Floor Statements

Madam Speaker. I rise today to honor the career of Robert Sanchez, a guidance counselor formerly at La Puente High School in California.

While I was a high school student at La Puente I was fortunate enough to have Mr. Sanchez as my college guidance counselor. Each day he worked tirelessly to promote education in our school and in our community. During my senior year in high school, Mr. Sanchez took a vested interest in my education. He personally took time to explain the college application process to me and my family and helped show me how I could go to college.

At the time no one else in my family had attended college. College seemed to be an unattainable goal, and the college application process was both expensive and daunting. If not for Mr. Sanchez's counseling and guidance, I do not know that I would have been able to go on to pursue a college education.

For youths across our nation, high school teachers and counselors are a vital part of their education with the power to influence a student's decision to pursue higher education or not. I stand here today to honor those teachers and guidance counselors, like Robert Sanchez, who work each day in our schools, with little recognition or accolades, to place the dreams of knowledge and a better future back into the hands of our children.

Robert Sanchez has dedicated his life to motivating and educating countless youths in Los Angeles County and San Diego, California. Thank you, Mr. Sanchez, for never giving up on our children.

Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize Benita Duran, a dedicated, hard working woman whom I am very fortunate to have had on my staff for more than eight years.

Benita joined my staff in November 2000 while I was serving as a member of the California State Senate. She stayed with me during my transition into service as a Member of Congress and has been my Deputy District Director since 2004.

During her time in my office, Benita demonstrated that she is a hard working individual committed to advancing the public interest. She demonstrated her passion for issues affecting underserved communities and the lives of working families daily in her work. True to her roots, the residents of El Sereno were first and foremost in her heart and mind.

Benita is strongly committed to our nation's servicemen and women, veterans and their families. She worked tirelessly to ensure that countless numbers of veterans received the medals and recognition they earned, and stood by the families of who lost their loved ones in service to our nation.

Benita was equally committed to helping all residents resolve issues which required Federal assistance. She paid personal attention to each case, whether it was helping resolve an IRS issue to helping people achieve the American Dream of securing their citizenship.

As my Deputy District Director, Benita managed my two district offices and staff in a mature, thoughtful, organized manner. Through her words and actions, Benita trained, mentored and inspired my staff to constantly challenge themselves to meet new goals while helping them along the way. I knew Benita could be counted on to deliver. I am grateful to have had her assist me in this capacity while my work kept me in Washington, DC.

Benita's passion, dedication and commitment to public service will be sorely missed. I am confident she will continue to excel in all future endeavors.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize California's 32nd Congressional District, which I have had the privilege to have represented for the last 8 years in Congress and which I am proud to call home.

I am proud that my six siblings and I were raised in La Puente. Like many, my parents sacrificed throughout our childhood so my siblings and I could live up to our potential to achieve whatever our talents would allow. Like other families throughout the San Gabriel Valley, my parents instilled in my siblings and me the value of hard work, public service and commitment to family. For most of my adult life I have continued to live in the San Gabriel Valley, calling El Monte home.

California's 32nd Congressional District is a culturally diverse district where residents live and work together as a community to ensure everyone has the opportunity to achieve success and dreams for their families. The communities in the 32nd Congressional District include: the cities of Azusa, Baldwin Park, Covina, Duarte, El Monte, Irwindale, Rosemead, South El Monte, West Covina, and portions of Monterey Park and East Los Angeles.

During my time in Congress I was proud to have been the first Latina on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, where I served as Vice Chair of the Environment and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee and as Ranking Member during my tenure, and was a member of its Health and Telecommunications and the Internet Subcommittees. I also had the privilege to serve on the House Natural Resources Committee, the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, and the House Education and Labor Committee. In addition, I held several leadership positions, including being the first Latina to chair the Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues. I also chaired the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Task Force on Health and the Environment where I spearheaded annual summits across the country on racial and ethnic health disparities.

Throughout my career in public service I worked hard to improve the lives of families by focusing on expanding access to affordable health care, protecting the environment, and job creation. In Congress I have won legislative victories to provide workforce training for green collar jobs; authorized a Federal study on ways to improve recreational and environmental opportunities for the San Gabriel River Watershed; removed barriers to U.S. citizenship for non-U.S. citizens serving in the U.S. military and reserves; banned pesticide testing on pregnant women and children; helped ensure health care access for Latinos suffering from HIV/AIDS; and promote domestic violence awareness, particularly in communities of color.

