Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 94th birthday of a truly inspirational figure in our Orange County community, Piri Katz. Piri Katz is a Holocaust survivor.

At just 15, Piri and her family were taken by Nazis on the eve of Passover. After spending months in concentration camps, where her family was murdered, she was liberated by American soldiers in May 1945. No one can imagine the horrors she and others who lived through this tragedy experienced and the strength it took just to survive.

In September 1949, she came to America and built her own American Dream. She made a beautiful life for herself here. Piri has four kids and eight grandkids that she is so proud of.

Piri's story is inspiring and should remind all of us to never take our freedom for granted.

Happy 94th birthday, Piri.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to raise alarm on the tax- and-spending spree Democrats are trying to rush through Congress.

The bill is over 1,500 pages and has not even received a score from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. They want to vote on this bill without knowing how much it will cost taxpayers. What kind of policies are House Democrats trying to hide from the American people?

Union handouts, billions of dollars to grant amnesty to illegal immigrants, and over $400 billion in small business tax hikes; these are just a few of the bad policies tucked away in this bill. This is not what the American people want.

House Democrats should read their own bill and explain to the American people exactly how they are spending their tax dollars.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss the rising costs and supply chain backlogs that are impacting hardworking families.

Store shelves across the country are empty. Families are facing what is expected to be the most expensive Thanksgiving in history.

Yet, we have heard silence from Congressional Democrats on these issues.

We need to solve these bigger supply chain issues, not double down on failing economic policies that have made life for American businesses and workers harder and more expensive.

Thanks to record inflation levels, households earning the median income have been forced to spend an additional $175 per month on food, fuel, and housing. These higher costs are making your paychecks worth less.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today to talk about an important figure in the Vietnamese-American community, General Tran Hung Dao.

General Dao was one of the greatest Vietnamese military commanders of all time. He saved Vietnam from Mongolian invasion three times, which is considered one of the greatest military feats in history.

General Dao remains a significant figure in the Vietnamese community today.

I am proud to represent Little Saigon, which is home to almost 200,000 Vietnamese Americans, the largest Vietnamese population outside of Vietnam.

This week, in honor of the anniversary of his death on October 3, I introduced a bill that would rename a U.S. post office in Little Saigon as the General Tran Hung Dao Post Office. This renaming would mean so much to those in the Vietnamese-American community, which I am so proud to represent.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a well-known figure in our Orange County community, Margie Rice.

Rice served on the Westminster City Council for 22 years and as mayor of Westminster for 12 of those years. Before that, she served as a member of the Westminster School District Board of Trustees for 17\1/2\ years.

She dedicated her time to making life better for those she served and was an outspoken force in our community. A cornerstone of her legacy is the Rose Center Theater in Westminster, which she spearheaded and secured funding for.

Rice is survived by two of her four children, 19 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, and 12 great-great-grandchildren.

Margie Rice was a leader in Westminster for more than six decades, and she will be so missed by family, friends, and our community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about rising inflation and the burden this is having on American taxpayers.

President Biden promised not to raise taxes on middle-class Americans, but the rising price of essentials like groceries, gas, and appliances are making our paychecks worth less.

Gas prices are up 45.1 percent.

In my home State of California, gas is more than $1 higher than the national average. We already pay some of the highest taxes in the country.

And make no mistake, this inflation is a hidden tax on every single American.

Despite these rising costs that American families are paying the price for, President Biden has insisted that the solution is to spend trillions more.

American families are going to continue feeling the consequences as long as President Biden's reckless tax-and-spending spree continues. We need to rein in spending and lower taxes for

those we serve, not spend trillions and leave future generations in debt.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the Cuban people and in opposition to communism.

In the last week, we have seen thousands of people in Cuba rise up in protest against the decades-long communist regime that has oppressed millions.

Since these protests began, more than 100 people have been detained by the communist government or have been reported missing. In response to these protests, the government has shut down communications, turning off internet service to their own people.

When I see what is happening in Cuba, I am reminded again why America is the greatest country on Earth. In our country, a first-generation Korean American can build an American Dream here and become a Congresswoman. In our country, we respect and value our freedom of speech and expression.

My parents fled North Korea and the country's communist rule. My family knows what it was like to have to wait in line for basic necessities. That is not how people deserve to live, and that is how the people of Cuba are forced to live every day under communist rule.

