Fighting Inflation, Lowering Costs

Historic Progress for America's Families
Today, House Democrats proudly passed the landmark Inflation Reduction Act. This legislation, which now heads to the President's desk, will make an immense and lasting difference for every American – starting at the kitchen table.

Here's what Democrats' Inflation Reduction Act means for America's families:

• Lowering Prescription Drug Prices: Empowering Medicare to negotiate prescription drug costs; capping seniors' out-of-pocket drug costs at $2,000; and protecting Medicare enrollees by banning drug manufactures from hiking prices faster than inflation.
• Lowering the Cost of Health Care: Keeping health care affordable for the 13 million working Americans who get their coverage under the Affordable Care Act, locking in average annual savings of $800 by extending the American Rescue Plan's premium subsidies for three more years.
• Delivering the Most Consequential Climate Action in History: Slashing carbon pollution by 40 percent before the end of the decade; lowering energy costs by investing in energy efficient homes, vehicles and appliances; increasing our energy security by bringing clean energy manufacturing to American shores; decarbonizing our economy through targeted federal support; and investing over $60 billion in environmental justice priorities to ensure that underserved communities share in the benefits of our transition to a clean economy.
• Dramatically Reducing the Deficit: Making a historic down payment on deficit reduction of approximately $300 billion to fight inflation.

Importantly, these crucial investments are fully paid-for by making sure the largest corporations pay their fair share and taking on ultra-wealthy tax cheats. Meanwhile, this legislation honors Democrats' promise: no new taxes on families making less than $400,000 and no new taxes on small businesses.

With the Inflation Reduction Act, Democrats in Congress have advanced our fight to put People Over Politics: expanding the promise of health and financial security for generations to come. Now, we look forward to President Biden making this bill the law of the land.

Getting Benefits from the PACT Act
On Wednesday, with the stroke of President Biden's pen, the SFC Heath Robinson Honoring our PACT Act became the law of the land. This landmark legislation will secure access to life-saving care for the 3.5 million veterans exposed to deadly toxins in the line of duty, as well as empower those harmed by water exposure at Camp Lejeune to have their day in court.

Immediately upon the signing of PACT Act: the Department of Veterans Affairs began honoring claims reflecting the 23 new conditions and cancers included in the legislation to qualify for presumptive eligibility for VA benefits. Constituents who qualify are encouraged to file a claim immediately to access these life-saving benefits. Read more on additional survivor benefits that may be available to you and how to apply.

Over the next ten years: those who have been exposed to burn pits and other toxins, but don't yet have one of the 23 presumptive conditions or cancers, will see their eligibility for VA health care phased in. This includes those who participated in a toxic exposure risk activity while serving on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty for training; and those who served in certain locations during specific periods of time.

In addition, the law provides potential legal remedies in federal court for those who resided, worked or were exposed for at least 30 days between August 1, 1953 and December 31, 1987 to water at Camp Lejeune, and were harmed by such exposure.

We must ensure our heroic veterans can avail themselves of the benefits they need, they earned and they deserve. Just as the military leaves no soldier behind on the battlefield, we must leave no veteran behind when they come home.

A Safer, Greener Howard Street
As San Francisco's proud representative in the Congress, it was my privilege to help secure $23 million in federal funding for safety upgrades along Howard Street through the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) initiative.

This funding will support the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Authority's (SFMTA) plans to transform a dangerous, congested artery into a walkable and bike-friendly street – addressing urgent safety issues that resulted in three fatalities between 2014 and 2019. Upgrades will include permanent protected bike lanes, improved traffic signals, raised crosswalks and green infrastructure.

This federal investment is a vital step toward ensuring all San Franciscans can safely share our streets, and I will continue fighting alongside Mayor London Breed to achieve our Vision Zero: ending traffic fatalities in San Francisco by 2024.

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