Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate Korean-American Day. I am proud to represent the largest Korean-American population of any congressional district in the country.

Tomorrow we recognize the 119th anniversary of the arrival of the first Korean immigrants to the United States, and the recognition that they have contributed to the life and well-being of the people of the United States for so many years.

One person that is an example of that is Erin Pak, who leads the Kheir Center, a community health center in Los Angeles. During the pandemic, they kept their doors open, taking care of anybody who needed help; everything from testing, to vaccine boosters, to people who are Korean, Latino, it didn't matter their background. But their doors were open during the toughest times.

It is with that kind of commitment that Korean Americans have really made not only L.A. a better place to live, but the United States a better place to live.

So I urge my colleagues to support my resolution to recognize the ideals of Korean-American Day and the essential contributions of Korean Americans to American life.

Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Bowman for organizing this Special Order hour.

I like to describe the student loan debt crisis as a boot on the neck of the American Dream and on the neck of millions of Americans who make that American Dream a reality. And that is because higher education is the one way that we achieve the American Dream. It is what I did.

I am the youngest of six of immigrant parents from Mexico. My two parents never made it past third grade. Both could read but not really write. One of the things that they knew is that coming here would give me that opportunity to change my life. I was fortunate enough to be born here. My brother Javier and I were born here, and I was one of the first to graduate from college.

It allowed me to believe that I could do more, to believe I could be part of this country, and about that American promise. You come here, you believe in our values, you work hard, you give back, you are going to have a place, and you are going to succeed; and the next generation, your kids and your grandkids, are going to do even better.

I am fortunate. I got to go to a community college after I worked at Subway and Target, and then I transferred to UCLA, graduated in the top 10 percent of my class. Then I got my master's of public policy from Harvard University.

I ended up walking away with $15,000 in debt from undergrad, which wasn't bad. I thought it was a lot of money. When you graduate, and you are only getting paid $24,000 a year, it was a lot of money. And I walked away with a little bit over $65,000 from the Kennedy School for my master's degree. And don't forget, a lot of students also have credit card debt on top of that.

But you know what, I am fortunate that I got to go to school. I am fortunate that I have been able to change my life. I am fortunate that I have been able to get jobs that provide me health insurance for the first time in my family's history, and that my debt isn't as crippling as the current generation's debt.

The current generation's debt after the Great Recession ballooned to historic proportions. That is why you have trillions of dollars in student loan debt on the backs of 47 million Americans.

You know what? These are dreamers; these are people who believe in the American Dream, that say, you know what, I have been told, go to school, work hard. And you know what, it doesn't matter, if you get into the best school possible, take out that debt because it is going to come back tenfold. In the past, that was the case.

But we don't see that now. We see that the debt that has been put on the backs--because we underinvested in higher education, we underinvested in K-12--is crippling people to living their version of the American Dream.

It is so severe, and it pains me and it depresses me, that people are actually are deciding, I would rather not go to college because I don't want to have debt. Think about that. That is the decision people are making now, I would rather not have the best opportunity to achieve the American Dream because the amount of debt will prevent me from living that American Dream once I graduate.

I think that is shameful because these are the folks that are renewing this idea to live a more just and perfect Union, to refresh that idea generation upon generation. And it is unfortunate because who does it impact? It often impacts immigrants, people of color, Blacks, Latinos, single mothers, single parents. They are the ones that are taking on higher and higher burdens of debt.

Then when they graduate, they sometimes get jobs that don't pay them that well because they want to give back. They care about their communities. We saw in a recent New York Times article that graduates from a school of social work were graduating with $112,000 in debt but getting paid $50,000. This is something that we see time and time again.

If people want to believe in the American Dream, then they have to care about canceling student loan debt; to refresh the potential of millions of Americans to buy their first house, to raise children, to start a business, to grow our economy. I believe that this is something that Americans from all sides of the aisle could agree on.

Madam Speaker, I am calling on the President to cancel $50,000 of student loan debt in the next year.

Madam Speaker, I am here today to honor The Wall Las Memorias, a community health organization in California's 34th congressional district that is dedicated to serving Latino, LGBTQ+, and other underserved residents.

This World AIDS Day, The Wall Las Memorias will rededicate their AIDS Monument to commemorate 40 years of the HIV

epidemic and to celebrate the monument's renovation, which includes the addition of more than 1,000 new names of community members we have lost to AIDS.

The Wall Las Memorias AIDS Monument is the only publicly funded AIDS monument in the country. Its rededication marks a momentous occasion in my district, honoring the community members we lost to the HIV epidemic and highlighting the efforts of those who have fought to end it.

Today, we stand with our local and international community and show our support to the people living with HIV. It is estimated that over 38 million people worldwide are living with the virus, which means that there is still work to be done to advance awareness, prevention, inclusion, and equity to ensure better health for all people affected by HIV and AIDS.

I would like to thank The Wall Las Memorias Project for rededicating this monument on World AIDS Day as well as providing resources and support to those that are disproportionately affected by the virus.

