Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, this reckless and irresponsible shutdown that has been masterminded by a small faction of the House is disruptive for our nation's transportation system and for the programs that support our most vulnerable citizens.

The majority has taken to moving bills that will provide piecemeal programs within the federal government. These bills leave out funding for critical transportation and housing programs that are vital to our economy.

For example, there are no funds for the Federal Transit Administration's capital investment grant program to build and expand mass transit systems across our nation. This is the program that helps create construction jobs and relieves congestion in our major cities. Operating and capital assistance for Amtrak is discontinued at a time when more than 30 million passengers rely on Amtrak to get to destinations all over the country. And finally, there is no funding to continue the important safety and capital investments for the Metro system that serves millions of Americans in our nation's capital.

With regard to safety, there is no funding to put more than 3,100 aviation safety inspectors back on the job. These men and women are sitting at home because they have been furloughed through this shutdown. Likewise, there is no funding for the important vehicle safety oversight functions of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

In addition, the Federal Aviation Administration's program to modernize our nation's aging air traffic control system has come to a grinding halt.

The Maritime Security Program gets no relief in this piecemeal approach. This program provides vital support by helping move the cargo that is necessary to support our national defense efforts overseas.

The piecemeal approach puts millions of dollars in construction projects at risk and undermines job creation in the construction sector by not including funding to process multifamily housing mortgages.

It puts our children at risk of lead poisoning by not funding Lead Abatement Grants.

It also weakens economic development in our communities by not including funding for Community Development Block Grants.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the House bring the Senate amendment to H.J. Res. 59, the clean continuing resolution that will end the outrageous Republican shutdown which threatens the recovery of our housing sector, furloughs more than 3,000 aviation safety inspectors, and is reckless to our economy.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Anna Solley for receiving the Latino Advocacy Champion Award at Valle del Sol's 23rd annual Profiles of Success Celebration on September 6, 2013. Valle del Sol takes pride in honoring individuals that take Arizona to new heights with their deeds and service for others. Dr. Anna Solley has accomplished this as a champion for education by empowering others, enabling change, and promoting diversity.

Dr. Solley has worked in higher education for thirty-six years and currently serves as President of Phoenix College. She is committed to providing access to higher education to a diverse student population and strengthening educational attainment among Latino students in the Phoenix metro area. One example of Dr. Solley's leadership is through her invaluable work in a partnership between Phoenix College, the City of Phoenix, and the Phoenix Union High School district. This partnership works to engage Latino youth at different points in their education, with the goal of increasing the number of students that earn postsecondary credentials by 20 percent over a six-year period.

Born in Nogales, Arizona, Dr. Solley had a big dream for a small- town girl, of making a difference in the lives of others. Throughout her career in higher education, Dr. Solley has exemplified this commitment to serving others by helping thousands of others accomplish their dreams and inspiring students to be significant contributors to their communities.

Dr. Anna Solley also currently serves on the National Community College Hispanic Council Board, the Arizona Commission for Postsecondary Education, the Phoenix Community Alliance Board, and the St. Joseph's Hospital Community Advisory Board.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Dr. Solley for receiving Valle del Sol's Latino Advocacy Champion Award and her continued service to the Phoenix community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Rafael Chavarria on the upcoming documentary chronicling his culturally impactful life and career as a musician in the State of Arizona. Rafael Chavarria was born in April 1914, in Solomonville, Arizona.

For more than 60 years, Rafael Chavarria, affectionately known as ``Chapito'' by all who know him, contributed his style of music to the Hispanic community of Phoenix, Arizona, providing a cultural cohesiveness for Hispanics in Arizona at a time when many establishments openly discriminated against them.

Mr. Chavarria's illustrious career started in 1923 at the tender age of nine years old when he began playing with his father's band at weddings. Mr. Chavarria's style of music highlights the influences of Latin music and Mexican culture that he was exposed to when he was growing up in East Los Angeles during the 1930s. Mr. Chavarria's most important contribution to the genre was incorporating aspects of American swing and the jitterbug to the tropical rhythms that were popular in Mexico City during the 1940s and '50s.

Thanks to Mr. Chavarria's tireless efforts, genres of music from the waltz, polka, and bolero to the cha-cha, and rumba, among others, became popularized in Arizona.

Despite experiencing a childhood full of discrimination and segregation, when the country went to war in World War II, Mr. Chavarria, like many in his generation, served his country. He was drafted as a firefighter for the Army Air Corp in 1943 and served in the South Pacific--eventually earning the Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal for his service.

