Janice Hahn

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Chairman, I thank Chairman McCaul and Ranking Member Thompson for allowing me to offer this amendment. I rise to offer a National Cybersecurity Protection Advancement Act amendment, one to increase cybersecurity at our Nation's most at-risk ports. This amendment will direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to submit a report to Congress assessing risks and providing recommendations regarding cybersecurity at America's most at-risk ports, such as Los Angeles, Long Beach, Oakland, New York, Houston. According to the American Association of Port Authorities, our ports contribute $4.6 trillion to the U.S. economy, making their security critical to our Nation. In order to remain efficient and globally competitive, our ports have become increasingly reliant on complex computer networks for everyday management. However, The Brookings Institution has found that there is a cybersecurity gap at our Nation's ports. Currently, we do not have cybersecurity standards for our ports to give Federal agencies the authority to address cybersecurity issues. This is completely unacceptable. The threat of cyber attack on the networks that manage the flow of U.S. commerce at our ports is real. As the Representative of the Nation's busiest port complex and as cofounder of the Congressional Ports Caucus, I know that a significant disruption at our ports cripples our economy. An estimated $1 billion a day was lost during the lockout at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach back in 2002. Imagine the possible damage of a more severe disruption. For example, if our ports were targeted and hacked and unable to operate, it could cost our Nation billions and billions of dollars. While the Port of Los Angeles is a participant in the FBI's Cyberhood Watch program and has an award-winning cybersecurity operations center, we need to ensure that all of our ports have the same ability to protect themselves from cyber attacks. This is why I have offered this amendment that addresses the lack of cybersecurity standards and safeguards at our ports. We have ignored the cybersecurity of the networks managing our ports long enough, and it is pointless and ironic for government to continue awarding funds that are spent on the installation of new technologies if the networks they are on remain vulnerable to cyber attacks. This amendment adds no new cost to this legislation, but it will offer great security to our Nation's movement of goods. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in solidarity with the Armenian community to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the events that led to the Armenian genocide. One hundred years ago, on April 24, more than 300 Armenian leaders were taken from their homes, arrested, and systematically executed. They were the first massacred in a genocide that resulted in the deaths of 1\1/2\ million innocent men, women, and children. The children, grandchildren, and younger descendants of the genocide's victims have worked hard to remember and honor those who suffered. I am proud to be a member of the Congressional Armenian Caucus and to cosponsor H. Res. 154, the Armenian Genocide Truth and Justice Resolution. I praise the Armenian American community throughout Los Angeles County and elsewhere in California and the United States for making sure that the history of that tragic period is known and urging our government to officially recognize the genocide.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. I rise today in solidarity with the Nigerian people who are still terrorized by Boko Haram. It has now been 1 year since 276 schoolgirls were abducted from their dorms and classrooms by Boko Haram. This militant terrorist group continues its violent attacks--kidnapping, rape, murder, and brutality--against children, women, and men. One year ago the international community joined in the social media campaign #bringbackourgirls to raise awareness of this tragic kidnapping. We speak out today to say these girls have not been forgotten, as 219 of them remain missing, their fates unknown. Many American individuals and organizations as well as government leaders are continuing efforts to aid the Nigerian people who have been victimized and to prevent future violence. We must keep in mind the atrocities committed by Boko Haram as we and our allies continue to fight extremist groups around the world.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, my home of Los Angeles unfortunately is the nation's smoggiest region of the country. We are surrounded by mountains and have highest per capita ownership of cars. The Los Angeles region has made great improvements in our air quality. In the last 15 years, the number of dirty air days has dropped by 38%. Still-- we have the worst air quality in the nation. The American Lung Association ranks the Los Angeles region as number one in the nation for ozone pollution and in the top five for particulate matter pollution. This results in many health issues including higher numbers of children with asthma and significantly lung function problems in normal, healthy people. We do love our cars in Los Angeles, and the pollution from these cars is a key cause of our air quality problems. Los Angeles could drastically improve its air quality if more of those cars were plug in vehicles. However there are simply not enough charging stations available for this to be feasible. As an owner of an all-electric Nissan Leaf, I know all too well that there is a lack of charging stations. I have personally experienced range anxiety. There have been times when driving home I have had to turn off the lights, radio, and air