Doris Matsui

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church, Dr. Ephraim Williams, and the late Mrs. Carrie Sue Williams. Dr. Williams has served for 45 years as the Pastor of St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church. As the St. Paul's congregation gathers together to celebrate the leadership of Dr. Williams and his late wife, I ask all my colleagues to join me in honoring their important roles in the Oak Park neighborhood and in the larger Sacramento community. Under the leadership of Dr. Williams, St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church has grown from 100 members to over 3,500 members today. Dr. Williams and the members of his congregation continue to be a valuable community resource, offering social services, vocational programs, educational support for Sacramento's local youth, and help for the homeless. St. Paul's community center, the Family Life Center, offers programs for all ages focusing on health and wellness through physical fitness and proper nutrition. The leadership and service to our community displayed by Dr. and Mrs. Williams are and have been nothing short of exemplary. The Williams' dedication has made the St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church a staple in the City of Sacramento. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to pay tribute to St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church, to Dr. Ephraim Williams, and to the late Mrs. Carrie Sue Williams, as they celebrate Dr. Williams's 45th anniversary as Pastor. I ask all my colleagues to join me in honoring their outstanding work in providing the Sacramento community with invaluable services.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Organization of Chinese Americans' Sacramento chapter and the distinguished organizations that are being honored at the 21st annual Dragon Boat Festival and Gala. I ask all my colleagues to join me in honoring OCA Sacramento and these fine organizations. The OCA Sacramento chapter is an active advocate for all Asian Pacific Islander Americans, dedicated to advancing the social, political, and economic well-being of our Sacramento community. An exemplary organization, OCA Sacramento promotes civic participation and community involvement. OCA Sacramento hosts a variety of annual events celebrating traditional Chinese holidays and festivals, such as the Dragon Boat Festival, which promote and foster an understanding of our city's rich cultural heritage. OCA Sacramento offers essay contests and scholarships for youth, which promote education and leadership skills. OCA Sacramento's deep involvement and commitment to our community is commendable. In keeping with this year's theme of ``Light the Torch for the Next Generation,'' receiving this year's Community Partner Award at the Festival are Wells Fargo, the Sacramento Police Department, and the Sacramento Sheriff's Department. These community organizations are dedicated to making the Sacramento region a safe and prosperous place to live, work, and raise a family. Mr. Speaker, as the members of OCA Sacramento gather at the Dragon Boat Festival to celebrate their 21st anniversary, I ask all my colleagues to join me in honoring them for their unwavering commitment to the Sacramento region.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, the opioid and heroin crisis has hit home for everyone, impacting our coworkers, our neighbors, and our friends in every corner of this country. In Sacramento, my district, the deadly consequences of fentanyl are devastating our families. The faces behind this tragedy are people like 28-year-old Jerome Butler, a young father whose life was cut short because of a tainted pill. The human toll of this crisis demands our leadership. This week, we took a step forward by passing a number of bipartisan bills to address the opioid epidemic, many of which we worked on in the Energy and Commerce Committee. But we can and must do more. We need new funding to confront this tragedy. My Democratic colleagues and I are ready to fund the President's $1.1 billion request for this crisis. We need a real investment to meet the challenges our committees are facing every day. As we advance substance abuse legislation and continue our important work on comprehensive behavioral health reform, I urge my colleagues to focus on solutions that both adequately address the immediate crisis and long-term community prevention strategies. The families reeling from the tragedies of this epidemic deserve nothing less than our swift action and full support.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the iFoster jobs program for foster youth. Each May, we recognize National Foster Care Month, when we acknowledge the unique challenges facing American youth in foster care. The campaign recognizes not only the foster youth, but also the foster parents, family members, child welfare professionals, volunteers, and members of our communities who help our children find foster placements, and ultimately transition successfully out of the foster care system. One of the most significant challenges facing foster youth as they transition out of the foster care system involves finding meaningful employment. As a Member of the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth, I am committed to identifying strategies to improve the well-being, education and employment outcomes for our foster youth. For these reasons, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing iFoster's foster youth employment program. The iFoster program launched in Placer County in May 2015 and has since expanded to Los Angeles County. Through a partnership with the grocery industry, it has developed an innovative employment program for transition age foster youth. The program provides participating youth with pre-employment skills training, employer matching, needed material resources, preferential hiring, on-the-job mentorship, and scholarship and career advancement activities. In its pilot year, the program has placed over 100 youth, and achieved a 100 percent hire rate and a 90 percent six-month retention rate for participating foster youth. I am pleased that this May, the program will be launching in Riverside, San Bernardino and Sacramento counties, before being replicated nationwide. Mr. Speaker, in advance of iFoster's expansion next month, I ask all my colleagues to join me in honoring its work in the state of California.