Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 523, had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 494, had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Mr. Speaker, as chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, I rise again in opposition to this rule and against the martial law bill which has not been given to us to read, and I believe that that is the wrong thing to do to solve this problem.

Instead of working with Democrats to come up with a viable and bipartisan solution to deal with the vulnerable Central American children who are fleeing from violence and death, my Republican colleagues are apparently drafting a bill that is even worse than the one they proposed yesterday, on Thursday.

This new bill presumably continues the failed policy of enforcement only and will send thousands of these children back to certain death. If the funding levels remain the same as yesterday, the bill will not provide adequate funding to care for them while they are here.

We should instead be spending our time debating and voting on the bipartisan Senate comprehensive immigration bill that the Speaker has refused to bring up for over a year.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to oppose the rule and the martial law.

Thank you, Congressman Conyers.

Mr. Speaker, as chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, I rise today to strongly oppose H.R. 5272, an extreme and highly partisan bill that

would prevent the continuation or expansion of President Obama's Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, known as DACA.

Simply put, this misguided bill limits President Obama's prosecutorial discretion and seeks to dismantle the DACA program. I am very concerned that the majority has brought this anti-Hispanic amended bill to the floor in order to prevent President Obama from building upon the successes of the DACA program and to appease the most extreme wing of the Republican Conference.

The underlying bill punishes hardworking DREAMers and immigrants who are eager to contribute to America's prosperity and have waited long enough for comprehensive immigration reform.

Since its inception in 2012, the DACA program has protected DREAMers who meet certain requirements from deportation, allowing hundreds of thousands of young undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as children to remain and work in the United States.

In my view, closing the door on undocumented youth is un-American. We in the Congress of the United States have a moral responsibility to protect the welfare and rights of vulnerable children and youth, including children and youth who are undocumented or are fleeing from violence and despair in their countries of origin.

Mr. Speaker, I close by urging my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to vote in strong opposition to H.R. 5272, extreme and highly partisan legislation that does nothing to fix our Nation's broken immigration system.

Mr. Speaker, as chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, I rise in opposition to H.R. 5230 and the underlying rule.

I represent McAllen, Texas, which has been the epicenter for this humanitarian crisis. For years, my Republican colleagues have been ignoring the problems caused by their inaction on immigration reform. They have cut funding for immigration judges, so that people wait years to have their cases heard.

They have cut funding to help the countries of Central America deal with the internal problems causing their children to flee. The Republican solution has always been more walls and fences and more soldiers to militarize the border.

I live on that border of Texas and Mexico, and I know that their enforcement-only approach is not working because it doesn't address the root cause of immigration. It has been economically devastating to border communities who vainly try to persuade companies to move their plants and factories to our region to create jobs and bring us out of poverty that is the highest in the Nation.

Our veterans suffer because the VA can't get doctors to move to the border. All these companies and doctors hear is that the border is a war zone flooded with dangerous immigrants. That is not the border I know. My border home is a vibrant, educated, fast-growing, culturally diverse, welcoming region. I am proud of how we have embraced these children and families.

We are now voting once again to militarize our border, deny children legal representation and due process, and providing little help to Central America. We are not fixing the problem, and I urge my colleagues to oppose the rule and this bill.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 458, had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my strong support of H.R. 5134, legislation which would reauthorize two advisory committees within the U.S. Department of Education for 1 year.

The National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity, known as NACIQI, and the Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance play vitally important advisory roles to the Secretary of Education and Congress and would not otherwise be extended through the General Education Provisions Act when the Higher Ed Act expires this year.

NACIQI, for example, advises the Secretary of Education on matters related to postsecondary education accreditation and the certification process for higher ed institutions to participate in Federal student aid programs.

The Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance provides advice and counsel on Federal student financial aid policy to both Congress and the Secretary of Education, including the recommendations for increasing college access and persistence to higher ed for low- income and moderate-income students.

As ranking member of the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training, I want to thank Chairman Kline, Ranking Member George Miller, and Ranking Member Foxx for their leadership on this issue.

Although I will continue to fight for a more comprehensive reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, I believe that this bill, as well as the other three higher education bills being voted on this week, make some key improvements to the Higher Education Act.

So with that, I urge my colleagues to support the passage of H.R. 5134.

Mr. Speaker, I also rise today to express my strong support for H.R. 4983, the Strengthening Transparency in Higher Education Act.

