Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, it is with delight that I rise to honor a remarkable woman, Fusa Takahashi, for her outstanding advocacy for the Go for Broke Japanese American Soldiers of WWII Stamp.

In 2005, three Nisei women from California, Fusa Takahashi, Aiko King and Chiz Ohira, began a fifteen-year campaign for a commemorative stamp that would honor and share the story of the brave Nisei men and women who served our country during World War II, despite the forced relation and incarceration they and their loved ones faced. This important history was deeply personal for Fusa and her co-chairs, as each were survivors of the forced incarceration. Fusa's late husband, Kazuo Takahashi, was an Army veteran of World War II. He bravely served as a Military Intelligence Service officer.

The women's grassroots letter writing campaign began as a small but mighty effort, encouraged by friends and community members. However, through their hard work, the campaign quickly received support from national organizations, state leaders and Congressmembers. Fusa and her friends persevered through setbacks and delays, never giving up. In November 2020, the U.S. Postal Service announced a Go for Broke Soldiers commemorative postage stamp will be issued. The stamp was officially issued on June 3rd, 2021.

Today, the forced relocation and incarceration of over 120,000 Japanese Americans through Executive Order 9066 is now considered one of the most atrocious violations of American civil rights in the 20th century. The Go for Broke Stamp is an important reminder of our history and a symbol of the tireless advocacy and efforts of Fusa, Aiko and Chiz, and all who supported them.

Madam Speaker, today we honor Fusa, Aiko and Chiz's outstanding efforts to honor the brave Nisei Soldiers of World War II. I thank Fusa and her partners for their dedication and successful efforts.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the rule providing for consideration of Representative Chu's resolution condemning the horrific shootings in Atlanta and reaffirming the House's commitment to combating hate and violence against the AAPI community.

Earlier today, I joined Speaker Pelosi, Representatives Chu and Meng, and others at an event to mark the importance of the steps we are taking on the House floor today. Together, Representatives Chu and Meng's bills make a statement of commitment to a sacred American value: celebrating our

diversity as a force against hate and discrimination.

As we honor AAPI Heritage Month, we stand amidst a reckoning on racial justice and discrimination. We must be intentional about how we uplift our voices, how we listen, and how we ensure dignity and respect throughout our communities.

As the past few years have shown, hateful rhetoric can easily spiral into scapegoating and violence. Xenophobia and blame have proliferated, from the highest levels of government to our local communities. This cannot be overlooked. I have shared my own family's story of the consequences of inaction.

The fear of ``the other'' is nothing new, but it has been chipping away at our social conscience for far too long. This is what we are working to root out. We must stop it at the source with a united front.

Today's vote is a reminder that our country is capable of growth; that this legislative body will not sit in silence while a community suffers racism and hatred. Future generations are listening, and together, Americans are standing up and speaking out.

It has been encouraging to see the cohesion amongst Asian Americans and all Americans in the fight against AAPI hate. I have been heartened to see individuals, leaders, and organizations come together to help heal our communities from these historical traumas and move forward united.

I am proud to support this rule and this bill, and I urge all of my colleagues to do the same.

Madam Speaker, it is with profound sadness that I rise to honor the life of beloved Sacramentan Irene B. West, Retired Principal of the Elk Grove Unified School District, City of Elk Grove, County of Sacramento, California. Mrs. West entered eternal rest on Wednesday, April 21, 2021 at the age of 88. I ask all my colleagues to join me in honoring Mrs. West.

Mrs. West was a beloved California educator, community leader, activist, and devoted mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. She was a longtime and very active member of one of California's historic religious institutions, Shiloh Baptist Church. Mrs. West was a supporter of, mentor and friend to many. The citizens of the Sacramento area benefitted

greatly from her passion and love for educating our students; her dedicated service made our community and State better.

Mrs. West was born July 3, 1932 in Crowley, Louisiana and was reared in Orange, Texas during the height of the Great Depression, a time when the racial climate in America was even more depressing for African Americans. Knowing the importance of education, she graduated valedictorian in her high school class in Texas. She then enrolled in undergraduate studies at the historic Fisk University at Nashville, Tennessee where she would meet her late husband, Clifton L. West, Jr. The couple relocated, in 1958, to McClellan Air Force Base in Sacramento where her husband was stationed. Mrs. West completed her education by earning a Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University at Sacramento and a Master of Arts from the University of San Francisco.

