Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Tuna Canyon Detention Station Coalition as it commemorates the 80th anniversary of the opening of the detention station located in Tujunga, California. I commend the organization's tireless efforts to preserve and document the historical site and the stories of the lives that were forever changed while they were detailed at the Tuna Canyon Detention Station (TCDS) during World War II.

At the onset of World War II, Presidential Proclamations 2525, 2526, and 2527 authorized the arrest and imprisonment of people deemed a threat to U.S. national security. The proclamations served as justification to arrest individuals of Japanese, German, and Italian ancestry along with extradited Japanese Peruvians and detain them without due process.

The U.S. Department of Justice subsequently appropriated a Civilian Conservation Corps camp a week after the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 which they would then transform into the detention station that we know today as TCDS. From December 16, 1941 to October 30, 1943, the Tuna Canyon Detention Station imprisoned over

2,000 individuals. These individuals included prominent businessmen, martial arts teachers, civic and religious leaders.

Today, the TCDS Coalition serves to educate the public about the site's historical significance, preserve the site and historic artifacts, and seek out the names and stories of detainees. I applaud the diligence of the TCDS Board of Directors and volunteers who have worked tirelessly to document biographies of TCDS detainees. Additionally, TCDS Coalition was the driving force behind the Los Angeles City Council recognizing the Tuna Canyon Detention Station as a Historic Cultural Monument on June 25, 2013.

With only the oak trees left standing, it's vital for present and future generations to be informed of these wartime atrocities to ensure that the same actions never take place again. It is my pleasure to congratulate the Tuna Canyon Detention Station Coalition on all they have accomplished, and I ask all members to join me in commending their efforts.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the Equal Healthcare for All Act. Federal law protects against discrimination in housing, schooling, and employment.

But equitable access to healthcare remains broadly unprotected, the consequences of which are deadly: for Black women who are more likely to die during childbirth, for Hispanic individuals who suffer from higher rates of chronic diseases, for LGBTQ individuals who postpone medical treatment for fear of discrimination.

For the first time in our Nation's history, my bill would make equitable healthcare a protected civil right. And it will be another important step towards breaking down the barriers of discrimination in our country.

Madam Speaker, I want to thank Dwayne Hall, a community leader and good friend, for his efforts to conceptualize and advance this bill. The importance of those efforts cannot be understated.

Madam Speaker, we are here this afternoon to test a proposition as old as the country's founding: Are we a nation of laws?

We are here because one man has decided that we are now only a nation of men and that rich and powerful men need not follow the law. And the question we must confront is nothing less than this: Is he right?

Are some people now truly above the law, beholden to nothing and no one, free to ignore the law and without consequence?

Congress is investigating the worst attack on our Capitol in over a century, made worse still by the fact that it was carried out by our own people, people who had been misled to believe that their election had been stolen and that violence was now justified, people who are still being misled by a dangerous lie that may lead to even more bloodshed.

This is not some theoretical matter. We were here. We heard the doors breaking, the glass shattering, the cries from outside the Chamber. And we saw the bloody results, the officers injured, and those who died.

And in the wake of the horrors of that day, a day in which the Capitol Police put their lives on the line to defend our democracy, it falls on us to defend that same democracy, albeit at far less risk to ourselves.

The Founders intended that ambition should be made to check ambition. If we fail to uphold Congress' power to compel information, then we cease to be a coequal branch of government, unable to perform our oversight or check any abuses of executive power.

Take away a court's power to subpoena witnesses, and it fails to be a court. Take away the Congress' ability to do the same, and it fails to be a Congress, becoming instead a mere plaything for a corrupt executive.

Do not believe for one moment that if we fail to hold Steve Bannon accountable that he will be the exception. He will become the rule--not a rule of law, but the misrule of men.

Either we are all equal before the law or none of us is. This is the essence of our democracy.

As Lincoln said, ``Whatever differs from this, to the extent of the difference, is no democracy.''

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a true public servant. We use that term frequently and often too casually, but the individual I am speaking about unquestionably defines the term and sets an example we should all strive to achieve.

