RL NEWS Briefs: Jan. 28, 2015

Hahn Helps Keep Defense Logistics Jobs in Pedro
Washington, D.C. – On Jan. 28, Rep. Janice Hahn announced that the Defense Logistics Agency Energy Americas West office will remain operating in its San Pedro location.  The Defense Logistics Agency had announced plans in September to close its San Pedro office and consolidate its operations at a facility in Houston, Texas.
Hahn intervened on behalf of the workers and advocated keeping their jobs in San Pedro, part of her congressional district.  Following months of communication between Hahn and Defense Logistics Agency, the agency has decided not to leave San Pedro, and as a result, all employees at the Defense Logistics Agency Energy Americas West office on Gaffey Street in San Pedro will be able to keep their jobs.
 
Post Office Burglar Gets Five Years in Prison
LOS ANGELES – The leader of a burglary ring that targeted post offices and stole boxes full of mail was sentenced Jan. 28 to five years in federal prison.
Jose Manual Guerra, also known as “Tricky,” 45, of Los Angeles, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John A. Kronstadt.
Guerra pleaded guilty in September to postal burglary and admitted that he used a crowbar to forcibly break into the North Torrance Post Office on Crenshaw Boulevard on Oct. 24, 2013, with the intent to steal mail.
When he pleaded guilty, Guerra also admitted that he broke into at least two other post offices in the fall of 2013. Guerra may have been involved in five other burglaries, according to court documents.
Authorities believe that Guerra learned he was wanted by law enforcement in connection with the postal burglaries and that he fled California to avoid arrest. In December 2013, he was arrested by postal inspectors. A search of his then-residence in New Mexico resulted in the recovery of checks, credit cards, various forms of identification all issued in the names of others, credit card statements, bank statements and other items sent through the mail. Some of the checks recovered had been washed and altered.
Individual victims suffered losses of about $1,800 when their checks were altered and cashed by Guerra.

Hahn, Duncan Introduce Legislation to Repay Surviving WWII Merchant Mariners
Washington, D.C.—On Jan. 27, Reps. Janice Hahn (CA-44) and John Duncan Jr. (TN-2) introduced the “Honoring Our WWII Merchant Mariners Act of 2015.”
This legislation would provide surviving Merchant Marines who served during World War II with a modest benefit for their bravery and sacrifice.
During World War II, more than 200,000 Americans served in the U.S. Merchant Marines and aided our nation’s military efforts in both Europe and the Pacific.  Thousands of our Merchant Mariners faced enemy attack and died at sea while hundreds more were captured and held as prisoners of war. Despite having the highest casualty rate of any U.S. service during the war, they were not eligible to receive veteran’s benefits
The legislation would provide a one-time lump sum of $25,000 to each of surviving World War II Merchant Marines. As many of these veterans are now well into their 90s, and fewer than 5,000 Merchant Mariners who served in World War II are alive, Hahn stressed the importance of passing this bill as quickly as possible.