Lucille Roybal-Allard

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Chrysalis, a nonprofit organization based in Los Angeles County that is dedicated to helping economically disadvantaged and homeless individuals find jobs and become self-sufficient through employment opportunities. The organization derives its name from the term used to describe the growth stage during which a caterpillar is transformed into a beautiful butterfly. Chrysalis, the organization, seeks to lead its clients on a similar path--transforming lives by helping people who have fallen on hard times work their way out of poverty and obtain economic stability. When Chrysalis was founded by 22-year-old John Dillon 25 years ago, the organization was a food and shelter agency located on Skid Row in Downtown Los Angeles. John soon realized that he wanted to change the agency's focus. He then transformed the organization into what it is today: an agency dedicated to helping people find jobs and become self- sufficient through employment opportunities. To date, Chrysalis has assisted more than 30,000 people on the path toward self-sufficiency at three centers located throughout areas in Los Angeles County where poverty is most pervasive: Downtown Los Angeles on Skid Row, Santa Monica, and Pacoima in the San Fernando Valley. Through its employment programs and services, Chrysalis helps more than 2,500 people each year. Chrysalis clients not only find employment, but they change their lives through their new jobs, reuniting with their families, decreasing their reliance on government support, renting their own apartments, and regaining self-esteem. To support their work, Chrysalis will hold its 8th Annual Chrysalis Butterfly Ball on June 6 at the Mandeville Canyon home of Susan Harris and Hayward Kaiser. This incredible evening is supported by friends of Chrysalis, including executives and artists in film, television, and music who will come together to help raise funds to keep Chrysalis' doors open to people in need throughout the year. In recognition of the important role of Chrysalis' supporters, this year's celebration will honor several individuals critical to the organization's success, including Bruce Cohen and Dan Jinks, Academy Award Winning producers most prominently known for their work on the movies MILK and AMERICAN BEAUTY, as well as Doug Ellin, the creator and executive producer of the HBO television series, ``Entourage.'' In addition, Chrysalis client Terry Moore will also be honored as this year's recipient of the John Dillon Butterfly Award. With the help of Chrysalis' services, Terry Moore overcame multiple barriers to find and keep a job, build a successful career, and regain dignity and self- esteem. Madam Speaker, on the occasion of Chrysalis' 25th anniversary, I join today with my congressional colleagues in recognizing all of the many dedicated people who make this fine organization the beacon of hope that it is today. I extend my thanks to this year's honorees, incredible donors and supporters, invaluable volunteer force, the Chrysalis staff, and, most of all, the agency's clients. Chrysalis provides the resources that enable those seeking a brighter future to truly ``transform'' themselves and their lives, and I wish everyone involved with this fine organization many more years of continued success.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise to introduce the GUIDE Act of 2009 on behalf of millions of vulnerable individuals known as dual eligibles, who are faced with critical and essential decisions on which drug plan and pharmacy will provide the medications they need to survive. Seven million Americans are duly enrolled in Medicaid due to low income levels and Medicare because of their age or disability. Almost 40 percent are cognitively impaired. These are people with mental retardation, mental illness, autism and dementia. Over 75 percent have one or more functional limitations such as problems eating, bathing, dressing, and managing money. Prior to the passage of the Medicare Modernization Act, which established the Medicare part D prescription drug program, dual eligibles received their medications by simply taking their prescriptions and their Medicaid card to a pharmacy of their choice and paying a nominal fee. With the passage of part D, this simple process changed and dual eligibles were required to pick a plan from the new program or be automatically and randomly enrolled in one. Unfortunately, due to the life challenges faced by these cognitively impaired individuals, their attempt to navigate the array of complex prescription drug plans was overwhelming with regrettable consequences. Many mistakenly chose or were enrolled in plans that presented obstacles including: prohibited copays, limited formularies, and medication exclusions. Their lack of access to prescribed medications has been linked to serious adverse events, including increased emergency room visits and hospitalizations. To eliminate these access problems, I, together with the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sessions), have introduced the Guidance, Understanding and Information for Dual Eligibles Act, or the GUIDE Act. The GUIDE Act addresses the life-threatening issue by establishing a pilot program where experienced social workers and case managers will provide dual eligibles with one-on-one counseling for Medicare part D in their community mental health centers and community nonprofit centers. This program will benefit this group of vulnerable Americans by ensuring tangible access to the medications they so badly need to live healthy and productive lives. In addition, this program will benefit all Americans by reducing the social and economic costs associated with lack of access to essential medications. Mr. Speaker, the GUIDE Act is an important bill that will provide one of the most vulnerable groups in our society with the information, guidance, and understanding they need to successfully choose the Medicare part D prescription drug plan that meets their health care needs for survival and a healthier and better quality of life. On behalf of the millions of cognitively disabled and mentally ill Americans who live in all of our districts, I strongly urge my colleagues to cosponsor and support the GUIDE Act.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I was proud to cast my vote along with 249 other members of the House of Representatives in favor of the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act. This legislation will protect Americans by expanding the definition of hate crimes and providing law enforcement officers with the tools they need to prosecute these heinous crimes. The Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act is not a cure- all and it will not stop all hate violence, but it will send the message that senseless violence is unacceptable and perpetrators will be punished. Since law enforcement sometimes lacks the personnel, resources or determination needed to properly investigate and prosecute hate crimes, this measure will give the appropriate agencies the tools they need to combat hate violence in our communities. Under current law, the Federal Government can only investigate hate crimes motivated by the victim's race, color, religion or national origin. The Hate Crimes Prevention Act extends Federal jurisdiction to hate crimes motivated by the victim's actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or disability. Because such crimes are directed at an entire group of people and not just one individual, the bill provides assistance to state and local law enforcement to streamline the investigation and prosecution of hate crimes. It is my hope that the Senate will quickly take up and pass this important measure. Hate motivated crimes undermine our communities and final passage of this bill has been delayed for far too long. I look forward to the day when legislation like this will no longer be needed, but until that day comes I applaud passage of the Hate Crimes Prevention Act.