Alex Padilla

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise to introduce the Supercomputing for Safer Chemicals Act or the SUPERSAFE Act. Through the use of supercomputing and artificial intelligence, we have an opportunity to transform our scientific understanding of the detrimental effects associated with certain industrial chemical uses and to shift American commerce towards safer and more sustainable products and manufacturing. The legislation would establish a SUPERSAFE Consortium to be led by the Environmental Protection Agency in consultation with the heads of relevant Federal Agencies, the National Labs, academic and other research institutions, State agencies, and other entities as determined by the EPA. The purpose of the SUPERSAFE Consortium is to identify exposures to toxic substance and chemicals that are safer to use in commerce. Specifically, the SUPERSAFE Consortium established by this bill would use supercomputing, machine learning, and other similar capabilities to establish rapid approaches for large-scale identification of toxic substances and the development of safer alternatives to toxic substances by developing and validating computational toxicology methods; address the need to identify safe chemicals for use in consumer and industrial products and in their manufacture to support the move away from toxic substances and toward safe-by-design alternatives; and make recommendations on how the information produced can be applied in risk assessments and other characterizations for use by the Environmental Protection Agency and other Agencies in regulatory decisions and by industry in identifying toxic and safer chemicals. Importantly, establishing a SUPERSAFE Consortium would encourage interagency collaboration and leverage the best scientific ideas through inclusion of State agencies and public and academic research institutions. Currently, tens of thousands of untested chemicals can be used in commercial products, resulting in consumer, community, and worker exposures to potentially toxic chemicals. Too often, there is insufficient scientific data for evaluating health effects or identifying safer chemicals, and existing approaches to generating this data are slow, costly, and rely on animal testing. We are well poised to address this problem and discover safer chemicals by establishing a SUPERSAFE Consortium to use supercomputing, machine learning, and other similar capabilities. These technologies can be developed and applied to rapidly provide information to evaluate chemical safety to identify safe chemicals that avoid the chronic diseases and environmental harm caused by toxic chemicals. Unfortunately, too many Americans are exposed to toxic chemicals such as PFAS and lead. Congress has stepped up and provided billions to remediate toxic exposures, including via the bipartisan infrastructure law, to address PFAS and lead pollution. Establishing a SUPERSAFE Consortium in Federal law could help avoid the widespread pollution that our communities face so we can address potential pollution challenges before they become widespread. I look forward to working with my colleagues to enact this bill as quickly as possible.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I have five requests for committees to meet during today's session of the Senate. They have the approval of the Majority and Minority Leaders. Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the following committees are authorized to meet during today's session of the Senate:

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, I rise today as chair of the Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife to express my strong disapproval of Republican efforts to undermine the integrity and authority of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Now, around the world, scientists tell us that 1 million species face extinction, including 40 percent of animals in the United States. This is nothing short of a biodiversity crisis, one that will have dire impacts on the ecosystems around us and the clean air and clean water that we need to survive. Yet, last week, for the second and the third time in just 2 weeks, Republicans passed a Congressional Review Act resolution to constrain the Fish and Wildlife Service and their ability to protect our planet. Three times now we have had to stop all other business of the Senate and devote valuable floor time that we could have used to pass legislation to confirm or promote military leaders and otherwise do the people's business. Instead, we had to stop to debate the merits of protecting threatened and endangered species from extinction. That is not a joke--for the folks watching at home--and this is not an exaggeration either. Let's review. It was a half a century ago that Congress acknowledged the reality of habitat destruction and the threats to America's unique biodiversity. And, yes, Congress gave the Fish and Wildlife Service the power to administer a process for designating and protecting newly endangered species. Congress intentionally and purposefully handed the power over to experts in habitat loss and wildlife biologists--who are actually educated and trained--to determine which species are most at risk and what we need to do to protect them. It is no different than how we regulate prescription drugs, for example. We rely on the FDA and their experts and their scientists to protect the American people rather than trying to individually legislate every single medication. Imagine trying to legislate every single medication in this body. So the real effect of these CRAs is to set a precedent for personal grievances and for the folks who deny the science and prefer gridlock to prevail. Passage of these CRAs is the equivalent of saying that, whenever a powerful industry or a lone Member of Congress dislikes a rule that scientists at the Fish and Wildlife Service issue in the future, they are entitled to a vote to second-guess and overturn the actual experts. I may be wrong, but I am not aware of any wildlife biologists currently serving in this Senate. At a time when more and more wildlife species are at risk of extinction, we can't constrain the ability of the Fish and Wildlife Service from following the science and issuing rules to protect them or, in the case of the critical habitat designation CRA, my colleagues are blatantly ignoring the realities of climate change and limiting our Nation's ability to react and respond in the years ahead. I suggest that, rather than grinding Congress to a halt, those of us who voted to follow the process that Congress itself created is the responsible way to allow the scientists and experts to do their job. Rather than ignore the science of the climate crisis, I voted to live up to the responsibilities that we have as stewards of this great land. And while this last week Senate Republicans got their way, I am proud to have a President in the White House who takes seriously our sacred responsibility to our planet and who refuses to overrule the experts and the scientists. But I also know that this is not the end of the CRAs and that our Republican colleagues will attempt to overrule the Fish and Wildlife Service and choose to put their personal grievances over progress in Congress. So when that day comes again--because there will be future attempts-- I will proudly, once again, stand with the experts and vote no. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise to introduce the Supercomputing for Safer Chemicals Act or the SUPERSAFE Act. Through the use of supercomputing and artificial intelligence, we have an opportunity to transform our scientific understanding of the detrimental effects associated with certain industrial chemical uses and to shift American commerce towards safer and more sustainable products and manufacturing. The legislation would establish a SUPERSAFE Consortium to be led by the Environmental Protection Agency in consultation with the heads of relevant Federal Agencies, the National Labs, academic and other research institutions, State agencies, and other entities as determined by the EPA. The purpose of the SUPERSAFE Consortium is to identify exposures to toxic substance and chemicals that are safer to use in commerce. Specifically, the SUPERSAFE Consortium established by this bill would use supercomputing, machine learning, and other similar capabilities to establish rapid approaches for large-scale identification of toxic substances and the development of safer alternatives to toxic substances by developing and validating computational toxicology methods; address the need to identify safe chemicals for use in consumer and industrial products and in their manufacture to support the move away from toxic substances and toward safe-by-design alternatives; and make recommendations on how the information produced can be applied in risk assessments and other characterizations for use by the Environmental Protection Agency and other Agencies in regulatory decisions and by industry in identifying toxic and safer chemicals. Importantly, establishing a SUPERSAFE Consortium would encourage interagency collaboration and leverage the best scientific ideas through inclusion of State agencies and public and academic research institutions. Currently, tens of thousands of untested chemicals can be used in commercial products, resulting in consumer, community, and worker exposures to potentially toxic chemicals. Too often, there is insufficient scientific data for evaluating health effects or identifying safer chemicals, and existing approaches to generating this data are slow, costly, and rely on animal testing. We are well poised to address this problem and discover safer chemicals by establishing a SUPERSAFE Consortium to use supercomputing, machine learning, and other similar capabilities. These technologies can be developed and applied to rapidly provide information to evaluate chemical safety to identify safe chemicals that avoid the chronic diseases and environmental harm caused by toxic chemicals. Unfortunately, too many Americans are exposed to toxic chemicals such as PFAS and lead. Congress has stepped up and provided billions to remediate toxic exposures, including via the bipartisan infrastructure law, to address PFAS and lead pollution. Establishing a SUPERSAFE Consortium in Federal law could help avoid the widespread pollution that our communities face so we can address potential pollution challenges before they become widespread. I look forward to working with my colleagues to enact this bill as quickly as possible.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise today to recognize and congratulate Dr. Daisy Gonzales, who later this month will end her tenure as interim chancellor of the California Community Colleges, the Nation's largest system of higher education. Born in Southern California to immigrant parents and a former foster child, Dr. Gonzales was among the first in her family to go to college when she attended Los Angeles Valley College, a public community college. Because of her intellect, her work ethic, and the opportunity provided by California's community college system, Dr. Gonzales would go on to earn her bachelor's degree, her master's degree, and her Ph.D., and eventually become the first Latina--and second woman--to serve as chancellor. She is a shining example of the American dream in action. Dr. Gonzales first joined the California Community Colleges as the system's deputy chancellor in early 2018. Since then, she has helped guide the system through some of its most tumultuous times. Throughout a global pandemic that forced nearly all instruction to move online and exacerbated the basic needs crisis surrounding issues like food and housing insecurity, Dr. Gonzales provided steady leadership for a system of 116 colleges and 1.8 million students across the State. She has been an unrelenting champion for Vision for Success--the system's north star--helping achieve meaningful progress in improving graduation and transfer rates, expanding access to on-campus basic needs services, and implementing groundbreaking reforms to faculty hiring and tenure policies that will ensure California Community College instructors are representative of the students they teach. As she transitions back to her role as deputy chancellor--and as the system welcomes its new permanent chancellor, Dr. Sonya Christian--I am grateful for the years of dedication and hard work that Dr. Gonzales has given to the State of California and to the pursuit of quality higher education for all. Felicidades, Dr. Gonzales, and thank you for your service.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise to introduce the Citizenship for Essential Workers Act. This legislation would provide a pathway to citizenship for these workers and their families, who have played a critical role in getting us through the pandemic and are helping with recovery efforts. A little over 2 years ago, after I was first sworn into the U.S. Senate, this was the very first bill I introduced. Every day, over 5 million essential workers without permanent legal status kept Americans healthy, fed, and safe during the COVID pandemic--all while risking their own health and the health of their families. They couldn't just Zoom into the office. Many served us while living in constant fear of deportation. Back then, for the first time, Americans were waking up to a reality what families like mine knew for years: that not only were these immigrant workers saving lives in a time of need but that their work had always been essential to our country. As the proud son of immigrants from Mexico whose mother worked as a housekeeper and father a short order cook--two jobs that today would be deemed essential--I can only imagine the fear and uncertainty my family would have experienced every day my dad walked out the door or my mom set off to enter another family's home in the middle of a pandemic. The Federal COVID-19 public health emergency comes to an end next month, but we can't forget the sacrifices these workers made--and still make every single day--for our country. And my legislation not only honors their sacrifice but also recognizes how critical essential workers are to our economy even beyond a public health emergency. They have earned their place in this country.