Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2638, The Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act. This bill makes critical investments in America to provide we have the necessary resources to secure our nation, to prepare and respond to natural disasters, and to maintain the uninterrupted flow of important government services and functions.

This continuing resolution includes three annual appropriations bills to operate important security programs in the departments of Defense, Homeland Security, and Veterans Administration. With the nation engaged in military conflict both in Afghanistan and Iraq, it is important that Congress provide the necessary investments in the Defense Department for the American men and women engaged in both battles. As a step- mother of a uniformed soldier and a wife to a former Marine, I am particularly pleased with the increased investment of $28.4 million over current funding; among other important items for our troops this will address equipment shortfalls, supply quality training, and provide top of the line medical care to our troops.

The bill increases our investment in Homeland Security by $2.3 billion over 2008 levels. Most of this increase is in the area of grants to states and localities for much needed security programs such as those for urban areas, states, transit systems, fire, interoperable communications and emergency management performance. Key programs in customs and border protection and the Transportation Security Administration which monitor and safeguard our borders, trade and transport systems will also receive increases.

The bill also makes investments in veterans' programs and in military construction, providing a $9 billion increase in funding. We all appreciate and honor the service and sacrifice of our veterans, and these investments will fund increases for medical care and will improve access to medical services for all veterans. It also continues a critically needed quality of life initiative to improve living conditions for training soldiers and marines and to upgrade substandard medical treatment facilities.

In addition to these three regular appropriations bills, our legislation addresses important emergency needs. With hurricanes in the gulf coast, floods in the Midwest, and wildfires in the west, America has experienced another year of dramatic weather-related disasters. Our bill makes a $22.9 billion investment to not only respond to these specific events but also to ensure our preparation and readiness for future emergencies. These funds will help rebuild damaged highways, levees and other public infrastructure; help communities revitalize their damaged economies; and provide important social services to affected residents.

Of course, it is equally important that we take the opportunity of this continuing resolution to address certain important domestic needs. Accordingly, this bill makes several important investments to directly benefit hardworking families, as well as strengthen the American economy. These investments include the following increases over current funding:

$1 billion for Nutrition for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) to provide mothers and their children with proper nutrition to cover increased costs as more families struggle with the economic downturn and rising food costs;

$23.5 million for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program to prevent nearly 70,000 low-income women, infants, children, and elderly citizens, from losing access to food;

$2.5 billion for the Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) to help families pay rising home energy bills, assisting an additional 2 million households and raising the average grant from $355 to $550;

$2.5 billion for Pell Grants to prevent cuts to student aid midway through the school year;

$2.9 billion to help the Census Bureau to ramp up operations for the 2010 Census; and

$7.5 billion to support $25 billion in loans to help American automakers retool their factories to build more fuel-efficient vehicles.

While I am pleased the continuing resolution addresses these important issues, I am disappointed that it does not include another important matter--an extension of the drilling ban on the outer continental shelf. Although an extension of the ban had become routine in the annual appropriations bills, the current energy crisis has made that impossible this year. I trust congressional leaders in the next Congress will reach an agreement that addresses our energy needs while still providing continued environmental safeguards for our coastlines and coastal communities.

Mr. Speaker, my constituents are not happy that once again Congress has had to resort to a continuing resolution to fund the operations of the government. Unfortunately, the Congress was left with no choice but to proceed in this fashion when the President threatened to veto domestic spending bills that exceed his inadequate requests. Re- investing in America and in American families is the new Majority's priority; however, it clearly is not the priority of the Administration as evidenced by the President's budget request. Rather than engage president renown for his inflexibility, the new Majority has opted to work with the next administration to fund these important programs.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill to secure our nation, invest in America, and respond and prepare for disasters.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the 18,000 surviving Filipino Veterans of World War II who have yet to receive the benefits and recognition for their service to this country that was promised to them many years ago.

As my colleagues know, Filipino soldiers were an essential part of United States military operations during World War II. These brave men fought alongside our American soldiers under the command of General Douglas MacArthur.

In return for their heroic efforts, our Government promised these Filipino soldiers that they would receive full veteran status and the benefits awarded to their American compatriots in recognition of their sacrifices.

However, to date, over 60 years later, we have not kept this promise. This is shameful.

200,000 Filipinos fought alongside American soldiers in World War II. Today, only 18,000 of these Filipino veterans are still living. It is imperative that we act to provide these surviving veterans with the benefits we promised them and the respect that they deserve.

I will vote for H.R. 6897 because it begins to address this misguided policy by the U.S. Government by providing a one-time payment to surviving Filipino veterans--$15,000 for U.S. citizens and $9,000 for those veterans who have remained citizens of the Philippines.

However, the benefit provided in H.R. 6897 is only a small fraction of what we owe these veterans. I am disappointed that this legislation does not go as far as the Senate-passed provisions in S. 1315, which would give Filipino WWII veterans full veteran status and all the benefits that go along with that designation. Full veteran status is not only important because of the benefits received, but also because of the honor that the designation affords.

Nonetheless, I believe that it is important that the House pass this legislation which at long last will give formal congressional recognition to contributions and sacrifices of these soldiers.

