Sam T. Liccardo

Liccardo to FCC: Paramount “Cannot Gaslight the American Public”

Position: Congressman Liccardo opposes Paramount Global's petition to the FCC to allow nearly 50 percent foreign equity ownership in Warner Brothers Discovery broadcast stations, arguing the proposal would place American broadcast infrastructure under the control of foreign authoritarian governments and entities tied to adversarial regimes including Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, Qatar, and China.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Sam Liccardo (CA-16) urged Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr to deny Paramount Global’s petition to allow nearly half of their stake in Warner Brothers Discovery to be made up of foreign investment. Paramount currently seeks approval over 49.5 percent in direct foreign equity ownership in FCC-licensed broadcast television stations, including substantial stakes held by sovereign wealth funds affiliated with Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, and Qatar. Liccardo warned that the proposal would place significant influence over American broadcast infrastructure in the hands of foreign authoritarian governments and entities tied to adversarial regimes. “Congress did not entrust the public airwaves to this agency so that it could auction off America to Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, and Doha. This will not stand,” wrote Liccardo. The letter argues that Paramount’s proposed ownership structure conflicts with the spirit of Section 310 of the Communications Act, which restricts foreign control of American broadcast infrastructure. Liccardo also raised concerns that Tencent — identified in the letter as a U.S.-designated Chinese military company with ties to the Chinese Communist Party — would hold a substantial ownership stake under the proposal. “The Commission must not allow a legal technicality to launder what is, in substance, a surrender of American media and infrastructure to the hands of foreign authoritarian regimes,” wrote Liccardo. Liccardo further criticized Paramount’s request for authority to eventually permit up to 100 percent foreign equity ownership in its broadcast licensees, calling the company’s characterization of the request as a “procedural maneuver” misleading. The letter urges the FCC to conduct a full public interest and national security review before taking any action on the petition and warns Congress will pursue legislative remedies, including mandatory retroactive review, if the Commission fails to uphold the intent of existing foreign ownership protections under federal law. Full Letter Here.

Congressman Sam Liccardo Responds to SCOTUS Ruling on Voting Rights

Position: Congressman Liccardo opposes the Supreme Court's decision rolling back Voting Rights Act protections and calls for Congress to pass a national anti-gerrymandering law to address partisan gerrymandering and protect voting rights.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, in a devastating 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court rolled back critical Voting Rights Act protections. Justice Samuel Alito authored the majority opinion giving free reign to partisan gerrymandering and silencing Black voters across the country–primarily the South. Congressman Sam Liccardo (CA-16) released the following statement: “The majority’s opinion permits gerrymandered maps drawn along partisan lines, but prohibits maps drawn to rectify longstanding discrimination. The Court refuses to reckon with extensive evidence of Louisiana’s history of voter suppression of Black Americans. “This flawed outcome exacerbates America’s racial divide, and underscores Congress’s responsibility to pass a national anti-gerrymandering law.”

Liccardo Introduces “Save Willy Act” to Protect Bay Area Whales

Position: Congressman Liccardo introduced the Save Willy Act to establish a Whale Desk in the U.S. Coast Guard's San Francisco station to prevent whale deaths from vessel collisions through public reporting systems and whale-tracking technology evaluation.

