Letters Sent
Currently showing results in the 113th Congress where the type is news_article
Complex: Members of Congress Beefing on Tumblr
In May, Minnesota Congresswoman Michelle Bachman posted a photo on her Tumblr depicting the House of Representatives' approval of her bipartisan Obamacare repeal bill (pictured above). Today it was brought to our attention that Democratic rep Mark Takano, who oversees California's 41st district, responded with a photo of his own. Let the record state that this marks the first Tumblr beef between members of … Continue Reading
June 14, 2013
Buzzfeed: LGBT Members Of Congress Push President Obama On Workplace Protections
As President Obama is due to greet an audience of LGBT advocates and supporters at the White House Thursday afternoon, out LGBT members of Congress are pressing him to act on an executive order to bar federal contractors from discriminating against LGBT employees.Here's what four of the six out House members had to say:Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney: "The President is right that Congress should do its job here, but since Speaker Boehner is unwilling to take on his Tea Party caucus and call a vote … Continue Reading
June 14, 2013
The Huffington Post: 7 Sites You Should Be Wasting Time On Right Now
Do you ever feel like the week is dragging by and the endless amount of cat videos available to watch just isn't doing the trick? Well, you've come to the right place.It's Wednesday, which means we're back with seven more sites to grab your attention and lift your spirits for the rest of the work week. As always, let us know if you come across any awesome time-wasters you think we should feature.There Will Be ChartsThe official Tumblr of Congressman Mark … Continue Reading
June 13, 2013
The Press Enterprise: Commission to appeal Perris Valley Line ruling
A regional agency is appealing a Riverside Superior Court decision invalidating an environmental impact report for a $232.7 million project that would bring commuter rail service to Moreno Valley and Perris, and put trains within reach of southwest Riverside County cities.The Riverside County Transportation Commission, which is planning the passenger rail line, voted in closed session Wednesday, June 12, to appeal last month's ruling. Papers have been filed with the Fourth District Court of … Continue Reading
June 12, 2013
The Press Enterprise: Mark Takano fights for funding
Rep. Mark Takano (D-Riverside) sent a letter today, June 11, to Peter Rogoff, administrator of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) asking him to keep funds that were dedicated to the Perris Valley Line available while the Riverside County Transportation Commission deals with litigation.The FTA granted RCTC $75 million through its Small Starts program to extend a Metrolink line from Downtown Riverside to the southern end of Perris. The litigation has put the project on hold, which means … Continue Reading
June 11, 2013
Greg In Hollywood chats with LA Pride Person of the Year: US Congressman Mark Takano
He may be a United States congressman but Mark Takano is still new to the national political scene and therefore was not instantly recognizable to a lot of the people at LA Pride on Sunday.But since I've written so much about his historic election as the first openly gay person of color to congress, I made a beeline over to him before the parade started.He was eating a donut and drinking some coffee and before we took a photo together, I had to tell him: "You've got some crumbs on the corner … Continue Reading
June 07, 2013
La Prensa: La Cámara de Representantes rechaza la amnistía para los dreamers
La aprobación de una enmienda en la cámara baja para rechazar la política del presidente Barack Obama de poner fin a la deportación de cientos de miles de inmigrantes que llegaron a Estados Unidos sin permiso cuando eran niños fue calificada el jueves por la Casa Blanca como "contraria a los valores y principios de nuestro país" y por activistas como "antilatina".La enmienda fue auspiciada por el representante Steve King y según un comunicado de la Casa Blanca es una iniciativa que "le pide a … Continue Reading
June 07, 2013
LA Pride festival kicks off Friday in West Hollywood, 400,000 expected for Sunday parade
West Hollywood Mayor Abbe Land, hosting an LA Pride reception at the Mondrian Hotel on the Sunset Strip Wednesday (5 June), took to the microphone and uttered the line of the night: 'I want to thank you in advance for all the fun you will have and all the money you will spend.'It is a weekend where hundreds of thousands of people descend upon West Hollywood for one of America's largest LGBT celebrations.'It's so exciting to feel the energy that started a week ago and goes … Continue Reading
June 07, 2013
KPCC: House guts funding for Dreamers executive order; Senate likely to put it back
The House of Representatives has voted to cut funding to President Obama's initiative allowing undocumented immigrants or "Dreamers" to stay in the United States. The GOP-led House voted 224-201 in favor of an amendment to the Homeland Security appropriations bill that forbids spending on the policy that exercises "prosecutorial discretion with respect to individuals who came to this country as children." Riverside Democrat Mark Takano compared the amendment to … Continue Reading
June 07, 2013
The Press Enterprise: House votes against protections for young immigrants
Today's House vote to halt an Obama administration program that provides temporary legalization for many young undocumented immigrants is an ominous sign for the enactment of a comprehensive-immigration-reform law.The Obama administration last year began a program that provides a deportation reprieve for undocumented immigrants who arrived in the United States as children, are 30 years old or younger and meet other conditions. More than 290,000 people have been approved for the program since … Continue Reading
