Dear Community Member,

On January 20, 2025, I attended the inauguration of President Donald Trump, not to celebrate the occasion, but out of respect for our democracy and for the peaceful transfer of power that defines us as a nation.  Although I hoped that the President would deliver an Inaugural Address that would attempt to unify our nation, his speech was imperialistic and divisive.

In an early effort to fulfill his agenda, President Trump is flooding the zone with a number of executive orders, actions, and statements.  He issued orders to pardon criminals who were convicted in courts of law for violently attacking police officers and the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021.  Additionally, the President and his Administration took a number of steps as an opening salvo on his long-promised crackdown on illegal immigration.

I have heard from some constituents who are concerned about how these recent Presidential actions will impact them personally, their families, and our local economy.  As I learned from the first Trump Administration, we can’t and won’t respond to or be distracted by every single thing that President Trump says and does.  Instead, we must be vigilant, credible, and disciplined in what we say and do as we go forward together.  In Congress, I already am working with my colleagues on legislation for immigration reform and border security.  Additionally, I put together a list of resources for immigrants that can be found on my webpage in English or in Spanish.  Moreover, as we often saw during the first Trump Administration and already saw this past week from a Federal Court, our system of checks and balances created by our Founding Fathers is working and is strong.  While it is early and things will continue to change, I am tracking the developments and am prepared to act when necessary.

As always, I will continue to work with my Democratic and Republican colleagues to get things done for the people of California’s 19th Congressional District.  As a member of the House Ways and Means and Budget Committees, and as a member of the minority in Congress, I must and will continue to reach across the aisle to get stuff done.  However, I want to be clear that I also will fight anybody who threatens the values of this place that we call home.

I will continue to serve the people of California’s 19th Congressional District based on evidence and reason, rather than on emotion and outrage.  When it comes to our issues of affordability, environmentalism, immigration, border security, national security, healthcare, civil liberties, and other issues affecting our American values, you can be sure that I will work and fight for you.

Despite the challenges ahead in the 119th Congress, I write to show you that I don’t get distracted from serving you.  This is demonstrated in the progress that I made for California’s 19th Congressional District in the 118th Congress.  As you will see below based on the results of my work, I believe that the role of the federal government is to help, not hurt, people. That’s why I work on legislation to tackle some of our most pressing challenges, like affordable housing, accessible health care, our environment, safer communities, and more.  It’s why I secure federal investments for our local infrastructure projects and programs.  It’s why I offer personal services for constituents to attain solutions for any issues with the federal government.

As your United States Representative, I strive to be transparent, open, and engage with the many diverse perspectives here in our beautiful and bountiful home.  I look forward to continuing my service as we move forward into the new year and new Congress.

Sincerely,

Jimmy Panetta
United States Representative
19th Congressional District, California

Legislative work by Rep. Panetta during the 118th Congress

In the 118th Congress, I fought hard for legislation to increase affordable housing, address affordability issues, support our farmers, strengthen our workforce, bolster public safety, improve veterans’ services, protect our environment, and more, including:

• 57 bills I authored and introduced, to benefit the people of California's 19th Congressional District.
• 683 bills I cosponsored, collaborating across party lines to address critical issues facing our district and our nation.
• 25 laws I proudly passed out of Congress, that will make a difference in the lives of Americans. 

I passed into law critical pieces of legislation that take meaningful steps to address the diverse needs of our district, from supporting our veterans and those battling Parkinson’s disease, to reducing bureaucratic burdens for businesses, improving trade relations with Taiwan, and streamlining disaster relief for our fisheries. Each of these bipartisan efforts reflects our commitment to finding practical solutions that enhance lives, bolster our economy, and honor those who have served our country. I remain dedicated to continuing this work to deliver results for our district and all Americans.

