Sylvia Garcia

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Madam Speaker, I thank the chairwoman for the time allotted to me. Today, I speak to celebrate the legacies of fellow Houstonians, former President George H.W. Bush and former First Lady Barbara Bush. Before and after Mr. Bush's Presidency, he and Barbara made Houston, Texas, their home. They quickly became mainstays in our community, in part, because of their support of Houston sports teams--I know; I sat in the big box with them at many Astros games--and also for the Houston Rodeo. They both wore their hats really well and all things Houston. But mostly, it was because of their advocacy for serving the public good in all their philanthropic efforts. Barbara Bush was an enthusiastic champion of improving literacy for families and children. The Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy, for example, donated money to replace books and materials destroyed after Hurricane Harvey. Former President Bush was equally committed to public service. His foundation, Points of Light, mobilized volunteers after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast in 2005; and, as the chairwoman noted, President Bush, together with President Clinton and others, always together, formed the Presidents Club to help after any disaster. He was able to reach across the aisle and, again, do what he knew to do best, which was to serve the public good. I am a proud cosponsor of this commemorative coin act to honor both of them and their charitable work in Houston and throughout. I cannot think of a better ambassador for Houston for all these years than the Bushes. Many of us went from calling him President Bush to just simply George and Barbara because they were always together. I know every time we went to a game of the Astros and that kiss cam would go around the field, whenever it got there to either George or Barbara, George was ready, and the crowd just loved it, because the President was always there, ready to kiss Barbara on the spot as long as the kiss cam caught them. They were truly Houston's greatest ambassadors. They are missed, but their legacy lives on. I thank the sponsors of this bill, Senator Cornyn over in the Senate and Mr. Williams here in the House. I thank the chairwoman for giving me the time to say a few words about some people who were really very, very, important to Houston.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, on December 21, 2019, the Galena Park ISD's North Shore Senior High School football team became back-to- back State football champions. It was a hard-fought win, but they won because they worked together as a team displaying much heart and grit on the field. This win was the culmination of an entire year's worth of practice and hard work under the leadership of Coach Kay. They took nothing for granted and showed the entire State that with hard work and determination, anything is possible. The North Shore Senior High School football team made all of the North Shore Mustangs and the Galena Park ISD community very, very proud. As their Congresswoman, I was not there, but I was watching from afar cheering them on, and I am so happy to share their achievement with all of Congress on this floor of the House of Representatives. Congratulations for an amazing win. I know we can do it again, and we will make it a three-peat.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Madam Speaker, I didn't come to Congress to impeach the President--even when he separated babies from their parents at the border, even when he took money from our troops to build his wall. No, I didn't call for impeachment because I am here to make a difference in the lives of my constituents. Yet, here we are in the middle of a constitutional crisis. As a former judge, I took my responsibility seriously to weigh the evidence and determine if the President's actions were impeachable. Unfortunately, the evidence in the Intelligence and Judiciary reports leaves us with no choice but to impeach the President. So I stand on my oath that I have sworn to the Constitution and to the American people, and, today, I urge my colleagues to stand by their oaths, too. The Framers of the Constitution included impeachment as a safeguard against a corrupt President whose misconduct could destroy the very foundations of our country. Donald J. Trump abused his power when he obstructed Congress and ordered government officials not to appear before us. Donald J. Trump corrupted our election when he asked a foreign government to interfere for his personal and political gain. Today, sadly, I ask my colleagues: Will you put your party over our country, or will you help save our democracy and vote ``yes'' on the Articles of Impeachment before you? I urge you to vote ``yes.''

