Fostering Bipartisanship
Good ideas know no party, ideology, or viewpoint. Too many of our debates today are spent with Democratic and Republican officials bickering like children and fighting for political advantage as opposed to doing what they were elected to do – solve problems.
I came to Congress with an open mind and an open hand, willing to work with anyone, of any background, and from any part of the country. Our country works best when we work together, and I am committed to building bridges across the political aisle to help move America forward.
I'm working with Republicans on issues from genetic research to rapid DNA testing to helping small businesses get started. In fact, 59 percent of the bills I introduced or cosponsored in the 116th Congress were bipartisan.
More on Fostering Bipartisanship
WASHINGTON, DC – Today U.S. Representatives Eric Swalwell (D-CA) and Chris Collins (R-NY) marked the start of Small Business Week by reintroducing the Main Street Revival Act, which would incentivize growth in economically depressed communities by helping small businesses get off the ground in their first year of operation.
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representatives Eric Swalwell (D-CA) and Chris Collins (R-NY) today introduced H.R. 2409, the Main Street Revival Act, which would speed up local economic development in blighted areas.
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representatives Eric Swalwell (D-CA) and Darrell Issa (R-CA) today announced the formation of the bipartisan Sharing Economy Caucus, which will bring attention to this booming sector and its impact on our society and economy.
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representatives Eric Swalwell (D-CA), Darrell Issa (R-CA), Brad Sherman (D-CA), and Blake Farenthold (R-TX) today introduced the Consumer Review Freedom Act to make it illegal for businesses to penalize customers who write negative reviews on Yelp or other online review sites. The bill was motivated by several examples of companies attempting to dissuade people from writing honest reviews by slipping non-disparagement clauses in their consumer contracts. Swalwell introduced a similar bill in 2014.
WASHINGTON, DC– A bipartisan bill sponsored by U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell (CA-15), H.R. 1022, theSecuring Energy Critical Elements and American Jobs Act of 2014, failed to pass the U.S. House of Representatives today because of "scoring" threats and falsehoods made by extreme right-wing groups, Heritage Action and Club for Growth.Swalwell's bill would have stepped up America's exploration of critical elements, materials used to power cell phones, airplanes, and renewable energy technology.
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell (CA-15) introduced the bipartisan Widening Internet Readiness for Employment Development (WIRED) Act to assist the unemployed in finding jobs. The legislation would mandate that the Department of Labor (DOL) update One-Stop Career Center websites to dramatically improve information and job-seeking services online. The legislation was co-introduced by Republican Representative Richard Hudson (NC-08).
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell (CA-15) today co-sponsored H.R. 1999, the bipartisan Savings, Accountability, Value and Efficiency (SAVE) Act. The legislation cuts up to approximately $200 billion in wasteful government spending over the next 10 years by eliminating duplication and increasing efficiency.
By Jonathan Strong
Murphy and other freshmen plan to form a bipartisan caucus to work toward solutions.
If the tea party class of 2010 was elected to stand athwart trillion-dollar deficits, yelling "Stop!," the 2012 class seems to think it was elected to give peace a chance.
"This freshman class is going to work in a bipartisan manner. We're not the last Congress — that was the ‘my way or the highway' mentality. We want to work together," said freshman Rep. Patrick Murphy, D-Fla.
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Eric Swalwell (CA-15) joined a letter signed by over 30 new Democratic and Republican Members of the House pledging to work together and calling for the President and Congress to do the same to address our country's economic challenges. The letter was sent to House leadership and reaffirms the country's promise to our seniors to preserve Social Security and Medicare, recognizes that both revenue and spending must be part of any solution, and calls on both parties to work together in the nation's interest.