Robert Garcia

Mr. GARCIA of California

Mr. GARCIA of California. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. GARCIA of California

Mr. GARCIA of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, once again, we are back with a second bill to undermine Washington, D.C., with an undemocratic and misguided policy. Republicans in Congress are once more acting again as a city council for D.C., overriding the choices of local residents and their elected officials, while ignoring the real issues the rest of the country faces. Nearly 700,000 taxpaying Americans in D.C. deserve the same right to self-governance as every other community including control over criminal laws. Democrats on the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform strongly oppose this bill, which would allow children as young as 14 years old to be charged as adults. Let's be clear. This bill is not about safety. It is about stripping away judicial discretion and sending more children into the adult prison system. This bill lowers the age at which children can be tried as adults in D.C. from 16 to 14 years old for certain crimes. If a crime is committed, a person should be held accountable. We all can agree on this. A 14-year-old is not an adult. They are middle schoolers. Their brains are still developing. Treating them as adults is shameful. We can all agree that children should be treated differently by our courts. That matters when it comes to accountability and rehabilitation. Here is what the research shows. Youth charged as adults are more likely to reoffend than youth that go through the juvenile courts. That is not speculation. It is what decades of data show. The CDC reviewed the evidence and found that sending kids to adult prisons increases violence and does not reduce it. The National Research Council concluded that keeping punishment in line with age is the best way to prevent future offending. Every shred of research says the same thing. Putting kids in adult prison makes us less safe, not more safe. House Democrats know that violent crime, of course, has no place in our communities. People are right to be concerned about crime. Democrats are taking it seriously. If the goal is safer communities, this bill moves us in the wrong direction. Mr. Speaker, let's also talk about who this bill impacts. More than 93 percent of youth arrests in D.C. in the first half of this year were Black youth. D.C. already has the highest youth incarceration rate in the country. It is more than three times the national average. This bill would take those discrepancies and make them worse, funneling even more children into the adult system. The bottom line is simple. The legislation in front of us would not make us safer. It does not make D.C. safer. It makes D.C. less safe. It will deepen racial disparities. It will push more kids into adult prisons where they are more likely to come out worse off than they were and not better. If we care about public safety, the last thing we should do is put 14-year-olds in adult prison. Instead of taking power away from D.C. residents and our elected officials, Congress should focus on real national priorities like addressing gun violence that threatens communities, threatens schools, and threatens our cities every single day. Finally, the rules in front of us have been created through the incredible work of the community, through hearings, through meetings, and through public testimony. Let's not all throw it out now. This bill is not about making D.C. safer. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no,'' and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GARCIA of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 7 minutes to the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton).

Mr. GARCIA of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from Massachusetts (Ms. Pressley).

Mr. GARCIA of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I remind our Republican colleagues that crime in D.C. over the last few years has actually been going down. Quite frankly, the idea that we are now going to put middle schoolers in prison--this should be called the middle schoolers for prison act--is inhumane and shameful. We can all agree that crime should be taken on, that D.C. and other cities we want to make safer, but this idea that we are going to penalize children in middle school at the age of 14 and put them in prison is irresponsible and, quite frankly, it is un-American. I remind my colleagues that at this moment, what we are doing right now, is stripping 700,000 residents who have come together in D.C. to create laws, to bring community together, to fight for statehood and representation, we are going to strip them from their ability to manage their own city. These efforts do nothing to reduce crime or improve public safety. Once again, I know that the President is obsessed with Washington, D.C. He is obsessed with its local laws. I ask him once again that he should step down as President and run for mayor if he is so interested. Let's not put 14-year-olds in prison. Mr. Speaker, I oppose passage of this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GARCIA of California. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. GARCIA of California

