Robert Garcia

Mr. ROBERT GARCIA of California

Mr. ROBERT GARCIA of California. Mr. Speaker, I was unable to vote on Tuesday, March 5. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA- Roll Call No. 60 and YEA on Roll Call No. 61.

Mr. ROBERT GARCIA of California

Mr. ROBERT GARCIA of California. Madam Speaker, yesterday I sat in on the Hunter Biden deposition for hours. Republicans, once again, provided zero evidence--zero evidence--and failed to show any sort of link between Hunter Biden and the President. There are no links between those business dealings. This entire case is a political stunt and a joke. Donald Trump ordered House Republicans to smear President Biden. They tried and tried and tried and failed. Nonetheless, I want to remind everyone about the real White House crime family. Why did Saudi Arabia give Jared Kushner $2 billion--billion with a b--just months after he left the Trump White House? Moreover, why did the Saudis spend hundreds of thousands of dollars at Trump properties while he was still the President? We also know that Jared Kushner used his cushy White House job to secure a $100 billion arms deal for Saudi Arabia and did other favors, as well. Some Members of the majority actually agree that this was unethical. In fact, a few weeks ago, Jared Kushner was asked by a reporter about his grift. He responded: ``Are we really still doing this?'' Yes, Jared, we are still really doing this. The American people deserve answers. I rise yet again to urge my colleagues across the aisle to answer our calls and subpoena Jared Kushner's companies once and for all. We are not stopping, and we demand answers.

Mr. ROBERT GARCIA of California

Mr. ROBERT GARCIA of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to help improve the lives of thousands of vulnerable youth across our country. Our Guaranteed Income for Foster Youth Act will create a new Federal program to provide $1,000 a month to young adults exiting foster care and helping them pull themselves out of poverty, as well as build healthy economic communities across the country. It is no secret that there are major gaps in the Federal foster care system. More than a fifth of foster care youth experience homelessness within 1 year of emancipation. It is critical that we uplift our foster youth during such a transformative and vulnerable time in their lives. For my entire career, I have been a strong advocate for guaranteed income programs. When I was the mayor of Long Beach, we built and launched a transformational guaranteed income program that is now directly helping over 900 low-income individuals, including over 500 children. I have also had the pleasure of working with the Mayors for Guaranteed Income, to show how providing direct payments can end poverty in the United States. Across the country, guaranteed income programs have done incredible things for families. They have pursued higher-paying jobs, obtained undergraduate degrees, paid off debt, and afforded basic necessities like food and utilities. The evidence across the country is clear: Guaranteed income programs have been incredibly successful in lifting people out of poverty and helping to preserve economic freedom and independence. Working together, we can ensure that children leaving the foster care system can have the foundation they need to thrive in our community.

Mr. ROBERT GARCIA of California

Mr. ROBERT GARCIA of California. Madam Speaker, today, Republicans are engaging in yet another impeachment scam.

Mr. ROBERT GARCIA of California

Mr. ROBERT GARCIA of California. Mr. Speaker, I recently joined colleagues on the House Oversight Committee in releasing a report confirming what we have known all along, that Donald Trump and his family, especially the Kushners, participated in the largest Presidential grift in history. We have records of 20 foreign governments funneling millions through Trump properties and into Donald Trump's pockets while he was President, all in violation of the U.S. Constitution. This is just the tip of the iceberg. We have only been able to access payments and illegal gifts from four Trump properties. Trump owns hundreds of properties and businesses. Despite the different cover-ups, we can still prove that Trump and Jared Kushner were making national security decisions while he and his family were getting bribes and paid by the same foreign powers. Millions were being spent by countries like China and Saudi Arabia, and we need immediate answers on why Jared Kushner got a $2 billion Saudi investment fund just months after leaving the White House. We have been raising the alarm on this issue over and over. The corruption is unacceptable, and we must hold the Trump crime family accountable.

Mr. ROBERT GARCIA of California

Mr. ROBERT GARCIA of California. Mr. Speaker, this impeachment inquiry is a political stunt with zero evidence. We are here today not because of any wrongdoing by President Biden but because Donald Trump wants revenge. Welcome to the Donald Trump revenge show. He is running a campaign promising to destroy democracy and the rule of law and will soon be found guilty of serious crimes. The American people reject this toxic and disgusting agenda. That is why Trump's allies here in Congress are trying to rescue him. They are throwing everything they can at President Biden, from misleading leaks to outright fabrications and lies. They are even trying to sell debunked Rudy Giuliani conspiracy theories. Let's be clear: The White House has provided thousands of pages of bank records, statements from personal bank accounts, and testimony from the President's family, but none of this is enough for the extreme MAGA GOP. This is all to appease the con man and the criminal Donald Trump, but make no mistake: The American people will see through this entire impeachment sham.

