Throughout my political career, I have always tried to work with my colleagues--no matter the party--to get things done for my constituents in San Diego. This week, however, it is hard to point to anything we did to help the American…

It pains me to see the shutdown's impact on everyday lives. While ordering coffee the other day, I asked Diona, the hardworking woman behind the counter, how she was doing that day. She confided that she had been up all night taking care…

I have spent my career in San Diego, Sacramento, and DC working with all of my colleagues--no matter the party--to get things done for my constituents in San Diego. But now sadly, I stand on this floor and watch what I consider to be the…

This shutdown has affected more than just the government. We all need to understand that. Yesterday, I learned that a veteran-owned small business in my district that contracts with the Navy has had to furlough its workers; but because…

A few weeks ago, I visited the Navy's Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command in San Diego. As I spoke with SPAWAR employees, I was proud, but not surprised, to learn that the majority of them were veterans. In fact, this happens almost…

Not only has the majority chosen to shut down vital government functions that all Americans depend on, but they have specifically and unabashedly targeted women. Some of my colleagues are willing to gamble with the livelihoods of millions…

I'm very pleased to have an opportunity to join with my colleague from Arizona, Congresswoman Sinema, to talk about the issue of veteran suicide today and to do it from a personal perspective here, as well. Daniel Somers, as the…

It's no secret that we, as a Nation, face tough choices on how to resolve our fiscal disagreements, but a government shutdown or a default is exactly the wrong answer. Every day, people all across our country figure out how to get their…

We all have extremely vivid memories of this day 12 years ago. Personally, I remember seeing the clouds of smoke from the Pentagon through my office window and the panicked feeling I had as I searched all day for my children who live in…

Last week I joined my colleagues in a bipartisan trip to New York City to celebrate America's immigrant heritage. Together, we sailed toward the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. We stared down those dark, cascading waterfalls at the…

We all agree that No Child Left Behind is outdated. A diverse coalition of education, of business, and of civil rights leaders also agree that H.R. 5 is not the right answer. H.R. 5 fails on all measures to promote educational equity…

This week, over 650,000 civilian employees of the Department of Defense are required to begin taking involuntary furlough days. Over 25,000 of these employees reside in San Diego. This represents about a 20 percent pay cut for the next 3…