Janice Hahn

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of the 2015 Special Olympic World Games and to pay tribute to all who are participating in this wonderful event happening right now in my hometown of Los Angeles. The opening ceremonies were held Saturday in the Memorial Coliseum. I was honored to attend as a member of the Presidential Delegation, led by our First Lady Michelle Obama. Over the next week, 6,500 athletes representing 165 countries will compete in 254 competitions, supported by 30,000 volunteers and an anticipated 500,000 spectators, making this the largest sports and humanitarian event anywhere in the world this year and the single biggest event in Los Angeles since we hosted the 1984 Olympic Games. This is much more than a sporting event. For almost 50 years, the Special Olympics has showcased the skills and accomplishments of people with intellectual disability and helped foster the acceptance and inclusion of all people. I congratulate and wish good luck to all of the participants in this 2015 World Games.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. I thank my colleague from Florida for allowing me these few minutes. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to explain why I am voting against this rule today. As has been said, California is now in the fourth year of a record drought. In response, our State and local governments have implemented mandatory conservation measures, but we also need to think about how we will increase our water supply. The bill that the House will consider today does not do that. It just moves water from one need to another. That is why I attempted to offer an amendment to address present and current water needs. However, my amendment was not made in order by the Committee on Rules. My father, who was Los Angeles County Supervisor Kenny Hahn, had an idea in the 1970s to build a water pipeline from Alaska to California. The idea was never completely investigated but continues to have merit; therefore, I believe that the Department of the Interior should study the feasibility of a water pipeline network, linking our Nation's Federal reservoirs to transport water from wet regions to the dry regions in this country. That is what I thought my amendment would accomplish. My proposal, I thought, was a first step in building pipelines from regions that have more than enough water to regions that do not. If we can transport oil via pipeline, we should be able to do the same thing with water. I am disappointed that the Committee on Rules did not find this amendment in order. It was a study to determine if this idea is feasible. I believe a water pipeline and other creative ideas to increase our water supply should be studied. I would think Mr. Valadao, my fellow Californian, would support an idea like this that we could consider. To ensure that California and other States have enough water for our residents and other needs, even during periods of drought now and in the future, I think Congress should encourage and support efforts leading to these kinds of creative solutions.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to highlight America's infrastructure crisis. Almost 30 percent of our Nation's major roadways, and 50 percent in California, are in poor condition, meaning they must be rebuilt, not just patched up. Drivers are now paying a hidden pothole tax, the extra cost to maintain a car because of bad roads. In California, the average driver pays $760 because of poor roads. People and goods are slowed down by congestion. In just 10 legislative days, our highway trust fund expires. Congress must pass a long-term surface transportation bill to ensure that the United States has the best infrastructure. In May, this Congress kicked the can down the road and passed a short-term bill. It seems we are likely to do that again. This is not a responsible way to govern. We should invest in our transportation system to be globally competitive and to move these goods efficiently. Drivers want less time stuck in traffic and more time at home with their families. Let's invest in America's future and pass a long-term surface transportation bill.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, I would like to also thank the gentlewoman from New Jersey for allowing me to add my voice to this discussion. Certainly, all Americans were devastated by the brutal murder of nine people, including Senator Pinckney, while they were attending Wednesday night Bible study at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston. Their killer was motivated by racism, bigotry, and even had pictures of himself displaying Confederate memorabilia. The people of South Carolina and their political representatives have engaged in serious conversations about race, about healing, and how to deal with their State's history. South Carolina's Governor signed a bill a few hours ago to take down that Confederate battle flag from the grounds of the State capitol where it has flown for 50 years, and as South Carolina was moving to take down that flag, some right here were moving in the opposite direction. Earlier today, I took to this House floor to express my outrage that my friends on the other side of the aisle had offered a surprise amendment last night to allow the Confederate battle flag to be displayed in our national parks and at Federal cemeteries, just a couple of days after this body voted to remove that Confederate battle flag from our national parks. Many of my colleagues, including those participating in this Special Order tonight, joined in speaking out; and as a result, I think we succeeded in stopping them from bringing that amendment to a vote. We are here now because we recognize that it is not enough to keep the Confederate flag from being displayed or sold at national parks. Right now, here on the grounds of the United States Capitol, where we and our staffs work and visitors from all over come to visit, the Confederate battle flag and other images of the Confederacy are still visible; and that, we believe now, is unacceptable. I am proud to serve in the United States House of Representatives, which is known as the people's House; yet here in the hallways of our office buildings and elsewhere in the House of Representatives, including this side of the Capitol Building, there are State flags on display which include imagery of the Confederacy. Many of the residents of the wonderfully diverse district which I represent in California and many other Americans from all across our country find these images offensive, insulting, painful, even threatening. If we are to truly be representative of the people and if we want the people, all of the people of this great Nation, to feel welcome and comfortable here in the people's House, then we cannot continue to have divisive symbols associated with hatred, with bigotry and oppression on public display. Therefore, let me add my voice to those of my colleagues in calling for the removal from the House of Representatives of any flag containing any portion of that Confederate battle flag.

