Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks. I support the Children's Health Insurance Program Act.

It's a shame that we live in the richest country of the world, yet 3.8 million children are uninsured. 33,000 of these children are in my District.

This bill is not about politics, it's about helping hardworking families and the poorest among us.

Leaving children uninsured is unacceptable. With health care costs going up, working families are on the edge. Expanding coverage is the only solution.

I am disappointed that this bill does not cover pregnant women and children who are legal permanent residents. This is a health care issue, not an immigration issue.

A simple pre-natal exam can detect future complications and prevent costly visits to the emergency room. This would save tax payers millions of dollars in the end.

No mother who is working here legally and paying taxes should have to choose between buying baby formula and taking her infant to the doctor.

No child should die from a sore throat or be denied access to lifesaving treatments. It costs less than $3.50 a day to cover a child through SCHIP.

This is not the time to play politics, our children must come first. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Chairman, I ask for unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks. I rise to express my strong support for H.R. 2881, the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act.

The first half of 2007 has included the worst record in history for airline delays. So far, more than one quarter of all flights this year have been delayed. Yet, airline traffic is expected to grow at a rapid pace--with a tripling of the number of passengers flying by the year 2025. H.R. 2881 is an important first step in addressing America's transportation dilemma. It modernizes our aging air traffic control system, and strengthens airport infrastructure to reduce delays and improve safety. This bill provides the necessary funds to improve America's airport infrastructure.

H.R. 2881 also includes critical consumer protections by creating a Passenger Bill of Rights, which provides for emergency contingency plans and greater oversight by the FAA into flight delays. In the area I represent, southern California, flight delays and congestion are a major problem. H.R. 2881 provides much needed reforms to help my local airport, the LA/Ontario International Airport, improve its infrastructure--so it may accommodate much of the expected increase in air traffic for the area in the coming years.

These reforms will reduce delays, increase capacity, enhance security, and promote new competition at Ontario airport and ultimately help generate much needed economic development and job growth in my district.

Mr. Chairman, H.R. 2881 is vital to modernizing America's air traffic system, reducing flight delays, and ensuring our Nation is prepared for the massive increases in number of flights we will see over the next decade.

Again, I express my full support of this bill and urge my fellow colleagues to adopt its final passage.

Madam Chairman, I rise to express my strong support for H.R. 1852, the Expanding American Homeownership Act of 2007. This bill updates the FHA program so it can provide better mortgage options to low and moderate income families and minorities. This is important because the FHA program has not kept up with the needs of underserved communities, especially those in high cost areas like California. As a result, many families have turned to high cost and riskier subprime loans.

Because of the high number of subprime loans granted in the last few years--our Nation is now in a home foreclosure crisis. The Inland Empire has the fourth highest rate of foreclosure filings in the Nation and comprised the hardest hit area in California through the first half of 2007. According to the Neighborhood Housing Services of the Inland Empire, in San Bernardino County alone there were over 19,000 foreclosure filings in the first half of 2007. The current median home price in San Bernardino County is only affordable for 2 out of every 10 families.

H.R. 1852 will raise the FHA loan limit so that these hard-working families get a fair chance at getting a better deal for their home. The reforms in H.R. 1852 will allow the FHA program to reach into these underserved communities to provide low and moderate-income buyers a better deal at a fair price.

Again, Madam Chairman, I express my full support of this bill and urge my fellow colleagues to adopt its final passage.

Madam Speaker, on November 27, 2007, the California School Boards Association, along with over 3,000 school board members from across the state, will gather to honor Dr. Kathy Kinley and her ongoing efforts to improve life and education for our children.

As a product of the California school system, Dr. Kinley has become a prestigious member of our community holding a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of La Verne. Before earning her doctorate, she received a bachelor's degree in English and political science from San Diego State University and a master's degree in school administration from California State University, San Bernardino.

Dr. Kinley has played a multifaceted leadership role in our school districts. Kathy began her career with the California Education System as a teacher and later went on to serve as principal of De Anza Middle School in San Bernardino County's Ontario-Montclair School District. Along with participating in the classroom, she has also dedicated herself as an active member of CSBA's Delegate Assembly since 1984 and CSBA's Board of Directors since 1996 serving on a number of committees including the Budget Committee, the Legislative Committee and the Federal Issues Council.