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ms. Wendy Spencer, Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation for National Community Service (CNCS). As the Co-Chair of the National Service Congressional Caucus, it is my pleasure to recognize Ms. Spencer for her leadership and dedicated commitment to service programs. Wendy Spencer was nominated by President Obama and was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate in April 2012. Under her leadership, CNCS has launched new public-private partnerships, including FEMA Corps, School Turnaround AmeriCorps, STEM AmeriCorps, Justice AmeriCorps, and Financial Opportunity Corps. Wendy has also increased the agency's focus on reaching veterans and military families, overseen the national service response for many severe disasters, and strengthened relationships with public officials and local leaders. Wendy Spencer's efforts to engage local leaders includes creating the annual Mayor and County Recognition Day for National Service, where city mayors, county officials and tribal leaders express their appreciation for Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and volunteerism in general. When first launched in 2013, the Mayor and County Recognition Day for National Service included 830 city mayors and local officials recognizing and celebrating service across the country. On April 5, 2016, 3,539 mayors, county officials and tribal leaders participated in the Mayor and County Recognition Day for National Service--making it the largest one day gathering among public officials in history. Through her innovative leadership and collaboration, Wendy Spencer has led national service programs in transforming lives and improving communities while implementing local solutions. Wendy Spencer is a pioneer of national service. Mr. Speaker, as community members, and various national and state community service leaders gather at OneOC in Orange County, California, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Ms. Wendy Spencer for her significant contributions and commitment to the Corporation for National Community Service (CNCS).

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Greater Sacramento Urban League. As the Urban League's members and friends celebrate its accomplishments and its significant impact on our community at the 2016 Annual Unity Ball, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the Urban League as a positive force for change in Sacramento. Since 1968, the Greater Sacramento Urban League has been a community advocate for the underserved in our Sacramento region. The Urban League offers a wide variety of services, including youth development, tutoring, and classes. It has assisted thousands of people by giving them the tools to become more empowered and educated, which strengthens the workforce in our community and improves the bonds that tie Sacramento's neighborhoods together. Being honored tonight with the Legacy Award is James Shelby, former President and CEO of the Greater Sacramento Urban League. Mr. Shelby is legendary among those who work for social change; for over twenty years under his leadership, the Greater Sacramento Urban League grew and thrived. Replacing Mr. Shelby at the head of the Greater Sacramento Urban League is Cassandra Jennings, a well-known community leader who I have worked with in the past. Scott Syphax, President and CEO of Nehemiah Corporation of America, receives the Community Empowerment Award; and Kathy McKim, Vice President of External Affairs of AT&T, is being honored with the Community Impact Award. Finally, Laura Murrell receives the Young Professional Award tonight. All are leaders in our community and are deserving of these honors. Mr. Speaker, as the members of the Greater Sacramento Urban League celebrate the organization's accomplishments and value to our Sacramento community, I ask all my colleagues to join me in honoring its work in Sacramento.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Nehemiah Community Reinvestment Fund as it celebrates the milestone of renovating over 500 properties. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring this great organization for its contributions to the Sacramento region. The Nehemiah Community Reinvestment Fund (NCRF) is a nonprofit and federally-certified community development financial institution (CDFI). NCRF provides capital and technical assistance to organizations working to revitalize low-income neighborhoods and provide housing, services, and jobs to underserved people throughout the United States. Through creative, flexible financing and investments, NCRF makes capital available to community- and faith-based nonprofits, as well as mission- based for-profit organizations, that otherwise might be unable to obtain needed capital. NCRF was founded by Nehemiah Corporation of America, which provided the start-up capital that enabled NCRF to begin making loans and investments. In addition to its community development