Congresswoman Negrete McLeod's Annual Report to the Community

8/13/2019 Congresswoman Negrete McLeod's Annual Report to the Community

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Congresswoman Gloria Negrete McLeodsAnnual Report to the Community

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Congresswoman Gloria Negrete McLeods

Annual Report to the Community

Table of Contents

Special Message ..3

Executive Summary...4

Constituent Services..5 Community Events...6

Legislative Services..12 Legislation Introduced.13

On the Issues....17Jobs and the Economy.17

Veterans Issues....18

Issues Important to Inland Empire Families...19

Education.21

Committee and Caucuses...23

Federal Funding for the Community25


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A special message from

Congresswoman Glor ia Negrete McLeod:

Dear Neighbor:

The 2013 year was filled with many accomplishments forCalifornias 35

thCongressional District. My office and I

listened and worked with constituents, local small business

owners, local governments, and nonprofits to address the needs

of the Inland Empire.

My District Representatives are located in the Montclair office

and they are tasked with ensuring Inland Empire residents like

you receive the best constituent services possible in government.

We had a successful year helping hundreds of constituents

resolve issues with the federal government and, as a result, saved Inland residents thousands of dollars.

I invite you to contact the district office if you are in need of assistance with a federal agency.

To continue hearing all the great ideas from constituents and to learn about upcoming community

events I will be hosting, I have made myself available in several ways that I hope you will take the

time getting connected:

1. Sign up for my FREE emailed newsletter by calling (909) 626-2054 2. Follow me on Social Media:

www.facebook.com/NegreteMcLeod -www.twitter.com/RepMcLeod

www.instagram.com/RepMcLeod -www.youtube.com/RepMcLeod

3. Learn about community events by visiting NegreteMcLeod.house.gov/Events4. Email me by visiting online: NegreteMcLeod.house.gov/EmailGloria

Together, we can make 2014 a productive year as well. It is an honor to represent you in Congress and

I thank all the residents who reached out to my office to express their opinion on issues facing

Congress. If you have yet to contact my office to express your opinion by calling, writing, emailing

me, or connecting on social media, I invite you to do so.

Respectfully,

Gloria Negrete McLeod

Member of Congress
http://www.facebook.com/NegreteMcLeodhttp://www.twitter.com/RepMcLeodhttp://www.instagram.com/RepMcLeodhttp://www.youtube.com/RepMcLeodhttp://www.youtube.com/RepMcLeodhttp://www.youtube.com/RepMcLeodhttp://www.instagram.com/RepMcLeodhttp://www.twitter.com/RepMcLeodhttp://www.facebook.com/NegreteMcLeod


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Executive SummaryFor the 2013 Calendar Year, Congresswoman Gloria Negrete McLeod has continued to work to

address the needs of Inland Empire residents in Californiausing the insights and ideas of constituents

to develop commonsense solutions for the community while in Congress.

Congresswoman Negrete McLeod and staff worked with local governments and community

stakeholders to safeguard federal funding from cuts here in the 35 thCongressional District. At a time

when our local economy is still recovering from the last recession, there have been considerable

attempts to cut federal funding to programs that Inland Empire families and small businesses rely on.

As a result of Congresswoman GloriaNegrete McLeods effortsto ensure funding for the district by

working with local governments, schools, small businesses and non-profits, it is estimated that over

$155,819,321 (See pg. 25) worth of federal grants, federal direct payments, and appropriation dollars

were protected and awarded in the 35thCongressional District.

Congresswoman Negrete McLeods work as a member of the historic House Committee on

Agriculture and House Committee on Veterans Affairs is felt in the 35thCongressional district and

nation. Congresswoman Negrete McLeod led efforts to ward off egregious cuts to nutrition assistance

and has played an active role in crafting the final combined bill authorizing funding for the 5-year

Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management (FARRM) Act of 2013. Her willingness to work

across party lines and deliver the best policies for the district, led her to be one of few members

appointed to the conference committee by house leadership. In the month of August, she invited

veterans, community stakeholders and veterans groups to a field hearing on veterans issues in the City

of Fontana and attracted over 200 attendees. Veterans Administration officials were also in attendance

helping veterans sign up for disability compensation benefit claims.

For the 2013 year, over 8,000 constituents contacted Congresswoman Negrete McLeods Montclair

District and Washington, DC offices to voice their opinions on matters facing the community and the

nation. All were responded to by Congresswoman Negrete McLeods offices. In addition, through the

efforts of staff and the Congresswoman, hundreds of constituents with an issue with a federal agency

had it resolved.

The following report should be used as a year-long summary of the work Congresswoman Gloria

Negrete McLeod has accomplished for the 2013 year.


