Judy Chu

Ms. CHU

Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1272) commemorating the 40th anniversary of the May 4, 1970, Kent State University shootings.

Ms. CHU

Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1157) congratulating the National Urban League on its 100th year of service to the United States, as amended.

Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material on House Resolution 1157 into the Record.

Ms. CHU. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor and privilege that I rise in support of House Resolution 1157 in commemoration and recognition of the National Urban League's 110th anniversary and their pursuit of civil rights and economic empowerment for all people. Founded in 1910 and headquartered in New York City, the National Urban League is a preeminent voice for the civil rights of African Americans and for improving the quality of life in our urban communities. Through their programs, the League provides direct services to more than 2 million people nationwide through more than 100 local affiliates in 36 States and the District of Columbia. With its 100th anniversary, the League commemorates a rich history of service and advocacy. In what started as a grassroots movement for equality, Mrs. Ruth Standish Baldwin and Dr. George Edmund Haynes provided crucial support to African Americans moving to urban centers in the early 1900s. The League worked tirelessly to reduce the discrimination and pervasive inequality in our Nation's cities. The League grew in size and influence with our Nation's civil rights movement in the 1960s. They expanded their advocacy operations and established social service initiatives in housing, health, education, and minority business development. This national organization exemplifies the ideals of service and outreach and has been a tremendous force in enhancing opportunities for education, economic empowerment, health, and quality of life, civic engagement, and civil rights and social justice. I would like to extend my congratulations and appreciation to the National Urban League for their 100 years of exceptional dedication and service, and I wish this organization continued success in the great work that they do for years to come. I would also like to thank and congratulate the countless volunteers and staff of the National Urban League for their commitment to furthering the organization's mission of equality, and I join with them in celebrating the League's historic milestone. I thank Representative Hastings for introducing this resolution, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time. I urge passage of House Resolution 1157, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings) for 5 minutes.

Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Al Green) for 3 minutes.

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 move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1312) recognizing the roles and contributions of America's teachers to building and enhancing our Nation's civic, cultural, and economic well-being, as amended.

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

Ms. CHU. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Linda T. Sanchez).

Ms. CHU. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. CHU. As a teacher who was in the classroom for 20 years myself, I deeply appreciate this resolution. And it is a very timely one, especially as we go into reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. CHU. Madam Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on House Resolution 1312 into the Record.

Ms. CHU. Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I might consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the important role teachers play in the education of our Nation. This week, May 3 through 7, we celebrate National Teacher Appreciation Week. The National PTA created this week in 1984 to show gratitude to the approximately 3.2 million teachers in the United States, and to thank them for contributing to the civic, cultural, and economic well-being of our Nation. This National Teacher Appreciation Week is a chance for us to recognize the selflessness and dedication that teachers show to our children every day. We know that having teachers is integral to the educational outcomes of our Nation's youth. Research tells us that teacher quality accounts for the majority of variance in student achievement. Highly qualified teachers serve as excellent role models and instill a love for knowledge and lifelong learning in our students. They also shape tomorrow's leaders and prepare America's diverse student population with the skills it needs to compete in the 21st century workforce. Teaching is a skilled practice. Teachers reflect on their lessons and modify instruction to reach the broad range of needs of their students in their classrooms. Quality teachers hone their skills and are experts not only in their subject matter, but also at connecting with young people and making learning come alive. Teaching is a dynamic profession, and educators must continuously engage in quality professional development in order to sharpen their techniques and increase their own knowledge. Unfortunately, research has shown us the negative effects of teacher shortages. With the economic downturn, we have seen too many States turn to teacher layoffs to address budget deficits. Additionally, over the next 4 years more than a third of the Nation's 3.2 million teachers may retire. It is imperative that schools and communities continue to support our teachers if we are to educate our children to not only compete, but to lead and innovate in the 21st century economy. I would like to extend my congratulations to the 2010 National Teacher of the Year, Ms. Sarah Brown Wessling, an English teacher at Johnston High School in Johnston, Iowa. Ms. Wessling teaches 10th through 12th graders at Johnston High, and is recognized for her innovative, learner-centered teaching methods, and her passion for quality instruction. We recognize Ms. Wessling's hard work and the example she sets for our Nation's teachers. Madam Speaker, once again I express my support for National Teacher Appreciation Week. I encourage everyone to take a moment and to reflect on a motivational teacher that helped you realize your potential and reach your dreams. I want to thank Representative Graves for bringing this resolution to the floor, and I urge my colleagues to pass this resolution. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. CHU