As President of CSBA, Dr. Kinley has committed herself to closing the education achievement gap that creates a barrier for many Latino, black, American Indian, and underprivileged youth in our California school districts. She has embraced a mission to ensure the futures of all children and has pushed schools to encourage students to aspire above their circumstances, so that they too might become incredible leaders. Along with her colleagues, Dr. Kinley sees the incredible resource that lies in the hands of our children and has dedicated her life and career to ensuring that the resource of our younger generation is protected and cultivated.

There is no question of why such an incredible leader was honored with the title of Woman of the Year by the Kudos for Kids Foundation during their 61st annual Amazing Woman Award assembly. Dr. Kinley has made a direct impact on the lives of millions of teachers, students, and families. Our communities have benefited and will continue to see the fruits of her labor unfold. Because of her passion and talent more students will have a chance to achieve their dreams because of her belief that all students deserve an open door to educational excellence. She has made headway in closing a gap that before seemed like an insurmountable goal.

It is for relentless dedication, perseverance, passion, and visionary leadership that we recognize, with great gratitude, Dr. Kathy Kinley for today.

Mr. Speaker, on the morning of September 11, 2001, nearly 3,000 innocent men, women, and children were murdered when Islamic terrorists hijacked and crashed four civilian aircraft.

This resolution recognizes September 11 as both a day to remember those taken from their families and loved ones--and a day for Americans to recommit to the nation and to each other.

We pay tribute to the heroic service, actions, and sacrifices of first responders, law enforcement personnel, state and local officials, volunteers, and others who aided the innocent victims and bravely risked their own lives and health.

And we rise to give thanks to the foreign leaders and citizens of all nations who have assisted and continue to stand in solidarity with the United States against terrorism in the aftermath of these terrible attacks.

Mr. Speaker, we will never forget those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001.

The House remains committed to defeating terrorists and their supporters who threaten the United States and to providing our armed forces with the resources and support to do so effectively and safely.

Let us honor the victims of 9/11, and reaffirm our commitment to defending America from those who would do us harm.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the reauthorization of H.R. 2786, the Native American Housing Assistance and Self- Determination Act (NAHASDA). However, I want to register my strong opposition to two amendments which were accepted during today's floor consideration: the Watt and Boren amendments.

Both of these amendments would prohibit NAHASDA funds from going to the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma until it fully recognizes all Cherokee Freedmen and their descendants as citizens of the Cherokee Nation. The status of the Freedmen descendents under the 1866 Treaty is a complex legal issue with a long history. Currently, it is being addressed before the Tribal Courts system. I think it would be premature for Congress to intervene before the courts have had a chance to examine the legal issues surrounding this case.

I also believe these amendments would set a bad precedent for the basic constitutional values of due process and the role of the judicial branch in resolving legal disputes.

NAHASDA is intended to provide housing assistance to low-income families on Indian country. These amendments are not only non-germane; they would harm the most vulnerable members of the Nation. I urge my colleagues to wait on the courts to rule on this case before legislating.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to voice my strong support for H.R. 2358, the Native American One Dollar Coin Act.

I want to thank my colleague, Representative Dale Kildee, for sponsoring this bill and for all his great work as head of the Native American Caucus.

I also would like to thank Chairman Frank for his efforts in guiding this bill through the Financial Services Committee.

This bill honors the history of the American Indian culture by authorizing the Treasury Department to mint and distribute coins that commemorate the contributions of Native Americans.

By annually changing the design on the reverse side of the Sacagawea coin, Americans

everywhere will be exposed to more of the unique histories of our country's native inhabitants.

At the same time, this legislation ensures we still pay tribute to Sacagawea, the young woman who bravely guided Lewis and Clark on their expedition to the Pacific coast.

The Native American one dollar coin is a fitting way to pay tribute to Native Americans while also educating current and future generations on their many contributions to the United States.

I urge my colleagues to support increased appreciation of the Native American culture, and cast a vote in favor of H.R. 2358.

Madam Speaker, on behalf of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, I rise in strong support of SCHIP or the Children's Health and Medicare Protection Act, CHAMP. There are 45 million uninsured, and 6 million are children. These are children that are being impacted.

We talk about having productive children in our school systems, improving the quality of life. You can't do it without a clean bill of health. We have the responsibility for our children. More than 70 percent of uninsured Hispanic children eligible for public coverage are not enrolled. This is unacceptable.

The CHAMP Act takes significant steps in reducing the barriers for all children and seniors of color in our community. Unfortunately, some of the Members are using this legislation as an opportunity to debate unrelated health care, specifically, immigration policies and other issues.

