As Filipino American History Month comes to a close, I wanted to take a moment to highlight the story of one constituent, Susana Reyes, who made history in our district by becoming the first Filipino American LADWP Commissioner in 2019.

I have known Susana for many years as we both fought against further development of our beautiful Verdugo Mountains. Susana has been a local environmental champion and has gone on to serve on the Sierra Club National Board of Directors where she became Vice President.

I’m proud to represent such a strong and vibrant Filipino American community in California’s 28thDistrict, and I am grateful for the many contributions the community makes in every field of endeavor.

Coronavirus cases are rising nationwide, and in order to combat another deadly surge, we need to follow the data and put our faith in the scientists and public health experts. But the Department of Health and Human Services has been withholding critical data from the public about which hospitals across the country are at or reaching capacity.

We need to release this data, share it with state and local leaders, and ensure our medical and public health officials are equipped to handle the potential influx of cases over the coming months.