Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the John Wesley Community Health Institute--also known as the

JWCH Institute--on the occasion of the organization's 50th anniversary of providing quality and affordable health care to thousands of uninsured patients throughout Los Angeles.

During my years in Congress, I have had the privilege of working closely with JWCH as well as the other community health centers in my district. I have seen firsthand the important role they play in improving the health of our communities, especially among Latinos, African Americans, the homeless and people with physical and mental health problems.

As a safety-net provider, I am proud to say JWCH is a true leader in this arena.

The Institute was established in 1960 by a group of concerned physicians at the John Wesley County Hospital, JWCH, as a vehicle for obtaining additional funds to support and augment patient care, education, and research. When the hospital was demolished in 1979, medical services and patient education took priority with a refined and expanded focus on community-based health education and social support programs.

Today, the center's mission is being accomplished through a wide variety of programs and activities. In addition to providing primary medical care, the agency's services include: medical outreach and referrals for medical care; HIV services and drug treatment; health education; psychosocial assessment and intervention; family planning services; and research.

Since its inception, JWCH has grown from a very small entity housed in a county building to a $21 million Federally Qualified Community Health Center. Last year, the private non-profit agency provided 84,191 medical visits to the indigent at 13 locations, including clinics in Skid Row and Bell Gardens in the 34th Congressional District as well as South Los Angeles, East Los Angeles, El Monte, Lynwood and Norwalk.

A recent highlight of this innovative growth, JWCH opened the Center for Community Health last year. Located at 522 S. San Pedro Street in Skid Row, the center is the first fully integrated system of care for homeless persons on the West Coast. The center offers a ``one-stop shop'' approach to addressing the complex health care needs of homeless individuals and families, which includes providing patients one complete medical record to better ensure a continuum of care.

Madam Speaker, as JWCH prepares to mark its 50-year milestone at a special October 19 anniversary celebration at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Downtown Los Angeles in the 34th Congressional District, I ask my colleagues to please join the Los Angeles community and me in recognizing JWCH for its steadfast commitment to strengthening the safety-net for the county's medically underserved. I also commend JWCH's Board Chair, Cesar Portillo, its Chief Executive Officer, Al Ballesteros and all of the many dedicated people who make this health care organization the safety net that it is today for thousands of Los Angeles County residents.

JWCH provides critical resources and services that enable our community members--including the most hard-to-reach and at-risk patients--to stay healthy and strong, and I wish everyone involved with this fine organization many more years of continued success.

Mr. Chair. I am pleased to rise in support of H.R. 5850, the Fiscal Year 2011 Transportation Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill.

As a member of the Subcommittee, I would like to thank Chairman John Olver and Ranking Member Tom Latham for their hard work on this bill. At a time when so many are struggling to keep roofs over their heads and to stay employed, I believe this bill makes wise investments in our nation's housing and transportation infrastructure needs.

For example, the FY11 THUD Appropriations bill will allow HUD to renew all project-based Section 8 rental contracts for a full 12 months. This will help ensure that the nearly 1.3 million low-income families that currently reside in project-based Section 8 housing will not lose their homes.

The Committee has also recognized the unique housing needs of some of our most vulnerable Americans, restoring and increasing funding for the Section 811 and Section 202 programs for the elderly and the disabled. The bill provides $85 million in vouchers to get homeless veterans off the streets and it increases funding for Homeless Assistance Block Grants, which provide permanent and transitional housing for homeless families and individuals.

In addition to these important housing programs, the bill makes important investments necessary to maintain and expand our nation's transportation infrastructure which is critical to our continuing economic recovery efforts. At a time when high unemployment persists, focusing on investments in our transportation infrastructure is an essential job-stimulator.

I want to also specifically highlight two rail issues that I requested the committee to address in the bill: positive train control and environmental and quality of life concerns along proposed high speed rail routes.

First, the bill includes funding for positive train control (PTC) to help prevent railroad collisions. In 2008 the community of Chatsworth in Los Angeles County suffered a tragic head-on train collision between a commuter train and freight train. Tragically eleven lives were lost and dozens more were injured. That awful accident, as well as the deadly 2009 WMATA collision here in our nation's capital, could have been prevented had this train control technology already been operating in both of these rail systems. The funding in the bill will help with the development of technologies to override human error or mechanical failure and automatically prevent collisions such as the Chatsworth crash.

The second rail issue concerns our commitment to protect the residents along new high speed rail routes. In the rush to build a national high speed rail system in our country, I believe it absolutely essential that we ensure careful and thoughtful decisions particularly as they regard impacts on residential communities. Accordingly, the committee report includes important language to ensure that the concerns of poor and minority communities are taken into account in routing these projects.

Building a high speed rail route along existing transportation corridors in communities like Los Angeles may minimize the negative impact to many communities. However, the damage done decades ago to many poor and minority neighborhoods along those corridors by rail and interstate system construction may be exacerbated by construction of the high speed rail system. These communities continue to suffer from the environmental and health impacts long after their neighborhoods were dissected by past construction.

The report directs the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to carefully consider the effects of using existing or new transportation corridors in its analysis of proposed routes. The report also directs the FRA to identify appropriate mitigation measures particularly to offset any negative effects identified in regards to minority populations and low-income populations.

Mr. Chair, I am happy to support passage of this important bill. The funding included in this legislation is critical to building and maintaining our transportation infrastructure, creating jobs, and protecting the housing needs of America's most vulnerable populations. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Los Angeles Garment & Citizen newspaper in Downtown Los Angeles, which, after 10 years in publication, is closing its doors this month.

With a weekly circulation of 10,000, the Garment & Citizen covered Downtown and the adjacent areas of Echo Park, Angeleno Heights, Silverlake, Westlake, Pico-Union, Chinatown, Little Tokyo, the Arts District and portions of south Los Angeles.

