Janice Hahn

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, our Nation suffers from an infrastructure crisis, but if we want to remain globally competitive, goods movement is the ticket to our Nation's economic success. Although I understand we are going to do a short-term fix for the highway trust fund, I have come up with an idea for a long-term fix that creates a dedicated funding source to better serve our roads and railways that connect the freight network to the ports of entry into this country. This dedicated freight network trust fund will help fund critical infrastructure like dedicated truck lanes on the highways, better bridges, and on-dock rail. The trust fund will be made up of existing fees that we already collect at our Nation's ports and will be at no new cost to businesses or taxpayers. This fund will infuse nearly $2 billion back into the economy every year. It will help create good-paying American jobs, keep our Nation's ports strong and globally competitive. I believe this idea is a win-win for our ports, our small businesses, and for our Nation's economy. I urge my colleagues to support the National Freight Network Trust Act.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself however much time I may consume. I rise to offer the Hahn-Huizenga amendment to the Energy and Water Appropriations bill to utilize the harbor maintenance trust fund as the target set forth in the recently passed Water Resources Reform and Development Act. As a representative of the Nation's busiest port complex and the cofounder, along with you, Mr. Chairman, of the Ports Caucus, I have fought hard, from my first day here in Congress, to increase the funding for our Nation's ports and to fully utilize the harbor maintenance trust fund to ensure that the money that we collect at our ports goes back to our ports. Around here, they are starting to call me ``Miss Harbor Maintenance Tax.'' After working for months with my colleagues, we reached a plan to finally put the harbor maintenance trust fund to work and fully utilize this trust fund by 2025. I appreciate the chairman and the ranking member and the hard work that you put on the bill before us today, but I have one little problem with it. The bill on the floor today fails to follow the law that we just passed 7 weeks ago in such a bipartisan fashion, and we are falling behind by over $57 million towards utilizing that harbor maintenance fund. That is money that our ports have paid for and they need. I understand the difficult task the Appropriations Committee has in front of it, but for our ports to remain competitive, they need this funding. Mr. Chairman, with that, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. HAHN. That sounds like support for my amendment.

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Huizenga).

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gene Green). (Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Chairman, I yield 45 seconds to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Benishek). (Mr. BENISHEK asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Chairman, I yield 10 seconds to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Nolan).

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Chairman, I urge an ``aye'' vote on this amendment. When our ports are strong, our country is strong. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the life of Anthony N. Tonsich, the son of Croatian immigrants and a native of San Pedro who passed away on June 19, 2014 with his loving family by his side. Anthony always had an adventurous spirit. Whether he was sailing on his boat, Lady Bug II, or traveling around Europe, Anthony's life was constantly marked by movement. So it came as no surprise when Anthony developed a love for automobiles and spent over 45 years in the car business without ever taking a sick day over the course of his career. Anthony will most fondly be remembered for the lasting impact that he had on his family, friends, and community. He enlisted in the Army and served as a drill instructor until 1952, helping new recruits become accustomed to military life. Yet Anthony's ability to lead by example did not end when he took off the uniform in 1952. He continued to inspire others through his generous spirit, warm personality, and extraordinary work ethic. He served as a role model for people in San Pedro, especially his eight beloved grandchildren and his three children: Anthony, Suzanne, and my dear friend Nick. Mr. Speaker, I ask that all members of the House join me in a moment of silence to commemorate the life and legacy of Anthony N. Tonsich.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, over the last decade, we have seen too many for-profit colleges deceive their students and mismanage their finances, all while reaping millions of dollars in Federal funding. It is critical that we hold institutions accountable for delivering quality education, but we must also protect the students who fall victim to these schools and ensure that they don't have to live with the mistakes of the college, should they close. That is why I have introduced the Protecting Students from Failing Institutions Act, which ensures every student who was enrolled at a school that closed the campus has the assurance that their Federal loans will be forgiven and their Pell grants restored. Career Colleges of America, a for-profit college with a campus in my district in South Gate, abruptly closed earlier this year, abandoning hundreds of students, with tens of thousands of dollars in student loan debt and no degree to show for it. That is inexcusable, and our students deserve better. There have been instances of other for-profit schools that have closed across this country. I am going to continue--and I hope you do too--to work to protect hardworking students in my district across the country from these shameful predatory practices.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest cancers. A diagnosis of pancreatic cancer is often a death sentence. Of all of the patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, 73 percent die within the first year, most within the first 3 to 6 months. I think we should reverse these alarming statistics and give hope to those who are affected by this disease. Fifty years ago, women were dying of breast cancer at an alarming rate; but today, with more scientific research, early detection techniques, and affordable health care, the survival rate is much higher. Women are fighting and beating breast cancer. I think we should invest more funding for advanced research for pancreatic cancer that could save thousands of lives. Pancreatic cancer, unfortunately, touched the life of my friend, Larry Clark, former mayor of Rancho Palos Verdes, California; but thanks to a successful surgery and clinical trials, Larry is alive and well. Now, he has dedicated his life to working with the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network to help others fight this deadly disease. They were here Monday, walking the halls of Congress, urging us for more research money. My hope is that the awareness of this critical issue will be an impetus for action and improvement of the way we treat pancreatic cancer in order to fight the disease and save lives.