Protecting Our Check and Balances

LISTEN TO REP. JIMMY PANETTA'S LATEST TOWN HALL ON THE PARTISAN RECONCILIATION BILL: HERE

Defending Our Democracy, Reining in Executive Overreach

From day one of this Administration, I’ve said that America’s system of checks and balances must flex its muscles. The courts don’t act as fast as the executive branch, but they continue to be the bulwark against the Administration’s overreach and violations of our Constitution. And in Congress, we’re doing our part.

As a proud member of the House Rapid Response Task Force and the Litigation Working Group, I’ve helped lead an unprecedented all-hands-on-deck approach to push back against the litany of executive orders and agency actions through legal action. Thanks to our collective work, courts have issued more than 74 rulings to rein in the Administration. That’s real progress—but there’s still much more to do.

Tariffs: A Wake-Up Call for Congressional Power

One of the clearest and most damaging examples of executive overreach has been the Administration’s abuse of tariff authority. This week, the White House announced a sweeping new round of tariffs on more than 100 countries, including close allies like the EU, Japan, and Canada. These actions represent the highest average tariff rates since World War II—and they’re already threatening the financial stability of working families and our economy.

The stock market recently saw its worst single-day decline since March 2020, erasing more than $3.1 trillion in value. Behind those headlines are real consequences: lost savings, higher prices, and fewer job opportunities for Americans across the country.

Let’s be clear: tariffs are taxes—taxes paid by Americans. They increase prices on everything from groceries to gas, cars to clothing. For families in California’s 19th District, that means higher costs at checkout and lower confidence in their financial future.

The Administration’s erratic trade policy is projected to cost American households nearly $3,800 a year and shrink GDP growth by nearly a full percentage point. That’s why I’ve introduced the Reclaim Trade Powers Act, a bill to restore Congress’s authority over trade and prevent any president—Democrat or Republican—from imposing these kinds of economic burdens without accountability.

📺 Click here to watch my press conference on the Reclaim Trade Powers Act

Reasserting Congressional Authority

Over the past few decades, Congress has ceded too much of its constitutional power to the executive branch—on trade, commerce, agency oversight, and even war powers. This Administration’s overreach should be a wake-up call for Democrats and Republicans alike: it’s time to take that power back.

That’s why I’ve not only introduced the Reclaim Trade Powers Act, but also joined my colleagues on the Ways and Means Committee to put forward a broader package of reforms that will:

End the use of emergency authorities to unilaterally impose tariffs;
Repeal outdated trade tools like Section 338;
Require Congressional approval for major new tariffs;
Reverse harmful tariffs already imposed on key allies like Canada and Mexico.

These are common-sense steps to ensure that American trade policy is made through democratic processes—not cable news clips or political score-settling.

Local Impact and Community Voices

I recently held a roundtable with small business owners from across California’s 19th District. From housing developers to grocers, I heard firsthand how this Administration’s trade chaos is disrupting supply chains, increasing costs, and forcing painful decisions about layoffs and closures. These stories underscore what we already know: executive overreach doesn’t just undermine democracy—it hurts people.

Whether at the 15 town halls I’ve held across the district or the 16 community stakeholder sessions we’ve convened to understand the harm this Administration is causing, your voices continue to shape my work in Washington. Now more than ever, we must communicate, connect, and collaborate.

Legislative Action and Oversight

Although the President has shown little interest in working with Congress on long-term solutions, I remain committed to checking his actions, investigating abuses of power, and fighting for my constituents. Alongside my colleagues, I’ve helped lead over 50 Congressional investigations into the Administration’s actions—from the mismanagement of federal agencies to the targeting of vulnerable communities.

I’ve authored, introduced, and supported legislation to block the worst abuses and reassert Congressional authority, including:

Preventing presidential abuse of tariffs: Reclaim Trade Powers Act
Protecting taxpayer data and privacy: Taxpayer Data Protection Act, CLEAR Act, Ending DOGE Conflicts Act
Defending national security and alliances: NATO Edge Act
Preserving the Social Security Administration: Keeping Our Field Offices Open Act, Protecting Beneficiary Data Act
Upholding civil rights and health care access: NO BAN Act, Protecting Sensitive Locations Act, Right to Contraception Act, Ensuring Military Readiness Not Discrimination Act

Standing Up and Showing Up

Ultimately, our democracy isn’t about one person, one court, or one legislative body. It’s about the power of the American people—and the institutions we’ve built to protect our rights and freedoms. I’m proud that in these first 100 days of this Administration, our community has made its voice loud and clear.

And I’ll keep showing up, listening up, and standing up for you—every single day.

The President’s first 100 days won’t matter nearly as much as the 1,360 days that follow. That’s why our system of checks and balances must remain strong, and why we—the people—must remain united in defending our shared democratic values.

Resources for Federal Workers

President Donald Trump and his advisors, including Elon Musk, have launched an aggressive and sweeping campaign to undermine the hardworking Americans of our federal workforce. These actions not only take away jobs for working families, but they also threaten the federal services that many Americans rely on for their deserved and earned benefits, like Social Security, Medicare, veterans' benefits, and countless other critical programs.

I am committed to protecting opportunities for working families and federal services for my constituents in California’s 19th Congressional District. I not only oppose these moves by this Administration but will continue to fight back against their unreasonable efforts to push out dedicated public servants whose work benefits all Americans.

California’s 19th Congressional District is home to more than 7,000 dedicated federal employees. These public servants are our neighbors, friends, and family members who work tirelessly at our military installations, in our national forests, with the Coast Guard, and for many other federal agencies in our communities.

If you are impacted by this Administration’s policies, I would like to hear from you. Please share your story and help me advocate for you by clicking HERE.

If you are a federal employee facing uncertainty or wrongful termination, know your rights. You may wish to contact your union or the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) for guidance on appeals, grievances, and protections against unfair employment practices.

If you are a federal employee whose employment has been impacted by the Administration’s actions, I wanted to share the following resources with you:

Apply for Unemployment Benefits: Federal workers can apply for Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE), which is administered by the states. File in the state where your last official duty station was located. Residents of California’s 19th Congressional District can file for benefits: HERE.
Financial Assistance: If you are struggling with housing or utility bills, California has a number of resources for families. The state’s Legal Help FAQs list common answers to eviction and landlord-tenant problems. LawHelpCA.org offers answers to general questions about evictions and your rights as a tenant in California. The California Courts Self-Help Resources page provides general information on evictions, including mediation. If you need rental assistance, a local HUD Approved Housing Counseling Agency can offer advice customized to your housing needs. Search online for a HUD Approved Housing Counselor near you or call (800) 569-4287. Additional utilities and community assistance can be found HERE.
Apply for Food Assistance: If you need assistance putting healthy and nutritious food on the table during this time, you can apply for CalFresh Benefits: HERE.
Student Loan Relief: Contact your loan servicer for deferment, forbearance, or income-driven repayment plans.
Health Insurance Options: Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) extends coverage for 31 days post-separation at no cost. You may apply for Temporary Continuation of Coverage (TCC) for an additional 18 months.
Utilize Confidential Government Whistleblower Protections: If you are a government employee with information related to the politicization of the federal workforce, the firing of civil servants, and waste, fraud, or abuse of taxpayer dollars, you may reach out anonymously to the Democrats on the House Oversight Committee.
Mental Health Support: Losing a job is stressful. Support is available at 988lifeline.org.