loan fluid, NCRF also developed the Nehemiah Sacramento Valley Fund, a triple bottom-line, real estate equity fund, to bring market-rate capital into low-income neighborhoods in the six county Sacramento region. In 2010, NCRF launched the Neighborhood Restoration Program in response to the foreclosure crisis. The mission of this program is to advance community revitalization by providing homeownership opportunities for low- and moderate-income families. Building on Nehemiah's long history of encouraging and facilitating responsible homeownership, Nehemiah acquires properties located in communities that are affordable to low- and moderate-income homebuyers. Once acquired, each house is renovated to exceed Federal Housing Administration lending standards, and marketed for sale exclusively to first time homebuyers and low- to moderate-income households. In 2012, Nehemiah created Roofs for Troops to benefit the men and women who serve and have served our country. Through Roofs for Troops, financial institutions donate foreclosed properties to NCRF. Properties are renovated to exceed Veterans Administration lending standards and are marketed for sale exclusively to veterans and active duty military. A percentage of properties NCRF receives and renovates are donated 100 percent mortgage free to deserving veteran and active duty military families. In total, the Nehemiah Community Reinvestment Fund has created 500 affordable homeownership opportunities through its Neighborhood Restoration and Roofs for Troops Programs. Mr. Speaker, as community members gather to celebrate this significant milestone for the Nehemiah Community Reinvestment Fund, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the Fund for its contributions and commitment to the Sacramento region.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the career of John Shiels. John is a committed community servant in my hometown of Sacramento, California, who has dedicated much of his life to improving flood protection for the people who live there. For the past decade, John served honorably on the Board of Trustees of Reclamation District 1000, which is responsible for maintaining the levees that protect the Natomas basin in Sacramento. John's leadership on the board of Reclamation District 1000 included sitting on the Executive, Urbanization, and Personnel Committees; in this capacity, John made many positive contributions to Sacramento's levee safety. His association with Reclamation District 1000 led to John serving as a member of the Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency (SAFCA), which has been an invaluable partner to me in my efforts to ensure that Sacramento has the highest possible level of flood protection. John's term on SAFCA was characterized by his strong leadership, astute coalition-building, and unwavering commitment to public safety. Not all of John's career was spent protecting Sacramento from flooding. Indeed, before he became a Trustee of Reclamation District 1000, John spent a distinguished career with several Fortune 500 companies as a senior information systems executive. Prior to his professional career, he served with the U.S. Navy Supply Corps, earning several commendations. Now that John has retired, he volunteers in the Natomas community and across the Sacramento region. He is currently President of the River Oaks Community Association, and assists with administrative responsibilities for his church. Those of us in Sacramento who care about protecting our community from flooding owe a debt of gratitude to John for his years of distinguished service on SAFCA and at Reclamation District 1000. I wish John a happy and fulfilling retirement, and respectfully ask that my colleagues acknowledge him today.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, today we mark the beginning of Women's History Month. For centuries, women have broken through barriers to move our country forward. The progress that women have made has taken the courage of countless trailblazers. In Sacramento, Eleanor McClatchy took over the family newspaper business at a young age. Eleanor had a background in theatre, but a lack of experience in the publishing business did not stop her from stepping up to the plate in 1936 to become president of the McClatchy newspapers. She led the company for 42 years, and under her leadership, the business grew significantly through the acquisition of additional newspapers, radio, and television platforms. Eleanor's story may be unique, yet it embodies the spirit of all women. In the face of challenges, we find a path forward. Let us honor women like Eleanor by opening up opportunity to future generations of women because we all know when women succeed, America succeeds.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Effie Yeaw Nature Center as it celebrates its 40th anniversary. As its board of directors, staff, volunteers, and local nature enthusiasts gather to celebrate this wonderful occasion, I ask all of my colleagues to join men in recognizing and honoring the Effie Yeaw Nature Center for its contributions to the Sacramento Region. The American River is an incredibly important part of our region and Effie Yeaw is the only environmental education center on the 23-mile American River Parkway. The 80-acre nature preserve with river access, oak woodlands, meadows, and ponds truly engages children and adults of all ages through their interactive exhibits and programs. These programs are essential to teaching our youth about the importance of protecting our local environment and the animals that inhabit it. In 1955 Effie Yeaw, a teacher and environmental educator, began leading natural history walks in an area now known as the