I want to thank the residents of California's 32nd Congressional District for electing me to represent them in Congress. I have served during some of the most trying times in California's history, and have worked to help build a better future for our State and country. It has been a privilege to serve and represent the San Gabriel Valley and East Los Angeles in the U.S. House of Representatives for the past 8 years.

I want to take this opportunity to thank my family, especially my parents, Raul and Juana Solis, my husband, and my sisters and brothers for all of their support over the years. They have always believed in me, and have been my source of strength and teachers of the commitment to justice, equality and public service. To my extended family, those I have worked alongside with both in California, thank you for your commitment to public service and justice, and your loyalty.

I also want to thank you, Madam Speaker, all of my colleagues in the House, and in particular California's Congressional delegation. I have enjoyed working with you all during my time in Congress, and I am looking forward to continuing to work with you to build a better country. Thank you and God Bless.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to U.S. Army SGT Jose Regalado who died while serving our country.

SGT Jose Regalado was from El Sereno, California. He was born on May 11, 1985, and attended Sierra Park Elementary School, El Sereno Middle School, and Woodrow Wilson High School. As a high school student, Sergeant Regalado joined the Junior ROTC where he worked hard to move up the JROTC ranks. He earned the position of cadet battalion command sergeant major, the highest noncommissioned officer position in the battalion, and received several of the highest awards possible.

Sergeant Regalado enlisted in the United States Army on July 22, 2003. He was a member of K Troop, 3rd Squadron, 3rd Armored Calvary Regiment from Fort Hood, Texas.

On May 3, 2007 Sergeant Regalado married Sharri J. Ford, and on August 6, 2008, they were blessed with the birth of their daughter, Jaime. Sergeant Regalado was allowed to return to the United States for 18 days to meet his daughter; it would be the first and last time he would spend time with her. Sergeant Regalado lost his life on November 12, 2008, in Mosul, Iraq, as the result of injuries sustained from small arms fire.

As a young man, Sergeant Regalado enriched the lives of his surrounding El Sereno community. His JROTC instructors recall his competitive spirit and noted that while he was very demanding of his cadets, he was well liked and respected. He was a devoted father, even carrying the ultrasound of his unborn daughter in his pocket while in Iraq. He was a loving husband and the proud son of Jose and Raquel Regalado.

Sergeant Regalado served this country with courage, pride and loyalty. He gave the ultimate sacrifice to our country and for that we will be forever grateful to him and his family. My prayers and deepest sympathy go out to his wife and young daughter, family and friends.

Madam Speaker, today I rise with a heavy heart but in support of the rule. Our economy is not stable. Working families are suffering. Unemployment is over 10 percent in my own district. We have over 2,300 people who have lost their homes to foreclosure. Retirement and pension funds are losing value. Local government can't make decisions. Half of small business owners rely on mortgages for lines of credit and many small minority and women-owned businesses are suffering right now.

We have to have regulatory reform and oversight. We have to address this foreclosure crisis, and I believe that our leadership will do everything they can in their power to make sure that we make these Americans whole. We have to restore trust in our banking institutions and we have to cap CEO payouts. That's why I am now looking at supporting the rule and supporting the bill. I know it's hard for my constituents, but I think we have to do the right thing. This is what we were brought here in Congress to do today.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the work and service that Familia Unida Living with Multiple Sclerosis, Familia Unida, contributes throughout California's 32nd Congressional District.

Familia Unida's mission is to enlighten, educate, and unite families that are affected by Multiple Sclerosis, MS, as well as other debilitating diseases. Though originally founded to provide culturally and linguistically sensitive resources to the Latino community dealing with MS, Family Unida's outreach now extends into the entire MS community, providing services to any who request assistance in coping with this disease. Through events such as the 5th Annual Wheelchair Wash, Familia Unida continues to bring awareness to the importance of the inclusion of all persons, especially those living with disabilities, in our lives.

