J. Correa

Mr. CORREA

Mr. CORREA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Cal State Fullerton's president Fram Virjee and his spouse and partner of 37 years, Julie. I congratulate both of them on their upcoming retirement after more than 5 years at Cal State Fullerton. As president of Cal State Fullerton, the largest university today in California, Fram and his great partner, Julie, have been part of the Titan community. Under both their leaderships, Cal State Fullerton is today the largest university in California and is number one in graduating women in California. Today, Cal State Fullerton is the number four best bang for your buck university in the United States. Before coming to Cal State Fullerton, Fram served as executive vice chancellor, general counsel, and secretary to the board of trustees of the Cal State University system. Before coming to Cal State University, Fram was a partner at O'Melveny and Myers. Fram and Julie are involved in a lot of nonprofits, and they both founded and have supported the Yambi Rwanda, a nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of Rwandans. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate, President Fram Virjee and Julie on their retirement. I am sure it is not going to be their retirement. As a Cal State Fullerton alumnus, I am proud to consider them both very good friends. Go Titans.

Mr. CORREA

Mr. CORREA. Mr. Speaker, as I said last night before the Rules Committee, I don't disagree with this legislation. Every day I hear from my constituents, gasoline prices are way too high. They have got to choose between paying for groceries and filling up their gas tank. I agree, we should ease the burden on American taxpayers. However, I disagree that this is the right way to do it. Just last year, the Inflation Reduction Act made historic investments in home energy rebates, tax credits, clean energy vehicles, land and water conservation, and grants for greenhouse gas reduction. This legislation, in contrast, does not make any new investments. It simply walks back all the progress we have made before we can see the results of those investments. That is why I introduced last night an amendment to simply say that any future investments in gas and oil be equaled in clean energy investments. Why? Because we want to make sure we keep America on the world stage as leaders in energy production. Sadly, my colleagues across the aisle will not be bringing up my amendment for a vote this week.

Mr. CORREA

Mr. CORREA. Coach Rollinson, congratulations. You put not Santa Ana but Santa Ana on the map. Thank you very much. You have often said that you create the effort and God controls the outcome. These are words to live by. Thank you very much. Last year, I had the opportunity when I was at home on a Friday night--one of my favorite activities is to go and watch high school football games. Santa Ana Bowl is about a mile away from my house. This night you were there coaching Mater Dei vs. St. John Bosco. It was an epic game of course. As I got there and looked around, I was on the sidelines--your side, by the way, not Bosco's side--and next to me I saw the USC head coach and Bama's head coach. There must have been every head coach in the top 20 schools in this country watching your game and watching your athletes play football that night. It was unbelievable. At the end of the game we had a bunch of helicopters come by and take these coaches away. It was an unbelievable night. We are going to honor you today, an honor well-deserved. You are Orange County's all-time leader, and the winningest coach. You graduated from Mater Dei High School in 1967, and in 1966, you played against Anaheim High School--my High School. I am a Colonist too. You played against my coach, Clare Van Hoorebeke. This is our helmet, sir. Do you remember it? I wore this helmet that night in 1966. It was the game of the decade. Anaheim Stadium, a record number of people attending that night; almost 33,000 people in attendance that night in 1966. Coach Rollinson, if I look at this poster here, we edged you out that night. We won, 12-7. It is my understanding that you scored those 7 points. Of course, as you can see, the players at the bottom there, I think that is probably you, one of those players is you. Coach Van Hoorebeke preceded you in Anaheim, Orange County. I think we all learned from him. If I think back to the days I played football under Coach Van Hoorebeke, the one thing the coach taught me is when you get hit, when you get knocked down, when you get bloodied, you get up, and you keep going. I still remember those days. Three-hour football practices. No water, no rest. Heaven help you, if you made a mistake; you had to go run laps, full uniform on, helmet on. That was the discipline we grew up with in Orange County. Coach Rollinson, I am telling you what you already know; we were a community. We are a community in Orange County. I am honored to say today that we are a family. I often would drive down Bristol Street to take my kids to the local elementary school, and I would watch your team practice, admiring you and respecting you because, sir, you put us on the map again and again and again. You graduated from Mater Dei. You came back to teach in 1976 at Mater Dei. That is the year I graduated from Anaheim High School. Like my colleague Mr. Womack said, four national championships. With the exception of maybe one or two universities, more Heisman trophies than anybody else in the country. I am not going to say good-bye, sir, but I will say that you will be missed as a head coach, and I know and I do hope your successor will carry on your tradition because we need to make sure we continue to build champions in Santa Ana, California. Let me conclude by saying that success of individuals like you, you have got to have a team partner. Mrs. Rollinson, thank you for giving him the strength to do what he does. I think at the end of the day, we all married up, and we did well. Like my colleagues have said, you are a great American. I would also say you are a great member of our Orange County family. Thank you. God bless. Go Colonists and go Mater Dei. Thank you very much, Coach Rollinson.

