Last month, I introduced the No Budget No Pay Act to prevent Congress from getting paid unless it does its job and passes a budget on time. Passage of my bill would provide a strong disincentive for any future shutdown. Members of Congress should not be paid while countless Americans are forced to endure the consequences of a government shutdown. That is why I donated my weekly take-home pay during the shutdown to local nonprofits, including Support the Enlisted Project (STEP), the San Diego Food Bank and Feeding San Diego, Interfaith Community Services, and Serving Seniors.    

In my role on the House Budget Committee, I’ll focus on these priorities in upcoming negotiations: 

• Health care costs are exploding because vital tax credits from the Affordable Care Act (ACA) are set to expire. In CA50 alone, 28,000 people would see higher premiums and out-of-pocket caps if we don’t extend these subsidies. Republicans must work with Democrats to make the ACA better, not tear it down with no sufficient replacement. 
• We must reaffirm that President Trump cannot "impound" or withhold federal funds appropriated by Congress as he likes. It is unconstitutional and illegal. I will push for legislative language that ensures the President honors appropriations law and spends the federal budget as directed by Congress.  
• The Statutory PAYGO Act requires that Congress offset any new mandatory spending or tax cuts as a guardrail against unnecessary borrowing. The Senate's continuing resolution recklessly waives the law for this year. President Trump and Republicans’ “Big Beautiful Bill” will add $4.1 trillion to our national debt over ten years, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO). If we don’t remove the provision to waive the PAYGO requirements for this and establish responsible pay-fors instead, our children and grandchildren will be forced to pay for our irresponsible fiscal choices. I’ll fight to leave future generations with a stronger and healthier economy, not more debt. 
• President Trump repeatedly has sent the National Guard into cities where no emergency exists, purely for politics. This doesn't make us safer. It sets a chilling precedent and stands firmly against our values as a country. I will push to include language that prevents the President from deploying the military on American streets.   
• Despite promising to lower prices, President Trump started a trade war no one asked for and is cancelling clean energy projects that would lower electricity bills. New data from the Joint Economic Committee shows that in California alone, families have spent over $1,100 more on the same items each month since President Trump took office. We need to address the skyrocketing cost of living to ensure hardworking Americans don't pay the price for his broken promises.

I’m relieved that this historic shutdown is now over and look forward to negotiating a bipartisan budget that serves the American people and addresses our most pressing challenges.