Let us continue to remember those we have lost to AIDS and support those currently living with HIV. May our community find comfort in celebrating life on World AIDS Day.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a second-generation American. I am the son of Mexican immigrants who came here in pursuit of the American promise; a promise that if you work hard and follow the rules, you will succeed, and your children and grandchildren will build on that success.

Unfortunately, the promise has eluded far too many Americans, particularly the working class and people of color. Although some of them feel America has given up on them, they have refused to give up on America. That is why we must pass the Build Back Better Act to make historic investments in our people and our planet and put the American promise within reach of an entire generation for the first time.

Through the Build Back Better Act, we have an opening to invest in children and families by expanding the child tax credit and universal pre-K, give millions of families an affordable place to call home, and tackle climate change while creating good-paying jobs. We have a chance to redefine our commitment to the American people and to move toward a more just, equitable, and perfect Union.

Madam Speaker, it is with great sorrow that I share that the city of Los Angeles lost another angel earlier this year. Her name was Ruby de Vera and she was a community leader, an activist, and a fierce advocate in Northeast Los Angeles.

Ruby was a remarkable person who worked tirelessly as a champion in both City Hall and out in the community. She was a role model and a true public servant who epitomized the best qualities including courage, selflessness, and an unwavering commitment to justice.

Ruby's lifetime of dedication and service will be remembered and greatly missed by all whom she encountered and all those who were impacted by her leadership. May it bring comfort to her family, friends, and loved ones that so many are celebrating the life she led and praying for them at this time.

Madam Speaker, I rise because I have had enough of the games. I have had enough of the bad faith arguments and enough of the hypocrisy when it comes to the debt limit from the other side of the aisle.

Increasing or suspending the debt limit enables us to fulfill our existing financial obligations, and part of that includes the Republican Donald Trump tax cuts from 2017, the tax cuts that went to the top one-tenth of 1 percent and the largest corporations.

That shows who they prioritized, by giving corporations permanent tax cuts while giving tax cuts to the middle class that expire in 2025 and were so small people didn't even notice that they were given a tax cut in their paychecks.

So, we are trying to fulfill the obligation of their tax cuts, and it does not authorize new spending. It doesn't authorize new spending. It doesn't authorize new spending. What it does is helps pay for that previous spending that has already occurred.

I know my colleagues over here love to talk about the Pinocchios, but I want to say that they sit on a throne of lies, based on the arguments they have been making not only in the Ways and Means Committee but the ones they are trying to fool the American public with today.

If we default, it ruins the creditworthiness of the United States. It causes our credit rating to be downgraded, interest rates to increase, and will make things a lot more expensive. But for them, it is okay as long as they score their political points and put the blame at the feet of the Democrats.

But that is not something that we should be playing with, and that is for both Republicans and Democrats. Do not play with the full faith and credit of the United States. It is irresponsible, and it is beneath you to do that.

Madam Speaker, on July 29, 2021, I am not recorded on Roll Call vote No. 253. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the IG Independence and Empowerment Act.

This comprehensive legislation would ensure inspectors general have the tools needed to conduct thorough investigations without fear of political retaliation.

Many of these reforms have had strong bipartisan support for years, in particular, my bill, the IG Subpoena Authority Act. This provision grants IGs the authority to subpoena testimony from former employees and contractors as a tool to better undercover waste, fraud, and abuse. Currently, the absence of such authority hinders the ability of OIGs to conduct complete oversight in matters of corruption and injustice.

I know my Republican colleagues claim this authority has no protections from abuse, but that simply is not true. This bill includes safeguards to ensure that this authority is not abused by requiring that an IG must have a subpoena approved by a panel of three other IGs.

Additionally, I understand my Republican colleague may introduce an amendment that would strike the subpoena authority provision from this bill today. I find this interesting and confusing because the IG Subpoena Authority Act was first introduced in the 115th Congress by Republican Congressman Steve Russell with the support of then-Chairman Towns and Ranking Member Issa, and it passed the House by unanimous consent.

This bill has not changed substantially since the 115th Congress. What has changed is the political context in which we are trying to pass this reform. If a reform was good for government then, it is a reform that is good for government now. Nothing has changed.

Madam Speaker, we need to make sure that the IG Subpoena Authority Act is included and passed today. That will help strengthen the integrity and maintain the accountability in our Federal agencies.

I thank Chairwoman Maloney for its inclusion in the IG Independence and Empowerment Act. It is a step forward for good government, and I strongly encourage an ``aye'' vote.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in memory of Juana Sequeira Solis who passed away on April 6, 2021 at the age of 94. She was born in 1926 in Nicaragua and was the eldest of five children.

In 1945, at the age of 18, she immigrated to the United States in search of a better life. In 1950, she moved to Los Angeles where she met her late husband, Raul S. Solis, while taking citizenship classes. The couple then married in October of 1953.

Mrs. Solis and her late husband raised seven children in the unincorporated area of La Puente, California.

She enjoyed cooking for her family and friends and was an avid gardener. The family was her focal point where she taught her children to give back to their community; stressed the importance of achieving a higher education; and preserving the environment.

