Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, today I stand to recognize Safe Boating Week beginning on May 20th and ending on May 27. I ask my colleagues to join me in drawing attention to this important issue and making water-based recreational activities safer and more enjoyable for all.

I would like to thank the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 3-5 for hosting a Safe Boating and Water Safety Day in Sacramento on May 20. They will be holding demonstrations and presenting safety displays along the river water fronts for all families and residents in attendance. I believe that efforts such as these are crucial to reducing the number of boating-related deaths and injuries that occur each year.

Most boating accidents are preventable and occur because of human error, not because of environmental factors. In 2016, 266 boating accidents resulted in 150 injuries and 36 fatalities in Northern California alone. Many of these fatalities can be attributed to the victim not wearing a life jacket. We must make it explicitly known to the general public that today's life jackets are more affordable, more comfortable, and truly key to avoiding accidental drownings. Together, we must encourage all boaters to practice safe boating, attend safe boating classes, and live by the slogan ``Wear It California!''

Mr. Speaker, I ask all my colleagues to join me in recognizing Safe Boating Week activities in West Sacramento.

Mr. Speaker, Republicans are turning their backs on the American people today. There are no guarantees with this bill. This bill will raise costs for families, penalize people nearing retirement with an age tax, and rip coverage away from millions of Americans.

And if that wasn't bad enough, this revised TrumpCare bill guts protections for people with preexisting conditions; people like Cameron, who was diagnosed with cancer at 24 years old. Because of the Affordable Care Act, he was able to access coverage and attend graduate school. Now, of course, he has a preexisting condition.

This is personal for Cameron and millions more in this country, and they are not going to be silent as Republicans rush this legislation through.

Mr. Speaker, lives are on the line. I urge my Republican colleagues to have the courage to vote ``no'' on this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce--and, in particular, Program Chair Erica Taylor--for leading the 47th Annual Capitol-to-Capitol program this year. As this delegation of business, civic and political representatives from the six-county Sacramento region concludes its program in Washington, D.C., I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing these fine Sacramentans.

For nearly 50 years, the Sacramento Metro Chamber has organized an annual delegation lobbying program in Washington, D.C. This year, over 300 leaders from the Sacramento region descended on the capital for a series of meetings, field tours, and receptions to speak collectively as a unified voice for Sacramento's business community. The delegation of volunteers organized itself into 12 policy committees covering key priority issues for the Sacramento region, such as flood protection, transportation, health care, and workforce development. I always enjoy meeting with the delegation teams and hearing about a variety of topics that are important to my hometown.

I would especially like to commend the 2017 Cap-to-Cap Chair, Erica Taylor of Golden One Credit Union. As a leader in the community, Erica spends her time serving on boards and organizations with the goal of improving Sacramento for all. She has immersed herself in Chamber activities for years, including serving as a founding member of MetroEDGE, graduating from the Chamber's Leadership Sacramento Program, and serving on the Chamber's board of directors. Outside of the Chamber, Erica currently serves on the board of directors for KVIE, the Los Rios Foundation, and Sacramento Covered. Her commitment to the Sacramento Region is clear from her extensive civic involvement, and I want to congratulate her on the impeccable job she did organizing and leading this year's Cap-to-Cap program.

Mr. Speaker, in large part due to Erica's leadership, Cap-to-Cap this year was a significant success for the Sacramento region. I am honored to recognize the Metro Chamber's delegation for its economic and civic contributions to the Sacramento Region. On behalf of the people of Sacramento and the Sixth Congressional District of California, I ask all my colleagues to join me in commending their unwavering commitment to Sacramento's growth and development.

Mr. Speaker, across the board, the President's first 100 days have been marked by nothing but broken promises.

Instead of creating jobs, he has made it a priority to repeatedly push for a TrumpCare bill that will increase costs for families and rip away care from more than 24 million people.

The American people have made it clear time and time again that TrumpCare is a bad bill, but the President refuses to listen.

