Lucille Roybal-Allard

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Mexican American Opportunity Foundation on celebrating their 50th anniversary. For 50 years MAOF has worked to improve the quality of life for millions of Latinos in the Los Angeles area. From education and daycare services for children, to job training and English-language classes for adults, to medical and social services to seniors, MAOF has provided poor or disenfranchised Latinos with opportunities for social and economic advancement. In 1963, a little known community and labor leader named Dionicio Morales had the idea to create a foundation dedicated to Mexican- American community development. He started at the top, with a call to President John F. Kennedy. Morales did not get to speak to the President, but through his perseverance, he was able to speak with Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson. Together they secured the funding for what would become the Mexican American Opportunity Foundation. Today MAOF is the largest Latino human services provider in the nation and the Los Angeles Times has credited Morales with being one of the original leaders of the East Los Angeles Latino civil rights movement, along with United Farm Workers leader Cesar Chavez, journalist Ruben Salazar, and my father, Congressman Edward R. Roybal. Although Dionicio Morales passed away in 2008, his legacy lives on within the work of MAOF which provides essential services to over 100,000 people, 8,000 of whom are children. Once again I congratulate MAOF President and CEO Martin Castro, members of the board of directors, and all MAOF employees. I thank them for 50 years of dedicated service to the Latino community, and I wish them well as they continue their great work in the years to come.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Newborn Screening Saves Lives Reauthorization Act. In 2008, with strong bipartisan support, Congressman Simpson and I introduced the original bill that was signed into law that year. For the first time in history, a scientific method for adding newborn screenings to State programs was established. Prior to enactment of this law, only 10 States and the District of Columbia required infants to be screened for all the recommended disorders. Today, 44 States and the District of Columbia require screening of at least 29 of the 31 core treatable conditions. Unfortunately, critical gaps and challenges remain. The reauthorization bill establishes a grant program to assist States in developing followup and tracking programs and renews the Secretary's Advisory Committee for Heritable Disorders. I urge my colleagues to cosponsor this vital legislation. No child should die or suffer from preventable disabilities which could have been detected at birth.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, last week, I introduced H.R. 498, to reauthorize the Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking Act, better known as the STOP Act. The original STOP Act passed with bipartisan support in 2006. It was based on the recommendations of the 2003 Institute of Medicine report, which outlined the extent of the underage drinking problem in the United States. At that time, 20 percent of eighth graders, 42 percent of 10th graders, and 58 percent of 12th graders reported being drunk in their lifetimes. Designed to address this public health crisis, the STOP Act established an interagency committee to coordinate Federal efforts to reduce and ultimately prevent underage drinking. The law financed public health research on underage drinking, and it authorized a national media campaign to educate parents about the dangers of consuming alcohol before the age of 21. The STOP Act also provided grants to communities throughout the country to enhance their underage drinking prevention efforts. As a result of this comprehensive approach, we have seen positive results in both national statistics and in communities across America. According to the 2012 Monitoring the Future survey, the lifetime use of alcohol by 8th-, 10th-, and 12th-graders is at the lowest level in years. Unfortunately, there is more that needs to be done. Despite the progress we have made, alcohol continues to be the number one drug of choice among youth, and the consequences are devastating. In addition to costing society over $62 billion a year, underage drinking by youths 15-20 years of age is a major cause of homicide, suicide, and motor vehicle accidents. And it results in the deaths of approximately 5,000 youths every year. Adding to this tragedy is the fact that all of these consequences are preventable. This makes reauthorization of the STOP Act even more necessary. H.R. 498 continues the successful programs of the original STOP Act and adds a grant program to train pediatric health care providers on the best practices for screening and treating substance abuse among youth. Mr. Speaker, the reauthorization of the STOP Act is an important bipartisan effort to help prevent the needless suffering and costs associated with underage drinking. I urge my colleagues to join me and my original cosponsors, Congressman Frank Wolf and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, by cosponsoring the STOP reauthorization bill, H.R. 498, so we can continue to move forward in our efforts to address this public health crisis affecting our children.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I was absent due to the passing of my mother and was not present for rollcall votes on Thursday, January 3, 2013 and Friday, January 4, 2013. Had I been present, I would have voted in this manner: rollcall Vote No. 2--Election of the Speaker-- Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi; rollcall Vote No. 3--On motion to table the motion to refer, H. Res. 5, ``Adopting rules for the One Hundred Thirteenth Congress''--no; rollcall Vote No. 4--On ordering the previous question, H. Res. 5, ``Adopting rules for the One Hundred Thirteenth Congress''--no; rollcall Vote No. 5--On motion to commit with instructions, H. Res. 5, ``Adopting rules for the One Hundred Thirteenth Congress.''--yes; rollcall Vote No. 6--On agreeing to the resolution, H. Res. 5, ``Adopting rules for the One Hundred Thirteenth Congress.''--no; and rollcall Vote No. 7--To suspend the rules and pass H.R. 41, ``To temporarily increase the borrowing authority of the Federal Emergency Management Agency for carrying out the National Flood Insurance Program.''--yes.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I was out of town due to a family medical situation and was not present for the rollcall vote numbered 611 on Thursday, November 29, 2012. Had I been present, I would have voted in this manner: Rollcall Vote No. 611--Resolution providing for consideration of H.R. 6429, the STEM Jobs Act: ``no.''