Washington, D.C. - Today, on Earth Day, Congressman Sam Liccardo (CA-16), along with cosponsors Representatives Panetta (CA-19), Garamendi (CA-8), Lofgren (CA-18), Khanna (CA-17), Mullin (CA15), Garcia (CA-42), Hernández (PR-At Large), Levin (CA-49), Lieu (CA-36), introduced the Save Willy Act to prevent whale deaths in the San Francisco Bay. The bill establishes a “Whale Desk” in the U.S. Coast Guard’s San Francisco station, where the public and mariners can report sightings and alert vessel operators when whales enter the area–preventing deadly collisions. It also directs the Coast Guard to evaluate innovative technologies for whale tracking and alerts. “Researchers track these whales daily, but we can scale their impact by crowd-sourcing data from the many more numerous commercial and recreational boats, and building a centralized alert system,” said Liccardo. “A whale desk will protect these magnificent creatures and help mariners avoid costly, harrowing collisions. Together, let’s Save Willy.” In 2025, the San Francisco Bay Area recorded 24 whale deaths in the region—21 of them gray whales—the highest in 25 years. At the start of this year’s migratory season, seven gray whales have already died in the Bay—eight across the wider Bay Area. Scientists report roughly 13,000 Eastern Pacific Gray Whales remain—the lowest level since the 1970s—as changes in Arctic feeding grounds reduce food supply. Whales now enter the Bay more frequently in search of food, bringing them into one of the nation's busiest shipping corridors and increasing the risk of deadly collisions. In July 2025, Liccardo penned a letter co-signed by the entire Bay Area delegation raising the alarm on the unprecedented number of whale deaths and demanding answers from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on whether funding and staffing cuts impacted the agency's ability to safeguard our oceans and marine life. In its response, NOAA cited ongoing ecosystem changes in Arctic feeding grounds—driven in part by climate change—that alter gray whale behavior and drive whales to enter the Bay in search of food. “With at least eight whale deaths already recorded this year in the San Francisco Bay Area, we welcome the attention this bill brings to protecting whales in coastal waters. We’re grateful for the chance to highlight the important, ongoing role of the U.S. Coast Guard’s Vessel Traffic Service in helping keep both marine life and vessel traffic safe where boats and whale habitats overlap.” said Kathi George, Director of Cetacean Conservation Biology at The Marine Mammal Center. “Oceana strongly supports this bill to protect whales in the San Francisco Bay area from vessel strikes. The Bay Area is not only a vital economic hub, it's also important for migrating and foraging whales. By improving coordination with the maritime industry and investing in real-time monitoring of whale presence and movement, this bill takes a smart, collaborative approach to reducing collisions with boats. With whale fatalities on the rise, this legislation recognizes that we can — and must — protect whales as they navigate one of the busiest waterways on the West Coast,” said Oceana California Campaign Director and Senior Scientist Geoff Shester. “The Monterey Bay Aquarium supports efforts to protect whales from vessel strikes off California. We commend Representative Liccardo for introducing legislation to improve coordination and data-sharing among the agencies and industries that share these waters with many important whale species,” said Aimee David, Vice President for U.S. & California Ocean Conservation, Monterey Bay Aquarium. Endorsing Organizations: The Marine Mammal Center, Animal Welfare Institute, Monterey Bay Aquarium, California Academy of Sciences, and Oceana. Bill text HERE.

Reps. Liccardo and Kim Introduce Bipartisan PACE Act to Make Everyday Payments Faster, Cheaper, and More Efficient for Americans

Position: Representatives Liccardo and Kim introduced the PACE Act to modernize payment infrastructure by enabling qualified providers direct access to federal payment systems, reducing transaction delays and fees for consumers and small businesses.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representatives Sam Liccardo (CA-16) and Young Kim (CA-40) introduced the Payments Access and Consumer Efficiency (PACE) Act to help Americans send and receive money faster and with fewer fees by modernizing how payment companies access payment rails. Today, when Americans use a payment app to send or receive money, their transaction often passes through multiple layers before it reaches its destination, slowing down payments and adding extra costs along the way. The PACE Act addresses this by enabling qualified providers to access federal payment systems directly, reducing delays and lowering costs for consumers and small businesses. “We can reduce the burden of bank fees borne by too many American families by enabling broader access to innovative payment systems that deliver cheaper, faster, more reliable service,” said Rep. Liccardo. “I’m proud to partner with Young Kim on this bipartisan PACE Act, to modernize our payment system for the benefit of millions of cash-strapped Americans.” “Whether it’s splitting a bill, paying rent, or waiting on a paycheck to clear, Americans are often stuck dealing with delays and increased fees due to outdated payment infrastructure,” said Rep. Young Kim. “Hardworking Americans shouldn’t have to wait days to access their own money or pay extra just to move it. My PACE Act modernizes our system to deliver faster payments, lower costs, and helps families and small businesses keep more of their hard-earned money.” The Financial Technology Association, Blockchain Association, The Digital Chamber, and The Crypto Council For Innovation endorsed the legislation. “American consumers and small businesses shouldn’t have to wait days for a direct deposit to clear or a vendor check to arrive in the mail. Allowing regulated payment firms access to federal payment rails will enable faster transactions, lower costs, and more seamless experiences on par with other leading economies. We thank Congresswoman Kim and Congressman Liccardo for their leadership on this important effort to upgrade our national payments infrastructure,” said Penny Lee, President and CEO of the Financial Technology Association. “For too long, digital asset payment companies have been locked out of the same financial infrastructure that their competitors have access to. The PACE Act allows qualified nonbank providers to obtain direct access to Federal Reserve payment rails, enabling faster, less expensive, and more competitive payment services for American consumers and businesses. We commend Representatives Kim and Liccardo for this important step forward,” said Summer Mersinger, CEO, Blockchain Association. “The Digital Chamber, the world’s largest digital asset and blockchain trade association, is proud to support the bipartisan PACE Act as a thoughtful, forward-looking proposal to modernize access to America’s core payment rails. By creating a pathway for qualified payments companies to access a subset of Federal Reserve payment services through a tailored account structure, the bill would help ensure our payments infrastructure evolves alongside innovation in a safe and responsible way. We applaud Reps. Kim and Liccardo for their leadership on this important effort to strengthen and modernize the U.S. payments system,” said Cody Carbone, CEO, The Digital Chamber. CCI supports Rep. Kim and Rep. Liccardo’s efforts to modernize the payment landscape through the PACE Act, which would allow businesses with 40 or more money transmitter licenses to comply with a uniform federal regulatory framework under OCC supervision. The PACE Act would also improve competition by expanding access to Federal Reserve payment services to well-regulated institutions that meet strong consumer protection standards. CCI looks forward to working with Congress to advance responsible payments innovation and ensure that Americans benefit from secure and efficient payments options,” said Ji Hun Kim, CEO of the Crypto Council for Innovation (CCI). Key provisions of the PACE Act include: Streamlined federal registration – Qualified payment companies can apply for federal registration with clear standards and firm government review deadlines; Strong consumer protections – Consumer funds must be fully backed, held separate from company assets, and cannot be reused or put at risk; Direct access to federal payment networks – Approved companies can directly access certain federal payment systems; Robust oversight and enforcement – Federal regulators can examine and hold registered payment companies to high standards; Consumer-first insolvency protections – If a company fails, consumers are prioritized when recovering funds. Read bill text HERE, and find a fact sheet HERE. ### Issues: Lowering Costs