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise to introduce the Citizenship for Essential Workers Act. This legislation would provide a pathway to citizenship for these workers and their families, who have played a critical role in getting us through the pandemic and are helping with recovery efforts. A little over 2 years ago, after I was first sworn into the U.S. Senate, this was the very first bill I introduced. Every day, over 5 million essential workers without permanent legal status kept Americans healthy, fed, and safe during the COVID pandemic--all while risking their own health and the health of their families. They couldn't just Zoom into the office. Many served us while living in constant fear of deportation. Back then, for the first time, Americans were waking up to a reality what families like mine knew for years: that not only were these immigrant workers saving lives in a time of need but that their work had always been essential to our country. As the proud son of immigrants from Mexico whose mother worked as a housekeeper and father a short order cook--two jobs that today would be deemed essential--I can only imagine the fear and uncertainty my family would have experienced every day my dad walked out the door or my mom set off to enter another family's home in the middle of a pandemic. The Federal COVID-19 public health emergency comes to an end next month, but we can't forget the sacrifices these workers made--and still make every single day--for our country. And my legislation not only honors their sacrifice but also recognizes how critical essential workers are to our economy even beyond a public health emergency. They have earned their place in this country.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, I rise today to urge my colleagues to support President Biden's nominee to serve as Secretary of Labor, current Acting Secretary Julie Su. Julie is a proud Californian and a champion for workers everywhere. She was a tireless advocate for workers in California for years. I was honored to introduce her before the HELP Committee 2 years ago when she was first nominated to serve as Deputy Secretary of Labor. I should note that, that year, I was also proud to see every single Democratic Senator vote to confirm her nomination. In the time since, I think it is perfect to ask, what has happened? I will tell you what has happened. She has gained even more experience in defending workers nationwide and in managing a Federal Department. As a highly effective Deputy Secretary of Labor and now as Acting Secretary, she has played a critical role in helping the administration add 12.6 million jobs to the American economy, which is more job gains than any previous President has achieved in a 4-year term. It is further proof that job creation and strong labor protections are not mutually exclusive. In fact, they go hand in hand in building a strong, resilient economy. Julie's service and track record come as no surprise, frankly, when you understand where she came from. She is the daughter of immigrants and a native of California. She knows personally the sacrifices that many working families make to make ends meet. Her parents worked hard for decades in minimum wage jobs before establishing and growing their own small business. So, yes, colleagues, Julie Su and her family have seen both sides of a paycheck. They instilled in Julie a strong work ethic, which has led her to take on tough fights as a labor lawyer, as labor secretary for the State of California, as Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor, and now as Acting Secretary. I also have to note, as the secretary of the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency--the then-fifth largest economy in the world and now the fourth largest economy in the world--she was a strong manager who led a number of major departments, boards, and panels at the State level. Her experience and qualifications are unmatched. As former Secretary Walsh put it, Julie is a ``lifelong champion of America's workers.'' I will end with this: If confirmed, she would be the first Asian American to serve as a Secretary in President Biden's Cabinet. Millions of Americans will see themselves represented at the highest levels of government and take pride in her story as a daughter of working-class immigrants. I was proud to hear her impressive recent testimony in the HELP Committee when I introduced her once again and where she was successfully voted out of committee. She is exactly the type of labor champion we need at this critical time. I urge my colleagues to join me in once again confirming her nomination.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise to introduce the Citizenship for Essential Workers Act. This legislation would provide a pathway to citizenship for these workers and their families, who have played a critical role in getting us through the pandemic and are helping with recovery efforts. A little over 2 years ago, after I was first sworn into the U.S. Senate, this was the very first bill I introduced. Every day, over 5 million essential workers without permanent legal status kept Americans healthy, fed, and safe during the COVID pandemic--all while risking their own health and the health of their families. They couldn't just Zoom into the office. Many served us while living in constant fear of deportation. Back then, for the first time, Americans were waking up to a reality what families like mine knew for years: that not only were these immigrant workers saving lives in a time of need but that their work had always been essential to our country. As the proud son of immigrants from Mexico whose mother worked as a housekeeper and father a short order cook--two jobs that today would be deemed essential--I can only imagine the fear and uncertainty my family would have experienced every day my dad walked out the door or my mom set off to enter another family's home in the middle of a pandemic. The Federal COVID-19 public health emergency comes to an end next month, but we can't forget the sacrifices these workers made--and still make every single day--for our country. My legislation not only honors their sacrifice but also recognizes how critical essential workers are to our economy even beyond a public health emergency. They have earned their place in this country.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise to introduce the Citizenship for Essential Workers Act. This legislation would provide a pathway to citizenship for these workers and their families, who have played a critical role in getting us through the pandemic and are helping with recovery efforts. A little over 2 years ago, after I was first sworn into the U.S. Senate, this was the very first bill I introduced. Every day, over 5 million essential workers without permanent legal status kept Americans healthy, fed, and safe during the COVID pandemic--all while risking their own health and the health of their families. They couldn't just Zoom into the office. Many served us while living in constant fear of deportation. Back then, for the first time, Americans were waking up to a reality what families like mine knew for years: that not only were these immigrant workers saving lives in a time of need but that their work had always been essential to our country. As the proud son of immigrants from Mexico whose mother worked as a housekeeper and father a short order cook--two jobs that today would be deemed essential--I can only imagine the fear and uncertainty my family would have experienced every day my dad walked out the door or my mom set off to enter another family's home in the middle of a pandemic. The Federal COVID-19 public health emergency comes to an end next month, but we can't forget the sacrifices these workers made--and still make every single day--for our country. My legislation not only honors their sacrifice but also recognizes how critical essential workers are to our economy even beyond a public health emergency. They have earned their place in this country.