Judy Chu

Ms. CHU

Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5278) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 405 West Second Street in Dixon, Illinois, as the ``President Ronald W. Reagan Post Office Building''.

Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I now yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, it is my great privilege as a member of the California delegation to rise in support of H.R. 5278. This measure designates the United States postal building located at 405 West Second Street in Dixon, Illinois, as the ``President Ronald W. Reagan Post Office Building.'' President Reagan hardly needs an introduction on this floor. Many of those who knew President Reagan referred to him as ``the Great Communicator.'' Thus, it is very fitting that we commemorate his legacy through the naming of this post office. The son of a shoe salesman, Ronald Reagan was born in Illinois in 1911. He was a construction worker, a lifeguard, radio announcer, and actor. After serving in the Air Force, he returned to acting before successfully running for California Governor, despite never having held public office before. President Reagan successfully obtained legislation to stimulate economic growth, curb inflation, and increase employment. His contributions on behalf of freedom around the world are unparalleled since the end of World War II. There is no more Cold War. There is no more Berlin Wall, and it was because of the leadership of President Ronald Reagan. He was instrumental in bringing the breath of freedom to millions of people around the world who had spent decades under the yoke of tyranny. President Reagan left a lasting imprint on American politics, diplomacy, culture, and economics. As a California resident, I am honored to support H.R. 5278. It was introduced by our colleague, the gentleman from Illinois, Representative Bill Foster, on May 12, 2010. The measure was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, which ordered it reported by unanimous consent on May 6, 2010. The measure has the support of the entire Illinois delegation. I thank the gentleman from Illinois for introducing this measure, and I would also like to thank Chairman Towns and Ranking Member Issa for their support for the bill. I urge my colleagues to support this measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. CHU. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the author of this resolution, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Foster).

Ms. CHU

Ms. CHU. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1121) congratulating Clinton County and the county seat of Wilmington, Ohio, on the occasion of their bicentennial anniversaries.

Ms. CHU. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

Ms. CHU

Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1330) recognizing June 8, 2010, as World Ocean Day, as amended.

Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I'm happy to rise in support of House Resolution 1330. This measure recognizes June 8, 2010, as World Ocean Day. World Ocean Day offers the opportunity to celebrate the wonders of the underwater world and look carefully at our interactions with the sea. The timing of this measure is critical. Today we find ourselves in the midst of the worst ocean oil disaster in our Nation's history. With our addiction to oil jeopardizing the vibrant and economically vital marine life of America's seas, we are being reminded daily of the often-forgotten value of these resources and our responsibility to protect them. The world's oceans cover more than 70 percent of our planet's surface, and the rich web of life that they support is the result of hundreds of millions of years of evolution. Great human civilizations, from the Egyptians to the Polynesians, relied on the sea for commerce and transport. And now, in the 21st century, our fate is as tied to the oceans as ever. We still rely on fish for a significant portion of our daily protein needs. And more than $500 billion of the world's economy is tied to ocean-based industries, such as coastal tourism and shipping. But all is not well in the sea. Increased pressures from overfishing, habitat destruction, pollution, and introduction of invasive alien species have combined in recent decades to threaten the diversity of life in our oceans. The first observance of World Ocean Day will allow us to highlight the many ways in which oceans contribute to society. It is also an opportunity to recognize the considerable challenges we face in maintaining the capacity to regulate global climate, supply essential ecosystem services, and provide sustainable livelihoods and safe recreation. As the oil continues to spill into the gulf, it is time to recognize a World Ocean Day and take the first critical steps to saving this vital resource. House Resolution 1330 was introduced by our colleague, the gentleman from California, Representative Sam Farr, on May 5, 2010. The measure was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, which ordered it reported favorably by unanimous consent on May 20, 2010. The measure has the support of over 50 Members of the House. I thank the gentleman from California for introducing this measure, and I'd also like to thank Chairman Towns and Ranking Member Issa for their support for the bill. I urge my colleagues to support this measure. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I again urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this measure, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer).

Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Kucinich).

Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Garamendi).

Ms. CHU

Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I stand here today in support of this rule and the underlying bill for one reason, and that is jobs, jobs, jobs. That's what this bill is about. It's about creating jobs across the country from Massachusetts to Florida to my home State of California. This bill extends an important program I call Jobs NOW. While it may be little known, it's funded through TANF emergency funds, and it has a huge impact on the unemployed in 39 States, creating over 160,000 jobs, which will disappear in an instant if we don't pass this bill. In L.A. County, it's paying 10,000 jobless workers $10 an hour and placing them in temporary jobs for up to a year. In exchange, the businesses provide training, build job skills, and get extra workers at little or no cost. It's truly a win-win. For small companies hard-hit by the economic downturn, the chance for extra workers to grow and expand their businesses is a welcome boost, even if it means providing training and workspace for the temps, and it's great for workers too. Anoush and Karen lost their jobs when the recession hit. Forced to go on welfare, they struggled to provide for their 2-year-old daughter. But Jobs NOW hired them to work at Abex Display systems, which manufactures trade show displays. The company used them to help handle a slow but growing recovery in sales, allowing it to move forward and stabilize after taking massive cuts in business. After the temporary jobs ended, both Karen and Anoush were hired permanently. This family and this business are making a comeback because of Jobs NOW. Let's pass this rule and H.R. 4213 to help working families and our Nation do the same.

Ms. CHU

Ms. CHU. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a great loss to our community, Mrs. May To, who passed way on May 8, 2010, at the young age of 60. My heart goes out to her husband, Alex To; her sons, Jonathan and Brian To; and the rest of her family, friends and loved ones. Mrs. To was an extraordinary citizen, an activist for immigrant children, youth and families in the San Gabriel Valley for more than a quarter century. Her volunteerism and service spanned several organizations including the Chinatown Service Center, Alhambra School District and the International Institute of Los Angeles. Born in Canton, China in 1950, May grew up in Hong Kong, where she completed her bachelor's degree in sociology from the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 1975. She came to the United States on an exchange scholarship to study at UCLA in 1977 and received her master's degree in education in two years. She spent the late 1970s and early 80s helping her fellow immigrants to make the most of the opportunities provided by her adopted country, teaching ESL courses to fifth-graders and serving as assistant director of The Chinatown Service Center, where she oversaw refugee employment, social service and youth programs among others. In 1984, May worked with the Asian Task Force of the United Way to create the Asian Youth Center, which was meant to fill a gap in critical services for immigrant children, youth and families in the San Gabriel Valley. In 1984, she became the Center's Executive Director. Since then and under her leadership, Asian Youth Center has grown from a three-person project to a large, community-based organization with a budget of over $1.7 million and a 57-person staff, serving more than 8,500 Asian and non-Asian children, youth and families. May's tireless efforts have helped shape the Asian American, Latino American, and other immigrant communities residing in the San Gabriel Valley. Her commitment to improving access to health services, social services, and youth development opportunities for immigrants have improved the lives of countless children, youth and families over the last 20 years. I urge my House colleagues to join me in honoring Mrs. May To for her stellar record of personal, professional and civic leadership, her indomitable spirit and her remarkable service and contributions to her community and to our nation.

Ms. CHU

Ms. CHU. I rise today to urge the quick passage of H.R. 4213, the American Jobs, Closing Tax Loopholes and Preventing Outsourcing Act. This bill is such a comprehensive approach to improving our economy by providing important tax breaks and to spur innovation and create jobs. But one reason I'm extremely enthusiastic about it is that it extends and expands an extremely successful employment program that is called Jobs NOW, which has created over 156,000 jobs, and in my district alone, 400 jobs. In Palmdale, California, Jobs NOW helped Jody, a single mother of two, find a job at a local coffeehouse working as a barista. The regular paycheck puts food on the table and is helping her get through a rough patch. Her boss is extremely impressed with her work and plans to permanently hire her and three other subsidized employees that they brought on. It's this kind of success story that makes Jobs NOW such a good model for job creation. Without it, the coffeehouse would not have been able to grow its business or take on new employees. Jody would not have had a chance to learn these new skills and support her family. Now I came across this innovative program because it's in my district, Los Angeles County. One of the Los Angeles County supervisors, Don Knabe, created a program which provided over 11,000 jobs, all in 1 year, using stimulus funds to create these subsidized jobs. How does it work? Eligible participants are placed into subsidized jobs in all sectors of the economy, from small business to nonprofits to the government sector, and they're matched with jobs that complement their employment goals. The employer must provide supervision equal to 20 percent of the cost of this job and they must ensure that the job will not displace an existing employee or someone who is to be promoted. What this means is that the county then is paying for 80 percent or more of the payroll costs through Recovery Act funds. Some examples of these jobs are park rangers, receptionists, teachers' assistants, dental assistant trainees, customer service clerks, and child care workers. Workers get paid $10 per hour for up to 40 hours per week. Jobs NOW allow small businesses to succeed and the employee to succeed. I've spoken to countless people in my district about this program and I keep on hearing about how this program is truly a win-win for businesses and workers. This program works because they do both benefit. Workers benefit beyond the paycheck by getting hands-on experience in a setting where they can earn wages and make sure that they put food on the table. They are also developing their skills. Small businesses benefit by getting the help they need to grow or expand while temporarily reducing payroll costs. Companies may ultimately desire to hire these subsidized workers permanently as the economy improves. The jobs generated by the program can help businesses expand in these difficult times by reducing their economic risk and the need for expensive loans. In April of this year, over 7,000 people were enrolled in the program in Los Angeles County, and 1,100 employers were improving their productivity and putting someone to work with this extra help. These are companies like Punch Television Network in Carson, California. Punch TV is a fledgling channel that is trying to build a new nationwide television network, and they needed quality employees to truly expand. They hired six subsidized employees using Jobs NOW and they recently moved into a new large production center to handle all their new work. They even want to hire these new, highly motivated workers permanently. So now, not only do these employees have hands-on experience, they are going to have a permanent job. But this great program isn't just putting people to work in my area. It's employing people all across the Nation in 29 States across the Nation. They are using Jobs NOW to keep their residents working, paying taxes, and purchasing groceries that's fueling local economies. In Tennessee, the State focused on rural Perry County, which was hard hit by a plant closure. The unemployment rate had risen to 27.3 percent. Tennessee brought local workforce development and human service agencies and the business community together and developed a subsidized employment program for over 500 individuals. The effort cut local unemployment down to 18.6 percent. Because of successes like this, more States want to join. And if we pass H.R. 4213, Jobs NOW can expand and help thousands more people. But we can't delay. Already, States are stopping their subsidized jobs programs because the funding will expire at the end of September. Companies aren't as interested in taking on new employees and training them, just to lose them again in 4 months. In my district, Los Angeles County will stop placing participants in new jobs in June, and soon many more counties and States will do the same. Yet, the full amount of funding has yet to be claimed by the States. The Recovery Act authorized $5 billion for Jobs NOW's employment program, but less than $1.5 billion has been accessed by the States, and the program really actually can still expand across the country. That's why H.R. 4213 is so crucial. It not only extends Jobs NOW for another year, it lets the unspent funds for this year pay for next year's salaries for workers hired in 2010. If we don't act now, 60,000 Americans across the Nation will lose their jobs when this program ends and endless more will not have the opportunity to get the jobs that they need. This bill will keep Americans employed and will create thousands of necessary jobs. I yield back.

