Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, today we celebrate the life and mourn the passing of Coretta Scott King. Following the assassination of her husband, Dr. Martin Luther King in

1968, Coretta Scott King worked tirelessly to keep the ideology of equality for all people alive. A civil rights leader in her own right, she created the King Center for Non-Violent Social Change in Atlanta, Georgia, in order to continue her husband's work. She fought with dignity and a quiet strength to end hunger, unemployment, voting rights violations and racism. We must continue to follow in the footsteps of Coretta Scott King and work to achieve equality though peaceful protests in order to improve our country for future generations.

Mr. Speaker, I thank our ranking member, and I thank Chairman Sensenbrenner also for the opportunity to provide my strong support of H.R. 3402, which includes a Violence against Women Act reauthorization.

I want to also pay tribute to the Women's Caucus, the bipartisan Women's Caucus. We heard from Ginny Brown-Waite, who also spoke, and we worked very diligently on this issue, and also to the advocates throughout the country who worked laboriously for the last year on trying to seek amendments that could be provided and placed into this piece of legislation.

I am very happy as cochair of the Congressional Caucus For Women's Issues that we were able to work together. This is one fine accomplishment that we can go home to our districts with.

I am proud to have been able to author two provisions that were included in the final version of this very important act that will help women of color and women who are victims of domestic violence. One provision would provide an outreach campaign to attempt to service those underserved communities where we find a disproportionate number of women who are not in the forefront in terms of receiving this kind of information about prevention activities and domestic violence, and also with respect to court assistance. Because when women enter into the court, sometimes that court system is not very friendly, and it can be very intimidating. So I am very pleased we were able to get that provision also in the bill.

Women of color, as you know, are less likely to report incidents of domestic violence, and particularly immigrant women are even at a greater disadvantage when they are found to be in an abusive situation. Many times their spouses or loved ones will intimidate them with reporting them to the immigration to be deported. So we know that this legislation will go very far in providing protections for these women and their families.

By addressing domestic violence in communities of color in a way that understands their culture and language and values, we greatly increase the chances of making a difference, not only in the lives of women but of their children and also other family members.

Mr. Speaker, I thank again the ranking member, Mr. Conyers, Chairman Sensenbrenner, and their staffs for working with us on a bipartisan level to help to provide a comprehensive Violence Against Women Act reauthorization. I urge all my colleagues today to support H.R. 3402 and put an end to domestic violence against women in our country.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished Member from Florida, and I appreciate the opportunity to speak on the floor on this very important issue.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in strong opposition to this rule. The Sensenbrenner bill is an unacceptable, inefficient and punitive proposal to reform our immigration system. Rather than focusing our resources on apprehending terrorists, fraudulent document manufacturers and other serious criminals, this proposal hurts hard-working families who want nothing more than to contribute to the economy and to achieve the American dream. These workers help to make our economy the strongest in the world.

Criminalizing and deporting 11 million undocumented immigrants already in the United States is unrealistic and would be very costly to the American Treasury, as much as $230 billion. This legislation places unfunded mandates on our local governments and especially on our first responders who already face serious budget deficits.

While I agree that we must secure our borders, enforcement-only legislation is the wrong approach. Our immigration system is broken and severely outdated and should be comprehensively reformed. That is why I am disappointed that this rule does not allow for amendments which would provide real, effective reform, including a path to legal permanency for the undocumented that are already here, a reduction in the immigration backlog so that thousands of separated families can be reunited, and new channels for future workers to enter safely and legally.

This border security PLUS approach is a comprehensive solution to a complex problem. For generations, immigrant families have journeyed to the United States in search of the American dream. Like the immigrants of the past, today's immigrants contribute significantly to our country and yearn for that American dream.

As a daughter of proud immigrants, I value America's history of treasuring the contributions that immigrants have made to this country. My parents came from abroad. My father came from Mexico and came here to this

country under the Bracero program to work to make this country great. He busted his back working on the railroads; helping to pick fruit and vegetables in Texas, in Colorado, in Montana; and eventually met his wife, my mother, from Central America who had to leave poverty in Central America to find a better life. She and my father raised seven children, and I am proud to be a U.S. citizen born here.

Some of the amendments that you are going to hear about would try to deny a mother who gave birth to a child here that citizenship because she does not have her documents.

How dare the Republican Party begin to try to take apart our very Constitution? How dare the Republicans attempt to try to take away the lifeblood of our country, the contributions that immigrants have made and will continue to make?

