Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in celebration of the 35th anniversary of One Stop Auto Care, an outstanding community auto shop that exemplifies the entrepreneurial spirit of small businesses. One Stop Auto Care has served the communities of Northeast Los Angeles, Pasadena, and Glendale since opening for business on Eagle Rock Blvd in 1989.

One Stop Auto Care was founded by Gerry Vicario when he was 25 years old. Prior to opening the small business, Mr. Vicario worked at his uncle's tire shop, which is where he discovered the need for an auto repair shop in the community.

Mr. Vicario and his wife enthusiastically opened their business and have since expanded their services to include tires, oil changes, tune- ups, brake repair, and more. One Stop Auto Care grew from one employee to eight experienced technicians, and they have remained focused on helping the people of our community.

I congratulate Mr. Vicario and the entire team at One Stop Auto Care for their continued dedication to providing exceptional automobile repair service to Angelenos. I would also like to recognize Mr. Vicario for supporting various community events and organizations throughout Northeast Los Angeles. I look forward to seeing One Stop Auto Care's continued growth and success.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring and celebrating One Stop Auto Care on its 35th anniversary.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the immense contributions of Korean Americans and in support of my resolution honoring Korean American Day.

It has been 121 years since the first Korean Americans arrived in the United States. Over that period of time, they changed our country's history, from business to music to even the foods we eat.

That is why I am proud that we are developing the first Korean- American national museum in the United States in the heart of Los Angeles' Koreatown. I am proud to have secured the first $7 million that will help not only design it but get it off the ground.

In our communities, Korean soldiers who served alongside Americans in Vietnam were shut out for too long. With my colleagues, we secured veterans benefits for these heroes.

Now, I am pushing to name a local post office in honor of Korean American leader Dosan Ahn Chang Ho. This Korean American Day, let's celebrate these stories that are intertwined with the fabric of our Nation.

Mr. Chair, I was not recorded on rollcall vote No. 606. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 606.

Amendment No. 30 Offered by Mr. Brecheen

Mr. Chair, today, I was not recorded on rollcall vote No. 541. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no'' on rollcall No. 541.

Amendment No. 31 Offered by Mr. Perry

Mr. Speaker, I was not recorded on rollcall vote No. 400. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 400.

Mr. Speaker, on July 19, 2023, I was not recorded on Roll Call vote No. 356.

Had I been present, I would have voted ``NAY'' on Roll Call No. 356.

Mr. Speaker, I was not recorded on rollcall No. 295. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 295.

Mr. Speaker, I was not recorded on rollcall vote No. 213 and rollcall vote No. 214. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 213 and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 214.

Mr. Speaker, here we go again. Republicans are attacking one of the most marginalized, most discriminated groups in our country--trans Americans--just to score cheap political points. Yes, cheap political points because this is something from the top down, from the head of the Republican Party here in Congress to each of the States that have introduced anti-trans legislation.

It is especially sick when you look at the statistics. Over 50 percent of trans youth considered suicide just last year. Let that sink in: 50 percent--not a fraction, 50 percent.

Yet, rather than address pressing issues like gun violence, the leading cause of death for our children, Republicans are attacking trans and other LGBTQ kids. It shows exactly who they are--bigots and bullies. I said that once and I will say it again: bigots and bullies.

This isn't their first attack on the trans community, as I mentioned. At the start of this Congress, my Republican colleagues threatened to revoke funding for an organization in my district that helps trans Americans find jobs and mental health resources. Oh, big conspiracy, trying to help people with mental health issues and help them find jobs.

If they think their attacks will stop me from supporting the trans community, they are simply wrong.

Transgender, nonbinary, and intersex youth want to participate in team sports for the same reason as their cisgender peers: to be part of a team, learn sportsmanship, and challenge themselves.

As the brother of an LGBTQ American, I find their attacks offensive. I will vote ``no'' on this piece of legislation.

Mr. Chair, I was not recorded on rollcall no. 177. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall no. 177.

Amendment No. 34 Offered by Mr. Perry

Mr. Chair, I was not recorded on rollcall vote No. 178. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no'' on rollcall No. 178.

Amendment No. 35 Offered by Mr. Smith of New Jersey

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor Pathways LA on 45 years of service to the district.

Pathways LA is a non-profit organization whose mission is to strengthen low-income and vulnerable working families, promote high quality early care and education services for children of all abilities, develop knowledgeable early care providers and promote economically resilient communities. Since its founding Pathways LA has been committed to the healthy development and school readiness of young children from disadvantaged communities.

With a staff of more than 60 individuals who reflect the linguistic and cultural composition of the families they serve, Pathways LA assists thousands of families and children every year,

while continuing to support and train more than 950 childcare providers.

Driven by data and innovation, Pathways LA's experts support the continuum of care that includes parents, childcare providers, community partners and policymakers.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring and celebrating the 45th anniversary of Pathways LA.

Madam Speaker, I rise to commemorate Korean American Day tomorrow.

I am proud to represent Koreatown in Los Angeles, the largest Korean- American community of any congressional district in the country.

