What did Long Beach’s federal and state representatives do in August?

This installment of the Signal Tribune’s monthly series covers actions taken and statements made by Long Beach and Signal Hill’s federal and state representatives throughout August.

Elected officials were involved in discussion and legislation surrounding public health, schools, cyberbullying and more. The purpose of this ongoing series is to help the public stay abreast of their elected officials and hold them accountable before and beyond election day.

Robert Garcia – U.S. Representative for California’s 42nd Congressional District 

 

STD Prevention: On Aug. 8, Garcia, 12th District Representative Barbara Lee and 16 other representatives sent a letter urging the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force to require insurance coverage for the preventative STD (sexually transmitted disease) medicine doxycycline postexposure prophylaxis (doxy PEP) at no cost to patients. Doxy PEP, when taken within three days of sex, significantly reduces the risk of syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently recommended healthcare providers counsel high-risk patients on doxy PEP’s benefits. The lawmakers’ letter requests that the Task Force give doxy PEP an A rating, which would require insurance providers to cover the medication under the Affordable Care Act. 

“Surging STIs are disproportionately impacting LGBTQ+ individuals,” Garcia said in a public statement. “We must ensure that these folks have access to doxy PEP, a critical medication that can save lives and prevent these kinds of infections. By making doxy PEP coverage free by insurers, we can prevent infections and stop the spread of disease for those most vulnerable.”

 

Olympics Funding: On Aug. 9, Garcia and 19 colleagues sent a letter to Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and the Chair and Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee urging them to include $200 million for the 2028 Olympics in this year’s federal funding legislation. This funding would provide public transit buses to cities that will be hosting Olympic events such as Los Angeles and Long Beach. Previous host cities for the U.S. Olympics, such as Atlanta and Salt Lake City, received similar federal support in the past to expand transit capacity, according to the letter. 

“We are thrilled that the Olympic and Paralympic Games are coming to Los Angeles and Long Beach in 2028, which is why we must do everything we can to set the cities up for success,” Garcia said in a public statement. “The Olympic Games will draw in hundreds of thousands of people, and we need to have the necessary infrastructure to handle this influx. That’s why we’re fighting to fund our public transportation agencies and ensure our U.S. host cities have the capacity to have a safe, clean, and effective transit system.”

 

The Trial of George Santos: Former Congressman George Santos is expected to plead guilty to 23 felony counts, which include wire fraud, money laundering, stealing public funds, lying on federal disclosure forms, conspiracy, aggravated identity theft and more. The former representative was found to have extensively lied about his background during his political campaign, and to have misused campaign donations. Garcia was among the first representatives to call for Santos’ expulsion from Congress.

Garcia released the following public statement on Aug. 17 about Santos’ expected guilty plea:

“From day one, we made the case that George Santos had no business serving in the House of Representatives and needed to be held accountable for his crimes. As the first person to call for his expulsion and lead the effort, I am glad to hear that Santos is finally being honest about the crimes he has committed. No one is above the law.” 

 

Harris-Walz Campaign: Garcia posted the following statement on X on Aug. 6 in regards to presidential candidate Kamala Harris selecting Governor of Minnesota Tim Walz to be her running mate:

“Governor Tim Walz is a home run pick for Vice-President Harris. He’s a former teacher and veteran and understands Congress. He has a strong record standing up for working families. Let’s go Harris-Walz because we are not going back!”

Garcia is a vocal supporter of the Harris campaign, and visited Las Vegas in early August to speak to organizers and voters in support of Harris.

 

Democratic National Convention: Garcia spoke onstage at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Aug. 19. He decried former president Donald Trump’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“What we needed at that moment was national leadership, but instead we got Donald Trump,” Garcia said during his speech. “While schools closed and dead bodies filled morgues, Donald Trump downplayed the virus. He told us to inject bleach into our bodies. He peddled conspiracy theories across the country. We lost hundreds of thousands of Americans and our economy collapsed.”

Lena Gonzalez – California State Senator for the 33rd District

 

Air Quality Bill Moves Forward: On Aug. 8, Gonzalez’s Senate Bill 674, The Refinery Pollution Reduction and Transparency Act, passed the state legislature. It’s been sent to Governor Gavin Newsom for approval. The bill sets a statewide standard for monitoring air quality at oil refineries across the state in order to measure toxic pollutants and implement methods to protect nearby communities. The legislation would require refineries to notify the public, including through emails and texts, when toxic emissions exceed safe levels. The bill would also require refineries to provide accessible real-time data, submit to third-party audits and provide a root-cause analysis within 24 hours of any incident.

