Raúl Grijalva

Mr. GRIJALVA

Mr. GRIJALVA. I yield myself as much time as I may consume. (Mr. GRIJALVA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. GRIJALVA

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I wish to recognize an Arizona youth mariachi group, Los Changuitos Feos de Tucson on the occasion of its 50th anniversary. Established in Tucson in 1964 by a Catholic priest to learn mariachi music as a means to keep parish youth occupied over the summer, Los Changuitos Feos de Tucson has grown to be a cultural icon--not only in the Southwest, but all over the world. The group was the first of its kind and has become a youth mariachi model for dozens of similar groups created since. In 1971, Los Changuitos Feos de Tucson incorporated as a secular nonprofit organization with a community board of directors. Los Changuitos Feos de Tucson has had the distinguished honor of performing at three presidential inaugurations and has also accompanied many internationally known celebrities and entertainers. The Changuitos have recorded five albums and have had the privilege to play on network television. Young Latino musicians in middle and high school dedicate themselves to perfecting their talent under the guidance of skilled music teachers to learn the intricacies of the mariachi musical form, a type of music referred to as a world cultural treasure by UNESCO. While they hone their musical skills and provide entertainment to the larger community, mariachi performers with Los Changuitos Feos de Tucson are eligible for college scholarships to the school of their choice. More than $480,000 in scholarships has been disbursed to former Changuitos who are pursuing a post-secondary degree to this day. Often former members of Los Changuitos Feos de Tucson are the first in their family to receive a college degree. Former Changuitos who have sought careers in the music industry have won Grammy Awards, while others have used the scholarships to become physicians, lawyers, engineers, business owners, entrepreneurs, and community leaders. Los Changuitos Feos de Tucson is the quintessential example of the impact discipline and dedication could have on deepening cultural appreciation by perfecting local talent, while encouraging leadership growth and youth empowerment through community service. And finally, we must acknowledge the dedicated parents of the Changuitos who support their childrens' efforts. Without them, Los Changuitos Feos de Tucson could never have become the respected and revered cultural and musical icon that it is today. Congratulations and best wishes to Los Changuitos Feos de Tucson as we join them to celebrate on August 23, 2014 for its 50th Anniversary with a reunion and concert. I thank this youth organization for their longstanding tradition of perseverance and setting an example to all Tucson youth.

Mr. GRIJALVA

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I and my colleagues on this side of the aisle don't have the intuitive gift to know that every child or the majority of every child that is there doesn't have a right to refuge and doesn't have a right to asylum. That is why we have been so tenacious about protecting a law that provides due process, adjudication, and representation for these children, so that they have a fair opportunity to get refuge and to get asylum as the law prescribes. The previous bill that failed dismantled that. Ted Cruz did not give it his seal of the approval, so it didn't get out of the Republican Caucus. Now, before us, we have a rule that is fraudulent, we have a forthcoming law that will be fraudulent, and it will be worse than the previous one. Now, we are going to codify getting rid of DREAMers and DACA into this law. What is the purpose? To turn out a base? Is this a political strategy? Is this a political expediency on the shoulders of children, on the shoulders of the American values, and on the shoulders of our history? How shameful, how cynical--vote ``no'' on the rule.

Mr. GRIJALVA

Mr. GRIJALVA. Madam Chair, I am here to support the amendment to prohibit the use of ground troops in Iraq. What the American people are seeking is an end to 10, 12, 11 years of a war without end. What the American people are seeking is attention to the needs in this country. What the veterans that have fought in that war are seeking are jobs and the proper care for the visible and invisible wounds of that war. The only thing we need to protect--and it is not about us going into a conflict and picking sides in what is fundamentally a religious war where there will be no end for us. We must avoid and prevent combat troops being in Iraq. We do that because the American people are against it; we do that because it is the moral imperative; and we do that because we have learned a lesson from history. And history has taught us that this is a war that will not end. We have an opportunity to end it. We have an opportunity to demand of the international community that they use diplomacy to solve the problem in the region.