Despite my belief that we should do more, I urge my colleagues to vote in support of H.R. 6897. It is imperative that we pass this legislation as soon as possible to move the process forward with the goal of keeping our word to these brave soldiers.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to my dear friends, Jerry B. Epstein and his remarkable wife, Pat, who are being honored on October 11 with the Spirit of Saint John's Award at the 2008 Caritas Gala at the Beverly Wilshire in Beverly Hills, California.

To fully capture the breadth of this extraordinary couple's service to Saint John's and the community at large, I would like to share with my colleagues a tribute written by members of the Saint John's Health Center Foundation family. My husband Ed and I have had the privilege of knowing this remarkable couple for many years, I feel the tribute captures Jerry and Pat's tireless work to make Saint John's the quality health center it is today. It also

highlights their many other contributions to the Los Angeles community they hold so dear.

The foundation's tribute reads, ``Pat and Jerry's love for Saint John's is apparent in the enthusiasm and passion they bring to each project they embrace. When asked why they have chosen to devote so much of their time and energy to the Health Center, Jerry will tell you that having a place like Saint John's is absolutely essential--`as important as having food to eat and a roof over your head.'

Jerry joined the Saint John's Foundation Board of Trustees in 1975 and was elected Chairman in 2006 and 2007. He has actively participated in numerous hospital and foundation initiatives including leadership of the Development Oversight Committee, Building Committee, Leadership Giving, Jimmy Stewart Relay Marathon Committee, Chautauqua Inaugural Committee, The Saint John's Legacy Project and the Campaign for Saint John's. He currently serves as a member of the Foundation Executive Committee and Board of Counselors. During the design and construction of the new Health Center campus, Jerry's vast knowledge and experience in large-scale real estate development have been invaluable to Saint John's.

Jerry's commitment to Saint John's is matched by his wife and 60 year life-long partner, Pat, whose contributions have touched everyone in the Saint John's family. As one of the founding members of the Irene Dunne Guild, she continues to be an integral part of this important support group. She is a committee member of the Women's Health Initiative and serves on several fundraising event committees. Pat has graciously hosted countless dinners and special events in their home to introduce friends and neighbors to Saint John's.

The Epsteins' dedication to Saint John's is rivaled only by their pride for the State of California. Jerry is a true real estate visionary and since 1952 has been involved in the development, construction and management of major building projects in Los Angeles. One of the highlights of his extremely successful career in real estate is the development of Marina del Rey, the largest pleasure boat harbor community in the world.

Jerry's leadership in civic affairs extends to all sectors of the community and he has proudly served every California governor since Ronald Reagan on state boards and commissions, including the California Transportation Commission and California High Speed Rail Authority, City of Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners and Los Angeles State Building Authority, all of which he served as president.

A dedicated student of history, Jerry collects memorabilia associated with the Founding Fathers and other great American statesmen. He is perhaps most proud of the collection he recently donated to the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, which included an original copy of the Declaration of Independence: plus documents and letters signed by every signatory of the Declaration, including Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams and John Hancock.

Pat and Jerry's energy is boundless when it comes to making a difference in their community. Jerry serves on the board of directors of The Jewish Federation of Los Angeles and a three-person committee overseeing the construction of the new L.A. County USC and Harbor UCLA Medical Centers. Pat is an officer of the Beverly Hills Hadassah and a member of the Governing Board of FIDM/The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, one of the largest institutions of its kind in the Nation. A gifted artist, sculptor and collector, Pat is also a member of the city's artistic community and is passionate about the time she spends in her studio, Studio Eight, sculpting in different mediums.''

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me and the entire Roybal family in paying tribute to Pat and Jerry for their generosity, dedication and love for Saint John's Health Center, the greater Los Angeles region and the state of California. They have given selflessly of their time, creativity, talent and financial resources to many important causes and it is with great pride that I join Saint John's in recognizing them for their significant and ongoing contributions to our communities.

Madam Speaker, in observance of Hispanic Heritage Month, I rise today to pay tribute to the growing, enterprising and dynamic Latino community.

Today, you need only look at recent statistics to recognize the growing influence of the Latino community.

This year, the Latino population has grown to more than 45 million people in the United States. By 2050, the Latino population is projected to go up to 132 million, constituting 30 percent of the Nation's population.

Economically, Latinos own more than 1.6 million businesses in the country, generating $222 billion in revenue at a growth rate that is triple the national average. In addition, by 2010, the purchasing power of the Latino community is projected to skyrocket from 600 billion to a trillion dollars. Clearly, this proven work ethic and an entrepreneurial spirit will enable Latino businesses and workers to play an even bigger role in sustaining and strengthening our Nation's economy in years to come.

Politically, Latinos are making significant gains, especially as representation in elected offices at all levels of government continues to increase. Currently, according to the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials, more than 6,000 Latinos are providing leadership in elected and appointed offices throughout the country.

While I am very proud of the many Latino leaders who are standing up for their communities by assuming important positions of leadership, we must keep working to increase our representation. According to a new report compiled by the University of Denver, the number of Latinos holding public office is disproportionately low given that the Latino population is the largest minority group. The report states, ``Very few Latinos have ever been appointed to serve in high-ranking posts or cabinet positions. No Latino has ever been appointed to the Supreme Court. Only during the last twenty years have Latino leaders begun to occupy cabinet positions . . . A handful of Latinos have held such positions . . . Still, the participation of Latinos in the administration is below what should be expected relative to the population.''