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Consti tuent ServicesCongresswoman Glor ia Negrete McLeod and her team of Distr ict

Representatives are ready to assist you!

For the 2013 year, thousands of constituents contacted Congresswoman GloriaNegrete McLeods

Montclair District and Washington, DC offices to voice their opinions on matters facing the

community and the nation. Constituents also contacted the offices for assistance with a federal agency.

Below is a final tally for the 2013 year:

284 - Cases SolvedThis year, the office helped Inland Empire families who encountered an issue with a federal agency.

8,108 - Constituent ResponsesConstituents contacted the office to voice their opinion & were given a response.

$250,000Tax Payer Dollars Saved

Through day-to-day efficient budgeting practices, Congresswoman Gloria Negrete McLeod was ableto save 35thCongressional District constituents $250,000 of their tax dollars from her annual budget as

a Member of Congress. This is nearly a quarter of the annual budget provided to each U.S.

Representative for the first session of the 113thCongress. The dollars saved from Congresswoman

Negrete McLeodsbudget will return to the U.S. Treasury to help pay down the national debt.

Congresswoman Gloria Negrete McLeod with her

Montclair District Office staff.


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Communi ty Events for Consti tuentsCongresswoman Gloria Negrete McLeod has emphasized the importance of constituent services in

addition to her work legislating at the nations capital. She held a number of informative community

events in the Inland Empire to help constituents; from preparing their taxes, to helping those who were

at risk of losing their home under foreclosure. Below is a summary of a few district events

Congresswoman Gloria Negrete McLeod hosted in the 2013 year:

Free Tax Workshop

During the 2013 tax season, with the assistance

of local volunteers, Congresswoman Negrete

McLeod offered free tax preparation assistance

at her Montclair district office for families who

could not afford these services elsewhere. The

event was a great success that ended up saving

Inland Empire families hundreds of dollars.

Service Academy Nights

For students interested in experiencing a military

environment while getting a first-class education,

the U.S. Military Academies offer an outstanding

education and full four-year scholarships. Tuition,

books, health insurance and living expenses are allfully paid. Each member of Congress, whether in

the House of Representatives or in the Senate, can

have no more than five appointees in each of the

service academies.

Congresswoman Gloria Negrete McLeod believes in the importance of nominating outstanding

students to serve in the nations service academies. For many years, the Inland Empire community has

been underrepresented in the nations U.S. Service Academies. It is her goal to change this fact by

raising awareness through partnerships with schools and the community. She hosted two well attended

Service Academy Nights events in the district during the months of May and September.Representatives from all major service academies were invited to provide presentations and get to

know local students interested in attending these institutions.

Congresswoman Gloria Negrete McLeod with tax

filing services volunteers.

Students and Parent listen to guest speakers at the

Service Academy Night.


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Promoting the Arts through Community Competitions

Congresswoman Gloria Negrete McLeod believes the Arts play an important role in our educational

system. To promote the benefits of Art Education, she hosted the first annual, 35thCongressional

District Art Competition which encouraged art education in our schools and gave high school students,

as well as 7th and 8th graders living in the 35th Congressional District, a chance to gain national

recognition for their creative talents. The winner received a trip to Washington, DC for an honorary

reception where Members of Congress recognized finalists from all 50 states.

Gabi Reynoso (pictured on the left with

Congresswoman Gloria Negrete McLeod),

a Senior from Pomona High School, won

first place with her artwork entitled Pepe

which depicts a charcoal-on-newspaper

portrait of her pet Chihuahua. The

newspaper represents the everyday presence

of Pepe in Gabis life. Her artwork iscurrently on display in the U.S. Capitol in

Washington, DC.

Congresswoman Negrete McLeod also hosted the

Photograph Your District Competition, an online

district-wide photography competition open to all

constituents living in the Inland Empire. Facebook

fans voted for the winner online by clicking theLikebutton for each photo submitted.

Daniel of Fontana ended up receiving over 20 Likes

for this photo (pictured right) he submitted to the

competition declaring him the winner. It has since

been the cover page photo on the Congresswomans

Facebook page. You can view it by visiting:

www.Facebook.com/NegreteMcLeod

Congresswoman Gloria Negrete McLeod with Gabi

Reynoso, winner of the 35thCongressional District

Art Competition.

2013 Photograph Your District

Competition Winner
http://www.facebook.com/NegreteMcLeodhttp://www.facebook.com/NegreteMcLeod


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A Busy August MonthsRecessDuring the month of August, the customary summer recess allows members the opportunity to return

to the district for an entire month. During this time, Congresswoman Gloria Negrete McLeod

remained busy touring small businesses in the district, schools, meeting with constituents at her

Montclair District office, and hosted a number of events in the community.