Through his music, Mr. Chavarria became one of most important cultural icons for the State of Arizona, serving as the catalyst that brought together the Arizona Hispanic community--helping to maintain their culture and arts.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Rafael ``Chapito'' Chavarria on his documental debut highlighting his contribution to the vibrant history of the Hispanic community in Arizona and ask my colleagues to join me in praising his commitment to his music, his family, and his community.

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

(Mr. PASTOR of Arizona asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

The devastating impacts of the Ryan budget are on full display in the fiscal year 2014 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies bill.

My good friend, Chairman Tom Latham, was given an impossible allocation of $44.1 billion. This is $4.4 billion below the fiscal year 2013 sequestration level and $10 billion below the level included in the Senate bill. As a result, the FY 2014 bill makes deep cuts to a number of critical transportation and housing programs.

Within the Department of Transportation, the bill cuts the programs and activities of the Federal Aviation Administration by $756 million below the FY 2013 CR level. While the bill provides enough funds to avoid additional furloughs, it is unclear whether FAA will be able to completely lift the hiring freeze that has been in place during this fiscal year.

The FAA's NextGen program will also be impacted by delaying the important developmental work on many of the program's emerging technologies.

Amtrak's capital program is cut by more than $350 million, which will jeopardize long distance service and some short haul routes. At these funding levels, Amtrak will have to suspend mechanical overhauls on equipment, which will result in slow orders and furloughs of hundreds of mechanical employees and engineers.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development sustained even deeper cuts. The bill reduces funding for the CDBG, the Community Development Block Grant, program to $1.6 billion, which is the lowest level since the program was created in 1975. The HOME program is funded at $700 million, which is the lowest level since the program began in 1992.

The bill funds the Public Housing Capital Fund at its lowest level since 1987, adding more than $1 billion in deferred capital maintenance to an existing $26 billion maintenance backlog.

In closing, I do want to commend the chairman, Tom Latham, for funding the critical safety missions of the Department of Transportation and for honoring the obligation limitations in the surface and aviation bills. The chairman has also included sufficient funding to move 10,000 more homeless veterans off the street and into housing.

Despite the chairman's efforts, I have great concerns with the bill as it is currently written. I remain hopeful that we can achieve a more realistic allocation as the appropriations process moves forward this year.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Price).

Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to my distinguished friend from Chicago (Mr. Quigley).

Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Visclosky).

Mr. Chairman, we're waiting for the ranking member of the full committee. She is on her way. So I will fill in the best I can.

First of all, I want to thank my colleague, Mr. Visclosky, who is the ranking member on the Defense Appropriations, for his excellent presentation. Also, I join him in making that request to our leadership, both the majority and the minority, that we begin the conversation. We only have a few days before September 30 rolls around. So I would hope that we take his comments seriously and get to work and continue the process of the appropriation and lift the sequestration.

Mr. Chairman, at this time I would yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Lowey), the distinguished ranking member of the full committee.

Mr. Chairman, before I yield back my time, as we start this amendment process, I want to thank and commend the staff of the subcommittee. These are the individuals who worked very hard to bring this bill forward. They worked many hours and put in a lot of time and effort, so before we start the amendment process I want to recognize their hard work.

So I'd like to thank, from the minority staff, Kate Hallahan and Joe Carlile; from the majority staff, Dena Baron, Doug Disrud, Carl Barrick, Cheryle Tucker, and Brian Bernard because they spent countless hours bringing this bill to us.

Mr. Chairman, I commend Chairman Latham for doing what he could with this bad allocation, and I look forward to the amendment process

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. Chairman, I support the gentleman's amendment. It ensures that the Office of Intelligence, Security, and Emergency Response would receive no less than $10.778 million. This office performs important security functions of the Department of Transportation.

I would urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I have no objection to the amendment.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. Chairman, I would agree with Chairman Latham that this reform needs to come about, and it shouldn't be in an appropriation bill. Hopefully, the T&I authorizing committee will look at this issue and come to a decision.

It was interesting that the amendment before this amendment, we basically waived Hawaii and Alaska. And here we are now limiting the Essential Air Service to $250. I would tell you, as we tried to explain to my colleague from Florida, that this would probably cause 100--maybe a little more--smaller communities not to be able to link to the national air service. So this is not the time to do it.

So I would rise in opposition to this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word to speak in opposition to the amendment.

The Essential Air Service program was designed to continue air service for small communities that had scheduled air service prior to airline deregulation. It is funded through annual appropriations and overflight fees that are collected when foreign air carriers traverse through U.S. airspace.