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, I rise to introduce the Fair Adjudications for Immigrants Act. This legislation would ensure that immigrants with criminal convictions do not face barriers to naturalization and experience unfair removals after their convictions have been dismissed, expunged, or pardoned by a Federal or State locality. The Fair Adjudications for Immigrants Act is important in ensuring immigrants are not unjustly treated after receiving a criminal charge that never resulted in a conviction or after a previous conviction no longer stands. Specifically, this bill would ensure that immigrants whose convictions have been overturned are not penalized when they are no longer considered valid in the court of conviction or for sentences that have been fully suspended by the sentencing court. By redefining the term ``conviction'' in the Immigration and Nationality Act, this legislation also clarifies that any adjudication that is appealable or in which the court has issued a judicial recommendation against removal or probation without judgment will not count as a conviction. The bill would apply retroactively to any conviction, adjudication, or judgement entered before, on, or after the enactment of this bill. Finally, it establishes that an immigrant cannot be removed on the basis of a conviction if the sentencing court issues a recommendation against removal to the Secretary of Homeland Security. Under current law, rather than having access to many rehabilitative measures that are afforded in the criminal justice system, immigrants with dismissed criminal charges, suspended sentences, or criminal convictions that are no longer considered valid in the court of conviction still face severe consequences in the immigration court system. Some of the immigration consequences that immigrants can face include unjust removals, mandatory detention, and barriers to naturalization. It is imperative that we resolve this disparity between immigration and criminal law to prevent those immigrants with dismissed criminal charges or with convictions that are no longer considered valid in the court of conviction from continuing to face punitive immigration consequences.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, I rise to introduce the Fair Adjudications for Immigrants Act. This legislation would ensure that immigrants with criminal convictions do not face barriers to naturalization and experience unfair removals after their convictions have been dismissed, expunged, or pardoned by a Federal or State locality. The Fair Adjudications for Immigrants Act is important in ensuring immigrants are not unjustly treated after receiving a criminal charge that never resulted in a conviction or after a previous conviction no longer stands. Specifically, this bill would ensure that immigrants whose convictions have been overturned are not penalized when they are no longer considered valid in the court of conviction or for sentences that have been fully suspended by the sentencing court. By redefining the term ``conviction'' in the Immigration and Nationality Act, this legislation also clarifies that any adjudication that is appealable or in which the court has issued a judicial recommendation against removal or probation without judgment will not count as a conviction. The bill would apply retroactively to any conviction, adjudication, or judgement entered before, on, or after the enactment of this bill. Finally, it establishes that an immigrant cannot be removed on the basis of a conviction if the sentencing court issues a recommendation against removal to the Secretary of Homeland Security. Under current law, rather than having access to many rehabilitative measures that are afforded in the criminal justice system, immigrants with dismissed criminal charges, suspended sentences, or criminal convictions that are no longer considered valid in the court of conviction still face severe consequences in the immigration court system. Some of the immigration consequences that immigrants can face include unjust removals, mandatory detention, and barriers to naturalization. It is imperative that we resolve this disparity between immigration and criminal law to prevent those immigrants with dismissed criminal charges or with convictions that are no longer considered valid in the court of conviction from continuing to face punitive immigration consequences.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, I rise today in opposition to a resolution that has been presented to overturn the EPA's lifesaving heavy-duty NOX rule. Across the country, heavy-duty vehicles, including trucks and buses, make up one-third of all transportation NOX emissions. Now, this is the same source of smog and soot that darkens skies in many communities and certainly poisons the lungs of too many Americans. In an effort to address those real challenges, the EPA's heavy-duty vehicle pollution rule is projected to cut NOX emissions from the heavy-duty sector by nearly half over the next dozen years. This represents a monumental investment and significant step forward in our Nation's health and air quality that will benefit all Americans. But instead of supporting this rule, some Members have suggested that we reverse course and instead leave in place an outdated pollution standard--a rule that even the heavy-duty vehicle industry acknowledges is too weak--and, in so doing, endanger the lives of thousands of Americans. This makes no sense. Consider the Inland Empire in Southern California. Truly this region, this geographical area, is the heart of our Nation's supply chain. No one in the Inland Empire wants the economy to shutter, but residents in the region know all too well the dangers that surround them. Children's playgrounds, veterans health centers, schools, and entire neighborhoods are surrounded by warehouses and distribution centers. Now, the warehouses in and of themselves aren't threatening our air quality or public health, but think about the emissions from the trucks that carry goods to and from those warehouses. As a result, communities throughout the Inland Empire, which happen to also be mostly Latino and low-income communities, experience higher rates of asthma, decreased lung function in children, and higher rates of cancer. It is not hyperbole. The data is there. Statistics are clear. It is not just the Inland Empire. I raise that as the most significant example. In fact, it is communities all across the country near freight corridors that are impacted--almost 72 million people who live near freight routes. So yes, Mr. President, I am standing up for the fundamental human right to clean air for all Americans. Now, truth be told, I actually wanted the EPA to be more ambitious in its final NOX rule and to align more closely with California's stringent heavy-duty vehicle rules. California proudly leads the Nation