Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1330) recognizing June 8, 2010, as World Ocean Day, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

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

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I'm happy to rise in support of House Resolution 1330. This measure recognizes June 8, 2010, as World Ocean Day.

World Ocean Day offers the opportunity to celebrate the wonders of the underwater world and look carefully at our interactions with the sea.

The timing of this measure is critical. Today we find ourselves in the midst of the worst ocean oil disaster in our Nation's history. With our addiction to oil jeopardizing the vibrant and economically vital marine life of America's seas, we are being reminded daily of the often-forgotten value of

these resources and our responsibility to protect them.

The world's oceans cover more than 70 percent of our planet's surface, and the rich web of life that they support is the result of hundreds of millions of years of evolution. Great human civilizations, from the Egyptians to the Polynesians, relied on the sea for commerce and transport.

And now, in the 21st century, our fate is as tied to the oceans as ever. We still rely on fish for a significant portion of our daily protein needs. And more than $500 billion of the world's economy is tied to ocean-based industries, such as coastal tourism and shipping.

But all is not well in the sea. Increased pressures from overfishing, habitat destruction, pollution, and introduction of invasive alien species have combined in recent decades to threaten the diversity of life in our oceans.

The first observance of World Ocean Day will allow us to highlight the many ways in which oceans contribute to society. It is also an opportunity to recognize the considerable challenges we face in maintaining the capacity to regulate global climate, supply essential ecosystem services, and provide sustainable livelihoods and safe recreation.

As the oil continues to spill into the gulf, it is time to recognize a World Ocean Day and take the first critical steps to saving this vital resource.

House Resolution 1330 was introduced by our colleague, the gentleman from California, Representative Sam Farr, on May 5, 2010. The measure was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, which ordered it reported favorably by unanimous consent on May 20, 2010. The measure has the support of over 50 Members of the House.

I thank the gentleman from California for introducing this measure, and I'd also like to thank Chairman Towns and Ranking Member Issa for their support for the bill. I urge my colleagues to support this measure.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from California, Representative Farr.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Garamendi).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Kucinich).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from California, Congresswoman Capps.

I now yield 3 minutes to the author of this resolution, Representative Farr, the gentleman from California.

Mr. Speaker, I again urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this measure, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5278) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 405 West Second Street in Dixon, Illinois, as the ``President Ronald W. Reagan Post Office Building''.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

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

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, it is my great privilege as a member of the California delegation to rise in support of H.R. 5278. This measure designates the United States postal building located at 405 West Second Street in Dixon, Illinois, as the ``President Ronald W. Reagan Post Office Building.''

President Reagan hardly needs an introduction on this floor. Many of those who knew President Reagan referred to him as ``the Great Communicator.'' Thus, it is very fitting that we commemorate his legacy through the naming of this post office.

The son of a shoe salesman, Ronald Reagan was born in Illinois in 1911. He was a construction worker, a lifeguard, radio announcer, and actor. After serving in the Air Force, he returned to acting before successfully running for California Governor, despite never having held public office before.

President Reagan successfully obtained legislation to stimulate economic growth, curb inflation, and increase employment. His contributions on behalf of freedom around the world are unparalleled since the end of World War II. There is no more Cold War. There is no more Berlin Wall, and it was because of the leadership of President Ronald Reagan. He was instrumental in bringing the breath of freedom to millions of people around the world who had spent decades under the yoke of tyranny. President Reagan left a lasting imprint on American politics, diplomacy, culture, and economics.

As a California resident, I am honored to support H.R. 5278. It was introduced by our colleague, the gentleman from Illinois, Representative Bill Foster, on May 12, 2010. The measure was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, which ordered it reported by unanimous consent on May 6, 2010. The measure has the support of the entire Illinois delegation.

I thank the gentleman from Illinois for introducing this measure, and I would also like to thank Chairman Towns and Ranking Member Issa for their support for the bill.

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

Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the author of this resolution, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Foster).

Madam Speaker, I again urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this measure, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5133) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 331 1st Street in Carlstadt, New Jersey, as the ``Staff Sergeant Frank T. Carvill and Lance Corporal Michael A. Schwarz Post Office Building''.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

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

Madam Speaker, on behalf of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, it is my honor to rise in support of H.R. 5133. This measure designates the United States Postal Building located at 331 1st Street in Carlstadt, New Jersey, as the Staff Sergeant Frank T. Carvill and Lance Corporal Michael A. Schwarz Post Office Building.

