Jimmy Panetta

The following is my monthly update on my continued service for the people of California’s 19th Congressional District. Although we face many challenges as a nation, I’ve learned that in order to move forward we must continue to do our job in the United States House of Representatives. That is why, and as you will see and read about in this legislative update, I continue my work on passing impactful legislation, securing federal funding for local projects, and ensuring that the federal government works for my constituents. I believe that good governing is good politics, and I am proud of the work that we have done to move forward our community and country.

This last month, I have been busy working on legislation to crack down on mail theft, protect our pollinators, ensure proper oversight on federal spending and foster care facilities, ways to increase trade, and prevent anti-Semitism on college campuses. I’ve secured federal funding for local colleges to increase their research and innovation and worked with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide more payments to local communities. I continue to show up throughout California’s 19th Congressional District to meet with constituents, hear about their concerns and issues, and work with them to provide solutions from the federal government.

If you have any questions about my service for California’s 19th Congressional District or have an issue with the federal government please call (831) 424-2229, visit one of my district offices in South San Jose, Santa Cruz, Monterey, or Paso Robles, or send me a message through my website.

I look forward to continuing my work for you in the U.S. Congress and California’s 19th Congressional District.

Sincerely,

Jimmy Panetta
United States Representative
19th Congressional District, California

Rep. Panetta authored and introduced legislation to fight mail theft in California’s 19th Congressional District and around the country.

I authored and introduced the bipartisan Maximizing Agency Integration on Letter (MAIL) Theft Act to address the nationwide rise in mail theft. The MAIL Theft Act would require cross-agency coordination and a dedicated strategy on this crime wave between federal agencies and local law enforcement. Moreover, we actively are working with the United States Postal Service to install new locks on cluster mailboxes in neighborhoods throughout the 19th Congressional District to prevent further mail theft.

Press play or HERE to watch Rep. Panetta’s remarks in the Budget Committee on his bipartisan legislation to provide more oversight on improper federal payments.

Over the last two decades, the federal government has reportedly made over $2.7 trillion in improper payments that either should not have been made in the first place or were made in the incorrect amount. These mistakes can add up, which is why I introduced the bipartisan Payments Transparency Act which would require the President’s annual budget request to provide additional detail on these improper payments as we continue our work to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars. Transparency is part of good governance. I spoke on this bipartisan legislation in a recent House Budget Committee hearing as an important step toward building public confidence and trust.

Press play or HERE to watch Rep. Panetta’s remarks at a Ways & Means Hearing on the need for more oversight of youth programs and foster care.

Reports of abuse in youth residential treatment centers are alarming, unacceptable, and need to be addressed by the federal government. At a recent House Ways and Means Committee hearing, I discussed the need for increased oversight of these facilities through bipartisan legislation that I’m co-leading which would allow federal lawmakers and government agencies to better understand the scope of these issues, provide critical oversight, and inform action to improve services for these vulnerable children. The federal government must play its part to help ensure the well-being and proper care of our foster youth and I’m going to continue fighting for accountability.

Press play or HERE to watch Rep. Panetta’s questioning on the Trade Subcommittee of the Ways and Means Committee on building economic partnerships with Africa.

Strengthening robust economic partnerships between the United States and countries around the world supports good governance, prevents economic exploitation, ensures regional security, counters our geo-political rivals, and curtails growing violent extremist organizations. I have long been an advocate for more U. S. attention to Sub-Saharan Africa. Recent political instability in the Sahel of Africa poses new challenges to our economic and security relationships all across Africa. In a recent hearing on the Trade Subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee I discussed the United States’ strategy to respond to these challenges and opportunities.

Rep. Panetta meets with Administration officials on strengthening trade relationships.

Press play or HERE to watch Rep. Panetta’s remarks at a Ways and Means Hearing on addressing antisemitism and hate on college campuses.

All students deserve a safe place to learn, free from hate. Protest and free speech are core parts of campus life, but colleges and universities need to do better to protect students against harassment. The federal government has a role to play in providing proper oversight of these institutions to ensure students of all backgrounds can obtain higher education. In a Ways and Means Committee hearing, I discussed how our campuses can prepare for the challenges of the upcoming academic year and balance these vital tenets of academia.

Rep. Panetta participates in the House Armed Services Committee Markup of the National Defense Authorization Act

The House Armed Services Committee worked hard to craft a bipartisan, unifying National Defense Authorization Act that made incredible progress for our servicemembers and their families, bolstered our national defense, and cemented California’s 19th Congressional District leadership in innovation. Unfortunately, the Majority party chose to discard that good-faith work as their leadership allowed the extremists in their party to add divisive amendments that would restrict access to reproductive care for women in uniform, attack the rights of LGBTQ servicemembers and their families, and harm the United States’ ability to recruit and retain the military personnel that we need to ensure readiness. As we did last year, I will continue working alongside my colleagues in the Senate to pass a final version of the National Defense Authorization Act that puts politics aside and delivers on our responsibility to our servicemembers, local military installations, and national security.

Rep. Panetta speaks with the Malian Ambassador about efforts to recover the belongings of fallen servicemembers.