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of H.R. 627, the Credit Cardholders' Bill of Rights. I am very pleased that leadership has brought this important consumer protection legislation to the floor today. As we all know, having a credit card account is essential to building the credit history needed to buy a home or obtain a loan. Given the necessity of having good credit, I am very concerned that in recent years, credit card companies have established policies which result in limiting the control that individuals have over their financial decisions. This inappropriate level of control has serious implications for people's lives and their financial security. One common practice is that a credit card company will raise interest rates without warning. When a credit card holder tries to opt out, they realize they are locked into a plan that differs vastly from what they originally signed up for. These types of abuses against consumers have even more serious implications in these trying economic times, in that families may not be able to meet credit obligations that were not expected or planned. The Credit Cardholders' Bill of Rights ensures that credit cardholders are protected from unfair and confusing credit card gimmicks that result in their being required to pay more than what they should owe to the credit card companies. The bill protects cardholders against arbitrary interest rate increases, empowers them to set limits on their credit and requires card companies to fairly credit and allocate payments. It also prohibits charging fees just to pay a bill by phone or issuing credits cards to minors. These new, common-sense protections will empower consumers and prevent the credit card industry from continuing to reap excessive profits from often unsuspecting customers. I ask my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this critical consumer protection measure, and I urge the Senate to act on this measure so that it can be quickly signed into law.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Sister Julia Mary Farley, an extraordinary and dedicated woman who has been providing care and shelter for homeless women and children in the 34th District in Los Angeles for the last quarter of a century. On May 15, 2009, friends and supporters of the Good Shepherd Center for Homeless Women & Children will celebrate the center's 25th anniversary and honor Sister Julia Mary for her years of service to the homeless. A native of Chicago, Sister Julia Mary has been a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet since 1951. She has a Master's Degree in Health Administration from the University of California, Los Angeles, and an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Loyola Marymount University. As a hospital administrator, Sister Julia Mary worked in hospitals in Lewiston, Idaho, and Pasco, Washington, St. Mary's Hospital in Tucson, Arizona, and Daniel Freeman Hospitals in Inglewood and Marina del Rey, California. She also taught at Mount St. Mary's College and several elementary schools in Los Angeles. In 1983, Sister Julia Mary joined the staff of Angels Flight, a crisis intervention center for runaway teenagers operated by Catholic Charities of Los Angeles, Inc. The following year, Cardinal Timothy Manning noticed that the number of homeless women on the street around St. Vibiana's Cathedral in downtown Los Angeles was increasing dramatically. To address this disturbing trend, he initiated the establishment of a program to provide emergency services to homeless women. He named Sister Julia Mary as the new program's director. Since 1984, the Good Shepherd Center has empowered women to move from homelessness to self-sufficiency through its housing, employment, and support services. Under Sister Julia Mary's leadership, the center has grown from an emergency shelter and drop-in center to five residential facilities offering a broad spectrum of employment and support services a quarter of a century later. Following the opening of the emergency shelter and drop-in center on May 6, 1984, Good Shepherd Center expanded its services over the next eight years. The center added a Mobile Outreach Program to take food, clothing, offers of shelter and words of hope to women on the street. In 1988, the center's Belmont Avenue shelter expanded to provide transitional housing for 30 single homeless women, and four years later, the center established a transitional residence serving nine mothers and 20 children in an old Craftsman house. In 1998, fulfilling Sister Julia Mary's dream, the center opened the first phase of the ``Women's Village.'' The Hawkes Transitional Residence provides transitional and affordable housing for homeless women and their children as well as facilities to train the women for jobs. Two years later, in 2000, the second phase of the ``Women's Village'' was completed with the Angel Guardian Home. It provides 12 apartments that offer long-term housing in a supportive community setting for homeless mothers with disabilities and their children. In June 2008, the final piece of the Women's Village was completed, with the opening of the Sister Julia Mary Farley Women's Village. This facility provides transitional housing in one-bedroom apartments for 21 employed homeless women. It also includes an employment and client services center that serves all Good Shepherd Center residents, and The Village Kitchen--a bakery and cafe in which residents receive job training and experience in the culinary arts. With the completion of the Women's Village, Sister Julia Mary and Good Shepherd Center now serve more than 1,100 homeless women and children annually, and house 150 women and children each night. I have had the privilege of visiting with Sister Julia Mary and the residents of Good Shepherd Center, and I must say the determination of the women to make better lives for themselves and their children is truly inspiring. Madam Speaker, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Sister Julia Mary Farley's founding of Good Shepherd Center for Homeless Women and Children, I ask my colleagues to please join me in commending Sister Julia Mary for her vision and tireless efforts to provide daily inspiration to the center's residents, friends, generous donors, skilled staff, and caring volunteers, and in thanking her for a lifetime of dedicated service to homeless women and their children.