Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, today, I recognize Mr. Albert Napoli's contributions to Orange County, California during his tenure as Chairman of the Greater Irvine Chamber of Commerce. Over the course of the last year, Albert successfully represented the 15,000 businesses and industries that call Irvine, California home.

Local Chambers of Commerce support small businesses and encourage economic growth and vitality. A thriving local economy helps companies of all sizes grow and invest in their operations, which strengthens our communities.

I thank Albert for his work to strengthen and expand Irvine's business community. I wish him all the best in his future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Dr. Tod Burnett, who is retiring as president of Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, California.

Since 2008, when Dr. Burnett was named the ninth president of Saddleback, he has transformed the college into one of the top higher education institutions in California and the country.

Over the last 9 years, Dr. Burnett established partnerships with local school districts, supported adult education programs, and pioneered the development of comprehensive support services for veterans, Active-Duty military, and their families.

Prior to his time at Saddleback, Dr. Burnett was appointed to several government positions, serving in the administrations of a U.S. President, a Governor, and mayor. He also served as vice chancellor of the California Community Colleges, the largest higher education system in the Nation.

More importantly, Dr. Burnett's involvement in the community outside of work has left a lasting impression on those who know him. He has mentored veterans, personally funded student trips to Washington, and dedicated resources to various programs throughout the region.

Dr. Burnett's generosity and commitment to his community and career has transformed the lives of countless individuals at Saddleback College and throughout Orange County.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Dr. Burnett for his decades of work and dedication to service of the people of California, and I wish him well during his much-deserved retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to voice my deep concern regarding the dangerous and irresponsible actions of the Kim Jong-un regime in North Korea on behalf of the people of Orange County and the Korean Americans I represent.

This week marks the 85th anniversary of the founding of the North Korean Army. The North Korean military marked the occasion by conducting a large scale artillery drill in the coastal region of Wonsan on the Sea of Japan.

Make no mistake, this was a direct message to our ally, South Korea, where millions, including nearly 30,000 U.S. troops, are within range of the North Korean artillery. This drill comes on the heels of North Korea's threat to destroy U.S. aircraft carriers.

Mr. Speaker, North Korea is the top threat facing the American people. North Korea's efforts to extend the range of their ballistic missiles, while working to miniaturize a nuclear warhead, will eventually place the West Coast of the United States under direct nuclear threat. Intelligence experts estimate that the regime will be capable of striking the West Coast in less than 4 years.

That is an unacceptable risk for U.S. national security and an intolerable threat facing the residents of Orange County. I urge my colleagues to join me in condemning the recent North Korean provocations, demanding comprehensive sanctions on the North Korean regime, and supporting all actions necessary to secure the safety of our Nation and allies.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join my fellow female Members of the House of Representatives to pay tribute to Jeannette Rankin, the first woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives 100 years ago.

A mere 4 years after Congresswoman Rankin's landmark election, three more women were elected to Congress, including Mae Ella Nolan.

Congresswoman Nolan was not only the first woman from California to be elected to Congress, she was also the first woman to chair a congressional committee.

Mr. Speaker, now a century after Jeannette Rankin was sworn into Congress, it is not enough to simply recognize the significant contributions

women have made throughout history, we must also look to the future.

We have made significant strides in this country, but more are needed. Women represent over 50 percent of the population, yet we still face significant obstacles in the workplace, academia, and elsewhere. That is why we must work together to expand opportunities, remove barriers, and empower the next generation of women.

We must always remember that we stand on the shoulders of those who came before us and fought for equality--equality of opportunity, not- quality of outcome.

As we strive to make our country stronger for the next generation, we must continue to fight so that each woman has an equal opportunity to compete and to excel based on her abilities and accomplishments.

I want to thank the co-chairs of the Congressional Women's Caucus, Congresswoman Brooks, and Congresswoman Frankel, for sponsoring this Special Order.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 92, condemning North Korea's development of multiple intercontinental ballistic missiles.

The world has watched in fear as this brutal dictatorship has labored to miniaturize a nuclear warhead capable of being delivered by an ICBM. Across the 45th District, Californians are anxious about the growing threat from North Korea and its efforts to develop the capability to strike the West Coast.

Orange County is home to a large Korean-American population who have spoken out forcefully against this rogue regime, fearing for the life of their Korean kin and the safety of the entire world. As I tell all concerned constituents when I am back home in California, and I will repeat here today: I share your concern and will do all I can to ensure we eliminate this threat.

Mr. Speaker, just today, an interview with the most high-profile North Korean defector in two decades was released. The man's warning was dire: Kim Jong-un will use nuclear weapons at the slightest sign of an imminent threat to his rule.

The time for the old strategy of strategic patience has passed. We must take serious actions now to prevent a nuclear weapon from ever threatening the United States or one of our allies. I urge the President to address this grave threat with the Chinese President at their upcoming summit.

I thank my friend, the gentleman from South Carolina, for undertaking this effort, and I am proud to join him in this fight.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in memory of Anand Nallathambi, who passed away on March 2. Mr. Nallathambi epitomized the American Dream, rising from humble beginnings to become the president and CEO of CoreLogic, a global company based in Irvine.

