Janice Hahn

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, today the House will vote on the bipartisan Howard Coble Coast Guard & Maritime Transportation Act of 2014. This bill is a great step for our nation's Coast Guard and federal maritime transportation. Under the constraints of limited resources, this important agreement will continue to provide our Coast Guard and Federal Maritime Commission with the ability to protect our nation's international borders while promoting American commerce around the world. Having served the people of Los Angeles for nearly 15 years on the City Council and now in Congress, I have long appreciated the work of our Coast Guard and Federal Maritime Commission officials who support the largest port complex in the United States. America relies on the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, which is the gateway for forty percent of all maritime commerce, and providing security to these ports keeps goods flowing across the nation. In addition, this act provides new incentives for the employment of veterans on U.S. flagged vessels, and directs the Secretary of Transportation to work with Congress to create a national maritime strategy to promote the competitiveness of the U.S. flagged fleet, increase the use of short seas shipping, and enhance U.S. shipbuilding capacity. Our nation's ports and maritime commerce drive all aspects of our economy, and this agreement will provide our nation's maritime gateways the federal support to ensure American ports remain the safest and most economical for shippers around the world. I am pleased this strong agreement bears the name of our colleague Howard Coble, a fellow member of the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee and a great friend of mine, who has long been a champion of America's Coast Guard and ports. Congress will miss his leadership. I urge the Senate to consider this legislation immediately and send it to the President's desk for his signature.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to acknowledge the hardworking men and women employed at our west coast ports who are responsible for two- thirds of our Nation's international trade. Their hard work supports 5 million jobs nationwide and is the lifeblood of our economy. But they have been working for months without a contract and without knowing what the future holds for them. Contract negotiations are ongoing, and I encourage both sides to stay at the table. Failure to resolve their differences could be traumatic for our economy, and I sincerely hope that it will not come to that. Many people are aware that we still have congestion issues at our ports. There are clearly underlying problems that must be addressed, but it is important to keep in mind that these issues will still exist even if a contract agreement is reached today. Our ports drive our Nation's economy, and it is critical that we find solutions to the congestion issues at our ports and in our overall freight network.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, I submit the following resolution: Whereas Monsignor Felix S. Diomartich is the oldest priest in the City of Los Angeles and the Sibenik region of Croatia; Whereas Monsignor Diomartich was born on November 2, 1914 in Zlarin, Croatia making him 100 years old; Whereas Monsignor Diomartich is celebrating 77 years of service in the priesthood; Whereas Monsignor Diomartich began his life's journey at the parish of Vodice as the Associate Pastor; Whereas Monsignor Diomartich earned two doctorate degrees theology and church law at the Gregorian University in Rome, Italy and obtained the title of the lawyer of the Sacra Romana Rota; Whereas after Monsignor Diomartich came to the United States and served at three parishes in the Archdiocese of New York before he was invited to serve at St. Anthony Croatian Church in Los Angeles, California; Whereas Monsignor Diomartich served for 36 years as an administrator and as a pastor at St. Anthony Croatian Church; Whereas Monsignor Diomartich supported organizations such as the St. Ann's Altar Society for Women and the Holy Name Society for Men; Whereas Monsignor Diomartich founded two new societies for American- born young adults called the Anthonians and the St. Anthony's Women's Guild; Whereas Monsignor Diomartich's other accomplishments at the parish include the St. Anthony's Annual Picnic Festival, the building of a new rectory, and remodeling and expanding the original parish hall; Whereas Pope Paul VI awarded Monsignor Diomartich the title of Monsignor in 1978; Whereas the Croatian National Association and Foundation awarded Monsignor Diomartich with its Lifetime Achievement award in 2008; Whereas although Monsignor Diomartich has retired from its administration, he continues to reside at the St. Anthony Croatian Church, helping with masses and confessions; Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives recognizes that Monsignor Diomartich through his passion of spreading the word of God, has inspired and guided the residents of Los Angeles and has brought unity and pride to the Croatian community.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, across the country, many people will begin their holiday shopping just after Thanksgiving on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. But Small Business Saturday, November 29, gives us an opportunity to celebrate and support the locally owned shops in our communities. Small businesses make our neighborhood great. They give our communities character and drive our local economy. I am proud to support our small businesses as a shopper and as a member of the Committee on Small Business here in Congress. When we shop at a small business, almost half the money we spend stays in our community and supports local jobs. So this holiday season, remember to shop small. It does big things for our community.