conditioning to ensure that I can make it home because there were no charging stations nearby. Los Angeles is one of the largest consumers of elective vehicles in the country. But, I believe people would buy more electric vehicles if charging stations were readily available. Today, I am introducing the Electric Charging Advancement Reform Act to encourage more electric vehicles on our roads, which will result in clean air improvements and energy independence. This is an act integral to revolutionizing the accessibility of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) to potential drivers. My bill would reauthorize the electric vehicle recharging property credit for full electric and fuel cell vehicles which will make available to both consumers and businesses a tax credit of up to $100,000 for the installation of charging stations. No one driving a gas-powered car has to worry about finding a gas station before they get to their destination. Let us make sure that charging stations are just as easily accessible and convenient as the gas stations that are at every major intersection in our cities and off our major freeways.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Thank you. Mr. Chairman, I call on my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me in supporting a budget that returns this tax back to the ports, where it is collected. I want to thank the bipartisan group of 86 Members who signed the letter, which Congressman Boustany and I sent to House appropriators last week, calling for the harbor maintenance trust fund funding to be at the WRRDA level.

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Chairman, I thank my colleague, Chris Van Hollen, for the opportunity to speak today. Mr. Chairman, I think a budget is a reflection of our priorities. The choices we make about how to invest and spend have an impact on our American families. We must make it easier for hard-working Americans to own a home, to send their kids to college, and to have a secure and enjoyable retirement. That is why it is so important that we invest in our Nation's ports, which create good-paying American jobs and sustain American businesses. Providing our ports and waterways with the funding and support they need is a high priority for me, and one that is shared by many of my colleagues, especially the almost 100 members of the bipartisan Congressional PORTS Caucus. We know that America must invest more in our ports to remain globally competitive and to be prepared for the expansion of the Panama Canal, which will impact international trade and shipping routes. The budget we are considering today, however, does just the opposite. Cutting funding for programs that support American commerce is both shortsighted and harmful to the competitiveness of American businesses. I applaud the Congressional Progressive Caucus budget because it fully meets the targets we set in the 2014 WRRDA bill for the harbor maintenance funding, using more of the revenue collected at our ports for its intended purpose of maintaining and improving ports and navigation channels. Let me emphasize that the harbor maintenance trust fund is self- funded. This is not new spending or new fees. Shippers already pay this tax to fund improvements that Congress is refusing to authorize. The trust fund now has a surplus of $9 billion in fees that America's ports have collected; but unless we act, these funds will not be used as intended, which is to improve our ports.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to call on Congress to keep its promise to invest in our Nation's ports. The harbor maintenance tax collected at our ports should be returned to our ports, not stockpiled or diverted to other spending. For years, only about 50 percent of the tax was returned to our ports. The harbor maintenance trust fund now has a surplus of approximately $9 billion. Last year, with bipartisan support, we passed the Water Resources Reform and Development Act, which set targets for annual increases in usage of the trust fund, leading to 100 percent use by the year 2025. I have offered an amendment to the budget resolution to meet that target funding level for 2016 established in WRRDA, and I am disappointed that the Rules Committee did not rule it in order. To keep our United States ports globally competitive, we should fully use the harbor maintenance trust fund to maintain and improve our harbors and navigation channels.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of policies that will help more students and families afford college. The cost of obtaining a college degree has increased more than 1,000 percent over the last three decades, and many more students need Federal loans to cover the costs. After racking up a mountain of debt, graduates struggle to put money into savings, buy a house, or start a business, but many people are shocked to find out that the Federal Government is making billions of dollars in profits off these students by charging higher interest rates than necessary. This is not fair or right. We should be rewarding our students for pursuing an education, not taxing them for it. Students should get the same low interest rates that the Federal Reserve gives the big banks on Wall Street. I hope we can find bipartisan support in Congress for commonsense policies to make college more affordable.