One legislative achievement I am particularly proud of is the Everett Alvarez Jr. Congressional Gold Medal Act, which honors the sacrifices and legacy of Everett Alvarez Jr., a true American hero and one of the longest-held prisoners of war in our nation's history. This legislation reflects our commitment to recognizing those who exemplify extraordinary service to our country.

Lawmaking has a real, tangible impact on the lives of families. I passed into law the Social Security Fairness Act (H.R. 82), a historic victory for retirees and public servants. After decades of advocacy, this legislation finally repeals the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO), which had unfairly reduced Social Security benefits for millions of teachers, firefighters, police officers, and other public employees. By restoring the full benefits these individuals earned, the law ensures greater financial security for retirees and their families. Over 2.5 million Americans will see their monthly benefits increase by an average of $360, with some receiving retroactive lump-sum payments for benefits they were previously denied. As your representative, I was proud to support this bill and help deliver long-overdue relief to the hardworking individuals who dedicated their careers to serving our communities.

I firmly believe that once we pass a law, that’s just the beginning of our work. I am encouraged by the early successes of the REPLANT Act, a bill I authored and passed into law to ensure our national forests recover from the devastation of wildfires. By providing the U.S. Forest Service with critical funding and tools, this law is already helping to restore millions of acres of damaged forestland, protect wildlife habitats, and address the climate crisis.

Federal investment secured by Rep. Panetta during the 118th Congress

In the 118th Congress, I secured significant federal investments to California’s 19th District to strengthen our economy, improve infrastructure, and enhance quality of life, including:

• $926 million in climate and innovation initiatives to prepare our region for the future
• $663 million to rebuild roads, bridges, and public transit systems
• $600 million to improve housing, healthcare, education, and more for our residents

Through direct federal support, I also secured funding for key local projects in every corner of our district. We invested in programs to expand and enhance public safety resources, make critical water infrastructure improvements, support mental health and behavioral health programs, and so much more. These investments will have an immediate and lasting impact on our community, addressing some of our most pressing needs while laying the foundation for long-term growth and prosperity.  All of the above federal investments represent a commitment to our shared priorities, ensuring our district thrives in the future.

Constituent services by Rep. Panetta during the 118th Congress

In the 118th Congress, I continued to help when community members faced challenges with the federal government. This Congress, my staff and I worked hard to obtain the following results:

• 2,793 successful casework outcomes, ensuring constituents receive the support they need from federal agencies
• $7.4 million in federal funds returned to constituents, resolving issues with Social Security, veterans' benefits, and more
• 843 expedited passports, so families could make critical trips on time

Casework is one of the most important functions of a United States Representative.  Whether it’s helping a veteran receive overdue benefits, ensuring a senior can access Social Security, or expediting a passport for urgent travel, these successes reflect my commitment to cutting through bureaucracy and putting people first. Each case resolved is a reminder that I take seriously my responsibility to make government work for you.

Community engagement by Rep. Panetta across California’s 19th Congressional District during the 118th Congress

In the 118th Congress, my accessibility to you was at the heart of my work in California’s 19th Congressional District, including:

• 35 townhalls to hear directly from you about your concerns and priorities
• 42 open office sessions for one-on-one support
• Over 1,000 meetings and events across our district
• 302,456 constituent responses to ensure that your voices were heard

Engaging with our community is critical to ensuring that your values and needs are represented in Washington. Townhalls and open office sessions provide direct, face-to-face communication, giving me the opportunity to hear your stories and better understand the challenges that you face. Meanwhile, our robust constituent response system ensures that every letter, email, or call is met with the attention it deserves. These efforts not only guide my legislative priorities but ensure transparency and accountability.

Rep. Panetta highlights securing federal investment for local infrastructure

As we enter the 119th Congress, I’m excited to continue building on my proven service. Together, we can tackle the challenges ahead and seize new opportunities to strengthen our Congressional District and country.

If you have any questions, need assistance, or want to share your thoughts, please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office. Thank you for your partnership, input, and trust, and please know that it is my greatest honor to serve you and the place that we call home.