Mr. CORREA

Mr. CORREA. Mr. Speaker, all of us can agree that the most precious gift God can give us is our children. I am a parent of four children-- four children--who all attended public education, K-12. As a parent, I was active and participated in the local school board meetings, teacher-parent conferences, and I was involved with the local PTA because it was my responsibility to know what was going on in my children's life, especially educational life. All of us here as Americans, regardless of party affiliation, can agree that protecting our children is one of our most important responsibilities here in Congress. I agree with my colleagues across the aisle that we need to protect all students, especially, I would say, undocumented students, some of the most vulnerable students in our society. Last night, I introduced an amendment that would bar any local educational agency, State agency, elementary school, or secondary school from requesting or disclosing a student's immigration status. Schools, I would say, are the one place in our society that students should feel safe. My amendment would advance this principle. It would say that our students are safe in their schools. Mr. Speaker, if my colleagues across the aisle would have voted for my amendment last night, then they would have voted for safety for all of our students in school. Yet, they didn't do that. By failing to vote for my amendment, they left our most vulnerable students hanging.

Mr. CORREA

Mr. CORREA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the achievements of Claudia Alvarez, an Orange County Superior Court Judge. Prior to becoming a judge, she served as the Orange County Deputy District Attorney for over 22 years. Claudia Alvarez graduated from California State Fullerton in 1991, before attending Loyola Law School. After graduating in 1994 with her Juris Doctorate, Claudia created her own firm where she managed a law practice specializing in family law matters serving low- income clients in Santa Ana. Following her time at her firm, she started serving as an Orange County Deputy District Attorney in 1999. While working at the Orange County District Attorney's Office, Claudia was elected to the City Council of Santa Ana from 2000 to 2012 and actively worked to improve public safety of the city. She joined the Orange County Water District's Board of directors in 2007 to 2012 and ensured clean waters for more than 2.5 million county residents. From 2012 to 2020, she joined the Rancho Santiago Community College District as a Governing Board Member and oversaw the management and operation of the college district, including its two sister colleges, Santa Ana College and Santiago Canyon College. Aside from her roles in public office, Claudia has invested countless hours in her community through her volunteer work. Claudia has been a mentor for the Puente (Bridge) and Hermanita (Little Sister) programs, has served as president of the Orange County Hispanic Bar Association, vice president of Kinder Caminata, and president of MANA (Orange County Chapter). Claudia has also served as a board member of Community Service Programs (CSP) (now known as Waymakers). She also has volunteered in the award-winning Orange County Gang and Intervention Partnership since 2011. Her merit has earned her several accolades such as the Past President's Award from the Orange County Hispanic Bar Association in 2000. She has also received California State University of Fullerton's ``Distinguished Alumni Recognition--Querer es Poder: 50 Examples'' in 2008. In 2016, she was recognized as the Woman of the Year by the National Hispanic Business Women Association in Orange County. Claudia Alvarez has been described as instrumental in improving public safety and quality of life for her community. She has made her community proud and served as a role model that many aspire to follow. For this reason, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring and recognizing my constituent Claudia Alvarez, for her humanitarian accomplishments and her commitment to her community.

Mr. CORREA

Mr. CORREA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the achievements of Gualterio Santos. Gualterio Santos was an immigrant from a village in Oaxaca, Mexico who came to the United States when he was only sixteen years old and fought to avoid being separated from his wife, Sebastiana Morales, and their seven children. In November of 2017, he learned of a deportation order for him. He spent the past two years, thinking that at any moment the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents would come to arrest him. In October of 2019, the situation worsened when ICE agents were transporting him to the Mexican border into Tijuana was stopped when his attorney Crooms obtained an order pausing his expulsion. In December of 2019, a few days before Christmas Day, a miracle happened. Monica Crooms, an attorney fighting his case told him that his deportation order had been cancelled. Santos has lived in the United States too long to not consider the country, like Mexico, his home. He came to the United States in 1991 and was a street vendor in Washington Heights, New York for nearly a decade. In 2000, he got lost in Michigan and crossed into Canada, and when he returned to the United States, ICE officers warned him that they were filing a complaint for which he had to appear before a judge in Detroit, Michigan. In 2003, without receiving a notification, Santos and his family moved to Southern California. The Santos opened a small flower shop called Santos Flowers that today became a chain of several stores, employing more than twenty people. He became known as ``the king of flowers.'' He submitted his application for a green card when he thought about regularizing his situation. In August of 2017 he was summoned to a hearing, only to learn that the Detroit judge had waited for him and in his absence, had ordered his deportation in 2000. Santos was a well-liked man in the city for his contribution to the local economy, fifteen years he had created a distribution network that took his flowers to more than one hundred and fifty supermarkets. The judge received letters from politicians and community leaders asking him to seek legal pathways for Santos not to be deported. Gualterio Santos, an Oaxacan entrepreneur, considers the support given to him by officials in Santa Ana helped him recover his freedom. Santos is grateful for his second chance in the United States of America. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring and celebrating the achievements of Gualterio Santos.