This amendment cuts the overall program in half. Many small communities would lose their air service, including, we believe, four communities in the State of California: Crescent City, El Centro, Merced, and Visalia.

This is not the way to reform this program. I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. Chairman, we believe that these moneys would expedite the study to see if better warnings could be given at low speeds, so we approve the amendment.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

The amendment increases funding for the FAA's NextGen office by $3.5 million. As stated by my colleague from Florida (Mr. Hastings), it is for future development. I would agree with him that it is something that we need to invest in and that this would accelerate the implementation of NextGen, which is greatly needed. Our air traffic control system is aging and needs modernization. Yet, as Mr. Wolf has pointed out, the allocation is so tight that moving money in the account will cause some problems.

My hope would be that if there is a reconciliation with the Senate that this would be given a higher priority in the funding levels as we work in conference with the Senate.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

The amendment strikes $13.25 million in additional funds for the administrative expenses for the Federal Highway Administration.

While I will not object to my friend's amendment, I do have concerns that the more we cut on the administrative expenses, the agency's ability to do proper oversight will suffer.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. Chairman, when we're in session, I have the opportunity--and I take it--to ride the metro. That's the way I get around in this great city. I have to tell you that in the late sixties, early seventies when I first came to Washington on other business, I saw where Connecticut Avenue was being dug up, the beginning of the Red Line. So I can attest, Mr. Chairman, that every morning at the South Capitol stop, people who work in this complex on Capitol Hill, that there are lines of workers that are coming into work.

So when the proposition came before the House, the compact that the Federal Government agreed with Maryland, Virginia, and the District, to maintain the metro and the particular States and District had the matching funds, I was very supportive because I knew of the benefit that Metro brought to our employees here on Capitol Hill, as well as to the Federal employees throughout this metro area. So I have to tell you that I support the Metro system, and I oppose this amendment.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. Chairman, first of all, I want to thank the gentlelady for bringing this issue to our attention. I know it not only affects her district, but others across the country.

I have to tell you that other Members have come to me, and their great concern is that in many cases the stakeholders at the local offices where there will be closure have not been consulted or have not had adequate input into the negative effects that the closures will have. So for this reason, Mr. Chairman, I support my colleague's amendment and I support the gentlelady, and I ask for an ``aye'' vote.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. Chairman, I join Chairman Latham and the gentlelady from West Virginia. CDBG is a great program.

When I was a county supervisor, we used the moneys to do infrastructure development and helped the communities and allowed other local officials to decide how those moneys were going to be used. But I have concerns about this amendment. It cuts HUD's salaries and expenses by $250 million. This level will likely mean staff layoffs, especially in the office that administers the CDBG program. It also cuts the HOME program by $100 million, even while it is at a record low level in this bill.

The amendment makes these draconian cuts to other programs, and the CDBG levels would still be well below the 1975 level. Robbing Peter to pay Paul is a direct result of the Ryan budget and the inadequate 302(b) allocation.

For that reason, I would oppose the amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. Chairman, as described by my colleague, Ms. Velazquez, counseling is very important to current homeowners, prospective homeowners; and with it, we ensure that someone who is going into an FHA-backed home is able to have all the information in order to be a good homeowner. Obviously home inspection is very important. To those people who are still underwater, they still need the counseling and the information from HUD.

So for those reasons, Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the gentlelady's amendment.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

First of all, I want to commend Chairman Latham for including the $75 million in the base bill. As he said, that will deal with 10,000 veterans who are homeless. I commend him and President Obama for honoring their commitment to service the veterans.

To speak about amendments having political motives or having political connotations, several amendments ago I think we did CDBG, and I'm sure it had a few political connotations, but that's the way some of these amendments come forward.

To Mr. Barber's amendment, I do have concerns that the offset may impede HUD's ability to carry out its mission, but I look forward to working with the gentleman to continue this important work. Hopefully, as we work for the Senate, we'll be able to increase the allocation for this bill.

I support the gentleman's amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Madam Chairman, I rise in opposition to this amendment as this is one of the few accounts in this bill which reached an increase; yet it is still nearly $3 million below the President's request and actual need.

As it is, HUD and homeless providers are skeptical that the amount provided in the bill is sufficient to provide the same level of services that we provided last year. Reducing this account would further jeopardize our Nation's ability to provide housing for the homeless.

I oppose this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Chairwoman, I move to strike the last word.