Famila Unida has enhanced the quality of life for many through its extensive services in obtaining health care access, as well as providing educational resources. As Family Unida continues to honor its founding principles of providing culturally sensitive programs and support for those living with MS, I ask that my colleagues join me in recognizing its valued service and commitment to the MS community.

Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize Don Lyster, a dedicated, hard working gentleman whom I am very fortunate to have had on my staff for the past seven years.

Don joined my staff in March 2002 as my legislative assistant handling labor, trade, immigration, homeland security and judiciary issues. I was proud to promote him twice during his tenure in my office, first to Legislative Counsel and then to Chief of Staff.

Don demonstrated his passion for issues affecting underserved communities and the lives

of working families daily in his work. Through his efforts, legislation to expedite the naturalization process for legal immigrants serving in the U.S. military and members of the selected reserves, coupled with immigration protections for immediate family members of fallen soldiers, was enacted into law.

From a union family, Don's work on labor issues demonstrated his strong commitment to working families. He was constantly working to improve workplace conditions and grow jobs for working families. Don always worked to protect and increase worker's rights, not only on a national level, but by keeping close watch on the issues facing workers throughout Los Angeles.

His passion for telecommunications and internet matters was always seen through the perspective of the need to protect and expand affordable access for all consumers, which is especially important in California's 32nd Congressional District.

As my Chief of Staff, Don has played an integral role in helping advance my priorities on the Energy and Commerce Committee and as chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Task Force on Health and the Environment. I am grateful to have had him with me to assist in my role on the Steering and Policy Committee. Don has used his knowledge of telecommunications matters to help expand outreach in the Congressional District I represent through the use of new technologies. Through his words and actions, Don has trained, mentored and inspired my staff to constantly challenge themselves to meet new goals while helping them along the way.

Don's passion for life and love of his family will be sorely missed in my office. I join my staff in Washington, DC, and district offices in EI Monte and East Los Angeles in wishing Don the best of luck in all of his future endeavors.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 5244, the Credit Cardholder's Bill of Rights. I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this legislation, which protects families across America from the confusing, deceptive, and unfair credit card practices. I believe that passage of this legislation is long overdue.

Unfortunately, the increased usage of credit cards among Latinos has resulted in more Latinos with credit card debt. Between 1992 and 2001, the share of Latino families with credit cards grew from 43 percent to 53 percent and the average credit card debt among Latinos increased by nearly 20 percent to $3,700. Even worse, credit card issuers have profited by taking advantage of Latino families' need to rely on credit for everyday expenses. Credit card companies imposed an astounding $18.1 billion in penalty fees on families carrying credit card balances. Seventy-seven percent of Latinos carry a balance on their credit cards, which makes them especially susceptible to credit card industry's unethical tricks and penalties.

Inequities in access to mainstream credit cards mean that Latinos are targeted by unscrupulous companies and are more likely than Whites to have credit cards with high interest rates. Because credit card companies can increase interest rates at any moment and can charge interest on debt that consumers have already paid on time, they have trapped vulnerable low-income Latino families in a never-ending cycle of debt.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in support of H.R. 5244, the Credit Cardholder's Bill of Rights. We need to end unfair and arbitrary interest rate increases and protect vulnerable consumers from high-fee subprime credit cards. I look forward to working with my colleagues to protecting the financial security of consumers across our country.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my strong support for real sexual education. In my home state of California, sexual health education taught in public schools must be medically accurate, bias-free, and age appropriate. Comprehensive sex education is needed to truly address the rise in sexually transmitted infections and the rise in teenage pregnancies among communities of color.

I am working to reduce teen pregnancy in the Latino community, Despite the arguments of the current administration, abstinence-only education has not proven to be effective. For the first time in 15 years, teen birth rates are increasing in the United States. Fifty- three percent of Latina teens become pregnant at least once before age 20. These appalling statistics are why I introduced H.R. 468, the Communities of Color Teen Pregnancy Prevention Act. This legislation would provide additional funding to support teen pregnancy prevention efforts in our communities and schools and for research about teen pregnancy in at-risk communities.

