Mike Honda

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, Friday, July 25, marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the Legal Services Corporation (LSC). In 1974, Congress, with bipartisan support, established LSC to be a major source of funding for civil legal aid in this country. LSC is a private, nonprofit corporation, funded by Congress, as well as by state, local, and private contributions, with the mission to ensure equal access to justice under the law for all Americans by providing civil legal assistance to those who otherwise would be unable to afford it. LSC distributes nearly 94 percent of its annual Federal appropriations to 134 local legal aid programs, with nearly 800 offices serving every congressional district and U.S. territories. LSC-funded legal aid programs make a crucial difference to millions of Americans by assisting with the most basic civil legal needs, such as addressing matters involving safety, subsistence, and family stability. These low-income Americans are women seeking protection from abuse, mothers trying to obtain child support, families facing unlawful evictions or foreclosures that could leave them homeless, veterans seeking their duly-earned benefits, seniors defending against consumer scams, and individuals who have lost their jobs and need help in applying for unemployment compensation and other benefits. In my district, LSC provides funding to California Rural Legal Assistance (CRLA), an organization that served 27,000 individuals, and recovered over $2.5 million dollars for their low-income clients, in 2012. CRLA serves a wide array of clients, such as farmworkers, individuals with disabilities, immigrant populations, school children, lesbian/gay/bisexual and transgender populations, seniors, and individuals with limited English proficiency. Nearly 60 percent of CRLA clients are women. It is crucial that we continue to provide adequate funding to LSC so organizations like CRLA can provide these essential services. In my role as a senior member of the Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Subcommittee, I have fought to increase LSC funding, and have sought to remove federal restrictions on how LSC can use state, local, and private funds to more efficiently use the resources it has available to serve low-income clients. I will continue to work to provide LSC with the resources and flexibility it needs to ensure equal access to justice. On this 40th anniversary, I salute the Legal Services Corporation, and LSC-funded attorneys, for the vital work they do every day on behalf of Americans who need qualified counsel.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Grayce Uyehara who was instrumental in securing redress for the Japanese Americans incarcerated during the Second World War. Born Grayce Kaneda on July 4, 1919, in Stockton, California, Uyehara and her family were incarcerated at the Stockton Assembly Center and the Rohwer Relocation Center. A leader in the Japanese American community, Uyehara served in leadership positions at all levels of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), including as president of the Philadelphia chapter and governor of the Eastern District Council, in addition to service on national JACL committees. In 1985, Uyehara was appointed as the executive of the JACL Legislative Education Committee, which was established to advocate for the final phases of the redress campaign. Uyehara was a catalyzing force in organizing participation of the community across the nation. During the push for final passage of the Civil Liberties Act, Uyehara mobilized a grassroots campaign through her Action Alerts and inundated the White House with letters of support. The Japanese American community celebrated on August 10, 1988, when President Ronald Reagan signed the Civil Liberties Act into law, which formally apologized for the violations of the civil liberties and constitutional rights of Japanese Americans and issued monetary reparations. Uyehara's spirit, activism, and drive served and continue to serve as a model of leadership for succeeding generations of Japanese Americans. I was honored to work with her on the passage of redress and I celebrate her many achievements.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to welcome Mr. Rajan Zed to offer the opening prayer before the U.S. House of Representatives. A native of the State of Nevada, he attended San Jose State University in San Jose, California, my alma mater. As president of the Universal Society of Hinduism and a senior fellow/religious adviser to the Foundation for Religious Diplomacy, he has advocated for religious freedom and tolerance throughout the world. His contributions to the religious community worldwide led him to be invited by the president of the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium, for a meeting to promote interfaith dialogue. He is particularly known for his work within the Roma community, acting as a voice for the human rights of the 15 million Roma in Europe. That this body supports diversity of spirituality and cultures is a testament to our great institution. For his continued spiritual leadership and for traveling from afar, I would like to thank Mr. Zed for leading us in prayer.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I would like to associate myself with the words that have been expressed this afternoon. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with great sadness. My heart goes out to the families and friends of all the victims killed in the tragic events of May 23 in Isla Vista, California. Three of the victims were from my California Congressional District 17. I want to express my deepest condolences to the families of Cheng ``James'' Yuan Hong, George Chen, and Weihan ``David'' Wang. The lives of these young men were cut short in the senseless tragedy that happened this past Memorial Day weekend. ``James'' Hong and George Chen--from San Jose--and ``David'' Wang-- from Fremont--were all from immigrant Chinese families. They were all studying engineering at UC Santa Barbara. I ask everyone to please keep in your thoughts and prayers these young men and their families. As we struggle to make sense of what happened, we must seriously examine our gun laws and ask why people who are mentally disturbed can continue to possess and obtain firearms. These acts of violence cannot be allowed to continue. How many more tragedies must our Nation suffer before Congress acts? We in Congress promised our Nation we would do better after the shootings at Sandy Hook, but we have not made good on that promise. Instead, the shootings have continued. Just since the Isla Vista killings on May 23, there have been two more mass shootings. I am outraged that we have not done more to protect the public from gun violence. Congress has failed to act. Congress has failed the American people. It is up to us to pass comprehensive, commonsense gun laws to prevent these tragic deaths from occurring. The brutal violence exacted on the victims in Isla Vista, California, was horrific. What was particularly horrific was the nature in which those three young men were killed. They were stabbed to death before the perpetrator went on a shooting spree that claimed the lives of more victims. We will always remember those who are no longer with us, but we must also honor them. We must enact real change to our gun laws to protect not only the young people but all of our citizens. It is our moral obligation.