Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, on Monday, September 10, 2007, I was absent during the recorded vote on H. Res. 257--Supporting the goals and ideals of Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on the motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 257.

Mr. Speaker, on Monday, September 10, 2007, I was absent during the recorded vote on H. Res. 643. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on the motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 643.

How quickly we forget.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to introduce the Mental Health Schools Act of 2007, which proposes to expand access to school-based mental health services. It would provide grants to local school districts or coalitions of schools, health providers and communities. It would identify students in need of immediate mental health care on site, require schools to provide culturally and linguistically appropriate training for students, parents and members of the community.

The statistics we have learned in the last few years are alarming, and they tell an alarming truth. Childhood mental illnesses affect nearly one in five adolescents. One in three Latina adolescents contemplate suicide. The time for action was a long time ago, and we need to move forward on this. The need for mental health services has never been greater.

Enacting this legislation will be a great benefit to our society. It would allow mental health professionals to care for our kids in need of immediate health and allow our teachers to concentrate on teaching.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 636, had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition.

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

I am glad my colleague has stated the background of the fair, but I don't know if he knows it has been around for many decades. Yes, it is very well attended, hosts many functions, has all of the buildings that he is talking about. Yet it is still so old that a lot of it is in very, very serious stages of decay. By that, it needs some restructuring. But that's beside the point.

What this does is for a center to be made, and I'll read what it really is about. It's Fairplex Trade and Conference Center, will be 85,000 square foot, state-of-the-art conference and exhibition center, complete with broadband connectivity, campus-wide wireless integration, as well as satellite two-way communications gear, attracting and benefiting small business. It will have both small and medium-sized meeting rooms outfitted with high-tech equipment ideally suited to help small business during events.

This is an ideal setting to convene small businesses from my area and from outside of the United States to share their ideas and compatibilities to do business.

The amendment that is proposed by my colleague would strip the funding from the SBA account for construction of this non-profit entity, a building that will create jobs and provide businesses in a disadvantaged community. I am talking about the number one crime city in the State of California, that's Pomona.

Unfortunately, there has not been the foresight from the surrounding community to help combat crime or to try to provide more economic development. Pomona itself had not had a general plan of review in almost 30 years. They hadn't had new investments.

This will help bring all of that, not only to Pomona, but to the surrounding communities which Mr. Dreier, Mr. Miller and Ms. Solis are around, would help foster that economic growth by bringing together small businesses, entrepreneurships and being able to do international trade.

The center itself is projected to provide roughly 1,700 jobs and provide economic stimulus. Already, 90 small businesses have registered to work.

Mr. Chair, the trade conference is scheduled to cost $25 million, minimum. Of that, Fairplex is putting in $5 million; City of Pomona, $7 million; EDA competitive grants, $5 million; SBA, which we are hoping to be able to get, $250,000; and the county and State, $6,750,000 with private sponsorship putting in the rest.

This project could be so beneficial to my whole area, not just my communities, but to the whole general area that is not really part of Los Angeles proper. It is more into the Inland Empire and has been, what I call, a neglected area of Los Angeles County. It enjoys a lot of respect and a lot of support from not only the communities, but the many cities around it.

As my colleague has aptly pointed out, it hosts a whole slew of activities for the whole southern part of California. It is used also for Federal events.

We have had at least two times a year 4,000 naturalization swearing- in ceremonies. Iraqi elections were held there 2 years ago. As representative for the city, I am proud to support this economic development issue and to try to bring more business and jobs to my area.

I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on my colleague Mr. Flake's amendment.

I also want to thank Mr. Dreier. This is not his bill nor his area, but he has always been very supportive of what we are trying to do. I certainly thank you for the time.

Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I certainly respect Mr. Flake's views. I certainly think he has every right to challenge. This has always been a very transparent earmark that we've had since last year, which was not approved last year. It will create jobs. I need those jobs in my area. Yes, there are many areas in the United States that could really be able to use funding from the committee.

However, if we don't help create those jobs, we can't spur the economy, and we can't help put more funding into the Federal budget.

Mr. Chairman, I urge a ``no'' vote and yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, on Thursday, June 21, 2007, I was absent during rollcall vote No. 536. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on agreeing to the McGovern of Massachusetts Amendment.

Madam Speaker, on Thursday, June 21, 2007, I was absent during rollcall vote No. 535. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no'' on agreeing to the Boustany of Louisiana amendment.

Madam Speaker, on Thursday, June 21, 2007, I was absent during rollcall vote No. 537. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no'' on agreeing to the Jordan of Ohio Amendment.

Madam Speaker, on Thursday, June 21, 2007, I was absent during rollcall vote No. 538. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no'' on agreeing to the Price of Georgia amendment.

Madam Speaker, on Thursday, June 21, 2007, I was absent during rollcall vote No. 539. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no'' on agreeing to the Musgrave of Colorado amendment.

Madam Speaker, on Thursday, June 21, 2007, I was absent during rollcall vote No. 540. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on agreeing to the Pence of Indiana amendment.

Madam Speaker, on Thursday, June 21, 2007, I was absent during rollcall vote No. 541. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no'' on agreeing to the King of Iowa Amendment.

Madam Speaker, on Thursday, June 21, 2007, I was absent during rollcall vote No. 542. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on agreeing to H.R. 2764, the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations for FY 2008.

Madam Speaker, on Friday, June 22, 2007, I was absent during rollcall vote 543. Had I been present, I would have voted ``Yea'' on ordering the Previous Question to H. Res. 502, providing for the consideration of H.R. 2771, Legislative Branch Appropriations for

Madam Speaker, on Friday, June 22, 2007, I was absent during rollcall vote No. 544. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on agreeing to H. Res. 502, providing for the consideration of H.R. 2771, Legislative Branch Appropriations for FY 2008.