Tony Cárdenas

Mr. CARDENAS

Mr. CARDENAS. Mr. Chair, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 379.

Mr. CARDENAS

Mr. CARDENAS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the Women's Health Protection Act and lend my voice to the chorus of calls across the country for urgent action on abortion rights. When I first heard the news of the Dobbs decision, I felt as if I were thrown into another country--a country without our Constitution. How is it that such a fundamental right to our autonomy over one's body, over one's life, and over one's future can be stripped away so callously? We are talking about far-right Justices telling women that they cannot get the care that they need and telling doctors that they cannot treat their patients to the best of their ability. Yes, these five Justices with no medical expertise stole the fundamental freedom of controlling the health of one's own body and opened the floodgates to criminalize doctors for doing their job. Make no mistake, Madam Speaker: this is a stain on our healthcare system and a flat-out assault on health equity, and it is a self- inflicted wound. This resolution will leave women--especially women of color and low- income women, including White women--in the lurch. So in the absence of any respect or compassion for reproductive health in this country, we, as a body, must show our leadership. It is incumbent upon us elected officials to ensure that the basic right is restored and finally written into law. The Women's Health Protection Act will do that. It would restore 50 years of precedent and right a deeply invasive wrong. History has its eyes on us. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.''

Mr. CARDENAS

Mr. CARDENAS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in celebration of the 10th anniversary of DACA, the program that has protected nearly 1 million inspiring young people and given them the opportunity to contribute to our great economy. Dreamers are our family, friends, and neighbors. They are teachers, doctors and nurses, small business owners, servicemembers, and so much more. They work hard and contribute to our great economy. They make America a better place for everyone. Yet, they face unspeakable hardships and witness the ugliness of anti-immigrant sentiments in our great country. But their resilience has shined through all of that. Let me be clear. Today is an incredible milestone, but another 10 years without permanent protections and a pathway to citizenship is simply unjust. That is why I will continue to fight to give every single Dreamer that continues to live in our country permanency, because in America, we believe that when given that shot at the American Dream, anything is possible.

Mr. CARDENAS

Mr. CARDENAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life of Miguel Gonzalez, a charismatic and innovative entrepreneur from the San Fernando Valley who was recently taken from us in a fatal car accident. Miguel was one of the founders and owners of Vallarta Supermarkets, a chain of family-owned grocery stores committed to offering the best- quality products from Mexico and Latin America. Originally from Jalostotitlan, Jalisco, Mexico, he immigrated to the San Fernando Valley with his family and graduated from Van Nuys High School. As a young man, Miguel had an eye for buildings and design. He pursued his passion in architecture after receiving an associate's degree in arts. This led him to begin a career at Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, as a quality assurance technician who worked on parts for the Space Shuttle program. In 1985, his brother, Enrique, Sr., started the family business when he opened Carniceria Vallarta in a 1,000-square-foot market in Van Nuys, California. Enrique, Sr. soon expanded the business to a second location and got his four brothers to join, including Miguel. They focused on selling traditional cuts of popular Mexican meats. The brothers would put in 18-hour days, 7 days a week to make sure the business succeeded. Miguel brought his passion for design and helped develop the significant architecture and interior design of the Vallarta stores. He created the trademark Vallarta aesthetic with the focus of modern and nostalgic references to his hometown in Jalisco. Anyone in our community can recognize the iconic design when they are driving around the neighborhood. When they go in they forget they are in California, and they are taken directly back to Mexico. That is what Miguel did, he made a simple shopping experience feel like home. He was always pushing the envelope to make sure every store completed its mission to serve our community with respect and pride, while providing authentic, traditional, fresh products that bring families together over a meal. One of his last projects was Sayulita Tap Room established in October of 2020 in Indio, California. This project epitomized his vision of spending quality time with loved ones, excellent food and drinks, and live music. When he pitched this idea to his family, they all had doubts and concerns. They asked, ``A bar at a grocery store?'' Miguel said, ``If Whole Foods can do it, so can I.'' This project represented Miguel's vision and entrepreneurial spirit to make his dreams a reality. Miguel wasn't just a shining example of the American Dream, he inspired countless others to ``work hard and play harder,'' which was his motto. He left a legacy of 52 stores throughout southern and central California, all which provide jobs to more than 8,000 hardworking people. Miguel had a deep passion and love for the employees and families of Vallarta Supermarkets. He was heavily involved in the Gonzalez Family Foundation, which offers scholarships to its employees and their children. The foundation has given thousands of dollars to help their families pursue higher education. On top of that, he was a supporter and donor to the St. Jude Children's Center. For this and so much more, I know that his legacy will continue to inspire Latinos and countless others in our community and across the country. I know that his designs will be seen and appreciated by more and more people every day. Miguel leaves behind his high school sweetheart and wife, Maria Teresa; his two sons, Christian and Luis Angel; his granddaughter, Aria Soleil; his mother, Eva; his father, Felix; his brothers; sisters; cousins; aunts; uncles; and many of us who are his dear friends. Many of Miguel's family made the trip to Washington, D.C., to watch him be honored in this body. I have had the honor of knowing Miguel and his family, admiring his wonderful work and his work ethic. Miguel came to the United States not speaking English. Miguel's first language was Spanish. So with that, I honor him and all those who come to this country and give so much to the United States of America. (English translation of the statement made in Spanish is as follows:) To Miguel's family, thank you very much for giving so much of Miguel to the community. I would also like to thank Miguel for being such a good man, husband, father, son, friend. It is very important for everyone to know that, in the United States of America, we are all equal. Miguel achieved many of his dreams and the dreams of thousands and thousands of families, not only those who work at Vallarta but also the people and community they serve. A la familia de Miguel, muchisimas gracias por dar tanto de el a la comunidad. Tambien quero gradecer a Miguel por ser tan buen hombre, esposo, padre, hijo, amigo. Es muy importante que todos sepan que, en los Estados Unidos todo somos iguales. Miguel en el creo muchos suenos, y vivio eso suenos y tambien miles y miles de suenos a familias no de mas los que trabajaban en Vallarta pero tambien las personas que ellos serven. So today I honor the life of my dear friend Miguel Gonzalez.