Staff Sergeant Frank T. Carvill of Carlstadt, New Jersey, was killed on June 4, 2004, when his convoy was attacked by improvised explosive devices and rocket-propelled grenades in Baghdad. At 51, Carvill, an Army sergeant with the New Jersey National Guard, was among the oldest soldiers to die in Iraq. He was killed when his Humvee was ambushed in the Sadr City district of Baghdad in an attack that also claimed the lives of four other Guard members.

Carvill had escaped both terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center where he worked as a paralegal. In 1993, he

helped a co-worker down 54 floors to safety. On September 11, 2001, he left the north tower moments before one of the hijacked planes plowed into the building.

Carvill was a voracious reader who loved politics, an outdoorsman who enjoyed kayaking, and a trusted friend who had the same buddies for 30 years.

Marine Lance Corporal Michael A. Schwarz was killed in action on November 27, 2006, from wounds suffered while conducting combat operations in al Anbar Province in Iraq. The son and brother of auto mechanics, Schwarz graduated from Becton Regional High School in 2004. Along with his brother, Frank, Michael Schwarz served in the local volunteer fire department. Their father, Kenneth, headed the department for years.

Friends and relatives remembered Michael Schwarz as fun-loving and outgoing. Friends recalled off-road outings in Schwarz's customized Jeep. Most of all, there was Schwarz's love of the military and his desire to enlist in the Marines, a wish he expressed even when he was a young child.

H.R. 5133 was introduced by our colleague, the gentleman from New Jersey, Representative Rothman, on April 22, 2010. The measure was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, which ordered it reported favorably by unanimous consent on May 6, 2010. The measure has the support of the entire New Jersey delegation.

I thank the gentleman from New Jersey for introducing this measure, and I would also like to thank Chairman Towns and Ranking Member Issa for their support for the bill.

Madam Speaker, the lives of Staff Sergeant Frank T. Carvill and Lance Corporal Michael A. Schwarz stand as a testament to the courage and dedication of all our brave servicemen and -women who have made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our Nation. Let us pay tribute to their lives through the passage of this legislation, H.R. 5133, to designate the Carlstadt, New Jersey, postal facility in their honor.

I urge all of my colleagues to join us in supporting H.R. 5133.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the author of this resolution, the gentleman from New Jersey, Representative Rothman.

Madam Speaker, I again urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this measure, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1121) congratulating Clinton County and the county seat of Wilmington, Ohio, on the occasion of their bicentennial anniversaries.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 1121, a measure congratulating Clinton County, Ohio, and its county seat of Wilmington on their bicentennial.

House Resolution 1121 was introduced by our colleague, the gentleman from Ohio, Representative Michael Turner, on February 25, 2010. It was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, which ordered it reported favorably by unanimous consent on May 20, 2010. The measure enjoys the support of 50 Members of the House.

Madam Speaker, the history of Clinton County plays a strong part in the history of our country. It was originally known as the Virginia Military District because it had been set aside to reward the soldiers of the Revolutionary War. The county was established on February 19, 1810, 7 years after Ohio was admitted into the Union as the 17th State.

It takes its name, Clinton County, from George Clinton, the fourth Vice President of the United States and one of our Founding Fathers. Before the Civil War later that century, Clinton County would be a station of the Underground Railroad, providing refuge to thousands of people seeking to escape the horrors of slavery.

Today, Clinton County is home to about 43,200 residents. And let us acknowledge them today as we celebrate the bicentennial of their historic home.

In closing, I urge my colleagues to support this measure.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I also urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this measure.

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

Madam Speaker, I object to the vote on the grounds that a quorum

is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. Speaker, I stand here today in support of this rule and the underlying bill for one reason, and that is jobs, jobs, jobs. That's what this bill is about. It's about creating jobs across the country from Massachusetts to Florida to my home State of California.

This bill extends an important program I call Jobs NOW. While it may be little known, it's funded through TANF emergency funds, and it has a huge impact on the unemployed in 39 States, creating over 160,000 jobs, which will disappear in an instant if we don't pass this bill.

In L.A. County, it's paying 10,000 jobless workers $10 an hour and placing them in temporary jobs for up to a year. In exchange, the businesses provide training, build job skills, and get extra workers at little or no cost. It's truly a win-win.

For small companies hard-hit by the economic downturn, the chance for extra workers to grow and expand their businesses is a welcome boost, even if it means providing training and workspace for the temps, and it's great for workers too.

Anoush and Karen lost their jobs when the recession hit. Forced to go on welfare, they struggled to provide for their 2-year-old daughter. But Jobs NOW hired them to work at Abex Display systems, which manufactures trade show displays. The company used them to help handle a slow but growing recovery in sales, allowing it to move forward and stabilize after taking massive cuts in business. After the temporary jobs ended, both Karen and Anoush were hired permanently.

