Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, college students everywhere are enjoying the last days of vacation before heading back to school. But for thousands of people, this break was spent trying to figure out how to stay in the only home they have ever known.

There have been multiple stories of young DREAMers being detained over this holiday break. These are stellar students who attend elite schools, like UC San Diego and UC Berkeley. They are now sitting in detention facilities, unable to go back to school and continue their education.

Is this the America that our forefathers fought for, one where bright students sit in detention facilities instead of classrooms, questioning if they can ever make the contribution to our United States of America that they dream of?

Mr. Speaker, I once again plead with you, with all due respect, to please bring the Dream Act to the floor. The American people overwhelmingly support it.

Mr. Speaker, in a year where we are dealing with healthcare, immigration, and, yes,

taxes, I am very pleased by the volume of mail that I have gotten from my constituents on all of those issues. But I have to tell you the one issue that my constituents have contacted me most on is net neutrality.

I hear from young people and college students, many who have been calling for the first time about wanting an internet that is free from the meddling of a few large internet providers.

As we know, the internet is perhaps one of the most important advances of our time. It is a tool that allows citizens to connect from all over the country and even the world and improves the quality of life.

From elementary to graduate level students, all would be affected if the title II regulations were changed. From the student finishing homework to military families keeping in touch, we need a free and open internet.

So why attack an institution that benefits millions for the gain of a few big cable companies?

Please join me in contacting the FCC to tell them net neutrality matters to our constituents and it certainly matters to all of us.

Mr. Speaker, are there students in our country who think college has become too affordable? parents who feel that saving for their children's education has become too easy? I know that my constituents would certainly answer with a resounding ``no.''

Why would anyone support a tax bill that would make college even more expensive for our students?

When will we start working together to put the interests of average Americans before the interests of large corporations?

According to the Ways and Means summary, the Republican tax bill would increase the cost to students attending college by $65 billion-- that is billion with a B--over the next decade.

This administration promised to put money back in the pockets of Americans who need it the most, and this misguided tax bill does the exact opposite.

Mr. Speaker, education is the cornerstone of our global competitiveness, and this Republican bill would only make college less affordable and less accessible. I urge my colleagues to reject this assault on the middle class.

Mr. Speaker, I have received hundreds of letters from constituents who are deeply worried about the proposed tax plan.

One San Diegan told me that, without the State and local tax deduction, his family of seven faces a loss of over $40,000 in deductions.

Another constituent told me that his family would lose $20,000 in take-home pay under this tax plan.

Why on Earth would we do this to middle class families? Why would we cap the mortgage deductions middle class home buyers depend on to lower taxes for huge corporations?

This plan is simply reckless and hurtful to the American people and our economic growth.

Let's take a look at real tax reform for real people, not a plan that helps those who need it the least.

Mr. Speaker, today, we are considering a National Defense Authorization Act measure that would transfer thousands of military weapons to a civilian nonprofit, the Civilian Marksmanship Program. These guns will then make their way into the public for purchase.

The Army has recommended against this proposal. One of their concerns, not a surprise, is public safety. For us to go against the recommendations of our own military on this matter is, frankly, absurd. Every single day, our country--our country--experiences horrific gun violence, and the last thing we should be doing is going against the advice of our military and putting more guns onto American streets.

Those who are in support of the measure claim that transferring these weapons to the Civilian Marksmanship Program will save the government the cost of storing these guns, but the amount of money to be saved to store some weapons is really negligible, and that small cost is nothing compared to the potential cost to human life by unleashing these handguns for the public to purchase.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to employ common sense here. Listen to the advice of our Army and support the motion to instruct.

Mr. Speaker, last week, the Trump administration rolled back contraceptive care for hundreds of thousands of women. They called it a victory for religious liberty. But let's be real. This is just one part of the White House's fight to strip women of their independence and healthcare.

First, they came for title X, scaling back the essential family planning centers that served low-income women. They attacked Planned Parenthood, pledging to block access for the millions of women who depend on it. They expanded the global gag rule, a policy that will limit the preventative healthcare options for women across the world.

Then, they turned their destructive sights on title IX, scaling back crucial guidances that protect sexual assault victims on our college campuses.

Now, they have opened the door for bosses to deny contraceptive coverage for their female employees.

Let's not pretend this is a victory for religious freedom. This is about taking away women's choices.

Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 558.

Mr. Speaker, the resilience of Nevadans, brave and caring, is in sharp contrast to the murdering of innocent victims we just witnessed.

Our hearts go out to the families of the victims throughout our country who were only interested in a peaceful and joyful evening.

One of those was Jennifer Irvine, a young San Diego lawyer who was killed in the attack. Let's also recognize the heroes, like Tyler Winston, a San Diegan who saved dozens of victims at the concert by driving a makeshift ambulance and taking people to the hospital. Every single life lost to gun violence should elicit sorrow and action.

Mr. Speaker, then why is it so hard for us to talk about this? Why can't we come together in a bipartisan, bicameral way? Where is the concern?

We have had too many moments of silence in this Chamber for mass shootings.

Why are we not moved when people are dying in our districts daily?

The American people send condolences and they deserve action.

Mr. Speaker, I received a heartfelt letter from a constituent expressing her frustration with the dire crisis in Puerto Rico. She described the panic of not being able to reach her family on the island. She said: ``It is becoming an island of chaos and sadness. I am helpless here in Chula Vista. I cannot contact my family. We need Congress to send more relief. We Puerto Ricans are American citizens, whether people remember it or not.''

As we speak, Puerto Rico remains without power, communication lines are down, and a major dam could burst. We are proud of how Americans came together for Texas and Florida. Let's not abandon Puerto Rico. We must act now. We are seeing a major humanitarian crisis unfold on U.S. soil.