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mark the 100th anniversary of Iglesia Ni Cristo--the Church of Christ. This is a historic anniversary which is being celebrated around the world. This year also marks the 46th anniversary of Iglesia Ni Cristo in the U.S. On July 27, 1914, Iglesia Ni Cristo was officially registered with the Philippines government by Felix Y. Manalo. On July 27, 1968, this church held their first ever worship service in the U.S. at Ewa Beach, Honolulu, Hawaii--which was officiated by Erano G. Manalo. A month later, the church members established a congregation in San Francisco. In June 1987, Iglesia Ni Cristo established its U.S. main office in Daly City, California, to better coordinate with the central office in Manila, Philippines. Recently, the U.S. main office moved to the City of Burlingame, California. I am honored that my district plays host to three of these local congregations--San Jose, Milpitas, and Fremont. I commend the good work of the many members of Iglesia Ni Cristo to provide assistance to the needy, especially those impacted by disasters. Their civic and community outreach includes relief operations in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy and Typhoon Haiyan. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to congratulate the members of the Iglesia Ni Cristo, including their Executive Minister Brother Eduardo V. Manalo, on this noteworthy occasion of the church's centennial anniversary. I wish them continued success in their service and faith.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I want to add my thanks to the work that has been done up to now. I became an original cosponsor of the USA FREEDOM Act because I was disturbed about the revelations of surveillance programs. The bill was a good step toward balancing security and privacy, but this amendment does not. It leaves open the possibility that bulk surveillance could still continue, and it no longer protects the public through a special advocate in the FISA Court. I am disappointed that this popular, bipartisan bill has been so drastically weakened. I can no longer support it.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Thursday, May 1, 2014 as the National Day of Reason. The National Day of Reason celebrates the application of reason and the positive impact it has had on humanity. It is also an opportunity to reaffirm the Constitutional separation of religion and government. Each day, scientists and engineers in my Silicon Valley district are developing innovative new technologies through the use of the scientific method and the application of reason. Such advances throughout history have offered hope for human survival on Earth, improved the conditions within which we live, and cultivated intelligent, moral and ethical behaviors and interactions among people. Our Founding Fathers based the Constitution of the United States upon philosophical principles that have their origins in the historical Age of Reason. On the National Day of Reason, we remember and celebrate this history, including the First Amendment's guarantee of freedom of religion and freedom from the imposition of religion by the state. Our nation's founders knew that the best way to protect religious freedom was to keep the government separate from religion. The National Day of Reason is also a time to continue the effort our Founding Fathers began to form a more perfect union, something I work toward each day as a Member of Congress. Every year on this day, events such as food drives and blood drives are held in which Americans help their fellow citizens and our nation as a whole. These community service events are just some of the many ways Americans will be working to help those in need on the Day of Reason and throughout the year. I encourage all citizens, residents and visitors to join in observing this day and focusing upon the employment of reason, critical thought, the scientific method, and free inquiry to the resolution of human problems and for the welfare of human kind.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, on April 28th, communities in the U.S., Israel, and around the world will gather to observe Holocaust Remembrance Day, known in Hebrew as Yom Hashoah. We remember the six million Jews who were deemed ``undesirable'' and thereby systematically murdered by Nazi Germany. On this day--and everyday for that matter--we remember the power racism and bigotry can wield, as well as the enduring spirit and lessons of humanity. I am reminded of the Jewish concept of tikkun olam which embraces our shared humanity and duty to heal the world. Having experienced injustice and intolerance in some of its most brutal forms, I have dedicated my life to protecting and expanding the civil rights of all people around the world. I believe it is up to each and every one of us to stand against hatred and intolerance. We must create the more peaceful world we want our children to inherit. As human beings, we have a responsibility to keep the Holocaust at the forefront of our collective historical memory. This week, we dedicate a memorial tree in honor of Anne Frank on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol. The Anne Frank Memorial Tree is an offspring of the original chestnut tree that grew outside of the Amsterdam building where she and her family hid from the Nazis during World War II. This tree was featured in Anne's diary writings. Anne's experience has been immortalized beyond cultures and languages. She has become a symbol of the human cost of the Holocaust. Mr. Speaker, as we plant the new sapling on the Capitol Grounds, may we always live by the words, ``never again.'' Like the new sapling, may Anne's words of hope for a better humanity take root within each of us, wherein ``nobody need wait a single moment before beginning to improve the world.''