Give me your tired, your poor. Give me those huddled masses that are yearning to breathe free. We did it a century ago when Italians, Germans and Europeans came to this country. But now when this economy is going down the tubes, we quickly want to point fingers at what I think is a community that has worked very hard, and that is the Hispanic community. I am a very proud to be a part of that community.

I know the residents and constituents that I represent toil every single day paying taxes, making those beds in those hotels, providing service, janitorial services, and many of them caring for our elderly and our children. What are we going to say to them for harboring the undocumented, that they are also criminals? I think not. This rule and the underlying piece of legislation should be voted down.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H. Res. 612. I honor and support our troops and request an open debate on Iraq on the House floor.

Madam Speaker, today I rise to express my strong disappointment in the misguided priorities of the Republican majority in Congress. As we are preparing to adjourn for this year, we have not addressed the real needs of the American people. In my district in East Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Valley and across this country, more and more families are being forced to make difficult choices. The absence of affordable housing, health care, a living wage for workers and high heating costs are just a few of the reasons that more people are slipping into poverty.

According to the U.S. census, there were 37 million people living in poverty in 2004, an increase of 5.4 million during the Bush administration. In my district alone, 20,000 families live below the poverty line. We are failing the working men and women of our country, we are failing our children, and we are failing the senior citizens as well.

I urge my colleagues today to work together to meet the needs of all American people and let's put their priorities first.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Michael Miller of West Covina, California. Mr. Miller was first elected to serve the citizens of West Covina in March of 2001 and is completing his service as Mayor to the city this December.

Mr. Miller has a long history of service to his community. Mr. Miller worked for the City of Garden Grove for 8 years and continued his service for the City of West Covina serving in the planning and development of the community. His distinguished service of 24 years in the City of West Covina's Office of Planning, Public and Environmental Services was followed by an elected position to West Covina City Council for 4 years marked by merit. Mr. Miller also owns a small consulting business which addresses environmental and municipal issues affecting cities, individuals and small businesses.

Mr. Miller's service extends beyond his duties as an elected official and city staff member. He serves as Director and Board Member of the California Waste Association; Director and Board Member of Southern California Waste Management Forum; and member of the Southern California Council for Environment and Economic Development. Mr. Miller is a member of the Lyons Club, serving as President from 1977-1978; member of the Citrus Valley Health Foundation 2100 Club, serving as President from 1999-2000; Director and Board Member of the West Covina Historical Society; House Supervisor for the Heritage House Restoration; Committee Member of the West Covina Chamber of Commerce Economic Development and Government Affairs; Committee Member of the YWCA Women of Achievement; and Committee Member of the West Covina Rose Parade Float.

For his many contributions, Mr. Miller has been named West Covina Citizen of the Year (1998), West Covina Volunteer of the Year, Recreational Services (1999) and CovinaWest Covina Coordinating Council Volunteer of the Year (1999).

In addition to his service to the community, Mr. Miller has been a devoted and loving husband to his wife Rosella of 37 years and father to his two children Melissa and Kevin. It is with pleasure that I recognize Mr. Michael Miller for his significant contributions and noteworthy dedication and service to his community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Benjamin S. Wong of West Covina, California. Mr. Wong was first elected to serve the citizens of West Covina in April 1992 and served as mayor from 1997-1998. He is currently the mayor pro tempore and is completing his service to the city as an elected official this December.

Ms. Wong has a long history of service to the community with membership to various organizations and boards. He is a member of the West Covina Lyons (1981-1994); Board of Directors and former President of the Chamber of Commerce; the Queen of the Valley Foundation; the Queen of the Valley Men's Club; the Intercommunity Medical Center Men's Club, member of the 2100 Club; and First Federal Savings and Loan of San Gabriel Valley Board of Directors, 1991-present.

Mr. Wong's service to the residents of West Covina includes a broad spectrum of boards and municipal organizations, all of which address issues of commerce, urban development and revitalization. This service includes the Redevelopment Agency Relocation Appeals Board; Citizens Committee on Public Services and Facilities; Police Commander Interview Board; San Gabriel Valley Commerce and Cities Consortium Board Member, 1992-present; vice president from 1993-1994; and Foothill Transit Executive Board Member, 1994-present.

In addition to his service to the community, Mr. Wong is a devoted and loving husband to his wife Deborah of 26 years and father to his three children: Courtney, Justin and Adam. It is with pleasure that I recognize Mr. Benjamin S. Wong for his significant contributions and noteworthy dedication and service to his community.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in opposition to the Republican misguided and irresponsible plan to pass mandatory spending cuts and a companion tax cut package.