Mr. GARCIA of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to demand that Donald Trump and our Attorney General come clean to the American people and release the Epstein files. Now, this weekend, Donald Trump said: ``Let's . . . not waste time and energy on Jeffrey Epstein, somebody that nobody cares about.'' Well, Mr. President, a lot of people actually care. We know that MAGA was all in on Jeffrey Epstein. My Republican colleagues have sent letters, they have posted, and they have demanded disclosure. Donald Trump, Jr., the President's own son, has tweeted dozens of times about this case. FBI Director Kash Patel swore under oath in front of the Senate that he would be transparent with the American public and release the Epstein files. He said: ``Make sure the American public knows the full weight of what happened.'' He said that he would do that. That was his quote. Now, in February, Attorney General Pam Bondi told FOX News that Epstein's client list is: ``Sitting on my desk right now to review.'' Now, they claim there was never a list. This weekend, Donald Trump claimed that the files were written by Obama, Hillary Clinton, and the Biden administration. These are bizarre reversals. It is obvious to the American public that someone is lying, and someone is trying to hide something. Let's look at the facts. We know Elon Musk said publicly on June 5 that Donald Trump is mentioned in the Epstein files. We know that Epstein died in a Federal prison overseen by Donald Trump's Department of Justice. We know that Jeffrey Epstein in 2008 was given a generous nonprosecution agreement for sex trafficking charges. That agreement let him continue his criminal activities, and that agreement was offered by Alexander Acosta, who is Donald Trump's chosen Secretary of Labor. That is not all. We know that Donald Trump and Epstein had a longstanding personal relationship. Epstein told one writer: ``I was Donald Trump's closest friend for 10 years.'' Donald Trump told New York magazine in 2002: ``I've known Jeff for 15 years. Terrific guy. He's a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side. No doubt about it, Jeffrey enjoys his social life.'' That is disgusting, wrong, and we must require more information. The truth is, we don't know what the facts are in this case. I can't explain why the Trump administration has changed their minds on Epstein, but their behavior raises questions. This is the time that we must demand answers, and the Oversight Committee is going to do just that.

Mr. GARCIA of California

Mr. GARCIA of California. Mr. Speaker, my Democratic colleagues and I believe in a country where we take care of our fellow Americans and the wealthiest pay their fair share. However, Republicans are fighting for the biggest rip-off in American history and the biggest attack on our social safety net in decades. If this bill passes, 16 million people are going to lose their health insurance. They will take away basic food assistance from millions of veterans, seniors, and kids. The poorest 10 percent of Americans are going to lose $1,600 per person on average while the richest only get richer because of this bill. It is a transfer from the poor and the middle class to the wealthiest. It does all of this while increasing debt over $3 trillion. What happened to fiscal responsibility? That means that our grandkids will fund a tax cut for Elon Musk. Now, while I am proud that we are defeating a number of extremely concerning provisions in this House bill, this is our last chance to stand up for our values. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this big BS bill. The American people are watching.

Mr. GARCIA of California

Mr. GARCIA of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I thank first the entire Minnesota delegation, in particular Congresswoman Morrison for introducing this important resolution. This is obviously a very sad time across our country, and of course our hearts and our prayers go to the family, and everyone impacted across the State. I know that the events of June 14 were shocking and heartbreaking. Minnesota State House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman, were assassinated. Minnesota State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, were critically injured. I offer my love on behalf of this Congress and those across the country who have been impacted by these crimes, who have seen these crimes, and who all reject this political violence. I want to take this time to thank State, Federal, and local law enforcement for their tireless work to bring the perpetrator to justice. We should be clear: Political violence against anyone is an attack on our democracy and all of us. We know that the shooter committed this terrible crime to terrorize and intimidate. He intended to spread his hate and violence toward many more public servants. The gunman had documents listing dozens of additional lawmakers targeted for assassination or for violence, including Congressman Krishnamoorthi who, of course, is a member of our Oversight Committee. We have seen how our Members of Congress are facing more and more threats, but we cannot and will not be silent. It is important that we continue to push back against hate, fear, division, and misinformation in a bipartisan way. Every elected official at every level must loudly call out and denounce these attacks because acts of political violence like these are a fundamental threat to our democracy. Today, we will come together in a bipartisan way to condemn these senseless attacks and reject political violence. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GARCIA of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. Morrison), the author of this resolution.