Mr. HAHN

Mr. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, I also rise to express my outrage that my Republican colleagues, in the darkness of the night, offered a surprise amendment to allow the Confederate battle flag to be displayed in our national parks and at Federal cemeteries. Just a couple of days ago, this body voted to remove the Confederate battle flag from our national parks. My Republican colleagues are choosing to raise the Confederate battle flag again, despite growing opposition by Americans who recognize it as a disgraceful celebration of the war waged to prolong slavery in this country. Yesterday, in a stunning sign of progress, South Carolina voted to take down that flag after 50 years of flying it at their State capitol. Why do some here continue to insist on defending this painful symbol of racism? This is shameful. In the wake of the devastating murder of Senator Pinckney and the eight other churchgoers at Emanuel AME, this is a new low for this Congress.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, due to an unforeseen conflict, I unavoidably missed the following vote on June 25, 2015. Had I been present I would have voted as follows: on rollcall No. 388, I would have voted ``aye'' (June 25) (Motion to Concur in the Senate Amendment to H.R. 1295--Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015).

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Sons and Daughters In Touch, an organization which supports and connects children whose parents were killed in battle, called Gold Star Children. Sons and Daughters In Touch was founded by my friend Tony Cordero, who lost his father in Vietnam when he was just 2 years old. This past Monday, I laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington Cemetery and visited the grave of Tony's father, William. Thousands of families rely on Sons and Daughters In Touch to help them through the process of healing and to honor the memory of their moms and dads. Sons and Daughters In Touch will celebrate its 25th anniversary this Father's Day, with a remembrance at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. We have a shared responsibility to care for the children whose parents have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. I have introduced a resolution in honor of Sons and Daughters In Touch, recognizing the importance of this organization and the strength of the families it represents.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Sons and Daughters in Touch (SDIT) on its 25th anniversary. The sons and daughters of servicemen and women who have died or gone missing in action while serving in the United States military are known as Gold Star children. Nearly 40 years after the end of the Vietnam War, many of their fathers and mothers are still unaccounted. SDIT was founded by Tony Cordero, whose father died during the Vietnam War. Tony wanted to find others like him who had lost a parent in battle, and since its founding, SDIT has been dedicated to locating, uniting, and providing support to Gold Star children as well as other family members whose relatives have died or remain missing as a result of the Vietnam War. Prior to the founding of Sons and Daughters in Touch, in 1990, there was no organization to support those who lost their parents during the war. This organization currently represents an estimated 20,000 sons and daughters in the United States. SDIT will be celebrating its 25th anniversary on Father's Day, Sunday June 21, at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC. The United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration will recognize Gold Star sons and daughters and their families who lost their loved ones during the war for their service and sacrifice. Representatives from all Gold Star families, including those from Korea, WWII and recent conflicts, will participate in the event. As a nation, we must pay tribute to the generations of children whose parents suffered the ultimate sacrifice defending our nation. I ask my colleagues to stand here with me in upholding our shared responsibility to comfort and care for the loved ones and communities these servicemen and women left behind. I ask that my colleagues join me in honoring our nation's sons and daughters and the many contributions their parents have made for our country by supporting this resolution.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to voice my opposition to the fast- track legislation making its way through our House this week. Let me be clear, I am pro-trade. I represent the Port of Los Angeles, and I understand the potential benefits of a good trade deal. But I am also pro-worker, pro-environment, pro-immigration reform, pro-human rights and pro-food safety. These goals, I believe, would be undermined by this fast-track legislation that limits our President's ability to negotiate those critical issues. Moreover, if the President gets fast-track authority, then our only role as Members of Congress would be an up-or-down vote on the final deal, limited debate, no amendments. We cannot afford another bad trade deal. NAFTA cost our Nation over 800,000 manufacturing jobs. I do not want to vote against a trade deal. I want to shape a fair deal that does not hurt American workers. I want a deal I can vote for.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. I yield to the gentleman from Indiana.

Ms. HAHN. Thank you, Ranking Member Visclosky. I have been working to provide our World War II merchant mariners the thanks they deserve. I would prefer to offer an amendment to the Defense bill which would have provided a token thank you, but it would have been the subject of a point of order. These brave men suffered the highest losses of any military branch in World War II and did not receive veterans benefits under the GI Bill. Moving forward, I look forward to working with the ranking member to give our brave merchant mariners the recognition they rightly deserve. It is unfathomable that these merchant mariners who served this Nation so valiantly have never had full veterans benefits. They were not eligible for tuition subsidies, home loan guarantees, or other provisions of the GI Bill that helps millions of veterans transition seamlessly into civilian life. Time is running out. These merchant mariners are now in their eighties and nineties, and there are only 5,000 left. Let's act now to right this wrong.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the first annual National Gun Violence Awareness Day. In just the past year, gun violence has killed 372 people in Los Angeles County, including 43 in my own congressional district and 20 in the city of Compton alone. My communities continue to mourn these victims: victims like 16-year- old Lontrell Lee Turner, who was gunned down walking home from church in Compton last December; 65-year-old Jose Padilla, the father who was shot and killed while closing up his restaurant in Lynwood; and 72- year-old Mary Motsumoto, who was shot to death by her husband in their home in San Pedro. I have mourned with too many parents and comforted too many children who have lost loved ones through gun violence. My communities have suffered through the scourge of gun violence for too long. The children of my community can no longer be targets. Today, I am proud to stand for gun violence awareness and wear an orange ribbon, representing the value of human life and the efforts we must take to protect it.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, after the tragic attacks on 9/11, Congress strengthened aviation security, which was the nature of the attacks against our country. While our aviation system is more secure--13 years later--we have not secured our nation's ports. Our ports are vulnerable to attacks. I represent the Port of Los Angeles and the communities that surround the port; I have the personal responsibility of keeping the people of my district safe. Top security experts recommend that shipping containers entering our nation's ports be scanned for radiological and nuclear materials and other potentially dangerous cargo. In addition, Congress passed laws requiring that 100 percent of all cargo be scanned by 2012. Today, three years after the deadline, we are scanning only 3 percent of incoming cargo. I firmly believe that responding to ongoing terrorist threats and the risk of nuclear proliferation should remain top national security priorities. The detonation of a nuclear device or ``dirty bomb'' at a port such as the Port of Los Angeles could cause a staggering loss of life. In addition, it could result in a West Coast or nationwide shutdown of all ports, which would cost the United States economy billions of dollars each day. The economic impact of port closure on supply chains was clearly demonstrated in 2002 when port workers were locked out for 8 days at the West Coast Ports. That cost $1 billion per day. For these reasons, I am re-introducing the Scan Containers Absolutely Now (SCAN) Act. This bill would create a one-year pilot program at two United States ports to evaluate the process of 100 percent scanning of cargo containers and its potential use at all domestic ports. I previously introduced this in the 113th Congress. This reintroduction includes several improvements to give ports who wish to apply, more flexibility on the management of the security systems. We must take our responsibility to protect the nation seriously. We cannot allow inconvenience or shortsighted economic expediency to get in the way of keeping our nation's ports and citizens safe.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, for months we have been calling for a long- term surface transportation bill to replace the one that expires at the end of this month. In recent weeks, I have joined many of my colleagues as we counted down the days left for Congress to act. Without a funding solution, the jobs of over 600,000 American workers are at risk. The gas tax, by the way, hasn't been raised in 20 years and is no longer sufficient to pay for repairs to dangerous roads, highways, bridges, and rail lines needed to protect Americans. We are being asked to vote this week on a bandaid approach that only runs to July instead of a real solution to this infrastructure crisis. This is often what happens here, but it is not the best way to govern. States and local transit agencies need this certainty that long-term funding will be available as they make important decisions about construction projects to meet our needs well into the future. Let's pass a long-term transportation bill now.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Madam Speaker, I rise against the rule that we are considering to the National Defense Authorization bill. I was extremely disappointed late last night, as you can imagine, when the Rules Committee decided not to make my amendment in order for today. My amendment would have provided a token thank-you to the World War II merchant mariners. These brave men suffered the highest losses of any military branch in World War II, and they did not receive veterans' benefits under the GI Bill. Time is running out. These merchant mariners are now in their eighties and their early nineties. There are only 5,000 living today. We can't continue with the slow wheels of bureaucracy. We can't do a study to see if they deserve it or if we can afford it. Congress should act swiftly and with a sense of urgency. As President Eisenhower said: When final victory is ours, there is no organization that will share its credit more deservedly than the merchant marine. It is too late for this bill today, but it is sad, as we are about to vote on a bill that authorizes our defense of this country, that we couldn't take a moment to give a token thank-you to those who were involved in the defense of this country.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, Americans are still shaken by this week's Amtrak derailment that took the lives of seven people and left more than 200 injured. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families who have suffered a loss. The NTSB said that this tragedy could have been prevented if the corridor had been outfitted with positive train control technology, PTC. All of us in southern California have known the importance of PTC since the horrible train accident in Chatsworth in 2008 that killed 25 people. Congress mandated that year that PTC be installed on all our Nation's rail lines. Across the country, rail lines are in the process of installing this lifesaving technology, but many are behind schedule. There was no PTC in place where this recent crash occurred. Yesterday, former Republican Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said, ``The idea that Amtrak doesn't need more money to implement positive train control . . . is nonsense.'' And yet yesterday, Republicans in the House Appropriations Committee voted to cut the Amtrak budget by $252 million. This Congress' policy of starving our infrastructure system is endangering Americans. Enough is enough.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, as we celebrate national Infrastructure Week here in this country, I urge my colleagues across the aisle to work with us to develop a sensible, long-term solution to fix this trust fund and put an end to our infrastructure crisis. We need reliable roads, highways, and bridges to keep our economy moving, and for almost 60 years we have depended on the highway trust fund to make necessary repairs to our Nation's deteriorating infrastructure. However, the gas tax hasn't been raised in 20 years and no longer generates enough revenue to meet our needs. The highway trust fund faces a serious and immediate funding shortage. The deadline to fix this is just weeks away--just 6 legislative days. So unless we act now, construction projects across the country will come to a standstill, putting the jobs of 600,000 American workers on the line. Paving our highways and keeping our bridges safe and reliable is one of the most basic jobs of Congress. We have until May 31 to figure this out. Failing is not an option.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the tens of thousands of students who have been left in the lurch after their for- profit school, Corinthian Colleges, abruptly closed this week. The closure came as a surprise. It was the middle of their semester. Many of these students are now buried in student loan debt and do not know how or if they can continue their education. I have urged the Department of Education to make it very clear to these students that they have the option to have their loans forgiven. However, the Department of Education has been encouraging students to transfer to other troubled for-profit schools, rather than have their loans discharged. Many of the for-profit schools on the Department's list of so-called viable transfer opportunities are currently under State or Federal investigation. This is shocking and unacceptable. I call on the Department to remove immediately any school currently under investigation or on heightened cash management from its list of recommended options. Our students deserve better. Let's give them the guidance that they can trust.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to insert my statement in the Record that the House should focus on the real priorities of Americans instead of another attack on women's health care.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Chairman, I just really want to thank Chairman Simpson and Ranking Member Kaptur for allowing us to offer this amendment tonight. I really want to thank my colleague, Mr. Huizenga, for his incredible passion and his ability to move this forward in a way that was acceptable tonight. I think our ports and waterways across this country will thank the gentleman, but more importantly, I really believe that, when our ports and waterways are strong, this country will be strong, and I thank the gentleman very much for that. I urge all my colleagues to support the Huizenga-Hahn amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gene Green).

Ms. HAHN. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, I join my colleague and good friend from Michigan in offering the Huizenga-Hahn amendment to the Energy and Water Appropriations bill in order to utilize the harbor maintenance trust fund at the target set forth in the recently passed Water Resources Reform and Development Act. As my colleague said, this is a very important part of what we compromised on in the WRRDA bill. As a Representative of the Nation's busiest port complex in Los Angeles, along with Long Beach, and as the cofounder of the Ports Caucus, along with Ted Poe, I have fought so hard since the first day I came to Congress to increase the funding for our Nation's ports and to fully utilize this harbor maintenance trust fund to ensure that the money that is collected at our ports goes back to our ports. After working for months with my colleagues, we reached a plan to finally put the harbor maintenance trust fund to work and fully utilize it by 2025, but this bill on the floor today fails to follow the law we passed just last year with an overwhelming vote of 404-4. This bill is $36 million behind our targets. For our Nation to remain globally competitive, we need to fund our port infrastructure. According to the Army Corps of Engineers, we need to fully fund our harbor maintenance tax for 5 years to fully dredge our ports. Ports are crucial across this country. Americans expect to go to Target and have tennis shoes or toys on its shelves; our farmers need efficient ports to export our agriculture products, and we cannot let America's infrastructure crumble. That is unacceptable. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition, although I do not oppose the amendment.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. I thank you for your support, and I applaud you and the committee for working in this bipartisan manner. I urge all of my colleagues to support this amendment. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.