Tony Cárdenas

Mr. CARDENAS

Mr. CARDENAS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to highlight the great work of the House of Representatives. For the last 10 months in the 116th Congress, the House of Representatives has passed 18 healthcare bills, 5 gun safety bills, 81 education bills, 47 national security and defense bills, 45 environmental bills, 36 immigration bills, 40 infrastructure and transportation bills, and much more. My point, Madam Speaker, is that we are continuing the work of the American people. We never lost sight of our promise and commitment to the people of this great country. We are constantly fighting back the White House's attempt to take away healthcare from millions of Americans, and we are working to lower prescription drug costs. We will continue supporting our military and ensure that they have all the resources that they need to keep Americans safe. We will not allow this President to keep us from fulfilling our duty to make our economy stronger, our schools safer, and to protect us from tyranny.

Mr. CARDENAS

Mr. CARDENAS. Mr. Speaker, I would also like to thank both Representatives who are handling the floor at this moment and paying their proper respects and appropriate comments on these bills. Mr. Speaker, I have the honor to rise today and offer H.R. 1253, which would designate the post office in Pacoima, California, as the Ritchie Valens Post Office Building. Ritchie Valens was born and raised in my home neighborhood of Pacoima and attended San Fernando High School. The rock and roll legend and father of Chicano rock is celebrated today for pioneering a music style derived from the Chicano culture, and it has reverberated around the world. He became a nationally renowned rock musician at a time when very few Latinos were recognized in American rock music. Valens' contributions in rock include record-setting hits such as ``La Bamba,'' ``Donna,'' and ``Come On, Let's Go.'' In March of 2001, Ritchie Valens was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Ritchie Valens continues to inspire generations of musicians and is an example of how, even when it seems like there is no path to your dream, you make your own way and build your own path. Ritchie Valens is an example of the talent that exists in our community, and his legacy is a source of pride for our Pacoima community. I am honored to offer H.R. 1253 in celebration of the great Ritchie Valens' life, a true trailblazer. I can tell you, I have witnessed being outside of the United States, for example, when the song ``La Bamba'' comes on, and every child, usually from the age of 1, 5, 6, 7, or 8--they just can't help it--they just start to move, and they recognize that beautiful music. To be able to honor this man and his family by naming a post office after him is truly an opportunity that I appreciate, and the entire community appreciates as well.

Mr. CARDENAS

Mr. CARDENAS. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Rouda for this opportunity to speak on the floor. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to be a Representative of the San Fernando Valley in the United States House of Representatives. I rise today to honor two American artists: the great Marilyn Monroe and Ritchie Valens. I offer these bills, H.R. 1252 and 1253, today on the floor of the House of Representatives to name the post offices of Van Nuys and Pacoima, California, in their honor. First, I offer H.R. 1252 in celebration of the talented and legendary Marilyn Monroe, who has roots in my district. Marilyn Monroe was born in Los Angeles, California, grew up in Van Nuys, and attended Van Nuys High School. She grew up poor and bounced around orphanages as a child. Back then, the chances of a poor woman like Marilyn Monroe becoming a national success and musical legend was nearly impossible, but she beat the odds. Despite her turbulent childhood, Marilyn Monroe found stability and joy while living in Van Nuys, California. Her hard work and perseverance led her to become a timeless, internationally recognized icon. In a world where many believe wealth, status, or name determine one's destiny, Marilyn Monroe's story defies the odds and inspires many others to believe they, too, can achieve very similar success. Marilyn Monroe showed us that dreaming big and working hard means something in America. Marilyn Monroe went off to become an artist and a trailblazer, starring in her own movies and setting records during her singing career. It is with great pride that I introduce this bill to rename the Van Nuys Post Office in celebration of the life and the incredible history of Marilyn Monroe.

