In The News
California Gets a New Congresswoman
In her first week as a congresswoman, Sara Jacobs ’11, SIPA’12 (D-Calif.) was still acquainting herself with the labyrinthine halls of the Capitol when the unthinkable happened. Seated in the House Gallery, she heard commotion in the distance. A split second later, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) was whisked off the floor by security. The noise turned out to be rioters storming the building. “They told us to take our evacuation hoods out from under our seats,” Jacobs recalls, referring to the … Continue Reading
June 16, 2021
Pelosi picks Democrats for special panel tackling inequality
Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) this week tapped the Democrats who will lead a special committee designed to tackle the yawning disparity between the wealthiest Americans and the nation's working classes. The panel was created in January, as part of the House rules governing the 117th Congress, but has sat idle and unoccupied through the first five months of the session. Pelosi on Tuesday changed that by naming the eight Democrats who will sit on the panel, which will be chaired by Rep. Jim … Continue Reading
June 16, 2021
Rep. Sara Jacobs Named to New Congress Panel Modeled after One by FDR in 1930s
Rep. Sara Jacobs of San Diego has been named to the new House Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth — one based on an FDR panel in the Great Depression, her office said Wednesday. Thee 53rd District rep is the sole Democratic freshman and one of just eight Democrats to serve on the select committee, which will focus on the widening wealth and income disparity in the United States, said a news release. “I am honored and humbled to be appointed by Speaker Pelosi to the … Continue Reading
June 11, 2021
San Diego congressional delegation visits Otay Mesa Port of Entry
San Diego's five-member congressional delegation visited the Otay Mesa Port of Entry II project Friday to view construction progress and receive briefings on the facilities and port operations. The group heard from San Diego Association of Governments and Caltrans staff about the progress of the Port of Entry project and Customs and Border Protection and the General Services Administration leadership provided an update on the operations of the Otay Mesa Port of Entry, Rep. Juan Vargas, D- San … Continue Reading
June 06, 2021
Doors of Change marks 20 years of getting San Diego homeless youth off the streets
This year is the 20th anniversary of the Doors of Change symposium on homelessness. The symposium is free and takes place over Zoom on June 9 from 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. The local nonprofit has helped more than 2,200 homeless youth get off the streets and become self-sufficient since 2001. Jeffrey Sitcov, President and Founder of Doors of Change, joined KUSI’s Jason Austell to discuss the landmark celebration. “And most of them, by the way, don’t want to be homeless,” Sitcov began. “They’re … Continue Reading
June 04, 2021
Bipartisan lawmakers call on Biden to 'immediately' evacuate Afghans who helped the US
A bipartisan group of lawmakers is calling on the Biden administration to immediately evacuate thousands of Afghans who have assisted the United States, saying in a letter Friday that those "Afghan friends and allies are at greater risk than ever before" as the US military withdrawal from the country is underway. "After examining this situation through multiple hearings, briefings, and our own offices' research and outreach, our bipartisan working group has concluded that we must evacuate … Continue Reading
June 02, 2021
Congressional Delegation United on Restoring ‘SALT’ Deduction, Fixing Infrastructure
The five members of the San Diego County congressional delegation on Wednesday stressed the need to work together and appeared united in seeking to raise the “SALT” tax deduction limit and invest in infrastructure. Democrats Sara Jacobs, Mike Levin, Scott Peters and Juan Vargas met in person for the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce‘s annual congressional conversation, while Republican Darrell Issa sent a video message. “For 20 years, I’ve enjoyed being live at these events,” said Issa, … Continue Reading
June 01, 2021
Rep. Jacobs Asks Navy to Name Warship After World War I Filipino American Hero
Rep. Sara Jacobs has asked the Navy to name a new ship after Telesforo Trinidad, a Filipino American sailor who received the Medal of Honor in 1915. Trinidad, who saved his crewmembers after boiler explosions aboard the armored cruiser USS San Diego, is the only Filipino American and the only Asian American sailor to receive the Medal of Honor. A future USS Telesforo Trinidad would be the first warship named after an American of Filipino descent. “Fireman Second Class Telesforo Trinidad … Continue Reading
May 25, 2021
National push to name next Navy ship after early AAPI hero
In the US Navy's long history, there has only been one Asian American sailor to have ever received the Medal of Honor. More than 100 years later, there is a national campaign to honor Telesforo Trinidad's legacy. The family room in Daniel Gruta's Mira Mesa home is like a museum. Almost every inch of his wall is covered by many displays of his US Navy achievements and memorabilia. The retired Captain spent many years at sea. He said he was motivated to join, thanks to those who came before … Continue Reading
May 22, 2021
Dignitaries tour the 60% completed USNS Harvey Milk
The construction work on the future U.S. Navy fleet oiler named for slain gay San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk is nearly sixty-percent completed according to a spokesperson for the National Steel and Shipbuilding Company division of General Dynamics Corporation commonly referred to as NASSCO. This past week on the eve of what would have been Milk’s 91st birthday on Saturday, Milk’s nephew Stuart Milk, elected officials and other dignitaries were given two separate tours of the … Continue Reading
