I. STAFF ASSISTANT JOB OPENING IN MY DISTRICT OFFICE

My San Diego district office is searching for a full-time staff assistant to begin in August 2007. Job responsibilities include fielding constituent calls, processing mail, coordinating the internship program, assisting with casework, maintaining a photographic database, drafting correspondence, maintaining office equipment, and other administrative duties. In addition, the staff assistant provides support to field staff and occasionally attends community events on my behalf.

Please note that the ability to speak Spanish is required. A two year commitment and strong writing skills are also required. This is an entry-level position. The salary is $30,000 per year with excellent benefits.

Applicants should submit a letter of interest, résumé, and at least three references. Please clearly indicate your level of Spanish speaking ability. The deadline for applications is Thursday, June 14, 2007. A letter will be sent to you by mail to confirm that your résumé has been received. No phone calls please. Applications may be submitted by mail, email or fax to: Congresswoman Susan Davis, 4305 University Ave., Ste. 515, San Diego, CA 92105; email at employment.davis@mail.house.gov; or fax at 619-280-5311.

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II. SURVEY ON EDUCATION

(Please remember these surveys are not scientific.)

The No Child Left Behind Act will soon be up for reauthorization. Therefore, I’d like to ask your opinions on education. Please take a moment to click here and share your thoughts.

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III. UPCOMING DISTRICT EVENT

I would like to invite you to a Neighborhood Day that I will be hosting in May. I hope you will attend.

During Neighborhood Days, constituents and I discuss all sorts of federal issues in a town hall format. Additionally, my office provides one-on-one assistance to people having trouble with government agencies. Your input is very valuable to me, so I hope you can make it. Details about the event are included below.

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IV. UPDATE ON IRAQ

I want to thank all of you for contacting me to share your concerns and suggestions about U.S. military activities in Iraq. I certainly respect your positions on the war in Iraq and welcome your comments. My decision to support the Fiscal Year 2007 emergency supplemental bill for Iraq was not an easy one.

When Congress was asked to authorize the President’s proposal to invade Iraq, I voted no. I have supported supplemental spending measures in the past because of their importance to our troops in the field. While I have not supported setting a timetable for withdrawal in the past, I did fully support this year’s emergency supplemental, which provides a timetable for the redeployment of combat troops.

I know that for many of you the timeline in the emergency supplemental only represents a delay of eventual American withdrawal. I have also heard from San Diego residents who are concerned with setting a timetable for withdrawal at all.

I believe it is important to remember that this supplemental provides critically needed funding for our troops and veterans and that it will turn our involvement in Iraq from a war without end to a war with an end in sight.

We cannot fail to realize the huge impact our continued presence in Iraq is having on our military readiness and the strategic risk we assume by spreading our forces too thinly. In addition, steps must be taken to compel the Iraqi government to make the difficult but necessary steps of political inclusion and reconciliation if Iraq is ever to return to some state of normalcy.

For more information on my record on Iraq, click here.

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V. PLANNED TOLL ROAD THROUGH SAN ONOFRE STATE PARK

Many of you have contacted me with your opposition to the proposed Foothill-South toll road along State Route 241, which would reach across southwestern Orange County and San Onofre State Park in San Diego County. I share your concerns about the impacts this project could have on the recreational and natural resources at San Onofre State Park and Trestles Beach. I am also concerned about the impact encroachment by the road could have on the readiness and security of Marine Corps operations at Camp Pendleton, through which the planned route would pass.

Because of these concerns, I offered an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act, which would end an unprecedented exemption from state laws for the toll road. The amendment was passed by the House Armed Services Committee and included in the Defense Authorization bill which was approved by the House this week. Now, I am working with my California colleagues in the Senate to ensure it is included in the final version of the legislation approved by both chambers of Congress. Upon its passage into law, this amendment will reinstate California state law in the environmental review process for this project.

Rest assured that I will always work hard to find the appropriate balance between protection of our region's sensitive environment and the area's growing need for transportation infrastructure improvements. San Onofre State Park and Trestles Beach are among the last remaining undeveloped lands accessible to the public on the Southern California coast and should not be sacrificed lightly.

