OAKLAND, Calif. – Bay Area Congress members brought a varied group of guests to watch President Trump’s address before Congress. Among them were laid-off federal workers, veterans, and advocates for health care and civil rights.
Congressman Sam Liccardo from San Jose invited Daniel Sandecki, a U.S. Army veteran. “I wanted the president to see how his decisions are harming Americans,” Liccardo said. Sandecki had served in the Army for ten years before becoming disabled and worked as an emergency manager for the VA in Palo Alto until he was fired.
Shortly after inviting Sandecki, Liccardo announced that the government decided to rehire him. “I’m still trying to process it,” Sandecki shared. “It’s confusing and tense. It’s not like fixing a tech issue. When you break something in service, it impacts those who rely on it.”
Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren also had a guest, a former USDA worker who lost his job due to the Trump administration’s cuts. “He’s an Air Force veteran and a scientist. His firing letter claimed poor performance, but his performance review was glowing,” Lofgren explained.
Other guests advocated for social services. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi invited Elena Hung, a Medicaid advocate concerned about proposed cuts to Medicaid. Congressman Mark DeSaulnier brought Alisa Rosillo, who leads the Changing Spaces Campaign. Rosillo spoke about how the cuts would affect her family directly. “For the first time in 26 years, I’ve had no home nursing care for my son because the wages are too low,” she said.
Rep. Eric Swalwell invited Jason Selvig from “The Good Liars,” a popular podcast that discusses political issues. Swalwell stressed the importance of better communication from the Democratic Party. “We need to convey our values clearly,” he said.
Rep. Jared Huffman remarked on the need for Democrats to stand firm. “We won’t let this happen without a fight,” he stated. While some hope President Trump may collaborate with Democrats, others are ready to push back if he doesn’t. Swalwell added, “If he’s willing to cooperate, I’m onboard. But if he only wants to air grievances and attack political foes, he will face strong opposition.”
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