Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to address the House for one minute.

I rise in strong support of S. 3874, the Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act. This bill amends the Safe Drinking Water Act to uniformly reduce the allowable lead content in solder, flux, pipe and fixtures.

It is important to strengthen and clarify national standards for lead in drinking water. Our families and children should feel comfortable knowing that the water they drink is safe. In my district, California's 43rd, we are faced with many water issues and the most severe is perchlorate found in our ground water. Our drinking water was compromised.

No one should have water compromised by perchlorate or lead. This bill is a positive step forward in eliminating the serious health threats and economic burdens caused by lead exposure.

In California, we have a new lead free standard that requires manufacturers to phase out potential exposure from materials in drinking water plumbing by this year. With S. 3874, families in other states will have greater protection from lead exposure.

I urge my colleagues to show their commitment to the safety of America's families and support S. 3874, the Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act.

Mr. Speaker, please excuse me from session Tuesday, December 21, 2010. I have legislative business in the district. Had I been here, I would have voted in support of H. R. 5116--The America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010, H. R. 2142--The GPRA (Government Performance and Results Act) Modernization Act of 2010 and H. R. 2751-- The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act. In addition, I support funding our Federal Government by passage of a continuing resolution by year's end.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to address the House for one minute.

I rise in strong support of H. Res. 1377, a resolution honoring the accomplishments of Norman Yoshio Mineta.

There are not too many public servants that are requested to serve as a cabinet member by a President of a different political party.

Norman Yoshio Mineta's good nature, astute knowledge and seamless ability to be a

first-rate mediator gave rise to his selection to serve our country regardless of the political party at the helm.

He was the U.S. Secretary of Transportation for President George W. Bush and U.S. Secretary of Commerce for President Clinton.

Despite being forced to leave his home and relocate to the Hear Mountain internment camp during World War II (a sad example of civil rights injustice), Secretary Mineta's love of country never faltered.

He fought for our freedom in the U.S. Army, and later was elected mayor of San Jose, California.

He continued his public service as U.S. Representative to the 15th district of California where he founded and chaired the bicameral and bipartisan Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC).

Secretary Mineta dedicated his life to our country and we are a better Nation because of his work and legacy.

Secretary Mineta is the fitting recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the United States, in 2006, and the Grand Cordon, Order of the Rising Sun from the Japanese Government, which was the highest honor bestowed upon an individual of Japanese descent outside of Japan.

Secretary Mineta, we thank you for your service to our Nation.

I urge my colleagues to support H. Res 1377 in recognition of his lifetime of service to our Nation.

This week our colleagues in the Senate have an opportunity to straighten our future economy and create equal opportunity for America's young people. By recognizing students who want to contribute through military service or higher education, the American DREAM Act has a positive impact on all of us; and if we remember the Ten Commandants, honor thy father and mother, many of these children came to the United States out of respect for their parents. They had no choice and they are here. They deserve an opportunity to have the same that other students have by attending our schools, going on to college, and then they also pray in a lot of our churches. They deserve the same opportunities that others have.

We all know that the DREAM Act is one piece of a larger reform that is needed to fix our broken immigration system, but it is a critical first step. I urge the Senate to pass the DREAM Act as soon as possible so that the President can act quickly to sign the bill into law and give many of our students an opportunity to have the opportunity that many others have had in this country.

Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask Congress to pay tribute to an outstanding friend, mentor and community leader, Mr. Ray Abril, Jr. Ray passed away on December 14, 2010.

Born in Colton, California on June 5, 1932, Ray was raised in South Colton where he dedicated his life to his community and to the improvement of education in the Colton Joint Unified School District.

Ray graduated from Colton High School in 1950. A veteran of the Korean War, he courageously served four years in the Navy.

Ray first became involved in education in the early 1970's, motivated to serve because of the poor state of many local schools at the time. In 1973 he won his first election to the Colton Joint Unified School Board.

Ray often liked to joke that he had a PhD from USC, ``The University of South Colton.'' Throughout his 28 year career with the Colton School Board, Ray played an important part in improving schools. During his time as board member he worked to improve student performance, enhance school safety and increase the number of college-bound students.

A strong advocate for education, Ray was instrumental in advising me on many legislative policy decisions over the years, including my PROUD Act. As a board member, Ray became affectionately known as ``The Godfather of the Colton Joint Unified School District.'' He held the office of Clerk for thirteen years and served as Board President for six years. Ray retired from the Colton Joint Unified Board of Education after 28 years of dedicated service.