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on World Pancreatic Cancer Day in solidarity with those who have been affected by this deadly disease. I join Members of Congress, my staff, and many others walking the Halls of Congress today wearing Purple for a Purpose to convince my colleagues that we must increase funding for pancreatic cancer research. Too often a pancreatic cancer diagnosis is a death sentence. We can change that. Fifty years ago, breast cancer was also killing women at an alarming rate, and women are now fighting and beating breast cancer because well-funded scientific research has vastly improved screening and treatment. I am thinking today of my friend Larry Clark, a former Rancho Palos Verdes mayor, who has found the strength to fight pancreatic cancer and advocate for others. Let us answer their call today. Let us wage hope, and let us try to double the pancreatic cancer survival rate by 2020.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, as you know, here in Washington we have the unique opportunity to work for the citizens of this great nation and provide positive change in the lives of many. Together we work for the good of our communities, and in the process we cross paths with some remarkable leaders. Today I am introducing a bill that will recognize the life of one of those very special leaders of our time, the late Congresswoman Juanita Millender-McDonald, by designating a facility of the United States Postal Service in my district as the ``Juanita Millender-McDonald Post Office. Rep. Millender-McDonald was a pillar in many of the communities I represent. She was a resilient public servant who was deeply loved by her community first as an educator, then as program coordinator for a nonprofit fighting gender issues, and finally as a beloved elected official. Undaunted by the work to be done, Rep. Millender-McDonald took charge of her opportunity to serve and became the first African American woman to be named Chairwoman of the House Committee on Administration. She was also an active member of the Congressional Black Caucus and served over a decade in the House of Representatives. An exemplary piece of her legacy was her work to better the lives of not just those here at home but internationally as well. Her work to aid victims of genocide and human trafficking serves a testament to her dedication to creating a better world. 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 that I hope will further serve as inspiration for the community which I serve--the same community which so revered her.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, as you know, here in Washington we have the unique opportunity to work for the citizens of this great nation and provide positive change in the lives of many. Together we work for the good of our communities, and in the process we cross paths with some remarkable leaders. Today I am introducing a bill that will recognize the life of one of those very special leaders of our time, the late Congresswoman Juanita Millender-McDonald, by designating a facility of the United States Postal Service in my district as the ``Juanita Millender-McDonald Post Office.'' Rep. Millender-McDonald was a pillar in many of the communities I represent. She was a resilient public servant who was deeply loved by her community first as an educator, then as program coordinator for a nonprofit fighting gender issues, and finally as a beloved elected official. Undaunted by the work to be done, Rep. Millender-McDonald took charge of her opportunity to serve and became the first African American woman to be named Chairwoman of the House Committee on Administration. She was also an active member of the Congressional Black Caucus and served over a decade in the House of Representatives. An exemplary piece of her legacy was her work to better the lives of not just those here at home but internationally as well. Her work to aid victims of genocide and human trafficking serves as a testament to her dedication to creating a better world. 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 that I hope will further serve as inspiration for the community which I serve--the same community which so revered her.

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 the 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 percent. 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 significant 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 electric 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 and 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 electric 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. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my concern and disgust at the NFL's belated and inadequate response to violence against women and children by its players. If the league were serious, it could use its significant resources to have a positive impact and help change how society views the issue, just as teams have raised money and awareness to fight breast cancer. But I am not convinced that the NFL commissioner, owners, coaches, and players want to change. Are they sincere or just doing damage control before continuing business--by the way, highly profitable, but tax-exempt business--as usual? I believe the buck, not just the big bucks, stop with the commissioner. Because he has failed, I think Goodell must go--either resign or be ousted by the owners. My colleagues and I will be watching to see whether the NFL truly reforms, and we will be revisiting congressional oversight and legislation related to the NFL.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, due to a change in floor schedule, I was unavoidably absent on Monday, September 15, 2014. Had I been present I would have voted as follows: On rollcall No. 497, I would have voted ``aye'' (September 15) (H.R. 5108, To establish the Law School Clinic Certification Program of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and for other purposes (REP JEFFRIES)).

