Joe Baca

Mr. Speaker, I stand here today to pay tribute to a great leader and role model, Chairman Robert Martin of the Morongo Band of Mission, which ia a 1,000 member tribe located near Banning, California. The Banning Chamber of Commerce will honor Chairman Martin for his outstanding service to the local community on November 1, 2012 in Cabazon, California.

Before becoming Chairman of the Morongo Tribe, Robert worked across the Southwest United States as a building contractor. He brought new homes to families, new roads to communities, and worked on improving vital infrastructure throughout the Southwest.

Chairman Martin has consistently advocated for a better life and sovereignty for the tribal community in the United States. In 1987, Martin led Morongo in a Supreme Court case which confirmed the sovereignty of Indian Tribes' right to establish gaming operations. This monumental case gave the 550 Indian Tribes in the United States greater independence and ability for self governance. After this Supreme Court case, Chairman Martin managed the planning and construction of Casino Morongo, which is now one of the largest employers in all of Riverside County, California.

Chairman Martin is passionate about defending and continuing the rich cultural traditions of the Morongo Tribe. Under Martin's leadership, Morongo renewed its commitment to developing the next generation of tribal leaders by establishing a tuition-free preparatory academy on the reservation.

Chairman Martin continues to give back to his community by serving on the board for the California Indian Manpower Consortium, the California Indian Child Welfare Consortium, Riverside/San Bernardino County Indian Health, Inc., and the Southern California Tribal Chairmen's Association.

I applaud Chairman Martin's tireless work on behalf of the Indian community, which has made a lasting impact on the future and sustainability of Native American tribes across the United States. My deepest congratulations, along with those of my wife, Barbara, and my children, Rialto Councilman Joe Baca Jr., Jeremy, Natalie, and Jennifer are with Chairman Martin during this time of celebration. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring a beloved community member and tireless advocate for Native American rights, Morongo Chairman Robert Martin.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to voice my strong opposition to H.R. 6429, the misnamed STEM Jobs Act.

Make no mistake about it, this bill is designed to reduce legal immigration to the United States.

H.R. 6429 doesn't just increase STEM visas, it also eliminates the Diversity Visa program--a legal immigration program that makes visas available to immigrants from countries that have low rates of immigration to the United States.

It is wrong to force Congress to eliminate one immigration program, in an effort to support another.

This misguided legislation also eliminates rollover provisions for unused visas.

Unfortunately, H.R. 6429 lets unused visas go to waste, and forces legal immigrants to continue to suffer in long backlogs.

In addition, I have serious concerns that this legislation automatically allows for-profit and on-line schools to participate in the new STEM green card program.

It's not too late for my Republican colleagues to change course, and sit down with Democrats to work on a bipartisan bill that strengthens the STEM visa program without limiting legal immigration.

I urge my colleagues to stand in solidarity and vote ``no'' on this attempt to reduce legal immigration.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask Congress to pay tribute to an outstanding business in San Bernardino, California--Mitla Cafe. This September, Mitla Cafe will be celebrating its 75th year as their family restaurant serving the people of Southern California.

Mitla Cafe is the oldest continually operating restaurant in San Bernardino, and one of the oldest Mexican restaurants in Southern California. Mitla Cafe serves standard Mexican fare--tacos, burritos, and fresh tortillas. They pride themselves in fresh food, which keeps the locals coming back for more. Today, the restaurant remains in its original location, off historic Route 66 in San Bernardino.

This family owned business was founded in 1937, by Lucia and Salvador Rodriguez. Until her passing in 1981, Lucia ran the restaurant with the help of her daughters Theresa, Helen, and Vera. After the death of her mother, Vera continued to manage the restaurant with the same understanding and passion for the community that her mother held. After Vera passed away in 1984, Lucia and Salvador's youngest son, Frank Montano, and his wife Irene continued the family business. Today, Mitla Cafe is managed by the founders' great-grandson, Steven Oquendo. The family restaurant atmosphere and exceptional food keeps residents coming to Mitla Cafe even after they have moved out of the area. From my own personal experience, my family and I have always enjoyed dining at Mitla Cafe.

To celebrate their 75th year anniversary, Mitla Cafe hosted an event on Saturday September 8th, which featured live music by the Scott Martin Latin Soul Band. Earlier this June, Mitla Cafe also hosted an anniversary event, featuring Bruce Conte and the Jazz Junkies.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating San Bernardino's oldest restaurant, Mitla Cafe for their 75th anniversary.