Without question, the commitment of Latino leaders to equity in this country has inspired all of us to do the work that we do with heart and compassion. I am inspired by the words of the late Chicana author, Gloria Anzaldua, who wrote, ``The possibilities are numerous once we decide to act and not react.''

On May 1, 2006, Latinos came out by the millions and took to the streets stating, ``Today we march, tomorrow we vote.'' They kept their promise and in the November 2006 election, the country saw the largest turnout of Latino voters for a midterm election. This November, with the growing population and increased numbers of registered voters, the Latino community will have a vital role in selecting the new president of the United States. According to the University of Denver report, 93 percent of Latino registered voters plan to vote in the upcoming election.

With increasing political clout in the halls of State legislatures and in the voting booth, Latinos will continue to be agents of social and political change in this country.

For example, since the start of the 110th Congress under the leadership of the new Democratic majority, Congress has passed key legislation that directly benefits the Latino community. Congress authorized Recovery Rebates that went out to 130 American households-- including many Latino households--to help revitalize the economy. Congress increased in the minimum wage, directly benefiting 2.3 million Latinos over the next several years. Congress increased unemployment benefits at a crucial time when the Latino unemployment rate was at 8 percent. More recently, Congress reauthorized the Higher Education Act, an important piece of legislation that will help many Latino students pursue a higher education.

Under Democratic leadership, Congress has made strides in addressing the needs of Latino families. But we must not rest. This election cycle provides all of us in the Latino community with a critical opportunity to move our agenda forward. With responsive representation in all levels of government including the Executive Branch, the Latino community can better use its leverage to make progress on key priorities. These priorities include increased access to high quality education, greater access to quality health care and comprehensive immigration reform.

As we observe Hispanic Heritage Month, I ask my colleagues to please join me in recognizing the growing political empowerment and activism in the Latino community. Now more than ever, we must work together, organize, and, above all, vote, to make our voices heard this November.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California and its executive director, Ramona Ripston, on the occasion of the dedication of the organization's new headquarters building in Los Angeles. Located in my congressional district at 1313 West 8th Street, the new facility is aptly being named the Ramona Ripston Center for Civil Liberties and Civil Rights in honor of this remarkable woman who has graced the organization's helm for 36 years.

As the festivities get underway to commemorate the ACLU of Southern California's proud 85 years of hard work enforcing the

promise and vision of our nation's Constitution in Los Angeles and throughout Southern California, it comes as no surprise that the focus of this grand occasion is also upon Ramona Ripston.

During her lengthy tenure as executive director of the ACLU of Southern California, Ramona Ripston has earned a distinguished record of achievement.

Ms. Ripston was named the executive director of the ACLU of Southern California and the ACLU Foundation of Southern California on September 1, 1972, becoming the first woman to direct the activities of a major ACLU affiliate. She is responsible for all phases of the organization's programs, including litigation, lobbying and education.

During her tenure as executive director, Ms. Ripston has steered the ACLU/SC to regional and national prominence. Under her leadership, the affiliate's staff has expanded from six to nearly 60, and its annual budget has grown to $6 million. She helped foster ties between the affiliate and some of Hollywood's most prominent figures, including Burt Lancaster, Barbara Streisand, Rob Reiner, Norman Lear, James Whitmore, Camryn Manheim and Rick Nicita. Meanwhile, the ACLU/SC has become a respected voice on crucial issues ranging from freedom of speech and racial equality to immigration, homelessness and abuses by law enforcement.

In August 2006, the Los Angeles Times named Ms. Ripston as one of the 100 Most Powerful People in Southern California. For six years, she served as a member of the California Commission on Judicial Performance. She has been a visiting lecturer for the UCLA Political Science Department, hosted a talk radio program for KABC, and served on the board of directors of the First Amendment Foundation and the Office of the Americas. In 2005 Ms. Ripston was appointed to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority Commission by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. She also serves as a member of the national ACLU's Pension Committee and the Endowment Policy Committee.

Ms. Ripston was a founding member of Death Penalty Focus, and was honored with that group's Abolition Award for 2003. In 2006, she received the Rosa Parks Social Justice Award from the Martin Luther King Legacy Association. She was awarded the William J. Brennan, Jr. Civil Liberties Award in 1991 by the Center for Human Rights and Constitutional Law. The Western Society of Criminology presented her with the 1980-81 June Morrison Founder's Award, given yearly to a noncriminologist who makes an outstanding contribution to justice in the criminal justice system. Ms. Ripston also has been honored by a number of other organizations and entities, including Women in Communication, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the People's College of Law and the Los Angeles City Council.

She has written and spoken extensively on the rights of women-- including reproductive freedom--as well as the Voting Rights Act, the rights of the accused, poverty, homelessness, national security, civil liberties, police, the Constitution and the First Amendment, including censorship. She has lectured at a number of law schools, including Harvard, Yale and UCLA.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to please join me in congratulating Ramona Ripston on her three decades of outstanding service to the community as head of the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California. As we celebrate the opening of its new headquarters building, I extend to her, and everyone at the organization, my very best wishes for many more years of success ahead protecting the cherished freedoms we all enjoy in our great Nation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and commend an extraordinary athlete from East Los Angeles in the 34th District who is currently in Beijing, China as a member of the United States Olympic Boxing Team competing in the Games of the XXIXth Olympiad.

Weighing in at 165 pounds, Shawn Estrada is a middleweight boxer who became the ninth member of the U.S. Olympic boxing team after winning at the Americas Qualifier in Guatemala City, Guatemala in April.

The 23-year-old trains at the Eddie Heredia Boxing Club in East Los Angeles under the skilled direction of three dedicated coaches, his father, Juan, and Rodrigo Mosquera and Hector Aguilar.

Shawn says his fascination with boxing started when he was a young boy. This is not a surprise considering Shawn is carrying on a proud and distinguished family legacy. His father was a member of Mexico's Olympic team and his uncle, Adan Estrada, was a pro boxer. While his father refused to take Shawn to the gym with him when he was young, Shawn said that changed one day when he and his brother snuck into his dad's car one day and rode along with him anyway. He's been boxing ever since.

Shawn says his goal to ``bring home the gold'' is motivated as much by his daughter, Alyssa, as it is for his country and hometown. He told USA Boxing--the national governing body of amateur, Olympic-style boxing--that in addition to being a boxing ``champion,'' he also strives to ``be a good role model'' for his daughter.

In this regard, Shawn's tremendous drive to achieve and serve as a role model extends well beyond the boxing ring. He is furthering his education at East Los Angeles College and looks forward to one day helping to save lives as a firefighter.

Madam Speaker, on behalf of the 34th Congressional District and the State of California, I ask my colleagues to please join me in congratulating Shawn on his remarkable achievements and extending to him and his teammates our best wishes for a victorious trip to the Beijing Olympics. I can assure you, regardless of how he performs, Shawn will always be a role model and a champion to his many devoted fans in East Los Angeles. He is among our hometown heroes, and we are very proud of him--in and out of the boxing ring.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6899, the Comprehensive American Energy Security and Consumer Protection Act.

Every day my constituents contact my office wanting to know what Congress is doing to lower gas prices. Many of these families work full-time. Some even have more than one job. Yet as a result of skyrocketing energy costs and a weakening economy, they are struggling to make ends meet.

Madam Speaker, there is something fundamentally wrong with our energy policy when hardworking American families are increasingly burdened by escalating energy prices, while oil companies continue to reap record profits. Congress has a duty to move past short-sighted solutions, and pass this legislation which will provide the first steps to ending this inequity and our Nation's addiction to oil.

While I have serious concerns about the expansion of offshore drilling, I recognize however, that this compromise is needed to address the expiration of the moratorium on Outer Continental Shelf drilling and move the other important provisions in the legislation forward.

While it is far from perfect, H.R. 6899 is a necessary and realistic compromise that in addition to preventing drilling only three miles off our shores, will help expand our domestic energy supply, encourage energy efficiency and conservation, and reduce our Nation's dependence on oil.

H.R. 6899 will address our energy crisis by the temporary release of almost 10 percent of the oil in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. This is expected to have the direct result of lower gas prices in the short- term.

The bill also invests in renewable energy technology by establishing a package of renewable energy tax credits and creating a renewable electricity standard, thereby giving us the tools and the incentives to break free of our dependence on oil. It is estimated that the renewable electricity standard will save American consumers up to $18 billion by 2020. In addition, the tax credits will help spur the creation of new, green jobs and encourage the next generation of job development here in America.

The bill also ensures that oil companies will pay their fair share of royalties on their drilling leases. Due to errors made by the Department of the Interior in 1998 and 1999, many oil companies who were granted leases during that time were exempt from paying royalties. This has amounted to $15 billion in lost revenues to the American taxpayer. There is absolutely no reason that oil companies should continue to cash in while American families can't even make ends meet. By rectifying this error, H.R. 6899 will ensure that the Interior Department will be able to collect the payments owed to hardworking Americans.

Given the current crisis, it is necessary we take the first step to reach our larger goal of energy independence. The Democratic leadership has wisely rejected the Republican Party's shortsighted call for ``drill-only'' legislation,

and instead has put forward a responsible plan to give states the option to decide if portions of the Outer Continental Shelf no closer than 50 miles off our shores will be opened to oil drilling--and it requires oil companies to drill on their existing leases or lose them. I am gratified that the legislation will incorporate environmental safeguards by permanently withdrawing national marine monuments and national marine sanctuaries from leasing eligibility.

I urge my colleagues to support this legislation to protect our shores from the lifting of the offshore drilling moratorium and as a first step away from dependence on foreign oil and toward critical investments in renewable energy technology. This legislation provides the foundation for a long-term strategy to move the Nation on the road to energy independence.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Asian Pacific American Legal Center of Southern California, an organization based in Downtown Los Angeles in my 34th Congressional District, on the occasion of its 25th Anniversary.

The Asian Pacific American Legal Center of Southern California (APALC) is Southern California's leading organization dedicated to providing the growing Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community with multilingual, culturally-sensitive, legal services and education.

APALC was founded in 1983 by civil rights attorney Stewart Kwoh. In founding APALC, Mr. Kwoh envisioned an organization that would be an effective regional progressive voice and organizational leader focused on solving the problems of racial discrimination and exploitation of low-income workers in certain employment sectors such as the garment industry. In addition to increasing access to legal services and education for the poor, his mission also included improving inter-group relations within the diverse AAPI community as well as among other ethnic groups to address common problems and concerns.

With this vision and under his leadership, APALC has become a key advocate for poor and limited-English proficient (LEP) AAPIs, immigrants, and other community members in Southern California and throughout the state. Over the past 25 years, APALC has assisted more than 200,000 individuals and organizations through its direct services, impact litigation, policy and advocacy, and leadership development.

In the area of direct services, APALC offers the multilingual intake of information through its Asian language hotline. The center offers legal counseling, education and representation in the areas of family law and domestic violence, employment, consumer law, immigration, government benefits and housing. As a member of the Appropriations Committee, it has been my pleasure to assist APALC in obtaining federal funds for technology upgrades in its domestic violence services unit.

In the area of policy and advocacy, APALC has been involved in a wide range of civil rights issues, including hate crimes monitoring, police/ community relations, voting rights and immigrant rights. Through statewide collaborations, APALC has helped secure key victories such as welfare programs for elderly immigrants as well as translated contracts and bilingual ballots for LEP Asians. APALC also conducts demographic research, including data collection and analysis, to make data more accessible to the growing AAPI community and the organizations that serve it.

In its ``impact litigation'' area, APALC has achieved key legal victories. A notable landmark APALC victory resulted in a federal decision establishing retail and manufacturer liability for the wages and working conditions of garment workers hired by contractors and subcontractors in the case of dozens of Thai garment workers who were enslaved in a garment sweatshop in El Monte. APALC has also led or participated in other important civil rights cases, involving English- only workplace policies and city ordinances, education inequality at state universities, redress payments for World War II Japanese American internees, racially discriminatory employment and promotion practices, and unfair business practices.

Finally, APALC's leadership development efforts include more pro- active programming designed to develop and strengthen community advocates who can identify and find resolutions to community concerns. This programming includes the Leadership Development in Inter-ethnic Relations (LDIR) program, which equips community and student leaders with skills to collaborate across racial and other boundaries. APALC also conducts leadership development programs focused on AAPI youth through its Preparing Asian Pacific American Youth Advocates (PAPAYA), an afterschool program at high schools in the San Gabriel Valley. The youth program also works to develop parent leaders to become advocates in their children's education.

Madam Speaker, on the occasion of APALC's 25th Anniversary, I join today with fellow leaders throughout my state in recognizing Stewart Kwoh and APALC for their commendable accomplishments advocating on behalf of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community, and I wish them many years of continued success ahead.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Philippe the Original restaurant on the occasion of its 100 year anniversary. This historic diner in Downtown Los Angeles in my congressional district is legendary for its succulent French dip sandwiches.

Started in 1908 by a French immigrant named Philippe Mathieu, this restaurant thrives today at 1001 North Alameda Street, one block north of Union Station, at Alameda and Ord Street. In 1927, Philippe Mathieu retired and sold the restaurant to two brothers, David and Harry Martin. The Martins and their in-laws, the Binders, have owned and operated the restaurant ever since.

On a typical weekday, more than 3,000 customers patronize Philippe's, ordering up its renowned beef, lamb, pork and turkey dip sandwiches. The restaurant is even busier on Saturdays and Sundays when Philippe's dedicated crew serves as many as 4,000 customers who step atop the restaurant's sawdust-covered floors to place their orders.

So what's behind these hearty sandwiches ``dipped'' in a special meat juice--or jus, as the French say?

Starting at 3 a.m., the restaurant's ovens begin the essential task of roasting the beef, legs of lamb, pork butts and turkey breasts that make up the bulk of Philippe's sandwiches. The dipping jus is made by simmering 150 pounds of beef bones with stockpot vegetables for 24 hours. The stock is then used to deglaze the roasting pans to form a unique and flavorful combination. When the sandwiches are assembled, the meats are sliced, placed on French rolls from the Frisco Baking Co. in Cypress Park, accented with Philippe's homemade mustard and then ``dipped.''

While its French dip sandwiches are undeniably the restaurant's main draw, Philippe's also serves many other popular timeless dishes that made the restaurant a success when it opened a century ago. The menu includes: pickled pigs' feet (the restaurant sells 300 pounds a week); coleslaw; house-pickled beets; magenta hard-boiled eggs in beet juice; fruit pies; baked apples; tapioca pudding; and tart lemonade. Another legacy to its days gone by: Philippe's sells a cup of coffee for a mere 10 cents.

In addition to the restaurant's tasty fare and reasonable prices, Philippe's success and longevity are also attributed to the restaurant's hardworking and loyal employees. Many of the restaurant's 73 employees have worked at Philippe's for more than 20 years and six are second generation.

