Extremist Supreme Court Decisions

Legislative Response to Dobbs v. Jackson

Last weekend, the American people spoke out in person and in large numbers about their opposition to the Supreme Court's disrespect for a woman's freedom over her reproductive health.

Following the release of the draft decision, our pro-choice House Democratic Majority has been hard at work preparing for the possibility of this tragic outcome. We have been exploring avenues to protect the health and freedom of American women. Among them is legislation that:

• Protects women's most intimate and personal data stored in reproductive health apps
• Makes clear that Americans have the Constitutional right to travel freely and voluntarily throughout the United States
• Once again passes the Women's Health Protection Act: landmark legislation to enshrine Roe v. Wade into the law of the land

In his disturbing concurrence, Justice Clarence Thomas confirmed many of our deepest fears about where this decision may lead: taking aim at additional long-standing precedent and cherished privacy rights, from access to contraception and in-vitro fertilization to marriage equality. Legislation is being introduced to further codify freedoms which Americans currently enjoy.

It is clear from how Donald Trump and Mitch McConnell stacked the Supreme Court that elections have ramifications. It is essential that we protect and expand our pro-choice Majorities in the House and Senate in November so that we can eliminate the filibuster so that we can restore women's fundamental rights – and freedom for every American.

The Supreme Court's Pro-Pollution Ruling

This week's ruling in West Virginia vs. EPA by radical, pro-pollution Justices on the Supreme Court strikes a severe blow to the Environmental Protection Agency's authority to do its fundamental duty: to protect the environment. By restricting the EPA's authority, the Republican supermajority on the Court has bowed to the dirty energy special interests who seek to poison the air our children breathe and the water they drink with impunity.

The climate crisis has reached ‘Code Red for Humanity' – and our nation must have every tool at its disposal to fight back. As nearly 200 Congressional Democrats argued in our amicus brief for this case, the Clean Air Act empowers the EPA to follow the science to keep families safe from pollution, which includes pollution by coal companies. It is dangerous and disgraceful that this Republican-appointed Majority has chosen to defy the will of the Congress, ignore the well-being of American families and fuel climate catastrophe for generations to come. As Justice Kagan wrote in the powerful dissent, with this ruling the Court ‘appoints itself – instead of Congress or the expert agency – the decision-maker on climate policy.'

This devastating decision is the latest in the efforts by extremist and partisan Republican-appointed Justices to take a wrecking ball to the health, liberty and security of the American people. In just two weeks, the Court has acted to erase reproductive health freedom, flood our public places with more deadly weapons and, now, to let our planet burn. As a radical Republican Party and their henchmen on the Supreme Court continue their all-out assault on our rights and freedoms, Democrats will not yield in our fight For The Children, For The Planet and For The People.

Showcasing San Francisco Youth
This year, my office is participating in the Congressional App Challenge, a competition designed to encourage students to learn how to code and explore STEM and computer science through hands-on practice. The Congressional App Challenge challenges students to create and submit their own apps. The winning app from the 12th Congressional District, chosen by a panel of expert judges, will be featured online and will also be eligible to be on display in the U.S. Capitol.

The Congressional App Challenge is open to all middle and high school students in the 12th Congressional District of California. All students interested in participating in the Congressional App Challenge are encouraged to register online and submit their app by November 1st!

Additionally, the deadline for the 2023 Service Academy Nominations is September 15, 2022. We are accepting applications for the U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, U.S. Military Academy and U.S. Naval Academy. Congressional nominations are made on a competitive basis – stressing character, scholarship, leadership, physical aptitude, medical fitness, personal goals and motivation. Read more information on eligibility, frequently asked questions and the application process.

White House Tours

My office is excited to share updated information on tours of the White House! Public tours of the White House will resume a full operating schedule on Tuesday, July 19, 2022. Tours will be available from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday through Saturday, excluding Federal holidays or unless otherwise noted.

As many sites around Washington, D.C. begin to open to the public, please be aware that each tour has different hours and requirements. My office will do all in its capacity to schedule these tours. Please take a moment to read through the information on the status of tour sites around D.C., and you can submit your tour request here!

Keeping Ahead of COVID in San Francisco
This week, the FDA authorized emergency use of the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines for children down to 6 months of age. Most families and caregivers will be able to access vaccines for this age group through their health system providers, pediatricians and select pharmacies.

Starting this week, the San Francisco Department of Public Health will offer COVID-19 vaccines for children down to 6 months of age to families who need them at SFDPH-operated and neighborhood sites.