Jimmy Gomez was recently elected to serve in Congress as part of the U.S. House of Representatives, serving California’s 34th District.
Previously, he served as a California State Assemblymember for four and half years.
Gomez has been supportive of progressive values within California, and hopes to take that experience to the federal level.
He went to college at UCLA, and then earned his Master’s degree in Public Policy at Harvard. He lives in Eagle Rock in L.A. and is an avid Dodgers fan.
We recently interviewed him about his new job and the ideas he’s bringing to Congress.
Q: What's the number one lesson you've learned since getting to Washington, and what do you hope to bring to your new position as a U.S. Representative?
Gomez:One the biggest lessons I've learned in Washington is that we live in a very diverse country and that there are a lot of diverse Representatives. I represent one of the most progressive districts in the nation, and I want others to see what we've done
here for working families, immigrants, and the environment. I want to see how it can
be done in the rest of the country. It's going to take some creativity to try to get
people to not shut down, but I want to push for what we believe in Los Angeles, here
in Washington D.C.
Q: What did you learn as a California Assembly member that you are carrying with you to the national legislature?
Gomez: In the national legislature, it's all about learning the unspoken rules of the
legislative body. It's about trying to push the envelope and having bold ideas, and
trying to do things different through policy and politics. The work I did in the
Assembly regarding paid family leave, the environment, and workers’ rights are all
at the forefront of my agenda. I plan to bring the work I've done in these areas to
the federal level.
Q: Which committees are you on or do you hope to join? How do you plan to focus your energy this year? What are your top priorities for your constituency?
Gomez: I am proud to serve on the powerful House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and the House Natural Resources Committee. As a member of the Oversight Committee, the main investigative committee in the U.S. House of Representatives, I will use all measures available to investigate misconduct, conflicts of interest, and corruption across the Trump administration. I have introduced the Bribe Act, which fights corruption and foreign influence over our government. I've also been an outspoken advocate for an accurate and complete 2020 Census. Too much is at stake for California to sit on the sidelines.
As a member of the Natural Resources Committee, I am committed to fighting for our shared environmental values. Californians know all too well the risks that offshore drilling poses to our economy, public health, and marine life. I will also use my role to support my multi-year efforts to revitalize the Los Angeles River. We are at a critical moment where we can sustainably transform the river from a concrete canal back into a place of community and ecological restoration.
Q: Is there a bill you wish more of your constituents knew about?
Gomez:Generations of valiant men and women have put their lives on the line to ensure the safety of our nation and to defend the rights and freedoms that define what it means to be American. While we may never be able to truly repay the debt owed to these courageous warriors, we must continue to ensure that, upon their return, our
veterans are given the care they deserve and are successfully transitioned back into
civilian life. My bill, the Wage Adjustment for Veterans Enrolled in School (WAVES)
Act, would provide student veterans in Los Angeles and across the nation the
opportunity to earn an education and put money in their pockets to meet the needs of
their families. It's our responsibility as Members of Congress, regardless of party
lines, to unite around legislation that reflects our duty to help veterans.
Q: The nation is so deeply divided right now — both across our communities, and in our government — how do you hope to address that in the House of Representatives? Do you have strategies to find common ground?
Gomez:In order to address that deep divide, we need to focus on the problem, how that problem impacts all communities, and how that problem can be solved for everyone. I know it might come to as a surprise to see a working-class progressive from Los Angeles and a conservative member from North Carolina work together to introduce
bipartisan legislation, but I sincerely hope that the rest of Congress can work as
well as I have with Congresswoman Virginia Foxx. That's how we're going to solve the
problems facing working families across the country. Last year we introduced the
Great Act, a simple bill that makes the federal grant reporting process more easily
available, accessible, and transparent. The bill was reported out of committee and
is now awaiting consideration on the House floor.
Q: What do you wish your constituents would do to get more involved? What are some effective ways your constituents can communicate their concerns to you?
Gomez:I encourage all of my constituents to organize, stay loud and engaged, and mobilize at the grassroots level for issues that are important to them. I am proud of our
student leaders fighting for more gun control, they are a great example of what we
should all aspire to be. To make your voice heard on the issues you care about, I
encourage you to call my Washington, DC office at (202) 225-6235. If you would like
to receive periodic updates from me, follow us on Facebook at /RepJimmyGomez as well as Twitter @RepJimmyGomez, and sign up for my e-alert on my website!
Q: In terms of issues facing the nation, what concerns you most?
Gomez: America has always been and will continue to be the land of opportunity. For
everyone. Unfortunately, too many working families in Los Angeles and across our
nation are living paycheck to paycheck, don't have access to quality healthcare, and
lack affordable housing. And between the reckless GOP tax bill and efforts to repeal
the Affordable Care Act (ACA), it's no surprise that the American people's
frustrations with Congress are at an all-time high. We cannot lose sight of the
American Dream. We cannot forget that we live in a land where the son of a bracero
and a nursing home laundry attendant can grow up to be a Member of Congress. We must continue to fight for equal opportunity for all.