Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, ``Our Nation honors her sons and daughters who answered the call to defend a country they never knew and a people they never met.'' This is the quote you will find at our Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Madam Speaker, I rise today, on the 71st anniversary of the Korean war, to honor the more than 5.7 million Americans who served, including the 2.25 million Korean war veterans alive today, and to remember the more than 36,000 Americans and 1 million South Korean civilians and soldiers who gave their lives to protect freedom.

As an immigrant from South Korea whose family lived through the Korean war, and as a wife and sister of veterans, I know that I am here because of the sacrifices of our brave Korean war veterans.

This is personal to me. Words alone cannot express how grateful I am.

Freedom is not free, and each of you stands as a reminder of our Nation's commitment to freedom and to the safety and security of our allies in South Korea.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Otto Frederick Warmbier as we approach the fourth anniversary of his tragic death on June 19, 2017.

Otto was a kind and studious young man, raised in Ohio, was salutatorian of his high school and attended the University of Virginia. At the age of 22, he was imprisoned and tortured by the North Korean regime following a school tour in 2015 and died a few days after he was released.

Mr. Warmbier experienced what no American or human being should ever have to go through. The United States will not back down from holding the North Korean regime accountable for human rights abuses.

As one of the first Korean-American women to serve in Congress and a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, I will continue to do my part to advocate for global human rights and hold violators accountable.

We remember and honor Otto, always.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2093, the Veterans and Family Information Act. This is the legislation I introduced with my colleague, Representative Jeffries.

This bipartisan bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to make versions of all fact sheets available in the 10 most commonly spoken languages other than English in the United States, including Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog, and Korean.

My district is home to more than 27,000 veterans from diverse backgrounds who faithfully served in the United States military, including my own sister, brother-in-law, and my husband, too. With an increasingly diverse population of veterans across the country, and with United States veterans residing in the Philippines and in Puerto Rico, this bill ensures that our veterans and their caretakers whose first languages are not English are aware of and understand the VA's benefits.

I want to thank Representative Jeffries for working with me to improve language availability and accessibility at the VA. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support H.R. 2093.

Madam Speaker, I am proud to stand in support of H.R. 1157, the Department of State Authorization Act of 2021. I want to thank Chair Meeks and Ranking Member McCaul for their efforts to reform the State Department, including offering improved job and skills training opportunities for foreign service officers.

I am honored to have two amendments included in this bill, the first of which I introduced separately as H.R. 1244. Today many foreign service officers and State Department staff spend an outsized amount of their time complying with duplicative and outdated reporting requirements mandated by Congress.

H.R. 1244 repeals those requirements to streamline the flow of information from State Department to Congress and allow our foreign service officers to spend more time working toward accomplishing America's foreign affairs objectives.

I want to thank Mr. Connolly for also working with me on this initiative, and I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 1157.

Madam Speaker, as one of the first Korean- American women to serve in Congress, I am proud to rise today in solidarity with the Asian American Pacific Islander community and in strong support of the Senate-amended, bipartisan COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, S. 937. I also note the concerns raised by my colleague, Mr. Jordan.

As we celebrate AAPI Heritage Month throughout the month of May, it cannot be ignored that the hate and bias targeting the AAPI community are on the rise. Hate against any ethnic group is unacceptable. This is not who we are as Americans, and it is not reflective of the country that welcomed me and my family into its fabric.

That is why I am glad Congress is coming together in a bipartisan way to take steps against the hate targeting communities like the AAPI community. However, let's also recognize that we cannot legislate hate out of people's hearts and minds. We must treat each other with respect and see each other as Americans. I will continue to do my part, and I will always stand in solidarity with my AAPI community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Norwegian Constitution Day. On May 17, 1814, Norway's Constitution was officially signed, declaring Norway as an independent country.

Mr. Speaker, 207 years later, we remember this important history and join Norwegians around the globe in celebrating its independence.

I would like to extend our appreciation to the Norwegian-American community for all the tremendous contributions they make to make America great.

I would also like to recognize my amazing scheduler, Kristine Nichols. She is a proud Norwegian-American who recently obtained her U.S. citizenship. I want Kristine to know that I appreciate all that she does to keep my office running smoothly and, most importantly, to keep me sane every day.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Louisiana for hosting this Special Order tonight.

As we celebrate National Police Week, I would like to also add my voice to recognizing the brave men and women who put their lives on the line to keep our communities safe across California's 39th District and beyond. We also honor those who have paid the ultimate price in the line of duty.