We need to make sure that we support the CHAMP act. A vote for CHAMP will help more citizen children get access to health coverage which can be a difference between life and death.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to voice my strong support for H.R. 2831, The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2007.

I want to thank my friend, Congressman George Miller, for sponsoring this bill and for his tireless efforts on behalf of working American families everywhere.

This past May, the Supreme Court handed down a decision with disastrous consequences for many Americans. With their ruling on the Ledbetter v. Goodyear case, the Court severely limited the right of workers to sue their employers for discrimination in pay.

If allowed to stand, this decision will strip many of the rights of employees who have been discriminated against on the basis of sex, race, color, or religion.

Today's bill rectifies the Supreme Court's misguided decision.

By restoring the longstanding interpretation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act--Congress is ensuring that every American has the basic workplace protection they deserve.

Currently--women earn 76 cents to every dollar a man earns. This is unacceptable. Discrimination in the workplace must no longer be tolerated. We must ensure equal pay for equal work.

It is our duty to protect the rights of every American--no matter their skin color, gender, or income level.

I urge my colleagues to protect the rights of working Americans and to vote in favor of H.R. 2831.

Madam Chairman, I rise in strong support for this farm bill. Let me say that clearly this bill does not increase taxes. As chair of the Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, Nutrition, and Forestry, I want to say that I am especially proud of this farm bill, what it does for the nutrition of minorities, seniors, disabled, single parents and for our veterans.

Right now there are 38 million Americans who do not have enough to eat. Eleven percent of the population are going hungry. Today in the Latino community and the African American community, that rate is double.

This farm bill fights hunger in America by making an historic investment in nutrition. Our nutrition title will benefit over 13 million American families.

Currently the average food stamp recipient receives only $21 a week. That is unacceptable. This farm bill will make food stamps keep up with the cost of living. Gas, health care, housing and grocery bills have gone up, but food stamps haven't kept up. We are going to change that.

This is going to help working families, our disabled, our senior citizens, our veterans and our single parents. Most importantly, it is going to help our children. Fifty percent of food stamp recipients are kids. That is what this farm bill is about: feeding our children; leaving no child behind. This farm bill will ensure that children will have access to fresh fruits and vegetables in all schools by expanding the USDA snack program to all 50 States.

This farm bill ensures that senior citizens and disabled adults have enough to eat by continuing the Commodity Foods Supplemental Program and expanding access to farmers' markets.

What it will also do is help military families. For the first time, this bill exempts military combat pay from being counted against the income of men and women who are fighting for us.

Madam Chairman, I urge my colleagues to vote for this bill. It is an excellent bill that meets needs across America and helps all of us.

We're also going to make it easier for them to handle their paperwork processing by allowing telephone signatures.

And what about our military families? This is the first Farm Bill to exempt Special Military Combat pay from being counted against our military families who are trying to make ends meet while their loved ones are serving in places like Iraq or Afghanistan.

We have fought to ensure that Food Stamps cannot be privatized--and we have taken an extra step in this Farm Bill to remove the stigma in the Food Stamp program.

We are going to eliminate embarrassing coupons, transition everyone to EBT cards and change the name of the program to the Secure Supplemental Nutrition Access Program, or SSNAP.

Now our working families will be able to go to the store, swipe their SSNAP cards and bring food home to their children with dignity.

We also help support our food banks and soup kitchens by giving large increases to The Emergency Food Assistance Program.

The ``TEE-FAP'' not only serves our homeless, but provides life- saving assistance to our families after natural disasters, like Hurricane Katrina.

Simply put, this Farm Bill strengthens our Nutrition safety net like no other firm bill has ever done before!

This farm bill is also historic in its commitment to diversity in Agriculture.

This bill increases agriculture opportunities for underserved communities such as African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, and Asian-Pacific Islanders.

We give $150 million dollars in mandatory funding for outreach to small and socially disadvantaged farmers.

This bill also requires an annual report to Congress to see if our outreach to minority farmers is working.

The Farm Bill also creates an Advisory Board to deal with civil rights violations.

We require that 10 percent of conservation funding go to our small and disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.

The Farm Bill also creates new programs and increases funding for minority serving institutions and tribal colleges.

In addition--we have preserved the Davis-Bacon provision to ensure workers in rural America earn a decent wage.

We have worked hard to create a Reform Farm Bill that includes all of us--farmers, working families, minorities, urban communities, rural America.

This bill is a good bill that will ensure that all Americans get a fair shot.

