Press Releases

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Jimmy Panetta (CA-20), a member of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, released the following statement after the House passed H.R. 8, the bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019.

"The vote and passage of the Bipartisan Background Checks Act is the first major action on gun violence by the House of Representatives in more than two decades. The expansion of background checks for all sales and transfers of firearms is an important step toward the necessary reduction of gun violence across our nation."

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Jimmy Panetta (CA-20) released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed a joint resolution to terminate the National Emergency Declaration at the U.S.-Mexico border by President Donald Trump.

"Today, the House voted to nullify the President's declaration of a fictitious emergency at our nation's southern border. As set out in the National Emergencies Act (NEA), the President has the power to declare an emergency, but he cannot contrive the emergency in order to circumvent Congress and our constitution.

SALINAS, CA – Congressman Jimmy Panetta (CA-20) released the following statement about his co-sponsorship of the joint resolution to terminate the National Emergency Declaration at the U.S.-Mexico border by President Donald Trump.

"This joint resolution is necessary to nullify the President's declaration of a fictitious emergency at our nation's southern border. As set out in the National Emergencies Act (NEA), the President has the power to declare an emergency, but he cannot contrive the emergency in order to circumvent Congress and our constitution.

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.) announced today that he has been appointed to serve as an Assistant Whip for the 116th Congress.

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressional leadership has appointed Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.) to serve on three committees during the 116th Congress. He will serve on the House Ways and Means Committee and its Trade Subcommittee. Congressman Panetta was also selected as one of three Ways and Means Committee members to serve on the Budget Committee.

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-20), joined Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-CA-01) in introducing the Honoring Veterans' Families Act. The bipartisan legislation allows the spouse and dependent children of a veteran to be included on the veteran's grave marker upon their death. Due to a flaw in current law, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) cannot include almost any information about the spouse or dependent children of a veteran on a VA-provided tombstone.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. House of Representatives on Friday overwhelmingly passed the Veterans' Access to Child Care Act, H.R. 840, to break down barriers for veterans to access healthcare. This legislation will make permanent the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Child Care Pilot Program and expand it so that veterans across the nation who are parents, grandparents, or other caretakers of young children have a convenient, cost-free child care option when they have VA medical appointments.

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), Congressman Van Taylor (R-TX), Congressman Dan Crenshaw (R-TX), and Congresswoman Elaine Luria (D-VA) introduced the Full Military Honors Act. The legislation provides a full military honors ceremony – including funeral escort honor platoon, military band, firing party, and horse-drawn caisson – to Medal of Honor recipients and Prisoners Of War eligible for burial at Arlington National Cemetery.