Floor Statements

Mr. Chairman, it is difficult to understand how a Make America Secure Appropriations minibus does not include the bill for the Department of Homeland Security which is responsible for security at our borders, security in the coastal maritime environment, security for air and surface transportation, security of cyber networks and critical infrastructure, and helping State and local jurisdictions prepare for, prevent, and respond to terrorist attacks and natural disasters.

Instead of including the entire DHS funding bill in the minibus, the majority is expected to use a second rule to insert just one part of that bill--funding for the President's border wall--ignoring much more pressing and immediate security needs.

Furthermore, because the Department has failed to submit to Congress a required report laying out the long-term plan and justification for border

infrastructure, Members of Congress are unable to responsibly evaluate the long-term border security strategy and comprehensively assess its costs, benefits, and trade-offs.

Given this enormous $1.6 billion initial price tag, Members should, at a minimum, have the opportunity to vote on it separately and in the context of the entire Homeland Security bill. I submitted an amendment to prohibit the use of funds for border wall construction, and I hope the Rules Committee will make it in order.

While I do not support the DHS bill in its current form, I firmly believe the House would be in a stronger position to make a more informed and responsible decision on how best to invest these $1.6 billion in the context of debating and amending the entire Department of Homeland Security funding bill.

For example, instead of using $1.6 billion of taxpayer money for just 74 miles of border wall, we could pay for the first two heavy Coast Guard icebreakers which are critically needed to help the United States better counter the ever-increasing Russian presence in the Arctic.

Or we could invest in additional technology and hire thousands of new customs officers at every air, land, and sea port of entry in the United States, reducing wait times for travelers, better facilitating the flow of commerce and contributing to economic growth.

This would also enhance our ability to intercept more illegal narcotics and other contraband because, contrary to what some may think, the vast majority of the worst illicit drugs flowing into our country arrive through the ports of entry, not between the ports. In 2016, 86 percent of the heroin and 81 percent of the cocaine and methamphetamine came through the ports of entry. In other words, more physical barriers at the border--in addition to the 654 miles of fencing already in place--is a misguided and ineffective strategy to address drug smuggling.

In addition to the fact that we could be using these $1.6 billion for more pressing security needs, I am concerned that, by including only border wall funding from the DHS Appropriations bill, we would be sending a terrible message to frontline homeland security personnel-- many of whom routinely put their personal safety at risk to serve our country--that the President's border wall is more important than all the work they do.

Mr. Chairman, when it comes to the security of our Nation and the American people, we in Congress have an obligation to act in their best interests and to invest their tax dollars wisely. If the only homeland security item in this bill is funding for 74 miles of border wall, we will fail to meet that obligation.

This bill should not include funding for a border wall, and the House should have an opportunity to vote on this funding in the context of the entire Homeland Security funding bill.

Mr. Chairman, I urge a ``no'' vote on this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to two punitive, anti-immigrant bills: H.R. 3003, the so-called ``No Sanctuary for Criminals Act,'' and H.R. 3004, the so-called ``Kate's Law.'' These cruel and unnecessary bills help to convert Donald Trump's vicious immigration rhetoric into policy that threatens the safety of our country and our communities.

H.R. 3003 coerces states and localities to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement, and bans them from receiving crucial federal funds if these jurisdictions don't comply. The bill also expands DHS's authority to detain individuals, even allowing them to be held in detention indefinitely, a provision which may violate the Fourth Amendment.

H.R. 3004 expands prosecutions for individuals for unauthorized re- entry and attempted re-entry into the United States. Under this bill, even asylum seekers and victims of human trafficking could be prosecuted by the federal government for simply entering the country. It would even allow prosecution of individuals who seek to re-enter the U.S. with legal authorization to do so.

These bills do clear and direct damage to America's safety and America's values. We do not make America more secure by holding ransom local law enforcement funds that keep us safe. We don't fight crime by making residents less likely to report crime. We do not honor America's humanitarian history by prosecuting asylum seekers and human trafficking victims. We do not honor family values by keeping immigrant families separated. We do not preserve America's strength as a thriving nation of immigrants by encouraging fear of those who have come to make our nation stronger. We do not preserve, protect, and defend the U.S. Constitution by letting law enforcement flout the Fourth Amendment, or by detaining individuals indefinitely.

These bills leave American communities less protected in the face of threats large and small. These bills insult America's reputation as a welcoming beacon for every nation, race, and faith. We must keep America safe, but we will not do so by demonizing and persecuting innocent immigrants. We need a sensible immigration policy, not one rooted in fear and hate. I call on Republicans to join me and my Democratic colleagues in developing a comprehensive immigration reform plan that keeps our borders secure, addresses the need for temporary workers, resolves the status of DREAMers and millions of other undocumented immigrants, and provides a path to citizenship.