He led CoreLogic from its 2010 launch as a public company and transformed it into a high-performing leader in the housing market, employing over 5,000 Americans. Beyond his business leadership, Mr. Nallathambi volunteered his time generously with many organizations, including Operation HOPE and Cal State Fullerton.

He will long be remembered for his outstanding leadership, warm personality, integrity, devotion to his family and faith, and service to the community.

Please join me in celebrating the life of Mr. Nallathambi.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in memory of Paul Glaab who passed away on January 26.

Paul's career in public service began in the 1980s when he worked for the Republican caucus in the California State assembly on business, transportation, and housing issues. He continued to serve two California Governors in the State's Division of Codes and Standards and the Department of Transportation. He then served on the board of the Orange County Transportation Authority and later as the board's chair. Notably, he served two terms as Laguna Niguel's mayor.

Paul was a true public servant, and he will be missed by everyone in the Orange County community.

Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Janice, his daughter Molly, and the rest of his family. We join them in their mourning and hope that they will find comfort in knowing that Paul's legacy of leadership will live on for years to come.

Amendment VI:

``In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defence.''

Madam Speaker, it was 2008 when TransCanada first submitted an application to construct the Keystone XL pipeline. Six years later, the Keystone pipeline is still awaiting approval.

What does construction of the Keystone pipeline mean for our Nation? Over 40,000 jobs, energy security, and increased economic growth. Furthermore, the State Department found that construction of the Keystone pipeline would pose little environmental risk. In fact, there would be greater environmental and safety risks from not building the pipeline.

Despite the obvious benefits and bipartisan support, the President has continued to block Keystone's approval. Now he threatens to veto the bill, effectively killing the entire Keystone program. After 6-plus years, the President has run out of excuses. It is clear that the construction of the Keystone pipeline is in our Nation's best interests, and we cannot afford to delay any longer.

Mr. Speaker, over 4 years ago, ObamaCare was signed into law and sold to the American people on numerous false promises. Americans were promised that premiums for a typical family would go down. The President told Americans, if you like your health care plan, you can keep it, and, if you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor. However, that was not true, and now many Americans are grappling with a very different reality.

As a result of ObamaCare, millions of Americans have seen their health care plans canceled, families are finding that they may not get to keep the doctor that they like, and premiums in the individual market are increasing by 41 percent in the average State.

Mr. Speaker, the American people deserve better. Instead of putting the Federal Government in the driver's seat of our Nation's health care decisions, we need solutions that will protect the doctor-patient relationship, foster economic growth, and empower patients by giving them the choice and control.

Today, I am pleased to stand in support of H.R. 596, legislation that would not only repeal ObamaCare, but would instruct the House to come forward with a patient-centered, free market alternative.

Mr. Speaker, on roll call no. 39, I was unavoidably detained during the vote. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Mr. Speaker, although slavery was abolished 150 years ago, today, modern slavery still exists in the form of human trafficking.

Human trafficking involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to control other people for the purpose of forced labor or sexual exploitation. According to the FBI, sex trafficking is the fastest- growing business of organized crime in the world.

Approximately 20.9 million victims of human trafficking exist in our world today, and hundreds of thousands of those victims are here in the United States.

California is not excluded from this criminal activity. In fact, within my congressional district in Orange County, there have been over 350 cases of human trafficking since 2004.

Victims are lured and manipulated by false promises of lucrative jobs, a loving relationship, or new opportunities and are usually between the ages of 12 to 14 when they first become victims of sex trafficking.

Mr. Speaker, if there is one thing we can all agree on, it is this: we must put an end to human trafficking and bring those responsible to justice.

Through bipartisan efforts, we can work to stop human trafficking both in our communities at home and abroad.

Madam Speaker, I rise today on the 42nd anniversary of the Supreme Court's decision in Roe v. Wade in support of H.R. 7, the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act. This vital bill establishes that no taxpayer funds be used for abortion, including plans that cover abortion under the President's health care law.

These restrictions will save lives. According to the research by the Guttmacher Institute, policies that cut taxpayer funds towards abortion will actually prevent 25 percent or more of the abortions that would otherwise take place.

Furthermore, recent polling has demonstrated that the American public is widely opposed to taxpayer funds for abortion. According to a Marist poll released in January of this year, 68 percent of the respondents opposed taxpayer funds for abortion. A CNN poll from last year shows that 56 percent of respondents oppose public funding for abortion.

As a mother of four, I know personally how precious the gift of human life is and how important it is to honor that gift. As legislators, it is both our job and responsibility to protect the innocent lives of the unborn and to serve as a voice for those who do not yet have one.

Today, the U.S. House has a historic opportunity to put an end to the use of taxpayer funding for abortion. In drafting the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, Thomas Jefferson so wisely penned: ``To compel a man to furnish contributions of money for the propagation of opinions in which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical.''

Madam Speaker, I emphatically agree.

Amendment XIX:

``The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.

``Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.''