“The success of SB 674 today is a promising and motivating milestone for fenceline communities,” Gonzalez said in a public statement. “This bill will establish a standardized air monitoring system that demands transparency from refineries about the toxic chemicals they release and ensure the best practices and technologies are in place to prevent the refinery dangers our communities have endured for years. As the bill moves to its final step, I urge Governor Newsom to sign it into law to safeguard the health and wellbeing of Californians who have been harmed by refinery pollution for far too long.”

 

Schools & Climate Change: On Aug. 27, Gonzalez’s Senate Bill 1182, the Climate Resilient Schools Act, passed through the state legislature, and is awaiting approval from the governor. 

The bill aims to protect California schools from climate change impacts while lowering their greenhouse gas emissions. The bill would require the California Energy Commission (CEC) to craft a comprehensive Master Plan that focuses on sustainability and resiliency in school infrastructures.

“We’re one step closer to making the Climate Resilient Schools Act a reality,” Gonzalez said in a public statement. “This work is essential to ensuring our schools are prepared to meet the growing challenges of a changing climate and severe weather. With the current availability of federal funds, we must seize this opportunity to do everything possible for California’s students and families. I am deeply grateful to my colleagues in the Legislature who recognize the urgency of this issue and helped pass this important bill. Now, I urge Governor Newsom to sign it into law so we can enhance our efforts in planning and building the climate resilient schools of tomorrow.”

 

Referendum Transparency Bill Moves Forward: On Aug. 29, Gonzalez’s Senate Bill 1337, the Referendum Funding Transparency Act, passed through the state legislature. The bill focuses on corporations that try to overturn existing laws through petitions and referendums. SB 1337 would require petitions attempting to repeal a law to list its top three funders so people can more easily see what corporations may be behind a petition. The bill has been sent to the governor for approval.

Oil Cleanup Bill Moves Forward: On Aug. 28, Gonzalez’s Senate Bill 1425 was passed by the state legislature and was sent to the governor for a final decision. The bill would secure increased funding to remove oil and gas infrastructure from Long Beach tidelands by raising the State’s monthly contribution toward the existing Oil Trust Fund from $2 million to at least $5 million per month. 

“By boosting savings now to pay for future oil operations cleanup in Long Beach, the state is gearing up to meet its bold climate goals by 2045,” said Gonzalez in a public statement. “This is a common sense plan that supports our commitment to greener, healthier communities and I am thankful to my colleagues in the Legislature for their support, and our partners in the City of Long Beach for helping to advance this proactive and crucial legislation.”

 

Health Data Bill Moves Forward: On Aug. 27, Gonzalez’s Senate Bill 1016, the Latino & Indigenous Health Disparities Reduction Act, passed the state legislature and now awaits the governor’s decision. This bill would require the State’s public health department to begin gathering health data specific to different Latino and Indigenous communities and subgroups.

“We move one step closer to achieving health equity for Latino and Indigenous Mesoamerican communities in California,” Gonzalez said in a public statement. “By enhancing health data, we can better tailor resources and services to address the needs of our diverse populations. I am deeply grateful to my Assembly and Senate colleagues for their support, and to the strong organizations and community voices that continue to champion this essential policy.”

Nanette Díaz Barragán – U.S. Representative for California’s 44th Congressional District

 

Advance Care Planning Act Introduced: On Aug. 1, Barragán and fellow Senator Richard Blumenthal introduced the Compassionate Care Act, a bill aimed at improving end-of-life care, as well as planning for care in case of severe illness. 

Many Americans don’t have a plan in case they contract a severe illness, and this legislation seeks to address that gap by providing resources to educate both patients and providers. The act focuses on using telehealth options to make it easier for people to plan their care in advance. It would also create a public awareness campaign, urging residents across the nation to make plans for themselves in case of severe illness, a practice known as “advance care planning.”

“We must ensure that every patient’s healthcare rights and wishes are respected by increased access to advance care planning (ACP),” said Barragán in a public statement. “Few patients discuss ACP with their providers, and marginalized communities, including individuals with low incomes and non-English speakers, are even less likely to have the conversation. I am proud to introduce the Compassionate Care Act with Senator Blumenthal, as it will create clear guidelines, increase physician education and public awareness, and enhance ACP access for all.”

