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As keynote speaker of the event, Rep. Jimmy Panetta, D-Carmel Valley, thanked those sworn in for the commitment it takes to wade through the naturalization process. He also spoke of his own family’s history of immigration.

“Thank you for taking this pledge, thank you for wanting to be American and most of all, for your willingness for accepting those obligations of wanting to be American,” said Panetta, noting his grandfather’s journey to America and specifically, his arrival at Ellis Island in 1921.

Panetta also credited Cesar Chavez with helping others exercise their rights as Americans.

“The more you give, the more you get involved, the more you and your children will get back from this nation,” said Panetta. “And the more you will shape the future of their country that is for and by ‘We the people.’ ”

Congressman Jimmy Panetta provided keynote remarks and outlined the history of his own family’s history coming to the U.S. His grandfather boarded a boat with 1,800 people to sail across the Atlantic Ocean from Italy in 1921 and arrived to the Statue of Liberty on Ellis Island with $5 in his pocket.

“To me, that story is what this country is about. People like my grandfather, people like you, who were willing to take that risk to come here to better their and their childrens' life,” Panetta said.

“The fact of the matter is that the president’s order is a big step backwards in our effort to curb the effects of climate change,” said Panetta. “America could be a leader in renewable energy, and create good, sustainable jobs. Instead, politics is driving policy, and President Trump is trying to fulfill yet another harmful campaign promise. The administration needs to ... start taking steps forward to protect our coastlines, our jobs, and our future.”

U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta, D-Calif., who represents the salad bowl of the Salinas Valley, asked witnesses how to get the farm workers in his district access to the vegetables they pick. Dean suggested that those food items are “quite expensive and out of reach” for many at the current benefits level.

U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta said, "It is understandable that the AHCA was pulled from a vote on the House Floor by Speaker Paul Ryan not only because of the division in the majority, but because it was a quickly and carelessly crafted bill. I opposed this legislation because if passed, it would have taken health care away from millions, and forced families to pay more for less care."

“It is understandable that the AHCA was pulled from a vote on the House Floor by Speaker Paul Ryan not only because of the division in the majority, but because it was a quickly and carelessly crafted bill. I opposed this legislation because if passed, it would have taken health care away from millions, and forced families to pay more for less care,” said Congressman Panetta.

“I applaud Governor Perdue for recognizing the anxiety caused by our broken immigration system, and his commitment to tackling this issue once confirmed,” said Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-Carmel Valley), a member of the House Agriculture Committee. “I hope that Governor Perdue will be a strong voice for rural America and the USDA programs on which these communities depend by standing firm against the proposed 21% Agriculture budget cuts.

“We must continue to support agriculture research programs, better forest management for wildfire mitigation, and investments in rural infrastructure. I look forward to having productive conversations with him to advocate for specialty crops and organics, and to working with the USDA to support the growers, shippers, and farmworkers of the Central Coast.”