June 05, 2013
The Press Enterprise: Educators honored for saving girl crushed by bus
Two Moreno Valley educators who saved a 5-year-old's life after she was crushed by a school bus were honored at Rep. Mark Takano's first town hall meeting since his election.Box Springs Elementary School Principal Sam Stager and special education teacher Stephanie Brown performed CPR on the girl following the accident in … Continue Reading
June 05, 2013
The Press Enterprise: Rep. Mark Takano opens satellite office
U.S. Rep. Mark Takano has opened a satellite office across the street from Perris City Hall designed to assist residents with questions about veterans' benefits, immigration, Social Security and other pressing constituent issues.Takano, whose district includes Perris and Riverside, also appeared at an open house at the satellite office, located at 137 North Perris Blvd., the same location as Perris Police Headquarters. He addressed about 20 members of the community, including elected … Continue Reading
June 05, 2013
Buzzfeed: House LGBT Equality Caucus Staffs Up In Pursuit Of Ambitious Agenda
Six out of 435 may not seem like much, but in the House of Representatives that represents the largest class of out LGBT lawmakers in the history of the lower chamber.It also has meant that the LGBT Equality Caucus, started in 2008, is taking on a larger role in an institution steeped in tradition.Rep. David Cicilline, only in his third year in Congress, is the second-longest-serving out House member. In an interview with BuzzFeed, he noted the changes in the membership - but also looked … Continue Reading
June 03, 2013
The Press Enterprise: Sequestration cuts could hit senior citizens
Services to Inland seniors, including meals, would be affected by across-the-board federal budget cuts, according to Riverside and San Bernardino county officials.Both counties expect federal funding for various programs to be cut when the new fiscal year begins July 1. The $85 billion in automatic cuts - known as sequestration - began March 1 and are split evenly between defense and domestic spending. About $1 trillion in cuts are expected in the next decade if sequestration stays in … Continue Reading
May 30, 2013
The Press Enterprise: Riverside County delegation concerned about visa program
Riverside County's congressional delegation wrote a letter to a federal official asking for help regarding a visa program for investors.In the May 27 letter to Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Alejandro Mayorkas, the four congressman discuss what they describe as difficulties involving EB-5 regional centers.The EB-5 program provides visas for international investors who invest at least $500,000 and create at least 10 jobs in the county, according to the letter. … Continue Reading
May 30, 2013
Patch.com: Immigrant Investors Getting Poor Service That's Costing Jobs, Local Reps Claim
"Our region cannot afford to lose more jobs because of bureaucratic red tape," said Rep. Ken Calvert, who serves Lake Elsinore and Wildomar, among other cities.Inland Empire congressional representatives upset about the apparent inaction of a federal agency responsible for processing applications that pave the way for immigrant investors to set up businesses in the U.S. are seeking changes at the agency, whose chief spokesman said today he couldn't understand why.Reps. Ken … Continue Reading
May 29, 2013
Patch.com: Congressmen: Federal Agency Unresponsive to County's Requests
Riverside County congressmen allege efforts to establish more EB-5 local foreign investor centers are being stymied by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.Inland Empire congressional representatives upset about the apparent inaction of a federal agency responsible for processing applications that pave the way for immigrant investors to set up businesses in the U.S. are seeking changes at the agency, whose chief spokesman said today he couldn't understand why. Reps. Ken Calvert, … Continue Reading
May 24, 2013
The Press Enterprise: Immigration Reform: Takano urges same-sex partner rights
Rep. Mark Takano, D-Riverside, said he will work to restore rights for same-sex couples in the comprehensive immigration bill that is now before the Senate.Republican senators had threatened to vote against the bill, which would provide a path to citizenship for millions of undocumented immigrants, unless the protections for gay and lesbian couples were taken out of the legislation.Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt. said he reluctantly withdrew an amendment he introduced … Continue Reading
May 24, 2013
The Press Enterprise: LA Gay Pride: Mark Takano person of year
The organizers of the June 9 West Hollywood lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered pride parade named Rep. Mark Takano, D-Riverside, its person of the year.Christopher Street West, which produces LA PRIDE, said in a statement that "Congressman Takano's election to the United States Congress as the first openly gay person of color in this role offers hope to the next generation of LGBT Americans."Takano will ride down the parade route on Santa Monica Boulevard in a convertible.Takano's Nov. 6 … Continue Reading
May 23, 2013
Daily Kos: CA 41 Mark Takano Urges Congress To Stop Student Loan Interest Rates From Doubling
Received this e-mail from Congressman Mark Takano (D. CA-41) regarding student loan interest rates:As a high school teacher, this time of year has always been bittersweet for me. The school year is wrapping up, books are being turned in, lockers cleaned out, and California's high school seniors are getting ready to move on to the next step of their education.Seeing the potential of so many young adults, I am mixed with optimism and concern. These outstanding individuals can accomplish so … Continue Reading