General Manager Richard Binder said in a recent LA Times article that the restaurant prides itself on offering its employees a quality work environment. ``We've been union since at least 1954. Our employees say they're very happy with their medical plan, which covers spouses and children--the whole family,'' Mr. Binder said.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to please join me in congratulating the Martin and Binder families and the restaurant's many dedicated employees on 100 years of continuous operation of Philippe's in Los Angeles. I also extend to all of them my best wishes for many more years of success ahead, satisfying the sandwich cravings of current and future generations of Angelenos and tourists, and I invite my colleagues to stop by Philippe's the next time they're in Los Angeles to have a great sandwich in the 34th District.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to my dear friends, Jerry B. Epstein and his remarkable wife, Pat, who are being honored on October 11 with the Spirit of Saint John's Award at the 2008 Caritas Gala at the Beverly Wilshire in Beverly Hills, California.

To fully capture the breadth of this extraordinary couple's service to Saint John's and the community at large, I would like to share with my colleagues a tribute written by members of the Saint John's Health Center Foundation family. As a person who has had the privilege of knowing this remarkable couple for many years, I feel the tribute captures Jerry and Pat's tireless work to make Saint John's the quality health center it is today. It also highlights their many other contributions to the Los Angeles community they hold so dear.

The foundation's tribute reads, ``Pat and Jerry's love for Saint John's is apparent in the enthusiasm and passion they bring to each project they embrace. When asked why they have chosen to devote so much of their time and energy to the Health Center, Jerry will tell you that having a place like Saint John's is absolutely essential--``as important as having food to eat and a roof over your head.''

Jerry joined the Saint John's Foundation Board of Trustees in 1975 and was elected Chairman in 2006 and 2007. He has actively participated in numerous hospital and Foundation initiatives including leadership of the Development Oversight Committee, Building Committee, Leadership Giving, Jimmy Stewart Relay Marathon Committee, Chautauqua Inaugural Committee, The Saint John's Legacy Project and the Campaign for Saint John's. He currently serves as a member of the Foundation Executive Committee and Board of Counselors. During the design and construction of the new Health Center campus, Jerry's vast knowledge and experience in large-scale real estate development have been invaluable to Saint John's.

Jerry's commitment to Saint John's is matched by his wife and 60-year life-long partner, Pat, whose contributions have touched everyone in the Saint John's family. As one of the founding members of the Irene Dunne Guild, she continues to be an integral part of this important support group. She is a committee member of the Women's Health Initiative and serves on several fundraising event committees. Pat has graciously hosted countless dinners and special events in their home to introduce friends and neighbors to Saint John's.

The Epsteins' dedication to Saint John's is rivaled only by their pride for the State of California. Jerry is a true real estate visionary and since 1952 has been involved in the development, construction and management of major building projects in Los Angeles. One of the highlights of his extremely successful career in real estate is the development of Marina del Rey, the largest pleasure boat harbor community in the world.

Jerry's leadership in civic affairs extends to all sectors of the community and he has proudly served every California governor since Ronald Reagan on State boards and commissions, including the California Transportation Commission and California High Speed Rail Authority, City of Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners and Los Angeles State Building Authority, all of which he served as president.

A dedicated student of history, Jerry collects memorabilia associated with the Founding Fathers and other great American statesmen. He is perhaps most proud of the collection he recently donated to the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, which included an original copy of the Declaration of Independence, plus documents and letters signed by every signatory of the Declaration, including Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams and John Hancock.

Pat and Jerry's energy is boundless when it comes to making a difference in their community. Jerry serves on the board of directors of The Jewish Federation of Los Angeles and a three-person committee overseeing the construction of the new L.A. County USC and Harbor UCLA Medical Centers. Pat is an officer of the Beverly Hills Hadassah and a member of the Governing Board of FIDM/The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, one of the largest institutions of its kind in the Nation. A gifted artist, sculptor and collector, Pat is also a member of the city's artistic community and is passionate about the time she spends in her studio, Studio Eight, sculpting in different mediums.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to Pat and Jerry for their generosity, dedication and love for Saint John's Health Center, the greater Los Angeles region and the State of California. They have given selflessly of their time, creativity, talent and financial resources to many important causes and it is with great pride that I join Saint John's in recognizing them for their significant and ongoing contributions to our communities.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 1042, which supports the We Don't Serve Teens campaign.

I commend my California colleague, Mary Bono Mack, for her leadership in offering this resolution, and for highlighting the public health crisis of underage drinking in our country. This crisis is real, and the impact on the health and safety of our children is profound.

During the 10 years I've been working on this issue, one thing has been made perfectly clear: underage drinking and its serious consequences are not inevitable. From research, we know that parents are the leading influence over their children's decision to drink or not drink alcohol. Simply stated, when parents talk, kids really do listen. Unfortunately, many parents under estimate the problem of underage drinking in their communities and therefore do not talk to their children about the dangers of alcohol consumption.

The facts are, however, that each year, 10.8 million Americans between the ages of 12 and 20 report illegal alcohol consumption. This number includes

41 percent of 8th grade students, 62 percent of 10th grade students, and 73 percent of 12th graders.

State officials, business leaders, parents and community leaders can also make a difference. When they come together to fight this public health crisis, it is possible to reduce the terrible toll underage drinking has on our youth. The We Don't Serve Teens Campaign will help us reach that goal.

From my personal experience in my own district, I can attest to how highly successful the program is in educating parents and their children about the dangers of underage drinking. Last fall I worked with the Century Council and the Federal Trade Commission to bring this important public safety campaign to Los Angeles during National We Don't Serve Teens Week.

The Wine and Spirits Wholesalers Association and the California Highway Patrol joined us in sending a strong message to retailers, parents and adults that providing alcohol to any person under the age of 21 is unsafe, irresponsible, and illegal.

I was privileged to host this important campaign in my district, and I am honored to support this resolution today.

I hope that passage of this resolution will encourage others to become more actively involved in the fight against underage drinking. By working together to reduce underage drinking, we will provide a safer and healthier future for our children.

I encourage my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H. Res. 1042 and to do what they can in their communities to get the message out.

Mr. Speaker, the passage of H. Res. 1381 gives us an opportunity to send a clear message to the 111th Congress that public health and prevention must be an essential part of any health care reform package.

I introduced H. Res. 1381 because as we began the debate on national health care reform, focusing on prevention strategies is a key component to our ultimate success.

Currently our country spends a staggering $2.2 trillion each year on health care, more than any other country in the world, yet we are dying younger and we have the highest rate of preventible deaths among 19 industrialized nations.

Research tells us that nearly 60 percent of premature deaths in the United States could be prevented by strategies that address environmental conditions, social circumstances, and behavioral choices.

But we have not prioritized prevention in this country, and the serious consequences of neglecting prevention strategies has both an economic and a human toll.

When we survey the economic components of our health care budget, we see that chronic diseases account for 75 percent of the health care spending in the United States, including more than 96 cents out of every dollar spent in Medicare and more than 83 cents out of every dollar spent in Medicaid.

The human cost is reflected in the fact that each year these largely preventable chronic diseases account for seven out of ten deaths in the United States every year.

Science and the medical community are warning us that if we do not focus on prevention now, by the year 2025 nearly half of our U.S. population will suffer from at least one chronic disease.

Mr. Speaker, the entire public health community agrees that prevention is a critical component to successfully addressing our Nation's public health crisis and to reining in the astronomical cost of health care.

A study by the Partnership for Prevention found that each year there is the potential to save 100,000 lives through five simple behavioral changes.

And an analysis by the Trust for America's Health found that an annual investment of just $10 per person in proven community-based programs could save the country more than $60 billion annually within 5 years.

It is time for our country to adopt a proactive and strategic approach to health care aimed at preventable conditions.

H. Res. 1381 calls on our Nation to prioritize prevention and public health for all people in the United States.

The resolution urges community-based programs to support healthy lifestyles, and it promotes the expansion of prevention strategies like daily aspirin therapy, smoking cessation, colorectal and breast cancer screening, and annual flu immunizations.

The resolution also calls for the creation of public health strategies to improve our Nation's health and eliminate health disparities.

Finally, H. Res. 1381 challenges the Congressional Budget Office to consider the savings associated with the prevention of chronic disease when formulating its health care cost estimates.

I extend my sincere thanks to the bipartisan group of original cosponsors

who join me in this effort, including my co-chairs from the Study Group on Public Health, Kay Granger and Jim McGovern; my colleagues, Jim Moran from the Prevention Caucus and Diana DeGette and Mike Castle from the Diabetes Caucus.

We share a passion for improving public health and preventing chronic disease.

I also thank The Trust for America's Health and the Campaign for Public Health, in addition to over 150 public health organizations that have endorsed this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, the future health of our Nation depends on the priorities we set as we begin the process of health care reform.

By passing H. Res. 1381 today, we are sending an important message to the new 111th Congress that Public Health and Prevention must be a priority in any health reform package.

I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the passage of H. Res. 1381. We cannot solve the health care crisis in this country until we get serious about prevention.

Madam Speaker, I was not present for rollcall vote 615 on Thursday, September 18, 2008. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 6460, the Great Lakes Legacy Reauthorization Act of 2008.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize four highly motivated and talented street soccer players and their coach who traveled from Los Angeles to our nation's capital this summer to compete in the Homeless USA Cup. This was the first time a team from Los Angeles joined the street soccer tournament, which this year included homeless and formerly homeless youth from 11 cities throughout the country.

I am especially proud of the fact that this talented and resilient team was sponsored by Jovenes, Inc., an exemplary community organization that provides needed services to homeless and low-income Latinos in my 34th Congressional District.

Jovenes, Inc. was founded in 1989 by Reverend Richard Estrada, Associate Pastor of Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church in Downtown, Los Angeles. Initially, Father Estrada created Jovenes, Inc.--which means youth in Spanish--to address the dire needs of homeless immigrant youth in Los Angeles.

Today, while Jovenes, Inc. remains committed to assisting the immigrant Latino community, the non-profit organization has expanded its reach. Jovenes, Inc. assists at-risk young people ages 16 to 24, foster youth, homeless individuals of all ages, and low-income families. Each year, an estimated 1,500 youth benefit from Jovenes, Inc.'s services, which include emergency and transitional housing, arts programs, mental health services, health education, employment preparation, financial literacy classes for families, after-school programs, GED preparation and computer courses.

Madam Speaker, I have had the pleasure of working with Father Estrada and Jovenes, Inc. on several occasions. He is an uplifting and positive force throughout the community and I thank him for his advocacy and tireless work to improve the lives of young people and families in my district and elsewhere in Los Angeles County.