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to come today and add my voice and my constituents' voice to the situation in Iraq. I wanted to voice my strong opposition to any further United States military intervention in Iraq. I don't think we should be sending our men and women back to Iraq or to engage in air strikes. I don't believe that this is the right course of action. Our Nation's military involvement in Iraq, I think, needs to be over. The United States has already spent trillions of dollars in Iraq while, here at home, our economy is still suffering. Our schools are going without needed funding. Families in my district are struggling to find jobs, to put food on the table, and our own infrastructure is crumbling. My colleague earlier, on the other side of the aisle, talked about Esther and her great line of ``for such a time as this,'' which is something I actually try to live by, but I don't believe that this is the time to go back and fight a war that I don't believe is ours. I believe it is the time for America to focus our resources here at home. We can't afford to spend millions of dollars on this military action when our schools are failing, one in five children lives in poverty in the United States, and so many of our veterans are not being taken care of when they come home. I don't sit on the Committees of Armed Services, of Foreign Affairs. I am not on the Intelligence Committee. I sit on the Small Business Committee and the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. From that perspective, I know that our small businesses want us to help them. Our infrastructure is failing and crumbling. We have 70,000 bridges in this country that are structurally deficient. I believe that we need to focus our resources here at home. We have had nearly 4,500 brave men and women that sacrificed their lives for what I believe was a misguided mission in Iraq. More than 30,000 Americans have come home emotionally and physically scarred. Let's not do this again. I don't think we have any place trying to solve a modern-day civil war. I think enough is enough. I hope, before the President takes action, he will come to Congress and ask us and the people that we represent what action needs to be taken.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, this morning, I watched as President Obama signed the long overdue Water Resources Reform and Development Act into law. This new law is good news, particularly for the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, which stand to gain tens of millions of dollars that they have collected in their harbor maintenance tax. It will help create good-paying jobs and keep our ports globally competitive. As a representative of the Nation's busiest port complex, I believe it is about time that our Nation's ports finally get the critical investments that they need to remain strong. It has been a long haul, but after months of meetings and hearings, the ideas to fully spend this harbor maintenance tax and to increase the flexibility of the funds for these ports were included in the final water bill that was signed by the President. President Obama and Congress recognize the critical importance of our ports to our Nation's economic growth and sustainability. Today's action is a victory not only for those ports in my community, but for all of our Nation's ports.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, there are nearly 70 foster youth here today on Capitol Hill recognizing National Foster Care Month and to advocate for positive reforms that will better serve our Nation's kids. I applaud my friend from California, Congresswoman Bass, who, when she was speaker of the assembly, led the effort in California to extend the foster care age to 21 and is now leading the charge here in Congress to help strengthen the foster care system. Today, Joel, a 22-year-old student from Wilmington, California, who spent 3 years in the California foster care system, is spending the day with me to share his experience in foster care. Due to unfortunate circumstances, Joel was separated from his parents and found himself living on the streets of Los Angeles before being placed in a foster home. Joel didn't let these challenges keep him from completing high school at Banning High School and attending college at Cal Poly Pomona. Today, Joel is an inspiring young political science student and a testament to the importance of investing in foster youth programs. But we must do more. There are nearly 400,000 youth in the foster care system like Joel. These are all of our children, and we must take care of them.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize National Maritime Day, an opportunity for us to celebrate and salute our mariners who have protected this great Nation. Since the early days of this Nation, the United States Merchant Marine has been the foundation of our economic security, serving as our ``fourth arm of defense'' in both peace and war. They have been essential in bringing food to the world's hungry and delivering supplies to our brave men and women overseas in times of war. They have done so much for our Nation. Today, on National Maritime Day, we take this opportunity to honor their service and sacrifice. Over 200,000 Merchant Mariners served in World War II, and more than 8,000 lost their lives in enemy waters, a rate higher than any uniformed service. Unfortunately, these brave men were not eligible for the GI Bill that helped millions of veterans go to college and buy a home. That is why I have introduced the Honoring our World War II Merchant Mariners Act of 2013. This bill would provide just $1,000 in monthly benefits to the nearly 10,000 surviving World War II Mariners. I would like to give a shout out to the American Merchant Marine Veterans Memorial Committee in San Pedro that is honoring our Merchant Mariners.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, due to flight delays, I was unavoidably absent on May 19, 2014. Had I been present I would have voted as follows: On rollcall No. 218, I would have voted ``aye'' (May 19) (H.R. 2203-- To provide for the award of a gold medal on behalf of Congress to Jack Nicklaus, in recognition of his service to the Nation in promoting excellence, good sportsmanship, and philanthropy (Representative Tiberi)). On rollcall No. 219, I would have voted ``aye'' (May 19) (H.R. 685-- To award a Congressional Gold Medal to the American Fighter Aces, collectively, in recognition of their heroic military service and defense of our country's freedom throughout the history of aviation warfare. (Representative Sam Johnson)).

