Floor Statements

Mr. Chair, I rise today to speak in strong opposition to the bill before us today.

In 2008, this country experienced the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.

Millions of Americans lost their jobs, homes, life savings, and pensions because of the recklessness of some on Wall Street.

For too long, financial institutions were allowed to solely look out for their bottom line, instead of the hardworking American consumers they served.

Our economic system was dominated by greed, irresponsibility, and lacking oversight.

And now, exactly one year after we enacted the Dodd-Frank Wall Street and Consumer Protection Act, a comprehensive package of financial reforms, my Republican colleagues have brought to the floor a bill that severely restricts one of the main components of the bill--the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

For the first time in our history, we constructed a government agency that will look out for the American consumer first and foremost.

Yet instead of applauding this movement and supporting the efforts of consumer protection, my colleagues are working to cripple its authority and limit its effectiveness.

H.R. 1315 does nothing to protect American consumers. Instead it delays the transfer of authority to the CFPB and adds several levels of bureaucracy to the bureau's leadership which will only work to delay any decision, rulemaking or enforcement action the bureau engages in.

Finally this bill makes it easier for the other banking regulators, who failed to protect consumers for years, to overturn the Bureau's rules.

Equally appalling is the source of funds being used to pay for this bill.

Republicans have taken the savings gained from H.R. 830, a bill that eliminates the FHA Refinance Program to pay for the cost of the bill before us today.

This means that Republicans are taking money away from a government program aimed at helping homeowners struggling to keep their home, and using it to weaken the CFPB--ultimately making it easier for big banks to skirt consumer protection regulation.

Our economy is still struggling to recover from the economic collapse of 2008.

Millions of Americans are still struggling to find jobs and figure out how they are going to keep their homes.

It has been 28 weeks since the Republicans took control of this chamber, and time and

time again, we are forced to consider bills that do nothing to solve the problems that Americans are facing today.

Instead we debate bills like this that eliminate protections for the American middle class and serve as handouts to the ultra rich and corporations that ship jobs overseas.

We should be focusing our attention on getting our economy back on track.

We should be focusing on bills that create jobs and help the middle class recover.

We need to bring back financial security for Americans, and one of the ways to do that is to allow for a strong and independent Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Democrats are standing with American families to help get our economy back on track, and calling for strong consumer protection and effective accountability to prevent another financial crisis for Wall Street.

I urge my colleagues to vote against this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask Congress to pay tribute to a valued member of the Colton Community, the Honorable Mayor David R. Zamora. Mayor Zamora passed away at the age of fifty-six on July 14, 2011.

Albert Einstein was once quoted as saying, ``Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.'' According to these standards, David Zamora lived one of the fullest lives imaginable for others.

David was born in San Bernardino on January 9, 1955. He attended the California State University at San Bernardino, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology as well as Social Science. He later graduated with a Master of Public Administration. He worked in Colton and the Inland Empire for over forty years, primarily in education and public service.

David led a life of service to the cities and people of the Inland Empire. He spent twenty-eight years working at the City of Colton, retiring as the Director of Community Development in 2009. As a lifelong Inland Empire resident, David was always extremely dedicated to the well-being of his community. The positive impact he left on the City of Colton will be felt for years to come.

David served three consecutive terms as an elected member of the Board of Education for the Colton Joint Unified School District. He was elected Mayor of the City of Colton in November of 2010, and immediately bolstered Colton's budget reserve funds.

However, the friends and colleagues that served with David say his biggest impact was personal. He possessed the rare ability to bring people together. It was always about the team--the team that he built-- and the best interest of the community. Many people credit Mayor David Zamora for bringing a civility to Colton's fractious politics.

On a personal note, I always felt a special kinship with David because my own mother's maiden name was Zamora. He was a positive and genuinely happy person, and I know he will be deeply missed in the Inland Empire.

David leaves with cherished memories his wife, Sarah, his three daughters, Mia, Summer, and Alexa, and his three grandchildren. My thoughts and prayers, along with those of my wife, Barbara, and my children, Councilman Joe Baca Jr., Jeremy, Natalie, and Jennifer are with Davids's family at this time. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in honoring the memory of a beloved community member, the Honorable David Zamora.

Mr. Speaker, last year my Republican colleagues ran their campaign on the slogan: ``Where are the jobs?'' It's been 28 weeks since the Republicans took control of the House, and the question still remains: Where are the jobs?