Clearly, the notable success of our four street soccer players-- Johny, Densi, Carlos and Peter--who competed in the Homeless USA Cup in June have the dedicated staff of Jovenes, Inc., especially Executive Director Ernesto Montano, and Director of Programs/Team Coach Andrea Marchetti, to thank for working to make such memorable and empowering opportunities available to them.

While our star street soccer players from Los Angeles lost in their final round against a Minnesota team at the U.S. Homeless Cup, their unstoppable performance in the qualifying round got them noticed. They were all selected for spots on the national team. Three of the players will travel to Australia in December to represent the United States in the Homeless World Cup. The fourth player will serve as an alternate. In addition, all four athletes have been invited to come back to next year's Homeless USA Cup to motivate and serve as examples for new teams and players. In between competitions, the Jovenes, Inc. players continue to work to turn their lives around by resuming their education, furthering their careers, and chasing their goals to live independently in a stable and safe environment.

The organization's newsletter poignantly sums up the impact of the street-soccer tournaments in helping to inspire and motivate these soccer players. ``For our youth this is the country that is giving them an opportunity for a successful life, and they will do their best to make everybody proud of them, on and off the pitch! . . . Through soccer, homeless individuals have a way to find the motivation, energy and discipline to solve their daily struggles and feel appreciated and respected. Jovenes, Inc. will continue this experience in the future to motivate our youth to succeed through sports in their life.''

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to please join me in recognizing the significant work of Father Estrada and Jovenes, Inc. in bettering the lives of young people and Latino families in the community. I also congratulate Johny, Densi, Carlos and Peter for their exceptional street-soccer abilities. They are truly an inspiration, on and off the soccer field. After all, as they have shown, with the right support and a lot of hard work, anything is possible.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to extend my best wishes to two young Americans who are starting their new life together this weekend. On Saturday, August 2, 2008, Allison Claire McLeod and Nathaniel Lee Sandstrom will be joined in matrimony surrounded by their loving family and friends at Preston Hall in Baltimore, Maryland.

Allie and Nate, as their family and friends call them, currently live in Baltimore but were both born in the Midwest. In fact, they describe themselves as, ``A balanced combination of Midwestern salt-of-the-earth values and Columbia, MD-born neighborliness . . .''

Allie was born in Cleveland, Ohio on May 23, 1980. Her mother, Karen Jean McLeod, is a retired elementary school teacher's assistant for the Columbia School District in Maryland, and her father, Robert John McLeod, is a meteorologist for the National Weather Service. When Allie was three years old, her father's work transferred the McLeod family to Columbia, MD. The family would relocate to Boise, Idaho for several years before eventually returning to Columbia. Back in Maryland, Allie attended Wilde Lake High School. At Wilde Lake, Allie participated on the school's volleyball and lacrosse teams and was active in Students for a Better World. After high school Allie went on to study at Towson University in Maryland.

Nate was born in Appleton, Wisconsin on July 12, 1979. His mother, Vicki Lynn Kessler, is a minister at St. Paul United Church of Christ in Denver, Iowa, and his father, Kent Lee Sandstrom, is a professor at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI). Nate's family relocated to Waterloo, Iowa when his father began working at UNI. Nate attended Cedar Falls High School and was active in baseball, band and the school newspaper. He attended Iowa State University and UNI and then moved to Maryland to complete his studies at Towson University.

It was at Towson University where the future bride and groom eventually met. The two young students belonged to the same circle of college friends, and after an initial period as good friends, the couple started dating. Their relationship blossomed and Allie and Nate became a couple. When Nate enrolled in graduate school at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, the couple both relocated to the Midwest. After two years in Illinois, the couple returned to Maryland in 2006 and set up home in Baltimore.

The couple enjoys spending time with family and friends, camping, and cheering on the Washington Redskins, among other activities. They were engaged on May 23, 2007, and the newlywed couple will make their home in the Federal Hill neighborhood of Baltimore. Their many friends say Allie and Nate are very well suited for each other, and their families already consider each of them a member of the family.

Allie and Nate will be joined in their wedding celebration in Baltimore's historic neighborhood of Mount Vernon by guests from across town and across the country. Family and friends are traveling from California, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, New York, and South Carolina among other states. Special participants in the wedding ceremony will be Katharine Elizabeth McLeod, the bride's maid of honor; Philip Sandstrom, the groom's best man; and the other members of the wedding party: Tracey Bounds, Becca Dougherty, Kelly Neale, Lindsay Thomasson, Mark Goldman, Andrew McLeod, Patrick Newstrom, and Matt Schaffer. When they take their wedding vows, Allie and Nate will have the added honor of having Nate's mother, the Reverend Kessler, perform the ceremony.

Madam Speaker, I offer my best wishes to the McLeod and Sandstrom families, their friends and guests for a very happy and memorable celebration. To Allie and Nate, I offer the sentiment and gifts which George Bailey offered the Martini family as they moved into their new home in the classic film, It's a Wonderful Life, ``Bread! That their house may never know hunger. Salt! That life may always have flavor. And wine! That joy and prosperity may reign forever.'' Lastly, I wish that throughout their wonderful life together, Allie and Nate will always have an abundance of what St. Paul wrote of in his letter to the Corinthians, ``faith, hope, and love; and the greatest of these is love.''