Environment

"I want to walk into Target and see "Made in America" throughout the store. We can make it in America," Congressman Garamendi said. "Middle-class wages in America have stagnated for three decades, and our country’s future success depends on bringing back good manufacturing jobs." "We produce steel in Pittsburg, solar panels in Livermore, and buses in Hayward," Garamendi added. "We must make sure the U.S. tax code and other federal polices encourage job creation in America. This work can be done by hardworking Americans in Northern California and throughout the country. Let's make it here."

"Most hydrologists agree that the Sacramento and San Joaquin Delta together with New Orleans are the two most vulnerable flood prone regions in the nation," Garamendi added. "Today’s House vote improving access to flood insurance is a good start. Tomorrow we must get serious about strengthening our levees system before it’s too late."

"Do we need any more of a lesson than what we now see in the Gulf of Mexico? Yet in the halls of this Congress, there are many representatives that have not learned," Congressman Garamendi said. "The Republican Party is still saying 'drill, baby, drill' when we know it’s really 'spill, baby, spill.' Today 400,000 Americans are sending the powerful message that there are better alternatives."

"We need to know what happened, why it happened, and who is responsible for the tragedy along the Gulf Coast," Congressman Garamendi said. "The bipartisan Commission must have all the tools it requires to ensure that BP and the other responsible parties are required to disclose all pertinent information to get to the facts of what went wrong."

"BP told us their platform was leaking 5,000 barrels of oil a day. Once again, BP was wrong, and they should be held accountable for the mess they’ve made," Congressman Garamendi said. "It is now projected that the Gulf Coast oil disaster is the equivalent to one Exxon-Valdez oil spill a week. We are left with one unshakable conclusion; platform drilling is simply too dangerous."

On Friday, Congressman John Garamendi (Walnut Creek, CA), voted for H.R. 5116, the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act, and H.R. 4213, the American Jobs, Closing Tax Loopholes and Preventing Outsourcing Act. The COMPETES Act renews important investments in scientific research, while the American Jobs, Closing Tax Loopholes and Preventing Outsourcing Act extends tax relief, funds government programs, extends essential benefits, and closes tax loopholes.

"In California, it is calculated that the coast environment of California provides the state $22 billion in annual economic activity and employs 369,000 people. In Oregon it’s over $1 billion annually and some 17,000 are employed. In Washington, 150,000 people and over $8 billion. We value that economic activity as much as we value the precious coastline, the fishing, and the other opportunities it presents to us."

"I want to commend Adarsha, Apoorva, and Callie for their ongoing work on Project Jatropha. Unhindered by their young age and the scale of the problem, these students are courageously working to combat global warming. They approach this serious challenge with humility and youthful excitement."