Mrs. Solis was a devout Roman Catholic.

Mrs. Solis worked hard to provide for her children and was employed for over 20 years as an assembly line worker at Mattel Inc. until her retirement in 1991. She was an active union member with the United Rubber Workers.

Mrs. Solis is preceded in death by her beloved husband of 58 years, Raul S. Solis, who was a proud Teamster and her beloved daughter, Beatriz M. Solis, who served as the Director for Healthy Communities at the California Endowment.

She is survived by her children: Irma Rincon, Raul Solis, Jr., Hilda Solis, Victor Solis, Anna Solis, Leticia Solis and their spouses; 10 grandchildren, and 23 great-grandchildren.

She will be remembered for her kindness and fighting spirit. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

Madam Speaker, I ask that Members in the House Chamber please join me for a moment of silence to honor the life of Juana Sequeira Solis.

Madam Speaker, I rise in memory of Juana Sequeira Solis, who passed away in April at the age of 94. Juana was the mother of former Congresswoman, former Secretary of Labor, and now L.A. County Supervisor Hilda Solis.

Juana was born in 1926 in Nicaragua, the eldest of five. She immigrated to America when she was just 18, in search of a better life.

After moving to Los Angeles, Juana met her late husband, Raul Solis, while taking citizenship classes. They raised seven children and taught them the values that define who we are as Americans: the importance of community, education, and respect for our environment.

Juana spent over 20 years on the assembly line at Mattel and was an active union member with the United Rubber Workers until her retirement in 1991.

Let us always remember Juana for her kindness, determination, and fighting spirit.

Mr. Speaker, I believe some of my Republican colleagues, and one in particular, wish harm upon this legislative body. I am not saying this for shock value; it is the conclusion I drew after a Member of Congress advocated violence against our peers, the Speaker, and our government.

It is what I believed after this Chamber was turned into a crime scene just 10 weeks ago. It is how many of us felt, sheltering in this room, as the Capitol was breached.

Some Members called their loved ones to say good-bye. Others prayed to their God. And I asked myself if this would be the day our democracy died.

I take no joy in introducing this resolution, but any Member who incites political violence and threatens our lives must be expelled, and I will do everything I can in my power to protect our democracy and keep all of my colleagues safe.

Madam Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 86.

Mr. Speaker, I represent Los Angeles, California, considered by many as one of the epicenters of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In my district working families are struggling to pay bills, small businesses are trying to stay afloat, and countless others are doing everything they can to keep a roof over their heads.

They need us to pass the American Rescue Plan.

Throughout California, essential workers, many of them Black and Latinos, are keeping our economy running. Frontline healthcare workers are exhausted from caring for their patients day after day, month after month during this pandemic, and local organizations are distributing food every single day to those in need. They need us to pass the American Rescue Plan.

Across the country people are terrified that they or a loved one will get COVID-19 before being vaccinated and end up in the hospital or dead. They are scared that the American Dream is drifting further and further away. They need us to pass the American Rescue Plan.

That is why 75 percent of Americans support this plan. Democrats, Republicans, independents from red States and blue States, they are urging us to pass this plan, and they are urging their Representatives to listen to them. They are urging my colleagues on the Republican side of the aisle to not turn a deaf ear to their cause and do the right thing and vote with Democrats to pass this bill.

Madam Speaker, we don't have any time to waste. By the time I am done with this 1-minute speech, roughly 10 people in L.A. County, home to my district, will have tested positive for COVID-19. And in another 5 minutes, someone in my county will die of COVID-19.

And while I am sure our healthcare heroes and frontline workers appreciate our thanks, words alone are not enough.

Our gratitude needs to be expressed with funding and resources. Our appreciation needs to be in the form of benefits and assistance.

Our Black and Brown communities, those being disproportionately impacted by this pandemic, aren't going to get through this crisis with platitudes. They need action. They need access to vaccines, money in their pockets to pay their bills, help getting their kids back in the classrooms, and support putting food on their tables.

Madam Speaker, that is why I am going to vote to pass the American Rescue Plan, and I encourage my colleagues to do the same.

This is our chance to stop the spread of this virus, rebuild our economy, and give every American, regardless of their background or ZIP Code, the opportunity to turn the page on this dark chapter of our country's history and come out stronger in the end.

Mr. Speaker, we are here tonight because a violent mob, incited by the President of the United States based on a lie, laid siege to Congress to overturn a Presidential election.

We have to ask ourselves, what would have happened if that mob succeeded? Why stop at one election? Why not two? Why not make Donald Trump President for life?

Thank God that did not happen and they did not succeed.

However, even after that terrible day of January 6, 2021, Donald Trump is still using the lie of a stolen election to turn American against American for his own selfish ends.

I believe even with only a few days left in office that Donald Trump is still a danger to our Republic and must be removed immediately.

Mr. Speaker, as an example, today, the Joint Chiefs of Staff issued a statement reaffirming their devotion to the rule of law and affirming that Joe Biden will be the 46th President of the United States.