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I was out of town due to a family medical situation and was not present for rollcall votes Nos. 609 and 610 on Tuesday, November 27, 2012. Had I been present, I would have voted in this manner: Rollcall vote No. 609--On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as amended, the Medical Preparedness Allowable Use Act: ``yes.'' Rollcall vote No. 610--On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Concur in the Senate Amendment, the Jamie Zapata Border Enforcement Security Task Force Act: ``yes.''

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I was out of town due to a family medical situation and was not present for the rollcall votes numbered 612 and 613 on Friday, November 30, 2012. Had I been present, I would have voted in this manner: Rollcall vote No. 612--Motion to Recommit with Instructions--H.R. 6429, the STEM Jobs Act: ``Yes.'' Rollcall vote No. 613--Final Passage--H.R. 6429, the STEM Jobs Act: ``No.''

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Bievenidos, an organization dedicated to healing children, strengthening families and transforming communities in Los Angeles, on their 25th anniversary. Bienvenidos opened its doors in June of 1987 to a young child, Miracle, to begin addressing the growing number of abused and neglected infants and toddlers in Los Angeles County. From the outset, they realized that children who do not have the care, guidance and support they need are less likely to grow into successful, self-sufficient and productive adolescents and adults. Bienvenidos has spent the last 25 years developing comprehensive services for children and families and promoting long-term positive outcomes. The array of programs and services they provide are designed to heal children and families in crisis, as well as break generational cycles of abuse, neglect and other dysfunctional behaviors. As a pillar in greater East Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Valley, Bienvenidos has made it a priority to develop roots within the community by leading collaborative initiatives, engaging community residents to develop services and resources in response to their needs, and bringing funding into the area. Today, Bienvenidos serves more than 19,000 children and their families through the dedicated work of 200 professional staff at 12 locations. Ultimately, what sets Bienvenidos apart is their ability to give hope to those who have all but lost it. Bienvenidos gives people the tools and coping skills they need to become self-sufficient, and through the love and support of their staff, they give them someone who believes in them. I once again congratulate Bienvenidos on the celebration of their 25th anniversary. I thank them for their continued service to the children and families of Los Angeles and their dedication to making our community a better place to live.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate APAIT Health Center, serving my 34th Congressional District, on their 25th anniversary. Since 1987, APAIT Health Center (formerly known as Asian Pacific AIDS Intervention Team) has worked to fulfill its mission of positively impacting the quality of life for medically underserved communities living with or at risk for HIV/AIDS and other health disparities through a seamless continuum of culturally competent and linguistically appropriate programs in Southern California. APAIT Health Center is a distinctly critical service provider for those living with HIV/AIDS and members of the LGBTQ community in the greater Los Angeles area. The agency serves clientele from diverse communities, including Asian and Pacific Islanders (API), Latinos, and African Americans. In its 25 year history, APAIT Heath Center has become the largest provider of HIV/AIDS services to API communities in Southern California, having served tens of thousands of individuals. APAIT continues to respond this year with the opening of a community health clinic in the vibrant Pico Union/Westlake area, a community with scarce health options for those who are low-income and uninsured. Private sector partnerships are also part of APAIT Health Center's portfolio. APAIT Health Center has been the recipient of grants from Kaiser Permanente, John and Johnson, and the California endowment, to name a few. In addition, APAIT Health Center and its staff have received awards and commendations from local, state, and national entities, from the City of Los Angeles to the White House. APAIT's proudest achievement, however, is consistently receiving high marks from their client satisfaction surveys. The most recent survey revealed 93 percent of clients feel their quality of life has improved since seeking services with APAIT Health Center. I once again congratulate APAIT Health Center on the celebration of their 25th anniversary. I thank them for their continued service to the Los Angeles community, and for the help they provide to those in need.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained and missed rollcall vote No. 585 on the evening of September 19, 2012. Had I been present, I would have voted in this manner: Rollcall vote No. 585--On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended, H.R. 5044, the Andrew P. Carpenter Tax Act: ``yes.''