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Madam Speaker, I stand as an original cosponsor of the Farm Workforce Modernization Act. Agricultural workers are crucial to our economy and this bill would establish a legal and reliable farm workforce. I support this bill because it recognizes the humanity of farmworkers and their families. This is personal to me. I grew up poor picking cotton in the fields of South Texas. I can testify firsthand about the incredibly hard, back breaking work farm workers do, especially in the heart of South Texas. Not much has changed since I worked in the fields. This bill is long overdue and would provide farm workers with important worker protections and legal rights that they desperately need. Texas is home to nearly 250,000 farms and the need for a strong agricultural workforce is vital.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, today I want to congratulate our very own Lina Hidalgo, the county judge and chief executive of Harris County, for being named to the Forbes 30 Under 30. A proud immigrant, born in Colombia, and the product of Houston-area public schools, Lina was the first in her family to graduate from college. Lina went on to serve as a medical interpreter at the Texas Medical Center and has supported immigrants throughout her career. Last year, Lina became the first woman and the first minority ever elected county judge in Harris County. Lina is an inspiration to everyone in the community and has dedicated her life to serving the public and promoting equality. Lina is an example of how immigrants make America great, with her hard work and contributions to her county and her country. She is the product of the American Dream, an American value we must preserve so that everyone who turns to America for an opportunity to achieve a better life can achieve it. I am so proud to congratulate my friend, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo. ``Felicidades y si se puede.'' Congratulations, and, yes, you can.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Nadler for yielding. I support this bill and its efforts to protect access to the ballot box and advance justice and democracy for all, including Latinos, which represent 77 percent of my district. Enfranchising minority voters will strengthen our democracy because when all eligible voters can exercise their right, our government works better by living up to its ideals of ``we the people.'' This bill aims to maintain elections free, fair, and accessible to all eligible voters. Congress must pass the Voting Rights Advancement Act to restore our ability to prevent voter discrimination. We are all equal at the ballot box, and this bill aims to make sure that that is a reality today, tomorrow, and every day. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in support of H.R. 4.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Madam Chair, I am proud to cosponsor H.R. 1309, introduced by my colleague, Congressman Joe Courtney. This bill requires the Secretary of Labor to develop a comprehensive workplace safety and health standard. Ultimately, this legislation will protect the millions of workers in the healthcare and social service industries by implementing a violence prevention plan. Prevention plans and training are critical tools to mitigate dangerous situations if and when violent emergencies occur in the workplace. Clear and effective plans that address violence prevention benefit both the workers and their patients or clients; and violence prevention plans catered to the respective industries, using evidence- based practices, are even more effective. In the healthcare and social service industries especially, workplace safety reforms are much-needed. Social workers, like healthcare workers, are particularly vulnerable and susceptible to instances of workplace violence. Workers in both of these professions interact daily with people struggling with mental health, addiction, and/or recovering from trauma. Madam Chair, let me just tell you, personally, that I have been impacted by this. I am a former social worker. I will tell this quick story. I went to make a home visit. I was a geriatric social worker at the time. It was in a house, a shutdown house right down Lyons and Jensen. I believe, Madam Chair, that is in your district now. I knocked on the door, and to my surprise and shock and fear, a little old lady--she was probably about 85 or 90--comes out with a gun pointing right at my face, pointing right at my face. That is not what a social worker experts when they are coming to visit a home to make plans for a home healthcare aide, which is what I was doing. But she thought that I was there to take a child away from her that she had in her home and that I was a child welfare worker, so she was defending her son. Actually, it was a street child. I had to convince her with every persuasive part of my body that I was not there to take her child, that I was actually there to help her and give her a home health aide to help her in her home. And quite miraculously, I talked her out of it, and I actually got her to put the gun away. Now, I was lucky, but, regrettably, those things may still be happening out there in America: a social worker facing a gun, a social worker facing violence, a social worker facing harm or injury to herself or others. So that is what this bill is about. It is not about what the employers will or will not do; it is about the protection of the workers and making sure that the employers do have plans, much like they do for hurricanes, that they have plans for violence. So all employees, regardless of the line of work, deserve to feel safe and not feel the fear that I did that day and to be protected from violence in their workplaces. They also deserve to have peace of mind that an informed violence prevention plan is in place. With that in mind, I am proud to offer an amendment to an already excellent bill. My amendment would ensure that annual evaluations of violence prevention plans include changes based on informed findings by employers. Employers can use their personal experiences or lessons learned to effectively update the violence prevention plan in their mandatory annual plan reviews. Simply put, the goal of this amendment is to enhance the participation and protection of covered employers and employees in the creation of updating their annual plans. This is a commonsense amendment intended to implement best practices. Employer input, along with employee input, will create the best violence prevention plans possible. It will also help industries update their prevention plans, as needed, to cater to that specific industry's needs. Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to support the amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Madam Chair, I accept the condolences, but, fortunately for me, I was under threat but did not die. Regrettably, that situation may happen again and someone may die, and that is what I just want to underscore is that social workers, healthcare workers, all social service workers are put in danger many times. This bill and this amendment would simply make sure that we got participation and input from the employers, the employees, and everyone concerned to make sure that we have a good plan and that we use best practices, because, regrettably, not much seems to have changed since the days when I was a social worker. Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Madam Speaker, yesterday, we observed Latina Equal Pay Day. Latinas across the country made our voices heard, demanding an end to the gender pay gap that affects Latinas the most. We Latinas are ``luchadoras''--fighters. Yet, on average, Latinas make 53 cents to the dollar earned by White, non-Hispanic men. We are talking about our ``madres, our abuelitas, our hijas, y tias''-- mothers, grandmothers, daughters, and aunts. Hardworking Latinas deserve better. We should not have to work 23 months to make what White, non-Hispanic men make in 12 months. We must level the playing field. It is not only the right thing to do, but America works best when women are empowered and treated equally. I won't stop fighting until Latinas and all women receive equal pay for equal work.