Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, the House this week will consider legislation reestablishing statutory pay-as-you-go. That's PAYGO. In 1990, the Clinton administration turned the deficit into a record surplus, due in part by adhering to PAYGO, a principle that compels Congress to pay for what we buy. However, under a Republican President in Congress, PAYGO was waived and allowed to expire, clearing the way for policies that wiped out $5.6 trillion of surplus and a huge debt financed by tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans that will have to be paid by the next generation. Restoring our national fiscal health will not be quick or easy, but restoring PAYGO is an important step towards that goal.

PAYGO has a history of bipartisan support. Democrats hope the Republicans will join us this week in supporting this proven tool for fiscal responsibility. I hope that they will not continue to be the Party of ``No'' and they'll have the principles invoked for PAYGO.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the achievements of Mrs. Amparo Olguin, wife, mother, grandmother and devoted citizen of San Bernardino, California, who recently passed, on January 23, 2010, at 72.

Amparo possessed an unwavering dedication to the community, always looking for opportunities to help others. Throughout her life she constantly pursued academic degrees that would allow the community to prosper from her knowledge. Throughout her career she held numerous education, social and youth oriented positions: San Bernardino School District; Welfare Department, social service aide; City of San Bernardino, human relations assistant; Los Padrinos, youth intervention counselor; Casa Ramona Drop-In Center; Inland Congregations United for Change, project director, and other social service/education-related positions. She possessed a spirit and purpose which profoundly impacted the lives of those around her.

Amparo had a passion for alleviating the needs of families, youth, and children. That passion earned her the honor of receiving numerous accolades recognizing her services to the community. In 2002, the Inland Empire Chamber of Commerce honored her with the 46th Annual Latina of the Year award. In 2004, she received the Congressman Joe Baca Community Leadership Award, recognizing her outstanding services and leadership. In 2008, she received the Carol A. Mills award, for her heroism and involvement in the San Bernardino Valley College Drug and Prevention Program. She was always working to make a positive impact in her community

She is survived by Felix, her husband of 56 years; her daughters Anna Flores and Marsha; her sons Felix Jr., Anthony and Michael; 10 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

The thoughts and prayers of my wife Barbara and children, Councilman Joe Baca, Jr., Jeremy, Natalie and Jennifer, and I are with the family at this time. I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering a dedicated leader. She will be greatly missed, and I extend my sincere condolences to her extended family upon the very sad loss of Mrs. Amparo Olguin.

Madam Speaker, the House passed the Wall Street Reform Consumer Protection Act.

It will reform the rules of the road that oversee Wall Street. It will end bailouts by helping ensure that taxpayers are never again on the hook for Wall Street's risky decisions.

It will protect retirement funds, college savings, homes, and businesses' financial futures from unnecessary risk by executives, lenders, and speculators.

It will protect consumers from predatory lending abuses, fine print, and industry gimmicks, and inject transparency and accountability into a financial system run amok.

It ends predatory lending practice with tougher enforcement.

We ask the Senate to pass this legislation to protect our consumers.

The House is back in session this week, and at the top of the agenda is health care. I am here to

make sure that the 217,000 uninsured in my district have affordable options to purchase health care coverage, as well as those across America.

Families across America will benefit greatly from the bill's extensive improvement to our health care system. We will finally end discrimination by insurance companies based on preexisting conditions. We will bring peace of mind to every parent out there who constantly worries about paying for high medical bills.

America is the land of freedom and opportunity. America must have the freedom and opportunity to purchase their own health insurance that is affordable for everyone. Doing nothing is unacceptable. We need to drive down the health costs and demand greater accountability for health insurance companies.

I urge my colleagues to support the health care reform and put the interest of our families first.

Madam Speaker, last fall our economy began a tailspin into the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. For years, greed and irresponsibility was allowed to run wild. Now, we find ourselves beginning to climb out of this hole.

This week, we will consider a comprehensive financial package that is loud and clear: No more, and I state, no more, no more will we allow financial institutions to engage in abusive behavior with other people's money. No more will we allow corporate executives to receive cash bonuses for failed investments. No more will we let consumer protection take a back seat to the bottom line of Bank of America or Citibank. The age of taxpayer funded bailouts is over.