This family and this business are making a comeback because of Jobs NOW. Let's pass this rule and H.R. 4213 to help working families and our Nation do the same.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a great loss to our community, Mrs. May To, who passed way on May 8, 2010, at the young age of 60. My heart goes out to her husband, Alex To; her sons, Jonathan and Brian To; and the rest of her family, friends and loved ones.

Mrs. To was an extraordinary citizen, an activist for immigrant children, youth and families in the San Gabriel Valley for more than a quarter century. Her volunteerism and service spanned several organizations including the Chinatown Service Center, Alhambra School District and the International Institute of Los Angeles.

Born in Canton, China in 1950, May grew up in Hong Kong, where she completed her bachelor's degree in sociology from the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 1975. She came to the United States on an exchange scholarship to study at UCLA in 1977 and received her master's degree in education in two years.

She spent the late 1970s and early 80s helping her fellow immigrants to make the most of the opportunities provided by her adopted country, teaching ESL courses to fifth-graders and serving as assistant director of The Chinatown Service Center, where she oversaw refugee employment, social service and youth programs among others.

In 1984, May worked with the Asian Task Force of the United Way to create the Asian Youth Center, which was meant to fill a gap in critical services for immigrant children, youth and families in the San Gabriel Valley. In 1984, she became the Center's Executive Director.

Since then and under her leadership, Asian Youth Center has grown from a three-person project to a large, community-based organization with a budget of over $1.7 million and a 57-person staff, serving more than 8,500 Asian and non-Asian children, youth and families.

May's tireless efforts have helped shape the Asian American, Latino American, and other immigrant communities residing in the San Gabriel Valley. Her commitment to improving access to health services, social services, and youth development opportunities for immigrants have improved the lives of countless children, youth and families over the last 20 years.

I urge my House colleagues to join me in honoring Mrs. May To for her stellar record of personal, professional and civic leadership, her indomitable spirit and her remarkable service and contributions to her community and to our nation.

I rise today to urge the quick passage of H.R. 4213, the American Jobs, Closing Tax Loopholes and Preventing Outsourcing Act. This bill is such a comprehensive approach to improving our economy by providing important tax breaks and to spur innovation and create jobs. But one reason I'm extremely enthusiastic about it is that it extends and expands an extremely successful employment program that is called Jobs NOW, which has created over 156,000 jobs, and in my district alone, 400 jobs.

In Palmdale, California, Jobs NOW helped Jody, a single mother of two,

find a job at a local coffeehouse working as a barista. The regular paycheck puts food on the table and is helping her get through a rough patch. Her boss is extremely impressed with her work and plans to permanently hire her and three other subsidized employees that they brought on. It's this kind of success story that makes Jobs NOW such a good model for job creation. Without it, the coffeehouse would not have been able to grow its business or take on new employees. Jody would not have had a chance to learn these new skills and support her family.

Now I came across this innovative program because it's in my district, Los Angeles County. One of the Los Angeles County supervisors, Don Knabe, created a program which provided over 11,000 jobs, all in 1 year, using stimulus funds to create these subsidized jobs. How does it work? Eligible participants are placed into subsidized jobs in all sectors of the economy, from small business to nonprofits to the government sector, and they're matched with jobs that complement their employment goals. The employer must provide supervision equal to 20 percent of the cost of this job and they must ensure that the job will not displace an existing employee or someone who is to be promoted.

What this means is that the county then is paying for 80 percent or more of the payroll costs through Recovery Act funds. Some examples of these jobs are park rangers, receptionists, teachers' assistants, dental assistant trainees, customer service clerks, and child care workers. Workers get paid $10 per hour for up to 40 hours per week.

Jobs NOW allow small businesses to succeed and the employee to succeed. I've spoken to countless people in my district about this program and I keep on hearing about how this program is truly a win-win for businesses and workers. This program works because they do both benefit. Workers benefit beyond the paycheck by getting hands-on experience in a setting where they can earn wages and make sure that they put food on the table. They are also developing their skills. Small businesses benefit by getting the help they need to grow or expand while temporarily reducing payroll costs. Companies may ultimately desire to hire these subsidized workers permanently as the economy improves. The jobs generated by the program can help businesses expand in these difficult times by reducing their economic risk and the need for expensive loans.

In April of this year, over 7,000 people were enrolled in the program in Los Angeles County, and 1,100 employers were improving their productivity and putting someone to work with this extra help. These are companies like Punch Television Network in Carson, California. Punch TV is a fledgling channel that is trying to build a new nationwide television network, and they needed quality employees to truly expand. They hired six subsidized employees using Jobs NOW and they recently moved into a new large production center to handle all their new work. They even want to hire these new, highly motivated workers permanently. So now, not only do these employees have hands-on experience, they are going to have a permanent job.

But this great program isn't just putting people to work in my area. It's employing people all across the Nation in 29 States across the Nation. They are using Jobs NOW to keep their residents working, paying taxes, and purchasing groceries that's fueling local economies. In Tennessee, the State focused on rural Perry County, which was hard hit by a plant closure. The unemployment rate had risen to 27.3 percent. Tennessee brought local workforce development and human service agencies and the business community together and developed a subsidized employment program for over 500 individuals. The effort cut local unemployment down to 18.6 percent. Because of successes like this, more States want to join. And if we pass H.R. 4213, Jobs NOW can expand and help thousands more people.

But we can't delay. Already, States are stopping their subsidized jobs programs because the funding will expire at the end of September. Companies aren't as interested in taking on new employees and training them, just to lose them again in 4 months. In my district, Los Angeles County will stop placing participants in new jobs in June, and soon many more counties and States will do the same. Yet, the full amount of funding has yet to be claimed by the States. The Recovery Act authorized $5 billion for Jobs NOW's employment program, but less than $1.5 billion has been accessed by the States, and the program really actually can still expand across the country. That's why H.R. 4213 is so crucial. It not only extends Jobs NOW for another year, it lets the unspent funds for this year pay for next year's salaries for workers hired in 2010.

If we don't act now, 60,000 Americans across the Nation will lose their jobs when this program ends and endless more will not have the opportunity to get the jobs that they need. This bill will keep Americans employed and will create thousands of necessary jobs.

I yield back.

Thank you, Chairman Honda, for convening this Special Order hour on APA Heritage Month.

I stand proud this evening with Chairman Honda to commemorate the month of May as Asian Pacific Heritage Month. As the first Chinese American Congresswoman, it has been an honor and a privilege to be a representative and work on behalf of Asian Americans, and all Americans, on such critical issues affecting our Nation, like economic recovery, immigration, and, of course, the passage of health care reform.

Though Asian Americans have been here in this country for 160 years, it was not until 1992 when the designation of May as Asian Pacific American Heritage Month was signed into law. It was because of Asian American leaders like Secretary Mineta, then a Congressman, and Senators Daniel Inouye and Spark Matsunaga who introduced the legislation. They designated this month of May, the very month when Japanese immigrants first set foot on U.S. soil and when Chinese immigrants worked tirelessly to complete the first transcontinental railroad, to celebrate the contributions of APIs to this country.

For far too long, Asian Americans have not been at the table where important decisions were being made. This is despite the fact that we were here for 160 years, and yet we were nearly invisible in State and Federal Government. But in recent years, we have broken the glass ceiling and have ushered in an era of change. Asian Americans are at a historic high in leadership positions in so many different arenas: in politics, in law firms, and in the judicial arena.

In my home State of California, not only do we have three Asian Americans who are statewide-elected constitutional officers, such as State Controller John Chung, we have 11 Asian Americans in the California State Legislature.

And, on the Federal level, it is astounding that out of President Obama's 19 Cabinet members, three are Asian Americans: General Eric Shinseki, Steven Chu, and Gary Locke. And recently, four Federal judges were appointed: Dolly Gee, Jacqueline Nguyen, Denny Chin, and most recently, Goodwin Liu, the first Asian American to the U.S. Court of Appeals. It is the greatest number of Asian Pacific Islanders in State and Federal office in history.

And we've all stood on the shoulders of Asian American leaders like Former Secretary Norman Yoshio Mineta, who was a leader and a role model ahead of his time. It was because of Secretary Mineta that the invaluable contributions of Asian Americans were memorialized and recognized this month. It was Secretary Mineta who spearheaded the long and hard push to get final passage because of the Japanese American reparations bill, because his entire family, along with 120,000 other Japanese Americans, were interned for 2 years during World War II. And it was Secretary Mineta who cofounded and once cochaired the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus so that today our caucus, which has grown in number and blossomed, has a unified voice and advocates for issues that are unique to the Asian American community.

That is why Chairman Mike Honda and I feel so strongly about introducing legislation to honor the legacy of Norman Mineta, who made history and still is an inspiration to many. We hope that our House colleagues will join us in honoring this veteran, public servant, and great American.

Secretary Mineta, we pay homage to you for all of your service to Asian Americans and all Americans. You are a pioneer, a visionary, and a leader who embodies the true meaning of service.

