California's 48th Congressional District election, 2018

Gun Violence
Enough. Every day over 90 students, teachers, sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, and co-workers are killed by gun violence. We must do more to stop this national epidemic. Now is not the time for partisan talking points that divide our country, we need to enact common-sense reforms that will keep all Americans safe.

Read Harley's full statement on Gun Violence prevention here.

Economy
The continued economic growth of the United States starts with a thriving, innovative and balanced economy that is focused on creating the jobs of tomorrow. And that also means strengthening the middle class, and creating jobs that pay a living wage. To rebuild the middle class, the first step is closing antiquated tax loopholes that benefit outdated industries and the wealthy.

Education
The right to an extensive, high quality education should be afforded to all students, regardless of socioeconomic status. Many of our students face insurmountable amounts of debt when graduating from college, only to find the job market is less than friendly. In addition to fighting to make college accessible and affordable for the next generation, I will push for funding for early education programs such as Head Start and pre-kindergarten. All students should have access to 21st century technologies in the classroom, and as your Congressman, I will advocate for increased focus on STEAM [science, technology, engineering, art/architecture, and math] curriculum. We need to spend more on schools and less on prisons, and work to reform the criminal justice system by educating more and incarcerating less.

Read the full Education Plan here.

Environment
I’m very happy to call the 48th Congressional District my home, as it is one of the most remarkable places to live in the world. I will work to protect California’s most precious asset, our beautiful coastlines, from offshore drilling. We need to focus on consistently choosing clean energy over the fossil fuels of the past. As a businessman, I know firsthand that protecting the environment and incentivizing economic growth are not mutually exclusive goals, and that is why I support making Southern California the clean tech capital of the world.

Read more in Harley's Op-Eds on protecting the environment and supporting scientific research.

Foreign Affairs
I will work to keep America safe at home and abroad. I believe that diplomacy first is the best path forward for the United States and our allies. As we have seen here in California, ISIL has inspired home-grown terrorism. We must strengthen ties in the international community, improve our border security, support our troops, protect American trading interests, and advocate for humane detention standards. I also believe we need to solidify and strengthen our bond with NATO allies, especially the Baltic state nations who are continuously threatened by Russia.

Women’s Issues
It’s obvious; women should be treated equally and should have the right to make all decisions about their body and their health. Women also make up nearly half of the labor force, and when women lose income, economic security is diminished for them and their families. We must make sure women are treated equally under the law. As your Congressman, I will fight for equal access, reproductive health freedom, and equal pay.

Healthcare
I supported the Affordable Care Act, because while it was not perfect, it was a step in the right direction. The ACA nailed it with prohibiting discrimination against those with pre-existing conditions and allowing children to stay on their parents’ plan until age 26. But no policy is perfect and we must continue to adjust, reform, improve, and expand the ACA. I am very disheartened by recent events on Capitol Hill, to see Rep. Dana Rohrabacher and other Republicans in Congress play politics with Americans’ health care.

I support Medicare for All.

I am also committed to enhancing the accessibility of safe and dependable addiction treatment. Read more here.

Read more in Harley's Op-Eds on repealing the Affordable Care Act and protecting women's healthcare.

LGBTQ
Despite significant steps forward, LGBTQ Americans lack basic legal protections in states across the country. The patchwork nature of current laws leaves millions of people subject to uncertainty and discrimination that impacts their safety, family, and their very way of life. Everyone should have a fair chance to earn a living and provide a home for their family without fear of harassment or discrimination, and that is why I – along with 70 percent of Americans – support the Equality Act calling for non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ Americans.

Immigration
In a nation built by immigrants, comprehensive immigration reform is our moral imperative. With more than $1 trillion dollars in GDP growth and massive deficit reduction at stake, immigration is an economic issue—but it also about family values. I will work to uphold traditional American values that include keeping families together and foster the tremendous contributions of immigrants who make up the rich fabric of our nation. We must protect our borders, but not by tearing apart families and our communities.

Holding Donald Trump Accountable
California’s 48th District is uniquely vulnerable to attacks from Donald Trump and Republicans like Dana Rohrabacher in Washington. He’s the only known member of Congress subject to Robert Mueller’s investigation. They both pose a threat to our national security, our Constitution, and our democracy. From his attacks on the freedom of the press to his campaign's ties to Russian foreign officials, every day that Trump sits in the White House is a threat to the future of our country, and Dana Rohrabacher is his closest ally in Congress.

