Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, many victims of domestic violence are afraid to tell their story. They are afraid to get help or don't know how. These men, women, and children need someone to stand up for them, to know where to turn. That is what Domestic Violence Awareness Month is all about. In fact, this October is the 20th anniversary of legislation to establish this event.

Domestic violence is shockingly common. One in four American women and almost 10 percent of men will be sexually or physically assaulted by a spouse, intimate partner, or acquaintance at some point in their life.

I strongly support full funding of domestic violence programs for fiscal year 2010. This money is sorely needed. According to a recent study, last year, on one day alone, 10,000 people were turned away from local domestic violence programs due to a lack of resources.

I pledge to work on behalf of domestic violence victims here in Congress. I want survivors to know how much I respect and commend them for their bravery, and I want them to know there are services and support groups that can help.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 816. Last month's magnitude 8.0 earthquake in Samoa, Tonga, and American Samoa was devastating, setting off tsunamis that washed over islands killing 168 people.

The quake generated three separate tsunami waves, the largest measuring 5.1 feet, completely destroying villages, leaving families whose entire lives had washed away with nothing. On the small islands, ocean waters washed away houses, cars, and main access roads, making it all the more difficult for rescue parties and aid to reach hard-hit areas.

In the aftermath of the disaster, local aid agencies, foreign nations, the U.S. Coast Guard, and FEMA instituted a quick and much- needed response. With the lack of proper sanitation, water and shelter continuing to be a problem, I urge relief organizations to bolster their efforts to keep residents safe and healthy.

I commend President Obama for declaring American Samoa a major disaster area. My heart goes out to the Samoan community, many of whom live in my area of Los Angeles County.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 800.

Tropical Storm Ketsana ravaged the Philippines, dumping more than a month's worth of rain in just 12 hours. It was one of the worst storms in 40 years, causing landslides and submerging entire towns. Then, not even a week later, Typhoon Parma hit the already waterlogged nation, leaving as much as 36 inches of rain in some areas and causing landslides that imprisoned many residents. With 700 deaths and almost 4 million people who have lost their homes, it is imperative to make sure that the many homeless are provided with shelter.

I commend all of the relief organizations and nations who sent aid to those affected by the disaster. My heart goes out to the Filipino community both abroad and here, many of whom live in my district and who are so worried about their friends and relatives.

Madam Speaker, America has made great strides in the last century to provide rights and protections to our most disadvantaged communities. Laws were made that limited the workday and made it illegal for companies to profit from child labor. Women were given the right to vote. The Civil Rights Act codified Martin Luther King's dream by ensuring that all people of color could obtain equal rights.

But the fight is not over. People are still trying to deny Americans equal

protection under the law for being who they are. Yesterday Republicans tried to block an important provision to protect gays, lesbians, transgenders, and bisexuals from being targeted, harassed, injured, or even killed due to acts of bias and hatred. The Matthew Shepherd Hate Crimes Prevention Act would give the LGBT community the same protections already provided to other groups that have been discriminated against in our Nation's history.

Many are familiar with the hatred and bigotry perpetrated against people of different races and religions. Take the case of Kenny Chiu, a 17-year-old Asian American from Orange County, California, who was simply standing in the driveway of his own home when he was grabbed and brutally stabbed 26 times. In the last hour of his life, he was able to identify his killer. It was his 20-year-old next-door neighbor, who was a Neo-Nazi sympathizer and was looking for a minority to kill.

But members of the LGBT community face the same harassment every day just for being who they are. Larry King was a gay eighth-grader from Ventura, California, who used to come to school dressed differently. He was the subject of great harassment. Other boys made fun of him, called him names, and threw wet paper towels at him in the boys' restroom. Then one morning behind the computer lab at his junior high school, a fellow classmate shot him twice in the head. In contrast to the case of Kenny Chiu, Larry King's murder is not covered by our Federal hate crimes law. This must change.