The underlying bill strengthens data transparency in higher education by establishing a new college dashboard Web site, which replaces the Network Navigator and ensures the inclusion of nontraditional students and data metrics.

The college dashboard Web site will provide better and more accessible information for students and families. Key information will consist of enrollment and completion data on full-time and part-time students, disaggregated by Pell recipients; by race, ethnicity, and disability; as well as information on net price, average student loan debt, and the college costs.

This bill promotes transparency on the use of adjunct faculty. For the first time, our Nation's colleges will be required to report the ratio of part-time to full-time instructors by degree level.

In addition, this legislation creates a more accessible calculator with clearer and more individualized information on student costs.

Finally, the bill requires that the college dashboard Web site be consumer tested with other agencies and students and institutions and experts to ensure it provides understandable and relevant information.

I am proud to say that Texas has been a leader in this area. The University of Texas system, for example, has developed an impressive college productivity dashboard designed to create transparency and to measure productivity in a more effective way. Above all, the UT dashboard system also provides students, families, and policymakers with robust data and information that they can use to make more informed decisions.

Having better data and information has allowed the University of Texas to identify achievement gaps and to make improvements in areas that need reform. More accurate data on college participation and completion, for instance, can help to improve student outcomes, particularly for low-income students and students of color.

In closing, I applaud Chairman Kline, Ranking Member Miller, and Ms. Foxx for working in a bipartisan manner to advance this legislation.

I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to vote in favor of

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise to express my support for H.R. 4983, the Strengthening Transparency in Higher Education Act.

The underlying bill strengthens the state of transparency in higher education by establishing a new college dashboard Web site, which replaces the Network Navigator and ensures the inclusion of nontraditional students in the data matrix.

The college dashboard Web site will provide better and more accessible information for students and families. Key information will consist of enrollment and completion data on full-time and part-time students as well as those segregated by Pell recipients--or race and ethnicity and disability--as well as information on net price, average student loan debt, and college costs.

The bill promotes transparency on the use of adjunct faculty. For the first time, our Nation's colleges will be required to report the ratio of part-time to full-time instructors by degree level. In addition, this legislation creates a more accessible calculator with clearer, more individualized information on student costs. Finally, the bill requires that the college dashboard Web site be consumer-tested with other agencies and students and institutions and experts to ensure it provides understandable and relevant information.

I am proud to say that Texas has been a leader in this area. The University of Texas' system, for example, has developed an impressive college productivity dashboard designed to increase transparency and to measure productivity in a more effective way. Above all, the UT system's dashboard also provides students, families, and policymakers with robust data and information that they can use to make more informed decisions.

Having better data and information has allowed the University of Texas to identify achievement gaps and to make improvements in areas that need reform. More accurate data on college participation and completion, for instance, can help to improve student outcomes, particularly for low-income students and students of color.

In closing, I applaud Chairman Kline, Ranking Member Miller, and Ranking Member Foxx for working in a bipartisan manner to advance this legislation, and I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to vote in favor of H.R. 4983.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott), a distinguished member of the Education Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to yield 3 minutes to my colleague from New Jersey (Mr. Holt).

Mr. Speaker I am honored to yield 3 minutes to my colleague from Maryland (Mr. Cummings).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Before I close, I want to say that I look forward to working with my friends on the other side of the aisle as soon as possible so that we can complete, in its entirety, the reauthorization of higher education which is greatly needed here in our country.

Mr. Speaker, I have no more speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my strong support for H.R. 5134, legislation which would reauthorize two advisory committees within the U.S. Department of Education for at least 1 year.

The National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity, known as NACIQI, and the Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance play vitally important advisory roles to the Secretary of Education and Congress and would not otherwise be extended through the General Education Provisions Act when the Higher Education Act expires this year.

NACIQI, for example, advises the Secretary of Education on matters related to postsecondary education accreditation and the certification process for higher education institutions to participate in Federal student aid programs.

The Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance provides advice and counsel on Federal student financial aid policy to both Congress and the Secretary of Education, including recommendations for increasing college access and persistence to higher education for low- income and moderate-income students.

As the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training, I thank Chairman Kline, Ranking Member Miller, and Chairwoman Foxx for their leadership on this issue.

