Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, every day, more and more families are struggling to find the basic goods they need to run their lives. This latest shortage, 40 percent of all baby formula out of stock, highlights exactly how out of control this crisis has become.

Orange County families are no stranger to the pressures of our broken supply chain. For months, we have been under the strain that millions of Americans are now experiencing.

I have been calling on this administration, as well as Governor Newsom, to ease the restrictions that are further burdening our already crippled supply chains.

From removing unworkable regulatory standards impacting the trucking industry, to embracing American energy independence, there are concrete steps that the Governor and President can take to address this crisis.

They should do so immediately to provide relief to southern Californians and all Americans.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ao Dai Day this Sunday, May 15. I am proud to represent nearly 200,000 Vietnamese Americans in my district in California.

My district is a home to Little Saigon which has the largest Vietnamese population outside of Vietnam. Many of these men and women fled communism in Vietnam in search of freedom here in America. They have worked hard to build their American Dream.

The Ao Dai, which I am wearing today, is a traditional dress that represents the adaptability and strength of the Vietnamese people. It is a symbol of beauty and pride in Vietnam's unique and wonderful culture.

Last year, the State of California officially approved a resolution to recognize May 15 as Ao Dai Day. I join them in celebrating this special day and the many Vietnamese families in my district who are proud to call our great country home.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of Orange County families to share their frustration and outrage that they are feeling because of the skyrocketing gas prices in this country.

While this administration refuses to embrace full energy independence and instead continues relying on foreign dictators for oil, southern Californians are paying more for gas than anywhere else in the country. On top of that, despite what could be a $68 billion surplus, Governor Newsom and Sacramento Democrats have decided to raise gas taxes on July 1. My constituents simply can't afford another day under the policies that are forcing them to pay more while getting less.

Enough is enough.

Whether it is here in Washington, D.C., or in Sacramento, President Biden and Governor Newsom need to commit to unleashing energy independence today. The people of this great country need relief today.

Mr. Speaker, every day, we see more and more illegal crossings at the southern border. March was the worst month yet, with over 221,000 migrant encounters.

Instead of securing our border and empowering law enforcement, this administration continues to make this crisis worse every day.

I am a proud immigrant and first-generation American. I came here legally. There are 4.4 million people waiting their turn to legally come to the greatest country in the whole world. Meanwhile, this administration continues to allow millions of illegal migrants to take advantage of our weak border policies.

We are a nation of laws, and enough is enough. The administration must stop the flow of drugs and crime into our country and secure the border to protect our citizens.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to call up H.R. 471, the PAUSE Act, to protect all Americans from Biden's border crisis.

Madam Speaker, passing the Don Young Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2022 was an important step in addressing the ongoing economic crisis facing our country.

This legislation includes my bipartisan proposal to establish a task force to address the ongoing port backlog at the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles.

These ports move 40 percent of all shipping containers entering the U.S. and are major ports of entry for California's oil supply.

The combination of the ports' backlog, inflation, and the administration's crippling energy policies are making everything unaffordable for Californians, especially gas.

We must address the supply chain crisis, unleash domestic energy production, and stop the reckless government spending driving inflation.

I urge the Senate to pass this bill immediately so we can tackle this crisis and help California families.

Madam Speaker, I am sorry I am just a little late because, actually, the Education and Labor Committee, we are doing markups right now.

I rise to address the ongoing energy crisis and the impact it is having on families in Orange County. The picture you see here is a snapshot of what gas prices looked like for my constituents in the past week. But I heard--actually, this is in Orange County.

Last week, same time--this isn't my district, but in Sacramento that we have actually hit over $9 per gallon. These prices have increased 30 percent in the last year.

Gas prices in Orange County, and across the country, are rising every single day. One reason for these skyrocketing costs is policies enacted by this administration that have weakened our energy independence and made us dependent on foreign oil.

With the President taking the necessary step of banning Russian oil, it is even more important that we return to our former energy independence. We cannot turn from one foreign dictator to another to meet our energy needs. We have the resources right here to bring down costs and produce the cleanest energy on Earth.

I urge all my colleagues to join me in pursuing policies to secure our energy independence.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Huntington Beach Police Officer Nicholas Vella who was tragically killed in a crash while responding to a call in Newport Beach on February 19.

Officer Vella served as a law enforcement officer for 18 years and spent 14 years with the Huntington Beach Police Department. He dedicated his life to protecting our community. My heart goes out to his wife and daughter, the Huntington Beach Police Department, and all who loved and knew Officer Vella.

I am so thankful every day for our brave law enforcement officers. They put their lives on the line for us, and I am so grateful for their service and sacrifice. I want to thank their families, too, because their sacrifice does not go unnoticed.

I will be praying for Officer Vella and his family.

Madam Speaker, I have an amendment at the desk.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself 2 minutes.

China has avoided accountability for their unfair trade practices, gross human rights violations, and environmental abuse for too long.