Mr. CORREA

Mr. CORREA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the achievements of Mr. Mike Gonzalez. Mr. Gonzalez is originally from Guadalajara, Jalisco, and immigrated to the United States of America at age 17. After immigrating to the U.S., he began his new life by obtaining a license from the State of California to start his career as a private investigator and bodyguard, eventually starting his own company. A resident of Santa Ana, California, since 1987, he now owns several businesses, including Santa Ana Security Services, Inc., and employs 250 men and women. Mr. Gonzalez is a community leader and activist in Santa Ana, where he organizes the annual May Day March for immigrant rights, workers' rights, and human rights for all. He also coordinated the historic ``2006 March'' to protest a law that sought to criminalize those who help undocumented immigrants in the United States. Mr. Gonzalez is an active member in the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), and he serves as the organization's vice president of Immigration Reform. In this role, he participates in historic campaigns such as, but not limited to, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), the 2018 VOICES Act, and the 2019 ``Keep California Families Together'' law. He was a counselor to the previous four Presidents of Mexico electors at the Consulate of Mexico. In 1995, he actively participated in campaigns that led to an amendment to the Mexican Constitution. In the period of 2005 through 2008, he was a member of the Advisory Council of the Institute of Mexicans Abroad (CC-IME). From 2012 through 2015, he was an inventor and coordinator of the Commission of Art, Culture, and Mexican Traditions Abroad. Mr. Gonzalez is a practicing Catholic and gives thanks to God for his many blessings. He is a man who has made many positive contributions to his community. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring and celebrating the exceptional achievements and career of Mr. Mike Gonzalez.

Mr. CORREA

Mr. CORREA. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to honor the 100th birthday of my constituent, World War II veteran, Joe Juarez, a member of the Greatest Generation. Joe was born in Fullerton, California. While growing up, his favorite sport was baseball. In 1942, Joe and his high school baseball team were on their way to the CIF championship game, but they never made it because Joe and his teammates were drafted and served in World War II. As a private first class, Joe fought in the Pacific and was awarded the Asia-Pacific Campaign Medal and a World War II Victory Medal. Joe spent 2\1/2\ years in the Pacific before returning home. Several of his teammates, including one of his brothers, never made it back. Joe and his wife, Novel, were married for 68 years and raised three children. Throughout his life, Joe has never forgotten his Band of Brothers who gave the ultimate sacrifice for this great country. Happy birthday, Joe. Happy birthday. You are a true American hero.

Mr. CORREA

Mr. CORREA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary career of Jennifer Carpenter, the Chief Operating Officer for D'Amore Healthcare. As the COO for D'Amore Healthcare, Jennifer is a Certified Treatment Executive and holds credentials in the behavioral health field, including certifications as a Qualified Mental Health Specialist and Certified Admissions and Marketing Specialist with CCAPP. Before finding her passion in Admissions with D'Amore Healthcare, Jennifer worked for a nonprofit organization as the Financial Administrator. Her own personal journey led to her dedication in helping others struggling with mental health and substance abuse and allows her to be the point of contact with individuals and their families looking to start their recovery. Throughout her incredible career, Jennifer made sure that her clients are aware of the individual care they will receive while at D'Amore Healthcare, which includes screening and assessment before admissions and following through with the patient's intake from start to finish, in addition to discharge planning. It is my privilege to honor this humble and hard-working woman. Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in acknowledging the career and accomplishments of Jennifer Carpenter.

Mr. CORREA

Mr. CORREA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of George Fraser (AHS Class of 1970), who was one of Anaheim High School's greatest sports legends. George passed away suddenly last weekend on February 12, 2023. As a sophomore, George famously stepped in as quarterback and proceeded to lead the Mighty Colonists to the 1967 CIF Football Championship. George would go on to star for the Colonist football team during his junior and senior seasons, in which Anaheim reached the 4-A Division semifinals each year. He became the first and only football player to ever be named to the All-CIF-SS 4-A Division team three times. George eventually returned to coach football at Anaheim and was on staff when the Colonists again reached the CIF finals in 1987 and 2006, spending more than 20 years coaching at The Colony up to and including last season. George also coached youth sports in the City of Anaheim for decades. George's legacy will live on in our community and through the halls of Anaheim High School. Let us join in mourning the loss of this great Colonist who was a tremendous asset to the Anaheim Community.

Mr. CORREA

Mr. CORREA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of my constituent, Orange County Public Defender Elliot Blair, who passed away while celebrating his first anniversary with his wife in Mexico. Elliot graduated from Cal State Fullerton and earned his degree in law from Loyola Marymount University. Elliot was a devoted public servant and advocate for the underserved and underrepresented. He was a young attorney, a promising young attorney that was loved by our community. On the evening of his passing away, he called his mother and he said, mom, I am going to have dinner at your favorite restaurant. Those were the last words he uttered to his family. Elliot will be missed, but he will not be forgotten.

