Rep. Cárdenas was first elected to the United States House of Representatives in 2013 for the 113th Congress (2013-2014) and has represented California’s 29th district since. Now in the 117th Congress (2021-2022), Rep. Cárdenas sits on the prestigious House Committee on Energy and Commerce, where he is fighting for hard-working American families. He has worked on and authored legislation to lower prescription drug prices, protect American consumers, combat climate change, and ensure that everyone has access to affordable, quality health care. The Committee on Energy and Commerce is the oldest of the "authorizing" committees in the House.
As your representative, I am a member of the Congressional Animal Protection Caucus, seeking to advance common-sense policies to protect animals. I am a co-sponsor of animal protection legislation, including:
The Pet and Women Safety (PAWS) Act, to allow for the protection of pets under protective orders obtained by victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and dating violence.
The Prevent Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act, to prohibit extreme acts of cruelty in the context of interstate or foreign commerce. This law would serve as a complement to state anti-cruelty laws, and aid in the prosecution of these crimes.
The Animal Welfare in Agricultural Research (AWARE) Act, to close a loophole in the Animal Welfare Act exempting farm animals used for agricultural research from the basic standards of care required under the act.
The Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act, to crack down on the cruel practice of “soring,” in which trainers deliberately inflict pain on the hooves and legs of Tennessee walking horses and certain other breeds to exaggerate their high-stepping gait and gain an unfair competitive advantage at horse shows
The Humane Cosmetics Act, to end animal testing on cosmetics manufactured or sold in the United States.
The Safeguard American Food Exports (SAFE) Act, to protect horses and consumers by prohibiting the transport and export of U.S. horses to slaughter for human consumption
The Captive Primate Safety Act, to prohibit the interstate commerce in dangerous primates as pets which threaten public health and safety.
The Global Anti-Poaching Act, to crack down on wildlife trafficking and poaching of imperiled species such as elephants and rhinos.
I have also supported efforts to prevent the Congress from arbitrarily removing federal protections for wolves and other species under the Endangered Species Act. I am also fighting efforts to block the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service from creating new rules to crack down on the trade in ivory in order to prevent the widespread poaching of elephants in Africa.
I also support efforts to stop government waste and cut taxpayer funds for programs that are harmful to animals, such as federal subsidies to trap and poison predators, and the costly round-ups of wild horses and long-term holding in federal pens at taxpayer expense.
Tony will continue protecting Medicare and Social Security in Congress because without these incredibly important programs, millions of California seniors and families would return to would be forced to choose putting food on the table or life-saving prescription drugs. These successful programs are the backbones of the promise we have made to all Americans that our nation will not allow the American Dream to disappear
We've witnessed the devastating effects of climate change from the raging wildfires right here in California to the frequent hurricanes ravaging our coasts. We can and must do more to address the climate crisis now before the damage becomes irreversible. As a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Tony has dedicated much of his time in Congress to finding solutions to the climate crisis. From his early days in the California State Assembly and the Los Angeles City Council, Tony has never stopped advocating and pushing for cleaner air, safe drinking water, and renewable energy. In 2004, Tony worked to ensure that the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) generated at least 20 percent of its electricity from renewable energy sources by the year 2017. During his last term on the City Council, L.A. not only did Los Angeles meet their goal, they set a new goal to move to 35 percent renewables by 2020. That commitment to leave a better world for the next generation has stuck with Tony and he’ll never stop working for bold, actionable policy to combat climate change and protect our environment.
Tony believes that everyone should have access to affordable, quality healthcare – no American should be denied coverage because of a pre-existing condition or economic status.
As the wealthiest nation in the world, it is wrong that any citizens should be forced to choose between putting food on the table or going to the doctor. Throughout his time in Congress, Tony has been a leader in the fight to protect the Affordable Care Act (ACA), beating down efforts to take healthcare away from millions of Americans – including Valley families. Tony has championed proposals to improve the ACA, expand and increase access to care, and lower costs. As a member of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, Tony has advanced efforts to increase access to mental health and addiction treatment, lower prescription drug prices, and fight for a more just and equitable health care system.
Since coming to Congress, Tony has made it a priority to help our nation’s veterans. He’s introduced legislation to improve the VA system and expand benefits for our veterans and their families. Tony’s also worked to make it easier for our veterans and servicemembers to access vital services and remove burdensome regulations that make it harder for them to receive the care they need. Tony is committed to standing up for California’s veterans and will continue working to ensure that these brave men and women have access to the critical care and services they have earned through their service to our nation. Tony will always stand by those who stood by us.