Effie Yeaw Nature Center and Nature Area, located along the American River in Carmichael. Effie Yeaw's efforts to raise awareness for preserving the lands along the river have been critical to the health of our local ecosystem. Her concept of a ``Parkway'' along the river has served as a guiding principal that has shaped the landscape of our region for the better. Though Effie Yeaw died in 1970, her legacy lives on in the American River Parkway she helped to establish. Her legacy also lives on in the Nature Center which continues to be guided by Effie's genuine love for nature and children. In 1960, the Director of Parks received a Land and Water Conservation Fund grant to purchase land along the American River, including the Effie Yeaw Nature Area. Construction of the Nature Center was completed in June 1976 and was dedicated in memory of Effie. Mr. Speaker, as the board of directors, staff, volunteers, and local nature enthusiasts gather for their 40th anniversary cleebration, I am pleased to honor and recognize Effie Yeaw Nature Center for its important role in enhancing Sacramento's community. I ask my colleagues to join me in wishing them continued success and thanking them for their service to the Sacramento region.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Congressman Mike Oxley, who dedicated his career to protecting average citizens from special interests. During his 25 year tenure in the House of Representatives, and as Chairman of the Financial Services Committee, he tirelessly led investigations of major corporations like Enron. Congressman Oxley's 2002 Sarbanes-Oxley Act reformed corporate oversight in this country. Congressman Oxley also worked on telecomm issues in Congress; helping usher in policies that support our current mobile economy. He helped sponsor legislation to authorize the first ever spectrum auctions, an issue that continues to drive innovation today. Congressman Oxley also dedicated his life to our country by serving as a FBI agent before being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. Most of all, Congressman Oxley was a wonderful colleague working hard with both parties to represent his constituents in the best way possible. He will be greatly missed. On a personal note, Mike and Pat and Bob and I were personal friends. We got to know each other ``back in the day'' when members of Congress saw each other socially. Even though we came from different parties, it didn't make a difference when it came to friendship. At that time I was a Congressional spouse, so Pat and I got to know each other well and participated actively in Congressional spouse activities. Our sons also got to know each other when we took bipartisan trips to places like New York. In fact, I remember one funny incident when the two families were together on a Congressional Arts Caucus trip to New York City. As we were riding around, touring on a bus, our sons Brian and Elvis, 10 years old at the time and dressed in their blue blazers, hopped off the bus and started walking down the street. Bob and Mike, alarmed, jumped off the bus and ran after them. They finally caught up with them and asked them what they were doing. The boys calmly replied and said that ``they were all dressed up and ready to see the town!'' We had such a laugh recalling those days in subsequent conversations. When I think of Mike Oxley, I think of family and the joy he had with Pat and Elvis. We will all miss him.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I was not present during roll call vote number 45 on January 13, 2016. I would like to reflect that on roll call vote number 45 I would have voted No.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, from California to Colorado, the devastating realities of gun violence are hitting home. In the face of more senseless attacks on innocent victims, it is past time that we treat gun violence in America as a national crisis. Preventable gun violence is inexcusable. We need to enact commonsense gun law reforms, like ensuring that no terrorist suspect is able to walk into a gun shop and buy a deadly weapon. According to a report by the GAO, since 2004, more than 2,000 suspects on the FBI's terror watch list have successfully purchased weapons in the United States. In fact, more than 90 percent of all the suspected terrorists who attempted to purchase guns in the last 11 years walked away with the deadly weapon they wanted. These statistics are indefensible. Let's put our political excuses aside and close the terrorist gun loophole because lives are on the line.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, this is the final amendment to the bill which would not kill the bill or send it back to committee. If adopted, the bill would immediately proceed to final passage, as amended. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the motion to recommit to H.R. 3189, which will ensure that seniors will be protected from losing their hard-earned benefits to deceitful financial companies found to engage in harmful activity. Financial companies that put earnings ahead of the needs of our seniors should not be allowed to participate in any emergency lending program or facility established by the Federal Reserve. While Republicans try to put their special interest friends first, the Democratic motion to recommit would ensure that financial companies found to engage in activity that harms seniors' financial health and stability are prevented from participating in any emergency lending program or facility established by the Federal Reserve. Our motion to recommit would stop rewarding unsavory financial institutions that abuse the trust and harm the financial health of America's seniors. America's