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, two 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 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. 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 rise to remember the victims of September 11 and to introduce legislation to protect Americans from potential attacks against targets that I believe still remain vulnerable 13 years later. Our airports are more secure, but I live near the Port of Los Angeles, and I know that our Nation's ports are not as secure as they should be. Top security experts recommend that shipping containers entering our Nation's ports be screened for radiological and nuclear materials and other potentially dangerous cargo. If something happened to disrupt commerce at our ports, it would be catastrophic for our entire Nation and the global economy. Congress passed laws requiring that 100 percent of all cargo be screened by 2012, but that deadline came and went, and we are nowhere near screening/scanning all our cargo. Only 3 percent of our cargo is screened today. Today, I am introducing the Scan Containers Absolutely Now Act, the SCAN Act, to finally make port security a reality.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, about 5 months ago, we were shocked and disturbed by the news that 200 schoolgirls were kidnapped from their beds in Nigeria by the militant terrorist group Boko Haram. The #bringbackourgirls raised awareness around the world of the plight of these innocent victims. Boko Haram continues to terrorize families across Nigeria, attacking villages, gunning down civilians, and burning churches. Kidnappings and beheadings have become commonplace. Boko Haram has been responsible for the deaths of more than 900 men, women, and children in the last 3 months. The people of Nigeria are living in a state of fear, and I can't imagine what the kidnapped girls are facing in the months of captivity. We will not rest until every girl is home and safe.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Madam Speaker, the news that the White House will not take action this summer on immigration reform came as a huge disappointment, not just to me, but to millions across this country. Our broken immigration system hurts millions of families, and every day that we delay leaves both these families and our economy suffering. But immigration reform can and should come from Congress. It has been well over a year since the Senate did their job and passed fair, bipartisan legislation that would bring people out of the shadows and on a pathway to citizenship. Let's not blame the President. Here in the House, my friends on the other side of the aisle have not brought the Senate bill to the floor for a vote. That is how we have comprehensive immigration reform not through executive orders. If we held a vote tomorrow, I am confident that it would pass. Madam Speaker, it is time for my Republican friends to realize the damage that not taking up comprehensive immigration reform does to our Nation every day. This issue is too important to be put on the back burner until after the election. Enough is enough. It is time to bring the Senate bill on comprehensive immigration reform to a vote.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, today, I am introducing a resolution to recommend the designation of a Presidential Special Envoy to the Balkans. In November of 1995 the United States government spearheaded a series of peace talks in Dayton, Ohio ending more than three years of warfare and genocide plaguing the Croats of the Balkans. Ultimately, from those talks stemmed the Dayton Peace Accords, establishing the new nation- state of Bosnia-Herzegovina. However, as time has lapsed for the Dayton Peace Accords the U.S. has made no attempt to revisit the many faults in the original agreements. The time has come to lend our services in aid of the Republic of Croatia and effect positive, and lasting diplomatic change. While the U.S. has demanded that the Bosnian people initiate these revisions themselves, we have witnessed a nation-state with great political and economic potential fall back into violent patterns. As the Representative of the 44th district of California, an area steeped in Croatian culture, I have heard firsthand the concerns arising from growing political instability in the Bosnian-Herzegovinian region. This region is integral to the future success of our interdependent international community. We have an obligation to support the democratic and free market progress that has been hard won over the last two decades. Therefore, I call upon this 113th Congress to designate a special presidential envoy to evaluate the successes and shortcomings of the Dayton Peace Accords, and to provide tangible policy recommendations to the Republic of Croatia. It is my greatest hope that the United States can be a catalyst for change and success in the new Bosnia-Herzegovina region.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, I also ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R. 377, the Paycheck Fairness Act, to jump-start our middle class, instead of this partisan lawsuit attacking our President.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, while the House Republicans are busy wasting taxpayer dollars on conspiracy theories and a lawsuit to nowhere, Democrats have unveiled an agenda to put working families and the middle class first. For millions of Americans struggling to make ends meet on the current minimum wage, times have gotten harder and harder as the cost of living rises and wages stagnate. Our plan puts families first and expands opportunity for all Americans by fighting to create good-paying jobs here at home, supporting equality for women, both in their workplaces and in their doctors' offices, and creating a sustainable future for students by helping to slow down the ballooning costs of college. Now is the time to empower our workforce by showing them that they can make ends meet and provide for their families by working hard. Now is the time to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act, to ensure that women finally receive equal pay for equal work. Now is not the time to be suing the President. Now is the time for action and dedication to making our country stronger.