Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the Asian Community Center of Sacramento Valley (ACC) as they celebrate their 25th anniversary. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the hardworking staff, volunteers and supporters of the ACC who have ensured that this fine organization has continued to provide valuable senior health and social services to Sacramento's seniors.

Originally established as the Asian Nursing Home in 1987, the Asian Community Center offers a wide array of culturally sensitive services and programs dedicated to improving the lives of Sacramento's seniors and their families. Today, the ACC Nursing Home continues to provide 24-hour, long-term health and nursing care to vulnerable seniors.

Recognizing the growing need to provide more culturally sensitive services to senior citizens in Sacramento, the Asian Nursing Home changed its name to the Asian Community Center and established its Park City activities center. Through Park City, the ACC is able to provide more than 150 classes each month in a variety of subjects including wellness, computer literacy, physical activity and art.

Located at Park City, the ACC Respite program provides daily care to older adults with disabilities and impairments, and gives them the opportunity to participate in activities specific to frail adults, and those with Alzheimer's Disease, dementia or Parkinson's. In many cases, the ACC Respite program provides a valued service to the families of disabled and impaired adults, and gives them an opportunity to fulfill daily tasks, run errands and attend appointments.

Additionally, in light of state and local budget cuts in 2010, the ACC then took over the operation of Sacramento's Meals on Wheels program. The ACC created a separate non-profit and accepted responsibility for the program as local service providers were faced with shutting down the program. Today, Meals on Wheels by ACC serves meals to 5,660 home bound seniors and older adults each week, and recently served its one millionth meal!

Lastly, the Asian Community Center has been instrumental in the creation of the Bridge to Healthy Families program, which seeks to build strong support systems for the families caring for elders suffering from Alzheimer's disease or dementia. Through its many programs and services to seniors citizens and their families, the ACC has become an anchor in Sacramento.

Mr. Speaker I am honored to recognize and celebrate the outstanding service of the Asian Community Center of Sacramento Valley on its 25th Anniversary. The Asian Community Center's success is owed in large part to its executive director, Donna Yee, its board of directors, staff, volunteers, and the countless supporters who keep it running each day. I ask all my colleagues to join me in honoring their valuable contributions to the community and honoring their continued tradition of supporting Sacramento's seniors and vulnerable citizens.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the service of Brice Harris, as he retires from his position as Chancellor of the Los Rios Community College District. Throughout his remarkable 16 years as chancellor, Mr. Harris has skillfully guided the district on a steady path leaving a lasting legacy across the Sacramento region. I ask all of my colleagues to join me in honoring this remarkable Sacramentan.

Chancellor Harris joined the Los Rios Community College District in 1996. He had been serving as the President of Fresno City College and spent time in the leadership positions with community colleges in the Midwest. One of his many remarkable accomplishments as Chancellor was the oversight and accreditation of the district's fourth college, Folsom Lake College, which is a wonderful addition to the Sacramento region serving more than 9,000 students to date. Furthermore, his concern for students' ability to access a quality education, led him to fight to keep fees low in a time of budget cuts, encouraged light rail and public transit access to the district's colleges and led to efforts to pass local bond measures to expand Los Rios facilities.

Under his leadership, the district began to create programs to meet both the needs of the local workforce and students transferring to the state's four year college system. Understanding the need for more nurses and healthcare professionals, Chancellor Harris formed the HealthForce program, which has strengthened and expanded the Los Rios' nursing programs. He then went on to create GreenForce, which encourages students to enter into, and train in, the growing clean technology fields. These initiatives exemplify Chancellor Harris' forward thinking approach to education and his unwavering drive to help students succeed.

Chancellor Harris has been an outstanding member of the Sacramento community. He was honored by the Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce as ``Sacramentan of the Year'' and named ``Humanitarian of the Year'' by United Cerebral Palsy of Sacramento and Northern California. In addition, he has served as chair of the Sacramento Area Commerce and Trade Organization and of the Northern California World Trade Center. Chancellor Harris was also an active participant on the Crocker Art Museum Board of Directors.