He and congressional Republicans remain intent on pushing through legislation that undermines the care of people, like a social worker in my district in Sacramento who before the Affordable Care Act, went into debt in order to pay for a few routine medical tests.

The President should spend some time thinking about our country's future instead of taking reckless actions that put the health and well- being of American families on the line.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Morton & Pitalo, Inc. as they celebrate their 40th Anniversary. As the community and members of Morton & Pitalo gather today, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring them and their long history of service to the Sacramento region and beyond.

Co-founded by Richard Morton and John Pitalo in 1977, Morton and Pitalo, Inc. is the oldest locally-owned firm in the region. Mr. Morton and Mr. Pitalo have created an organization that provides high-quality civil engineering, land planning, and land surveying to their clients. Providing all of these services via a single firm allows Morton & Pitalo to be closely involved and knowledgeable in entire construction projects, from start to finish. Dedicated to the success of their projects, the highly-talented staff's teamwork is the key to the many accomplishments of Morton & Pitalo's operations. As they commemorate their 40th Anniversary, they can celebrate having successfully completed thousands of projects for the public and private sectors.

Mr. Speaker, as the members and friends of Morton & Pitalo, Inc. celebrate their 40 years of service to the Sacramento region and beyond, I ask all my colleagues to join me in honoring them for their dedication to their clients and to our community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Lt. Philip V. Lansdale Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 67 as they celebrate the 100th Anniversary of their congressional charter. The VFW Post 67 is the second Post in California to reach their centennial milestone. As they gather tonight for their Centennial Celebration, I would like to honor the members of the VFW Post 67 for the superb work they have done on behalf of veterans and veteran causes on a national stage and in the Sacramento area.

In 1916, 32 veterans who served in the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy chose to continue to serve our country by aiding their veteran brothers and sisters in our region. The Post is named after Lt. Philip V. Lansdale, who served on the U.S. Philadelphia. VFW Post 67 was founded in Sacramento with the noble cause to ensure the war bonuses promised to veterans after World War I, to promote comradeship, and to improve the well-being of veterans and their families. On January 3, 1917, VFW Post 67 was recognized for its efforts and received it congressional charter.

VFW Post 67 has had many great leaders in its 100 years. Most notably are the first Post Commander, Mr. William Taylor, and the Silver Star recipient Mr. Darold D. Decoe, Sr. as National Commander in Chief. For a century, The VFW Post 67 has provided support to an abundant amount of veterans and has used its collective voice to advocate for veteran causes. Current members are dedicated to continuing the mission of the VFW Post 67 and continue to be a haven for Sacramento's veterans.

In honoring tonight's celebration, it is important to honor all of the important work and contributions to veterans that the VFW Post 67 has helped advanced nationally and in the Sacramento region. The VFW played a major role in the formation of the Veterans Administration as well as pursuing compensation for Vietnam veterans and fighting for both the 20th and 21st century GI bills. We would like to express gratitude to those involved in Post 67's diligent service to our country's veterans and their families.

Mr. Speaker, as the members of the VFW Post 67 take part in their centennial celebration, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in honoring them for their astounding service to the veteran community in the Sacramento area.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 50th Anniversary of Portuguese Immigrant Week. As members of the Portuguese community in the Sacramento region celebrate and gather today, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring them and their long history and contributions to our region and country.

California was discovered by Portuguese explorer Joao Rodrigues Cabrillo in 1542. Centuries later, in the mid-1800s, Portuguese immigrants made new roots for their families setting in our state--many owned, operated, or worked on a dairy farm or in the dairy-related industry. Throughout the many decades, the Portuguese communities in California have made a great effort to preserve their culture and identity. The Portuguese communities and their members contribute many services to the local community and they are always striving to uphold the values that the Portuguese community holds dear. Fifty years ago, recognizing their contributions, then Governor Ronald Reagan declared the second week of March as ``Portuguese Immigrant Week''. We celebrate the long history of the Portuguese community in our region. The community in Sacramento continues to share their rich and beautiful heritage and we will continue to celebrate their influence in our region.