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express relief that Congress has funded the Department of Homeland Security. We averted an unnecessary and harmful crisis. We should not have reached a point where the Department was on the brink of a shutdown. The Department of Homeland Security was created after the devastating September 11 terrorist attacks and performs vital functions to protect Americans against ongoing terrorist threats. We are talking about FEMA, which responds to emergencies and disasters; TSA, which makes flying safer; the Secret Service; Customs and Border Protection; and other important services. The Coast Guard, which patrols our waters and helps protect communities like mine near the Port of Los Angeles, is also a part of the Department of Homeland Security. We must do even more to improve port security, and shutting down the Department would have been a step backwards. We must stop the crisis-to-crisis governing around here. The American people deserve better than this sort of political brinksmanship.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, I, along with the rest of the country, am breathing a sigh of relief that full-time work has resumed at our west coast ports. I wanted to publicly thank the ILWU and the PMA for staying at the table and finally reaching an agreement. I want to thank President Obama and our Labor Secretary Perez for their help in bringing about a resolution. Many of my colleagues here in Congress were calling me daily for updates because the workers, the farmers, the businesses, and the consumers in their districts were also impacted by what happens on the west coast ports. I represent the men and women who work on those ports, so our economy in the harbor area was greatly affected, but we also realize that these ports are an economic engine for the entire country. Our west coast ports support millions of American jobs and provide a vital link to global commerce. So today I am going to testify before the Budget Committee to remind Congress that we should fully fund all the ports in this country because they are such an important link to our economy.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, today, I am introducing the National Freight Network Trust Fund Act of 2015 along with my Co-Chair of the bipartisan Congressional PORTS Caucus Ted Poe. This legislation will provide a guaranteed dedicated funding source, at no additional expense to taxpayers, to serve our nations freight movement. The Port of Los Angeles is in my backyard and when I came to Congress, I was surprised that there was a lack of focus on ports and freight transportation in general. One of the reasons I co-founded the PORTS Caucus is to educate Members about the importance of freight transportation to our nation's economy. We are a consumer economy. Whether it is a ``mom and pop'' store on the corner or a large retailer like Target, we don't think twice when we go to these stores to purchase groceries, toys, or clothing. When we go to the store, we expect that milk and the Barbie dolls are on the shelf. We also want to ensure that goods Made in America--including manufacturing and agriculture--are able to be shipped efficiently across our nation's highways and rail to our ports for export, which is crucial to our nation's continued economic success. Ultimately, in MAP-21--our last surface transportation bill--we were successful in including provisions to start the conversation about developing a national freight transportation network. The problem is that today there are not enough funds to keep the Highway Trust Fund solvent--let alone make the necessary investment to modernize and increase the efficiency of our freight network. That will not keep our economy global competitive as we continue progressing through the 21st Century. For example, goods that leave the Port of Los Angeles take 48 hours to arrive in Chicago and takes 30 hours to travel across the city. This bottleneck is unacceptable and means higher costs for consumers, more congestion, more pollution, and less jobs. The bottom line is that we need to fund our nation's freight network. If we fail to fund our ports, we will lose our competitive edge and add costs to our goods. A USDOT report, Freight Transportation: Improvements and the Economy, estimates the cost of carrying freight on the highway system at between $25 and $200 an hour. Unexpected delays can increase the cost of transporting goods by 50 to 250 percent. To keep our nation's freight network globally competitive, I am introducing the National Freight Network Trust Fund Act of 2015, which would create a dedicated source of funding for essential projects to improve and modernize our freight network at no new cost to the public. This legislation would create a National Freight Network Trust Fund and deposit 5% of all import duties collected by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at Ports of Entry into the Fund to be spent only on freight transportation. Neither businesses nor taxpayers would incur any new cost because it uses a small percentage of funds our CBP officials already are collecting at the border as freight enters our nation. Five percent of import duties amounts to roughly $2 billion in the Trust Fund every year at our current rate of imports, a level that would help address the nation's infrastructure funding deficit and allow us to make essential investments in the freight network. This legislation would create the National Freight Network Trust Fund as an off-budget trust fund to only serve the roads of the National Freight Network and those roads and rail that connect the Network to Ports of Entry. The legislation would also direct the Secretary of Transportation to work in accordance with the National Freight Strategic Plan to identify improvements to the National Freight Network, on-dock rail, and roads and rail that connect the Network to Ports of Entry, which show the greatest need in providing for the movement of freight and goods across the United States. It would also provide grants at the Secretary's discretion to State, regional and local transportation authorities to make freight network improvements. This bill will infuse billions back into the economy every year, help create good paying American jobs and keep our nation's ports strong and globally competitive. This is a win for our ports and for our nation's economy. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to warn of the impending danger of shutting down the Department of Homeland Security. While terror attacks are occurring worldwide, it is unbelievable and it would be unforgivable to stop funding the Department that protects our Nation's security. Yet some in Congress are willing to shut down this Department and put our Nation at risk unless we deport 5.3 million people. As cochair of the Ports Caucus and as the Representative of the Port of Los Angeles, I can tell you that our ports are one of the most vulnerable entryways into this country; and though I believe we should do more to protect our Nation's ports, closing the Department of Homeland Security at this time would make our ports even more vulnerable to an attack. We must act now. Time is running out to pass legislation to keep this Department open.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, many of us have love-hate relationships with the news media and with various reporters, but today I wanted to rise and express my condolences for a reporter in Los Angeles whom we mostly had a love relationship with and very little hate. Rick Orlov was a reporter for the Daily News, and he covered Los Angeles City Hall for almost 30 years. I served on the Los Angeles City Council for 10 of those, so I got to know him well. Do you know what? He earned everyone's respect. Somehow, he made no enemies. Rick was a true newsman, and he focused on writing the news that mattered. He was not interested in gotcha reporting. His longstanding institutional knowledge allowed him to understand and tell the whole story. Rick Orlov was not only a great reporter, but he was a great man. I considered him my friend, and he really was a piece of Los Angeles. His death is a huge loss for the city and for all of us who had a chance to know him.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, across the country, too many victims of domestic violence feel that there is nowhere for them to turn. Lacking resources, help and a safe place to go, some victims stay with their abusers. Tragically, too often women veterans are among those who find themselves in this horrible situation. According to the VA, 39% of our women veterans report experiencing domestic violence, well above the national average. In order to qualify for benefits available to homeless veterans through the VA, an individual must meet the definition of ``homeless'' codified as part of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. In 2009, the HEARTH Act expanded the definition of homeless to reflect our present reality and include individuals in transitional housing, persons living in motels and persons who would imminently lose their housing. A change was also made to the McKinney-Vento Act to expand the definition of homeless to include individuals fleeing a situation of domestic violence or some other life-threatening condition. This change, however, is not currently reflected in the definition of ``homeless veteran.'' These women are part of a growing number of homeless veterans. That is why I am reintroducing this legislation, which will correct and expand the definition of ``homeless veteran'' to include veterans who are fleeing situations of domestic violence. This small change will allow those veterans who find the courage and the means to leave their abusers the chance to access the benefits that should be available to all homeless veterans. By passing this bill, we will ensure that this especially vulnerable population of veterans has the chance to access benefits the Department of Veterans Affairs already provides. This bill is one small step to ensuring every homeless veteran can access the benefits they deserve.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, during World War II, millions of Americans in uniform fought bravely to secure freedom and peace throughout the world. We honored their sacrifices by ensuring we took care of them at home, through initiatives such as the G.I. Bill and other services meant to support our veterans. During the war, U.S. Merchant Mariners were responsible for transporting troops and delivering supplies for the military. Hundreds of ships and thousands of men were lost to enemy submarines and aircraft, including dangerous missions ferrying supplies to Western Europe and even Russia. It was one of the most critical roles played during the early part of the war. Unfortunately, those who served this nation so valiantly during that time, were not eligible for the G.I. Bill that helped millions of veterans go to college, secure a home and transition seamlessly into civilian life. The fact that we did not provide similar benefits to those who risked their lives for this country is simply unfathomable. That's why I am proud to join with my colleague Rep. John Duncan in introducing the bipartisan ``Honoring Our WWII Merchant Marine Act of 2015.'' This bill would provide a one-time benefit of $25,000 to the surviving 5,000 World War II Mariners. In just two years since I last introduced this act, the number of surviving Merchant Mariners has been cut in half, and if we fail to act now none will see the promise fulfilled. By providing this modest benefit, we will finally be giving our brave merchant mariners the recognition they rightfully deserve.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. I am sure you are. If you are not, you will be.