Mr. Speaker, as Chancellor Brice Harris prepares to retire I ask my colleagues to join me in wishing him continued good fortune in his future endeavors. Chancellor Harris has stood as an instrumental force behind the strengthening of Sacramento's education system and workforce, and we all are thankful for his efforts.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the NeighborWorks HomeOwnership Center Sacramento Region and its employees as they celebrate their 25th anniversary. NeighborWorks is a nonprofit organization committed to improving the Sacramento community by increasing opportunities for families to purchase their own homes and preserving homeownership. I ask all my colleagues to join me in honoring NeighborWorks Sacramento Region for their important contribution to the Sacramento community.

Originally founded in 1987, NeighborWorks has grown tremendously and now serves the entire Sacramento Region as well as parts of California's Central Valley. Lead by a committed board of directors and CEO Pam Canada, the devoted staff and partners of NeighborWorks continually work alongside local residents to improve Sacramento's neighborhoods, and make the dream of homeownership a reality for all. For 25 years, NeighborWorks has been successful in increasing homeownership, assisting first-time home buyers, and empowering residents through education and community engagement. It is my privilege to serve as an honorary member of their Board of Trustees, as it was the honor of my late husband, Congressman Robert T. Matsui too. I have enjoyed working with Pam, and always find her and her staff to be responsive to the needs of my constituents.

As our nation's foreclosure crisis continued this past year, the NeighborWorks Sacramento Region has counseled more than 19,800 customers on a variety of housing related issues including foreclosure prevention, refinancing and home purchasing. Through their 3 offices, they have prevented more than 400 foreclosures by helping these distressed homeowners acquire loan modifications, and assisted 2400 residents in purchasing affordable homes. In conjunction with the McGeorge School of Law, NeighborWorks has provided more than 670 customers with free legal services through the National Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling program. Through their work, they have helped hundreds of families avoid homelessness.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to pay tribute to the NeighborWorks HomeOwnership Center Sacramento Region on its 25th Anniversary. I am confident that the organization will continue to be a beacon for those seeking the American dream of homeownership. I ask all my colleagues to join me in recognizing the excellence of the staff and of NeighborWorks Sacramento Region who commit their lives and professional careers to the people of Sacramento.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the service of Mr. Rob Rigsby as he retires from the United States General Services Administration and his post at the Robert T. Matsui United States Courthouse. As his wife Marilyn, his friends and colleagues all gather to celebrate his outstanding career, I ask my colleagues to join me in tribute to Rob and his almost four decades of public service.

Throughout his 37-year career in federal service, the last 13 years at the Robert T. Matsui United States Courthouse, Rob has become a well-loved and respected leader among his colleagues and building occupants. Rob began his post as Building Manager the day the building opened in 1999. Since then, he has been a loyal and hard working member of the building team and has devoted his time to making Sacramento's federal courthouse the remarkable building that it is today.

My late husband, Congressman Robert Matsui, and I have had our district offices in the courthouse that Rob manages. I have got to know him over the years and always appreciated his attention to detail and customer service. Rob is no stranger to my district staff, who I know share my appreciation for his work. We will always be thankful for all that he has done to make both the Robert T. Matsui United States Courthouse and my district office an inviting place for all of my constituents.

Beyond his work, Rob has always had a passion for travel and upon his retirement, he will be leaving us to embark on a new journey as the owner of Ships and Trips Travel. I also understand that he will be taking a much deserved cruise.

Mr. Speaker, as Rob Rigsby prepares to retire from federal service, I ask my colleagues to join me in wishing him good fortune in his future endeavors. Rob has truly been a wonderful member of the federal family and will be missed by all of his friends and colleagues. I wish him well on the next chapter of his life.

I thank the gentlelady from New York for yielding me time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to this rule and the underlying legislation. This bill marks the 31st time that the Republicans attempted to repeal the Affordable Care Act, even though the Supreme Court of the United States has ruled it constitutional.

Unfortunately, instead of focusing on job creation, here we are again. The underlying legislation exemplifies the majority's continuous drumbeat to abolish the ACA, fearful that Americans may have a chance to fully realize its tremendous benefits.