Last fall, Americans lost faith in this country's ability to regulate corporate greed. This week, we have a chance to deliver reform Americans demand. We cannot let them down.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Recently, a single parent in my district called my office for help. He lost his good-paying job and the health benefits that went with it. Sadly, he is not alone in this problem. More Americans than ever before are losing their jobs, their livelihood, and their homes. In California, the unemployment rate is 12 percent. In my area, the Inland Empire, unemployment is a staggering 14 percent. We continue to have one of the highest rates of foreclosure in the Nation. The hardworking men and women in my district and throughout the Nation deserve a good-paying job; quality, affordable health care; enough food to put on the table; and a good quality of life.

I commend President Obama for hosting a jobs forum. We need to create jobs so that people can put food on the table and keep their homes and live the American Dream. Instead of pointing fingers and calling names, this is a time when we all need to be working together to find real solutions in creating jobs for the American people right here in the United States and not outsourcing those jobs outside of here.

For my part, I will host a jobs summit to hear from the private industry, nonprofit organizations, and labor organization and educators.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3961, the Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act.

Congress is only a few steps away from passing a healthcare reform bill and sending it to the President's desk for a signature.

However the 21% cut to physician payments under Medicare scheduled to go into effect on January 1st is just around the corner.

We must act now to protect Medicare patient's access to their doctors. We must act now to protect military and their families under TRICARE the access to their doctors. The status quo is not an option; we must not let these cuts go through. Let's stop the cuts and short- term patches once and for all; this is real reform with a real solution.

Today I will vote for the 194,510 Medicare patients in my District. Access to healthcare is not a privilege, it is a human right. I urge my colleagues vote for H.R. 3961 and preserve the access of Americans to see their doctor.

Congress is only a few steps away from passing a health care reform bill that is much needed for the American people. If we lose sight of our main goal to provide access coverage to everyone, especially the poor and the middle class that have already sacrificed or contributed so much so this country, I say, Ask not what you can do for the insurance companies but ask what you can do for the American people.

This is a humanitarian issue about responsible parents trying to provide for their families. The House bill ends the doughnut hole prescription drug coverage, ends copayment for preventive care, ends discrimination based on preexisting conditions, and provides more health care for our youth. The health bill means less red tape and less paperwork, more time with your families and doctors, lower premiums for older Americans.

This is extremely important at a time that the American families are stretching their budgets to the brink to make ends meet their needs and may have lost their jobs. Access to health care is not a privilege. It's a human right. I urge my colleagues to fight for the American family and pass real health care reform.

Mr. Speaker, today is a historic day for all of us.

As Members of Congress, it is our duty to pass real healthcare reform this year.

The American people are suffering.

47 million people lack even the most basic care, and for those lucky to have insurance--their premiums have more than doubled over the last 10 years.

Perhaps no state is in greater need of this reform than my home state of California.

217 thousand people in my Congressional District go everyday without insurance.

And for California as a whole--we have 13 million uninsured residents.

The people of California, and people across the United States need health care reform that: ends discrimination based on pre-existing conditions; ends dropped healthcare coverage because you get sick; ends co-pays for preventative care; and ends skyrocketing costs for individuals and families.

The Republican alternative does none of these things.

It simply keeps the status quo! It does nothing to provide quality, affordable health care to the American people.

The 217,000 people living in my District without insurance cannot afford inaction any longer.

The 13 million people in California without insurance cannot live with the status quo.

The 15 hundred families in my District who went bankrupt because of health costs cannot afford the status quo.

Now is our opportunity to make history--and to move America forward.

We must not be short-sighted and focus only on politics and polls.

As a Christian--my faith teaches me we must love and care for our fellow man, as if they were our brother or sister.

I know that fixing our broken health care system is not just an economic issue--it is also a humanitarian and a moral issue.

I am especially pleased that today's bill includes the Indian Health Care Improvement Act.

As a Member of the House Native American Caucus and the Natural Resources Committee--I have been a strong supporter of ending the health disparities that exist on our reservations.

I will close my statement by again stressing the importance of this historic moment.