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address the state of knowledge about climate change and the impact it will have on our Nation. Secretary of State John Kerry called climate change ``the greatest challenge of our generation.'' Al Gore was the first to call us to action more than 30 years ago. Even with his courageous leadership, we still have not taken the necessary actions. The number of Americans who do not believe in climate change has increased since last year, and this is unacceptable. Our citizens need to be informed about climate change and the very real consequences it holds for all of us. This is why I introduced the Climate Change Education Act of 2014. The Climate Change Education Act will create formal and informal education opportunities for all age groups. It will ensure people understand the complexity and seriousness of the problems we are facing. It will also give them ways to start fighting climate change. Climate change impacts every ecosystem on Earth--our oceans, forests, rivers, lakes, and everything that lives in them.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank my friend, the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Grijalva), for yielding. Mr. Chairman, many of our Democratic colleagues have already spoken about what is wrong with the House Republican budget and how it slashes our investments in education, infrastructure, research and development, job training, and medical research; how it repeals all the benefits of the Affordable Care Act; how it leaves 7 million Americans without health insurance, ends the Medicare guarantee, and institutes massive cuts to our most vulnerable populations; how it pays for new tax cuts for millionaires by taking away tax breaks that help the working poor and the middle class--and that is all true. But I want to talk about the alternative vision for this country that we in the Progressive Caucus have crafted. The Better Off Budget meets the challenges that our communities face head-on. It expresses our belief that America's future is bright and worth investing in. One of the pieces I am most proud of is the application of the CPI-E to all Federal retirement programs. The CPI-E uses the most accurate and sensible measure of the real costs that seniors face for programs like civil service retirement, military retirement, Supplemental Security Income, and the veterans' pensions. Seniors deserve a cost of living that accounts for the rising costs of retirement, such as health care. I urge my colleagues to support a better deal for our seniors, support a better future for our middle class, and support a vision that will leave us all better off. The Better Off Budget offers all of this.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, on Friday, April 4, 2014, I was unavoidably detained while questioning the Attorney General in the Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Subcommittee and so I was not present for rollcall vote No. 159. Had I been present I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 159 amendment offered by my good friend Mr. Connolly of Virginia.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and contributions of my dear friend, Ms. Florence Fang, as she celebrates her 80th birthday and a lifetime of serving her community. In her historic trip to China, First Lady Michelle Obama highlighted the work of the 100,000 Strong Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to strengthening US-China relations by sending American students of all economic and social backgrounds to study abroad in China as exchange students. By emphasizing foreign exchange education, programs like the 100,000 Strong Foundation are training young Americans to become global leaders in a new world where countries and economies are increasingly connected. It comes as no surprise that the founders of the 100,000 Strong Foundation include leaders from the San Francisco Bay Area and Silicon Valley, notably the energetic and passionate Florence Fang. Ms. Fang is known internationally for her civic work, especially on building positive relationships with China, and in helping to develop our nation's future leaders. Ms. Florence Fang was born in China and educated in Taiwan. In 1960, she immigrated to America, and was later adopted by the United States as an American citizen. Ms. Fang and her husband, John T.C. Fang, had three sons who were born and raised in San Francisco: James, a graduate of Hastings Law School and currently serving on the Board of Directors of the Bay Area Rapid Transit system; Teddy, an Ethnic Studies graduate from UC Berkeley who was publisher of the Independent and SF Examiner newspapers; and Douglas, who received his Ph.D. in computer science from the University of Southern California and passed away in 2003. In 1991, when the White House held a National Leadership Conference to discuss America giving China ``Most Favored Nation'' status, Ms. Fang was the only delegate invited to stand on the dais beside former U.S. President George H.W. Bush in the White House ceremony. At the May 29, 1992 Asian/Pacific American Heritage Presidential Dinner, Ms. Fang shared the same stage with President George H.W. Bush, where she delivered a speech about her life in America, titled ``An Asian American Story''. In 2006, she donated the priceless San Francisco Examiner newspaper archives to the UC Berkeley's Bancroft Library, where she delivered a speech and drew applause from UC Berkeley's Chancellor and professors. It is one of her most prized moments. Also in 2006, she donated $3 million to help build UC Berkeley's East Asian Library. And in 2008, she donated a building to Peking University for the School of Chinese as a Second Language Department to teach the whole world Chinese language and culture. In January 2013, together with the Ford Foundation, she became a co- founder of the 100,000 Strong Foundation, which was born out of U.S. President Obama's initiative in 2008 when he visited China's then- president Hu Jintao, to send 100,000 American students to study in China. On March 22, 2014, Ms. Fang accompanied First Lady Michelle Obama when she spoke to students in Peking University on the First Lady's trip to China. On April 4, 2014, over 100 organizations will join together to host Ms. Fang's 80th birthday celebration. They also arranged to have two Kepler celestial bodies or stars named after Ms. Fang as recorded with the Space Telescope Science Institute. Ms. Fang has held many local and national positions. She was appointed as National Small Business Commissioner by former U.S. President George H.W. Bush, Stature for Women Commissioner by California Governor, and San Francisco Film Commissioner by former Mayor Willie Brown Jr. Currently, she holds the titles of: Honorary Trustee of Peking University, Honorary Professor of Wuhan University, Founder and Board Member of the 100K Strong Foundation, and Chairwoman of the Florence Fang Family Foundation. As a result of her own life experiences, Ms. Fang has particularly focused her life on education and American and Chinese cultural exchange. When she first immigrated to the United States in 1960, Ms. Fang did not speak any English and had never had a chance to study in an American school. Then, in the early 1970s, her husband suddenly became very ill and was hospitalized in the intensive care unit. Ms. Fang was forced to make a living for her family, and she had to single handedly run her husband's printing shop business. It was during these years that she learned much of her English from reading invoices coming into the business. Today she has achieved her American dream, and it is articulated by what former U.S. President George H.W. Bush wrote in his 1999 preface for Ms. Fang's unpublished biography: America is a tale of immigrants who came to this land to build a nation and better their own lives. The Florence Fang story is yet another chapter on the American experience. Her pursuit and fulfillment of the American dream serves as a reminder that America is truly the land of opportunity.