Rep. Robert Garcia champions bipartisan legislation in Congress

Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., is seen outside the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, December 18, 2024. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Long Beach, has achieved a rare feat in today’s polarized political environment, successfully championing two bipartisan bills during a congressional term marked by low productivity.

Last week, President Joe Biden signed the Eliminate Useless Reports Act into law, the second piece of legislation authored by Garcia to be enacted during the 118th Congress. This Congress, often criticized for its inefficiency, has passed fewer than 160 laws over two years.

The Eliminate Useless Reports Act aims to increase government efficiency by eliminating redundant federal agency reporting requirements to Congress. Supporters argue that the legislation will save taxpayer money and allow agencies to focus more on their core missions.

Garcia’s earlier bipartisan legislative success, the GAO Inspector General Parity Act, was signed into law by President Biden on Nov. 25. This law enhances the independence of the Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) Inspector General by providing it with an independent general counsel and allowing direct communication with Congress regarding budget requests.

Proponents believe these changes will help the GAO more effectively address government inefficiencies and misconduct.

Garcia’s ability to secure bipartisan support for these bills stands out in a divided Congress. In an interview, he reflected on the challenges and strategies of working across the aisle.


Question:
The Democratic and Republican parties seem to be so far apart in terms of ideology and how to best move the country forward. Do you have reservations working with Republicans in Washington, D.C.?

Answer: “I think any time Republicans and Democrats can work together toward common-sense legislation to save taxpayer money, I think we should. At the same time, I think it’s important we stand up for our values. If it’s going to be about attacking women’s rights or the dignity of LGBTQ+ people, obviously we’re going to push back on those issues. There’s little room to compromise with the human rights and civil rights of people. I think there are places to work together, and there are smart ways to make government more efficient.”


Garcia attributes his ability to find bipartisan solutions to his experience as mayor of Long Beach, a role he describes as inherently nonpartisan.

Q: How did you secure bipartisan support for your two bills?

A: “A lot of it is just my experience as mayor. When you’re mayor of a city, you’re being bipartisan all the time. It’s a nonpartisan job. Obviously, there are some extremes in D.C. that don’t want to work on anything positive, but I think there are folks that are willing to work together on things to make government better, and these are two really common-sense bills.”


Garcia acknowledges the limitations of bipartisanship, particularly on issues where core values are at stake.

Q: Are you optimistic that Congress can work together in other areas?

A: “I’m always optimistic there are areas where we can all work together. I just think it’s important also that we don’t compromise our values. At the end of the day, if folks want to cut Medicare or Social Security, those are things that we’re going to fight. There’s no room to cut benefits for our seniors or people depending on Social Security. But if there are other bipartisan areas, we can look at those. I’ll give you an example. There was a bipartisan effort last year on border security. If there’s a bipartisan package that strengthens the border while also ensuring we have a humane process and we’re working towards providing visas and opportunities on pathways to work permits, that’s something that could be nonpartisan.”


Looking ahead to 2025, Garcia remains cautious yet hopeful.

Q: How are you feeling heading into 2025?

A: “I hope that the economy continues to improve. I hope that the country continues to move forward in a way that is hopefully more united. Obviously, like a lot of folks, I’m concerned about what a Trump presidency could look like for public benefits like Social Security and Medicare. But we will wait and see. I’m going to continue to be proud to represent Downey in Congress and try to find bipartisan solutions when possible but also stand up for what I think are the values of the community.”

NewsEric Pierce