As the member of Congress who represents Downtown, I know the closure of this free weekly will leave a void. Jerry Sullivan, the paper's founder, editor and publisher, started the Garment & Citizen in 2000 to report Downtown area news and events that were not being reported elsewhere.

Every week, one could always count on Jerry to run news items that directly related to the diverse readership he served. The articles heralded the achievements of Downtown students, workers, families and businesses, and provided a vehicle for residents to share a wide range of viewpoints.

I also salute the paper's contributors. They include John Fish, Roberto Porras, Sam Hassan, Rick Ness, J.C. Choe, Raby Savage, Eugene Yi, and Elias Cruz, among others. As Jerry says, they all served the Garment & Citizen and the community with great skill and dedication.

I wish Jerry well as he pursues new endeavors. While the Echo Park resident will no longer hang his notorious fedora in the office of the Garment & Citizen, all of us here in the U.S. House of Representatives will continue to have a unique connection to Jerry. We have the privilege of working closely with one of Jerry's eight siblings, John Sullivan, who has served as House Parliamentarian since May 2004. Upon learning of this tribute, John said of his brother, ``It is impossible for me to overstate how proud I am to be Jerry's brother, and I know I can say the same for each of our brothers and sisters.''

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to please join me in thanking Jerry and his team for their accomplishments and success in publishing the Garment & Citizen. To fully tell the story of the newspaper, I would like to submit into the congressional record Jerry's own reflections. They clearly reveal his passion and commitment to the news industry and Los Angeles' culturally rich Downtown neighborhoods that he and I both know well, love and celebrate.

What Worked

(By Jerry Sullivan, Editor & Publisher, Los Angeles Garment & Citizen)

``A lot of famous folks have said that they wouldn't change

a thing if they had it all to do over again.

I don't think any of them ever had to shut down a community

newspaper.

I would change some things if I had it to do over again.

I'd make some changes--apply the lessons of experience--

because whatever I did as the founder and editor and

publisher of the Los Angeles Garment & Citizen didn't get the

newspaper through these historically tough economic times.

I can carry the weight of that outcome because--while I

would make some changes if I had it all to do over--there are

so many things that I would make sure to do again.

I would again keep my eyes and my mind wide open in order

to give the community the coverage it deserves.

I'd still tell everyone's truth--not just this niche or

that demographic group. I'd keep striving to tell the stories

of the entire community, and to explain how and why this

segment or demographic group matters to the other.

I'd continue to acknowledge the fact that readers are

smart.

I'd keep giving advertisers credit for their roles as

members of the community.

I'd always do my best to hold both readers and advertisers

accountable for their actions as community members.

I'd keep assuming that immigrants are part of our American

culture--whether they've obtained citizenship or remain

uncertain about taking that step.

I'd still speak truth to power in plain language.

I'd still keep a civil tone in all matters.

I'd still receive whoever found their way to my office, and

listen to their story even if their only point is to let

someone know that they weren't always in the shape they're in

today.

I'd continue to make ideas the heart of reporting.

I'd keep in mind that important and even great ideas can

come from unexpected sources buried deep in conversations.

I'd keep the Letters to the Editor section as a truly open

forum for all voices and viewpoints in the community.

I'd continue to laud police officers for the job they do so

well the vast majority of the time.

I'd keep calling police officers to task--and give others

the opportunity to do so--on matters of public concern.

I'd continue to make space for the poets who happen to wash

dishes or manufacture garments on their day jobs.

I'd keep reminding longtime, hard-pressed Downtown

residents that property owners have a right to build lofts--

and young, upscale tenants have a right to move into them.

I'd still tell developers and young, upscale tenants that a

community existed Downtown long before anyone built any

lofts--and remind them that all communities deserve respect.

I'd keep telling the folks in Echo Park about the Lions

Club.

I'd continue to highlight the success stories of youngsters

in Westlake and Pico-Union.

I'd keep mentioning Angeleno Heights at every legitimate

opportunity.

I'd always expect the unexpected in Chinatown.

I'd still keep some space reserved on deadline for late-

breaking news on the latest community cause in Little Tokyo.

I'd keep asking why suffering has such a comfortable home

on Skid Row.

I'd remember to always respect my elders on Bunker Hill.

I'd continue to appreciate the artists of the Arts

District.

I'd continue to learn from the contentious culture of the

Fashion District.

I'd keep marveling at the blend of old and new ways in the

Jewelry District.

I'd still highlight folks who work hard and choose decency

every day as the Local Heroes of our society.

There are many more things I would do again, because the

Garment & Citizen earned some great victories. Our coverage

has mattered. We saved taxpayers money. We gave credit where

it was due to the mothers and fathers, sons and daughters,

and workers and business owners who make our city work. We

added valuable insights, criticisms and plaudits to the

public debate.

The Garment & Citizen served with honor and distinct style.

We developed a voice that reached our readers and earned a

strong and unique connection with their lives. We reached

rich, poor, working-class and middle-class individuals and

families. We reached across ethnic and racial and religious

lines. We reached them all--and called them a community.

The Garment & Citizen will disappear but the community

shall remain.

It's now up to others to serve this community with the

comprehension, courage, and clarity that's called for by the

guarantee of freedom of the press that we enjoy under the 1st

Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

The Garment & Citizen has demonstrated that it can be done.

Our fate also shows that it could be done better.

I will look upon the next effort with interest.

Respectfully,

Jerry Sullivan.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor my friend, Carol E. Schatz, on the occasion of her 20th anniversary with the Central City Association (CCA) of Los Angeles in the 34th Congressional District.

