Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, today I am pleased to honor the 25th Anniversary of the Catholic Diocese of San Bernardino and the leadership of Bishop Barnes.

In 1978, Pope Paul VI created the Diocese of San Bernardino. Serving over 1,000,000 Catholics in ninety-seven parishes, the Diocese has served as the moral compass and religious center to the citizens of San Bernardino.

Not only has the Diocese of San Bernardino served the Catholic citizens of San Bernardino, its thirty-four Catholic schools have provided quality education to 8,500 students of all faiths and its two Catholic hospitals continue to save lives and keep the residents of San Bernardino healthy.

Since 1996, Bishop Gerald Barnes has led the Diocese of San Bernardino. Always a devoted teacher and educator, Bishop Barnes has also dedicated himself to fighting against the injustices that people of all races and backgrounds face.

Under the guidance of the founding Bishop, Phillip Straling and then Bishop Barnes, the Diocese has worked tirelessly to improve the lives of all citizens of San Bernardino.

I am pleased to honor the 25th anniversary of the Catholic Diocese of San Bernardino and the leadership of Bishop Barnes.

Mr. Speaker, today, I am pleased that Congress has recognized the important role that Catholic Schools play in our community.

As a Latino, I know the important place that Catholic education has had in my district. The Saint Thomas Aquinas High School in San Bernardino, CA, is highly regarded for its academic and athletic excellence.

The San Bernardino Diocese School System under Bishop Gerald Barnes has made major investments into their school system to bring students into the 21st century.

Even though I am a strong supporter of public schools, I understand the importance of Catholic schools in our Nation's education and the values they instill in our students.

The quality of education provided at Catholic schools is truly remarkable, and deserving of high honors.

Not only do they focus on academic achievement but they also build strong moral foundations for young people. Their curriculums are often full of programs in character development and community service.

Catholic school students graduate with a wide variety of skills that will not only help them in their careers but also in their family and community life.

I am please to support this resolution honoring the contributions of Catholic schools.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 677, for personal reasons, due to my illness, I was unable to be in the Chamber when the time elapsed on the vote.

Had I been able to vote, I would have voted ``no'' on the motion that House Resolution 474 be laid on the table.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of American Diabetes Month.

In order to combat this deadly disease, we must focus on prevention, education and diet. Diabetes is the fifth-deadliest disease in the nation.

In California, there are about 2 million people with this disease. In my home county of San Bernardino over 100,000 have been diagnosed.

While this disease affects people of all walks-of-life, Hispanics are particularly vulnerable. Hispanics are almost two times as likely to develop Diabetes as non-Hispanic Whites. Twenty-four percent of Mexican-Americans in the United States currently have diabetes. Almost two million Hispanics struggle with the disease.

I don't have diabetes but my parents, my brother and my brother-in- law did. My father died of diabetes along with my brother. They didn't take care of it. We had a large family and could not afford health care.

Growing up, we ate what we could afford and too much of our diet contained foods like tortillas and frijoles that cause health problems and can eventually lead to diabetes. There was no health education or awareness. They didn't know how to take care of their diabetes. When they were diagnosed with diabetes they ignored it and it cost them their lives.

Fortunately, this disease can often be prevented.

We must educate our children and communities about the dangers of this disease. That is why American Diabetes Month is so important. We need to teach children prevention. The lifestyles they adopt today will carry over into their adult years. We are placing children at risk when we allow them to come home day after day, play videogames, sit in front of the TV and snack on soda and chips. Children eat what their parents eat and can afford. Eating a diet of high sugary foods--like tortillas, rice, and chips--at every meal is teaching our children unhealthy habits.

To help educate our children and our communities I participated in an educational video with Edward James Olmos and Liz Torres. This video, which comes in English and Spanish, helps educate Hispanics and all Americans about the disease. Additionally, with the help of Congressman Putnam and Cardoza, we recently introduced legislation that would allow schools across the country to serve fresh fruits and vegetables in school lunch programs. This will help children afford to eat healthy and stay healthy.

