Rep. Jimmy Gomez Delivers Keynote Address to Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce

Gomez lays out vision for the next 50 years of economic growth and opportunity in Los Angeles

Los Angeles, August 18, 2026

LOS ANGELES, CA — Today, U.S. Representative Jimmy Gomez (CA-34) delivered the keynote address to the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce as part of its Pancakes & Politics speaker series. During his keynote, Gomez pointed to Los Angeles’ role as host of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make lasting investments in the region’s future. 

“Los Angeles has a unique opportunity to show the world what the future can look like.” said Gomez. “The World Cup just put us on the global stage. The Olympics and Paralympics are next. But I’m not thinking about a few weeks of competition. I’m thinking about the next 50 years. Better transit. Stronger infrastructure. More housing. More businesses starting and growing here. More people with a real shot at the middle class. That’s the legacy we should be building.” 

Rep. Gomez highlighted his work in Congress to address some of the biggest barriers facing Los Angeles families and businesses, including: 

  • Lowering housing and caregiving costs: Rep. Gomez hosted the first-ever national summits on the housing affordability and caregiving crises to bring together business leaders, advocates, labor, and policymakers around solutions to two of the fastest-growing costs facing working families. Gomez has also introduced legislation to expand homeownership and convert vacant and underutilized commercial space into housing. 

  • Protecting Los Angeles businesses from rising costs: As a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, Rep. Gomez has pushed back against President Trump’s arbitrary tariffs that increase input costs for businesses and raise prices for consumers. Gomez is a cosponsor of the Stopping a Rogue President on Trade Act, which would reassert Congress’ constitutional authority over trade policy and prevent the President from unilaterally imposing arbitrary tariffs. 

  • Expanding opportunities for small businesses: Rep. Gomez introduced the Accelerating Small Business Growth Act to increase the share of federal infrastructure contracts awarded to small and disadvantaged businesses by 50 percent, helping minority-owned, and immigrant-owned businesses compete for federal investments. 

  • Building and retaining Los Angeles’ workforce: Rep. Gomez has pushed for greater federal investment in workforce development and fought efforts by the Trump administration to dismantle Job Corps. He has also advocated for affordable housing, child care, health care, and a more stable immigration system so Los Angeles businesses can attract and retain the workers they need. 

The Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce’s Pancakes & Politics is a long-running breakfast speaker series designed to connect business leaders with influential elected officials, government administrators, and other policy leaders. Since 2006, the program has featured prominent figures from local, state, and federal government and has provided an intimate setting for discussion of issues affecting the Los Angeles region, including transportation, education, homelessness, insurance, and economic development.