During her tenure with the association, I have had the pleasure of working closely with Carol in our joint efforts to revitalize Downtown Los Angeles.

Carol started her career with the CCA in 1990 as the Director of Legislative Affairs. Five years later, she became the association's President & CEO--the first woman in the association's history to hold this leadership position.

Established in 1924 as an advocacy organization for businesses, the CCA represents more than 450 member businesses and organizations, many of which are located or have business interests in the Downtown area. In 1997, Carol's vision led to the creation of the Downtown Center Business Improvement District (DCBID). As the DCBID's President & CEO, Carol's leadership has been instrumental in the district's growth to include more than 2,200 parcels and 1,200 property owners located in the 65-block Central Business District of Downtown Los Angeles. Today, this influential business district is among the largest of its kind in Los Angeles County.

Revenue generated from property tax assessments within the district pay for more than 140 employees to provide security, cleaning and other services in the area. The district also promotes business retention and recruitment, acts as a housing resource to potential residents and developers, and carries out a Downtown marketing program that includes special events, promotional offers, advertising campaigns and other public relations efforts. With a budget of more than $6 million, the DCBID has made Downtown safe and clean and provided a catalyst to bring incredible new residential and commercial investment to Downtown Los Angeles.

Under Carol's dual leadership, the Downtown Center Business Improvement District working in conjunction with the Central City Association of Los Angeles operate under a shared mission--to enhance the quality of life in Downtown.

Under Carol's direction, CCA created the ``Downtown Development Strategy'' as an updated supplement to the 1985 Downtown Strategic Plan. The plan includes all aspects of a revitalized Downtown, from the creation of mixed-use/mixed-income projects to new transportation amenities. Carol was also instrumental in initiating the Figueroa Corridor Plan and the reauthorization of the Civic Center Authority, which led to the Civic Center Master Plan.

In one of her most significant achievements, Carol utilized the full force of the association's lobbying muscle to win a legislative victory key to the Downtown Los Angeles Renaissance. Passed in 1999 by the Los Angeles City Council, the Adaptive Reuse Ordinance championed by the association is widely credited for allowing developers to convert empty office buildings to housing. As a result of this property use conversion, Downtown today boasts more than 16,000 new residential units, a 141 percent increase since 1991. In addition, Downtown has experienced a dramatic population increase of residents from 19,000 in 1991 to 43,000 today.

Tapping into this expanded pool of customers, the number of Downtown businesses has also increased, from 11,725 in 1991 to 17,028 today, including 180 new restaurants, bars, and nightclubs that have made Downtown Los Angeles an entertainment and dining destination.

Carol embraces a vision of Downtown as a place where professionals live and work and families come to have fun. Her tenacious advocacy was instrumental in bringing the Staples Center to Downtown--the proud home of the Los Angeles Lakers, Clippers, Sparks, and Kings. Carol was also a strong proponent of the creation of LA Live, which has become one of the most vibrant centers for urban nightlife in the nation.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to please join me in thanking Carol E. Schatz on

her 20 years of exceptional service to the Central City Association of Los Angeles. Through her tireless leadership and her skillful ability to work hand-in-hand with local, state, and federal officials, Carol has made a tremendous contribution on behalf of the Downtown business community, and I look forward to continuing to work with her to realize our shared dream for a thriving and prosperous Downtown for many years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Unemployment Compensation Extension Act. This legislation will extend unemployment insurance (UI) benefits, which expired seven long weeks ago, to millions of Americans families who rely on this assistance to make ends meet during these difficult economic times.

I regret that due to Republican objections, delays and stalling tactics, Unemployment Compensation was allowed to lapse for so long. My colleagues in the House of Representatives and I have already passed this legislation three times since May. Unfortunately, the bill was allowed to languish in the Senate while millions of Americans were forced to do without this critical lifeline.

With unemployment in Los Angeles County hovering at 12.2 percent, I continue to hear from my constituents how important these benefits are to them as they look for new employment during these difficult economic times.

One constituent, a college graduate who lives in Los Angeles, wrote to inform me that he has been searching for a job for 18 months without success. He has long since run out of savings and without unemployment benefits

cannot pay his rent. Another constituent, a mother of three children, was recently laid off and is relying on unemployment benefits to pay her mortgage payments and keep a roof over her family's head.

It is for hardworking Americans like these, making good faith efforts to secure employment and trying desperately to find some stability in these uncertain times, that I vote for this important measure.

While we act today to protect the unemployed and their families, I believe we must redouble our efforts to create job opportunities and get Americans back to work.

Mr. Speaker, each year over 4 million women give birth in the United States. Their care and that of their babies is a leading cause of hospitalization in this country and a major factor in our Nation's escalating health care costs. Yet, in spite of the fact we spend more than any country in the world on maternity care and more on mother and baby fees for childbirth than other types of hospital care, the United States ranks far behind nearly all developed countries in perinatal outcomes, and childbirth continues to present significant risks for mothers and babies, particularly in communities of color.

There are many factors that contribute to these poor outcomes and high costs. The most disturbing is that our current health system fails to follow the vast body of research on the best evidence-based practices in maternity care. The result is a widespread overuse of expensive maternity practices, such as Cesarean sections and scheduled inductions, which only in limited situations are needed and beneficial. When used routinely and without medical necessity, these and other practices expose women and infants to unnecessary risk and are a major factor in pregnancy and delivery being our most costly Medicaid expenditure.

Credible research tells us noninvasive, cost-effective, evidence- based maternity practices which result in safer and healthier outcomes for mother and baby are significantly underused in our country.