In 1962, before completing her undergraduate studies, Mrs. West took on a seemingly insurmountable challenge, being hired as a teacher in the all-white student and faculty Elk Grove Unified School District. This marked the embarking upon a barrier-breaking 27-year career in education. She quickly rose through the ranks in teaching and administration to the position of Principal in 1979, a position in which she served for ten years. Although she retired in 1989, she remained a very active respected presence in and around the Elk Grove- Sacramento community well into her 80s.

Despite her demanding career and devotion to serving others, Mrs. West's four children did not lack in parental love, nurturing and educational guidance. All her children excelled in academia, sports, or both, two of whom having achieved professorship at prestigious universities, and another is an accomplished Zoo linguist.

A partial list of awards and recognitions marking Mrs. West's achievements include educational awards and citations such as Teacher of the year; newspaper awards which included the 1963 Mother of the Year (her most endearing recognition); awards from Allstate Insurance, Shiloh Baptist Church, Sacramento Council of Negro Women, Sacramento Chapter of 100 Black Women; in 1979, first female principal in the Elk Grove Unified School District; and, in 2002, the first African American in Sacramento to have a school, Irene B. West Elementary, named in her honor.

Madam Speaker, today as family and friends of Mrs. Irene B. West gather to remember her, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring her tremendous legacy of educator, encourager, and motivator. Her mark on the Sacramento area community will live on forever.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of two of my bills being considered under suspension today, the FASTER Act and the TRANSPLANT Act.

The Food Allergy Safety, Treatment, Education, and Research Act, FASTER--which wasn't as fast as I wanted it to be, but this act will help to improve the safety of more than 32 million Americans, including 5.6 million children, living with potentially life-threatening food allergies.

Under current law, mandatory labeling is required for major food allergens recognized by the FDA like milk, eggs, and peanuts.

My grandson, Robby, has a peanut allergy, and for families like mine, accurate food ingredient labels are vital to making safe and healthy choices. The time we have spent reading the labels and having discussions about whether he can go to a birthday party or not, or go to camp or not, and having friends over, it was just heartbreaking. We need to have those labels be clear.

Critically, the FASTER Act extends these labeling protections to nearly 1.6 million Americans allergic to sesame by requiring sesame to be included as an ingredient on a packaged food label.

The bill also expands the research necessary to find new treatments and is an important step in the right direction to finding an eventual cure for food allergies.

Today is a testament to the hard work of thousands of grassroots advocates who sent emails, made calls, and visited Members of Congress and staff to build support and make sesame the ninth allergen to be labeled under law.

The outpouring of support was incredible. The FASTER Act will truly make a difference for those living with potentially life-threatening food allergies, and we are proud that it can now be sent to President Biden's desk.

I also rise today in support of H.R. 941, the TRANSPLANT Act, my legislation to reauthorize the C.W. Bill Young Cell Transplantation Program and the National Cord Blood Inventory for another 5 years.

Every 3 minutes, someone is diagnosed with blood cancer. For patients and families facing these fatal diseases, a bone marrow or cord blood transplant may be the best treatment or only potential for a cure.

Congress has long recognized the need to coordinate lifesaving transplants between patients and unrelated donors at the national level and has shown strong bipartisan support over the years for the program.

We must continue to encourage donors and give these patients with otherwise fatal blood cancers a second chance at life. That is why I joined with Representative Bilirakis to introduce the TRANSPLANT Act.

This past year, there has been a new sense of urgency for this timely reauthorization. We have seen how Be The Match's status, as the designated operator of the national program, has helped bone marrow couriers continue to facilitate transplants during the pandemic.

We must act swiftly to preserve this critical designation and ensure patients with otherwise fatal blood cancers continue to have access to transplants, both during and after the current public health crisis.

I urge my colleagues to support this legislation today so we may further prevent any lapse in funding. I support both bills.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the rule providing for consideration of the resolution before us today, calling on the Vice President to invoke the Fifth Amendment and remove President Trump from office immediately.

Last week, members of both parties came to the floor of this Chamber to take the oath of office. In that oath, each of us pledged to defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. I believe that oath compels me and my colleagues to act today.

Last Wednesday's armed insurrection at the United States Capitol was a coordinated attempt to overthrow our democratic process with violence. Make no mistake, these rioters viewed the President's repeated claims of fraud as a mandate to act. Lies, misinformation, and demagoguery have consequences.