Instead, the majority has only offered vague phrases and empty rhetoric, such as ``patient-centered health care,'' while repeatedly attempting to repeal legislation that will expand access to care for millions of Americans. Clearly, their idea of ``patient-centered health care'' refers only to those patients who can afford skyrocketing health insurance rates and do not have any preexisting conditions. What is the point of ``patient-centered health care'' when only a small portion of the public can access the care?

The underlying legislation before us today would deny my constituents and the American people the consumer protections for which they've been asking for for years. This legislation would increase costs to families, small business owners, and seniors across the board. It would allow insurance companies to deny coverage to Americans with preexisting conditions, drop coverage when people get sick, re- institute lifetime limits on coverage, and charge people more based merely on gender.

The ACA has already created long-lasting benefits for many of my constituents, including Paula, who, in March of 2010, was diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma, a rare children's bone cancer, and given a 15 percent chance of survival. Initially, she was lucky to have health insurance. But at an average of $60,000 per chemotherapy treatment, she quickly approached her lifetime benefits cap. These are not burdens anyone can or should have to bear.

Because of the ACA, she remained covered and was able to complete her full treatment plan. And in the future, because of the law, Paula will not have to fear being denied coverage due to this preexisting condition.

It is time that we move forward and focus our efforts on job creation. I urge my colleagues to vote down this rule and vote against this underlying legislation.

I thank the gentleman from Florida for yielding me time.

Mr. Speaker, this conference report includes a transportation bill that will help put Americans back to work and rebuild our infrastructure. It will also

ensure that students will not see an interest rate hike on their loans. This package also includes a much-needed 5-year extension of the National Flood Insurance Program. This comes after 17 short-term extensions.

Mr. Speaker, I represent Sacramento, which is the most at-risk metropolitan area for major flooding, as it lies at the confluence of the American and the Sacramento Rivers.

Since Hurricane Katrina, more than 25,000 homeowners in my district have been remapped, and flood insurance is now mandatory for them. The average homeowner in Sacramento that has been remapped currently pays about $350 for a PRP policy. That's a preferred-rate policy. Beginning in 2013, they were set to pay $1,350 once the PRP rate expired. However, that is no longer the case.

This bill contains a number of important provisions, including a flood insurance phase-in amendment offered during debate on the House NFIP bill last July. Instead of overnight sticker shock for homeowners, the provision allows for the price of flood insurance to be phased in at 20 percent per year over 5 years to the full policy price, when preferred-risk policies are no longer available in their community.

Specifically, it will effectively allow homeowners next year, in 2013, residing in Sacramento and the rest of the country, to pay close to if not the same amount they're currently paying. Each year after that, the price of flood insurance will continue to be both affordable and predictable, only rising by 20 percent until it reaches full price in year five. This provision will save the average policyholder in a remapped area hundreds of dollars, if not a few thousand, over the next 5 years.

Mr. Speaker, this provision offers real savings, especially in these trying economic times, whether it's for a senior citizen on a fixed income or a family struggling to make ends meet.

Finally, I would like to commend Chairwoman Biggert and Ranking Member Waters for working with me, for their continuous efforts to preserve this amendment and work towards achieving this 5-year extension.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the Girl Scouts Heart of Central California and the Girl Scouts of the United States of America as they celebrate their 100th anniversary. As Girl Scouts across the country and those in Sacramento gather to celebrate this remarkable milestone, I ask all my colleagues to join me in honoring the Girl Scouts' important role nationally and in the Sacramento community.

The Girl Scouts began under the guidance of Juliette Gordon Low who founded the organization with a handful of girls seeking new experiences and opportunities in their communities. Over the last century they have grown to a membership of over 3.2 million girls and adults, including nearly 29,000 girls and 11,000 adult volunteers in Sacramento and Central California.

Over the last one hundred years, the Girl Scouts of the United States of America has provided many services to their scouts' communities and to this country. During World War I, the Girl Scouts sold war bonds to help fund the war effort; the Great Depression saw them running food drives and volunteering in hospitals; they grew Victory Gardens during World War II; they supported the civil rights movement in the 1960s; and after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, they reached out to a shaken America with special services to the community and for first responders.

