Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of reauthorizing the Children's Health Insurance Program. President Bush, as you know, has callously denied health care for 10 million poor children due to his misplaced priorities.

More than 800,000 children in my home State of California depend on the Healthy Families Program. More than half of those children happen to be Hispanic. The health of millions of children will be endangered and millions more will continue to suffer if we do not reauthorize this program.

We in Congress have an incredible opportunity to do what is right for our children, especially those children who are disadvantaged and come from low-income families. All children, regardless of race, income or geography deserve a healthy start in life.

It is time to end this false allegation that undocumented immigrants are receiving this coverage. Ten million children are counting on us to do the right thing. We have a moral obligation to protect the health and well-being of all of our children.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Univision on the launch of the new political news show ``Al Punto.''

``Al Punto'' is paving the way to promote dialogue within the growing politically active and conscious Latino community. For 1 hour every Sunday, the show will bring together newsmakers, policymakers, business and political leaders, or entertainers to talk about the contemporary issues that affect the Latino community. The discussions will go beyond politics to include culture, science, and the arts. Furthermore, ``Al Punto'' will address current events in Latin America which impact the Latino community at home. This show will work to enlighten and empower the Latino community, as it will provide them with vital information on the current issues and news events that are impacting their everyday lives.

Again, I would like to recognize and congratulate Univision on the launch of ``Al Punto'' and for its contributions in educating the Latino community on political issues. I wish it continued success.

Madam Speaker, access to high-quality early childhood education programs, including dual language programs, can play a significant role in closing the education gap. So I am proud to rise today to introduce the PRIDE Act, which will establish dual language education programs.

One in every five students who enters schools in the U.S. speaks a language other than English at home. The English language learners (ELL) population represents more than five million students in the K-12 public school system, which constitutes about 10 percent of our total public school population. In Los Angeles County, ELL students are no longer a subgroup of students. Rather, ELL students represent the student population the school district serves. More than 40 percent of students in the Los Angeles Unified School District are ELLs. Of those students, 94 percent speak Spanish as their native language. The vast majority of ELL students are native-born U.S. citizens.

English language learners and low-income children start kindergarten well behind their peers, and this gap continues to widen over time. For example, by kindergarten, only 50 percent of Latino children are able to name and recognize letters of the alphabet compared to 75 percent of Caucasian children. The National Task Force on Early Childhood Education for Hispanics cites that only 23 percent of Latino ELLs who knew little to no English at the start of kindergarten score at high levels of reading comprehension in the 5th grade. By 8th grade, 71 percent of ELL children score below basic in reading and math.

Dual language programs are in extremely high demand across the country. Programs in very affluent communities have long waiting lists of children. These programs help train biliterate and bilingual children. Although schools in low-income communities have instituted dual language programs to improve ELL instruction, these communities have less access to programs that truly follow the dual language model. We must provide our public school system with the tools necessary to ensure the success of all students, especially those in underserved communities and school districts.

That is why I have introduced the Providing Resources to Improve Dual Language Education Act of 2007 (the PRIDE Act). The PRIDE Act would serve children in economically disadvantaged communities and limited- English proficiency students from preschool through 5th grade. The PRIDE Act would recruit, train, and continuously develop staff to implement high-quality, dual language programs. These programs focus on instruction, second language acquisition, and content knowledge.

We know how important the role of a family is in a child's education. The PRIDE Act would also establish a responsive infrastructure for positive, active, and ongoing relationships with students' families and the community, one that reflects the needs of the community and goals of the program.

The PRIDE Act is endorsed by at least 30 groups, including the National Council of La Raza, the National Education Association, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund, the National Black Child Development Institute, and the National Association for Bilingual Education.

Madam Speaker, in order for the U.S. to remain globally competitive, Congress must address the ongoing challenges in our education system. We must promote and build bilingual skills for all our children, including those in impoverished communities. As a diverse nation, this includes ensuring education meets the needs of all students, including ELL children. I urge my colleagues to cosponsor the PRIDE Act, because educating our children is a commitment that we must not abandon.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the National Affordable Housing Trust Fund Act, which the House will consider today.

This bill would create a national affordable housing trust fund to be administered by HUD, the Housing and Urban Development Department. The trust would increase the supply of decent quality affordable housing, especially for low-income families.

Owning a home is an American value, but many are not able to acquire that dream. With rising housing costs throughout the country, affordable housing for low-income Americans has become nearly impossible.