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with my colleagues Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren and Congressman Sam Farr to honor the life and contributions of our dear friend, Ms. Norma Wright, who recently passed away after a lifetime of serving her community. Norma Wright dedicated her life to improving education and was respected by all who knew her. She initially became involved in the education system while raising her three children: Bill, Beth, and Nancy. Her passion for educating the children in her life inspired her to return to college to gain a teaching credential. Upon earning her credential, she served as a special education teacher in Gilroy, CA, and then became a Social Studies teacher. Not long after, her innovative and effective teaching style made her the Community Schools Director for the district. After she married Mr. Kenneth D. Wright, she became more active in local politics and educational policy. For many years, both Norma and Kenneth were deeply involved in both the California Teachers Association and the National Education Association. Eventually, Ms. Wright returned to school to obtain her Master's Degree in Public Education. With her degree, she became the Social Studies Coordinator at the Santa Clara County Office of Education. During her tenure, she established the Youth at Risk Program, a program that was recognized and replicated statewide. Soon after, she was asked to become the Assistant Director of the Community Juvenile Justice Program. A few years later, Ms. Wright met two individuals who shaped the future of her career in education and politics. With Mr. Roy Erickson, she helped establish the Constitutional Rights Foundation's training programs. And with Mr. Chuck Quigley, she launched her career-long work with the Constitutional Rights Foundation, the Center for Civic Justice Education, and the Youth for Justice Network. In 1990, Ms. Wright left her position as the Social Studies Coordinator at the Santa Clara County Office of Education and became the Director of Justice Programs at the Center for Civic Education. In this capacity, Norma worked to influence education programs across the country to include civic education and high quality social studies programs. She also traveled internationally to share her ideas about democracy, justice, fairness, and equality. The California Council for the Social Studies honored her with the Roy Erickson Award for her work. Through her law-related education programs and work with the Constitutional Rights Foundation, Norma helped establish the Youth for Justice Network, a coordinated law-related education program that helped promote professional development through a consortium of the Constitutional Rights Foundation, the Public Education Division of the American Bar Association, Street Law, the Center for Civic Education, and the Constitutional Rights Foundation-Chicago. Her political activism and work to improve social studies programs in the Bay Area made her an asset to many of California's elected officials, including ourselves, Representatives Don Edwards and Lynn Woolsey, U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, and former U.S Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta. Through her dedication to the promotion of civic education, she also forged relationships with several federal judges and state legislators. It is in thanks for, and in admiration of, Ms. Norma Wright's commitment to civic education that we offer these words today. We hope her commitment of public service continues to be an inspiration to the young people of generations to come. Thank you Norma, we will miss you.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the version of H.R. 4015 that Republican leadership has brought to the floor of the House. The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 created SGR in an attempt to control spending in the Medicare program, and it was adopted for TRICARE as well. For years, this methodology has consistently produced unrealistic expenditure targets. These targets trigger untenable reductions in payment rates to doctors providing services to Medicare patients. As a result, Congress has buried the true cost of this policy through annual Congressional overrides of these scheduled cuts. Each of these short-term ``fixes'' has achieved the important goal of averting an immediate crisis in access to physicians for Medicare beneficiaries, but has exacerbated a longer-term crisis in Medicare financing. Continued short term patches create instability in the health care system and the economy as a whole. Doctors have been hamstrung by yearly doubt about what reimbursement rates will be, and patients have had to pay the eventual price in uneven, substandard quality of care. The SGR needs to be repealed and the Medicare payment system needs to be reformed now. To accomplish this, I signed on as a co-sponsor of the original version of the bipartisan bill H.R. 4015, the SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act of 2014. H.R. 4015 proposes five years of 0.5% payment increases for the Medicare physician fee schedule before freezing payments at that level for five additional years. It also supports alternative payment models, and creates a new Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) for those who stay on the fee-for-service payment model. Despite months of bipartisan work to forge this compromise, House Republicans amended the bill to delay the individual mandate requirement in the Affordable Care Act. This unconscionable political stunt to undermine the Affordable Care Act puts our Medicare health system in jeopardy at a critical time, with payment rates set to drop dramatically on April 1, 2014. I am committed to reforming our Medicare system and repealing the SGR, but the bill House Republican leadership brought to the House floor fails to strengthen Medicare, or help Americans get access to affordable health care. I cannot support the flawed amended version of the bill. Medicare has guaranteed essential health protections to seniors and certain disabled persons for nearly four decades. I believe Medicare is more than just a program, it is a covenant that exists between the government and the American people. I support fixing and reforming this system permanently, but H.R. 4015 as amended is not the way to do that, and so I urge my colleagues to oppose this bill.