Although I will continue to fight for a more comprehensive reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, I believe that this bill today, as well as the other three higher education bills being voted on this week, make some key improvements to the Higher Education Act.

With that, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support the passage of H.R. 5134.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time and yield back the balance of my time.

I thank the gentleman for yielding me the time.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of the underlying bill, H.R. 803, entitled the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.

As the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training, I applaud Senators Harkin, Murray, Alexander, and Isakson for their extraordinary leadership in advancing this bipartisan, bicameral legislation in the Senate, with a vote of 95-3. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is quite an accomplishment.

In the House of Representatives, I commend my colleagues from the Education and the Workforce Committee--our chairman, John Kline, and our U.S. Representatives George Miller, Virginia Foxx, and John Tierney--for all working in a bipartisan manner on this vitally important piece of legislation.

In my view, helping Americans get back on track must be our top priority. Today, Congress has an opportunity to reauthorize the Workforce Investment Act, known as WIA, and do more to support American workers in accessing good family-sustaining jobs and careers.

First and foremost, I am pleased that the underlying bill makes significant improvements to our Nation's public workforce training and adult education system. The bill promotes career pathways and utilizes sector strategies for delivering job training services, strategies that have been successful in south Texas.

This bill, H.R. 803, preserves national programs for migrant and seasonal farmworkers, as well as dislocated workers, disadvantaged youth, Native Americans, and people with disabilities. These are the populations that face significant barriers to employment and education.

In the area of adult education, this bill integrates adult education and workplace skills; it authorizes the integrated English literacy and civics education program for adult learners; and it expands access to postsecondary education. Importantly, this bipartisan bill includes several key provisions from the Adult Education and Economic Growth Act, which I introduced. For these reasons, it is no surprise that there is overwhelming support from business groups, from labor unions, from State and local elected officials, community colleges, as well as workforce boards, adult education providers, youth organizations, and civil rights groups for this bill.

In closing, I strongly urge Members of the House of Representatives to join me and our Senate colleagues in supporting American workers by passing H.R. 803.

Mr. Chair, on rollcall Nos. 361, 362, 363, and 364, had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on all four (4) amendments.

Amendment No. 8 Offered by Mr. Bishop of Utah

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the urgent need to fix our Nation's broken immigration system. We cannot continue to wait. The time is now to pass comprehensive immigration reform.

According to the Congressional Budget Office, the bill H.R. 15 would reduce the deficit by $900 billion over the next two decades. There are 200 bipartisan cosponsors supporting H.R. 15, and the Senate overwhelmingly passed an immigration reform bill, almost to the day, last year.

We know that comprehensive immigration reform will grow our economy, so what are we waiting for?

Americans across the country want us to do something on this issue, and they want us to act now. I urge a vote on H.R. 15, the comprehensive immigration reform bill introduced by my Hispanic Caucus colleague Congressman Joe Garcia from Florida. Now is the time.

I want to thank Ranking Member Henry Waxman for yielding time to me.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 6, the Domestic Prosperity and Global Freedom Act. I am a cosponsor of this bipartisan legislation that will help to increase U.S. liquefied natural gas exports and help boost our economy.

In my 15th Congressional District in Texas, oil and natural gas extraction from the Eagle Ford shale has transformed this region, bringing thousands of new jobs, and growing wealth to many rural communities in South Texas.

A study by the University of Texas showed that the Eagle Ford shale has provided a $61 billion impact to Texas and has supported over 116,000 new jobs. More importantly, the boom in American natural gas production has drastically changed our many counties' energy future.

The United States is now the number one natural gas-producing nation in the world. The USA has more than enough natural gas to meet its domestic needs while also exporting to foreign countries at a huge benefit to the United States' economy.

Unfortunately, the existing application process at the Department of Energy has made it burdensome for companies to export liquefied natural gas to non-FTA countries. This bill will address that problem.

Mr. Chairman, this is a truly bipartisan effort that will resolve a longstanding issue within our administration on expediting exports of natural gas. Our bill, H.R. 6, will cut the red tape and move quickly to approve all pending liquefied natural gas applications at the Department of Energy for

our WTO allies, and it will provide future applicants with a much more reasonable process.

I want to thank Representatives Cory Gardner and Tim Ryan for introducing this important legislation, and I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to vote ``yes.''

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, I want to thank Congressman Mike Thompson from California for joining me on this amendment.

