Congressman Robert Garcia, President of the Freshman Class, Statement on Appointment to House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic
Washington D.C.- Congressman Robert Garcia (CA-42) today released the following statement following the announcement that he will be serving on the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic:
“It is an honor to be appointed to the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic by Leader Jeffries. Throughout our nation, families are feeling the pain of over 1.1 million deaths due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of the lives we lost were heroic healthcare workers like my mother, Gaby Elena O’Donnell, I also lost my stepfather Greg O’Donnell, both to COVID-19. I promised my family and my community that I would fight for legislation that would protect them and keep them healthy, and I plan to do just that on this subcommittee.
“As former mayor of Long Beach, I witnessed first-hand the lifesaving precautions that allowed our city and its economy to survive the pandemic. I look forward fighting mistruths, myths and conspiracy theories while promoting scientific facts and evidence-based decision making to save lives and promote our economic recovery .” said Congressman Garcia.
Congressman Garcia forcefully spoke out yesterday on the House Floor opposing the bill to endanger venerable populations remove vaccine requirements for nurses and medical workers in hospitals and clinical settings.
Congressman Garcia immigrated to the United States as a young child and was raised in Southern California, becoming a proud U.S. citizen in his 20's. Congressman Robert Garcia is a career educator, who served two terms as the Mayor of Long Beach, California. Under Congressman Garcia's leadership, Long Beach was nationally recognized as a model city for its response to COVID-19 for containing the spread of the virus, providing a community-focused testing operation, and excelling at vaccine distribution. Garcia knows the pain the pandemic took on families, having lost his mother and stepfather to COVID.
Congressman Garcia believes in defending our democracy, leveling the playing field with progressive education policy, addressing the climate crisis, supporting working families with increasing wages, and fighting to expand and protect essential rights for women, immigrants, and the LGBTQI+ community.
###