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall vote No. 98 on Wednesday, March 5, 2014, I was inadvertently recorded as ``nay'' when I intended to vote ``aye'' on H.R. 2126, the Energy Efficiency Improvement Act of 2014, as amended. I've long been a proponent of improving energy efficiency across the board. I know the cheapest and cleanest kilowatts are the ones we don't need to generate because we are using energy more efficiently. I've even authored my own bill to improve the energy efficiency of consumer electronics, the Smart Electronics Act. I whole heartedly support the package of measures that were included in H.R. 2126, which include improving energy efficiency at federal data centers, increasing efficiency standards for grid-enabled water heaters, promoting efficiency retrofits on low-income housing, and creating incentives for landlords and tenants to boost energy savings in commercial properties. I hope that House passage of this bill will enable progress in the Senate on energy efficiency legislation; and I want to reiterate my support for H.R. 2126, which I had intended to express through an ``aye'' vote.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, today the U.S. Congress is doing its job 5 days after forcing the Treasury to resort to extraordinary measures to finance our government and 3 legislative days before an unprecedented default. This marks the fourth time in the last 3 years that we have been pushed right to the brink of default. Everyone outside of this Chamber knows we would have and should have lifted the debt ceiling long before we arrived at this point. I am glad to see that once again we have been able to do our most basic job, but we need to stop playing these political games with our economy, our stability, and our reputation. We should not be forced to wonder, year after year, if we are going to be able to decide to meet our obligations. We should guarantee that the only time we debate spending is during spending debates. I would ask my colleagues to help me reform this process and install a permanent fix that would end their brinksmanship surrounding the debt limit. That is why I have introduced two bills that allow the debt limit to be raised unless a supermajority of Congress votes to block them. This would permanently shift the rule of Congress to disapproving debt ceiling increases instead of being forced to approve them. My approach has been introduced in the other Chamber by Senators Schumer, Boxer, and Hirono. It has been endorsed by a growing chorus of economists and outside thought leaders. Today, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' to lift the debt limit with me today. I also ask my colleagues to join me in pursuing permanent, necessary reforms for tomorrow so we can eliminate the futile hostage-taking.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Madam Speaker, Treasury Secretary Jack Lew has been urging Congress to act before Friday's debt ceiling deadline, but here we are again with no signs of legislative progress, with rumors of a ransom that Republicans will demand before Congress will be allowed to do its job. The Treasury Department is once again being forced to resort to extraordinary measures to continue financing the government. These games of chicken are dangerous. They are irresponsible, they have led to turmoil in the markets, and they have cost our economy billions. We have avoided disaster in the past and I believe will avoid it this time. In any game of chicken, one side always must blink. But what happens when neither side blinks? Disaster. I ask my colleagues to help me install a permanent fix that would end the brinksmanship surrounding the debt limit. My H.R. 233 allows the debt limit to be raised unless a supermajority of Congress votes to block such action. This would permanently shift the role of Congress to disapproving debt ceiling increases instead of being forced to approve them. My approach has been introduced by Senators Schumer, Boxer, and Hirono in the Senate, and has been endorsed by a growing chorus of economists and outside thought leaders. I urge my colleagues to join me in pursuing these permanent, necessary reforms.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to H.R. 7, an unnecessary and intrusive bill that represents a short-sighted attack on the rights of women and families, and undermines access to insurance that covers comprehensive women's health care. H.R. 7 would diminish meaningful access to healthcare for millions of lower and middle income families by denying them tax credits if the insurance plan they choose through the Health Insurance Marketplaces includes coverage for abortion services. Removing these tax breaks for the most vulnerable members of our society is not only dangerous, it is heartless, and it will return a constitutionally-protected medical procedure to its dark back-alley days. If enacted, this change will likely lead insurers to remove coverage for abortion services from all plans offered in the marketplaces, thus denying access to this coverage for women who wish to purchase such coverage out of their own pockets. Rather than offering real solutions to the problems our nation faces, the other side of the aisle only offers a return to the fights over social issues of the past. Republicans claim that H.R. 7 merely codifies the Hyde Amendment, a provision prohibiting the use of federal funds for most abortion services, but Title I of the bill actually includes numerous vague provisions that may in some cases modify and expand the funding restrictions relating to abortion currently included in annual appropriations bills. Besides, the Hyde Amendment has been passed every single year for nearly forty years--we already have a law prohibiting the use of federal funds to pay for abortion, we don't need another one. This legislation threatens women's health by denying access to comprehensive women's health care that includes abortion. That is why I vehemently oppose H.R. 7.