Mr. CARDENAS

Mr. CARDENAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3525 to commission a study for the creation of a National Museum of Asian Pacific American History and Culture Act. Asian Americans have been contributing to the fabric of our United States of America from its earliest days, helping to build, shape, and defend our great country. This long-overdue museum will serve as a gateway for everyone to see, feel, and understand the countless true stories of Asian Americans, stories of perseverance, dedication, and beating the odds to achieve their dreams. Those from trailblazers like Larry Itliong, a Filipino- American labor leader who organized with Latino civil rights leaders like Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta. My father worked in the fields, and I remember when I was a little boy, he told me once, ``When I worked in the fields, I wanted to work harder than everyone else. The people who always worked as hard as me and challenged me were my Filipino colleagues working in the fields.'' I quoted him in English, although my father spoke to me in Spanish. Or people like Constance Wu, Awkwafina, and Ali Wong, whose contributions to the arts have positively impacted millions of Americans. These stories and so many more deserve to be told and understood. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to support this bill. I can't wait to see the day this museum is on The Mall with the National Museum of the American Latino, the American Women's History Museum, the National Museum of African American History and Culture, and the National Museum of the American Indian. I would also like to take a point of privilege to say thank you to Grace Meng, who at one time was the only Asian-American legislator in the legislature in New York. Not the first one, but she was there by herself, and she was a caucus of one, and she is now in the United States Congress, serving our community proudly and representing her community proudly as well.

Mr. CARDENAS

Mr. CARDENAS. Mr. Speaker, the Affordable Insulin Now Act is a just act. This personal affliction of diabetes affects millions of families every day. The price of insulin is too much for hardworking American families, and the Affordable Insulin Now Act is something that is going to bring life to individuals and opportunity for families. My father died from diabetes 10 days before our son Cristian was born. I hoped and prayed that he would live long enough so I could present him to his grandfather, but that didn't happen. That is what this affliction does. It robs time. It robs the life out of people, and that doesn't need to happen. For $35 a month--no, not hundreds of dollars--this act will help relieve families. I thank Representatives Craig, Kildee, and McBath for introducing this bill.

Mr. CARDENAS

Mr. CARDENAS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of labor and civil rights leader, Cesar E. Chavez. Born in Yuma, Arizona, Cesar worked with his family in the fields of America's southwest. After serving in the United States Navy, Cesar began organizing for the human dignity and respect of all farmworkers, farmworkers like my father and grandfather, who did backbreaking working in the fields of California. Cesar's powerful message of hope and opportunity motivated a generation to stand up and demand the respect and dignity their work deserves. He taught us the importance of nonviolent activism to fight for fair wages and fair treatment that helped put the American Dream within reach for hardworking immigrant families, but his legacy extends beyond agriculture. He spent his life making sure our Nation lived up to its core values of freedom, justice, and equality for all. His timeless vision of hope for a better world continues to inspire us every single day. Today, on what would have been his 95th birthday, let us reflect on Cesar's life's work and carry forward the legacy he set forth. ``Si, se puede.'' ``Yes, we can.''