Mr. CORREA

Mr. CORREA. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to honor my good friend, World War II veteran Jess Saenz, who was a member of the Greatest Generation. He passed away at the age of 98. Born in 1924, Saenz was 19 and had recently graduated from Anaheim High School when he joined the military in 1943. Jess was 1 of 50 young men from the historic Colonia Independencia, a segregated Mexican-American community in my hometown of Anaheim, California, who fought in the Great War. Jess fought the Germans in the Ardennes of France and would later tell us his stories of how he lived in foxholes for 14 months, withstanding cold winter nights and drenching rains. The war, he said, taught him to be responsible and made him a greater man. Upon his return to the United States in 1946, he married Nellie, raised four children, became a carpenter, and helped build this great country. Mr. Speaker, please join me in saluting World War II veteran Jess Saenz, a true American hero and a member of the Greatest Generation.

Mr. CORREA

Mr. CORREA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition. COVID-19 has been the worst pandemic we have had in this world in 100 years. It is a medical issue to be addressed by doctors and not a political issue. Today, my colleagues are asking us to support a bill to terminate the COVID public health emergency, yet the Biden administration's current extension of the public health emergency is a rational one. It is rational in the way we exit from this emergency declaration: We let our healthcare system adjust from this tremendous terrible pandemic that continues to evolve in our society. I would say a politically driven end to COVID-19 is not the way to run our healthcare system. Furthermore, while my colleagues are saying there is no need for a public health emergency, they want to keep title 42 at the border because of its public health emergency implications. My colleagues, I say to you, if you truly believe the pandemic is over, then you can't say that title 42 is still needed at the border because of a healthcare crisis.

Mr. CORREA

Mr. CORREA. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to wish one of my constituents from my hometown of Anaheim, Ms. Margaret Marie Peters, a very happy 94th birthday. Margaret was born in the year of the Great Crash. From an early age, she wanted to learn, and her grandmother taught her how to read and write. She graduated first in her high school class, and she was the first to graduate from high school in her family. Later, Margaret married a decorated World War II marine. Together, they raised five daughters in Anaheim. In her forties, she attended college classes. It was something she always wanted to do. Later on, Margaret spent 29 years working for Disneyland. Margaret will turn 94 on February 2, and she has witnessed many changes in this great country. Clearly, the United States today has come a long way since 1929. Margaret, happy birthday to you and many more.

Mr. CORREA

Mr. CORREA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Frances Munoz, our Nation's first Latina judge. Judge Frances Munoz died on October 17, 2022, of natural causes. She was 92 years old. Judge Frances Munoz has the distinction of being the first Latina female appointed or elected to the bench in California and the first Latina female appointed or elected as a trial court jurist in the United States. She served for 23 years in the Orange County Municipal and Superior Courts and an additional 15 years as an Assigned Judge. From humble beginnings, Frances was born at the height of the depression on September 18, 1930, the 5th of 11 children, in the mining town of Miami, Arizona. The family moved to Puritan, Colorado, and her father continued to work in the coal mines until the mines ``played out.'' In 1941, the family moved to Corona, California, and joined the thousands of others working in farm labor. Frances and her siblings joined their parents in the fields during the summers picking tomatoes, grapes, and other crops in the Fresno area, sometimes sleeping outdoors. Judge Munoz inspired her younger siblings to study and pursue higher education. After high school, she went to work selling furniture and she paid for the college expenses of her siblings. Undaunted, Judge Munoz pursued her own education by attending night classes at Los Angeles City College, UCLA and law school while managing Atlas Furniture stores during the day. In 1972, Judge Munoz received her law degree from Southwestern University School of Law where she was a member of Law Review. She moved to Orange County, where her brother Greg, a graduate from USC law school, had opened a practice. Greg later became an Orange County Superior Court judge and served alongside Frances on the bench. In 1972, Frances joined the office of the Orange County Public Defender, where she was the first Latina and the second woman to be hired in that office. In 1974, she and several Latino attorneys established the Orange County Mexican-American Lawyers Club, which was later renamed the Hispanic Bar Association of Orange County. One of their goals was to ensure that more Latinos, who were qualified and experienced, be appointed or elected to the bench. As a result of their efforts, today there are 19 Latino judges out of 124 Superior Court Judges on the Orange County bench and two Latino justices out of eight Appellate Court justices in Orange County. On January 25, 1978, Governor Jerry Brown's office telephoned Frances Munoz to advise her that she had been appointed as a Judge in the Harbor Municipal County in Orange County. She was not at her desk. She was in court representing a defendant in a felony jury trial. As a Deputy Public Defender, she was known as a zealous advocate. But she was also noted for being civil with opposing counsel and respectful of the court. She was also acknowledged for creating and meticulously cataloging 3x5 cards in a small box. On each card she wrote out the facts and holding of the appellate court in key cases involving ``furtive gestures,'' ``search of trunk,'' and other criminal law issues. She would quickly retrieve a key citation during a motion or trial. Within months of her appointment, she was opposed by a male Deputy District Attorney. Several Harbor Municipal Court judges, and multitudes of Orange County attorneys, court staff, bailiffs, police officers, and clergy rallied around her to host fundraisers and to support her in the retention election. Her 10 brothers and sisters and their children and parishioners from her church, St. Joachim Catholic Church in Costa Mesa, canvassed neighborhoods to get out the vote. In that 1980 election, Judge Frances Munoz was retained with the largest plurality of votes of any challenged judge in the state. Four other judges in Orange County lost their seats that year. She was never challenged again. In 1980 and 1990 she was elected the Supervising Judge of the Harbor Municipal Court and in 1990 was also recognized as the Outstanding Judge of the Year by the Orange County Women Lawyers Association. In 1976, she co-founded the Orange County Hispanic Education Endowment Fund which awards college scholarships to Latino scholars. In 2001, Judge Munoz retired from the bench, but continued her public service as an assigned judge until 2016. She also served on the board of directors of THINK--Teaching, Helping, Instructing Kids and boards of other non-profit organizations. Every Thursday she would tutor students at Santa Ana's Madison Elementary school. She was also a keen real estate investor who purchased several commercial and residential properties. She always accommodated nieces and nephews in her spacious Corona Del Mar home while they studied and earned their bachelors, masters or medical degrees at the University of California, Irvine. Judge Munoz is survived by four sisters, Margaret Munoz, Vera Munoz- Harrison, Rosie Schirling, and Angie Quintana, and 25 nieces and nephews and 45 great nieces and nephews. Please join me in celebrating the long, accomplished life of Judge Frances Munoz, She will be remembered for her perseverance in the face of adversity, excellence as a law student, attorney and judge, for her lifetime dedication to public service and children's education, and for her compassionate and gracious spirit.

