORTATION
- Support the Transportation Reauthorization Bill.
- Request for EPA to comply with the recent court ruling and stop the sanctions clock pending final determination.
Details for the 2025 Federal Issues are included in the link: