Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate and pay tribute to Mr. Christopher Westhoff, Assistant City Attorney-- Public Works General Counsel with the City of Los Angeles, California.

Mr. Westhoff is an environmental champion for the City of Los Angeles, the State of California, and the nation. He is an exceptional leader and public steward dedicated to the improvement of L.A.'s water quality and public health. It is my pleasure to congratulate Mr. Westhoff on being named the new President of the National Association of Clean Water Agencies, NACWA.

Mr. Westhoff has been a public servant in California for almost his entire career. He began as a prosecutor with the Los Angeles City Attorney's office and has been the General Counsel to the Board of Public Works for over 15 years. Mr. Westhoff is the Public Works Department's legal counsel on wastewater and other environmental regulatory issues including air and stormwater.

Mr. Westhoff has played a leadership role in guaranteeing clean and safe water for future generations of Californians by helping ensure an upgrade of the Hyperion Treatment Plant to full secondary treatment, developing and defending policies that have helped clean up the Santa Monica Bay, and achieving 100% beneficial reuse of the city's biosolids.

His role in negotiating a landmark settlement agreement for L.A.'s collection systems resulted in benefits to all parties and led to a reduction in sewer spills of more than 70%.

Another achievement of Mr. Westhoff's of particular significance is his role in developing and defending Los Angeles' model program to increase the participation of minority and woman-run business enterprises as part of city contracts. Mr. Westhoff successfully defended this vital program before the California State Supreme Court.

Mr. Westhoff will become NACWA's president later this month, after serving as NACWA's Vice President and Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee. The City of Los Angeles is a founding member of the Association and Mr. Westhoff was elected to the Board of Directors in 1999.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues of the 110th Congress to please join me today in congratulating Chris Westhoff on becoming President of NACWA and for his tireless commitment to Los Angeles, our state of California and our country. With Chris Westhoff as President, NACWA will no doubt build on its reputation as the leading advocate for responsible national policies that advance clean water and a healthy environment. I am certain the association will continue to flourish under his able leadership.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the Homeland Security Appropriations bill, and to congratulate Chairman Price on crafting an excellent bill. As the new Chairman of this subcommittee, Congressman Price worked hard to adequately fund programs that would enhance the security of all Americans while still maintaining a fiscally responsible budget. He has been a true champion and advocate for real and effective security for our Nation. This bill is a testament to the Chairman's leadership.

I also want to acknowledge and thank the subcommittee staff for their hard work and dedication both throughout the extended hearing process and in preparing the bill and committee report.

Chairman Price and our subcommittee based this bill on careful consideration of expert testimony given before our committee on the many serious security concerns facing our Nation. Over and over again we heard that another terrorist attack against our country was not a question of if, but of when.

This bill helps to address these concerns by giving long overdue and sorely needed additional financial support to agencies and programs with major responsibility to protect our country.

I would like to highlight several of these programs and their importance to our national security.

This Homeland Security bill strengthens port facilities and infrastructures that remain vulnerable to a terrorist attack by increasing badly needed funding for port security grants.

This is important, for example, because an attack on our Nation's largest container port complex at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach would negatively affect our entire national economy to the tune of $1 billion a day.

Passage of this bill will also make available to our first responders increased Firefighter Assistance Grants and Safer Grants to purchase critical equipment and hire and train additional firefighters.

This will help address the outstanding issues that impair our first responders' ability to safely respond to a major disaster, as was identified by the events of September 11 and Hurricane Katrina.

The Homeland Security bill also makes border security a top priority by providing funds for 3,000 additional Border Patrol agents.

Finally, following the 9/11 Commission's recommendation to improve the explosive screening of checked baggage, this Homeland Security bill increases funding for the procurement, installation and maintenance of the latest explosive detection systems at our airports.

Experts agree that the cargo hold of the passenger airplanes is the ``soft underbelly'' of our aviation system.

Providing this equipment for our airports will help harden that potential target, which is critical to the safety of thousands of passengers who travel not only through the Los Angeles World Airports, but airports throughout our country.

Mr. Chairman, these are a just a few of the key improvements this legislation makes to better protect our Nation. I strongly support the bill and urge my colleagues to do the same.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the University of Southern California School of Pharmacy, located in my Congressional district, on receiving the 2007 Pinnacle Award from the American Pharmacists Association Foundation. This national award celebrates innovators who have made significant contributions to improving the quality of medication delivery for patients and caregivers.

Los Angeles County is home to more than 2.7 million uninsured residents, many of whom rely on their local health care clinic for needed health services. USC's Community Pharmacy Group earned this honor for their work to serve patients in eight safety-net clinics in underserved neighborhoods in Los Angeles, including the JWCH Medical Clinic at the Weingart Center located in the heart of downtown Los Angeles' Skid Row.

