Economy and Jobs

"It’s a cloudy day in the Sunshine State for the millions of Floridians who truly want to see jobs created in their state, but Florida’s deep loss is likely to be California’s tremendous gain," said Congressman Garamendi, California’s former Lieutenant Governor. "When the governors of Ohio and Wisconsin surrendered their federal high speed rail money, destroying thousands of jobs in Ohio and Wisconsin, President Obama and Transportation Secretary LaHood shifted much of their money to California. I encourage the Administration to do the same with Florida’s previously allocated $2.4 billion."

The House Republican continuing resolution cuts threaten to stifle job creation by gutting key investments. Instead of moving America forward, the GOP budget proposal would put this country in reverse. Under the House Republican plan, more than 200,000 children would be kicked out of Head Start and thousands of teachers would lose their jobs; 20,000 fewer researchers would be supported at the National Science Foundation, stifling the innovative research that creates next generation jobs; 25,000 new construction jobs would be lost and 76 projects in 40 states would be cancelled; there would be 1,330 fewer cops on the beat and 2,400 fewer firefighters on the job; AmeriCorps' effective services to our country would be eliminated; and needed food programs like WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) would be decimated.

Garamendi added, "House Republicans want to decimate water cleanup, making your tap water more toxic. They want to drastically cut funding to the FBI and U.S. Marshals, making our streets less safe. They want to cut billions from clean energy production and research, eliminating hundreds of thousands of jobs, making America less competitive, and endangering national security by continuing our dangerous addiction to foreign oil. They want to close national parks and layoff park rangers, possibly making your favorite vacation spot a haven for criminals. Every American is harmed by this destructive and foolish plan."

"President Obama reminded us at the State of the Union that the American people want Congress to work together to create the jobs millions of Americans desperately need," said Congressman Garamendi. "When we invest American taxpayer dollars in clean energy, we must make sure our limited resources are wisely utilized, creating good jobs right here in America. The more we Make It In America, the more American manufacturers can compete in the global marketplace."

Armed Services and Natural Resources are great committees, and I will be fully engaged in the debates and deliberations on the committees that determine how policies are crafted.

"If you are in the market for health insurance today, because of the Patient’s Bill of Rights, you are now protected by the strongest consumer protections in American history – protections now law because Congressional Democrats fought for you," said Congressman Garamendi, a key health care advisor to President Bill Clinton. "At a time when we should be focused on creating the jobs millions of Americans desperately need, today House Republicans voted to take away consumer protections from you, putting the insurance industry back in charge of your health care."

"Consumers gained a lot of protections in the Patient's Bill of Rights, and they have a lot to lose if House Republicans succeed in repealing health care reform. People in our communities – nearly 500,000 small business owners, seniors, working families, and young adults – would see vital and popular protections taken away," Congressman Garamendi said.