Ms. HAHN. Thank you, Mr. Garamendi, for having the leadership, certainly, on Make It In America, but really reminding our colleagues and all Americans how important these projects are in terms of repairing our infrastructure, as well as creating good American jobs. I am here today to join you and many of our colleagues in really pressing Congress this year to take action to improve our Nation's outdated, underfunded ports and to repair and replace crumbling roads and dangerous bridges. I serve on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. I founded and cochair our congressional bipartisan PORTS Caucus, so I work closely with not only Democrats, but I am working very closely with Republicans. I do know--and I believe this to be true--that this is one area that we can agree on, and that is our infrastructure and transportation. I am really hoping that we can work together across the aisle and understand that making these essential investments in America's transportation and infrastructure will create good-paying jobs, will help American businesses to compete globally, and it will improve the quality of life for families in every single congressional district. As you said--and I will take bragging rights--I represent the Port of Los Angeles, and Alan Lowenthal represents the Port of Long Beach. Together, we consider them America's ports. They are the largest port complex in the country. They account for about 40 percent of all trade that comes through this country, it comes through our ports. I am a big advocate for these ports. As the cochair of the PORTS Caucus, I am an advocate for all ports in this country because the entire port network, the entire network of highways, roads, bridges, and infrastructure that move freight across this country, needs some champions here in Congress. This freight network is important for moving goods across our country. It is important for small businesses, and even if you live hundreds of miles from the nearest port, whether you realize it or not, everyone depends on our ports to get the goods to the stores, to the factories, and to the businesses that many of our colleagues represent. Maybe you live or work in an agricultural or industrial area. We know that they produce something that America exports to foreign markets. You may also have a direct interest in making sure that our freight network--our Nation's transportation system--is in good condition, is modern, efficient, and safe so that cargo can travel to the ports where it is loaded on the ships to get overseas. I loved that in the State of the Union last week, President Obama said that ``21st century businesses need 21st century infrastructure.'' The deteriorating infrastructure, crumbling roads, and collapsing bridges that are part of our current national freight network are a threat to America's prosperity and our global competitiveness. Policymakers here in Congress need to recognize the need to make repairs and upgrades, but we have been stuck on how to pay for them. I introduced a bill last Congress that I am going to reintroduce this Congress that will create a dedicated funding stream for these vital projects--and listen to this--without raising taxes or imposing any additional fees. I have come up with an idea how to fund our national freight network, and I am hoping I can get broad support in this Congress. Let me repeat: it does not raise taxes one penny, and it does not increase any fees to any businesses in America. What it does is divert 5 percent of the fees that we already collect on imports in this country--money that currently goes to the U.S. Treasury's general fund--and we can create a new national freight trust fund. We collect $39 billion a year nationwide in these import fees. Setting aside just 5 percent of those would give this national freight trust fund about $2 billion a year that we could use to repair roads, highways, and bridges--the last mile to ease congestion into our ports across this country. Again, it is not going to raise taxes or fees. I know, as you mentioned, Mr. Garamendi, we need to pass a surface transportation bill. I am working with Chairman Shuster and some of the committee members on our Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to see if my legislation can be a part of that as a way just to fund our freight network. It is different than funding the highway trust fund, which is our normal roads and bridges. This is different. This is about the network that moves goods in this country. I hope you will support me. Thank you for allowing me to speak on this very Special Hour. This is an issue, Mr. Garamendi, I know that we agree on. I know that our Republican colleagues will agree with us on this. Maybe this is the one thing that we can do as a huge gift to the American people: find something in a bipartisan way, some common ground that we agree on, that will really repair infrastructure and create good jobs here in America. I think this is an issue that will, I believe, make the American people happy.