Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Keith Ballard and Southwest Middle School's Music Department for their exceptional work and dedication in promoting the arts.

Southwest Middle School is located a few minutes from the international border and serves a large Latino population. The school has one of the highest poverty rates in San Diego County. According to Sweetwater Union High School District officials, Southwest Middle School previously had a struggling music program requiring immediate attention and assistance.

In 2010, Mr. Ballard was involuntarily transferred to Southwest Middle School. He was told that he had been assigned to improve a failing music program in need of immediate help. Unfortunately, the conditions of both the school and the program did not make this an easy task. Mr. Ballard worked tirelessly with administrators, parents and the community to

secure funding to rebuild the music program. He found resistance and opposition, as the project required time and resources that few were inclined to provide. In response, he used the media as a tool to shed light on the issue, which resulted in him securing the necessary support and resources for the project.

Today, Southwest Middle School has a thriving music program which offers multiple courses from different genres such as three mariachi music classes, one steel drum band class and one marching percussion/ African drum ensemble class. The program is designed to connect students with their heritage through education, practice, and the promotion of arts and music. The school will be adding a band class for the 2017-18 school year. Presently, Southwest Middle School has one of the most multicultural and diversified music programs in the entire nation.

Southwest Middle School proves their commitment to the continuous social and emotional growth of their students by enabling youth to develop their talents.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Johnson Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church and its pastors for 100 years of teaching, preaching the Gospel, and making strides in our community.

The Johnson Chapel A.M.E. Church was founded in 1915 by John Fair, James Craig, Roxie Graves, Cora Martin, Ed Ackers, and Nancy Craig. It was formally established in 1917 with Reverend S.E. Edwards as its first pastor. Originally a small congregation meeting in a house on State Street, the church is now highly regarded within the community and has relocated to a significantly larger building on Hamilton Street in El Centro, California.

The African Methodist Episcopal Church was formed out of the Free African Society, established in 1787. African Americans faced unending discrimination while trying to practice their faith in American Methodist churches. Some churchgoers went as far as pulling African Americans off their knees as they prayed. Black members of St. George's Methodist Episcopal Church split off to create their own African congregation. Wanting to avoid discrimination and obtain religious autonomy, many black Methodists began to switch over to African Methodist Episcopal churches.

Currently, the A.M.E. Church has membership across twenty Episcopal Districts in thirty-nine countries, on five continents. Although the church was founded by people of African descent and heritage, it is open to people of any background or race. They place emphasis on the plain and simple gospel and tirelessly work to spread the word of Jesus Christ.

The Johnson Chapel A.M.E. Church has been led by thirty-one dedicated ministers over the past 100 years. They have worked to improve the church and build a community around it. Not only does the church take care of their own members, they have also provided educational programs and outreach to benefit youth in their area.

I would like to recognize the Johnson Chapel A.M.E. Church for their 100 years of dedicated teaching and service within our community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the San Diego Building and Construction Trades Council, and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 569, and applaud the leadership of their business manager, a proud marine, Tom Lemmon.

Yesterday, these patriots stood up for something much larger than themselves when they resisted the Trump administration's contempt for workers' rights, misogyny, racism, and Islamophobia.

It is in the best tradition of organized labor to stand for others' rights and against a system that attempts to exploit the most vulnerable in our society. They stood up against threats to organized labor. They stood up against separating immigrant families. They stood up for working families and the most vulnerable in our society.

Again, I congratulate Tom Lemmon, Gretchen Newsom, and Carol Kim, along with many others, for their courage to speak up and resist.

Their resistance is a great patriotic reminder to all of us to stand up for what we know is right.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Joseph Cachero, a student at Hilltop High School in Chula Vista, California, for his selection to represent the State of California as a Delegate at the Congress of Future Science and Technology Leaders. The event will be held at the Tsongas Center at University of Massachusetts Lowell in Lowell, MA, from June 29, 2017 to July 1, 2017.

The Congress of Future Science and Technology Leaders is an honors- only program designed to motivate and direct the top students in our country who aspire to be scientists, engineers, and technologists and encourage them to stay true to their dream. All delegates are nominated by their teachers or the National Academy of Future Scientists based on proven academic excellence and a demonstrated desire to enter the scientific or technology professions.

I want to congratulate Joseph Cachero and Hilltop High School in their success and leadership in the scientific field.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Edgar Jacome Guzman, a student in San Ysidro, California, for his selection to represent the State of California as a Delegate at the Congress of Future Science and Technology Leaders. The event will be held at the Tsongas Center at University of Massachusetts Lowell in Lowell, MA, from June 29, 2017 to July 1, 2017.