With the help of parent volunteers and other adults giving their time and effort to the organization, the Girl Scouts have been able to grow and continue their legacy as a resource for our daughters, nieces, and granddaughters. They cultivate service, character, appreciation for diversity, and confidence in young girls, fostering new generations of female leaders. The Girl Scouts Heart of Central California provides programs that include activities encouraging girls to explore careers in the STEM fields--science, technology, engineering and math; an outreach program for girls in underserved rural and urban areas; and a Latino initiative reaching out to encourage first-generation Spanish- speaking women to serve as Girl Scout leaders.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to pay tribute to the Girl Scouts Heart of Central California and the Girl Scouts of the United States of America on its 100th anniversary. I am confident

that the Girl Scouts will continue to affect positive change and help inspire girls across the nation. I ask all my colleagues to join me in honoring the Girl Scouts of the United States of America and their outstanding service to our country.

Mr. Speaker, Sacramento's flood risk is well documented. It is the most at-risk metropolitan area for major flooding in our nation. It is home to California's State Capitol, an international airport, and half a million people. If Sacramento were to flood the economic damages could reach up to $40 billion dollars.

A critical component for protecting Sacramento from a disaster is the Natomas Levee Improvement Project. Local taxpayers have voted to tax themselves on two separate occasions to pay for this project. Moreover, in the absence of federal participation, the state and local governments have already completed 18 miles of levee improvements and will have spent upwards of $350 million on the project by the end of this year.

The federal government has not been able to support this crucial flood protection project, because of the current ban on earmarks and this Congress's challenges in investing in our nation's infrastructure. The result of this is that construction is expected to stop this year leaving 100,000 of my constituents at risk.

While I realize and appreciate that the authorization of Army Corps of Engineers projects is not within the purview of the Appropriations Committee, the topic is nonetheless important to raise. The underlying problem is the absolute prohibition against ``earmarks'' our Majority has imposed on this body, which is impeding our ability to our job. This moratorium has resulted in the stopping routine authorizing legislation our constituents badly need: a new Water Resources Development Act bill. Working with the Corps of Engineers, we have accomplished every conceivable review, documentation and approval requirement for this project to go forward, but Congress has still yet to act on the legislation necessary to move forward with these badly needed projects.

The completed Chief's Report for this project was sent to Congress by the Corps over a year ago yet no action has taken place. One hundred thousand people, an international airport, hundreds of small businesses, a number of schools remain at risk. It is my sincere hope our Majority will reexamine its current moratorium to ensure local needs can be met. Everyone can agree that we must bring an end to wasteful, unjustified projects. But in our effort to throw out the wasteful, we've also thrown out the very worthy, and people's lives and livelihood are in jeopardy.

To address the unjustified yet real prohibition resulting from the ``earmark'' label, I introduced legislation last month that is in full compliance with the House's rules: H.R. 4353, the ``Flood Protection Public Safety Act of 2012.'' This bill authorizes flood protection projects that have a completed Army Corps of Engineers Chief's Report that have been sent to Congress for approval. The bill would allow a small number of flood protection projects across the nation to move forward including those in Sacramento, Topeka, Cedar Rapids, and North Dakota.

Congress faces a choice. Invest in our infrastructure today, or pay the price of recovering from a disaster tomorrow. We can all agree that preventing a disaster is a much wiser and cheaper solution.

Though an authorization is outside the scope of the bill pending before us, I ask that this body forge a responsible, sensible policy on so-called earmarks, a policy that continues to stop wasteful projects but allows and even promotes worthwhile initiatives.

For 200 years the federal government has been a partner with the states to provide for the public's safety. I urge my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to revise the current moratorium that is preventing Congress from responding to urgent public safety needs across the nation. I believe these matters are integral to the House of Representatives as a body and deserve each of our attention.

I have written to the House's leadership urging them to revise this body's rules and provided responsible ways to ensure taxpayer money is protected, while allowing fully vetted projects to move forward.