Recognizing that community pharmacists are often the most accessible health care professionals for many underserved patients, USC has trained pharmacists along with residents and students to provide disease management services to high-risk patients, and has helped community clinics purchase lower-cost medication. USC pharmacists work directly with patients with chronic diseases requiring ongoing medication and lifestyle changes. By implementing pharmacist-based disease management services and education at these clinics, the USC Community Pharmacy Group has demonstrated significant improvements in health outcomes directly attributed to pharmacist interventions.

Prior to the start of the project, none of the eight clinics had a pharmacist available to provide pharmaceutical care to patients in the clinic. Pharmacists have reduced drug costs at the clinics by utilizing patient assistance programs and formulary products. The results were outstanding; patients with chronic conditions increased their use of appropriate medications and improved control of their illnesses.

Madam Speaker, I applaud USC for their commitment to improving health outcomes for low-income patients in Los Angeles. It is my hope that the recognition USC receives through the Pinnacle Award will prompt other communities to try similar successful interventions. Together, through these types of efforts, we can improve the quality of life for millions of underserved Americans in need of quality health care.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the Eugene A. Obregon American Legion Post 804 located in East Los Angeles in my congressional district on the occasion of its 60th Annual Memorial Day Service.

Chartered by Congress in 1919, the American Legion was formed as a patriotic wartime veterans' community service organization. Thirty-five years later, the American Legion Post 804 was chartered locally in East Los Angeles.

Post 804 was named after East Los Angeles war hero Private First Class Eugene Arnold Obregon who was killed in Seoul, Korea in 1950 by enemy forces while in the line of duty. Private Obregon served with Company G, Third Battalion, Fifth Marines, First Marine Division (Reinforced) and his death occurred just days before his 20th birthday.

While serving as an ammunition carrier for a machine gun squad, he was pinned down by hostile fire and left his covered position to attend to a fallen Marine, dragging him to safer ground. After seizing the Marine's shoulder rifle, he used his own body as a shield to protect his wounded comrade, firing at the enemy until he was fatally wounded by machine gun fire.

For his courage and selflessness above and beyond the call of duty, Private Obregon was posthumously awarded the United States Congressional Medal of Honor--the highest award

for valor in action against an enemy force bestowed upon an individual serving in the Armed Services.

My father, the late Congressman Edward R. Roybal, himself a World War II veteran, was extremely grateful to Private Obregon and the many other men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our nation. My father was among the founding members of Post 804, and it was always important to him that Memorial Day be observed with a heartfelt and patriotic tribute to the fallen. If my father were with us today, he would be the first to commend Post 804 for its 60-year tradition of organizing these poignant Memorial Day services.

This year, the American Legion Post 804 will be holding an inspirational 24-hour Memorial Day Patriotic Vigil. It will begin at 10 a.m. on Sunday, May 27 and conclude on Monday, Memorial Day, May 28 at 10 a.m. The conclusion of the vigil will mark the beginning of the Post's Memorial Day service at Cinco Puntos in East Los Angeles, and the entire community has been invited to participate.

Many of the Post's 150 members who will participate in the service know firsthand the toll that war takes on our brave men and women who serve. The Post's membership includes veterans of World War I, World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam, Lebanon, Grenada, Panama, Afghanistan and the Persian Gulf.

In addition to the Post's Memorial Day service, Post 804 supports and sponsors a number of important community events throughout the year, including Veterans Day services at Atlantic Park in East Los Angeles, a toy drive for the Children of Brooklyn Avenue School, school presentations on the American Flag and Patriotism, and voter registration and blood drives.

The Post is also home to Sons of the American Legion Post 804 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4696, including its Ladies Auxiliary. The Los Angeles Chapter of the Hispanic Airborne Association, the San Gabriel Valley Chapter of the 82nd Airborne Association, and the Rice Patties Jumpers Chapter of 187th Regiment also call the Post home.

Madam Speaker, I salute Post 804 for its patriotic and meaningful work in the community and for steadfastly holding true to its basic tenants to safeguard ``the principles of justice, freedom and democracy'' and ``to promote peace and goodwill on earth . . .'' Through its efforts in organizing Memorial Day services and its other important community undertakings, the Post serves as a living memorial to our men and women in uniform who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the outstanding work of the Eugene A. Obregon American Legion Post 804 on the occasion of its 60th Annual Memorial Day Service at Cinco Puntos in East Los Angeles, and in commending the Post for its dedication to preserving the memories of our brave soldiers to ensure that we ``never forget.''

Mr. Speaker, to help address domestic violence in our country, I rise to announce the re-introduction of the Security and Financial Empowerment Act, or as it is better known, the SAFE Act. Domestic violence is a personal and social tragedy that negatively impacts all of our society.

On average, every day in our country, more than three women are murdered by their husband or boyfriend, and nearly one-third of American women report being physically or sexually abused by a husband or boyfriend at some point in their lives.

