Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise to thank my constituents, colleagues, and friends for the wonderful 4 years I have spent serving in the people's House. It has been the privilege of a lifetime to serve Orange and Los Angeles Counties in Congress.

From helping my constituents to passing life-changing legislation, the work we have done has truly mattered.

Only in America can a first-generation immigrant who speaks English as a third language rise to become a Member of this body.

When my parents fled communist North Korea for freedom in South Korea, they never would have imagined that their daughter would be standing here today.

On behalf of my beautiful, diverse district, my team and I have accomplished a great deal. We have delivered significant funding to improve our Orange County beaches through sand replenishment. We have also provided important infrastructure investments to our communities. We have expanded healthcare access by expanding telehealth coverage. We have led the fight for lower taxes.

Legislation I have sponsored on its way to becoming law includes legislation to expand language access in telehealth for non-English speakers and expand mental health support for youth in foster care.

I have been a strong advocate for defending human rights across the globe and taking on the communist regimes who abuse them.

These accomplishments are not mine alone. I want to give a heartfelt thank you to the members of leadership, committee chairs, and my colleagues who helped pave the way, and, of course, my wonderful staff.

Speakers Kevin McCarthy and Mike Johnson have ably led this body and supported me every step of the way. The same is true of Steve Scalise, Tom Emmer, and Elise Stefanik. My friend Cathy McMorris Rodgers has also been a great mentor to me and helped me along the way. My colleagues in the California delegation have likewise joined me in supporting causes important to our State.

I have been also blessed to serve on great committees. On the Ways and Means Committee, we have promoted an economy that benefits all Americans. Under the leadership of chairman Jason Smith, Congress will reauthorize the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act with improvements that benefit American workers and job creators.

We have also done great work on the Education and the Workforce Committee to promote quality education for all students. This includes fighting the rise of anti-Semitism on campuses, a fight that Chairwoman Virginia Foxx has strongly championed. Dr. Foxx has been a partner for me in helping reduce Communist China's influence in education through my DETERRENT Act.

As we have talked about so much on the Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, the CCP is truly America's number one adversary.

I have passed legislation to ban our military from using seaports reliant on Chinese technology. I have also worked to strengthen Taiwan's military readiness through the TAIWAN Security Act.

Congress must keep their eye on the CCP and build on this progress.

For now, I will be heading back to my home in sunny California. While my time in Congress is ending, I will always look for ways to serve the country that I love. I will always treasure the friendships I have made both in Washington and Southern California. Like all journeys, this one is ending for a new one to begin.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my sincerest congratulations to retiring police Officer Chuong Vo.

Officer Vo has served as a law enforcement officer for 28 years, proudly defending his community and uplifting his neighbors.

Officer Vo's career has been defined by a legacy of honor, hard work, and love of his community. I'm sure he will be greatly missed by the department.

In addition to his time in law enforcement, Officer Vo has also served on the Cerritos City Council, the Cerritos Community Safety Committee, as well as Mayor Pro Tem and the Mayor of Cerritos.

I congratulate Officer Vo and I sincerely hope he enjoys the next chapter in his retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the Los Angeles Dodgers for bringing home their eighth World Series title. I am especially proud of first baseman Freddie Freeman, a California-45 native from Fountain Valley, for representing Orange County so well on the national stage and bringing home the World Series MVP award.

Freddie has shown remarkable perseverance in overcoming personal and professional trials, and this tremendous accomplishment is a testament to his work ethic and drive to succeed.

A true Orange County hero, Freddie and this Dodgers team have excelled at the highest level and added to the rich baseball tradition of Southern California. I'm so proud of them for their accomplishments and can not wait to see more championships in the years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to urge passage of H.R. 6474, my legislation to expedite geothermal energy growth and development.

Embracing geothermal energy will propel more sustainable, clean, and reliable energy in California and the entire country.

With a sizeable geothermal reservoir, more growth opportunities will allow California to take full advantage of our natural resources.

My bill will also support local economies as production grows. More geothermal power will create and maintain sustainable local jobs.

Geothermal can be an important tool to make America more energy independent and less dependent on our enemies. My legislation will allow my home State of California to seize the reins as the leading national energy provider.

This bill is simple and straightforward. It is just the type of commonsense solution my constituents sent me to Congress to find.

My legislation amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to allow for a new categorical exclusion for geothermal under the National Environmental Policy Act.

