Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Newborn Screening Saves Lives Reauthorization Act.

In 2008, with strong bipartisan support, Congressman Simpson and I introduced the original bill that was signed into law that year. For the first time in history, a scientific method for adding newborn screenings to State programs was established.

Prior to enactment of this law, only 10 States and the District of Columbia required infants to be screened for all the recommended disorders. Today, 44 States and the District of Columbia require screening of at least 29 of the 31 core treatable conditions. Unfortunately, critical gaps and challenges remain.

The reauthorization bill establishes a grant program to assist States in developing followup and tracking programs and renews the Secretary's Advisory Committee for Heritable Disorders.

I urge my colleagues to cosponsor this vital legislation. No child should die or suffer from preventable disabilities which could have been detected at birth.

Mr. Speaker, last week, I introduced H.R. 498, to reauthorize the Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking Act, better known as the STOP Act.

The original STOP Act passed with bipartisan support in 2006. It was based on the recommendations of the 2003 Institute of Medicine report, which outlined the extent of the underage drinking problem in the United States. At that time, 20 percent of eighth graders, 42 percent of 10th graders, and 58 percent of 12th graders reported being drunk in their lifetimes.

Designed to address this public health crisis, the STOP Act established an interagency committee to coordinate Federal efforts to reduce and ultimately prevent underage drinking.

The law financed public health research on underage drinking, and it authorized a national media campaign to educate parents about the dangers of consuming alcohol before the age of 21.

The STOP Act also provided grants to communities throughout the country to enhance their underage drinking prevention efforts. As a result of this comprehensive approach, we have seen positive results in both national statistics and in communities across America.

According to the 2012 Monitoring the Future survey, the lifetime use of alcohol by 8th-, 10th-, and 12th-graders is at the lowest level in years. Unfortunately, there is more that needs to be done.

Despite the progress we have made, alcohol continues to be the number one drug of choice among youth, and the consequences are devastating.

In addition to costing society over $62 billion a year, underage drinking by youths 15-20 years of age is a major cause of homicide, suicide, and motor vehicle accidents. And it results in the deaths of approximately 5,000 youths every year. Adding to this tragedy is the fact that all of these consequences are preventable. This makes reauthorization of the STOP Act even more necessary.

H.R. 498 continues the successful programs of the original STOP Act and adds a grant program to train pediatric health care providers on the best practices for screening and treating substance abuse among youth.

Mr. Speaker, the reauthorization of the STOP Act is an important bipartisan effort to help prevent the needless suffering and costs associated with underage drinking. I urge my colleagues to join me and my original cosponsors, Congressman Frank Wolf and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, by cosponsoring the STOP reauthorization bill, H.R. 498, so we can continue to move forward in our efforts to address this public health crisis affecting our children.

Mr. Speaker, I was absent due to the passing of my mother and was not present for rollcall votes on Thursday, January 3, 2013 and Friday, January 4, 2013. Had I been present, I would have voted in this manner: rollcall Vote No. 2--Election of the Speaker-- Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi; rollcall Vote No. 3--On motion to table the motion to refer, H. Res. 5, ``Adopting rules for the One Hundred Thirteenth Congress''--no; rollcall Vote No. 4--On ordering the previous question, H. Res. 5, ``Adopting rules for the One Hundred Thirteenth Congress''--no; rollcall Vote No. 5--On motion to commit with instructions, H. Res. 5, ``Adopting rules for the One Hundred Thirteenth Congress.''--yes; rollcall Vote No. 6--On agreeing to the resolution, H. Res. 5, ``Adopting rules for the One Hundred Thirteenth Congress.''--no; and rollcall Vote No. 7--To suspend the rules and pass H.R. 41, ``To temporarily increase the borrowing authority of the Federal Emergency Management Agency for carrying out the National Flood Insurance Program.''--yes.

Mr. Speaker, I was out of town due to a family medical situation and was not present for rollcall votes Nos. 609 and 610 on Tuesday, November 27, 2012. Had I been present, I would have voted in this manner:

Rollcall vote No. 609--On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as amended, the Medical Preparedness Allowable Use Act: ``yes.''