Of course, we still have much work to do. We must continue to advocate for greater diversity at all levels where important decisions are being made. And, in fact, here in the very Halls of Congress we have seen what diverse and fruitful coalitions are capable of accomplishing when we work together to advance our issues.

When the congressional Asian, Hispanic, and Black caucuses unite as one, we are a strong voice and no longer an invisible minority, but a majority that can advocate effectively for Asian, Latino, and African Americans and, for that matter, all Americans. As a united coalition, we can make a difference on problems that impact us today.

For instance, we can reform our broken immigration system, which has kept families apart for far too long. Today, 12 million people live in the shadows with no hope or path to legalization. Today, young people who are valedictorians and student body presidents are prevented from completing a college education. And today, States like Arizona can pass laws that are discriminatory, anti-immigrant, and, frankly, un- American, when all immigrants want to do is to be productive, contributing citizens and provide for their family and loved ones.

We know immigrants are indispensable to our Nation's economy. In California alone, businesses owned by Latinos and Asians make up more than one quarter of all businesses and contributed $183 billion to the State. And that's according to the 2000 census figures, which we know is much undercounted by now, certainly.

We can foster the economic strength and level the playing field for Asian Americans and minority-owned businesses. Today, API and minority businesses still face great obstacles in getting lending and access to capital. When minority-owned firms do receive financing, it is for less money and at a higher interest rate than nonminority-owned firms, regardless of the size of the firm.

Despite the fact that Asian Pacific Islanders are 5 percent of the U.S. population, they only account for 1.9 percent of total Federal contracting dollars, which was worth $535 billion last year. API and other minority businesses face discrimination by prime contractors and contracting officers in the Federal Government, leaving these businesses very little opportunity to compete for contracts. And this must change.

And, we can make sure that we are counted in the census so that the particular needs of the API and other minority populations can be addressed. Today, we still do not have the proper and disaggregated data to sufficiently address the specific needs of the API and other minority communities. Segments of our API community continue to suffer from a ``model minority'' myth, and those in our population with the greatest needs continue to go underserved.

And today, we continue to have problems with language accessibility and

cultural sensitivity in the current census, even though the language capability is out there to assist in a very, very accurate census. These things, of course, have to change. I truly believe that when the leadership of this country begins to look like the people who live in it, our country will finally reflect the issues and concerns of all its people and we will see the change that we desire.

As I reflect upon the journey and struggles of Asian Americans in this country, I am reminded of the day when I was sworn in. As I stood on the floor of Congress and raised my right hand, I thought about the fact that my grandfather came to this country with nothing. In fact, he faced the hostile laws of the time, the Chinese Exclusion Act, which prohibited him from becoming a naturalized citizen, and the California laws that prevented Asian Americans from owning land and from being hired in any corporation. But he decided to make something of his life anyway and worked day and night and night and day to make ends meet. And now, two generations later, his granddaughter can be a Member of Congress. That is what America is all about, the land of hopes, dreams, and opportunity.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I have an amendment at the desk.

Today, a woman sits in a classroom at East Los Angeles College, taking notes diligently as her professor explains the different types of inorganic chemical reactions. Sylvia is the first in her family to attend college. She can barely afford the low tuition rate, even though she works full time to help pay for books and put food on the table. She is the embodiment of the American Dream-- studying, persevering, working, all with the hope of transferring to a 4-year college to earn her bachelor's degree in chemistry.

But the road ahead is tough. She struggles to find rigorous courses that meet the demands of the 4-year institutions. She doesn't have access to a chemistry lab and her community college cannot provide the research opportunities available to her fellow students at larger universities. But she represents our path to economic recovery. Her success is imperative to ensuring a skilled and diverse workforce for our Nation's future.

That's why I have introduced to the America COMPETES Act an amendment to include the community college and to help STEM students, particularly women and underrepresented minorities, transition from a 2-year to a 4-year institution. It will ensure that all students, regardless of ethnicity or socioeconomic status, are afforded every opportunity to enter STEM fields. Without my amendment, we risk leaving Sylvia behind. We risk leaving her without the skills to earn a high- paying job that will provide her with the means to support her family and the skills to power our economic growth.

Forty-four percent of all STEM bachelor's degree holders attend community college at some point in their careers. Many of these students represent the neediest in our society. They are the ones who sacrifice so much just to better themselves and improve their chance of success. Nationally, community college students are older, more likely to receive financial aid, are more likely to be the first in their family to attend college, and are more likely to work while earning their degree. These students are the embodiment of the American Dream, and they must not be forgotten.