We should stand with the people of Cuba. I stand with those fighting for freedom, justice, and democracy.

Enforce Immigration Laws

Madam Speaker, I rise today to discuss the crisis on our southern border. As an immigrant to this country, I strongly support legal immigration and a system that is grounded in the rule of law.

The United States is a nation of immigrants. They add to the rich fabric of our country. However, we are also a nation of laws. The crisis on our southern border is not law and order.

As a Representative from California, a border State, I often hear from my constituents about their concerns with the chaos at our border created by the Biden administration's policies. The security of our borders and enforcement of our immigration laws are vital to the safety and security of our Nation.

We must contain this crisis and make it clear to the people that to come to America, you must do it legally.

Madam Speaker, I rise to condemn the Chinese Communist Party for 100 years of human rights violations.

The CCP centennial is not a cause for celebration but a time to reflect on the millions of people who have been repressed, tortured, and killed at the hands of the Communist regime.

From the suppression of a free press in Hong Kong to the mass internment and torture of the Uighurs, the record of human rights abuses carried out by CCP is as horrific as it is long.

We must hold the Chinese Communist Party accountable. As a member of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, I am committed to working with my colleagues to hold China responsible for their abuse.

Madam Speaker, I stand with those fighting for freedom and democracy.

Madam Speaker, I thank Congressman Suozzi for leading this important tax matter. It is very important to our constituents.

Taxpayers in California's 48th Congressional District, which I am proud to represent, were responsible for 19.8 percent of all SALT deductions in 2018.

The average SALT deduction lost in my district was $28,532. In a place like Orange County, where we already pay some of the highest taxes in the country, this cap takes more money from hardworking families.

There were great improvements made in the 2017 tax reform law, like simplifying the tax code and making the corporate tax rate more on par with other nations. But it also chose winners and losers; and, unfortunately, those in high-cost-of-living States, like in New York and California, are paying the price.

This is a bipartisan issue because we know how much this affects hardworking families in these high-cost States. I do think we can make progress on this, but not at the cost of raising taxes on Americans and American businesses, especially at a time when we are working to rebuild our local economies and get businesses back open.

This is a bipartisan issue. We can't muddy the water by adding it to partisan legislation that will pass on party line only. I don't want to see additional tax gimmicks come before Congress. I want the deduction back on the table.

I am proud to support two pieces of legislation that would fully repeal the SALT cap. One bill by my fellow Californian, Mike Garcia; and the other one by New York Congressman Thomas Suozzi.

Our constituents should keep more of their hard-earned money. It belongs to them, not the Federal Government.

I am proud to join my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to continue calling for a repeal of the SALT cap.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to talk about an issue that is extremely important for my Orange County community.

This week, my district braced for extreme high tides that presented another flood risk to Newport Beach. City workers raised sand berms on the Balboa Peninsula and handed out sandbags to residents, hoping to avoid another flood like the one we experienced last July.

One Newport Beach resident this week said, ``I have lived here for 10 years. I have never seen the bay so high or the ocean so high this early and before high tide.'' This risk of flood in our communities is real.

This week, Lieutenant General Spellmon from the Army Corps said that erosion in our community was not unique. I agree that this is an issue all around California, but the difference is Orange County's problem was brought on by the Federal, man-made projects that permanently stopped natural sand flow onto our beaches.

The Army Corps created this issue, and it is their job to ensure the final stages of sand replenishment are made a priority. The safety of our communities is at risk, and we are one natural disaster away from devastating damage.

Mr. Speaker, I will continue to work with local stakeholders to call on the Army Corps to fix the problem they made.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize David John Shawver as he completes his tenure as Chairman of the Orange County Sanitation District Board of Directors. Chairman Shawver served in this capacity from December 2018 through June 2021. Throughout his tenure, Chairman Shawver has been committed to providing an affordable service to the community and understands the importance of keeping with OC San's mission of protecting the public health and the environment. Under his leadership, Chairman Shawver and the Board of Directors understood the financial hardship COVID-19 created for many of our ratepayers, ensuring the service cost for consumers was less than $1 per day. Chairman Shawver's commitment to affordable water and water reuse has allowed OC San to move in the direction of recycling 100 percent of its reclaimable flow through the Groundwater Replenishment System (GWRS), a joint project between OC San and the Orange County Water District. Upon completion of this project in 2023, GWRS will produce 130 million gallons of high-quality water every day, which will be enough water for 1 million residents in north and central Orange County. We thank Chairman Shawver for his years of service and dedication to OC San and the community he serves.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Veterans of the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces Day. June 19th is ARVN Day, which honors the service and sacrifice of the South Vietnamese soldiers who fought to defend a free Vietnam.