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as the Founder and Chairman of the Congressional Anti-Bullying Caucus to bring attention to the Be a STAR (Show Tolerance and Respect) Alliance, an anti-bullying initiative co-founded in 2011 by The Creative Coalition and WWE to encourage young people to treat each other with tolerance and respect through education and grassroots initiatives. WWE and The Creative Coalition leverage the power of The Creative Coalition's entertainment industry constituencies and WWE's global brand and platforms to help combat the bullying epidemic plaguing today's youth. This month, for the first time ever, Be a STAR awarded five grants totaling $125,000 to outstanding non- profit public charities that develop and implement anti-bullying programs. The five grantees of the inaugural Be a STAR grant program are: The Armory Foundation, New York, NY: The Armory Foundation, a NYC non-profit, services more than 125,000 athletes and is home to the premier indoor track and field center in the United States. The Be a STAR grant will help fund the Armory College Prep's Fair Play Program, which reaches more than 300 students in public high schools in New York City, New Jersey and Westchester. The grant will also provide training for The Armory Foundation's staff, who will ensure that Be a STAR's lesson plans are integrated effectively into the program's workshops. Blue Star Families, Inc., Falls Church, VA: Blue Star serves more than 10,000 military families in 70 locations around the world by supporting, connecting and empowering families through chapter-based programs. The Be a STAR grant will help fund MilKidz Clubs, which connects military kids--regardless of rank, branch of service or military installation--and provides them the resources, mentoring and opportunity to become the next wave of leaders in their communities. Approximately 1.5 million military children are enrolled in United States schools with the average military family moving about every two years. As a result, approximately 750,000 children of military families are the ``new kid'' each year in their school. In order to help these children, MilKidz will integrate Be a STAR resources into its after- school activities and incorporate Be a STAR's nine lesson plans, including Courage, Responsibility, Dignity, Friendship, Advocacy, Resiliency, Empathy, Identity and Morality into its monthly meetings. Do Something, New York, NY: Do Something is one of the largest non- profit organizations in the United States that creates opportunities for young people to participate in causes that combat bullying, animal cruelty, homelessness and cancer. The Be a STAR grant will be used to help fund Do Something's ``Bully Text'' mobile platform. ``Bully Text'' is a digital experience where kids encounter different bullying scenarios and learn how to respond in various ways. According to Do Something's 2012 ``The Bully Report'', cyber bullying is the most pervasive type of bullying with 70 percent of students reporting frequent bullying online and 35 percent reporting bullying through texting. East LA Boys & Girls Club (BGCELA), Los Angeles, CA: The mission of BGCELA is to enable all young people and their families to realize their full potential as productive, healthy, caring and responsible individuals through life-enhancing programs. The Be a STAR grant will support and fund parent workshops and training taught by local anti- bullying experts during National Bullying Prevention Month. Videos from the Be a STAR resource guide will be shown and discussed using the Be a STAR Student Activity Sheets and students will be taught Be a STAR's nine lesson plans. National Voices for Equality, Education and Enlightenment (NVEEE), Fort Lauderdale, FL: NVEEE is a community-based non-profit whose mission is to prevent bullying, violence and suicide among youth, families and communities through direct service, mentoring and prevention education. The Be a STAR grant will fund the Peace Ambassadors program, which serves approximately 7,000 students in Ft. Lauderdale who will participate in tailored workshops that have integrated Be a STAR resources and training. The Peace Ambassador program is a leadership program comprised of students who serve as advocates and leaders to prevent bullying, suicide and violence in their schools and communities. Additionally, through the support of the Be a STAR grant, NVEEE will provide parents and students with information and resources from Be a STAR alliance members. On behalf of the Congressional Anti-Bullying Caucus, I congratulate The Creative Coalition, WWE, Be a STAR, and the grant winners.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Thank you, Congressman Garamendi, for putting these evening discussions on the board here. I want to also rise to join you and other colleagues of mine in commemorating the 50th anniversary of President Lyndon Johnson's declaration of the war on poverty, and, as you had mentioned, President Franklin Roosevelt's effort to close the income gap. The inequities that we have faced and we are still facing are growing even larger today because of the gender pay gap, because of the unpaid portions where people have to leave their work in order to take care of their children or their families. Also, to be able to address the child care issues that became very prominent in the seventies, when both parents started to work and wondered how they were going to be addressing child care. Also, we have the caregiver support, where adult children are taking care of their parents. We are seeing that this is a necessity that has crept up on our society and our community, almost very quietly, and become an issue because of different kinds of situations our parents are facing, not only because of the physical illness but because of the mental health illness that they have faced. So all these things play a part in drawing down the resources of middle-income families trying to take care of their own responsibilities, raising their own family, and also the responsibility of their parents who are aging. In the area of universal pre-K education and early childhood education, both President Roosevelt and Johnson knew that education is an important tool in this war on poverty and closing the income inequity gap. Last week, I read an article in the Lexington-Herald Leader about two schools in east Kentucky, just hours apart from each other--Anchorage and Barbourville, two communities of about 3,000 in population. The median household income in Anchorage is more than 3.5 times larger than the median income of that of Barbourville. Yet Barbourville spends only $8,000 per student, while Anchorage spends approximately $20,000 per student. Equal size population, only a couple hours apart. The question comes up: Why is it that this country, our communities, continue to refuse to recognize the inequities in funding in our public schools? Why is that? The quality of education that our children receive should not be dependent on or determined by the ZIP Code in which they live or in which they were born. Each and every child should receive support according to their needs, not according to the ZIP Code in which they reside--each and every child. In the fifties, when we realized that the States were