I have been active in leading the charge to restore food stamp benefits to hard working immigrants, so that their children may have access to the healthier foods that help prevent diabetes.

But it is not enough to just educate people. We also must make sure that preventative screening and medical services are affordable and available to all Americans.

One of the biggest problems in early prevention is financial. People do not have the resources to seek medical help so the problems escalate. In California, the cost of diabetes per person per year is approximately $13,243. If they have additional problems, like dialysis, syringes, medications, or other items, the cost goes up an additional $8,500. Now the cost is over $22,000.

The healthcare costs of a person with diabetes are about 2\1/2\ times higher than the average person's healthcare costs. How can an uninsured person in this country afford $22,000 when some don't even make that much in a year?

To help those that can't afford to take care of their diabetes, I have co-sponsored the Diabetes Prevention, Access and Care Act and the Access to Diabetes Screening Services Act. These bills will increase access to diabetes screening, treatment and prevention in minority communities and all communities that are affected by Diabetes.

In the spirit of American Diabetes Month, we must not only look to legislation to help those that suffer from diabetes but we must educate our communities. We must take a personal interest. We must become involved on a personal level.

American Diabetes Month is a great opportunity to educate all Americans on how to help prevent diabetes.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition of the Republican Conference Report on H.R. 1.

I oppose this Republican plan because it is bad for seniors. It's bad for California. And it's simply bad for the American people.

There are 40 million seniors across this Nation that need a safe and reliable healthcare plan that protects them, whether they are sick or not.

This plan will not help seniors. This is a $400 billion plan that will privatize care and cost seniors more than they pay now.

This plan is similar to having car insurance that doesn't really protect you. You're fine as long as you don't get into an accident.

Seniors are only fine under this plan if they don't get sick. But because of privatization, when a senior gets sick, this plan offers no guarantee that their premium will stay the same or that their carrier will continue to cover them.

Under Medicare, seniors at least had a guarantee that they would be insured. They at least had a guarantee that if they got sick; someone would be looking out for them.

Under this plan, privatization could force as many as 7 million seniors into HMO's. Seven million. How is this fixing Medicare? Who is this guaranteeing that all seniors have coverage?

Our parents and grandparents deserve better. They do not need privatization. They need to know they are going to be insured.

They need to know that they are going to be protected despite the cost.

Under this plan, there is a $2,800 gap that will leave millions of seniors without drug coverage. This plan leaves seniors uninsured for part of the year despite the fact that they are paying premiums.

Much like car insurance, if you knew your car wasn't going to be insured for half of the year, you wouldn't drive it.

But we can't do that with our health. Seniors can't say I just won't get sick. It doesn't work that way.

In my district of San Bernardino, California, we have seniors who board buses to travel down to Tijuana to purchase life saving prescription drugs.

Will this plan help the seniors in my district get off that bus?

No. If we pass this bill, seniors will still have to travel to Mexico to get their prescriptions.

The practice of forcing seniors to go across the border must stop. We have no way of knowing what our seniors are actually purchasing. This isn't safe and it isn't fair.

This bill could actually raise the cost of prescription drugs for over 6 million low-income seniors, and one in six Hispanics. In my home state of California, almost 900,000 will have to pay more.

Those are the people in my district. Those are the people that are risking their lives, going across the border, to purchase their prescriptions. And this bill does nothing to help them.

The Republicans are ignoring what seniors need.

Under this plan, over 3 million low-income seniors are going to be forced to pass a test before they get help paying for prescription drugs.

If you are a senior and you simply own a home, a car, or even a burial plot you could be considered too wealthy to get help with prescription drugs, under this plan.

If you are a homeowner, you'd better catch the bus for Tijuana because that is the only way you will be able to afford your prescription drugs because the Republicans think that you are too wealthy.