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VI. HEAD START REAUTHORIZATION

In one of its first actions in the new Congress, the Education and Labor Committee has sent legislation to the House floor to improve the crucial Head Start program. The House voted in favor of the legislation on May 2, 2007, and sent the bill to the Senate.

I was pleased to have the opportunity to take part in the creation of the bill, the Head Start Improvement Act of 2007, H.R. 1429. As a cosponsor of the bill, I worked with my colleagues on the Education and Labor Committee to include provisions to ensure that children in the Head Start program have both their physical and mental health needs addressed. Studies show that children learn and perform in school better when they are emotionally prepared and stable.

Mental health care is an important mission of the Head Start program. Among other improvements, H.R. 1429 will increase access to mental health care and allow Head Start instructors to receive training to recognize mental health disorders in children.

H.R. 1429 will also enhance Head Start in several other areas, including better pay for instructors, expanded access, a new focus on K-12 readiness, and new accountability to ensure federal funds are used appropriately. We would all agree that we need to reach our children at a young age to ensure they are healthy, mentally prepared, and ready for school.

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Since coming to Congress, I have been a consistent advocate of tougher penalties for crimes committed to send a message of threat and intimidation to a subgroup of individuals. Crimes of this kind threaten to unravel the very fabric of American society. I was proud to become an original cosponsor of H.R. 1592, the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which passed the House by a vote of 237-180.

Passage of this legislation is long over due. Since the 1990s, when law enforcement agencies began tracking hate crimes statistics, documented cases have remained consistently high. Hate crime offenses peaked in 2001 claiming 12,200 victims, and each statistic represents a horrible individual story.

H.R. 1592 is about protecting all Americans from senseless crimes and hate. The vast majority of Americans have the potential to become victims of a hate crime in some form – whether it’s race, religion, sexuality, gender identity, or something else that sets us apart. It is time we told these victims that we care about the pain and torment they suffer, and that we recognize the uniquely harmful threat hate crimes pose to the community at large. This legislation communicates that we are serious about preventing hate crimes in the future.

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VIII. MAIL-IN BALLOT TRACKING LEGISLATION

Voters across the nation are increasingly choosing to cast their ballots by mail because it is more convenient and gives them more time to study candidate choices. However, many have been hesitant to choose mail-in ballots because they fear their votes could get lost in the system.

To combat this fear and increase voter participation, I have introduced the Mail-In Ballot Tracking Act, H.R. 1646. This inexpensive bill would require states to implement procedures to allow voters and election officials to track the growing number of mail-in ballots via the telephone and Internet, like we track overnight packages.

This tracking system would not only bring peace of mind, but it would also reduce the burden on elections offices, which are often barraged with phone calls from voters trying to determine the status of their ballots.

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IX. EARTH DAY 2007

We celebrate Earth Day on April 22 of each year in order to remember our responsibility and renew our commitment to taking care of our only and priceless home, Earth. I can attest that San Diego’s communities are firmly committed to this goal, and I truly appreciate the suggestions and feedback I receive from you on environmental legislation.

The 110th Congress has made the environment a top priority and has already begun to address this issue by passing legislation to reduce subsidies to oil companies and increase investment in renewable energy. I was a cosponsor of that legislation, and I am pleased to tell you that I also supported the creation of a House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, which will work with relevant House committees to draft legislation to encourage America’s energy independence and find ways to combat global warming.

I also recently teamed up with the Surfrider Foundation and other San Diego environmental activists at the Ocean Beach Pier to highlight the need for action on global warming. In Congress, I am a cosponsor of H.R. 1590, the Safe Climate Act, which seeks to reduce global warming emissions by 80% by 2050. We cannot allow our children to inherit this crisis when we have the ability to make a difference right now.

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X. BUDGET CONFERENCE AGREEMENT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2008

In response to President Bush’s budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2008, the Senate and the House of Representatives recently passed S. Con. Res. 21, the Congressional budget conference agreement.