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, the earned income tax credit and the child tax credit are some of the most effective, bipartisan antipoverty programs to come out of Congress; yet many hardworking individuals are unable to access well-earned EITC or CTC refunds. In some cases, the U.S. Treasury has seized an individual's tax credits if they owed student loan debt. These tax credit seizures, in many cases, have pushed families into homelessness. Some have lost their homes; some have lost their cars; others can't even put food on the table for their loved ones. I am filing a bill this morning that seeks to protect these most vulnerable people from EITC and CTC seizures. It would prohibit the Secretary of the Treasury from automatically seizing an individual's EITC or CTC refund for the purpose of paying back student loan debt. This is the right thing to do. No one should have to decide between paying off their student loan debt and providing for their family.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Chair, first, I thank the gentlewoman from California, and my chairwoman, for her leadership in bringing this incredibly important bill to the floor. Mr. Chair, I rise to speak in support of the Ex-Im Bank. Mr. Chair, the Bank provides targeted credit and export support to our small businesses that need it most to stay competitive. We know that the Bank's programs work, and we should not abandon them. I fully support the reauthorization. The Ex-Im Bank plays an irreplaceable role in promoting American exports and keeping small businesses competitive on the international market and helps in creating jobs for America, some 352,000 jobs. Since 2014, the Bank has provided over $450 million worth of export support value in my district alone in the Houston area. Among the 53 total exporters supported in my district, 39--well over half--are small businesses. In Texas, the Bank has supported $12 billion in exports and 815 exporters, including 470 small businesses. Along with the reauthorization of this bill, it also includes an Office of Women and Minority Inclusion. This is important because, in my district alone, seven out of the 53 businesses are minority-owned and four are female-owned. Additionally, this bill includes commonsense environmental and community engagement standards that seek to make sure the Bank is helping meet our Paris climate accord commitments. While these improvements to the Bank contained in the bill are important, I don't want to take away from the bottom-line fact, and that is it creates jobs. This bill supports American manufacturers. This bill supports our exporting sector. This bill helps reduce our trade deficit. That is why I am calling on all of my colleagues to join me in passing this critical legislation.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1773) to award a Congressional Gold Medal, collectively, to the women in the United States who joined the workforce during World War II, providing the aircraft, vehicles, weaponry, ammunition and other material to win the war, that were referred to as ``Rosie the Riveter'', in recognition of their contributions to the United States and the inspiration they have provided to ensuing generations, as amended.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to insert extraneous material thereon.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. During World War II, American women entered the workforce in unprecedented numbers. More than 6 million women answered the call to duty, filling jobs in factories, farms, shipyards, airplane factories, banks, and other institutions left vacant by the men who went to fight overseas. These women, despite facing harassment and disapproval from their male colleagues and family members--and, in the case of minority women, long-held policies of discrimination--nonetheless persevered to provide critical equipment, weaponry, and ammunition to the war effort, all while continuing to serve as primary caretakers for children and as heads of household. The hard work and sacrifices of these women during the war also paved the way for the development of childcare programs and other Federal-, State-, and local-level policies to support working mothers and families. Today, the iconic image of Rosie the Riveter, first popularized as part of a wartime recruitment campaign for female workers, continues to be a symbol of female empowerment and inspiration for women who wish to serve and strengthen their country. H.R. 1773 recognizes the brave, patriotic women who stepped up to serve their country in its time of need and whose leadership and spirit of empowerment continues to inspire ensuing generations. I thank Ms. Speier for joining me in introducing this bill this Congress, and I urge Members to vote ``yes.'' Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. DeSaulnier).

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I am pleased to bring forward a bill celebrating women from all walks of life who, in difficult, dark days chose to rise to the occasion and serve their country. They did not let themselves be confined to archaic notions of what women can or cannot do, nor did they let others dictate what a woman's place is in society. Let me remind my colleagues that these Rosies were also Rositas, who came from all parts of our country, including our Hispanic community. I would like to read from an interview with Aurora Orozco, one of the Rositas from Cuero, Texas, who laid out how so many Latinas contributed. ``In the valley there were these packing sheds where they packed tomatoes and lettuce . . . there were not enough men to work, so they started hiring women. So that is when it started to change a little more in women's lives. They were calling from the government for women to go and work in the factories . . . then they started calling women into the Army. ``And first it was like, oh, my goodness, `dios mio,' how can these women go over there by themselves? Everybody was shocked because we were not used to seeing women leave the house. You didn't leave the house until you were married. With senoritas, everything was so strict and then came this change . . . and I think that was wonderful because it opened a new world for women. It showed that women can be independent. This was a real break for women.'' So let us honor the example these women set and continue to blaze a path for the working women of today and future leaders of tomorrow. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important piece of legislation. Mr. Speaker, I yield the balance of my time to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Speier), the sponsor of this legislation.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I send to the desk a concurrent resolution and ask unanimous consent for its immediate consideration in the House.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Madam Speaker, our democracy is under attack. In 2016, Russia engaged in misinformation campaigns aimed at influencing our election results. Earlier this month, the Senate Intelligence Committee released a report that warns that these campaigns could evolve, intensify, and inspire other bad actors to make similar attempts in 2020. Just yesterday, Facebook reported it shut down new accounts linked to Iran and Russia that are trying to influence our elections next year. Each and every one of us swore an oath to uphold and defend our Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic. Now is the time to live up to that oath. No foreign government can be allowed to jeopardize the future of our democracy. I, therefore, ask each and every one of you today, what will you do to defend our democracy?