We all know that the Bush tax for the wealthy failed to create new jobs. They fooled the public once. It ain't going to happen again.

Now, instead of working to create jobs, Republicans are holding our country hostage, taking the debt limit talks to the brink.

Under the Republican budget proposal, seniors will lose guaranteed medical benefits, have their out-of-pocket medical expenses double. The Republican plan will reopen the Medicare doughnut hole area, costing 4 million seniors an additional $2.2 billion. It's wrong to make our seniors suffer to give a tax break to the ultrarich and corporations that ship jobs overseas.

No new taxes, no new jobs. No taxes, no jobs. No taxes, no jobs.

Let's put together a plan that lowers our deficit without doing it on the backs of our seniors and the middle class.

Madam Speaker, it's been 27 weeks since the Republicans took

control of the House, and they have yet to bring one single jobs bill to this floor.

In San Bernardino County, my constituents face a 13 percent unemployment rate. But instead of taking swift action to create new jobs, Republicans are threatening the loss of countless more jobs by taking the debt ceiling negotiation to another brink. And why are they doing this? To protect billionaires, millionaires, and corporations that ship jobs overseas.

We all know that the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy have failed--have failed--to create any new jobs here at home. And they are threatening Social Security and Medicare to protect these unneeded tax breaks, which is wrong. No taxes, no jobs. No taxes, no jobs.

Let's come together on a plan that creates jobs, protects our seniors and the middle class, and do it responsibly to deal with the deficit.

Madam Speaker, as negotiations continue on the upcoming debt ceiling, the retirement savings, mortgages, and pensions of the American people hang in the balance.

It is long past time for both sides--I say, for both sides--to get serious about a balanced budget. Any long-term budget must--I state, must--protect Medicare and Social Security for all Americans, create jobs here at home, and begin to reduce the deficit with intelligent class protection.

It's time for the wealthiest among us to step up to the plate and take up their share. We must end tax breaks for ultrarich, Big Oil companies, and the corporations that ship jobs overseas.

No jobs have been created--I state, no jobs have been created--in the United States since the Bush tax cuts first went into effect. No taxes, no jobs. No taxes, no jobs.

Let us put politics aside and do what is best for the interests of the American people before it is too late.

Mr. Speaker, as the deadline nears for Americans to raise its debt limit, the American people have sent a clear message to all of us:

They will not stand for a budget that is balanced on the backs of seniors and the middle class.

The American people know that it is wrong to privatize Medicare with a new voucher program, to cut guaranteed health benefits for seniors and to sacrifice Medicaid services for the poor and disabled.

It's not too late for us to compromise on a balanced approach. Yes, we can trim spending with intelligent cuts, but we must end tax breaks for the ultra rich. I state: We must end tax breaks for the ultra rich and corporations that shift jobs overseas.

No new taxes equals no new jobs. No taxes--no jobs.

We have an historic opportunity in front of us. Let's stop the partisan bickering and work together on a plan that strengthens the middle class, lowers our deficit and creates new jobs here at home.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask Congress to celebrate the 100th birthday of Khen Ngo, a prominent member of the Vietnamese Catholic community in San Bernardino. I would like to ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating this milestone with the Ngo family and the San Bernardino community.

Born on July 4, 1911 in the Hue Province in Central Vietnam, Khen Ngo completed elementary school by age thirteen. Tragically, he fell ill to an infectious disease and did not recover until age seventeen. Shortly thereafter his family enrolled him in tailoring school. Khen completed his secondary education within one year.

The skills he learned in school allowed him to become part of the family business. In Vietnam he opened and operated his own tailoring shop. Soon he was able to manage and maintain his parent's shop as well. Outside of work he served in the Parish council of Kim-Long Church as a finance officer for fifteen years. Life was about to drastically change for the Ngo family.

In 1975, the Vietnamese Communist Regime invaded Vietnam. The Ngo family was a prominent family; the last name was well-known across the country. Their heritage can be traced back to the first President of Vietnam, Ngo Dinh Diem. Sadly, the communist regime also knew the Ngos well. They sought out and imprisoned many of the family members, leaving Khen no choice but to escape. Khen came to the United States as a Vietnamese refuge.

He settled in Redlands, California and joined the Sacred Heart Church. The Ngos are a deeply religious and pious family. Together with his brother, Father Joseph Trong Ngo, the Ngos helped build and foster a Vietnamese Catholic community in San Bernardino. Khen lived a simple life and held steadfast to his values. He lives by two guiding principles: the Catholic teaching to honor your parents, and to live his life as a deeply religious and spiritual person.