Veterans Field Hearing

Congresswoman Gloria Negrete McLeod held a field hearing on veterans issues in the City of Fontana

during the month of August. Veterans and their families filled the Citys council meeting room to

capacity as panelists from local, state, and federal government agencies, as well as representatives from

non-profit organizations testified before the Congresswoman.

It has been the Congresswomansgoal in Congress to find out how to provide a more coordinated

approach in supporting Veterans in the Inland Empire. With different government agencies providing

different services to Veterans, individual cases can fall through the cracks. This field hearing was anopportunity to find out what is being done at the state and federal levels to ensure accessibility to

services for every veteran.

Panelists included top officials for the Veterans Benefits Administration, CALVET, & San Bernardino

County Veterans Affairs Department who spoke about the various issues facing veterans in the Inland

Empire which include: homelessness, mental health, job training, among other issues discussed in the

field hearing. Veterans and community members spoke at the conclusion of the hearing. Veterans

Administrations officials were also on site assisting veterans with their disability benefit claims.

Congresswoman Negrete McLeod and staff listen to panelists during the veterans issues

field hearin in the Cit of Fontana.


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Affordable Care Act Town Hall Meeting

Congresswoman Gloria Negrete

McLeod held a town hall meeting

in the City of Montclair during

Augusts Recess to inform

residents and small businesses

about the changing health care

system in California and the

responsibilities and benefits of the

Patient Protection and Affordable

Care Act.

The town hall meeting was a great

opportunity for Inland Empire

residents to learn aboutCalifornias new health insurance

exchange and have questions

answered by experts.

Special guest speakers included: California State Senator Dr. Ed Hernandez, Rachel Baranick of the

Small Business Administration, and Marcia Dvalos of the Small Business Majority, a local non-profit.

Federal Education Grants Workshop

Congresswoman Gloria Negrete McLeod held a Federal Education Grants Workshop in the City of

Pomona during the summers August Recess. The workshop featured U.S. Department of Educationofficials who provided an overview of

grants offered by the federal agency

along with more information on the

different education grant titles

available in California. Local school

districts, non-profits, local

governments and organizations

attended.

At a time when established services in

the community run by local

governments and organizations are

being asked to do more with less

funding, Congresswoman Negrete

Inland Empire residents fill the Montclair City Hall and listen to panelists duringCongresswoman Negrete McLeods town hall meeting.

Community stakeholders listen in as presentations about grant opportunitiesare discussed at Congresswoman Gloria Negrete McLeods Federal

Education Grants Workshops.


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McLeod has made it a priority to help local governments, non-profits, and other community

stakeholders learn more about federal funding opportunities and how they can best serve the Inland

Empire communities. California in fiscal year 2012 received nearly $5 billion in education

grants. The Congresswoman is committed to work with local governments and organizations to ensure

the Inland Empire receives its adequate share of grant funding thereby helping students gain necessary

tools and resources to succeed.

Fraud Prevention Town Hall Meeting

Prior to last years holiday season,

Congresswoman Gloria Negrete McLeod

held a town hall meeting in the City of

Ontario to inform constituents about fraud

prevention tips during the busy shopping

season. On the panel officials from the

Federal Trade Commission, the OntarioPolice Department and her staff provided a

community briefing and answered questions

on how consumers can better protect

themselves from the most typical scams

committed during the holidays.

Operation Gobble Turkey Giveaway

Proceeding the Thanksgiving

holiday, Congresswoman GloriaNegrete McLeod helped assist in

the distribution of 150 turkeys to

needy Inland Empire families at

her annual Operation Gobble

Turkey Giveaway event. The

Fontana Water Company

generously donated turkeys in the

hopes of making the holidays

brighter for the less fortunate in

Californias 35thCongressional

District.

Constituents listen to panelists at Congresswoman Gloria Negrete

McLeods town hall meeting on fraud prevention.

Congresswoman Gloria Negrete McLeod with representatives from theFontana Water Company.


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December- Home Rescue Fair

As a California State Senator,

Congresswoman Negrete McLeod

helped pass the Homeowners Bill of

Rights, which protects mortgage

holders from the more common abuses

of the foreclosure crisis. The measure

became state law January 1, 2013.

Recent media and industry reports

indicate the housing market is slowly

rebounding. However, with many

homes falling into foreclosure, Californias foreclosure rate remains one of the highest in the nation

with thousands of homeowners in pre-foreclosure or bank-owned homes. With hopes of making the

holidays brighter for homeowners struggling with their mortgage payment and facing the possibility offoreclosure, Congresswoman Gloria Negrete McLeod hosted a Home Rescue Fair at the Montclair

Civic Center.

