Costa Votes to Condemn President's Racist Remarks

(Washington, D.C.) - Congressman Jim Costa (CA-16) made the following statement after voting on a resolution condemning President Trump's racist comments directed at members of Congress, which have legitimized and increased fear and hatred of new Americans and people of color:

"Instead of working to unite our country, the President willfully seeks to divide us," said Costa. "Past presidents sought to bring people together and have worked with Congress to solve problems. His comments do none of that. His words are beneath the office of the presidency and are an embarrassment for our nation."

Rep. Costa is one of more than 180 sponsors of the resolution, H.Res. 489. To reinforce the opposition to this inflammatory rhetoric, the "whereas" clauses of the resolution are taken entirely from President Ronald Reagan's final speech as president, in which he extolled the benefits of immigration to the United States.

The resolution also puts forth the belief that immigrants and their descendants have made America stronger, and that those who take the oath of citizenship are every bit as American as those whose families have lived in the United States for many generations.