Floor Statements

I rise in support of this amendment and thank Mr. Miller for this amendment, which will open the programs that include housing production loans to home builders, which are primarily small businesses.

As we continue to see some positive signs in the economy, our housing market and construction industry show signs of distress. Moreover, the increase in foreclosures has created a perception of overstocked inventory in the housing market. However, this is not true everywhere. But the perception has forced the industry to shrink, cutting back on jobs and projects to save money. This downsizing has only made our economic troubles worse.

We must create an opportunity for jobs. In order to have a complete recovery, every aspect of our housing market needs to be supported, and that includes construction.

The construction industry has been a consistent source of jobs for the American people, and especially for the Latino community and many others. In 2006, employment in the construction sector was at 7.7 million. In just 2 years, the number has dropped to 5.6 million. The drop has been felt hardest in States like Nevada, Florida, and my home State of California, where the housing crisis has forced the construction industry to come to a standstill. In fact, we are now seeing Latino unemployment over 30 percent in the State of California, and then in my district, 17 percent overall for everyone.

In the committee's testimony, the National Association of Home Builders stated that the bill will do little to produce jobs and free up credit for builders. If our goal is to pass legislation that will work to create jobs, we must target our resources where they are most needed.

This amendment will address these concerns that include housing production loans to our Nation's home builders, who are comprised primarily of small businesses. Our housing collapse led our country into this economic crisis, and creating incentives to allow the housing market to thrive will help bring us out of this recession.

Again, I thank Mr. Miller for his hard work on this amendment. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

I agree with my colleagues on the other side of the aisle that America's borders must be secured. Border security is an important part of comprehensive reform, but we simply cannot ignore the 12 million individuals who are forced to live in the shadows of our society. Our broken immigration system is tearing families apart, thousands of families, every year.

The Department of Homeland Security reports that over the last 10 years, more than 100,000 immigrant parents of U.S. citizen children have been deported. Misguided laws like Arizona's SB1070 don't help keep families together.

Immigration is a Federal problem that can only be solved with a comprehensive approach that is both sensitive to families and ensures border security.

I urge my colleagues, both Democrats and Republicans, to cosponsor

This week, the Chamber will consider H.R. 5297, the Small Business Lending Fund Act. This bill will create a small business loan fund and provide capital to American small businesses. This bill also includes a boost to State lending programs, providing $2 billion in funding to new and existing programs across the country.

Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy and create two out of three jobs in this country. Our economy has begun to show signs of growth and recovery, and our largest financial institutions are stabilized, but it's time to assist local and community banks that provide the bulk of the capital to small businesses.

Job creation needs to be the number one priority forward, and legislation like this will help accomplish our goals and restore the public faith in our economy.

I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 5297 when it comes before us.

Madam Chair, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5072, the FHA Reform Act.

The failed economic policies of the Bush administration and Republican-controlled Congresses, led this country into a deep recession where we experienced serious drops in housing value and unemployment.

The economic conditions caused the FHA to dip below acceptable capital reserves numbers.

But thanks to the leadership of HUD Secretary Donovan and FHA Commissioner Stevens, FHA has continued to operate in a safe and stable manner, continuing to provide mortgage insurance to credit-worthy homeowners.

Since 1934, the FHA has played a vital role in the nation's economy helping over 37 million Americans achieve the dream of homeownership.

FHA's role can be seen clearly today as they play a vital stabilizing role in the market and support homeownership for first-time buyers and underserved markets.

As our economy continues along the path of recovery, it is likely that the FHA will continue to play a large role in our housing market.

H.R. 5072 will make essential reforms to the FHA program, strengthening their finances, improving risk management, and rooting out the bad actors that helped cause this crisis in the first place.

The bill before us calls for an increase in FHA's authority to raise annual premiums enabling FHA to decrease entry barriers and up-front premiums.

This bill also enables the FHA to go further in the action they have already taken in increasing the FHA fund at an approximate value of $300 million per month.

Finally this bill will also strengthen FHA's ability to ensure responsible lending activity by withdrawing from lenders that repeatedly fail to follow responsible underwriting and financial standards.

I want to thank Ms. Waters, Ms. Capito, and Mr. Frank for their leadership and hard work in bringing this bill to the floor.

I encourage my colleagues to follow the leadership of Secretary Donovan and Commissioner Stevens and vote ``yes'' on H.R. 5072.

