Washington, DC—Today, Congressman John Garamendi (D-CA) published a list of the major accomplishments and resources he secured for the 3rd District, California, and the nation in 2019.
“We accomplished a lot together in 2019, and there’s still so much more we can do in the years ahead. In 2019, I worked to improve education for every American, create good middle-class jobs by rebuilding our nation’s crumbling infrastructure with American materials and workers, fight climate change, improve flood control, and ensure everyone has good, affordable health care. It is an honor to serve California’s 3rd District in Washington, and I hope everyone will take a moment to learn about the new resources and efforts that have been achieved on their behalf.”
OVERVIEW:
- $1,084,145.30 in owed benefits returned to CA-03 constituents through casework requests$
- $988,897.51 of those benefits were for veterans.
- 22 Bills Introduced
- 1 Sponsored Bill signed into law, to date
- 4 Cosponsored Bills signed into law
- 51 Cosponsored Bills passed by the House
- 68 Cosponsored Bills Received Committee Consideration
- 17 Amendments Adopted by Committee or full House
GARAMENDI BILLS ENACTED INTO LAW:
Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta National Heritage Area Act (H.R.357): Designates the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta as the first National Heritage Area in California and provides $10 million for community-based efforts to conserve the Delta’s cultural heritage, historical landmarks, and natural beauty. On March 12, Garamendi’s bill was signed into law as part of the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act (Public Law 116-9).
GARAMENDI BILLS PASSED BY HOUSE AND SENATE:
Merchant Mariners of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act (H.R.550): Awards the Congressional Gold Medal to American merchant mariners of World War II, in recognition of their service. The Merchant Marine suffered the highest per capita casualty rate in the U.S. military during World War II. An estimated 8,300 mariners lost their lives, and another 12,000 were wounded, while supplying the American military and allied war effort. On September 19, the House of Representatives and the Senate unanimously passed Garamendi’s bipartisan H.R.550, which has over 300 cosponsors.
GARAMENDI BILLS PASSED BY COMMTTEE:
Aircraft Maintenance Outsourcing Disclosure Act (H.R.4374): Requires airlines to disclose the maintenance history for their aircraft fleets, specifically the location and date an aircraft underwent heavy maintenance—the most comprehensive test for an aircraft. This legislation prioritizes transparency so that FAA regulators and the public know who services the planes they fly on and where the service takes place. On November 20, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure passed Garamendi’s bipartisan H.R.4374 as part of the “Safe Aircraft Maintenance Standards Act” (H.R.5119).
H.R.1764, To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act with respect to permitting terms, and for other purposes: Cuts the national Clean Water Act permitting backlog in half and allows state regulators like California’s State Water Resources Control Board to focus on long-term water quality planning and updated standards. On October 29, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure passed Garamendi’s bipartisan H.R.1764 as part of the “Water Quality Protection and Job Creation Act of 2019” (H.R.1497).
Flood Insurance for Farmers Act (H.R.830): Provides farmers access to discounted rates under the National Flood Insurance Program. It would also lift the de facto federal prohibition on construction and repair of agricultural structures in high flood-risk areas designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). On June 14, the House Committee on Financial Services passed Garamendi’s bipartisan H.R.830 as part of the “National Flood Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2019” (H.R.3167).
Service Member’s Occupational and Environmental Transparency Health (OATH) Act (H.R.2617): Ensures active duty military personnel and veterans can accurately document any toxins they were exposed to while deployed, so they can receive VA treatment for any health issues stemming from that exposure. On June 19, the House Committee on Armed Services passed Garamendi’s bipartisan H.R.2617 as part of the “National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020” (H.R.2500).
READINESS SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIRMANSHIP:
On January 23, Garamendi was selected to serve as Chair of the Readiness Subcommittee on the House Armed Services Committee. The Readiness Subcommittee oversees one-third of the Department of Defense’s budget—the largest of any subcommittee in Congress. The Readiness Subcommittee has jurisdiction over programs related to training, logistics, equipment maintenance, the management of over 1,000 military installations and bases worldwide, and efforts to improve energy resiliency, including climate change adaptation, and environmental health issues.
As Chairman, Garamendi hosted numerous oversight hearings and was appointed to the bicameral conference committee responsible for negotiating the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)—the annual authorization for the U.S. military. An outline of his work as Chairman is as follows:
STRENGTHENING TRAVIS AND BEALE AIR FORCE BASES
Garamendi secured $181 million in new funding for construction projects at Travis and Beale Air Force Bases in the House’s version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
CONFRONTING THE CLIMATE CRISIS
Garamendi included language in the House-passed NDAA to ensure the U.S. military is prepared to respond to climate change and be an ally in the fight to end the global climate crisis. Garamendi’s legislation takes unprecedented steps to empower the military to respond to the effects of climate change.