In cooperation with Montebello Housing Development Corporation (MHDC) and Neighborhood

Partnership Housing Service, two major HUD approved agencies in Southern California, housing

counselors were available to provide resources and services to homeowners at risk of

foreclosure. Housing counselors offered attendees face-to-face counseling sessions and informative

workshops in English and Spanish.

CongresswomanGloria Negrete McLeod with Ontarioconstituent Ms. Marquez. She was assisted by housing

counselors at the Home Rescue Fair.
https://www.facebook.com/NegreteMcLeodhttps://www.facebook.com/NegreteMcLeod


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Legislation I ntr oduced by


Background:

As our men and women in uniform return home from war, many will have to make decisions regardingtheir career paths. For some veterans, embarking on a new civilian career often requires additional

training and education. However, for many veterans, the opportunity to pursue the necessary

education is difficult due to economic constraints, family responsibilities or lack of information about

available federal resources to offset post-secondary education costs.

Problem:

While there are a number of schools that provide targeted comprehensive services for veterans, college

campuses with a diverse student-body disproportionally struggle to provide such services. Lack of

funding is a common reason these institutions have not developed more programs to assist veterans in

educational and career development. Unfortunately, there are no existing programs that assist the

Office of Veterans Affairs with resources to reach out and identify veterans looking to enroll or are

already enrolled in diverse student serving institutions to encourage veteran educational success.

Solution:

The VET Education Act provides for competitive grant programs to these institutions to help provide

academic and related support services for enrolled veterans to achieve their educational and career

goals.

More specifically, the VET Education Act would:

Support the establishment of Centers for Veteran Student Success on campuses to provide asingle point of contact to coordinate support services for veteran students

Provide personal, academic, and career counseling services


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Provide assistance with special admissions and transfer of credit from previous postsecondaryeducation or work experience

Assist in obtaining student financial aid Provide housing support for veteran students living on campus or commuting veteran students Coordinate academic advising and admissions counseling with military bases and national

guard units in the area

Background:

The Veterans Administration pays disability benefits to veterans who are injured or become ill as a

result of their active service. For years, veterans have complained that it takes too long for their claims

to be resolved.

Problem:

In late March, more than 611,000 claims, or about 70 percent, were pending longer than 125 days.

Claims with multiple medical conditions are often the most delayed. The lack of public information

about the claims backlog does both VA and veterans a disservice. Each month, veterans suffer

economic hardship from delays in their disability benefits. If we knew how many claims were

completed from month to month and which offices are struggling to process particular medical

conditions, the VA could quickly direct resources to address the problem.

Solution:

HR 1623, the VA Claims Efficiency Through Information Act of 2013 would require the VA to

include the number of completed claims by region and by medical condition for the current and

preceding month and year. By implementing transparency, it would put more pressure on the VA toend the claims backlog. This legislation would also provide Congress the opportunity to play a

constructive role in helping VA develop the tools it needs to turn a corner in the claims backlog.


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Background:

Studies show that half of all college graduates will find a job within a year but a large portion of these

jobs are not full-time, leaving many recent graduates the burden of having to pay back their loans with

a lower income.

Problem:Many college graduates are finding themselves in an ever shrinking job market, and the pressure of

student loan repayments beginning as soon as six months post-graduation. To date, the combined

student loan debt is over $1.1 trillion dollars. Nearly 5.4 million Americans have at least one past due

student loan account, creating a strain on our economy. Current law allows for a six-month grace

period before graduates have to begin paying back these loans.

Solution:

The GRAD Act of 2013 would increase the grace period for 12-months allowing students the

opportunity to secure higher paying jobs while ensuring they will be able to pay their loans on

time. This legislation would also allow students to have the necessary time to find a job before their

loans fall into default or become delinquent.


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Background:

Recent bus crashes near San Bernardino, California and Pendleton, Oregon continue to demonstrate

that small passenger bus companies often cut corners on safety in order to offer low-cost travel to

students, seniors, and low income families.

Problem:

Local law enforcement is currently prohibited from inspecting passenger buses on the road even when

they know the company has a history of non-compliance. They can only stop a motor coach if it has

become an obvious safety hazard, at which point it is often too late to prevent an accident.

The majority of motor carriers are also small companies that use older vehicles. These buses do not

utilize new preventative technologies such as brake monitoring or lane departure warning systems.

Solution:

HR 2505: The Motorcoach Safety, Accountability, and Technology Act of 2013 establishes new pre-trip inspection rules for brakes and updates standards for safety features on newly manufactured

passenger buses. According to Congressional Budget Office, the bill would not affect direct spending

or revenues, thus protecting passengers at no additional cost to the taxpayer.

Most importantly, the bill allows law enforcement to inspect a motorcoach while it is on the road at the

next location that can accommodate passengers. These inspections would only require passengers to

be unloaded if the officer determined that the bus was an imminent hazard and could not safely arrive

at its destination.