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 230, a bill recognizing the significance of Cinco de Mayo. This day holds special meaning for me as it does for millions of other Mexican Americans and it provides a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the innumerable contributions that generations of Mexican Americans have made to our national life. On Cinco de Mayo, we celebrate the valor of a small contingent of Mexican patriots who prevailed against a much larger French army in the Battle of Puebla. Just as in our own fight for independence, they triumphed despite overwhelming odds. Indeed, like Lexington and Concord, Puebla marks a significant victory in the struggle for liberty in the New World. Today Cinco de Mayo has evolved into a day to celebrate our Mexican American culture and the immeasurable ways in which Mexican Americans have shaped this country. Through music, literature and cuisine, we have enriched the American melting pot. Through an entrepreneurial spirit, Mexican American small businesses are playing a critical role in our economic recovery. Our men and women on the battlefield are helping to secure lasting peace in Iraq and Afghanistan. As CEOs, religious leaders, cabinet secretaries and Members of Congress, we are providing leadership in the face of unprecedented challenges both at home and abroad. Finally, Mexico is among our most important allies and this day offers us the chance to reaffirm that friendship. As our neighbors to the south fight drug cartels and the H1N1 flu virus, we should pause to consider what more we can do to aid the Mexican people. Just as they did on Cinco de Mayo 1862, they are waging a courageous battle against forces that seek to undermine their democratic society and just as on that famous date, I am confident that Mexico will emerge a stronger and more prosperous nation.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Los Angeles Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc. (LA NHS), a non- profit lender and community developer dedicated to building stronger neighborhoods throughout Los Angeles County, on the occasion of its 25th Anniversary. Incorporated in 1984, LA NHS has catapulted itself from a small housing agency to the largest, non-profit affordable homeownership provider in Southern California. LA NHS focuses on specific target neighborhoods in Los Angeles County. In addition to the Boyle Heights/ East Los Angeles areas in the 34th Congressional District, the organization targets Central Los Angeles, Crenshaw, Pacoima, San Pedro- Wilmington and Carson. Over the last 25 years, LA NHS has reinvested more than $2 billion into neighborhoods throughout the county and region. The organization has developed and rehabilitated more than 11,000 housing and commercial units, put 1.9 million families on the road to homeownership, created 175 block clubs, and employed 200 neighborhood youth. As a lender to underserved communities, LA NHS has maintained a loan portfolio with a 3 percent or less delinquency ratio and no foreclosures. Since 2007, LA NHS, along with its partners through the Los Angeles County NeighborWorks Center for Foreclosure Solutions, has been on the frontline of the mortgage crisis. The LA NHS 25th Anniversary Gala Dinner Concert & Silent Auction, scheduled for April 30, 2009, will commemorate the partners that have worked tirelessly to keep families in their homes in the midst of this crisis. As a Community Development Financial Institution during the last fiscal year, Los Angeles Neighborhood Housing Services working with its affiliates, NHS Neighborhood Redevelopment Corporation and NHS Neighborhood Lending Services, reinvested nearly $97 million into Los Angeles neighborhoods, providing nearly $70 million in loans to local residents to improve housing conditions, create homeownership opportunities, and combat predatory lending. In addition, during that time, LA NHS reinvested more than $9.8 million through real estate services and $1.5 million through neighborhood revitalization projects. Through aggressive foreclosure prevention efforts, LA NHS assisted more than 59,000 families over the last fiscal year to preserve their homes and prevent foreclosure. This ongoing multi-faceted initiative includes post-purchase education fairs, clinics and workshops, affordable lending, loan modifications, comprehensive loss mitigation initiatives, and other LA NHS programs. I had the privilege of seeing firsthand the extraordinarily helpful services provided by LA NHS to residents of the 34th Congressional District. Last July, more than 500 homeowners attended a LA NHS organized-foreclosure prevention fair in the City of Downey. Credit counselors and lenders were on hand at the free event to offer on-site assistance, one-on-one counseling, and information on viable options to avoid foreclosure. Housing, tax and financial professionals also provided presentations to help homeowners understand the foreclosure process, guard against fraud and scams, address tax issues and rebuild their credit. Representatives from the LA County NeighborWorks Center for Foreclosure Solutions, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and area banks also participated in the workshop. LA NHS credits the tremendous efforts of its community volunteers during the last fiscal year for the success of its outreach efforts, including the Downey foreclosure prevention fair. More than 800 volunteers spent more than 6,400 hours participating in the LA NHS sponsored foreclosure prevention fairs, clinics, workshops, and Neighborhood Pride Day events. The two Pride Day events involved more than 400 volunteers who gave their time and labor to refurbish homes and plant flowers in underserved neighborhoods. In total during the last fiscal year, these community outreach events assisted more than 10,000 families to preserve their homes and prevent foreclosure. Madam Speaker, on the occasion of Los Angeles Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc. 25th Anniversary, I join today with fellow leaders from throughout the state in recognizing President and Chief Executive Officer Lori Gay, Board Chairman Sal Mendoza, the Board of Directors, and the organization's 40 employees for their tireless work to help families throughout Los Angeles County. I extend my thanks on behalf of the residents of the 34th Congressional District for their passion and determination to revitalize communities, build stronger neighborhoods and help families of modest means actualize their dream of homeownership, and I wish them many years of continued success.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 187, due to delayed elevators. I was unable to get to the Chamber in time to note. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to join my colleague Representative Howard Berman in introducing the American Dream Act, a bill that would enable thousands of ambitious young people to attend college and fulfill their God-given potential. The Act is the product of Congressman Berman's tireless efforts on behalf of undocumented students. Recognizing the senselessness of wasting their promise, we worked together to craft this crucial legislation, which stands as a testament to his commitment to fighting for the most vulnerable Americans. I commend him for his leadership on this important issue and thank him for his friendship. The Act's premise is simple and just: Undocumented students deserve the same opportunities as the 2.8 million others who graduate from this country's high schools every year. We cannot afford to waste our investments in these talented, motivated young people who are products of our schools and our communities. Indeed, in this era of globalization, America will struggle to maintain its competitive advantage if we continue to deprive some of our most promising students the chance to earn a college education. The American Dream Act offers a prudent, equitable solution to the challenges that undocumented students face in attempting to gain admission to our colleges and universities. First, it provides a path to legalization and citizenship to students who entered the U.S. before the age of 16, have lived here for 5 years, and have completed two years of higher education or military service. Second, because they often face severe economic hardships, the bill also eliminates a federal provision that discourages states from allowing undocumented students to pay in-state tuition. The fight to fix a policy that squanders the intellectual gifts of so many is part of a much wider struggle. Our immigration system is broken. It divides families, enables the persecution of workers and denies immigrants basic legal protections. The American Dream Act is a critical component of comprehensive immigration reform. As we work with President Obama's administration over the coming months to overhaul our immigration system, we should ensure that The American Dream Act is a critical component of our plans. The millions of high school students who comprise the Class of 2009 are mere months away from graduation. Among them are thousands of kids who have the potential to become doctors, lawyers and even members of Congress but face insurmountable legal obstacles. We have a moral obligation to remove these impediments so that all of our young people can accomplish their goals. Moreover, this nation cannot afford to waste the investment we have already made in these young people and inhibit their potential by denying them the opportunity to earn a college degree. Please join me in supporting the American Dream Act.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained at the White House today and was not present for votes on the Motion on Ordering the Previous Question on the Rule for H.R. 1388 (rollcall 131). Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I was ill today and was not present for votes on the Mack amendment to H.R. 1262 (rollcall 122), final passage of H.R. 1262 (rollcall 123), and passage of H.R. 224 (rollcall 124). Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on the Mack amendment, and ``yea'' on final passage of H.R. 1262 and H.R. 224.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of H.R. 1106, the Helping Families Save Their Homes Act of 2009. Mr. Chair, my congressional district, like districts all across the nation, has been hit hard by the foreclosure crisis. In 2007 Los Angeles County had a foreclosure rate of 12%. In 2008 this number had jumped to 35%. Worse yet, while many parts of the country have already received the full brunt of the foreclosure crisis, experts agree that the full force of the crisis has yet to reach Los Angeles. I have been concerned that previous congressional efforts to stabilize the economy and help my Los Angeles constituents have failed to address the root of the problem--defaulting mortgages. I am pleased that the Helping Families Save Their Homes Act will make substantive reforms to end the rising tide of foreclosures and keep families in their homes. Specifically, the measure will allow a judge to modify primary mortgages in the case of bankruptcy so that families can stay in their homes. Currently, when a family files for bankruptcy they can modify loans on second homes, and other property but not on their primary residence. It Is widely recognized that judicial modification of mortgages on primary residences is one of the most significant things that we can do to keep families in their homes. By encouraging homeowners to work out their loans before filing for bankruptcy, the measure ensures that bankruptcy still remains a measure of last resort. The bill will also adapt federal loan modification programs to make it easier for mortgage servicers to participate. In addition, the bill begins to address a growing concern--the growing number of organizations that aim to profit off of families who are in crisis and at risk of losing their home. This problem is highly visible in my congressional district, and is a cause of great concern. The measure increases oversight over the FHA home mortgage insurance program to better ensure that predatory lenders are barred from participating. Mr. Chair, this legislation is necessary to help our nation's path of recovery by addressing the cause of the economic crisis. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this critical measure that will keep our constituents in their homes.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. We are all painfully aware that our nation is in a deep economic recession. The grim numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics begin to tell the story. For months the unemployment rate has been rising and in January nearly 600,000 jobs were lost. This is the highest number of jobs lost in a one-month period since 1974. It is estimated that if joblessness continues at the same rate, unemployment rates will be in the double digits by summer and the highest unemployment level since the Great Depression. Economists on both sides of the aisle agree that we need swift and robust action to counter this troubling downturn. By making needed investments in areas such as infrastructure, healthcare, and education H.R. 1 will address rising joblessness by creating jobs in areas where investment will make a long-term impact. In my home state of California it is expected that the measure will create or save close to 400,000 jobs. As a healthcare advocate I am particularly pleased that the bill also provides $1 billion to restore state and local health department jobs that will be lost in the next year due to budget cuts. Not only will this funding keep thousands of people employed, it will also ensure that the public continues to receive critical prevention and wellness programs that these employees provide. Moreover, it is essential that we ensure the stability of our public health infrastructure which is critical to national and local responses to natural or man-made catastrophes. I am also gratified that the bill includes funding to address critical health care workforce shortages. At a time when millions of Americans are unemployed, there are well over 140,000 unfilled registered nursing jobs in our hospitals, nursing homes and community health centers. To address this need the bill includes $500 million for nurse training. The bill also allows governors to spend up to $10 billion for school modernization. The funding provided for school renovation and repair is essential to address the nation's crumbling education infrastructure. Our nation's students and teachers deserve to learn and work in buildings that are not crumbling around them. There is no dispute that economic conditions will get worse before they get better. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is an important step forward in reversing the course of the current recession. It will provide a desperately needed boost to our ailing economy, and will provide American families with a needed social safety net as they weather the worst of this economic crisis. I urge my colleagues to vote yes to stabilize our economy and assist Americans impacted by this crisis.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise to introduce the Immigration Oversight and Fairness Act, which will help address the shameful state of immigration detention in our country. It is unconscionable that our government holds families in conditions reserved for hardened criminals, forces children caught on their own to spend harrowing nights in border jails and incarcerates in bare cells asylum seekers who came to these shores in search of freedom. These inexcusable abuses should never have happened, and Americans never should have tolerated them. By strengthening existing regulations and giving them the force of law, the Immigration Oversight and Fairness Act will help ensure that the Department of Homeland Security does not violate its own detention standards. My bill ensures that all detainees can communicate with their lawyers and obtain needed medical care. It will also help to expand legal orientation programs so that detainees understand their rights and the likelihood of winning their cases. The Immigration Oversight and Fairness Act also protects vulnerable children who are arrested on their own and held in DHS custody at border stations. A recent report by the Women's Refugee Commission found that the Border Patrol continues to hold unaccompanied immigrant children in inappropriate conditions. This bill increases training for the Border Patrol officers and facilitates speedy transfers of children to safer, better-equipped facilities. In addition, the bill expands the use of alternatives to detention. It costs the American taxpayer nearly $2 billion a year to house detainees, yet the vast majority of detained immigrants pose no threat to their communities or our country. This legislation will make it possible for vulnerable populations--including asylum seekers, torture victims, families, pregnant women, and the elderly--to be released using secure, proven methods of supervision that come at a fraction of the cost of incarceration. Addressing the problems that plague our detention facilities will require a new commitment to openness and transparency. This bill, therefore, has oversight and accountability provisions which will shine a much-needed light on a system that, for too long, has operated in the shadows. Because it introduces sensible reforms to correct the many failings of immigration detention in this country, the Immigration Oversight and Fairness Act has garnered broad-based support. More than 100 faith, human rights, civil liberties, immigrant and community organizations have signed a letter endorsing my bill. I would like to specifically thank the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, the American Immigration Lawyers Association, and the National Immigrant Justice Center for the important role they played in formulating this legislation and for the tireless work they do every day on behalf of immigrant detainees. Mr. Speaker, the detention system in which thousands of detainees languish daily--frequently denied access to loved ones, legal counsel, and medical care--is incompatible with our laws and inconsistent with our American values. The Immigration Oversight and Fairness Act will ensure that our government honors its most sacred obligations: to respect our laws and to protect the children entrusted to its care. I look forward to working with the Obama administration to fix America's broken immigration system, and I ask my colleagues to support the Immigration Oversight and Fairness Act.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Madam Speaker, in 2006, Congress passed the STOP Act to reduce the tragedy of underage drinking in our country. Today, I rise to introduce the Support 21 Act of 2009, which builds upon that effort. The 2006 STOP Act provided the first Federal community grants to address under age drinking as a public health crisis. While we are encouraged by reports of localized positive results, alcohol remains a dangerous primary drug of choice among our youth. Just listen to these statistics: In 2007, about 10.7 million teens, aged 12 to 20, reported drinking alcohol in the past month. Approximately 7.2 million were binge drinkers, and 2.3 million were heavy drinkers. According to the latest Monitoring the Future Survey, slightly over 43 percent of twelfth graders said they had used alcohol in the past 30 days. Clearly, too many children and parents are ignoring the facts or do not fully understand the dangers that under age drinking poses. Equally alarming is a recent movement by a group of college presidents to lower the minimum drinking age to 18. These college presidents are choosing to ignore research finding that alcohol has a potentially damaging impact on adolescent brain development. Madam Speaker, the teenage years represent a critical window of opportunity for understanding, preventing and treating alcoholism. We know that people who begin drinking before the age of 15 are four times more likely to develop alcohol dependence as an adult than those who wait until the age of 21. We know that each additional year of delayed drinking onset reduces the probability of alcohol dependence by 14 percent and that, if drinking is delayed until age 21, a child's risk of serious alcohol-related problems is decreased by 70 percent. For all of these reasons, I am introducing the Support 21 Act, along with my lead cosponsor, Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack. Support 21 authorizes a new, highly visible media campaign to educate the public about under age drinking laws and to build support for their enforcement. Our bill directs the Institute of Medicine to report to Congress about the influence of drinking alcohol on the development of the adolescent brain. The legislation also authorizes grants to pediatric medical organizations in educating providers on best practices and provides supplemental grants to community coalitions to work with pediatric health care providers and parents to reduce underage drinking. Finally, the bill provides funds for CDC to establish a new focus on underage drinking, surveillance, and prevention. Madam Speaker, we can no longer afford to address alcohol dependence exclusively as a disease of middle age. Delaying the time when our children begin drinking until age 21 is a critical public health challenge that can offer them a safer and more productive adolescence, as well as a brighter future. I urge my colleagues to cosponsor the Support 21 Act of 2009.