The physical and psychological consequences of domestic violence are exacerbated by the less obvious economic consequences. For example, one of the key reasons survivors stay in or return to an abusive environment is because they are financially dependent upon their abuser to provide for them and their children. As a result of the abuse, employed women often lose their jobs due to frequent tardiness or absenteeism or because their abuser stalks and harasses them at work.

To help break this cycle of violence, I have introduced the SAFE Act with representative Ted Poe.

The SAFE Act would provide employed survivors of domestic violence with greater employment protections and increased economic stability.

Specifically, the SAFE Act would enable the survivors of domestic violence to pursue legal assistance, medical care and meet other immediate needs associated with violence in their lives without the fear of losing their job.

If survivors of abuse are fired or forced to leave their job as a result of the abuse, the SAFE Act makes them eligible for unemployment benefits. The SAFE Act also helps employers address the negative impact of domestic violence in the workplace.

While it is true that domestic violence is a personal tragedy, it is also true that it has costly negative consequences to employers who pay an estimated $3-13 billion a year in sick leave, absenteeism and lost productivity.

The SAFE Act helps businesses save money by helping to reduce absenteeism and lost productivity and by enabling businesses to retain valuable and experienced employees, thereby avoiding the high cost associated with training new staff.

In summary, the SAFE Act empowers survivors of domestic violence. It protects the bottom line of business, and it improves the quality of life of our American society.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the many advocacy groups for their support of the SAFE Act and for the work they do every day to end domestic and sexual violence in our country.

And I sincerely thank Representative Poe for his cosponsorship, and I look forward to working with him and my colleagues in Congress to pass the SAFE Act and empower women against the violence in their life.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to join my colleagues in honoring the rich heritage and important contributions made to our Nation by Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

I thank Congressman Honda and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus for organizing this evening's special order.

Born and raised in the diverse city of Los Angeles, California, I have been blessed with friendships and experiences that have given me a deep respect and appreciation of the unique cultures and customs of our AAPI communities.

That respect and appreciation has grown even greater as a member of Congress honored to represent many of these communities, including Little Tokyo, Chinatown, and historic Filipinotown.

The American dream for Asian American Pacific Islanders is the same as for all Americans: Freedom, justice, respect and the opportunity for a better life.

This year's commemoration theme--``Meeting the Challenges for Asian Pacific Americans in 2007''--unfortunately highlights the sad reality that, while generations of Asian American and Pacific Islanders have a long history of fighting to protect our country in time of war, contributing to the strength our Nation's economy and enriching our lives with the beauty of their culture and customs, like too many other communities in our country, they continue to face the obstacles of discrimination and racism in pursuit of their American dream.

Eliminating these barriers and honoring the contributions of the AAPI communities is a top priority for me, my colleagues and our new Democratic majority.

We will continue to work to successfully: Pass a comprehensive immigration reform bill that is fair and just; eliminate health disparities by expanding health care coverage and removing linguistic and cultural barriers to quality care; honor our veterans by adequately funding veterans programs and restoring the benefits denied to so many veterans, including the thousands of Filipinos who bravely fought in the U.S. Military during World War II; Provide small business with the tools needed to encourage entrepreneurial innovation, which will help the AAPI and other vulnerable communities develop new business ventures that will create jobs and economic prosperity; and

work to make higher education a reality for all America's students by increasing the maximum Pell grant award and cutting the interest rates on student loans.

Mr. Speaker, Asian Pacific American Heritage Month is also a wonderful opportunity for our country to honor hard-working and dedicated organizations that help our AAPI communities meet the many challenges of today.

I particularly want to recognize some of the organizations in my 34th Congressional District and thank their staffs and volunteers for the many valuable services they provide to the community: The Asian Pacific American Legal Center, is one of our Nation's largest public service organizations that provides legal services and education to create a more equitable society; the Chinatown Service Center's Family Health Clinic provides comprehensive, affordable health care to thousands of low-income families; the Little Tokyo Service Center's Community Economic Development programs have developed more than $100 million in community-serving nonprofit real estate; the Filipino American Service Group, Inc., provides services to seniors, veterans, and homeless adults in and around Historic Filipinotown; and the Japanese American National Museum and its affiliate, the National Center for the Preservation of Democracy, educates the public about the importance of remembering Japanese American history to help guard against prejudice in our society.

These are just a few of the many organizations devoted to improving the quality of life in the 34th Congressional district and throughout the Los Angeles region, and I salute them for their services.

In closing, I thank the Asian American and Pacific Islander community and especially my constituents for continuing to enrich my life, the lives of Angelenos, and our Nation as a whole.

Madam Speaker, the loss this week of our dear friend and colleague Juanita Millender-McDonald was a great blow to this institution and to the people of the California's 37th Congressional District.