seniors, who have spent their lives working to provide for their families, deserve to retire with dignity and live without fear of being stripped of financial security due to the actions of predatory financial institutions. Yet, House Republicans are willing to grant these shady financial companies access to emergency resources established by the Federal Reserve. We need to adopt this motion to recommit to send a strong signal to predatory financial entities across this country that putting profits ahead of people will not be rewarded by the U.S. Government. I am co-chair of the Democratic Congressional Task Force on Seniors, and I am committed to protecting the well-being of older Americans and ensuring that those who work hard and play by the rules receive a dignified and secure retirement. In addition to protecting hard-earned benefits like Social Security and Medicare, we also need to ensure that vulnerable seniors are not the subject of predatory lending that further puts them at risk for economic security. According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, older Americans are particularly vulnerable to bad actors who seek to defraud them, take advantage of their hard-earned retirement savings, or push them into taking on financial products or services--like a reverse mortgage--that they may not want or need. Roughly 1 million older Americans lose an estimated $2.6 billion annually as a result of financial abuse according to a MetLife study entitled, ``Broken Trust: Elders, Family and Finances.'' This is unacceptable. As older Americans age, we have an obligation to ensure that they are not an easy target for financial companies peddling predatory financial products and services. Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to vote in favor of this motion to recommit. By voting for this motion to recommit, Members can make clear whose side they are on, whether it be in favor of protecting our vulnerable seniors or in favor of protecting dishonest financial companies that seek to do them harm. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

Ms. MATSUI. I am opposed to it in its current form.

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

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Improving Access to Emergency Psychiatric Care Act. As we work to reform our broken mental healthcare system, it is critical that we build upon programs that provide resources to underserved and vulnerable populations at all points along the spectrum of care. Today, with the passage of this bill, we have the opportunity to extend the vital Medicaid emergency psychiatric demonstration project. This demonstration project, which recently expired, ensures greater access to essential emergency psychiatric care for Medicaid patients. This bipartisan bill will ensure that hospitals across our Nation will be able to provide community members in need with inpatient psychiatric beds. In my home district in Sacramento County, this demonstration project has provided great benefits to our system of care. Medi-Cal beneficiaries have greater access to mental health services, and there has been a reduction in readmission rates at local hospitals. In fact, by the final year of the 3-year demonstration project, the number of individuals rehospitalized within 30 days of their initial stay decreased by 20 percent in Sacramento County. The project has improved coordination of care for mental health patients by streamlining planning efforts between inpatient and outpatient providers. In addition, Sacramento County has been able to reinvest savings generated by the project into programs that build greater community alternatives for patients identified as high utilizers of inpatient and emergency departments. All of these improvements add up to a community mental health system in California that is better able to focus on the whole spectrum of care for underserved patients, from prevention to treatment to the crisis stage. There is still much more work to do to improve the mental health system, but we must not reverse our significant progress by failing to renew this demonstration project. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on S. 599, the Improving Access to Emergency Psychiatric Care Act.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Congressman Don Edwards, a champion for civil rights, a defender of civil liberties, and a tireless advocate for the residents of California. Congressman Edwards dedicated his life to public service, from serving as a naval officer during World War II, to his time at the FBI, to his decades of work in the House of Representatives on behalf of his constituents. Through all of the phases of his life he remained true to his principles, fighting for underserved and underrepresented communities no matter what the cost. A San Jose native and graduate of Stanford University, Congressman Edwards entered the House of Representatives in 1962, ultimately participating in the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. In the following decades, the Congressman diligently defended, and led efforts to preserve, this critical legislation so that all Americans can today better exercise their Constitutional rights. As Chairman of the Subcommittee on Civil and Constitutional Rights in the House Judiciary Committee he was dedicated to increasing legal protections for women and minorities. His work to level the playing field continued with his leadership in the House Judiciary Committee on the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, which ensured that citizens with disabilities have access to the same opportunities as all Americans. Congressman Don Edwards was also instrumental