Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Dr. Michael R. Reich for being honored by the Center for Global Development for his tenure as Harvard's Taro Takemi Professor Emeritus of International Health Policy.

I have had the privilege to know him as a great friend, a man of science and empathy, a man who believes that health is a human right, and a man who has devoted his life to creating a healthy global community.

Dr. Reich has dedicated decades to investigating the inequities in health services around the globe, understanding the intersection between healthcare and policy, and advocating to improve healthcare outcomes for underserved communities all around the world.

As a professor at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Dr. Reich has empowered his students to learn from and contribute to real- world global health policy scenarios, bringing new perspectives to cases like health reform in West Africa, malaria control in Zambia, national pharmaceutical reform, or even reproductive health policy in Guatemala.

Today, I celebrate him, his legacy, his friendship, and his outstanding contributions to our global community.

Mr. Chair, I rise today in strong opposition to H.R. 1, the polluters over people act.

As a doctor, I am all too familiar with the harmful consequences of pollution and other environmental dangers on people's health.

Frontline communities near high-polluting corporations already bear too much of the burden of environmental injustice.

For example, people living near fossil fuel drilling sites are at greater risk for pre-term birth, cancer, asthma, and other respiratory diseases.

We must do more to protect people's health, not silence the voices of these vulnerable communities like this bill aims to do, not speeding up permit approvals without local families' input on projects that will go in their backyards like this bill aims to do.

This bill will also make the air we breathe dirtier and the people sicker by sacrificing key environmental protections under the Clean Air Act, the Toxic Substances Control Act, and other laws, all to increase fossil fuel energy production in a reckless and irresponsible way.

This is the wrong approach. Instead, we should secure America's energy independence with clean, reliable energy that will lower costs for families and protect people's health.

This includes building out our domestic supply chain for critical minerals like lithium while producing renewable energy.

We can do this through projects like geothermal energy production and lithium recovery at the Salton Sea in Imperial County, California, in my district.

The innovative approach we are taking there is responsible energy production with a closed-loop clean system that also creates lithium extraction with geothermal energy.

This is better for the environment, better for our communities, and better for the economy. This shows that we do not have to sacrifice health and the environment.

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to reject H.R. 1 and instead work toward solutions that bring everyone together to move our country forward.

Mr. Speaker, I was unable to vote on March 22, 2023. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 144 and YEA on Roll Call No. 145.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the incredible life and legacy of Walter F. Ulloa, a friend and trailblazer who helped transform Spanish language media.

Walter was a visionary. He was also a beloved husband, father, brother, and my dear friend.

From B-Town, known as Brawley, to a global powerhouse, Walter got his start with humble beginnings in the Imperial Valley.

He was born in the impoverished farmworker city of Brawley in 1949, back when it was still a segregated community. His family lived on B Street on the east side of the tracks.

Like my parents and many others in the Imperial Valley, Walter's father, Walter Sr., and mother, Margaret, worked hard to give Walter and his brothers, Roland and Ronald, better opportunities for their futures.

Every day for 4 years, his father would drive from Brawley to San Diego to attend law school, instilling in Walter and his brothers the values of honesty, integrity, and a strong work ethic.

His mother provided for the family at home, building a strong foundation for Walter and his brothers and instilling in them the values of kindness and compassion.

Walter Sr. and Margaret's hard work helped move the family from the east side to the west side, and their guidance, support, and love helped Walter, Roland, and Ronald achieve great success.

Walter's skill as a young tennis champion catapulted him from tournaments in Indio and Palm Springs, California, all the way to the University of Southern California, where he earned his bachelor's degree.

He went on to attend Loyola Law School before briefly serving in the district attorney's office and working with the L.A. city youth employment summer program.

It wasn't until Walter began working at KMEX-TV in L.A., though, that his career in Spanish broadcast media began. At KMEX, he learned the business from the ground up, first working as a writer and eventually becoming the station's news director.

Walter's empire began to take shape when he joined forces with his business partners to acquire nearby stations, ultimately culminating in Entravision's founding. Under his watch, Entravision grew into a driving force in the media, delivering vital news to millions across the country.