Mr. Speaker, the historic health reform passed earlier this year is already having a positive impact on millions of American seniors.

Starting today, Medicare will begin mailing out $250 rebate checks to assist those who fall into the prescription drug doughnut hole. In my home State of California, over 382,000 seniors will now find it a little bit easier to afford lifesaving medicine they need, no longer making the decision of paying for medicine, paying for mortgages, or putting food on the table, but getting the service they need.

Starting next year, seniors in the doughnut hole will receive an additional 50 percent discount on all brand-name drugs. By the year 2020, the new law will totally close the doughnut hole.

But the benefits don't stop there. Health reform will provide free preventive care services to all Medicare recipients, and that extends Medicare solvency by an additional 12 years to the year 2029.

Those who continue to call for repeal of reform want to move us back to the era of higher drug costs and less security for seniors. Democrats will continue to fight to protect our most vulnerable Americans.

Madam Speaker, I stand here today to honor and remember a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, friend and respected citizen, Mrs. Dorothy Elizabeth Mladinov.

Dot, as she was affectionately known, passed away peacefully in her home from Acute Myeloid Leukemia on May 14, 2010.

The daughter of Johan and Julia Dobias, she was born in Chicago, Illinois, on December 13, 1939.

Dot was an 11 year survivor of breast cancer. After beating the disease, she became an avid walker in support of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation.

Dot had recently retired after working 20 years as a surgery technician at the San Antonio Community Hospital of Upland, California.

Upon moving to Upland in 1968 to raise her family, she quickly became involved in local organizations such as youth sports, the PTA, and Girl Scouts.

Dot is mourned by her high school sweetheart turned husband of 49 years, Dr. Joseph Mladinov Jr.; her three children and their spouses, Joseph Mladinov III and Aries, Cyndi Mladinov and Tynan Schmidt, Chris Mladinov and Anne Kim; her 6 grandchildren Jake, Keaton, Vincent, Joseph IV, Jonco and Genevieve; two sisters, Dolores and Judy; and many nieces, nephews and friends.

In lieu of flowers, donations have been requested to be made to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation, in Dottie's name.

Let us take the time to pay tribute to this wonderful woman. The thoughts and prayers of my wife Barbara, my family, and I, are with her family at this time.

Madam Speaker, let us pay our respects to Dorothy Elizabeth Mladinov. Let us celebrate the life she lived and her positive impact on the lives of everyone she touched.

Last week, the unemployment rate dropped to 9.7 percent, and the economy added over 400,000 jobs. Since the beginning of last year, we have added an average of 200,000 jobs a month. Unemployment rates dropped in 90 percent of the Nation's largest metro areas, with much of the improvement seen in the manufacturing sector instead of outsourcing like it was done in the past administration. And thanks in large part to the first-time home buyers tax credit, home sales rose in April as well.

But while our economy is showing signs of progress, our work is far from over. We must continue to focus on solid, job-creating bills that will help our economy move forward. Yet even though progress has been made, Republicans want to continue to side with Wall Street and the big banks that caused the crisis. Saying ``no'' over and over again is not progress; it is destructive.

Democrats are committed to keep on working and focusing on initiatives that will correct the failed policies of the past, but we all must work together.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 1316, Celebrating Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month.

As an original cosponsor of this bill, I am proud to stand here today and speak on this important resolution.

This is a nation of immigrants and it is always important to take time, and recognize the contributions that different cultures and ethnicities have made to our society and our American way of life.

Today, the Asian/Pacific community is one of the fastest growing populations in America.

Over 15 million Americans claim Asian descent and over 1 million residents claim Native Hawaiian descent. By 2050, the Census bureau estimates that over 40 million residents will claim Asian/Pacific descent.

Since the time the first Asian immigrants came to America in 1843, these individuals have had a profound effect on our history.

A large number of Asian immigrants helped to complete the transcontinental railroad.

Today, Asian/Pacific Americans continue to contribute, and many have had distinguished

careers in public service, giving back to the country they love so much.

Indeed, three members of the President's Cabinet--Secretary Locke, Secretary Chu, and Secretary Shinseki--are Asian Americans.

Thirty Members of Congress are of Asian or Pacific descent as well, including my good friend Mr. Honda, who has done an admirable job championing this cause.

Celebrating Asian/Pacific Heritage Month provides Americans with an opportunity to celebrate our diversity and recognize the achievements, contributions, and rich history that these individuals have shared with us.