Many seniors in my district have worked hard their entire lives trying to put food on the table for their families. Many of them have been fortunate enough to have some health coverage from their employers.

Under this plan, 3 million retirees could lose that coverage. That affects over 250,000 seniors alone in California.

This plan leaves the seniors in my district will no option but privatized healthcare.

Our abuelos, our grandparents, have worked too long and too hard to be ignored.

They need a prescription drug coverage that preserves traditional Medicare, helps low-income seniors afford prescription drugs and keeps retirees in employer sponsored health plans.

It's time to give seniors what they want, what they need, and what they deserve.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3157. I am proud to support this legislation that will help farmers recover from national disasters because I believe that far too often, farmers are not thought of during times of emergency.

Representative Blunt has authored a good bill. I supported it in the House Agriculture Committee and I even introduced an amendment that would make sure that the people in my home State of California, who suffered from the recent wildfires, could be helped by this bill.

Too many Californians have no idea how they will get by without their orchards, olive groves, and other farming operations that burned to the ground.

This legislation will compel the Department of Agriculture to create disaster liaisons and dispatch them to disaster zones.

In California, we have suffered greatly from several wildfires that have caused great damage throughout the state.

In San Bernardino County, over 40,000 people were evacuated from their homes, and nearly 1,200 buildings burned to the ground.

Far too many people lost their homes, farms, and in some cases--their lives--to these wild fires.

This bill and my amendment are only a small step in the right direction. We must funnel Federal attention and resources to rebuild after these deadly wildfires and help prevent similar events in the future.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the motion to recommit the Defense Reauthorization Conference Report. We must say no to the veteran disability tax and support concurrent receipt.

As a veteran, and as a Member of Congress, it is my duty to fight for the veterans who fought for our freedom. We must make sure that our veterans receive the benefits and healthcare that they have more than earned.

To take money away from our veterans while giving tax cuts to the wealthy is disgraceful.

I don't understand how House Republicans can vote to cut $14 billion from veterans' benefits, and then send 130,000 troops to Iraq.

While America's wealthiest receive huge tax cuts our soldiers die overseas. And for those that do come home, they want to cut their benefits. Our soldiers deserve better.

Right now, 520,000 veterans' benefits claims are still pending in the VA. Some of these claims involve soldiers that served as long ago as the Korean War.

I have even introduced a bill to try to solve this problem, H.R. 1264 that will help reduce this backlog of claims. This is the type of help our veterans need.

It is shameful that our disabled veterans cannot receive disability pay without receiving a cut in their pension. Veterans should not be forced to give up one dollar of their pension for every dollar that they receive in disability pay. A veteran must not be punished for being disabled.

I cosponsored H.R. 303, the concurrent receipt bill. And I signed the petition that would have brought this bill to the House floor despite Republican opposition.

Our veterans are simply waiting for what they are owed--their disability pay and their full pensions.

Our veterans are dying at a rate of 1,000 a day. The Republican plan will not aid the veterans that need help now.

Under the Republican plan only one-third of the disabled veterans will get the help that they need. This is unacceptable and our veterans deserve better.

Our veterans need our help. Let's not keep them waiting any longer.

I urge my colleagues to support concurrent receipt and send this report back to conference.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Coach Rod Smedley, former Head Football Coach of San Bernardino Valley College. Coach Smedley is an individual of great distinction, and we join with family and friends in honoring his remarkable achievements and years of dedicated service to the Inland Empire.

Coach Smedley is an exceptional individual who has not only devoted his life to helping the San Bernardino Valley College community but has also been an important pillar of support for the student-athletes of the college. His kindness and passionate spirit render him a vital resource and a beloved member of the college community.