For example, in 2006 Los Angeles County residents needed to make at least $50,000 a year to afford a two-bedroom apartment. That income is significantly more than what social workers, preschool teachers, and in-home health care aides earn on average. The gap between wages and housing costs in Los Angeles County and nationwide has skyrocketed.

I urge my colleagues today to vote for the final passage of H.R. 2895 so we can help all our constituents realize the American Dream.

I thank the gentleman for yielding time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of postponing consideration of the vote to override President Bush's veto of the SCHIP Reauthorization Act.

We have a momentous opportunity here. Yet today the President chose to deny health care to millions of poor and uninsured children. In the State of California, 50 percent of those children that are enrolled happen to be of Hispanic descent.

What message is he giving to those children? While the bill may not be perfect, I think it's still a step forward in the right direction for our country and for the communities of color that it will serve and for our children, our very, very poorest children.

In the coming weeks, I urge our colleagues to stand up for the health and well-being of our children of working families and to reject the President's misguided, immoral and fundamentally flawed veto.

I join with my colleagues today in asking that we postpone, call a timeout, so that he can think about this and his party. We must do the right thing for our children, those who are the most vulnerable in our population.

Earlier this week, the world came together at the United Nations to discuss the need to take action against climate change. The United Nations Secretary General stated, ``I am convinced that climate change and what we do about it will define us, our era, and ultimately the global legacy we leave for our future generations.'' Missing from the discussion, however, was none other than the United States.

Rather than engage, the Bush administration continues to bury its head in the sand, organizing summits to discuss aspirational goals and ignoring real science.

The science is certain. Human activity impacts human security, and without a mandatory agreement, the costs of climate change will continue to be socialized. Business as usual cannot go on. We must commit to mandatory reductions in order to protect health, environment, and security around the world.

Our cities, States, and Democrats in Congress are leading by example. I hope the administration will join us and our colleagues on the other side of the aisle. Vulnerable communities in the United States and around the world deserve nothing less.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Resolution 642, a resolution I authored to express our sympathy and support for those affected by the recent hurricanes in Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean. As the only Member of Congress of Central American descent, I am very concerned about the impact of the hurricanes on this impoverished region of the world.

For the first time, two Category 5 storms, Hurricanes Dean and Felix, made landfall during the same year, both striking Central and Latin America. Earlier this month, Hurricane Felix, a Category 5 storm, made landfall along the remote border of Nicaragua and Honduras. The storm killed over 130 people and damaged or destroyed over 19,000 homes, mostly in Nicaragua. The aftermath has been devastating for thousands of families.

Hurricane Dean, another Category 5 storm, hit Mexico and the Caribbean coast and killed 27 people and damaged or destroyed over 50,000 homes. Nicaragua, in Central America, is one of the poorest countries in the area and was the hardest hit by Hurricane Felix.

The complete economic and human toll of the hurricanes is still unknown, but we must act quickly to ensure that humanitarian aid continues to flow to the communities impacted. Supplies, including food, clean water and rebuilding materials, are essential. Economic aid for the agriculture economies that those countries rely on is also badly needed.

House Resolution 642 recognizes the U.S. Government's initial humanitarian efforts and urges increased and continued assistance as the effects of the hurricanes unfold. The resolution also recognizes the efforts of humanitarian relief groups, including the International Red Cross.

Unfortunately, the United States knows all too well the damage and destruction that can result from hurricanes and other natural disasters. The area I represent in Los Angeles is prone to wildfires and earthquakes, and we are still working to support those affected by Hurricane Katrina.

Just as Hurricane Katrina showed us how disruptive and damaging natural disasters can be, they are all the worse for less developed countries. We all remember the devastation of Hurricane Mitch, which killed nearly 11,000 people and caused catastrophic mudslides in the same region nearly 10 years ago. We can and must help our neighbors in Latin America to recover from these hurricanes.

I urge my colleagues to support House Resolution 642.

I thank our chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee for allowing me to speak this evening.

Mr. Speaker, I rise with a very heavy heart today in support of this so-called Children's Health Insurance Program because I can't afford not to have our children covered. That is what SCHIP has been about for the last 10 years. We need to continue that service to those kids who are covered. It hopefully will not be dropped off, and we can continue to expand the program.

I will tell you that I do have differences with our party, and especially the Republican Senate Members that refused to allow for coverage of legal permanent resident children and pregnant women.

We passed a good bill, the CHAMP Act. We worked very hard, and I thank our leaders of our committee and our Members for allowing us the opportunity to provide interpretive services for hard-to-reach populations, to go out and do the right thing and to get more children enrolled.

