Top 100 Quotes & Sayings by Alex Padilla

The Background Check Expansion Act will help prevent guns from falling into the wrong hands, and combat senseless gun violence.

When they regain the right to vote, formerly incarcerated individuals know that they have a real voice in impacting change in their community.

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

With just an elementary school education, my father worked as a short order cook for forty years before retirement. He liked to boast that his kitchen 'never failed an inspection.' For the same forty years, my mother worked tirelessly as a housekeeper for a group of families in the affluent communities of Studio City and Sherman Oaks.

A civically engaged citizenry feeds oxygen to our democracy.

Domestic violent extremism is not a threat limited to any single law enforcement agency.

As the proud son of immigrants from Mexico, I watched my parents work resiliently hard for 40 years, my father as a cook and my mother as a housekeeper, to give my sister, my brother, and I a better chance in life.

Urban Indian Organizations are a lifeline to Native Americans living in urban areas across California.

Our most historically underserved communities have been hit the hardest by the COVID-19 Pandemic. Many in these communities have not had the option of not going to work or working remotely, increasing their risk of exposure to coronavirus.

It's no secret that COVID-19 has impacted immigration detention centers at an alarming rate. We must establish accountability and transparency in reporting data to ensure detention centers are taking the necessary precautions to protect detained individuals.

Investing in resilience and sustainability programs is essential to stretching our limited water resources, ensuring safe drinking water for at-risk communities, and adapting to climate change.

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.

Attorney General Becerra was the leading force behind the lawsuit to protect the Affordable Care Act. Yes, he had the audacity to maintain protections for people with pre-existing conditions and for those suffering from mental illness.

Rooting out white supremacists and right-wing extremists is a challenge that local law enforcement agencies, and even the U.S. military, is facing all across this nation.

Building back better demands that we build back better for everyone - and that we leave no one and no community behind.

Young citizens on the verge of becoming adults deserve a real say in the world they will inherit.

Republicans and Democrats know Xavier Becerra to be a thoughtful leader who is always willing to listen to both sides.

Recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic must address inequities facing Native Americans.

Throughout his upbringing and time as a public servant, Xavier Becerra has shown his passion for people and his commitment to improving the lives of those he serves.

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

I took an oath to defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.

As the proud son of immigrants from Mexico, I'm honored to be the first Latino to serve as Chair of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and Border Safety.

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.

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

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.

Providing a quality education for children starts before they even arrive at school.

Expanding background checks for all sales and transfers of firearms is simple, popular, and commonsense.

It isn't life, liberty and pursuit of happiness for some - it is declared for all of us. So let's celebrate America by defending the right to vote - for every eligible citizen, everywhere in America.

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

While the national highway system connects cities and facilitates economic activity across the nation, it's construction historically has been deeply destructive for many communities, particularly low-income communities and communities of color.

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.

Restoring the right to vote to individuals who have served their term in prison is also a common-sense public safety measure.

There's no question about it: the climate crisis is happening now and we need bold action to address it - and that includes investing in electric transportation and rebuilding our infrastructure.

My parents, Santos and Lupe Padilla, immigrated separately from Mexico and met in Los Angeles in the late 1960s. It was love at first sight and the young couple decided to get married, apply for green cards, and start a family.

Granting formerly incarcerated individuals the right to vote tells them 'your voice matters.'

You know, people should be able to vote free of any harassment, intimidation, obstacles, et cetera.

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

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.

My parents immigrated to California from Mexico in the 1960s in search of a better life. They arrived from different regions of Mexico with little formal education, but a tremendous work ethic and big dreams.

The COVID-19 pandemic has taken an incredible toll on our country. Every state has been impacted. Every community has suffered. Especially working-class communities of color, like the neighborhoods Attorney General Becerra and I grew up in.

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

Having served as California's top elections official, I've been fighting back against Trump's 'Big Lie' and conspiracy theories about the integrity of our elections for years.

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.

Transportation is responsible for half of our state's air pollution, and many suffer as a result. Children are more likely to develop respiratory illnesses and struggle in school when they breathe smoggy air.

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the immense, underlying inequities in our nation.

For the family living paycheck-to-paycheck, or those at risk in their current living situation, access to affordable housing is pivotal to their safety and long-term stability.

Growing up, my mom and dad relentlessly emphasized hard work and a good education as key to a better future.

I'm proud to join my colleagues in introducing the BUILD GREEN Infrastructure and Jobs Act. This critical legislation will not only invest in clean energy and improve transportation, but it will also prioritize projects in underserved communities and create good-paying jobs for the American people.

As the Senator from the most populous and most diverse state in the nation - and as the first Latino Senator from California - let me just say: what a great country this is.

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

No one who works a full-time job should live in poverty. It's that simple. We must stand on the side of hard-working Americans.

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

I'm eager to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to get things done for the people of California and the nation.

Everything I know about work and opportunity, I learned from my parents. They risked everything to ensure my family and I could have a shot at the American Dream.

Dignity, respect, and citizenship for essential workers is personal for me and in the best interest of our country.

Redemption and rehabilitation for formerly incarcerated individuals is best achieved when they are able to reintegrate back into the community as productive members.

The Postal Service is essential to our democracy, economy, and health care system.

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.

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.

Our neighborhood had more than its share of challenges, from poverty to crime to unhealthy air. It may not have been the safest neighborhood, but my mom felt blessed that we had the sanctuary of a backyard. And we had a strong sense of community.