Rollcall vote No. 610--On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Concur in the Senate Amendment, the Jamie Zapata Border Enforcement Security Task Force Act: ``yes.''

Mr. Speaker, I was out of town due to a family medical situation and was not present for the rollcall vote numbered 611 on Thursday, November 29, 2012. Had I been present, I would have voted in this manner:

Rollcall Vote No. 611--Resolution providing for consideration of H.R. 6429, the STEM Jobs Act: ``no.''

Mr. Speaker, I was out of town due to a family medical situation and was not present for the rollcall votes numbered 612 and 613 on Friday, November 30, 2012. Had I been present, I would have voted in this manner:

Rollcall vote No. 612--Motion to Recommit with Instructions--H.R. 6429, the STEM Jobs Act: ``Yes.''

Rollcall vote No. 613--Final Passage--H.R. 6429, the STEM Jobs Act: ``No.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Bievenidos, an organization dedicated to healing children, strengthening families and transforming communities in Los Angeles, on their 25th anniversary.

Bienvenidos opened its doors in June of 1987 to a young child, Miracle, to begin addressing the growing number of abused and neglected infants and toddlers in Los Angeles County. From the outset, they realized that children who do not have the care, guidance and support they need are less likely to grow into successful, self-sufficient and productive adolescents and adults.

Bienvenidos has spent the last 25 years developing comprehensive services for children and families and promoting long-term positive outcomes. The array of programs and services they provide are designed to heal children and families in crisis, as well as break generational cycles of abuse, neglect and other dysfunctional behaviors.

As a pillar in greater East Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Valley, Bienvenidos has made it a priority to develop roots within the community by leading collaborative initiatives, engaging community residents to develop services and resources in response to their needs, and bringing funding into the area. Today, Bienvenidos serves more than 19,000 children and their families through the dedicated work of 200 professional staff at 12 locations.

Ultimately, what sets Bienvenidos apart is their ability to give hope to those who have all but lost it. Bienvenidos gives people the tools and coping skills they need to become self-sufficient, and through the love and support of their staff, they give them someone who believes in them.

I once again congratulate Bienvenidos on the celebration of their 25th anniversary. I thank them for their continued service to the children and families of Los Angeles and their dedication to making our community a better place to live.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate APAIT Health Center, serving my 34th Congressional District, on their 25th anniversary.

Since 1987, APAIT Health Center (formerly known as Asian Pacific AIDS Intervention Team) has worked to fulfill its mission of positively impacting the quality of life for medically underserved communities living with or at risk for HIV/AIDS and other health disparities through a seamless continuum of culturally competent and linguistically appropriate programs in Southern California.

APAIT Health Center is a distinctly critical service provider for those living with HIV/AIDS and members of the LGBTQ community in the greater Los Angeles area. The agency serves clientele from diverse communities, including Asian and Pacific Islanders (API), Latinos, and African Americans.

In its 25 year history, APAIT Heath Center has become the largest provider of HIV/AIDS services to API communities in Southern California, having served tens of thousands of individuals.

APAIT continues to respond this year with the opening of a community health clinic in the vibrant Pico Union/Westlake area, a community with scarce health options for those who are low-income and uninsured.

Private sector partnerships are also part of APAIT Health Center's portfolio. APAIT Health Center has been the recipient of grants from Kaiser Permanente, John and Johnson, and the California endowment, to name a few. In addition, APAIT Health Center and its staff have received awards and commendations from local, state, and national entities, from the City of Los Angeles to the White House.

APAIT's proudest achievement, however, is consistently receiving high marks from their client satisfaction surveys. The most recent survey revealed 93 percent of clients feel their quality of life has improved since seeking services with APAIT Health Center.

I once again congratulate APAIT Health Center on the celebration of their 25th anniversary. I thank them for their continued service to the Los Angeles community, and for the help they provide to those in need.

Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained and missed rollcall vote No. 585 on the evening of September 19, 2012. Had I been present, I would have voted in this manner:

Rollcall vote No. 585--On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended, H.R. 5044, the Andrew P. Carpenter Tax Act: ``yes.''