Mr. CARDENAS

Mr. CARDENAS. Mr. Speaker, let me set the record straight. The way President Trump talks about women, minorities, immigrants, and pretty much every American who does not look like him is fueling hate in our great country. Last week, in a series of tweets, President Trump attacked four Congresswomen, all of whom are American citizens and women of color. The President doubled down on his attacks and singled out one of my colleagues from Minnesota in a rally, during which the crowd chanted, ``Send her back,'' which he seemed to relish. Mr. Speaker, watching that clip made me sick to my stomach, and I am concerned about the direction President Trump is leading our country. Mr. Speaker, President Trump appears to be encouraging Americans to assume patriotism by the color of one's skin and not the content of one's character. This is, in fact, the opposite of what American heroes like Congressman John Lewis, Dolores Huerta, Cesar Chavez, and Dr. King fought and bled for. Mr. Speaker, make no mistake: our President is stoking the flames of hate and division in our great country. President Trump, his America is an America where Congress does not include Native Americans, Latinos, African Americans, Asian Americans, or LGBTQ Americans. His vision for America is one where people like my parents and grandparents are not welcome. What I find ironic about Donald Trump's anti-immigrant vision for this country is it contradicts his own family's history. Donald Trump's grandfather, Friedrich Trump, moved to the United States in 1885 for many reasons, including to escape poverty. Today, President Trump is hurting our reputation by denying entry to asylum seekers who are fleeing many of the hardships his very own grandfather was escaping. In 1905, after making his fortune in the United States running a brothel, Grandfather Trump attempted to go back to Germany, only to be denied entry for failing to complete military service in his own country of Germany, something that apparently runs in the family. After attempting to appeal the denial in a flattering letter to the Prince of Germany, addressing him as the much-loved, noble, wise, and righteous sovereign and sublime ruler, Friedrich Trump's request to return to Germany was denied for a second time. My father and mother moved to the United States in 1946 seeking a better life for their family because they heard of the promise of the United States of America, that if you work hard and play by the rules, you can succeed and your children can have a better life. I stand before you today an American-born citizen and a Member of the United States Congress because my parents worked hard and played by the rules. I wasn't handed a fortune like President Trump. I was taught the values of keeping my word, being kind to others, and working for what I earn. Mr. Speaker, this President would like us to believe that he is more patriotic than the Congresswomen he has repeatedly attacked, not because of anything he has done for this country, but because he believes that this country's rights and protections only apply to the privileged, like himself. Honor and patriotism exist in some more than others. My brother-in- law, Hector, who was born in Mexico and is now a citizen of the United States of America, answered the call to serve our great country, when Donald Trump avoided service time and time again. While Donald Trump was dodging the draft five times, my brother-in- law, Hector, was serving the United States of America in Vietnam. While Donald Trump was ripping off small businesses right here at home, Hector was shot while serving his country in Vietnam. My Mexican-born brother-in-law has served this country honorably, and if Donald Trump had his way, Hector would never have had the chance to serve our great Nation. Mr. Speaker, does the word ``patriot'' come to mind when you think of a man who dodged the draft time and time again, or does the word ``patriot'' come to mind when you think of a man who answered the call of duty and bled for our great country? Mr. Speaker, I tell these truths to remind us all why the United States of America is great: We are a country of brave and beautiful American citizens and brave and beautiful immigrants from all over the world who contribute to the greatness of our great Nation every single day. May God bless the diverse and beautiful people of the United States of America, and God bless the United States of America.

Mr. CARDENAS

Mr. CARDENAS. Madam Speaker, I have the honor and privilege to be born as an American citizen. There are billions of people around the world who don't have that privilege, that honor, and that blessing. Today, I get to exercise my privilege as a Member of Congress to bring my two grandchildren, ages 1 and 3, to the floor of the House of Representatives. It is a very emotional moment for me because when I see their beautiful brown eyes, I see their grandparents who were born in another country, and I see their great-grandparents born in another country, just like many people on this House floor whose grandparents and great-grandparents came from Germany, Guatemala, Mexico, or any other place on the planet. We are fighting to do what is right, to do what is right for the gold standard that the world has seen in the United States of America, a place of hope and a place of future for people who are fleeing persecution for religious reasons or otherwise to be able to come to this country, kiss the ground that they walk on, and start anew. My beautiful grandkids get to be American citizens because somebody made the journey sometime before them.