Elizabeth Jean Beck Vuna has served as my district office casework manager for 20 years. She has served the Congress and the American people for over 33 years. Prior to serving my constituents, she worked for Congressman Glenn Anderson and Congressman Stephen Horn from Long Beach, California.

It is worth noting that the bitter partisan politics of today have never touched Elizabeth's commitment to service. She has worked for Democrats and Republicans without concern for political philosophy. It is that dedication, that determination to help people, and that diligence that truly makes her irreplaceable.

Elizabeth will be retiring on September 30. When she does, we will be losing one of the most effective and compassionate caseworkers in the history of the Congress. Yes, I know that sounds boastful, but it is quite simply the truth.

Little did I know when I hired Elizabeth in 2002 what a profound impact she would have on the lives of so many of my constituents and on me.

Elizabeth began her career in public service because, when her brother returned home from the Vietnam war, he could find no assistance for his PTSD and Agent Orange-related illnesses. She decided it would be her mission to ensure that other veterans would not face a similar fate and often focused her efforts in helping veterans obtain the benefits they so richly deserved.

She also felt an affinity for immigrants since she and her husband adopted five orphaned children from Tonga. That experience led her to become a local expert in international adoption.

Her compassion for all immigrants also led her to become a recognized expert in the field, and she diligently advocated for all immigrants to be afforded all the benefits legally available to them.

The number of constituents Elizabeth has helped in a substantive manner are in the tens of thousands, and I am probably undercounting.

She has mentored other congressional staff and given guidance and direction to everyone who was lucky enough to ask her to do so.

Not a week goes by that I do not hear from some of my constituents about this miracle or feat that she accomplished on their behalf, whether it is large or small.

As her retirement became known, my office received dozens of emails thanking her for her service and asking if she couldn't stay just a little longer.

She has assisted the many studios in my district as well as the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the California Institute of Technology, but perhaps

more importantly, she has helped individual constituents, who needed a fierce champion for their cause, help navigate a bureaucracy that can seem arcane and senseless at times.

Elizabeth is a native Californian, the daughter of Wilbert and Ellen Beck.

Her large family is comprised of her husband, Steve; sons, Jesse and Sean, who tragically prematurely passed away; adopted Tongan children, Malia, Angela, Michelle, Joshua, and Jacob; and over a dozen grandchildren.

She will be missed in our office and by our constituents beyond measure, and I cannot thank her enough for her service.

I ask all Members to join me in thanking Elizabeth Jean Beck Vuna for her unwavering dedication to public service and wish her good health and prosperity in retirement.

Mr. Speaker, on June 3, 1969, 74 sailors were killed off the coast of Vietnam.

These sailors--the ``Lost 74''--perished when the USS Frank E Evans sank after colliding with an aircraft carrier participating in a training exercise.

Each of these service members were deployed to a combat zone. Each of these service members died in the service of our nation. And yet, their names have been left off the Vietnam Memorial wall.

These sailors deserve to be recognized alongside the individuals who lost their lives in service of our nation in the Vietnam War. This commemoration of their service is long overdue.

The Lost 74 are heroes who left their home and families to fight for their country--our country--and gave the last full measure of devotion in the service of peace and security.

Their names deserve to be honored and remembered alongside the 60,000 Americans who lost their lives in Vietnam.

Mr. Speaker, a free press is the cornerstone of a free society. Without it, democracy cannot thrive.

But freedom of the press is under assault around the world.

Journalists face persecution, detainment, torture, and even death for simply doing their jobs.

My amendment will empower the U.S. to hold accountable those who perpetrate crimes against journalists by prohibiting assistance to culpable governments.

Named for Jamal Khashoggi--whose brutal murder still goes unpunished--this will ensure America stands with journalists against those who would seek to harm them.

We must pass it.

In doing so, we will honor Mr. Khashoggi's legacy and protect the cornerstone of our own democracy by sending a clear message: the U.S. will not turn a blind eye to the abuse of journalists.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Khanna amendment. I am very grateful to Representative Khanna for his leadership.