It makes a historic investment in nutrition and increases opportunities for traditionally underserved communities. I urge my colleagues to support this vital legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 535, a resolution to honor the leadership, in raising awareness of hate crimes, of David Ray Ritcheson, a Mexican American who was severely assaulted on April 23, 2006, and passed away last week.

Role models come in all shapes and sizes. Jackie Robinson, Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, Jr, Cesar Chavez, are all great role models who led by example.

Just a few months ago, in our halls of Congress, David Ray Ritcheson at the young age of 18 exposed the harsh reality of hate crimes through his personal experience.

Today, we honor his efforts and leadership on this issue.

After having survived one of the most horrific hate-motivated criminal acts, David Ray courageously testified in support of the ``Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007,'' H.R. 1592, which passed the House on May 3, 2007.

In his testimony he stated: ``It has been a blessing to know that the most terrible day of my life may help put another human face on the campaign'', ``education can have an important impact by teaching against hate and bigotry''.

We must continue his efforts.

My prayers are with his family in their time of need.

We must not forget one of our present day's great role models. David Ray has and will continue to be a strong reason why hate crimes must be exposed.

I urge my colleagues to carry on his efforts to put an end to all hate crimes, and vote for this important legislation.

Madam Speaker, on behalf of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, I rise today to recognize the outstanding achievements of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, HACU, National Internship Program in providing Hispanic students invaluable real world working experiences that have allowed these students to make more educated career choices.

Over the past 15 years, the HACU National Internship Program (HNIP) has offered more than 6,500 meaningful paid internships with federal and corporate partners during spring, summer and fall sessions. HNIP has become the largest Hispanic college internship program in the United States.

On July 26, 2007, the HACU National Internship Program will celebrate its 15th Anniversary at a Gala in Washington, DC. This gala will showcase the achievements of former and current interns as part of a summer-long itinerary of special events marking this remarkable program's first 15 years.

We applaud HACU and the HACU National Internship Program for exposing these students to public- and private-sector career opportunities and specifically helping address the historic underrepresentation of Hispanics in the federal work force.

The HACU National Internship program began in 1992 with 24 interns. In 2006 alone, the program provided internships to 616 college students in 22 federal agencies and nine private corporations.

This competitive program selects top students from among HACU's 450 member and partner colleges and universities, which collectively serve more than two-thirds of all Hispanic higher education students. HNIP provides meaningful work experiences to these students by matching their skills and career goals with the objectives of federal and corporate partners, enabling these students to make more informed career choices.

The Office of Personnel Management, OPM, also recognizes the value of the HACU National Internship Program and has included it as a best practice in its fourth annual report on Hispanic Employment in the Federal Government.

As the youngest and now largest ethnic population, Hispanics already make up one of every three new workers in the overall workforce, and by 2050 are projected to make up one of every two new workers. Yet, it is well documented that Hispanics remain the only underrepresented ethnic group in the Federal Government. Today, Hispanics represent 7.5 percent of the Federal workforce--5.1 percent below the current civilian labor employment level. With the help of HNIP we are lowering this gap and creating a pipeline of qualified Hispanics in the Federal workforce.

We salute the HACU National Internship Program and applaud its success at opening the doors of opportunity for new generations of exceptional students while enhancing workforce diversity.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a veteran who served in the 101st and 82nd Airborne Division in support of H.R. 2956, the Responsible Redeployment From Iraq Act.

This war is a failure, and it's time to bring back our troops. We can no longer stay the course.

Mr. Speaker, the President's policy has been a complete failure. We have lost too many lives. There are too many wounded who will never have normal lives.

We're proud of our troops and the service they have provided to our country. But our troops are now trapped in the middle of a civil war that we cannot end.

This is something that the Iraqi people must do for themselves. Our military presence in Iraq is not making our country safer. Instead, the war has taken the lives of 3,610 soldiers.

In my district alone, we have lost 13 brave men and women, and when I see their faces and their families that have to deal with these individuals that have lost their lives, we're proud of them, but they've lost their lives, and the families who continue to suffer.

CA-43's Fallen Soldiers in Iraq

Rialto

Staff Sgt. Jorge A. Molina Bautista: Hometown: Rialto,

California, U.S. Age: 37 years old. Died: May 23, 2004 in

Operation Iraqi Freedom. Unit: Marines, 1st Light Armored

Reconnaisance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine

Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif. Incident: Killed

by hostile fire in Anbar province.

Spec. Luis D. Santos: Hometown: Rialto, California, U.S.