Mr. ROBERT GARCIA of California

Mr. ROBERT GARCIA of California. Mr. Speaker, I was unable to vote today. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 705 and ``nay'' on rollcall No. 706. personal explanation

Mr. ROBERT GARCIA of California

Mr. ROBERT GARCIA of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge Jennifer Kumiyama, a talented performer, advocate, and constituent from Long Beach, California. I am so proud that she was cast as the voice of Dahlia in the new Disney movie ``Wish.'' Jennifer was born with arthrogryposis and uses a wheelchair. She broke barriers when she became the first person in a wheelchair to actually perform on a Disney stage. In addition to her career as a performer, she does vital work every day as the accessibility coordinator for the city of Long Beach. In ``Wish,'' her character, Dahlia, is a courageous leader who also uses a wooden crutch to help her walk. This is a huge deal for representation. People with disabilities remain dramatically underrepresented in the media. Despite over 25 percent of American adults having some type of disability, movie and TV shows that feature people with disabilities or hire folks with disabilities are few and far between. I think we can all agree that this representation, especially for young people, is so important. We couldn't be more proud of Jennifer for breaking barriers all across her life and for this latest performance.

Mr. ROBERT GARCIA of California

Mr. ROBERT GARCIA of California. Mr. Speaker, truth and justice are crucial components of a healthy and strong democracy. It speaks to the public trust we hold and the dignity of this institution. As a freshman Member of Congress, I take the oath very seriously. I love this country deeply, and we should all have intentions to defend it. That is why I rise today to defend the integrity of the House and to support the expulsion of Representative Santos. I wish no personal harm to the Representative from New York, and I imagine it is a difficult moment for him and for the institution. However, I believe strongly that he must be held accountable for his actions as well as his lies. He fabricated his qualifications and his background. He lied to the FEC and participated in unemployment fraud. That is why he is under a serious 23-count indictment. The bipartisan report is out. It is damning. It should convince all Members to vote for this expulsion. People want better from Congress. They want good and ethical government. They deserve the truth. I once again ask the Representative from New York to resign and save himself and the country from this vote. If not, I encourage a ``yes'' vote to restore integrity to the body and to expel Representative Santos.

Mr. ROBERT GARCIA of California

Mr. ROBERT GARCIA of California. Madam Speaker, it is undeniable that we have a gun problem in our country and that too many people lose their lives to gun violence every single day. We can't take on the issue of gun violence without also addressing ammunition access for criminals and for those who are choosing to harm others across our country. This means holding people and institutions accountable for their role in the public commercial ammunition sales that can get into the wrong hands. Just a few weeks ago, The New York Times released a report indicating that ammunition produced at the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant has also been sold widely in the civilian marketplace. Ammo from Lake City has been seized from drug dealers, violent felons, and even rioters from January 6. Ammo from the plant has been tied to at least a dozen mass shootings, including at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh and at the Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. Let me be clear: This is completely unacceptable. We are demanding oversight, not just over this plant, but the commercial sales of ammunition that is subsidized by the U.S. Government and then is turned around and used in mass shootings across the country. We also need to pass my bill, along with Senator Elizabeth Warren's bill, the AMMO Act to regulate ammunition sales across the country. This is a serious challenge. People are losing their lives.

Mr. ROBERT GARCIA of California

Mr. ROBERT GARCIA of California. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 2(a)(1) of rule IX, I rise to give notice of my intent to raise a question of the privileges of the House. The form of the resolution is as follows: H. Res. 114. Resolved, that, pursuant to Article I, Section 5, Clause 2 of the Constitution of the United States, Representative George Santos be, and he hereby is, expelled from the House of Representatives.

Mr. ROBERT GARCIA of California

Mr. ROBERT GARCIA of California. Mr. Speaker, I was unfortunately unable to be present at votes on November 6 due to travel reasons. Had I been present, I would have voted: YEA on Roll Call No. 599, and YEA on Roll Call No. 600.

Mr. ROBERT GARCIA of California

Mr. ROBERT GARCIA of California. Mr. Speaker, we all know that Social Security and Medicare are core promises that we make as a country to every American. More than 66 million seniors, people with disabilities, and children rely on Social Security, but make no mistake, my colleagues in the majority are committed to cutting these programs down to the bone. In 2020, even our new Speaker wrote a budget proposal that called for raising Medicare and Social Security eligibility ages. It called for $2 trillion in cuts to Medicare and $750 billion in cuts to Social Security. It would be devastating to millions of people, including 8 million veterans who rely on Social Security and Medicare every single day and middle-class people across the country who would see their benefits cut. Cost of living increases that seniors rely on would also be slashed. The new Speaker is calling for a commission, which would be empowered to slash Social Security and fast-track his extreme proposals through Congress. Speaker Johnson is so out of touch that he also claimed Roe v. Wade and reproductive rights now require us to make more cuts to Medicare and Social Security. This is not the agenda the American people accept or support. Congress should come together to pass H. Res. 178 and commit to protecting Social Security and Medicare for all Americans. No cuts and no stripping benefits away from the people who work for them. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to defeat the previous question so we can bring up this important legislation.

