Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my deep concern about the economic crisis facing American families under the failed policies of the Republican leadership.

Housing construction has plunged to the lowest level in more than 3 years. In fact, many families in my district can't even make their mortgage payments anymore. The average cost of food supplies is increasing, just like the increase in electricity bills.

In my home State of California, gas prices have doubled in the past 5 years to well over $3.50 in my district. Families with two cars in Los Angeles will pay an extra $2,330 per year for gas. That is higher than it was 5 years ago. The increase in gas prices will cost Los Angeles drivers an extra $9.2 billion this year alone.

Real wages have not kept up with increased costs as well. In Los Angeles, workers there only make 84 cents on the dollar. In East Los Angeles, in my district, the unemployment rate is currently 7.1 percent, compared to 4.9 percent for all of California.

America's working families need a new direction, one that works for everybody and doesn't discriminate depending on where you live, instead of one that rewards the very wealthy at our expense.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for offering me this moment to speak.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to raise my strong opposition to the closed rule and the underlying piece of legislation, H.R. 4844, which restricts the right of citizens to vote.

With the cast of one vote, this legislation would undo what women and communities of color have fought for decades: the sacred right to vote and have a voice in the electoral process.

The bill will suppress the vote of groups like the elderly, people of color, and low-income citizens who are less likely to possess documents or prove their citizenship. Elderly citizens especially, who were born at home and do not possess their birth certificates, would be denied their right to vote. Citizens who lost their possessions because of natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina would be denied the right to vote. Women change their last name when they marry. Will they have the right to vote or will that be restricted?

The bill might as well be a poll tax for low-income citizens who would be required to obtain and pay for a document like a passport, which would cost them $97 just to acquire one. That is a big, big amount of money for many of our low-income seniors to meet.

It is already a felony, as we know, in this country to vote fraudulently. Law-abiding citizens should not be penalized.

The bill is a breach of the American citizens' right to vote and undermines everything that the Voting Rights Act stands for.

I strongly urge my colleagues to vote down this closed rule and the underlying legislation.

I just want to make a statement that there is no law that says that you cannot have people go out and help participate in campaigns and knock on doors and pass out literature. I believe the candidate in that San Diego race was asking for that support. So I would like to clarify the record on behalf of Ms. Francine Busby, because I know after meeting her that she was very excited about talking to students and engaging them in the art of voting and getting people out to understand the importance to take on your civic responsibility.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor Gloria R. Rodriguez. As a health care professional for over 27 years, Ms. Rodriguez has spent much of her career working to eliminate health disparities in minority and disadvantaged communities. Currently, Ms. Rodriguez serves as the CEO of the Community Clinic Association of Los Angeles County (CCALAC) which represents 43 health centers and clinics throughout the county.

Gloria was born in Culver City, California and raised in the San Fernando Valley. She attended San Jose State University where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Community Health Education. Ms. Rodriguez later received her Masters of Public Health degree in Public Policy and Administration at the University of Washington's School of Public Health and Community Medicine.

Ms. Rodriguez spent much of her career working with various community health-related organizations in Washington State. She served as CEO for the Washington Association of Community & Migrant Health Centers (W ACMHC), the State's primary care trade/membership association, and founded the Alliance for Multi-Cultural Health in Tacoma. She also served as the Assistant Director for the

Washington State Department of Labor and Industries and CEO of the Washington Association of Community & Migrant Health Centers. In each of these capacities, Ms. Rodriguez focused on capacity building, community development and workforce development as means to eliminate healthcare disparities in minority and disadvantaged communities. She also worked to bridge the gap between health care providers and the communities they serve.

Beyond her involvement in community health organizations, Ms. Rodriguez has 15 years experience in direct patient care in a wide range of roles, including cardiology technician, medical assistant, pharmacy technician, and lab technician. She has also worked as a health care educator and has served on a vast array of board and task forces.