Thousands of South Vietnamese soldiers fought alongside our U.S. Armed Forces in the Vietnam war in defense of freedom and democracy. They deserve our appreciation and respect for their service.

After the fall of Saigon, many who fought with the South Vietnamese forces fled Vietnam to escape tyranny. Many found a home here in the United States. Today, there are over 100,000 veterans from the Republic of Vietnam living in California.

On ARVN Day, we honor the sacrifice of those who served and remember those who paid the ultimate price in the pursuit of freedom.

Madam Speaker, on April 30, 2021, the people of Orange County, California lost a selfless member of their community and I have lost a dear friend with the passing of Mary Green Rooney of Newport Beach.

Throughout her life, Mary epitomized the virtues of service and compassion. From her time at the University of Southern California. to her work at Rutan & Tucker, to her contribution teaching Sunday school at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, she always lifted up those around her.

Mary will be deeply missed. She was a woman of great faith and sincere commitment to doing good for her community and the ones she loved so dearly. To her husband Peter, and her two sons Brett and J.B., who I know she was so very proud of, I extend my greatest sympathy in this time of deep sorrow. I will keep Mary and her family in my prayers in the days to come.

Mr. Speaker, as I speak, Israel is under attack by the terrorist group Hamas with thousands of rockets launched at Israel since May 10.

Israel has a right to defend itself. The United States would never allow rockets to be launched by our enemies at civilians on our soil, and Israel cannot allow rockets to be launched at Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

I was proud to join more than three-quarters of my fellow Members of Congress in April to support full funding for security assistance to Israel. As we said in that letter, Congress is committed to maintaining Israel's qualitative military edge and its ability to defend itself, by itself, against persistent threats.

Today, it is even more important to stand up and say: We stand side by side with our ally. I will continue to work to continue to help Israel defend itself from Hamas' threats and to cut off the support to Hamas.

Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to the previous question.

If the previous question is defeated, Republicans will amend this rule to immediately consider House Resolution 153, the condemning recent hate crimes committed against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

This bipartisan bill was the very first bill I introduced in Congress.

I am here today to condemn the recent discrimination and violence the AAPI community has experienced. I spoke on this issue yesterday, and I am proud to be standing here again today.

I was born in Korea and raised in Japan. I am living my American Dream and I am a proud American. I am honored every day to represent my community in Congress. Unfortunately, hate crime against the Asian- American community is not new. And as an American who loves this country dearly, this issue is very personal to me.

Hate crimes committed against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have been on the rise since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Between March and December of last year, nearly 3,000 firsthand accounts of Asian-American and Pacific Islander hate crimes were recorded in the United States. The reporting has now been updated by the group Stop AAPI Hate, and between March 2020 and March 2021, more than 6,000 hate crimes or hate incidents were reported. This includes physical assault, verbal assault, and online bullying of Asian Americans.

My home State of California makes up more than 40 percent of these incidents and crimes. It is heartbreaking to read the news stories of these crimes, and my heart goes out to all those who have been victims of this violence. That is why the first bill I introduced in Congress in February was H. Res. 153. It is the only bipartisan legislation in the House of its kind, and I am proud that it has been cosponsored by several of my Democratic colleagues, including Congressmembers

Katie Porter, Lou Correa, Alan Lowenthal, and Mike Levin.

This resolution is very simple. It condemns all expressions of anti- Asian and Pacific Islander intolerance, and calls on Federal, State, and local officials to work together to investigate and improve reporting of these crimes.

Yesterday, I spoke about how I was disappointed that this truly bipartisan resolution was not a part of this fixed conversation, and was not being considered on the floor. But, today, we have another opportunity to show solidarity with our AAPI community and vote on my bipartisan resolution.

Discrimination and hate against any community are against the fundamental values of American cultural. Discrimination and hate have no place in this great country. Madam Speaker, I am proud that my resolution has support from both sides of the aisle, unlike the other bills on the floor today. I hope we can work together to put an end to this hate. I am asking my colleagues to vote ``no'' on the previous question so that I can bring my bipartisan bill condemning hate crimes against AAPI on the floor.