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, as we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, I rise to pay tribute to the National Hispana Leadership Institute. Later this year, NHLI alumnae will gather in Washington, D.C., to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the founding of this nationally recognized leadership development institute. A national Latina organization based in Washington, D.C., NHLI was founded in 1987 in response to the U.S. Department of Labor's Glass Ceiling Initiative. This seminal study found that while minorities and women were making substantial gains in entering the workforce, they were not equally represented at mid and senior level management positions in government or corporate sectors. The study also found that Latinas were significantly underrepresented on corporate boards and in nonprofit and political arenas. Over the past 25 years, NHLI has become a vital resource for Latinas and a key player in cultivating Latina leaders serving America today. In partnership with Harvard University and the Center for Creative Leadership, NHLI graduates have become a formidable cadre of well- educated, highly skilled, and committed Latina leaders. They are a veritable ``who's who'' in many communities and disciplines, and the impact of their collective leadership is felt throughout the country. Through various mentoring initiatives and community service projects, NHLI alumnae have directly impacted thousands of Latinas in every State and in Puerto Rico. Its network and leadership projects have helped create new nonprofit organizations and influenced various others, including: The National Latino Children's Institute, Voto Latino, Powerful Latinas, Las Comadres, Positive Directions, Latina Giving Circle, and Poder PAC, to name a few. Finally, I would be remiss if I did not mention the founders of this great organization. This prestigious group includes Maria Elena Torano, the Honorable Maria Antonietta Berriozabal, the Honorable Ramona Martinez, Gloria Rodrigues, the Honorable Raul Yzaguirre, and former Governor Bill Richardson. Through their vision and leadership, NHLI's programs have become the model for Latina empowerment in this country. Again, my sincere congratulations to the National Hispana Leadership Institute on the celebration of their 25th anniversary.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise to introduce the Help Separated Families Act. This legislation proposes common sense solutions to keep families united and reduce the number of children in foster care as a result of immigration enforcement action. During the first half of last year alone, more than 46,000 parents of U.S. citizen children were deported from the United States. In the wake of their parents' removal, a growing number of children have been placed in foster care and left to languish, or worse yet, have been separated permanently from their families when their parents' rights are terminated. It is estimated that over 5,000 children in at least 22 states are currently living in foster care as a result of immigration enforcement policies. As parental deportation and detention rates have risen in recent years, the devastating impact on families has increased. Mothers like Encarnacion Bail Romero, who was apprehended in a federal immigration raid in 2007 and torn from her then-seven-month son, often face insurmountable barriers to family reunification. Ms. Romero, a native of Guatemala, had her parental rights terminated while in federal custody after a judge ruled that ``illegally smuggling herself into the country is not a lifestyle that can provide any stability for the child.'' Her son Carlitos was adopted out against her will to a new family who now calls him Jameson, and Ms. Romero has not seen him in approximately five years. What this case and so many more like it tell us is that, in the U.S., immigration status in itself has become grounds to permanently separate families. This is absolutely, unquestionably inhumane and unacceptable--particularly for a country that values family and fairness so highly. The bond that exists between children and parents is not weakened by country of origin or immigration status. Undocumented parents love their children and want the best for them as all parents do, yet our broken child welfare and immigration systems undermine the best interests of their families. The Help Separated Families Act helps address this heartbreaking issue. To ensure more children are cared for by family members, my bill prohibits immigration status from disqualifying a parent, legal guardian, or relative from placement consideration. While current law allows undocumented individuals to become a foster or adoptive parent, our child welfare system continues to be biased against undocumented caregivers, as evidenced by a 12-year-old boy in Michigan who has spent two full years in foster care with strangers after both of his parents were deported. Even though his aunt and uncle sought custody, they were denied by the child welfare agency on the basis of their immigration status. The Help Separated Families Act also facilitates family unity by prohibiting states from petitioning to terminate parental rights based on the deportation or detention of a parent, provided certain conditions have been met. This provision protects the legal rights of parents and prevents child welfare agencies from unfairly, unnecessarily, and permanently separating children from their parents. Our broken immigration system has torn apart families and taken a terrible toll on communities. I ask my colleagues to join me in doing our part to keep families together by supporting the Help Separated Families Act.