For the past 26 years, Coach Smedley has dedicated himself to serving the college and achieving a remarkable level of achievement. As Head Football Coach, he guided the San Bernardino Valley College Wolverines to five Bowl Championships, including three consecutive wins between 1995 and 1997, seven Football Foothill Conference Championships, and the highest winning percentage of a Junior College football coach in the Inland Empire. Coach Smedley has also led the Men's and Women's tennis teams to a combined total of seven conference titles. He has been an integral contributor to the management and administration of San Bernardino sports, as well as an active participant and positive influence on the lives of many college students.

In addition to these contributions, Coach Smedley was twice awarded the honor of California Community College Football Coach of the Year and awarded the Foothill Conference Football Coach of the Year four times. Most importantly, under his guidance, Coach Smedley has seen more student-athletes receive scholarships to four-year schools than any other Junior College coach in the Inland Empire. He has received the highest possible evaluation of his profession for integrity and performance, and has taken a proactive approach to leadership in the college community.

Through his participation in countless activities, Coach Smedley has exhibited kindness, humility, and a deep resolve to ameliorate all aspects of San Bernardino Valley College, so it is only appropriate that we honor him today with his family and the residents of the Inland Empire.

And so, Mr. Speaker, we salute Coach Rod Smedley. We express sincere admiration that he is being honored for his incomparable accomplishments and hope that others may recognize his good works in the community.

Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman and majority leaders on both sides. I stand in support of this resolution, H. Res. 425.

I went out there with the gentleman from California (Mr. Lewis), and we saw many of the firefighters who were willing to stand up and fight for us. We saw the devastation in our immediate area, but one really cannot explain what happens when a person is willing to go on the battle line.

Many of these men and women were willing to fight for us, when all of us are willing to witness what happens right now, and we saw the fires that are going on, but these men and women continued to go back into the battle because they knew what it meant to save that particular home or save that forest or save our immediate areas in terms of our communities.

I know that my son, Joe Baca, Jr., and I and the highway patrol went directly into the fires and saw some of these homes that were burning, and we saw the firefighters that were willing to fight the fight. They did not ask any questions, but these men and women continued to be brave and continued to work on behalf of us.

I stand in support of this resolution. I commend both sides for coming up and honoring these men and women who are heroes and continue to fight in our behalf, and we need to continue to support individuals that are willing to stand on the line for us.

Mr. Speaker, I would first like to thank all the firefighters and public servants who worked so hard this past week to help combat the devastating wildfires that occurred all over southern California and the Inland Empire. On behalf of myself and the people of the 43rd California Congressional District, I say ``thank you.''

In southern California and the Inland Empire, we have witnessed devastation like we have never seen before. Homes were destroyed, properties were damaged, lives were lost. More than 740,000 acres were burned. Nearly 3,600 homes were lost and 20 people lost their lives. At one point, nearly 16,000 firefighters were battling the blazes at the peak of devastation.

When the highway patrol and I toured the fires in my district 1\1/2\ weeks ago, we went into the ruins where residents had been evacuated. We saw the devastation of the homes and felt an overwhelming heat and breathed in the thick smoke of the fire. It was hard for us to be there simply for a few hours, but our firefighters did this for weeks, round the clock, with very little rest. They battled the blazes, inhaled the fumes, while the entire time reaching out to the communities. When I was there with the firefighters, we would come out of the fires and people would instantly stop us. They would beg us to check if their homes were still standing. And do my colleagues know what the highway patrol and I did? We charged back to where the flames were to see if the homes were still there. Often, as many know, we simply found an address on a curb and no home.

But who was still there, fighting the fires and trying to save the homes? The firefighters. We owe a great deal of gratitude to the brave men and women who fought these devastating fires, our American heroes.

That is why I believe that we should make sure that they have access to health care that they need so they can go home to their families safe and healthy. We do not know what the long-term effects of exposure to the smoke and fumes will be to the firefighters who fought the blazes in California. But with early evaluation, monitoring, and analyzing, we can offer them better treatment, the treatment they deserve for putting their lives on the line.