Specifically, it would create an exemption for geothermal drilling in situations where drilling has occurred within the last 5 years.

This bill will create an expedited approval process for geothermal projects and a more promising energy future for the United States.

I thank my legislative partners, Susie Lee, for working with me in a bipartisan manner to support geothermal energy. I also thank Chairman Westerman and House leadership for working with us to advance this legislation. America needs an all-of-the-above energy approach that includes geothermal.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to vote ``yes.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise to urge passage of H.R. 8057, my legislation to designate the U.S. Post Office in Westminster as the Little Saigon Vietnam War Veterans Memorial Post Office.

This recognition honors our Nation's heroes who sacrificed everything to serve our country in Vietnam. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten.

Millions of Americans served in our Armed Forces during the Vietnam war, and 58,000 American soldiers tragically lost their lives.

It will also be deeply meaningful to the vibrant Vietnamese-American community I represent in Orange County. They reside in an area known as Little Saigon, a community which adds great value to our region. The Vietnamese-American community is deeply patriotic, committed to American ideals of freedom and opportunity.

Many of my constituents sought refuge in our great country in the wake of the Communist takeover in Vietnam. They suffered through grave conditions to make it here, going on to have children and grandchildren who are growing up in the United States.

This tribute would serve as a permanent reminder of our commitment to those who served. It also will stand as a beacon of hope to freedom- seeking people in Vietnam and across the globe.

I am so proud to represent and fight for the Vietnamese-American community. I love representing this patriotic community in Congress. I thank the committee and House leadership for working with me to advance this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to vote ``yes.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the brave Vietnamese refugees who fled oppressive communism after the Vietnam war.

Mr. Speaker, I have filed a resolution proclaiming September Boat People Awareness Month in honor of those who risked their lives at sea to escape.

These individuals were searching for freedom and a better life. I am incredibly proud to say that many of them found it in Orange County, California. More specifically, they settled in the community known as Little Saigon, which I represent.

Our country rightfully welcomed them with open arms. Sadly, many boat people did not survive the rough conditions. Dangerous waters and overcrowding took many lives.

We still honor their memory and pursuit of freedom, and we must use their story to fight for the rights of all people suffering under the weight of communism to this day.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to urge passage of my healthcare legislation with Congressman Gomez.

The Supporting Patient Education And Knowledge Act, the SPEAK Act, will improve access to telehealth for 25 million Americans with limited English proficiency and will help tackle the over $1.7 billion in medical costs driven by language barriers.

The SPEAK Act will also help bring public and private actors together to identify best practices and improve telehealth access for urban and rural communities.

Telehealth services can be more affordable than traditional care, addressing a key need at a time of rising costs. It is transforming healthcare by increasing access, reducing costs, and improving outcomes.

As we continue to improve healthcare via new technology, I am focused on ensuring no American is left behind in the digital age.

As an immigrant myself who speaks English as a third language, I know the importance of services being available to all Americans.

My beautifully diverse district in southern California is a key example. My constituents speak English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean, Chinese, Tagalog, and more. I am proud to be their champion in Congress.

No matter what language you speak, Mr. Speaker, everyone should have access to telehealth. Everyone should have access to high-quality and affordable care.

I thank everyone who has supported the bill and worked hard for its passage. The SPEAK Act could be life-changing for so many people.

Mr. Speaker, I call on the House to pass the SPEAK Act and join me in increasing healthcare access, lowering costs, and improving patient outcomes.

Madam Chair, we must do more to reduce Communist China's influence in this country.

This bill would withhold funding from universities who partner with the Confucius Institutes and other entities, which spread Chinese Communist Party propaganda in our university campuses.

Evidence of CCP's influence is everywhere. They are brainwashing our students, they hijack our medical supply chains, and they flood our communities with fentanyl.

In addition to deadly drugs, China is also exporting Communism. Our colleges must block this national security threat by cutting remaining ties to the CCP. If they don't, Congress can ensure accountability by passing this bill and blocking their Federal funding.

The Senate must also pass my DETERRENT Act, which passed this body and adds much-needed transparency to foreign donations and accountability for our colleges and universities. Such a law would hold schools like UC Berkeley accountable for failing to disclose a $220 million deal with the Chinese Government that brought Chinese researchers onto our sensitive Berkeley research center.

Madam Chair, we must not allow CCP to infiltrate our students and campuses. We have to stop this. I strongly support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to wish a heartfelt congratulations to Chief Matt Sheppard of the Fountain Valley Police Department.