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate an historic occasion in the history of Los Angeles sports teams. On June 11 the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League won their first national championship. Today the Stanley Cup calls LA ``home'', and the nation joins us in calling the Kings, ``champions''. The Kings' championship was 45 years in the making. They began the playoffs as the number eight seed. They quickly dispatched the Vancouver Canucks, the number one seed team, four games to one. Next they took on the Saint Louis Blues and swept this number two seed team in four games. They then took on the third seed team the Phoenix Coyotes and earned the title of Western Conference champions for only the second time in Kings' history. This was the first time in NHL history that an eighth seed team beat the first and second seed teams. But our champion Kings went even further by also beating the third seed team as well. The championship series against the New Jersey Devils was a thriller and the Kings quickly took a commanding three game lead. After a couple of Devil victories, in game six of the series, the Kings regained their momentum and put New Jersey away with a 6-1 victory to clinch the Stanley Cup. The Kings are only the second number eight seed team in NHL history to advance to the championship series and the first number eight seed team to win the Stanley Cup. Their game six victory on their home ice at the Staples Center was cause for celebration by thousands of Kings fans in Los Angeles and throughout Southern California. In winning the NHL championship, the Kings join the prestigious ranks of Los Angeles sports teams who have brought championship titles to the City of the Angels, including the Lakers, the Dodgers, the Galaxy, UCLA Bruin and USC Trojan teams, the Strings of the World Team Tennis League, and yes, the former-Los Angeles Raiders. Congratulations to the Kings team: Jeff Carter, Kyle Clifford, Colin Fraser, Simon Gagne, Dwight King, Anze Kopitar, Trevor Lewis, Andrei Loktionov, Jordan Nolan, Scott Parse, Dustin Penner, Mike Richards, Brad Richardson, Jarret Stoll, Kevin Westgarth, Justin Williams, Drew Doughty, Davis Drewiske, Matt Greene, Alec Martinez, Willie Mitchell, Rob Scuderi, Slava Voynov, Jonathan Bernier and Jonathan Quick. Special congratulations to Coach Darryl Sutter, General Manager Dean Lombardi and team captain Dustin Brown for leading the team to victory, and to AEG and the entire staff of the Kings organization whose work supports, trains and promotes the team. Thank you all for giving the city of Los Angeles our first Stanley Cup win! Mr. Speaker, the Los Angeles Kings are the kings of hockey! Let's all celebrate their historic victory!

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Chair, I regretfully rise in opposition to the FY13 Transportation Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill. I would like to extend my appreciation to Chairman Latham and Ranking Member Olver for their hard work on this bill. They were forced to make difficult decisions due to the low allocation that the Ryan Budget provided. Regrettably, this violation of the Budget Control Act, which was agreed to last year, led to devastating cuts to the Housing and Urban Development housing assistance program. At a time when so many Americans have lost their homes or are struggling to keep them, this bill falls far short of meeting our nation's housing needs. This is especially true for those who have fallen on hard times and those who are the poorest and most vulnerable among us. By systematically underfunding HUD's three major rental assistance programs: Housing Choice vouchers, Public Housing and Section 8 Project-based Rental Assistance this bill increases the chances of greater homelessness in our country especially for those already living in unstable housing conditions. My home state is a perfect example of how the deep cuts to housing assistance in this bill will negatively impact those with the greatest housing needs. California has an estimated shortage of 1.6 million affordable rental units and an average wait of 37 months for HUD-assisted housing. Further reducing funding for affordable housing will only increase the number of extremely low income households who are living in unstable housing situations, paying the majority of their incomes towards rent and who remain at risk of becoming homeless. Nationally it puts at risk the approximately 4.5 million low income families who depend on HUD programs for their housing needs, more than half of which include seniors and persons with disabilities. The FY13 THUD bill underfunds Housing Choice vouchers by as much as $440 million, which translates into 55,000 vouchers for low income families in FY13. That's 55,000 families with an average annual income of $12,568 that will lose access to affordable housing. Project-Based Rental Assistance is also underfunded and the legislation would only extend year-long contracts to certain property owners, leaving investors, owners and tenants uncertain about the future of the program. The consequence of this uncertainty could be fewer owners renewing their contracts and a reduction in the number of Section 8 units available to low-income families. The bill continues to woefully underfund public housing. Capital funding for public housing has been shortchanged for the past decade, and without an increase, 1.1 million low income households will continue to be exposed to deteriorating living conditions and potential safety hazards. This legislation also weakens federal efforts to assist those already homeless by underfunding Homeless Assistance Grants by more than $200 million. This means fewer permanent housing units, which have been shown to prevent homelessness and are less costly than the alternative of providing emergency shelter and services. For example, the Economic Roundtable found that individuals who are homeless in Los Angeles utilize an average of $34,000 a year in county services (not including costs to the city, state or federal government) and that once permanently housed that number drops to $14,000 (including housing capital, federal rental assistance and services). Now is the time to protect low income families by prioritizing funding for affordable housing during these tough economic times. Unfortunately this bill falls short in that regard and puts far too many families in jeopardy of finding themselves without a safe and affordable home to call their own. I regret that in good conscience I cannot support this bill.