I extend my sincere condolences to her family during this time of sorrow, and I hope that they find some comfort in knowing how deeply loved and respected Juanita was by her constituents and by her colleagues here in the House of Representatives.

We honor her life and her accomplishments this week. Motivated by love of country, community and family, and inspired by her struggles as an African American leader and as a woman, she advocated for the rights of minorities and women in this country and throughout the world.

Juanita was no less dedicated to the more parochial needs of her constituents and Southern California in general. As the tributes from her Committee colleagues highlight, she was a respected and effective member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, securing billions of dollars for her region and her state of California.

She worked tirelessly to secure transportation infrastructure investments, enhancing the economic security of the region and improving the quality of life for Los Angeles County residents. She will long be remembered by Angelenos for her leading role in making possible the construction of the historic Alameda Corridor.

She was also a woman of many firsts. In the California State Assembly, Juanita became the first woman, in her first term, to chair the powerful Insurance and Revenue and Taxation Committees.

I know how proud she was to be the first African American woman to be named Honorary Curator of the Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach.

Most recently, Juanita became the first African American woman to hold the distinguished position of Chair of the powerful House Administration Committee in this 110th Congress, overseeing the operations of the House of Representatives.

During her short term as Chair, her hiring and contracting practices within the House of Representatives reflected her deep commitment to diversity. She was a dedicated proponent of minority rights, and was the Founder and Executive Director of the League of African American Women, comprised of 40 African-American women's groups.

Juanita was also the founder of the Young Advocates, a political leadership-training program for African-Americans between the ages of 18 and 35. She believed in embracing our youth and fought to give young people hope and opportunity for a better life. Juanita introduced legislation directing the Secretary of Education to study and report to Congress on the troubling dropout rate among Latino, Native American, American Samoan and African American high school students.

Juanita will also be remembered as a strong advocate for human rights around the globe, speaking out against genocide in Cambodia, Darfur and other regions of the world where she fought against injustice and inhumanity. She worked with former Secretary of State Madelene Albright and Ambassador John Miller to address human trafficking and in support of women's rights around the world.

Juanita Millender-McDonald was a dynamic member of this House, who sought to maximize her influence to better the lives of her constituents, the residents of her county and State, and all people around the world in desperate need of assistance.

Juanita was a loving wife, mother and grandmother. And she was a beloved colleague and friend who will truly be missed.

My husband Ed and I send our deep and sincere condolences to her husband, James, her five children and five grandchildren.

We will miss you Juanita.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the Democratic Budget Resolution.

In the face of a burgeoning national debt, I want to commend Chairman John Spratt for drafting a budget that reflects the commitment of our new Democratic majority to restore fiscal integrity, and shift Federal budget priorities to reflect key American values.

This Budget Resolution will balance the Federal budget in 5 years by requiring that any new expenditure be offset. This is a fiscally responsible policy that turned deficits into surpluses in the 1990s.

The Democratic Budget Resolution also stands in contrast to Administration policies that have undermined long-term investments in areas that help to improve the quality of life of Americans. This Resolution addresses the shortfalls of past budgets, and reflects key American values by increasing funding levels to enhance health care for our Nation's children, and for our men and women returning from combat.

The budget resolution helps enhance and expand educational opportunities for millions of American students who have been left behind by the misguided policies of the Administration. The No Child Left Behind Act was enacted to ensure that every child, regardless of race, income, or background, receives a high quality education. Unfortunately, over the past 6 years, the Administration has never fully funded the program, forcing schools to comply with the Act's high standards without the resources needed to succeed. This budget resolution puts the education of our children first, by increasing funding for the implementation of No Child Left Behind. In addition, it increases funding for special education, the Head Start program, and student aid for higher education.

Madam Speaker, there are millions of children without health insurance, including over one million in my home state of California. This Democratic budget resolution also makes investments in the health of our Nation's children by increasing funding for the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) by $50 billion. This increase will help parents who worry every day about their ability to care for their children in time of illness and injury.

Equally as important, this budget resolution upholds our Nation's sacred commitment to our servicemen and women by providing for the largest veterans funding increase in the history of our Nation. The $32 billion increase in veterans health care and services over the next 5 years is critically needed to improve existing VA healthcare facilities, and to ensure that disability claims for our returning servicemembers are quickly and accurately processed. This Democratic budget helps ensure that our veterans receive high quality and accessible care that is worthy of their sacrifice.

This fiscally responsible Democratic budget reflects the beginning of an important shift in which government truly works on behalf of the American people. I urge my colleagues to support America's future by voting for this fair and responsible Democratic Budget Resolution.

Mr. Chairman, I rise to support H.R. 1495, the Water Resources Development Act of 2007. This bill, which authorizes water projects through the Army Corps of Engineers, is essential to maintaining and improving our Nation's vital water resources and infrastructure.