Mr. CORREA

Mr. CORREA. Mr. Speaker, this is a great country. I rise to honor the life and legacy of Judge James Ortega Perez. Part of the Greatest Generation, Judge Ortega Perez grew up in my district, in a segregated community, a farmworker. When World War II started, he answered the call of duty and joined the Army where he served as a sergeant with the Army Corps of Engineers. After fighting for this great country, he came back and finished his high school graduation at Santa Ana High School, but he wasn't done. Then he enrolled at the University of Southern California, where he got a bachelor's degree and then went on to USC Law School. He then became the first Latino attorney in Orange County, California. Then he was appointed as the first Latino judge in Orange County, California. It is a great country. Judge Ortega Perez went from being a farmworker to the halls of justice in Orange County. Today, we honor the life and legacy of Judge Ortega Perez.

Mr. CORREA

Mr. CORREA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary achievements and career of retired California Superior Court Judge Frederick P. Aguirre. Judge Aguirre attributes every opportunity he had in life to the heroism of his family, particularly his father, who played a major role in helping desegregate the schools he and his siblings attended in Placentia, California. A graduate of the University of Southern California and the University of California at Los Angeles Law School, Judge Aguirre learned to appreciate that it was the service of his father in the U.S. Military, along with numerous other family members, that gave his padre the power to stand up to the inequity he saw after returning home from World War II. Aguirre's father, Alfred, Uncles Richard and Joe, and 23 assorted cousins all served in Germany, Italy, North Africa, the Pacific in all branches of the U.S. Military during World War II, He also had 6 cousins who served in the Korean War and others who are still military members. After returning from war, many of those servicemen, now accustomed to receiving the same treatment as white soldiers, did not stand by when their children were expected to attend separate schools. Aguirre's father, who worked in construction the rest of his life, joined the fight to integrate Orange County Schools, eventually becoming the first Hispanic City Councilman in Placentia. Because of the sacrifices of his antepasados ancestors, Aguirre achieved success as a lawyer and as a judge. His wife, Linda, whose father and 5 uncles served in World War II and Korea, also experienced an accomplished career as a teacher for 3 decades in the Anaheim Union High School District. The couple, who never forgot the freedom and opportunities their forefathers provided, realized it was now time for them to reciprocate by researching and documenting the pivotal--and largely unknown--role Mexican Americans from Orange County played in U.S. military history, Under the non-profit Latino Advocates for Education, Frederick and Linda, along with research partner Rogelio Rodriguez, produced books, a documentary and a website, which is now managed by the Orange County Department of Education. Their recognition efforts also involved holding numerous community events to honor Latino veterans at local colleges and universities. These events continue today, most recently with Chapman University's History Department, which has taken on the task of recording oral histories of Orange County's Latino veterans. Judge Aguirre's efforts to recognize and honor Latino veterans calls attention to his dedication in uplifting his Hispanic community. Throughout his professional career, he served as the President of the Orange County Hispanic Bar Association, as well as the President of the League of United Latin American Citizen. Among his many accolades, he was recognized in 2014 as one of the ``101 Influential Latinos in the U.S.'' by Latino Leaders Magazine. Additionally, Mr, Aguirre was named Judge of the Year by the Hispanic Bar Association of Orange County in 2003. Frederick Aguirre has created a legacy with roots that trace back to his father, a WWII veteran, his mother, Julia, who supported the war effort as a Rosie the Riveter working at Douglas Aircraft in Long Beach, and to his many relatives who served honorably in the U.S. Military, For his efforts, the world now knows the names of the Mexican- Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country. I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the legacy of Judge Frederick P. Aguirre's work to ensure that Mexican-American veterans will be remembered honorably in American history.