I urge my colleagues to vote no on H.R. 3003 and H.R. 3004.

Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 271.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to salute Angel Del Villar on his service as

founder and CEO of DEL Records, a flourishing music company located in Bell Gardens, California, in my 40th Congressional District. Since his launch of DEL Records in 2008, Angel has built the label into a place where young and independent Regional Mexican artists can develop their talents and find success. Angel's passion for music, his business acumen, and his civic and philanthropic efforts have built DEL Records into a vibrant, thriving part of the local community.

DEL Records exists because of Angel's vision: he knew that the entertainment industry was full of talented artists who were not signed to a label and were not receiving the support they needed in order to build a career. When he began DEL Records, Angel spent time searching YouTube for young musicians. In the years since, his hard work has paid off: today, the label boasts a broad slate of major artists. Musicians like Gerardo Ortiz, Luis Coronel, Chiquis, Jose Manuel Lopez, and the late Ariel Camacho are just a few of those who have been a part of the DEL Records family.

Angel has used his success at DEL Records as a driving force to create positive change in the community. He has been tireless in giving back time, effort, and resources to help his neighbors. Angel and DEL Records work to lift up the less fortunate, and to give individuals of all ages the opportunity to thrive and excel. As we work to build communities that protect the vulnerable and support those in need, the good works of civic-minded community leaders like Angel are invaluable to that endeavor.

With the help of his sister Maria, and guided always by the inspirational example of his parents Jose Angel and Frances, Angel Del Villar has made DEL Records a key Southeast LA County business and a vital voice in the Regional Mexican music scene. I commend Angel and his team at DEL Records for their achievements in music and contributions to the community, and wish them all the best for the future.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate mark! Lopez, a tireless environmental advocate and the executive director of East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice, on his receipt of this year's Goldman Environmental Prize for North America. mark! has played an integral role in the fight to test and clean up the contaminated homes of families living near the former Exide battery recycling plant, which is situated in my 40th Congressional District. Though mark! is just 32 years old, his activism and passion have already made a clear and positive mark on our community, richly deserving of this global recognition.

mark! was born to a family of activists, and was raised in the midst of the activities of Madres del Este de Los Angeles Santa Isabel (Mothers of East LA Santa Isabel), an organization cofounded by his grandparents, my good friends Juana Beatriz Gutierrez and Ricardo Gutierrez, and continued by his mother, Elsa Lopez. Protesting and organizing were familiar sights to him from an early age, and during his years as an environmental studies major at UC Santa Cruz, he showed his commitment to this family tradition as a community organizer and activist for the needs of minority students and service workers. His dedication to advocacy and the environment foreshadowed his work in the fight to close the Exide plant and clean up the polluted lands surrounding the facility.

Exide finally agreed to shut down this plant in 2015, but properties for miles around remained contaminated with high levels of lead and arsenic. The work of mark! and his colleagues at East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice was invaluable in compelling the California Department of Toxic Substances Control to expand its testing of properties around the plant, and in helping secure a state commitment of $176.6 million to test and clean up contaminated homes.

All families, regardless of their background, regardless of their neighborhood, deserve to raise their loved ones in a safe and clean environment. Activists like mark! Lopez not only

help to make that goal a reality, they inspire other citizens to act through their example. As testing and cleanup efforts around Exide continue, I have no doubt that mark! will be at the forefront of the fight to support and protect families imperiled by this terrible contamination, and to ensure a pristine environment for all.

Mr. Speaker, as mark! Lopez is honored with the Goldman Environmental Prize, I hope all of my colleagues will join me in commending him on receiving this prestigious award and in saluting his commitment to environmental justice.

Mr. Speaker, for my constituents and all Americans, Trumpcare would result in higher costs, less coverage, a crushing age tax for persons 50 to 64, a shorter Medicare life span, and the ransacking of the Medicaid funds that enable seniors to get the long term care they need. And last night, Republicans added a provision that would prohibit our veterans who are eligible to receive VA care from receiving any tax credits to help pay for their care outside the VA, even if they are not enrolled in the VA.

In my congressional district, the uninsured rate dropped from 31.7 to 17.5 percent due to Obamacare.

Among my constituents who benefited are a young mother from Bell Gardens, California, and her 15-month-old daughter, Olivia, who was born with Down Syndrome.

