West SGV News

LA PUENTE, CA – On July 8, 2023, Congresswoman Grace F. Napolitano (D-El Monte) announced that she will retire from Congress at the end of this term, issuing the following statement:

"For 25 years in the United States Congress, I have represented the city of La Puente. This is the only city I have represented for all of those years. That is why it is fitting that I here today announce that at the end of this term in 2024, I will be retiring from the United States Congress.

"I am incredibly grateful for the people of the San Gabriel Valley and the people of Southeastern Los Angeles County for the trust they have bestowed in me to represent them for a quarter century.  I have lived in this community since I moved to Norwalk, California in 1960.  I have seen our region grow with ingenuity that has built some of America’s greatest businesses, and the desire for residents to live in a kind, picturesque, and family-friendly community that has made millions of people move here, build homes, and have their own piece of the American dream. 

"I am proud of the work we have done together that has improved this community. I have served as a senior member of the Transportation Committee in Congress and we have built over 20 highway-rail grade separation projects and 40 grade crossing improvement projects to remove highway-rail crossing hazards, and improve the speed and safety of the commute to work, to school, and to commerce.

"We have built both ends of the Gold Line, connecting the San Gabriel Valley and East Los Angeles to the rest of Los Angeles County. We have dramatically improved bus service with new and safer natural gas, electric, and fuel cell buses for Foothill Transit, LA Metro, and our local transit agencies. As a former mayor, I am most proud of the everyday investments we have made in fixing potholes and improving the local roads, bikeways, and trails for our residents and businesses.

"I am also proud to be the Founder and Co-Chair of the Mental Health Caucus in Congress. When I came to the federal government, mental health issues were not spoken of, families kept them secret, and internal turmoil simmered in our children, parents, and adults. I am very glad to say we have reduced the stigma of mental health, locally and nationally. We have made it acceptable for people to talk about their mental health and get treatment. We have improved access to mental health in schools by putting clinicians in our elementary, middle, and high schools and colleges, to focus on our future leaders and help them succeed by addressing their underlying anxieties, prior to and in the wake of the global pandemic. We have created parity with physical and mental health care so that an insurance company can no longer deny a patient’s need for mental health services. 

"As a senior leader on water issues in both the Transportation and Infrastructure and Natural Resources Committees, we have made incredible improvements on water policy and water investments. We have recognized that the way of the future is in groundwater storage, using the incredible aquifer we have in the San Gabriel Valley, cleaning up contamination, and improving groundwater storage operations so that our residents do not depend on imported waters.

"We have also greatly expanded our water recycling capabilities, making improvements not only in our community but around the country because of the early work on water recycling that leaders at the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts did over 60 years ago. When we started the Title XVI water recycling program in Congress, it received around $10 million a year for 17 western states; now water recycling is receiving approximately $250 million a year. Much of that money is coming back to improve the water recycling capabilities here in Los Angeles County. We have improved water capture at our local dams, such as Whittier Narrows and Santa Fe. We have invested in dam safety improvements and maintenance of our flood basins. And we have supported local control of critical water infrastructure facilities.

"As the Founder and Co-Chair of the National Guard Youth Challenge Caucus we have worked to increase funding to Sunburst Youth Academy and are working to open a fourth California program in Riverside. Youth Challenge Programs have been ranked by the Rand Corporation as the most effective in the country at assisting at-risk youth with high school education and workforce development. We have been able to support hundreds of thousands of kids by turning their lives around and getting them on the right track for college and gainful employment.

"As the former Chair and a long-time member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, I am proud of the positive impact we have made for our community here in Los Angeles County and nationwide. We have worked to improve opportunities for Latinos through economic and educational policies. Over the course of my tenure in Congress, the household income of Latino families has grown and the number of Latinos entering college has dramatically increased, thanks in part to greater funding for and development of Hispanic-Serving Institutions. We have fought hard to provide opportunity to Dreamers and recent immigrants, and  we will continue to fight for true, comprehensive immigration reform to honor our heritage and history as a proud nation of immigrants. When I came to Congress in 1999, there were 18 Members of the Hispanic Caucus, and now there are 42 members.

"I am incredibly grateful for the leadership of the many city council members, city mayors, water agency board members, transportation agency leaders, city and public agency staff, and nonprofit workers in our community who have advised me and guided me over many years. The great accomplishments we have achieved in the United States Congress are because of the information and advice that local officials have given us on how to improve government function, invest in important projects, reduce government waste, and cut through red tape. Thank you to the public officials here and throughout our community for everything you do day-in and day-out, serving the people of the San Gabriel Valley and Southeastern Los Angeles County.

"I am incredibly grateful for my extraordinary staff, most of whom have been with me for the majority of my time in Congress. I have the best staff in Congress. In Washington, they are the most knowledgeable in water, transportation, and mental health, led by my Chief of Staff Joe Sheehy, Jerry O'Donnell, Joseph Ciccone, Morgan Leonard, Melvin Sanchez, and Sam Schiller. They write the bills and fight for the federal dollars that benefit our community with improved healthcare access, greater transportation options, and smarter water investments. They are always accessible, polite, and helpful.

"In the District, they are always in the community, meeting with residents, local agency staff, and volunteers to improve how the federal government services and invests in our community. They deal with hundreds of casework issues every year getting veterans their proper benefits, Medicare recipients their proper care, and recent immigrants their proper status in the United States. They are led by my District Chief of Staff Perla Hernandez Trumkul, Elena Robles, Bob Pence, Carrie Lam, Leandra Berdin, Tracey Cooper-Harris, and Irma Elisheva Diaz.  Thank you to my staff for their many years of service to this community.

"I am incredibly grateful to the invaluable political supporters who have helped me throughout my career including Organized Labor, EMILY’s List, and other women’s groups, Latino organizations, and the long list of volunteers who have helped on my campaigns. I would not have been elected and re-elected without your tremendous assistance. To my constituents, thank you for believing in me and my staff.

"Lastly, I am incredibly grateful for my remarkable, supportive and loving family. Each and every one of them has provided the encouragement, guidance, and love, that has sustained me through my 25 years in federal service, and my prior state and local service. My husband Frank was my rock, my closest advisor, and my greatest encouragement.  My kids are my biggest defenders, and have taken care of many family obligations while I have been away in Washington. And my grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren are my inspiration to make America a better place for the future generations.  Thank you to my amazing family for supporting my service and supporting me throughout my career.

"Thank you all so much for being here and this great honor. My focus has always been representing my district, first; state, second; and nation, third. We still have a year and half more of work to do, and I will give 110% every day fighting for the San Gabriel Valley in the United States Congress. Thank you, all! God bless!"

Original source can be found here.