Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, on December 4, 2024, I was not recorded on Roll Call Nos. 480, 481, 482, and 483. Had I been present, I would have voted ``YEA'' on Roll Call No. 480 and Roll Call No. 481 and voted ``NAY'' on Roll Call No. 482 and Roll Call No. 483.

Mr. Speaker, on December 3, 2024, I was not recorded on Roll Call No. 479. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 479.

Mr. Speaker, on November 18, 2024, I was not recorded on Roll Call vote No. 466.

Had I been present, I would have voted ``YEA'' on Roll Call vote No. 466.

Mr. Speaker, on November 12, 2024, I was not recorded on Roll Call Nos. 456, 457 and 458.

Had I been present, I would have voted ``YEA'' on Roll Call No. 456, ``NAY'' on Roll Call No. 457, ``NAY'' on Roll Call No. 458.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mourn the loss of Maureen Kindel, who passed away on September 26, 2024 at the age of 86.

Maureen was a longtime civic leader who mentored and advised dozens of elected and appointed officials in Los Angeles and was a special contributor to the political, educational, and business life of our city. As an adviser to Mayor Tom Bradley, she was appointed as the first woman in the history of the city to serve as President of the Los Angeles Board of Public Works. In that role, she initiated the city's first program to increase the participation of minority and women-owned businesses in public contracting. Maureen was a leader in business: she co-founded two prominent public affairs and lobbying firms, and was a founding director of the Los Angeles Business Federation, the Los Angeles Business Council, and the Pacific Council on Foreign Relations.

Maureen served as a member of the Organizing Committee for the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, and founded the LA84 Foundation alongside Rafer Johnson, Yvonne Brathwaite Burke, Gil Vasquez, and Peter Ueberroth. She also helped organize the hugely successful Los Angeles Summer Arts Festival preceding the games.

In addition, Maureen contributed her personal and professional passion to public education. She helped design, organize, and lead three major education summits in Los Angeles, integrating participation by business and civic leaders, educators, and public officials in examining the status and acute needs of the public education system. For her years of service, Maureen received many honors and awards, including the Los Angeles League of Women Voters Founder's Award. Among her proudest achievements was working with President Nelson Mandela when he was released from prison and after he was elected President of South Africa.

Maureen is survived by sons Tom and Gerry Flintoft, daughters-in-law Ingrid and Janette, and grandchildren Chelsea, Stefan, Collin, Caroline, and Aidan.

Mr. Speaker, I hope everyone will join me in mourning the loss of Maureen Kindel and celebrating her dedication to a life of service.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate El Gallo Bakery on their 75th anniversary of doing business in California's 34th Congressional District.

El Gallo Bakery is an outstanding small business in East Los Angeles that exemplifies the entrepreneurial spirit of small businesses. Founded by Magdalena Martinez de Huerta on February 2, 1949, 5 years after immigrating to East Los Angeles from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.

El Gallo Bakery was passed down to Mr. Jesus Huerta, the son of Magdalena Martinez de Huerta. Mr. Huerta became the owner at 18 years old in 1984 and has transformed El Gallo Bakery into a staple of the East Los Angeles community.

Mr. Huerta has also provided numerous contributions to the East Los Angeles community through his exceptional civic and business leadership and has brought the vibrant flavors of Mexico to East Los Angeles, enriching the cultural tapestry and creating a legacy of delicious memories and culinary excellence.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring and celebrating El Gallo Bakery on its 75th anniversary. Congratulations again on reaching this impressive milestone. I wish them continued success and here's to the next 75 years.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today during Hispanic Heritage Month to honor the extraordinary contributions of five California families to our Nation's struggle for civil rights. Together, the Estrada, Guzman, Mendez, Palomino, and Ramirez families challenged segregation in California public schools and won. In 1946, these families bravely fought for their children's right to equal access to education, even as the backlash could have put them in harm's way.

Their case, Mendez et al v. Westminster et al, attracted nationwide attention, including support from the NAACP and its counsel, Thurgood Marshall. The case led to California passing a law officially banning school segregation in the state, and it paved the way for the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case seven years later, ending school segregation across the country.

While the case is known as Mendez v. Westminster, the Guzman, Palomino, Estrada and Ramirez families are equally as critical to this important moment in our Nation's history.

Lorenzo and Josefina Ramirez tried to enroll their children in Roosevelt Grammar School, only to be told that they would have to attend a segregated school for Mexican students. When called to testify, Mr. Ramirez shared his belief that all children should be educated together.

Virginia and William Guzman tried to enroll their son, Billy, at Franklin Elementary but were told that it was school board policy to have separate schools for Mexican students. The Guzmans were the first to file suit in Orange County and, though their initial suit was unsuccessful, they joined forces with the other four families and rallied support.