Mr. Speaker, is there any reason why U.S. citizens are being ignored in these times of desperate need?

We must help Puerto Rico now.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the DACA program.

Since the announcement of the end of this important program, I have heard from countless DREAMers who, in a word, are terrified. These are young people who are brought to our country as children and are now living, studying, and working in our communities.

One constituent's story, in particular, has stayed with me. This young woman was brought to our country at the age of 5. America is the only home she has ever known.

She was raised in San Diego, educated in San Diego, and now works in San Diego helping other immigrants transition more seamlessly into our society.

The administration's decision to end DACA is a broken promise to her, the 40,000 DREAMers in San Diego, and the 800,000 DREAMers across the country.

But even in the face of this betrayal, she called on us to ``act with love and lead with inclusion.''

With this call to action in mind, I hope my colleagues commit to protecting the DACA program and DREAMers.

Mr. Speaker, I have a few questions for my colleagues across the aisle--what can we do with 1.6 billion dollars?

How many highways and roads could we fix?

How many Americans could we train for good paying jobs, for that amount of money?

And didn't the President promise that Americans wouldn't have to pay for a wall?

Now in one big bill that's out of regular order we are being asked to waste 1.6 billion dollars on a wall that would be ineffective and offensive to our neighbors?

In my district, we know that our border is our strength, not our weakness.

San Diego and Tijuana are two regions, but we are one community.

We have worked for years to create an efficient border that allows thousands of people to safely cross into our country every day; spending money in our stores, paying taxes that support our infrastructure, and bringing economic stability to our region.

We cannot allow fear and uncertainty to isolate us from the rest of the world, and building a wall along our expansive southern border would do just that.

Mr. Speaker, as representatives of the people, our job is to protect working families. So let's be clear, we should be protecting

consumers, including members of our military who sacrifice so much for us.

When a predatory lender forces arbitration, it puts consumers into a system where their grievances don't get the fair treatment of a court. Instead, a law firm handpicked by the corporation will decide the outcome, putting the consumer at an extreme disadvantage from the start.

The CFPB issued a long, overdue role to prohibit this unfair practice that benefits wealthy special interests at the expense of the American people.

So why would we take a step back?

Even worse, these predatory lenders often prey on our military, so we should be protecting our military to have transparent and just legal options. Forced arbitration is just the opposite.

Mr. Speaker, we need a process that works for consumers. This resolution will only bring us back to a broken system.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in striking down this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the all-girls robotics team from Afghanistan for taking home the silver medal at this weekend's FIRST Global Challenge.

I speak on behalf of my colleagues who travel on our annual bipartisan trip to Afghanistan when I say that these girls are the embodiment of our

hopes and dreams for the future of their country. We have learned on our trips that nothing is more important for global security than the development of human capital, and what better example could there be than these remarkable girls.

I want to echo the sentiments of Afghanistan's First Lady and say to the girls, ``Saar Bolan demoom kar deen,'' literally, ``You make us hold our heads up high.'' We are proud of you.

Mr. Speaker, it is important to remember that, when these girls were born, women were not allowed to get an education in Afghanistan. Now, because of the bravery of these girls and the tireless efforts of their teachers, the rest of the world can now see how remarkable Afghan women truly are.

Congratulations on your remarkable achievement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize someone who has made a lasting impact in my Congressional District and the community.

Two years ago, Mark Zambon joined my office as part of the Wounded Warrior Fellowship program through the House of Representatives. He will be leaving my San Diego office in July of 2017.

While he was my primary liaison with our veterans community, Mark also served as a community representative to neighborhoods and managed a number of issues critical to my district. Mark always has a ``can do'' attitude. lf you needed something yesterday, you got it yesterday.

Mark marvelously represented Mission Hills, El Cajon, Mission Valley, University Heights, and Uptown.

His passion and work with the Veterans and Active Duty communities in San Diego has not gone unnoticed by my constituents. In the closing days of his service to the 53rd, communities have been honoring and thanking him for his work.

Mark hails from Marquette, Michigan. After graduating from Marquette Senior High School, he enlisted in the Marine Corps. Mark deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan with six combat tours and two Purple Hearts. Serving as an explosive ordnance disposal technician in Afghanistan, he lost both legs from an explosion during a mission in Sangin, a town in Afghanistan's Helmand province.

Despite this, it's not uncommon to find Mark scaling up a rock face or racing cars. In fact, Mount Kilimanjaro was a recent conquest.

When he is not going the extra mile to help veterans in the 53rd Congressional District, Mark is probably traveling, tracking down a quality craft brewery, or hanging with his cat Frankly.

Mr. Speaker, I cannot say enough about how Mark has taken on the role of providing support for his fellow warriors injured in the line of duty and honoring those who have given their lives in defense of our country.

I am proud to recognize Mark and thank him for all of his outstanding contributions to our

local communities, our constituents, and our country.

Mr. Speaker, many people think of human trafficking as a problem that is happening abroad, but what they don't realize is that hundreds of thousands of victims are being trafficked within our own borders.

It is hard to imagine such an injustice occurring in your own neighborhood. When I learned that my city of San Diego is considered a high-intensity region for child trafficking, I knew I needed to take action.

In San Diego, we have an incredible community antitrafficking task force. They told me that a gap in the fight against trafficking is in our schools. This is why I wrote the Empowering Educators to Prevent Trafficking Act. I am proud to see it included in the Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Protection Act that is before us today.

My bill will fund programs to train teachers across the country to recognize and respond to signs of trafficking so that they can identify victims and get them the help they need. Teachers, in turn, can teach their students how to protect themselves from becoming victims.

With this training, our Nation's schools can be an important line of defense against this terrible injustice.