Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 582 on S. 1894, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 570 on H. Con. Res. 260 I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 571 on H.R. 1973, I was unavoidably detained.

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

Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 572 on H. Res. 444, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4053, a bill designating a post office located at 545 North Rimsdale, Covina, California, in honor of Lillian Kinkella Keil, the most decorated female veteran in U.S. military history.

The story of Lillian Keil is one of remarkable courage. Born in Arcata in Northern California, she studied to be a nurse before becoming an airline stewardess for United Airlines. In 1943, she joined the U.S. Army Air Corps (now the U.S. Air Force) as a flight nurse, where she rose to the rank of Captain. Captain Keil flew on 425 combat air evacuation missions in World War II and the Korean War. She helped load wounded soldiers onto airplanes and took part in 11 major campaigns, including the Battle of the Bulge in Normandy during World War II and the Inchon Invasion in Korea. She tended to about 10,000 soldiers while they were being flown to military hospitals. She endured hazardous conditions, sometimes sleeping on a keg of gunpowder or among medical supplies the planes were delivering to battlefields.

To a wounded soldier, Captain Keil represented hope and home. She won the hearts and touched the lives of countless service members and their families. Her life and service to our country serves as an inspiration to all Americans, particularly women serving in the U.S. military. Captain Keil was awarded 19 medals and ribbons, including: 4 Air Medals, 2 Presidential Unit Citations, 1 World War II Victory Medal, 4 battle stars in World War II, and 1 Korean Service Medal with seven battle stars. In 1954, the Hollywood movie ``Flight Nurse,'' starring Joan Leslie and Forrest Tucker, was based, in part, on her experiences. She was the honorary grand marshal of the National World War II Memorial Dedication parade in Washington, DC.

Keil was honorably discharged from the military in 1955. Her family moved to Covina in 1958, and she continued working as a nurse in emergency rooms and hospitals. After serving her country, she became an active member of the Veterans of War 8620, the American Legion Post 790, and the Chosen Few Veterans Military Organization. Captain Keil died of cancer at the age of 88 in June of this year. As a longtime resident of Covina, Captain Keil was not just a brave and self- sacrificing veteran, but she was a loving wife, a mother and a friend to many who live in the 32nd Congressional District.

I urge all my colleagues to join me in recognizing this beloved military hero. This bill is a tribute to all those who have died for our country and their families. The bill symbolizes the gratitude and admiration we have for our Nation's soldiers, who risk their lives to uphold our way of life and the American ideals of liberty, justice, and equality.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 573 on H.R. 3010, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 574 on H. Res. 38, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 575 on H. Res. 302, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 576 on H.R. 3770, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize Edith Rocio Robles, a dedicated and intelligent woman whom I was fortunate to have served as my Communications Director from September 2001 through August 2005. During her tenure in my office I greatly valued Edith's strong communication skills.

Edith joined my office in 2001 as my Press Secretary. Edith quickly assumed her role as Press Secretary. Edith's strong public relations skills and knowledge of the press, particularly Spanish media, made her a valuable member of my staff and gained her the admiration of her colleagues. In 2002, I promoted Edith to the role of Communications Director in recognition of her hard work and invaluable help to my office.

As a grass-roots oriented Member of Congress, I take great pride in my office's extensive efforts to communicate with my constituents in the 32nd Congressional District about how the Federal Government can be of assistance to them and about the work I'm doing in Congress to improve their lives. As Communications Director, Edith played a critical role in this effort, strengthening my office's working relationships with members of the press and local community activists and overseeing my office's mail outreach program.

While I am sad to see Edith leave, I am confident that the future will bring her great success. I wish Edith and her family good health and wishes. I join my staff in Washington, DC, El Monte and East Los Angeles offices in wishing Edith the best of luck in all of her future endeavors. Buena suerte Edith!

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the Republican proposal to cut $14 billion from Federal student aid programs. Education is the key to opportunity for all who live in America. This is particularly true for Latino students.

Latino students currently represent 44 percent, or 2.7 million, of California's students enrolled in elementary and secondary schools. Yet more than 61 percent do not graduate and only 39 percent of those Latino students in LA receive a high school diploma.

Latinos only represent 12 percent of all undergraduates who attend colleges and universities. For many low-income working-class students, financial barriers are the determining factor in whether or not they go to college.

Instead of helping to allow our students to achieve greater access to higher education, the college gap is widening. Republicans propose a budget that will make the largest cut to student aid programs in history and will force the typical student borrower to pay an additional $5,800 for his or her college student loans. I urge my colleagues to vote against these cuts and instead make sure every student in the country has access to affordable college opportunities.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the lives of two great Americans that

changed the course of our Nation's history through their courage and commitment to the basic and fundamental right of equality for all.

Rosa Parks embodied perseverance and tenacity, and through her fearless actions 50 years ago this courageous woman sparked a massive boycott that launched America's civil rights movement. Her lonely act of bravery brought to light the prejudice that the African American community faced and inspired a movement of justice and equality for Americans regardless of race.

Another great American that personified this ideal was former Congressman Edward Ross Roybal. A true public servant to this Nation and advocate for equality, Congressman Roybal was a resounding voice for Latinos and led initiatives to advance the rights of our Nation's most vulnerable communities.

Representative Roybal's life was marked by a distinguished career in the struggle against discrimination and the fight for equal opportunities for all Americans in health and education.

