[ [link removed] ]Katie Porter for Congress

John,

Earlier this month, I turned the mic over to you and invited this
community to submit questions and ask me anything. I enjoyed reading
through the thousands of responses we received, and my team and I have
picked a few to share back today:

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How did you develop the courage to ask tough questions of powerful people?
— Laurie from New York

It didn’t come naturally at first. During my first few weeks of Congress,
I got a call from my mentor, Senator Elizabeth Warren, asking me how
everything was going so far. I told her that I didn’t feel like I had
found my voice.

But I got my chance with my first couple of hearings with the CEO of
Equifax and then the CEO of Wells Fargo. I approached those hearings with
one goal: to make members of the public—and the consumers that had been
cheated by these companies—feel heard. I wanted to break through the
confusing financial terms and back-and-forth on regulations to simply ask,
“What makes you think this is okay?”. I did the math and used props to
point out their hypocrisies and contradictions. And we started to get
answers. The CEO of Wells Fargo even resigned a few weeks later.

After that, Senator Warren called me again. She said, “You found your
voice. Don’t ever stop using it.” I certainly don’t intend to.

My courage comes from that understanding that I am simply there as a
spokesperson for the American people—asking questions that make up our
daily lives, like “Why is this prescription so damn expensive?” or, “How
can somebody so unqualified be making these kinds of important
decisions?”. Questions that you deserve to know the answers to. That’s how
my team and I prepare for hearings today. We start by asking, “What is the
problem we’re trying to solve?” and together we anticipate how a
particular witness may respond and plot how to react in order to steer the
conversation toward that end objective.

Still, whenever I hear them say, “The gentlelady from California is now
recognized,” my heart kind of stops.

How will your work on the Natural Resources Committee help you address
your larger goals for representing our district, and our nation? — Scott
from California

Our state is already experiencing the devastating effects of the climate
crisis, including record wildfires and dangerous air quality—and we need
leaders at every level who understand that environmental protection cannot
wait. I’m proud to represent my district and press for urgent action to
halt the climate crisis, and also focus on protecting our oceans, natural
lands, and endangered species. On a national level, many of you know how
much I love doing oversight work. I'm looking forward to bringing my
whiteboard to the Natural Resources Committee so that I can hold polluters
accountable the same way I hold billionaire CEOs and unqualified
government officials accountable.

How can I best help elect more Democrats like you to the House and the
Senate? — Laura from California

I love this question, Laura. First off, I want to plug an organization I
started last year called [ [link removed] ]Truth to Power PAC. We support bold,
progressive candidates to join me in Congress to take on corruption,
demand accountability from powerful officials, and fight for working
people—even when it means taking risks and speaking up. We endorsed 28
candidates last year, and right now we’re preparing to expand our support
in 2022.

Second, if it weren’t for the early grassroots support I received when I
launched my 2018 race, I don’t think I would have ever stood a chance at
being elected. So as the 2022 midterms start to pick up—and they will
before we know it—keep an eye out for those “long shot” progressive
challengers, and if you can, support them as early as possible by making a
recurring contribution each month.

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Thank you, thank you, thank you for submitting all of your thoughtful
questions. If we did not get to your question in this email, we’re
planning to answer more in the weeks to come. In the meantime, [ [link removed] ]you can
continue to submit your questions for me using this form.

I am so grateful for this entire community. Thank you for being on our
team,

Katie


 


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