Ms. Rodriguez's dedication to eliminating health disparities and providing quality health care services to her community is both admirable and inspiring. I am proud to recognize Ms. Rodriguez and her many accomplishments and wish her the best as she continues to serve the community.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise because America needs a new direction for homeland security. Our Republican colleagues are ignoring our Nation's real security needs.

The 9/11 Commission made 41 recommendations on ways to make our Nation safer, but just this December America received a flunked Homeland

Security 101, receiving 10 Cs, 12 Ds and 4 Fs.

Only 6 percent of containers at our ports are being screened, most air cargo is not being screened, and 5 years after 9/11, the Nation still lacks a unified terrorist watch list for airline passengers.

We need a new direction for America's security. We must guard against future attacks by implementing all the 9/11 Commission recommendations; and we must screen 100 percent of our containers and cargo bound to the United States in ships and planes; and we must ensure our first responders have the training, equipment and technology they need.

Mr. Speaker, just when you thought the Bush administration had finally faced reality and admitted that Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11, President Bush uses a nationally televised speech on 9/11 to once again blur the lines between the war on terror and the war in Iraq.

Last week, a bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee report concluded that the U.S. intelligence analysts were strongly disputing any link between al Qaeda and Iraq, while the Bush administration officials were fabricating links to justify invading Iraq.

Over the last month, President Bush and Vice President Cheney have admitted to the American people there was no link between the terrorist attack on September 11 and the Iraq war. Yet, during a nationally televised speech on Monday, the President once again had the audacity to say that the safety of America depends on the outcome of the battle in the streets of Baghdad, once again connecting in many people's minds 9/11 and Iraq.

The President can't have it both ways. And on an issue so important as this, national security, the President should level with the American people and admit it is time to make a change and change the course in Iraq.

Mr. Speaker, five years ago, democracy and freedom were attacked when terrorists destroyed nearly 3,000 innocent lives in New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania. We mourn the passing of those taken too soon, celebrate the lives of the scores of volunteers and first responders who helped victims and their families, and vow to never forget the fateful day that changed the lives of millions of Americans. Today, Congress had an opportunity to do the right thing and remember September 11 without partisan motives or divisive tactics. Yet, H.R. 994 was motivated more by upcoming elections than honor and remembrance.

Today's 9-11 resolution to honor the victims and heroes of 9-11 includes controversial legislation which criminalizes immigrant families and strips Americans of those civil liberties which are the very fabric of our democracy. It links the thoughts and prayers for servicemen and women with efforts to deport the families of immigrant soldiers--many of whom are not U.S. citizens. The resolution also defends the practice of wiretapping--an invasion of privacy which neither Congress nor the courts have either expressly or implicitly approved and which undermines the right to privacy.

Debates about immigration and civil rights are important to the future and fabric of our country. America needs comprehensive immigration reform; policies which provide strong support for a more intelligent and realistic approach to controlling immigration, including enhanced border security, workplace and employer enforcement, and earned legalization for immigrants with a path to citizenship. But

an enforcement only approach, such as H.R. 4437, has failed in the pass and is doomed to fail again.

We need a new direction for America's security and there are several steps that Congress must take now to keep our country safe. We must guard against future attacks by implementing all of the 9-11 Commission recommendations, screening 100 percent of containers and cargo bound for the United States in ships and planes, and ensuring our first responders have the training, equipment and technology they need. Yet our Nation will be not become more secure by partisan resolutions endorsing failed immigration approaches and programs which threaten our civil liberties.

As we remember the past, we must look toward the future to ensure our Nation and our world is safer. We must, at the same time, protect that which makes America's democracy so great--our civil liberties, and lead the world toward peace through diplomacy. Five years ago, families, friends, and strangers joined together to care for the fallen. This resolution is an attempt to divide that spirit. As we move forward, let us not forget the spirit of community which we embraced that day and work together to bring peace for future generations.

Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 440 on H. Res. 994-- 9/11 Resolution, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.''

Mr. Speaker, as Democratic Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues, I rise today to congratulate Dialogue on Diversity for its 2006 Health Care Symposium. I am proud to recognize the Dialogue's effort to inform and educate the public about the importance of an effective preventive health care system.