We must hold Donald Trump and his administration accountable for all their actions. Voters in our district tell me that the standard has been met for impeachment. He's lied about his team's connections with Russia, he's admitted to firing James Comey to try and stop the investigation, and his reckless tweets threaten our national security. I’m often reminded that our country has impeached presidents for far less.

End Citizens United
The Supreme Court's decision to allow corporations to spend unlimited amounts in our elections has undermined our Democracy. I support ending Citizens United and have pledged to not take money from Big Oil, Big Tobacco, Big Pharma or the Gun Lobby. ^[43]

Enactment of Omnibus Appropriations bill: June, 2017:

o Provides discretionary funding for remainder of FY ’17 (through September 30, 2017).

o Rep. Rohrabacher’s achievements in bill: Continued protection from federal prosecution for patients, physicians, veterans, doctors, etc., acting in compliance with their state’s medical marijuana laws. $2 billion increase in funding for National Institutes of Health. House passage and enactment of “Weather Research & Forecasting Innovation Act” (H.R. 353).

o Included in bill was the “Tsunami Warning, Education, and Research Act of 2017,” which was co-sponsored and pushed through the House Science Committee by Reps. Rohrabacher and Bonamici (D-OR). House passage and enactment of “National Aeronautics and Space Administration Transition Authorization Act of 2017” (S. 422).

o First NASA authorization enacted since 2010.

o Included a reiteration of a commitment to the fullest commercial use of space—something Rep. Rohrabacher has long championed.

House passage and enactment of legislation (H.J.Res. 43) that reverses an Obama Administration rule, so that moving forward, states will have a greater ability to restrict tax dollars from going to abortion providers.

House passage and enactment of legislation (H.J.Res. 58) that would roll back an Obama Administration rule that sought to impose additional federal mandates and control on local schools.

House passage and enactment of legislation (H.J.Res. 44) that eliminates an Obama Administration rule that would have overhauled existing resource management regulations of federal lands while reducing input from local communities.

House passage of FY ’18 National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 1810), which sets spending parameters and policy for the Department of Defense.

o Two Rohrabacher amendments adopted: (1) a sense of Congress declaring Dr. Shakil Afridi an international hero and calling on Pakistan to release him immediately from prison, and (2) a prohibition on the transfer of certain funds to Pakistan until and unless the Secretary of Defense certifies that Pakistan is not using funds or equipment to persecute religious and ethnic minorities.

House passage of H.R. 23, the GROW Act, which would change law in several instances in an effort to increase (1) water storage capacity throughout California and the West, and (2) water flows throughout California and the West. The legislation would accomplish these goals by streamlining bureaucratic and environmental processes and relying on better science to determine appropriate water flows.

o Rep. Rohrabacher was an original co-sponsor of this legislation and spoke in favor of its enactment.

House passage of H.R. 1873, the Electricity Reliability and Forest Protection Act—LaMalfa (R-CA): the legislation amends current law to streamline and improve the approval process for engaging in vegetation management on electric rights-of-way located on federal lands.

Enactment into law of S. 1094, the Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017—Rubio (R-FL): the legislation would institute a number of reforms to empower the Secretary of the VA with enhanced authority to remove, demote, or suspend any VA employee for poor performance or misconduct. The legislation also provides additional protections for whistleblowers and implements additional measures that may be used to punish poor performance, misconduct, or employees who are convicted of a felony that influences his/her job at the VA.

House passage of the American Health Care Act. The Senate is now working to pass its version of healthcare reform ​ Problems with the Veterans Administration

U. S. Representative Dana Rohrabacher has an unyielding record of supporting America’s courageous men and women serving in the United States’ Armed Forces. The Congressman moved toward fresolving the problem of mistreatment of many veterans who suffered mistreatment from the Veterans Administration since the disclosure of this issue. Congressman Rohrabacher not only called for the resignation and replacement of Secretary Shinseki by co-sponsoring H.Con.Res.98, but he also voted in support of H.R. 3230, signed into law on August 7, 2014. He also provided supplemental and new authorities to the Veterans Administration to resolve their ongoing problems.

