Greetings!
This week, more than 350 major companies and organizations called on Congressional leadership to bring up my bill, the Telehealth Expansion Act, for a vote. Telehealth has proven to be a remarkably effective tool that enables millions of Americans to access convenient affordable healthcare, but if we don't act now, coverage of telehealth services for millions will end in 2023. My bill will make sure that doesn't happen.
This week in Washington, D.C., I joined my colleagues on the Congressional-Executive Commission on China to discuss the threat of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). I was also honored to receive the “Friend of the Farm Bureau” Award from the California Farm Bureau, and I made some adorable new furry friends with an important mission.
Get the details about all of this and more below, and m ake sure to follow my Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to get these updates in real-time. |
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Protecting Convenient, Affordable Healthcare |
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Telehealth has proven to be an incredibly effective tool in our efforts to ensure affordable, convenient, accessible, healthcare for the American people. But certain provisions of law are set to expire in 2023, leaving tens of millions of Americans who have come to rely on telehealth services without critical insurance coverage. I'm working to fix that.
This week, more than 350 major companies and groups called on Congressional leadership to bring up my bill, the Telehealth Expansion Act for a vote. This legislation would make permanent a waiver created by the CARES Act to allow Americans with Health Savings Accounts (HSA) to access telehealth services without first having to meet their deductible. If Congress does not act to extend this waiver before it expires on December 31, 2021, millions of Americans with HSAs would find it more difficult to access telemedicine.
We need to pass this bill and ensure millions of Americans will be able to continue receiving remote care in 2023.
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Recently, I had the pleasure of visiting One Medical in Huntington Beach for a demonstration of how brick-and-mortar health providers are integrating telehealth in primary care. Telehealth is the future of healthcare, and One Medical is leading the way on expanding and improving it for their patients. I am committed to ensuring groups like One Medical can continue providing top notch care for our communities!
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WATCH: The CCP Must be Held Accountable |
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Make no mistake, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) won’t stop threatening the free world. We must support our allies and hold the CCP accountable for their continued human rights abuses and environmental recklessness.
This week I joined my Congressional-Executive Commission on China colleagues for a hearing on the CCP's authoritarian zero-COVID policy, and how we can respond to these unacceptable human rights abuses.
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I joined the American Red Cross to send holiday greeting cards to our U.S. service members at home and abroad. Thank you to the Red Cross for bringing the Holiday Mail for Heroes program to the halls of Congress and thank you to our servicemen and women for your sacrifices to keep the rest of us safe during the holidays!
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The application to intern in my D.C. or District office during the Spring session is now open! If you are high school or college student looking to learn more about Congress and the legislative process, an internship in my office can be a fun, educational, and exciting opportunity.
Candidates must possess excellent writing and verbal communication skills. In addition, we are seeking highly collaborative team players with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.
If you are a hardworking, dedicated individual who has a desire to help improve our Southern California communities, then an internship in my office might be for you! Visit my website to learn more and apply.
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I am so honored to receive the “Friend of the Farm Bureau” Award from the California Farm Bureau for my work to improve our supply chains and trade policies for the people of Southern California.
I'm looking forward to a continued partnership in the 118th Congress so we can continue to make our economy work better for everyone.
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Commemorating the Vietnam War |
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Our veterans deserve our thanks and recognition for their service. Unfortunately, many Vietnam veterans did not receive the thanks they deserved when they returned home from the war. The Vietnam War 50th Commemoration program was authorized by the 2008 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and established under the Department of Defense. One of the main objectives of this program is to thank and honor these Veterans for their selfless service to our nation. All Vietnam veterans who served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces from November 1, 1955 to May 15, 1975, regardless of location, are eligible to receive one lapel pin.
My office is an official commemorative partner of the program. The commemorative partner program supports local efforts to thank and honor the over 6.2 million Vietnam veterans living in America and abroad today. There are approximately 1.8 million veterans that reside in California, and veterans who served in the Vietnam war make up the largest share of California’s veteran population. If you or someone you know is an eligible Vietnam veteran who would like to be honored with a Vietnam veteran lapel pin, fill out the form on my website.
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This week I had the pleasure of meeting Biscuit, Tucker, and their handlers from the Guide Dog Foundation and America's Vet Dogs. They are working very hard to raise awareness on Capitol Hill about the importance of service dogs.
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Opinion | Notable & Quotable: Affirmative-Action Backlash
'Americans support general efforts to promote opportunity and inclusion. But they oppose the explicit use of race as a criterion in college admissions, hiring, and promotion.'
Read more
www.wsj.com
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Congress seeks to arm Taiwan quickly as China threat grows
Mindful of lessons learned from Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Congress is pushing to arm and train Taiwan in advance of any potential military attack by China, but whether the aid materializes could depend on President Biden himself.
Read more
www.washingtonpost.com
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Thanks for taking the time to read about what I've been doing on behalf of Orange County families. Be sure to connect with my official Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages, where I post the latest news and updates. It is an honor to serve you in Congress. |
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Rep. Michelle Steel
Member of Congress
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