Because of Obamacare's Medicaid expansion in California, Olivia was able to have her congenital heart defect repaired shortly after birth. She is now being followed by a cardiologist to ensure her ongoing care for a healthy heart.

Obamacare's Medicaid expansion also makes it possible for baby Olivia to receive early intervention and physical therapy services to enhance and accelerate her development.

Olivia's mom is terrified that if Trumpcare passes, her daughter may not be able to receive these services, which help her remain healthy and make it possible for her to reach critical developmental milestones.

Republicans like to call Obamacare a failed disaster. That is simply one more example of their ``alternative facts.''

The Republican Trumpcare bill before us is the disaster waiting to unfold for countless families like Olivia's, and millions of Americans across our country.

I urge my colleagues to vote no on behalf of the American people.

Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 162.

Mr. Speaker, President Trump and the Republican Congress promised a better plan for health care that would be good for all Americans.

Now that we have seen their plan, we know the truth. Passage of the American Health Care Act will not improve health care or reduce healthcare costs. Instead, it will cut critical health access and benefits for children, older adults, pregnant women, communities of color, and people living with disabilities.

If TrumpCare becomes law, it will destroy Medicaid as we know it, while also increasing costs of health care for working class families across the country.

It is unconscionable that this kind of destructive legislation should be shoved through Congress without hearings or stakeholder input.

I urge my Republican colleagues to reject this shortsighted bill and work with Democrats to strengthen the Affordable Care Act, a healthcare plan that is working well for millions of Americans.

Mr. Chair, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 154.

Stated against:

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to the title X resolution of disapproval that will be on the floor later today.

This misguided resolution will limit access to critical healthcare services by allowing States to cherry-pick which family planning providers they want to participate in the title X program.

Mr. Speaker, millions of Americans rely on family planning clinics for cancer screenings, well-woman exams, birth control, and sexually transmitted disease screenings and treatment. Eighty-five percent of the people served by these clinics have incomes below 200 percent of the Federal poverty level, and 48 percent of them are uninsured. Furthermore, at least half of family planning clinics are located in rural and underserved communities already with limited access to health care.

If this resolution passes, politicians in any State or community will be able to interfere with eligible and competent title X providers who care for the most vulnerable and underserved in our country. The only factors that should ever dictate eligibility to provide family planning health services are professional competency and State licensure.

I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on H.J. Res. 43 and protect healthcare access for 4 million Americans who rely on the title X clinics for their care.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Downey resident, Mr. Kenneth William Thompson on the occasion of his 100th birthday.

Ken was born on February 9, 1917, to William and Eleanor Thompson in Virginia, Minnesota. The third of four boys, he spent his childhood in nearby Duluth, where the Thompson family survived the many challenges of the Great Depression. In 1940, the family moved west to California.

In 1942, at the outbreak of World War II, Ken was drafted into the U.S. Army, where he served as a Radar Technician (T5). Two of his brothers also served in World War II, in the U.S. Navy. During his tour of duty from 1942 to 1945, Ken served overseas in France, Belgium, and Germany. He fought in five major battles, including the Battle of the Bulge and at Bastogne. When the war in Europe ended, he was one of four in his unit who was scheduled to go to Japan because of his radar training, but the war ended before he shipped out.

After the war ended, Ken returned to California, where he met Vivian Laura Oden of St. Paul, Minnesota. They were married in 1948, and settled in Downey, California, where they raised their three beautiful daughters: Joan, Kathy, and Mary.

Ken was employed by Maytag for 35 years, where he worked in many positions until he retired in 1982. His loving wife, Vivian, died on February 19, 2000. Today, their family includes nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Ken has made his home in Downey for 67 years, and has been very active in the community schools, for which he was awarded the Honorary Service Award. He has also been

actively involved with the Evangelical Free Church in Fullerton and the Trinity Baptist Church in Downey.

According to people who know Ken, and that is quite a large group, his life is built on love for faith, family, friends, a good wit, laughter, service to others, hard work, and a deep and abiding passion for his country.

Ken became 100 years old on February 9, 2017, and is celebrating this significant milestone on Saturday, February 18, 2017, at the Trinity Baptist Church.

I am honored to join with local leaders, and with Mr. Thompson's family and friends, in wishing him a very happy 100th birthday.

Mr. Speaker, today, I voted against H.J. Res. 57 and H.J. Res. 58, two pieces of legislation which threaten students' right to a high-quality education.

In 2015, I was proud to vote for the bipartisan Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), which reauthorized federal regulations for K-12 education. It is shocking that scarcely one year after ESSA was signed into law, Congress is trying to pass these resolutions which will devastate public education, particularly for minority and vulnerable children.