Yemen and its people are suffering through a catastrophic tragedy. Sixteen million in Yemen are at risk of famine. This year alone, 400,000 children may die from severe malnutrition made so much worse by the conflict raging there.

Today, we have a powerful opportunity to help bring an end to this suffering by terminating the U.S. decision to provide military assistance to the Saudi Arabian coalition fueling Yemen's civil war. Our participation in this suffering simply cannot continue. We cannot be a party to the death of children and innocent civilians.

This is why I urge an emphatic ``yes'' in support of this amendment, to bring an end to the U.S. funding of the Saudi-led military campaign in Yemen.

Madam Speaker, Richard Trumka dedicated his life to elevating workers in America. During his tenure as President of AFL- CIO, he proudly represented the interests of more than 12 million union members, fighting with unbridled passion and persistence to achieve fair hours, living wages, and better working conditions for all. Every American, union member or not, owes him a debt of gratitude for his tireless advocacy and commitment to building a more equitable, more just workforce and economy.

Richard was a remarkable leader. This is evident from the enormous legacy of accomplishment he leaves behind and by the respect he garnered from the people he worked with and on behalf of. I had the immense privilege of knowing Richard on a personal level. And as exceptional of a leader as he was, he was an equally exemplary person-- one who was deeply committed to his family, his community, and his country. That kind of selflessness defined Richard's life and career-- that same spirit will define his legacy, too.

Richard was taken from us entirely too soon. And there are no words to ease the pain of this tragic loss, especially for his family and loved ones. But Richard will never truly leave us. His legacy will live on for generations to come, as a shining example of leadership and true public service. May his memory be a blessing.

Madam Speaker, the past 18 months have been difficult for all of us. But through the hardship, Americans have found solace and serenity in our beautiful public lands.

Back home in Los Angeles, the Rim of the Valley Corridor stands out as a jewel of nature. We must preserve this area of striking beauty so that future generations can enjoy all that it has to offer.

My amendment will add 191,000 acres of the Rim of the Valley Corridor to the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, empowering the National Parks Service and the local community to better protect its natural resources and habitats.

This is a cause I have worked on for two decades and one that has overwhelming support among my constituents and those in the region. Let's get it over the finish line.

Madam Speaker, I thank Representative DeGette for her extraordinary leadership, and I urge a ``yes'' vote on the amendment.

Madam Speaker, I have an amendment at the desk.

Madam Speaker, this amendment clarifies the authority of military commission judges to order court processing at Guantanamo to be broadcast over the internet. This is a straightforward, noncontroversial amendment that the House has passed twice by voice vote.

The GAO has studied this issue and concluded there are no technical barriers to broadcasting proceedings on the internet, and it can be done while protecting classified information.

This amendment comes down to simply whether or not we believe the American people have the right to observe the military commission proceedings, including against members of al-Qaida who planned the 9/11 attacks.

I believe that families of victims, journalists, academics, NGOs, and any American interested should be able to follow the proceedings without flying to Guantanamo, a difficult and lengthy process at best. I also believe this amendment is important because these military commissions have, in fact, failed.

After so many years, they have not delivered anything that could be called justice, but their distance hides the extent of their failings.

As we work toward closing Guantanamo, which I strongly support, we should cease to hide the legal processes happening there.

Madam Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I would simply point out that this amendment permits these judges to broadcast the proceedings so that people can witness them. It doesn't mandate that this be done in every case. I think these judges ought to have the discretion to do so.

This amendment makes it very clear that GAO has studied this issue and found that it is more than technologically feasible.

I think it is important that the American people, particularly the victims of 9/11 who would like to witness these proceedings, be allowed to do so. The victims of 9/11 can't easily travel--many of them can't travel at all--to Guantanamo to review the proceedings. I think that the victims of that heinous terrorist attack should have the ability to face those and observe the proceedings against those who have been charged with those offenses.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote on this amendment to increase transparency into the proceedings in Guantanamo and allow the victims of 9/11 to observe the proceedings, as many of them would like to, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I have an amendment at the desk.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of this amendment.