I am proud to support our law enforcement and their important hard work that they do each and every day. From Captain Steven Tousey and Deputy Louis Denver with the Walnut Diamond Bar Sheriff's Station in Los Angeles County, who I rode along with, by the way, last week, to Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes and their hardworking team, I am always talking to our law enforcement across Los Angeles, Orange, and San Bernardino Counties about how I can help make sure that they have the support and resources needed to perform their demanding jobs and to learn how I, in Congress, can support our police officers.

I would also like to recognize the men and women of our Capitol Police here in Congress who put their lives on the line to protect not only the Members of Congress but our staffs and all the House staff behind the scenes who make this place run. We are so grateful for you and appreciate each and every one of you.

This National Police Week, I encourage all of us to take the time to thank a police officer in your area. It is because of our police officers that we can live our daily lives each and every day knowing that we are kept safe.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to be standing here and back the blue.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to offer some words of appreciation to someone in my 39th Congressional District in California who deserves special Congressional recognition.

For 30 years, La Habra Chief of Police Jerry Price has unselfishly served and protected our community in the La Habra Police Department.

Chief Price joined the La Habra Police Department in 1991 and quickly rose through the ranks across multiple bureaus, most recently serving as chief of police for the past 8 years.

Chief Price always set an example for other officers and the community, always having a positive attitude and serving with pride. He also has actively mentored and prepared others for success in law enforcement.

It is because of these admirable qualities that Chief Price has earned many awards and accolades, not only from the La Habra community, but also from other outside law enforcement agencies.

I thank Chief Jerry Price for his 30 years of service and the past 8 years as chief of police, and I offer my sincere congratulations on his retirement.

Madam Speaker, I thank Representative Luetkemeyer for his leadership in the House Small Business Committee. I would also like to extend my special thanks to Chairwoman Velazquez for putting forward these very important bills.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1490, the 504 Modernization and Small Manufacturer Enhancement Act of 2021.

I was proud to join my colleagues, Representatives Craig, Davids, and Chabot, to introduce this bipartisan bill to modernize the SBA's 504 loan program. The program was established with the mission to incentivize economic growth and job creation by providing small businesses with affordable long-term financing.

Our bill will provide the SBA with the tools to assist small businesses as they recover during COVID-19. H.R. 1490 would expand eligibility of 504 loans for small businesses that have focused on workforce development, revitalized areas hit hard by the pandemic or disaster areas, and implemented energy-efficient products, or have 10 or fewer employees. These additions will strengthen the 504 loan program for the long run and help small businesses in my community access much-needed capital.

The bill will also streamline the closing process of 504 loans. Specifically, H.R. 1490 allows Certified Development Companies to rectify documentation without the implicit approval of the SBA. These corrections will allow small businesses to make investments in their community or hire more workers without delay.

Lastly, the bill would support our small manufacturers to ensure that our community's manufacturing base remains strong and competitive during these difficult times.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support H.R. 1490.

Madam Speaker, I thank Ranking Member Luetkemeyer for yielding.

I rise in strong support of H.R. 1482, the 504 Credit Risk Management Improvement Act of 2021.

I am proud to have joined my colleagues, Representatives Angie Craig, Dan Bishop, and Sharice Davids, to introduce this important bipartisan bill.

The Small Business Administration's 504 loan program provides small businesses with affordable long-term financing to purchase major fixed assets, such as machinery and real estate. This bill would ensure that our taxpayers' hard-earned dollars are spent effectively by enhancing oversight responsibilities of the SBA Office of Credit Risk Management.

Our bill will provide the SBA with the tools to enforce penalties for any violation of rules and regulations. By providing the SBA with these tools, we look to strengthen the 504 loan program for many years to come.

Additionally, this bill provides consistent and clear guidance when requiring certain environmental certifications. This change will provide small businesses with certainty about requirements and uniform regulations across the country.

For any Federal program to be successful, Congress and the executive branch must work together to ensure that we have a regulatory framework that is efficient and able to prevent fraud and abuse of taxpayer dollars. I commend my colleagues from both sides of the aisle for their leadership on this important issue.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support H.R. 1482.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Pastor Bob Reeve. Robert ``Bob'' Reeve was born June 2, 1955 as the second of three boys to Charles Blair Reeve and Patricia Ann Reeve. Bob graduated from West Covina High School in 1973, where he was the starting varsity catcher for the baseball team and the starting varsity quarterback for the football team. He graduated from Azusa Pacific University with a Bachelor of Arts in 1977, and later a Master of Arts in Religion in 1982. He married the love of his life, Sherry Jo Smart on June 24, 1977. He was a proud father of three children, John, Joshua, and Shannon and an even prouder grandfather to eight grandchildren: Nevaeh, Asher, Cohen, Arabella, Amos, Dracien, A'aliyah, and A'aniyah.