Mr. CARDENAS. Madam Speaker, I will close by saying this: The United States of America has always been the gold standard, and that is the argument that we are making here today. This is not a game. We are fighting for the lives of human beings who should have the opportunity to be just like every person on this floor: to be allowed the freedom to be who they choose to be, who God made them to be, by being in the greatest place on the planet. That is why we are fighting today.

Mr. CARDENAS

Mr. CARDENAS. Madam Speaker, once again, I say I am blessed to be an American citizen and honored to be a Member of the United States Congress. Today is a bittersweet day for me as, today, I was able to bring my two grandchildren on the floor of this House, a courtesy that we afford each other as Members of this luscious body: my 1-year-old granddaughter, Jimena Luna De La Rosa, and my grandson, Joaquin Cruz De La Rosa. But, at the same time, we voted for less than what we should have for the lives of so many men, women, and children who seek to come to the greatest land on Earth, the United States of America. We must do better. We must do more. And it is time that we push back on a President who considers the gold standard to be the gold on a toilet instead of the gold standard that we have come to be known for around the world when it comes to having open arms of welcoming good human beings to this great country, to be part of this great land.

Mr. CARDENAS

Mr. CARDENAS. Mr. Chair, clearly, my colleague from Arizona was not paying attention. The last oil spill was in 2014. Again, I will state that what we need to be doing is weaning ourselves off fossil fuels and investing in renewable energy like most progressive countries are doing. The West Coast, California, and the coast of the 24th Congressional District cannot tolerate another oil spill. The benefits of oil exploration and development off our coasts do not outweigh the risks. We need to keep that in mind. For a Representative from the State of Arizona, which is landlocked, which hasn't experienced the perils of such oil spills to their economy, their workers, or their jobs, keep that in mind.

Mr. CARDENAS

Mr. CARDENAS. Mr. Speaker, Jakelin Caal Maquin, 7-year-old girl. Felipe Gomez Alonzo, 8 years old. Juan de Leon Gutierrez, 16 years old. Carlos Hernandez Vasquez, 16 years old. All of these children died under our custody in the United States of America. In the last 8 months, six children have died in the United States of America under the custody of the Department of Homeland Security. It pains me to say this because I am not talking about some war-torn country halfway around the world. This is happening right here in the United States of America. Over the past 2 years, under this President, President Donald Trump, 24 men, women, and children who came looking for a better life in the United States of America died. This administration's treatment is inhumane. What President Trump and this administration are doing is shameful. Mr. Speaker, let's be very clear: the crisis at the border is a humanitarian crisis that is the product of the President's deadly policies. We need accountability and this President will need to answer for his role in the loss of life, on our soil, at the United States border.

Mr. CARDENAS

Mr. CARDENAS. Madam Speaker, I am proud to express my support for H.R. 986, the Protecting Americans with Preexisting Conditions Act. For too long this Administration has undermined and attacked the care of our most vulnerable Americans and perpetuated unjust barriers to treatment. By passing this bill my colleagues are fulfilling the will of the American people, who used their voice to tell Washington that these partisan attacks on the Affordable Care Act were unacceptable. The American people also care about protecting the only planet we have. Climate change continues to threaten the safety of Americans every year by fueling the frequency and severity of natural disasters. In my state of California, the fire season has turned into a year-long ordeal. People in California have lost so much as these fires get worse and worse. We've lost lives, homes, communities, and livelihoods. H.R. 2157 is another step towards recovery. Among other things, it provides funds for emergency forest restoration, to farmers struggling with crop and livestock losses due to wildfires and other disasters, and for legal services for people who need legal help during the recovery period. H.R. 2157 provides needed relief for Californians and all Americans, including those living in Puerto Rico and other territories devastated by hurricanes. Importantly, this bill also prevents Defense funds from being used to construct an unnecessary and ineffective wall along the southern border. When we have real problems to fix, we cannot waste a penny on an unnecessary slogan. Instead, we need to be addressing the healthcare needs of Americans and ensure they can get back on their feet in the wake of natural disasters, as we have done today. As always, I want to take the time to thank those who have worked tirelessly to improve our nation's healthcare, environment, and response to natural disasters.