In June 2020, as individuals came together to proclaim that Black lives matter and speak out against the murder of George Floyd, Donald Trump saw these lawful protests as an opportunity to once again abuse the power of his office.

The former President threatened to deploy U.S. military units to cities across the country to serve as de facto law enforcement. The threat only heightened an already tense situation and risked catastrophe had he followed through.

The posse comitatus laws protect American citizens against the abuse of the military as a domestic law enforcement agency, but it has loopholes that need to be fixed. My amendment would do so.

The goals of this amendment are simple: strengthen restrictions to ensure the mission of the U.S. military cannot be abused and protect the civil liberties of our citizens.

Madam Speaker, I urge support of the amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, it is not that complicated. The current posse comitatus laws prohibit violation of this rule against using the military for law enforcement purposes but apply it only to two branches of the military, the Army and the Air Force. This would extend it to the other branches of the military. It is as simple as that.

It also provides that if you violate the law, you shouldn't use the evidence from the violation of that law in court proceedings. That is a well-established principle of criminal law, and it ought to apply here as well.

It is really quite simple. That is what this amendment would do.

Madam Speaker, I urge support, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I believe I have the right to close on this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I will now close.

This amendment is quite simple. It would extend the posse comitatus law to all branches of the military so it is not abused.

This is not about defunding the police. That is the usual red herring argument when there is no argument to be made on the merits.

So this would simply say that the prohibition against abusing the military and dragooning it as a method of enforcing domestic laws ought to be extended to every branch of the military not just two of the branches of the military. And those who would violate this law cannot use evidence gained in violation of the law against individuals. So that is what this amendment would do.

Madam Speaker, I urge its passage, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Woman's History Month. Each year, we pay special tribute to the contributions and sacrifices made by our Nation's women. It is an honor to pay homage to outstanding women who are making a difference in my Congressional District. I would like to recognize a remarkable woman, Dr. Barbara Ferrer of the Echo Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, California.

Dr. Ferrer obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Community Studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz, a Master of Arts in Public Health from Boston University, a Master of Arts in Education from the University of Massachusetts, Boston, and a Ph.D. in Social Welfare from Brandeis University. A renowned and respected public health leader, Dr. Ferrer has more than four decades of professional experience as a researcher, philanthropic strategist, community advocate, educational leader, and public health director.

Dr. Ferrer has held several leadership positions throughout the years, serving as Director of Health Promotion & Chronic Disease Prevention and Director of the Division of Maternal & Child Health, respectively, at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. She also served as Headmaster at a high school in Boston, where she spearheaded efforts to improve high school graduation rates. After working in these capacities, Dr. Ferrer served as the Executive Director of the Boston Public Health Commission. In this role, she directed the city's health department, including managing 1,100 employees, oversaw all Commission programs, and was a senior member of the Mayor's cabinet, advising on health-related issues. Under her leadership, the City of Boston experienced improvements in health outcomes, such as a decrease in the rates of childhood obesity, infant mortality, and smoking. Dr. Ferrer then went on to work for the W.K. Kellogg Foundation in Michigan as the Chief Strategy Officer, where her responsibilities included developing the strategic direction and providing leadership to the foundation's key program areas, such as community engagement, racial equity, and family economic security.

Presently, Dr. Barbara Ferrer serves as Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, which prevents disease, protects health, and promotes well-being and equity in Los Angeles County. In this capacity, she oversees a workforce of nearly 7,000 staff, and oversees all operating units, including the Bureaus of Operations Support, Health Promotion, Health Protection, and Disease Control. Dr. Ferrer guided the area's coronavirus pandemic response, collaborating with the County and community-based partners to ensure targeted services and appropriate policies to keep Los Angeles County residents safe during this health crisis. She leads the Department's Incident Command System, incepted at the start of the pandemic to facilitate informed decision-making and implementation of mitigation and response activities, such as safety protocols. The crisis response has included communications with education sectors, residents, and businesses, disease and outbreak management, vaccine planning and administration, development and implementation of health officer orders, and engagement of community leaders and stakeholders in response efforts. Dr. Ferrer's unparalleled and compassionate leadership, coupled with her wealth of knowledge, helped the community navigate during these unprecedented times.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring this exceptional, well-respected woman of California's 28th Congressional District, Dr. Barbara Ferrer.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Women's History Month. Each year, we pay special tribute to the contributions and sacrifices made by our Nation's women. It is an honor to pay homage to outstanding women who are making a difference in my Congressional District. I would like to recognize a remarkable woman, Susan Sung Hee Lee of La Crescenta, California.