It is for these reasons that I urge all my colleagues to vote in favor of H. Res. 1316.

Madam Speaker, I want to begin by thanking my colleague, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, for championing this cause tonight.

Jewish American Heritage Month is a time to celebrate all of the valuable contributions that Jewish Americans have made to our culture and shared history. These contributions have been represented in achievements in public service, medicine, politics, technology, literature and entertainment.

Without a firm appreciation for Jewish tradition and history we leave ourselves open to attitudes and behavior focused on religious bias and prejudice.

American culture and history is full of the positive contributions that Jewish Americans have made.

In World War II, over 500,000 Jews served in the American military-- many of them paying the ultimate price for our country's freedom and liberty.

One of my boyhood heroes--the great Sandy Koufax pitcher for the LA Dodgers--was Jewish. His religious devotion caused him to sit out of game 1 of the 1965 World Series because it was on Yom Kippur. Yet he came back, and pitched two games in the series, leading the Dodgers to victory.

We have also had many Jewish Americans serve in public office. The first Jewish Congressman, David Levy Yulee, was elected in 1841. Oscar Straus was the first Jew to serve in the President's Cabinet in 1806.

Taking time to honor celebrations like this is important for Americans to reflect on our history.

We must remember that we are a nation of immigrants. A nation of different ethnicities and religions. And instead of ignoring them, it is important to take time and honor our differences and appreciate them. In doing this, we build our diverse culture and strengthen our country's unity.

As a Hispanic, I know what kind of challenges exist and our cultures share many of the same views on many important issues--issues like civil rights, comprehensive immigration reform, promotion of diversity.

I am proud to be here, honoring Jewish Americans and their contributions that have enriched our history and culture.

Mr. Speaker, our immigration system is broken and yet there are those that refuse to do anything about it. The misguided Arizona law S.B. 1070 has made it so difficult for families that some have started to leave the State.

The general atmosphere in Arizona is one of distrust and fear, not just for Hispanic families, but for all communities of color. In the media, blatant attacks, hate speeches, negative images of Latinos only adds to the fuel and fire.

Immigration reform is about people, all of us. It's about families, our neighbors, our fellow parishioners, our classmates, our children. Make no mistake, our immigration problem will not go away by just attacking those without a voice.

I urge my colleagues, both Democrats and Republicans, to roll up their sleeves and pass comprehensive immigration reform that will reinforce strong security at our borders, strong sanctions against employers who hire the undocumented workers, and unite our families.

We need comprehensive immigration reform now.

Mr. Speaker, soon this Chamber will have a chance to continue our work on a positive job-creating initiative when H.R. 4213 comes to the floor. This bill will work to restore credit for the small businesses who hire the bulk of the American workers. It will allow funding for summer jobs programs for many of our youth that are unemployed and are seeking jobs during the summer. It will also help to close tax loopholes to fully fund job creation and enforce corporate accountability.

This bill continues to provide aid to our brothers and sisters and unions who have been hit hard over the past year because of the outsourcing by the previous administrative policies.

Unemployment is still high. Americans still need support from the government, and we continue to rebound from this crisis. But the signs are there. We're recovering. Last month, we added 290,000 jobs--the most since March of 2006.

We need to continue this good work and put the American people back to work. This is why I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4213.

Mr. Speaker, America's immigration system is broken. Congress' failure to act has opened the doors for laws like Arizona SB 1070 that are inspired by hate and racism. Sadly, this misguided law hurts everyone who looks different, whether they are American citizens, lawful immigrants, or undocumented immigrants.

Everyone deserves the right to live free from unwarranted suspicion, but Arizona SB 1070 legalizes racial profiling, taking away our basic freedoms.

Later today, I will introduce legislation in the House to fight this law that clarifies the role of the Federal Government as the sole enforcer of immigration laws.

I urge all of you who value fairness and justice to join me in an economic boycott of Arizona and wear a red and yellow wristband in opposing this hateful law.

Madam Speaker, I stand here today to honor a respected citizen, and dedicated practitioner of the art of medicine, Dr. Rodney William Borger.

Today, I rise to congratulate Dr. Borger for his loyalty, service and commitment to the Community of San Bernardino. I congratulate him on a job well done as the outgoing president of the San Bernardino County Medical Society.

Dr. Borger is a devoted servant-leader in our community. For this reason, I join today with my district to express our gratitude to Dr. Borger for his exemplary commitment to Hippocratic values, and their application to society.