This agreement includes $2.9 trillion in total spending in Fiscal Year 2008 with a deficit of $251 billion, reaching balance and a $41 billion surplus by Fiscal Year 2012. This budget does not contain a tax increase; in fact, it provides for an extension of middle-class tax cuts.

I believe this resolution is moving us in the right direction by providing badly needed resources in key areas that have previously been underfunded, such as children’s health, education, and veterans’ health care. In total, it provides $954 billion for discretionary programs in FY 2008. It also includes more funding than the President requested for education and training programs, transportation programs, low-income programs, including food stamps and Section 8, and community and regional development.

The resolution rejects the administration’s request to charge veterans annual co-payments for medical treatment and seeks to reduce the growing backlog of new veterans signing up for VA benefits. It also rejects proposed cuts to the Land and Water Conservation Fund and Fish & Wildlife Service's wildlife refuge system as well as cuts in the Community Service Block Grant and Social Services Block Grant programs. For more information on the budget conference agreement, please click here.

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XI. SUPREME COURT DECISION ON THE FEDERAL ABORTION BAN

I have heard from many constituents with concerns about the recent 5-4 Supreme Court decision to uphold the federal abortion ban, a law signed by President Bush that includes measures that compromise a woman’s access to medical services. This is an unfortunate setback for reproductive rights. With this ruling, this Supreme Court has sent a signal that it will limit the rights of Americans and not protect them.

The Supreme Court has ignored its own precedent and those of many lower courts. This ruling rejects the notion that medical decisions should be made by a woman and her doctor. The justices in the majority are saying the federal government can now interject itself in those decisions.

The decision to have an abortion is one of the most difficult decisions a woman can face. As a mother and grandmother, I certainly understand the value of human life and the joy children bring to the world. However, as the daughter and wife of physicians, I possess a profound respect for the doctor-patient relationship. I believe medical decisions should be made according to each person's beliefs and under appropriate and comprehensive medical advice.

In reaction to the Supreme Court’s decision, H.R. 1964, the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) was reintroduced. FOCA will secure the right to choose by establishing a federal law that guarantees reproductive freedom for future generations of American women. This guarantee will protect women’s rights even if this administration is successful in reversing Roe v. Wade or enacting even more restrictions on the right to choose. I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this legislation.

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XII. PET FOOD RECALL

Many of us have been following the developments of the recent pet food recall due to contamination that tragically has caused the illness and deaths of pets across the country. My colleagues and I are very concerned about this situation, and I am closely monitoring the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) investigation into how this occurred.

Both the House and Senate have held hearings on this matter, and you will be interested to know that Rep. Rosa DeLauro will soon be introducing the Human and Pet Food Safety Act to address the shortfalls in the FDA’s authority to prevent or react to the pet food recall. I am pleased to tell you that I am an original cosponsor of this legislation.

This bill includes provisions that would provide the FDA with mandatory recall authority, require the FDA to establish adverse event reporting standards and penalties, and provide standing FDA authority to inspect overseas. The bill also will also address surveillance and early detection issues as well as standardizing voluntary standards. If you would like more information on the FDA’s investigation of this incident or want to see if your pet’s food has been recalled, please visit the FDA’s website here.

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XIII. DISTRICT NEWS

USS Carl Vinson Homeporting

The Navy announced late last month that the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson will be homeported in San Diego. Our region is currently home to two carriers, the Nimitz and the Reagan. Locating the Vinson in San Diego is a victory for our region, which competed against other communities for the honor of hosting the carrier. The Vinson is projected to have a $2 billion impact on our region’s economy and will help create new jobs at the many local businesses that serve the Navy. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I am proud that the Vinson will call San Diego home. The carrier is expected to arrive at Naval Air Station North Island by 2010. I look forward to working with local stakeholders to prepare for its arrival and help mitigate the impacts, such as increased traffic, associated with homeporting a carrier. I hope you will join me in welcoming the Vinson, its crew, and their families to San Diego.

