Political Quotes

On the recordApril 2, 2019
As I often do these Special Order hours here on the floor, I want to start by stating the fundamental reason I am here and my Democratic colleagues are here. I harken back to a very famous American, Franklin Delano Roosevelt. This is actually etched in stone down at his memorial on the other end of the plaza here. He said: ``The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little.'' That ``we provide enough for those who have too little,'' a fundamental value, a fundamental statement of purpose, a fundamental statement of why we seek elective office, not to provide more for those who have much, but, rather, for those who have too little. In that regard, Mr. Speaker, I do not understand why a man who says he has much would purposely set out to harm those who have too little. Why, Mr. Speaker, would the President of the United States put in place a policy to take healthcare away from Americans? Obviously, he has much, or at least he says he does. But millions of Americans rely upon the Affordable Care Act for their insurance, for their health insurance, literally for their ability to stay alive. Why would the President of the United States ask the court to repeal, to find unconstitutional, the Affordable Care Act that has provided insurance coverage to more than 20 million Americans and healthcare benefits to millions upon millions more?…
Said by
John Garamendi
Democratic · California

Share

More from John Garamendi

Jun 11, 2026

Californians do not want oil production restarting along their coasts and have voted repeatedly for California laws that block coastal oil production.

garamendi.house.gov
Jun 11, 2026

We urge you to pause and consider the long-term legal and financial ramifications of collaborating with the Trump administration to circumvent California law.

garamendi.house.gov
Jun 18, 2026

This is unacceptable. Before you spend one more taxpayer dollar on Golden Dome, DOD must share its plans and goals for the system.

garamendi.house.gov
Jun 28, 2026

This bill, like nearly all of the Trump and Republican agenda, does nothing to make Americans’ financial situation better.

garamendi.house.gov

Other voices in this conversation