This bill is long overdue. Congress has been unable to enact a comprehensive WRDA bill since the year 2000. Without Federal resources authorized in this bill, critical projects needed to sustain and protect America's water needs into the future have been stalled. I commend Chairman Oberstar for his leadership and steadfast commitment to this vital issue. I thank his hardworking staff, who worked long hours to complete this bill, which is a top priority of our new Democratic Congress.

As a representative from southern California where water is a scare and precious resource, I appreciate the distinguished Chairman's efforts to put forth a bill that advances essential water resource infrastructure projects in the region.

I am particularly pleased that this legislation includes an historic authorization for revitalization efforts along the Los Angeles River. The $20 million authorization contained within the bill will mark a significant Federal commitment to transforming the LA River from an unsightly concrete flood control channel into green space that will promote badly needed recreation, housing and job creation opportunities. In addition, the legislation will enable the Army Corps of Engineers to develop a plan to improve water quality, restore historic habitats, and enhance the river's flood protection function.

For years, I have worked with my colleagues from Los Angeles to obtain Federal funding for studies on promising revitalization projects along the River. Our efforts have secured over $3 million for studies at various sites, including the Cornfields site in downtown Los Angeles. With the inclusion of the LA River projects in the WRDA authorization, the Army Corps of Engineers can begin to break ground on these revitalization activities.

I want to take this opportunity to recognize my local community and public officials who have worked tirelessly to make the Los Angeles River revitalization project a success. The LA River revitalization plan reflects the vision of City Councilman Ed Reyes, who for many years has led the effort at the local level. I commend him for his commitment to enhancing the quality of life for the communities along the River and for all Angelenos.

I also applaud the strong support of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and the local stakeholders who continue to explore ways to convert the land adjacent to the Los Angeles River into parks, housing, and economic opportunities for our local communities.

The passage of WRDA with the LA River revitalization project will continue an exciting alliance between the federal government, the City of Los Angeles and Los Angeles County. We have worked in particular to enrich the lives of the many families who live in the communities along the River and to enhance opportunities for economic development associated with revitalization.

I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues to build upon this exciting opportunity to transform the LA River from an unsightly and environmentally void industrial space to a communal recreational space in which all Angelenos can take pride.

I thank the Committee for its hard work and urge my colleagues to support this important legislationy.

Madam Speaker, I rise to support the resolution and to express my opposition to the President's plan to send additional troops to Iraq. While I rise as a Member of this House who opposed authorization of the Iraq war, I also rise as a member of the new Congressional majority, representing millions of Americans who voted for a new direction in Iraq, and I rise representing my own 34th congressional district of California, whose constituents overwhelmingly oppose this escalation.

Perhaps, most importantly, I rise as the proud stepmother of a U.S. Army serviceman who served in Iraq, and a proud wife of a marine who saw two tours of duty in Vietnam. While I will never personally experience war on the ground, I can speak from a wife and mother's perspective about what it means to have a loved one sent into harm's way.

Over 4 years ago, I spoke from that very perspective when I, with many of my colleagues, urged the President to exhaust all diplomatic efforts, give the U.N. weapons inspectors a chance to finish their job and, if necessary, establish a multilateral coalition force to confront Saddam before invading Iraq. These steps would have made it possible to say to my stepson and to all our Nation's sons and daughters, your country did everything in its power to keep you from harm's way.

Regrettably, the President did not do everything in his power to keep them from harm's way. We know now that decisions to invade Iraq were based on, at best, faulty intelligence, and, at worst, intelligence viewed to favor a

specific policy outcome. It is breathtaking now to consider how incomplete, simplistic, or just plain wrong our intelligence and projections were about the need to invade Iraq.

It is breathtaking to consider the cost to our Nation of this ill- conceived and mismanaged war in which billions of dollars have been spent without significant and appropriate oversight of the war effort, the occupation, or the plan for reconstruction and withdrawal from Iraq. Even more tragic is the huge price that has been paid in American and Iraqi lives and in our esteem around the world.

I share the commitment of my husband and stepson and that of all Americans to defend this Nation against all enemies. I believe, even as a peaceful Nation, we must be resolute in our determination to defend our country against hostile interests.

But the bar to war must be set high, and information on which we base our entry into war or escalate our involvement must be clear, compelling, and as unfiltered as possible. The President did not, in good faith, make the case to preemptively and unilaterally go to war in Iraq, and he has not made the case for this escalation. He has not explained to the American people why, after four failed escalations, this one will succeed. Even many of his generals and military advisors oppose this plan. To give approval to this administration, to continue its failed strategy, and put into jeopardy the lives of an additional 20,000 troops defies common sense.

Madam Speaker, we will all forever be grateful to the brave men and women in uniform who have done everything they have been asked to do valiantly and courageously.

