Judy Chu

Ms. CHU

Ms. CHU. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Monica Rodriguez from El Monte, California. Monica was a wife, mother of three children, and 5 months pregnant. Monica went twice to a hospital in El Monte with flu symptoms, including flu, fever, congestion, and cough. She was sent away with cough syrup. Days later, Monica was admitted into intensive care, but it was too late, and Monica passed away on October 25 due to complications from the H1N1 virus. Monica was a pregnant woman with flu-like symptoms that should have set off alarm bells. Despite multiple visits to the hospital, she was denied treatment that could have saved her life. The Centers for Disease Control issued guidelines for health care providers that said, ``Pregnant women are at higher risk for severe complications and death from influenza, including both 2009 H1N1 influenza and seasonal influenza.'' If the El Monte hospital had followed these guidelines, her tragic death could have been avoided. Her husband, Jorge Gonzalez, wants others to know about his wife's death so that they can receive proper care. In memory of Monica Rodriguez, I will introduce a resolution alerting people so no other person will needlessly die in this manner.

Ms. CHU

Ms. CHU. Yes. They wait until the last minute, such as the person I talked about, Patricia, who was age 64 and had insurance. But during this 10-year period between the time she retired at age 55 and age 65, where she would have qualified for Medicare, she had no alternative. She had kidney failure, but she waited until the last minute, and she was almost dying before she got care. This is a situation that people in California are faced with in California every day.

Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, the health care reform bill is crucial to Californians across the State, but it will especially benefit my constituents in the San Gabriel Valley and East L.A. who struggle every day to survive without proper health care. The percentage of California residents that lack health insurance is about 19 percent, one of the highest rates in the country. But fully one-third or 33 percent of the residents of my district are uninsured. This is a situation that is simply unacceptable for a State and the Nation that prides itself on being the most advanced and wealthiest in the world. But this bill will provide everybody stability, security, and peace of mind. It will provide peace of mind for the low income and uninsured. People like Patricia, who is age 64 and had insurance until she retired. Then she was left without insurance and she got very sick. Her kidneys failed, and she was too young for Medicare. It was not until she was in the intensive care unit and dying of renal failure that she was able to qualify for early Medicare benefits. This situation will not occur with health care reform. With health care reform, people like Patricia will be able to buy health care and there will be credits provided to her so that she can afford it. Health care reform will be good for people who don't have coverage right now, people like Scott, who had insurance all his life but changed jobs, became self-employed, and wanted to buy insurance but found, to his shock, that he was denied because of a preexisting condition. He had asthma as a child. Health care reform will help him because he will not be denied because of a preexisting condition. He will not have to worry about being dropped from insurance because of a serious illness. He will not have to worry about copays and deductibles that will cause him to go into bankruptcy. He will not have to worry about a lifetime cap on medical care in case of a very serious illness. In fact, with passage of health care reform, never again will American families face bankruptcy because of unexpected health care costs, as they will not have to pay more than $10,000 a year for out-of-pocket health care costs. And this bill will give peace of mind to small businesses. Small businesses and their workers are particularly impacted by the high cost of health care in this country. They account for the largest share of the uninsured. Small businesses pay higher rates today because they do not have the advantage of large numbers of employees over which to spread insurance risk. Even if a small employer currently has healthy workers, the small business faces the prospect of dramatically increased future premiums if any employee actually needs to use the coverage, such as one small company in my district, an insurance company with five workers. One worker had a baby that was premature, causing very, very expensive care. The next year, the insurance company drastically raised their rates, and now the business has to make a decision about whether to continue covering its employees. But this bill will allow small businesses to afford health care coverage and reduce health care costs through tax credits that are available to the smallest of employers. It is clear that the status quo is unacceptable. If we do nothing, health care costs will continue to rise, quality of care will deteriorate, and every American will risk losing their health care. The growing cost of health care is one of the biggest drains on our economy. If we are to bring our Nation back to fiscal health, we must have real, fundamental health care reform. This bill is good for my district, and it's good for California, where hospitals are overwhelmed with uninsured patients, where thousands are without jobs and without insurance and where the State doesn't have the financial resources to pick up the slack. Not in six decades have we been this close to achieving this most crucial task of reforming our health care system. Let me be clear, we would be derelict in our duty to the American people if we let this opportunity go to waste.