Mr. GARCIA of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Krishnamoorthi).

Mr. GARCIA of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. McCollum).

Mr. GARCIA of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. Craig).

Mr. GARCIA of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. Omar).

Mr. GARCIA of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Ramirez).

Mr. GARCIA of California. Mr. Speaker, we can all agree that political violence should be condemned whenever it happens. Public servants must be able to do their jobs and represent their constituents without fear. It is good to hear this bipartisan support today. Of course, our prayers and our thoughts are with everyone impacted. Mr. Speaker, I urge the adoption of the resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GARCIA of California. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. GARCIA of California

Mr. GARCIA of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank our acting ranking member for his leadership here and to honor our incredible ranking member. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support this bill, which of course, supports our fight against cancer and to improve healthcare for all Federal workers. This is such an important way to honor the legacy of our colleague, our Ranking Member Gerry Connolly. Gerry was a dedicated public servant, a fighter, and a mentor to all of us on the Oversight Committee. Gerry worked to hold our government accountable for over 30 years and was dedicated to improving the lives of all Americans. He was a champion of our Federal workforce, of transparency, and in making government work for all the people that we serve. He believed in the power of Congress and in fighting tirelessly for the constituents that he served and, of course, for the rule of law and our Constitution. He served as a county executive where he fought to expand affordable housing and to invest in infrastructure, and he always supported public workers. He delivered for his community. He delivered for the country, and he left a proud legacy. Now, Gerry represented the best among us in public service, which is why we strongly support this bill. We all miss him greatly, and I know every single member of our committee will work to carry on his legacy. Mr. Speaker, I urge every Member to honor Gerry by supporting this bill.

Mr. GARCIA of California

Mr. GARCIA of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank the Congressman for yielding. I appreciate the gentleman having this opportunity for us to speak. Mr. Speaker, we all know that the Hatch Act is here to keep partisan politics out of our government. It has been in place to over 80 years, and I rise today to make sure that our government serves every single American. Mr. Speaker, we know that the Hatch Act protects public service from being used for political gain. It means you can't use a government office to help a political campaign or promote a candidate. I was mayor of Long Beach for 8 years, 2 terms, and I knew it didn't matter how my constituents voted. We had to serve them all equally. We had to put our community above politics. Mr. Speaker, here in Washington, the Hatch Act was written to keep trust in our government strong. It helps to make sure public officials stay focused on the job that we were elected or hired to do and not on personal or political goals. Yet, Donald Trump, of course, thinks he is above the law. We have seen President Trump and Elon Musk try to pressure government workers to do their bidding and to help themselves personally and politically. In his first term, Donald Trump profited from his hotels in violation of the Constitution. Yet, now, his conduct is even more extreme. Just days before his inauguration, Trump launched a meme coin. Buyers can now funnel money directly into Donald Trump's pockets, and it is happening. We know that he actually offered the top buyers of this coin a private dinner at his golf club. He is basically selling access to the Presidency for cash. We also saw Donald Trump fire someone whose job was actually to look into and punish Hatch Act violations. By doing that, he removed someone whose job was to hold rulebreakers like himself accountable. It is clear that he doesn't care about anything but himself, and he is putting his MAGA politics ahead of the law. The American people deserve better than this. Mr. Speaker, that is why I have introduced the Hatch Act Enforcement Transparency and Accountability Act earlier this year. This bill will make sure that we know when the executive branch chooses not to investigate a Hatch Act violation. It requires full transparency so that we can see exactly how and why those decisions are being made. If the Trump administration or anyone else in power refuses to investigate a clear violation, we will know why, and we will demand accountability. We can't let powerful people break the rules--not Donald Trump, not Donald Trump's family, not Elon Musk, not anyone. The Hatch Act was made to keep things fair and honest in government. It is a simple rule that protects all of us. We can't let anyone ignore it. By properly enforcing the Hatch Act, we are not just saying that we want to protect our democracy. We are actually doing it. This protects our government workers, our agencies, and our whole country. There have been extreme violations of the Hatch Act by the Donald Trump Presidency, not just this time in this term, but also in the first term. We saw how they abused the office for real estate deals outside of government. We saw how foreign governments flowed and sent money to his family when they left the White House. Donald Trump, today, by the use of the meme coin and other means, is profiting off our government. We need to ensure that our government is working openly and fairly for everyone, not just for those with a political agenda.