Madam Chairwoman, the gentleman has cleared this amendment with our side, and it makes technical corrections to the section of the bill.

We have no objection to this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Madam Chair, I rise in opposition to this amendment.

This account renews long-term assistance contracts, and the number varies from year to year. The amount needed to renew these contracts depends on how many agreements HUD entered into years ago, not the number we renewed last year. Reducing the funding in this account will threaten the viability of these units if the funding is not preserved.

I oppose the amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Chair, I move to strike the last word.

I rise in support of the gentleman's amendment. It is his and my effort to help the majority with Republican outreach to Hispanic voters. This amendment would increase by $150,000 the amount of funding HUD shall spend on translating documents for people who are not proficient English speakers.

Because of our record to help the outreach program, we support this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall Nos. 375--H.R. 1542 and 376--H. Con. Res. 44, due to jet engine problems, I was delayed 4 hours in DFW.

Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Domingo ``Papo'' Rodriguez, a resident of Phoenix, Arizona, a constituent and a friend. He has left us too soon, but well after establishing a rich and long legacy that will live on.

Papo devoted over 35 years working with non-profit community based organizations. The last 19 years of his career he served as Vice President of Community Health & Human Services with Chicanos Por La Causa. He managed over 75 different funding contracts and sources that represented over 100 categorical programs and services with 30 facilities serving individuals in 25 cities throughout Arizona. He oversaw programs that impacted the community including the Early Childhood Development program for Migrant & Seasonal and Early Head Start Programs, Community Behavioral Health Services/Managed Care HIV/ AIDS, Youth Prevention and Intervention Programs, Pregnant & Parenting Teen Programs, Parenting Arizona, and Rural Social & Immigration Services.

While his career was very demanding, Papo found time to devote himself to other causes and issues in service to his community. Domingo Rodriguez was instrumental in the establishment of a statewide Latino Policy Institute and served as a consultant to federal agencies on many of our communities' pressing issues. Moreover, he was actively recruited to and generously gave of his time to serve on boards and commissions where his input contributed to the creation of many policies and programs, again, to serve the community for which he greatly cared.

Papo's passing is a loss for the State of Arizona. He will be missed by us all, but he will also be long remembered for his generous spirit and his commitment to service.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Rich Michalski and his long and well-respected career with the International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers (IAMAW.) Throughout Rich's career with IAMAW, he has dedicated over forty-five years to the machinists, a life-long relationship that began when he joined the union himself in 1968 and will culminate with his retirement as the General Vice President, a position he has held for the past seven years.

I was first formally introduced to Rich in 1992 by Congressman Jerry Kleczka, who has always spoken highly of him and since this time, I too have grown to greatly respect and admire Rich and his steadfast commitment to IAMAW. Rich was first initiated into IAM Local Lodge 1916 at General Electric in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1968. He worked as a welder, steward, chairman of the bargaining committee, and president. From his initial beginnings with the union, Rich was always involved with IAMAW's political and legislative priorities. For twelve years he was the Democratic committeeman for his precinct and was elected a delegate to the 1980 and 1984 Democratic National Conventions. As IAM's Director of Legislative and Political Action Department, he partnered with AFL-CIO and its affiliates, and Members of Congress to promote legislative issues affecting our American laborers and their families. Thanks to Rich's most recent efforts as the General Vice President he has overseen and managed the IAM headquarters, and he has significantly contributed to actions countering the anti-union and anti-labor agenda.

Throughout my years of knowing Rich, I have truly valued the supportive friendship and long professional association that I have shared with him. On many occasions, I have relied on his intelligence and political acumen, and he has proven to be a trusted voice who has taught me a great deal over the course of our friendship. Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating Rich on his retirement and long career as a committed advocate on behalf of our nation's workers, especially our machinists. It is with gratitude for these efforts that I join with Rich's family, friends, and colleagues in extending my well wishes for a much deserved retirement and happy and fulfilling future ahead.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall Nos. 245, 246 and 247, due to weather delays in my travel, had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall Nos. 161--H.R. 258; 162--H.R. 1073; and 163--Approving the Journal, I was delayed by weather and my flight arrived late. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

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

(Mr. PASTOR asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

I will tell my dear friend, Chairman Latham, that we agree on one thing, and this is the notion that this is not a good way to run a government. But I have to remind him and remind all my colleagues that about 1\1/2\ years ago we were in this House, in this Chamber, talking about the budget--the Budget Control Act, as I remember. So about 1\1/2\ years ago we had a vote.

