Accomplishments in the 114th Congress

Congressman Garamendi is proud to represent the people of the Third District of California. His district team has helped deliver millions of dollars of earned benefits to his constituents, and in Washington, he works on issues crucial to our local communities and to our country's economy and national security.

Congressman Garamendi sits on two of the most dynamic and productive Committees in Congress: The House Armed Services Committee, which has the annual taskof completing a massive authorization bill that sets policy for our armed forces; and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, which sets policy and funding priorities for our nation's transportation systems.

As part of his role on the House Armed Services Committee, Congressman Garamendi has for the past two years been one of conferees in negotiations with the Senate to reconcile differences between the House and Senate versions of the annual defense authorization bill. This has given him a significant voice in helping to set military policy, advocate for our servicemembers, and represent the interests of Travis and Beale Air Force Bases. He also serves on the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, which is tasked with overseeing our country's nuclear forces and keeping us safe from nuclear threats.

On the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Congressman Garamendi helped to author a long-awaited five-yeard highway bill, two water resource authorization bills, a rail reauthorization bill, and an aviation reauthorization bill. He is also the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, and in that capacity has worked with his Republican counterpart to pass bills that strengthen our shipping industry and improve our national security.

Congressman Garamendi has:

  • Delivered more than $5.1 million dollars in earned benefits back to 3rd District veterans.
     
  • Stopped the early deactivation of the 13th Reconnaissance Squadron and Global Hawk mission, which is stationed at Beale Air Force Base, following a clerical error by the Air Force.
     
  •  Stopped Sacramento City Unified School District from purchasing canned peaches from China in favor of American-produced produce following the District’s violation of the Buy America policies in the National School Lunch Act.
     
  • Increased the Buy America requirement for rail cars and buses purchased with federal taxpayer dollars from 60% to 70%.
     
  • Helped author and served on the Conference Committee for a Farm Bill that meets most of the needs of Northern California agriculture.
     
  •  Helped author and served on the Conference Committee for the Water Resources and Reform Development Act, which included many critical California water investments, including levee improvements in Marysville and along the Feather River.
     
  • Secured funding for the J Levee in Hamilton City in partnership with Congressman Doug LaMalfa. This levee, the first of its kind in the entire nation, is a dual-purpose flood damage reduction and ecosystem restoration project.
     
  • Secured a five-year extension of the wind and solar tax credits that promote American manufacturing of clean energy.
     
  •  Propelled the Administration to prepare a national volatility standard proposal for Bakken crude oil transported by rail, with an end goal of making the transport of these explosive materials safer.
     
  •  Helped the proposed Sites Reservoir in Colusa County clear federal hurdles in partnership with Doug LaMalfa, with a Bureau of Land Management analysis expected in 2017.
     
  • Worked with Senator Feinstein to develop and introduce legislation to meet California's long-term water infrastructure needs and to provide short-term relief to drought-impacted communities.
  • Coauthored legislation that passed the House to establish a GPS backup system known as eLoran, critical to travelers, business, national defense, and a number of infrastructure systems.
     
  • Coauthored legislation that passed the House to increase America’s icebreaker fleet, essential to maintaining geopolitical power in the Arctic as glaciers melt due to climate change.
     
  • Helped convince the U.S. Army to allow a Marysville-based Sikh man wear religious garb while serving his country.
     
  • Introduced legislation to protect Lake Tahoe through investments in wildfire treatments, projects to improve water quality, and removal of invasive species that threaten the lake.

To see a full list of Congressman Garamendi's legislative accomplishments in the 114th Congress, please click here.