1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

Your constituents are drowning and you need to act. A June 2026 Harris Poll of 4,100 Americans found that 95% believe the country is in an affordability crisis, with roughly half struggling to afford groceries and gas. That's not a fringe complaint — that's your entire district. Corporate price-gouging is a central driver of this pain. Inflation hit 4.2% in May while average hourly earnings actually fell 0.7% year-over-year, meaning working people are falling behind in real terms. Gas prices spiked on the back of the Iran war and have been slow to come down even after a peace deal was signed — oil companies are pocketing the difference. Meanwhile, the administration dismissed a bipartisan housing bill as "minor importance" while denying the crisis exists at all. This is a political emergency too. Republican economic optimism has collapsed from 49% to 27% since February. Rural voters — your base — are the most pessimistic of any group, with 64% saying the economy is getting worse. You have the power to push for real accountability on corporate pricing, support housing legislation, and protect constituents from punishing student loan repayment rules. Do it.