Mr. Speaker, as we celebrate Hispanic Heritage

Month, I rise to pay tribute to the National Hispana Leadership Institute. Later this year, NHLI alumnae will gather in Washington, D.C., to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the founding of this nationally recognized leadership development institute.

A national Latina organization based in Washington, D.C., NHLI was founded in 1987 in response to the U.S. Department of Labor's Glass Ceiling Initiative. This seminal study found that while minorities and women were making substantial gains in entering the workforce, they were not equally represented at mid and senior level management positions in government or corporate sectors. The study also found that Latinas were significantly underrepresented on corporate boards and in nonprofit and political arenas.

Over the past 25 years, NHLI has become a vital resource for Latinas and a key player in cultivating Latina leaders serving America today. In partnership with Harvard University and the Center for Creative Leadership, NHLI graduates have become a formidable cadre of well- educated, highly skilled, and committed Latina leaders. They are a veritable ``who's who'' in many communities and disciplines, and the impact of their collective leadership is felt throughout the country.

Through various mentoring initiatives and community service projects, NHLI alumnae have directly impacted thousands of Latinas in every State and in Puerto Rico. Its network and leadership projects have helped create new nonprofit organizations and influenced various others, including: The National Latino Children's Institute, Voto Latino, Powerful Latinas, Las Comadres, Positive Directions, Latina Giving Circle, and Poder PAC, to name a few.

Finally, I would be remiss if I did not mention the founders of this great organization. This prestigious group includes Maria Elena Torano, the Honorable Maria Antonietta Berriozabal, the Honorable Ramona Martinez, Gloria Rodrigues, the Honorable Raul Yzaguirre, and former Governor Bill Richardson. Through their vision and leadership, NHLI's programs have become the model for Latina empowerment in this country.

Again, my sincere congratulations to the National Hispana Leadership Institute on the celebration of their 25th anniversary.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to introduce the Help Separated Families Act. This legislation proposes common sense solutions to keep families united and reduce the number of children in foster care as a result of immigration enforcement action.

During the first half of last year alone, more than 46,000 parents of U.S. citizen children were deported from the United States. In the wake of their parents' removal, a growing number of children have been placed in foster care and left to languish, or worse yet, have been separated permanently from their families when their parents' rights are terminated. It is estimated that over 5,000 children in at least 22 states are currently living in foster care as a result of immigration enforcement policies.

As parental deportation and detention rates have risen in recent years, the devastating impact on families has increased. Mothers like Encarnacion Bail Romero, who was apprehended in a federal immigration raid in 2007 and torn from her then-seven-month son, often face insurmountable barriers to family reunification. Ms. Romero, a native of Guatemala, had her parental rights terminated while in federal custody after a judge ruled that ``illegally smuggling herself into the country is not a lifestyle that can provide any stability for the child.'' Her son Carlitos was adopted out against her will to a new family who now calls him Jameson, and Ms. Romero has not seen him in approximately five years.

What this case and so many more like it tell us is that, in the U.S., immigration status in itself has become grounds to permanently separate families. This is absolutely, unquestionably inhumane and unacceptable--particularly for a country that values family and fairness so highly.

The bond that exists between children and parents is not weakened by country of origin or immigration status. Undocumented parents love their children and want the best for them as all parents do, yet our broken child welfare and immigration systems undermine the best interests of their families. The Help Separated Families Act helps address this heartbreaking issue.

To ensure more children are cared for by family members, my bill prohibits immigration status from disqualifying a parent, legal guardian, or relative from placement consideration. While current law allows undocumented individuals to become a foster or adoptive parent, our child welfare system continues to be biased against undocumented caregivers, as evidenced by a 12-year-old boy in Michigan who has spent two full years in foster care with strangers after both of his parents were deported. Even though his aunt and uncle sought custody, they were denied by the child welfare agency on the basis of their immigration status.

The Help Separated Families Act also facilitates family unity by prohibiting states from petitioning to terminate parental rights based on the deportation or detention of a parent, provided certain conditions have been met. This provision protects the legal rights of parents and prevents child welfare agencies from unfairly, unnecessarily, and permanently separating children from their parents.