I would like to personally thank him for a remarkable 24 year tenure marked by service, selflessness, and commitment. I applaud Chief Sheppard and am grateful for his dedication to our community in Fountain Valley. In occupying nearly every role within the department-- from police officer, senior officer, sergeant, detective, lieutenant, captain and police chief--his experience and understanding are unmatched and is a direct reflection of his commitment to safety, security, integrity, and perseverance.

I know the Sheppard family is incredibly proud. My hope and prayer for our generation and the next is that they believe in the American Dream. This is the greatest country in the world, and as a first- generation American, I know firsthand that with hard work, anything is possible no matter who you are or where you are from.

While Chief Sheppard's leadership within the department will be missed greatly, the legacy he is leaving behind will not be easily forgotten. I am confident that I am joined by countless others--family, friends, and community leaders--in expressing our gratitude for his leadership in making the City of Fountain Valley ``A Nice Place to Live''.

I thank Chief Sheppard. I wish him the greatest of success in his new chapter.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to demand the release of Y Quynh Bdap and Nguyen Thuy Hanh.

Y Quynh Bdap is a Vietnamese activist religious minority who has lived as a refugee in Thailand since 2018, where he is pending extradition to Communist Vietnam. He will likely face torture and lengthy prison time. This extradition would be a severe violation of human rights promises made by Thailand.

Nguyen Thuy Hanh is a human rights activist currently imprisoned in Vietnam. Her detention is not only unjust but even more horrific as she is also undergoing chemotherapy for stage II cervical cancer.

I call on U.S. and Thai diplomats to secure the release of these brave activists. I also call on the Vietnamese Government to stop trampling on the human rights of their own citizens.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mr. Frank Kim's service to Orange County, California, as the Orange County Chief Executive Officer.

Mr. Frank Kim has served Orange County for 29 years, including the last nine years as the Chief Executive Officer for Orange County. During his tenure, he worked with the Board of Supervisors, City Councils, and public and private stakeholders to develop leading edge mental health care services and create a new model of care for the homeless. He managed Orange County's successful emergence from bankruptcy, the completion of major public infrastructure projects, including 100-year flood protection for the Santa Ana River, and major improvements to John Wayne Airport, a new Civic Center, and state-of- the-art animal shelter. These represent just a small portion of his accomplishments. It was an honor to work closely with Frank during my two-terms as an Orange County Supervisor, particularly in my two years as Chairwoman of the Board in 2017 and 2020. His support and level- headed management during the COVID-19 pandemic were invaluable to me and to the people of Orange County.

Mr. Kim should be commended for all his hard work throughout his career and his dedication to improving the lives of Orange County residents.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in recognizing Mr. Frank Kim for his service.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Dr. Al Mijares' service to Orange County as the Orange County Superintendent of Schools.

Dr. Mijares has served as the Orange County Superintendent of Schools since August 2012, where he led Orange County educators in equipping our students with all the necessary tools to ``lead the nation in college and career readiness and success.'' Under his leadership, the Orange County Department of Education was able to help students from Orange County outperform the state and regional averages. Dr. Mijares should be commended for all his hard work throughout his career and his dedication to educating the next generation of Americans.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in recognizing Dr. Al Mijares for his service.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to call attention to the Communist Party of Vietnam's chilling crackdown on religious freedom.

Freedom to worship is a basic human right, but with the recent disappearance of Buddhist leader Thich Minh Tue, Vietnam is continuing a pattern of religious persecution.

Thich Minh Tue recently led a pilgrimage across Vietnam, which ended with Communist authorities detaining him and his followers.

I am again calling on Secretary Blinken, as I did 3 months ago, to designate Vietnam as a country of particular concern. This designation leads to accountability for nations violating the freedom to worship.

I represent the largest Vietnamese population outside of Vietnam, and we will always stand up for human rights in Vietnam. America has a moral obligation to stand for religious freedom, and the full power of the State Department should fight religious persecution and ensure the safety of Thich Minh Tue.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize IgA Nephropathy Awareness Day.

IgA Nephropathy is a condition in which an abnormal build-up of a protein called immunoglobulin A (IgA) causes the immune system to attack the kidneys, often leading to kidney damage and failure. The deposits of IgA cause a breakdown of the normal filtering mechanisms in the kidney, known as the glomeruli. Genetic factors play a role in this condition, and unfortunately it usually affects people in their 20s and 30s--often right when they want to make decisions on starting a family.