We passed Social Security in 1935. We passed Medicare in 1965.

I urge my colleagues to stand with the American people and pass legislation in 2009 that will make quality, affordable health care a right for all Americans.

Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of H.R. 3639--the Expedited CARD Act of 2009. This important piece of legislation will continue the great work that this Congress and the President completed earlier this year, by moving up the remaining dates on the original Credit CARD Act.

Since signing the CARD Act into law, credit card companies have engaged in last-ditch predatory practices, seeking to gain as much money as possible from the American consumer. Many of the same practices that the Federal Reserve labeled ``unfair or deceptive'' and were prohibited in the original CARD Act, have increased in past months. In fact, since last May, credit card companies have raised interest rates by an average of 20 percent.

When this law was passed, this body warned credit card companies that swift action would be taken if these companies took advantage of the staggered implementation of the bill. It is clear these companies have done just that, and we are now prepared to follow through on our promise.

I want to thank Mrs. Maloney and Chairman Frank for their hard work on this issue and I am proud to be a cosponsor on this important piece of legislation.

I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this bill.

Madam Speaker, as Members of Congress, it is our duty to pass real health care reform this year.

Perhaps no state is in greater need of this reform than my home state of California.

Two hundred seventeen thousand people in my Congressional District go everyday without reform.

And for California as a whole--we have 13 million uninsured residents!

The people of California, and people across the United States need health care reform that:

Ends discrimination based on pre-existing conditions!

Ends dropped healthcare coverage because you get sick!

Ends co-pays for preventative care!

And ends skyrocketing costs for individuals and families!

The Republican alternative does none of these things!

It simply keeps the status quo! It costs more! And does nothing!

The 217,000 people living in my District without insurance cannot afford inaction any longer!

The 13 million people in California without insurance cannot live with the status quo!

The 15 hundred families in my District who went bankrupt because of health costs cannot afford the status quo!

Now is our opportunity to make history--and to move America forward!

We must not be short-sighted and focus only on politics and polls.

As we work for health care reform, I also urge my colleagues to pass a bill that does not include costly and discriminatory verification requirements like the SAVE requirements.

Our Nation cannot afford either the humanitarian or the fiscal costs of a health care immigration verification process.

As a Christian--my faith teaches me that we must love our fellow man, and care for them as if they were our brother or sister.

If a sick person is at the doctor's or the hospital--they need help!

They do not have time to wait for a lengthy background check to determine their citizenship status.

Can you imagine the medical errors we will have if we have to run an immigration status check every time someone who looks different needs medical care!

This can lead to a dangerous precedent of racial profiling! People may be denied life-saving care simply because of how they look!

From a fiscal perspective--numerous studies have shown us that immigration screenings cost our nation much more in tax dollars than they actually save.

SAVE requirements would become unfunded mandates that add to the administrative cost burden of our States!

In my home State of California--Los Angeles County spent $28 million in 2008 to implement tougher verification standards on the Medi-Cal program!

I repeat--$28 million!!

And how many undocumented immigrants did this $28 million help to catch actually using Medi-Cal benefits? Zero!!!

Is this a cost-effective practice?! Or is this a burden on county governments?!

A mandatory verification requirement in this health bill would only add to the current cost burden of emergency rooms!

We should be working on policies that encourage people to go to clinics, where they can receive proper preventative and routine care.

SAVE electronic verification would push more and more people into the emergency room--where all of us will be left to pick up the tab!

Additional SAVE Program Verification also hinders access for the general public to health care.

This has certainly been the case since states have been required to verify legal status for Medicaid.

According to the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities--anywhere from 3 million to 5 million U.S. citizens have lost Medicaid coverage because they lacked the necessary paperwork (birth certificate or passport) to prove their citizenship.

By introducing mandatory electronic verification procedures--we are creating additional hurdles for Americans to access the care they need!

And what would be the cost in new liability suits?!

And think of our current situation with H1N1. Families need access to care immediately--to stop the spread of further outbreaks!

This would be chaos! It would burden our entire healthcare system with a costly and ineffective unfunded mandate.

From both a humanitarian and a fiscal point of view--we cannot afford mandatory electronic verification.