Tomorrow, we recognize the landmark 120th anniversary of the arrival of the first Korean-American immigrants to the United States, and we honor the enduring legacy, sacrifices, and contributions made by generations of Korean Americans.

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

Madam Speaker, it is a great honor to represent a community whose history and culture are so valuable both individually, and as a part of our larger, diverse American identity.

Since coming to Congress, I've made it a priority to ensure the Korean American community gets the awareness and support it deserves.

That is why I've pushed Congress to recognize the sacrifices of Korean and Korean American veterans throughout the last century.

It is why I recently fought to secure $7 million for the creation of the Korean American National Museum, the first museum in the nation dedicated to honoring over a century of Korean American history and culture.

And it's why I am leading this year's efforts to recognize the monumental milestone of 120 years of Korean American culture, and the countless contributions Korean Americans have made to our country.

As I continue to work every day to represent and uplift the Korean American community in Los Angeles, I am grateful for the continued partnership of Korean American organizations in my district.

The Korean American Federation of Los Angeles, led by President James An, has and will continue to serve as a powerful voice and strong advocate for Korean Americans in the Los Angeles area. Their programs and services help form the backbone of Koreatown and have helped keep the community together and strong, overcoming decades of challenges, discrimination and titanic changes in our city.

The Koreatown Youth and Community Center, led by their Executive Director, Johng Ho Song, has spent nearly half a decade serving at risk youth in Los Angeles as the leading multiservice organization in Koreatown. Their support for Korean American youth and their families, especially recent immigrants and the economically disadvantaged is essential in ensuring everyone in Koreatown has access to healthcare, housing and education.

These organizations, and many others like them are essential to sustaining and strengthening Los Angeles' Korean community and I am privileged to work alongside them every day to make sure Koreatown and all Korean Americans get the support they deserve from our federal government.

This Korean American Day, I hope all my colleagues, constituents and fellow Americans take the time to reflect on and fully honor the continuing positive influence and impact the Korean American community has on our Country.

Mr. Speaker, in 2017, Republicans handed out tax breaks for the largest corporations and the ultrawealthy, including Donald Trump, who paid zero Federal income tax in 2020 and left the Presidency without a single audit.

What we were trying to do was make it a fairer tax system where the ultrawealthy were actually paying their fair share, which, as we saw through the simple release of those tax returns for the President of the United States, there were some years he paid zero. He was less likely to be audited than somebody getting the earned income child tax credit.

This is something that we need to fight against.

We want to make sure that our colleagues on the other side of the aisle understand that it is not just about the ultrawealthy. It is about working-class Americans. It is a shame that my colleagues on the other side of the aisle care more about those who have higher income, those who can hire lawyers that can get them out of paying taxes, but we should really have a tax system that benefits everybody.

Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor Building Skills Partnership (BSP) on 15 years of improving the quality of life of property service workers in low-wage industries, as well as their families and communities.

BSP is a non-profIt organization founded with the vision of creating an equitable playing field for California's working families to succeed in their careers and educational endeavors. Born out of the Justice for Janitors movement that helped thousands of immigrant janitors achieve a more just way of living and working, BSP partnered with responsible businesses and employers to pilot its first workplace training, which focused on Vocational English language acquisition.

BSP programs serve 5,500 participants annually and focus on workforce development, immigrant inclusion, and community advancement. The organization offers career and education programs that enable workers' personal and professional success. Today, BSP represents a unique partnership between over 90 janitorial employers, over 60 commercial building owners, the Service Employees International Union-United Service Workers West (SEIU-USWW), and the broader community. With collaboration and a holistic approach to programming, BSP continues to strive to create an equitable future for working families to build a better life.

Thanks to BSP's dedication, BSP has expanded to seven major cities across California and broadened its programming to fully address the unique barriers immigrant janitors and their children face in realizing the benefits of social, civic, and economic integration.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring and celebrating the 15th anniversary of Building Skills Partnership.

Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor Bresee on 40 years of service to the district.

Bresee is a non-profit organization whose mission is to battle poverty by empowering youth and families in Los Angeles with the skills, resources, and relationships necessary to thrive. Since its early days, Bresee has evolved significantly to support the continued needs of youth and families in the community. In 2008, Bresee expanded further to include family supportive services through the Wilshire FamilySource Center. Then, in 2012, Bresee joined the city-wide campaign to reduce gang violence in Los Angeles by launching a gang prevention program through the Mayor's Gang Reduction and Youth Development (GRYD) initiative.

Thanks to Bresee's dedication, Bresee provides family services for approximately 1,500 adults and family members each year. In addition, Bresee provides youth services for 900 middle and high school students in the public-school system and gang-prevention services for 100 at- risk youth aged 10 to 15 years old.

Bresee is a vibrant community center serving more than 3,000 youth and family members each year. It is an honor to have Bresee as a community partner in my congressional district. Bresee continues to remind us that Los Angeles is a city of hope and inspiration.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring and celebrating the 40th anniversary of Bresee.