Mr. GARCIA of California

Mr. GARCIA of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Takano for giving me this opportunity to speak about a topic that is really important right now in our country. Mr. Speaker, there is no issue right now that should concern Americans more than the elimination and destruction of due process, not just now for U.S. citizens but for people who are here whether it is a legal status or because they have been invited to this country to apply for asylum. I want to go ahead and speak a little bit more about Andry Romero, this young gentleman right here. He is a gay hairstylist and makeup artist who came to the United States with an asylum appointment. The United States Government gave Andry an appointment to show up to the border so that he could claim asylum using our process that we created. He shows up with his appointment. What happens? He gets interrogated through the process. His initial screening is positive, and then he essentially gets taken at the border from that screening directly to a prison in El Salvador, a country he knows nothing about, in a process that eliminated his right through the court and due process asylum system that we have created in this country. What kind of America is this where we are doing this to people who are seeking asylum? We are sending them to a foreign prison. I note that Andry's family describes him as someone who is sweet, kind, and gentle, yet we are sending him to a notorious prison in a very vulnerable position. I also want to note that an agent said that he has some tattoos. Yes, he has a crown tattoo reflective of a festival back in his home city and state in Venezuela. It has nothing to do with gangs. He has never been convicted of anything to do with gangs. Because an ICE agent, who was, by the way, a disgraced former police officer, made these claims, Andry is now in a foreign prison, and his family and his lawyers have not heard anything about him in weeks. I did go to El Salvador to advocate for the release of not just Kilmar, who has been mandated by the Supreme Court to come back, but also for Andry. We told Andry's story to the Ambassador in El Salvador. It was the first time he had heard his story. After the meeting, he made a request to the government in El Salvador to do a welfare check for the first time on Andry. We have yet to hear anything about how he is doing, his condition, if he is alive, or where he is. This is a disgrace by President Trump, Secretary Rubio, Secretary Noem, and everyone involved in this process. We demand to know if he is healthy, if he is okay, and where he is, and that he be given the right to come back to the United States so that he can go through the process that we asked him to go through before we kidnapped him and sent him to a prison in El Salvador. We must do better in this country.

Mr. GARCIA of California. Absolutely. I think that it is a shame that someone fleeing persecution for who they are and then given an appointment by us, the United States, is then sent to a foreign prison.

Mr. GARCIA of California. That is right.

Mr. GARCIA of California

Mr. GARCIA of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor President Jane Close Conoley, of Cal State, Long Beach, for her exceptional leadership, friendship, and passion for her community. After nearly 50 years in higher education, she will retire at the end of this academic year, leaving a lasting impact on the Long Beach community. As the first woman to serve as president, she led Cal State, Long Beach through a period of incredible growth, including growing enrollment and fundraising over half a billion dollars for scholarships, academic programs, and campus improvements. Now, under her leadership, Cal State, Long Beach earned recognition as a high-research institution and received the Seal of Excelencia for its work with Latino students. Now, Cal State, Long Beach also receives more applications than almost any public university in the Cal State system and public universities, period, in the State of California. This is all thanks to her incredible leadership. President Conoley prioritized building strong connections between the campus and community and addressing student needs, from housing to food insecurity. She has been a partner, a friend, a supporter, and someone who has built an incredible academic reputation and partnerships across the country. As an educator myself, I have seen firsthand her dedication to student success and her efforts to strengthen the university's ties to the community. As she prepares for retirement, I know I join the entire Long Beach community in thanking her for years of service to Cal State, Long Beach, its students, and the community.