Mr. CARDENAS

Mr. CARDENAS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor John Arthur, Sr., a beloved San Fernando Valley leader whom we lost earlier this year. Pops, as many of his students called him, was known by Men's Journal Magazine as the toughest man in America. Born in Starkville, Mississippi, Pops attended Clark Atlanta University with an athletic scholarship. He met the love of his life, Jeraldine, and they had a beautiful daughter, Jonvette. He worked as an underground bare-knuckle fighter with a black belt in various martial arts. He also worked as an undercover FBI agent and had various public safety roles. After the passing of his wife, Pops moved to southern California with his beautiful daughter. There, he worked as a trainer with fitness personality Billy Blanks and trained various world champion fighters such as James Toney. However, after a vibrant career training some of the world's most recognizable names, Pops found his true calling when he began coaching at-risk youth for free. He impacted countless families in our community by training their little children about life--not about fighting, but about life. Pops dedicated his life to helping others and creating champions. A legend himself, Pops was truly a force of good in our community and in our world. For many reasons, I honor the life of the toughest man in America, John ``Pops'' Arthur. United States Remains a Beacon of Hope

Mr. CARDENAS. Madam Speaker, I am thankful for the opportunity to speak before the House, and it is an honor to be a Member of this prestigious body. With that, I would like to take the opportunity to explain and exclaim how our hearts in America go out to the people of Ukraine as they fear for their lives and they flee this tragedy that is caused by Russia and Vladimir Putin. It is unfortunate that there are many people around the world right now as we speak who have, unfortunately, had to flee their country, flee their homes, in fear of people like Vladimir Putin and others who create atrocities on them, their communities, and their country. I want to just remind everybody that the United States of America continues to be the beacon of hope, light, and life for everyone who needs to seek asylum. There are opportunities for us and many, many great countries around the world to embrace these people who are fleeing these unspeakable horrors. It is very important for us to understand that we are great when our arms are open. We are great when we receive those who are less fortunate. We are great, and our greatness comes from so many of us who come from families who fled their country, who left atrocities so that they can have a new life for them, but more importantly, for the next generation, the next, and the next. Once again, the United States of America shall always remain the place where people can seek refuge when they are fleeing atrocities like we are witnessing in Ukraine and other parts of the world.

Mr. CARDENAS

Mr. CARDENAS. Mr. Speaker, thanks to President Biden's Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that I and many of us voted for, we are now putting those resources on the ground across America. The first billions of dollars to go to California and every State in the Union are now being put in place to fix bridges. Next, we are going to fix our roads and build our infrastructure to electrify our system throughout the country. These are the kinds of things that our voters sent us to Washington to do, to bring those resources back to every single community, every single one of our communities, and that is what we are doing here in Congress with a President who actually believes in the fundamentals of infrastructure and making sure that we put our American workers back to work to build our Nation as it should be and what we are so proud of. We are the number one infrastructure place in the world, and we will continue to be so with these investments.

Mr. CARDENAS

Mr. CARDENAS. Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman for this opportunity for us to pass these amazing bills. Madam Speaker, I want to take note: The seven bills that we are discussing on the floor over the last hour and a half, which we will soon vote with the entire body of this House, all of those bills passed out of the Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously. That means every Republican and Democrat voted ``yes.'' There were no ``no'' votes. I feel it is important for us to mention that because when you look at the press, they think that all we are doing here is arguing, fussing, and fighting with each other, but we do work together. To all of my Republican colleagues on the committee and Democratic colleagues on the committee, thank you so much for doing our job. Madam Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan bill with Congressman Bilirakis, the Oral Health Literacy and Awareness Act of 2021. Oral health is whole body health. It is often neglected by parents who, unfortunately, lack resources and knowledge. Oral health accounts for some of the deepest health disparities in all low-income families across America. For many, the cost of dental neglect can be detrimental, especially for children. Arthritis, autoimmune disease, cardiovascular disease, inflammatory skin disorders, gut issues, and more can all be caused or worsened by untreated tooth decay and oral disease. According to the CDC, children who have poor oral health often miss more school and receive lower grades than children who don't. Even more alarming, Latino kids, like those in my district, experience two times more tooth decay and cavities than their White peers. We can and must do better for our children and our country. Most of these issues can be prevented with access to the right information and resources. Our legislation will help low-income families and communities of color learn about the benefits of regular dental care and empower them to make better decisions on their overall oral health. Madam Speaker, this is a picture of a child's mouth. Too many children across America are going through this pain, through this detrimental situation, because their parents don't understand that they can do better for their children with better practices and information. That is what this bill is about. Once parents have access to information on the importance of healthy habits, they can prevent this kind of result. These tips help families and children maintain long-term oral hygiene at home. Through simple education and awareness campaigns, we will ensure families are better equipped to take control of their family's health. We can't cut corners here, Madam Speaker. Let's start ensuring oral health is part of the conversation in every home every day as often as possible. It is the only way we will make sure that children across America do not suffer like this child has suffered. I also want to say, once again, thank you to Chairman Pallone, House subcommittee Chairwoman Anna Eshoo, and all of my colleagues, Republican and Democrat, on the committee for passing this bill.