Ms. CHU. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 1149, a resolution in support of the goals and ideals of National Charter School Week from May 2 through May 8, 2010, and to recognize the growing charter school movement in our Nation. Since their inception in 1991, charter schools have offered a competitive education to many of our Nation's public school students and have helped drive school reforms across the country. Charter schools across the United States support diverse and innovative instruction and learning models. With autonomy and flexibility, charter schools can make timely decisions about how to structure the school day, which curricula best suits the needs of their students, and which types of staff will enrich the school communities. Additionally, quality charter schools form important partnerships with parents and with their surrounding communities. This week, charter schools across the country will celebrate the 11th annual National Charter School Week. It is a great time to highlight the role these schools serve in driving education innovation and reform. Today, there are almost 5,000 public charter schools, which are operating in 39 States and in the District of Columbia. They serve more than 1.5 million students, with many more students on waiting lists. To address this demand, many States and districts are welcoming charters to their neighborhoods. With the start of the school year, over 400 new public charter schools opened their doors to nearly 170,000 new students. The growing charter school movement is also providing opportunities for many historically underserved communities. Nationally, charter schools serve a high percentage of minority and low-income students. In fact, 58 percent of charter school students are minorities, and 35 percent qualify for free and reduced priced lunches. Quality charter schools are often able to achieve impressive academic results. Madam Speaker, once again, I express my support for National Charter School Week, and I recognize the charter school movement and its 18- year history of promoting a high-quality public educational option--an option that is innovative, flexible, and responsive to community needs. I thank Representative Bishop for introducing this resolution, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. CHU. Madam Speaker, I urge passage of House Resolution 1149, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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. Today I stand here to say our immigration system is broken and fixing it is critically important to the long term security and prosperity of our Nation. Of course, I have a much different opinion on how to fix it than some on the other side of the aisle. Where they see an attack on American culture and way of life, I see a chance to strengthen our Nation with a new generation of productive and active citizens. Where they see fear and paranoia, I see an opportunity to do the right thing, the humane thing, and bring 12 million immigrants out of the shadows and into society. What they don't see is the ongoing family separations, the exploitation of workers by unscrupulous workers, and the true human cost of our broken immigration system. I get calls every day in my district from families who have sacrificed and worked hard to put food on the table and send their children to school. Take the case of Maria, an American citizen, who came into our district office last month with her two children, ages 2 and 4, crying torrents of tears. They were trying to do the right thing. Her husband was undocumented. She had gone to Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, with her husband for an appointment with an immigration official where she was petitioning for her husband to receive legal status. The immigration officer denied it saying there was insufficient hardship. It is now more than a year since her husband was left stranded in Ciudad Juarez. Even married to an American citizen, he is barred from reentering the country for up to 10 years because of a law passed by Congress in the 1990s making it tougher for undocumented immigrants to acquire legal status through marriage. In the meantime, Maria has lost her house, was forced to do a short sale because she could not keep up with the mortgage payments without her husband's income. Her children wake up in the middle of the night crying for their daddy. To me that sounds like sufficient hardship. These family separations are cruel and counterproductive to both legal immigrants and citizens. It is families that have historically helped immigrants assimilate into American life and helped prevent health and social problems. Family networks give individuals the support and resources they need to become successful, productive members of our society. And if Congress doesn't act to fix our immigration system, States will do their own thing and we will be stuck with an unfair and impractical patchwork system. Just last week, the State of Arizona passed the broadest and strictest immigration measure in generations in any State. The law makes a failure to carry immigration documents a crime, and gives the police broad power to detain anyone suspected of being in the country illegally. Now I don't walk around with my birth certificate or passport, which is expensive and out of financial reach of many. And neither does Abdon, a commercial truck driver living in Arizona. Last week on the heels of the Governor signing this new law, he was shackled by the police and detained by the Phoenix Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office. Abdon was born a citizen of the United States. He has a job. He pays taxes. He speaks English. His wife Jackie is a natural-born citizen of the United States. She too has a job and she also speaks English. She pays taxes. But he was pulled over and arrested. Why? Not because he was speeding, that's for sure. When the officer demanded his papers, Abdon could only produce his driver's license and Social Security number. Not good enough. At a routine commercial weigh station on a regular workday, Abdon made the mistake of not carrying his birth certificate with him. That's right, his birth certificate. Now why did the police really pull him over? It is apparently now the law of the State of Arizona you can arrest people, citizen or not, simply for appearing Hispanic. This is a sadly familiar story, but one that was thought to be safely in the past. In the years following the Civil War, States began to implement a series of discriminatory laws designed to control former slaves and free blacks. Under the vagrancy laws, police could stop anyone anywhere and require you to show proof of employment on demand. If you didn't, you could be arrested and your labor sold to the highest bidder. But what if you forgot to carry your employment records with you when you left the house that morning, what if you, like so many regular citizens, were unaware of the anti-vagrancy laws? What if you were simply unemployed? Well, it might be your last mistake as a free citizen of the United States. Sound familiar? Well, it does to Abdon, and it is for Abdon and the thousands of other Arizonians that we need immigration reform this year. We cannot solve our immigration woes by simply creating new problems. Instead, we must pass a comprehensive bill that actually fixes our immigration system that penalizes employers who would hire undocumented workers and exploit their status for their own gain. We need a bill that protects the family and repairs a bureaucratic system that forces citizens and immigrants to live apart from their loved ones. We need a bill that secures our borders and provides a clear path to citizenship and employment for otherwise law-abiding immigrants, undocumented or not. America would not be the great Nation it is without the passion, ingenuity and perseverance of the millions of immigrants who have come to our shores looking for a better life for themselves and their families.