A native Angeleno, Susan has lived in La Crescenta for most of her life, and attended Monte Vista Elementary School, Rosemont Middle School, and Crescenta Valley High School. She served in her church for many years, teaching Bible study to youth, and went on several mission trips to serve in rural cities in Mexico and northern Thailand. After graduating from high school, Susan pursued higher education receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in Humanities with an Asian American Studies major from the University of California, Irvine, an Associate's Degree in Nursing from Glendale Community College, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Azusa Pacific University.

Susan's mother, who has been a nurse for more than four decades, inspired, supported, and encouraged Susan's pursuit in becoming a nurse. Currently, Ms. Lee is a registered nurse at USC Verdugo Hills Hospital in the intensive care unit, where she has been a Relief Charge Nurse for nearly eleven years. She highly values her work as a nurse and strives to care for every patient as if they were a member of her family. As a La Crescenta resident for many years, Susan feels fortunate to be taking care of members of her community and serving in the area where she grew up.

Susan's dedication and passion for her job became even more evident during the unprecedented coronavirus pandemic. With the wholehearted support of her family, Ms. Lee worked at least one overtime shift every week and would stay past her 12-hour shifts when there was a shortage of nurses. Further, she volunteered to come to work before the start of her shifts so there would not be a gap in the care the patients were receiving. Susan also credits her work colleagues, who she sees as a second family, for persevering during the pandemic.

During the pandemic, Susan used her sewing machine to sew her own scrub caps and provided scrub caps to each of her colleagues, as well as putting her years of haircutting experience from her mission trips to use by giving haircuts to her colleagues when the hair salons and barber shops were closed. In addition, she brought homemade baked goods to share with her colleagues and continues to do so until today. While Susan sees these as simple gestures, she takes pride in knowing that she can provide comfort in the trying times of the pandemic and hopes to be able to contribute in this way throughout her career and personal life.

Susan is a loving wife and mother of two young children. She thrives in the outdoors and enjoys camping, hiking, scuba diving and bike riding.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring this exceptional, well-respected woman of California's 28th Congressional District, Susan Sung Hee Lee.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Women's History Month. Each year, we pay special tribute to the contributions and sacrifices made by our Nation's women. It is an honor to pay homage to outstanding women who are making a difference in my Congressional District. I would like to recognize a remarkable woman, Lynn LeMay of West Hollywood, California.

Lynn has been a resident of West Hollywood for many years. Her mother was in the United States Army and her father, who served in World War II, was a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps. Lynn was born in San Diego, California, while her father was overseas.

For many years, Ms. LeMay was a professional event planner and fundraiser for non-profit, corporate, and political groups. She oversaw numerous events for thousands of guests. Currently retired, Lynn dedicates her time to serve the LGBTQ community, and has done so for more than forty years. She is a steadfast advocate for people living with AIDS. Her compassion for people living with AIDS began in the 1980's when she worked in the interior design industry with renowned designer, Barbara Lockhart.

During her extensive nonprofit career, Ms. LeMay worked for Gay and Lesbian Adolescent Social Services, and while working for the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, helped open three hospice sites for individuals with AIDS. In addition, she volunteered with AIDS Project Los Angeles and with a Master's degree in clinical psychology, was a compassionate resource for those in need.

