Mark DeSaulnier
Representative for California · Democratic · United States
“My home State of California understands these costs, unfortunately, all too well. We face wildfires, floods, severe storms, droughts, earthquakes. Mr. Speaker, 18 of California's 20 most destructive wildfires have occurred since 2000.”
House of Representatives16 September 2026Source ↗
“The President also routinely threatened the press, referring to them as ``the enemy of the people'' and suggesting that broadcasting licenses for news networks be stripped. He has attacked Federal judges individually. He has attacked registered voters. Just yesterday, he attacked the U.S.”
House of Representatives16 September 2026Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, I thank both the chair of the subcommittee and the ranking member for their work on this bill. I am proud to be here in support of the Perry initiative. I also want to congratulate all the staff members, as the full chair congratulated them, for their service. When disaster strikes, Americans come together.”
House of Representatives16 September 2026Source ↗
“More than a year and a half after the devastating Los Angeles wildfires, communities are still waiting for additional long-term Federal recovery funding to rebuild homes, schools, businesses, and critical infrastructure.”
House of Representatives16 September 2026Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the President's numerous abuses of power. Just 5 days into his second term, the President fired inspectors general across 17 Federal agencies. These officials are tasked with conducting independent oversight to fight waste, fraud, and abuse, and have been respected in a bipartisan way for years.”
House of Representatives16 September 2026Source ↗
“Here are just a few examples of this administration taking money, stealing money from Americans' pocketbooks: During the President's first term, he charged Secret Service 300 percent or more above the allowable rates to stay at his hotels while on duty.”
House of Representatives3 September 2026Source ↗
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“The President also routinely threatened the press, referring to them as ``the enemy of the people'' and suggesting that broadcasting licenses for news networks be stripped. He has attacked Federal judges individually. He has attacked registered voters. Just yesterday, he attacked the U.S. Supreme Court and his own nominees for standing up and defending the integrity of individual Americans' right to cast a vote. The institutions he has attacked are enshrined in law and in the culture and the spirit of the United States, respectively to promote transparency, accountability in government, trust in these institutions, and in a democracy. To undermine them in the way he has is to undermine American democracy. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in condemning these grave abuses of power. ____________________”
House of Representatives16 September 2026Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the President's numerous abuses of power. Just 5 days into his second term, the President fired inspectors general across 17 Federal agencies. These officials are tasked with conducting independent oversight to fight waste, fraud, and abuse, and have been respected in a bipartisan way for years.”
House of Representatives16 September 2026Source ↗
“More than a year and a half after the devastating Los Angeles wildfires, communities are still waiting for additional long-term Federal recovery funding to rebuild homes, schools, businesses, and critical infrastructure. Regardless of who occupies the White House, no community should have to wonder whether its politics will affect the Federal Government's response when disaster strikes. That is why H.R. 1342 is important. It makes it clear that political affiliation cannot be a basis for discrimination in the delivery of Federal disaster assistance. Disaster relief should be based on need, not politics. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.”
House of Representatives16 September 2026Source ↗
“My home State of California understands these costs, unfortunately, all too well. We face wildfires, floods, severe storms, droughts, earthquakes. Mr. Speaker, 18 of California's 20 most destructive wildfires have occurred since 2000. Yet, at a time when communities increasingly need Federal assistance, we have seen troubling disparities, that have just been talked about by the ranking member and the chair. An analysis of FEMA data found that, during Trump's second term, 80 percent of disaster requests from Republican Governors have been approved, compared with only 60 percent from Democratic Governors. That is from FEMA. States that supported President Trump in 2024 have had more than three-quarters of their requests approved, compared with less than half for States that did not. California has experienced this uncertainty.”
House of Representatives16 September 2026Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, I thank both the chair of the subcommittee and the ranking member for their work on this bill. I am proud to be here in support of the Perry initiative. I also want to congratulate all the staff members, as the full chair congratulated them, for their service. When disaster strikes, Americans come together. Americans should be able to count on their government and their Federal Government, regardless of their political affiliations or the politics of the State they call home. That principle is increasingly important as natural disasters become more frequent and costly. From 2020 through 2024, the United States experienced an average of 23 billion-dollar weather and climate disasters every year, more than 2\1/2\ times the annual average since 1980.”
House of Representatives16 September 2026Source ↗
“The silence by my Republican colleagues on this issue is deafening.”
House of Representatives3 September 2026Source ↗
“Here are just a few examples of this administration taking money, stealing money from Americans' pocketbooks: During the President's first term, he charged Secret Service 300 percent or more above the allowable rates to stay at his hotels while on duty. On his watch, the Department of Homeland Security spent 70 million taxpayer dollars on a luxury jet, and the President is converting a gifted Qatar Boeing 747 to use as Air Force One and plans to keep the plane after he leaves office for his personal use. A yet unknown amount of money has been spent renaming Federal buildings and putting the President's name and face on banners, money, park passes, passports, visas, and more. This is not patriotism, my colleagues. It is vanity. It is corruption, and we should all be outraged.”
House of Representatives3 September 2026Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my continued outrage over this administration's abuse of taxpayer funds at the very time that Americans are struggling to pay their own bills.”