in preserving some of our greatest national treasures in California. In the early 1970s, Congressman Edwards was one of the key leaders in the creation of the San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge, which was later named in his honor in 1995. His dedication to environmental protection, specifically preserving urban wetlands, will ensure that generations to come will enjoy California's beautiful landscape. During his 32 years in the House of Representatives and as the dean of the California Democratic delegation, Congressman Edwards was always guided by a sense of justice and fairness; earning the respect of his colleagues and working with both parties to get things done for the people of California and the citizens of our great nation. His legacy will continue to serve as an example for us all in Congress and he will be greatly missed.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, International Plasma Awareness Week will occur October 11 to 17, 2015. Around the world, there will be observances to raise global awareness of the crucial need for plasma to create lifesaving therapies, recognize that plasma donors contribute greatly in saving and improving lives, and increase understanding of the many rare diseases and plasma protein therapies that help to treat them. Plasma-derived therapies and recombinant blood clotting factors, collectively known as plasma protein therapies, are unique, biologic medicines that are either infused or injected to treat a variety of rare, life-threatening, chronic, and genetic diseases including bleeding disorders, immune deficiencies, pulmonary disorders, neurological disorders, shock and trauma, liver cirrhosis, and infectious diseases such as tetanus, hepatitis, and rabies. Plasma-derived therapies save and improve lives of individuals throughout the world, including in emergency and surgical medicine. Plasma protein therapies have significantly improved the quality of life, markedly improved patient outcomes, and extended the life expectancy of individuals with rare, chronic diseases and conditions. Healthy, committed donors provide the plasma essential to manufacture these lifesaving therapies; and there are more than 450 plasma collection centers in the U.S. that have demonstrated their commitment to plasma donor and patient safety and quality by earning International Quality Plasma Program (IQPP) certification. I ask that my colleagues in the House of Representatives join me and rise in commemoration of International Plasma Awareness Week, honoring those committed donors and collection centers who make and collect needed and lifesaving contributions.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 3495. This bill is misleadingly named the Women's Public Health and Safety Act when, in fact, it puts women's and men's health at risk. This bill would allow States to block Planned Parenthood or any other health provider from Medicaid based on ``involvement in abortions.'' Now, millions of American women and men depend on Planned Parenthood for essential health care. The majority seems determined to take our Nation's healthcare system backwards. Planned Parenthood uses Medicaid funding to provide services like cancer screening, access to contraception, and pre-conception counseling that helps women prepare for healthy pregnancies. Members of Congress should stop attacking women's ability to control their own health care. This bill disproportionately impacts low-income women and families and unfairly takes away one of their healthcare options. Congress needs to get back to doing our job and stop this attack on women's health.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the opening of the California Northstate University College of Medicine (CNUCOM). CNUCOM was created by a group of doctors, academics and medical professionals in order to train a new generation of doctors. CNUCOM welcomed their first full class of 60 medical students on September 8, 2015 and this weekend the school is celebrating their opening. CNUCOM is meeting a great need of both the Sacramento region and the State of California by increasing the number of medical students trained in the state. By training at least sixty new medical students each year, CNUCOM is helping address the drastic shortage of physicians that our nation is facing. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, our nation faces a shortfall of over 130,000 physicians by 2025. Almost half of Californians live in an area where primary care doctors are in short supply and far too many California counties have less than the recommended ratio of 60 to 80 primary care physicians per 100,000 residents. CNUCOM will be training the next generation of medical students by utilizing an integrated approach that focuses on basic science and an understanding of how the human body's systems work, what goes wrong and what patients need to do to stay healthy. Their rigorous curriculum will include two years of classroom study, which will then be followed by clinical rotations at local hospitals, doctors' offices and clinics. It is clear that CNUCOM is providing a cost effective, quality education while also building community partnerships to address clinical training needs and increasing access to high quality medical care in the Sacramento region. Mr. Speaker, as the California Northstate University College of Medicine opens their doors and welcomes their first class, I ask all my colleagues to join me in honoring their excellent work in the Sacramento region. I am confident that the CNUCOM will be producing the next generation of doctors and acting as a model for a quality medical education for many years to come.