When asked by my constituents why I support this bill, I describe my experience as Chair of the California State Assembly's Select Committee on Hate Crimes, where I held hearings on hate crimes across all the communities of the State. After hearing these horrific stories and listening to their heartbroken families, I know I cannot fight for the civil rights of one group without fighting for the civil rights of the other. Things will not change until people stand up and say we will not tolerate making anybody in America a second-class citizen. As long as intolerance exists, as long as there are people out there that turn a blind eye to hate and bigotry, then we as a human race are doomed to repeat the horrors of the past.

In California what happened to Larry King is considered a hate crime. It is one of only five States in the Nation that include sexual orientation and gender identity in the definition of a hate crime. But in the Nation many are left without such protection because Federal law leaves many States without the resources or expertise to effectively investigate and prosecute bias-motivated violent crimes in the LGBT community. That is why tomorrow we must pass the Matthew Shepherd Hate Crimes Prevention Act so that every teenager who goes to school can be who they are knowing they are protected by the United States of America.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 517) congratulating the University of Washington women's softball team for winning the 2009 Women's College World Series.

Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on H.R. 517 into the Record.

I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

I rise today to congratulate the University of Washington softball team for their victory in the 2009 NCAA Division I tournament. On June 2, softball fans were treated to an exceptional game as the Washington Huskies defeated the

Florida Gators and clinched their first national title. The close 3-2 win capped off a phenomenal season that saw the Huskies go 51-12.

I want to extend my congratulations to head coach Heather Tarr and assistant coaches Gina Carbonatto and Lance Glascoe. Coach Tarr played softball for the Huskies in 1988 when they placed second in the Women's College World Series. She returned to her alma mater in 2003 and delivered Washington their first women's softball national title.

Congratulations are also in order for pitcher Danielle Lawrie. Lawrie, a junior from Langley, British Columbia, led the Nation in strikeouts and wins. She was named the 2009 USA Softball National Player of the Year. In addition, Lawrie was one of five finalists for the prestigious Honda-Broderick Cup, which honors the top female athlete in collegiate athletics.

The Huskies showed incredible effort and ability during their run to the championship. Niki Williams set a Women's College World Series record with 10 RBIs and an unbelievable seven of them were in one game against the University of Georgia. During the College World Series, the Washington Huskies batted .304 and scored 32 runs over six games. This followed a two-game sweep of Georgia Tech in Atlanta and a dramatic 15- inning win over the University of Massachusetts to clinch a spot in the super-regionals.

The extraordinary achievement of this year is a tribute to the skill and dedication of the many players, coaches, students, alumni, families and fans that have helped to make the University of Washington a premier softball program. I know the fans of the University of Washington will revel in these accomplishments as they look forward to the 2010 series.

Mr. Speaker, once again, I congratulate the University of Washington softball team for their success and thank Representative McDermott for bringing this resolution forward.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize the gentleman from Washington, the sponsor of this legislation, Mr. McDermott, for 3 minutes.

(Mr. McDERMOTT asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

I yield the gentleman another 1 minute.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the remainder 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. 769) recognizing the benefits of service-learning as a teaching strategy to effectively engage youth in the community and classroom, and expressing support for the goals of the National Learn and Serve Challenge.

Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on H. Res. 769 into the Record.

I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the benefits of service- learning as a teaching strategy to effectively engage youth in the community and classroom, and to support the goals of the National Learn and Serve Challenge. I want to thank my colleagues from the National Service Caucus, Mr. Platts, Ms. Matsui, Mr. Ehlers, Mr. Price, and Mr. Kennedy, for introducing this important resolution.

Service-learning is an educational model that can be used from kindergarten to the university level across all subjects and disciplines. By integrating learning in the classroom with real world challenges in the community, service-learning can make school assignments come alive for typically disconnected students. By affording students the opportunity to apply their lessons to solving real problems in their surrounding communities, we are not only engaging our students, but we are also helping to improve our local neighborhoods.