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, this is day 2 of the misguided Republican attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act. We have been down this road 31 times with the same arguments and the same often misleading rhetoric that does not reflect the true benefits of the Affordable Care Act. Those who argue against it are not speaking for my 167,000 uninsured constituents who for the first time will receive health insurance coverage when the law is fully implemented. They are not speaking for the 7,000 young adults who can now stay on their parents' insurance plans until they are aged 26, or for the 510 small businesses in my district that are receiving tax credits to help maintain or expand health care coverage for their employees. Colleagues who support the repeal of the Affordable Care Act are also disregarding the needs of minority communities in which millions suffer from persistent and life-shortening health disparities. In my largely Latino district, for example, thousands more of my constituents will have access to health care through the expansion of Medicaid, the creation of health insurance exchanges, and through the law's expansion of community health centers. Mr. Speaker, my constituents do not want the Affordable Care Act repealed nor do the millions of Americans across our country for which the ACA has brought lifesaving benefits. This is most certainly true for women, seniors and people with disabilities. Under the Affordable Care Act, being female can no longer be considered a preexisting condition. Women will no longer have to pay higher premiums than men, and prenatal care will finally be covered for all women in this country. Never again will our sisters, mothers and daughters have to choose between a mammogram or putting food on the table because these lifesaving preventative health services will no longer require copayments. As for seniors, last year, as a result of health reform, over 32 million of them received free preventative health services, and over 5 million seniors are saving close to $4 billion on Medicare prescription drug costs as the doughnut hole closes. Because Obama cares, our families and neighbors with disabilities will no longer live in fear of reaching lifetime limits on their insurance or of being excluded from coverage due to having preexisting conditions. Mr. Speaker, the Affordable Care Act is already working for my constituents--for women, for minority communities, for seniors, and for people with disabilities. It is time for my Republican colleagues to listen to these Americans who do not want to lose their new health benefits. The Supreme Court has upheld the Affordable Care Act. Let's stop wasting time and taxpayers' money and find solutions to the other complex issues facing our country today.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Unified Grocers, headquartered in my congressional district, on their 90th year of successful serving independent grocery retailers in the state of California. Unified Grocers was formed in 1922 by a group of 15 grocers who came together to pool their resources in order to effectively compete in the marketplace. With headquarters in the city of Commerce, California, United Grocers operates a milk processing plant, bakery and six major distribution centers across the country. Unified Grocers is committed to helping its members build successful long-term businesses as well as remain competitive and grow in today's economy. Unified Grocers runs an innovative, efficient, and sophisticated distribution chain that allows its members to stock their stores with items that are needed in their individual communities. They are responsive to a changing market and dedicated to the effective operation of facilities that are right-sized, well maintained and optimally located. I once again congratulate Unified Grocers on the celebration of their 90th anniversary. I thank them for continuing to provide quality jobs in the 34th congressional district and throughout California and for giving back to our community to make it stronger.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Chairman, I support the amendment offered by my colleague from Florida. Each year, millions of children fall victim to sexual predators. These young victims are left with permanent psychological, physical, and emotional scars. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, also known as ICE, targets and investigates child pornographers, child-sex tourists and facilitators, human smugglers and traffickers of minors, criminal aliens convicted of offenses against minors, and those deported for child exploitation offenses who have returned illegally. The Child Exploitation Center is at the forefront of these investigations. Unfortunately, funding for ICE's Child Exploitation Center has decreased over the past 2 years from $16.7 million in 2011 to a proposed $14.7 million in 2013. This amendment bolsters funds for this center by a modest amount, bringing total funding to $20 million, restoring the budget cuts and providing a small additional amount to make additional headway on ending these heinous crimes. I appreciate the gentlelady bringing this issue to our attention, and I support the adoption of this amendment. These dollars will be well spent safeguarding our children worldwide. I appreciate the chairman accepting the amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I urge defeat of the previous question and the consideration of the Paycheck Fairness Act to correct a terrible injustice where women are systematically paid less than men for doing the same work. On average, women receive 77 cents for every dollar paid to male workers. This disparity means a loss of nearly $11,000 a year, or the equivalent of 4 months of groceries, 5 months of child care, and over 6 months of rent and utilities. The wage gap is even more pronounced for black and Latina women, who receive just 62 cents and 54 cents, respectively, for every dollar paid to white men. It is unbelievable that in the 21st century, wage discrimination against women remains so rampant in a Nation that values family and fairness so highly. In good conscience, how can this House do nothing while our wives, daughters, mothers, and grandmothers are discriminated against in the workplace? Don't they deserve equal pay for equal work and the opportunity for a better life? I urge my Republican colleagues to do the right thing and help pass the Paycheck Fairness Act to fulfill our Nation's promise of fairness, equality, and justice for all.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained and missed rollcall Vote No. 208 on the evening of May 7, 2012. Had I been present, I would have voted in the following manner: Rollcall Vote No. 208--Quayle (AZ) Amendment: ``no.''

