Op-Eds

There seems to be a script. Each incidence of gun violence is followed by outrage, heartbreak, a moment of silence, a muddying of the waters by cable show pundits and then … nothing. Whether motivated by hate, a result of mental illness, driven by extremism, racism, or as a domestic dispute — the why varies but the response remains the same.

In 1973, the United States eliminated the draft and moved to an all-volunteer force. Our men and women have served multiple deployments and extended missions in Iraq and Afghanistan honorably, but what are we doing to properly support our heroes when they return to their communities?

Re: The Star’s Nov. 22 editorial, “Don’t let fear erode America’s historic values”: The editorial suggested I was dismissive of a vote I took to certify the screening of Syrian refugees hoping to settle in the United States. Nothing could be further from the truth.

As a woman, a mother and a member of Congress, I have been a tireless advocate for protecting women’s health. Reproductive health is a cornerstone of women’s equality and economic opportunity. Every woman should have access to reproductive health services like cancer screenings, tests and treatments for sexually transmitted infections, preventive care and birth control.

Iran has long worked to develop a nuclear weapon, and the international community has long struggled with the best way to stop them. There have been sanctions, negotiations and considerations of military strikes.

Let’s face it, our democracy is in danger. Between districts across the country being drawn by legislators with the sole purpose of preserving their jobs, the push to further restrict the ability of average citizens to even be able to vote, and the Supreme Court’s recent moves to weaken campaign finance laws, we are truly at a crossroad.

On Tuesday morning, our nation witnessed yet another tragic transportation accident when Metrolink Ventura County Line 102 crashed into a truck along the train tracks in Oxnard.

As the daughter, sister, and niece of military servicemen, I am keenly aware of the sacred promise we have made to our veterans and their families in return for the sacrifices they have made for our country.

After being sworn in as Ventura County’s congresswoman a little over a year ago, one of my first tasks was to choose the committees I wanted to serve on. As the daughter, sister and niece of veterans, the proud representative of Naval Base Ventura County, and of the more than 40,000 veterans who call our community home, there was no question that I wanted to sit on the House Committee on Veterans Affairs.

Last week was a bad week for women and their families. Like many of you, I was deeply disappointed by the Supreme Court’s shortsighted 5-4 Hobby Lobby decision allowing some employers to deny basic health care to their workers. At stake was whether the owners of a corporation have the right to impose their religious beliefs on their employees, at the cost of a woman’s health or even her life.

As a congresswoman and as the ranking member of the House Veterans’ Affairs subcommittee on health, I am deeply troubled and disturbed by recent allegations of misconduct at the Phoenix Veterans Affairs facility and other facilities across the country.

Far too many veterans in Ventura County — and across the country — are unemployed, and I believe we have a solemn obligation to do whatever we can to retrain them for the jobs of the future.

Last week, I was pleased to announce nearly $12 million in federal funds for the dredging of the Channel Islands Harbor and $10.5 million for the Ventura Harbor dredging project. It’s a big win for Ventura County, our harbors, Hueneme Beach and Ventura County’s economy.

Because of agriculture, Ventura County has a unique beauty, heritage, community and economy — but our community depends on reliable access to fresh water. Without it, our rivers dry up and our crops cannot grow.

It has been more than 40 years since the Supreme Court ruled on Roe v. Wade. In that decision, the highest court in the land determined that the U.S. Constitution protects a woman’s privacy and her right to choose what is best for her and her family when it comes to making decisions about her own health.

Everyone remembers what happened five years ago when our economy fell into the worst recession since the Great Depression. Everyone knows someone — or knows of someone — who lost their job through no fault of their own during this severe economic downturn.

Since I was elected to Congress, I’ve been hearing from many groups and organizations who have been preparing for the launch of the Affordable Care Act for years. They have reached out to explain how the Affordable Care Act works for them, and how it doesn’t.

As Ventura County’s representative in Congress, I view everything I do through the lens of how it will create jobs and grow our economy. From our ports, to our large and small businesses, to our naval base, to our agricultural community, I strive to advance federal policy that will support our diverse job creators.