John (John) Garamendi (D-08)

US Representative John Garamendi

John (John) Garamendi (D-08)
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Capitol: 202.225.1880
FAX: 202.225.5914
District: 707.438.1822
Representative
Room 2004 RHOB- Rayburn House Office Building 50 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20515-0508
420 Virginia Street
Vallejo, CA 94590
Residence:Walnut Grove, CA

Committee Assignments

RM MemberHouse Subcommittee on Readiness
Co-ChairCongressional Ethiopian American Caucus
FC MemberCongressional Defense Energy Security Caucus
FC MemberCongressional Rice Caucus
Co-ChairCongressional Mobility Air Forces Caucus
FC MemberCongressional Maritime Caucus
Co-ChairCongressional Peace Corps Caucus
Co-ChairAir Force Caucus (House)
FC MemberCongressional Public Service Loan Forgiveness Caucus (PSLF)
Co-ChairCongressional Airborne ISR Caucus
Co-ChairCongressional Directed Energy Caucus
Co-ChairNuclear Weapons and Arms Control Working Group
Co-ChairAmerican Sikh Congressional Caucus
FC MemberCongressional Anti-Bullying Caucus
FC MemberNational Heritage Area Caucus
Co-ChairUnited States Coast Guard Caucus
FC MemberFriends of Scotland Caucus
FC MemberHouse Beef Caucus
MemberHouse Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment
MemberHouse Subcommittee on Strategic Forces
MemberHouse Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation
MemberHouse Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces
MemberHouse Committee on Armed Services
FC MemberHouse Agriculture Research Caucus
FC MemberCongressional Buy American Caucus
FC MemberVeterinary Medicine Caucus
FC MemberAgriculture and Rural American Taskforce
MemberHouse Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
FC MemberCongressional Shipbuilding Caucus
FC MemberPopulist Caucus
FC MemberHouse Specialty Crops Caucus
MemberHouse Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management
MemberHouse Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government
FC MemberCongressional Caucus to End the Youth Vaping Epidemic
FC MemberCongressional Friends of Spain Caucus
FC MemberCongressional Military Families Caucus
FC MemberCongressional Organic Caucus
FC MemberUSO Caucus
FC MemberCongressional Steel Caucus
FC MemberU.S. Africa Policy Working Group
FC MemberCongressional Bipartisan Rural Health Caucus
FC MemberBlue Collar Caucus
FC MemberHouse Baltic Caucus
FC MemberCongressional Ports Opportunity, Renewal, Trade, and Security [P.O.R.T.S.] Caucus
FC MemberCongressional Safe Climate Caucus
FC MemberCongressional Wine Caucus
FC MemberCongressional Bike Caucus
MemberHouse Subcommittee on Highways and Transit
FC MemberBipartisan Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer's Disease
FC MemberHouse Small Brewers Caucus
FC MemberSustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC)
FC MemberCongressional Labor Caucus
FC MemberCongressional Progressive Caucus
FC MemberBipartisan Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus

Bio

Congressman John Garamendi is honored to represent California's Eighth Congressional District, which includes much of Contra Costa and Solano Counties. He has dedicated his life to serving the people of California and in his eighth term in the House of Representatives, he continues to advocate for working families, veterans, and Americans across the country. Garamendi was raised in Mokelumne Hill, California and earned his BA from U.C. Berkeley and MBA from Harvard Business School. After graduating, he and his wife Patti served in the Peace Corps in Ethiopia from 1966 to 1968. During their time in Ethiopia, they taught 7th and 8th graders and worked alongside local leaders to improve the resources available to community members. Their experience in the Peace Corps allowed them to form lifelong bonds and marked only the beginning of their lives dedicated to service. In 1974, Garamendi was elected to the California State Legislature, where he authored the first solar, wind, and energy conservation tax credit in the nation. He also authored the Rural Health Act of California, to ensure that underserved residents in rural communities had access to quality health care. Garamendi subsequently served four terms in the California State Senate, where he developed a state agenda to advance California's economy and facilitate scientific research at public universities. Additionally, he introduced legislation that would become California's assault weapons ban - the first of its kind in the nation and still in effect today. Today, Garamendi continues his work as an advocate for gun control and remains fervently committed to keeping Americans safe. From 1991 to 1995, and again from 2003 to 2006, Garamendi served as the California Insurance Commissioner, earning a reputation as the most effective protector of consumer interests in the nation. He successfully forced insurance companies to pay claims to policyholders and significantly curtailed insurance fraud. During his time as Insurance Commissioner, he saw firsthand how far the for-profit insurance industry will go to maximize their profits at the expense of consumers and today, Garamendi remains a consistent advocate for universal healthcare and low prescription drug prices. Appointed Deputy Secretary of the Interior in 1995 by President Clinton, Garamendi spearheaded projects to restore the environment in the San Francisco Bay, Sacramento Delta, and Sacramento and San Joaquin River basins, while also increasing California's fresh water supply. Garamendi continues to be a leading advocate for water conservation plans that will protect our natural resources for future generations. In 2007, Garamendi was elected Lieutenant Governor of California, where he served as Chairman of the State Land Commission and successfully protected California coastal beaches by preventing further offshore oil and gas development projects. Additionally, as Chairman of the California Commission for Economic Development, Garamendi strongly advocated for American workers and fought to increase education funding and decrease undergraduate tuition. Garamendi was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in a special election in 2009, where he has served ever since. Now in his eighth term, he continues to work hard for Californians and advance policies that create jobs, protect Social Security and Medicare, and reduce economic disparity. As the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness, Garamendi works to ensure current and former servicemembers are treated justly. He has enacted legislation empowering the military to combat climate change, improve health care for servicemembers, and provide greater legal recourse and care for those harmed by unhealthy conditions during military service. Garamendi consistently advocates for veterans and has supported every bill in the House designed to help veterans and their families. Since his first day in Congress, Garamendi has served on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and he continues to use his position on this committee to modernize America's infrastructure, produce millions of good-paying union jobs, and revitalize California's water resiliency efforts. With 30 years of experience in California water issues, Garamendi is a leading advocate for a comprehensive water plan that includes water recycling, conservation, and storage to help meet California's needs. While addressing national and international issues in Congress, Garamendi never loses sight of the local communities he represents. His top priority is to advocate for the people of California's Eighth Congressional District and ensure they have the funding and resources necessary to thrive. Garamendi will never stop fighting for policies that guarantee equal rights, opportunity, and justice for every member of his community. As a lifelong Californian, Garamendi continues to call Northern California home and treasures the moments spent enjoying its natural beauty, surrounded by his wife Patti and their family of six children and 14 grandchildren.

Election / Personal Info

First Elected: 2009    Next Election: 2024
Spouse: Patricia (Patti) Wilkinson   DOB: 1/24/1945
Counties Representing
Inyo
Mono
San Bernardino