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco for their 100 years of dedicated service to young people across the country, and particularly in our communities of Boyle Heights, Bellflower and Bell Gardens in the 34th Congressional District of California. The Salesian Sisters, also known as the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, were founded by one of the great Italian educators of the 19th century, Saint John Bosco, with the collaboration of Saint Mary Domenica Mazzarello. During that time, Northern Italy was becoming increasingly industrialized and both of these religious leaders recognized the great need to establish schools for the disadvantaged, as well as the many abandoned youth in working class communities. The history of the Salesian Sisters in this country begins in July of 1908 when four Sisters made the voyage from Northern Italy to the United States, setting out to replicate the good work they had accomplished in Italy. Like millions of others who emigrated to our shores at that time, the Sisters arrived at Ellis Island in the port of New York. Knowing no English and with limited resources, these pioneering women made a living taking in orders of sewing and embroidery while ministering to the Italian immigrants at St. Michael's parish in Paterson, New Jersey. Gradually, the Sisters began to broaden their work in this country by opening an orphanage and a small school. As more and more young women joined the Sisterhood, the reach of their mission expanded to New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Florida. In time, the Sisters opened centers in other parts of the country, including Louisiana, Texas, Colorado, Arizona, and California. In 1921, the first Salesian Sisters arrived in California where they took over the care of an orphanage and, later, the care of the boys in the junior seminary operated by the Salesian Fathers and Brothers in the Central Coast area of California. They eventually established several schools throughout the state, and in 1950, the Sisters opened St. Margaret Mary School in Lomita in Southern California. In the 34th Congressional District, the first educational center established by the Sisters was St. Dominic Savio School in Bellflower, opened in 1956. By 1960, the nearby aerospace plant employed thousands of workers--many of them school parents--and the school population was at a maximum. When the plant closed, many families relocated. The local population was replaced by different ethnic groups, making the area today one of the most diverse in the United States. The school adapted well to the demographic changes, and continues to thrive today serving the spiritual and educational needs of the community. Another school in the 34th District administered by the Salesian Sisters is St. Mary's Catholic School in Boyle Heights. St. Mary's was established in 1907 by the Holy Name Sisters. During that time, Boyle Heights became highly industrialized and many people moved in from various countries seeking new opportunities. After World War II, much of the non-Latino population moved to outlying areas, and the community became increasingly populated by Mexican immigrants. By 1990, school enrollment at St. Mary's dropped significantly and the Holy Name Sisters could no longer provide personnel for the school. The Salesian Sisters were then asked to take over the school, and they have been there to this day. The Salesian Sisters also operated St. Gertrude's School in Bell Gardens in the 34th District for 30 years. Madam Speaker, on a personal note, I attended St. Mary's Catholic School prior to the coming of the Salesian Sisters, and I am very pleased the school continues to serve local youth today under the Sisters' devoted guidance. I might also add that my father, the late Congressman Edward R. Roybal, was a committed supporter of Salesian schools. He was instrumental in helping establish the Bishop Mora Salesian High School for young men in Boyle Heights, which many area boys attend today following their 8th grade graduation from St. Mary's. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to please join me in honoring the noble mission of the Salesian Sisters in the United States in educating our youth over the past 100 years, and I extend to all of them my fondest wishes for many more years of dedicated service.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 352, the DTV Delay Act, which postpones the date of the analog-to-digital television transition from February 17, 2009, to June 12, 2009. Over the last several months I have received call after call and letter after letter from my constituents who rely on their analog televisions for news, emergency information and entertainment. They are very concerned that they have been unable to obtain the converter box they need for the upcoming digital transition. My constituents tell me that they applied for coupons well in advance of the deadline, only to be told that coupons were no longer available or that the coupons they received had already expired. My constituents who live in group homes and single room occupancy buildings have also voiced concern that they have been denied coupons because they live in housing that does not fit the program's narrow definition of a ``household.'' My constituents are not the only ones affected by arbitrary expiration dates, coupon shortages or ineligibility. According to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, NTIA, as of January 28, 2009, more than 14 million coupons have expired. The result is that millions of Americans will lose their television signal because they will be unable to purchase the equipment necessary for the transition. The NTIA also reported in early January that the $1.34 billion that Congress appropriated for the coupons had run out. To date more than 3 million people are on the waiting list. This number includes nearly 7,000 of my constituents, who need these coupons before the transition takes effect and they lose their main source of communication. It is clear that this country is not prepared for the February 17 transition. I am pleased that the DTV Delay Act postpones the digital transition for 115 days and will permit consumers holding expired coupons to reapply for replacement coupons. This bill is badly needed to help ensure that millions of Americans do not lose a critical communications safety net when our country transitions from analog to digital television. I urge the Energy and Commerce Committee and the NTIA to use this additional time to address the needs of Americans who are currently considered ineligible for the converter box program, such as those that live in single room occupancy buildings and other group homes across the nation. These are people who need the coupons most because they will not be able to afford converters without the help of this program. They are entitled to the same access to the digital converter program as all other Americans. Let's ensure that no Americans find themselves in the dark when the transition occurs.