Mr. CARDENAS

Mr. CARDENAS. Mr. Speaker, I want to start off by thanking two individuals who came to this country for a better life: Luis Sanchez and Elvira Sanchez. They were married, and they had their first daughter, Norma, and some years later, I was fortunate to fall in love with her. Now, some years later, we have been married, raised four beautiful children. They look like their mother. We now have two grandchildren. Tomorrow is the day that I get to celebrate that the love of my life was born. No, I am not going to say how many years ago. Tomorrow is her birthday, and here I am in Washington. I have been doing this job, this career, for 22 years, and I must say, sometimes I am lucky enough to be there to celebrate anniversaries and birthdays and sometimes I am not, but I just wanted to take this opportunity to say happy birthday to the love of my life and my number one constituent. And, yes, my grandchildren live in my district, so they are my constituents, too. It is a tough call, but, Norma, you are my number one constituent. Happy birthday.

Mr. CARDENAS

Mr. CARDENAS. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize a San Fernando Valley native and constituent of mine, Evan Press. Mr. Press has worked tirelessly to improve the Greater San Fernando Valley and give back to his community. Earning a degree in Political Science from our state schools at UC Berkeley and San Francisco State University as well as a Certificate in Financial Planning from UCLA, Mr. Press briefly worked in San Francisco for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Thereafter he brought his wealth of knowledge to our community's Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Press began his work in the Chamber of Commerce in 2015 where he worked his way up from serving as the Chairman on the Chamber's Government Affairs Committee to leading the Chamber as Chairman of the Board. Mr. Press helped establish the San Fernando Valley Regional Foundation, which advances economic, community, and educational development in the area. Further, while Board Chair, the Chamber's Job Training Program expanded with over 800 workers learning management and leadership skills. Mr. Press has shown his clear commitment to the financial success of his community by working to promote San Fernando's small businesses. As Chairman, Mr. Press advocated to decrease costs and streamline the process for the Valley's emerging independent brewing industry. He worked with Valley entrepreneurs to help them navigate the difficulties of opening new stores and setting up new businesses. Even in retirement, Mr. Press continues to serve the San Fernando Valley as an Independent Financial Consultant. I applaud Mr. Press and his commitment to our community. Such a prominent business leader and respected community member deserves recognition. I hope Mr. Press' efforts inspire other Angelenos to dedicate themselves to the economic success of their neighbors and the Greater San Fernando Valley.

Mr. CARDENAS

Mr. CARDENAS. Madam Speaker, I have the honor of helping an American citizen familiarize herself with our United States Capitol--with her United States Capitol. Sophia is here with her eighth grade class from St. Philip The Apostle Catholic School in Pasadena, California. I felt it important for her to understand that we do listen, so I asked her before I gave this speech: What comes to mind? What issue would you like me to mention? She thought, and she thought, and she said: Teenage suicide rates are way too high. You had better believe it, America. They are. And there are many things we can do, both locally and here in Washington, to make sure that we curtail that and make sure that young people don't find themselves in the position to do such a thing to themselves, their family, and their community. I pledged to Sophia that many of us here in Washington are committed to doing what we can to make sure that suicide rates in general, but specifically suicide rates amongst young people, are curtailed and they hopefully stop and come down to zero soon. I thank Sophia for visiting us, and I thank her teachers and all of those who brought her here today.

Mr. CARDENAS

Mr. CARDENAS. Madam Speaker, I have the honor and the privilege of being a Member of the House of Representatives. I also am speaking without notes because, over 40 years ago, I lost a teenage friend of mine just a few yards from my front door in what was perhaps one of the first drive-bys in the history of Los Angeles, a senseless killing where a young man on drugs decided to shoot through a wall of someone's home--my friend's home. With one shot, Rudy died at the age of 16. Today, I had the honor and the privilege of voting on a bill that would make our streets safer--not solve every problem, but reduce the amount of crying and dying that goes on in too many communities around America. I must say this--and it is unfortunate to have to clarify--because I am Latino, people are assuming that the person who shot Rudy was a Latino or a Black male or what have you. He was not. He was a young man--a victim, himself, of drug abuse--a White young man. It should never happen to anyone, and people should never assume that it only happens to certain people in certain communities. Tens of thousands of human lives are lost every year in the greatest country, America, and we need to make it better.