We need to protect the future of our children by committing to providing comprehensive, medically accurate sex education. I am proud that several Planned Parenthood centers are located in my district in the San Gabriel Valley. I know that many of my constituents rely on health information from Planned Parenthood clinics such as the EI Monte Medical Center and East Los Angeles Medical Center.

Recently, I invited Andreina Cordova, a teenage Planned Parenthood peer advocate in Los Angeles, to discuss her work with the Ujima program at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Public Policy Conference. I was impressed by her commitment to provide sexual health information and promote responsible behavior among teens.

I also strongly support the efforts of Planned Parenthood's successful promotoras program. Promotoras visit schools, homes and community centers to educate families about reproductive health and teen pregnancy prevention. We need to provide comprehensive sex education in schools instead of wasting valuable dollars on ineffective abstinence-only programs. Some states agree. In fact, California is one of few states in our country that rejects federal abstinence-only sex education funding

in order to provide students with accurate comprehensive sex education.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support comprehensive, medically accurate sex education so that we can reduce the number of teenage pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections. I look forward to working with a new administration to ensure that our younger generations will be provided with real, medically accurate sexual health information.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a Latino civil rights leader and the founder of the Mexican American Opportunity Foundation, MAOF, Dionicio Morales, who passed away on September 24, 2008.

Dionicio was born to immigrant farm worker parents and was raised in Ventura County, California. Like many Mexican Americans of his generation, Dionicio struggled to achieve an education and he graduated from high school in 1937. Dionicio attended Santa Barbara State College and worked with the Amalgamated Clothing Workers Union early to ensure garment workers had better working conditions.

Dionicio was a life-long community organizer who devoted his life to providing critical programs and resources to the Mexican-American community. He was a strong advocate and dedicated leader for the people of Los Angeles.

In 1963, Dionicio became the founder and president of the Mexican- American Opportunity Foundation, which provides the Mexican-American community with critical access to services and programs. These services include increased access to job skill training programs, repair programs for low-income homes, nutrition and employment aid for seniors, and many other critical programs that have dramatically improved the lives of many Mexican Americans in Los Angeles County and the surrounding areas. Dionicio later spent most of his life serving on several Federal, State, and county boards that gave him a voice which he used to advocate for the important issues that faced the Mexican- American community.

Throughout my career in public service, I have had the pleasure to work with Dionicio and MAOF to increase economic and social justice in the Latino community. I am proud to have received the prestigious Aztec Award from MAOF in October 1996 and am committed to continuing this work to bring greater equality and opportunity to the Latino community.

Dionicio will be remembered for his lifetime commitment to the Mexican-American community. I extend my sympathy to Dionicio's family in this difficult time. Dionicio's legacy will continue to live in MAOF. He will be dearly missed by the Latino community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss the humanitarian aid situation in Cuba. Earlier this month, Cuba was struck by Hurricanes Gustav and Ike, which devastated the lives of about 11 million citizens of Cuba.

These hurricanes wiped out towns and destroyed about 500,000 homes, crops, roads, electrical service, water and other key infrastructure on that island. It's estimated that the damage will be anywhere from 4 to $10 billion. I just happened to be in south Florida this weekend and heard from many in the community, many Cuban Americans, who don't like the politics there, but understand that there has to be something done.

But because of a travel restriction implemented by the Bush administration in 2004, Cuban Americans in the United States are unable to send money back home or even travel. They are restricted by that travel. These restrictions do not reflect, in my opinion, the family values upon which our Nation was founded. Instead, they unfairly target families in need of this dire assistance.

We must temporarily lift these travel restrictions and remittances so that money can go to those families that are in so desperate need of assistance at this time. I ask for at least a temporary lifting of travel and remittances for at least 3 months.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a dear friend and lifelong Democrat, Gladys Cannon, who passed away on September 8, 2008, at her home in West Covina, California. Gladys was a beloved wife, mother, friend, activist, and community leader who will be missed by her peers and the beloved community she devoted her life to serving. I am proud to have called Gladys my friend and I join her husband Frank and her family in mourning her passing.

Throughout her life, Gladys never failed to become involved in helping her community. She had the heart of an activist and the soul of a fighter and she never failed to fight for progressive values. She was a proud member of the Teamsters Union and an active and ardent Democrat. She worked hard to ensure that working families would have their voices heard. Our community will be forever grateful for Gladys's civic activism and volunteerism.