Unfortunately, America witnessed those consequences last week, some on television, some under tables in barricaded offices, some in these Chambers, and some in the last moments of life.

It is not with joy that I immediately called on Vice President Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment. I am cosponsor of both this resolution and the Articles of Impeachment because I believe I have an obligation to honor my oath and defend the Constitution against a grave domestic threat.

On a personal note, I am taking this stand for the future of my grandchildren. Our obligation to them and to future generations is that this democracy stands.

So, it is with sadness but firm resolve that I rise to support this rule and implore my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to join me.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2740, the minibus appropriations bill, which includes funding for Energy and Water Development. I applaud the Committee's addition of funds for the programs of the Army Corps of Engineers, especially for continuation of flood control work in my district, which includes Sacramento and West Sacramento. The bill contains funds for continuation of construction of levees in the Natomas Basin and for continuation of design of the West Sacramento Project. Those initiatives are essential steps in providing adequate protection for my constituents, who live in one of the most flood-prone areas in the country.

I also strongly support the Committee's inclusion of additional undesignated funds that the Corps of Engineers will distribute through a Work Plan to be developed after the bill is signed into law. Furthermore, I appreciate the Committee's allowance for six undesignated construction ``New Starts,'' which is critically important to West Sacramento. As the bill moves forward, I urge the continued inclusion of robust funding for a Work Plan and of an adequate number of New Starts for flood control to address these needs.

My district can benefit immensely from these provisions. The Corps has recently indicated that additional funds will be needed in Fiscal Year 2020 for the Natomas Project due to cost increases and weather delays. Additionally, it is my understanding that the West Sacramento Project is making very good progress and will soon be positioned for a New Start and accompanying initial construction funding. With this in mind, I plan to continue working with the leadership of the Corps of Engineers, the Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency, and the West Sacramento Area Flood control Agency to determine the optimum funding and New Start designation for my communities.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Empowering Beneficiaries, Ensuring Access, and Strengthening Accountability Act of 2019 and its provisions extending critical access to mental health and addiction treatment.

Let's be clear: One in five Americans live with a mental illness. Nearly all of us have a friend, a family member, or neighbor who has been diagnosed. Mental illness touches all our lives in some way.

When we passed the Excellence in Mental Health Act in 2014, we made an investment in behavioral health that expanded access to necessary treatment. Eight States established community-based clinics providing 24-hour crisis care, better coordinating physical, mental, and substance abuse treatment. This provided much-needed support to patients and their families.

In combating opioid addiction, Certified Community Behavioral Health Centers are already making a difference. In the first year of implementation, these clinics served nearly 400,000 patients with serious mental health and addiction disorders, providing 80,000 individuals with lifesaving treatment for the first time.

Headline after headline tells us we need to preserve and, importantly, expand access to programs like this. While the bill before us will extend funding to programs in eight existing States for the next 2\1/2\ years, our work here is far from done.

People are struggling with the stigma of mental illness and substance use disorder across the country. Every American should have access to the same top-notch care as patients in the pilot programs. That is why I will continue to be a fierce advocate for expansion of the Certified Community Behavioral Health Centers program. I look forward to continue working with my colleagues so that we can create new opportunities to expand access to mental healthcare and conquer the addiction crisis that has harmed far too many families.

Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Madam Chair, I am pleased to join my colleagues today in supporting critical investments made by this bill. I rise today in support of my amendment, which will provide additional assistance for innovative programs that will help young people with developmental disabilities in obtaining and sustaining long-term employment.

Madam Chair, 1 in 68 children are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. More than 50,000 individuals with autism turn 18 every year, and 500,000 will age out of school systems in the next 10 years.

A significant number of young adults with autism spectrum disorder remain unemployed and unenrolled in higher education in the 2 years after high school. Young adults on the autism spectrum often do not have access to an educational environment that can assist them in developing practical life skills, increase social capacity, and transition to work and independence.

This amendment is a critical first step towards remedying that. Specifically, it will help support and promote innovative educational programs and focus on preparing students for entry into the workforce or pursuing higher education.

The support offered through these initiative programs helps young adults find and maintain employment. In turn, this is a critical step towards independence, an opportunity to be more productive and to fully participate in all facets of community life.

My amendment will support young adults with developmental disabilities access care and education necessary to find jobs by focusing on inclusion and integration.