Ms. CHU

Ms. CHU. Thank you, Chairman Honda, for convening this Special Order hour on APA Heritage Month. I stand proud this evening with Chairman Honda to commemorate the month of May as Asian Pacific Heritage Month. As the first Chinese American Congresswoman, it has been an honor and a privilege to be a representative and work on behalf of Asian Americans, and all Americans, on such critical issues affecting our Nation, like economic recovery, immigration, and, of course, the passage of health care reform. Though Asian Americans have been here in this country for 160 years, it was not until 1992 when the designation of May as Asian Pacific American Heritage Month was signed into law. It was because of Asian American leaders like Secretary Mineta, then a Congressman, and Senators Daniel Inouye and Spark Matsunaga who introduced the legislation. They designated this month of May, the very month when Japanese immigrants first set foot on U.S. soil and when Chinese immigrants worked tirelessly to complete the first transcontinental railroad, to celebrate the contributions of APIs to this country. For far too long, Asian Americans have not been at the table where important decisions were being made. This is despite the fact that we were here for 160 years, and yet we were nearly invisible in State and Federal Government. But in recent years, we have broken the glass ceiling and have ushered in an era of change. Asian Americans are at a historic high in leadership positions in so many different arenas: in politics, in law firms, and in the judicial arena. In my home State of California, not only do we have three Asian Americans who are statewide-elected constitutional officers, such as State Controller John Chung, we have 11 Asian Americans in the California State Legislature. And, on the Federal level, it is astounding that out of President Obama's 19 Cabinet members, three are Asian Americans: General Eric Shinseki, Steven Chu, and Gary Locke. And recently, four Federal judges were appointed: Dolly Gee, Jacqueline Nguyen, Denny Chin, and most recently, Goodwin Liu, the first Asian American to the U.S. Court of Appeals. It is the greatest number of Asian Pacific Islanders in State and Federal office in history. And we've all stood on the shoulders of Asian American leaders like Former Secretary Norman Yoshio Mineta, who was a leader and a role model ahead of his time. It was because of Secretary Mineta that the invaluable contributions of Asian Americans were memorialized and recognized this month. It was Secretary Mineta who spearheaded the long and hard push to get final passage because of the Japanese American reparations bill, because his entire family, along with 120,000 other Japanese Americans, were interned for 2 years during World War II. And it was Secretary Mineta who cofounded and once cochaired the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus so that today our caucus, which has grown in number and blossomed, has a unified voice and advocates for issues that are unique to the Asian American community. That is why Chairman Mike Honda and I feel so strongly about introducing legislation to honor the legacy of Norman Mineta, who made history and still is an inspiration to many. We hope that our House colleagues will join us in honoring this veteran, public servant, and great American. Secretary Mineta, we pay homage to you for all of your service to Asian Americans and all Americans. You are a pioneer, a visionary, and a leader who embodies the true meaning of service. Of course, we still have much work to do. We must continue to advocate for greater diversity at all levels where important decisions are being made. And, in fact, here in the very Halls of Congress we have seen what diverse and fruitful coalitions are capable of accomplishing when we work together to advance our issues. When the congressional Asian, Hispanic, and Black caucuses unite as one, we are a strong voice and no longer an invisible minority, but a majority that can advocate effectively for Asian, Latino, and African Americans and, for that matter, all Americans. As a united coalition, we can make a difference on problems that impact us today. For instance, we can reform our broken immigration system, which has kept families apart for far too long. Today, 12 million people live in the shadows with no hope or path to legalization. Today, young people who are valedictorians and student body presidents are prevented from completing a college education. And today, States like Arizona can pass laws that are discriminatory, anti-immigrant, and, frankly, un- American, when all immigrants want to do is to be productive, contributing citizens and provide for their family and loved ones. We know immigrants are indispensable to our Nation's economy. In California alone, businesses owned by Latinos and Asians make up more than one quarter of all businesses and contributed $183 billion to the State. And that's according to the 2000 census figures, which we know is much undercounted by now, certainly. We can foster the economic strength and level the playing field for Asian Americans and minority-owned businesses. Today, API and minority businesses still face great obstacles in getting lending and access to capital. When minority-owned firms do receive financing, it is for less money and at a higher interest rate than nonminority-owned firms, regardless of the size of the firm. Despite the fact that Asian Pacific Islanders are 5 percent of the U.S. population, they only account for 1.9 percent of total Federal contracting dollars, which was worth $535 billion last year. API and other minority businesses face discrimination by prime contractors and contracting officers in the Federal Government, leaving these businesses very little opportunity to compete for contracts. And this must change. And, we can make sure that we are counted in the census so that the particular needs of the API and other minority populations can be addressed. Today, we still do not have the proper and disaggregated data to sufficiently address the specific needs of the API and other minority communities. Segments of our API community continue to suffer from a ``model minority'' myth, and those in our population with the greatest needs continue to go underserved. And today, we continue to have problems with language accessibility and cultural sensitivity in the current census, even though the language capability is out there to assist in a very, very accurate census. These things, of course, have to change. I truly believe that when the leadership of this country begins to look like the people who live in it, our country will finally reflect the issues and concerns of all its people and we will see the change that we desire. As I reflect upon the journey and struggles of Asian Americans in this country, I am reminded of the day when I was sworn in. As I stood on the floor of Congress and raised my right hand, I thought about the fact that my grandfather came to this country with nothing. In fact, he faced the hostile laws of the time, the Chinese Exclusion Act, which prohibited him from becoming a naturalized citizen, and the California laws that prevented Asian Americans from owning land and from being hired in any corporation. But he decided to make something of his life anyway and worked day and night and night and day to make ends meet. And now, two generations later, his granddaughter can be a Member of Congress. That is what America is all about, the land of hopes, dreams, and opportunity. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Ms. CHU