in decarbonization and emissions reduction, and we have done so by working thoughtfully and collectively with industry and communities to cut deadly NOX and other pollution from vehicles while we transition to zero-emission vehicles. So to my colleagues who claim negative business or economic impacts, California is doing this while having just grown from being the fifth largest economy in the world to the fourth largest economy in the world. Economic growth and environmental protection are not mutually exclusive. Economic growth and protecting public health are not mutually exclusive. We can and must do it all together. Last I checked from business leaders whom I talked to--I mentioned industries at the table and also at the State level--they actually appreciate that regulatory certainty that I know you and I have talked about, Mr. President, where we lay out a rule, an agenda, a policy objective, and work together to create a plan to achieve it and keep that plan, not ripsaw back and forth about what regulations are going to be in place from one year to the next, from one congressional majority to the next, et cetera. I am also continuing to push the EPA to finalize a strong phase 3 heavy-duty vehicle rule with my clean air and clean transportation partners in the Senate, including Chairman Carper of the Environment and Public Works Committee and Senator Markey and others. But, at the very least, we can't undercut two decades of progress we have already made, and this CRA undermines the scientific and technical expertise behind these important standards and public health protections. And we know that the CRA is part of a bigger effort to stop the bold action we are taking to tackle the climate crisis. So, colleagues, for the sake of clean air, for the sake of our environment, and for the sake of the health of all communities across the country, I urge you to oppose this repeal. I yield the floor.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise today to celebrate the life of Richard Joseph Riordan, a veteran, businessman, father, proud Californian, and the 39th mayor of the city of Los Angeles. Born in Flushing, Queens, in New York City, and the youngest of eight siblings, Mayor Riordan's intellect and work ethic earned him a degree in philosophy from Princeton University, before he went on to serve our Nation in the U.S. Army during the Korean war. His keen mind for business and legal matters brought him to the University of Michigan Law School and later to a career in legal practice and private equity in Los Angeles, where he made his home. But to many Angelenos, we know him best for his time as mayor of Los Angeles from 1993 to 2001. I had the privilege of serving alongside Mayor Riordan during my first 2 years on the Los Angeles City Council, and I am proud of the work we did together on behalf of Los Angeles families. Mayor Riordan cared deeply about the city's children and prioritized the modernization of parks, libraries, and recreational, and cultural opportunities for children. He was instrumental in bringing the Children's Museum of Los Angeles, now known as the Discovery Cube Los Angeles, to the San Fernando Valley. His response to crisis earned Los Angeles national recognition, both in rebuilding after the devastating Northridge earthquake in 1994 and working with the U.S. Department of Justice to reform the Los Angeles Police Department and advance community-based policing efforts. And he was instrumental in bringing the Democratic Convention to Los Angeles in 2000, showcasing the City of Angels to a national audience. Angela and I offer our deepest condolences and appreciation to Mayor Riordan's family and loved ones. His legacy has left a lasting mark on our city, and his loss will be deeply felt by all Angelenos.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise today to celebrate the life of Sandra Nash Baldonado, the former mayor of Claremont, CA, and a beloved community leader. During an intrepid lifetime of service and generosity, any number of friends across the country will remember her knocking doors in Southern California with her kids by her side, serving our Nation at the C.I.A. in Washington, organizing Lady Bird Johnson's campaign tour through the South in the 1960s, or forging ahead to find a permanent home for the Claremont Lewis Museum of Art to bring life to the town she loved most. Born in Shanghai in 1935, Sandy had a very international childhood, with her family living everywhere from Canada and Mexico to New York City. She attended Smith College, where she earned her undergraduate degree in economics, her first stop in a lifelong quest for knowledge that would lead her to earn her master's degree in education from Claremont Graduate School and her law degree from Whittier School of Law. In 1959, after marrying her first husband Arthur Baldonado, the couple moved to Southern California where they would eventually make their home, raise four children, and start their new lives. As a point of personal privilege, it is not lost on me that only in the time since Sandy followed her then Brooklyn Dodgers out west have the Dodgers become one of the most successful franchises in professional sports, with six of their seven World Series titles coming since 1959. In 1992, Sandy married her late husband George Hart, with whom she traveled the world. Across her long and accomplished career, Sandy served as a sixth- grade teacher, president of the League of Women Voters, member of the Three Valley Municipal Water District's Board of Directors, vice chair of the California Democratic Party, family lawyer, city council member and later mayor of the city of Claremont, and president of the Claremont Museum of Art. In every role she held, whether teaching sixth graders or representing women and children in family law, the people and communities around her were made better because of her boundless capacity to care. My thoughts are with all those she now leaves behind, including her children and their spouses Charles and Michele Baldonado, James Baldonado, Andrew and Susan Baldonado, and Liana and Ezra Bayles; as well as her grandchildren Caroline, Pauline, Alex, Grace, Charlie, and Selina.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, I rise today to celebrate the life of Irma Cantu Acosta, a titan in Southern Californian real estate and a beloved wife, mother, and grandmother. Irma grew up in Los Angeles after her parents, Tomasita Saenz Cantu and Benjamin Cantu, moved their family from Texas to California in 1950. She graduated from Theodore Roosevelt High School and attended Stockton Bible College in Stockton, CA. But after only one semester, as her son Gary says, Irma and her high school sweetheart Ernie ``missed each other too much,'' and they chose to get married in 1962. Together, they had three children--Gary, Yvette and Daliah Lynn--before Irma started what would become a highly accomplished career in real estate. Because of her intelligence and uncompromising drive, she quickly became an association executive for the Montebello Board of Realtors, where she would serve for 43 years. While there, she received numerous awards for both her personal and professional achievements, including Woman of the Year for her record in association management. As a founding board member of the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals, she helped make the dream of homeownership possible for more Latinos. She served as a mentor to countless real estate professionals and business owners, providing guidance and care to the next generation of business leaders in Montebello. Throughout our Nation's long and storied history, there have been leaders, allies, and advocates who have chosen not just to work hard and succeed in their chosen fields, but to turn around and help others achieve the American dream. Irma was one of those leaders. In the families she helped, the mentees she guided, and in her three strong, compassionate children, Irma kept that dream alive. What better gift to leave behind than hope for the next generation. California's thoughts are with Irma's husband Ernie; her children Gary, Yvette, and Daliah Lynn; and all those who knew and loved her.