As a former professor at East Los Angeles College, I'm all too familiar with the hurdles these students face in working toward any bachelor's degree, much less those in the natural sciences or engineering. We need these students to succeed. By 2050, racial and ethnic minorities will make up over half of the college-age population. If we don't help them enter the most technologically competitive fields, we face a future in which America is no longer at the forefront of innovation.

I urge support of my amendment and the overall bill so that Sylvia and so many other students like her have the skills they need to be competitive and to ensure America will stay competitive tomorrow.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Chair, I yield the balance of my time to the distinguished chairperson of the committee, Mr. Gordon of Tennessee.

Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, earlier this week I introduced a bill to ensure that scarce Federal resources provided for the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program are spent to provide nutritious meals to our children.

Every day more than 30 million students receive meals through these programs. In this recession, more and more families are relying on schools to feed their children at least one healthy meal every school day. At the same time, these programs are facing increased costs.

Unfortunately, some school districts overcharge for the administrative costs associated with implementing these important nutrition programs. This means less money to feed children. That's why I introduced the National School Lunch Protection Act of 2010, to ensure that Federal money for school meals actually goes towards feeding our needy children.

Specifically, this bill requires a Federal study to see what school districts are charging the Federal Government to implement these programs. Armed with this information, the Secretary will implement regulations to protect these important nutrition programs. Once passed, this bill will prevent government waste and will help to feed more hungry children.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1272) commemorating the 40th anniversary of the May 4, 1970, Kent State University shootings.

Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days in which Members may revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material into the Record.

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

I rise today to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Kent State University shootings. On May 4, 1970, members of the Ohio National Guard fired into a crowd of unarmed student demonstrators, killing four and wounding nine students.

Antiwar protests broke out on college campuses nationwide on Friday, May 1, following the announcement of the U.S. invasion of Cambodia as part of the Vietnam War. At Kent State University, students assembled in protest throughout the weekend. On May 4, the number of protesters grew in size until approximately 3,000 demonstrators and spectators were gathered on the commons area of the university. Ohio National Guardsmen, who were brought in as the protest grew, began firing in their direction.

Those who were lost that day were Allison Krause, a 19-year-old freshman honors student; Jeffrey Miller, a 20-year-old student who had recently transferred to the school; Sandra Scheuer, also 20, was simply walking to class with a friend when she came in the line of a bullet fired; and William Schroeder, who was not part of the protest and also on his way to class, died with schoolwork in his hands. In addition to those who perished, nine students were injured: Alan Canfora, John Cleary, Thomas Grace, Dean Kahler, Joseph Lewis, Donald MacKenzie, James Russell, Robert Stamps, and Douglas Wrentmore. All survived, but their lives were forever changed.

The site of the tragic campus shootings that occurred 40 years ago was just recently entered into the National Register of Historic Places, the official list of the Nation's historic places worthy of preservation. In order to preserve the memory of the May 4 shootings and encourage inquiry, learning and reflection, Kent State has established a May 4 memorial, as well as individual student memorial markers and scholarships in memory of the four students who lost their lives that day.

The university has also begun steps in the development of a May 4 visitors center which will serve as a central place where individuals can explore and better understand the shootings that took place on that terrible day.

Mr. Speaker, once again I express my support for House Resolution 1272 and the development of the May 4 visitors center as an additional primary resource to preserve and communicate the history of the May 4 shootings, its larger ethical and societal context and impact, and its enduring meaning for our democratic Nation.

I thank the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ryan) for bringing this bill forward, and I urge my colleagues to support this measure.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ryan) for 2 minutes.

I yield the gentleman an additional 30 seconds.

Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of House Resolution 1272, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1157) congratulating the National Urban League on its 100th year of service to the United States, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material on House Resolution 1157 into the Record.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor and privilege that I rise in support of House Resolution 1157 in commemoration and recognition of the National Urban League's 110th anniversary and their pursuit of civil rights and economic empowerment for all people.

Founded in 1910 and headquartered in New York City, the National Urban League is a preeminent voice for the civil rights of African Americans and for improving the quality of life in our urban communities. Through their programs, the League provides direct services to more than 2 million people nationwide through more than 100 local affiliates in 36 States and the District of Columbia.

With its 100th anniversary, the League commemorates a rich history of service and advocacy. In what started as a grassroots movement for equality, Mrs. Ruth Standish Baldwin and Dr. George Edmund Haynes provided crucial support to African Americans moving to urban centers in the early 1900s. The League worked tirelessly to reduce the discrimination and pervasive inequality in our Nation's cities.