I am pleased the manager's amendment to this legislation does not include mandatory verification for people looking to access the health care exchange.

I urge my colleagues to remain vigilant on this issue--and work to stop any mandatory electronic verification requirements.

I am also pleased the larger bill includes the Indian Health Care Improvement Act.

As a Member of the House Native American Caucus and the Natural Resources Committee--I have been a strong supporter of ending the health disparities that exist on our reservations.

I will close my statement by again stressing the importance of this historic moment!

We passed Social Security in 1935. We passed Medicare in 1965.

I urge my colleagues to stand with the American people and pass legislation in 2009 that will make quality, affordable health care a right for all Americans!

Mr. Chair, on rollcall No. 849, had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 89, the Veterans Day resolution.

I thank Chairman Bob Filner and Ranking Member Steve Buyer for their commitment to this resolution and tremendous support for America's veterans.

As one of many veterans who are now Members of Congress, I am proud to introduce and now seek the passage of this important resolution.

To all my colleagues and fellow veterans, I commend you for your service.

This resolution reminds us that Veterans Day is not just a day off from school or work. This is a special day of reflection to honor those that have defended our freedom.

America would not be the great country that she is, if it were not for our veterans.

When our troops commit to serve our country, they make a promise to serve and protect.

We also have a moral responsibility to protect returning veterans and their families.

Veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan must receive the best treatment. Sadly, for the last few years, I don't believe our Government has held its end of the bargain.

But Congress is working diligently to correct this, most recently by implementing an outstanding GI bill and for adding more support services to veterans and their families.

We all must do our part to recognize America's greatest heroes.

This is why my resolution also encourages schools to educate our young people about the contributions of our veterans to this country.

Last Congress, as Chair of the CHC, I worked closely with Hispanic veterans and Medal of Honor winners from WWII to today.

The stories of courage and sacrifice I heard from them were nothing short of amazing. They deserve to be recognized and thanked.

A special thanks is due to our military families who are often left behind and face the daily rigors of war within their homes in America and overseas.

These families sacrifice so much for their loved ones and for America. I thank you as well; you are the support system and backbone for all these veterans.

On November 11th, on Veterans Day do not forget who the true heroes of this country are. Reflect on the true meaning of Veterans Day, and remember the sacrifices made by so many proud American sons and daughters.

I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of H. Res. 89.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 783, resolution recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month and celebrating the vast contributions of Hispanic Americans to the culture of the United States.

I'd like to thank my friend Representative Mario Diaz-Balart, for sponsoring this important resolution; which I am proud to cosponsor.

Economically, culturally, and politically, Latinos are a vital part of this Nation.

The Hispanic community in America is over 47.5 million people strong, and has an annual purchasing power of well over a trillion dollars.

From science, to sports, business, government, and the arts, Hispanic Americans have made significant contributions that have strengthened our Nation and our culture. And earlier this year, the Hispanic community continued to make history with the confirmation of Justice Sonia Sotomayor as the first Hispanic to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court.

As former chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, it gives me great pleasure to see the continued progress and growth of our Hispanic American community.

I urge my colleagues to recognize the importance of the Hispanic community to our Nation, and vote in favor of the Hispanic Heritage Month resolution.

Mr. Speaker, we need health care reform right now. We need it on behalf of the 47 million people who don't have insurance. We need it on behalf of the 217 in my district who don't have any insurance.

They talk about costs. What costs are going to go up if we don't do anything about health coverage?

Right now, many of our seniors are suffering. They're wondering how they're going to pay their health care bills, how they're going to put food on the table and how they're going to take care of themselves. A lot of youth are asking: How are we going to provide health insurance for a lot of us who don't have it?

We owe it to the American people. This is not about maintaining the status quo, and this is not about protecting the insurance companies. This is about doing something for the American people. It's time that we have a health plan that covers all Americans to make sure that we're not left out, to make sure that everybody has the ability to enjoy their quality of life and to be able to say: You know what? I know that I'm going to get coverage, and it doesn't matter where I am.

I am not going to maintain the status quo. With the Republicans, it's all about maintaining the status quo, and that's not what America wants. We need to make sure that we have a health plan.