Mr. CARDENAS

Mr. CARDENAS. Madam Speaker, I am very proud and so blessed to have been born in the greatest Nation on Earth, the United States of America, and I am a proud, proud American citizen, a proud husband, father, son, and grandfather. I come to you today in the midst of the longest shutdown in the history of this country. I am disgusted that the issue here isn't about protecting veterans or Americans' healthcare or education. Instead, it is about the demand for Trump's wall. Last week, I voted to end the shutdown. The bill passed this House, and it sits in the United States Senate. Last year, the Senate unanimously passed basically the same funding bill, so what is the difference now? President Trump has taken over the United States Senate, and now he wants to punish the American people by attacking our national security, our safety, and the lives of the men and women who serve our great country, expecting them to work without a paycheck. Trump's shutdown is hurting the Coast Guard, that, right now, is protecting our national security. No pay for their families. They are relying on food banks to feed their families. The Trump shutdown is literally endangering the lives of workers like Mallory Lorge, who, without pay, cannot afford the insulin she needs to stay alive. President Trump, I demand that you reopen government and you stop your Trump shutdown.

Mr. CARDENAS

Mr. CARDENAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of one of my constituents, Gene Greene. Gene will be remembered as an icon of our community. As a Landscape Architect and Director of the Japanese Garden in Van Nuys, California, Mr. Greene oversaw the beautiful garden since its dedication in 1984, where he personally set the final 28 stones. Thanks to his work, The Garden has been published in several books, websites, and television programs. The Los Angeles Times once characterized the Japanese Garden as ``Gene's Garden'' because of his strong connection to the land. A humble and generous man, Gene was known for giving credit and not taking it. He always commended the volunteers and docents for their roles in making the Japanese Garden such an iconic landmark of Los Angeles. Everything he did was a true testament of his love for his work, his family, and the community he served. Gene dedicated his life to public service. He started his career as an intern for the Los Angeles City government before proudly serving in the U.S. Army, where he earned a National Defense Service Medal. Gene was an Eagle Scout, and he credits the training he received there with helping him become an expert rifleman in the military. Gene attended the California State Polytechnic University at Pomona where he majored in Landscape Architecture. His gift for design and architecture led him to the Bureau of Engineering in the City of Los Angeles. There, he was assigned to work with Dr. Koichi Kawana, lead project architect of the Japanese Garden. Gene is a fixture of the community and his legacy will never be forgotten. With his dedication to his work and family, Gene will continue inspiring generations of Angelenos. My prayers go to his wife Lynn, his four daughters, and his five grandchildren.

Mr. CARDENAS

Mr. CARDENAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of one of my constituents, Lee Adrian. Lee was an active member of our community, serving as Block Captain for the Strathern Neighborhood Watch in North Hollywood, where he worked tirelessly with law enforcement agencies, private organizations, and individual citizens to reduce crime and improve our community. He was also involved with the Community Police Advisory Board for the Los Angeles Police Department Foothill Division that supports the Neighborhood Watch. A proud patriot, Lee was known for displaying an American flag outside his home for pedestrians to admire. He was also a veteran of the United States Air Force. His love for country translated to Lee's involvement with community advocates, faith leaders, and government officials to make our community a better place for everyone. He and his wife worked relentlessly on the Whitsett Avenue ``VINTAGE NORTH HOLLYWOOD'' mural until its dedication in 2014, with a drought- resistant garden on both sides of the mural. The large mural was a community effort, which can now be enjoyed by motorists traveling on Whitsett Avenue and on the 170 Freeway, north of Sherman Way. I hope Mr. Adrian's legacy is never forgotten, and that his passion of giving back to the community inspires others to follow his lead.