The thing is, Walter was more than just a great entrepreneur and businessman. He was also an exceptional leader who inspired his employees and increased representation across the board.

As Entravision grew, Walter made it a point to get to know everyone at his company, from the service workers to the news crews to the office staff. Everyone mattered to Walter, and they knew it.

Many looked to him as a father, a brother, and a mentor who inspired others with his integrity and authentic leadership. Through it all, he maintained his commitment to his roots, to diversity and inclusion, and to social justice. His mantra was: ``We, as Latinos, need to see ourselves reflected in the media, and we have the numbers to do it.''

I can't tell you how much that means to me and how much it means for Latinos and Latinas from the Imperial Valley to the Coachella Valley and all across our Nation.

Walter is an inspiration to us all. Born and bred in Brawley, he rose to the top. When it came to creating opportunities for others, he refused to take no for an answer.

Being born in a segregated community, he fought for Latino and Latina representation at every turn. Whether with Entravision, the L.A. Music Center board, LA84 Foundation, or the board of trustees for the Kennedy Center, Walter's legacy can be seen on screens all across America.

While we recognize the road ahead for equal representation is long, I have no doubt that future generations will carry the torch of his work to ensure we see the faces of Latinos and Latinas on our screens, that we hear the voices of Latinos and Latinas on the radio, and that we share the stories of Latinos and Latinas which are woven into the fabric of our Nation.

I will miss him dearly, and I know that countless others will, too. I respect him and admire him greatly. He was a true, loyal friend. He also had a genuine interest in me, believed in me, encouraged me, and supported me through thick and thin.

To his wife, Alexandra; son, Bruno; brothers, Roland and Ronald; and all his loved ones and to the entire Entravision family, know that you are in my heart and in my prayers.

Together, as we mourn his passing, let us celebrate the blessing he was in all of our lives, the impact he had on our community, and the mark he has left on our Nation's history.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a fallen hero, Riverside County Sheriff's Department Deputy Isaiah Cordero, who gave his life serving our community.

Every day, our law enforcement officers put on their uniforms, kiss their loved ones good-bye, and go to work not knowing if they will come home.

On December 29, 2022, Deputy Cordero put on his uniform, said good- bye to his loved ones, and went to work that day to protect and serve. That afternoon, he was tragically shot and killed in the line of duty during what should have been a routine traffic stop.

Now, a family mourns a loved one, our local law enforcement grieves a brother, and our community lost a guardian, protector, and friend.

Deputy Cordero's service began with the Riverside County Sheriff's Department as a correctional deputy on May

5, 2014. From the start, he was a hardworking, loyal colleague who led by example and wanted his partners to succeed.

As a correctional deputy, he worked on cases at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility and the Indio jail. Later, he was promoted to deputy sheriff after completing training with the 204th Basic Academy.

When he was transferred to the Jurupa Valley Station, Deputy Cordero achieved his goal to serve as a motor deputy. He had served in his dream job for only 3 months before his death at just 32 years old.

Our community will remember Deputy Cordero as a selfless public servant who gave his life for our safety. His mother, Rebecca; father, Gilbert; stepbrother; loved ones; and friends will cherish his memory as a good man, devoted son, and loving uncle who brought a smile to everyone's face and as a kind soul who was quiet, polite, and humble, a ray of sunshine who loved motorcycles, cars, and punk rock.

Together, as a community, let us honor his legacy, and together, as a Nation, let us salute his courage, remember his sacrifice, and show our appreciation for his fellow brothers and sisters who wear the badge, continuing to protect and serve every day.

Memorializing the Life and Legacy of Riverside County Deputy Darnell

Calhoun

Madam Speaker, I rise to memorialize the life and legacy of Riverside County Sheriff's Department Deputy Darnell Calhoun.

Our communities were shattered again by a tragic loss. On January 13, 2023, Deputy Calhoun was fatally shot while responding to a domestic violence incident in Lake Elsinore, California. He was just 30 years old.