Mr. CORREA

Mr. CORREA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary career of Coach Art Venegas. Coach Venegas is regarded as the premier collegiate women and men's throwing coach in the Nation and is world-renowned for his coaching expertise with elite world champion athletes. Born in Tepic, Mexico, Venegas moved to California when he was age 11. He entered the world of track and field while attending St. Genevieve High School in Panorama City, where he was a shot put and discus performer. Following his 1970 high school graduation, Venegas became a standout at Cal State Northridge, where he was a four-year letterman in the hammer throw and earned Division II All-America honors in 1974. Prior to his legendary career at UCLA, Venegas coached at Long Beach State (1980 to 81) and at his alma mater, Cal State Northridge (1976 to 79). At Long Beach State, Venegas coached Bill Green, hammer thrower and former U.S. record-holder (255-0 ), who placed fifth at the 1984 Olympics. He also coached 1984 Olympic Trials shot put finalist Mike Smith (64-10). As an assistant, and later, as head coach at UCLA, his efforts contributed to 21 consecutive wins against the University of Southern California. He also led the UCLA Women's Indoor Track and Field team to its first National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) title in 2000, and to a consecutive NCAA title in 2001. After 31 years of coaching at UCLA, Venegas contributed his time and talents to training the nation's top throwers at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, California. Additionally, because of his expertise on throwing, he is a sought- after speaker and has delivered remarks to the 11th World Congress of the International Track and Field Coaches Association in Barcelona, Spain. In 1987, he was the featured speaker at the International Amateur Athletic Federation European Coaching Congress. He has also worked with the British and Spanish national teams. In recognition of his extraordinary career, Coach Venegas was inducted into the United States Track and Field Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2022. Outside of work, Art Venegas is an honorable man who takes great pride in Hispanic Heritage. He is always willing to help younger coaches new to the game and especially see other minorities through the coaching ranks. He is devoted to his wife, the former Marlene Estrada, and their two children, Jessica and Yvette. Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in acknowledging the long career and accomplishments of Hall of Fame Coach Art Venegas.

Mr. CORREA

Mr. CORREA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Law Enforcement De-Escalation Act that will add additional funding for our local police officers. In my local police agencies, they are asking for this funding, they are asking for additional training. Today, the job of a police officer goes beyond protecting our family. Today, we are asking police officers, protect our families and address mental health issues and address substance abuse issues and address the issue of homelessness. We have watched in horror on television as situations get out of control because police officers are not trained to deal with these issues on a day-to-day basis. It is time to make a difference. It is time to train our peace officers to do the job that we hired them to do, which is protect our families and to address the local issues, to address the new jobs that we have asked them to take on. This bill will assure that our peace officers are trained and prepared to handle the situations they encounter on a day-to-day basis. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to please support additional funding that our local police officers and local police agencies are asking for.

Mr. CORREA

Mr. CORREA. Madam Speaker, l rise today to celebrate the exemplary life of Kathy Moffat. Born and raised in Lincoln, Nebraska, Kathy Moffat has lived her life leading with knowledge, experience, and community connection while serving the City of Orange, California, as an Orange Unified School District (OUSD) Trustee. In her early years, she attended the University of Nebraska where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education. After completing her higher education, she went on to pursue teaching education to the younger generation. She taught upper elementary grades for eight years in the states of Nebraska, Maryland, and Kansas before moving to California. Kathy and her husband, Duncan, are parents of three grown children, who were all educated in OUSD K-12th grades, and grandparents of seven amazing grandchildren. Devoted to education and to parent involvement, Kathy has served as a PTA member and leader on the local, state, and national levels for more than 35 years. Kathy was first elected to the OUSD Board in 2001 in a recall election and then elected to a full term in 2002. She continued to serve on the board for nearly 22 years and has notably been re-elected 5 times. Moffat's backing of strong academics has resulted in more student access and participation in Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) classes. Under Kathy's leadership, the district also started providing SAT testing to all interested high school students to decrease the financial burden on families in the City of Orange. Kathy's community leadership roles include President of the Orange YMCA, Director on the Orange County School Boards Association, Director of the Leadership Orange Program of the Orange Chamber of Commerce, the Orange County Committee on School District Organization, and as an active member of her church. Recent educational challenges have required dedicated leadership and strong guidance. Due to her impressive background and track record, Kathy Moffat has certainly met those challenges. A champion of education, she has been a tireless advocate for the students and frequently visits school sites to support those in need. She is said to be one of the best friends' public educations has ever had. Madam Speaker, it is my great privilege to honor this humble, hard- working woman. It is leaders like Kathy Moffat, who help make our country great by serving as role models to our children and to our communities.