Mr. CARDENAS

Mr. CARDENAS. Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Bowman for reserving the time on the floor of the House of Representatives so that we can speak the truth about what too many families and too many people--mostly poor people--have to endure, not only in America but around the world. I was born and raised in the northeast San Fernando Valley, and I am very, very proud to say, in the Senate I have a colleague who grew up in Pacoima just like I did. His parents were immigrants of Mexico, and so were mine. We went to the same elementary school and the same high school, but yet at the same time we ended up being on the city council together for some years, he as a council president and I as a new member. He said to me: Tony, what committee do you want to chair? I said: I want to chair the committee that oversees the airport, the ports and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. At that time the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power was the largest water and power district in America. Why did I want to be on those committees? Because those three entities are spewing more into our atmosphere than any other organizations in Los Angeles. It gave me the opportunity to live my values, to be able to grow up in a poor community, yes, in the hood, in the northeast San Fernando Valley, on that side of town where there are more dumpsites in that part of L.A. County--a county of 10 million people--but they have concentrated more dumpsites in my backyard than any other place in that county. For Alex Padilla, our families, and me, we had to endure that for generations. But here Alex is, a city council member, the president of the council, choosing to put me as the chairman of that committee. And while I was on that committee, I forced the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power to finally clean up their act. Believe it or not, the progressive Los Angeles Department of Water and Power belongs to the city of Los Angeles, the people of Los Angeles. We were fooled into believing that we are a progressive community and that we would not be spewing out dirty fossil fuels to create the electricity that we depend on every day. But we did, Madam Speaker. Approximately 60 percent of all of the energy that was being produced for our city and for our community was coming from fossil fuels. Under the presidency of President Alex Padilla,--who is now our United States Senator from California--he gave me the mantle of being the chairman of that committee, we forced the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power to cut their emissions in half, to literally divest themselves of dirty coal plants, and to finally clean up our act. I am very, very proud to say that as the first council member to represent that community to be born and raised in Pacoima, I was the first council member to tell a company that owned a private dumpsite when they wanted to expand it again and again and again, I was the first council member to say: No, you are not. We denied them their expansion. That was the first time it had ever happened. Again, Madam Speaker, for far too long we were being represented by people who didn't realize or understand what it is like to grow up in a community where environmental injustice prevails and proliferates. We suffer from asthma rates that other communities don't suffer. Our children do. Our families do. We suffer from groundwater that is more contaminated than any other place in America. We finally brought the grants from Washington, from city hall, and from Sacramento, our State capital, to clean up our act and to clean up our groundwater. Those are the kinds of things that we are doing in Congress. Those are the kinds of things that the Green New Deal has brought to light where before only certain people experienced it and only certain people cared. Now, today, we are talking about something that I am very proud of. I am very proud to be one of the original cosponsors of the Green New Deal in this Congress, but equally proud, with my colleague Congressman Bowman, to be an original cosponsor of the Green New Deal for Public Schools Act. These are the kinds of investments that we need to make as Congress. Equally important, we need to make sure that we continue to remind every single person that we are in this together. As go our communities, as goes our country, and as goes the environment, so does the planet. Even though some billionaires are flying up into the sky and getting into outer space, this is our planet, Madam Speaker. We cannot escape it. Why try to escape it? Why not just look in the mirror and see what we all can do about it? That is the responsible thing to do. That is something that we can and should be proud of. So I stand here today to encourage every single one of us to help clean up our act and to, once again, thank my colleague, Congressman Bowman, for inviting me and the rest of us to speak the truth on this floor today about how important it is that we have a Green New Deal for all.