He was born in Pomona and grew up in Murrieta, California, where he worked at his family's restaurant, Calhoun's Texas Family Barbeque.

In 2019, Deputy Calhoun began his career in law enforcement with the San Diego Police Department, where he served for 3 years. He then joined the Riverside County Sheriff's Department to be closer to his family.

You see, that is the thing about Deputy Calhoun. If there is one word to describe him, it is devoted: devoted to our community, devoted to his church, and, above all, devoted to his family.

He loved being a dad and raising his growing family with his wife, Vanessa. It is all he ever wanted.

For his children, Russell, Troy, and Malcolm, who is on the way; your children; my children; and everyone's children, Deputy Calhoun worked every day to make the world a better and safer place for us all.

A fixture in the community, Deputy Calhoun could often be found at Covenant Grace Church, serving brisket at his family's restaurant, or out with the people, leading the way on community policing.

He was an Eagles fan, a good man with a servant's heart who lived to serve, and a courageous deputy who put his life on the line for our safety.

As the Calhoun family, fellow Riverside County Sheriff's Department officers, and our entire local law enforcement community carries the heavy burden of grief, anguish, and sorrow with Deputy Calhoun's passing, we must fulfill our solemn duty to honor and respect his service.

Today, residents of Riverside County mourn the tragic loss of two fallen officers in the sheriff's department within 15 days of each other.

Madam Speaker, I ask everyone present on the House floor today to join me in a moment of silence for Deputy Calhoun, Deputy Cordero, their families, and every fallen officer who has answered the call, put their lives on the line, and sacrificed themselves for our safety.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate a champion for our local veterans, Rafael ``Ralph'' Duarte, and to thank him for his years of service to our communities.

Tomorrow, Ralph will transition after 10 years with the Riverside County Department of Veteran Services, where he has built a legacy as a fierce advocate, pillar of strength, and beacon of hope for Riverside County veterans.

Ralph was born in Delano, California, and graduated from Coachella Valley High School. He is a decorated Army veteran, having served for 4 years in Iraq and Afghanistan with the 3rd Ranger Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment.

After he returned home from the battlefield, he settled in Indio, California, and immediately got to work.

He has helped thousands of veterans recover their earned benefits that were denied to them by local, State, and Federal agencies over the years. In fact, it is estimated that he has helped local veterans and their families obtain $55 million in monetary benefits. That is $55 million to get them the care they need, the salary they have earned, and the recognition they deserve.

He truly goes above and beyond to serve others, even making home visits just to help elderly veterans fill out the necessary paperwork to get their VA benefits and care.

Ralph has participated in hundreds of community events. From community forums with the VFW, to our county's annual Veterans Expo, to my Veterans University, Ralph has always been there to greet veterans with a friendly smile, make them feel at home, and connect them with the resources they need.

His compassion, professionalism, and hard work has changed the lives of countless veterans for the better. His dedication, leadership, and advocacy have made Riverside County an even more welcoming place to those who served.

Ralph has always said that he is doing God's work in caring for those who have served and sacrificed to protect our Nation, and I couldn't agree more. Our local veterans have been truly blessed to have him fighting on their behalf.

So I thank Ralph for all that he has done. On behalf of California's 36th Congressional District, I wish Ralph, along with his wife, Rachel, and children, Ralph, Abram, and James, the best of luck in their next adventure.

Honoring Tribal Chairman Richard Milanovich

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a visionary leader and trailblazer, Tribal Chairman Richard Milanovich, who served the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians for nearly 30 years.

Chairman Milanovich was a powerhouse who came from humble beginnings. He grew up poor in Palm Springs, and his family survived on nutrition assistance.

He went on to serve our Nation as an infantryman in the U.S. Army for 3 years before returning to the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians reservation.

In 1984, he was elected as Tribal chairman, ushering in a new age of prosperity for the Tribe. His impact spread far and wide, and he is still revered as a change-maker for Tribes throughout California and the entire Nation.