Ms. CHU. Absolutely. My town halls actually showed the opposite of what some might think. It showed people who were very sincerely concerned about their futures, who wanted to have that security and stability and peace of mind and who very much needed this alternative. But you raise a very good point. Not only will this do so much good for the people of America; it is also fiscally responsible. The Congressional Budget Office has actually said that this will actually reduce the budget deficit over the next 20 years.

Ms. CHU. Yes, I have heard many stories like that. In fact, I had a town hall for people who just spoke Spanish. I had a town hall for people who just spoke Chinese. I will never forget one woman who was speaking Spanish, talking about the fact that she was covered but that her son, age 21, was not covered and, in fact, when she tried to get coverage for him, he was denied because of a preexisting condition. So they were forced to go down to Tijuana every month to just buy medication out of pocket. But with this health care bill, insurance companies can cover children of parents up until the age of their 27th birthday. So young adults like that will be covered with this health care reform bill.

Ms. CHU

Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 841, my pager malfunctioned and did not go off. Thus, I was not notified that votes were starting and I missed my first vote. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Ms. CHU

Ms. CHU. Women of America, Republicans want you to believe that our health care reform bill is poison, that doing nothing is better for the Nation. But it is the status quo that is poison. Today, women are forced to settle for less health care at a higher price. We pay as much as 50 percent more than men, a practice of discrimination that is legal in 38 States. But this bill prohibits insurance companies from charging women more for the same coverage. Today, women are turned away from buying insurance due to so-called preexisting conditions such as domestic violence, pregnancy, and C-sections. But this bill makes it illegal to deny coverage due to any preexisting condition, including breast cancer. Today fewer than half of America's women can get health insurance through work because they stay at home, work at small businesses, or work part time. But through this bill, every woman can buy coverage through the exchange that will cover maternity and preventative care. This is why women in America need this health care reform bill and why I strongly support this legislation.

Ms. CHU

Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, many victims of domestic violence are afraid to tell their story. They are afraid to get help or don't know how. These men, women, and children need someone to stand up for them, to know where to turn. That is what Domestic Violence Awareness Month is all about. In fact, this October is the 20th anniversary of legislation to establish this event. Domestic violence is shockingly common. One in four American women and almost 10 percent of men will be sexually or physically assaulted by a spouse, intimate partner, or acquaintance at some point in their life. I strongly support full funding of domestic violence programs for fiscal year 2010. This money is sorely needed. According to a recent study, last year, on one day alone, 10,000 people were turned away from local domestic violence programs due to a lack of resources. I pledge to work on behalf of domestic violence victims here in Congress. I want survivors to know how much I respect and commend them for their bravery, and I want them to know there are services and support groups that can help.

Ms. CHU

Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 816. Last month's magnitude 8.0 earthquake in Samoa, Tonga, and American Samoa was devastating, setting off tsunamis that washed over islands killing 168 people. The quake generated three separate tsunami waves, the largest measuring 5.1 feet, completely destroying villages, leaving families whose entire lives had washed away with nothing. On the small islands, ocean waters washed away houses, cars, and main access roads, making it all the more difficult for rescue parties and aid to reach hard-hit areas. In the aftermath of the disaster, local aid agencies, foreign nations, the U.S. Coast Guard, and FEMA instituted a quick and much- needed response. With the lack of proper sanitation, water and shelter continuing to be a problem, I urge relief organizations to bolster their efforts to keep residents safe and healthy. I commend President Obama for declaring American Samoa a major disaster area. My heart goes out to the Samoan community, many of whom live in my area of Los Angeles County.

