Rep. Thompson on release of ‘dangerous’ Nunes Memo
“The decision by the President to release the Nunes memo is in one word: dangerous,” said Rep. Mike Thompson. “As a former member of the House Select Committee on Intelligence and someone who has read both the Republican and Democratic memos, I know that this move is a reckless political stunt. Instead of holding this Administration and our Russian adversaries accountable, Mr. Nunes and the President are putting our Republic at risk — something that could cost lives and alliances. This is not America First and it is not an honorable thing to do. This is Nunes and the President First. It is shameful, risky, and a new low.”
Rep. Garamendi on the EPA reversing a decision to end clean water protection in favor of a mine
“Recently, I joined 43 of my colleagues in Congress to send a letter to President Trump opposing his EPA’s plan to eliminate clean water safeguards and allow dangerous mining activities in Bristol Bay, Alaska. Thousands of Western state fishing, processing, shipbuilding, guide and gear manufacturing jobs rely on Bristol Bay salmon and the Trump EPA’s proposed action would have put those jobs in serious jeopardy, while exposing precious ecosystems to toxic waste.
The EPA made this announcement without a single public hearing and no public input from the communities and industries that would be affected by the proposal. To sanction such an extreme and dangerous proposal without a single piece of input from the people it affects is shameful, and in my opinion, is the consequence of the Trump Administration’s allegiance to the mining lobby rather than the American people.
But thanks to the strong opposition and work of millions of Americans, the EPA just announced that it’s putting the brakes on this controversial mining proposal based on the project’s risks to regional salmon fisheries and natural resources. This is a major victory in a time when environmental protections are being gutted on a daily basis, and I am proud to have worked with a broad group of Representatives and Senators to successfully fight this proposal.”
Rep. Thompson reacts to State of the Union address
“Tonight we saw the President continue to push forward an agenda that the majority of Americans do not support.
The President again called for the construction of a wall on our southern border, a proposition that we know is expensive and ineffective. Worse, the President continues to hold DACA recipients hostage to get this funding after promising them a permanent solution. It’s cruel and it only serves to fulfil a ridiculous campaign promise.
He touted the package of massive tax cuts for the very rich and corporate interests that Republicans jammed through Congress. With 83 percent of these cuts going to the top 1 percent of rich Americans and corporations, middle class families will see little benefits, with 9 million families actually seeing a tax increase next year. Worse, Republicans added $2.3 trillion to our national debt to pay for these cuts. That’s money our kids and grandkids are going to have to pay back.
The President highlighted the need to address our crippling infrastructure. Republicans and Democrats agree that our infrastructure needs to be addressed. This should have been the first issue that Congress tackled last year. But instead, Republicans chose to try to repeal the Affordable Care Act three separate times and pushed through the package of tax cuts for the rich. The reality is that after Republicans added $2.3 trillion to the national debt to pay for these tax cuts, it’s going to be more difficult than ever to pay for a major overhaul of our country’s infrastructure.
I was also concerned by what we didn’t hear from the President tonight: Nothing about helping prevent gun violence which claims 30 American lives every day. Nothing about battling climate change after the two hottest years on record. Nothing about long-term solutions that would strengthen our health care system as costs continue to rise, and millions still struggle to access care. And nothing about taking action on the $81 billion disaster relief package the House passed for fire and hurricane survivors that is currently collecting dust in the Senate.
I’ll continue to work with my colleagues in the House to move forward in areas where we can find bipartisan solutions, and fight against any proposals that are not in our national interest.”
Ruben Major, Candidate for California Secretary of State, on the Women’s March
“I was proud to walk with millions of women around the country in the Women’s March 2018. In the year since the 2016 election, it has been incredible to watch so many women stepping forward to use their collective voices.
Whether it was #MeToo, #BelieveWomen, or #TimesUp, the past year has been filled with important conversations about women’s rights and equality. These issues matter to me as a husband, a father, an ally, and as a candidate for Secretary of State. Nearly 100 years ago, the women’s suffrage movement allowed millions of women in this country to cast their vote for the very first time—a right many had fought for decades to receive.
Marching alongside my daughter, I was struck both by how much progress has been made, and by how much more work there still is to do for equality. I realize that it is more important than ever that women’s voices be heard. Our daughters and granddaughters are watching what we do right now. Let’s make them proud by turning all of this excitement and energy into real changes, including pay equity, racial equality, LGBTQIA+ rights, and human rights.”