Because of Ray's lifelong commitment to education, the Colton Joint Unified School Board decided to recognize him by including his name in the campus of the new high school in Grand Terrace. When complete, the school will be known as the Grand Terrace High School at the Ray Abril, Jr. Educational Complex.

An active member of the community, Ray was involved in a number of organizations including the San Bernardino Countywide Gangs and Drugs Task Force, the Knights of Columbus and the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools Advisory Committee. Ray was also a co-founder of the Mexican-American Parent & Student Organization, a group that advocated educational improvements in Colton.

His legacy of work on local issues such as the BNSF rail crossing and his founding of Colton First had a lasting impact on communities across the Inland Empire. After his many years of service, Ray was awarded the Assistance League of San Bernardino's ``Living Legend Award'' during its 50th anniversary celebration.

Ray was a loving family man. He and his beloved wife Hortensia were married for 53 years before her unfortunate passing. Ray leaves behind his daughters Melinda Medina, Rebecca Gonzales, Nellie Carnero as well as his three sons, Nick, Michael and Dominic. He also leaves behind 19 grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren.

The thoughts and prayers of my wife, Barbara, Mayor pro tem Joe Baca, Jr., Jeremy, Natalie, Jennifer and I are with his family at this time. I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering a superb American citizen and dedicated community leader. He will be greatly missed and I extend my sincere condolences to his extended family upon the very sad loss of Mr. Ray Abril, Jr.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 3167, the Census Oversight Efficiency and Management Reform Act.

The 2010 Census is complete and results will be made public soon. However, we must think ahead now for the 2020 Census.

The bill's proposal to create a five-year term appointment for the Census Bureau Director is an important change that will allow the Census Bureau to avoid disruptions caused by changes in administrations, especially around the period of the decennial census.

The accuracy of the Census is tied to advance planning and careful design, and must be ensured to the best extent possible.

An accurate count means that proportionate amounts of federal dollars go back home to our Districts, to our schools, to our courthouses. We must remember that the Census count is not just a number; it affects the livelihood of all our communities.

Gaps in management and leadership hurt all of us, not just those at the Census Bureau.

This bill will provide greater stability for the leadership of the Census Bureau and its operations by enhancing the continuity of the Bureau's overall operations.

In fact, seven former Census Directors, appointed by Presidents from both political parties, support this bill because they believe it would enhance the ability of the agency to focus on its mission to conduct the Census in a timely and accurate manner.

I urge my colleagues to support S. 3167, because it takes positive steps toward providing greater stability for the decennial census and diminishing operational problems.

Mr. Speaker, I stand in strong support for H.R. 5281, the American DREAM Act, a bipartisan bill.

America is the land of opportunity, and these students want to abide by the law, and that's why this bill is before us.

It is wrong to unfairly punish young people who come to America through no fault of their own, wanting an education, an opportunity like their fellow students.

If we pass this bill, we have an opportunity to strengthen our Nation and respect our strong, proud immigration history, like Ronald Reagan and others who did this in the past.

Equal opportunity is justice in opportunities. It's the same values that civil rights leaders like Martin Luther King and President Johnson fought for.

Madam Speaker, I join today with my colleague Jerry Lewis to pay tribute to an outstanding leader, family man and civil servant, former San Bernardino Mayor William Robert Holcomb. Mayor Holcomb passed away at the age of 88 on November 29, 2010.

Bob Holcomb was born on March 1, 1922 in San Bernardino, California, and dedicated his life to his home town. He was a passionate advocate for the city, and is well remembered as the champion who preserved the local water supply.

The Holcomb family has deep roots in San Bernardino County. William F. Holcomb, Bob's great-grandfather, was a pioneer who discovered gold in the 19th century and led a gold rush in the San Bernardino Mountains. His father, Grant Holcomb, served as the city mayor from 1925 thru 1927.

Bob Holcomb graduated from San Bernardino High School, and later received a law degree from the Hastings College of Law at the University of California-Berkeley. He interrupted his studies during World War II to serve in the U.S. Army Air Corps. As a co-pilot, he flew bombing missions from England to Germany.

A practicing lawyer for 14 years, Bob began his political career by winning the fight to maintain San Bernardino's water independence. The giant Metropolitan Water District of Los Angeles made a concerted effort to take control of the extensive groundwater basin under San Bernardino. Holcomb led the campaign against the plan, and voters ultimately decided to retain the San Bernardino Municipal Water District, which protects the local water supply to this day.

As a result of his leadership, Holcomb was appointed as a city water commissioner, and served in that role until his first election as Mayor in 1970.