Mr. ROBERT GARCIA of California

Mr. ROBERT GARCIA of California. Madam Speaker, just last week on the House floor, I called this body to investigate the clear corruption and grift of Jared Kushner.

Mr. ROBERT GARCIA of California

Mr. ROBERT GARCIA of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to urge House Republicans to investigate one of modern America's biggest scandals and political cons. Why did the Saudi Government give Jared Kushner $2 billion just months after he left the Trump White House? Kushner, who oversaw Middle East policy for his father-in-law, has enriched himself and his family in what is clearly an enormous grift and likely serious conflict of interest crimes. Let's review: First, Jared Kushner conned his way to a cushy White House job with no clear job description and no experience. Then he took it upon himself to prioritize pushing out the U.S. Secretary of State so he could cozy up to the Saudi Government. Once he was close enough to the Saudis, we have records of a $110 billion arms deal between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia that was inflated at the direction of Jared Kushner. Mere months after Kushner exits the White House, what happens? The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia overrules his own advisers and sends $2 billion to Kushner's company bank account. In the exact words of Republican Chris Christie, who I will quote: ``The grift from this family is breathtaking. It is breathtaking. Jared Kushner and Ivanka Kushner walk out of the White House, and months later get $2 billion from the Saudis.'' Some colleagues from across the aisle have explicitly said the Kushner family has engaged in business dealings that may have crossed the ethical line, and I agree, yet they refuse to act. Is this the same party that is obsessed with President Biden's family? The American people deserve answers, and I urge my colleagues across the aisle to answer our calls and subpoena Jared Kushner's company once and for all.

Mr. ROBERT GARCIA of California

Mr. ROBERT GARCIA of California. Mr. Speaker, I am a proud cosponsor of Medicare for All here in the House. Medicare for All isn't controversial or radical. It is commonsense policy to ensure that our healthcare is not dependent on where we work. We all know that Medicare already works in this country for so many older adults. When I was mayor of Long Beach, I was proud to have cofounded the Mayors for Medicare Coalition which brought together leaders from across the country to support Medicare for All. As mayor, I saw the impact every day that barriers to healthcare can have on a community. That is why over 100 local cities and jurisdictions support Medicare for All nationally. Medicare for All isn't just a commitment to address injustices in the healthcare system. It is an investment in the American people. We owe it to our country to prioritize healthcare, and Medicare for All is the way. Healthcare is a human right. Let's pass Medicare for All.

Mr. ROBERT GARCIA of California

Mr. ROBERT GARCIA of California. Mr. Speaker, I was unable to vote on H.R. 4470. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 366.

Mr. ROBERT GARCIA of California

Mr. ROBERT GARCIA of California. Mr Speaker, I was unable to vote on rollcall 367. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 367.

Mr. ROBERT GARCIA of California

Mr. ROBERT GARCIA of California. Mr. Speaker, as mayor of Long Beach, California, for the last 8 years, I know how vital our ports are to both our local and national economies. There are also enormous environmental concerns that disproportionately impact working-class communities that live around our ports. The global shipping industry emits 1 billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions every single year, and pollution from port ships has led to some of the highest cancer and asthma rates in the country. In fact, ships pollute more than cargo trucks coming in and out of our ports. While I am proud of the work that California has done to reduce emissions at our ports, it is time for additional Federal support and intervention. That is why I proudly introduced the Clean Shipping Act. This is transformational climate legislation that for the first time gives the EPA the authority to regulate carbon emissions from our shipping industry and accelerates our transition to zero emission fuels by 2040. The legislation is coauthored by Senator Padilla in the Senate and is a path forward to cleaner air. Let's get this climate legislation done.

Mr. ROBERT GARCIA of California

Mr. ROBERT GARCIA of California. Mr. Speaker, America just went through the largest health crisis and loss of life event in the modern era. Due to the pandemic, we lost over 1.3 million Americans, including my own mom and stepdad. That is why I have introduced the FLASH Act to help strengthen our Nation's ability to respond to a public health crisis. I was the mayor of Long Beach during the pandemic and worked every single day on the response. Both Governor Newsom and President Biden called our pandemic response a national model. We moved quickly to vaccinate 99 percent of seniors, protect frontline workers, and reopen schools ahead of most major cities, but in the first months of the pandemic, we struggled to get lifesaving equipment without Federal help. My bill will help the Department of Health and Human Services cut through red tape to quickly buy and distribute PPE, tests, medical supplies, and vaccines. We need this bill, and that is why I am urging my colleagues to support this critical legislation.