H.J. Res. 57 prevents the federal government from uncovering discrimination and civil rights abuses in our schools. Under this resolution, the U.S. Department of Education cannot require states to provide data about vulnerable student groups. This prevents the department from holding schools accountable for academic performance and disciplinary practices.

H.J. Res. 58 makes it more difficult for prospective teachers to find programs that will prepare them for success in the classroom. It also removes incentives to make our teaching workforce more diverse. This is especially troubling at a time when California is suffering from a teacher shortage.

Sadly, these resolutions arrive on the same day that the United States Senate voted to confirm Betsy DeVos as Secretary of Education. Unfortunately, Senate Republicans ignored grave concerns from parents, teachers, and students nationwide about her lack of familiarity with basic public education issues, federal laws, and her refusal to protect public education and civil rights.

As the Congresswoman for California's 40th District, I will fight against any policy that jeopardizes the ability of students to receive an excellent education. That is why I oppose H.J. Res. 57 and H.J. Res. 58.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Ivelisse R. Estrada on the end of her tenure as Senior Vice President of Corporate and Community Relations for Univision Communications Inc. (UCI).

In her role as Senior Vice President, Ms. Estrada was responsible for the overall development and coordination of community relations strategies for the company, including the Univision Network, UniMas Network, Univision Cable Networks, as well as Univision Local Media, including TV, radio, and digital. She coordinated all philanthropic contributions and served as a liaison between UCI and community organizations. She also planned, directed, and supervised the execution of the company's community empowerment platform Univision Contigo, promoting awareness and providing greater access to Education, Health, Prosperity, and Civic Participation resources.

Ms. Estrada developed and launched Univision Educacion, a comprehensive, multi-year national education initiative, in partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the U.S. Department of Education, educators, and civic and community leaders from around the country. The initiative was aimed at improving academic achievement among K-12 Hispanic students with a specific focus on high school graduation and college readiness.

In 2007, she worked with the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) in an unprecedented national civic engagement campaign developed to inform, educate, and motivate Hispanics to participate in the American political dialogue. ``Ya es Hora . . . ¡Ciudadania!'' (``It's Time . . . Citizenship!'') was done in collaboration with hundreds of Hispanic-serving organizations across the U.S. and mobilized more than one million eligible immigrants to apply for citizenship. In 2008, the campaign was honored with a Peabody Award.

In 2003, she was responsible for the creation of a multi-year, cross- platform health initiative entitled ``Salud es Vida . . . ¡Enterate!'' (``Lead a Healthy Life: Get the Facts!'') to promote healthy lifestyles and encourage the early detection and aggressive management of chronic health conditions affecting U.S. Hispanics. In 2004, ``¡Enterate!'' was honored with a Peabody Award, the first ever for a Spanish-language broadcast company.

Ms. Estrada started her career with Univision in 1991, where she initiated her career as Director of Communications at KMEX-TV, Channel 34, the flagship station of the Univision Television Group, Inc. in Los Angeles. During her tenure at KMEX, she launched numerous community projects that focused on health, education, and art initiatives. She also served as Director of Corporate and Community Relations for Univision Television Group, where she supervised the public affairs and community efforts of the company's owned and operated stations.

Outside of UCI, Ms. Estrada is a prominent advocate and supporter of the community. She serves on several boards, including the Board of Directors of the Washington Center, the Women's Leadership Board at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, the Los Angeles Fund for Public Education, Friends of the National Museum of the American Latino, and the Smithsonian Latino Center. She also serves on the Excelencia in Education Honorary Board, the Corporate Board of Advisors of the Cuban American National Council, the Latino Communications Initiative Roundtable, College of Communications at Cal State Fullerton, the Institute for Latino Studies at the University of Notre Dame, and is a member of the International Women's Forum, where she serves in the Hall of Fame Task Force. In addition, she was a member of the National Task Force on Early Childhood Education for Hispanics.

Mr. Speaker, as Ivelisse Estrada leaves her position at Univision Communications Inc., I want to recognize her long and distinguished career of empowering Latinos across the United States. I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the outstanding work she has done to empower and advocate for our Latino community, not only in Los Angeles, but across the U.S. at large. We wish her the very best as she moves on to new and exciting endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, since its implementation in 1965, Medicare has excluded coverage for hearing aids and related audiology services, routine dental care, and routine eye exams and eyeglasses despite the fact that large numbers of older Americans need these essential items and services. Today, with well over 100 original cosponsors, I will be introducing the Seniors Have Eyes, Ears, and Teeth bill, which will lift these terribly unfair restrictions on the population most in need of these services.