FIXING THE PRIVATIZED MILITARY HOUSING CRISIS
Garamendi included an amendment in the House-passed NDAA to address unhygienic and dangerous living conditions thousands of service members and their families are subject to in privately constructed military housing. The legislation establishes a “tenants’ bill of rights” to hold private housing contractors accountable for developing safe on-base housing for service members and their families.
As Readiness Chairman, Garamendi led a Congressional Delegation in April to study the impact unsafe privatized military housing is having on service members and their families.
SUPPORTING VETERANS AND SERVICE MEMBERS SEEKING HEALTH CARE
The House-passed NDAA also includes the full text of Garamendi’s bipartisan OATH Act (H.R.261), which ensures active-duty military personnel and veterans can accurately document any toxins they were exposed to while deployed, so they can receive VA treatment for any health issues stemming from that exposure.
Garamendi also successfully added the Tricare Reserve Improvement Act (H.R.613), to the House-passed NDAA. This bipartisan bill extends eligibility to all National Guardsmen and Reservists, regardless of their civilian occupation, for TRICARE Reserve Select, a low-cost health insurance program for military service members and their families. The bipartisan legislation was introduced by Congressman Trent Kelly (R-MS) with Congressman Garamendi as an original cosponsor.
BRINGING NEW RESOURCES TO FIGHT WILDFIRES
Garamendi included language in the House-passed NDAA that will allow the National Guard to use unmanned aircraft systems like military drones to help detect wildfires, perform search and rescue efforts, and assist in other efforts to combat natural disasters and emergencies in California and throughout the nation.
HELPING LOCAL DISASTER VICTIMS
On June 6, Garamendi helped secure key provisions for California in a $17.2 billion disaster-recovery bill (Public Law 116-20), including:
Working with Congressman Mike Thompson (D-CA) to extend the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program (WHIP) to cover crop losses stemming from 2018 and 2019 natural disasters, including California wine-grape growers with ‘smoke-tainted’ grapes from nearby fires.
Working with Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-CA) to ensure that Paradise, CA and other communities impacted by wildfires qualify for grants, loans, and other assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development Program. The City of Paradise would otherwise exceed the population threshold for the USDA Rural Development Program and not qualify, despite many residents leaving following the 2018 Camp Fire.
The disaster-recovery law also includes a robust $1 billion funding level for the Army Corps of Engineers to address 2018 and 2019 floods—which could provide critical support in Lake, Glenn, Butte, and Colusa counties. The bill also includes $720 million for the U.S. Forest Service to strengthen forest management efforts, $3 billion to help local farmers recover from losses sustained by disasters, and $349.4 million to repair local drinking water systems—including the water system in Paradise, CA destroyed by the 2018 Camp Fire.
SERVING HOMELESS VETERANS
In 2019, Garamendi worked with Habitat for Humanity to establish a new financing mechanism that led to the construction of a new facility for homeless veterans in Dixon. The facility provides housing and essential services for homeless veterans looking to get back on their feet. Garamendi is continuing his work with Habitat for Humanity to open a similar facility in Rio Vista.
SUPPORTING LOCAL FARMERS
On June 28, Garamendi hosted U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue in Sacramento County for a discussion with local farmers. At the event, Garamendi implored Secretary Perdue to approve his June 21 request to include California-grown walnuts in USDA’s Market Facilitation Program (MFP) and assist farmers impacted by the President’s self-inflicted trade war. Garamendi’s advocacy was successful, and Secretary Perdue approved Garamendi’s request with Congressmen T.J. Cox (D-CA), Salud Carbajal (D-CA), Jerry McNerney (D-CA), and Jim Costa (D-CA) to support California walnut farmers on August 1.
On October 4, Garamendi also helped secure new retaliatory tariffs on canned peaches and mixed fruits from the European Union. One June 4, Garamendi sent a letter with Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-CA) to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, calling for tariffs on European Union canned peaches and canned fruit mixtures. Mr. Lighthizer ultimately approved their request and imposed punitive tariffs on unfair EU subsidies to support U.S. growers.
HONORING THE 3RD DISTRICT’S ‘WOMEN OF THE YEAR’
In October, Garamendi hosted his 6th annual Women of the Year Awards. In 2019, Garamendi honored 50 women throughout the 3rd Congressional District who are leaders and visionaries in their communities. The women have all made significant contributions to society through public service, business, education, and local advocacy. 2019’s Women of the Year event included a posthumous tribute and recognition of Natalie Corona—the Davis police officer who was tragically killed during her service to the community in 2019.