Dialogue on Diversity, founded in 1989, is committed to improving the economic and social condition of women in the U.S. and around the world. Its programs bring together multi-ethnic women for a worldwide interchange on concerns of vital importance to the world's women and their families.

Today, our health care system is not meeting the needs of all people, particularly in racial and ethnic minority communities where health disparities continue to grow. Discussions and symposiums like Dialogue on Diversity's 2006 Health Care Symposium will help to address these important issues.

Again, I want to commend the Dialogue on Diversity for its 2006 health care event and wish them the best of luck in the future.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to highlight the struggle of American working families. The Census Bureau reported that American families are living paycheck to paycheck, struggling to make ends meet and going deeper into debt, even as they are working harder and are more productive.

Housing costs and interest rates are skyrocketing. The income of American families continues to stagnate even as health care, energy and college costs keep going up. The number of Americans without health insurance has risen by 16 percent to 46 million people, equal to the population of 24 States and the District of Columbia.

This includes more than one-third of my constituents in east Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Valley, not to mention the 5 million more Americans living in poverty under this administration.

We need a new direction to help America's working families achieve the American dream, not more tax breaks for the wealthy oil corporations. I urge my colleagues to please reject the failed economic policies of the Republican Congress and instead honor hard work, fair wages and economic growth.

Good morning, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to talk about the Republican leadership and the fact that they are ignoring the needs of millions of Americans who right now are making minimum wage. They haven't seen an increase in over 10 years.

They are holding the pay raise for American workers hostage by adding partisan poison pills that will damage and ruin a clean minimum-wage bill that the Democrats support.

Americans deserve a straight up-or-down vote on increasing the minimum wage for working families, most of whom are women, single head of household with children.

Mr. Speaker, our constituents know that you can't fool them. They know that the Republicans' attempt to pass a minimum-wage bill that includes harmful, unrelated legislation is just not going to pass this House.

Come November, Democrats are going to stand up, and they are going to fight with us, and we are going to take back this House.

I urge all my colleagues to reject the proposed Republican poison bills and allow a clean vote up or down on the minimum-wage bill.

Mr. Speaker, after more than 3 years of fighting the war in Iraq, it now appears that some House Republicans are finally beginning to question the administration's competence in running the war and are finally beginning to question the rosy scenarios that continue to come from Vice President Cheney and Defense Secretary Rumsfeld.

An article in last week's Washington Post, entitled ``GOP Lawmakers Edge Away from Optimism on Iraq,'' says that Republicans are having to reconsider their strategy on the war. With an average of over 100 Iraqis dying every day last month, one of my Republican colleagues admitted that they have to change their message so they don't look like they can't face reality.

And so now, after berating Democrats for the past 3 years and questioning the administration's failed policies in Iraq, some House Republicans are willing to admit that things are not going well in Iraq.

Now the question is, Is this a convenient message that they plan to use for the next couple of months between now and mid-term elections, or will my Republican colleagues actually take their oversight responsibilities responsibly? Only time will tell.

Mr. Speaker, all year long House Republicans have failed to provide real leadership on issues that affect Americans. Earlier this month the Associated Press reported that President Bush had only signed two substantial bills into law this year.

And, now, House Republicans want to spend the entire week distracting and dividing our Nation with pieces of legislation that will never be signed into law. This is not what the American people sent us here to do.

They have yet to join us in offering a stand-alone vote to increase the minimum wage, which about 60 to 70 percent of people polled said they agree with.

Because of their cozy relationship with Big Oil, they have yet to provide American consumers any relief at the gas pump. In my district it is over $3.35.

Earlier this year, House Republicans promised they would clean up the place after several Republican lobbyists pleaded guilty in the Abramoff scandal. But still we have yet to pass any final legislation.

Mr. Speaker, no wonder House Republicans are trying to distract the American public. This is not a record I would want to run on either.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman. I also want to register my strong opposition to the Oman Free Trade Agreement.