Mr. CORREA

Mr. CORREA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the exceptional advocacy and service of community leader Venancio Chavez. Born on May 18, 1962, in Hidalgo, Mexico, Mr. Chavez immigrated to Santa Ana, California, in 1986, where he soon became a community leader and advocate for educational equity in the Santa Ana Unified School District. Mr. Chavez advocacy work was conducted through his membership with several Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs). As president of Garfield Elementary's PTA from 1995 to 1998, he worked for better safety and quality of life for the students and parents. He helped plant hedges that served a safety barrier and he also established a community garden. His leadership continued as a member of the Villa Fundamental Junior High School PTA from 2001 to 2004. During this time, he advocated for equal opportunities for disadvantaged and disabled students. His advocacy led to the creation of the lottery system for incoming students for all fundamental high schools in the City of Santa Ana. As PTA President at Century High School from 2004 to 2008, he increased parent attendance at PTA meetings by inspiring them to become more involved on campus. Additionally, he spearheaded efforts to create community yard sales to fundraise for the PTA. These efforts afforded the school a lighted marquee to provide seamless communication with parents. One of his most lasting legacies is the founding of El Sol Science and Arts Academy, which opened in Santa Ana in 2001 with 1,000 students in preschool through eighth grade. El Sol Academy is a leading dual- immersion public charter school that offers an intensive academic instructional program that prepares students for high school and beyond. His goal of providing greater access to high education for Santa Ana's low-income families has been realized as El Sol students have gone on to attend the top colleges and universities throughout our nation. Mr. Chavez continued his advocacy work with Orange Coast College as President of the school's Extended Opportunity and Services Program. In this position, Mr. Chavez endeavored to bring inclusivity within higher education by fostering community ties through campus engagement and provide students with equitable resources. Student and family engagement increased due to his efforts. In 2012, Venancio Chavez graduated from Orange Coast College with his Associates degree, with a certificate in Special Education, and he later earned his certificate to become a veterinarian assistant. Mr. Chavez is a volunteer food distributor with Saddleback Church. He also supports the Ebell Club of Santa Ana and has dedicated more than 25 years of service to the French Park Plaza Homeowners' Association Board of Directors. Venancio Chavez is a dedicated man who strives to assist anyone who may need help. Through his advocacy and dedication to public service, Mr. Chavez has uplifted his local community and helped improve equity and access to higher education for school children in the City of Santa Ana. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the exceptional advocacy and service of community leader Venancio Chavez.

Mr. CORREA

Mr. CORREA. Madam Speaker, if I may, I just want to say that the Dreamer issue is not about immigrants, it is about America. Dreamers are the perfect kind of immigrant that you want in this country. They follow the law. They pay taxes. They are either gainfully employed or have to be studying in order to qualify as a Dreamer under the DACA program. Now, 70 to 80 percent of all Americas, Democrats and Republicans, support a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers. They are our friends. They are our neighbors, firefighters, police officers, and they also serve in the military. Here is a poster of one of my constituents, Jose Angel Garibay. He was the first servicemember from Orange County to make the ultimate sacrifice for America after 9/11 in Iraq. He died as a Dreamer, as a noncitizen. Later on, this body saw it appropriate to give him U.S. citizenship posthumously. Jose shouldn't have waited until after he passed away to become a U.S. citizen because he made the ultimate sacrifice for his new country--the only country he knew, the United States of America. Madam Speaker, I am proud to inform you that I represent probably the largest number of Dreamers in the country: Orange County, California. Orange County, the county that Ronald Reagan used to say was the place that good Republicans would go to die. Not very long ago, my daughter came home with two of her very good friends, and they were both very scared and crying. They said: We are Dreamers. Are we going to be deported? What do we do? Good, sweet, young ladies--students. I said: You keep studying hard. You keep working hard. You keep following the law. You keep being a good person and let us work on legislation in Washington. Today, my simple ask from the Senate is: Do the right thing. Stop treating Dreamers as political footballs, you kick them whenever it is appropriate. I ask the Senate to please pass the Dreamer legislation and give those 2 million Dreamers the opportunity to earn--not to be given--but to earn a pathway to the American Dream. Again, 70 to 80 percent of Americans agree with this concept. Let's do our job. Let's continue to keep America as the greatest country in the world.