Mr. GRIJALVA

Mr. GRIJALVA. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Madam Chair, no hardworking American should ever have to worry that her employer will refuse to pay her when she works overtime or take money out of her paycheck, especially if she works for a Federal contractor. The practice is known as wage theft. Right now, Federal contractors who violate the Fair Labor Standards Act are still allowed to apply for Federal contracts. My amendment would deny Federal contracts to those who violate the Fair Labor Standards Act to deny workers the pay that they have earned. The amendment ensures that those in violation of the law do not get taxpayer support. We should be in the business of rewarding good actors and not rewarding cheaters.

Mr. GRIJALVA. I yield to the gentleman from Iowa.

Mr. GRIJALVA. I thank the gentleman. Madam Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GRIJALVA

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Chairman, this budget is about choice. The Better Off Budget believes in the American people. It believes in investing in the American people and in their future. It is the best road to economic health and full economic opportunity in this country. Our budget does not look at government or the American people with disdain. We feel that government has a role, quite frankly, to stimulate, to support, and to take care of the American people as we grow our economy. We can't cut our way out of what we are in; we need to grow our way out. The Ryan budget continues the same pattern of austerity that is sinking us deeper into unemployment, lack of jobs, and lack of investment in the American people. I urge Members to vote ``yes'' on the Congressional Progressive Better Off Budget. We feel it is a strong budget and that it represents the ideals of the American people. We trust the American people, and we invest in the American people. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Pocan), a member of the caucus and the Budget Committee.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Chairman, budgets are about choices. We choose investment. We choose not to cut Medicare benefits to give tax breaks to the very wealthy, millionaires and billionaires in the country. It is a choice. I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Holt), a member of the caucus.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone).

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Chairman, it should be noted for my colleague that the Republican budget, according to the Economic Policy Institute, will slow the recovery, costing 1.1 million jobs in fiscal year 2015, rising to costing nearly 3 million jobs the next year. That is not a budget of growth. I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Ellison), the cochair.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlelady from California, Ms. Barbara Lee, the leader in the Progressive Caucus.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Chairman, at this point, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlelady from Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky).

Mr. GRIJALVA. I yield the gentlelady an additional 10 seconds.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Chairman, I rise as the designee of the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Ellison) to offer amendment No. 3, the Congressional Progressive Caucus' Better Off Budget substitute.

Mr. GRIJALVA. I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Honda).

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Chairman, the Congressional Progressive Caucus brings to the House a budget that is a blueprint for economic growth and opportunity for all Americans. In the course of the last few weeks and certainly the last few days, we have heard over and over from our colleagues in various hearings and here on the floor about the growth gap in America, and the policies that are being reinforced in the Ryan budget, in my estimation, created that growth gap. We are here today with a budget that assures that we deal with all the gaps that the American people have, income inequality gap, wage disparity gap, education gap, the minimum wage gap, the gender pay gap between men and women, and the jobs gap that is present in our country at this point. The best way to get out of poverty is to go to work. Everybody knows that. Our budget, within 3 years, creates 8.8 million jobs. With that, Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Chairman, it should be noted the Republican budget, the Ryan budget, raises taxes for middle class families with kids by an average of $2,000 in order to coddle, I guess, the very wealthy in this country. They are better off; that middle class family is not. I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Nadler), a member of the Budget Committee and the Progressive Caucus.

Mr. GRIJALVA

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I think the Representatives from Washington stated the case for the legislation. All of us concur with that. I urge all Members to vote for this piece of legislation. It is thoughtful, it is pragmatic, and it is necessary to do it with some urgency so that that historic site is not lost. With that, I yield back the remainder of my time.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as she may consume to the gentlelady from Washington (Ms. DelBene), the sponsor of the legislation.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to how much time is remaining.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the Green Mountain Lookout tower is perched on a bluff overlooking Washington State's Cascade Mountains in what is now the Glacier Peak Wilderness. Built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps, the tower is a popular destination for hikers and a testament to our long tradition of public lands-based service and training programs. A lawsuit challenged the tower's presence in the wilderness area, and a judge ruled it be removed. Passage today of S. 404 will ensure the tower remains where it is, which we feel is important and appropriate. I want to thank Senator Murray of Washington and Representative DelBene, the sponsor of the House companion. It is thanks to their hard work that we are considering this legislation today. While it will not take away from the tragedy of the recent mudslide, passing this bill today will be a big win for the local community and the State of Washington as a whole. We support the legislation and thank the majority and the chairman for bringing it up under suspension of the rules. With that, I reserve the balance of my time.