Lynn has been a volunteer with Project Angel Food for many years, which serves medically tailored meals to individuals living with illnesses, including HIV/AIDS. She was one of the first volunteers when founder Marianne Williamson was initially setting up the organization. Ms. LeMay serves as one of Project Angel Food's Telephone Angels, which is a buddy telephone program designed to combat social isolation. She also played a role in implementing Project Angel Food's Feminine Hygiene Program, which conducts outreach to age-appropriate clients. Lynn took part in both programs during the coronavirus pandemic. She felt fulfilled speaking to individuals on the phone to let them know that they were being thought of and there was someone to listen to them.

Lynn has a son, Austin, who has followed in his mother's footsteps by being an AIDS activist while he was enrolled at the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring this exceptional, well-respected woman of California's 28th Congressional District, Lynn LeMay.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Women's History Month. Each year, we pay special tribute to the contributions and sacrifices made by our Nation's women. It is an honor to pay homage to outstanding women who are making a difference in my Congressional District. I would like to recognize a remarkable woman, Nareh Manooki of Burbank, California.

After graduating from high school, Nareh attended the University of California San Diego (UCSD). During her junior year at UCSD, Nareh started to work part-time for the Boeing Company, joining full time after graduating from UCSD with a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering, followed by a Master of Science degree in Product Development

Engineering from the University of Southern California. At Boeing, she assumed leadership roles in extracurricular groups, including Boeing Women in Leadership and the Amelia Earhart Society. Nareh learned complicated processes and procedures when working on the 787 nacelle, and became lead of the project, receiving awards for her work on the project.

Nareh decided to make a shift in her career after the birth of her son. An experienced engineer who never lost sight of her passion for tutoring and helping people, she joined Glendale Community College (GCC) in 2018 as an instructor of engineering, where she currently teaches several classes including Introduction to Engineering and 3D Printing and Modeling. Soon after, Nareh was also hired to teach at Los Angeles Pierce College and Los Angeles City College, where she continues to teach today.

In addition to sharing her personal and professional experiences in the engineering industry with her students, Nareh also supports her students outside of the classroom with hands-on opportunities that benefit them and the community, especially supporting underrepresented minorities in STEM. When the coronavirus pandemic hit and everyone was sent home, the work outside the classroom seemed to be at a standstill. While Ms. Manooki was working remotely, she wanted to do something to help frontline workers, and while researching on line, she came across articles about 3D printing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). With the support of the GCC leadership, Nareh brought home the school's 3D printers to test different designs she had found for clinically tested products to donate to hospitals. She also discovered that there were many like-minded college instructors in California, with whom she shared the approved mask designs and learned the agreements and processes they established with local hospitals for donations.

Soon, the networking between GCC and local hospitals blossomed, and donation agreement forms were coming in. Nareh was printing with two or three 3D printers in her home from morning until evening, while simultaneously fulfilling her teaching and parental responsibilities. To meet the demands faster, she reached out to colleagues and students for help, who enthusiastically joined her efforts, and together as a team, they donated over two thousand face shields and ear tension straps to the community. Following the success of this effort, Ms. Manooki thought of ways to bring back opportunities for students to have hands-on projects while learning remotely. In May 2020, the Glendale College Foundation approved her proposed program to advise and mentor students on how to learn to operate 3D printers and improve existing PPE designs. The program proved to be a success. Nareh's students designed and created their own prototypes while gaining hands- on engineering technology skills during a pandemic school year.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring this exceptional, well-respected woman of California's 28th Congressional District, Nareh Manooki.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Women's History Month. Each year, we pay special tribute to the contributions and sacrifices made by our Nation's women. It is an honor to pay homage to outstanding women who are making a difference in my Congressional District. I would like to recognize a remarkable woman, Catherine Y. Kim of the Los Feliz area of Los Angeles, California.

Born and raised in Los Feliz, Catherine is a proud child of Korean immigrants. After attending Lycee International de Los Angeles in Los Feliz, she continued her higher education at New York University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Media, Culture, and Communications and a minor in Art History.

