Environment

"I voted against the 2012 Republican budget, because it does not reflect my values or the priorities of our great country. I for one did not come to Washington to destroy Medicare, an effective, affordable, and popular program that provides the peace of mind of quality health coverage to 47 million seniors and persons with disabilities....

"I cannot in good faith support this Continuing Resolution, because it makes unnecessary job-destroying deep cuts to roads and public transit, clean energy, flood prevention, and schools."

"This Republican hearing seeks to reignite the water wars of the past and pit Californians against each other for short-term gain," said Congressman John Garamendi (CA-10). "There is a more constructive way forward for our community. We must focus on responsible science-based water management, with conservation, storage, and recycling playing a prominent role – balancing our water needs and creating jobs across the Golden State."

"Air pollution does not respect state lines. When some jurisdictions permit virtually no regulation of power plant emissions, they become bad neighbors, exposing the rest of us to dangerous and sometimes lethal ailments, including cancer and childhood asthma. Thousands of premature deaths will be averted by this policy."

"Ultimately, these reckless proposals would harm California. Jeopardizing the restoration of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, stopping implementation of the San Joaquin River settlement, disrupting the Klamath River agreements and attempting to delay the Bureau of Reclamation’s water efficiency efforts is not in the interest of California and its people," Congressman Garamendi said in his statement.

"Pro-democratic movements in the Middle East are in the midst of their rendezvous with destiny, but America’s destiny can no longer be linked with the fates of dictators, military juntas, and theocratic regimes. We must develop energy independence; we must Make It In America," said Congressman Garamendi, a former Deputy U.S. Interior Department Secretary. "Energy security is national security. We spend 16 percent of our defense budget patrolling the Straits of Hormuz protecting the flow of oil from the region. That’s more than $100 billion every year. In light of the revolutions and uprisings taking place in the Middle East and the subsequent fuel price spikes, we must wean ourselves off foreign dirty fossil fuels."

"We need to Make It In America to create good American jobs. Instead, the House Republican spending bill, H.R. 1, makes reckless cuts to education, transportation, research, public safety, women's health services, and national security," said Congressman Garamendi. "I urge the President and Senate to reject this dangerous proposal, and I urge every member of Congress to serve the people they represent. We should be creating jobs and fixing our economy, but the House Republican spending bill destroys at least 800,000 jobs."

"Developing California water policy requires careful planning and reasoned debate. The language authored by Rep. Nunes instead throws into complete chaos a compromise developed after nearly two decades of litigation," said Congressman Garamendi.