Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the achievements of Silvia Guadalupe Garcia, the woman behind the Garcia family's legacy in the City of Anaheim.

Silvia Guadalupe Garcia emigrated from Guadalajara, Mexico, to Anaheim, California, in 1972, where she worked packing oranges and as a housekeeper in nearby hotels.

It was during this time that she met Frank Garcia, who was working as a cook in the restaurant industry. Silvia and Frank married and raised a son, Frank, Jr., who was born in 1974, and twin daughters, Veronica and Cindy, born in 1979.

In 1985, Silvia and Frank opened La Casa Garcia Restaurant. Initially, they did it all. The couple were the cooks, waiters, cleanup crew, and dishwashers. Due to their hard work and perseverance, the restaurant became a success, leading the family to become well known throughout the community for their excellent food and philanthropic endeavors.

The Garcias, who have been married for fifty years, have continually supported those less fortunate, especially the veteran community. One of their most notable legacies was the creation of ``We Give Thanks,'' a non-profit organization that provides Thanksgiving dinner to some 15,000 people each year in Orange County.

Frank credits his success in life to his ``beautiful wife,'' without whom ``I would not be the man I am today.'' A dedicated, hardworking woman, Silvia has overcome many obstacles in her life, but has also experienced many blessings. Those blessings inspired her to create a legacy of kindness and respect for her Anaheim community and all of Orange County.

Today, Frank and Silvia still work behind the scenes, while their daughters run La Casa Garcia and Frank Jr. operates another successful Orange County restaurant.

I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring and celebrating the achievements of Silvia Guadalupe Garcia, a woman for whom we should all give thanks for bringing a bounty of joy to our community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of a resolution I proudly introduced earlier this month to recognize Chicano/Chicana Heritage Month.

Although the term ``Chicano'' was previously used as a derogatory term for Mexican Americans, today the Mexican American community has reclaimed ``Chicano'' and ``Chicana'' to empower and uplift the Mexican American identity.

Chicanos and Chicanas from all over--my district in Orange County, the State of California, and the United States as a whole--have significantly contributed to the advancement of our society. Chicanos have aided in scientific advancement, such as the co-invention of the X-ray reflection microscope by Albert Vinicio Baez. Chicanos have pushed the limits of space exploration, like Ellen Ochoa did as the first Hispanic female astronaut. And Chicanos, like Emigido Vasquez and Selena Quintanilla Perez, have added color through our lives through art, music, and fashion.

Chicanos and Chicanas have also served proudly in our Nation's military. These brave patriots fought and sacrificed for our Nation's freedoms. Almost 20 percent of American casualties in the Vietnam War were Chicano and Chicana.

As of 2021, over 37,000,000 Chicanos and Chicanas reside in the United States and make up about 60 percent of America's Latino population. The Chicano population alone makes up almost 12 percent of this country, making Chicano culture an important part of the fabric of our Nation.

In my district, Chicanos and Chicanas make up over 70 percent of the city of Santa Ana--the first major city to recognize August as Chicano Heritage Month last year. This year, I am proud that Anaheim will join the celebrations and commemorate Chicano Heritage all month long.

Mexican Americans in the United States deserve recognition for their achievements and contributions to our country. In that spirit, I was honored to have introduced the Chicano/Chicana Heritage Month Resolution. This resolution would recognize August as Chicano/Chicana Heritage Month and acknowledge the role Chicanos and Chicanas have played in our Nation's biggest triumphs.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the achievements of Senior Chief Aviation Electronics Technician Cuong ``Vince'' H. Phung.

Mr. Phung was born in Saigon, Vietnam, then immigrated to the United States, eventually graduating from Garden Grove High School in June of 2000. He entered the Navy in September of that same year.

In January 2001, he reported to his first command at the Naval Station in San Diego, California. For his first deployment, he was assigned to Air Department V-1 and V-3. From there, he was hand-picked to oversee three work centers, including ten Marines and three Sailors. He then was able to get his Master Training Specialist designation, as well as his associate degree, while working at CNATTU North Island, California.

In June 2009, he reported to a new position in Mugu, California. There, he completed two deployments and advanced to First Class Petty Officer while also holding multiple other positions in the organization. He also found time to volunteer, where he was able to lead nine servicemembers and 60 workers in achieving closure for missing service members in Vietnam. Because of his selfless acts, he became recognized as Junior Sailor of the Quarter, Chief Petty Officer, and a handful of other notable distinctions.