Pastor Reeve devoted his life to service. He served as Youth Pastor at Bethel Dutch Reformed Church from 1977 to 1979. He served full time in Campus Life ministry with high schoolers in the San Fernando Valley from 1979 to 1981. From 1980 to 2004, he served under his brother Jim at Faith Community Church in West Covina, California, helping the church grow to over 12,000 in weekly attendance. In 2005, he started the Cause Community Church and was the Founding and Lead Pastor along with Sherry.

Pastor Reeve was an accomplished leader during his time at Cause Community Church. In 2006, he started Kidz on the Block Party, one of many significant Brea Community Events. From 2007 to 2009, he led the church through ``The Beacon Project,'' a $1.3 million capital campaign, where the church purchased and renovated its current home on Beacon Street. In 2009, he created the DNA Journal, encouraging people to read their Bible daily and journal reflectively. In addition to many other accomplishments, he was an active member of the Brea Ministerial Association for 16 years, led hundreds of people to the Holy Land in Israel, and started a Pastoral Practicum in 2020.

Bob also had a passion for coaching that began when he coached his brother John's 5th grade flag football team in 1967, as a 12-year-old. From 1987 to 1993 he was a baseball coach in the South Hills Little League for his sons, John and Joshua, and nephew Jeff. From 2003 to 2004, he was the Southlands High School Girls Softball Coach, coaching his daughter Shannon.

During his lifetime, Bob was a pastor and shepherd, spiritual leader and coach, marriage and family counselor, and preacher and teacher of God's Word to thousands who poured his heart and soul into his family. His honest, yet humorous approach to teaching will make you laugh and learn about yourself.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in recognizing the life of Pastor Bob Reeve, he will be greatly missed.

Madam Speaker, I thank Ranking Member Luetkemeyer for yielding. I thank Representative Luetkemeyer and Chairwoman Velazquez for their leadership on the Small Business Committee. I look forward to working with all of them to strengthen small businesses across the country.

I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1799, the Paycheck Protection Program Extension Act of 2021. I was proud to introduce this bipartisan bill with Representative Carolyn Bourdeaux, Ranking Member Luetkemeyer, and Chairwoman Velazquez to extend the PPP deadline for new applications from March 31 to May 31, and to provide the Small Business Administration an additional 30 days to process PPP applications.

Much of the importance of why this bipartisan legislation is needed was already spoken about, but I think it is important, so I am going to say a few words about the State of California that I represent.

Forty thousand small businesses have closed in California during the COVID-19 pandemic, and half of those closures are permanent. The Paycheck Protection Program has been a lifeline for small businesses to keep their doors open as we safely reopen our communities.

As the Biden administration announced five changes to PPP on February 22, the looming March 31 deadline does not give our small businesses the time to adjust to the new guidance listed by the SBA. This bill provides small businesses and lenders with the time needed to process PPP loans and adjust to the recent changes.

As a small business owner myself, I understand the challenges that small businesses face each day. Our bipartisan bill provides Main Street with the opportunity to overcome the pandemic and thrive.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1799 and put Main Street on a path to recovery.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Ms. Foxx for yielding.

I rise today in support of our Nation's workers and businesses. We must find ways to work together to help our economy recover from COVID- 19.

However, this bill is not the answer, and it is not even close. This bill will nationalize the disastrous California policies that have forced businesses out of my State, killed jobs, and hurt workers.

As we saw in California, businesses that can afford lobbyists eventually get carveouts, while small businesses are left holding the bag.

The last thing we should be doing during this time is passing legislation that will kill jobs and make our recovery even harder. From Uber and Lyft drivers to financial advisers to local artists, we should support workers' freedom, our gig economy, and create policies to promote innovation.

We should learn from the failings of AB-5 in California and vote ``no'' on the PRO Act.

Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on Rollcall No. 43.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to join my community in recognizing and celebrating the Lunar New Year.

2021 is the Year of the Ox, which represents strength, determination, and perseverance.

We have seen this spirit in the American people during the COVID-19 pandemic. And while we have faced unprecedented challenges, we have also shown that the American people are resilient. And I hope this year, this new year is filled with many blessings, joy, and renewal. I pray that this year brings success and happiness to all.

I hope to be a voice for our community to ensure that the American Dream that I was able to achieve is available for everyone and for our next generation. Together, I know we can make a better world.

I would like to extend a happy new year to everyone.

(English translation of the statement made in Korean, Mandarin, Cantonese, and Vietnamese is as follows:)

``Happy new year.''

Korean: ``saehae bok mani badeuseyo''

Mandarin: ``Xinnian kuaile''

Cantonese: ``Gong hei fat choy''

Vietnamese: ``Chuc Mung Nam Moi''