We celebrate Chairman Milanovich's memory and legacy by renaming the Palm Springs post office in his honor.

Honoring Marine Corps Corporal Hunter Lopez

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Marine Corps Corporal Hunter Lopez, my constituent who was killed in action while serving our Nation at the Kabul airport on August 25, 2021.

Yesterday, this body honored his legacy by unanimously passing legislation to designate the La Quinta post office in his memory.

Corporal Lopez was the embodiment of service. He lived his life with a larger purpose in mind, a purpose of serving our country and contributing to something greater than himself.

With the Marine Corps, he aided the largest airlift in human history, evacuating over 120,000 of our fellow Americans and allies.

Corporal Lopez worked up until his last moment to save others. Now, his story is forever entwined with our Nation's, and it is my hope that with this legislation, future generations will come to know his legacy of remarkable service, compassion, and heroism.

Madam Speaker, I rise today as chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, as a father of these two beautiful daughters, Sky and Sage, to call on the Senate to act now for Dreamers.

This October, the Fifth Circuit Court ruled that the DACA program is unlawful and set the stage for this incredibly successful and popular program to be struck down by the conservative courts in Texas.

If Congress does not act by the end of this year, the future of thousands of Dreamers will be on the line.

Dreamers like Juan Vasquez from my district--in fact, from Mecca-- who, as a senior in high school, was detained by ICE while working in the fields as a farmworker with his parents to help them pay the bills.

After taking him under my wing, as a pre-med student Juan graduated top of his class from UC Berkeley and finished top of his class at UC San Francisco School of Medicine. Now he saves lives. He saves American lives. He saves fathers, mothers, children, daughters, sons, and grandparents every day as an emergency medicine resident in New York City. I think I had some influence, being an emergency physician myself and mentoring him in that path.

If DACA ends, Juan and hundreds of thousands of others will lose their jobs--impacting labor market sectors already experiencing shortages, such as healthcare, education, service industries, food production, and more.

If DACA ends, our economy would lose more than a quarter of a trillion in lost GDP over the next decade. If DACA ends, prices will go up.

If DACA ends, we will see dire and insurmountable ripple effects across our communities and local economies.

For the sake of doing what is right and good and just, and for the sake of our economy and for the hundreds of thousands of Dreamers who call our Nation home and have known no other home, I call on the Senate Republicans to join in good-faith negotiations to find a permanent solution for Dreamers based on the House-passed American Dream and Promise Act. Use it as the framework.

Madam Speaker, I urge every Member of this body, Republicans and Democrats, to join the Congressional Hispanic Caucus in advocating for a bipartisan DACA deal to be included in the end-of-year omnibus package.

We absolutely must deliver peace of mind for Dreamers and their families. Keep their families together and create opportunity for our economy. The time to act is now. The time of urgency is now.

Madam Speaker, I thank the chairwoman for her leadership for being vice chair of communications for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus because your voice is powerful, your voice carries on, your voice is a voice of true leadership that will continue and be generational.

I appreciate this Special Hour to advocate for our Dreamers and to protect DACA.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my constituent and dear friend, Alfredo Acosta Figueroa, for his lifelong dedication to social justice and his relentless advocacy for civil rights during the Chicano Movement with Cesar Chavez and Bert Corona.

Alfredo Acosta Figueroa was born in Blythe, California, to a fifth- generation indigenous-Chicano family from the Colorado River Indian Reservation, which encompasses the Palo Verde Valley in California and all through Parker Valley in Arizona.

From a young age, Alfredo learned the values of social justice from his family. As a young kid working in the mines, his parents taught him the values of standing up for himself, caring for his neighbors, and standing by his coworkers.

Because of his family's lessons, he has dedicated his entire life to safeguarding the civil, voting, working, and environmental rights of disenfranchised and indigenous communities.

In the late 1950s, Alfredo and his brothers, known as the Figueroa Brothers, became actively involved in the civil rights movement. Together, they fought against injustices in Blythe, the Coachella Valley, and throughout the American Southwest.