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, we all continue to mourn the passing of our dear friend Elijah Cummings. He was an honorable man with a deep commitment to our Nation. He inspired many of us to always do what is right and to seek the truth. It is, therefore, fitting that H.R. 3 will be renamed in his Honor. It is wrong and immoral that Americans spend more money per person on prescription drug prices than any other country in the world. No American should have to decide between life or death because they can't afford their prescription drugs. This is personal to me. Many of my family members suffer from diabetes, as do many of my constituents. This is why I support H.R. 3. Let us honor the legacy of our dear colleague with action. Let's deliver lower prescription drug prices for the American people on his behalf and in his Honor. Rest in power, Mr. Cummings.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 2203, a bill introduced by my dear friend from Texas, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar. There is a humanitarian crisis at the southern border and within the American immigration system. The Homeland Security Improvement Act is a critical bill, not a do-nothing bill. It is a critical bill that addresses our Nation's immigration challenges at the border in a responsible and humane manner by ensuring accountability and oversight through the creation of an ombudsman. Our American values, moral conscience, and Constitution require that we treat all individuals on American soil humanely and respectfully. This bill helps ensure that that happens. Congress must continue working to finally end the humanitarian crisis at the southern border. This is a step in the right direction. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in support of H.R. 2203.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Madam Speaker, this legislation is very simple. It would establish a whistleblower program at the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board based on the program Congress established at the Securities and Exchange Commission under Dodd-Frank. The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board was originally established to ensure proper oversight of audits of public companies. This was done after the implosion of Enron and its accounting firm Arthur Andersen, something that was very painful to many in my district in Houston. In the Dodd-Frank Act Congress passed, it expanded the whistleblower program at the SEC to both provide individual protections for retaliation if they came forward to the Commission and made them eligible for monetary awards if their information led to enforcement action. Likewise, under my bill, individuals would be eligible for a reward program upon the successful completion of disciplinary action. Whistleblowers would be incentivized to come forward when they suspect violations of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act; the rules of the PCAOB and the SEC; and other rules, laws, and professional standards governing audits of public companies. Importantly, these whistleblowers would also be protected against retaliation from their employers. In July, this House overwhelmingly passed the Whistleblower Protection Reform Act by a vote of 410-12. This bill uses the very same whistleblower protections that the House passed in that piece of legislation. This legislation would implement a key recommendation that the Project on Government Oversight board made in a recent report. Madam Speaker, as one can see from that report, it is likely more could be done to strengthen this oversight board and its enforcement abilities, but I am confident that this bill is a good first step. One of the reasons that investors from around the world invest in America is the stability and transparency of our public markets. Congress, the private sector, and regulators have all worked hard to make transparency a selling point around the world. This bill is just one small tool in the toolbox of making sure that transparency and the investor faith it generates in this country continue. Supporters of this bill include the National Whistleblower Center, The Institute of Internal Auditors, and Public Citizen. This bill passed by voice vote out of committee. Madam Speaker, I want to thank Chairwoman Waters and the ranking member, Mr. McHenry, and their staffs for working with us to incorporate some of the bipartisan suggestions that I believe make this bill stronger by ensuring that the SEC and the PCAOB coordinate in their whistleblower efforts. Those changes make this bill stronger, and I thank them for their bipartisan support. Madam Speaker, I will close by simply saying that PCAOB works. Let's keep it going. I hope that all my colleagues will join me in supporting this legislation, and I ask for their support.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Madam Speaker, I will be brief, just two points: Number one, it is not redundant. If it were so, the National Whistleblower Center and The Institute of Internal Auditors wouldn't see a need for it, and neither would the report that we have now placed in the Record. It is needed, and certainly we need to support it. Secondly, in terms of costs, the cost for implementing this bill will be offset by the increase in fees that the board will collect from the accounting boards for which they have oversight. So there will be no additional costs. It will be offset. Madam Speaker, it is needed, and I urge adoption of this bill.