Considered one of the most dynamic mayor's in the city's history, Bob Holcomb is credited with luring both the Little League Western Headquarters and a California State University campus to San Bernardino. His administration saw the founding of the Norman Feldheym library and a new City Hall. He was instrumental in the creation of the regional transportation agency, Omnitrans.

Over three decades, Bob continued the family tradition of public service with a career as Mayor from 1971 until 1985, and another term from 1989 through 1993. With 18 years, Bob is the city's longest- serving mayor.

He was recognized for both his international interests and a passion for civil rights. He helped create a sister-city partnership with Tachikawa, Japan that has lasted for 51 years. And he was a strong supporter of desegregation of San Bernardino schools. He was also the first elected official in the area to support Tom Bradley, the first African American to run for California governor.

As a family man, Bob shared 64 years with his wife and partner Penny. They had four children--Jay, who passed away in 1977, as well as daughter Terri Lee Holcomb-Halstead, and sons William Holcomb and Robert Holcomb.

On a personal note, I always appreciated Bob's friendship and his support of local athletic teams. I remember one specific incident during his tenure as mayor, when our softball field was too wet to play on due to rain. Bob had seen how hard our team had worked to get where it was, and wanted to make sure that the game was played--so he brought in helicopters to dry the fields, and the game went off without a hitch. That story exemplifies the type of man that Bob was.

Madam Speaker, Congressman Lewis and I ask our colleagues to join us in remembering a superb citizen and great community leader. My wife Barbara and I, and Jerry and his wife Arlene, will greatly miss the man who will always be known as Mayor Holcomb, and we extend our sincere condolences to Penny and his extended family.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate four decades of the creation of a federal agency with the noble mission to protect human health and the environment. The founding of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on December 2, 1970, represented the start of remarkable environmental achievements for our nation. Their mission and valuable accomplishments have been well captured in EPA's 40th anniversary theme: ``Healthier Families, Cleaner Communities, A Stronger America.''

In this anniversary celebration, we should honor EPA's dedicated employees who during 40 years have worked hard to keep our land, air, and water clean and protected. Thanks to their efforts, expertise, and enthusiasm, this and future generations will be able to enjoy better environmental conditions in the places they work, live, and pray.

I take pride in representing a unique and diverse ecosystem in California's 43rd District. I particularly thank EPA for developing regulations that will assist the studies of water resources and groundwater conditions needed in potentially contaminated sites in my District. Sound environmental protection policies not only promote American security through better

use of our natural resources, but they also ensure the vast beauty of our nation is safeguarded for future generations to enjoy.

Throughout its existence, EPA has developed different programs that effectively respond to public concerns about their water, air, and land. These programs ensure public safety and support to local communities struggling in a difficult economic environment. Efforts that ensure that polluters pay, such as the Superfund Program--that addresses the cleanup of toxic waste sites--provide important tools that help identify the parties responsible for contamination. The Superfund Program has successfully required identified responsible parties to pay for the cleanup of their contaminated sites which has saved taxpayers billions of dollars.

As a Member of Congress, I am committed to continue fighting for legislation that allows EPA to protect our treasured resources-- including ensuring clean air, safe drinking water for everyone and promoting cleaner, more efficient uses of America's natural resources.

Let us commemorate this milestone anniversary of the EPA by recognizing its people, its programs, and the progress they have made since the day the agency was founded 40 years ago. This celebration of EPA's legacy and accomplishments should also serve as a reminder of the work we still have ahead of us to protect the health and the environment of everyone in our communities and our nation.

Mr. Speaker, we must remind the American people when President Obama took office, he inherited a $1.2 trillion deficit, the recession, and mounting job losses. In the last 2 years we have worked hard to end the outsourcing of jobs overseas and lay the groundwork to create new jobs here at home. But with the unemployment rate at 9.6 across the Nation and over 14 percent in my area in California, we must do more. If Congress does not act to extend the unemployment insurance benefit, 2 million Americans stand to lose benefits during the holiday season. Yet, instead of working with us to provide assistance to struggling families, Republicans--I state Republicans--continue to obstruct and push for budget-busting tax breaks for America's millionaires.

We must extend unemployment benefits, and we must approve the Obama middle class tax cut plan without the deficit-increasing tax breaks for America's richest few. Let's work together to help families through these tough times and create the jobs the American people need.

I thank the gentleman from Massachusetts, and I thank the gentleman from Florida and wish him the very best of luck in his future. He has been a good friend and a terrific legislator, too, as well here.

I rise in support of S. 3307, the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act.