To address these concerns, I am introducing the Maximizing Optimal Maternity Services for the 21st Century

Act. The MOMS for the 21st Century Act expands Federal research on maternity practices and ensures the healthiest of maternity outcomes, and it authorizes a scientifically based media campaign to educate the public about those practices. In addition, the bill creates a national focus on maternity care by establishing an interagency coordinating committee to promote optimal outcomes for mothers and babies.

To help address serious health disparities in maternity care outcome, the MOMS for the 21st Century Act directs the collection of data to determine the areas in our country which lack adequate access to maternity care providers. It also directs the Secretary of HHS to support the education of a more culturally and geographically diverse interdisciplinary workforce by convening a maternity curriculum commission to develop core curricula across maternity professional disciplines, establishing loan repayment programs for providers in maternity care shortage areas and by authorizing grant programs for maternity professional organizations to recruit and retain minority providers.

Mr. Speaker, as Lee Jong-wook, former Deputy General of the World Health Organization once said, ``Mothers, the newborn, and children represent the well-being of a society and its potential for the future. Their health needs cannot be left unmet without harming the whole of society.''

Mr. Speaker, there is no doubt the future of our country depends on the health and well-being of our mothers and their children. I urge my colleagues to make evidence-based maternity care a national priority by cosponsoring and helping to pass the MOMS for the 21st Century Act.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Jorge J. Lambrinos, founding director of the University of Southern California (USC) Roybal Institute on Aging, who is retiring this month after more than 38 years of working in and out of government on behalf of older Americans.

Jorge was born in Panama City, Panama and arrived to this country at the age of 11 speaking no English. He fondly recalls his first job, at age 12, shining shoes in the barbershop where his father worked. From then on, Jorge's strong work ethic and love for our country motivated him on a non-stop mission in pursuit of the American Dream--not only for himself but for our nation's elderly as well.

Jorge first got involved in advocating for seniors as Director of Latin Americans for Social and Economic Development. There, he was instrumental in getting the City of Detroit to establish a senior center in the Latino community of southwest Detroit. Jorge's leadership in his adopted hometown led to a prestigious fellowship opportunity in our nation's capital. As one of 10 national Health, Education, and Welfare Fellows, Jorge worked under Arthur S. Flemming, the U.S. Commissioner on Aging at the Administration on Aging.

After his one-year fellowship ended, Jorge became director of the U.S. Administration on Aging's Executive Secretariat and Special Assistant to the Commissioner on Aging. During that time, as an advisor to Commissioner Flemming, Jorge played a key role in the establishment of four national minority aging organizations. He also worked to ensure that minority communities had a voice in the emerging field of gerontology.

Building on this area of expertise, in 1977, Jorge joined my father, Congressman Edward R. Roybal, as Director of the Subcommittee on Housing and Consumer Interests of the House Select Committee on Aging. During that time, Jorge guided the development of the Congregate Housing Services legislation signed into law by President Jimmy Carter, which authorizes all Sec. 202 senior housing to provide temporary supportive services to ailing residents. When my father became chair of the full Committee on Aging, Jorge served as the full committee's staff director--becoming one of the first Latino staffers to hold such a position.

Several years later, Jorge then moved on to become my father's Chief of Staff. Together, they worked to address many critical priorities for older Americans, including the availability of congregate meals and stepping up research initiatives into the aging process as well as Alzheimer's disease and diabetes. Jorge is particularly proud of his work with my father to strengthen the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Jorge was integral in the formation of the Roybal Institute on Applied Gerontology. In my father's last few years in office, seniors from East Los Angeles petitioned California State University Los Angeles to establish an endowed chair in Congressman Roybal's name. Jorge's strategic recommendations resulted in the establishment of the Edward R. Roybal Foundation and the creation of the Institute.

After my father's retirement in 1993, Jorge joined him at Cal State Los Angeles and became the first full time director of the Roybal Institute. He was responsible for the management of several health promotion and disease prevention projects, including a collaborative research project with the CDC to determine the levels of older adult vaccinations in the Latino community of East Los Angeles. He also collaborated with USC's Alzheimer's Disease Research Center to translate findings from its clinical trials research to community application. In addition, Jorge was the Principal Investigator of a project funded by the Association of Teachers of Preventive Medicine to develop interventions to reduce the incidence of falls and injuries among older adults. Jorge moved with the center from Cal State LA to its new home at the University of Southern California in 2006.

Jorge Lambrinos has received numerous awards and appointments, including being named as one of the ``Top 100 Most Influential Hispanics in the U.S.'' by Hispanic Business Magazine. He has served as a member of the National Advisory Council of the National Institute on Aging, the California Commission on Aging and the Executive Council of AARP California, where he continues to serve as health policy advisor.

In addition to his work in public service, Jorge's dedication to our country is also evident through his distinguished military service. A graduate of the U.S. Army War College and a decorated Bronze Star Gulf War veteran, Jorge retired as a Lt. Colonel after 27 years of military service.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to please join me in recognizing Jorge's long record of service to our country. His significant contributions have made life healthier and more just for older Americans from all walks of life and I wish him many more years of fulfillment and success in retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained and was not present for the vote on Ordering the Previous Question on H. Res. 1305 (rollcall vote 231). Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Stated against:

Madam Speaker, on behalf of those of us who represent the great

City of Los Angeles, I rise to honor Jim Seeley for the 34 years of service he has given to the city as our Chief Federal Legislative Representative. As delegation Members and their staffs gather tonight to celebrate our friend and to wish him all the best in his retirement, we wanted to share with our colleagues in the House the wonderful legacy that this Los Angeles ``institution'' leaves behind.

Jim Seeley was born in the city he would one day represent, grew up in Los Angeles County, and made his way to Stanford University. He graduated in 1959, the same year he married the love of his life Jo Ann Browning. After a stint in Paris where Jo Ann studied at the Sorbonne, and then St. Louis where Jim did his six-month Army training, the couple settled in Washington, D.C. to build their successful careers and raise a large and wonderful family.