That is why I have introduced a bill that will require the Department of Health and Human Services to work with local health experts to conduct long-term health monitoring on firefighters who have responded to the California wildfires. This bill will create a health-monitoring program for

the firefighters who respond to catastrophic Federal emergencies like we recently experienced in California.

I want the firefighters to have constant monitoring about their health. I want them to be able to have access to health care that they deserve. That is what my bill will do.

At least 15 studies have shown statistical links between brain cancer and firefighting. According to the Center to Protect Workers' Rights, firefighters often jeopardize their health when they respond to disaster. Often these disasters are so severe that their equipment cannot even protect them. The health consequences for these firefighters can be as great as cancer or heart disease.

In nearly all of these instances where firefighters have responded to Federal disaster, they have often been provided with very little or no health monitoring. This is wrong, and we must change it to make sure that there is monitoring.

Firefighters risk their lives protecting our property, our families, our way of life. They deserve better. We must have more resources devoted to monitoring firefighters after they respond to Federal emergencies when there is prolonged exposure to dangerous smoke, fumes, and chemicals.

A program like this was developed after the collapse of the World Trade Center. It has been very successful in identifying the health problems of those first responders.

Many of these firefighters at the World Trade Center suffered serious coughing illness after dealing with the wreckage of the towers. Thanks to monitoring programs, we can evaluate the health of these fire responders and get them the care that they need.

I want early detection for the men and women who responded to fires in California. I want them to be able to go back to their families safe and healthy. We must make sure that our firefighters are safe and healthy after they respond to a Federal disaster. We must make sure that we decrease such possible risk.

We owe a great gratitude to these brave men and women who fought the recent fires in California and the Inland Empire. Providing them adequate health care is the least we can do to say thanks to these American heroes.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in celebration of Red Ribbon Week, the annual campaign to prevent illegal drug use and promote drug- free communities. All of our children have so much potential. All of our children deserve a chance at life. But it is so sad when families, friends and communities and faith fail a child and they become addicted to drugs. Caring for our children and making sure they do not get addicted to drugs is all of our responsibility.

Mr. Speaker, 81 percent of teenagers ages 14 to 20 have used drugs. One out of every four high school seniors has used illegal drugs in the past 30 days; almost 30 percent of young adults have used marijuana in the past.

This must change. Our children deserve better. Red Ribbon Week uses community action to educate and help prevent drug abuse. Throughout the United States, many of our schools are participating in this program, informing our children to stay away from drugs. I ask support for Red Ribbon Week in the State of California, and I ask support for Red Ribbon Week throughout our Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to this conference report on H.R. 2115, which will give the President the freedom to privatize our air traffic controllers.

How does this make Americans safer? We must ask ourselves, how does this make Americans safer? In a post-9/11 world, we must make safety a priority. So I ask again, why are we doing this? Is it cheaper? The answer is no. Privatizing increases our costs. Is this a good policy? The answer is no. Privatizing has failed miserably in other countries.

Approximately 20,000 hard-working men and women of the FAA ensure the safety of more than one million passengers each day, and we should trust them to continue to do the job. This is why I say, nothing has been broken, so why do we need to fix it?

The safety and security of the American people should not be the responsibility of the low bidders. It is the core responsibility of our American Government to make sure the safety is there. We must make sure that democracy is there. We have not allowed democracy by allowing this bill to come before us, and we should make sure that we vote no on this.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Mr. Stephen Jorgensen, Director of Riverside National Cemetery, and the entire cemetery staff. This cemetery is an historic site that proudly serves our veteran men and women. The winner of the Robert W. Carey National Cemetery Category Award for 2003, it has provided an invaluable service to the Veteran community and continues to honor the lives of our fallen soldiers. I join with grateful families across our nation in celebrating this year's Carey Award winner.

For the past 25 years, the Riverside National Cemetery has honored the lives of thousands of soldiers. Characterized by dignity and class, this national cemetery is dedicated to all service members who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country. It has been an integral contributor to the Inland Empire and has given the respect and esteem that all servicemen and women deserve.