Therefore, I continue to hope that the debate over this resolution will be absent the charges that we undermine their mission and their morale, for this is nonsense. There is not a Member in this body that does not respect and honor their service or support their efforts. Our message is to the Commander in Chief, not the brave troops who serve our Nation.

Four years ago, I asked myself whether we were doing everything in our power to keep our Nation's sons and daughters out of harm's way. Four years later, I stand here to oppose this escalation and ask that we begin the process of doing everything in our power to take our sons and daughters out of harm's way and bring them safely home

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the city of Downey and ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating its residents on the city's recent 50th anniversary. I am honored to represent this unique and proud city as part of my 34th Congressional District of California.

Although we celebrate 50 years since the city's official incorporation, the history of Downey begins in the late 1700s when Spanish missionaries settled along the California coast. In 1784, former soldier Juan Nietos was granted provisional use of 300,000 acres of ranch land and, after his death, the portion of the land lying between the San Gabriel and Rio Hondo Rivers was carved out and named Rancho San Gertrudes. In 1873, a 96-acre parcel of the Rancho became the central district of a community called Downey City. The town was named after John Gately Downey, an Irish immigrant who journeyed to California during the Gold Rush and later became governor of the State.

The development of Downey City began slowly. A tract map from 1873 shows a town consisting of only 16 blocks with 10 acres for a railroad station. However, the small city prospered, soon becoming a commercial center for agricultural products and poultry raising. It was that agricultural industry that made it possible for Downey to sustain itself during the Depression.

By the early 20th century, Downey had become a haven for business, entering an era that became known as the city's ``golden age.'' Downey's ``dare devil'' era brought the aviation industry to the city, and the Downey Board of Trade, known today as the Downey Chamber of Commerce, was founded.

The 1940s and '50s brought a population boom to Downey, growing from 12,000 residents in 1940 to over 86,000 residents by 1956. With its significant increase in population, Downey's leaders moved to incorporate, and on December 4, 1956, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved the incorporation of the city. The new City Council, under the leadership of the city's first mayor, James L. Stamps, were trailblazers, paving the way for the city's resounding future success.

Today, Downey boasts its ``Future Unlimited' slogan and is a prosperous city that has managed to maintain its small town atmosphere. The city's residents and visitors can enjoy a wide range of activities--from great shopping to parks and museums; from golf courses to the Symphony Orchestra or the model City Library. Downey is where the Apollo Space program began its journey to the stars, and

where you can find the world's oldest McDonald's and the site of the first Taco Bell eatery.

Fifty years since its incorporation in 1956, Downey has grown to a population of over 110,000 residents. The city serves as a hub for business, with California Business Magazine recently rating Downey in the top 25 percent of ``100 Cities To Do Business In.'' Downey has made many outstanding contributions to the region, and was a leader in the founding of the Gateway Cities Council of Governments. This partnership, comprised of 27 cities in Southeast Los Angeles County, effectively works to address the region's challenges, particularly with respect to transportation planning and economic development.

The city of Downey recently hosted a fun-filled 50th anniversary celebration for its residents. The ``Birthday Bash,'' which featured tunes honoring its hometown singing duo ``The Carpenters,'' marked another milestone in the rich history of this city that I am so proud to represent. I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating Downey's first 50 years as this prosperous city looks toward its ``Future Unlimited.''

Madam Speaker, I am proud to rise in support of the College Student Relief Act of 2007. This bill will make college more affordable for the more than 5.5 million students who depend on subsidized student loans to pay for a higher education.

If our country is to continue as the world leader and remain competitive in today's highly technical global economy, we must maintain a highly educated workforce. To achieve that goal, we must give all America's children the opportunity to develop their talents and reach their full potential.

Tragically, our country fails to benefit from the talents of so many of our students simply because they cannot afford a college education. Tuition and fees at most four-year institutions have skyrocketed in recent years, rising 41 percent since 2001. These high costs are financial barriers for many students seeking a college degree. In fact, over the next ten

years the cost of higher education will prevent nearly 4.4 million high school graduates from attending a four-year public institution and another 2 million from going to college at all.

The passage of the College Student Relief Act will help to alleviate this financial burden for talented, hardworking students who cannot afford their education without financial assistance. For example, over five years, the bill will cut student loan interest rates in half, saving a student on average $4,400 over the life of his or her loan. That $4,400 in savings will be a lifeline to low and middle income students as they deal with the financial pressures of life after college, such as paying for rent, utilities, groceries, health care, and other essential costs, in addition to paying off their loans.

I am especially excited about this bill because it will greatly help poor and middle-income students in my district realize their dream of a college education. These students, many of whom are the first in their families to attend college, pay for college through a combination of scholarships, need-based loans, and jobs on the side. I am always impressed that, even in the face of so many obstacles and sacrifices, they remain determined to succeed, make their family proud, and give back to their community.