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, last week I re-introduced the Security and Financial Empowerment Act, better known as the SAFE Act, to help stop a cycle of violence that exists in many American families today. Domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking are serious, widespread social problems which impact all Americans regardless of race, ethnicity or social status. The reality of this violence is highlighted by the fact that 1 in 4 American women report being physically or sexually abused at some point in their life. These serious crimes, primarily against women, have both physical and psychological consequences. Yet credible research has found that many women stay in abusive relationships because they cannot support themselves. As a result, many victims are faced with the terrifying decision of living with the abuse or leaving without financial security. For victims of domestic violence, this choice is even more daunting during tough economic times like now, for research tells us that as the economy worsens the incidence of violence increases. The SAFE Act will provide the safety net many need to create a safe and stable environment for themselves and their children by eliminating obstacles that may prevent them from gaining meaningful employment or seeking help. My bill makes it possible to take limited leave from work for safety planning and necessary court appearances without the threat of losing a job. The SAFE Act also provides job protection when reasonable workplace safety modifications are requested. To protect victims of violence who seek help against their abuser, the SAFE Act prohibits employers or insurance providers from basing insurance coverage or hiring decisions on an individual's history of abuse. The SAFE Act also makes a survivor of domestic and dating violence, sexual assault and stalking, eligible for unemployment insurance if it is necessary to leave a job to escape the abuse. Madam Speaker, the SAFE Act is needed to provide these victims with equal protection throughout our country. While several States have laws similar to the SAFE Act, the reality is that today a person's financial ability to leave an abusive environment depends primarily on where they live. I thank the many dedicated advocates who daily work to empower women against the horrific crimes of dating and domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking for their invaluable input, expertise and support of the SAFE Act. I encourage my colleagues to join me and Representative Ted Poe in cosponsoring and helping to pass the SAFE Act which, for many of these victims, can make the difference between life and death.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Rimban George T. Matsubayashi. After almost 50 years of serving as a minister for the Buddhist Churches of America, including more than nine years as head priest of the Los Angeles Honpa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple in Downtown Los Angeles in the 34th District, Reverend Matsubayashi will retire on January 31, 2009. Rev. Matsubayashi, who is also fondly known as Rev. George or Matsubayashi-sensei, graduated Summa Cum Laude from Ryukoku University in Kyoto, Japan in 1960. Later that year, he began his ministerial service in the Jodo Shinshu tradition of Buddhism in the United States at the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii at the Honolulu Betsuin Buddhist Temple. While in Hawaii, Rev. George studied at the English Language Institute at the University of Hawaii. In 1963, he enrolled in the doctoral studies program at the University of Wisconsin. In 1964, he transferred to the PhD program in the Department of Oriental Languages at the University of California, Los Angeles. In 1965, Matsubayashi-sensei was appointed to the Venice Hongwanji Buddhist Temple in Los Angeles. When the temple became independent in 1976, Rev. George served as its first resident minister. He remained there until 1999. During his 34 years at Venice Hongwanji, Rev. George was active in a wide variety of community organizations. He served on the board of United Way's Western Region. He was a member of the Clergy Council for the Pacific Division of the Los Angeles Police Department. He also gave his time as a Reserve Chaplain for LAPD's Central and Pacific divisions. In 1999, Rev. George was appointed as the Rimban, or head priest, of the Los Angeles Honpa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, which is also referred to as ``Nishi'' to the local Japanese American community. During his tenure, Rev. George oversaw the 100th Anniversary of the temple in 2005. The event featured the addition of the new Wisteria Chapel and the Muryo Koju-do (nokotsudo-columbarium) built to commemorate the temple's pioneering members and to continue the proud legacy of the Issei--first generation Japanese Americans--for future generations. Since joining the Los Angeles Honpa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, Rev. George's community involvement extended well beyond the church's walls. He serves on the Little Tokyo Coordinating Council, the Los Angeles Buddhist Federation and as a volunteer chaplain at several hospitals on the west side of Los Angeles. In addition to his spiritual and community work, Rev. George is also a devoted husband, father and grandfather. Rev. George and his wife, Kiyoko ``Kay'' Matsubayashi, have four children: Craig and his wife, Raquel; Dean and his wife, Kim; Tina and her husband, Howard; and Erik and his wife, Cindy. They are also the proud grandparents of Jared, Lindsay, Chase and Emma. Madam Speaker, on the occasion of Rev. George's retirement, I ask my congressional colleagues to please join his dutiful congregation, his family and me in thanking him for his many years of service to the Buddhist Churches of America and our community. While we wish him well in this new phase of his life, Rev. George will always be Sensei, or teacher, in the hearts and minds of the generations of families whom he has touched during his many years of ministerial service.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2, the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009. This bill represents a strong bipartisan first step to reform our broken health care system by guaranteeing that millions of uninsured children will have the health care that they need. Its passage will bring a symbolic end to the broken promises of the Bush Administration, which twice chose to deny coverage to 4 million children in desperate need of health care. Over the past decade the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) has helped reduce the number of uninsured children by one-third and has made significant progress in improving the health of low-income children. H.R. 2 will reauthorize this critical program until 2013, ensuring that 7 million children currently covered by SCHIP continue to receive health coverage. Equally as important, this bill will extend health coverage to an additional 4 million low-income children who are currently uninsured. The Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 strengthens SCHIP by including incentives for states to develop effective outreach and enroll more eligible children. In addition, the bill improves access to both mental health services and dental health care, and offers states the option to cover targeted low-income pregnant women as a way to provide the essential prenatal care that can help reduce birth defects. I am particularly grateful that our leadership has chosen to include the provisions of the Immigrant Children's Health Improvement Act in this SCHIP reauthorization. This provision will restore the states' option to provide coverage to legal immigrant children who meet all other eligibility criteria, thereby seizing the opportunity to address health disparities in communities of color that historically have had very poor access to health care. Madam Speaker, I believe this bill takes a giant step forward in honoring our moral imperative to ensure that age, race and income do not determine the health status of our children. I am proud to vote for its passage today, to protect our commitment to our children, and to offer them the promise of a healthier tomorrow.