Mr. Speaker, as members of our community gather to celebrate the outstanding contributions of our Portuguese families, I ask all my colleagues to join me in honoring them for their dedication.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 25th Anniversary of the Natomas Unified School District. As staff, families, and community members gather to celebrate this momentous occasion, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in recognizing this outstanding school district and all that it has accomplished over the past 25 years.

On March 5th in 1991, the Natomas community overwhelmingly voted in support of a proposed Natomas Unified School District. It is hard to believe that 25 years have passed since July 1992, when the Natomas Unified School District officially was born. Today, the Natomas Unified School District serves over 15,000 students and their families in pre- kindergarten through 12th grade. The school district now offers countless programs and services that help students be successful in school and ultimately graduate college and enter the workforce.

I have seen firsthand the incredible impact the Natomas Unified School District has on our community. For 25 years, the dedicated staff of the Natomas Unified School District has carefully selected qualified and passionate teachers, involved the community in the education process, and worked tirelessly to meet the needs of students. These staff and teachers help create a safe and welcome learning environment for their students, and that important work truly has a positive impact on our community as a whole.

Mr. Speaker, as the Natomas Unified School District and the community it serves gather to celebrate the District's 25th Anniversary, I ask all my colleagues to join me in honoring 25 years of providing high quality education for children and adults in Natomas.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life and legacy of Jeannette Rankin, whose groundbreaking career in Congress a century ago paved the way for all of my female colleagues standing here today.

Jeannette Rankin was persistent, driven, and fearless.

She came to the House of Representatives before women even had the right to vote in this country.

Jeannette Rankin's voice in Congress was instrumental for women's suffrage. She knew how to get things done, opening the first House floor debate on women's right to vote in 1918.

And she stayed true to her convictions throughout her life, advocating for peace.

Today my fellow female Members of Congress and I stand together to honor trailblazers like Jeannette Rankin, whose bravery and determination opened the doors for women in the United States and throughout the world.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to S.J. Res. 34. This is just the latest attempt from our Republican colleagues to use the Congressional Review Act to gut critical protections for American consumers.

The internet is increasingly intertwined with our daily lives, and nearly every American family uses the internet to access and share personal and sensitive information. The business we conduct online includes financial information, details about our medical history, and even information on our kids.

If this resolution of disapproval passes today, there will be no rules on the books to stop internet service providers from selling that browsing history without your permission. Because our Republican colleagues are using the Congressional Review Act to overturn these critical consumer protections, the FCC can't go back and write new rules in the future.

Despite what my colleagues on the other side of the aisle have said, the Federal Trade Commission cannot bring cases against broadband providers. That is why the FTC supported these rules when the FCC adopted them last year.

Even if you think the FCC did not get these rules right, this resolution effectively eliminates the FCC from ever acting to protect consumer privacy in the future. We should be working together to address any real shortcomings if these rules need to be fixed. That is not what the resolution before us will do.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote against this damaging resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, we have heard a lot of rhetoric about how this bill would supposedly fix our healthcare system. President Trump said that his plan would provide insurance for everybody. That is not the bill before us today.

The last-minute backroom changes have only made a bad bill worse. Republicans stuck in a provision to strip away essential health benefits for American families.

The list of services in jeopardy is long, devastating, and cruel, services like emergency services, hospitalization, prescription drugs, preventive care, and many other guarantees.

These are basic health services that every person in the country deserves, like my constituent Elizabeth, whose daughter is guaranteed pediatric care to treat her type 1 diabetes because of these essential benefits. Without coverage, out-of-pocket costs would add up to more than her entire year's salary.

I can't stand here and allow my Republican colleagues to say they are saving people from ObamaCare while they are stripping away essential care for families like Elizabeth's. I urge my colleagues to oppose this bill.

Mr. Speaker, it is with profound sadness that I rise to honor the life of my good friend, Dorothy Stevens Enomoto, who passed away on February 14th of this year. I ask my colleagues to join me in tribute to Dorothy's truly remarkable life which she dedicated to civil rights advocacy and public service.