Mr. CARDENAS

Mr. CARDENAS. Mr. Chair, I thank the authors for all the hard work coming to this moment to get this very important bill on the floor. Mr. Chair, I rise today to say how glad I am that my bill, the At- Risk Youth Medicaid Protection Act, has been included in today's opioid package. According to a June 2017 MACPAC report, the opioid epidemic disproportionately affects Medicaid beneficiaries. Therefore, State Medicaid programs are taking the lead in identifying and tailoring strategies to prevent and treat opioid use disorder. Among those affected are our most vulnerable American population, our youth. Currently, most children who are covered by Medicaid and come into contact with the criminal justice system end up having their enrollment terminated by States. While some States are beginning to suspend instead of terminate their enrollment, only a few States and the District of Columbia suspend their enrollment for the exact duration of the incarceration. This results in unnecessary, costly delays. I say again: When somebody is terminated rather than suspended, this results in an unnecessary, costly delay, delaying their coverage and preventing them from receiving timely and much-needed health and mental care upon the child's release. The At-Risk Youth Medicaid Protection Act would require States to automatically restore the child's Medicaid enrollment upon their release. Further, States would be required to process applications for medical assistance by or on behalf of the child and make access to medical assistance for children under foster care consistent with the Affordable Care Act by extending the age of eligibility to age 26. Mr. Chairman, we owe it to the American people to do everything in our power to decrease the already 64,000 families broken by this epidemic and restore faith in our government system. While this package covers many fronts, the inclusion of this commonsense bill, the At-Risk Youth Medicaid Protection Act, extends the effort to attack this epidemic from all angles, modifying the package's foundation.

Mr. CARDENAS

Mr. CARDENAS. Mr. Speaker, right now we have a human rights emergency at our borders. ICE agents are ripping children from their mothers' arms. These are babies as young as 11 months. They are holding these children in facilities that are so full that now Trump wants to build tent cities to house more children. There are reports of ICE agents telling parents that they are taking their child to give them a bath, and then the parents don't see their baby again. Think about that: No notice. No due process. Just silent, cruel separation. This is happening on our American soil. This is the policy of the Trump administration. ICE has an $8 billion budget, and this is what our taxpayer dollars are buying: holding babies, cold and alone, in what are internment camps for little children. My fellow colleagues, we are not a country that follows a selfish, coldhearted dictator. We are the United States of America.

Mr. CARDENAS

Mr. CARDENAS. Mr. Chairman, first I would like to thank Chairman Mac Thornberry and also Ranking Member Adam Smith for their fine work on this and allowing me to bring my amendment to the floor. My mindfulness amendment would create a pilot program to train members of the Armed Forces in mindfulness stress reduction techniques before deploying to combat zones. According to the VA, mindfulness practice has the potential to benefit individuals with PTSD. Using mindfulness to strengthen reaction to stress together with existing empirically supported PTSD treatments may allow patients to persevere through trauma processing. Rather than waiting to apply these treatments after the traumatic event, why not prepare our brave young men and women who are being sent into combat zones ahead of time? A prior study with the Marines suggested mindfulness training was beneficial for attention, working memory, as well as mood. My amendment would expand this training to all branches of the Armed Forces, including the Coast Guard. It would require a report on the success of this training with stress management and preventing PTSD. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to adopt this amendment.

Mr. CARDENAS

Mr. CARDENAS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Illinois for yielding me this time, and I also want to thank her so much for her diligence, her efforts, and her sincerity in trying to make this issue and this bill, and many bills on this issue, as good as possible. Although we may disagree on the final version of this bill, again, it is my sincere wish that we will continue to work together as this issue will never go away because nutrition and the understanding of that for every American is paramount for our individual health and for communities as a whole. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 772, the Common Sense Nutrition Disclosure Act of 2017. I am proud to colead this bill with my colleague, Congresswoman McMorris Rodgers. Americans increasingly realize the importance of having access to accurate nutritional information about the food we eat, and we need to make sure that businesses are providing this information. However, no two food establishments, convenience stores, or grocery stores are identical, and the government should take that into account as we implement guidelines on making nutritional information available. As a former small-business owner myself, I know the costs and challenges associated with regulatory compliance. Not all businesses can afford a legal department to help them stay within the rules, despite their best intentions. This legislation would help businesses help consumers be smart about what they are eating. The FDA's 2014 rule on nutrition disclosures is set to take effect in May of this year, though some issues remain unresolved. This bill will give FDA the authority to fix these issues and hold businesses to tough standards they can and shall meet. Right now, the FDA rule exempts small businesses, but not those that sell to large suppliers. Those small businesses would have to undertake expensive nutritional analysis in order to comply with the law, even if they don't have the resources. Another example is, right now, the FDA rule would require delivery restaurants to post nutritional information in their brick-and-mortar establishment instead of online, even though nobody would see it, especially those who go online to order their food. This bill fixes that. Finally, this bill reins in out-of-proportion penalties in the current rule that would have severe, unintended consequences. No one should have to worry about losing their business if they mistakenly make sandwiches with too much meat or cheese. Importantly, this bill makes sure the FDA is still able to enforce the law in situations in which businesses are misleading their customers. This bill doesn't include a time delay, meaning the FDA would be able to implement the nutrition disclosure rules sooner than later. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill to help the businesses in districts like mine to help our constituents eat healthier.