Later in his career, he reported to the Navy Recruiting District in San Diego, California, where he was able to return to his hometown of Garden Grove as an Enlisted Recruiter for

a year. In his new role, he was able to enlist 30 individuals and 12 Officers.

In November 2016, he reported to the ``Black Knights'' of Strike Fighter Squadron 154, serving multiple roles including assurance supervisor and maintenance controller. With this job, he directed 13 work centers, totaling 150 personnel.

A few years later in 2020, he began a new role as Force Individual Augmentation and Exercise Manager. In total, he served a total of 23 years of honorable and dedicated service. Today, he is a highly decorated officer, with distinctions including the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal and 9 other awards.

Outside of his career, Mr. Phung is also joined by his three children and two goddaughters.

I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring and commemorating the outstanding career and accomplishments of Cuong ``Vince'' Phung.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of Gerardo Mouet, a dedicated community leader, public servant, and father.

Gerardo passed away on March 7, 2023, after battling cancer for over a decade. He devoted his life to serving Orange County and the people of Santa Ana, inspiring his community members to love nature as much as he did.

Gerardo served as the executive director for Santa Ana's Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Agency for 14 years and the director of Long Beach's Parks, Recreation, and Marine Department until he retired to focus on his health. During his tenures, Gerardo oversaw large-scale restructuring efforts that saved both cities money and increased efficiency to better protect parks and wildlife.

His wife Jenny and children, Andrew and Monica, will remember him as a husband and father who loved his family, loved his community, and loved nature.

I thank Gerardo for his dedication to Orange County.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Alex Velasquez, a member of the Greatest Generation, a man who captured the essence of the American Dream and touched the lives of so many people in his community.

Alex was born during the Great Depression. He grew up in a single parent household and supported his mother and sisters at a very early age. He went from being a bellman, to an usher at a movie theater, to then enlisting in the Navy at the age of 18.

After being honorably discharged in 1946, Alex continued his spirit of the American Dream in pursuing barbering. His barber shop that he opened in 1954 continues to hold its legacy today, holding much more meaning than just a simple hair cut to his clientele. His barber shop was the center of chisme in Santa Ana.

Alex was a man of honor, service, and of inspiration to all young Americans with big dreams. He passed away on February 6, 2023. Alex was 97 years old.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in celebrating the life of Alex Velasquez. May he forever rest in peace.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of Harry Edman Sexton, a U.S. Marine Corp Colonel who graduated from my alma mater, Anaheim High School, in 1950.

Born in Anaheim, Colonel Sexton passed away Feb. 15, 2023, after living 90 years of a full life that included a distinguished military career.

He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps 2 years after graduating from Anaheim High and served for 26 years.

A Navy Cross awardee, our country's second-highest award for bravery, Colonel Sexton flew more than 400 combat missions during two tours of Vietnam. During his first tour, he commanded the only Marine F-8 Crusader Fighter Squadron to deploy from Navy Carrier USS Oriskany.

On his second tour, he commanded a squadron of HMLA-367 ``Scarface'' Cobra Helicopters, providing air support, day or night, under all weather conditions, to Marine ground combat units.

He received the Navy Cross for heroism during Operation Tailwind as he and his fellow ``Scarface'' Cobra Gunships engaged the enemy to provide cover for the extraction of a nearly overwhelmed force of U.S. Army Special Operators out of Laos.

He was also awarded two Legion of Merits with Combat ``V'', a Distinguished Flying Cross, 44 Air Medals/Strike Flight Awards, and was inducted into the Golden Eagles for his distinguished career as an aviator.

His wife of 65 years, Ann, son Harry Jr., and daughter Stacie will remember him as a husband and father who lived for others, giving freely of his time, skill, and love to all who were fortunate enough to have known him. He is also survived by 4 grandchildren; and a great grandson.

I thank the Colonel for his service.

Mr. Speaker, all gave some and some made the ultimate sacrifice.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor The American Legion volunteer Madelene Macias and her three brothers, Jack Lopez, Clyde Lopez, and Manuel Macias.

All of Madelene's brothers served honorably and fought in some of our Nation's toughest battles. Private First Class Jack Lopez was a technician, Clyde Lopez served in World War II, and Staff Sergeant Manuel Macias served in the Vietnam war.