The Congress of Future Science and Technology Leaders is an honors- only program designed to motivate and direct the top students in our country who aspire to be scientists, engineers, and technologists and encourage them to stay true to their dream. All delegates are nominated by their teachers or the National Academy of Future Scientists based on proven academic excellence and a demonstrated desire to enter the scientific or technology professions.

I want to congratulate Edgar Jacome Guzman in his success and leadership in the scientific field.

``No preference shall be given by any regulation of commerce or revenue to the ports of one State over those of another; nor shall vessels bound to, or from, one State, be obliged to enter, clear, or pay duties in another.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Robert Olivieri, the outgoing President of the Pacific Southwest Association of REALTORS, for his outstanding leadership in the South Bay region of San Diego County.

Robert Olivieri was born in Providence, Rhode Island and has been a resident of Chula Vista and Bonita for the past 30 years. Robert graduated from the University of Michigan with a B.S. in Engineering and went on to earn an MBA in Finance from the University of Phoenix. Robert holds a California Real Estate Broker's License, a California Insurance Broker's License, a Series 7 Securities License, and has been in the real estate business for over 29 years.

Robert has been an active broker and manager for several real estate offices in South San Diego County. Robert served the Pacific Southwest Association of REALTORS (PSAR) as their 2014 President. During his tenure, he focused on membership recruitment and retention, while also providing useful resources for members' professional and personal growth. Robert has also served PSAR on their Board of Directors, as a California Association of REALTORS State Director, and as a member of the Community Involvement Committee and the Merger Steering Committee. Robert has been ranked by real estate tracking agencies as one of the top house selling agents and in the top 7 percent of agents who sell homes for top dollar.

Robert and his wife, Marcia, are very involved in their community and help support Bonita Vista High School and Corpus Christi Parish.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Voices for Children for their outstanding commitment and dedication to foster youth in San Diego.

This year, Voices for Children will celebrate its 35th year of operation since its founding in San Diego County. There are 5,100 children and youth living in the San Diego County foster care system. Voices for Children is fighting to ensure those children are placed in a safe and permanent home. Voices for Children recruits, trains, and supervises 1,400 Court Appointed Special Advocate volunteers (CASAs) each year. CASAs are exemplary role models and volunteer mentors for the abused, neglected, and abandoned children and youth in San Diego's foster care system. These volunteers advocate for the best interests of foster children, provide vital information to judges in Juvenile Court and speak up for San Diego's foster youth in courts, schools, and the community.

I commend Voices for Children for their contributions and ongoing dedication to providing safe and permanent homes for every child in foster care, as well as, their commitment to changing the lives of thousands of abused, neglected, or abandoned children in foster care.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Peter Chacon for a lifetime of selfless service and leadership to our nation and our community. He served honorably in the United States Air Force during World War II and in the California State legislature for over 20 years.

Born in Phoenix, Arizona, Mr. Chacon was raised in a home of modest means with three older sisters and three younger brothers. As a teenager, he would shine shoes and park cars in downtown Phoenix to help support his family. His father, Petronilo Chacon, served as a commander in Mexico to Pancho Villa's revolutionary Army and taught Mr. Chacon to fight for what he believed in with passion and determination, while defending the rights of those who could not do the same.

In 1943, at the age of 18 and in the midst of World War II, Mr. Chacon enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. He served honorably for two years of wartime service as a Ball Turret Gunner on a B-17 Flying Fortress. During his service, he flew 35 successful missions over Germany. On one such mission, his plane was shot down and forced to crash land on a small island off the Italian coast where he and the rest of the crew were later rescued.

After the war, Mr. Chacon returned home as a hero and enrolled in San Diego City College and later San Diego State University where he received a bachelor's degree in education and a master's degree in school administration. He began a career as a teacher, where he discovered injustices facing Spanish speaking children in schools. In 1968, with the help of two friends, Mr. Chacon founded the Chicano Federation in an effort to unite the Latino voice in the San Diego community. One of the first accomplishments of the Chicano Federation was the creation of the historic Chicano Park in the Barrio Logan community. Chicano Park has come to be an important symbol of the Chicano Movement.

In 1969, Mr. Chacon decided to run for the California State Assembly in an effort the change the education system from within. Mr. Chacon was elected in 1970 to represent California's 79th assembly district, where he served for 22 years. He is best known for authoring legislation to create the California Housing Finance Agency, the Rural Housing Development Program, and the landmark Bilingual/Bicultural Education Program for the more than 230,000 limited English speaking students in the state.

Mr. Chacon was an inspirational leader in the San Diego community and his contributions will not be forgotten. He is survived by his four sons, Chris, Paul, Ralph and Jeff.

Article VI:

``All debts contracted and engagements entered into, before the adoption of this Constitution, shall be as valid against the United States under this Constitution, as under the Confederation.''

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 1683, the Naval Vessel Transfer Act. This bill includes many of the provisions in H.R. 3470, which the House passed on April 7 and sent to the other body.

I would like to thank Chairman Royce for the bipartisan manner in which the original House bill was drafted, considered by the committee, and passed by the House. With today's action on S. 1683, we finish our work on this important legislation.

In the Taiwan Relations Act, the United States made a commitment to support Taiwan's defensive capability. To that end, this bill authorizes the President to transfer up to four surplus U.S. naval vessels to Taiwan. In light of China's increasingly aggressive actions in the Pacific region, it is more important than ever to bolster Taiwan's security.

This bill also authorizes a transfer of two surplus naval vessels to Mexico, a critical defense partner of the United States. These vessels will strengthen Mexico's ability to function effectively with the U.S. Navy in joint operations.

Finally, the bill strengthens congressional review of the licensing and shipment of U.S. defense exports. These provisions are necessary in light of the significant regulatory changes now being implemented by the Departments of State, Commerce, and Defense.

The President's Export Control Reform initiative will modernize our system of regulating trade and defense and dual-use items, and appropriate congressional review must continue to be an integral part of the system.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in voting for S. 1683 so we can send this legislation to the President for signature into law.

I reserve the balance of my time.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, as was said, this bill authorizes a transfer of naval vessels to Taiwan and Mexico, two good friends and partners of the United States. It also makes changes to regulating armed transfers and strengthens congressional oversight of the system.

I would once again like to thank Chairman Royce for working with us in a bipartisan manner on this important legislation. I would also like to say that as a freshman Member who may not be serving again on the committee that it was a real honor to serve under the chairman. He in fact acts very bipartisan.

He is a real leader in this country, and I am very proud that he is a Californian. It has been an honor, sir, to serve with you.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 2142, the Venezuelan Defense of Human Rights and Civil Society Act of 2014, and yield myself as much time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin by thanking Congresswoman Ros- Lehtinen--thank you for your leadership on this--and also Senator Menendez for his leadership on this legislation. I also want to thank, once again, Chairman Royce, who has approached this issue in a bipartisan way, as he always does.

Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen's bill passed the House unanimously in May, and I am pleased that we are now ready to send this bill to the President's desk.

The world has watched closely over the last year as Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro has stifled the democratic aspirations of the Venezuelan people. Peaceful protesters seeking basic rights and dignity have been met with violence. Forty-two people were tragically killed and 800 were injured on both sides of the conflict. We mourn all of their losses. At the same time, the Maduro government has arrested political opponents and stood in the way of a free press.

Nearly 10 minutes after his arrest, opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez remains in jail on trumped-up charges. The U.N. Committee Against Torture, seven former Latin American Presidents, and the leaders around the world have called for Leopoldo's release.

Last week, Venezuelan opposition leader and former National Assembly Deputy Maria Corina Machado was charged for conspiring to assassinate President Maduro, another desperate move by a desperate government. Maduro's government even considers the U.S. Ambassador to Colombia in on this bizarre conspiracy. It would be humorous if it wasn't so sad and dangerous.

The legislation that we are considering today makes it clear that Congress will not turn a blind eye to the human rights violations in Venezuela. By stripping human rights violators of their visas, we are saying that those responsible for abuses in Venezuela are not welcome in the United States. By freezing their assets, we are making it clear that those who violate human rights in Venezuela won't have access to financial institutions in the United States.

Venezuela's leaders will say this bill is going to hurt the average Venezuelan citizen. That is nonsense. These sanctions won't touch the oil sector or other vital parts of the Venezuelan economy. They only affect those complicit in the recent crackdowns.

Finally, I will note that this bill gives President Obama needed flexibility to respond to events on the ground in Venezuela. Each and every sanction in this bill can be waived by the President at any time.

Let's stand with the people of Venezuela and support the immediate passage of S. 2142.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

In closing, I would like to emphasize, once again, that today's legislation is consistent with our treatment of human rights violators throughout the world.