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On the I ssues: Jobs and the Economy

During her legislative career, Congresswoman

Gloria Negrete McLeod has emphasized the

economy and jobs. While in attendance to thePresidents State of theUnion Address earlier in

the year, Congresswoman Negrete McLeod

made it clear to President Obama that in order to

create jobs and grow the middle class, we must

invest in America and make it a magnet for jobs

and manufacturing.

As her first Floor speech in the House Chamber, Congresswoman Negrete McLeod emphasized the

economic importance of educating students in the Science, Technology, Education, and Math (STEM)

fields. STEM education is vital for the economic growth and our infrastructure.

She voted against the Paul Ryan Budget which would have slashed investments in infrastructure,

education and nutrition, while changing Medicare into a voucher system.

She has joined the newly formed bipartisan

Congressional Small Business Caucus. Members of the

Caucus are dedicated to advancing efforts to foster the

economic certainty needed for small businesses and

entrepreneurs to succeed and create jobs. While in thecaucus, Congresswoman Negrete McLeod has been an

advocate for the passage of H.R.1240, the Commercial

Real Estate and Economic Development (CREED) Act,

which would extend the Small Business

Administrations 504 loan refinancing program for

five years helping small business owners across the

Inland Empire grow their businesses.

Congresswoman Negrete McLeod has also been an

outspoken critic of the refusal by Congress to extendcritical unemployment insurance for Americas men

in and women searching for a job. She believes that

at a time when the economy is steadily recovering

and millions of unemployed Americans are

Congresswoman Gloria Negrete McLeod tours a

construction site in the City of Montclair.


steel manufacturing plant in the City of Fontana.


small business in the City of Pomona.


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struggling to find work, not extending this vital lifeline to millions of American families hurts our

economy.

Below are a few bills Congresswoman Negrete McLeod has co-sponsored regarding jobs and the

economy:

H.R.650: WAGES Act

H.R.798: Workforce Investment Act of 2013

H.R.1089: Stepping Up to STEM Act of 2013

H.R.1124: TIGER Grants for Job Creation Act

H.R.1330: Student Loan Fairness Act

H.RES.80: Supporting the goals and ideals of National

Engineers Week.


On the I ssues: Veterans Issues

In addition to introducing legislation addressing

veterans issues, Congresswoman Gloria Negrete

McLeod was appointed to serve on the House

Veterans Affairs Committee. During her time in

Congress, she has made it a priority on moving

forward with ending veterans claims backlog that

plagues the Office of Veterans Affairs (VA). This

includes the future of a seamless electronic health

record for servicemen as they seek support through

the VA after leaving the armed forces.

After learning of the high unemployment rate being experienced by younger veterans who served the

Iraq and Afghanistan wars, Congresswoman Negrete McLeod introduced her first bill as a member of

CongressH.R. 1251: Veteran Excellence Through (VET) Education Act of 2013. Her other

legislation, HR 1623, the Veterans Administration (VA) Claims Efficiency Through Information Act

of 2013 was incorporated into HR 2189 introduced by the Veteran Affairs Committee, passing both

Houses in Congress and signed by President Obama into law. This legislation establishes a task force

to evaluate the backlog of disability claims at the Department of Veterans Affairs. It is also supported

by two major veteran service organizations representing Afghanistan and Iraq veterans.

She is committed to supporting veterans and champions programs that help assist veterans such asgaining employment, gaining adequate mental health services, and programs that provide support for

victims of sexual assault while serving in the military.

Below are a few bills Congresswoman Negrete McLeod has co-sponsored regarding veterans issues:

Congresswoman Gloria Negrete McLeod greets

veterans at a community event in Pomona.


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H.R.324: Grants Congressional Gold Medal to First Special Service Force for World War II service

H.R. 481: Helps Recognize the Service of WWII Filipino Veterans

H.R.825: Vulnerable Veterans Housing Reform Act of 2013

H.R.569: Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2013


On the I ssues: Working for I nland Empire Famili es

Chi ldren & Senior I ssues

Throughout the 2013 year, Congresswoman Gloria Negrete McLeod was an outspoken critic to the

many cuts to federally funded programs that were proposed in Congress that would have dire effects

for many families in the Inland Empire. She met with Congressional leadership, delivered floor

speeches to the Speaker, wrote opinion pieces in the local newspaper, and engaged the media to

illustrate the devastating impacts that automatic spending cuts, also known as Sequestrationwouldhave on federally funded programs such as Head Start and Meal on Wheels for low income families

and seniors.