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. I rise in strong opposition to this bill. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to H.R. 4970, the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). While I agree with my colleagues that we must reauthorize VAWA, I cannot support this version of the bill given the numerous ways it fails to protect women and families. Despite the significant progress we have made as a nation addressing violence against women, nearly one-third of women in the U.S. still report being physically or sexually abused by a husband or boyfriend in their lifetime. Domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking lead to severe social, health, and economic consequences for our communities, with the estimated cost of violence exceeding 70 billion dollars each year. Historically, each time VAWA has come up for reauthorization, Congress has added beneficial provisions to the bill and passed it with strong bipartisan support. In 2005, we included language referencing culturally and linguistically specific services to help eliminate barriers for many racial and ethnic minorities. My colleagues and I also successfully included a new health title in the last VAWA reauthorization that strengthened our health care system's capacity to prevent violence and develop effective interventions to abuse. The version of VAWA before us today threatens to roll back those gains and limit protections for victims, ultimately endangering their safety in life-threatening ways. H.R. 4970 omits provisions in the Senate-passed bill that ensure equal treatment and access to services for LGBT survivors. It denies justice for tribal women abused by non- Indians, negating the reality that Native American women suffer domestic violence at epidemic proportions, but remain largely unprotected under current law. It also jeopardizes the personal security of victims who rely on public housing by forcing some to choose between swiftly moving away from an abuser and losing their housing subsidy. Equally egregious, H.R. 4970 eradicates protections that have benefited immigrant women for nearly 20 years. The legislation creates barriers for immigrant crime victims seeking U-visas and silences those who fear deportation. H.R. 4970 overturns the current ability of immigrant victims of domestic violence to confidentially self-petition for permanent residency, thereby returning power to abusive U.S. citizen and legal permanent resident spouses who wield their status as a tool of dominance and control. Since VAWA's inception in 1994, nearly 75,000 self-petitions have been approved for immigrant victims who would have otherwise remained dependent on an abusive spouse to adjust their status. We cannot reverse course on this important self-petition provision and turn our backs on immigrant women and families. I am also disappointed that, yet again, provisions to alleviate the economic factors that keep victims in abusive relationships have not been included. For the last 16 years, I have introduced legislation, the Security and Financial Empowerment Act (SAFE Act), to address this issue. The SAFE Act extends eligibility for unemployment benefits to victims forced to leave their jobs due to circumstances stemming from domestic violence, allows victims to take unpaid leave to make court appearances and seek necessary assistance, and it prohibits employers or insurance providers from basing hiring or coverage on an individual's history of abuse. These provisions ensure that domestic violence survivors have the financial security they need to escape an abusive situation. Failing to address these economic concerns is just another way this legislation fails to adequately protect survivors of domestic violence. It's unfortunate that Republicans are playing politics with women's lives and pushing a bill that deviates so sharply from the kind of VAWA reauthorization that victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking truly need. Hundreds of organizations across the country have opposed HR. 4970 on the grounds that it harms our families and communities. Unconscionably, the GOP appears more concerned about advancing a political agenda than listening to the American people. This is grossly insensitive to the lived experiences of those who tragically find themselves in abusive situations and count on our support. Victim safety is at the core of VAWA and always has been. I cannot in good conscience vote to pass this version of VAWA, as it erases 18 years of bipartisan efforts to respond to the needs of victims of domestic violence. I urge my colleagues to join me in voting this bill down so that we may consider an alternative VAWA reauthorization proposal that improves protections for all survivors, including immigrant women and other vulnerable populations.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained and missed rollcall vote No. 206 on the evening of May 7, 2012. Had I been present, I would have voted in the following manner: rollcall vote No. 206--Scalise (LA) Amendment: ``no.''

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong opposition to the Denham amendment. The building his amendment targets does not exist. That's right; the building he wants to prohibit federal agencies from occupying next year in fiscal year 2013 doesn't exist. The Central District of California courthouse which is scheduled for construction in the near future is sorely needed to meet serious safety and security deficiencies at the current courthouse built in 1940. I am submitting for the record a memo from the U.S. Marshals Service which details these concerns. It tells of criminal defendants being escorted through hallways and in elevators with judges, jurors and the general public. It talks about the physical limitations of the aging building to meet the security challenges of the post 911 world. These issues, along with a shortage of space and concerns for the seismic stability of the building, have prompted the Judicial Conference to list the project as its number one priority since 2003. The courthouse has been reviewed by OMB and GSA and approved in both Republican and