Will this legislation all of a sudden turn President Maduro and his government into great respecters of human rights? None of us are naive enough to believe this, but what it will do is it will send a message to human rights violators in Venezuela and throughout the world that your visas and your assets in U.S. financial institutions are in peril if you abuse individuals' human rights.

I once again urge my colleagues to support the immediate passage of

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise in strong support of H.R. 5656, the Global Food Security Act of 2014.

I would like to begin by thanking Congressman Chris Smith and Congresswoman Betty McCollum for authoring this important legislation, which authorizes USAID's Feed the Future Initiative. I would also like to thank Chairman Royce for working with us in a bipartisan manner to take

this bill up in committee and bring it to the floor.

Around the world, 800 million people suffer from chronic hunger. Malnutrition causes the deaths of 3.1 million children under the age of 5 every year. This is a global crisis. President Obama has made global food security a top priority, and USAID Administrator Raj Shah has done tremendous work in carrying out that policy.

The Feed the Future Initiative focuses on reducing global poverty and hunger in developing countries through agricultural development. This program is only a few years old, but it has already made a real difference in fighting hunger, poverty, and malnutrition.

In 2013, Feed the Future helped nearly 7 million farmers and food producers use new technologies. This initiative has secured more than $10 billion in private sector commitments to African agriculture, the majority of which has been made by African businesses. It has helped bring 3.5 million hectares of land under improved cultivation and management practices. Last year, the initiative reached more than 12.5 million children with nutritional assistance.

The success of this initiative stems, in part, from the collaboration and partnership of more than 10 U.S. Government agencies, the private sector, NGOs, and American universities. By working together, they have helped to advance real solutions to global hunger, poverty, and malnutrition.

Most importantly, Feed the Future has generated strong buy-in from partner governments in 19 countries across Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia, and Africa. Each host country is required to put forward a country investment plan and contribute a portion of its own GDP to agricultural development. This model ensures that Feed the Future programs are sustainable and can eventually be transferred fully to the host country.

Despite the gains we have made, there is still a lot of work that has to be done. We need continued American leadership in global food security. We need proven programs like Feed the Future to continue its highly effective work in alleviating global hunger and poverty.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from Minnesota, Representative Betty McCollum, the coauthor of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts, Representative Jim McGovern, the cochair of the Anti- Hunger Caucus, who is a real champion for food security not only here domestically but also internationally.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, the Feed the Future Initiative has been successful in alleviating food insecurity over the last 4 years. This important bill authorizes this proven approach to food security. It is a moral, economic, and security imperative that we continue the fight against hunger and malnutrition.

I think we all need to be thankful for the heart that has gone in here from our colleagues. Certainly we want to thank the gentleman from New Jersey, Chris Smith, and the gentlewoman from Minnesota, Betty McCollum. Their hearts have been in this and fighting for this. They brought us all together. We appreciate that.

And with that, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge President Obama to take executive action on immigration.

I would have loved to have been here today to celebrate the passage of comprehensive immigration reform in this House, but this House has refused to hold a single vote.

Fifteen months ago, the Senate passed a comprehensive immigration bill in a bipartisan manner. This bill would have addressed many of the practices with our immigration policies that are simply unsustainable and contrary to our values.

By the end of today, about 1,000 people will have been removed from this country and from their families. Because of this, I call on President Obama to take bold and meaningful action on immigration. This action will inevitably provide a boost to our national and local economies while helping to promote strong communities and family unity.

The President can act within his legal authority--just like President Ronald Reagan did exactly on this issue--to ensure that thousands of mothers and fathers are no longer separated from their children. The President must act and act boldly now.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Anne J. Mallory who began her career in education in 1978. During her 36-year career, Anne served in many roles, including teaching assignments ranging from first grade to middle school language arts, Title VI resource teacher, principal, district superintendent and several positions at the Imperial County Office of Education (ICOE).

Anne began at ICOE in 2001, where she served in increasingly more responsible roles and was appointed as the Imperial County Superintendent of Schools in July 2009 after the retirement of her predecessor. In 2010, Anne J. Mallory ran unopposed in her re-election for County Superintendent. Throughout her educational career and tenure at ICOE, Anne received many awards and accolades recognizing her excellence in education as a teacher and administrator.

I would like to commend Anne J. Mallory for her 36-years of dedication to ICOE's staff, faculty, and students and commitment to expanding and improving educational services in Imperial County as County Superintendent for the last five years.