Ms. CHU

Ms. CHU. Sixty-two years ago on Monday, the State of Israel was born, and on that day many did not believe Israel could withstand the impending struggle and remain a beacon of hope and democracy for the world. Despite decades of terror and threats to its existence, the nation still stands today, proud and defiant to those who would wish her harm. Sixty-two years ago, just minutes after David Ben-Gurion announced the establishment of a home for the Jewish people, the United States was the first Nation to recognize its independence. Our unwavering support for the security and prosperity of Israel continues to this day because of the core ideals our two countries share, ideals of perseverance, democracy, and innovation. I am proud to stand here today to congratulate the State and people of Israel on the anniversary of their independence, and to pledge that we will continue to work together to achieve global security, peace, and prosperity.

Ms. CHU

Ms. CHU. Imagine going to work every day for decades and giving your blood, sweat and tears to a company and then finding out your male colleagues were getting higher raises and making more money for years. That's what happened to Lilly Ledbetter, and she is one of the lucky ones because she was able to prove that she was paid less because she was a woman. The effect of lesser pay is immense. For a single woman, it can mean the loss of up to $2 million over a career, not to mention lower pension and Social Security payments for the rest of her life. Today, more women are graduating from college than men, yet full-time working women with the same major and same degree earn only 80 percent compared to their male colleagues. That is unacceptable. At this rate, my three young nieces will be receiving Social Security before they get the equal pay they deserve. But I refuse to wait that long. That is why the Senate must pass the Paycheck Fairness Act which stiffens penalties for employers who discriminate based on gender. I stand today to urge the Senate to support the women of America. There must be equal pay for equal work.

Ms. CHU

Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, Republicans want Americans to believe that they are the party of tax cuts. Sure, they are--tax cuts for the rich. In these tough times, their brand of tax relief wouldn't help Sue and John, working parents who are raising three kids and who are trying to make ends meet. Yet this Congress knows that America's future can't be based on huge tax cuts for the wealthy. We have to give real tax relief to real working Americans, and that is just what we've done. We've done it for 95 percent of working families, saving them up to $800 a year. We've done it by making it easier for young families to buy their first homes, saving up to $8,000, and we've done it by making it easier for parents to save up to $2,500 to pay for college. This Congress has passed 25 different tax cuts, saving American families over $800 billion, and more relief is on the way. The overheated rhetoric of the minority is not based on reality. By any measure, taxes are lower today than they were under their leadership.

Ms. CHU

Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1198) congratulating Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania for 140 years of excellence in higher education, as amended.