Ms. CHU

Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 800. Tropical Storm Ketsana ravaged the Philippines, dumping more than a month's worth of rain in just 12 hours. It was one of the worst storms in 40 years, causing landslides and submerging entire towns. Then, not even a week later, Typhoon Parma hit the already waterlogged nation, leaving as much as 36 inches of rain in some areas and causing landslides that imprisoned many residents. With 700 deaths and almost 4 million people who have lost their homes, it is imperative to make sure that the many homeless are provided with shelter. I commend all of the relief organizations and nations who sent aid to those affected by the disaster. My heart goes out to the Filipino community both abroad and here, many of whom live in my district and who are so worried about their friends and relatives.

Ms. CHU

Ms. CHU. Madam Speaker, America has made great strides in the last century to provide rights and protections to our most disadvantaged communities. Laws were made that limited the workday and made it illegal for companies to profit from child labor. Women were given the right to vote. The Civil Rights Act codified Martin Luther King's dream by ensuring that all people of color could obtain equal rights. But the fight is not over. People are still trying to deny Americans equal protection under the law for being who they are. Yesterday Republicans tried to block an important provision to protect gays, lesbians, transgenders, and bisexuals from being targeted, harassed, injured, or even killed due to acts of bias and hatred. The Matthew Shepherd Hate Crimes Prevention Act would give the LGBT community the same protections already provided to other groups that have been discriminated against in our Nation's history. Many are familiar with the hatred and bigotry perpetrated against people of different races and religions. Take the case of Kenny Chiu, a 17-year-old Asian American from Orange County, California, who was simply standing in the driveway of his own home when he was grabbed and brutally stabbed 26 times. In the last hour of his life, he was able to identify his killer. It was his 20-year-old next-door neighbor, who was a Neo-Nazi sympathizer and was looking for a minority to kill. But members of the LGBT community face the same harassment every day just for being who they are. Larry King was a gay eighth-grader from Ventura, California, who used to come to school dressed differently. He was the subject of great harassment. Other boys made fun of him, called him names, and threw wet paper towels at him in the boys' restroom. Then one morning behind the computer lab at his junior high school, a fellow classmate shot him twice in the head. In contrast to the case of Kenny Chiu, Larry King's murder is not covered by our Federal hate crimes law. This must change. When asked by my constituents why I support this bill, I describe my experience as Chair of the California State Assembly's Select Committee on Hate Crimes, where I held hearings on hate crimes across all the communities of the State. After hearing these horrific stories and listening to their heartbroken families, I know I cannot fight for the civil rights of one group without fighting for the civil rights of the other. Things will not change until people stand up and say we will not tolerate making anybody in America a second-class citizen. As long as intolerance exists, as long as there are people out there that turn a blind eye to hate and bigotry, then we as a human race are doomed to repeat the horrors of the past. In California what happened to Larry King is considered a hate crime. It is one of only five States in the Nation that include sexual orientation and gender identity in the definition of a hate crime. But in the Nation many are left without such protection because Federal law leaves many States without the resources or expertise to effectively investigate and prosecute bias-motivated violent crimes in the LGBT community. That is why tomorrow we must pass the Matthew Shepherd Hate Crimes Prevention Act so that every teenager who goes to school can be who they are knowing they are protected by the United States of America.

Ms. CHU

Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the remainder of my time.

Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on H. Res. 769 into the Record.

Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 769) recognizing the benefits of service-learning as a teaching strategy to effectively engage youth in the community and classroom, and expressing support for the goals of the National Learn and Serve Challenge.

Ms. CHU

Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 487) recognizing the 100th anniversary of the State News at Michigan State University.

Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on H. Res. 487 into the Record.