Mr. Chairman, my amendment to H.R. 4800 is simple. It would increase funding for the specialty crop pests program at the Department of Agriculture by $2.5 million in order to provide more funding to strongly combat the invasive pests that threaten our agriculture industry.

From the Mediterranean fruit fly, which attacks fruits and nuts throughout California, to the imported fire ant that destroys corn and soybean and okra in Louisiana, the need for this program is higher than it has ever been.

Nowhere is this more important than in my own congressional district in south Texas, which is being ravaged by citrus greening. Citrus greening is one of the most destructive plant diseases in the world. Once a citrus tree is infected, it produces bitter, unusable fruit and kills the tree, itself, within a few years. There is no cure, and it has proven to be difficult to eradicate. As a result, over half of the trees in every citrus orchard in Florida have contracted this disease. Right now, both Cameron and Hidalgo Counties, in my district, are under a full emergency quarantine. This is a growing epidemic that threatens to eradicate an entire agricultural industry if we do not do everything we can to stop it.

While I am pleased that the recently passed farm bill included $125 million in funding over a 5-year period to study ways to wipe it out, that funding is focused on long-term solutions through competitive grants. The funding for the invasive pest control, which the amendment would increase, is specifically meant to help deal with the immediate impacts on the ground today, programs such as coordinated area-wide suppression programs, pest surveys, protecting disease-free nursery stock, and public outreach and education programs.

While I am happy that the committee provided a modest increase to this funding in the underlying bill, I believe this additional funding is greatly needed to increase our on-the-ground presence to stop the outbreak in Texas from its alarming spread, which threatens the entire State. For these reasons, I would urge the support of my amendment.

I reserve the balance of my time.

I thank the gentleman for accepting my amendment.

Mr. Chairman, in closing, in my area just a year ago, we went to see and meet with all of the producers, and they were showing us the comparison of where we are in Texas as compared to the damage that was done in Florida and in California. Within less than 6 months, we were put under quarantine in my area, and we are one of the three largest citrus growing regions in the whole country--in California, in Florida, and in deep south Texas--where we grow the Ruby Reds and the Navel oranges and all of that.

We are really needing it not over a 5-year period--we need to attack it now. We have the research going on with the Texas A&M University Research Center in Weslaco, and this money will help us to be able to stop the damage that has already been done.

I thank you for accepting my amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 10, the ``Success and Opportunity Through Quality Charter Schools Act.''

Mr. Speaker, I support this bill because it strengthens the Federal Charter School Program (CSP) and promotes quality, accountability and equity for public charter schools participating in the Federal Charter School Program.

H.R. 10 requires public charter schools to be of ``high quality'' in order to receive Charter School Program funds to open, replicate or expand. Under this bill, ``high quality'' charter schools must show evidence of strong academic results for all students.

H.R. 10 promotes quality in charter school authorizing. This bill requires state entities to have in place or be working toward a charter school authorizing system that utilizes a process for approval, monitoring, re-approval or revocation of authority of public charter school authorizers in the state, based on performance of the schools authorized by the agency.

Mr. Speaker, the underlying bill prioritizes equity of access and services for disadvantaged students, including english learners and students with disabilities.

H.R. 10, for example, allows grantees to utilize weighted lotteries, when permitted by state law, to preference admissions for educationally disadvantaged students.

Along the same lines, this legislation requires that state entities receiving a CSP grant provide technical assistance to any charter schools receiving funds to ensure they fully understand federal requirements for serving underserved student populations.

Finally, I am pleased that the underlying bill requires that state entities receiving a Charter School Program grant describe how they will ensure that all charter schools receiving CSP funds through its grant will meet the educational needs of students with disabilities and english language learners.

In my view, these improvements to the Federal Charter School Program enhance quality, accountability, and equity for charter schools participating in the federal CSP program and ensure that only states with strong oversight will receive CSP federal dollars.

In my congressional district, public charter schools like IDEA public schools are transforming lives. Under the extraordinary leadership of Tom Torkelson and JoAnn Gama, IDEA public schools are closing achievement gaps, increasing high school graduation rates, and preparing students for college and careers. At this time, I personally want to thank them for their outstanding work in the Riio Grande Valley of South Texas.

In closing, I commend Chairman Kline and ranking member Miller for their tremendous leadership on this bipartisan bill and urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support the passage of H.R. 10.