Mr. CARDENAS

Mr. CARDENAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the tax scam that was voted for by 100 percent of Republicans and signed by President Trump. We all know that this bill puts middle class families out in the cold. This tax scam raised taxes on 86 million American families. It robs our ability to help American veterans, children, and seniors. Republicans have slashed taxes on the wealthiest among us, and now they want us to slash, cut, decimate Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. Some of my colleagues would have us believe that this bill is about prosperity for all. Prosperity for whom? It is a tax giveaway to billionaires and millionaires. Does slashing tax revenue create prosperity for communities like Flint, Michigan, where American families continue to suffer through a water crisis, a crisis that my Republican colleagues claim they can't find the funding to help our American brothers and sisters who are suffering? Republicans want us to believe this bill is fiscally responsible, but we all know there is nothing fiscally responsible about taking healthcare away from millions of Americans while ballooning our country's deficit by as much as $2 trillion. Mr. Speaker, we need to fix our Tax Code, not leave American families out in the cold.

Mr. CARDENAS

Mr. CARDENAS. Mr. Speaker, just a few minutes ago, on the floor of the House of Representatives, we saw a vote on what has been called the middle class tax cut. Unfortunately, I am here to remind all of us, Mr. Speaker, that it really is a tax scam. When we have looked into the many communities across America and seen families like the hardworking families in the district that I represent in California, the average family or household that files a tax return every April 15 makes an average income of about $69,000. That family, according to what was just passed on this floor, is going to be leaving behind over $1,000 more than they normally would have when they do their taxes. That hurts. That family is a hardworking family. That family cannot afford to miss out on $1,000 of their hard- earned money. I heard people say earlier that that is not going to happen. That is just not true.

Mr. CARDENAS

Mr. CARDENAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask and highlight which Americans will see their taxes go up every April 15 under the Republican tax scam. Middle class families, teachers, firefighters, nurses, veterans, folks paying off student loans, seniors with medical expenses, small businesses, and every homeowner will pay more in taxes. Over 50 million Americans will see their taxes go up every April 15. Both students and teachers are hurt by this tax scam. This tax scam will make it harder for teachers to afford supplies for their classrooms. The Republican tax scam eliminates medical expense deductions. The adoption tax credit goes away. Student loan deductions, gone. State and local tax deductions for homeowners, forget about it. This tax scam is just wrong. Mr. Speaker, it hurts hardworking American families and it benefits the largest corporations.

Mr. CARDENAS

Mr. CARDENAS. Mr. Speaker, I have grave concerns with the so-called tax plan Republicans are peddling. It should be called the Republican tax scam. Working Americans are being sold a bill of goods. Let me be crystal clear: this plan will not cut taxes for working middle class families. This is a tax cut for Wall Street and a tax hike for Main Street. And what does your family get? More cuts to children's education, deep cuts to your healthcare, and deep cuts to lifesaving emergency services. Over 50 million taxpaying households will pay more taxes every April 15, due to this tax scam. Let me repeat that another way. This tax scam gets rid of credits and deductions for the middle class and keeps loopholes for corporations to ship your jobs overseas. Mr. Speaker, I am completely opposed to this tax scam that cuts taxes for big corporations, and it forces big cuts to Medicare, education, and Social Security. This tax scam is wrong.