Mr. CORREA

Mr. CORREA. Mr. Speaker, this is the oath a soldier takes when he is joining the military: I do swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me. Mr. Speaker, follow me here. A soldier takes this oath without any reservation, mental or otherwise. He fights for our country, for our Nation, he or she is honorably discharged, and is not a citizen. Corporal Jose Angel Garibay lived in my district. Jose Angel was the first servicemember in Orange County to make the ultimate sacrifice for this country in Iraq after 9/11. He took the oath. Yet, he died as a noncitizen. He deserved to die as an American citizen. And many, many other honorably discharged veterans, are deported, but they can come back once they die because they still have the right to be buried in a national cemetery. Let's pay our debt to our veterans. We ask them to fight, to serve our country, to defend our freedom, and our moral obligation is to take care of all our veterans. Let's pay our debt to our veterans. Let's pass the Veteran Service Recognition Act.

Mr. CORREA

Mr. CORREA. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the retirement of Rancho Santiago Community College Trustee, Larry Labrado. Larry has served on the Board of Trustees since 1994, and he's now retiring after 28 outstanding years. Prior to Larry's service on the Board, he was an educator with more than 26 years of experience in enrollment management. He also served as an outreach director at California State University, Fullerton. Larry has devoted much of his career in advancing the education of local youth and Latino children and adults. He has earned numerous awards and held countless leadership roles over the past four decades. He was named as one of 50 successful Latino Alumni from California State University, Fullerton and was also inducted onto the University's Education Opportunity Programs Hall of Fame. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Larry Labrado and the years of service he has given to Orange County and generations of students.

Mr. CORREA

Mr. CORREA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Korean War Veteran Norio Uyematsu. Norio was born in Cupertino, California, the oldest of four children raised by parents Niroku and Shitsuyo Uyematsu, who immigrated to America from Hiroshima, Japan. Norio is a second-generation Japanese American, or Nisei, and he is now one of the few surviving Japanese American veterans who served in the Korean War. During World War II, when he was age 11, Norio's family was imprisoned for three years in a Japanese American concentration camp in Heart Mountain, Wyoming. As they had no home to return to, the Uyematsu family relocated to Brigham City, Utah, in 1945. He graduated from Box Elder High School in Brigham City in 1948 and decided to enlist in the Army. He was only 17 and needed his parent's approval. His father signed his enlistment form immediately, but his mother would not sign until a month before his 18th birthday. His service began January 3, 1949, when he went through basic and advanced training in Anti-Aircraft Artillery at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas. In April of 1950, his planned transfer to Okinawa, Japan, was abruptly changed with the invasion of North Korea into South Korea. Instead, he was transferred to Camp Drake in Japan and was assigned to guard Misawa Air Force Base in Northern Japan. In July of 1951, his unit was sent to Korea to guard Kimpo Air Base. Norio was then assigned to the 521st Military Intelligence Service to interrogate prisoners of war. For his service, Norio, who achieved the rank of Corporal, was decorated with 10 medals. He was honorably discharged from the Army on July 27, 1952 and returned to Utah. From that day forward, Norio dedicated his life to remembering his fallen comrades and to keeping the Korean War veterans' memories alive The Korean War, which began on June 25, 1950 and concluded on July 27, 1953, became known as the ``Forgotten War.'' But Norio never forgot that 33,600 American soldiers were killed in action fighting to prevent the North Korean Communist regime from taking over South Korea. Of the 33,600 men who lost their lives defending South Korea, 247 of those soldiers were Japanese Americans. Because of their selfless sacrifice, the tide of communism on the Korean Peninsula was halted and liberty triumphed over tyranny. Today, the Republic of Korea is a free democracy because of the service of the 5,000 Japanese Americans and other honorable soldiers who fought in the Korean War. Now, a few months short of age 92, he is still working to make sure the sacrifices made by his fellow soldiers are remembered. To fulfill his mission, Norio has served as an active member in several veterans organizations: the Japanese American Korean War Veterans. the Korean War Veterans Association, the Nisei Veterans Coordinating Council, the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 100, the American Legion, and the Japanese American Veterans Association, and the Kazuo Masuda VFW Memorial Post 3670, of which he was a three term commander. To continue his ties to his Utah roots, he is also a member of the Salt Lake Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League. Norio also continues his volunteer activism by supporting community projects and attending events, including the July 27, 2022 dedication of the Korean War Veterans Memorial ``Wall of Remembrance'' in Washington, DC. Throughout his life, Norio was supported in his work by his wife of 63 years, Hanako Rose Fujikawa Uyematsu, also from Brigham City. They raised three boys, Michael, Ronald, and Thomas, who gave them eleven grand-children and two great grandchildren. Rose passed away in 2020 at home in Anaheim, California. For many, Norio Uyematsu's contributions to his community are not well known since he preferred to humbly work in the shadows. But his spirit of service will continue by the foundation he set reminding others of what Korean War veterans did over 68 years ago to defend Democracy and Freedom. The people of America and the Republic of Korea will be forever grateful.