Jack Lopez was tragically killed in action in Okinawa, and Madelene reached out to my office to make sure he was honored 77 years later. Mr. Lopez's ultimate sacrifice earned him our country's recognition with the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Madelene for her commitment to our country and our community. I thank each of her brothers for their service and sacrifice for this great Nation.

Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition, although I am not opposed.

Mr. Chair, I also rise in strong support of the Bergman- Correa amendment.

This amendment will push the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the VA, to carry our large-scale studies into drugs like psilocybin, MDMA, and others which have been designated as breakthrough therapies by the Food and Drug Administration.

Why? It is because we owe it to our veterans.

Mr. Chair, what you have to do is listen to veterans' testimonies-- veterans who have the invisible scars from the wounds they brought back from the battlefield--and their challenges, psychological challenges. Psilocybin promises up to 80 percent success after one treatment of a veteran's challenge, and, today, as the law stands, these veterans have to go outside the country to get treatment.

That is no way, Mr. Chair, to treat our veterans.

Let's take care of business. Let's make sure the VA takes these tests and studies and brings back data so that we can create a program that takes care of our veterans.

Veterans have fought for our freedom. It is time that we continue and step up to fulfill our moral obligation to take care of them, as well.

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to join us in voting ``yes'' on this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 95th birthday of Lou Pecora, a beloved member of our Orange County community.

Lou was born in Pennsylvania where his family business was making boots for coal miners. Many of his friends went to Wall Street, but Lou's passion was on Main Street where he found his love for education.

Lou began as a professor at Fairleigh Dickinson University where he taught business to English majors, preparing young professionals with all the skills necessary to succeed in a changing world.

It took getting stuck under a bridge during a snowstorm in Pennsylvania for Lou to decide to finally move to the West Coast. Naturally, he decided to move to our great city of Santa Ana, and he has been there ever since.

Lou believes in living a good life. He believes in friends, good friends, and giving back. He and his partner, Joe, were together for 55 years, and they have been embraced by our community because of their charisma and charm.

Mr. Speaker, I wish Lou a happy 95th birthday, and I wish him many more.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to celebrate the service of Francisco Sandoval, a Fullerton educator honored as one of Orange County's Teachers of the Year.

Francisco began teaching at the Orangethorpe Elementary School over 10 years ago, where his students have ranged from kindergarten through sixth grade. He teaches with the belief that each and every student has their own set of strengths and the ability to succeed.

For Francisco, he is both an educator and caregiver for each and every one of his students. He begins every day by checking with his students on a one-to-one basis to ensure that they are doing well both in school and at home.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Francisco for the job he's done for each and every one of our students and for our community as a whole. We congratulate Francisco on being named as one of Orange County's Teachers of the Year.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Helen Romero Reyna.

As the fourth oldest of 10 siblings, Helen was raised not too far from the local dairy farm by the Santa Ana Riverbed. Helen is a Santa Ana native and completed her education in Orange County at a time when segregation was still in place. Although she lived in Santa Ana, she was bussed to Hoover Elementary in Westminster and graduated from Garden Grove High School.

Helen and her husband, Tomas Rangel Reyna, raised 4 children in the city her own family raised her: Tomas Reyna, Denise Reyna, Kenneth Reyna and Roman A. Reyna. She worked at Baxter until 1990 as a crossing guard and enjoyed her family to the fullest in the last 30 years. She loved family time, especially with her 8 grandchildren and 25 great- grandchildren. She also enjoyed her weekly bingo, and cheering on the 49ers and the Lakers.

Helen leaves behind a legacy of love to all those who knew her. Let us join in mourning the loss of Helen. Her family and her community will never forget her.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize one of my constituents, Lilyana Balderas, who is an Anaheim High School freshman and a 15-year-old athlete who is rapidly rising through the Nation's ranks as one of the best wrestlers in the country.

Lilyana just finished her freshman year at Anaheim High School with 33 wins, crowned the 121-pound CIF Champion and CIF State runner-up champ. She is ranked 10th nationally as the best wrestler in the United States.

She is a top-notch student with a 3.9 GPA.

What is her goal?

Lilyana simply wants to win an Olympic Gold Medal for the United States.

I know Lilyana has got this.

Go Colonists.

We will be watching her career.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the service and the work of Sandy Torres for a lifetime of commitment and service to Santa Ana Unified School District.

Sandy was born and raised in Orange County, and Sandy attended local Santa Ana schools. She started working at Madison Elementary School when she graduated from college in 1982.