It is critically important that all children and young adults, particularly those who are challenged with autism, have the opportunity to fully participate in our communities and society. I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting this amendment.

Madam Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro), my dear friend and subcommittee chair.

Madam Chair, I add to this, too, if I may, the program supported by this amendment offers opportunities for young adults with intellectual disabilities to be placed in paid jobs, internships, or volunteer positions. Often, the individuals who participate are extremely passionate and capable about a work opportunity but simply need a little help along the way.

I think we can all agree that learning opportunities to better train and encourage these young adults to seek and maintain long-term work is a goal we all support. These problem-solving abilities and confidence gained in the right environment can have a lasting, long-term impact on those with autism.

Madam Chair, I feel that this is something that will really help the individuals whom I have met along the way, and I strongly urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this amendment.

Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 150th anniversary festival of the Wakamatsu Tea and Silk Farm Colony. 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 historic landmark and all the Japanese cultural history it has represented over the past 150 years.

Wakamatsu Farm was established by a Japanese colonist in California in June 1869. Today, the Wakamatsu Farm represents rich Japanese- American history and is home to several organic farming projects and historic features. The Farm, now owned by the American River Conservancy, hosts two farming businesses that lease land and buildings on the property and provide sustainably grown produce and goods to the community.

I have seen firsthand the incredible impact the Wakamatsu Farm has had on their surrounding community. For 150 years, the Wakamatsu Farm has built a community space that cultivates an appreciation for natural resources, sustainable agriculture, and cultural history. The volunteers and partners have helped preserve the land and create a beautiful space for visitors to learn about the Colony's roots.

Madam Speaker, as the Wakamatsu Farm and the community it serves gather to celebrate the Farm's 150th anniversary, I ask all my colleagues to join me in honoring their commitment to the preservation of such a rich site for cultural history and to maintain a biologically diverse landscape for the benefit of the community.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today as a proud cosponsor of H.R. 987, legislation that advances Democrats' commitment to rein in the soaring costs of healthcare for consumers.

I am pleased that we are taking important steps forward to address an issue I hear from constituents almost daily: the rising cost of prescription medicines. Just recently, I heard from Mary, who is living with a lifelong chronic condition. The cost of her medication has skyrocketed in recent years to the point that it has forced her to cancel prescriptions and forgo treatment. This is really unacceptable.

The bills before us today represent an opportunity to make progress by allowing lower cost generic drugs to come to market sooner. Furthermore, these efforts aim to make healthcare more affordable for patients with preexisting conditions by reversing the Trump administration's relentless and ongoing sabotage of the ACA.

This is critical for people like Charis, a constituent in my district who fears that, without the ACA, she would have to hide her rare disease in order to get adequate medical care. No patient should have to live with such a worry.

I am pleased to be able to support these patient protections on the floor today, and I remain committed to keeping the pressure on tackling prescription drug and insurance costs and working to defend Americans' rights to quality and affordable healthcare.

Madam Speaker, Ellen Tauscher was tough, strategic and effective.

As we mourn the loss of our friend Ellen, we are reminded of not only of the deals that she forged here in the halls of Congress, but also the continued treaties that she established between nations.

As we have heard many of my colleagues stress today, Ellen stands out because she created success and opportunity in rare, tough situations.

I knew Ellen could always bring all sides to the table.

Ellen's work at the highest levels of government have roots in her remarkable career prior to politics--being a trailblazing member of the New York Stock Exchange and founding the ChildCare Registry in Northern California.

Her bold leadership style created an environment of confidence and trust.

On a personal level, I remember the fun times we had together talking and sharing the adventures--highs and lows of our kids.

Today and as we move forward, I know the world is safer because of Ellen Tauscher's leadership in the State Department and Armed Services Committee. We will all miss her courage, her thoughtfulness, and her humanity

Mr. Chairman, I rise today as a proud cosponsor of H.R. 986, the Protecting Americans with Preexisting Conditions Act, which prohibits the Trump administration from promoting the sale of junk insurance plans that do not fully protect Americans with preexisting conditions. Today, we are taking a critical step to reverse a damaging Trump administration policy.

With the Affordable Care Act, we sought to ensure that all people covered in the same area are charged the same premium as everyone else, regardless of their health status. Women cannot be denied coverage or charged more simply because they are women, and more Americans now have the freedom to start their own business or pursue work in the gig economy without fear of losing coverage for preexisting conditions. Coverage before the ACA was often tied to employer plans.