After working in New York City in public relations and the fashion industry, Catherine moved back to Los Angeles. While volunteering as a member of the League of Women Voters, Catherine recognized the importance of being involved at the local level to make a difference in the community. With a wealth of experience as the past chair of the East Hollywood Los Feliz Homeless Coalition, and former Vice President of the Los Feliz Neighborhood Council, where she is currently a member, Ms. Kim cofounded SELAH Neighborhood Homeless Coalition (SELAH). SELAH is a community-based volunteer organization devoted to supporting her unhoused neighbors in Silver Lake, Echo Park, Los Feliz, Atwater Village and East Hollywood.

Ms. Kim's passion for helping the community became even more evident when the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic began. She was instrumental in guiding SELAH to serve those in-need through countless ways, from providing showers, case management/housing navigation, meals, hygiene supplies, and clothing to initiating an emergency food program. In addition, Catherine was instrumental in distributing COVID-19 education material and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to the unhoused communities impacted by the closing of regular homeless food and assistance programs. In the Fall of 2020, Catherine joined the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services Housing for Health division COVID Response Team as a Procurement Specialist, working during a time of a global supply chain crisis to ensure that county quarantine and isolation sites came online as fast as possible, and that COVID-19 testing teams for individuals facing homelessness were protected with PPE when out in the field. Presently, Ms. Kim is committed to supporting the efforts of Los Angeles County in COVID-19 vaccine education, administration, and outreach in the unhoused community, and also coordinating SELAH's roving and on-site vaccine clinics for areas that are overlooked or hard to reach.

Catherine enjoys empowering people to serve their community and encouraging them to partake in civic engagement. She likes painting, visiting museums, scuba diving, attending concerts, hiking in Griffith Park, and walking in her neighborhood.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring this exceptional, well-respected woman of California's 28th Congressional District, Catherine Y. Kim.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Women's History Month. Each year, we pay special tribute to the contributions and sacrifices made by our nation's women. It is an honor to pay homage to outstanding women who are making a difference in my Congressional District. I would like to recognize a remarkable woman, Rebecca Berberian of Glendale, California.

A native Angeleno, Rebecca Berberian, RN, BSN, MHA, has been a resident of Glendale for over thirty years. She attained a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Pacific Union College, in Angwin, California, and a Master's in Healthcare Administration from Cal State LA while working fulltime. She began her career in healthcare in 1988 as an operating room nurse at LAC+USC Medical Center and later went on to work as a surgical nurse at Adventist Health White Memorial in Los Angeles. She has worked at Adventist Health White Memorial for more than three decades, and presently serves as the hospital's director of the Risk Management and Infection Prevention departments. In this capacity, Rebecca develops policies and procedures to promote patient safety, collects and analyzes infection data, manages hospital claims, and coordinates with local and national public health agencies. As a mission driven and faith-based organization, Adventist Health White Memorial has encouraged Rebecca to follow her passion. of volunteering and working in several medical missions in underserved regions of Peru, Armenia and Artsakh.

Ms. Berberian is wholeheartedly dedicated to her work and to the community that the hospital serves. Her passion for her job became even more evident during the coronavirus pandemic. Specifically during the surge periods, she worked long hours supporting the hospital's efforts in responding to the pandemic, including taking part in strategic decision-making about converting hospital units to accommodate high hospitalization rates, contact tracing infections among staff, and securing personal protective equipment. Rebecca demonstrated compassion and empathy towards families during their loved ones' hospital stays and did everything she could to support them. She has also volunteered at the hospital's vaccination clinics. Rebecca is thankful for her colleagues and hospital administration for the teamwork, support, and expertise that was displayed during this unprecedented time.

In addition to her career in healthcare, Ms. Berberian is active in the Armenian Relief Society (ARS), which is an international educational, philanthropic, and humanitarian organization. She served as the ARS Western USA Chairwoman and also as Chair of the Los Angeles ARS Maro Chapter, where she is currently a member. In her roles as chairperson, she oversaw the work of the ARS Saturday Armenian schools and led fundraising campaigns. Rebecca continues to work for the betterment of Armenians in the homeland and diaspora.

Rebecca is married to her husband, Sarkis, and together they have two daughters, Alique and Lori.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring this exceptional, well-respected woman of California's 28th Congressional District, Rebecca Berberian.