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February 3, 2010
"I believe that everyone should retire with dignity, and I am very alarmed by the proposal put forth by the Republican members of the House Budget Committee, who apparently want to throw millions of seniors into the shark tank that created the near collapse of our economy. It’s important that Congress repudiate this dangerous plan immediately. Millions of seniors depend on Social Security and Medicare to provide them with their retirement and health care needs, and this proposal amounts to an astounding cut in health benefits and fiscal security. Our seniors are too important to expose to the rollercoaster fluctuations of Wall Street."
Issues:
Healthcare
February 2, 2010
"America is on a path to recovery, but further efforts to increase employment are needed," said Congressman Garamendi, who as California’s first elected Insurance Commissioner regulated the largest financial sector in America. "The big banks continue to deny loans to small businesses, and it’s time for a change."
Issues:
Economy and Jobs
February 2, 2010
"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."
Issues:
Social Justice
January 29, 2010
Meanwhile, Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA) -- who joined Rep. Jim Costa (D-CA) to craft California's first high-speed rail legislation 20 years ago -- called the funding announcement "a great first step for a program that I will continue to fight hard for in Congress in the months and years ahead."
January 29, 2010
"It is an honor to be among those selected as an ‘American Hero’ by the broad coalition of emergency responders and emergency management experts behind ProtectingAmerica.org," Congressman John Garamendi said. "But our country’s real heroes are the men and women on the frontlines of natural disasters and other emergencies, risking life and limb to help people at their greatest vulnerability. Today, I salute you and want you to know that in Congress, I will continue fighting for the resources you need."
January 29, 2010
"While we have a long way to go to rebuild an economy that was nearly destroyed by Bush-era crony capitalism and insatiable Wall Street greed, today’s impressive GDP news is one of the clearest indications yet that our economy is turning around."
Issues:
Economy and Jobs
January 28, 2010
The bill also would keep the McCarran-Ferguson Act antitrust exemption from applying to health insurers and medical malpractice insurers. ... The chief supporters of the latest bill are Rep. Pete DeFazio, Ore.., and Rep. Louise Slaughter, N.Y. Another supporter is Rep. John Garamendi, Calif., a new member of Congress and former state insurance commissioner.
January 28, 2010
"And let me be clear, I’m not the least bit concerned about using majority rule in the Senate to pass meaningful health care reform. Congress has employed reconciliation in the past to make major policy shifts, including the passage of welfare reform and the Bush tax cuts, and the fact of the matter is this country will find itself in serious trouble if we do not act now. No one Senator should feel entitled to veto power over 17% percent of our economy."
Issues:
Economy and Jobs
Healthcare
January 28, 2010
"In 1989, I co-authored legislation with then-Assemblymember Jim Costa to launch high speed rail service in California. 20 years later our dream is becoming closer to a reality. The President’s announcement that California will get $2.25 billion is a great first step for a program that I will continue to fight hard for in Congress in the months and years ahead. Not only does this program create well paying jobs today, it will also change the way Californians live and work in the future by putting our state on the cutting edge of transportation technology."
January 27, 2010
"When President Obama took office, America had just endured the worst year for job loss since 1945, when many jobs were lost following the wind down of World War II. At that time, we were losing an average of 673,000 jobs per month compared to the last quarter of 2009 when the average job loss was 69,333 per month, an improvement of nearly 90 percent."