Ms. CHU. I have an amendment at the desk.

Ms. CHU. Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. CHU. Madam Chair, I yield the balance of my time to the distinguished chairperson of the committee, Mr. Gordon of Tennessee.

Ms. CHU. Today, a woman sits in a classroom at East Los Angeles College, taking notes diligently as her professor explains the different types of inorganic chemical reactions. Sylvia is the first in her family to attend college. She can barely afford the low tuition rate, even though she works full time to help pay for books and put food on the table. She is the embodiment of the American Dream-- studying, persevering, working, all with the hope of transferring to a 4-year college to earn her bachelor's degree in chemistry. But the road ahead is tough. She struggles to find rigorous courses that meet the demands of the 4-year institutions. She doesn't have access to a chemistry lab and her community college cannot provide the research opportunities available to her fellow students at larger universities. But she represents our path to economic recovery. Her success is imperative to ensuring a skilled and diverse workforce for our Nation's future. That's why I have introduced to the America COMPETES Act an amendment to include the community college and to help STEM students, particularly women and underrepresented minorities, transition from a 2-year to a 4-year institution. It will ensure that all students, regardless of ethnicity or socioeconomic status, are afforded every opportunity to enter STEM fields. Without my amendment, we risk leaving Sylvia behind. We risk leaving her without the skills to earn a high- paying job that will provide her with the means to support her family and the skills to power our economic growth. Forty-four percent of all STEM bachelor's degree holders attend community college at some point in their careers. Many of these students represent the neediest in our society. They are the ones who sacrifice so much just to better themselves and improve their chance of success. Nationally, community college students are older, more likely to receive financial aid, are more likely to be the first in their family to attend college, and are more likely to work while earning their degree. These students are the embodiment of the American Dream, and they must not be forgotten. As a former professor at East Los Angeles College, I'm all too familiar with the hurdles these students face in working toward any bachelor's degree, much less those in the natural sciences or engineering. We need these students to succeed. By 2050, racial and ethnic minorities will make up over half of the college-age population. If we don't help them enter the most technologically competitive fields, we face a future in which America is no longer at the forefront of innovation. I urge support of my amendment and the overall bill so that Sylvia and so many other students like her have the skills they need to be competitive and to ensure America will stay competitive tomorrow. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. CHU

Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, earlier this week I introduced a bill to ensure that scarce Federal resources provided for the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program are spent to provide nutritious meals to our children. Every day more than 30 million students receive meals through these programs. In this recession, more and more families are relying on schools to feed their children at least one healthy meal every school day. At the same time, these programs are facing increased costs. Unfortunately, some school districts overcharge for the administrative costs associated with implementing these important nutrition programs. This means less money to feed children. That's why I introduced the National School Lunch Protection Act of 2010, to ensure that Federal money for school meals actually goes towards feeding our needy children. Specifically, this bill requires a Federal study to see what school districts are charging the Federal Government to implement these programs. Armed with this information, the Secretary will implement regulations to protect these important nutrition programs. Once passed, this bill will prevent government waste and will help to feed more hungry children.

Ms. CHU

Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Sutton) for 2 minutes.

Ms. CHU

Ms. CHU. Madam Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on House Resolution 1149 into the Record.

Ms. CHU. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1149) supporting the goals and ideals of National Charter School Week, to be held May 2 through May 8, 2010.

Ms. CHU

Ms. CHU. Madam Speaker, I urge passage of House Resolution 1312, and I yield back the balance of my time.