I look forward to working with you and our colleagues in the House in a bipartisan manner to address responsible reforms that will ensure critical public safety challenges are met, while ensuring taxpayer money is being spent wisely. It is my hope we can responsibly resolve this issue in a timely manner.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church and Dr. Ephraim Williams, who has been its Pastor for 41 years. As church members gather together to celebrate the completion of mortgage payments on the church's Family Life Center and the leadership of Dr. Williams, I ask all my colleagues to join me in honoring St. Paul's important role in the Oak Park neighborhood and the larger Sacramento community.

Since 1971, St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church has been a valuable community resource. Its congregation has grown 50-fold since its founding, and now has over 5,000 members. It has provided healthcare, tutoring, and employment assistance, facilitated charity in the community, established mentorship programs for local youth, and much more. St. Paul's dedication and service to its community has been nothing short of exemplary.

This month, Dr. Williams will welcome congregation and community members in celebrating the completion of mortgage payments on the Family Life Center, a community center promoting active, healthy, and community-centric lifestyles. The facility includes classrooms, space for childcare and the arts, and hosts many community events. I am confident that the Family Life Center will continue to be a shared treasure of the Sacramento area.

Dr. Williams' work in the community has earned him many awards and a great deal of recognition, from the California Legislature, the City of Sacramento, the Black American Political Association, and others. In 2011 he was awarded the Key to the City by the Mayor of Sacramento in recognition of his service as pastor. His leadership has made the St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church a staple in the City of Sacramento.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to pay tribute to St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church and Dr. Ephraim Williams, as they celebrate their 41st year as a congregation and the completion of mortgage payments on the Family Life Center. I am confident that this church will continue its service to the Sacramento community under his stellar leadership. I ask all my colleagues to join me in honoring St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church's outstanding work in providing the community with invaluable services.

I thank the gentleman from Florida for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, since I was elected to office in 2005, increasing the level of Sacramento's flood protection has been my highest priority. Sacramento is the most at-risk metropolitan area for major flooding, as it lies at the confluence of two major rivers--the Sacramento and the American. Sacramento is home to California's State capitol, an international airport, and half a million people. If Sacramento were to flood, the economic damages would range up to $40 billion. We have a lot at risk.

We are all well aware of our country's austere budget environment, but it is imperative that Sacramento's basic flood protection needs be met. The Federal Government must continue to fulfill its commitment to protect the lives and the livelihoods of the capital area of the largest State in the Union.

I want to applaud the Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee for including adequate funding for Sacramento's top flood protection projects:

For the American River Common Features, the bill includes more than $6 million, which would be for work within the American River watershed, including American River Common Features General Reevaluation Report, further design work in support of levee improvements in Natomas and levee improvements on the American River.

For the Folsom Dam Joint Federal Project and Dam Raise Project, the bill includes more than $87 million to continue construction on the auxiliary spillway, which will provide greater efficiency in managing flood storage in Folsom Reservoir and critical dam safety work.

Mr. Speaker, each one of the projects is a critical component in improving the flood protection for the entire Sacramento region. Taken together, these projects help us to achieve the flood protection levels that families and businesses throughout the Sacramento area need and deserve. In addition, the legislation includes a reserve fund that will allocate over $92.5 million to the Corps for the purpose of funding flood protection projects.

Since I remain concerned that the Corps did not request its full capability for Sacramento flood protection projects in their budget, I will work vigorously to secure additional funding for Sacramento's flood protection priorities during the Corps' reserve fund competitive process, as outlined in this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I will continue to push for higher levels of funding to meet our flood protection needs and priorities, not only for the Sacramento area region but for the country as a whole.

Mr. Chairman, I rise to engage in a colloquy with the distinguished chairman and ranking member of the Subcommittee on Energy and

Water, Mr. Frelinghuysen and Mr. Visclosky, on the Army Corps of Engineers' policy on vegetation on levees.

I yield to the gentleman from New Jersey.

I thank the gentlemen from New Jersey and Indiana.

