Across the country and across the political divide, it is clear to everyone that we have a jobs crisis. Through no fault of their own, 25 million Americans - equal to the entire population of Texas - are unemployed or underemployed. The jobs crisis has reached a boiling point, which...

Today in America, 14 million people are out of work through no fault of their own, dragging our economy ever closer to another recession. The first priority of Congress should be to create jobs. The American Jobs Act, which would add nearly two million jobs to the economy,...

Maybe you weren't born with a silver spoon in your mouth, but like every American, you carry a deed to 635 million acres of public lands.

That's right. Even if you don't own a house or the latest computer on the market, you own Yosemite, Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon,...

NOTE: Congressman Garamendi will be available in comments periodically today and tomorrow to answer questions on the National Defense Authorization Act, including the war in Afghanistan and the dangerous Section 1034 limitless war powers declaration.

This week the House of Representatives will have an opportunity to vote on...

President Obama and heroes in the American military and intelligence communities have sent a message to the international terrorist organization al Qaeda and others who seek to harm American citizens. We have demonstrated the unwavering resolve of the U.S. to pursue international terrorists wherever they may hide and proven the...

Democratic Members of Congress, through the Democratic Caucus New Media Working Group, will be participating in a Congressional Twitter Town Hall, Thursday (tomorrow), from noon-1 PM EST, and I wanted to personally invite you to join us. We're taking questions with the #AskDems hashtag. You'll be able to follow...

Fifty years ago, President John F. Kennedy challenged Americans to serve their country through "a peace corps of talented men and women." As Peace Corps volunteers, we saw firsthand what the power of good will can transform lives and communities in neglected corners of the globe -- and our country's...

Pro-democratic movements in the Middle East are in the midst of their rendezvous with destiny, but America's destiny can no longer be linked with the fates of dictators, military juntas, and theocratic regimes. We must develop energy independence; we must Make It In America.

America must develop a national energy...

In the days of Washington and Jefferson, Members of Congress had a difficult time reaching the people they represented. A horse and buggy ride from Washington, DC to most states in the union was quite the journey, and most Americans were lucky to have access to their Congressperson one month a year. From the railroad to the telegraph to commercial air travel to this blog, new technologies have made it easier for Members of Congress to reach the American people. On Tuesday, February 8th, at 9:15 PM EST/6:15 PM PST, I'm honored to continue in this tradition by becoming the first Member of Congress to host a live mobile video town hall - or as Josh Richman at the Oakland Tribune coined it, "Garamendi on the Go."

'Visible Vote' is a free application for Facebook, the web, and smartphones (Apple iPhone, Google Android, and Blackberry). It connects you to the lawmakers that represent you and the lawmakers you want to follow. With this American-made technology, you can view live mobile video hosted by Members of Congress on your smartphone and ask questions in real time. With Visible Vote, you can also participate in public policy by voting on past and pending legislation, accessing and comparing your votes to your legislators' records, and submitting your preferences and messages directly to our offices here in Washington. Information on how to set up Visible Vote is available at their get started page.

As a Member of Congress, I want to use the best and latest technologies to engage the residents of my district. Visible Vote's innovative and free video town hall software will enable thousands of people to reach me with the tap of a touchscreen. In 2010, I hosted 15 in person and 10 telephone town halls. I host many events in the district, but logistics and travel time keep many of my constituents from attending. Visible Vote makes it easier than ever to attend a town hall.

With Visible Vote, Members of Congress can visit the public instead of the other way around. The cliché that you can participate from the convenience of your own home is incomplete, however, since you can participate from the convenience of any location with cell phone reception. I'm looking forward to being the first Member of Congress to take advantage of this exciting new technology, and you're all invited to join us Tuesday as we debut what may be the most critical innovation in the Congressional town hall since central...

With his State of the Union address, President Obama delivered an important message that Congress and the American people need to hear: our nation's leaders must pass legislation that creates American jobs now.

America, our shining city on a hill, has been blessed with great fortune in our proud past, but as the President noted, every generation faces new challenges and new opportunities. We must be bold and forward looking, never forgetting that America's prosperity has always relied on hard work, solid education, and well-maintained infrastructure. We're a nation that has always thrived when we've built things - the light bulb, the automobile, the Internet, and the GPS. We need to build things again. We need to Make It In America

During the Great Recession, America stared into the abyss, but with the leadership of President Obama and Democrats in Congress, we steered our economy toward a better path. We invested in infrastructure, education, manufacturing, and smart tax incentives, putting millions of Americans to work. With the Recovery Act and other pro-growth, pro-jobs laws, we did a lot, but we need to do more. President Obama is right to call on this Congress to pass legislation that creates jobs now.