I did not support the legislation because I felt that sequestration was a bad idea; but the House passed the bill, the Senate passed the bill, and the President signed it. So, for me, it's very difficult to lay blame on any one party because this was done in a bipartisan manner. It is very difficult for me to lay blame on one Chamber because both Chambers passed the bill. And it's very difficult for me to blame the administration for signing it because this was an action taken in the House, the Senate, and signed by the President. I thought it was a bad idea, but the majority felt it was a better idea, and they went forward.

Now, I have to tell you that Administrator Huerta was before our subcommittee this week. He detailed the cuts that he had to make based on the rules and regulations of the various laws that deal with sequestration. That is why 149 contract towers were recommended to be shut--but they remained open because of a lawsuit--and that is why we had to furlough the FAA air traffic controllers.

In his testimony, Administrator Huerta reminded us that in February of this year a letter was sent by Secretary LaHood to the leadership, including me and Chairman Latham, that the sequestration was going to cause problems in the efficiency of the air traffic control system because there would be a furlough of air traffic controllers in order to meet the cuts that were required by sequestration. That was done in February.

In March, when sequestration was invoked, the FAA had to then implement a plan to see what it had to do to meet the number of cuts it had to make, but not to take away the safety of our air traffic control system, knowing that its efficiency would be diminished. And so today, we are here bringing a fix to this situation. Furloughs have been taken; 10 percent of the employees are furloughed. And that has resulted, to the passengers' inconvenience, in delays or canceled flights.

The problem is--and I agree with my chairman--that this solution is not a good solution because there are other agencies that have to make their cuts and are in a crisis themselves. So, hopefully, when we come back from our district work period, there won't be another agency, another crisis that we have to start shifting money from one account to save another account.

Mr. Speaker, the solution is a comprehensive removal of the sequestration. That will only come about, in my belief and in my opinion, if the House, with its budget, and the Senate, with its budget, will conference and work out the details that it needs to work out to have a comprehensive solution, not just to our budget, but also to sequestration. That needs to be done in order that we're not dealing with issue by issue, crisis by crisis.

So I agree with my chairman that this is not a good way to run a government, but this morning I ask my colleagues to support this legislation.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Last Sunday, the Federal Aviation Administration began to impose the furloughs that were required as a result of sequestration.

The FAA has had to cut a total of $637 million from its annual budget; $485 million of that amount had to be cut from its operations account.

However, the deep cuts required by sequestration still forced the FAA to shut down nearly

150 contract towers and furlough each of the agency's employees for one day a pay period for the remainder of the fiscal year. That meant that every affected employee would lose as much as 11 days of pay.

The FAA operates seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day. It should have surprised no one that removing 10 percent of the workforce on any given day was going to have serious impacts on our air traffic control system.

Without a complete workforce on hand, the FAA had to take measures to slow down the efficiency of the air traffic control system in order to ensure that safety of the system was not ever compromised.

Since last Sunday when the furloughs began, there have been nearly 3,500 delayed flights due to staffing reductions. As a result, thousands of passengers have been inconvenienced by long delays or cancelled flights. As my colleagues will recall, Secretary La Hood warned us of these impacts back in February.

The bill before us provides additional flexibility to the Federal Aviation Administration to help avoid the furloughs required by sequestration. Specifically, it takes carryover discretionary funds from the airport grant program and allows those funds to be used for FAA operations.

This bill is drafted as a one-time fix for one year. It does not eliminate a penny of the $637 million in cuts that the FAA has to make because of sequestration. It simply shifts where the cuts will be taken.

At a time when we need to maintain our infrastructure, we should not make a practice of reducing capital programs to address operational shortfalls.

The bill before us does nothing to address the sequestration cuts that the FAA will have to make in Fiscal Year 2014 and beyond.

We need to find a comprehensive solution to sequestration. The American people deserve better.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer).

I yield the gentleman an additional 30 seconds.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer).

I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Price).

Mr. Speaker, before I yield time, I would like to remind my colleague that this bill passed the House, the Senate, and was signed by the President. That was what brought us sequestration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to our Democratic leader from California (Ms. Pelosi).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the ranking member of the authorizing committee, the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Rahall).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Larsen).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Andrews).

(Mr. ANDREWS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Van Hollen).

Mr. Speaker, before I yield time to my friend, I have to remind my colleague that I voted against that bill, and the bill passed because there was a majority of Republicans who supported it. So we just can't blame one House or one Senate or the President, because all of us share the blame in one way or the other.