This is not the expansion that many of us envisioned that are sitting here tonight, but it is the best we can do. I can tell you, we had a meeting earlier with Speaker Pelosi. She has made a commitment to continue the discussion with us, and we will make that a priority for the people that we represent here in America.

If we can send troops, send our soldiers to defend our country and yet not cover their families and their children, then we have moral corruption going on in this Congress. I support this bill. Again, I say I have a heavy heart.

Thank you, Madam Speaker, and good morning to all.

It's a privilege and honor today to welcome a dear friend of mine, Father Richard Estrada, who traveled from Los Angeles to be here to provide the House with its opening prayer. I am delighted to present Father Estrada to my colleagues, and I want to thank him for taking the time to be here.

As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, it is fitting to have Father Estrada serve as guest chaplain. Father Estrada has dedicated his entire life to serving those less fortunate than us, particularly the homeless and at-risk youth.

He is the founder and executive director of Jovenes, Inc., a nonprofit organization which serves the homeless and at-risk immigrant youth and other disadvantaged individuals from the East Los Angeles area. He is the associate pastor at Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church, La Placita, the oldest church probably in the country.

Father Estrada received a bachelor of arts degree from the University of San Francisco and studied theology and pastoral counseling at the Graduate School of Theology in Berkeley, California, the Mexican American Cultural Center in San Antonio, Texas, and the Fred C. Neiles School in Whittier, California.

In addition to his advocacy on behalf of the homeless and young people, Father Estrada is a champion for the humane treatment of all immigrants and their families. In fact, I recall him asking me to go with him across the border to place bottles of water for those immigrants that were dying in the fields and in the desert.

I ask my colleagues to welcome Father Richard to the House today. We have before us a great man of honor and compassion.

Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Specialist Marisol Heredia who died of injuries suffered while serving in Iraq. Specialist Heredia was a member of the U.S.

Army's 15th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Calvary Division, deployed from Fort Hood, Texas.

Specialist Marisol Heredia was from El Monte, California. She was born on September 16, 1987. She received a public school education and attended Mountain View High School, where she was a dedicated student who graduated half a year earlier than her class.

For love of country and out of admiration for her older sister who served in the U.S. military, Specialist Heredia joined the United States Army in July, 2005. Specialist Marisol Heredia was deployed last October to serve her first tour of duty in Iraq. On July 18, 2007 a vehicle she was fueling caught on fire in Baghdad, Iraq. She was evacuated to Brooke Army Medical Center in Fort Sam Houston, Texas, for treatment, but passed away on September 7, 2007 as a result of her injuries.

Specialist Heredia served this country with courage, pride and loyalty. She gave the ultimate sacrifice to our country and for that we will be forever grateful to her and her family. She was buried yesterday on what would have been her 20th birthday. My prayers and deepest sympathy go out to her family and friends.

She is survived by her 3 sisters, as well as her mother and stepfather who were deeply touched by her kind heart and gentle strength.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize the contributions of minorities in the media and encourage greater media diversity.

The past year marked a breakthrough for Latinos in the media. Just last night, America Ferrera won the Emmy award for best actress in a comedy series for her work on ABC's ``Ugly Betty.'' In her portrayal of Betty Suarez in ``Ugly Betty,'' Ms. Ferrera portrays an intelligent, caring young Latina professional trying to break into the field of publishing. Her character has a strong connection to her family, while at the same time she is dedicated to her work.

America Ferrera is the daughter of Honduran immigrants. Through her work on ``Ugly Betty'' and in films, including ``Real Women Have Curves,'' she is a role model for many young Latinas and women of color everywhere.

We need to improve the image of American Latinos and Latinas as portrayed by the media. We can do this by increasing the number of American Latinos employed in all facets of the media industry.

``Ugly Betty'' is one of the few programs on broadcast television that portrays a Latino family and main characters. The show has waded into tough issues like immigration by portraying the struggle of Betty's father to successfully navigate the immigration process.

In describing her Emmy last night, America Ferrera said the win, ``Symbolizes the wonderful blessings of the past year. I am so happy and humble to be on a show that is not only fun, but is making a difference and inspiring people and changing the way we look at prejudice and diversity.''

Other Latinos also have important roles to play as well in the media. Characters such as Dr. Callie Torres, portrayed by Sara Ramirez on ``Grey's Anatomy,'' and Gabrielle Solis, portrayed by Eva Longoria on ``Desperate Housewives,'' portray dynamic Latinas in television.