After President Obama released his 2014 budget proposals which included deficit-cutting measures

that would include changing the calculation of inflation to Chained Consumer Price Index (CPI), a

measure that would cut benefits for Social Security recipients, Congresswoman Negrete McLeod

disapproved swiftly. Seniors tend to have more health care needs than the rest of the population

requiring costly medical expenses, and facing true inflation thats higher,not lower, than current

measures of inflation suggest. She could not support cuts to Social Security.

Women Issues

In 2013, Congresswoman Negrete McLeod worked towards an economic agenda for Americas

women, because when women succeed, America succeeds. She has been advocate for womens issues

to achieve greater economic security, raise wages for working women and their families and allow

working parents to support and care for their families. Among the policies included in her agenda:

Supporting Women Entrepreneurs and Women-Owned Small Businesses Paid Family and Medical Leave Paid Sick Leave The Presidents Preschool and Early Head Start & Child Care Initiative Promoting Access to Affordable and High Quality Child Care

Congresswoman Gloria Negrete McLeod was a strong supporter of S. 47, the Violence Against

Women Act. This bill significantly strengthened the ability of the Federal Government, the states, law


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enforcement, and service providers to combat domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and

stalking. It also included added protections for LGBT individuals, Native Americans and immigrant

women. She declared her support the first day this bill was introduced in the new Congress to

reauthorize and strengthen the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and urged for quick passage of

the measure. This landmark legislation passed both Houses and was signed by the President.

Congresswoman Negrete McLeod has also been an advocate for pay equity among women in the

workforce. Nationwide, women earn only 77 cents for every dollar earned by men. That is why shes

a proud cosponsor of the Paycheck Fairness Act which would strengthen and close loopholes in the

nearly 50 year old Equal Pay Act, including providing effective remedies to women who are not being

paid equal wages for doing equal work.

Nutrition

Congresswoman Gloria Negrete McLeod was appointed to serve on House and Senate conference

committee to negotiate the final details of the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management

(FARRM) Act of 2013. Both the House and the Senate passed their own versions of a Farm Billearlier this year.

In her capacity as a conferee, Negrete McLeod represented the House Agriculture Committee during

negotiations with the Senate in order to reconcile legislative differences between the two chambers.

The Congresswoman will play an active role in crafting the final combined bill that will authorize

funding for the 5-year Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management (FARRM) Act of 2013.

Clean Water for I nland Empir e Famili es

Congresswoman Gloria Negrete McLeod has been actively involved in groundwater contaminationcleanup in the area since serving in the California State Senate. Serving as co-chair to the Bipartisan

Congressional Water Caucus, she understands that water issues crosses party lines and affects every

person in the community.

In early 2013, a settlement was reached between the United States and the Goodrich Corporation

requiring the company to investigate and clean up contaminated groundwater and soil at the B.F.

Goodrich Superfund Site in Rialto, CA. This settlement, along with previous settlements, will result in

a comprehensive cleanup of the site which may total as much as $100 million.

Serving in various capacities in state government and now in the U.S. House of Representatives,

Congresswoman Negrete McLeod called for a swift litigation process and encouraged local officials to

hold polluters accountable for groundwater contamination in the area. She applauded this settlement

and has committed to continue working to address other areas in the district that are facing a similar

situation and have yet to receive adequate assistance from the federal government.


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Below are a few bills Congresswoman Negrete McLeod has cosponsored addressing issues important

to Inland Empire families:

H.R.11: Violence Against Women Act

H.R.12: Voter Empowerment Act of 2013H.R.377: Paycheck Fairness Act

H.R.498: Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking

Reauthorization Act

H.R.671: Ruth Moore Act of 2013

H.R.1199: Safe Schools Improvement Act of 2013

H.R.1396: California Federal Milk Marketing Order ActH.R.1414: The Promotion and Regional Farm and Food

Systems

H.R.1286: Healthy Families Act

H.R.853: Citrus Disease Research and Development

Trust Fund Act of 2013


On the I ssues: Education

As a former Chaffey Community

College Board President,

Congresswoman Gloria Negrete

McLeod knows very well of higher

education issues impacting college

student in California. In addition to

introducing legislation addressing

high student loan debt, she has

supported legislation that would

equalize educational opportunities

for all. She voted against H.R.

1911, a bill that according to the

Congressional Budget Office,

would charge millions of students and families $3.7 billion over the next decade in additional interest

payments relative to current law.

She supported legislation to block student loan interest rates from doubling. During the House and

Senates budget negotiations, Congresswoman Negrete McLeod highlighted the negative effects of the

continuation of reduced investments to the University of California, California State University, andCalifornia Community Colleges in the areas of education and research that are creating jobs and

improving the quality of life in the 21st century.