House Republicans Celebrate “One Big Beautiful Bill”; Rep. Liccardo Calls Out Harmful Cuts and Rising Debt

Position: Rep. Liccardo opposes H.R. 1, arguing that it cuts healthcare, nutrition assistance, and education while increasing the federal deficit by $3.7 trillion over ten years, harming working families.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, House Republicans passed a resolution celebrating H.R. 1, the so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill.” Congressman Sam Liccardo warned that the measure slashes healthcare, nutrition assistance, and education while adding $3.7 trillion to the deficit over the next decade. Liccardo released the following statement: “The 119th Congress goes down in modern history as this nation’s least productive, and yet all the Republican majority can pass is a resolution patting themselves on the back for passing a bill a year ago. Worse, Americans find nothing to celebrate about this one Big, Bloated, Borrowing Bill. House Republicans voted to cut healthcare, nutrition assistance, and education while adding $3.7 trillion to the deficit over the next decade. The measure brings more debt for our children and more pain for working families, who already struggle under the additional inflation wrought by tariffs and this unlawful war.” For more information on how the Republican cuts affect families in California's 16th Congressional district, please click here.

New Bipartisan Bill Stops Government-Sanctioned Theft

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Sam Liccardo (CA-16) and Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) introduced the bipartisan SAFER Act to stop states from seizing Americans’ savings and investments through escheatment laws. Under escheatment, states can take control of so-called “unclaimed property” and too many states have seized those hard-earned retirement funds to plug budget holes or even finance sports stadiums. The SAFER Act bars states from escheating securities, digital assets, or non-ERISA retirement accounts unless and until a financial institution confirms the asset owner has died. The bill protects long-term investors and retirees from losing hard-earned savings they reasonably expect to access later in life. “Your invested savings should stay yours, but too many states seize Americans’ hard-earned money with too little accountability,” said Liccardo. “States shouldn’t steal grandma’s hard-earned savings to build sports stadiums. We’ve introduced the SAFER Act to stop the government-sponsored cash grabs that victimize too many older Americans.” "States have been able to raid Americans’ savings under the guise of ‘unclaimed property,’ leaving families blindsided when they discover their investments were seized or liquidated without real cause. By requiring a confirmation of death before any escheatment, we’re protecting retirees, long‑term investors, and every American who plays by the rules and expects their hard‑earned money to be there when they need it,” Lawler. Think the state may have claimed your property? Visit missingmoney.com to check and reclaim what’s yours. Bill text is available here and a fact sheet and FAQ can be found here and here. The SAFER Act earned support from SIFMA, ICI, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and FSI. “Too often, everyday investors find that states have taken and liquidized their assets without notice through government-sanctioned theft. That's why the Chamber thanks Rep. Liccardo and SIFMA applauds Rep. Sam Liccardo and Rep. Lawler for their work to prevent Americans from unnecessarily losing hard-earned savings and investments to state abandoned property laws. Many state laws leave buy-and-hold investors vulnerable to having their nest eggs liquidated without their knowledge. We applaud Congress’ recognition that investors deserve updated protections that reflect modern technology and processes, and financial institutions who serve them should not be forced to comply with a patchwork of state abandoned property laws that work against their customers. We look forward to working with Congress to find effective systemic solutions to this ongoing issue, said SIFMA President and CEO Kenneth E. Bentsen, Jr. “ICI applauds Representatives Liccardo and Lawler for their leadership in establishing a federal framework for the escheatment of unclaimed property. Today, each state sets its own abandoned property rules, resulting in a patchwork of standards across the country that can place American investors’ assets at risk. Federal standards would provide greater consistency and protections for investors nationwide. ICI has long advocated for reasonable standards that protect investors’ assets while ensuring appropriate transfer of truly abandoned property to the states,” said ICI President and CEO Eric J. Pan. Rep. Lawler for sponsoring the Safeguarding Americans’ Fairly Earned Retirement (SAFER) "Too often, everyday investors find that states have taken and liquidized their assets without notice through government-sanctioned theft. That's why the Chamber thanks Rep. Liccardo and Rep. Lawler for sponsoring the Safeguarding Americans’ Fairly Earned Retirement (SAFER) Act, which will shield American workers and their families from their own state government seizing their hard-earned savings and retirement simply because they are a passive, long-term investor. Thanks to the leadership of Rep. Liccardo and Rep. Lawler, this bill will protect millions of Americans’ savings from unfair inactivity standards that put families’ financial futures at risk,” said Mike Flood, Senior Vice President, Center for Capital Markets Competitiveness, U.S. Chamber of Commerce. “The Financial Services Institute is pleased to support this legislation,” said FSI President & CEO Dale Brown. “Americans rely on long-term investments to help them save for important financial goals such as retirement and college education. We support modernizing rules to reflect advances in technology, including this bill that ensures states do not prematurely seize accounts that an investor simply left to grow for future financial needs.” Issues: Lowering Costs