Behind the scenes, Selma Hayek, a premier actress herself, is also producer of the ``Ugly Betty'' show. Another new program called ``Cane,'' featuring a Latino family in Florida involved in the sugar business, is premiering this fall on CBS.

This is important because the characters that Americans see on television can help shape their view of the world and attitudes toward different groups of different backgrounds. In fact, 40 percent of American youth ages 19 and under are children of color, and very few of those faces that we see on television actually represent the races and cultural heritage here in America.

With increasing positive portrayals of minorities and programs, television can reflect a broader majority of hardworking American families, families that are indeed diverse. We should not stifle diversity of voices in the news and entertainment that consumers see, hear and read. The success of programs like ``Ugly Betty'' and the recognition of actresses like America Ferrera show that the American public is paying attention and wants to see more quality and diverse programming.

In this new and exciting time, minority performers and programs are not only increasing, but are also being honored. I look forward to working with my colleagues and the FCC and media companies to promote diversity in the media.

Again, I want to congratulate America Ferrera on her Emmy win and commend America and everyone on the cast of ``Ugly Betty'' for breaking down those stereotypes of Latinas. I hope that this is one of the first in a long line of successes for minority performers and that programs that retain positive minority characters will flourish. Working together, we can provide diversity, promote it, and have a better understanding here in our country.

Madam Speaker, the purpose of the President's escalation of the war in Iraq was to provide the Iraqi government with the space and security they needed to make real political progress. Unfortunately, it does not appear that meaningful progress has been made. General Petraeus has publicly admitted that the hope he once had that Iraqi leaders would take advantage of the U.S. troop surge efforts to minimize violence and make political gains ``has not worked out as we had hoped.'' Despite the lack of progress, General Petraeus continues to want to stay the failed course. He has asked that the current levels of troops be kept in place until spring 2008.

Violence might be slightly diminishing in provinces where the presence of U.S. troops have been increased by the surge, but an increase of deaths and sectarian violence by car bombs and suicide bombers has increased in other provinces. The last 3 months have claimed the lives of 264 U.S. troops in Iraq, making it the deadliest summer of the war so far. Since the war began, 3,759 U.S. troops have been killed. More than 27,770 have been wounded in combat. In the 32nd Congressional District, 14 brave service members have given the ultimate sacrifice.

A number of recent reports on Iraq contain findings which are different than the testimony delivered today by General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker. A Government Accountability Office report on Iraq shows that the Iraqi government has failed to meet 15 of 18 benchmarks for success. A report by retired Marine GEN James Jones found that Iraq is still far from being able to take over its own security responsibilities. This report also indicates that the Iraqi Interior Ministry, which runs the security forces, is ``dysfunctional,''

and recommends that the national police force be disbanded.

I find these reports to be even more disturbing considering the overwhelming costs of the war. Congress has already appropriated nearly $565 billion for the war in Iraq since March 2003, at a rate of approximately $10 billion per month in Iraq. This has cost the taxpayers of the 32nd Congressional District an estimated $1.1 billion. This money could have provided health care coverage for 447,203 individuals or college scholarships for 167,215 students.

The American people are frustrated and want a new direction in Iraq and an end to the war. According to a poll by the New York Times, 78 percent of Americans believe the U.S. should reduce its current level of troops or the withdrawal of all troops from Iraq. A USA Today poll shows that 6 percent of Americans would like for the U.S. to set a timetable to withdraw our forces from Iraq and stick to that timetable.

I agree. This grave situation requires a policy to secure and stabilize Iraq, one that constructively engages in diplomacy and partners with neighboring countries and the region to create a stable and peaceful nation, not a blank check to send more men and women into harm's way. We must resist establishment of permanent U.S. military bases in Iraq and train Iraqis to secure and run Iraq. Although I strongly disagree with the policies that continue to endanger our servicemen and women, I stand firmly behind them and look forward to their redeployment and safe return home.

Mr. Speaker, on this sixth anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, we, as a nation, honor the memories of the nearly 3,000 Americans who were killed on that tragic day. However, honoring their memories requires more of us than simply remembering and celebrating the lives of the victims of those horrific acts of violence. To truly honor their memories we, as a nation, must recommit ourselves to ensuring that such acts never happen again.

The House of Representatives stepped up to meet this challenge by passing a sweeping security bill within the first 100 hours of the new Congress and ushering it into law on August 3, 2007. This 9/11 bill finally enacts the recommendations of the bipartisan 9/11 Commission 2\1/2\ years after they were made and 6 years after the terrorist attacks. This comprehensive legislation is long overdue but will make our Nation stronger, our cities and towns more secure, and our families safer.