Mr. Speaker, 40 years later, she is still there, working and helping children learn to become good citizens.

She has been a three-time recipient of the Madison School Employee of the Year Award and was recognized last year as a classified employee of Santa Ana Unified.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored today to nominate her as my Congressional Woman of the Year.

We thank Sandy for a lifetime of service, and we honor her commitment.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the achievements of one of the foremost creative youth development nonprofit organizations in the country, The Wooden Floor

In 1983, Beth Burns, who at the time was a sister with the order of St. Joseph of Orange, founded the organization under the name Saint Joseph Ballet as a summer dance program for at-risk youth. The program was an immediate success, and by 1989, the organization was receiving national recognition and serving 150 students in a donated 4,000- square-foot space in downtown Santa Ana.

In 1998, college scholarship awards were established for the growing number of graduates enrolling in higher education. The following year, the organization grew to a 21,000-square-foot campus with three dance studios, education, and community centers, which were funded by supporters who raised a total of $6.8 million for the construction and establishment of their Endowment Fund.

By the early 2000s, they grew to serve 375 students with expanding services, including academic assistance, college preparatory guidance, crisis intervention, and intensive dance immersion with leading dance choreographers from around the country.

After over 20 years, founder Beth Burns retired in 2005, remaining connected to the organization and honored as a Board Emerita.

2005 also marked the first year that 100 percent of their graduates enrolled in college, a feat that has continued to this day. In 2009, the organization changed its name to The Wooden Floor, with the tag line ``From here, you can step anywhere,'' to reflect the comprehensive nature of their supportive model.

Locally, The Wooden Floor expanded in 2018 to serve an additional 100 students and their families at a second location in Santa Ana, totaling nearly 500 students year-round who are served from 3rd through 12th grade. Celebrating 40 Years of Impact in 2023, with national and international grants and awards, an innovative brand refresh and the launch of an Endowment Campaign called Step Forward, The Wooden Floor is positioned to propel young people forward well into the next 40 years through its new mission statement: ``To inspire and transform the lives of young people through the power of dance and access to higher education.

I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the exceptional contributions and achievements of The Wooden Floor.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the dedication and passion of Michael Short.

Michael Short has been involved in the Orange Unified School District (OUSD) since the mid-1970s. He taught elementary choirs at Cambridge, West Orange, and Prospect and some of the infamous musicals that they have produced were ``Let George Do It'' and ``It's All About Music''.

He obtained his bachelor's degree from Chapman College in Orange, California in 1979 and his master's degree in choral conducting from California State University. Fullerton in 1988.

In August of 1979, he was hired as a full-time music teacher at Portola Junior High and in 1982, he created the Chamber Singers at Orange High School (OHS) while still running a full-time program at Portola. He was offered a full-time position by Orange High School in August of 1982. In April of 1982, the Chamber Singers sang at the wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Short.

In 1988, he became the Director of Music at the First United Methodist Church of Orange, down the block from his home. From 1990 to 1993, he was one of the Chairman of the American Choral Directors Association High School Honor Choirs and continues to work with the American Choral Directors Association in many capacities over the last three decades.

In February of 2002, he received the ``Bravo Award'' from the Los Angeles Music Center for his excellence in music education and was named ``Teacher of the Year 2004'' by OUSD.

In October of 2005, he was named ``Chapman University's Alumnus of the Year 2004'' and in 2006 he was named the City of Orange's ``Citizen of the Year for 2005'' by the Orange Chamber of Commerce.

He continues to be involved in the arts in the Orange, California community. In 1995, he created and still conducts the ``City of Orange Tree Lighting and Candlelight Procession'' in downtown Orange every holiday season and the patriotic program ``Third of July'' every summer.

The latest project to be a recipient to his enthusiasm and leadership is the Greater Orange Community Arts Theater (GOCAT) which is a venue to feature creative artists of the community. Even though he is retiring from Orange High School, he continues to be involved in the community and the arts.

Currently, Michael is the President of the Western Division, American Choral Directors Association and he oversees the Western Region ACDA Conference to be held in Pasadena, California in March of 2024.

Michael has been married to Vicki since 1982 and has two children, Katherine Hicks and Matthew Short. He and his wife are proud grandparents to three grandchildren as of August 2020.

I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring and commemorating the outstanding career and accomplishments of Michael Short.