Dr. Borger received his medical degree from Loma Linda University, completing his internship and residency in emergency medicine at Loma Linda University Medical Center. Today, he is Chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton.

Dr. Borger is actively involved with the San Bernardino County Medical Society and California Medical Association. He sits on the San Bernardino County Medical Society Board of Directors, while chairing the Emergency Medical Service Funds Committee and the Finance Committee, and serving on the Executive, Nominating and Legislative Committees.

Dr. Borger is Commander of the San Bernardino County Sheriff Medical Reserve Corps, a community based group of volunteers who donate their time and expertise to respond to emergencies, by supplementing existing emergency response and public health resources.

A tireless champion, Dr. Borger is also Medical Director of the San Bernardino County Jail's Medical Care System and serves on the State of California's Public Health Advisory Committee.

He is a Fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians and volunteers for the Speakers Bureau of physician volunteers, addressing community organizations on health issues.

This past March, Dr. Borger, medical student leaders and physician leaders traveled to the American Medical Association National Advocacy Conference to personally meet with members of Congress to advocate on the behalf of seniors, veterans, Medicare and Medicaid reform.

Thanks in part to these efforts, Congress has informed the California Medical Association that it is passing a temporary measure to allow the possibility of passing a more permanent solution to Sustainable Growth Rate cuts.

Revered for extensive awards, honors, certifications, biomedical research, affiliations, teaching experience, and charitable service, Dr. Borger has volunteered at a hospital in Botswana, Africa, and with Social Action Corps, UC Irvine Medical Center Family Practice Clinic and the Looking Good Program.

Madam Speaker, all of this philanthropy makes Dr. Borger ``look good.'' Not only is he a generous human being but he is a renowned and compassionate physician.

Madam Speaker, Dr. Borger will be completing his term as the 117th president of the San Bernardino County Medical Society on Wednesday, June 23, 2010. It is fitting, on such an occasion, that we stand here today to honor Dr. Borger, for exceptional service and leadership in a profession respected by all people and in all times.

Congress is elected to solve difficult Federal problems, not walk away from them year after year. Health care reform was a difficult Federal problem with many months of debate and difficult votes, but we did it. Immigration reform is also a difficult Federal problem. At this moment, families are being torn apart. Children and parents live in fear of not seeing each other at the end of the day. In fact, there are cases where our own soldiers are returning from serving overseas, only to find their spouses deported.

Where Congress comes up short, States like Arizona are in full speed, enacting misguided laws like SB 1070 that are inspired by hate and racism. This bill hurts everyone who looks different, whether they're an American citizen, lawful immigrant, or undocumented immigrant. It violates our civil rights. The question now is, Is Congress willing to work together in a bipartisan fashion to fix a system that is broken? Families across America have waited long enough for immigration reform. We must deliver just like we have on health care reform.

Madam Speaker, I stand here today to honor and remember a loving father and husband, respected citizen and dedicated public servant, Mr. Lawrence Kester.

Lawrence was killed on duty May 7, 2010, while driving a San Bernardino County public transit bus, in Rialto, California. He was 47 years old.

He was the victim of a senseless stabbing attack by a mentally ill passenger. Although Lawrence did not survive the attack his passengers escaped traumatized but unscathed.

Fifteen years ago, Lawrence began working for the public transit system and went on to become one of the best regarded drivers in San Bernardino, as well as a great friend to the community.

He was well respected by his customers and colleagues alike, commended on numerous occasions for his consummate professionalism and attention to security.

Most recently, he was awarded the elite ``Million Mile Club'' membership which is reserved for drivers who have driven more than one million passenger miles in safety.

Lawrence is remembered as a Good Samaritan and trusted friend. He was the kind of man who would chip in for people when they didn't have enough change for the fare and generously greet customers as they entered and exited, wishing them a nice day.

Lawrence is survived by his wife, Misty, and 8 children. Lawrence and Misty celebrated their 12th anniversary of marriage last week and the family just recently spent a weekend at Disneyland together.

Let us take the time to pay tribute to this wonderful man. Let us celebrate the life he lived and the example he led.

Although he is no longer with us, his noble nature and loving kindness will continue to live on through the lives of everyone he touched.

The thoughts and prayers of my wife Barbara, my family and I are with his family at this time.

Madam Speaker, let us pay our respects to Lawrence Kester. He will always have a place in our memories and hearts for everything he gave to his family and community.