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, I rise today to celebrate the Sacramento Regional Transit District on 50 years of service, helping Californians commute to work, visit loved ones, and explore the beautiful county of Sacramento. Since first providing service in 1973, Sacramento Regional Transit, or SacRT, has grown to include over 97 electric light rail vehicles and over 230 buses, traversing 440 square miles to include the cities of Sacramento, Elk Grove, Folsom, Citrus Heights, and Rancho Cordova. Throughout that time, SacRT has been committed to finding new ways to serve Californians, by spearheading an on-demand microtransit service accessible via mobile app, and by converting 10 buses into WiFi hotspots during the height of the pandemic when internet access was a necessity for school, work, and public health. By providing free fares for K-12 students, SacRT has helped countless students pursue their education without having to worry about affording a ride to school. During a time of unprecedented weather events in California, SacRT also partnered with the city of Sacramento to provide free bus rides to warming centers for individuals experiencing homelessness. SacRT has fought to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gases. Their leadership in renewable energy, accessibility, and service have been rightly recognized by both State and Federal agencies. In the capital of the fourth largest economy in the world, SacRT is an integral part of the community, constantly finding ways to better serve the people of Sacramento who rely on it for affordable transit. After 50 years of service, Californians know SacRT can get you ``where you want to go, when you want to go.'' And we are excited to see where the next 50 years will take us.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise to reintroduce the Cesar E. Chavez and the Farmworker Movement National Historical Park Act. This Friday, March 31, we celebrate Cesar Chavez Day to honor and celebrate the life and legacy of the civil rights and labor leader whose impact reverberated throughout California and across the world. For Cesar Chavez, it did not matter where you came from or what your job was, he believed in your fundamental right to dignity and respect. Ahead of Cesar Chavez Day, I introduce this legislation, which would establish the Cesar E. Chavez and the Farmworker Movement National Historical Park in California and Arizona to preserve the nationally significant sites associated with Cesar Chavez and the farmworker movement. In 2008, with strong bipartisan support, Congress enacted legislation directing the National Park Service to conduct a special resource study of sites that are significant to the life of Cesar Chavez and the farm labor movement in the Western United States. The National Park Service evaluated over 100 sites and found that five sites were ``nationally significant.'' Importantly, the Park Service wrote that these nationally significant sites depict a distinct and important aspect of American history associated with civil rights and labor movements that are not adequately represented or protected elsewhere. While the Park Service provided five management alternatives to protect these special places, they ultimately recommended that Congress establish a national historic park that would include several nationally significant sites. In 2012, President Obama established the Cesar E. Chavez National Monument. The property is in Keene, CA, and is known as Nuestra Senora Reina de la Paz. In his Presidential Proclamation, President Obama said: ``This site marks the extraordinary achievements and contributions to the history of the United States made by Cesar Chavez and the farm worker movement that he led with great vision and fortitude. La Paz reflects his conviction that ordinary people can do extraordinary things.'' While this was a critical step forward, the National Monument leaves out many nationally significant sites and leaves many important stories untold. The creation of a national historical park, as originally recommended by the Park Service, would allow the National Park Service to tell the full story of Cesar Chavez and the farm labor movement for the benefit of all Americans. In addition to the inclusion of the existing Cesar E. Chavez National Monument, which includes La Nuestra Senora Reina de la Paz, in Keene, CA, the National Park Service would be able to add additional sites to the park upon written agreement from site owners. These sites include the Forty Acres in Delano, CA, the Santa Rita Center in Phoenix, AZ; and McDonnell Hall, in San Jose, CA. These sites contain nationally significant resources associated with Cesar Chavez and the farmworker movement and would be preserved and protected as part of the National Park System. This legislation would also require the National Park Service to complete a national historic trail study to determine the feasibility of creating the Farmworker Peregrinacion National Historic Trail. This trail would commemorate the 1966 Delano to Sacramento March, a major milestone event in the farm labor movement. According to the Special Resource Study, ``More than one hundred men and women set out from Delano on March 17, 1966, and thousands of farm workers and their families joined in for short stretches along the way. By the time the marchers entered Sacramento on Easter Sunday, April 10, 1966, the farm worker movement had secured a contract and attracted new waves of support from across the country.'' We must honor and celebrate the life and legacy of Cesar Chavez, the inspirational civil rights advocate and leader of the farm labor movement whose impact reverberated in California and across the world. His list of accomplishments is long, from creating the Nation's first permanent agricultural labor union to helping secure passage of the first American law that recognized farmworkers' rights to organize. While widely respected as the most important Latino leader in the United States in the 20th century, Cesar Chavez was not just a leader for the Latino community. Following the principles of Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr., Cesar Chavez led a nonviolent movement of protests and boycotts to secure a union, better pay, and better working conditions for farmworkers of all ethnicities. He also played a leading role in the broader labor movement, the Chicano movement, and