Mr. Chairman, in many areas of the country, such as the communities I represent, Federal flood control projects are essential. Indeed, Sacramento, California, is the most at-risk city in the Nation for potentially catastrophic flooding.

I am a strong supporter of the work done by the Army Corps of Engineers to protect our communities and strengthen our levees. It is therefore with some reservation that I rise to address a matter where the Corps' good intentions could inadvertently have adverse consequences.

In its laudable efforts to ensure that flood control levees function as intended, the Corps has issued draft guidelines regarding the presence of vegetation on and adjacent to flood control levees that could, if implemented without close collaboration with State and local authorities and without flexibility to take into account site-specific conditions, result in the unwarranted and unacceptable loss of critical environmental resources as well as the misapplication of limited Federal and non-Federal dollars.

On May 18, I introduced H.R. 5831, the Levee Vegetation Review Act, a bipartisan bill which is cosponsored by 30 of my colleagues. The bill directs the Corps to review its current policy, taking into account a broad array of factors, including potential regional or watershed-based variances to the national policy where appropriate. It also provides flexibility to the Corps to exempt certain areas from the policy where deemed necessary by the Corps.

Mr. Chairman and Mr. Ranking Member, I ask that you consider the objectives of our bill and the potential impacts of the Corps' current policy, not just on California, but on the Nation, as you move to conference with the Senate on the Fiscal Year 2013 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Bill.

I yield to the gentleman from Indiana.

I thank the chairman and the subcommittee ranking member.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3310, the Federal Communications Commission Consolidated Reporting Act of 2012. This bill consolidates various technology-specific competition reports the Federal Communications Commission is required to make to Congress into a new, single communications marketplace report that will be submitted to Congress every 2 years.

The FCC is required to assess the state of competition, deployment, as well as regulatory barriers to market entry and competition in the communications marketplace, taking into special consideration Internet- based competition. I support efforts to streamline the FCC's reporting requirements, and I am pleased the committee majority, led by Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chairman Walden, worked with Democrats to improve the legislation throughout the markup process. These improvements include the adoption of an amendment offered by Ranking Member Eshoo that would ensure the FCC continues to have the ability to consider all forms of competition in producing the communications marketplace report.

H.R. 3310 seeks to reduce the reporting burdens Congress had previously imposed on the FCC while encouraging the agency to analyze competition in the communications marketplace in a much more comprehensive way.

Under Chairman Genachowski's leadership, the FCC has accomplished numerous reforms aimed at improving agency process. The FCC has improved the number of notices of proposed rulemakings that contain the full text of proposed rules from 38 percent to 85 percent. Additionally, the FCC has reduced average time between Commission vote and release of full text of the decision from 14 calendar days to 3 calendar days. In addition, the FCC voluntarily complied with President Obama's Executive order in conducting retrospective analysis of the Commission's existing rules. During the process, the FCC has eliminated over 200 obsolete regulations, including the Commission's elimination of 25 data collections as part of the Data Innovation Initiative.

Looking ahead, the FCC has a major task in implementing the public safety and spectrum provisions of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act. Specifically, the Commission will be undertaking arguably the most complex spectrum auction in history through an incentive auction of the broadcast spectrum. Congress must work closely with the FCC to ensure the auction's success.

As a cochair of the bipartisan Federal Spectrum Working Group, I'm hopeful that we'll have the opportunity to work closely with the FCC and the NTIA and other relevant agencies in identifying underutilized Federal and commercial spectrum for repurposing.

Mr. Speaker, our Nation continues to face a spectrum scrunch, particularly as more and more Americans opt for advanced technology and mobile devices and applications. We must ensure that we meet future demand.

Finally, I want to applaud the FCC's recent efforts ensuring that all Americans have access to the communication tools they need to be competitive in the 21st century economy.

Today, one-third of Americans have not adopted broadband, and these numbers are particularly high among lower-income Americans, seniors, rural Americans, residents of tribal lands, and people with disabilities.

The commission recently approved responsible reforms to parts of the Universal Service Fund, including the creation of pilot programs to promote broadband adoption. These pilot projects will help make broadband more affordable for lower-income Americans and address other challenges to broadband adoption, including digital literacy and the cost of devices.