The Republican budget reconciliation bill cuts $50 billion in vital programs such as Medicaid, food stamps, and student loans which are important to low-income and working-class families in this country.

The Republicans claim that these spending cuts will be used to offset the cost of hurricane relief efforts, and that is simply not the case. In recent years, Republicans have not offset the supplemental funding for the war and rebuilding in Iraq.

The reality is that Republicans are cutting vital services for the most vulnerable in our country in order to finance $70 billion in tax cuts to the wealthy few. The budget reconciliation bill, when combined with the tax cut, increases the Federal deficit by $20 billion.

Do not be fooled. The Republican reconciliation plan is a plan to increase the deficit and the national debt. Republicans clearly have the wrong priorities for America's working families. The budget is wrong. I urge my colleagues to protect the health and well-being of our citizens and not support this plan.

Mr. Speaker, I too wish to associate my words with our colleagues from California and honor the great legend, Congressman Ed Roybal. I had the privilege of knowing of his work. I worked with his daughter also when she was a member of the assembly. Ed Roybal in the tradition of Hispanic politics really led the way for so many of us by creating an activism and participation that cannot be compared anywhere.

He started NALEO, National Association of Latino Elected Officials, and also was very much an advocate on health care. One of his major comprehensive health care centers is in East Los Angeles, and it stands there as a tribute to the work that he did tirelessly for the people in poverty, for the elderly, for seniors and helped establish the school of gerontology at USC and UCLA.

He has been a wonderful individual role model for many of us, fighting discrimination. He fought against Dodger Stadium in East L.A. in Chavez Ravine when developers wanted to displace low-income Mexican Americans back in that era.

He is someone who will be strongly remembered by many of us. I know that his daughter serves very proudly representing his district, and I know that legacy will continue on. He is someone who fought for immigrants when it was not popular, was someone who fought for civil rights, for education and for equal treatment and also for AIDS education and awareness.

He was truly a pioneer and someone to this very day whose very history can be repeated here through, I think, the leadership of his daughter as well as other members of the Hispanic Caucus, which he was the first individual to start. He served as our Chair for that congressional caucus that now has been in operation, I would say, for more than 20 years, if not more.

Mr. Speaker, with that, I would just pay tribute to the Roybal family and also to their daughter who serves with us here.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to America's 24.5 million living veterans who have served and sacrificed for our country--including the 28,000 veterans in my district.

Veterans Day is the time to honor the servicemen and women that have protected this country and the freedom we hold so dear. Throughout history, our veterans have served our nation with great distinction and honor. Today, we recognize both those who have worn the uniform and those who are currently serving.

That is why I support several key pieces of legislation that serve to benefit our nation's veterans. I am proud to be a cosponsor of H.R. 2131, the New GI Bill of Rights for the 21st Century. The new GI Bill would repeal unfair tax burdens on military families, provide veterans with affordable health care, education, and job training benefits, and strengthen our support for men and women in uniform, including our National Guard and Reservists.

On this Veterans Day, our servicemen and women continue to risk their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan to protect our country. Recently, the 2,000th soldier was killed in Iraq and more than 15,000 troops have been wounded there. During the Iraqi conflict, my district has suffered the loss often brave servicemen who did not return to their families. They are Marine Corporal Jorge A. Gonzalez; Army Sergeant Atanasio Haromarin; Army Private First Class Jose Casanova; Marine Private First Class Francisco A. Martinez Flores; Army Specialist Leroy Harris-Kelly III; Marine Corporal Rudy Salas; Lance Corporal Benjamin M. Gonzalez; Lance Corporal Manuel A. Ceniceros; Specialist Private First Class Marcos O. Nolasco; and Corporal Stephen P. Johnson. These men, our fallen soldiers, are heroes. My heart and prayers go out to their families and friends.

We have learned that freedom is not free and no one has paid a higher price and sacrifice for our freedom than our veterans. I join the rest of the nation in remembering their service to our country. Let us renew our efforts to keep our promises to our veterans. We can do that by making sure that legislation is passed that will help our veterans. Our nation's veterans and service members need to know that their families will be taken care of while they sacrifice so much.

I urge my colleagues to keep our promises to our veterans and fight for the improvement of services to them.

Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 577 on H. Res. 539 I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 578 on H. Res. 538, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 579 on H. Res. 540 I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 580 on H.R. 2419, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 581 on H.R. 2862, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''