The League grew in size and influence with our Nation's civil rights movement in the 1960s. They expanded their advocacy operations and established social service initiatives in housing, health, education, and minority business development.

This national organization exemplifies the ideals of service and outreach and has been a tremendous force in enhancing opportunities for education, economic empowerment, health, and quality of life, civic engagement, and civil rights and social justice.

I would like to extend my congratulations and appreciation to the National Urban League for their 100 years of exceptional dedication and service, and I wish this organization continued success in the great work that they do for years to come.

I would also like to thank and congratulate the countless volunteers and staff of the National Urban League for their commitment to furthering the organization's mission of equality, and I join with them in celebrating the League's historic milestone.

I thank Representative Hastings for introducing this resolution, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings) for 5 minutes.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Al Green) for 3 minutes.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Sutton) for 2 minutes.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time. I urge passage of House Resolution 1157, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1312) recognizing the roles and contributions of America's teachers to building and enhancing our Nation's civic, cultural, and economic well-being, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on House Resolution 1312 into the Record.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I might consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the important role teachers play in the education of our Nation. This week, May 3 through 7, we celebrate National Teacher Appreciation Week. The National PTA created this week in 1984 to show gratitude to the approximately 3.2 million teachers in the United States, and to thank them for contributing to the civic, cultural, and economic well-being of our Nation. This National Teacher Appreciation Week is a chance for us to recognize the selflessness and dedication that teachers show to our children every day.

We know that having teachers is integral to the educational outcomes of our Nation's youth. Research tells us that teacher quality accounts for the majority of variance in student achievement. Highly qualified teachers serve as excellent role models and instill a love for knowledge and lifelong learning in our students. They also shape tomorrow's leaders and prepare America's diverse student population with the skills it needs to compete in the 21st century workforce.

Teaching is a skilled practice. Teachers reflect on their lessons and modify instruction to reach the broad range of needs of their students in their classrooms. Quality teachers hone their skills and are experts not only in their subject matter, but also at connecting with young people and making learning come alive. Teaching is a dynamic profession, and educators must continuously engage in quality professional development in order to sharpen their techniques and increase their own knowledge.

Unfortunately, research has shown us the negative effects of teacher shortages. With the economic downturn, we have seen too many States turn to teacher layoffs to address budget deficits. Additionally, over the next 4

years more than a third of the Nation's 3.2 million teachers may retire. It is imperative that schools and communities continue to support our teachers if we are to educate our children to not only compete, but to lead and innovate in the 21st century economy.

I would like to extend my congratulations to the 2010 National Teacher of the Year, Ms. Sarah Brown Wessling, an English teacher at Johnston High School in Johnston, Iowa. Ms. Wessling teaches 10th through 12th graders at Johnston High, and is recognized for her innovative, learner-centered teaching methods, and her passion for quality instruction. We recognize Ms. Wessling's hard work and the example she sets for our Nation's teachers.

Madam Speaker, once again I express my support for National Teacher Appreciation Week. I encourage everyone to take a moment and to reflect on a motivational teacher that helped you realize your potential and reach your dreams. I want to thank Representative Graves for bringing this resolution to the floor, and I urge my colleagues to pass this resolution.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Linda T. Sanchez).

Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I reserve the balance of my time.

As a teacher who was in the classroom for 20 years myself, I deeply appreciate this resolution. And it is a very timely one, especially as we go into reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I urge passage of House Resolution 1312, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1149) supporting the goals and ideals of National Charter School Week, to be held May 2 through May 8, 2010.

Madam Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on House Resolution 1149 into the Record.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 1149, a resolution in support of the goals and ideals of National Charter School Week from May 2 through May 8, 2010, and to recognize the growing charter school movement in our Nation.

Since their inception in 1991, charter schools have offered a competitive education to many of our Nation's public school students and have helped drive school reforms across the country. Charter schools across the United States support diverse and innovative instruction and learning models. With autonomy and flexibility, charter schools can make timely decisions about how to structure the school day, which curricula best suits the needs of their students, and which types of staff will enrich the school communities. Additionally, quality charter schools form important partnerships with parents and with their surrounding communities.

This week, charter schools across the country will celebrate the 11th annual National Charter School Week. It is a great time to highlight the role these schools serve in driving education innovation and reform.

Today, there are almost 5,000 public charter schools, which are operating in 39 States and in the District of Columbia. They serve more than 1.5 million students, with many more students on waiting lists. To address this demand, many States and districts are welcoming charters to their neighborhoods. With the start of the school year, over 400 new public charter schools opened their doors to nearly 170,000 new students.