As I see it, it is a flawed trade policy, largely to blame for the loss of so many jobs because of the various trade deals we have had. Three million manufacturing jobs have been lost over the last few years. In the last 4 years, our deficit has increased by $725 billion. Trade deficit, $725 billion.

Not only does this particular trade agreement turn its back on American workers, but it endorses the race to the bottom by allowing Oman to continue to ignore labor unions, discrimination against women in the workplace, and excludes guest workers from even minimal worker protections.

If shipping jobs overseas and encouraging discrimination isn't bad enough, this agreement would also allow foreign firms to acquire and operate important national security assets in the U.S. Our only recourse would be at an international court.

Mr. Speaker, supporters of this agreement argue that they are trying to spread democracy and stability around the world. But democracy and stability can't be achieved by trade agreements such as this which ignore the rights and freedoms that are inherent in the fabric of a free society.

I urge a strong ``no'' vote on the Oman Free Trade Agreement, and let's make a priority to help our economy and our workers here before we start selling short our jobs and many of our manufacturing corporations to foreign countries.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to celebrate the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Regional Health Forum that was held on July 7 in Los Angeles, California.

The Hispanic Caucus and Congressmember John Conyers from the Black Caucus came together with over 200 community activists to find a new direction to battle health care disparities in disadvantaged communities.

The new direction that we have adopted ensures quality health care that is accessible, affordable and culturally and linguistically appropriate.

An accessible and culturally sensitive health care system is critical to addressing conditions that disproportionately impact communities of color like, for example, diabetes, obesity, kidney disease, HIV and AIDS, and mental illness. All these chronic illnesses affect our communities.

The new direction developed at the forum is one where community members, providers and policymakers at the local, State and Federal levels come together to collaborate to end health care disparities; and we plan for solutions in the next upcoming congressional session.

We came together with the Hispanic Caucus at this forum in Los Angeles, and we will continue to take the show on the road throughout the country to ensure that all Americans have a healthier system of health care.

Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from Missouri and obviously the Members of this very important committee that helped to pass this resolution.

Madam Speaker, today, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 721, a resolution supporting the goals and ideals of the Salvadoran American Day, el dia del Salvadoreno. I would like to thank Chairman Davis and Ranking Member Waxman for their support in bringing the resolution to the floor today.

This resolution recognizes the Salvadoran Americans for their hard work, dedication and contributions to our stability and well-being of the United States.

Forty years of internal political turmoil forced thousands and thousands of individuals from the Republic of El Salvadore to flee and come to this country. They sought peace and security and a better life in the United States.

Madam Speaker, my mother was born in Central America, in Nicaragua, and immigrated to the United States to seek a better life. As the only Member of Congress of Central American descent, I am honored to recognize Salvadoran Americans and Salvadoran American Day.

Currently, there are over 900,000 Salvadorans living in the U.S. The majority live in Washington, D.C., New York, California and Miami. In the Los Angeles metropolitan area alone, parts of the district that I represent, there are nearly 300,000 Salvadoran Americans.

This celebration of Salvadoran tradition dates back to August 6, 1525, almost five centuries ago, when the city of Villa De San Salvador was founded. El Dia del Salvadoreno marks the culmination of a week- long celebration ``Fiestas Agostinas'' and is arguably the most important civic-religious celebration in El Salvador. The celebration pays homage to the cultural festivities of El Salvador, while recognizing that Salvadorans have adapted themselves to life in the United States.

Celebrated by Salvadoran Americans in California and throughout the country, this day has grown in significance over the years. Back in 2001, the city of Los Angeles honored Salvadoran American Day, and in 2002 Salvadoran American Day was declared as a statewide event in California. More than 100,000 Salvadorans participated in these celebrations in 2005, and we know and expect we will see more this coming August.

I am proud that Congress is helping to recognize and honor this day. Salvadoran American Day contributes to a positive image for Salvadorans, as well as improving a better understanding between our diverse communities and this part of America.

I would like to recognize and thank the Salvadoran American National Association, known as SANA, the SHARE Foundation, and all of the Salvadoran American and Central American organizations for their support and their work to provide for this resolution.

