Social Justice

"The idea that everyone detained deserves access to a lawyer and a fair judicial process is an American value that good citizens of all backgrounds should be able to get behind," Congressman Garamendi said. "Some legal experts have expressed concern that last year’s NDAA could be interpreted to authorize indefinite detention. The Smith-Amash-Berman-Garamendi amendment simply clarifies what’s already engrained in the U.S. Constitution: we all deserve our day in court."

"While including some good provisions, overall this bill takes us in the wrong direction," said Congressman Garamendi. "In order to protect funding for crucial defense programs and investments in our economic prosperity, we have to be a responsible guardian of public funds. Cut where we can to protect what we need. Instead, this bill would establish an unending escalated commitment in Afghanistan, wasting billions of dollars propping up a corrupt Karzai government, and it would create new Pentagon projects that defense officials say are wasteful."

"Budgets are a reflection of lawmakers’ values and priorities. This budget does not reflect the values of most Americans. We need to create jobs and preserve vital health services, not take them away. We need to responsibly reduce the deficit, yet this budget manages to increase the deficit while harming the most vulnerable in our society. This radical assault on the health and livelihood of middle class and lower income Americans and seniors cannot stand."

Make no mistake, if this plan ever becomes law, it will mark Medicare's death by a thousand coupons. Seniors remaining with traditional Medicare will pay more as private insurers siphon off the healthiest and youngest among them. Seniors purchasing private insurance will also shoulder more of the cost of medical care as the value of their insurance coupon declines over time.

"A year ago, Republicans in Congress voted repeatedly to end Medicare and replace it with an underfunded coupon system. This year House Republicans are once again proposing to end the Medicare guarantee and to shift more costs to seniors struggling to make ends meet. The Congressional Republicans’ proposal will undermine Medicare and cost seniors more, and it maintains Big Oil subsidies and increases tax giveaways for millionaires and billionaires. This is just wrong, and the deficit will actually grow."

"We are a nation that takes voting rights seriously. We are a nation that believes democracy is worth paying for. I oppose the closing of these facilities because they help make representative democracy possible," Garamendi wrote in the letter. "I hope you'll join me in preventing voter disenfranchisement by using the powers of this Committee and the United States Congress to prevent further mail processing center closures until after the November 2012 elections."

"As Returned Peace Corps Volunteers who served in Ethiopia, my wife Patti and I have dedicated much of our lives to helping people in the Horn of Africa. We’ve worked to end wars, eradicate poverty, and encourage development. In this capacity, we knew Congressman Payne to be a fierce champion for Africa long before I ever entered the Halls of Congress. The world has lost a great leader. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family."

"We must clarify existing law to guarantee the Due Process rights of every American are protected. It is a foundational principle of our great nation that we are all innocent until proven guilty and that we all deserve a fair trial."