His life continues to be filled with spirit and love. He surrounds himself with the people he loves and leads a simple life. He fathered seven children and bestowed upon them the virtues he embodies. Khen now spends his days fishing and watching soccer games with any of his twenty nieces and nephews or nine grandchildren. I want to extend my best wishes to Khen Ngo on his 100th birthday along with the wishes of my wife, Barbara, and my children, Mayor Pro Tem Joe Baca Junior, Jeremy, Natalie, and Jennifer. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in sharing this special day with Khen Ngo.

Mr. Speaker, next week marks the 45th anniversary of implementing Medicare. On this occasion, it is right that Congress work together to protect and strengthen Medicare for our future generations. Sadly, instead of preserving Medicare, my Republican colleagues have approved a plan to destroy it.

The Republican budget privatizes Medicare programs, turning control over to the insurance industry; ends guaranteed Medicare coverage for seniors, replacing it with a voucher system; doubles out-of-pocket medical costs for seniors.

I ask my colleagues, where are your priorities? We should be creating jobs and helping middle class families. We should not be dismantling safety net programs like Medicare and Medicaid.

Let's stop the politics. Let's work together. Let's work on a plan to protect our seniors and be responsible to lower the deficit.

Mr. Speaker, America's seniors have given a lifetime of service to our Nation. It is our responsibility to demonstrate the same commitment to them by providing a safety net like Medicare and Medicaid.

Sadly, the Republican budget will have a devastating impact on our seniors, forcing many of them to sell their homes and rely on their children just to get by because they can't afford health coverage.

In my district alone, the Republican budget plan would throw out 3,200 Medicare beneficiaries into the prescribed donut hole, eliminate preventive care benefits for 56,000 seniors, deny 630,000 individuals aged 54 and younger guaranteed Medicare coverage, jeopardize nursing home care for 1,100 seniors whose expenses are paid by Medicare.

Yes, we must lower the deficit with intelligent spending cuts, but it is wrong to balance the budget by cutting vital service to American seniors.

Let's preserve Medicare and Medicaid. Let's work together, Republicans and Democrats, and find a solution.

Madam Chair, I rise today in strong opposition ot the unerlying bill--H.R. 2112--the FY 2012 Agriculture Appropriations Act.

With continued unemployment and high home foreclosure rates--these are tough economic times for Americans everywhere.

We all understand that our debt and deficit are significant issues-- that we must begin to address with intelligent spending cuts.

But it is essential that we reduce the deficit in a way that is consistent with our American values--and not on the backs of impoverished women, children, and seniors.

The Agriculture Appropriations bill we are considering today undermines the food security of the American people.

In my district--in California's Inland Empire--my constitutents face a 16 percent unemployment rate; and a food insecurity rate of almost 22 percent.

Food banks throughout California are reporting a 30 to 40 percent increase in the number of people needing food assistance.

This is the wrong time to cut nutrition benefits for struggling American families.

Unfortunately--the bill the House is set to consider--takes food off the table for low-income women, children, and seniors.

This bill:

Cuts $650 million from WIC--causing hundreds of thousands of women and children to lose benefits;

Cuts $50 million from TEFAP--forcing struggling familes to face empty shelves at the food bank;

Cuts $38 million from the Commodity Supplemental Foods Program-- leaving thousands of seniors without help; and

Cuts $2 billion from the SNAP reserve fund--at a time when a record 44 million plus Americans need this assistance.

Sadly, this bill is just the next chapter in the Repubilcan Congress's assault on middle class families.

Already this year--Republicans have voted to end Medicare as we know it.

And they've voted to cut thousands of jobs in order to give tax breaks to the ultra-rich, the big oil industries, and companies that ship jobs overseas.

But with this bill--we may have sunk to a new low.

It is wrong to dismantle the programs that our most vulnerable Americans rely on--in order to pay for $45 billion in tax breaks for millionaires.

If we got rid of tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires for one week--we would save enough to pay for the entire WIC program for a year.

During the last Farm Bill--in 2008--I served as Chair of the Agriculture Subcommittee on Nutrition.

I am proud of the work we did to improve SNAP and other federal nutrition programs.

These improvements helped feed 38 million hungry Americans.

We must not turn back the clock.

Let's focus on the real priorities of the American people--and stop these misguided funding cuts.