My amendment would require the Chinese Communist Party to match emission-cutting targets established by the United States.

China accounts for 28 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, more than any other country in the world. This amendment takes necessary steps to hold China accountable for their pollution. It is time they are held to the same standards as any other developed country. They shouldn't get a free pass. We cannot allow China to walk all over us.

I also want to address what was said by my colleagues on the other side of the aisle about criticism of this bill.

Two days ago, Democrats suggested that criticism of this legislation is ``Asian bashing'' and ``xenophobic.'' What nonsense.

Let me be clear: I will never back down from calling out the CCP on their transparency and to be responsible. We should all be on the side of free speech, democracy, and human rights.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Iowa (Mrs. Miller-Meeks).

Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Balderson).

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. If the Federal Government is going to establish these standards, they cannot allow the CCP to ignore all their responsibilities.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Madam Speaker, this week, we welcomed the Year of the Tiger with the first day of Lunar New Year.

Lunar New Year is an important holiday celebrated by many East and Southeast Asian countries. It is also celebrated widely by many Asian- American communities here in the United States, including our Orange County community in California.

As we reflect on our blessings this new year, I am grateful for the opportunity to be a voice for our Asian-American community in Congress.

Madam Speaker, 2022 is the Year of the Tiger, which symbolizes courage and bravery.

With the new year comes a new beginning and the hope of better days ahead. I hope that this year brings everyone strength, prosperity, and happiness.

(English translation of the statement made in Korean, Mandarin, Vietnamese, and Japanese is as follows:)

``Happy new year.''

Korean: ``saehae bok mani badeuseyo''

Mandarin: ``Xinnian kuaile''

Vietnamese: ``Chuc Mu'ng Nam Mo'i''

Japanese: ``Akemashite omedeto''

Madam Speaker, this administration's failed policies have led to record inflation and empty store shelves across the country. Inflation just reached the highest level in 40 years. At the same time basic goods are harder and harder to find at the stores thanks to the supply chain mess.

Every day we see a new story about things getting more expensive, life getting harder for Americans. Hardworking families are sick and tired of paying more and getting less.

Madam Speaker, I have produced three bills that would help fix the supply chain crisis and ensure goods make it to the stores and consumers. These issues are urgent, but there has been no movement on these bills. Meanwhile, Democrats in Washington continue to spend more as paychecks get smaller and costs continue to rise.

Madam Speaker, I will continue to fight against these bad policies and push for solutions.

Madam Speaker, January 13 is Korean American Day, a day to recognize the countless contributions of Korean Americans and celebrate the arrival of the first Korean immigrants to the United States in 1903.

As one of the first Korean-American women to ever serve in Congress, this day is very special to me. I was just 19 years old when I came to America, and I achieved what I never thought was possible, to serve this country as a Member of Congress.

So many Korean-Americans like me came to this country with the hope of achieving their own American Dream. We must work together to inspire and support the next generation of Korean-American leaders.

Today, we celebrate the vibrant community of Korean-Americans in the United States and all that they have worked to achieve.

Happy Korean American Day.

Madam Speaker, the massive social spending bill the House passed just 2 weeks ago is a disaster for our future. If the policies in the build back framework are made permanent, this spending would amount to $4.12 trillion over the next 10 years.

I always say that other Members of Congress who write these bills must not know how to count because the revenue for this bill is just not there.

We should not spend more than what we have. Families don't run their households this way. The government shouldn't either.

I do not want my kids and grandkids paying for this irresponsible spending. Americans are already experiencing record-high inflation.

The trillions in new spending will only make costs higher. I continue to fight against the government taking more of our hard-earned money.

Madam Speaker, I rise to discuss the rising costs that are crushing hardworking families.

Last week, it was reported that inflation hit a 30-year high. This is a hidden tax on every American that is making your paycheck worth less. Americans are paying more for everything, from groceries, to utilities, to filling up the gas tank.

The cost of a gallon of gas is up 61 percent; utilities up 28 percent; and everyday grocery items, like eggs, milk, and chicken, are all significantly higher.

These numbers have real consequences for not only Orange County families I represent, but nationwide. We need to get our spending under control or these problems will only continue to get worse.

Madam Speaker, I will continue to fight against these policies that are making life for Americans more expensive.

Madam Speaker, we are just 1 week away from Thanksgiving, and American families are bracing for one of the most expensive in history.

The cost of almost everything is up; from the turkey to the pumpkin pie, your Thanksgiving meal will cost you significantly more than last year's.

Rising costs aren't just making it hard to put food on the table. The price of a gallon of gas is up 61 percent nationally from last year, making it more expensive for families to travel to loved ones this holiday season.

Inflation is a hidden tax that hurts the lowest income Americans the most.

This Thanksgiving tax is just the latest example of bad economic policies that are making life for Americans more expensive.

Throwing trillions of dollars at the problems we are facing is not the solution and will only make these issues worse.