Through it all, Alfredo was mentored by two highly respected Chicano leaders: Humberto ``Bert'' Corona, an immigration rights activist with the Mexican American Political Association; and Cesar Chavez, the civil rights leader of the United Farm Workers.

Corona and Chavez's mentorship only deepened Alfredo's passion for human rights, encouraging him to further pursue equity and social justice for his community.

Over the years, Figueroa has worn many hats and has undertaken monumental roles, including that of lifetime ``gambusino'' or miner, civil rights activist, humanitarian, farm labor organizer, staunch environmentalist, antinuclear activist, historian, political coordinator, boxing coordinator, folkloric singer and guitarist, indigenous traditionalist, and author, just to name a few.

So now, he leads the protection of sacred indigenous sites within the Lower Colorado River Basin and Palo Verde and Parker Valleys.

Thanks to Alfredo's leadership, many historical indigenous sacred sites and bodies of water have been protected. This includes the Sacred Mule Mountains, the Lower Colorado River, the world-renowned Blythe Giant Intaglios, and over 300 other sacred sites. Alfredo has achieved all this and more by following his guiding principle to never give up.

One of his famous sayings, ``La Lucha Indeterminable,'' or ``The Never-Ending Struggle,'' has kept him motivated in his lifelong mission to share, educate, organize, and regain indigenous cosmic traditional culture.

Alfredo's compelling force to provoke change has found inspiration in two indigenous philosophies: First, the Neltiliztli, or ``the birth of the new knowledge,'' meaning that we must always seek the truth;

Second, the ancient Nahuatl teachings of Tloque Nahuaque, or the saying, ``among all, we do all, for the betterment of all.'' Both have allowed him to persist in this long journey and inspire many others.

So, to my dear friend, Alfredo Acosta Figueroa, you personify the dedication, resiliency, and carino of so many of our communities. Your life of service will forever be an inspiration for all people, and we are in great debt to you.

On behalf of California's 36th Congressional District, I thank you for your continued dedication and challenging work in the protection of our ancestral sacred lands.

``Mexica Tiahui,'' ``Move Forward.''

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the House passage of my bipartisan bill to designate the Palm Desert VA Clinic in memory of Seymour ``Sy'' Kaplan.

Sy was a decorated World War II veteran with a relentless passion for service. He enlisted in the U.S. Army at just 17 years old and served our country bravely in the 2nd Army, 2nd Corps Division. For his heroism, he earned three battle stars and two Purple Hearts.

When his military service ended, his service to our veterans began. For 25 years, Sy served as the commander of the Disabled American Veterans, Chapter 78, in the Coachella Valley.

His leadership helped countless veterans find healing, community, and a sense of purpose. He also served as a member of my veterans advisory board, where I looked to him as a trusted adviser.

We lost Sy 3 years ago at the age of 95. I can think of no better way to honor his legacy than to ensure his name is forever etched into our desert's history at a place where our veterans receive quality care at the Palm Desert VA Clinic, the clinic he championed to create.

Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Democratic Caucus, I offer a privileged resolution and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the House passage of bipartisan, commonsense legislation that will expand access to healthcare in underserved communities across the country.

I grew up in a rural farmworker community in the Coachella Valley, and later served that same community as a doctor. I know how crucial it is for people to have access to healthcare in their communities without barriers,

and how the distance to a health center can be the difference between whether or not someone seeks treatment.

That is why I joined Congresswoman Susie Lee in introducing the MOBILE Health Care Act, which will help community health centers expand their services with mobile health units. This means taking healthcare to the people, often the hardest to reach, and often left out, and the most medically underserved.

So I urge President Biden to sign this bill into law without delay to improve health outcomes across the board and make a positive difference in people's lives.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the communities affected by the Fairview Fire and thank the first responders who heroically battled the flames.

The Fairview fire started on September 5, and within a matter of hours

residents of Hemet were forced to evacuate their homes.

Since then, the fire has burned over 28,300 acres, caused two deaths, and destroyed at least 36 homes or commercial structures--proving to be one of the largest and most destructive fires our local communities have ever seen.