House of Representatives3 September 2026Source ↗
“Returning to the bay area after his military service, Kent became an early provider of HIV care during the AIDS epidemic and established social services for patients, deeply connected to his patients. Kent's commitment to social justice led him to leadership roles in the Bay Area Physicians for Human Rights and the Rainbow Community Center in Concord, California. Kent will be remembered for his compassion and his commitment to equality. Please join me in honoring this great American and a dear friend, Dr. Sack, for his life of service to our community and our country. ____________________”
House of Representatives2 September 2026Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a friend and a local hero in the San Francisco Bay Area, Dr. Kent Lee Sack, who sadly passed away in June. Dr. Sack, after completing a family medicine residency at the Contra Costa Regional Medical Center, was drafted into the Navy after his residency, where he served as a Marine Corps surgeon in combat in Vietnam.”
House of Representatives2 September 2026Source ↗
“This contempt resolution is meant to demonstrate to witnesses before the committee that obstructive conduct has consequences, and the committee will vigorously use all the tools at its disposal to thoroughly and swiftly investigate allegations of misconduct. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.”
House of Representatives1 September 2026Source ↗
“Despite his later claims that he affirmatively reached out to the committee after he was contacted about his noncompliance, Mr. Roos never communicated to an email address belonging to any staff, and he failed to respond to numerous emails and phone calls at the points of contact where he claims to have been reachable. The bipartisan subcommittee unanimously found, and the full committee agreed, that his conduct unnecessarily and significantly delayed the committee's investigation and was thus worthy of a referral for criminal contempt proceedings. Compliance with the Ethics Committee subpoenas is not optional, as I have said before.”
House of Representatives1 September 2026Source ↗
“The effectiveness of the committee's oversight hinges on the expectation that subpoenas cannot and will not be ignored. This contempt resolution is not intended to be a punitive measure. It is a deterrent to future noncompliance and obstructive conduct by witnesses in future investigations. With this resolution, we can establish a clear and necessary boundary for future witnesses. If you are subpoenaed by the committee, you cannot simply decide that compliance is optional. By demonstrating that noncompliance has consequences, this resolution will empower the Ethics Committee in its continued efforts to uphold civic confidence and the integrity of this body. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. {time} 1520”
House of Representatives1 September 2026Source ↗
“To deliver that accountability, to defend the integrity of this institution, and to affirm that every congressional employee deserves a safe and respectful workplace free from sexual harassment, I would urge my colleagues to support this resolution. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chair of the committee one more time for his work on this matter.”
House of Representatives1 September 2026Source ↗
“Whether or not he occasionally gave gifts to, or received them from, other staff is irrelevant to how he treated these two women, who felt his behavior was uncomfortable and unwanted. Representative Edwards may not have made physical advances or explicit propositions, but sexual harassment does not require either. His conduct was inappropriate, unwelcome, and, most importantly, created a hostile work environment. As a result, the House of Representatives lost two staffers, and, for that, I believe he should be censured. In the House, censure is not simply a punishment directed at an individual Member. It is a collective statement by this institution that we will and will not tolerate certain behaviors. Today, with this censure resolution, we can make our standard clear. Professional boundaries must be respected.”
House of Representatives1 September 2026Source ↗
“They are part of sustained, unprofessional, and inappropriate conduct by Representative Edwards toward two young women he employed. Neither individual felt free to reject Representative Edwards' attention without fear of professional consequences. Despite attempts to communicate their discomfort, his behavior continued, and both ultimately left their congressional employment. One woman told the committee that she felt she could not resist Representative Edwards because she ``did not think having a Member of Congress against me would benefit my career.'' This statement gets to the heart of the matter--the power and balance between Members of Congress and their staff. Representative Edwards' interpretation of his own conduct does not change how the women experienced it.”
House of Representatives1 September 2026Source ↗
“Unfortunately, Representative Edwards, in my opinion, failed that standard. For more than 2 years, Representative Edwards lavished two of his female staffers with gifts of jewelry, designer purses, shoes, flowers, gifts, and vacations, to name just a few examples. He commented on their appearance and dress in their congressional office, remarking favorably on their weight and telling them they looked pretty and breathtaking in certain clothing. He invited them on intimate one-on-one outings and trips to restaurants, casinos, and live performances. He sent them personal texts late at night and wrote them deeply personal letters and poems expressing his affection. He even skipped a vote series to decorate a Christmas tree at one of the staffer's homes. These are not innocuous, isolated incidences.”
House of Representatives1 September 2026Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, I will start by thanking the chairman, whom I have great respect for, and our collegiality is focused on enforcing the rules of this body. I also thank all of the committee members, who were thoughtful and bipartisan on this particular subject matter, and all of the things that come before the Ethics Committee. I also thank our nonpartisan, professional committee staff for their tireless efforts and devoted service to this House and this country. Our committee's investigation of Representative Edwards' conduct spanned 4 months and included interviews of 16 individuals and a review of nearly 1,500 pages of documents. Our subsequent censure recommendation reflects our bipartisan and unwavering commitment to a congressional workplace free of sexual harassment and discrimination.”