Mr. CARDENAS

Mr. CARDENAS. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Frank Pallone for this opportunity to bring the culmination of over 2 years of working on both sides of the aisle to bring this bill to fruition. It is unfortunate that we weren't able to negotiate more into this bill and make it bipartisan, but there will be other opportunities, as we are a two-Chamber legislature, and I am sure that the Senate has some ideas about how to make this bill better, and we are all open to that opportunity. Mr. Speaker, I would also like to thank Subcommittee Chairwoman Schakowsky for doing an extraordinary job, making sure that we shepherd this bill through the process and making sure that we keep open lines of communication on both sides of the aisle so that we can get to this point. It is important for us to understand that this bill is about the Federal Trade Commission's ability to protect consumers from fraudsters and scammers. This means that right now scammers remain free to steal money from hardworking Americans, seniors who are falling prey every minute of the day to scams on the Internet, to veterans who people knock on their door and appeal to them and rip them off and give them nothing for their hard-earned money after defending our honor in the military, to single moms who sign up to get a higher education so they can provide for their children, and then end up empty-handed, with nothing to show for their hard-earned money. Those are the people that 13(b), through the FTC, is going to go after and restore those funds. For example, since 2016, they have restored over $11 billion to American families from fraudsters and scammers. Yes, it is happening every single day. And it is only getting worse. And today the United States people stand naked with the ability to be able to defend themselves. The average American family cannot afford to hire a lawyer. What the FTC does is they appeal to a Federal court and they say we have found a bad actor. We are ready to take them to task. We are ready to restore the American families that they are trying to destroy and get them their money back. That is what 13(b) is. We have a balance of power in this country. The FTC is part of the administration. That is one balance of power. The United States Supreme Court said through a technicality, well, 13(b) should not be made available right now for the FTC to protect the American people. And they pointed to Congress and said, well, as long as Congress will pass the law then they can do their job and protect the American people. That is what this bill is. This bill is simply an opportunity to restore the faith of the American people in our system that when they get ripped off, whether it is in person, or on the internet or in whatever manner that some scammer is taking advantage of our American people, the FTC is going to be there to speak up for them, to defend them, and take that money back and put it in the pockets of those individuals who have been ripped off. That is what 13(b) is. Today, I am very proud, as an American-born citizen, the son of immigrants, to be a Member of Congress, to be able to do the work that we are doing today to get this bill out of the House of Representatives. I urge every Member of this House to please help restore the faith of the American people in us and our system and make sure that they understand that we speak for them, we hear them, and we know how they feel when they get ripped off. And the FTC is going to be there through 13(b) to restore the American people and give them the money that was stolen from them.

Mr. CARDENAS

Mr. CARDENAS. Mr. Speaker, today is a very emotional day for me. I am so proud to be a Member of the House of Representatives, equally proud to be an American-born citizen, and equally proud to be raised by my two immigrant parents, who always believed that in this country, the United States of America, you can be the best that you can be, and you can do the kinds of things that in many parts of the world a child of parents with a first- and second-grade education doesn't have the opportunity to do. Today we passed a bill, with the support of our staff and colleagues in the House of Representatives, to help protect consumers, to put billions of dollars back in the pockets of individuals who have been and unfortunately will be ripped off by bad actors across this country, but they will be protected. The faith of our government to work for our people is being restored by restoring section 13(b) to the Federal Trade Commission. Again, this is a very emotional day for me because my parents came to this country, working in the fields, harvesting fruits and vegetables to help Americans eat, and I get to be a Member of this House, harvesting votes to help restore the confidence and faith of the American people in our system.

Mr. CARDENAS

Mr. CARDENAS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and celebrate the retirement of Dr. Monte E. Perez as President from Los Angeles Mission College, located in Sylmar, California. Dr. Perez graduated from James A. Garfield High School in East Los Angeles, obtained his bachelor's degree in Social Science Government at California State University, Los Angeles, and his master's and PhD in Public Policy and Administration from the University of Southern California. His career in higher education began as the assistant director of Admissions at Stanford University. Subsequently, he served as the director of the Educational Opportunity Program and Student Support Services at California State University, Los Angeles while also teaching Political Science and Chicano Studies. He implemented numerous outreach and retention programs at Stanford and California State University, Los Angeles. Selected as a policy fellow for the U.S. Department of Education, he became the Secretary's senior policy analyst with expertise in financial aid, career education, TRIO, and youth employment. Upon returning to California, he was appointed to be the Director of Community and Organizational Relations for the Educational Testing Service's Western Regional Office and later promoted to Regional Office Director. In 1997, Dr. Perez joined the National Hispanic University (NHU) in San Jose, California as the director of Institutional Research and was promoted to provost and vice president of Academic Affairs. He engineered the successful WASC accreditation for NHU as the first Latino non-profit independent senior college on the West Coast. In 2004, Dr. Perez was selected as the vice president of Student Services at Golden West Community College in Huntington Beach, California where he was a senior administrator engaged in construction, enrollment management, accreditation, and fiscal management. On July 1, 2008, Dr. Perez became the President of the Moreno Valley Campus which prepares students for vocational careers in various sectors. In May of 2011, Dr. Perez assumed the presidency of Los Angeles Mission College (LAMC), which serves the San Fernando Valley and is one of the nine colleges of the Los Angeles Community College District. LAMC provides accessible, affordable, high-quality learning opportunities that result in a high transfer rate to four-year universities and colleges. Dr. Perez has contributed to numerous academic presentations including his papers on the integration of academic affairs and student services at Oxford University, revising the California Master Plan in Higher Education at the University of Vienna, and Exemplary Enrollment and Retention Strategies in Community Colleges at the Education Testing Service's National Community College symposium. Dr. Perez also serves as the President of the national Board of Governors for the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities representing 550 two-year and four-year colleges. In 2017, he was appointed as a Trustee to the Los Angeles County Board of Education by Supervisor Sheila Kuehl of the 3rd District. I applaud the record of unparalleled accomplishments in the field of education and decades of community service and leadership.