In addition to being a community activist, Gladys was an avid sports fan who always looked forward to March Madness and rooting for USC, the Los Angeles Lakers, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Green Bay Packers. Gladys also loved to travel. Her fondest memories were of cruises to Alaska and trips to England and Ireland. Gladys loved to live life and she always did so with a cunning smile and fighting spirit. Gladys will always be remembered and missed for the special joy she brought us all.

Gladys will be remembered for her lifetime dedication to her community and fighting spirit. She was a heartfelt champion of women and working families. I extend my sympathy to Gladys's family in this difficult time, and especially to her beloved husband Frank Cannon whom she greatly loved. Gladys will be dearly missed.

Madam Speaker, Republicans say they favor an all-of-the- above solution to our Nation's energy crisis. Yet their record from the past 8 years tells us something different.

Republicans have consistently voted against critical solutions that should be a part of a comprehensive energy package. For instance, they voted against important tax provisions needed for renewable energy and energy efficiency industries. They voted against responsible drilling. They voted against efforts to protect consumers from speculators who manipulate our markets. They voted against measures to bring down oil prices. And lastly, they voted against American workers by not supporting green collar jobs.

These votes and others show the true Grand Oil Party whose primary goal is to protect the record profits of big oil companies. If my colleagues are really serious about supporting an all-of-the-above energy proposal, then they should join Democrats and support a sensible and comprehensive energy package.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the achievements of Joey Quinto, publisher of the California Journal for Filipino Americans.

Mr. Quinto was born and educated in the Philippines, where he received a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from San Beda College in Manila, Philippines. He also graduated from the Minority Business Executive Programs of the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth in Hanover, New Hampshire. Mr. Quinto now resides with his wife Carlyn and daughter Carlette in Palos Verdes, California.

Mr. Quinto's contributions to the advancement of the API community are many. He began his professional career in California in 1984 as a mortgage banker. As a publisher, his weekly newspaper advances the interests of the API community and appropriately addresses local, consumer and business news, and community events. He is also a member of several community organizations. These include the Los Angeles Minority Business Opportunity Committee and The Greenlining Coalition.

His contributions have been widely recognized. Mr. Quinto is the recipient of the Award for Excellence in Journalism during the Fourth Annual Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Awards in celebration of the Asian Pacific Islander American Heritage Month. This award recognizes prominent APIs that have excelled in bringing pertinent news to the API community. He previously was listed among the Star Suppliers of the Year of the Southern California Regional Purchasing Council in 1999, received the Minority Media Award from the U.S. Small Business Administration in 1997, and has also earned a leadership award from the Filipino American Chamber of Commerce based in Los Angeles.

Madam Speaker, I hope that my colleagues will join me in congratulating Joey Quinto for his years of service to the API community. Through his tireless work effort he has demonstrated that the American dream is possible.

I thank our chairman from the Labor Committee. I want to urge our Members here today to vote on this very important bill, H.R. 1338, the Paycheck Fairness Act. Our colleagues, Rosa DeLauro, and others, have championed this bill for many years. But Rosa has really dedicated herself to this movement. I am happy to be a cosponsor of this bill. She understands, as we know and many woman know, that we have to recognize that there are inequities that exist in our communities, and especially among women and women of color.

Some of you may know that while women overall only receive 77 cents on the dollar, Latinas only average 57 cents on that dollar, and African American women only get 68 cents on the dollar.

Indeed, there are disparities that exist and continue. We have an obligation here in this House to do the right thing.

Just today, this morning, Arnold Schwarzenegger, our Governor, cut the payroll for many State employees. Many of them are women. They are the earners for their households. They have to put food on the table. Now they are going to be making Federal minimum wage, which is less than what the State of California's minimum wage is. What an atrocity.

I am not going off message, I am just trying to strike home a point that it's important to take care of all those that work in our society, but particularly women because they are the ones that are mostly discriminated against, and we have to cut that out.

Again, I want to wholeheartedly offer my support and have my colleagues know that I stand first and foremost for pay equity for all of us. I ask you to vote for H.R. 1338.