Rep. Liccardo Comment on Cease-Fire with Iran, 25th Amendment

Position: The representative criticizes the president's foreign policy approach toward Iran and calls for Cabinet invocation of the 25th Amendment to remove the president from office, characterizing the president as unfit.

SAN JOSÉ, CA — Upon today’s news that the U.S. and Iran have reached a two-week cease-fire, Congressman Sam Liccardo (CA-16) said, “Didn’t have it on my bingo card that Pakistan would persuade an American president to stand down from threats to commit war crimes. Dismissing this pause in fighting as another episode of “TACO Trump” doesn’t acknowledge the deeply dismal moment we face. Our president is deeply unwell, and the Cabinet must invoke the 25th Amendment.”

Senate Unanimously Bill to Expand the Golden Gate National Recreation Area

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) announced that the Senate unanimously passed his legislation to expand and improve the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. The bill would allow the National Park Service to acquire the 896-acre Scarper Ridge property in San Mateo County adjacent to Rancho Corral De Tierra, a 3,858-acre site which is already managed by the Park Service. The bill now heads to the House of Representatives. It previously passed the Senate by unanimous consent in December 2024, but was not passed by the House by the end of the 118th Congress. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) is cosponsoring the legislation, and Representative Sam Liccardo (D-Calif.-16) is leading companion legislation in the House of Representatives. “Scarper Ridge’s breathtaking coastal vistas deserve protection so future generations can experience their beauty,” said Representative Liccardo. “I’m grateful to Senator Padilla for his partnership in getting this bill across the finish line in the Senate—and I’m ready to get the job done in the House.” “The Golden Gate National Recreation Area is one of the most popular urban parks in the world, flush with rich biodiversity, extensive military artifacts, and stunning recreational opportunities,” said Senator Padilla. “Expanding the park’s boundary to incorporate the Scarper Ridge property would allow the National Park Service to help protect critically threatened and endangered plants and wildlife, while connecting public lands and hiking trails for locals and visitors alike to enjoy. I’m proud to see the Senate unanimously move my legislation forward and urge my colleagues in the House to swiftly pass the bill.” “We are grateful to Senator Padilla, Senator Schiff, and Congressman Liccardo for continuing the work started by Congresswoman Eshoo to expand and improve the Golden Gate National Recreation Area on the San Mateo County Coast. Over a decade ago, POST purchased this remarkable 896-acre property and has long hoped it would be incorporated into the Rancho Corral de Tierra landscape. With unique habitats and opportunities for public trails, we're thrilled to see this legislation move forward. Having champions like Senator Padilla who understand the importance of protecting biodiverse coastal areas like these is vital to ensuring all Californians can enjoy these magnificent lands forever,” said Gordon Clark, President of Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST). The Golden Gate National Recreation Area consists of more than 80,000 acres of diverse properties managed by the National Park Service across three Bay Area counties that include historic sites, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, and open space for outdoor recreation. In addition to famous landmarks like Alcatraz Island and the Presidio of San Francisco, the park includes hundreds of acres of open space in San Mateo County. A map of the proposed expansion is available here.