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, today, I am introducing the Pipeline Inspection Enforcement Act of 2014 to prevent oil pipeline leaks like the one that greatly damaged the community of Wilmington, CA. Los Angeles is home to one of the most vast pipeline networks in the United States. Both oil and gas pipelines connect the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach with the refineries in the area. Therefore, pipeline safety is a very important topic for me and the communities which make up the neighborhoods surrounding the Port of Los Angeles--including Wilmington, a primarily working class community. I have represented Wilmington for over 10 years--first on the Los Angeles City Council, and now as a Member of Congress. Because Wilmington sits on top of one of the largest oil fields in the nation and a complex system of pipelines, this community lives with a heightened threat of a pipeline leaking or exploding. This became an unfortunate reality for many residents of Wilmington this March when an idle pipeline burst, causing thousands of gallons of crude oil to spill onto a residential street reeking havoc on the lives of families who live in the community. The legislation I am introducing today would have prevented the damage these families experienced by forcing companies like Phillip 66 to simply have firsthand knowledge of what their pipelines contain and empowering our state regulatory agencies to be engaged in pipeline inspections. These basic improvements to federal policy would protect countless communities like Wilmington at no additional cost. I look forward to working with my colleagues in Congress to make this legislation law.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, after a lot of hard work and collaborative effort, I am pleased that the Water Resources Reform and Development Act conference committee, which I was honored to serve on, was finally able to come to a fair, bipartisan agreement on the new water bill that will create jobs and keep our ports globally competitive. As a representative of the Nation's busiest port complex in Los Angeles and Long Beach, and cofounder of our PORTS Caucus here in Congress, I have fought hard from my first day in Congress to increase funding for our Nation's ports by fully utilizing our Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund to ensure that money that is collected at our ports goes back to our ports. They don't call me Ms. Harbor Maintenance Tax for nothing around here. It has been a long journey, but I am thrilled that after countless hearings and meetings with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and with the leadership from Chairman Shuster and Ranking Member Rahall that our proposals to fully utilize our Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund and to allow ports to use these funds for expanded uses is included in this final water bill. When we pass this bipartisan measure, it is a victory not just for the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, but for all our ports--our ports in Savannah and all those in this Nation. When our ports are strong, Mr. Speaker, our Nation is strong.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, I thank Ranking Member Rahall. Thank you for your leadership. Thank you to Chairman Shuster for your leadership. What a joy and pleasure it was for me to serve on the conference committee as we worked together to bring forth this amazing water bill that will do so much in this country to create jobs. I am most happy, of course, with the language in this bill that will finally allow us to fully utilize our Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund so that the ports across this country can be invested in with the taxes that we collect at the port, and that also, because of the leadership of Chairman Shuster and Ranking Member Rahall, these ports will also be able to use this money for some expanded uses. I believe with all my heart that when our ports are strong in this country, our country is strong. This bill does more to ensure the investment, the so important investment, in the critical infrastructure in our Nation's ports. My ports in Long Beach and Los Angeles are pleased with this, but really it is for all the ports in this country. Thank you for your leadership. I think this is an excellent bill. I urge all my colleagues to vote ``yes.''

