Robert Garcia (California congressman) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Robert Garcia
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 42nd district |
|
| Assumed office January 3, 2023 |
|
| Preceded by | Ken Calvert (redistricted) |
| 28th Mayor of Long Beach | |
| In office July 15, 2014 – December 20, 2022 |
|
| Preceded by | Bob Foster |
| Succeeded by | Rex Richardson |
| Vice Mayor of Long Beach | |
| In office July 17, 2012 – July 15, 2014 |
|
| Preceded by | Suja Lowenthal |
| Succeeded by | Suja Lowenthal |
| Member of the Long Beach City Council from the 1st district |
|
| In office May 5, 2009 – July 15, 2014 |
|
| Preceded by | Bonnie Lowenthal |
| Succeeded by | Lena Gonzalez |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 2, 1977 Lima, Peru |
| Political party | Democratic (2007–present) |
| Other political affiliations |
Republican (before 2007) |
| Spouse |
Matthew Mendez
(m. 2018) |
| Education | California State University, Long Beach (BA, EdD) University of Southern California (MA) |
| Signature |  |
Robert Julio Garcia was born on December 2, 1977. He is a politician and educator from Peru and the United States. Since 2023, he has been a U.S. representative for California's 42nd congressional district. He is a member of the Democratic Party.
Before joining Congress, he was the 28th mayor of Long Beach, California, from 2014 to 2022. He was the youngest person to be mayor of Long Beach. He was also the city's first openly LGBT mayor and the first Latino to hold the job. He is the second person of color to be mayor of Long Beach. He also served as Vice Mayor of Long Beach from 2012 to 2014.
Garcia was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 2022. He is the first person of Peruvian background to be elected to Congress. He was also a key leader in the effort to remove George Santos from Congress.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Robert Garcia was born in Lima, Peru. When he was five years old, he moved to the United States with his mother. His mother and aunt worked hard at many jobs, like housekeepers, to support their family.
Garcia finished high school at Covina High School in 1995. Then, he went to California State University, Long Beach. There, he was the president of the student association. He earned a degree in communication studies.
He continued his studies at the University of Southern California, where he earned a Master's Degree. Later, he worked as a public information officer at Long Beach City College. In 2010, he earned his Doctor of Education degree from California State University, Long Beach. He has also taught classes at several universities.
Professional Career
In 2007, Garcia started a website called the Long Beach Post. It focused on local news and sports. The website became popular and helped him become more well-known in the community. He sold the website before he became mayor.
Before and during his time on the Long Beach City Council, Garcia taught communication and public policy. He taught at the University of Southern California, California State University, Long Beach, and Long Beach City College.
Serving on the Long Beach City Council (2009–2014)
In 2009, Garcia won a seat on the Long Beach City Council. He was reelected in 2010. In July 2012, the City Council chose him to be Vice Mayor. He was the first Latino Vice Mayor in Long Beach and the youngest in the city's history.
As a councilmember, Garcia helped create many new laws. These included a law for equal benefits and a ban on smoking at bus stops. He also supported giving more job chances to veterans. He worked to improve local businesses and public services.
Garcia also led the effort to name a park after Harvey Milk. Harvey Milk was an important leader for LGBT rights. The park, called Harvey Milk Promenade Park, opened in 2013.
Mayor of Long Beach (2014–2022)
Becoming Mayor
In 2013, Robert Garcia decided to run for mayor of Long Beach. He won the election in June 2014 and became mayor on July 15. He was reelected in April 2018 with a large majority of the votes.
Key Actions as Mayor
As mayor, Garcia focused on several important areas.
- Education: He worked to improve education for students in Long Beach. He aimed for all children to attend preschool. He also wanted to double the number of internships available to students.
- Economic Growth: He helped bring in new businesses and jobs. He also got a grant to support new ideas and technology in the city.
- Public Safety and Infrastructure: Voters approved a temporary sales tax to help fund public safety and improve city buildings and roads.
- Government Reform: Garcia proposed ten ballot measures to improve the city government. These included measures for public safety, infrastructure, and ethics. All of these measures passed.
Working with Other Countries
Garcia led the Port of Long Beach, which is one of America's largest ports. He worked to set climate goals for the port. He also traveled to many countries to build trade relationships. These countries included Japan, Korea, China, and Germany. He also visited Peru and Honduras to help expand LGBTQ rights around the world.
Supporting Workers
Garcia supported workers' rights. He helped create an agreement to promote local hiring for construction projects. He also supported increasing the minimum wage for workers.
Protecting the Environment
In 2015, Garcia signed the Global Covenant of Mayors. This group works to reduce pollution and prepare for Climate change. Long Beach also created its first Climate Action and Adaptation Plan. The city also banned Styrofoam, plastic straws, and plastic bags.
Public Health Efforts
Garcia believes that everyone should have access to health care. He supported the idea of "Medicare for All." In 2020, he helped create "Mayors 4 Medicare" to support health care access. Long Beach also started a program to help Black mothers and their babies have better health outcomes.
State and National Politics
.jpg)
In 2017, Garcia supported Gavin Newsom for Governor of California. In 2019, he became a co-chair for Kamala Harris's presidential campaign. When she stopped running, he supported Joe Biden's campaign.
In August 2020, Garcia was chosen to be one of the speakers at the 2020 Democratic National Convention. He was one of the first openly gay speakers at this event.
Serving in the U.S. House of Representatives
Elections
In December 2021, Garcia announced he would run for California's 42nd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives. He won the election in 2022. When he took his oath of office, he used the U.S. Constitution, a picture of his parents, and a rare comic book featuring Superman.
His Work in Congress
Garcia was a key leader in the effort to remove George Santos from the House of Representatives. He was one of the representatives who pushed for Santos to be expelled. The vote to remove Santos passed with a large majority.
In April 2024, Garcia voted to provide military aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. Most Democrats also voted in favor of these aid packages.
Committees and Groups
In the 118th Congress, Robert Garcia serves on several important committees:
- Committee on Homeland Security
- Committee on Oversight and Accountability
- Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic
He is also part of several groups in Congress, including the Congressional Progressive Caucus and the Congressional Equality Caucus. He is a co-chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus.
Personal Life
On December 22, 2018, Robert Garcia married his longtime partner, Matthew Mendez. Matthew Mendez is a professor at California State University, Long Beach.
Images for kids
-
Robert Garcia's official signature.