Ms. CHU. I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 487, which recognizes the 100th anniversary of the campus newspaper at Michigan State University, The State News. The State News started in 1909 with the creation of the college's first newspaper, the Holcad News, named after an ancient Greek ship. In 1925, the Holcad changed its name to The State News, educating students, faculty, and alumni about local and national news. Originally, The State News was created to defend Michigan State University students from the harsh criticism they were receiving from the local newspapers. Although it began with weekly editions, State News eventually progressed into a daily newspaper. With a circulation of 28,500 to approximately 280 locations on and off campus, The State News is now one of the Nation's largest student daily newspapers. Today, continuing a tradition of serving the Michigan State University community, The State News collects distinguished honors, including several designations as the best college newspaper in the country, and sends their student employees to top national news organizations, such as The New York Times, the Associated Press and The Washington Post. The accolades received by The State News are also a reflection of MSU's academic accomplishments. Michigan State University possesses a preeminent educational record. Today, MSU enrolls over 46,000 students and offers a wide range of courses. With over 100 undergraduate majors, 17 different colleges, and 29 online degree programs, MSU boasts a strong academic profile. In fact, MSU has produced more Rhodes Scholars than any other Big Ten school over the past 25 years. Both The State News and the MSU community have brought national acclaim to East Lansing, Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Mr. Rogers for bringing this resolution forward. I urge my colleagues to support this measure. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the remainder of my time.

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

Ms. CHU

Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 90) supporting the goals and ideals of National Campus Safety Awareness Month.

Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on House Resolution 90 into the Record.

Ms. CHU. I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 90, which recognizes the importance of safety on college campuses and promotes the idea of National Campus Safety. As a community college professor for 20 years and the author of a California bill, the Campus Sexual Assault Safety Act, I understand firsthand how vital campus safety is to enhancing the learning experiences of its students, but more importantly, how raising awareness can serve to prevent campus violence. We have witnessed this in several tragic cases, for instance, in the case of the death of Jeanne Clery in the late 1980s, who was a freshman at Lehigh University. On April 5, 1986, Jeanne was beaten, raped and murdered in her dormitory room. Jeanne's case brought college campus safety to the forefront when it exposed flaws in the reporting of crime information related to violence on colleges campuses. At that time, both violent and nonviolent incidents were reported to campus authorities, but administrators had no legal obligation to disclose violent college crimes to the public. In the aftermath of Jeanne's murder, her parents, Connie and Howard Clery, founded Security on Campus, Inc., to end violence on all college campuses. It is a nonprofit, grass-roots organization dedicated to making campuses safe. Partnering with over 150 colleges from 42 States, Security on Campus, Inc., offers educational programs on sexual assault, alcohol and drugs. Over the past few years, we have seen how important it is to pay attention to our students' safety on campus. It is unfortunate that it takes tragic events like those occurring at Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois for us to remember that crimes take place on college campuses all over the country. More recently, Annie Le, a Yale University graduate student was allegedly murdered and found dead on campus the day she planned to marry her college sweetheart. The reauthorization of the Higher Education Act last year took new action to improve campus safety. It required each educational institution to clearly articulate a method to disseminate emergency notifications to the entire campus body in the case of an emergency. The law also includes measures to ensure that campus preparedness employees coordinate with local law enforcement and emergency management authorities to improve responses to campus emergencies. Campus safety is relevant, important and necessary. Anyone can become a victim of a campus crime, and it is imperative that students are taught how to avoid dangerous situations. Congress must continue to encourage institutions to update their campus security plans and ensure systems are in place to deal with all types of emergencies. As we commemorate National Campus Safety Awareness Month in September, let us focus our efforts on educating our students about campus safety. Students need to be reminded every year about practical precautions to increase their safety. Mr. Speaker, once again, I express my support for National Campus Safety Awareness Month and thank Representative Sestak for bringing this resolution forward. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott) for 3 minutes.

Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the remainder of my time.

Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize the gentleman from Pennsylvania, the sponsor of this resolution, Mr. Sestak, for 4 minutes.