We know that hearing loss affects more than 40 percent of persons over 60 years old, more than 60 percent of those over 70, and almost 80 percent of those over 80 years of age. Yet, sadly, only one in five seniors currently diagnosed with hearing issues uses a hearing aid, which can range in cost from $1,000 to $6,000. For the more than half of Medicare beneficiaries who live on incomes below $24,150 per year, these high, out-of-pocket expenses are out of their reach.

We also know seniors account for approximately 80 percent of the 2.8 million Americans with low vision. Routine eye exams for these seniors can cost from $50 to $300 or more, and the average cost for a pair of prescription glasses is $196.

Mr. Speaker, it is increasingly well documented that untreated vision and hearing loss not only diminishes quality of life, but also increases the risk for costly health outcomes such as falls and resulting disability, depression, and dementia. Also tragic is that nearly 70 percent of older Americans currently have no form of dental insurance. This lack of insurance has been identified as the major barrier to accessing dental care for seniors. It is a well-known fact that neglect of oral health can result in the deterioration of overall physical health and that the lack of access to even routine dental exams and cleanings can exacerbate serious and complicated overall health problems that increase with age.

Expanding Medicare to cover vision, dental, and hearing services is a cost-effective intervention because it will prevent healthcare costs due to accidents, falls, cognitive impairments and increases in chronic conditions and oral cancer. But most importantly, giving our seniors the gift of hearing, vision, and oral health will go a long way toward helping our seniors enjoy their golden years free from depression and social isolation.

Mr. Speaker, few bills are ever introduced with this overwhelming support. Additionally, it has the strong support from the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare. I invite my colleagues to join me and the over 100 original cosponsors of this legislation in supporting dental, vision, and hearing care for our seniors.

National Committee To Preserve

Social Security & Medicare,

Washington, DC, January 11, 2017.

Hon. Lucille Roybal-Allard,

House of Representatives,

Washington, DC.

Dear Representative Roybal-Allard: On behalf of the

millions of members and supporters of the National Committee

to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, I am

writing to endorse, the ``Seniors Have Eyes, Ears and Teeth

Act.'' It is our hope that action will be taken on your

legislation during the current 115th Congress.

The ``Seniors Have Eyes, Ears and Teeth Act'' would help

millions of Medicare beneficiaries who need vision, hearing

and dental care, which is not covered by Medicare. Paying for

these services is a hardship for many Medicare beneficiaries,

half of whom live on incomes below $24,150 per year. Medicare

households spend on average 15 percent of their income, over

two times more than younger households, on Medicare cost

sharing and for services not covered by Medicare.

Routine dental services are very important to the overall

health of Medicare beneficiaries, and today, many Medicare

beneficiaries suffer isolation and severe health problems

because they cannot afford to pay for vision and hearing

examinations or to buy eyeglasses or hearing aids. For these

reasons, the National Committee's current Legislative Agenda

includes support for expanding Medicare benefits to cover

vision, hearing and dental health services and equipment,

which are important for healthy aging.

Thank you for your leadership on this important issue. We

look forward to working with you to secure enactment of the

``Seniors Have Eyes, Ears and Teeth Act,'' which would

improve the Medicare program for today's seniors as well as

future generations of beneficiaries.

Sincerely,

Max Richtman,

President and CEO.

Mr. Speaker, I will vote for House Resolution 11, ``Objecting to United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 2334 as an obstacle to Israeli-Palestinian peace,'' because I believe the UN resolution was not objective, but rather one-sided by placing the blame solely on Israel as the obstacle to peace.

For years, I have strongly advocated for direct peace negotiations between Israel and Palestine because I firmly believe peace can be achieved only if Israel and Palestine negotiate directly in good faith and on fair terms. I remain hopeful this will happen.

While I deeply oppose the continued building of settlements in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, I believe the United Nations Security Council Resolution does more harm than good. Here's why:

First, Resolution 2334 passed by the UNSC does nothing to advance peace. Instead it bolsters Israel's enemies and pushes the two state solution to peace further out of reach by forcing nations to choose between supporting Israel or Palestine.

Second, while I agree the settlements serve as one of many obstacles to peace, the UNSC resolution singles out the settlements and ignores Palestinian violence, the role of Hamas and its refusal to recognize Israel as the Jewish state. These are essential and critical issues that must be addressed to achieve lasting peace.

This omission is unacceptable. My vote on Resolution 11 illustrates this belief and my strong desire for fairness and peace between Israelis and Palestinians which will enable Israel to protect its security and its existence as a Jewish and democratic state. This can only be achieved by a two state solution.