Following 8 years with the Department of Commerce, Jim accepted a position in the Washington Office of the State of Illinois. Assisting Illinois businesses in promoting their goods abroad at trade shows and on trade missions, Jim began to hone his government relations expertise as Deputy Director of the office serving under two Governors.

In 1976, after 7 years with the Illinois Washington Office, Jim returned to his roots when he accepted the position of Chief Federal Legislative Representative for the City of Los Angeles. Reporting first to the office of the Chief Legislative Analyst, and later directly to the Office of the Mayor, Jim has served the city and its residents with distinction under Mayors Tom Bradley, Richard Riordan, James Hahn, and Antonio Villaraigosa.

Over the years, he forged close working relationships with the Los Angeles Congressional Delegation Members and their staffs, as he led his own staff to further the federal legislative agenda of the Council and Mayor. Jim has flourished for more than three decades in his role as the city's ``go to'' guy in the nation's capital. Through changes in Mayors, Presidents, and Democratic and Republican House and Senate majorities, Jim has been a constant, adjusting the city's advocacy strategies to the changing times.

Jim guided the city's federal response to the Northridge earthquake in 1994, as city and county officials sought maximum federal relief to address the devastation caused by the quake. In the post 9/11 years, he has focused on homeland security and Los Angeles' efforts to improve airport security. He relished his work around the 1984 Olympics in his hometown, and has been an integral part of the effort to build our transportation infrastructure and move Angelinos out of their cars and onto subway and light rail.

For 34 years, LA congressional offices have benefited from Jim's deep knowledge of the city and the federal policies that impact Los Angeles and our constituents. We also have benefited from the pleasure of his company, as ``Seeley'' was always a welcome visitor. When he dropped by to touch base with staff, check up on the latest legislative rumor, or just banter with the congressional colleagues who had long since become friends, I think we all felt like City Hall was down the street--not 2700 miles away.

Jim officially retired from the City of Los Angeles at the end of March, but will continue to consult and share his vast institutional knowledge with the City of Los Angeles office. In the meantime, he and Jo Ann, who retired last year, will no doubt devote much of their free time to their 11 children and their 14 beautiful grandchildren.

On behalf of the Los Angeles Congressional Delegation, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Jim Seeley on his retirement, and in thanking this dedicated public servant for his 34 years of service to the City of Los Angeles. We send our very best wishes to Jim and Jo Ann for a happy and fulfilling retirement.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 100th anniversary of the Claretian Missionaries' service to the first church of Los Angeles, Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church-- affectionately known to its parishioners in Spanish as ``La Placita'' or ``The Little Plaza'' church--located in Downtown Los Angeles in the 34th Congressional District.

The Claretians are a Catholic missionary order founded in Spain in 1849 by St. Anthony Mary Claret. In 1906, the Claretian Missionary Fathers arrived in California to work in the San Fernando Mission. Two years later, the missionaries moved their headquarters to San Gabriel Mission where they continue to preach today. In 1910, the Claretian Fathers traveled 10 miles west to expand their ministry to La Placita.

Father Rosendo Urrabazo characterizes the missionary vocation of the church as ``bringing the message of God's love, mercy and justice to every part of the world.'' This guiding principle is clearly evident at La Placita where the Claretian Fathers' dedication to spiritual and community service makes the church a home and refuge for people of all faiths and backgrounds.

On any given weekend, thousands of parishioners from all walks of life attend religious services at La Placita offered in both English and Spanish. Whether the parishioners are homeless, recent immigrants from Mexico, Central and Latin America or vacationing families, La Placita welcomes everyone with open doors, love and compassion.

Each week, pastoral services at the church include: 30 regular Masses; weddings and Quinceaneras; 10 scheduled hours of confession; baptism celebrations (totaling more than 25,000 last year alone); and religious education programs for children, youth and adults. The church also offers a monthly program to provide liturgical services to residents of a local housing project.

In addition to addressing the spiritual needs of its parishioners, the church helps struggling families in a wide variety of ways. Assisted by more than 80 volunteers, the parish operates a full time social office that organizes community outreach services and programs, including a health clinic, English classes, food distribution for the elderly, meals for the homeless, legal aid for immigrants, income tax help and a weekly 12-step program for persons suffering from addiction.

Madam Speaker, over the past 100 years, many Claretian missionaries have dedicated their lives to serving the families of the La Placita community. This anniversary, however, three missionaries in particular will be recognized for their outstanding service at the church's May 20 centennial dinner celebration.

Selected by the centennial celebration committee for their tireless pastoral and humanitarian service, the following missionaries will be honored: Fr. Tomas Maten, CMF (1900-1975) who defended the rights of the displaced residents of the Chavez Ravine area now the site of Dodger Stadium; Fr. Luis Olivares, CMF (1934-1993) who worked tirelessly to bring the cause of the homeless and immigrants to the attention of local and national policy makers; and Fr. Albert Vazquez, CMF, (1928- ) educator and pastor who shaped the pastoral direction of the parish and its school for more than 27 years.

Today, the clergy and parishioners of La Placita continue the tremendous work and legacy of these three exemplary missionaries.

Recognizing the tremendous needs of immigrants to our country, the church is a local leader in raising awareness and support for comprehensive immigration reform. During the 1980s, the church called itself a sanctuary for refugees threatened with deportation to El Salvador. In recent months, I have had the privilege of participating in two immigration town halls held at La Placita, both of which were attended by hundreds of area advocates demanding the reform of our nation's broken and unjust immigration laws. The seamless transformation of this historic church from a place of worship to a town meeting hall for political action truly typifies the Claretian Fathers' dedication to achieving justice and social change on behalf of their parishioners and our community.