Dorothy Stevens Enomoto was the widow of the late Jerry Enomoto, the first Asian-Pacific American United States Marshal. Dorothy met Jerry during her time in the Department of Corrections, where she became the first African-American woman to manage a department and to hold the position of Deputy Director of the Department of Women's Civil Addict Unit at the California Rehabilitation Center.

Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Dorothy was the granddaughter of a former slave. Dorothy was a classmate and close friend to Martin Luther King, Jr., sharing valedictorian honors with him at Booker T. Washington Senior High School in Atlanta, Georgia. Eighteen years ago, Dorothy cofounded the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Annual Celebration with her late husband, Jerry, and my late husband, Bob.

After her retirement, Dorothy continued to pursue the fight for equality by serving on the Sacramento Affirmative Action Committee, the Executive Committee of the Sacramento chapter of the NAACP, and numerous other organizations which benefitted from her knowledge and experience. She and Jerry also served on the U.S. Attorney General's Greater Sacramento Area Hate Crimes Task Force.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the life of Dorothy Stevens Enomoto. Her daughters, Yvonne Roby and Marcia Roby Jackson, are living testaments to the positive impact she and Jerry made on our community and world.

Mr. Speaker, I was not present during evening votes on March 9, 2017. Had I been present, I would have voted YES on roll call votes 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 149, 150, and 151. I would have voted NO on roll call vote numbers 148 and 152.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 90th Anniversary of Sacramento's Memorial Auditorium. As the City of Sacramento celebrates one of its most valued and awe inspiring buildings, I ask all my colleagues to join me in honoring this historical piece of architecture in Sacramento.

The Memorial Auditorium, listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1977, opened in 1927 and is dedicated as a tribute and memorial to those in our community who gave their lives to our country. The Memorial Auditorium has provided the venue for a variety of events including concerts, local graduations, competitions and gubernatorial inaugurations. The building has many unique architectural design elements and operational features.

In honor of this anniversary, the City of Sacramento is offering a viewing of the classic comedy and silent film ``Steamboat Bill, Jr.'' accompanied by the local organist Dave Moreno live. This Buster Keaton film has special connection with the area, as it was filmed on the Sacramento River in 1927 the same year the Memorial Auditorium opened.

Mr. Speaker, as the City of Sacramento honors the 90th Anniversary of the Memorial Auditorium, I ask all my colleagues to join me in honoring this staple of the Sacramento area and all it has provided to the community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Otto Construction as they celebrate their 70th Anniversary. As the community and members of Otto Construction gather today, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring them and their long history of service to the Sacramento region and beyond.

A three generation family-owned business, Otto Construction was founded in 1947 by John F. Otto. When he opened Otto Construction, it was with the core values of honesty, integrity, and compassion. He strived to provide the best service to their customers delivering quality projects while maintaining high standards at a competitive price. When John's son, Carl Otto, joined the family business in 1971, he brought his commitment to civic duty and community involvement to the organization which helped intertwine their business and the Sacramento community to create a larger foot print. Joining the company in 2000, Allison Otto represents the third generation. Allison's focus is in the marketing department, carrying the same commitment to our community as her grandfather and father.

Otto Construction has helped build the Sacramento community, not just with the projects they have done, such as historical renovations, building community centers and hospital buildings, but with the impact they have had throughout their charitable work. Otto Construction has partnered with the Society for the Blind, Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services, Eskaton Foundation and Sacramento SPCA, with many of their employees serving on the boards of nonprofits. A few notable projects include the Powerhouse Science Center, the California Lottery Headquarters, Bonney Field, the restoration of the Julia Morgan House, and Shriner's Hospital.

Mr. Speaker, as the family and members of Otto Construction celebrate their 70 years of service to the Sacramento region and beyond, I ask all my colleagues to join me in honoring them for their dedication to their community through their business practices and charitable work that have made them so successful throughout the years.