As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I am responsible for the oversight and wellbeing of our nation’s servicemembers and their families. In 2017, an ambush on United States Special Forces in Niger killed four Green Berets. Friendly Malian forces recently recovered personal effects of one of those fallen servicemembers. I am directly engaged in the efforts to return those belongings home to the servicemembers’ family, to honor his sacrifice and provide solace in their time of grief.

Below are additional pieces of legislation that I have authored and introduced to benefit the people of California’s 19th Congressional District:

Stop Secret Spending Act – I co-led the bipartisan Stop Secret Spending Act which would require federal agencies to include other transaction agreements (OTAs) in the list of federal awards that must be reported on USAspending.gov.

National Pollinator Week Resolution – I authored and introduced a bipartisan, bicameral resolution to recognize the importance of pollinators, such as the Western Monarch Butterfly, to maintaining healthy ecosystems and achieving a thriving agricultural industry in the United States.

Press play or click HERE to learn more about funding from FEMA Rep. Panetta secured  to reimburse Santa Cruz County for COVID-19-related expenditures.  Read the story in a local newspaper by pressing HERE.

As the federal representative for the 19th Congressional District, I will continue to ensure that FEMA is doing its job to properly reimburse our communities for their efforts to recover from the pandemic and recent devastating natural disasters. I recently announced significant reimbursement for Santa Cruz and Santa Clara Counties’ critical efforts during the pandemic to keep our vulnerable residents safe and reduce community spread. I continue to keep the pressure on FEMA through regular meetings with agency leaders and acting as a liaison between local officials and the federal government. This announcement is an important step forward in our work to expedite federal funding to ensure our community fully recovers, is resilient, and is ready for the next challenge.

Rep. Panetta meets with leaders of local food banks about the work ahead to strengthen federal support and expand partnerships with local producers.

I continue working to ensure the federal government plays its part in supporting local projects and initiatives throughout California’s 19th Congressional District. This month, I proudly announced new investments in cutting-edge research, clean school buses to reduce our overall carbon output, and more.

This month, I secured the following federal investments for California’s 19th Congressional District:

Federal Support for Clean, Zero-Emission School Buses – I secured federal funding for the Atascadero Unified School District to purchase over seven clean, zero-emission buses.

Federal Support for STEM Research – I helped secured federal funding to support cutting-edge STEM research at a local university exploring educational and environmental phenomena.

Federal Support for Autism Research – I secured federal funding to support local research at UC Santa Cruz exploring the autism spectrum and ways to better support neurodiverse individuals in our community and around the country.

Federal Support for Astronomy – I secured federal funding to support UC Santa Cruz researchers in their work developing new software technology to more effectively process data from medium and large telescopes.

Federal Support for Biochemistry Technology – I secured federal funding to support UC Santa Cruz research examining long-read sequencing technology that will help realize the potential of this emerging technology and our understanding of genetics.

Federal Support for Aging Research – I secured federal funding to support local research into age-related illnesses, specifically how platelets and other cells react to the aging process.

Rep. Panetta speaks at a groundbreaking of a local all-inclusive playground.

Rep. Panetta speaks at a local Pride Month celebration.

Rep. Panetta visits a small business being affected by Medicare reimbursement rates.

Rep. Panetta speaks at a local Juneteenth celebration.

Rep. Panetta speaks to the leadership of a local neighborhood group.

Rep. Panetta chairs a local multi-agency advisory council meeting.

Rep. Panetta visits a local community garden.

Rep. Panetta speaks at a local Japanese Cultural Fair.

Rep. Panetta waits in line at a local pancake breakfast to benefit our first responders.

My four district offices in Monterey, Santa Cruz, South San Jose, and Paso Robles are able to help constituents of the 19th Congressional District address issues they may be having with the federal government. Whether it’s assistance with visas, passports, tax issues, Social Security, or veterans’ benefits, please reach out to my office.

Rep. Panetta’s office recently worked with constituents to secure a visa for a family experiencing an illness.

Rep. Panetta meets with a constituent at one of his district offices

Throughout tax season, my office was a resource for constituents of California’s 19th Congressional District, advocating for their cases before the IRS and clawing back their hard-earned money from the federal government. This tax season my office helped constituents secure from the IRS:

• $28,000 for a constituent in Seaside who reached out to my office for assistance with his tax refund.
• $15,000 for a constituent in San Jose whose husband’s identity was stolen.
• $5,000 for a constituent in Monterey who had not received his tax return from the IRS.
• $2,400 for a constituent in Santa Cruz who reached out to my office for assistance with their tax refund.

If you need assistance with the IRS or any federal agency, please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office.

Rep. Panetta proudly meets with a family from California’s 19th Congressional District who were visiting his office in Washington, D.C.

It is an honor to serve the people of California’s 19th Congressional District and the place I have always called home. If you need help with the federal government or would like to meet with me or my staff to discuss any federal issues please contact my office by calling (831) 424-2229, stopping by my district offices located in South San Jose, Santa Cruz, Monterey, and Paso Robles, or visiting my website at panetta.house.gov.

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Thanks for taking the time to read my update. I look forward to continuing my service to the people and fighting for the values of California’s 19th Congressional District.