Lower Drug Prices: On Aug. 15, Barragán was present when President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris announced the first lower drug prices negotiated under Medicare through the Inflation Reduction Act, passed in 2022. This law allows Medicare to directly negotiate prescription drug prices with pharmaceutical companies, similar to practices by the Department of Veterans Affairs and other federal agencies. The new prices for the first 10 selected drugs will take effect in Medicare starting in 2026. These drugs include treatments for a variety of illnesses such as blood cancer, heart failure, blood clots and more.

Barragan released the following public statement about the lower drug prices:

“Two years ago, President Biden, Vice President Harris, and Democrats in Congress delivered on our promise to start lowering prescription drug costs for Americans,” said Rep. Barragán. “The Inflation Reduction Act, for the first time, gave Medicare the power to reduce the skyrocketing price of prescription drugs that disproportionately impact low-income communities and communities of color. The negotiated drug prices announced today will help millions of Americans afford their medication for diabetes, cancer, heart failure, and much more. In the first year alone, this will mean $1.5 billion in out-of-pocket savings for older Americans and people with disabilities who depend on these life saving medications, including over 800,000 Californians. I was proud to join President Biden and Vice President Harris in Maryland today to celebrate this historic accomplishment, made possible by Democrats in Congress.  We will continue to fight to lower costs for American families everywhere.”

 

Visit with Vets: In early August, Barragán visited American Legion Post 833 to speak with local veterans. According to an online post by Barragán, she and the veterans discussed the expansion of healthcare benefits, as well as issues surrounding housing and mental health care for veterans.

 

Letter on Farm Bill: Congresswoman Barragán joined over 65 members of the Democratic Women’s Caucus in a letter urging House Speaker Mike Johnson to make changes to a Republican-backed farm bill, and to collaborate with Democrats on a bipartisan version that further supports women and families. The letter states that proposed cuts to food and nutrition assistance programs, including SNAP benefits, could threaten the bill’s passage and negatively impact farmers and families. 

“We are committed to passing a farm bill that supports both our farmers and ranchers, and nutrition assistance for women and their families,” the letter states. 

 

Senior Health Fair: Barragán’s office held a health fair for seniors in Carson on Aug. 16. Prior to the event, she visited the Long Beach Senior Center on Aug. 6 to let local seniors know about it. The event connected seniors to numerous local resources that can support their health.

Josh Lowenthal – U.S. Representative for California’s 69th Assembly District

 

Lids for Drink Safety: On Aug. 29, the State Assembly approved amendments made to Lowenthal’s Assembly Bill 2375.

The bill would require bars and nightclubs to offer lids for customers’ drinks upon request, and to post signs informing customers that lids are available, in an effort to prevent drink-spiking.

 

Drink Safety at Schools: On Aug. 29, the State Assembly approved amendments made to Lowenthal’s Assembly Bill 1524. It will now go to the governor for a final decision.

The bill would require community colleges and universities in the Cal State system to provide free drug-testing devices at their health centers for students, which they can use to detect the presence of illicit substances in their drinks.

 

PAN/PANDAS Coverage: On Aug. 29, the State Assembly approved amendments made to Lowenthal’s Assembly Bill 2105.

This bill aims to secure insurance coverage and expedite care for those suffering from Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder Associated with Streptococcal Infections (PANDAS) and Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS). These illnesses cause sudden onset symptoms similar to obsessive compulsive disorder in children after an infection, such as strep throat.

Training on Drink Safety: Lowenthal’s Assembly Bill 2402 was passed by the State Senate on Aug. 26. Now the State Assembly needs to approve the amendments the Senate made to the bill. This bill would require the Alcohol and Beverage Control to add information on how to prevent roofying to its trainings offered to restaurant, bar and nightclub staff. 

 

Cyberbullying Bill Passed: Lowenthal’s Assembly Bill 2481, the Cyberbullying Protection Act, was passed by the State Assembly on Aug. 31. The bill will now be sent to the governor for a final decision.

If approved, AB 2481 would require social media platforms to clearly outline their cyberbullying reporting procedures in their terms of service. They would also need to create a way for anyone, whether they have an account or not, to report cyberbullying or content that breaks the rules. This would include allowing people to upload screenshots as evidence. 

Large social media platforms would further have to verify school principals and mental health professionals as “trusted reporters,” who would be able to alert the platform when they find content that they deem to be harmful to minors. When one of these verified reporters flags content as harmful, it would trigger an expedited review of the content by a human employed by the social media platform. These platforms would then have to annually publish the number of reports they receive from these trusted reporters on a publicly accessible website.