Research has shown long-term positive impacts associated with service-learning, including increased academic achievement, enhanced school engagement, positive civic attitudes, and improved social and personal skills. Students who complete a service project that has a direct tie to their curriculum are able to develop better problem- solving skills and have a better understanding of cognitive complexities. Studies have also shown a connection between service- learning and higher grades and test scores.

Service-learning is also a successful strategy for keeping students engaged in school and makes students less likely to drop out. More than just community service, service-learning applies classroom skills by asking students to investigate a challenge in their community, plan solutions, take action through service, and then reflect on the experience and the results. Students who are engaged in this process become more involved in their studies and in their neighborhoods. In fact, studies have shown that service-learners have better school attendance and more acceptable school behaviors than their peers.

Service-learning also promotes positive civic attitudes and fosters involvement in our democracy. Research suggests that students involved in service-learning opportunities build self-confidence, leadership skills, and increase their tolerance of others. Further studies have also shown that high school students that participated in service- learning are more likely to vote 15 years after their experience than those that did not participate.

Finally, students who are exposed to service-learning build important social and personal skills. Service-learning serves as an on-ramp to civic engagement for a lifetime. Students who are involved with service develop strong ethics and a sense of social responsibility. Participation in those programs has also been shown to reduce negative behaviors such as those that lead to arrest or pregnancy.

In order to call attention to the many benefits of service-learning, the National Learn and Serve Challenge will take place October 5-11. This week-long nationwide celebration of service will raise awareness of service-learning and foster collaborative partnerships between local schools, institutions of higher education, and their surrounding communities. The organization has set an ambitious goal of having 5 million college students and 50 percent of K-12 schools engaged in meaningful service by 2010.

Mr. Speaker, once again, I express my support for the National Learn and Serve Challenge, and I encourage more schools to take advantage of the many benefits service-learning can have on

our students and our communities. I urge my colleagues to pass this resolution.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 487) recognizing the 100th anniversary of the State News at Michigan State University.

Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on H. Res. 487 into the Record.

I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 487, which recognizes the 100th anniversary of the campus newspaper at Michigan State University, The State News.

The State News started in 1909 with the creation of the college's first newspaper, the Holcad News, named after an ancient Greek ship. In 1925, the Holcad changed its name to The State News, educating students, faculty, and alumni about local and national news.

Originally, The State News was created to defend Michigan State University students from the harsh criticism they were receiving from the local newspapers. Although it began with weekly editions, State News eventually progressed into a daily newspaper. With a circulation of 28,500 to approximately 280 locations on and off campus, The State News is now one of the Nation's largest student daily newspapers.

Today, continuing a tradition of serving the Michigan State University community, The State News collects distinguished honors, including several designations as the best college newspaper in the country, and sends their student employees to top national news organizations, such as The New York Times, the Associated Press and The Washington Post.

The accolades received by The State News are also a reflection of MSU's academic accomplishments. Michigan State University possesses a preeminent educational record. Today, MSU enrolls over 46,000 students and offers a wide range of courses. With over 100 undergraduate majors, 17 different colleges, and 29 online degree programs, MSU boasts a strong academic profile. In fact, MSU has produced more Rhodes Scholars than any other Big Ten school over the past 25 years. Both The State News and the MSU community have brought national acclaim to East Lansing, Michigan.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Mr. Rogers for bringing this resolution forward. I urge my colleagues to support this measure.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the remainder 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. 90) supporting the goals and ideals of National Campus Safety Awareness Month.

Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on House Resolution 90 into the Record.

I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 90, which recognizes the importance of safety on college campuses and promotes the idea of National Campus Safety.

As a community college professor for 20 years and the author of a California bill, the Campus Sexual Assault Safety Act, I understand firsthand how vital campus safety is to enhancing the learning experiences of its students, but more importantly, how raising awareness can serve to prevent campus violence.

We have witnessed this in several tragic cases, for instance, in the case of the death of Jeanne Clery in the late 1980s, who was a freshman at Lehigh University. On April 5, 1986, Jeanne was beaten, raped and murdered in her dormitory room. Jeanne's case brought college campus safety to the forefront when it exposed flaws in the reporting of crime information related to violence on colleges campuses.