Mr. CARDENAS

Mr. CARDENAS. Madam Speaker, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, I am using a proxy to vote on my behalf (pursuant to House Resolution 8 and in accordance with regulation C.6.). Regretfully, my proxy was unable to arrive at the House floor within the allotted time to cast my vote for H.R. 1620, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2021. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 86 (H.R. 1620--the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2021). Stated against:

Mr. CARDENAS

Mr. CARDENAS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to call on the United States government to formally recognize the independence of the Republic of Artsakh. For too long, we have failed as a country to state unequivocally that the people of Artsakh, a historical part of Armenia populated by Armenians to this day, have a right to self-determination as an independent republic and it has opened the door to violence. For weeks, Artsakh has suffered a brutal assault by Azerbaijan and Turkey in the form of merciless rocket attacks and bombings. This is, in part, the consequence of our past failures to exert leadership in this region of the world. We must make clear that we will stand against the aggression of Azerbaijan and their allies in Turkey when they would wage war against a people for seeking self-rule and independence, a people for whom the specter of genocide still lingers. It is time for the United States to correct course and make it clear that we stand behind the protection of life and preservation of human dignity by standing behind the Republic of Artsakh. As the world's oldest modern democracy, it is our heritage and duty to do so.

Mr. CARDENAS

Mr. CARDENAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank the Appropriations Committee and the subcommittee chairs for including two amendments that I submitted to H.R. 7617, division B and division F, in the en bloc being considered today. For years, we have been funding a juvenile justice system that is robbing children of their futures and wasting taxpayer dollars. Today, experts, academics, advocates, and police departments agree we must change that for the better. I am proud to have introduced two amendments to H.R. 7617, division B, that will increase funding for programs that focus on girls in the juvenile justice system and invest in collaborative mental health and antirecidivism initiatives. I have also cosponsored an amendment led by my colleague, Congressman Rush, that will increase funding for community-based violence prevention initiatives and also introduced an amendment to H.R. 7617, division F, that will increase funds for the National Child Traumatic Stress Initiative. This investment will help increase evidence-based support for youth with mental health needs that have been exacerbated by this pandemic. I ask for my colleagues to support this bill and my amendments that are offered today. We need to have a better system for our children.

Mr. CARDENAS

Mr. CARDENAS. Madam Speaker, it is time we establish a national museum devoted to American Latino history and culture. We are a great Nation, but this Nation is incomplete without giving the honor and respect that every single community deserves. I thank my colleagues for this opportunity to share this beautiful moment with all of America so that we can make this museum real.