Tragically, according to the IgA Nephropathy Foundation, as many as half of those affected by IgA Nephropathy will develop end-stage kidney disease and eventually require dialysis or a kidney transplant. Sadly, IgA Nephropathy can recur in the transplanted kidney, and after a period of increased quality of life, families find themselves in yet another familiar battle.

IgAN is the most common form of glomerulonephritis, which is the leading cause of kidney disease after diabetes and hypertension. Unfortunately, there are usually little or no immediate signs and symptoms of IgAN and patients are often not diagnosed until their kidneys are already damaged, or they ``crash into dialysis'' in an emergency room. About half of those affected by IgAN will go on to develop end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) which leads to dialysis, transplant, or death.

In the U.S. there are about 150,000 people living with IgAN, and almost 40-50 percent of those cases affect Asian Americans. Last year, a Congressional briefing took place among Asian American members and staff regarding the impact of IgAN. At that time, Dr. Fahmeeda Kamal from Stanford Medicine, Holly Bode from the American Kidney Fund, and Dr. Eric Sid from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) briefed about 30 staff on the current and future new era of kidney health. It is my understanding that a broad cross-section of stakeholders recently urged the Biden Administration to take action on rare kidney diseases, including IgAN, to raise awareness and improve outcomes. I look forward to hearing their plans, as to date, I have not seen any.

Current treatments, even one which is non-immunosuppressive, are having an enormous impact on patients who can get access to them and given new hope patients are taking new approaches to their health. We saw one study which shows one novel therapy could delay the time from diagnosis to dialysis by almost 11 years. Imagine a couple trying to start a family which has 11 more years of improved quality of life, rather than slowing sliding into dialysis or transplant. With over 60 new therapies under development for a range of rare kidney diseases, including more IgAN treatments, the future is bright for families which are facing this challenge.

I once again want to thank the IgA Nephropathy Foundation for all their work and note that 2024 marks their 20th anniversary. It all began, like so many rare disease patients' groups, when a mom (Bonnie Schneider) wanted to make sure her son (Eddie) had a better life than the one she was told he would have.

Congratulations to Bonnie, Eddie, and everyone at the IgAN Foundation on this special occasion during a celebratory year. That is why we honor all families facing this challenging rare kidney disease and recognize IgA Nephropathy Awareness Day.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to condemn the unacceptable and insensitive actions of the L.A. County Board of Supervisors.

One week ago, the board proclaimed April 30, 2024, as Jane Fonda Day. Black April, which the Vietnamese community has commemorated on April 30 for decades, is a deeply meaningful day because it marks the fall of Saigon.

Instead of standing with the Vietnamese civilians and American soldiers who were displaced, tortured, brutalized, and killed during and after the Vietnam war, Jane Fonda allied herself with the Communist Viet Cong.

For some reason, the board chose to honor someone with a history of such disdain for innocent Vietnamese and American veterans on the somber anniversary of the fall of Saigon.

By elevating Hanoi Jane over the Vietnamese community, Americans who sacrificed their lives, and the loved ones they lost to communism, the board has offended the freedom-loving Vietnamese Americans who bear such tragic and painful memories of the Vietnam war.

I call on the board to rescind this awful proclamation immediately and unequivocally stand with the Vietnamese community.

Commemorating Vietnam Human Rights Day

Mr. Speaker, as the co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional Vietnam Caucus, I rise today to commemorate Vietnam Human Rights Day.

The district I represent includes Little Saigon, which is home to the largest population of Vietnamese anywhere in the world outside of Vietnam. Many of my Vietnamese constituents are first-generation Americans, like me. The stories they tell of fleeing communism to find freedom in the United States are both tragic and inspiring. Many of them still have families in Vietnam, where the human rights situation continues to be cause for grave concern.

The Communist government there routinely oppresses its own people, arresting and detaining journalists and critics simply for expressing themselves.

I am proud to join my Vietnam Caucus co-chair, Lou Correa, to introduce a resolution condemning the Vietnamese Government, calling for the release of political prisoners, standing

with the Vietnamese people, and urging the administration to take immediate action to pressure the Vietnamese Government to respect human rights.

I welcome all of my colleagues to join me and the Vietnamese-American community as we continue working to ensure human rights for all people.