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Madam Speaker, in World War II, more than 200,000 brave Americans answered the call of duty by joining the merchant marine, braving troubled seas to deliver crucial supplies to the battlefields of Europe and the Pacific. They faced enemy attack. Thousands perished at sea, and hundreds more were captured. Unfortunately, the veterans of the merchant marine who risked their lives in the service of this Nation were never eligible for the provisions of the GI bill that helped millions of veterans go to college, secure a home, and transition seamlessly into civilian life. To right this wrong, I am introducing the Honoring Our World War II Merchant Mariners Act of 2015. This bill would provide the one-time payment of $25,000 to fewer than 5,000 surviving World War II mariners. With many of these forgotten heroes well into their nineties, time is running out to repay this debt of gratitude. I encourage my colleagues to act quickly in cosponsoring this important legislation.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Amendment I: ``Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.''

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, I am rising in solidarity today with millions of American working families who are deeply concerned about the impact that harmful trade deals have on our Nation. I am proud to join with my colleagues in the Progressive Caucus in explaining why we oppose this so-called Fast Track authority for international trade deals. Let me be clear. I am very much pro-trade. Trade is essential to the economy of my district, and I am proud to represent the Port of Los Angeles, the largest container port in the country. Trade is essential to our economy in my district, but it is essential to the economy of the whole State of California--and of course, dare I say, the whole Nation--the many wonderful and diverse exports we do promote in our State: films, creative content made in Hollywood, the fruits and vegetables grown in Central Valley, the wines from Sonoma and Napa, the innovative products developed in our Silicon Valley, or the goods that are manufactured in California factories. Trade is essential to our entire U.S. economy. Trade creates and sustains American jobs, not only at our ports in this country, but throughout the entire supply chain. Trade helps American businesses reach new markets, grow, prosper. Trade helps American consumers gain access to many products that we value, and trade is not an exclusive Democratic issue or Republican issue. Everyone who wants our Nation to prosper understands the importance and value of engaging in trade and being globally competitive and connected. That is why I am proud that as a progressive Democrat I was able to join with a conservative Republican, Ted Poe, and we have worked together to cochair our Congressional PORTS Caucus. We now have about 90 Members of Congress, Republicans and Democrats, coming together over the issue of investing in and sustaining and making competitive our Nation's seaports. We might disagree on other policy issues, but we have a common understanding of the economic benefits of trade, especially trade passing through our ports. So I want to say it again, and I hope it is clear that I strongly support trade. However, I am opposed to trade deals with other countries that have harmful consequences on our American workers and deals that give unfair advantages to those who exploit workers and destroy the environment. That is why I oppose Fast Track. I believe with all my heart that Congress has a constitutional duty to oversee trade agreements, but Fast Track takes away our authority to regulate trade and to be involved in these negotiations. Under Fast Track, we would only be able to vote for or against a deal that has been negotiated without us, and we would not even have the opportunity to amend it. That sounds like a recipe for a raw deal, not a good deal. I am honored to hold public office and to have earned the support and the trust of those who depend on me to stand up for them and what is best for them. I take my responsibility very seriously to represent them and act in their interests, as I think every Member of Congress does, and I think our constituents are counting on us to make trade deals that are fair and beneficial. I think Fast Track undercuts our authority and our ability to provide this oversight. I hope that we can support trade and have good trade agreements, but I hope we can all oppose the idea of Fast Tracking these trade deals.