Mr. CARDENAS. Madam Speaker, it is unusual, but look at this bipartisan effort together here. This is an amazing moment. As mentioned, our colleague, Jose Serrano, has been a champion on this cause for many years, and I miss him dearly, and I look forward to seeing him very, very soon. There are more than 58 million reasons why we need a National Museum of the American Latino: Since the founding of our great Nation, Latinos have been largely invisible and excluded from the history books. Our community has been used as scapegoats for the problems America faces. We are looked at as ``others,'' and have been made to feel like outsiders in our own country. The root of this problem stems from a lack of knowledge of and appreciation for Latino contributions to America's success. Now, more than ever, when Latinos are being vilified and spoken of as ``less than,'' the American people deserve to learn the truth of our history and our heritage. The American Latino Museum is essential to sharing the stories and the journey of Latinos in America. From America's original sin of Native American genocide, the American Civil War, and through the civil rights movement, to the horrors of the deadly El Paso shooting, where 23 people were killed at the hands of a murderer who drove hundreds of miles with the sole intent of killing as many Mexicans as possible; we must teach our entire history, the beautiful, the glorious, and the horrors and the injustices. Our story is the story of the United States of America. If we truly want to build a country that works for everyone, we must start by including everyone. We owe it to ourselves and our children to learn about Latino history in America. That is exactly what museums are for: To teach and inspire. And for years, I, along with Congressmembers Serrano, Hurd, Sanchez, Roybal-Allard, Aguilar and many others have worked tirelessly to gain bipartisan support in finally establishing a Latino Museum. We understand its symbolic and historical significance for our country. Latinos make up 17 percent--more than 58 million people--of the United States population, and they are the largest and fastest growing ethnic group in America. Hispanic Americans contribute more than $2.3 trillion to the United States economy every year. That GDP would make itself a country of the eighth largest economy in the world. People like my brother-in-law who was born in Mexico, served in the United States Army, and was shot and wounded while fighting for our country in Vietnam. His story deserves to be heard. Today, there are more than 200,000 Hispanic Active-Duty servicemembers serving in the United States Armed Forces. Sixty Hispanic Americans have received the Congressional Medal of Honor, the highest award for valor in action against an enemy force that can be bestowed on an individual serving in the Armed Forces of the United States of America. Our story is America's story, and Latino history is American history. Latino leaders were key players during the U.S. civil rights movement. Historical movements like the Chicano civil rights and labor movements, which included some of the largest student walkouts in American history, are not taught in our classrooms. Americans like Dolores Huerta, who was beaten within an inch of her life, and Navy veteran Cesar Chavez, have been instrumental in securing American workers' rights. In the face of relentless brutality and adversity, Huerta and Chavez remained committed to nonviolence while fighting for farmworkers' rights, workers who were maimed or died while working in the fields and cast aside like forgotten fruit by farmowners. Dolores and Cesar prevailed by establishing the first farmworkers union in the United States, forever changing the course of this Nation for the better. There are countless stories of American Latinos; stories of perseverance, dedication, and beating the odds to achieve their dreams; like the story of my friend and astronaut Jose Hernandez. Jose grew up in a poor farmworker family. As a child, he would work in the fields before sunrise and look up at the stars, dreaming of going to space. Jose followed that dream through his college career as a scientist and engineer. His journey took him from the fields of California as a farmworker to the NASA space program. Jose applied to the NASA space program 13 times, to be rejected 12 times. After his thirteenth attempt, he was finally accepted into the program and fulfilled his childhood dream, becoming the first astronaut to communicate back to Earth in Spanish from space. Jose's story is a story of perseverance, dedication, and unshakeable will. Jose's inspiring story deserves to be heard and shared so that every child, regardless of race or personal circumstances, can achieve his or her dreams. Like little Joaquin, or Jimena, or little Sky, or little Sage; they deserve those inspirations to see somebody who looks like them achieve their dreams. A National Latino Museum is a fitting and appropriate way for all Americans to celebrate and learn the truth about how Latinos have contributed to our great country; to honor Latinos who are on the frontlines and who, literally, gave their lives in service of our Nation. A Smithsonian museum dedicated to Latino history and culture would educate the American public on the stories of American Latinos that are excluded from our museums, schools, and history books.

Mr. CARDENAS

Mr. CARDENAS. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate this hour to honor one of the most beautiful human beings that ever walked this Earth. Many of us believe in God, and many of us try to be the best that we can be, but few of us are capable and able to live a life of true love and of tremendous dignity and respect for every single person who comes our way. I wish I could learn how to turn my cheek the way John Lewis proved he could and did. I mourn his passing, but I celebrate the honor of knowing that he lived and also knowing that I could go to him on the floor of this House or in the hallways of Congress and speak with him, learn from him, and then say ``I love you, brother,'' and then to have him tell me--and I selfishly relished the opportunity to hear him say it--``I love you too, brother,'' as I gave him a hug and he hugged me back. I am unfortunate that I grew up in a very strict household where my mother and father only said ``I love you'' to the big boys and girls and adults very few times. Once we got off their knee, it just didn't happen very often. But John Lewis reminded me how much I missed that, and in a selfish way, that is one of the reasons why I always rushed to him and asked him, by saying ``I love you,'' to know that he would say ``I love you'' and with all his heart mean it. I am going to miss him. Some of my family members were fortunate to meet him and to know him, and I feel blessed to know that he was my friend as well. May he rest in peace.