The Carey Award is foremost an award based on excellence. Qualifications extend from performance in organizational leadership and management to strategic planning and community contribution. It is excellence in these areas that characterize a Carey Award winner. The Riverside National Cemetery has proven year after year that it not only exhibits these specific qualities but also performs them at the highest possible level.

And so, Mr. Speaker, I join today with the residents of the Inland Empire in congratulating the Riverside National Cemetery for its remarkable achievement, and express my sincere admiration and deference to this proud national site.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Dean R. Stordahl, Chief Executive Officer of the VA Medical Center located in Loma Linda, and the entire hospital staff for being awarded the Robert W. Carey Organizational Excellence Trophy Award for 2003. This outstanding facility proudly serves our veteran men and women and provides invaluable service to their community, while honoring the lives of our fallen soldiers. I join with grateful families across our nation in celebrating this year's Carey Award winner.

For the past 25 years, the Loma Linda Medical Center has honored the lives of thousands of soldiers through their diligent work. Characterized by dignity and class, the medical center is dedicated to serving veterans who fought for our country. It has been an integral contributor to the Inland Empire and has given the respect and esteem that all servicemen and women deserve.

The Carey Award is foremost an award based on excellence. Qualifications extend

from performance in organizational leadership and management to strategic planning and community contribution. It is excellence in these areas that characterize a Carey Award winner. The Loma Linda Medical Center has proven year after year that it not only exhibits these specific qualities but also performs them at the highest possible level.

And so, Mr. Speaker, I join today with the residents of the Inland Empire in congratulating our valued VA Medical Center for its remarkable achievement, and express my sincere admiration and deference to this magnificent medical center.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to recommit this privatization plan back to Conference Committee.

Privatization simply doesn't make sense. It compromises the safety of the American public and it is simply bad policy.

Studies have shown that it has no operational or economic advantages and that it can even lead to more accidents.

How does this make Americans safer?

In a post September 11th world, we must make safety a priority.

Air travel has declined over the past two years because people do not feel safe. We must not make this situation worse!

In Canada, privatization has lead to an accident rate that is twice the rate here in the United States. And their air travel system is only 7% the size of ours!

I remember in 1981, President Ronald Reagan fired the federal air traffic controllers for striking. The President said that they were violating Title V and that air traffic controllers must not have the right to strike because of public safety concerns. Now, under privatization, Title V will no longer be applicable. The Republicans cannot have it both ways. Do they want to deny private employees the right to strike and collectively bargain, or do they want to keep the current system in place to ensure America's safety?

So I ask again, why are we doing this?

Is it cheaper? The answer is no.

Privatization increases costs.

The British Government had to pay $131 million to rescue its privatized system. $131 million! That is nearly double the price at which they sold it.

Is this good policy? The answer is no.

Privatization has failed miserably in other countries.

According to recent reports, the U.S. system is 74 percent more efficient and 79 percent more productive than the privatized European system.

The U.S. air traffic control system is the safest and most sophisticated in the world. So why do we want to change it?

It handles over half of the world's air traffic and cargo.

Approximately 20,000 hard-working men and women of the FAA ensure the safety of more than one million passengers each day. And we should trust them to continue to do their jobs.

These are the same federal air traffic controllers that landed nearly 700 planes on September 11th and completely cleared the air space in two hours.

When the FAA needed to respond because of an emergency, they were able to do so quickly and efficiently.

Why do we want to privatize these jobs and risk putting anyone out of work right now?

Unemployment is well over 6% right now. For Hispanics it is nearly 9% and for African Americans it is nearly 11%. We must not pass legislation that will put more people out of work and simply hurt more working families.

This is a system that is not broke--so why does it need to be fixed?

The safety and security of the American people should not be the responsibility of the lowest bidder.

It is a core responsibility of our Government.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to recommit this conference report and any further efforts to privatize our air traffic control system.