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Here are the
issues that I will continue to fight for you in Congress!
Fighting for jobs!
•
THE JOBS TRAIN! Securing funding for re-opening the San Diego & Arizona Eastern
Railroad was one of my biggest accomplishments. Called the "Jobs
Train," this railroad line will provide a critical link to points east
for local businesses. It will make the
San Diego Port
much more attractive to a wider range of shippers and stimulate
thousands of local jobs in San Diego and Imperial Valley.
•
RAISING CANE! Being able to
grow sugar cane in the
Imperial Valley
can greatly expand the agricultural economy. Sugar cane can be
converted to ethanol--which may be mandated for all California cars.
By raising cane, the sugar and ethanol industry will bring thousands
of jobs into the Imperial Valley.
•
AN EFFICIENT BORDER!
I have worked to use technology to speed border crossings for legal
crossings for both economic and personal purposes. I have
secured millions of dollars for new roads from the Ports of Entry to
facilitate international trade and new jobs for our community.
•
EASING TRAFFIC CONGESTION!
From my position on
the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I have worked to
implement plans in both San Diego and Imperial Counties for new and
better highways. I have also
directed funds to begin an innovative public transportation
system for San Diego -- the “Busway” -- to help South Bay residents
connect more quickly to work places and shopping in San Diego.
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Fighting for Better Schools!
•
As a former teacher,
I know the value of a good education. I’ve worked hard
and will continue to work hard in Congress to provide more funds for
at-risk youth, to give more federal aid to students who want to attend
college, to construct new schools, and to make schools safer. I also
voted to reduce class sizes so kids can get more one-on-one
instruction.
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Fighting for Our Families!
• In early 2004,I received a call
from Terry Kennedy regarding his fiancée Dawn Marie Wilson.
Dawn Marie had an American prescription for seizure medication and,
while purchasing her medicine in Mexico was arrested by Ensenada police.
She spent the next 18 months in prison; all her personal
belongings (credit cards too!) were taken from her--never to be seen
again. It is my job to act as a representative for the people and, through the help of my staff and Terry and other friends of
Dawn, we launched a media blitz campaign asking Mexican officials
to release her. Dawn Marie was finally transferred to the United
States and quickly released. She is now at home with Terry and
looking forward to their future together!
Woman's ordeal in Mexican prison over
S.D. Union Tribune
San Diegan Describes Mexican Prison Experience
KGTV Channel 10
•
Recently, I helped
introduce a “private relief bill” for
Shigeru Yamada, an Eastlake
High School student who lost his mother when he was only
11.
Because of the post-9/11 mindset,
"Shiggy" was picked up by Border Patrol agents at a local trolley
station in April,
2004. It
was then decided he should be deported back to Japan, a country he has not seen
since he was a baby, and in which he has no relatives.
Thanks to the help of many friends and supporters, "Shiggy" was released and
is now back at home in San Diego!
Gabriel and
the Congressman
•
In 2002, the plight
of a a Calexico family came to my attention. For two years, the INS would not
let the Ambriz family, American citizens, bring their adopted
Mexican son,
Gabriel, home with them to the United States. I
took action and just five days later, the Ambriz family
was able to bring Gabriel home --and I was able to
celebrate Christmas with the entire family. In 2004, Gabriel
became
a U.S. citizen! I will
continue to work hard for all families!
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Fighting for Our
Veterans!
•
I am reminded every day of the great sacrifices that
our veterans have made for our nation. We owe a tremendous debt to
our men and women in uniform and we must provide them with the
benefits and health care they earned—and deserve!
•
As a senior Democrat on the Veterans Affairs Committee
in Washington, I work every day to improve the lives of our
veterans--which also helps the morale of those on active duty.
Recently, my
leadership led to the beginning of the end to the "veteran’s
disability tax". My “Military Survivors Equity Act” led to military widows being
able to retain their full survivors’ benefits. My legislation
also provided health care for Filipino-American veterans of World War
II.
•
Caring for our
veterans and their families is one of the costs of war. They make
incredible sacrifices for our country and should be able to depend on
the health care and pensions promised by our Government. We must keep
the promises made to our veterans!
•
One resource every
man and woman in uniform should have while away is the ability to call
home and be in contact with their loved ones! That is why I
introduced a bill in Congress to provide free telephone calls for
members of the military serving abroad in
Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Members of the American
Combat Veterans of War present me with a leadership award
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Fighting for
Better Health Care!
•
I will continue
leading the charge in Congress for legislation to add a prescription
drug benefit to Medicare and reduce prescription prices for
all seniors and families! I also have taken on the big insurance
companies to fight for a patients’ Bill of Rights that guarantees patients and doctors make decisions about our health care, not the HMO
bureaucrats.
•
Knowing that our
health facilities are always looking to provide the best service to
their patients, I secured:
-
$335,000 to expand
the San Ysidro Health Center.
-
$100,000 to
renovate the Paradise Valley Hospital’s emergency room.
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Fighting for Our Environment!
•
Protecting
California’s border environment is one of my top priorities. That is
why I introduced the FAIR AIR Act in 2004. This legislation
will hold the U.S. and Mexico federal governments accountable for improving the air we
breathe!
•
I have
continued the fight against the U.S. energy companies who built
polluting power plants right across the border in Mexico to avoid
meeting U.S. environmental standards. The pollution from these
power plants make our air quality even worse. We
need to stop these plants from polluting our environment!
• It
is important to me that I deliver
to the people I represent. That is why I have continued fighting to
secure the funding and support for both the International Waste Water
Treatment Plant in the Tijuana River Valley and for cleaning up the
New River in Imperial County! We must stop the border sewage that
flows into our own backyards!
If you share my vision for a better California, and a better
nation please help me by joining
Team Filner!
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