responsible for education, we interpreted it as the States' constitutional responsibility to move forward on education, and we found that some States had a principle of separate but equal. In the fifties, we realized that that was not supportable, not constitutional, and this became an issue in our current time when we were able to bring this issue to the living rooms of our country through technology-- television. Upon this country and the States becoming more aware of what was going on, on a Federal level we moved the communities to correct this inequity, the unconstitutionality of separate but equal in our education systems and other policies in our different communities and different States. Today, we have come to a point where we understand that equal opportunity for all children is a necessary principle, but I think, having studied education a little bit more, we should refine that principle into another principle, to wit: each and every child should receive support according to their needs, not according to the ZIP Codes or the median income of their parents. One of the more important steps to accomplish this and achieve equity in funding for our youngsters in the preschool and early childhood education arena is to fully fund Head Start for each and every child. So we must encourage States to adopt a more equitable funding formula to ensure that each and every child receives the necessary financial and human resources required. President Obama declared that he has an initiative that addresses universal preschool education. The Governor of California, Jerry Brown, passed a bond that said that we want more equitable funding for children in the State of California. We passed a bond that increased the funding for education to achieve more equitable funding for each and every child. It is the first step. It is the right direction, but we have miles and miles to go. This journey for equitable funding for each and every child is a journey that we must continue and start now, in order to achieve the civil rights of each and every child in this country.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, if there were a Hippocratic oath of legislating, it would prescribe that we, above all else, should do no harm, but we have a habit of violating that foundational precept. We have allowed unemployment insurance to 1.3 million Americans to expire, and that will not help our economy and will cost 200,000 jobs. In 1 month we face the recurring hostage-taking ritual that has become raising the debt limit. These debt limit showdowns have a real cost to our economy. The Government Accountability Office found that delayed action in 2011 resulted in $1.3 billion in higher borrowing costs. We can avoid that cost by enacting permanent reforms to the process like the ones employed in the recent debt limit adjustments. I introduced last year H.R. 233, which would permanently shift the role of Congress to disapproving debt ceiling increases instead of approving them and allows the debt limit to be raised unless a supermajority of Congress votes to block the increase. I encourage my colleagues to join me in pursuing these permanent and necessary reforms. Avoid the replay of the hostage-taking and brinksmanship of last year, and take the steps to avoid doing any more unnecessary harm to American families.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 3309, The Innovation Act, which will help to curtail the damage done by patent trolls to the American economy and consumers. In recent years, patent trolls have had a significant negative impact on America's economy, with organizations from all walks of life being attacked and facing costly licensing fees, settlements, and even court battles. The direct impact of this has been estimated at roughly $29 billion per year. It is important to realize that the impact of patent trolls is falling not just on big, wealthy companies, but on America's consumers. In one notable case, a patent troll has threatened nonprofit charities in Vermont and a community choir in Nebraska, asking for $1,000 per employee simply because the organizations use scanners. And another has demanded licensing fees from more than 8,000 businesses, including coffee houses and hotels, and ultimately sued hundreds of them--all because they provide wifi to their customers. The impact of this on the consumer is significant. The expense associated with facing a patent troll leaves small businesses with a low profit margin already with the choice of either halting use of this service to its customers, or offsetting the cost by charging for use. When these small businesses are able to go to court, the trolls lose the cases over 85 percent of the time. But in our current system, most of them can't afford to do so. What's more, the long-term impact is even more damaging for consumers. The cost of this type of litigation has risen to more than $29 billion per year, with each suit costing an estimated average of $5-10 million. These are funds that companies can't use to create jobs or innovate. By diverting resources to fighting trolls, Silicon Valley companies have less to spend on investment in new products, expansion to new areas, and improvement of services. The Federal Trade Commission, which is charged with protecting consumers and policing unfair and deceptive acts, recently began an investigation of patent trolls. An investigation is a good step in the right direction, but legislation like H.R. 3309 is needed to truly combat patent trolls. As a cosponsor of the bipartisan Innovation Act, I know this bill will take important steps to curb the abusive patent litigation we see today, in which trolls send vague demand letters about overbroad patents, don't clearly identify themselves, and deliberately run up discovery costs to pressure defendants to settle. The bill will change the rules for patent lawsuits by requiring plaintiffs to identify who is really behind the suit, what patent is being asserted, and what the infringement claim is. This will allow the targets of patent suits to know who is accusing them of infringement and what exactly they are being accused of doing. H.R. 3309 will also require judges to shift litigation costs and fees to a non-prevailing party in cases where the party's position was not reasonably justified, unless it would cause severe economic harm to the named inventor. This will make it easier for defendants to fight unjustified patent suits and deter illegitimate claims, while protecting legitimate inventors and preserving courts' discretion to not shift costs. The bill will also require the Judicial Conference of the United States to make rules that would shift discovery costs, while leaving the details of the rulemaking are up the Judicial Conference. The rule should require parties to pay for their own discovery requests beyond the core