Let us not forget that our Nation was built by the people from many nations and different backgrounds and cultures. In fact, many of the workers who helped rebuild the Pentagon were of Salvadoran background. They love this country. I urge my colleagues to recognize the Salvadoran Americans and pass this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to speak out of order.

Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight because I believe that America needs a new direction to secure our country and combat terrorism. We need a new direction so our children and our children's children will live in a safer and more secure world.

On May 1, 2003, President Bush declared that Iraq is free, that major combat operations in Iraq have ended. Yet in more than 3 years since, our world has not become a safer place, and our military families continue to suffer. More than 130,000 U.S. troops are serving in Iraq and more than 10,500 members of the selected Reserves have been deployed more than three times. Ninety-seven percent of the National Guard combat and special operations battalions have been mobilized since September 11, 2001, and the average tour of duty for National Guard members is 342 days.

Two thousand five hundred fifty-three of our men and women have paid the ultimate price. That includes 11 members that I represent from East Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Valley: Private First Class Jose Casanova, age 23. Lance Corporal Manuel Ceniceors, age 23. Lance Corporal Francisco Martinez Flores, age 21. Sergeant First Class Kelly Bolor, age 38. Lance Corporal Benjamin Gonzalez, age 23. Corporal Jorge Gonzalez, age 20. Sergeant Atanacio Haro-Marin, age 27. Specialist Leroy Harris-Kelly, III, age 20. Corporal Stephen Johnson, age 24. Corporal Rudy Salas, age 20. And, lastly, Marine Corporal Carlos Arellano, age 22.

Another 10,327 have been injured, not including more than 8,500 who have been injured so badly that they cannot return to action. I strongly support our servicemen and women that have performed admirably under these very difficult conditions. These conditions have been worsened by the lack of needed supplies, and our men and women continue to serve without a plan to secure the peace.

Today, the Government Accountability Office testified that Congress had appropriated $430 billion to the Department of Defense for the global war on terror. According to the GAO, and I quote: ``Neither the DOD nor the Congress reliably know how much the war is costing Americans.''

The GAO also testified that the U.S. can expect to incur significant costs for an unspecified time in the future, requiring decision-makers to consider difficult trade-offs. As the Nation faces increasing long- range fiscal challenges, we have seen some of the trade-offs already.

Critical programs remain unfunded and underfunded by this administration, and our veterans and their families are the ones that are suffering. There are $3 billion worth of gaps in needed services for our Nation's veterans. The number of new veterans waiting for health care appointments at the VA, the Veterans Administration, has risen by 400 percent over the last 2 years.

Funding for Homeland Security is suffering too. And as a result, because of the administration's misguided policies, first responder grants have been slashed by 59 percent, and only 5 percent of containers entering the U.S. ports are screened, and there are 800 fewer border patrol agents than what was authorized in the 9/11 Commission Act.

Afghanistan is also suffering from the Bush administration's misguided policies. Secretary Rumsfeld wrote in a letter today that the United States maintains its strong commitment to Afghan's success. We look forward to continuing our strong partnership, he said.

Yet the people in Afghanistan are not feeling that commitment. Between November 2003 and April 2006, the number of insurgents has quadrupled from 5,000 to 20,000. The average number of daily attacks by insurgents has climbed by more than 70.

The Afghan Defense Minister recently stated that Afghanistan needs five times the number of security forces to address the issue of a resurgent Taliban. And without them, Afghanistan is in real danger of collapse. If his warnings were not enough, just today the Taliban recaptured two towns in the southern province of Pakistan's border.

Despite the increasing conflict in Afghanistan, despite the lack of a plan for peace in Iraq, despite the lack of accountability for government contracts, and despite the trade-offs on homeland security, important first responder programs, the administration wants the United States to stay the course.

I could not disagree more. War and military might alone does not show strength in foreign policy rooted in a

unilateral and preemptive action which does not achieve peace for Americans. America needs a new direction

Mr. Speaker, we must seize the moment and insist on a new direction for America so our children and our children's children will live in a safer and more secure environment.