Democratic administrations. For example, President George W. Bush requested funding for the courthouse in two of his annual budget requests to Congress and the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee and the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee authorized it with bipartisan support. Furthermore it is important to note that this not new money. The House Appropriations Committee provided funding for this Central District Courthouse several years ago. This project has enjoyed bipartisan support from the Los Angeles County congressional delegation. For the Record, I am also submitting a letter signed by both of our U.S. Senators and 17 members of the California House delegation urging the General Services Administration to move forward on the project. Construction of the Central District courthouse will address long standing safety and security issues in the current facility in addition to bringing much needed jobs to the Los Angeles area. I urge my colleagues to oppose this pointless amendment. U.S. Department of Justice, United States Marshals Service, Los Angeles, CA, Nov. 2, 2011. Memorandum To: Audrey B. Collins, Chief District Judge. From: David M. Singer, United States Marshal. Subject: Security Issues at 312 N. Spring Street. You have asked me to describe the physical security deficiencies of the 312 North Spring Street Courthouse. We can provide you with photographs depicting many of these deficiencies, if needed. The United States Courthouse located at 312 North Spring Street, Los Angeles CA, was built from 1937 to 1940. The age of this building and design has presented various logistical problems for The United States Marshals Service (USMS) in regards to Prisoner Operations, Court Operations, and General Courthouse Security. Law Enforcement Gun Storage Lockers In the Central District of California certain law enforcement agencies are not authorized to remain armed after passing the USMS security screening sites. Because of this rule, there is a need for an area to secure the officers' and agents' firearms. The only USMS space available out of public view for the firearms locker, within close proximity to the screening site, is also the entrance for attorneys to speak with in-custody defendants. The officers and agents must remove their firearms in plain view of visiting attorneys and prisoners, showing where firearms are carried on their person. Judge's Underground Parking at the Main Street Entrance Prisoners transported for court appearances at the courthouse must be offloaded in the Judges' Main Street parking garage, in plain view of judicial vehicles, license plates, make-model-color of judicial vehicles, and at times while Judges are walking to or from their vehicle. To reach the USMS cellblock, the prisoner must walk up the same ramp and pass the same doors as the Judiciary. It is not uncommon to encounter Judges or court staff while prisoners are approaching the cellblock area. There is always the potential for prisoners to attempt escape or be assisted by an outside threat because the Main Street garage gate entrance opens directly onto the public sidewalk and a heavily trafficked entry route to the freeways. Movement of Prisoners The hallway that serves the USMS cellblock, as well as the only prisoner elevator, is also the only way for Judges to get to their vehicles. The area to wait for the prisoner elevator is a highly traveled common area for various agencies and contractors in the building. The court's procurement office is located off this hallway, and court staff, delivery personnel, and contractors constitute daily traffic. The prisoner elevator does not connect directly to any of the courtrooms in the courthouse; instead, USMS staff must escort the prisoner through the public hallway, passing potential victims, prisoner family members, witnesses, jurors, and other prisoners in protective custody. While walking to courtrooms located at the other end of the building, USMS staff must pass various entrance doors to judicial chambers. Only two courtrooms have usable adjacent prisoner holding cells. As a result, in-custody defendants sitting in the courtroom galley across from potential victims and prisoner family. The courtroom doors leading to judicial chambers cannot be secured due to the age of the doors' hardware and design, which cannot be altered due to the building's historic status. All prisoner movement is done through public hallways, creating unnecessary hazards for USMS personnel, court employees and the public. The routes from courtrooms back to the USMS cellblock require the use of the public corridors providing the potential for inappropriate verbal contact with witnesses, jurors, family members, etc. The prisoner elevator is out of service at least once a week due to the age of the elevator. Prisoners must be escorted using the public elevators, walking through the main lobby. There is no secure circulation for judges. The elevator utilized by judges opens to the same public lobbies used to transport prisoners. Of the 29 courtrooms in the building, only 12 are accessible using a tunnel system which originates in the USMS cellblock. The tunnel access uses a combination of steep stairs and narrow, winding hallways with restricted head room in various areas. The hallways have numerous blind spots from camera coverage, and an elevator that is usually not operational. For this reason the tunnel system is not regularly used. If the tunnel access is used, prisoners must still be escorted through the rear secured judicial hallway that connects courtrooms and judicial chambers. Physical Security Issues The screening stations located at the Main Street entrance, the Spring Street entrance, and the Spring Street loading dock were never designed to accommodate current upgraded security and the large crowds who visit the courthouse on a daily basis. Despite the additional concerns and potential threats posed by high threat criminal court cases and increased violence in society, we are not able to redesign these security sites due to the historic nature of the building, and the limited space available. The ground floor windows around