Mr. GARCIA of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call out Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and their disastrous MAGAnomics. Last week, Donald Trump and his Cabinet of billionaires recklessly imposed the largest tariff tax hike in American history. Now, look at the markets just today. They are crashing. Costs will now increase on all kinds of goods for the American family and people across this country. Working families can't afford to pay more for basic needs, for necessities. No one voted to pay for more expensive groceries, homes, cars, and household goods. That is all Donald Trump has to offer. Supply chains and small businesses are also right now being thrown into chaos, and hardworking people are going to lose their jobs. Not only do we have this incredibly large tariff tax hike, but we also know that the stock market is in a free fall. Retirement accounts are being wiped out. We have lost trillions of dollars in the stock market in just a few weeks. MAGAnomics hurts working people and gives huge tax breaks and giveaways to billionaires, to Elon Musk and all of their billionaire friends. MAGAnomics is about more than just causing a recession. Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and House Republicans are trying to take away billions of dollars from Medicaid, which will threaten, as we know, care for millions of people. That means higher healthcare costs, with many losing coverage completely. MAGAnomics is slashing employees and programs from the Federal Government. It is about destroying the social safety net and the programs which we rely on, such as medical research, the Department of Education, air safety, and so much more. They are attacking the foundations of our economy and the foundations of our lives and our families. Republicans in Congress need to join us and say enough is enough. End the chaos. End the incompetence. Put American families first. Let's stop and reject Donald Trump and Elon Musk, and let's reject MAGAnomics right now.

Mr. GARCIA of California

Mr. GARCIA of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Isa Rached, a truly extraordinary individual who left an incredible mark on the Long Beach community. Isa passed away on January 2, 2025, and while his presence will be deeply missed, his legacy of compassion, creativity, and service will live on in the hearts of all who knew him. Isa was an artist at heart, a talented sketch artist whose creativity extended beyond the canvas. He crafted magnificent dresses for his performances at It's a Drag to Give, where his artistry and passion for self-expression flourished. Isa was known for his unwavering kindness and his ability to lift others up with his infectious smile, reminding everyone he met of the kindness that still exists in the world. His life was characterized by his kindness and compassion. He always had a constant drive to explore new ideas of service and support for his community. Whether it was through his leadership in local causes like the Long Beach Immigrant Rights Coalition, the Downtown Business Association, or his advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community, Isa never had a negative word to say about anyone. His life was dedicated to bringing people together, creating a space where diversity was celebrated, and every voice was heard. Isa was a champion of service, always finding new ways to support others with an open heart. A Buddhist, his faith was a guiding force in his life. It inspired him to live with compassion and courage, always striving to create peace and harmony in the world around him. His spiritual practice was a core part of his identity, infusing his actions with a deep sense of purpose and mindfulness. He had a love of adventure and travel, and his zest for life led him to explore new experiences--like learning to scuba dive. Isa's passion for fashion and his eye for design made him a visionary fashion designer. Isa's legacy is one of boundless generosity, artistry, and unwavering positivity. He has touched countless lives, and his impact will continue to be felt in the ongoing work of the organizations and causes he championed. I extend my deepest condolences to Isa's family, friends, and the entire Long Beach community. Isa is survived by his mother, Rocio, father, Hector, sisters, Vanna and Josie, three nephews, Abraham, Jayden, Naithan, and niece, Evelyn. Isa's spirit of adventure, creativity, and kindness will continue to inspire us all. His smile, his heart, and his dedication to peace will forever be with us, reminding us of the beauty in service and the power of compassion.