If you are a veteran seeking help with your VA benefits, please contact my office to open a case.
America is a nation of immigrants. Whether you arrived yesterday or you’re a fourth generation American, you belong here.
Immigrants have always been an integral part of America's success. Tony believes we need to create a path to citizenship for immigrants, protect Dreamers, and maintain our leadership position on the international stage by committing to basic human rights and protections for those fleeing disasters and violence in their home country. While some attack immigrant communities and use them as scapegoats for political purposes, Tony will always speak up for all Americans, regardless of documentation status. As the son of immigrant parents, Tony understands the need for a fair and just immigration system. Since coming to Congress in 2013, Tony has led several bills to protect families at the border, end unfair laws that target immigrants, and expand health services for those who need it regardless of immigration status. Tony is a is a cosponsor of the DREAM Act, which would provide certainty for the 800,000 young people in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals who entered the United States as children. We have always opened our arms to those who seek a better life in this country, and Tony will continue working to ensure that America lives up to that promise.
Reforming Outdated Juvenile Justice System and Reducing Crime
Growing up in Pacoima, I saw the effect gangs have on our community. Gang prevention and juvenile justice reform have always been my most important priorities. I chaired an internationally-renowned advisory committee that developed the nation’s first comprehensive "Community Based Gang-Intervention Model",developed by intervention practitioners themselves.
In 2000, as a California State Assemblyman, I co-authored and passed AB 1913, the Schiff-Cárdenas Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act, which has provided local communities with approximately $120 million per year, the single, largest appropriation of state funds for youth crime prevention in the history of the United States. Confirming its effectiveness, a report from the Rand Corporation indicates that statewide efforts after the passage of the Schiff-Cárdenas Act have resulted in lower law enforcement costs and a measurable positive affect on young people who participate in it. As a freshman Congressman, I tried to bring those same benefits to our nation as a whole, introducing the “Community-Based Gang Intervention Act’’ (H.R. 2669) in 2013. The law would provide funding and direction for agencies to intervene in the lives of young people who are at-risk, keeping them out of the prison system and making our communities safer.
I also want to protect the mental and physical health of the young men and women who have been incarcerated in our nation, so that eventually they can be rehabilitated and returned to become productive members of society. With that in mind, I also joined two U.S. Senators, introducing the At-Risk Youth Medicaid Protection Act; the Prohibiting Detention of Youth Status Offenders Act, which was also introduced in the Senate by Senator Bob Casey of Pennsylvania; and the Protecting Youth from Solitary Confinement Act. These laws address the physical health of incarcerated kids, stops our nation from being the only country in the world to put kids in solitary confinement and stops judges from being able to put kids in jail for skipping school or smoking cigarettes.
Crime Prevention and Youth Development Caucus
I also founded the bipartisan Crime Prevention and Youth Development Caucus along with U.S. Rep. David Reichert. We were joined by charter members Judge Ted Poe and Bobby Scott, to encourage the federal government, particularly Congress, to work toward smart justice reform for at-risk youth and further efforts that encourage violence prevention and youth opportunity.
Protecting Our Nation's Student-Athletes
In August, 2014, Tony formed the bipartisan Congressional Student-Athlete Protection Caucus. The Caucus was founded to both inform Congressional members about physical, academic and financial issues faced by student-athletes, and to ensure that all student-athletes participating in collegiate athletics are treated fairly and are provided with the educational promise that is at the heart of collegiate athletics.
In November 2013, Tony introduced the Collegiate Student Athlete Protection Act (CSAP) which also would create scholarship and concussion protections, while requiring universities to provide full medical coverage for student-athletes. Giving our student-athletes the same protections that any other American receives when they trade their work for compensation is the only just, fair thing to do.
In an effort to bring good-paying jobs to the San Fernando Valley, I focus on solutions that can build a healthy economy through reforming immigration, diversifying industries, enhancing innovation, expanding opportunities for small and medium sized businesses, and educating our workforce to know how to benefit from the U.S. economy.
Every day, youth who enter detention centers, jails, and prisons with Medicaid coverage leave those same facilities without the essential Medicaid support for medical care they need to address a variety of physical and mental health needs.
As the U.S. Representative for California's 29th District, a main focus of mine is to find ways to increase access to community services and health care for Veterans, working families and senior citizens to maintain or regain their self-sufficiency.