To the families who have lost a loved one, our neighbors who have had to leave behind their homes, and the students who had to miss school, know that my heart is with you, and I stand ready to support you in any way that I can.

In the last 15 days we have faced much devastation. We have experienced uncertainty, grief, and fear. We have seen the havoc wildfires can wreak on our families, environment, and livelihoods. We have also been moved by the resiliency of our communities.

Through it all, I have been touched by the kindness and strength exhibited by every neighbor, firefighter, law enforcement officer, and volunteer who has pitched in to help keep us safe.

To our first responders from: Hemet Fire Department; CAL FIRE Riverside; CAL FIRE Incident Management Team 6; Riverside County Sheriff's Department; Cahuilla Fire; U.S. Forest Service; Bureau of Land Management; Idyllwild Fire Department; and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, thank you for your immense heroism.

It is because of each and every one of you--the men and women fighting the fire who have put your lives on the line--that the Fairview fire is now almost completely contained. There were 856 responders and 22 crews from these departments who stepped up without hesitation.

For their responsiveness and work to keep local families informed throughout the Fairview fire, I especially want to acknowledge the Fairview Fire Unified Command: Hemet Fire Department Chief Eddie Sell; CAL FIRE Chief Josh Jansen; Riverside County Sheriff's Department Lieutenant John Shulda; and the U.S. Forest Service Chief Jim Snow.

I also want to thank: CAL FIRE Incident Commander Deputy Chief Jeff Veik; CAL FIRE Incident Command Team 6 Staff Chief Andy Turner and Deputy Chief Dave Scheurich; Riverside County Fire Department Chief Dan Olson; Idyllwild Fire Department Chief Mark LaMont, and Cahuilla Fire Chief Randy Sandoval.

At the fire's highest point, nearly 38,000 individuals were under threat and forced to evacuate. I am incredibly grateful to them for their leadership, as well as every volunteer who pitched in at evacuation cites from Hemet to Temecula.

To everyone with the Riverside County Emergency Management Department, Riverside Department of Animal Services, and the American Red Cross who has contributed to evacuation and prevention efforts, thank you for all that you have done.

Your actions have helped families know when it was time to evacuate and helped our most at risk find shelter. In this disaster, there have been countless heroes, many who will go unnamed--the neighbor who texted their friend to make sure they saw the evacuation alert, the mother who pitched in that extra $10 to a local evacuation center, and the many non-profits, volunteers, and local leaders who did whatever they could to help without seeking honor or recognition. The list goes on and on.

As a community, we can never forget the heroes who stepped up throughout the fire--big or small. As a Nation, I encourage each of us to follow the example set by the people of Hemet to come together in a time of crisis and to always lend a helping hand to a neighbor in need.

Madam Speaker, as a doctor, I have taken care of many patients who put their lives and health at risk because they couldn't afford their medication, patients who either ration their medicine or didn't get a prescription filled at all.

I will never forget one woman who was so proud to tell me that she was able to make her insulin last longer because she would only take half a dose at a time in order to make it last. This is unacceptable.

No one should have to choose between whether to take their medicine and put food on their table or between their health and not being able to pay their bills.

That is why I support the Inflation Reduction Act, which will give seniors the relief that they need from skyrocketing drug costs. It ensures that people on Medicare with diabetes won't have to pay more than $35 a month for their insulin. It requires the Secretary of HHS to negotiate drug prices for expensive Medicare drugs, lowering costs for seniors and people with disabilities, and it caps out-of-pocket spending at $2,000 per year for Medicare part D.

These important steps will help ensure that all seniors have access to lifesaving and health-saving medications, regardless of how much money they have.

That is not all this bill does. This bill will make transformational investments to combat climate change and reduce our carbon emissions. It will push automakers to make their electric vehicle batteries with domestic materials, like the lithium we are extracting at the southern end of the Salton Sea in Imperial County.

With this bill and the lithium in my district, we can power our clean energy future here in America with American materials.