Beyond the walls of La Placita, the Claretian Fathers' prayers could be heard across the country and throughout the halls of Congress on September 19, 2007 when Father Richard Estrada accepted a rare invitation to give the opening prayer in the U.S. House of Representatives. Calling on lawmakers to draw strength from their diversity and make laws to protect all of God's children, he prayed for God to, ``Inspire our nation's leaders to seek justice, defend liberty and unite diverse cultures and languages.''

Madam Speaker, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Claretian Missionaries' service at La Placita, I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking and congratulating them for their devotion and enormous contributions on behalf of the most vulnerable in our community, and I extend to the Order our best wishes for many more years of doing God's work in the historic area of our great city's birth, Downtown Los Angeles.

I rise in strong support of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Senate Amendments to H.R. 3590--the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. This legislation represents a milestone in our Nation's history. Building on the promise that was begun with the passage of Medicare in 1965, we take an historic step today toward acknowledging health care as a universal right for everyone.

The people of America have suffered far too long from a health care system that is unaffordable, discriminates on the basis of gender, disability, and pre-existing conditions, and frequently denies coverage for lifesaving services and treatments. While we pay more than any other country in the world for health care, we die younger with the highest rate of preventable deaths among 19 industrialized nations. Obviously this status quo is unsustainable and the time for change is now.

The bill we are voting on today reflects many long months of discussion and compromise. Clearly it is not perfect, and many of us would have preferred to see the bill go much further towards granting universal access to health care for every man, woman and child in this country. But with an issue that impacts so many stakeholders, and involves so many competing interests, it is doubtful that any single legislative effort could ever satisfy everyone and address all the problems we face in our current system.

So while this bill falls short of what many of us had hoped would be included in a final bill, I believe it is critical that we move forward today in response to a crippled health care system that has been failing our country. With the passage of this bill we will improve the quality and affordability of health services, prioritize prevention and the reduction of health disparities, and take the necessary albeit difficult steps to rein in the escalating costs of health care in this country.

I will be voting for this bill today for the people in my 34th Congressional District of California. Over 23 percent of my constituents live below the federal poverty level, and 40 percent of them are uninsured. In 2008, over 1100 of my constituents faced health care-related bankruptcies caused primarily by health care costs that were not covered by their insurance. This bill will extend coverage to 185,000 of my constituents, and will guarantee that 28,500 residents with pre-existing conditions can obtain coverage while protecting those who do have insurance from bankruptcy due to unaffordable health care costs.

I will be voting for this bill today for the small businesses in my District. With its passage, over 16,000 small businesses in my district that have 100 employees or less will be able to join the health insurance exchange, benefiting from group rates and a greater choice of insurers. H.R. 3590 will also help make small businesses more competitive by providing tax credits that will make it more affordable for them to offer health insurance to their employees. In my district approximately 15,000 small businesses would qualify for these credits.

As chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Health Task Force, I will be voting for this bill today for Hispanic communities all across the country. It is of great concern to me that this segment of the population continues to face the highest uninsured rate of any racial or ethnic group within the United States. In fact, a recent report found that 42 percent of Hispanic adults lacked health insurance compared to the national average of 16 percent.

This legislation will provide access to affordable health care to the millions of uninsured Latinos in this country through Medicaid expansion. The legislation will also provide access to health insurance exchanges and subsidies to help low- and moderate-income families. Additionally, the bill expands Community Health Centers which have been a cornerstone of primary care services in communities of color, and expands coverage for preventive care which has been disproportionately inaccessible to minorities.

Finally, I will be voting for this bill today for the women and mothers in this country who have long managed the health care of their children, their spouses, and the elderly in their families. This legislation will mandate coverage for maternity care, so all women will be able to give their babies the healthiest start in life.

By preventing insurance companies from dropping coverage for extended illness or denying coverage for pre-existing conditions, it will give moms the peace of mind knowing that their children and spouses will have the health coverage they need if they become ill or suffer from a genetic condition or disability. As their young adult children start out in life they can protect them by keeping them on their family insurance policy until their 26th birthday

And who among us will not be more secure knowing that our parents will be protected from the Medicare Part D donut hole which has made life saving medications so unaffordable for those that need them most?

Mr. Speaker, I thank you for your courage, tenacity and leadership throughout this year of deliberation on Health Care Reform. We owe you, the Majority Leader, and the Leadership team of this House a debt of gratitude for bringing this House to this historic day. I am proud to cast my vote for the passage of the Senate Amendments to H.R. 3590--the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mikawaya on the occasion of its 100 year anniversary. This historic Los Angeles- based family-owned bakery has been a fixture in Little Tokyo in the heart of my congressional district since its founding in 1910.

Under the current dedicated leadership of Frances Hashimoto--the grand niece of the bakery's original founder--this successful enterprise continues to satisfy the sweet-tooths of Angelenos and dessert lovers throughout the country with its wide assortment of delicious and original bakery items.

Mikawaya manufactures and sells traditional Japanese pastry and confectionary (wagashi), mochi ice cream, and gelato. In addition to its traditional ``mochi-gashi'' and ``manju'' that have been the foundation of the family business, Mikawaya has obtained nationwide popularity and success as the creator of Mochi Ice Cream along with its gelato offerings.

Madam Speaker, as Mikawaya celebrates its 100-year anniversary at the Kyoto Grand Hotel on March 8, I ask my colleagues to please join me in congratulating the entire Hashimoto family and their dedicated employees for bringing smiles to the faces of generations of customers who have enjoyed the unique and delicious Japanese-inspired ice cream and pastries that this one-of-a-kind bakery has to offer.

