Newsletter - June 7, 2024

Hi Friend, 

This is Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove! I am proud to represent and serve YOU right here in California’s beautiful 37th Congressional District.

Welcome to May's edition of the LEAD Alert, my monthly recap on how I’m prioritizing Land, Economic Justice, the Arts, and Democracy in Congress for CA-37 and beyond! If you’d like to receive all my updates, you can subscribe to my e-newsletters HERE.  

May was a big month for LEADing in the 37th—from standing up to Big Oil alongside Congressional Democrats to securing $210,000 in grants for art projects across Southwest Los Angeles. 

Here's a recap ⬇️ 

STANDING UP TO BIG OIL: This month, the Federal Trade Commission revealed that Pioneer Natural Resources colluded with OPEC to artificially inflate crude oil prices, raising prices at the pump for everyday Americans. At a press conference ahead of Memorial Day Weekend, I joined Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and other Congressional Democrats to call out Big Oil for profiteering at the expense of American families. I’ll continue combating this corruption by working to ensure our communities are free from hazardous pollution, to demand fair prices at the pump, and to return power to the people.

INVESTING IN CLIMATE RESILIENCY: With LA on the frontlines of the climate crisis, we must ensure our communities are prepared to respond to climate disasters. Over Memorial Day Weekend, I had the honor of presenting the South Los Angeles Community (SLAC) Foundation with an $850,000 check to expand their economic development and climate resilience programs. The goal is to establish a new center to serve as a hub for economic and community development activities, including resilience programming to help their community and its surrounding neighborhoods cope with climate-related environmental and societal disasters.

Rep. Kamlager-Dove presents SLAC Foundation Co-Founders Joseph and Celia Ward-Wallace with a "check" for the organization.

CONNECTING MINORITY BUSINESSES TO FEDERAL RESOURCES: In May, I hosted U.S. Trade and Development Agency Director Enoh T. Ebong, the U.S. Small Business Administration, and the Consulate of Colombia in Los Angeles to connect dozens of local minority-owned small businesses to federal resources. The discussion focused on ways LA-area businesses can benefit from these agencies’ technical expertise and export opportunities in sectors like clean energy, transportation, digital, and healthcare infrastructure.

As Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month came to a close, I met with several local AAPI-owned nonprofits and businesses learn more about how their cultural heritage is woven into their work and how I can advocate for their needs in Congress. During AAPI Heritage month and every month, I am always proud to stand with my AAPI constituents, and I look forward to continued collaboration with our AAPI community.

Rep. Kamlager-Dove visits the Korean American Women's Association.

BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS TO HIGHER EDUCATION FOR HOMELESS AND FOSTER YOUTH: On National Foster Care Day, I reintroduced the Higher Education Access and Success for Homeless and Foster Youth Act. This bill would even the playing field for homeless and foster youth seeking higher education and ensure that these youth are supported once enrolled. We know that education is key to success, stability, and financial security, making it all the more important for homeless and foster youth to have both access to higher education and the resources they need to succeed. As a Representative of Los Angeles County—home to over 30,000 foster youth—and co-chair of the Foster Youth Caucus, I will always champion our most vulnerable young people through my work in Congress.

SECURING FEDERAL MONEY FOR ART IN CA-37: Last month I announced $210,000 in National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) grants for seven arts organizations across Southwest LA. I am honored to be able to deliver this funding to the artists, actors, dancers, writers, and poets who light up and inspire our city every day. 

You can watch my announcement HERE.

2024 CONGRESSIONAL ART COMPETITION: I was thrilled to host a reception for this year's Congressional Art Competition to honor our 110 student contestants and announce the winners! This year's outstanding submissions demonstrate that school arts programs are central to helping students connect with cultural identities, political ideas, and common human feelings and experiences. I urge all our students to keep creating!

Watch an event recap and hear from first-place winner Ruby Shuler-Loughran HERE.

First-Place winner Ruby Shuler-Loughran's "Melancholy Woman," which will be on display in the Capitol later this year.

UNITING TO DEFEND GLOBAL DEMOCRACY: I was proud to co-lead a joint statement with U.S. Members of Congress and Brazilian Parliamentarians countering threats to democracy in both of our countries and worldwide. With attacks on the integrity of democratic institutions on the rise, pro-democracy lawmakers from across the globe must stand together to ensure that voting rights, free speech, and the outcomes of free and fair elections are upheld.

HISTORIC STEPS TOWARDS MARIJUANA JUSTICE: In early May, following a letter I led in February urging the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to reschedule marijuana, the DEA and Department of Justice moved to reschedule marijuana to Schedule III. This is a historic step towards decriminalization, fewer barriers to research on medical cannabis, and increased access to the legal marijuana market for the communities most impacted by its criminalization. I urge the Biden Administration to swiftly implement this rule and renew my calls to fully decriminalize marijuana.

As always, I encourage you to contact my offices with any comments or concerns about my work in Congress, the 37th District, or any other matters. Please connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to stay up to date on my work in Congress. If you are experiencing issues with Social Security, passports, immigration, or another Federal agency, send in a casework request, and my staff will be happy to assist you. 

Sincerely,

kamlager-dove.house.gov

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