Our broken immigration system has torn apart families and taken a terrible toll on communities. I ask my colleagues to join me in doing our part to keep families together by supporting the Help Separated Families Act.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate an historic occasion in the history of Los Angeles sports teams. On June 11 the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League won their first national championship. Today the Stanley Cup calls LA ``home'', and the nation joins us in calling the Kings, ``champions''.

The Kings' championship was 45 years in the making. They began the playoffs as the number eight seed. They quickly dispatched the Vancouver Canucks, the number one seed team, four games to one. Next they took on the Saint Louis Blues and swept this number two seed team in four games. They then took on the third seed team the Phoenix Coyotes and earned the title of Western Conference champions for only the second time in Kings' history. This was the first time in NHL history that an eighth seed team beat the first and second seed teams. But our champion Kings went even further by also beating the third seed team as well.

The championship series against the New Jersey Devils was a thriller and the Kings quickly took a commanding three game lead. After a couple of Devil victories, in game six of the series, the Kings regained their momentum and put New Jersey away with a 6-1 victory to clinch the Stanley Cup.

The Kings are only the second number eight seed team in NHL history to advance to the championship series and the first number eight seed team to win the Stanley Cup. Their game six victory on their home ice at the Staples Center was cause for celebration by thousands of Kings fans in Los Angeles and throughout Southern California.

In winning the NHL championship, the Kings join the prestigious ranks of Los Angeles sports teams who have brought championship titles to the City of the Angels, including the Lakers, the Dodgers, the Galaxy, UCLA Bruin and USC Trojan teams, the Strings of the World Team Tennis League, and yes, the former-Los Angeles Raiders.

Congratulations to the Kings team: Jeff Carter, Kyle Clifford, Colin Fraser, Simon Gagne, Dwight King, Anze Kopitar, Trevor Lewis, Andrei Loktionov, Jordan Nolan, Scott Parse, Dustin Penner, Mike Richards, Brad Richardson, Jarret Stoll, Kevin Westgarth, Justin Williams, Drew Doughty, Davis Drewiske, Matt Greene, Alec Martinez, Willie Mitchell, Rob Scuderi, Slava Voynov, Jonathan Bernier and Jonathan Quick.

Special congratulations to Coach Darryl Sutter, General Manager Dean Lombardi and team captain Dustin Brown for leading the team to victory, and to AEG and the entire staff of the Kings organization whose work supports, trains and promotes the team. Thank you all for giving the city of Los Angeles our first Stanley Cup win!

Mr. Speaker, the Los Angeles Kings are the kings of hockey! Let's all celebrate their historic victory!

Mr. Chair, I regretfully rise in opposition to the FY13 Transportation Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill. I would like to extend my appreciation to Chairman Latham and Ranking Member Olver for their hard work on this bill. They were forced to make difficult decisions due to the low allocation that the Ryan Budget provided. Regrettably, this violation of the Budget Control Act, which was agreed to last year, led to devastating cuts to the Housing and Urban Development housing assistance program.

At a time when so many Americans have lost their homes or are struggling to keep them, this bill falls far short of meeting our nation's housing needs.

This is especially true for those who have fallen on hard times and those who are the poorest and most vulnerable among us.

By systematically underfunding HUD's three major rental assistance programs: Housing Choice vouchers, Public Housing and Section 8 Project-based Rental Assistance this bill increases the chances of greater homelessness in our country especially for those already living in unstable housing conditions.

My home state is a perfect example of how the deep cuts to housing assistance in this bill will negatively impact those with the greatest housing needs.

California has an estimated shortage of 1.6 million affordable rental units and an average wait of 37 months for HUD-assisted housing.

Further reducing funding for affordable housing will only increase the number of extremely low income households who are living

in unstable housing situations, paying the majority of their incomes towards rent and who remain at risk of becoming homeless.

Nationally it puts at risk the approximately 4.5 million low income families who depend on HUD programs for their housing needs, more than half of which include seniors and persons with disabilities.

The FY13 THUD bill underfunds Housing Choice vouchers by as much as $440 million, which translates into 55,000 vouchers for low income families in FY13. That's 55,000 families with an average annual income of $12,568 that will lose access to affordable housing.