the environmental movement. But this park will not just focus on Chavez's legacy; it will also preserve the thousands of stories of people who played a role in the broader farm labor movement. According to the special resource study, ``During the 1960s, the farm labor movement attracted support from a wide array of individuals, including members of other unions, religious leaders, civil rights activists, high school students and college students (including young Chicanos and Filipinos), environmentalists, and justice-minded consumers across the country and abroad.'' As the son of immigrants from Mexico and the first Latino to represent California in the U.S. Senate, I believe the movement Cesar Chavez created is just as important today as it ever has been. The National Park System--which preserves our natural, historical, and cultural heritage while offering vital spaces for teaching, learning, and outdoor recreation-must paint the full mosaic of America. Through the sites preserved by this bill, we can ensure that the National Park System preserves the diverse history of our Nation that is too often overlooked. As a farmworker himself, Cesar Chavez maintained a strong connection to the natural environment. This bill uplifts his story and those of others whose contributions helped build the farmworker and civil rights movements that are pillars of American history. I thank the bill's cosponsors in the Senate and House of Representatives, and I especially want to thank Congressman Ruiz for spearheading this effort with me to ensure that our national monuments and historical parks better reflect the diversity of America's heritage. Today and every day, let's recommit to the work Cesar Chavez began. As he would say: La Lucha Sigue. We must not waver as we keep up the fight for justice and equality for all. I look forward to working with my colleagues to enact the Cesar E. Chavez National Historical Park Act as quickly as possible.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise to reintroduce the Cesar E. Chavez and the Farmworker Movement National Historical Park Act. This Friday, March 31, we celebrate Cesar Chavez Day to honor and celebrate the life and legacy of the civil rights and labor leader whose impact reverberated throughout California and across the world. For Cesar Chavez, it did not matter where you came from or what your job was, he believed in your fundamental right to dignity and respect. Ahead of Cesar Chavez Day, I introduce this legislation, which would establish the Cesar E. Chavez and the Farmworker Movement National Historical Park in California and Arizona to preserve the nationally significant sites associated with Cesar Chavez and the farmworker movement. In 2008, with strong bipartisan support, Congress enacted legislation directing the National Park Service to conduct a special resource study of sites that are significant to the life of Cesar Chavez and the farm labor movement in the Western United States. The National Park Service evaluated over 100 sites and found that five sites were ``nationally significant.'' Importantly, the Park Service wrote that these nationally significant sites depict a distinct and important aspect of American history associated with civil rights and labor movements that are not adequately represented or protected elsewhere. While the Park Service provided five management alternatives to protect these special places, they ultimately recommended that Congress establish a national historic park that would include several nationally significant sites. In 2012, President Obama established the Cesar E. Chavez National Monument. The property is in Keene, CA, and is known as Nuestra Senora Reina de la Paz. In his Presidential Proclamation, President Obama said: ``This site marks the extraordinary achievements and contributions to the history of the United States made by Cesar Chavez and the farm worker movement that he led with great vision and fortitude. La Paz reflects his conviction that ordinary people can do extraordinary things.'' While this was a critical step forward, the National Monument leaves out many nationally significant sites and leaves many important stories untold. The creation of a national historical park, as originally recommended by the Park Service, would allow the National Park Service to tell the full story of Cesar Chavez and the farm labor movement for the benefit of all Americans. In addition to the inclusion of the existing Cesar E. Chavez National Monument, which includes La Nuestra Senora Reina de la Paz, in Keene, CA, the National Park Service would be able to add additional sites to the park upon written agreement from site owners. These sites include the Forty Acres in Delano, CA, the Santa Rita Center in Phoenix, AZ; and McDonnell Hall, in San Jose, CA. These sites contain nationally significant resources associated with Cesar Chavez and the farmworker movement and would be preserved and protected as part of the National Park System. This legislation would also require the National Park Service to complete a national historic trail study to determine the feasibility of creating the Farmworker Peregrinacion National Historic Trail. This trail would commemorate the 1966 Delano to Sacramento March, a major milestone event in the farm labor movement. According to the Special Resource Study, ``More than one hundred men and women set out from Delano on March 17, 1966, and thousands of farm workers and their families joined in for short stretches along the way. By the time the marchers entered Sacramento on Easter Sunday, April 10, 1966, the farm worker movement had secured a contract and attracted new waves of support from across the country.'' We must honor and celebrate the life and legacy of Cesar Chavez, the inspirational civil rights advocate and leader of the farm labor movement whose impact reverberated in California and across the world. His list of accomplishments is long, from creating the Nation's first permanent agricultural labor union to helping secure passage of the first American law that recognized farmworkers' rights to organize. While widely respected as the most important Latino leader in the United States in the 20th century, Cesar Chavez was not just a leader for the Latino community. Following the principles of Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr., Cesar Chavez led a nonviolent movement of protests and boycotts to secure a union, better pay, and better working conditions for farmworkers of all ethnicities. He also played a leading role in the broader labor movement, the Chicano movement, and the environmental movement. But this park will not just focus on Chavez's legacy; it will also preserve the thousands of stories of people who played a role in the broader farm labor movement. According to the special resource study, ``During the 1960s, the farm labor movement attracted support from a wide array of individuals, including members of other unions, religious leaders, civil rights activists, high school students and college students (including young Chicanos and Filipinos), environmentalists, and justice-minded consumers across the country and abroad.'' As the son of immigrants from Mexico and the first Latino to represent California in the U.S. Senate, I believe the movement Cesar Chavez created is