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Madam Chairwoman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Ms. HAHN. Madam Chairwoman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I am proud to support the legislation that we are considering today, and I applaud my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for coming together to work on this important bill. As we have been hearing, it is critical that we provide our Nation's students with the information they need to make informed decisions about what colleges they should attend and how they should pay for them. I think the authors of this bill did a great service by including a provision to provide students with information about the student loan default rate for the schools they plan to attend. However, I believe that this legislation does not provide the students with the national student loan default rate across all schools, making it harder for them to have an accurate understanding of where their prospective schools stand nationally. I have introduced a simple amendment to provide student loan borrowers with the latest national average default rate for all schools. If this amendment passes, all students, as they are applying for their student loans, will know what the default rate for student loans is at the schools they are choosing to attend versus the national default rate for student loans. I believe that this will allow students to better determine whether an institution has a record of delivering a quality education that is right for them. By providing students with more tools in their pursuits of education, students will be able to make more informed choices and save taxpayers the cost of more Federal student loans going into default. Students in my district and around the country know the burden of student loan debt all too well. Giving our students all of the information will give them a better chance of being able to repay their loans and build successful futures. Mr. Chairman and my colleague, Ms. Bonamici, I applaud you on your work on this strong and important piece of legislation, and I urge all of my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on my amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak as Co-Chair of the Congressional Croatian Caucus, and I know I speak for the entire Caucus in recognition of the outstanding service of Dr. Marijan Oresnik, Consul for the Consulate of the Republic of Croatia. Marijan is truly devoted to bridging the gap between cultures and illuminating the commonalities that all of us share as human beings. He was born and raised in Zagreb, Croatia, where he quickly discovered that he had an interest in foreign cultures and a calling to acquire fluency in other ways of life. After receiving an undergraduate degree in American and Spanish literature at the University of Zagreb, he was compelled to continue his education in the United States. In 1979 he received a Master's degree in American Literature from the University of Washington. Following completion of graduate studies, he returned to Croatia to work in the field of linguistics and to teach English. He enjoyed enriching Croatian culture by exposing his people to foreign cultures, and he was able to do this in an even greater capacity when he became the head of the International Unit of Croatian Television from 1990 to 1995. It was during this period that Croatia established itself as an independent nation, and the new Croatian Government took notice of Marijan's skill and commitment during this pivotal time. The government reached out to him and asked him to serve his country in a new post at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He accepted the call of duty and became a Political Counselor, specializing in culture and media, first in Indonesia, then in Canada. Finally in 2010, he was promoted to Minister Counselor and posted in Los Angeles. The Croatian Community in Los Angeles is the third largest in the United States, and Marijan was warmly welcomed there. He has been a tremendous asset these past four years. I have come to know him as a modest and thoughtful man whose every action on duty demonstrates his goal of improving the lives of the Croatian people both here and abroad. It is very inspiring to know someone like him who believes that our differences should not divide us, and that cultural exchange strengthens us all. Mr. Speaker, I ask that all Members of the House join me in congratulating the service of Dr. Marijan Oresnik.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, far too many of our young girls have fallen victim to modern day slavery. Last fall, I witnessed human trafficking firsthand during a visit to Costa Rica with my colleague from Texas, Ted Poe. The stories we heard were heartwrenching. Girls--8, 9, 10, 13 years old--were being victimized and abused by grown men. This is not just a problem outside our borders. This is happening in our backyards. In my community in Los Angeles, African American girls are overwhelmingly at a greater risk, making up 92 percent of youth sex trafficking victims. This is alarming and shameful. On the average, victims are recruited between the ages of 12 and 14. These girls are victims, not criminals, and we must do everything in our power to protect them. Recently, we have seen a paradigm shift in the protection of these victims. L.A. District Attorney Jackie Lacey has implemented the First Step diversion program, which will give victims the opportunity to rebuild their lives through counseling and education, an alternative to prosecution. Programs like this and my colleague Karen Bass' legislation that is on the floor today will help protect victims of human trafficking and not punish them.