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my hopes that the negotiations between the Pacific Maritime Association and our dock workers will improve quickly with the help of a Federal mediator. Resolving differences between the ILWU and the PMA is essential to the United States' economy because our west coast ports support 5 million jobs across the country and handle two-thirds of all America's trade. This represents 12.5 percent of our GDP. Port workers have been without a contract for 7 months under tense and uncertain conditions. Reaching a fair agreement is urgent for workers and their families, for communities, for our businesses that depends on goods moving through these ports, and indeed for our Nation's prosperity. As cochair of the bipartisan Port Caucus, along with my colleague Ted Poe, I will do all I can to help our ports operate smoothly and keep Americans working.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to renew the call for Congress to act on comprehensive immigration reform. The job of Congress is to legislate, and immigration reform needs a legislative solution. It is, therefore, disappointing that we will be finishing this Congress in a few days without the House having passed or even voted on comprehensive immigration reform. But I hope that starting immediately in the new Congress, we can work together to pass comprehensive, commonsense, and compassionate legislation that will provide opportunities to those who want to come here and opportunities for the 12 million undocumented residents who are already here. This legislation can grow our economy, decrease our deficit, secure our borders, protect our workers, unite families, and provide an earned pathway to citizenship. A majority of Americans support this framework, and it has the support of both labor and business as well as religious and civic organizations. Let us come back in January ready to get the job done and pass comprehensive immigration reform.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Thank you. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to speak today about a friend and predecessor who served some of the same communities that I now represent. Today, we are voting on a piece of legislation that will recognize the life and legacy of the late Congresswoman, Juanita Millender- McDonald, by designating the United States Postal Service facility located at 101 East Market Street, in Long Beach, as the Juanita Millender-McDonald Post Office. Many of my colleagues in the House had the opportunity to serve alongside Congresswoman Millender-McDonald. They remember her forceful personality and her unyielding advocacy on behalf of her constituents. However, Juanita, who left us so suddenly and too early, was a remarkable woman who broke barriers and who had many impressive achievements even before entering Congress. By age 26, Juanita Millender-McDonald was a mother of five. She was already in her forties when, after raising her children, Valerie, Angela, Sherryll, Michael, and R. Keith, she went back to school and earned both her bachelor's and master's degrees with the support of her loving husband, James. She became a teacher in the Los Angeles Unified School District and later became the manuscript editor for Images, a textbook aimed at promoting the self-esteem of young women, and the director of gender equality programs for the school district. She broke down barriers for women and minorities and made history by becoming the first African American woman elected to the Carson City Council and, in 2007, became the first African American woman to chair a congressional committee, the Committee on House Administration. While serving for more than a decade in the House of Representatives, she also served on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the Small Business Committee, the committees on which I now currently serve, and she was an active member of the Congressional Black Caucus. From her days in the California Assembly to serving here in the House, Juanita Millender-McDonald dedicated her career to advocating for the Los Angeles public school system, job training, women's equality, women's health, and combating the drug epidemic that was tearing apart her community. Her advocacy on behalf of the victims of genocide and human trafficking serves as a lasting testament to her dedication to creating a better world. Congresswoman Millender-McDonald worked tirelessly for her constituents, taking only a week of leave before she succumbed to cancer. By designating a United States Postal Service facility in my district as the Juanita Millender-McDonald Post Office, we honor an exemplary woman with an incredible public service record. It is my hope that honoring her now will allow her life and accomplishments to inspire further residents, not only of Long Beach but Americans across the land. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to speak today about a friend and predecessor who served some of the same communities that I now represent. Today we are voting on a piece of legislation that will recognize the life and legacy of the late Congresswoman Juanita Millender-McDonald, by designating the United States Postal Service facility located at 101 E. Market Street in Long Beach, as the Juanita Millender-McDonald Post Office. Many of my colleagues in the House had the opportunity to serve alongside Congresswoman Millender-McDonald and remember her forceful personality and her unyielding advocacy on behalf of her constituents. However, Juanita, who left us so suddenly and too early, was a remarkable woman who broke barriers and had many impressive achievements even before entering Congress. By age 26, Juanita Millender-McDonald was a mother of five. She was already in her forties, when, after raising her children, she went back to school and subsequently earned bachelor's and master's degrees and did additional studies towards a PhD. She became a teacher in L.A. USD and later the manuscript editor for Images, a textbook aimed at promoting the self-esteem of young women, and the director of gender equity programs for the school district. She broke down barriers for women and minorities and made history by becoming the first African-American woman elected to the Carson City Council, and in 2007 became the first African-American woman to chair a Congressional Committee--the House Administration Committee. While serving for more than a decade in the House of Representatives, she also served on the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee and the Small Business Committee--the committees on which I now serve--and was an active member of the Congressional Black Caucus. From her days in the California Assembly to serving here in the House, Juanita Millender-McDonald dedicated her career to advocating for the Los Angeles public school system, job training, women's equality and women's health, and combating the drug epidemic that was tearing apart her community. Her advocacy on behalf of the victims of genocide and human trafficking serves as a lasting testament to her dedication to creating a better world. Congresswoman Millender-McDonald worked tirelessly for her constituents, taking only a week of leave before she succumbed to cancer. By designating a United States Postal Service facility in my district as the Juanita Millender-McDonald Post Office, we honor an exemplary woman with an incredible public service record. I know her family, including her husband James McDonald, Jr.; children, Valerie, Angela, Sherryll, Michael and R. Keith; and grandchildren, Ayanna, Myles, Ramia, Blair and Diamond, are so proud of her great legacy. It is my hope that honoring her now will allow her life and accomplishments to inspire further residents not only of Long Beach but Americans across the land.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Reginald N. ``Reggie'' Todd, who is retiring at the end of this year, after his distinguished and illustrious career spanning more than thirty-eight years representing and advocating for the interests of local governments before the Legislative and Executive Branches of government in Washington, D.C. I wish to extend to Mr. Todd, currently the Chief Legislative Representative for the County of Los Angeles, my appreciation for the decades of dedicated service that he has given to Los Angeles County and the nation. Mr. Todd has served as the Chief Legislative Representative for the County of Los Angeles for the past sixteen and a half years, leading and coordinating a team of legislative advocates who have been working tirelessly on behalf of the over 10 million people who live in Los Angeles County. My office has worked closely with Mr. Todd and his team on a broad variety of federal issues having an impact on Los Angeles County including appropriations, health care, social services, community development, public safety, transportation and infrastructure, and municipal services. He has advanced the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors' federal legislative agenda with great skill, intelligence, and accomplishment. Prior to establishing the Los Angeles County Washington Office, Mr. Todd served as Legislative Director of the National Association of Counties (NACo), implementing a broad array of coalition-building around NACo's legislative priorities. Before joining NACo, Mr. Todd served as the Chief Executive Officer of the National Community Development Association, the Legislative Counsel at the National League of Cities, and the Washington Activities Coordinator for the National Association of Regional Councils. Mr. Todd was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland. A veteran, he served in the United States Air Force at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, NATO. He received a B.A. in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland-College Park. He has been married to his wife, Saralee S. Todd, for 36 years and has two children, Dr. Elizabeth Todd Breland and Jonathan E Todd, and a son-in- law, Alex Breland. Mr. Todd also is a very proud, first-time grandfather of Natalie Juanita Breland. On behalf of the United States House of Representatives and Los Angeles County, we extend our heartfelt gratitude for Mr. Todd's contributions throughout his remarkable career. With our sincere best wishes, we congratulate him upon his retirement from public service.