America - the idea and the nation - is at a crossroads. For decades we have stood by watching our manufacturing sector atrophy. We've seen hardworking breadwinners thrown to the curb, because big corporations can make more profits offshoring jobs to countries with atrocious labor and environmental standards. We've seen middle class families kicked out of their homes, because wages have not kept up with costs. We've seen too many great people on the sidelines of our economy, their talents wasted and dream deferred, because there simply are not enough jobs. We must do better. We must Make It In America again or else we're not going to make it in America.

An American child born today will grow up in a world where her nation's long held claim to economic supremacy will be challenged by peers in China, India, and elsewhere. She will live in a world where computer literacy and access to high speed Internet largely predict achievement. She will live in a world of infinite potential for people and nations committed to a better future. She will live in a world where mass transit and clean energy are everyday necessities of life, creating good jobs for someone somewhere. Let's make sure we Make It In America and create American jobs now, so that she will live in a world where America is still the leader of the free world.

American manufacturing, which produced the largest middle class in history, is crucial to building sustained prosperity for the years to come. Across this country, we see evidence of a new fledgling Clean Energy Industrial Revolution. Detroit is producing hybrid cars, Pittsburgh is constructing robotic instruments, Schenectady, New York is developing advanced batteries, and Livermore, California is building solar panels. Across this country, clean energy is creating jobs.

In his State of the Union address, the President called for one million electric cars and a stronger clean energy standard. By setting this goal, the President was challenging Americans to dream big.

The President is right. This is our Sputnik moment. Imagine if we had responded to the challenge of Sputnik by soaring to the moon in a space shuttle that was Made in the Soviet Union. We could have gone that route - admitted failure and surrendered our economic and security assets to another country. Instead, we focused on inventing and constructing crucial technology, which sparked a wave of new businesses and jobs. Similarly, to address our twin 21st century challenges of energy security and advanced infrastructure, we cannot depend on the kindness of other countries. To enhance our geopolitical security and to create the jobs of the future, we have to strengthen these key manufacturing sectors.

As we see when basic scientific research spurs the flourishing of new industries and generates millions of new jobs, public policy has a valuable role to play in setting the stage for a return of America's manufacturing prowess. A good first step would be to ensure that taxpayer dollars are spent on American-made transportation and renewable energy projects. I am introducing legislation to this effect. Strengthening domestic content requirements for high-speed rail, solar panels, biofuels, and other growth industries will create jobs, right here in America, right now. It just makes sense.

America has energetic entrepreneurs, a skilled workforce, and visionary inventors. Let's give them the opportunity to do what they do best- to work. The building blocks of a prosperous future are available today. Let's start building.

Congressman John Garamendi (D-Walnut Creek, CA) represents California's 10th Congressional District, which includes parts of Contra Costa, Solano, Alameda, and Sacramento counties. As California's Lieutenant Governor from 2006-2009, he chaired the California Commission for Economic...

Americans correctly believe that the most critical issue facing our nation is job creation. You would think the Republican-run House of Representatives, in its first major policy vote of the 112th Congress, would be focused on putting Americans to work. Instead, House Republicans have decided their number one priority is...

If you tuned into the Rachel Maddow Show last night, you know that major health care provisions in the Patient's Bill of Rights take effect today. You also know Gail, the woman in this video. She's an amazing person whose life was immensely improved because President Obama...

Exactly six months ago, I entered Congress promising to protect this great nation from threats foreign and domestic. Today I'm fulfilling that promise. A bill I introduced today would create a permanent ban on new offshore oil and natural gas drilling from platforms on the West Coast. We can't change...

It's a beautiful spring day in Washington. I'm walking west on East Capitol Street. Before me the Capitol is glowing white in the bright morning sun. My thoughts are on the health care debate, and the one hour opportunity that I will have to argue the issue on the floor...

Students at public universities in California are planning a series of demonstrations across the state protesting tuition hikes today. While a few isolated incidents in recent weeks have provided fodder for some in the media to dismiss their concerns, the students' cause is incredibly important. If we continue to...