Climate change is one of the biggest challenges of our lifetime. My constituents in CA15, and communities around the country, are experiencing its impacts right now. Sea-level rise, flooding, and an increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events are threatening the destruction of biodiversity across our planet.
As a lifelong resident of the Peninsula, I understand the severity and urgency of the crisis. And as a proud father of two boys, I understand the gravity and immediacy of ensuring a livable future for our children. That’s why I believe we must confront the climate crisis head-on to protect our communities and the environment.
Climate Resiliency
Combating climate change is one of my top priorities. The first bill I introduced in Congress was the Weatherization Resilience and Adaptation Program (WRAP) Act. If signed into law, this bill would establish a grant program to help low-income households, affordable housing providers, and manufactured home communities in making their homes and property more resilient to the effects of climate change. As a member of the Bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus, I am also working to address the ongoing climate crisis and protect our most vulnerable communities affected by extreme climate events.
Congress must continue to invest in modern climate solutions, but Congress alone cannot fix this global problem. That’s why I have also called on the Biden Administration to utilize its existing authority by implementing a whole-of-government approach to mitigate the worst impacts of climate change.
In the 118th Congress, I joined several colleagues in asking the Environmental Protection Agency to further limit carbon pollution from fossil fuel power plants. I have also urged the EPA to use its powers to reduce plastics from contaminating our environment.
In addition to these specific actions, I am advocating for bold initiatives such as the Green New Deal. I firmly oppose legislation that would prolong the climate crisis, sell or exploit our public lands for profit, or strip government agencies of their ability to protect and regulate our precious natural resources.
Land & Wildlife Conservation
Conserving our public lands and protecting wildlife are also essential in addressing the climate crisis. In Congress, I sit on the House Committee on Natural Resources and occupy an active role on the Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries subcommittee. I am fighting to protect wildlife by both opposing conservative efforts to remove or reclassify at-risk species from the endangered and threatened species lists and by protecting public lands. I am also a strong advocate for increased funding to address restoration and climate adaptation in the San Francisco Bay.
Accomplishments
- Secured $959,752 for Daly City’s Vista Grande Drainage Basin Improvement Project
- Secured $1,383,069 for Foster City’s Lagoon Pump Station Seismic Rehabilitation and Capacity Enhancement
- Secured $1,666,279 for South San Francisco’s Centennial Way Trail & Outdoor Learning Center
- Secured $700,000 for the Port of Redwood City’s Storm Water and Clean Water Improvement Act project
- Secured $1,000,000 for San Mateo County’s Coyote Point Recreation Area to build an all-abilities playground
- As part of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, successfully passed two provisions into law to advance the research and development of hydrogen aviation fuel and better prepare America’s power grid for the future of electric power in aviation