Video: Congressman Sam Liccardo Fights to Secure Long-Term Funding for Commissary

Position: Congressman Liccardo advocates for federal funding and coordination to secure a permanent location for the Moffett Field Commissary, which serves over 2,600 military families across the Bay Area and is scheduled to close by 2029.

Washington, D.C. — Today, Congressman Sam Liccardo (CA-16) testified before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs to save a commissary in our area. Speaking during its “Member Day Hearing,” Liccardo highlighted the need to find, plan, and fund a permanent home for a commissary, as the Moffett Commissary is set to close by 2029. The Moffett Field Commissary currently sells deeply discounted food and supplies to more than 2,600 military families across the Bay Area. The next closest commissary is more than 75 miles away in Seaside, CA. Liccardo’s testimony builds on months of direct engagement with federal agencies, including the Defense Commissary Agency and leadership at NASA Ames Research Center. His efforts helped secure a new lease agreement that will keep the commissary open through 2028, with an option to extend operations into 2029. Download Full Video Here. Full Transcript: The project that we refer to is adjacent to the Moffett Federal Airfield, which is in the 16th District. It's long served as a Naval Air Station. The installation itself has been decommissioned, but it still maintains a very strong military presence. It's got the 63rd Regional Readiness Command headquarters at the US Army Reserve, the 129th Rescue Wing, the California Air National Guard. It supports the NASA Ames Research Center, which is now a leading center for supercomputing and nanotechnology materials science. This airfield is now operating as a joint civil military airport. But it is really a hub for the military community, both active service as well as veterans, who reside throughout the Bay Area, roughly a 9 million person metropolitan area, and the commissary is very much at the heart of that. This is the only commissary serving within a 75 mile radius, it operates in a facility that NASA Ames owns the region's only commissary. And, most recently, the Defense Commissary Agency and NASA agreed to extend the current lease. We worked very hard on buying two years of life there. The facility will likely close by 2029 because the building simply can't take it anymore. And so we need to find a better place for it. And this committee knows well that access is certainly a valued benefit for many of these families. So we have been working collaboratively with the local community as well as with, DECA and with NASA and we've identified another site, or they have, I should say, which seems to have the support of the community. And so I respectfully request that the committee include report language, encouraging coordination among the relevant agencies to evaluate options to maintain commissary access.

Financial Services Committee Members Call for Treasury Secretary Bessent to Testify on Sanctions Relief for Iran and Russia

Position: The members oppose easing sanctions on Iran and Russia, arguing that sanctions relief would funnel billions to U.S. adversaries, weaken deterrence, and contradict stated U.S. commitments during an active conflict.

As members of the Financial Services Committee, which has jurisdiction over the Treasury Department and the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), we demand Secretary Bessent immediately appear before the committee and explain the administration's decision to ease OFAC sanctions on the Iranian regime, and on Russian Federation, and to provide more clarity about the rationale for sanctions relief. WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Sam Liccardo (CA-16) led Financial Services Committee Democrats in demanding Chairman French Hill call Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to testify on easing Russia sanctions and potential relief for Iranian oil. “Astoundingly, Secretary Bessent has now suggested that the Treasury Department potentially may lift sanctions on the sale of 140 million barrels of Iranian oil,” wrote the members. “You’ll recall that Iran is the enemy in this war.” The members warn that these actions could funnel billions of dollars to adversaries actively targeting U.S. troops while raising costs for American families. “Although the Trump administration is claiming the U.S. economy ‘will be able to weather any of the temporary impacts of Operation Epic Fury’, American consumers are already paying the price for it at the pump. Oil prices have increased over $100 per barrel, and gas prices have soared 74 cents since the start of the war.” Liccardo and his colleagues argue the Administration’s approach lacks strategy and risks strengthening U.S. adversaries during an active conflict. “While the Administration appears to offer these reactive measures to cushion gas prices, they appear unconnected with any cohesive strategy,” reads the letter. “As we discern that strategy, we hope to learn how it will account with the clear signal that the United States will renege on its commitments under economic pressure—and that its partners need not take those commitments seriously.” Cosigners include Reps. Sam T. Liccardo, Jim Himes, Joyce Beatty, Nydia M. Velázquez, David Scott, Vicente Gonzalez, Gregory W. Meeks, Janelle S. Bynum, Sylvia R. Garcia, Al Green, Sean Casten, and Bill Foster. Full Letter Here.