Madam Speaker, cutting interest rates on subsidized student loans today will not only help students across our country realize their dreams, but it will also help to make our country stronger. I support the bill before us today and I will continue to support other legislation to lower the financial barriers to a college education for our nation's children.

It is time to pass the College Student Relief Act.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1 which will carry out the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission.

In 2002, Congress passed and funded a distinguished bipartisan panel to investigate and report on the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on our country. In spite of the urgency and critical nature of the panel's report and recommendations, the Bush administration and the Republican-led Congress failed to implement key recommendations that would improve the defense of our Nation such as enhancing homeland security and developing strategies to prevent the spread of Islamic terrorism and the acquisition of weapons of mass destruction by terrorists.

Putting into action only a few of the Commission's carefully thought out recommendations did only half the job. And we all know that protecting America is a full-time job requiring full-time vigilance and full-time protection. This is especially true in today's post-9/11 world.

For the past 4 years, I have had the privilege of serving on the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee. As a member of that subcommittee, I heard testimony and attended briefings from officials at the Department of Homeland Security that brought to light the shortcomings of this Department and its failure to meet its mandate to secure our borders and protect our country. The then Chairman of the committee even withheld funding due to the Department's unresponsiveness and apparent lack of urgency about its mission.

Mr. Speaker, protecting our country must be our government's number one priority. If that mission lacks urgency by the very agency created to protect us, we will continue to remain dangerously vulnerable to those who would harm us.

I believe that putting into action all of the Commission's recommendations is urgently needed to help protect our country against a terrorist attack. And under our new Democratic leadership, which will be vigilant in its oversight and in holding the administration accountable, I am confident Democrats will push this agency beyond its bureaucratic lethargy to take the steps necessary to secure our homeland and protect our fellow Americans.

While I endorse the entire package of recommendations in the bill under consideration, I am particularly pleased to note that it includes several of the issues I addressed in hearings before the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee. These issues are critically important to our Nation and the communities I represent in Los Angeles.

First among them is interoperable communications. Our country lost many heroic first responders on that fateful September morning because they were unable to receive the message to evacuate the Twin Towers. Incredibly, 5 years after 9/11, this serious problem of interoperable communications continues to plague our emergency responders. This is particularly true for first responders in districts like mine, where various communities are covered by multiple jurisdictions of police, sheriff, and fire departments.

I am very pleased that included in this bill is the 9/11 Commission's recommendation to create a grant program for interoperable communications with a dedicated stream of funding. This will greatly enhance the ability of our first responders to close this critically serious communications gap.

Another issue of great concern to my constituents is currently being addressed at Los Angeles world airports. It is the installation of in- line detection systems for checked baggage on commercial airliners. The Commission's recommendations in this bill call for accelerating the installation of in-line explosive detection systems at all major airports.

The cargo hold of airplanes, filled with baggage, has often been called the ``soft underbelly'' of our aviation transportation system. By placing state of the art detection systems in our Nation's airport, we will harden that vulnerable soft spot and protect the flying public. And by consolidating the handling of baggage and screening equipment we will accelerate the movement of goods, passengers, and cargo.

In committee I have also consistently raised my concerns about the security of cargo containers entering ports such as the Ports of Los Angeles-Long Beach. I am very pleased that this bill goes beyond the Commission's recommendations by requiring, within 5 years, 100 percent scanning of U.S.-bound shipping containers.

We are very fortunate there has not been a port-centered attack on our Nation. As we saw during the 2002 labor dispute that closed the Ports of LA-Long Beach and cost the national economy $1 billion per day, any long term disruption of our national maritime trade would have a devastating effect on our Nation's economy as well as the rest of the world.

While some critics may complain about the cost involved in scanning these cargo containers, we cannot afford to be penny wise and pound foolish when it comes to our security. We must make the necessary investments. The added cost of security in our post 9/11 era is the price we must pay to protect American lives and our Nation. If we do not make this investment, the cost could be much higher not just in dollars but in lives.

And finally, among other critical needs addressed by the 9/11 Commission, is the need to significantly increase the number of state homeland security grants and award them on the basis of risk. While it is true we must make every effort to protect all parts of our country, given our limited funds, we must prioritize our security weaknesses and allocate these scarce funds first to the areas most at risk of an attack.

It was therefore welcomed news that late last week the Department of Homeland Security has announced it will commit more than 55 percent of urban area grant funds to the six urban areas facing the highest threat of terrorist attacks.

Mr. Speaker, as the former Homeland Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Hal Rogers often stated, ``those who seek to harm us have to get it right only occasionally, while those of us working to protect America have to get it right 100 percent of the time. Fully implementing the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission is a critical step toward ``getting it right'' and moving our Nation forward to our 100 percent goal of protecting our United States of America.