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, on August 22, 2006, Compton Community College lost its accreditation. Because it is a core educational institution for students from Compton and neighboring cities such as Carson, Lynwood, Paramount, Watts, and North Long Beach, I would like to take this time to recognize its excellence and request an expedited accreditation process. Compton Community College has a proud history of being a primary provider of high quality post-secondary education for persons of color in the greater Los Angeles County region from 1927 until 2006. Not only is it a source of community pride and positive stimulus for students and families, but it also supports the continued development of the surrounding communities. Since 2006, the Compton Community College District Board of Trustees, under the direction of the highly regarded Dr. Keith Curry, have partnered Compton Community with El Camino College, an accredited school of good standing in order to offer accredited courses to 6,780 students. El Camino College's involvement have kept the higher education alive in Compton, however the people of Compton deserve a college to call their own. Compton Community College served as a source of community pride, a positive stimulus for students and families, and supported the continued development of the surrounding communities. Therefore, I am introducing a resolution to urge an expedited accreditation process for Compton Community College. I stand with the faculty and students of Compton Community College, and look forward to Compton College once again leading the young people of Compton through their pursuit of higher education.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, on May 14th, the City of Compton will celebrate its 125th birthday. This anniversary comes after a year-long celebration of Compton's cultural heritage and its history. In the few days before the 125th anniversary, I would like to do my part to ensure that Congress recognizes the anniversary of one of California's oldest cities. Located in the heart of Los Angeles County, the City of Compton is the ``Hub City'' for both culture and trade. Several of the world's most talented athletes and artists, such as Olympic Gold Medalist Charles Dumas and the influential hip hop group N.W.A., have called this city home. Not only does Compton export talent, but it also conducts 25 percent of all U.S. waterborne international trade. Furthermore, the City of Compton has historically been in the forefront of promoting diversity in leadership. It is the first city in California to elect an African American mayor, Douglas Dollarhide, and a female African American mayor, Doris Davis. Therefore, I am introducing a resolution to recognize and celebrate the anniversary for the City of Compton. I hope that it can continue to grow and to develop its identity and culture. Congratulations to the City of Compton on 125 years, and may the best be yet to come.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, my colleague from New York just recently talked about education and why it is so important and what a great tool it is to fight poverty and provide for the future of our young people, which is why what I am going to say is even more serious. In the middle of the night on April 15, hundreds of girls were abducted from their beds in a school in Nigeria. The militant terrorist group Boko Haram is now planning to sell these young women into sex slavery for just $12 a girl. I have just gotten back from the Nigerian Embassy. My colleagues and I met with Nigerian officials for updates on this ongoing tragedy and to stand in unity behind strengthened efforts to bring these girls back home to their families. As a mother and a grandmother, I cannot imagine the pain the parents of these girls are experiencing. Many of these parents are terrified to speak to the media for fear of what might happen to their daughters. I appreciate our President's new commitment to help the Nigerian Government bring these girls home. These girls were pursuing their education, despite threats from a terrorist group bent on preventing the education of women. We cannot stand idly by while fear and violence oppress the freedom and dreams of women around the world.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. I thank my friend from Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank Chairman Culberson and Ranking Member Bishop for working with me to include two much-needed provisions in this Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations report. This bill makes important steps in fulfilling the promise that we have made to our veterans by providing job search assistance and offering homeless assistance to veterans displaced by domestic violence. The unemployment rate for veterans is 9 percent compared to 6.7 percent nationwide, and it is even higher for women veterans. The unemployment rate for our women veterans is 9.6 percent. And after fighting for this country, we should ensure that they have a job and a place to live. Veterans have skills our businesses need, and the VA should assist in matching potential employers with job-seeking veterans. My provision will encourage the VA and the Department of Labor to create a job placement service. Also, I am very pleased that the chairman included language covering veterans displaced by domestic violence. Due to an oversight in our current law, the legal definition of ``homeless veteran'' differs significantly from the standard civilian definition of ``homeless person.'' This means veterans fleeing from domestic violence could be excluded from receiving the benefits available to other homeless veterans. The language included updates the definition of ``homeless veteran'' to bring it into line with the rest of the law. This meaningful change to this policy will make a large difference in the lives of veterans, particularly women veterans, displaced from their home due to domestic violence. In addition, this change is supported by several veterans organizations, such as the VFW, AMVETS, and the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans. Mr. Speaker, both of these provisions represent a real step forward for fulfilling the promise to our Nation's veterans. And while sometimes we discuss our own living situation here, what is really important today is making sure that our veterans are housed with dignity and respect.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, today, African American women with breast cancer are 40 percent more likely to die from the disease than White women. In my hometown of Los Angeles, African American women are 70 percent more likely to die from breast cancer than White women. This is tragic and shameful. I have heard heartbreaking stories of women who were not able to access screening until it was too late or who could not receive treatment because they did not have health insurance. I have introduced a resolution here in Congress to recognize this alarming disparity and to raise nationwide awareness of this crisis in our health care system. My hope is that greater awareness of this issue will help to be the impetus for action and help improve the way we treat breast cancer for all women. This is an issue of life and death, and we must do everything we can to ensure that every woman, regardless of race, has access to the quality screening and treatment she needs to fight this awful disease. The good news is that now, under the Affordable Care Act, which my colleagues on the other side said was the worst law ever written in the history of man, lifesaving mammograms are covered for women in this country, allowing them to detect breast cancer early.