Mr. ROBERT GARCIA of California

Mr. ROBERT GARCIA of California. Mr. Speaker, this resolution is a joke. They are trying to smear Congressman Schiff for his work to defend our institutions. Meanwhile, the same people who attack Adam Schiff for seeking the truth refuse to take action against a serial and admitted fraudster in their own Conference. Adam Schiff did not win his elections on false pretenses. He has not been accused of crimes in the U.S., nor has he admitted to crimes in Brazil. Unfortunately, not all my House colleagues on the Republican side can say the same. Thirty-five days ago, every House Republican voted to defend George Santos. Instead, they want to censure someone who stands for truth and justice, Adam Schiff.

Mr. ROBERT GARCIA of California

Mr. ROBERT GARCIA of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commend both the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, the ILWU, and the Pacific Maritime Association, the PMA, for reaching a new 6-year contract just last night for 22,000 workers across 29 West Coast ports. This agreement is critical for our economy and recognizes the heroic work of all frontline dock workers, who worked tirelessly throughout our entire supply chain crisis to move our economy forward. As mayor of Long Beach, I oversaw our port, which supports 2.6 million jobs across the country. As co-chair of the Ports Caucus, I am proud to have worked with both sides throughout the entire bargaining process. This deal would not have been possible without the work of President Biden and Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su. Julie's engagement was key and proved why she should be confirmed swiftly by the Senate. This news builds upon Tuesday's report that showed inflation has fallen for 11 months in a row. Our ports will continue to fight inflation and bring back jobs.

Mr. ROBERT GARCIA of California

Mr. ROBERT GARCIA of California. Mr. Speaker, the House library is open. I rise to commemorate the start of Pride Month by honoring the one and only queen of drag, RuPaul. An artist, a philanthropist, and a barrier breaker, RuPaul Charles has become an American phenomenon and an icon. Nobody has more charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent than RuPaul Charles. Ru's career launched as a drag performer in New York, and then as a successful pop artist, releasing his first hit album, ``Supermodel of the World.'' In total, he has released 15 studio albums. RuPaul also became the first gay Black man to host his own talk show, ``The RuPaul Show.'' He is most known, of course, for his multi-Emmy- award winning show, ``RuPaul's Drag Race.'' ``RuPaul's Drag Race,'' and its many domestic and international spin- offs, has put drag in the global spotlight. The show has helped lunch and uplift the careers of thousands of drag queens and artists. But more importantly, the show has served as a critical space to discuss issues around inclusion, trans rights, mental health, and self-worth. This message couldn't be more important as the LGBTQ+ community continues to fight for equality and acceptance. The world needs more love and, yes, more RuPaul. I thank RuPaul Charles for his years of leadership in our community and his activism. This Pride Season, as we recommit to celebrating diversity, difference, and self-love, we must always remember what RuPaul so famously says: ``If you can't love yourself, how the hell are you going to love somebody else?''

Mr. ROBERT GARCIA of California

Mr. ROBERT GARCIA of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to the Republican plan to destroy our Nation's economy. Right now hundreds of Republican Members of Congress have rushed out of town to go on vacation with their friends and family. Democrats are here ready to work. Americans are facing the reality of losing their retirement savings, jobs, and healthcare. Here are just some of the extreme demands that House Republicans have made: They want to cut 100,000 jobs for teachers; they want to put health insurance at risk for 21 million Americans; they want to put food assistance at risk for 1 million Americans. This is cruel and shameful. Let's be clear: House Republicans want to tank the economy and they want to give tax cuts to billionaires and large corporations. We have a default on our debt coming because House Republicans would rather be on vacation than get to work.

Mr. ROBERT GARCIA of California

Mr. ROBERT GARCIA of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to House Republicans' efforts to eliminate critical student loan relief. Now, as an educator, it is shameful to me that my colleagues could look at this crisis of student debt in our country and decide to intentionally make it worse for 40 million Americans. These are the same people that voted for tax breaks for billionaires and large corporations, and now they are telling everyday people that we can't afford to help them, and it is appalling. When I was in the classroom, I saw my students take out loans for basic needs like rent and putting food on the table. We tell kids to go get an education, to go to college, to work toward the American Dream, but that also means taking out, oftentimes, thousands of dollars of loans. Student loan debt also disproportionately impacts people of color, low-income students, and millions of young people that may not have had access to financial training. Millionaires are not burdened with student debt; working-class people are. So let's be clear: Republicans in the House are putting billionaires and large corporations over students.