I urge my colleagues to vote for this important legislation.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the millions of seniors and individuals with disabilities, I rise in support of H.R. 4, the Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act of 2007. And I thank our Speaker Nancy Pelosi for making this issue one of the first priorities of the 110th Congress.

The Medicare Prescription Drug benefit that passed in the 108th Congress was supposed to help control the rising costs of prescription drugs. But it has failed. According to a Families USA study, during the first 6 months of 2006, the median price for the top 20 drugs prescribed for seniors among Medicare drug plans actually rose by 3.7 percent.

What that means is that over the course of the full year, drug prices increased by as

much as 7.4 percent, more than twice the rate of inflation. The Medicare Prescription Drug benefit that was passed in 2003 is simply not controlling the escalating prices of life saving medications for our seniors and those with disabilities.

An even more tragic consequence of the current drug benefit is that last year millions of Americans reached what is known as the ``donut hole gap'' in coverage. Many are from my own district in Los Angeles.

This gap means that in addition to having to continue to pay their premiums without the benefit of their coverage, they are required to spend almost $3,000 out of their own pocket for their medications before their benefits are restored.

The result has been that many of our Medicare beneficiaries have been forced to choose between paying for the multiple medications they need to keep them healthy and alive or paying their rent or other necessary household expenses.

The fact is, Mr. Speaker, that the 108th Congress did a grave injustice to our seniors and those with disabilities when it passed the Medicare prescription drug bill.

Instead of helping this vulnerable population, the current law simply replicates the same private market practices that have resulted in exploding prescription drug costs. Sadly, these costs are increasingly borne by patients.

Pharmaceutical companies, like other industries, grant discounts in exchange for volume and market share. It stands to reason, then, that our federal government should be given the power to negotiate the best price possible for the 22 million people whose medications it now purchases.

However, this is not possible because the structure of the Medicare prescription drug program expressly forbids our government from doing so.

Instead of relying on the administrative efficiency of a single large purchaser, the current Medicare Prescription Drug plan relies on thousands of stand-alone plans to separately negotiate with each drug manufacturer.

The benefit of our government being able to negotiate directly with drug manufacturers is best exemplified by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs. The VA uses the volume of its purchasing needs to negotiate up to 47 percent lower costs on frequently prescribed drugs for the thousands of veterans in its care. By contrast Medicare, the single largest prescription drug purchaser in the United States, has no power to lower high or unfair drug costs. This is not only bad business practice; it is also an unconscionable waste of taxpayers money which results in undue hardship for those it is intended to help.

Recent polls by the Kaiser Family Foundation and Newsweek have shown overwhelming bipartisan support among Americans for allowing our government to negotiate prescription drug prices for the Medicare program. Negotiating drug prices is also favored by the AARP, the Consumers Union, and the AFL-CIO.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join with me today in ending the prohibition for Medicare negotiation authority for prescription drugs. Let us make one of the first acts of this 110th Congress a Medicare Prescription Drug program that truly works for those most in need, our seniors and those with disabilities.

Mr. Speaker, today I proudly stand with our new Speaker Nancy Pelosi and my Democratic colleagues as we live up to our promise to honor workers by passing the Fair Minimum Wage Act.

Increasing the minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25 an hour over 2 years is badly needed and long overdue.

The previous Republican-led Congress passed tax cuts for the wealthiest and ignored the needs of hard working Americans earning the Federal minimum wage.

The result has been that our Nation's Federal minimum wage workers have been forced to support themselves and their families for nine years on a mere $5.15 an hour, while at the same time the cost of living has continued to climb. The severity of a mere $5.15 hourly wage is highlighted by what is happening in my home State of California, where the State minimum wage is $7.50 an hour. This is more than two dollars an hour more than the current Federal minimum wage. Yet many Californians, including many in my own district, continue to live in poverty. How much greater a struggle for survival it must be for those in our country earning only $5.15 an hour.

Who are the workers in our country earning the Federal minimum wage? Most are full time hard-working American adults. Most have not had the educational and career opportunities of higher wage earners. Many of these workers are minorities and nearly all of these workers provide essential services, often in jobs that are dangerous and unreliable, yet essential to our American economy. An hour's pay, $5.15, will not buy a gallon of milk and a loaf of bread. A day's wages will barely fill their car's tank with gasoline. And their monthly income may not be enough to cover their family's average monthly healthcare costs.

It is unforgivable that thousands of hard working Americans in this country live $4,000 below the poverty line and struggle even to provide the basics of food and shelter for their families.

The Fair Minimum Wage Act honors their hard work and significant contribution to our Nation's economy.

Mr. Speaker, our consideration and approval of this bill as one of our first legislative actions is an important testament to this new Congress' commitment to hard-working low-income Americans who strive to provide for themselves and their families. The passage of this bill respects their work and their right to share in the American Dream.

I urge my colleagues to vote for the Fair Minimum Wage Act.