Federal financial aid programs are critical to ensuring that students in California have access to

affordable high-quality postsecondary education. Through a strong partnership with the federal

Congresswoman Gloria Negrete McLeod meets with

middle school students in the City of Ontario.


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government, Congresswoman Negrete McLeod believes public universities in California are educating

the workforce of the future and generating economic growth through new jobs, start-up companies and

spinoff industries. It is critical that our nation maintain its investments in education and scientific

research to ensure California and our nations economic prosperity continues to grow.


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Committee and CaucusesCommittees help to organize the most important work of Congressconsidering, shaping, and

passing laws to govern the nation.

Committee on Agriculture

For the year 2013, Congresswoman Gloria Negrete McLeod was appointed to serve on the historic

Committee on Agriculture. The Committee has jurisdiction over agriculture, forestry, nutrition, water

conservation, bio-terrorism, and other agriculture-related fields. In addition, the Committee is

responsible for oversight of the Department of Agriculture.

In the Agriculture Committee, Congresswoman Gloria Negrete McLeod serves on the following

subcommittees:

Subcommittee on Conservation, Energy and Forestry

Jurisdiction: Soil, water, and resource conservation, small watershed program, energy and bio based

energy production, rural electrification, forestry in general and forest reserves other than those

created from the public domain.

Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight and Nutrition

Jurisdiction: Agency oversight, review and analysis, special investigations, food stamps, nutrition and

consumer programs.

Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk ManagementJurisdiction: Program and markets related to cotton, cottonseed, wheat, feed grains, soybeans,

oilseeds, rice, dry beans, peas, lentils, the Commodity Credit Corporation, risk management, including

crop insurance, commodity exchanges, and specialty crops.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

For the year 2013, Congresswoman Gloria Negrete McLeod was appointed to serve on the House

Committee on Veterans' Affairs. This Committee reviews veterans' programs, examines current laws,

and reports bills and amendments to strengthen existing laws concerning veterans and the Department

of Veterans Affairs (VA), such as health care, disability compensation, GI Bill education and jobtraining, home loan guarantees, life insurance policies, and a nationwide system of veterans'

cemeteries.

In the Veterans' Affairs Committee, Rep. Gloria Negrete McLeod serves on the following

subcommittees:


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Subcommittee on Health

Jurisdiction: oversight, and investigative jurisdiction over the Veterans Health Administration

including medical services, medical support and compliance, medical facilities, medical and prosthetic

research, and major and minor construction.

Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs

Jurisdiction: oversight, and investigative jurisdiction over compensation; general and special pensions

of all the wars of the United States.


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Federal Funding for the

CommunityEach year, the House Appropriations Committee looks to members of Congress for recommendations

of programmatic requests on federal programs that help fund state and local activities such as public

safety, education, emergency response and social services.

As a result of Congresswoman Gloria Negrete McLeods efforts in 2013 to ensure funding for the

district by working with local governments, schools, small businesses and non-profits, it is estimated

that over $155,819,321 (see chart below) worth of federal grants, federal direct payments and other

appropriation dollars were protected and awarded in the 35

th

Congressional District.

Pomona Montclair Ontario Chino Bloomington Rialto Fontana

Total

Funding

Contracts $59,810,838 $10,345,615 $11,592,758 $57,140,924 $103,818 $473,414 $2,599,419

Direct

Payment 0 0 $504,650 $236,785 0 $1,906 0

Grants $6,869,276 $381,448 $296,062 0 0 $2,856,816 $149,092

Insurance $600,000 0 $700,000 $625,000 0 $31,500 $500,000

Total $67,280,114 10,727,063 $13,093,470 $58,002,709 $103,818 $3,363,636 $3,248,511 $155,819,321

*The Cities of Rialto & Fontana reflect all funding awarded to entire city. Source: usaspending.gov.

Priori ty in I nf rastructure Development

During the appropriation process, Congresswoman Gloria Negrete McLeod championed the

Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) and engaged the House Appropriations

Committee to not propose further cuts to these grants. CDBG grants are one of the most successful,

cost-effective federal programs that encourage economic growth in our cities and communities across

the country. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, every $1.00 of

CDBG investment leads to an additional $3.55 of investment from outside sources.

In the 35thCongressional District, the cities of Pomona, Chino, Ontario, Fontana and Rialto currently

receive Community Development Block Grant funding. This funding is used to build affordablehousing, construct sidewalks, and invest in energy efficiency, water conservation, gang prevention and

afterschool programs. These programs maintain strong neighborhoods and promote a higher quality of

life for residents in the district.