Age: 20 years old. Died: June 8, 2006 in Operation Iraqi

Freedom. Unit: Army, 1st Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, 3rd

Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort

Carson, Colo. Incident: Died of injuries sustained when a

makeshift bomb exploded near his Humvee during combat

operations in Buritz.

Spec. Victor A. Garcia: Hometown: Rialto, California, U.S.

Age: 22 years old. Died: July 1, 2007 in Operation Iraqi

Freedom. Unit: Army, 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment,

4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat

Team), Fort Lewis, Wash. Incident: Killed by enemy small arms

fire in Baghdad.

Pfc. William A. Farrar Jr.: Hometown: Redlands, California,

U.S. Age: 20 years old. Died: May 11, 2007 in Operation Iraqi

Freedom. Unit: Army, 127th Military Police Company, 709th

Military Police Battalion, 18th Military Police Brigade,

Darmstadt, Germany. Incident: Killed when a makeshift bomb

device detonated near his vehicle in Iskandariyah. Son of

Rialto Police Captain Tony Farrar.

Bloomington

Cpl. Joseph A. Blanco: Hometown: Bloomington, California,

U.S. Age: 25 years old. Died: April 11, 2006 in Operation

Iraqi Freedom. Unit: Army, 7th Squadron, 10th Cavalry

Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division,

Fort Hood, Tex. Incident: Died of injuries sustained when a

makeshift bomb exploded near his Bradley fighting vehicle and

he subsequently came under small arms fire during combat

operations in Taji.

Fontana

Lance Cpl. Fernando S. Tamayo: Hometown: Fontana,

California, U.S. Age: 19 years old. Died: December 21, 2006

in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Unit: Marines, 3rd Battalion, 4th

Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine

Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, Calif. Incident: Died

while conducting combat operations in Anbar Province.

Sgt. Bryan A. Brewster: Hometown: Fontana, California, U.S.

Age: 24 years old. Died: May 5, 2006 in Operation Enduring

Freedom. Unit: Army, 3rd Battalion, 10th Aviation Regiment,

10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum N.Y.

Incident: Killed when his CH-47 Chinook helicopter crashed

during combat operations east of Abad, Afghanistan.

San Bernardino

Cpl. Nicanor Alvarez: Hometown: San Bernardino, California,

U.S. Age: 22 years old. Died: August 21, 2004 in Operation

Iraqi Freedom. Unit: Marines, 1st Combat Engineer Battalion,

1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp

Pendleton, Calif. Incident: Killed by enemy action in Anbar

province.

Pfc. Alex Oceguera: Hometown: San Bernardino, California,

U.S. Age: 19 years old. Died: October 31, 2006 in Operation

Enduring Freedom. Unit: Army, 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry

Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division,

Fort Drum, N.Y. Incident: Killed when a makeshift bomb

detonated near his vehicle in Wygal Valley, Afghanistan.

Cpl. Sean R. Grilley: Hometown: San Bernardino, California,

U.S. Age: 24 years old. Died: October 16, 2003 in Operation

Iraqi Freedom. Unit: Army, 716th Military Police Battalion,

101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

Incident: Killed while negotiating with Iraqis congregating

near a mosque after curfew in Karbala when the Iraqis opened

fire.

Spec. Timothy D. Watkins: Hometown: San Bernardino,

California, U.S. Age: 24 years old. Died: October 15, 2005 in

Operation Iraqi Freedom. Unit: Army, 2nd Battalion, 69th

Armor Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort

Benning, Ga. Incident: Killed when a makeshift bomb exploded

near his Bradley fighting vehicle during combat operations in

Ar Ramadi.

Ontario

Spec. Jose R. Perez: Hometown: Ontario, California, U.S.

Age: 21 years old. Died: October 18, 2006 in Operation Iraqi

Freedom. Unit: Army, 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment,

2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Baumholder,

Germany. Incident: Killed by enemy small arms fire in Ramadi.

Sgt. 1st Class Rudy A. Salcido: Hometown: Ontario,

California, U.S. Age: 31 years old. Died: November 9, 2006 in

Operation Iraqi Freedom. Unit: Army National Guard, 1114th

Transportation Company, Army National Guard, Bakersfield,

Calif. Incident: Killed when an improvised explosive device

detonated near his convoy vehicle in Baghdad.

As a veteran, I say that this war was wrong because you could not convince me why we were there in the first place. The President sent our troops away without proper training or equipment or proof of weapons of mass destruction.