Too many families are struggling to put food on the table. There are 40 million people going hungry in the United States right now. We recently passed the SNAP program. We recently put stimulus money to increase the SNAP program to provide food for many individuals. There is 9.6 percent unemployment in the United States, 14 percent in my district alone. These are individuals that are struggling to put food on the table.

Can you imagine a child that does not have the ability to put food in their stomach? One in four American children are currently at risk of going hungry. You have to feel what a person who is actually going hungry and doesn't know where their meal is coming from. And one in three American children are either overweight or obese. When we talk about it's going to cost the taxpayers money, no, it's actually going to save the taxpayers money in the long run because it's costing us, right now, $147 billion in what we are paying for obesity right now. It would reduce our health costs in that area, reduce our costs overall.

As chair of the House Agriculture Committee on Nutrition, I chaired hearings both in Washington and in California to explore ways to fight childhood obesity and increase access to healthy food. Today's legislation offers a step forward in addressing both child hunger and obesity. This bill expands the after school and summer meals programs, better connects eligible children with free meal benefits, improves and expands the school breakfast programs, extends the WIC certification period for children, and puts more fresh fruits and vegetables into our schools.

We passed the No Child Left Behind. Well, can you imagine a child going to school and having to pass a test?

Many children have a difficult time passing a lot of these tests because they're going hungry.

None of us are pleased with the cuts to the SNAP program made by this bill, but I am committed to work with the administration and my colleagues on the House Agriculture Committee to ensure that we fully fund the SNAP program.

I urge my colleagues to stand up with our children and pass this much-needed legislation. I ask you to support this.

When President Obama took office, he inherited a $1.2 trillion deficit, two wars, the recession and mounting job losses that pushed our economy to the brink. Since then, we have made steady progress towards recovery and have laid the groundwork to create new jobs. But during these tough times, we must act decisively to extend tax relief for middle class families.

If Congress does not act soon, 98 percent of Americans will face a tax increase in January 1. For the typical middle class family, this means the loss of $2,000 next year. Two thousand means an awful lot to middle income families.

Republicans must stop holding these tax cuts for the middle class hostage. I state, Republicans must stop holding these tax cuts for the middle class hostage. Extending the tax cut for the rich will not create jobs and stimulate the economy, but it will add--I state, it will add--$700 billion to our national deficit--$700 billion to our national deficit. The time for simply saying ``no'' is over. Let's work together to create jobs.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to voice my strong support for

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1430, honoring and saluting golf legend Juan Antonio ``Chi Chi'' Rodriguez. First, I would like to thank Chairman George Miller, Ranking Member John Kline, Subcommittee Chair Carolyn McCarthy, Ms. Woolsey, Ranking Member Todd Russell Platts, and Mr. Roe. I want to take the time to thank all of my colleagues for their support.

I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1430, to honor Juan Antonio ``Chi Chi'' Rodriguez. In 1935, Chi Chi Rodriguez was born into a poor family in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico. He was one of six siblings. His father used to earn only $18 a week as a laborer and cattle herder. His mother was a housekeeper. Their family struggled. When Chi Chi was only 7 years old, he helped families by earning money as a water carrier on the sugar plantation.

He soon learned that he could earn more money as a caddy. At that time, he also taught himself how to play golf--and that is very difficult for anyone who is playing golf. I have been playing golf for some time, and it's still very difficult, and I am still trying to learn--by using tree limbs and a metal can hammered into a ball.

With unyielding determination and discipline by 9 years of age, Chi Chi could play and win. Boy, that's difficult. You know, we wish we could play and would have played when we were young like that at the age of 9.

His uncompromising sportsmanship resulted in a lifetime 38 professional wins, including eight PGA wins, 1963, 1964, 1967, 1968, 1972, 1973 and 1979, and 22 senior PGA Tour wins.

Chi Chi Rodriguez was inducted into the PGA World Hall of Fame in 1992. However, his legacy does not end on the links. And I want to remind everybody, this resolution is not about his golf and what he did for golf, but it's about what he did as a human being and his contributions and scholarships to many individuals, and that's why we are honoring him. I want people to remember that and my colleagues to remember that. This is not about a golfer, this is about an individual who was willing to do as much as he can to help other individuals.

Chi Chi Rodriguez's robust charitable contributions for the benefit of at-risk and underprivileged youth have helped thousands of young people. He and his wife, Iwalani, have changed lives, and can you imagine many individuals lives that are changed because someone cared, someone touched their lives, someone gave them direction, someone gave them confidence in themselves and said, you know what, there is a better way of life.

Chi Chi wanted to make a better way of life for many individuals, and that's why we are honoring him and that's why we are recognizing them. They have strengthened self-confidence and fostered stellar discipline in many young people by founding the Chi Chi Rodriguez Academy.