the courthouse are continuously a target for vandalism due to the increasing population of homeless people, as well as anti-government protests occurring daily at surrounding local and state government buildings. The windows' general make-up is inconsistent around the building, with some windows being bullet resistant, some with a protective mylar film, and some with just solar tinting film. The historic status of the building makes it difficult, if not impossible, to install bullet resistant glass in all first floor windows. Three ground floor windows have been broken by vandals in the past year alone. The courthouse lacks available handicap access on the Main Street entrance, the most heavily used access. The courthouse thus must have two entrances, Main Street and Spring Street, which requires staffing by six court security officers (CSOs) rather than just one entry where we can put less CSOs, concentrating staffing more effectively at a single controlled entry point. High Threat Trials The Spring Street Courthouse is an unsafe physical facility for the transport of even one prisoner. Here are examples of some of the high threat, multi-defendant trials held in downtown Los Angeles. They provide a vivid picture of the type of defendant, defendant families, witnesses, and victims involved in federal criminal proceedings held in the Spring Street and Roybal court facilities. 1. U.S. v. Orozco et al. The indictment names 53 defendants who are all members or associates of the 38th Street gang, and charges them with RICO, VICAR, drug trafficking/ possession, firearms trafficking/possession, and conspiracy to tamper with witnesses. 2. U.S. v. Santiago Rios, et al. The indictment charges 51 defendants who are all members and associates of the Azusa 13 criminal street gang or validated members and associates of the Mexican Mafia. The charges are RICO conspiracy, civil rights violations, weapons and narcotics offenses. 3. U.S. v. Darbinyan. The case involved 70 defendants who were members or associates of the Armenian Power Criminal Enterprise. Approximately 15 of the defendants would be categorized as very dangerous based on their criminal histories and/or criminal conduct during the investigation. 4. U.S. V. Ron Hirsch. This is the synagogue bomber case. The defendant is charged with attempting to blow up a synagogue with a large pipe bomb. This case received considerable national media coverage. 5. U.S. V. Oscar Juarez, et al. The indictment charges 5 defendants, two of whom are Clanton 14 gang members, with Hobbs Act Robbery, 924(c), and Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine charges. 6. U.S. V. Edwin Mauricio Palacios. A 1326 case involving an MS 13 gang member whose criminal convictions included a 1995 conviction for second degree robbery, 2008 conviction for terrorist threats, and two arrests for participating in a prison riot. 7. U.S. v. Raul Mercado Mercado. This is a 1326 case involving a Sangra gang member with a prior 1996 conviction for voluntary manslaughter and robbery. 8. Operation Silent Night. There were approximately 30 defendants arrested. Extra manpower was needed at all times for movement due to the high security risks. The defendants are charged with numerous homicides, including the murder of a Burbank Police Officer. They are also charged with narcotics trafficking, extortion, and racketeering. This is a capital offense case. 9. Twenty defendants in another case are all gang members of the East Side Wilmas, and were charged with murder, as well as conspiracy. They are also charged with distribution of illegal narcotics. Terrorism Case 10. U.S. v. Mihalik. The indictment returned August 30, 2011 charges one defendant with making a false statement in a terrorism matter. Multi-Defendant Courtroom in Roybal The availability of this courtroom assists the USMS and judges in the Spring Street courthouse who need to be conducting high threat, multi-defendant trials as it was built out specifically for such proceedings. Use of the courtroom requires the USMS to provide security transportation from Spring Street, where the judge has parking, to Roybal, two blocks away from chambers. On a regular basis, however, there are far too many criminal proceedings for the 21 district judges to hold their criminal calendars all in this one courtroom. In 2011, for example, 1,685 defendants had proceedings in downtown Los Angeles, or 48 criminal cases per judge. Virtually all judges hold criminal calendar on Mondays making use of the Roybal multi-defendant courtroom unavailable to more than one judge at a time. Roybal judges also use the courtroom.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I was out of town due to a death in my family and was not present for rollcall votes numbered 21-30 on Thursday, February 2, 2012. Had I been present, I would have voted in this manner: rollcall vote No. 21--Previous Question on H. Res. 534: ``no,'' rollcall vote No. 22--On Agreeing to H. Res. 534: ``no,'' rollcall vote No. 23--Motion to Instruct Conferees--Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Continuation Act: ``yes,'' rollcall vote No. 24--Peters (MI) Amendment: ``yes,'' rollcall vote No. 25--Connolly (VA) Amendment: ``yes,'' rollcall vote No. 26--Fudge (OH) Amendment: ``yes,'' rollcall vote No. 27--Jackson Lee (TX) Amendment: ``yes,'' rollcall vote No. 28--Cicilline (RI) Amendment: ``yes,'' rollcall vote No. 29--Motion to Recommit H.R. 3582: ``yes,'' rollcall vote No. 30--Final Passage of H.R. 3582: ``no.''

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I was out of town due to a death in my family and was not present for rollcall votes numbered 13-20 on Wednesday, February 1, 2012. Had I been present, I would have voted in this manner: Rollcall Vote #13--Jackson Lee (TX) Amendment (#2): ``yes;'' Rollcall Vote #14--Jackson Lee (TX) Amendment (#1): ``yes;'' Rollcall Vote #15--Deutch (FL) Amendment (#4): ``yes;'' Rollcall Vote #16--Deutch (FL) Amendment (#5): ``yes;'' Rollcall Vote #17--Democratic Motion to Recommit: ``yes;'' Rollcall Vote #18--Final Passage of H.R. 1173: ``no;'' Rollcall Vote #19--H.R. 3835: ``no;'' and Rollcall Vote #20--H.R. 3567: ``yes.''