I extend to them my best wishes for many more innovative, productive and profitable years ahead.

To fully capture the remarkable story of the Hashimoto family and the 100 year history of their bakery, I would also like to submit the following historical overview:

``Just after the turn of the 20th century, two Japanese entrepreneurs decided to open a manju bakery. One of them was from Mikawa, an old Japan province in the area that today forms the eastern half of Aichi Prefecture. The ``ya,'' or store in Japanese, was added to the end of the name to create the name ``Mikawaya.''

In 1910 Ryuzaburo Hashimoto purchased the company, which was located at 365 East First Street in Los Angeles' Little Tokyo district. His nephew, Koroku Hashimoto and his wife Haru, took over the operations 15 years later and reopened at the newly built Olympic Hotel on North San Pedro Street, also in Little Tokyo. Five years later, they moved the company back to First Street where they remained until 1942, when the U.S. entered World War II.

From 1942 to December 1945, Mikawaya closed its doors as Executive Order 9066 forced more than 110,000 Japanese Americans, including the Hashimoto family, into U.S. internment camps for the duration of the war. On December 23, 1945, the Hashimoto family proudly reopened Mikawaya at 244 East First Street, next door to their pre-war location.

In 1970 Frances Hashimoto, their youngest daughter, took over the family business. Having the foresight that the surrounding First Street area would become prime redevelopment property, she planned and built a new bakery on 4th Street, which was completed in 1974.

With the new location on 4th Street, Mikawaya was able to expand its operations and product offerings. Hashimoto's husband and Mikawaya's Chief Financial Officer, Joel Friedman, happened on an idea when he visited Japan in 1984. In 1994, after spending 10 years of research and testing, his brainchild--mochi ice cream--became a reality.

Mochi ice cream, which is a serving of ice cream surrounded by a thin layer of mochi (pounded sweet rice), has become a recognized addition to American pop culture like sushi and sake. Today, it is Mikawaya's signature product with mass appeal that has reached beyond Asian American tastes. Currently there are seven flavors of mochi ice cream, including: chocolate, coffee, green tea, mango, red bean (azuki), strawberry, and vanilla.

Mikawaya's traditional Japanese confections and pastries are still available and made daily at its Los Angeles factory and are still a favorite in the Asian American community.

Always innovators, Mikawaya now manufactures and sells gelato-- Italian-style ice cream made from milk, sugar, real fruit and other ingredients.

Along with Mikawaya's centennial anniversary, the company opened a new 100,000-square-foot facility in Vernon, California. This facility is designed to meet the increasing demand for Mikawaya's products and will be the headquarters for new product research and development of frozen desserts. All of Mikawaya's desserts are manufactured in Southern California and are still held to Mikawaya's standards of high quality and taste.

The bakery presently operates retail stores in Japanese Village Plaza, Little Tokyo Square, Pacific Square Shopping Center in Torrance, Mitsuwa Marketplace in Gardena and Shirokiya Department Store in Honolulu, Hawaii.''

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Sister Jennie Lechtenberg on the occasion of her retirement from PUENTE Learning Center--the educational organization she founded which has served more than 80,000 students since its inception 25 years ago.

Sister Jennie's visionary and lifelong commitment to educating residents of low-income, underserved communities dates back to 1954 when she joined the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary. After earning a Bachelor's Degree from Holy Names College in Oakland, California, Sister Jennie worked as a teacher and administrator in Los Angeles-area Catholic schools for more than three decades.

It was during a three-month sabbatical in 1983 that Sister Jennie received her inspiration for PUENTE Learning Center. After launching tutoring programs for low-achieving first- and second-graders at several public schools in Boyle Heights located in the heart of my congressional district, Sister Jennie observed firsthand that the children struggling the most in school came from homes in which parents lacked basic education and/or English-language proficiency.

It was then Sister Jennie made it her mission to address the broader educational needs of the entire family. To enable parents to assist their children academically, she initiated an English-language- acquisition class for adults. As an intergenerational, family-oriented educational organization, these classes served as the organization's academic foundation. In recognition of the center's broader purpose to improve the lives of adults and children in the home and in the community, Sister Jennie aptly named the center PUENTE--the Spanish word for bridge and an acronym for People United to Enrich the Neighborhood Through Education.

Sister Jennie's vision and commitment to PUENTE's future also brought key support from generous donors. Prior to being elected Mayor of Los Angeles, Richard J. Riordan purchased property for PUENTE on Boyle Avenue. Classes were held on the property in 10 double-wide trailers. At Sister Jennie's urging, foundations, corporations, and individuals supported an ambitious $10 million capital campaign launched in 1992 to fund the construction of the center's 40,000-square-foot permanent home in Boyle Heights. The stunning new technologically-sophisticated center opened in 1995.

During this same time period, efforts were underway to expand PUENTE into South Los Angeles, an impoverished community struggling to recover from the 1992 riots. Following the civil unrest, the ARCO Foundation invited PUENTE to establish a satellite campus on land that previously housed an ARCO service station that had been destroyed in the riot. A small, two-classroom center opened on the donated property in 1994 in temporary trailers where students received English instruction and basic computer skills.

Community demand in South Los Angeles for additional classes, especially for children and adolescents, prompted the launch of a second capital campaign to construct a permanent $5 million South Los Angeles home. The 20,000-square-foot facility opened in November 1999. A multi-purpose room was added to the new facility in December 2001.

Today, approximately 2,000 students attend classes each day in Boyle Heights and South Los Angeles. PUENTE's tuition-free programs include: Preschool Readiness; Charter Kindergarten; After School Enrichment; High School Tutorial; and Adult Education including English as a Second Language, Adult High School Diploma, Job Training, and Computer Repair/ A+ Certification Preparation.