The mission of the academy is to assist at-risk children by improving their self-esteem, character, work ethic, social adjustment, and academic performance, using the golf course as a living classroom. In addition, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute honored Chi Chi Rodriguez with a CHCI Service Award for his ongoing commitment to providing opportunities for Latino youth to succeed.

His support of CHCI's fiesta, which is a bipartisan Fiesta de Golf Scholarship Challenge, has helped raise more than $824,000 for CHCI's Scholarship Awards Program over the past 3 years. These are a sample of many of the 430-some scholarships that have helped many of our kids, Javier Acolan, Ranier Gonzalez, Ashley Garcia. These are a few of many that I could name here tonight but when you look at the faces and you look at individuals who had an opportunity to pursue their education, become successful, contribute to our society, this is what Chi Chi is about, improving our communities, making sure that they become productive in our communities.

Chi Chi has received many other humanitarian awards due to his giving nature and leadership. He has received the Salvation Army Gold Crest Award and the Good Sport Award from Sports Illustrated for Kids.

He was inducted into the World Sport Humanitarian Hall of Fame and received an honorary doctor of humane letters degree from Georgetown College in Kentucky. He also received the American Education Award from the American Association of School Administrators.

With his support, The Chi Chi Rodriguez Youth Foundation earned the National Golf Foundation Award for the Best Youth Program in the United States in 1986 and the Robie Award for Humanitarianism presented by The Jackie Robinson Foundation in 1996.

His success on the links has earned Chi Chi Rodriguez a special place in history.

However, his work, and I state, however his work in helping many disadvantaged children has earned Chi Chi a special place in each of our hearts, because it's about giving, it's not about receiving, it's about helping others, not about what you get. He wasn't about me, myself and Irene, it was about what can I do to help others. And that's what Chi Chi wanted to do. He wanted to touch those lives.

He proved that humble beginnings do not define a person. He has shown us that with hard work and determination that you can be successful, but you can be caring and you can give back. Because the Lord gave him something, and he wanted to return something back to others.

By giving back to help our youth, he taught us. Please join me in honoring and saluting Chi Chi Rodriguez. I urge all Members to support the passage of H. Res. 1430.

I yield to the gentleman from Utah.

Yes.

Yes.

Would you like to join? We would love to have you join and be part of the sponsors as well. Because we also have, from your side, a member of our board that's on that board as well.

That's correct.

Thank you.

No, it's not. It's really thinking about someone who has contributed, someone who has done an awful lot. And it's bipartisan individuals, both Republican and Democrat, that belong to the CHCI board as well. We welcome the new Members that were elected to become part of that board that will say, you know what, we have got to honor individuals.

It's not about a conflict of interest, it's not about anything else. It's about

doing something that's positive for individuals. When someone is going to receive something in return, then it becomes a conflict of interest. But we are not receiving anything in return. All we are doing is honoring an individual.

Thank you. Again, this is about children.

Will the gentleman yield?

We would love to honor other foundations and other individuals as well. This is only one of many that we should recognize, just as I am honoring Arnold Palmer that we gave the Congressional Gold Medal. And at one time I hope you are here to celebrate when we have the actual gold medal that we will present under your leadership that we will be able to do here on the floor later on next year because it won't happen now.

Once again, I would like to state for the record that this is not a conflict of interest. This is about bipartisan individuals who sit on the board who continue to want to provide assistance to many individuals who are in need of help. Whether it's this organization or whether it's any other organization, I think it's important that we do recognize individuals that are willing to give of their time and their effort to make life better for someone else. And this is a humanitarian individual.

I know we are on the subject of recognizing the sports individual, and I would like just for the record to state that my colleague that just spoke actually supported a resolution to support a sports individual as well, and that was H. Res. 942, for the record. So if we are going to be consistent, let's be consistent on both angles.

With that, I would like to, once again, state that many corporations and many individuals give because they're good corporate citizens, because they want to make our communities a lot better. They want to provide an opportunity for individuals to enhance their education, further their education, be productive citizens. And sometimes many individuals cannot afford to go on to a college or university. It's that assistance that we give to individuals that will allow an individual to further their education, thus for becoming productive individuals.

This is an individual that has helped in that endeavor to make sure that we raise the additional money, whether it's for this institution or whether it's for other institutions. I belong to a variety of different institutions that raise money on a bipartisan basis to make sure that we allow many individuals to be productive individuals within our communities.

It wasn't wrong. It was a good thing you did.

I appreciate your doing it in the past, and I look forward to your continued support.