just as important today as it ever has been. The National Park System--which preserves our natural, historical, and cultural heritage while offering vital spaces for teaching, learning, and outdoor recreation-must paint the full mosaic of America. Through the sites preserved by this bill, we can ensure that the National Park System preserves the diverse history of our Nation that is too often overlooked. As a farmworker himself, Cesar Chavez maintained a strong connection to the natural environment. This bill uplifts his story and those of others whose contributions helped build the farmworker and civil rights movements that are pillars of American history. I thank the bill's cosponsors in the Senate and House of Representatives, and I especially want to thank Congressman Ruiz for spearheading this effort with me to ensure that our national monuments and historical parks better reflect the diversity of America's heritage. Today and every day, let's recommit to the work Cesar Chavez began. As he would say: La Lucha Sigue. We must not waver as we keep up the fight for justice and equality for all. I look forward to working with my colleagues to enact the Cesar E. Chavez National Historical Park Act as quickly as possible.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise today to celebrate the confirmation of four qualified, exemplary public servants who will now serve as district court judges in California. One month ago, we celebrated a landmark achievement of the Biden Presidency: 100 Federal judges confirmed by the Senate. That is worthy of being celebrated by all Americans because, from the moment President Biden entered office, he set out to nominate candidates with a diverse range of legal and life experience. We sought to work together to build a Federal bench that looks like the America that it serves. With the confirmations of Judge Daniel Calabretta, Ms. Araceli Martinez-Olguin, Judge James Simmons, Jr., and Judge Andrew Schopler, we are once again fulfilling that commitment and putting forth the best of the great State of California and the best that our country has to offer. Now, earlier this year, we confirmed Judge Daniel Calabretta to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California. Judge Calabretta is an exceptional nominee with the qualifications to serve in the Eastern District with distinction. He earned his B.A. from Princeton University and his J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School. Since then, his nearly two-decade legal career has been defined by a commitment to serving the public's interests. Before he was appointed to the California Superior Court in 2019, his career spanned from the California Department of Justice to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and from Sacramento, CA, to the Supreme Court. In each and every role, he has demonstrated a keen legal mind and a clear commitment to justice. But beyond his exceptional legal credentials, he brings a valuable diversity of life experience to the Eastern District, a court with one of the highest average per-judge workloads in the country. Judge Calabretta's confirmation makes him the first openly gay man to serve on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, bringing a voice and experience not yet represented in such a role. But I am confident, with his experience, his acumen, and his judgments, that he will be a tremendous asset for the millions of people that he will now serve. Now, 2 weeks ago, this body confirmed Araceli Martinez-Olguin to serve on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. Born in Mexico City but raised in Northern California, Ms. Martinez-Olguin received her bachelor's degree from Princeton University. She then returned home to California to work as a kindergarten teacher before attending the UC Berkeley School of Law. She spent her career representing those who all too often are overlooked by the legal system: immigrants, low-income women, and women of color. Ms. Martinez-Olguin has experience at community legal service organizations, as well as the Department of Education and the National Immigration Law Center. She has litigated at every level of our Federal courts in States across the country and has established herself as a respected leader and expert in the legal community. Her commitment to fighting for the greater good, her decency, and her experience will serve the Northern District well, and I thank my colleagues for supporting her nomination. Now, just last week, we confirmed Judge James Simmons, Jr., to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. Born in Inglewood, CA, Judge Simmons was raised by a single mother in the proud working-class and very diverse community of South Los Angeles. Judge Simmons was the first person in his family to graduate from college when he earned his undergraduate degree from UC Berkeley and then, later, his J.D. from Golden Gate University School of Law. Soon after, he became a deputy city attorney in San Diego before working his way up to serve as a deputy district attorney for San Diego County for over a decade. In 2017, Judge Simmons was appointed to the Superior Court of California for San Diego County. Looking back, in my conversation with him, I had the opportunity to ask him a specific question: why he wanted to become a prosecutor as opposed to working with defendants. And Judge Simmons very articulately said, well, it is because that is where he could do the most good. And he explained why. He felt it was important for people like him to bring their experiences and backgrounds to the role of prosecutor, someone with an understanding for defendants with backgrounds similar to his own. Now Judge Simmons will bring his good work to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. Finally, just last week, we also confirmed Judge Andrew Schopler to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. Judge Schopler earned his undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College and his J.D. from Harvard Law School. He then briefly worked as a public defender before joining a criminal defense law firm. In 2004, he earned his spot as an assistant U.S. attorney in the Southern District of California, where he served until 2016, eventually rising to the position of deputy section chief of the Major Frauds and Special Prosecutions Unit. Given his exemplary work ethic, he was then selected to serve as magistrate judge in the Southern District. But his service to our country extends beyond the bench. In 2014, at the age of 43, Judge Schopler chose to join the California National Guard as a judge advocate. He worked to obtain an age and medical waiver to serve. In 2018, he deployed to Afghanistan as part of Operation Freedom's Sentinel. He earned the Bronze Star for his service and was promoted to the rank of major. He has committed his career to protecting our freedoms truly, at home and abroad, and I am proud this body came together to support his confirmation. I am so grateful for all four of these newly confirmed judges' willingness to serve our country, and I know California and the country will be a stronger, more just place because of them and because of their service. With that, I yield the floor.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. I ask for the yeas and nays.