House of Representatives1 September 2026Source ↗
“She also volunteered with the Cancer Support Community in the San Francisco Bay Area for over 20 years, ultimately serving as the board chair of the San Francisco Bay Area chapter. Thanks to her leadership in the cancer community, the chapter now supports over 100 families each year. Sadly, Sue passed away last month at the age of 86, a remarkable life of 86 years. She will be fondly remembered for her commitment to our community, for bettering the lives of thousands of people. Please join me in honoring the life and service of my friend, Sue Rainey. ____________________”
House of Representatives23 July 2026Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life and service of Sue Rainey, a remarkable public servant in the San Francisco Bay Area. Sue served as the mayor of Moraga, California, in the late 1970s and later as the mayor of Walnut Creek, California, from 2001 to 2010, where she worked diligently to develop that city into the business, retail, and arts hub that it is today.”
House of Representatives23 July 2026Source ↗
“In 2024, 1.63 million middle and high school students in America used e-cigarettes, and nearly 90 percent of them used flavored products. The tobacco industry is openly paying bribes to advance policies that will get the next generation of young people hooked on nicotine. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in condemning this blatant, pay-for-play corruption and the harm it will inflict to generations of young Americans. ____________________”
House of Representatives16 July 2026Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my outrage about recent FDA regulatory actions on e-cigarettes. On April 30, Reynolds American donated $5 million to MAGA Inc., a Trump-backed super-PAC. In the following 8 days, the President dined with top tobacco executives, and the FDA issued guidance making it easier for tobacco companies to sell flavored e-cigarettes.”
House of Representatives16 July 2026Source ↗
“This week's attempt to advance these CRAs anyway is blatantly illegal. On top of that, these CRAs are another unfounded attempt to limit States from having the choice to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality and their public health. It doesn't mandate any other States to do that. States can choose to join California under the Clean Air Act. I proudly served on the California Air Resources Board under three Governors, including two Republicans and one Democrat, and I have seen firsthand the benefits of curbing emissions, both for the economy and public health. There is a reason why California is the fourth largest economy in the world and has three times the amount of patents than any other State, that State being Texas.”
House of Representatives29 April 2025Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this rule and the resolutions it advances. Texas is allowed to do what it would like to do. California does not mandate Texas' decisionmaking. We want to make our own decisions. Under the U.S. Clean Air Act, signed by President Richard Nixon, we did that, and we have been leaders since he signed it. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to specifically three Congressional Review Act resolutions that are in this rule that illegally take aim at California's legal ability to implement more stringent emission standards under waiver from the Clean Air Act. In the last 2 months, the Senate Parliamentarian and the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office affirmed that California's Clean Air Act waiver is not subject to the Congressional Review Act.”
House of Representatives29 April 2025Source ↗
“This President has cut public servants at the Department of Education. Mr. Speaker, 1,315 workers were fired, 572 accepted voluntary separation packages, and 63 probationary workers were terminated. Programs for students with disabilities were moved to the Department of Health and Human Services where 20,000 public servants were cut in January. There are approximately 7.5 million special needs kids in this country protected by IDEA in the Department of Education. They rely on the public servants who were just fired and eliminated. The number of students served by IDEA has grown by over 1 million in the last decade. The administration has gutted the Office of Civil Rights which protects these students with disabilities from discrimination. This is outrageous. ____________________”
House of Representatives9 April 2025Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, President Gerald Ford had a vision. He signed the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to protect the most vulnerable amongst us: special needs kids. One of the most cruel things I have seen in my time in Congress and with this administration is the attack on the public servants who promote and have never had the resources to really protect special needs kids.”
House of Representatives9 April 2025Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Reverend Phil Lawson, a civil rights leader, pastor, tireless advocate for social justice, mentor, and friend. From a young age, Reverend Lawson committed himself to faith and peace, studying nonviolent direct action under the leadership of Bayard Rustin.”
House of Representatives11 March 2025Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, immediately after taking office, the current President granted sweeping pardons and commutations to over 1,500 insurrectionists who stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021. At least 174 police officers were injured while protecting the Capitol that day, and 5 officers who responded later died.”
House of Representatives12 February 2025Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call attention to the continued suffering and amazing destruction caused by wildfires in southern California and the critical need for this body and for the President to aid those Americans affected by this natural disaster. Over 16,000 homes and structures were destroyed in the L.A. fires, and at one point, 200,000 residents were under evacuation orders.”
House of Representatives11 February 2025Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Brother Ronald Gallagher who passed away earlier this month after a distinguished life of service to Lasallian education. Brother Ron was a son of California. He took his final vows in 1972 and went on to earn his Ph.D. in comparative literature. He began teaching at the high school level before joining the faculty at Saint Mary's College of California in the early 1980s.”
House of Representatives23 January 2025Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life of Sandra Mae King Hall. Sandra was born in Fresno, California. After graduating from San Joaquin Memorial High School, she pursued a career in real estate investment, property management, and newspaper distribution. Sandra played a critical role in protecting local journalism with her husband, Frank Hall.”
House of Representatives9 January 2025Source ↗