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XIV. DISTRICT EVENTS IN REVIEW

Hillcrest Neighborhood Day

I would like to thank the over 100 local residents who came out on St. Patrick’s Day to attend my Hillcrest Neighborhood Day on Saturday, March 17. This town hall meeting was an opportunity for me to report on the latest news from Washington and to hear from San Diegans about the issues that are important to our community. I shared with the audience the progress we’ve made in Congress on increasing the minimum wage, reducing interest rates on student loans, and expanding funding for alternative energy. Among the many topics raised by constituents in the audience included the war in Iraq, immigration reform, establishing a U.S. Department of Peace, and the recent street robberies in Hillcrest and North Park. Many community groups attended the event, including Minutemen, peace activists, and San Diegans for 9/11 Truth, which made for a very lively event! I appreciate all who took time out of their weekend to come meet with me. Your input is invaluable to me while working in our nation’s capital.

J* Company Youth Theatre

On Sunday, March 18, I was invited by the performers of the J* Company Youth Theatre to watch their production of Walt Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. J* Company is a program of the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center, which offers classes to youth, ages four to eighteen, on theatre performance and production. I received over 40 letters from the performers of Beauty and the Beast regarding the importance of maintaining funding for the arts and how their lives have been enriched by their involvement with the performing arts. Before the show began, I was delighted to greet the cast and thank them for their letters and for extending an invitation to me to watch their performance. I was very impressed by their enthusiasm and knowledge of how arts programs are funded, as well as their desire to reach out to their elected officials on the importance of preserving this funding. As the former director of a youth leadership program in San Diego, I know that young people are often the most thoughtful and creative members of our community. The performers of the J* Company Youth Theatre are a perfect example of this dedication and the reason why funding for the arts is money well spent.

Kensington-Talmadge Community Association

I was grateful to have an opportunity to address the members of the Kensington-Talmadge Community Association on Wednesday, April 11. The association’s monthly dinner gathering is an opportunity for members to gather together, share stories, and build a sense of community. As a resident of Kensington for nearly 35 years, it is always a treat to spend time with my neighbors and discuss the issues of the day. Among the topics that we discussed were election reform, education, the war in Iraq, and immigration.

Visit to San Diego High School

On Thursday, April 12, I had the great pleasure of visiting the School of Science and Technology at San Diego High School Educational Complex. U.S. Government students who recently completed a section on the U.S. Congress invited me to speak to their class about my role in the U.S. House of Representatives and provide an update on legislative issues, including information on student financial aid, Iraq, and immigration reform. I had the wonderful opportunity to interact with students who are graduating this June and hear their ideas and concerns. I am looking forward to visiting additional schools this year to better prepare for the upcoming re-authorization of the No Child Left Behind Act.

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XV. CONSTITUENT SERVICES FOR YOUR TRIP TO DC

If you are planning a trip to our nation's capital this summer, my office may be able to provide you with tickets to many of Washington, DC's premiere attractions and historical landmarks, including the Supreme Court, the Capitol Building, the Library of Congress, and the White House. Tour hours and ticket availabilities vary throughout the year, so please contact my office with 4-6 weeks advance notice whenever possible.

Although you may schedule tours through my office, many points of interest in our nation's capital are open to the public and do not require tour reservations. While you are here, I would encourage you to visit our impressive national monuments, museums, and other popular visitor destinations. For a list of potential places to visit, please visit the tour page of my website here.

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XVI. INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Both my offices are currently accepting internship applications for summer and fall 2007. Congressional internships are an excellent opportunity to learn about public service and gain valuable work experience. Interns answer constituent inquiries, record caller comments, conduct research, draft correspondence, and assist staff members with a variety of special projects and public events.

These positions are unpaid but may fulfill college credits. I give priority to students who live in the 53rd District, but all are welcome to apply. Interested applicants should submit a résumé, cover letter, and a list of three references to the appropriate intern coordinator: Lee Steuer in Washington, DC, or one of my staff assistants, Jacob James or Megan O’Sullivan, in San Diego. Please contact Lee at 202-225-2040 or Jacob or Megan at 619-280-5353 if you are interested in learning about internship opportunities.

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