Social Justice

"It is hard to understand why any member of Congress would oppose a bill that prohibits companies owned by foreign countries to be able to use limitless resources to influence elections here in America," Garamendi added. "If the DISCLOSE Act passes the Senate, Wall Street, insurance companies, Big Oil, and other special interests will have to disclose which elections they are trying to buy."

"From the halls of Congress to living rooms throughout this country, on this Juneteenth, I hope every American is committed to a freer and more just world. America, the land of the free and home of the brave, has much to be proud of, but we must never abandon the expectation that our best and brightest days are yet to come."

Garamendi added, "Checks are in the mail to provide relief to millions of seniors trapped in the Medicare Part D prescription drug donut hole. With $250 this year, a 50 percent discount on name brand prescription drugs next year, and the complete closure of the donut hole by 2020, seniors are getting the financial relief they deserve from health care reform. To those who want to repeal health care reform, I have only one question, 'Which senior’s check do you want to take away first?'"

"The National Defense Authorization Act takes needed steps to protect and assist our men and women in uniform," said Representative Garamendi. "This bill includes a 1.9 percent pay raise for our troops, extends TRICARE health coverage to the children of military families up to the age of 26, provides necessary armor and protective vehicles to troops in combat, adds significant safeguards to protect female soldiers from sexual assault, modernizes DOD schools, and increases the maximum amount of hostile fire and imminent danger pay available to our soldiers."

"Highway 4 is the only major east-west transportation link joining the communities of Antioch, Pittsburg, Oakley and Brentwood with central Contra Costa County and the Greater Bay Area, and it’s one of the most heavily used commercial and commuter highways in Northern California," Congressman Garamendi said. "This project, a top priority of the Contra Costa Transportation Authority, is coordinated with a Bay Area Rapid Transit extension and will extend the present four lanes express lane into a six lane freeway – reducing a very significant daily traffic jam."

"In the fight to extend health coverage to every man, woman, and child, this bill is an incredibly important beginning. But it's still just a beginning. 'A more perfect union' implies that the progress of the American experience is never complete. Each subsequent generation is expected to pick up the torch and continue on our long road toward positive change. Today the House of Representatives bestowed upon this great nation the most historic health reform since Medicare. I am proud to have voted 'yes' for health care reform. I won't live to see a perfect union, but it is a tremendous honor to see a more perfect union formed before my eyes."

2. It significantly increases the number of primary care doctors in America and includes new investments in medical training. 3. It cracks down on health care fraud by enhancing screening procedures for health care providers.

"Our country is suffering from a failed policy. 'Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell' has robbed our national defense of over 13,000 vital troops and armed service personnel, including scores of Arabic translators. To cover the unnecessary costs of recruitment and retraining, taxpayers have been charged up to half a billion dollars because of DADT. At a time when America is fighting wars on two fronts and facing financial uncertainty, it is painfully clear that we must work swiftly to end DADT. All Americans, gay or straight, should be able to proudly serve our country."