FY ’14 and FY ’15 Appropriations Bills

In general, Representative Rohrabacher supported appropriations bills before the House, in which spending remained at or below the previous year’s level of spending. However, bills that provide funding for veterans programs remain exceptions to this general rule. In this view, lawmakers need to remain committed to refraining from growing the size and scope of the federal government to reduce the deficit and pay down the national debt. However, appropriations bills (discretionary spending) are only one part of a very large federal budget. In order to limit government growth, lawmakers must also reign in mandatory spending, which accounts for well over half of the total federal budget.

Tax Extenders

The House passed a handful of individual bills to extend—on a permanent basis—various tax provisions, which demonstrate proof that they have helped American families and businesses in the past. For example, the House has passed and Congressman Rohrabacher has supported H.R. 3393, which consolidates and extends four higher education tax benefits. He supported H.R. 4457, which allows businesses to expense certain purchases, and H.R. 4438, which simplifies and extends the research tax credit. Instead of adopting these bills, the Senate chose to push for a larger comprehensive package of “tax extender” provisions in one piece of legislation.

Transportation Funding

The threat of a depletion of the Federal Highway Trust Fund is also bona fide. Current projections indicate the fund will deplete (and only make expenditures at the rate at which revenue came in) on August 1, unless Congress acts to supplement the trust fund. The House took the lead by passing H.R. 5021 on July 15, 2014. This would transfer nearly $8 billion from the general fund to the Highway Trust Fund, while fully offsetting the expenditures, providing sufficient funding to the trust fund through the end of May 2015. The Senate first amended the House bill to provide enough funding only through December 19, but eventually acceded to the House’s version. Thus, the trust fund now has sufficient funds to continue its normal transportation infrastructure activities through the end of May of next year.

National Security Administration (NSA)

Congressman Rohrabacher continues to take very seriously issues regarding the revelation of the NSA’s surveillance activities. For example, he has co-sponsored two bills—H.R. 1852 and H.R. 3361—to prevent the ongoing abuses. He has also voted in favor of Rep. Massie’s amendment to the 2015 Department of Defense (DOD) Appropriations bill. This amendment would prohibit funding for conducting warrantless searches of government databases for information that pertains to U.S. citizens. Rep. Massie’s amendment passed overwhelmingly, 293-213, on June 19, 2014. However, there is much more work to do.

The amendment, which is not in effect, only pertains to DOD appropriations. A more permanent change to the law is necessary to end this government overreach for good.

Immigration (Crisis at the Southern Border)

Congressman Rohrabacher, a staunch advocate for legal immigration, continues to support a viable and equitable immigration system. At the same time, he continues to oppose adamantly any form of amnesty toward any individuals here illegally. The crisis at the Southern Border of the United States remains an unfortunate situation, which our country could have prevented in the first place. Benefitting from federal, state, and local programs and the allure of good-paying jobs in the United States remains one of the major incentives for illegal immigration. This is why Congressman Rohrabacher introduced and pushed for the enactment of his own bill, H.R. 2745, “No Social Security for Illegal Immigrants.”

Congressman Rohrabacher also remains a longtime supporter of mandatory E-Verify. In response to the immediate threat we face at our Southern Border with respect to unaccompanied minors, Representative Rohrabacher co-sponsored two pieces of legislation. H.R. 5160 prevents the President from expanding his deferred action plan for children—created by Executive Memorandum on August 15, 2012—and H.R. 5079. This bill would treat undocumented immigrant children from non-contiguous countries the same as those from contiguous countries—Mexico and Canada—providing for a more efficient process for deporting such undocumented and unaccompanied children.

Finally, Congressman Rohrabacher voted in favor of two House bills considered during the last week of July, 2014 that look to solve the crisis. The first, H.R. 5230, would provide supplemental appropriations to finance additional border patrol, deportation, and temporary assistance for the unaccompanied children, while also including provisions similar to H.R. 5079 described above. The second, H.R. 5272, is similar to H.R. 5160 described above. Bills—H.R. 5230 and H.R. 5272—passed the House on August 1, 2014, and continue to await further action in the Senate. ^[43]