Project-Based Rental Assistance is also underfunded and the legislation would only extend year-long contracts to certain property owners, leaving investors, owners and tenants uncertain about the future of the program. The consequence of this uncertainty could be fewer owners renewing their contracts and a reduction in the number of Section 8 units available to low-income families.

The bill continues to woefully underfund public housing. Capital funding for public housing has been shortchanged for the past decade, and without an increase, 1.1 million low income households will continue to be exposed to deteriorating living conditions and potential safety hazards.

This legislation also weakens federal efforts to assist those already homeless by underfunding Homeless Assistance Grants by more than $200 million. This means fewer permanent housing units, which have been shown to prevent homelessness and are less costly than the alternative of providing emergency shelter and services. For example, the Economic Roundtable found that individuals who are homeless in Los Angeles utilize an average of $34,000 a year in county services (not including costs to the city, state or federal government) and that once permanently housed that number drops to $14,000 (including housing capital, federal rental assistance and services).

Now is the time to protect low income families by prioritizing funding for affordable housing during these tough economic times. Unfortunately this bill falls short in that regard and puts far too many families in jeopardy of finding themselves without a safe and affordable home to call their own.

I regret that in good conscience I cannot support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, this is day 2 of the misguided Republican attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act. We have been down this road 31 times with the same arguments and the same often misleading rhetoric that does not reflect the true benefits of the Affordable Care Act.

Those who argue against it are not speaking for my 167,000 uninsured constituents who for the first time will receive health insurance coverage when the law is fully implemented. They are not speaking for the 7,000 young adults who can now stay on their parents' insurance plans until they are aged 26, or for the 510 small businesses in my district that are receiving tax credits to help maintain or expand health care coverage for their employees.

Colleagues who support the repeal of the Affordable Care Act are also disregarding the needs of minority communities in which millions suffer from persistent and life-shortening health disparities. In my largely Latino district, for example, thousands more of my constituents will have access to health care through the expansion of Medicaid, the creation of health insurance exchanges, and through the law's expansion of community health centers.

Mr. Speaker, my constituents do not want the Affordable Care Act repealed nor do the millions of Americans across our country for which the ACA has brought lifesaving benefits. This is most certainly true for women, seniors and people with disabilities.

Under the Affordable Care Act, being female can no longer be considered a preexisting condition. Women will no longer have to pay higher premiums than men, and prenatal care will finally be covered for all women in this country.

Never again will our sisters, mothers and daughters have to choose between a mammogram or putting food on the table because these lifesaving preventative health services will no longer require copayments.

As for seniors, last year, as a result of health reform, over 32 million of them received free preventative health services, and over 5 million seniors are saving close to $4 billion on Medicare prescription drug costs as the doughnut hole closes.

Because Obama cares, our families and neighbors with disabilities will no longer live in fear of reaching lifetime limits on their insurance or of being excluded from coverage due to having preexisting conditions.

Mr. Speaker, the Affordable Care Act is already working for my constituents--for women, for minority communities, for seniors, and for people with disabilities. It is time for my Republican colleagues to listen to these Americans who do not want to lose their new health benefits. The Supreme Court has upheld the Affordable Care Act. Let's stop wasting time and taxpayers' money and find solutions to the other complex issues facing our country today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Unified Grocers, headquartered in my congressional district, on their 90th year of successful serving independent grocery retailers in the state of California.

Unified Grocers was formed in 1922 by a group of 15 grocers who came together to pool their resources in order to effectively compete in the marketplace. With headquarters in the city of Commerce, California, United Grocers operates a milk processing plant, bakery and six major distribution centers across the country. Unified Grocers is committed to helping its members build successful long-term businesses as well as remain competitive and grow in today's economy.

Unified Grocers runs an innovative, efficient, and sophisticated distribution chain that allows its members to stock their stores with items that are needed in their individual communities. They are responsive to a changing market and dedicated to the effective operation of facilities that are right-sized, well maintained and optimally located.

I once again congratulate Unified Grocers on the celebration of their 90th anniversary. I thank them for continuing to provide quality jobs in the 34th congressional district and throughout California and for giving back to our community to make it stronger.