At that time, both violent and nonviolent incidents were reported to campus authorities, but administrators had no legal obligation to disclose violent college crimes to the public. In the aftermath of Jeanne's murder, her parents, Connie and Howard Clery, founded Security on Campus, Inc., to end violence on all college campuses.

It is a nonprofit, grass-roots organization dedicated to making campuses safe. Partnering with over 150 colleges from 42 States, Security on Campus, Inc., offers educational programs on sexual assault, alcohol and drugs. Over the past few years, we have seen how important it is to pay attention to our students' safety on campus. It is unfortunate that it takes tragic events like those occurring at Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois for us to remember that crimes take place on college campuses all over the country.

More recently, Annie Le, a Yale University graduate student was allegedly murdered and found dead on campus the day she planned to marry her college sweetheart. The reauthorization of the Higher Education Act last year took new action to improve campus safety. It required each educational institution to clearly articulate a method to disseminate emergency notifications to the entire campus body in the case of an emergency. The law also includes measures to ensure that campus preparedness employees coordinate with local law enforcement and emergency management authorities to improve responses to campus emergencies.

Campus safety is relevant, important and necessary. Anyone can become a victim of a campus crime, and it is imperative that students are taught how to avoid dangerous situations. Congress must continue to encourage institutions to update their campus security plans and ensure systems are in place to deal with all types of emergencies. As we commemorate National Campus Safety Awareness Month in September, let us focus our efforts on educating our students about campus safety. Students need to be reminded every year about practical precautions to increase their safety.

Mr. Speaker, once again, I express my support for National Campus Safety Awareness Month and thank Representative Sestak for bringing this resolution forward. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize the gentleman from Pennsylvania, the sponsor of this resolution, Mr. Sestak, for 4 minutes.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott) for 3 minutes.

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

Madam Speaker, opponents of the health care reform bill are trying to confuse and to scare the American people. They are trying to prey on fear of the unknown. Opponents claim that the average American will fare worse under this bill because health care will be rationed by some faceless bureaucrat in Washington, D.C., but they clearly have not traveled to my district in California or they would know that rationing is already happening to people of every age and background. Insurance companies are already denying coverage if you are sick, have a preexisting condition, or are not independently wealthy.

In my district, a healthy middle class father's care was rationed when he was told he could not have insurance when his wife was pregnant because he had asthma as a child. A hardworking man was told that, despite working 30 years in a factory, he wasn't wealthy enough to deserve the cancer treatment that he desperately needed.

Health care reform will prohibit the kind of rationing that my constituents struggle with every day.

Thank you, Chairman Miller.

As a professor for over 20 years in the L.A. Community College District, I know firsthand how important community colleges are to helping hardworking Americans achieve their dreams. About one out of every two college students attends a community college, and they are some of the hardest workers I have ever met. My students came from all walks of life. They were immigrants, single moms and laid-off workers, and many of these students were the first in their families to go to college.

Community colleges are the backbone of our Nation's workforce, providing students with technical training to fill our Nation's most critical fields. They excel at meeting the needs of students from all backgrounds and circumstances. The investments in this bill truly reflect the role community colleges play in our economy. Seven billion dollars is provided to reinvigorate the community college experience, to improve instruction, initiate job placement counseling, and create nontraditional programs for students on the weekends, evenings or even online.

There is $2.5 billion in grants provided to renovate community college facilities. It will allow them to accommodate their growing enrollment and provide students with modern equipment and facilities so they are better prepared when they graduate.

In an increasingly competitive world economy, America's economic strength depends upon the education and skill of its workers. This bill will help us to meet that challenge.

Mr. Speaker and distinguished colleagues, the rich heritage of our Hispanic citizens has enriched the fabric of our culture since before there was a United States of America. From the old Spanish forts of Florida to today's vibrant communities of East Los Angeles in my own district, Latino culture has been, and continues to be, an important part of our national identity.