documents needed to advance the suit, which aims to rein in broad discovery requests in patent suits that are unnecessary, unfair, and costly, and are often designed simply to intimidate the other party into a settlement. The bill would allow the courts to maintain discretion to modify the rules for good cause. Another aspect of the bill will allow manufacturers and suppliers to intervene and stay lawsuits against customers and end users of a product that allegedly infringe patents, if both the manufacturer and customer agree. This will protect the coffee shop or hotel, which is accused of infringing a wifi patent because it uses a particular wireless router, by allowing the maker of the allegedly infringing product to step in and take responsibility for the case. It is important to note that this bill does not diminish or devalue patent rights in the United States. It does not attempt to eliminate valid patent litigation; rather, it is aimed at abusive behaviors in the patent litigation system and seeks to put them to a stop. Its provisions for higher pleading standards and greater transparency will save the court's time and resources by making parties do their due diligence and provide information up front, before an infringement suit is filed. Greater transparency and information are a good thing, and will make the system stronger. H.R. 3309 had broad bipartisan support in the Judiciary Committee, where it passed by a vote of 33-5, and it deserves our support. I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in the House and the Senate to send a bill to the President that will bring an end to these abusive practices that are stifling American businesses and innovation.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Child Safety Network. As the nation's largest distributor of child safety information, CSN has tirelessly fought to make our nation a safer place for children by preventing child abuse, abduction, injury, and exploitation. Through the youth violence prevention and intervention initiatives, as well promoting the safety of all children who ride public school buses, CSN's efforts to safeguard children and educate parents are impressive and imperative. For instance, adding free extended driving training to the 2,700 school districts that currently use CSN's endorsed training courses has reduced preventable accidents by over 30 percent. CSN has worked with schools and schools districts in CA-17, and have worked extensively with the California State PTA and the National PTA Association. Throughout the past several years, CSN has provided free child safety information, including the free CSN Safe Family CD to thousands of parents in CA-17. The Safe Family CD and the CSN website provide child safety and health information, immunization schedules for children, child product recall information, and several new child safety programs which include School Bus Safety and driver training, extending Drug Free School Zones to Bus Stops, child nutritional information, preventing child bullying, and many other issues. As the Representative of California's 17th district, as an educator of over 30 years, a parent and a grandparent, I am grateful to the countless CSN staff and volunteers who are committed to raising safer and healthier children. Mr. Speaker, I applaud the Child Safety Network for their admirable work these last 25 years in my district, California, and our nation--and I extend my warmest wishes in their next 25 years.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, let me just be a little uplifting today. I rise today to wish my friends and colleagues a happy Diwali. Diwali is this Sunday, November 3, and it signifies the start of the lunar new year. The festival of Diwali is a rich cultural history. It celebrates the victory of good over evil, light over darkness, and knowledge over ignorance. Diwali is one of the biggest festivals for Hindus, celebrated with great enthusiasm and happiness. The festival is celebrated for 5 continuous days, where the third day is celebrated as the main Diwali festival or Festival of Lights. This holiday commemorates Lord Rama's return from 14 years of exile after defeating the demon King Ravan. Different colorful varieties of fireworks are always associated with this festival. People shoot firecrackers to drive away evil spirits. On this auspicious day, people light up diyas lamps and candles all around their house. These lamps are kept on during the night and people clean their houses to welcome Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, into their homes. Lakshmi is said to bring prosperity and happiness to people in the new year. During Diwali, all the celebrants wear new clothes and share sweets and snacks with family members and friends. They perform the ceremonial Puja in the evening and seek divine blessings from Lakshmi. The festival of Diwali is never complete without the exchange of gifts. People present Diwali gifts to all near and dear ones. Diwali is an official holiday in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Mauritius, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, Malaysia, Singapore, and Fiji. This holiday is one of the most important holidays in Indian culture and a time for families to reunite and enjoy one another's company. I ask my colleagues to join me in the celebration of Diwali, the Festival of Lights. Happy Diwali.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Madam Speaker, I want to thank my colleague for yielding time to me. I rise in opposition to this resolution, but I am strongly in favor of the process that we are using to deal with the debt limit. There is a difference. If this resolution to force an unprecedented default passes both this House and the Senate, the President can decide to sign it or not. Even if he doesn't sign it, Congress will have another opportunity to stop a debt ceiling raise. This is a process that the Senate Republican leader, Mitch McConnell, first suggested in 2011 and has been used in debt limit bills to avoid defaulting since. It is good enough to use right now, it has been good enough to use for 2 years, and it is good enough to help us avoid these manufactured crises on a permanent basis. This is a process that helps us separate the true need for congressional intervention on the debt limit from those that are manufactured and motivated by politics. This is a process that works and helps us avoid unnecessary pain. We should never have a replay of the hostage-taking and brinksmanship that we recently went through to get to this point. We know what we have to do, and we know we should not be playing games with the debt limit. That is why I offer a bill that would make this process permanent and keep this Nation fiscally solvent. Senators Boxer, Schumer, and Hirono introduced this very same bill today in the Senate.