I commend the FCC for these efforts, and I look forward to working with the commission when these pilot projects are announced.

I reserve the balance of my time.

I reserve the balance of my time.

I reserve the balance of my time.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, H.R. 3310 is a step forward to further ensuring transparency by requiring consolidation of various telecommunication reports by the FCC.

As broadband continues to play a critical role in our economy, it is important that we fully understand any and all barriers to Internet services while continuing to allow the Internet economy to grow and innovate.

Again, I want to thank my colleagues on the Energy and Commerce Committee for working in a bipartisan manner on this bill. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Pioneer House of California and its members, as they observe this Memorial Day. The Pioneer House is a non-profit retirement facility that is home to over 22 veterans and two veteran staffers. Each of them has bravely served our country, and dedicated their lives to our freedom. Their service, along with the service of all veterans, has been crucial to maintaining our liberty.

The following men and women are members of the Pioneer House and have bravely served our country: Milo Chun, Jack Cochrane, Helen Lee, George Newhall, George Schmidt, Jeanne Kelly, Arnold Lee, Rod Rasmussen, Thomas McCauley, Nolan Jones, Ted Lochowski, Eddie Rose, Leonard Watson, John Saville, Ninus Harris, Lionel Holmes, Fred O'Shea, John Dierking, James Shields, Lou Adam, Gene Tarr, and George Sleep. Staffers Carolyn Keesor and David Armstrong not only served our country, but provide key support to the facility. As Memorial Day approaches, I would like to personally thank each and every one of them for their service, commitment, and dedication to our country.

Mr. Speaker, as the members of the Pioneer House gather for Memorial Day to honor their fellow veterans, I ask all my colleagues to join me in saluting these fine individuals for their excellent work and commitment to our nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate May as Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.

Against the background of this year's theme, ``Striving for Excellence in Leadership, Diversity and Inclusion,'' this month provides us an excellent opportunity to reflect upon, and honor, the many contributions Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) have made to our Nation. From fighting in our armed services, to building the transcontinental railroad, to helping America lead the world in scientific discoveries, AAPIs have played an integral role in our country's greatest achievements.

As America's fastest growing population, more and more AAPIs are performing integral roles in forward-thinking companies and in American innovation. And, we are continually seeing a greater number of AAPIs elected to serve in public office and appointed to the Federal judiciary. AAPIs are making great progress; however, there are still obstacles that must be overcome for AAPIs and other minority populations.

We must continue to work together to ensure that our country does not repeat injustices of the past. We must continue to fight back on issues like racial profiling, housing discrimination, and disparities in health care. We must continue to ensure that AAPI voices and ideas are heard.

Our country has always been the land of opportunity. Our strength has been derived from the diverse cultures, traditions, and perspectives of the people that make up our society. As we look to our country's future, we must ensure that all of the cultures and peoples that call America home are represented and promoted.

Mr. Speaker, I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues in Congress, in particular, the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, to provide greater opportunity and equality so that AAPIs, and our Nation as a whole, can continue down a path of prosperity and success.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the California Asian Pacific State Employees Association, and their members, as they gather to raise scholarship funds for local high school students. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring this generous organization.

The Asian Pacific State Employees Association was founded in 1975 with the goal of assisting its members while they work for the State of California, and to encourage state employees to give back through a variety of community projects. Located in all of the major urban centers in the state, APSEA's members work for a wide variety of California government agencies.

APSEA's annual scholarship dinner raises funds and recognizes numerous young men and women who are involved in rigorous academic studies, dedicate their time to Asian and Pacific Islander causes, or are involved with the Ronald McDonald House Charity. This dinner has provided additional scholarship funds for many local students who are committed to making their community better.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to celebrate this fantastic organization, their members, and their annual dinner. They are a shining example of community service and community pride. I am confident that APSEA will continue the tradition of giving selflessly and helping others with their organization and events, and I ask all my colleagues to join me in honoring their outstanding commitment to their community and their continued work to help students succeed.