Quotes from Alex Padilla

A civically engaged citizenry feeds oxygen to our democracy.

In schools, churches and local communities, Americans are participating in their democracy by getting others to as well.

We all have a right for our voices to be heard, not stifled.

As the country has become more diverse, not just states like California and New York, but throughout the nation, it's no coincidence that we have seen a resurgence of white supremacy and violent extremism. And history's clear: voter suppression is rooted in white supremacy.

As California's former chief elections officer, I was proud to strengthen election security and boost voter turnout by implementing the critical reforms contained in the For the People Act. They are proven, they are secure, and they should be available to all voters.

I'm proud to co-lead the Student Food Security Act to permanently expand college students' eligibility for nutrition assistance benefits, and help put food on the table for those who need it most.

Allowing those who turn 18 by the general election the right to vote in primary elections will kick start voter education much earlier. And when people start voting at a younger age, they are more likely to become higher propensity voters and be more engaged in their communities.

For voters whose work schedule does not allow them to wait in line to vote, the denial of vote by mail and early voting denies the opportunity to vote altogether.

Voting is a right and a responsibility. Teaching young voters the value of this right and responsibility will show them the power they possess to shape their future.

The fate of our democracy rests on our ability to protect voting rights for all citizens.

We need to, in my opinion, to restore the full strength of the federal Voting Rights Act.

There's a lot that can and should be done, not just in terms of elections administration with respect to the voting rights, but the protections of voters themselves.

Millions of Americans do essential work but are not paid a living wage.

Now, California is a big state, we're a very diverse state, full of diverse communities with local variations in the cost of living and local business conditions. Just like the rest of the country. And let me tell you, the sky did not fall when California enacted a $15 minimum wage.

I supported the American Rescue Plan because it recognized we need a comprehensive approach to our economic recovery.

Every American should have access to clean, safe drinking water.

Conserving the Rim of the Valley Corridor is critical to helping California and the nation meet our goal of conserving 30 percent of our lands and waters by 2030.

We cannot sell out our public lands for destructive fossil fuel development that pollutes our air, water, and land.

How can we expect students to succeed when they're worried about where they'll sleep, what they'll eat, and how they'll connect to the classroom?

Some of the most striking revelations in the aftermath of the January 6th insurrection here in the Capitol, were reports that some members of the Capitol Police were sympathetic to the insurrectionists.

Once-in-a-generation weather events are now becoming a regular occurrence. Whether it be public safety power shutoffs or electric system failures due to extreme weather events, we must invest in grid resilience and modernization in order to keep the power on in impacted communities.

Accountability for police officers should be an expectation, not an aberration.

Working class communities, like the one I grew up in, have long felt the disproportionate and cumulative impacts of pollution.

Throughout his career, Xavier Becerra has always fought to improve the lives of his constituents.