Mr. CARDENAS

Mr. CARDENAS. Madam Speaker, I am here in the House of Representatives. I have had the honor to have been elected to this incredible body for, now, four terms. But I just want to report to you, Madam Speaker, that we have, in fact, passed 275 bipartisan bills in the last 12 months in these Chambers. Madam Speaker, I thank my Republican colleagues, my Democratic colleagues, and, yes, the one Independent colleague who is part of every single one of those votes. I just want to say, that is the business of the House of Representatives. I just want to remind you, Madam Speaker, that we are serious here, from all parties, to make sure that we adhere to the needs of the entire American people and, in some cases, to the world. We have addressed issues such as reducing drug pricing to all Americans. We have addressed issues when it comes to making sure that children have a safe place to go to school. We have many issues that we are faced with here in the House of Representatives, and I am proud to say that, although the media says that we just can't get along, and, yes, we disagree at times, but, at the same time, we are, in fact, getting the work of the people done in the House of Representatives. I pray that we see the same go on in the Senate and, in addition to that, see many of those bills get signed by the President of the United States.

Mr. CARDENAS

Mr. CARDENAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my strong opposition to President Trump's constant efforts to gut Medicaid. Let's be clear. This is another attempt by President Trump to take healthcare away from millions of Americans. This block grant proposal is the latest step in Trump's ongoing efforts to end the Affordable Care Act. Trump is, tragically, trying to affect the most vulnerable in our country: children, people with disabilities, low-income families, and seniors. According to a recent study, this proposal could lead to cuts of $37 billion, perhaps as much as $49 billion a year of healthcare benefits to our American citizens. Just 2 days ago, President Trump spoke right here in this Chamber, saying that he is out to protect healthcare for the American people. But once again, we see he is trying to hurt Americans when all he is trying to do is talk one way and take actions like this against the American people and their healthcare. I know what it is like to not have healthcare, when I was a little boy, when an aspirin, a prayer, and the emergency room were your only options. Americans should not have to suffer through that. There is no need for it. But this President wants people to suffer. Many of my constituents rely on Medicaid for their health coverage. People shouldn't be forced to choose between buying medicine for their children or putting food on their tables. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to join my colleagues in Congress, such as Congressman Veasey, in supporting H. Res. 826. We will not stay silent as this administration continues its efforts to gut and take healthcare away from millions of Americans across our great Nation.

Mr. CARDENAS

Mr. CARDENAS. Madam Speaker, right here in Washington, D.C., I had the honor of speaking to families and to 15 beautiful youth, American citizens of the United States of America who are going to be the future doctors, researchers, and teachers of this great United States of America. What did they have in common? They were all Hispanic youth from this region on the East Coast of the United States, 15 young people who are talking about their dreams for curing cancer, their dreams of becoming teachers to inspire the youth of America. These are the kinds of young people who make this America great. Another thing that they had in common: most of their parents' primary language was Spanish. But let me tell you, people of this great Nation, the parents whom I met last night love this country so much and appreciate all the opportunities that their wonderful American citizen children have the opportunity to aspire to and to achieve. Again, we have a great, eclectic Nation, and I was so pleased to meet those 15 young people who already are leaders in our great Nation and will be the leaders of today and tomorrow because this country is great.

Mr. CARDENAS

Mr. CARDENAS. Madam Speaker, the United States House of Representatives will vote to impeach the President. This is one of the biggest decisions I have had to make in my seven years in Congress. Since I came to Congress, my goal has always been to help the lives of the people of the San Fernando Valley. And in the past year, we have done just that. We've passed legislation to lower the cost of prescription drugs, combat climate change, secure our elections, make sure our veterans have the care that they need, and that our children attend safe schools. Impeachment was not our only goal. This president left us no other choice. After reading the facts, listening to the testimony of witnesses, and seeing how this President put his own personal political interests above the American people, I will vote to impeach Donald Trump. This is not something I take pleasure in. This is a solemn moment for our country. This vote is about the safety of the American people and the future of our democracy. I cannot, in good conscience, ignore his outright disregard for the rule of law, his continued obstruction of Congress, and the use of his office for personal gain. President Trump's most recent abuse of power was the breaking point. For a sitting president of the United States to actively seek the interference of a foreign government in our election by withholding critical military aid is a violation of his oath of office. President Trump has purposefully damaged the integrity of our elections and put American lives at risk. The founders of this great country and the authors of the Constitution created a system of checks and balances so that no single branch of government would become too powerful and abuse that power. They devised a mechanism for removing a president from office should a person like Donald Trump, use the office for their own personal, unscrupulous reasons. I came to my decision after reviewing the mountain of evidence and the testimony of several high-ranking White House officials who have testified and confirmed his malfeasance. I do not take my responsibility as Representative for California's 29th District lightly. Serving the people of my district is one of the greatest honors of my life. It is my constitutional obligation to do what is right for my district and for all of the American people. Madam Speaker, President Trump remains a threat to our democracy and by voting to impeach, I am fulfilling my constitutional duty and living up to the oath I swore before the American people.