The President believes that Iraq is making our country safer. This is not true. It has put more of us in greater risk. Our military is stretched too thin. We are at risk of not being prepared for any future emergency.

The Iraq war has cost billions of dollars, $650 billion, $10 billion a month. The money could be used to defend homeland security, for police officers, for highway patrol officers, for fire fighters, for sheriffs, for education, for health care and our seniors.

A change in course in Iraq is overdue. We must bring our troops home now. It's time for a new direction. We must support this resolution.

I want to thank my colleague for yielding. I rise also to support the Section 8 Voucher Reform Act of 2007.

I want to thank my good friend from California, Chairman Maxine Waters, for sponsoring this vital legislation.

I also want to thank our chair, Chairman Frank, for his leadership and guidance in this committee.

Mr. Chairman, in 2004, when the administration decided to change the funding formula for section 8 vouchers, drastic cuts were made to the number of vouchers available. These cuts hurt needy families throughout the Nation and throughout my district. We are talking about seniors, low-income families, disabled, the poor, the disadvantaged.

In my district alone, section 8 housing vouchers, public housing units, provide affordable housing for more than 32,000 people. Can you imagine, 32,000 people right now, children and others, that would not have a home, not have a place to rent, that would be homeless if it hadn't been for section 8? This bill reverses the cut and adds an additional 20,000 vouchers so that families are not forced to choose between paying for food, their medication or rent.

We are talking about people that can't afford housing, even right now, with the inflation and the cost that is going on right now. We have got to make sure that they have a home, they have stability, and they have a roof over their head, especially for our children.

I appreciate my colleague on the other side, Gary Miller, supporting this legislation as well. We worked on some of the amendments. I appreciate that very much.

It also contains key provisions that strengthen section 8 programs, including protection for individuals with limited English proficiency and the expansion to Moving To Work programs. I

urge my colleagues to support this most vulnerable program that helps us, and especially as it pertains to helping the poor, the disadvantaged.

I ask my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2669, the College Cost Reduction Act of 2007.

This historic piece of legislation is the relief our working families have been waiting for and I am proud to stand with this Democratic-led Congress to make college educations more accessible for our youth.

Housing, gas, food, utilities, and health insurance prices are going through the roof. Our middle-class parents are working overtime to keep up with the cost of living and hopefully save for retirement.

It has become increasingly difficult for our families to save for college. With tuition prices increasing an average of 3.5 percent each year, American families are facing an uphill battle.

As a result, more and more of our children are coming out of school with staggering amounts of debt and many are being forced to attend part-time in order to work and pay for books and student fees.

In my home State of California, the average 4-year public school student will walk away with over $15,000 in debt after graduation. This is not how we should be sending our youth into the workforce.

H.R. 2669 is going to slash the interest rates on student loans, saving the average American student about $4,400 in interest payments over the life of their loan.

Furthermore, we're going to help our families take on less student debt by making Pell Grants keep up with the real cost of tuition.

During the Republican-controlled Congress, the maximum Pell Grant amount remained unchanged at $4,050 since 2003. H.R. 2669 is going to increase that figure to $4,310 in 2007 alone. By next year, it will be $4,900 and by 2011, it will be $5,200.

In my home State of California, over 600,000 Pell Grant recipients stand to benefit from the legislation we're going to pass today.

That means our children will be in a better position to save for retirement, become homeowners, and contribute to the economy.

H.R. 2669 will also make landmark investments to our minority serving institutions. Black, Hispanic, Tribal, Native Hawaiian, and Asian- Pacific Islander-serving institutions stand to receive $500 million in aid to teach and equip our minority youth, particularly in the science, technology, engineering, and math fields.

H.R. 2669 provides an additional $228 million for Upward Bound, which will fund 188 additional programs to help prepare low-income, first generation students for college.

Finally, H.R. 2669 will provide loan forgiveness for students who pursue careers as public school teachers. Each would receive up-front tuition assistance of $4,000 per year, to a maximum of $16,000. This will provide aid to at least 21,500 undergraduate and graduate students who commit to teaching a high-need subject in high-need schools for four years.

As the youngest of 15 children, I was the first in my family to attend college. I can tell you from personal experience that it has made all the difference in the world.

I worked hard to get through school and I'm grateful for the assistance I received to complete my education. And it's time for the government to step up and give our children the same support.

The College Cost Reduction Act is the kind of reform my constituents need and I am proud to support this legislation. I urge my colleagues to do the same and support H.R. 2669.