Madam Chair, I rise today with my daughters in strong support of H.R. 5118, the Wildfire Response and Drought Resiliency Act. This legislation includes my bill, the Salton Sea Projects Improvements Act, which will take strong action to address the crisis at the Salton Sea.

In our region, drought and reduced water flows into the Salton Sea have led to deteriorating water quality and toxic dust that threatens local communities' health.

My bill will authorize $250 million the Bureau of Reclamation can spend on the Salton Sea and expand the types of transformative projects at the sea. This will ultimately strengthen our all-hands-on-deck approach to this environmental and public health crisis by expanding the bureau's ability to work with State, local, and Tribal partners in the area.

I urge my colleagues to swiftly pass this drought and wildfire bill, and I urge the Senate to do the same.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Coachella Valley's very own, Librado ``Lee'' Espinoza, an icon, a legend in the boxing ring, and an inspiration to us all.

From picking peanuts in the fields of Michoacan, Mexico, to training world-renowned boxers on the national stage, Lee is a fighter.

The owner of the Coachella Valley Boxing Club, Lee is truly the godfather of boxing in the valley. He has trained world champions and put Coachella on the map for producing some of the best boxers in the game.

Born in 1949, in La Piedad, Michoacan, Lee's success stems from his humble beginnings. In his early years, he worked on his father's farm, picking peanuts alongside his grandfather. After the devastating loss of his father, Lee eventually moved to the U.S. with his mother, where they lived in Coachella and, later, Tulare. Ultimately, Lee settled back in Coachella in the Coachella Valley, where he married his wife, June, and worked as a foreman installing irrigation systems.

Together, June and Lee had four children: Vince, Luis, Reuben, and Candy. It was his son Reuben whose interest in boxing and winning big trophies opened the door for Lee to become the coach that he is today. Lee took Reuben to the Indio Boys and Girls Club every day after work to train with his coach, Lalo Gutierrez, who, in turn, taught him the ways of coaching.

When Lee took over coaching for Lalo, he formed a boxing club that competed successfully against others throughout southern California and Arizona.

While training in a cramped, single room in Indio, Lee's steadfast dedication as a coach shined through in the success of the athletes he guided both inside and outside the ring.

His first professional fighter, Francisco ``Pancho'' Segura, fought twice for the International Boxing Federation world featherweight title and competed in the 1984 Olympic tryouts.

Even when Pancho decided it was time to retire, Lee helped him find a job so that he could take care of his family. You see, that is the thing about Lee. When he is in your corner, you know that he is going to do everything that he can to help you succeed. In the ring and out of the ring, he is truly a caring man, a man of character with a lion's heart of gold.

In 1985, he officially opened the Coachella Valley Boxing Club in an old fire station next to Coachella City Hall. What started as a club with six kids quickly grew to 50.

Over the years, he has trained outstanding athletes like Sandra ``Sandy'' Yard, who won two International Female Boxing Association world titles; Randy Caballero, an International Boxing Federation World Champion; the Diaz brothers, Joel, Jesus, Antonio, and Julio, each of whom won national titles and competed before international audiences; and Jocelyn Camarillo, from Indio, who won the 2021 USA Boxing National Championships.

For Pancho, Sandy, Randy, the Diaz brothers, Jocelyn, and countless others he has trained, Lee's mentorship did more than help them triumph in the ring. His relentless devotion to their growth laid the foundation for their long-term success.

Through his own success and his own stories, he has given the athletes that he has trained someone to look up to and something to fight for. His contributions to our communities have shaped our valley's history and left a lasting mark on the sport of boxing.

In fact, he has been inducted into the California Boxing Hall of Fame and the West Coast Boxing Hall of Fame for all that he has achieved.

Growing up in Coachella, I was personally inspired by Lee and his grit, determination, and work ethic. I looked up to Lee because I knew he was making a difference in our humble farmworker community.

It is my hope that by telling his story here today and recording it in our Nation's history, athletes across the country and future generations will also be inspired and will feel that same sense of hope that he has given to many of us in our valley and across the Nation.