Madam Speaker, on March 18, 2010, the community will gather at a gala dinner to honor Sister Jennie's outstanding contributions as founder of PUENTE and to celebrate the 25th anniversary of this life-transforming organization which has given hope and opportunity to countless individuals at the centers in Boyle Heights and South Los Angeles.

I ask my congressional colleagues to please join me in thanking Sister Jennie for her many years of exemplary service to the community. In addition to witnessing her incredible contributions to Los Angeles over the years, I am also proud to call her a dear friend.

As Sister Jennie transitions into retirement, we commend her for her leadership and hard work to develop PUENTE into the nationally and internationally renowned educational center for children, youth and adults that it is today.

We extend to her our most heartfelt gratitude and best wishes.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Mexican American Bar Association of Los Angeles County (MABA) on the occasion of its 50th Anniversary. Headquartered in the South Park community of Downtown Los Angeles in the 34th Congressional District, I am proud to represent this non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the careers of Latinos in the legal profession and empowering Latino communities.

Over the years, I have had the privilege of working with MABA members in various ways to assist Latino families in my congressional district. MABA members have had profound impacts on our community, including in advocating for immigrant rights, providing legal counsel at my annual citizenship workshops, and generously providing pro bono consultation to the residents of the City of Commerce whose homes were damaged by the derailment of a Union Pacific train.

In 2005, I was particularly touched to become the organization's first-ever recipient of the Edward R. Roybal Public Service Award. Named in honor of my late father, the annual award recognizes individuals for their extraordinary public service to the Latino community. On behalf of my father and the Roybal family, I remain deeply grateful to MABA for honoring my father's legacy of public service in this very special way.

I am sure my father would be very proud that this year's Edward R. Roybal Public Service Award will go to Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa for his outstanding contributions to our city. MABA's other outstanding honorees at this year's February 6 anniversary gala at the Biltmore Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles are: Thomas Saenz; Herman Sillas; Eddie ``Piolin'' Sotelo; Mario Trujillo; Carlos Moyado; and The Law Firm of Moreno, Becerra and Casillas. They are all to be commended for their steadfast advocacy on behalf of Latino families.

In celebrating MABA's 50th Anniversary, it is appropriate to take a look back to this fine organization's humble beginnings. The organization's roots actually trace back to 1956 when Manuel Martinez was sworn in as an attorney in Los Angeles. Although there were few Mexican American attorneys at the time, Manuel Martinez quickly realized that attorneys of Mexican descent needed a support group to help guide their careers and ultimately succeed in the legal profession. Three years later, in 1959, he joined with another local attorney named Antonio Bueno to form the Mexican Lawyers' Club, which met regularly at El Farolito Restaurant in East Los Angeles.

In 1971, the Mexican Lawyers' Club evolved into the Mexican American Bar Association. Today, MABA of Los Angeles County boasts more than 800 members from various ethnic, racial and political backgrounds. Through the years, MABA of Los Angeles County is credited with helping numerous generations of attorneys develop their careers while staying true to its core mission of empowering and giving back to the Latino community. Considered the voice and heart of the Latino legal community, MABA members have ascended to the highest levels of the legal community: in private practice, non-profit, and governmental positions, including three appointments to the California State Supreme Court.

Madam Speaker, on the occasion of MABA of Los Angeles County's 50th Anniversary, I ask my colleagues to please join me in celebrating the growth and outstanding achievements of this distinguished and influential organization and in congratulating all of its members for making this visionary bar association the success that it is today.

Madam Speaker, today we begin the process of transforming an immigration system which has undermined our economy and eroded America's moral standing.

For too long, Congress has sidestepped our mounting immigration challenges, but led by Congressman Gutierrez, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and its allies have devised bold, imaginative solutions to these problems.

In recent years, vast sums have been spent on new agents and infrastructure to secure a once porous border. But we know taller fences and stiffer penalties alone are incapable of mitigating the human toll our broken immigration system exacts every day.

The Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America's Security and Prosperity Act (CIR A.S.A.P) lays out a broad blueprint for correcting the deeply flawed immigration laws and policies that are the source of so much suffering.

The bill would establish a sensible path to legalization for undocumented immigrants, end the shortage of visas that continues to divide families and direct federal authorities to adopt a more humane approach to immigration enforcement.

It also contains key provisions of the American Dream Act that I co- authored with Congressman Berman, which would enable young immigrants to attend college and contribute to the social and economic fabric of this nation.

These students should not be forced to defer their dreams and abandon their ambitions simply because they lack documentation. Indeed, we cannot afford to waste our investments in these talented, motivated young people--the products of our schools and our communities.

In addition, the legislation includes important language aimed at reforming our unjust immigration detention policies based on the Immigration Oversight and Fairness Act I introduced earlier this year.

On any given night, more than 30,000 immigrants go to sleep in detention centers across America. Included in their growing ranks are asylum seekers, torture survivors, children, pregnant women and the elderly. Our bill would strengthen and codify detention regulations, guaranteeing every detainee access to medical care and legal advice.

There are those who say we shouldn't pursue these sweeping changes at a time when our economy is stagnant and job losses are mounting. Yet it is precisely because American families are facing unprecedented economic hardships that addressing this issue is so critical. According to the CATO Institute, a conservative think tank, establishing a path to legalization will boost the annual income of American households by fully $180 billion over the next ten years.

We have a moral obligation to pass the CIR A.S.A.P. Act for the asylum seeker denied due process, for the child separated from her parents and for the brave veteran whose spouse faces deportation. But we also desperately need this legislation to strengthen our economy, raise wages and ultimately ensure a brighter economic future for every American family.