In California, we have taken a stance against the Trump administration's sabotage of the ACA by protecting consumers from the sale of junk plans, but not every State has followed our lead.

This legislation protects basic fairness and access to healthcare for all Americans, not just those living in States that have sought aggressive reforms, changes, and improvements to the law. We now have a real opportunity to protect and build on the ACA's success, and I am immensely pleased to be able to support such efforts on the floor today.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Linda Rosenberg, the outgoing CEO of the National Council for Behavioral Health. As members of the community gather today, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Linda for her leadership as a health care architect and reformer in advancing quality care for individuals with behavioral health disorders.

For 15 years, Linda has served as the President and CEO of the National Council for Behavioral Health. Under her leadership, the National Council has become the nation's most effective advocate for behavioral health care, serving 10 million adults, children, and families. Linda's work has played a critical role in expanding the financing for integrated behavioral health services, ensuring the passage of federal mental health and addiction parity law, as well as introducing Mental Health First Aid in the U.S. She also helped to ensure the inclusion of behavioral health services in the Affordable Care Act.

Linda's commitment to the advancement of behavioral health care can be seen throughout the duration of her career. Prior to the National Council, she served as Senior Deputy Commissioner of New York State Office of Mental Health and helped to implement New York's first Mental Health Court. She also has over 30 years of experience as certified social worker, family therapist and psychiatric rehabilitation practitioner. Linda currently serves on several boards of directors and is a member of the Executive Committee of the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention. In her honor, the National Council recently granted her the Lifetime Achievement Award at their 2019 annual conference.

Madam Speaker, as we gather to celebrate Linda Rosenberg's lifetime of achievements, I ask all my colleagues to join me in honoring her dedication and leadership in the improvement of mental health and substance services.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today as a proud original cosponsor of H.R. 9, the Climate Action Now Act, which preserves our Nation's commitment to the Paris Agreement and keeps our promise to the American people to take meaningful action on climate change.

The Paris Agreement paved the way for our Nation to develop a robust plan for cutting emissions which both threaten public health and contribute to global climate change. Part of this plan was to clean up the transportation sector, now the largest single source of emissions in the country.

My home State of California was critical in the effort to establish more stringent vehicle emissions standards. When the administration irresponsibly chose to abandon part of this plan by rolling back Obama- era vehicle emissions standards, I introduced legislation that would protect these standards and the benefits that they ultimately bring to our communities.

I am pleased to see so many of my congressional colleagues join me in proposing meaningful solutions to combat climate change, but we must do more. We must act together as a nation to lead the way.

Our Nation cannot afford to cede its international leadership. By not participating in the Paris Agreement, we risk irreversible damage to our planet and endanger the American people.

I think about my grandchildren, Anna and Robby. It is their future I am thinking about. They will be greatly impacted if we don't do something now.

Tackling climate change is and always has been my top priority. We must act now to mitigate the effects of climate change before it is too late. I have spent the last decade helping lead on this effort, and I am immensely pleased to be able to support the Climate Action Now Act on the floor today.

Madam Chair, I am pleased to join my colleagues in cosponsoring this legislation.

Our internet economy has been the envy of the world, with good reason. The first site to ever go live on the world wide web did so in August 1991, less than 28 years ago.

Since then, a balance of innovation and investment has transformed the internet into a driving force of the American economy, and that balance of innovation and investment also requires that the internet remain open.

Innovators, entrepreneurs, businesses, and consumers rely on the internet as an open platform for online commerce, to freely exchange ideas, and to make internet access more accessible to more Americans.

To that end, addressing and preventing paid prioritization arrangements that result in consumer harm has been a priority of mine for years; and, as I have said through this debate, the fundamental issue surrounding net neutrality is ensuring consumers don't have to pay more for the same products and services online.

I am mindful of the potential use cases that next-generation networks can facilitate, and I previously introduced legislation to ensure that all consumers are able to access online content equally as we balance the service requirements and consumer benefits of our open internet policies.

I also want to be clear that I don't support taxing the internet, but, going forward, I welcome a serious conversation with all my colleagues on universal service contribution reform in order to protect the long-term sustainability of rural broadband support.

Net neutrality protections must ensure the internet remains an open marketplace, ensure that the internet is free of content-based discrimination, and ensure broadband access is affordably and reliably deployed across the country.

Passage of this legislation is an important step toward these goals, and I am proud to support it.