The growing charter school movement is also providing opportunities for many historically underserved communities. Nationally, charter schools serve a high percentage of minority and low-income students. In fact, 58 percent of charter school students are minorities, and 35 percent qualify for free and reduced priced lunches. Quality charter schools are often able to achieve impressive academic results.

Madam Speaker, once again, I express my support for National Charter School Week, and I recognize the charter school movement and its 18- year history of promoting a high-quality public educational option--an option that is innovative, flexible, and responsive to community needs.

I thank Representative Bishop for introducing this resolution, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I urge passage of House Resolution 1149, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Today I stand here to say our immigration system is broken and fixing it is critically important to the long term security and prosperity of our Nation. Of course, I have a much different opinion on how to fix it than some on the other side of the aisle. Where they see an attack on American culture and way of life, I see a chance to strengthen our Nation with a new generation of productive and active citizens. Where they see fear and paranoia, I see an opportunity to do the right thing, the humane thing, and bring 12 million immigrants out of the shadows and into society.

What they don't see is the ongoing family separations, the exploitation of workers by unscrupulous workers, and the true human cost of our broken immigration system.

I get calls every day in my district from families who have sacrificed and worked hard to put food on the table and send their children to school. Take the case of Maria, an American citizen, who came into our district office last month with her two children, ages 2 and 4, crying torrents of tears. They were trying to do the right thing. Her husband was undocumented. She had gone to Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, with her husband for an appointment with an immigration official where she was petitioning for her husband to receive legal status. The immigration officer denied it saying there was insufficient hardship.

It is now more than a year since her husband was left stranded in Ciudad Juarez. Even married to an American citizen, he is barred from reentering the country for up to 10 years because of a law passed by Congress in the 1990s making it tougher for undocumented immigrants to acquire legal status through marriage. In the meantime, Maria has lost her house, was forced to do a short sale because she could not keep up with the mortgage payments without her husband's income. Her children wake up in the middle of the night crying for their daddy. To me that sounds like sufficient hardship.

These family separations are cruel and counterproductive to both legal immigrants and citizens. It is families that have historically helped immigrants assimilate into American life and helped prevent health and social problems. Family networks give individuals the support and resources they need to become successful, productive members of our society.

And if Congress doesn't act to fix our immigration system, States will do their own thing and we will be stuck with an unfair and impractical patchwork system. Just last week, the State of Arizona passed the broadest and strictest immigration measure in generations in any State. The law makes a failure to carry immigration documents a crime, and gives the police broad power to detain anyone suspected of being in the country illegally.

Now I don't walk around with my birth certificate or passport, which is expensive and out of financial reach of many. And neither does Abdon, a commercial truck driver living in Arizona. Last week on the heels of the Governor signing this new law, he was shackled by the police and detained by the Phoenix Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office. Abdon was born a citizen of the United States. He has a job. He pays taxes. He speaks English. His wife Jackie is a natural-born citizen of the United States. She too has a job and she also speaks English. She pays taxes. But he was pulled over and arrested. Why? Not because he was speeding, that's for sure.

When the officer demanded his papers, Abdon could only produce his driver's license and Social Security number. Not good enough. At a routine commercial weigh station on a regular workday, Abdon made the mistake of not carrying his birth certificate with him. That's right, his birth certificate.

Now why did the police really pull him over? It is apparently now the law of the State of Arizona you can arrest people, citizen or not, simply for appearing Hispanic.

This is a sadly familiar story, but one that was thought to be safely in the past. In the years following the Civil War, States began to implement a series of discriminatory laws designed to control former slaves and free blacks. Under the vagrancy laws, police could stop anyone anywhere and require you to show proof of employment on demand. If you didn't, you could be arrested and your labor sold to the highest bidder.

But what if you forgot to carry your employment records with you when you left the house that morning, what if you, like so many regular citizens, were unaware of the anti-vagrancy laws? What if you were simply unemployed? Well, it might be your last mistake as a free citizen of the United States.

Sound familiar? Well, it does to Abdon, and it is for Abdon and the thousands of other Arizonians that we need immigration reform this year. We cannot solve our immigration woes by simply creating new problems. Instead, we must pass a comprehensive bill that actually fixes our immigration system that penalizes employers who would hire undocumented workers and exploit their status for their own gain. We need a bill that protects the family and repairs a bureaucratic system that forces citizens and immigrants to live apart from their loved ones. We need a bill that secures our borders and provides a clear path to citizenship and employment for otherwise law-abiding immigrants, undocumented or not.

America would not be the great Nation it is without the passion, ingenuity and perseverance of the millions of immigrants who have come to our shores looking for a better life for themselves and their families.