Six years after the attacks of September 11, America's coastal cities are still dangerously vulnerable to a devastating attack. A nuclear weapon smuggled into the port of a large U.S. city could kill millions. However, only 5 percent of U.S.-bound containers are scanned before they leave overseas ports. The 9/11 bill makes millions of Americans safer by requiring that 100 percent of U.S.-bound seaborne containers are scanned before leaving foreign ports within 5 years.

Six years after the attacks on September 11, millions of American air travelers remain at risk because almost 3 million tons of air cargo that is transported each year on passenger airplanes remains unscreened. This is outrageous. The 9/11 bill ensures better protection for American families by mandating that 100 percent of cargo on all aircrafts undergo screening within 3 years.

Six years after the attacks on September 11, it is shameful that most first responders across the country, including those in Los Angeles, still do not have the critical communications equipment necessary to do their jobs effectively. The 9/11 bill finally makes first responders a priority, ensuring that they get the interoperable communications equipment they require by creating a stand-alone grant program at the Department of Homeland Security, authorized at $400 million a year.

A comprehensive approach to ensuring homeland security, the 9/11 bill takes many critical steps that are necessary to keep America more secure from terrorist attacks. These include:

Authorizing over $4 billion to improve rail and mass transit security over the next 4 years;

Ensuring that high-risk areas receive adequate homeland security funding;

Aggressively preventing terrorist travel;

Adequately funding important programs that prevent terrorists from acquiring WMD;

Better protecting our critical infrastructure and;

Strengthening intelligence and information sharing with local law enforcement.

The 9/11 bill is one of the most important pieces of legislation enacted by the new Congress. Long overdue, this bill better protects America from the threat of terrorism by finally enacting the recommendations made by the bipartisan 9/11 Commission a full 2\1/2\ years after they were issued. Now, Congress owes it to the American people to perform strong oversight over the Department of Homeland Security to make certain that it implements the bill's critical provisions. On this anniversary of the September 11 attacks, the American people have the commitment of the new Congress to take whatever steps necessary to further protect our country.

Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize Eleonor Velasquez, an intelligent and hard-working woman who has been on my staff from June 2003 until August 2007. During her tenure in my office, Eleonor was an asset to me and the constituents of the 32nd District of California. Eleonor's hard work, dedication, and skills are the reasons why I promoted her twice during her time in the office: from staff assistant to legislative correspondent in 2004 and from legislative correspondent to legislative assistant in March 2005.

Eleonor immigrated to the United States from Peru when she was just 13 years old. Her experience as a young woman assimilating to the United States provided her an invaluable perspective on issues such as immigration, education, trade, and Latino issues. Eleonor's fluency in Spanish has been of great service to my office since over half of my constituents do not speak English as their first language at home.

Eleonor has demonstrated a keen grasp of the complex issues involved in the ongoing immigration debate in the House of Representatives. Eleonor coordinated a number of sign-on letters and drafted Dear Colleague letters about immigration, trade, and education. Recently, Eleonor drafted a letter to President Bush expressing deep disappointment regarding the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services' (USCIS) increased fee structure for naturalization and asking him to work with Congress to create a fairer system.

During her time in my office, Eleonor spearheaded two pieces of legislation: H. Res. 721 (109th Congress), a resolution supporting the goals and ideals of a Salvadoran-American Day (El Dia del Salvadoreno); and H.R. 5161 (109th Congress), a bill to establish a commission to study the removal of Mexican-Americans to Mexico during 1929-1941. H. Res. 721 recognized all Salvadoran-Americans for their hard work, dedication, and contribution to the stability and well-being of the United States, and was co-sponsored by 55 Members of Congress. The resolution was passed by the House of Representatives on July 18, 2006. H.R. 5161 was not considered in the 109th Congress, but its introduction was very important to the families of the 2 million individuals of Mexican ancestry who were forcibly removed to Mexico during the Depression, as many as 1.2 million of whom were United States citizens.

As the liaison in my office to the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), Eleonor has gained a wealth of institutional knowledge about issues important to the Caucus over the past 4 years. Eleonor began her tenure on Capitol Hill as a Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) fellow in the office of Congressman Jose Serrano. She has been an active member of the CHCI alumni association and mentored other Latino young men and women who came through the program to work on Capitol Hill and in the private sector on public policy issues.

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

Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 865 on September 10, 2007 I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''