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, sadly, 3 months ago this week, 300 girls were abducted in the middle of the night from their beds in a school in rural Nigeria. As time passes, we cannot allow ourselves to forget these girls. Kummai, Kwanta--these girls are our daughters, our granddaughters, our sisters--Rebecca, Esther, Aisha. The militant terrorist group, Boko Haram, aims to end the education of girls in Nigeria through fear and intimidation. They have publicly stated their plans to sell these young girls into sex slavery for $12 a girl--Ruth, Naomi, Rhoda. As a mother and grandmother, I cannot imagine the pain the parents of these girls are experiencing, and we as a Nation are praying for the immediate and safe rescue of these young women to bring this awful nightmare to an end. I support our President's effort in helping the Nigerian Government bring these girls home and return to school where they belong-- Christie, Solomi, Tabitha. As a Nation, we must continue to do everything in our power to bring back our girls.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Madam Speaker, I have been horrified, as many have, to see the increased violence in Israel against Israel. The bombings in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and the specific targeting of the Ben Gurion Airport are unbelievable to me, and my heart goes out to the millions of people who are suffering on both sides. This senseless violence has to stop. Hamas has been using human shields to protect its terrorist infrastructure, and despite claims to the contrary, Hamas does not have Palestinian interests at heart. The United States stands with the Israeli people and has invested in the Iron Dome missile defense system that has worked to save the lives of thousands of men, women, and children all over the country. Thousands of rockets from Gaza were fired at Israel. Thank God the Iron Dome intercepted at least 90 percent of the rockets that would have fallen on schools, on homes, on synagogues, on mosques. Frightened parents are sending their children away from home to safety amid these attacks. I believe that Israel has, of course, the right to defend herself and her people from these senseless terrorist attacks. Israel agreed to a recent call for cease-fire. Hamas did not. I hope we have a cease-fire, but until then, Israel has the right to defend herself and her people.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Shuster and Ranking Member Rahall for bringing this before us today. This short-term highway trust fund fix is crucial for keeping our highway and transit systems solvent, and I intend to vote for it. Letting the highway trust fund become insolvent would be irresponsible and cut 700,000 jobs and increase congestion. But once our work is done here today, we do need a long-term, creative solution to fund our much- needed transportation projects in this country. Over 64 percent of the roads in Los Angeles are in utter disrepair, costing each resident driver nearly $832 a year. My own dad, who was a county supervisor in Los Angeles for 40 years, used to offer people a dollar for every pothole they could find in his district. If he made that offer today, he would go broke. To fill this funding gap, I support looking at different ways of funding our roads in addition to the gas tax, such as vehicle miles traveled, which charges drivers by the miles that they travel. For our national economy, we need to focus on freight infrastructure. Freight bottlenecks cost us approximately $200 billion a year. Yesterday, I introduced the National Freight Network Trust Fund Act for a long-term fix that creates dedicated funding for our freight infrastructure. I urge all of my colleagues to support this short-term fix and join me in looking forward to solving this problem long term.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, today, I am introducing the National Freight Network Trust Fund Act of 2014 to provide a guaranteed, dedicated funding source, at no additional expense to taxpayers, to serve our nation's 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 cofounded 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 is not enough funds to keep the Highway Trust Fund solvent--let alone have 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. I believe that is crucial for our nation to have a dedicated source of funding to keep our nation's freight network globally competitive. Therefore, I am introducing the National Freight Network Trust Fund Act of 2014 that would direct 5 percent of all import duties collected by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at Ports of Entry to be spent on freight transportation. This is at no new cost to a business or taxpayer as it uses the funds our CBP officials are collecting at the border as freight enters our nation. 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. It would also create a dedicated funding source at no new cost to the public by depositing 5 percent of all import duties collected by CBP and place these funds in the National Freight Network Trust Fund. Five percent of import duties would deposit roughly $1.9 billion in the Trust Fund every year at our current rate of imports. 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.