May 20, 2021
Elizabeth Warren Wants Joe Biden to Go Bigger on Child Care
When Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) ran for president, one of the first policies she unveiled to establish herself as the wonk candidate was a proposal for universal child care and pre-K. Warren delivered her speech for last summer’s virtual Democratic National Convention from a pandemic-shuttered daycare and used her five minutes of primetime to elevate child care as “the basic infrastructure of this nation.” She’s kept up the refrain for child care as Democrats hasten to secure an economic … Continue Reading
May 19, 2021
San Diego's Congressional Delegation Vote in Favor Insurrection Commission
Democratic representatives Juan Vargas, Sara Jacobs, Mike Levin and Scott Peters all voted in favor of a bill that will create a bipartisan commission to investigate the insurrection on the Capitol building on Jan. 6. Republican Representative Darrell Issa from the 50th District voted against the commission, saying Congress is already investigating the insurrection attempt from both sides of the aisle and doesn't need a commission. In a statement to NBC 7, Issa said: "Over the last four … Continue Reading
May 19, 2021
LGBTQ leaders get sneak peek of Milk naval ship
LGBTQ leaders are getting a sneak peek this week of the naval ship named after the late gay San Francisco supervisor Harvey Milk. Work on the USNS Harvey Milk, the first Navy vessel to be named after a member of the LGBTQ community, is set to wrap up later this year on schedule. The Navy had announced in 2016 that a fleet replenishment oiler, T-AO 206, would be named in honor of Milk, the first gay person elected to public office in San Francisco and California with his 1977 victory of a … Continue Reading
May 18, 2021
Members of Congress critical of military housing
Members of Congress are responding to a Team 10 investigation that uncovered claims that some San Diego military housing was unsafe and had areas with mold. The claims are outlined in several lawsuits filed by San Diego area families. The lawsuits filed against Lincoln Property Management and San Diego Family Housing claim their military housing was unsafe, saying it had microbial contamination and other substandard conditions. According to a lawsuit filed by the Huffman family against San … Continue Reading
May 15, 2021
Jewish lawmakers urge Biden to be more involved in deescalating Israel-Palestine conflict
A group of Jewish House Democrats urged President Joe Biden to be more engaged in deescalating the fighting between Hamas and Israel. New York Rep. Jerry Nadler and 11 co-signers sent a letter to Biden on Friday urging the administration to work toward an “immediate ceasefire and lead efforts to facilitate de-escalation.” They condemned the “abhorrent rocket attacked” from Hamas, a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization that operates in Gaza, and “other terrorist groups,” but they … Continue Reading
May 06, 2021
Congressional delegation finds improvements at Fort Hood, but says work remains to be done
The six members of a congressional delegation who arrived Wednesday at Fort Hood for an update on the post’s progress in instituting reforms in the aftermath of the murder of Spc. Vanessa Guillén found improvements, but say work remains to be done. “Vanessa Guillén did not die in vain,” U.S. Rep., Jackie Speier, D-Calif., said during a news conference Thursday afternoon following the visit. “Fort Hood has taken this seriously. There is a seismic change at Fort Hood in how they treat their … Continue Reading
May 06, 2021
Rep. Speier on Army's housing deal: 'I would terminate that contract'
Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Calif., pledged Thursday to question Defense Department officials about terminating military housing contracts, calling the agreements “poorly crafted” and providing commanders little say in how private companies spend money to improve and maintain homes. “They have a guaranteed income from the [military’s basic allowance for housing] that they receive from each service member," said Speier, who is the chairwoman of the House Armed Services Committee subpanel on military … Continue Reading
May 03, 2021
Biden Raises Refugee Admissions Target to 62,500 in 2021, Drawing San Diego Praise
President Joe Biden said on Monday he has resurrected a plan to raise refugee admissions this year to 62,500 after drawing a wave of criticism from supporters for initially keeping the refugee cap at a historically low level. Biden formally reversed himself just two weeks after his administration announced it would keep the cap at the 15,000 level set by Donald Trump, who sought to drastically limit immigration. In a statement, Biden said his action “erases the historically low number set by … Continue Reading
May 03, 2021
Gloria Highlights ‘Sexy Streets’ Program For Underserved Communities
Nearly $40 million would be directed toward repairing streets and roads in historically underserved communities under a proposed "Sexy Streets" program, Mayor Todd Gloria announced Monday. Gloria was joined by Rep. Sara Jacobs, D-San Diego, and City Councilwoman Monica Montgomery Steppe at a news conference Monday morning as he highlighted key portions of his proposal. "People say infrastructure isn't a sexy topic. I disagree — and that's why I call newly paved roads 'sexy streets,"' Gloria … Continue Reading
May 03, 2021
Lawmakers tee up proposals to improve military child care facilities, address barriers to care
Lawmakers are teeing up legislative proposals that would tackle child care problems in the military, as thousands of children remain on monthslong waitlists and the Defense Department’s backlog to repair existing facilities swells. The Defense Department, along with experts and military advocacy groups, have recognized high-quality child care as a retention and readiness issue for service members. The coronavirus pandemic also has exacerbated the problem, as some child care centers and … Continue Reading