Our diversity is the key to our strength, and 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.

The values of our Hispanic communities, those of hard work, strength of character, commitment to family and country, are also American values. And today the entrepreneurial spirit of our 47.5 million Hispanic Americans is an integral part of our economic recovery.

So I ask my fellow colleagues to join me today as we recognize the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month and to stand proudly with me in acknowledging that the Hispanic Dream and the American Dream are one and the same.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a great loss to our community, Mr. Howard Ransom Jr., who passed on the morning of July 26, 2009, at the young age of 55. My heart goes out to his wife, Linda; father; brother, Phillip Ransom; sister, Sheila Ransom; a niece; three stepchildren; his grandson, and the rest of his family.

Ransom was an extraordinary citizen, an activist for at-risk youth and disadvantaged adults in the South Los Angeles community for more than 30 years. His volunteerism spans several organizations including the Brotherhood Crusade, Young Foundation and the United Way.

Born on April 4, 1954, in Chicago to Howard Ransom Sr. and Ollie B. (Cooper) Ransom, Howard Jr. was reared in Oakland. He graduated from Oakland High School and went on to receive bachelor degrees in Theatre Art and African American studies at California State University, Hayward.

As an instructor with the Los Angeles Unified School District for over two decades, Ransom was a tenured ``master teacher'' at the Maxine Waters Employment Preparation Center in Watts, where he succeeded in preparing at-risk youth and educating adults in human development and skill enhancement curriculums. He was noted nationwide for his success in preparing students for GED testing.

In 1992, Ransom co-designed a civil service training program that focused on postal employment for the residents of Watts. More than 800 men and women (many on welfare) enrolled in the program during its first year, with 68 percent completing the class and passing the exam with scores in the top percentile.

Ransom received numerous recognitions for his accomplishments, such as ``Educator of the Year'' Award from the Young Center for Academic and Cultural Enrichment, and was chosen as a ``Living History Maker'' by Turning Point Magazine.

I urge all my House colleagues to join me in honoring Mr. Howard Ransom for his remarkable service and contribution to our community. He has made a true impact on the lives of many youth and adults, and will be truly missed.

Mr. Speaker, not in six decades have we been this close to achieving the most crucial task of reforming our health care system. Let me be clear: we would be derelict in our duty to the American people if we let this opportunity go to waste.

Now, our colleagues on the other side of the aisle claim that this legislation amounts to the government takeover of health care and that Americans will be stripped of their choices of doctors and plans, but the reality is that everybody in this country will lose if they don't have health care reform.

People like Mary Smith, a 45-year-old with diabetes who just lost her job, she will no longer have to worry about whether she can get insurance again. Certainly, in my district, everybody will benefit, the 155,000 who lack health care coverage but, also, the majority of my constituents who are insured. They will have stability, security and peace of mind in having health care that they can count on no matter what happens. You will always have options for coverage even if you change or lose your job. You will never be denied coverage if you get sick.

Doing nothing is not an option.

Speaker Pelosi and fellow Members of the House of Representatives, I'm so honored and humbled to be here in this great hall of Congress. I'm especially honored to follow in the footsteps of my mentor, Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis, whose support and encouragement I truly cherish.

I am proud to have been elected by a district of people in California, in the San Gabriel Valley in Los Angeles, that is diverse, that is working class, and that cares deeply about its senior centers, parks, and community centers.

They are anxious to ensure that their kids will have a job when they graduate from college, that they don't have to fear getting sick, and that they can be secure in staying in their homes. I look forward to working with you and making sure that this happens.

I want to thank my supporters for believing in me so strongly. And they are up there. I want to thank my family, my nieces--my family especially. My husband, Mike Eng.

It is at times like this when I think about my grandfather, who came to this country with nothing. He worked hard and opened up a small Chinese restaurant and working night and day, day and night, and he used that very expensive labor--his sons--to make ends meet. And now, two generations later, here I am.

America is truly the land of opportunity. I thank you all very much.