Congressman Roybal brought Latino issues to the forefront of national debate, a legacy that continues today with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus which he worked so hard to found.

Rosa Parks and Edward Roybal, through their individual actions, promoted the advancement of all people in this great Nation. They are an inspiration to all Americans, and their legacy must not be forgotten. We must continue to follow their steps in the fight for freedom, justice and equality.

Madam Speaker, today I rise in opposition to the proposed Republican budget cuts and the harmful impact that will have on women across the country. The Republican budget slashes Medicaid by $10 billion, a vital program for the health and welfare of women of all ages. It provides essential care such as family planning, breast and cervical cancer treatment, and care for disabled women to more than 16 million women, including approximately 10 million women of child- bearing age. In California alone, in my State, over 3.7 million women of all ages are enrolled in Medicaid and 1.3 million Medicaid beneficiaries are recipients in Los Angeles County. Medicaid ensures that women receive a full spectrum of maternity coverage, including prenatal, labor, delivery, and postpartum care. Medicaid is one of the largest sources of funding for women over the age of 80 living in nursing homes, covering nursing home costs and long-term care services.

These facts demonstrate that Medicaid is a significant health safety net program for women. The proposed Republican budget cuts billions from Medicaid. I urge my colleagues to reject the Medicaid budget cuts and to provide full funding for women and their children and for the vital safety of children.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in opposition to the proposed Republican budget cuts and the impact it will have on the Latino community. There are nearly 40 million Latinos in the United States, and more than 19 million are in the labor force making contributions to our Nation's prosperity and economic growth. These families have strengthened the fabric of our society through their commitment to family and community.

The Republican budget, in my opinion, ignores the challenges that American families are facing, particularly Latino families. Republicans have proposed cuts to essential programs to our Nation's Latino families in order to pay for the $106 billion tax break for the wealthy few. These tax cuts are reckless, in my opinion, and unfair to the middle- and lower-income families, and reflect this Republican-led Congress's double standard.

The Republican proposal includes a cut of more than $10 billion of Medicaid over the next 5 years. Today, as you know, Medicaid is the largest health insurance program in our country, and Medicaid is a very important program for the Latino families in America. It currently provides health insurance to about 58 million people, including 28 million who are children. Medicaid helps 41 percent of people who live in poverty, many of whom work full time and still do not earn enough to rise out of poverty.

Over 10 million Medicaid recipients are Latinos, and Medicaid covers more than one in three Latino children. Latinos have the highest uninsured rate in America. One out of every three

Latinos, or 34 percent of those Latinos, are without any form of health insurance, and as a result, Latinos depend on Medicaid as their only means of health care access. By making preventative and primary care more readily available, and by protecting against and providing care for serious diseases, Medicaid has improved the health of millions of low-income Latinos and their families.

Despite Medicaid's enormous importance in providing access to health care services for millions of Latinos, Medicaid remains under assault by the Republican Congress and its administration. When the Republicans took control of Congress back in 1995, the first thing they did was propose slashing Medicaid by $128 billion to pay for the tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans.

Once again, Medicaid is under assault, and the Republicans are at it again. The Republican proposal would shift the cost to States and beneficiaries, undermine the ability to provide health care services, and ultimately increase the number of uninsured.

Medicaid cuts would shut the neediest individuals out of public health programs. Latinos represent nearly one-fifth of the Medicaid beneficiaries. They would be disproportionately affected by these cuts. Latinos are already marginalized in this country. At a time when Latinos lack proper health insurance and are facing rising health care costs, cuts in Medicaid funding will ultimately deny care and treatment to the most vulnerable. Many of these cuts for Medicaid will be forced to rely on emergency medical services and, as you know, will cost the taxpayers more money.

The administration has allowed 5.4 million Americans to slip into poverty. Under the proposal in my State of California, it is estimated to lose over $174 million in Federal funds annually, and current enrollment would drop by 3 million people. In my county alone, in L.A., the loss would be close to $74.5 million, affecting over one million beneficiaries.

A recent study shows the combination of stagnant income and staggering increases, important items like health care, housing, education, transportation, all affecting our families. These cuts do nothing to relieve America's working families.

Let us do the right thing. Let us make sure we fully fund Medicaid so that American families and Latino families have full access to affordable quality health care for themselves and their children.

On this eve where we are paying tribute to a former Member of Congress, Congressman Ed Roybal from Los Angeles, who was a pioneer advocating for the elderly and health care and Medicaid, I would ask that we remember at this time his strength and his tenacity in this House and how he fought so hard for the coverage of services through Medicaid for our seniors and especially those in East Los Angeles and across the country.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to welcome former Taiwanese President Lee Teng-Hui to Washington, DC.

President Lee Teng-Hui is truly a founding father of democracy. As president of Taiwan from 1988 to 2000, Mr. Lee Teng-Hui helped Taiwan develop into the strong democracy it is today. Today, Taiwan is a vital, growing democracy committed to the universal principles of human freedom and dignity. I am certain that President Lee Teng-Hui's visits to the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall and his viewing of the United States Constitution and the Declaration of Independence has only deepened his appreciation of America's struggle for democracy.

It is my hope that one day there will be open dialogue between high level officials in the United States and in Taiwan for the development of democracy beyond our two countries and around the world.