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Priori ty in Law Enforcement Funding

During the appropriation process, Congresswoman Gloria Negrete McLeod urged the Appropriation

Committee to provide sufficient funding for the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (Byrne JAG) Program

and the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) programs, in particular the COPS Hiring

program. These programs are critical to ensuring that law enforcement in Californias 35th

Congressional District have the tools, personnel, and resources necessary to protect and serve our

communities, including in efforts to prevent further gun violence. It is essential that law enforcement

has the resources necessary to effectively and efficiently protect the public. In recent years, law

enforcement agencies have watched their budgets diminish significantly, resulting in agencies having

to increase the size of an officers patrol area and decrease the number of officerson a shift due to a

lack of available personnel. These setbacks not only pose a serious risk to officers who may now

patrol a high-crime area alone or wait longer for back-up; they also hamper law enforcements ability

to effectively and efficiently fight and prevent crime in communities. Congresswoman Gloria Negrete

McLeod will continue to work with local law enforcement to ensure the safety of constituents in the

35

th

Congressional District.Priori ty in Education Funding

Throughout the appropriations process, Congresswoman Gloria Negrete McLeod championed

federally funded programs that have helped equalize the opportunity for an education. She strongly

urged the consideration of funding towards successful programs that have empowered the nations

educational system to allow educational opportunities for all children in the country. Below are

educational programs for which Congresswoman Negrete McLeod requested the Appropriations

Committee prioritize for 2014 federal funding levels.

FY 2014 Program Requests

Agency Program Amount Requested

ACF Child Care Development Block Grant $3 billion

ED Pell Grants Programs General Support

ED GEAR UP $500 million

ED Part A in Title V of the Higher Education Act $175 million

ED Part B in Title V of the Higher Education Act $100 million

HHS Community Health Centers Program General Support

DOL Veteran's employment and Training Service General Support

HHS Job Corps Program General Support

SAMHSA

Priority Substance Abuse Prevention Needs of Regional

and National Significance (PRNS) General Support

HHS National Institutes of Health (NIH) $32 billion

SAMHSA

Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness

(PATH) General Support

ED Federal TRIO Programs $839.4 million

HHS Title X family planning program $294 million

ACF Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program $5.1 billion


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(LIHEAP)

HHS

Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)

Title VII Health Professions Training $264.4 million

ED Teacher Quality State Grants $2.47 million

ED Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) General Support

DOL Workforce Investment Act Support President's Budget

ED HSACU Education Grants $9.22 million

ED

Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Program

(ESSCP) $75 million

ED Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) $734.6 million

ED Federal Work-Study (FWS) $977 million

ED Perkins Loan Programs (Perkins) General Support

ED

21st. Century Community Learning Centers (21st

CCLC) General Support

ED Robert Noyce Scholarship Program $60.89 million

ED Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation $45.62 million

ED Investing in Innovation Fund (i3) $215 million

ACF Community Services Block Grant Program $678 million

ED Excellent Instructional Teams $3 billion

ED

Effective Teaching and Learning for a Complete

Education $426 million

ED College Pathways and Accelerated Learning $102 million

ED Supporting Student Success $1.831 billion

ED Successful, Safe, and Healthy Students (SSHS) program $280 million

ED Race to the TopCollege Affordability and Completion $1 billion

ED Investing in Innovation $215 million

ED College- and Career- Ready Students $14.516 billion

ED Special Education Grants to States Program $11.577 Billion

ED

Graduate Assistance in the Areas of National Need

(GAANN) General Support

ED Jacob Javits Fellowship Programs (Javits) General Support

ED School Turnaround Grants Program $658.6 million

ED Expanding Educational Options $295 million

HRSA National Health Service Corps (NHSC) General Support

SAMHSA Youth Violence Prevention General Support


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Conclusion of ReportMake sure to stay connected with Congresswoman Gloria Negrete McLeod.

1. Sign up for her FREE emailed newsletter by visiting her website or call her district officeat (909) 626-2054

2. Follow Congresswoman Gloria Negrete McLeod on Social Media:

www.facebook.com/NegreteMcLeod -www.twitter.com/RepMcLeod

www.instagram.com/RepMcLeod -www.youtube.com/RepMcLeod

3. Learn about community events by visiting NegreteMcLeod.house.gov/Events4. Email Congresswoman Negrete McLeod by visiting online:

NegreteMcLeod.house.gov/EmailGloria
http://www.facebook.com/NegreteMcLeodhttp://www.twitter.com/RepMcLeodhttp://www.instagram.com/RepMcLeodhttp://www.youtube.com/RepMcLeodhttp://www.youtube.com/RepMcLeodhttp://www.instagram.com/RepMcLeodhttp://www.twitter.com/RepMcLeodhttp://www.facebook.com/NegreteMcLeod

Congresswoman Negrete McLeod's Annual Report to the Community

Documents

Transcript of Congresswoman Negrete McLeod's Annual Report to the Community