I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from Maryland.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlelady from California (Ms. Waters).

Mr. Speaker, how much time do we have remaining?

I will ask my chairman, do you want to even out the time? I will reserve my time if you like.

I thank the gentleman.

I yield 1 minute to the gentlelady from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).

I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

I rise to ask my colleagues to support this bill. It is a one-time fix in a crisis we are having today with our air traffic system. But I join my colleagues, as well as probably my chairman, in asking the House leadership, both the Republican leadership and the Democratic leadership, to please work on a comprehensive solution to the sequester in order that we can bring regular order and get the type of government that the American people deserve.

With that, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember the 21st Anniversary of the Khojaly Tragedy, which occurred in this small town in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan on February 25-26, 1992. In the early 1990s, Azerbaijan was involved in a brutal conflict with its neighbor to the West, Armenia, and the repercussions from atrocities committed during that time still impact diplomatic and economic relations today. The Khojaly Tragedy is perhaps the worst single incident that occurred during this time, resulting in hundreds of lives lost, families devastated, and the town destroyed.

Since a cease-fire was negotiated in 1994, these two nations have been locked in a dispute over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, located within Azerbaijan but occupied by Armenian forces. The Minsk Group of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, of which the United States is a co-chair, was created to encourage a peaceful, negotiated resolution to this conflict, yet work remains in reaching this goal.

In December 2012, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Mammadyarov addressed this situation as follows: ``As a result, our relations with Armenia are practically nonexistent. There is also a distinct lack of economic cooperation and trade between our two countries. Azerbaijan wants peace so that we can continue to grow our economy, develop our energy resources and advance our relations with Europe and our neighbors. But Armenia also has a stake in peace with Azerbaijan. The country is isolated in the region largely because of this conflict. It is excluded from all regional infrastructure and energy projects, such as the oil and gas pipelines passing from the Caspian Sea to Turkey and Europe via Georgia, as well as a new railroad line between Azerbaijan and Turkey through Georgia, to be inaugurated this year. When we can agree on lasting peace, Armenia could become a stakeholder in these regional projects.''

A peaceful resolution of this conflict would benefit not only Azerbaijan and Armenia, but would ensure security and economic growth for the South Caucasus region.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 46--Approving the Journal and 47--H.R. 667, I missed these votes due to a flight delay.

Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the many achievements of Ms. Sonia Gutierrez who is celebrating 40 years of service as President and Founder of the Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School in Washington, DC.

Since 1972, Ms. Gutierrez has dedicated her life to educating and empowering diverse immigrant communities in our nation's capital. In her capacity as Director of the Program of English Instruction for Latin Americans (PEILA), Ms. Gutierrez transformed the small, under- funded English as a Second Language (ESL) program into a comprehensive adult education program, known today as the Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School.

At the school, Ms. Gutierrez has led a highly qualified, diverse, and dedicated team of faculty and staff to improve the lives of over 60,000 adult immigrants. Ms. Gutierrez's passion and tenacity are evident in her unwavering dedication to these individuals, giving them a chance to transform their lives.

Ms. Gutierrez's service has not only impacted the students at Carlos Rosario, but the DC public at-large. Her ongoing leadership and inspired vision provide opportunities for the DC immigrant population to become invested, productive citizens and members of American society who give back to family and community.

Ms. Gutierrez has received recognition from the District of Columbia, the DC Board of Education, national and local Latino organizations, and from organizations in the African-American and the Asian communities. In 2001 she was one of the first four inductees to the Hall of Fame of the National Charter Schools. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration and a Master's degree in Adult Education specializing in Supervision and Administration of Adult Education Programs. Ms. Gutierrez established the Council of Latino Agencies in 1977 and together with Jose Gutierrez and other community leaders was instrumental in creating the mayor's Office of Latino Affairs.

Ms. Gutierrez continues to make transformative contributions to immigrant and non-immigrant communities alike in DC and nationwide. She is presently focused on ensuring the growth and long term sustainability of the Carlos Rosario School's award-winning model. In 2013, a new workforce development satellite site, located in northeast DC, will be dedicated to Ms. Gutierrez--the Sonia Gutierrez Campus.

Mr. Speaker, in light of all Ms. Sonia Gutierrez has done for the community of Washington, DC, it is only fitting that she be honored for her many years of dedication. Her tireless passion as a principal, counselor, advocate, and organizer has contributed immensely to the betterment of the immigrant community and our community as a whole. I ask that you join me in recognizing Ms. Gutierrez and her continued service.