Thomas and Mary Luisa Estrada worked to support the U.S. war efforts during World War II, and later galvanized their Westminster community behind them to fight for a better education for their six children. Frank and Irene Palomino tried to enroll their 11-year-old son, Arturo, in the local school, but were told by the superintendent that he needed to go to a school only for kids of Mexican descent. The Palominos decided to enroll Arturo elsewhere and challenge this injustice.

This Hispanic Heritage Month, we remember and celebrate the Estrada, Guzman, Mendez, Palomino and Ramirez families. They fought for the right to an equal education for all--and won.

Madam Speaker, I rise during Hispanic Heritage Month to commemorate the life and legacy of Richard Alatorre who served on the Los Angeles City Council and the California State Assembly. His life's work was dedicated to delivering for the east side of Los Angeles and the Latino community.

He was tough, smart, and dedicated. He worked hard to get his community the same rights and representation as everyone else.

Early in his career, he helped collect funds and lowered bail for protesters arrested during the 1968 Chicano walkouts.

As an assembly member, he authored bills for bilingual services to be offered in communities that needed them and for farmworkers to be allowed to collectively bargain.

He cofounded the Latino Caucus in the California legislature in 1973 and helped expand Latino representation in the legislature. He strengthened historically Black council seats and ensured they stayed that way for decades.

That is the kind of man he was. He got things done. He prioritized everyday, working-class Angelenos, and he will be missed. East L.A. will never forget our luchador.

May Richard Alatorre rest in peace, and may his memory be a blessing to his family and to his community.

Mr. Speaker, today I was not recorded on roll call vote No. 443. Had I been present, I would have voted ``NAY'' on roll call vote No. 443.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate and honor the Ascot Hills Challenge 5K Run/Walk for their 10 years of organizing a 3.1-mile trail course in Northeast Los Angeles.

Founded by Troy Carbajal, Marleen Fonseca, and David Sifuentes, residents of El Sereno in California's 34th Congressional District, the Ascot Hills Challenge 5K Run/Walk has donated event proceeds to support the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) fire academy magnet school program as well as the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) student police cadet program at Woodrow Wilson High School since 2014.

Both the LAFD fire academy magnet school program and the LAPD student police cadet program offer a rigorous and disciplined curriculum developed for young men and women expressing an interest in a public service career.

Additionally, a portion of the proceeds also goes to assist with the efforts to protect, beautify, and maintain Ascot Hills Park for its continual community use.

This annual event not only connects residents with valuable resources and organizations in the community, but also serves to encourage youth to exercise and participate in public service.

With limited green space in Northeast Los Angeles, we are grateful to have leaders like Troy, Marleen, and David who ensure that Angelenos get to experience the green spaces in Los Angeles through events like the Ascot Hills Challenge 5K Run/Walk.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating this milestone for the Ascot Hills Challenge 5K Run/Walk, and I look forward to seeing all that they do in the next 10 years and beyond.

Madam Speaker, I rise in memory of Bill Pascrell. When we talk about the people's House, he epitomized that saying, that the idea that anybody from any part of our country could rise up to represent their community, their constituents in a way that does honor to them but also to the idea of we the people, that the consent is earned from the governed, and Billy was the epitome of that idea.

When I think of him, I think that he was a character, that he was a fighter, that there would never be another Bill Pascrell in this place. He was one of a kind, but he also had a kind soul. He was a hell of a fighter and somebody that didn't give up on working America.

How does this help the working man and woman in his district and across the country?

One of the first things I did when I was on the committee when I was really green is I called out another Member on the other side of the aisle by name and took a good whack because I came from the Oversight Committee, and that is how we do it over there. We kind of have brass- knuckle fights. I was asked--which kind broke decorum a little bit--but I was asked to make amends with the other gentleman, which I did, but when I left, a few days after that incident Billy said: You did a great job in that hearing. He loved those fights because he felt that passion.

Billy is somebody that is going to be missed, but I know that his legacy in this place and in his district will never be forgotten.

Mr. Speaker, on July 24, 2024, I was not recorded on Roll Call No. 391. Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 391.

Mr. Speaker, on July 22, 2024, I was not recorded on Roll Call No. 356 and No. 358. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 356 and Roll Call No. 358.

Mr. Speaker, on July 22, 2024, I was not recorded on Roll Call vote No. 356 and No. 358. Had I been present, I would have voted ``YEA'' on Roll Call vote No. 318 and No. 320.

Mr. Speaker, on June 26, 2024, I was not recorded on Roll Call No. 283. Had I been present, I would have voted ``NAY'' on Roll Call No. 283.

On June 27, 2024, I was not recorded on Roll Call No. 318 and No. 320. Had I been present, I would have voted ``NAY'' on Roll Call No. 318 and No. 320.