I urge my colleagues to protect the health of working families--and vote ``no'' on the underlying bill.

Mr. Speaker, today we had an event, and it was on behalf of the wounded warriors, sponsored by Disabled Sports USA. These are many of our men and women who are fighting for us, have come back, and we appreciate everything that they've done for us.

On behalf of Ander Crenshaw, my co-captain on the Republican side, and myself, we want to thank all of the Members who participated, both Members and former Members, and all of the sponsors and individuals involved. It was a tournament for a good cause.

There were no losers. The winners were the wounded warriors and the disabled sports vets who will get an opportunity to revamp their lives, enjoy golf.

This was a match between the Republicans and the Democrats. And I know that last year the Republicans won and retained the cup then, but today, the Democrats ended up winning and retaining the cup.

On behalf of all the Democrats here and the players who participated, thank you very much.

I would like to yield to the gentleman from Florida, Ander Crenshaw, my co-captain.

Thank you very much. With that, it says Speaker's Trophy.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Amendment No. 2 Offered by Mr. Sherman

Mr. Speaker, after a lifetime of service to their families and our Nation, America's seniors deserve the security of a basic safety net like Medicare and Social Security. Sadly, the Republican budget that the House approved in April puts fundamental programs at risk. The Republican budget will end guaranteed Medicare coverage for seniors, I state, end guaranteed Medicare coverage for seniors; cut benefits and turn control over to the insurance industry; and double out-of-pocket costs for seniors over the next decade.

From day one, the Republican plan to end Medicare will toss 4 million seniors into the prescription drug doughnut hole. And from day one, seniors across the Nation will have their copays reinstated for their annual wellness visit.

Seniors in my district understand that we must lower the deficit, but it should not be on the backs of the poor or the disadvantaged. But they also know that it is wrong to end Medicare so we can extend the tax breaks for the millionaires and billionaires. Let's work together on a real budget and lower the deficit.

Madam Chair, I rise in support of my amendment, No. 9, to H.R. 1540. I would like to thank Chairman Buck McKeon, Ranking Member Adam Smith, and the staff for their hard work in adding my Baca amendment to the series.

As a Vietnam veteran, I am very upset with witnessing the alarming rates of suicide amongst our military ranks. In my visit to Walter Reed, I had an opportunity to speak firsthand to many of the soldiers suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder. My amendment enhances the suicide prevention program at the Department of Defense by specifically requiring that each branch of the military include suicide prevention training during recruit training, and pre-separation counseling.

Each suicide prevention training run by the various military services shall include at a minimum: methods for recognizing risk factors for suicide; protocols for responding to crisis situations involving members who may be at high risk; information about suicide prevention services available to members, including a toll free hotline, Internet service; and information for best practices for suicide prevention.

This amendment is strongly supported by the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

I urge my colleagues to vote for this amendment so that it will hopefully reduce the number of military suicides.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join my colleagues in commemorating May as Jewish American Heritage Month and celebrating the many achievements the Jewish community has made to American culture and society.

While Jewish people make up only two percent of our nation's population, they have been a vibrant group contributing to American society for over 350 years.

The Jewish American community is a vibrant piece of the American fabric.

They have worked tirelessly to increase tolerance and understanding, while working to decrease anti-Semitism around the country.

Their community has organized innovative educational forums and cultural exchanges to help bring people together and promote our country's diversity.

The Jewish community in my District and surrounding areas is active and engaged on several fronts including in literature, politics and medicine.

I congratulate them for all their hard work and look forward to working with them in the years to come.

I hope all Americans will join me in celebrating Jewish-American Heritage Month and taking pride in the unique contributions that our Jewish community has made to our nation.

Mr. Speaker, these are tough times for the American people everywhere. In my home State of California, families face a 12 percent unemployment rate, and the gas prices are well over $4 a gallon.

But instead of working together to solve the problems, the Republican leadership has voted to end Medicare as we know it and extend the tax breaks to companies that ship jobs overseas.

This week the Senate will have its chance to vote on a reckless Republican budget. The consequences of this misguided plan are devastating for the senior citizens--again I state--devastating to the senior citizens and the middle class.

In California alone, the Republican budget would cost seniors--I state--cost seniors over $214 million in higher prescription drug costs next year; cut almost $54 billion in Medicaid funding for seniors and the disabled; and would cost us 186,000 private sector jobs that will be lost over the next 5 years.

We must scrap this plan. Let us work together on a reasonable budget to protect Medicare.