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this bill, the Defund Planned Parenthood Act, but we should call it the ``Depriving Women of their Health Care Act.'' This bill is just the latest political attack on millions of American women. This bill is a step backward for our Nation's healthcare system. Defunding Planned Parenthood would deprive American women and their families of access to preventative services like cancer screenings and access to contraception and to prenatal counseling that helps women maintain healthy pregnancies. Sadly, I am not surprised that my Republican colleagues continue this relentless attack on the autonomy of women. We have seen it countless times before: Congress telling this country that a politician's judgment is superior to that of an American woman's. What does surprise me, however, is that now Republicans are willing to shut down our government and put our economy at risk in order to deny women access to the healthcare providers of their choosing. We can't allow Members of Congress to substitute their judgment for a woman's right to make decisions about her own body. This bill does nothing more than take away healthcare options for low-income women because of a difference in beliefs over just 3 percent of the many vital services that Planned Parenthood provides. Congress needs to get back to work on the real issues facing American women and their families.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to the rule and to stand with millions of American women and men who receive essential health services from Planned Parenthood. These attacks against Planned Parenthood threaten access to health care across this country, particularly for low-income women and men who already face barriers to access. For many of our Nation's underserved populations, Planned Parenthood is the only source for vital services, such as contraceptive services and counseling and breast and cervical cancer screenings. If the majority succeeds in its effort to defund Planned Parenthood, millions of Americans will be stripped of access to health care, in turn, creating hardships for American families. More troubling still is the majority's willingness to shut down the government in order to deny health care to millions of women. Women's health should not be used as a bargaining chip for political messaging. I urge my colleagues to put aside partisan politics driven by purposefully misleading videos. Attacking Planned Parenthood is a dangerous distraction to the real issues facing American women and families.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the extraordinary heroism of Airman 1st Class Spencer Stone, Army National Guardsman Alek Skarlatos, and college student Anthony Sadler. These three courageous young Americans drew the attention of the world on August 21 when they bravely took action to prevent a terrorist attack that could have taken the lives of dozens, if not hundreds, of innocent people on a passenger train in France. By now, most of the country and the world have heard about the heroic actions of these young men. Spencer, Alek, and Anthony were on a train from Amsterdam to Paris as part of a European vacation. A terrorist, intending to murder passengers, boarded their train. When the attacker, armed with at least two firearms, including an assault rifle with hundreds of rounds of ammunition, entered the train car, the three young Americans, without hesitation, responded. Witnesses say that Alek prompted action by yelling, ``Go get 'em.'' Spencer charged and tackled the gunman, with Alek and Anthony close behind. The three men, with the help of another passenger, tackled, subdued, and disarmed the attacker before anyone else was seriously injured. The attacker managed to wound Spencer with a box cutter during the struggle. Despite his injuries, Spencer used his Air Force medic training to treat the wound of another passenger, likely saving his life. Mr. Speaker, I am very proud that all three of these heroes are from the Sacramento region. They met at a local middle school and have maintained a close friendship ever since. Their friendship and loyalty to each other is part of what makes Sacramento and this Nation great. Spencer grew up in Carmichael, which is just outside of Sacramento--a suburb, in fact--and attended Del Campo High School. He currently serves as a U.S. Air Force medic. Alek is also from Carmichael and had moved to Oregon. He serves in the Oregon National Guard and had just finished a 9-month deployment in Afghanistan. Anthony is studying kinesiology at California State University, Sacramento. He grew up in Sacramento. His father is a pastor at Shiloh Baptist Church, a historical church in our community, and he has been a friend of the Matsui family for many, many years. As he related to me, he always told Anthony to always watch each other's back. That is what friends do. Mr. Speaker, Spencer's, Alek's, and Anthony's actions were nothing short of extraordinary. These young men, who call themselves just regular guys, have given all Americans a reason to celebrate. They have been awarded the French Legion of Honour. My city of Sacramento, which is also the State capital, will be throwing them a parade on Friday-- significantly, on 9/11--and I am sure more accolades will follow. However, more important than any accolade is that they have reminded us about the importance of service, sacrifice, and selflessness. All three men deserve commendation for the manner in which they have represented our Nation and have put themselves in harm's way to save the lives of others. Mr. Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in recognizing Spencer Stone, Alek Skarlatos, and Anthony Sadler as we honor their bravery.