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Madam Speaker, I rise to support H. Res. 34 recognizing the State of Israel's right to exist in the community of nations and reaffirming America's strong support for Israel. Paramount among any sovereign state's rights is the right to defend itself. I voted to affirm that right for our good friend, the State of Israel against attacks from Hamas. If the Hamas-led government truly wishes to be a member of the global community, it must acknowledge and abide by all the world's rules including severing all links to terrorism and acknowledging the right of Israel's peaceful existence. Madam Speaker, the Middle East has been plagued by chronic fighting long enough. I join my colleagues in supporting Israel and in calling on all parties to cease hostilities and focus their efforts on the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Madam Speaker, I rise to introduce the Achievement Through Technology and Innovation Act of 2009. The 111th Congress begins in an era of continued shrinking school budgets, overcrowded schools, and overextended teachers. On an individual and on a national level, these factors have dire consequences. The individual consequence is that millions of American children may never realize their full potential or the promise of the American dream. The national consequence is that our country loses the benefits of our children's talents and their potential to become our Nation's next generation of leaders in education, science, law, research, economics, engineering and all the key disciplines that have helped to make our Nation the greatest in the world. While there is no easy or single answer to the complex problems of education in our country, there are steps we can take now to put us on the path toward a quality education for all our children. One such step is to make technology literacy a priority and an integral part of every educational system in the country. From credible studies, we know technology can have a tremendous positive impact on student learning. This is especially evident in low income and minority communities where students are vulnerable to falling behind and learning 21st century skills critical to individual success and to America's success in today's world economy. Whether preparing for college or going directly into the workforce, students are increasingly required to have the high-tech skills employers and the world market continue to demand. Therefore, it is a tragedy that in the United States today we have high dropout rates that exceed 50 percent and school districts that cannot keep up with the technology needs of their students. Passage of the ATTAIN Act will help us to address these serious problems. For example, at the School for Global Studies in my district, I had the opportunity to see firsthand the benefits and the life-changing impact teaching with technology has on a child's life. While touring the school, I met some of the students who confided that if it were not for the meaningful technology program at Global Studies, they probably would have dropped out of school and ended up in some serious trouble. Instead, these students are excited about learning and excited about their future. The excitement and the hope students feel at Global Studies is what every child in our country deserves to feel about their education and the promise of their future. The ATTAIN Act will help to make that possibility a reality for all our children. The ATTAIN Act would amend the Enhancing Education Through Technology program and the No Child Left Behind Act. Currently, the No Child Left Behind Act allocates 50 percent of technology education funds to schools with disadvantaged students through formula grants. The ATTAIN Act would increase that percentage to 60 percent. This funding would be used to purchase new technology and train teachers on how to effectively use these new tools. The remaining 40 percent of ATTAIN funds would be distributed through competitive grants that encourage schools to undertake comprehensive, technology based, reform initiatives that have been proven to increase student achievement. Madam Speaker, we know that when teachers are properly trained and schools are properly equipped with technology, students are engaged, eager to learn, and ultimately better prepared to address and to lead our country to meet the challenges of the 21st century. We have already lost the untapped talents of thousands of our young people. Passage of the ATTAIN Act will help to reverse this tremendous loss of unrealized potential. I urge my colleagues to cosponsor the ATTAIN Act and help with its passage.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Paycheck Fairness Act and commend the House leadership for making this legislation among the first orders of business in this new Congress. Forty-six years ago, Congress passed the Equal Pay Act to end wage discrimination against women who on average earned only 60 cents to every dollar earned by men. Since then, women have made extraordinary achievements. Glass ceilings continue to be broken in the public and private sector; we now serve under the first female Speaker of the House, and the number of women heading Fortune 500 companies continues to expand. I believe that these achievements have contributed to an illusion that women have reached full equality in the workplace. The sad reality is, however, that in spite of these achievements and the passage of the Equal Pay Act, today women still earn only an estimated 78 cents to every dollar earned by their male counterparts, for equal work. This unfairness often has devastating economic consequences on women, especially upon retirement, as pension and Social Security benefits are based on life earnings. Wage discrimination can cost a woman anywhere from $400,000 to $2 million in lifetime earnings, contributing to the disturbing fact that today women make up 70 percent of older adults living in poverty. I urge my colleagues to begin the process of ending wage discrimination in our Nation's workplaces once and for all by voting yes on the Paycheck Fairness Act. We need to act today to strengthen the Equal Pay Act and ensure that women in the workforce have the means to protect their economic security.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R.1424, the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008. There is little debate that there is a real crisis in our financial markets, and I share the sense of urgency felt by my colleagues as we look to bring stability to the financial sector and ensure the availability of credit to all Americans. I had hoped that when a new bill came to the House, it would be a comprehensive package that would include greater accountability from Wall Street, greater protections for Americans on the verge of losing their homes, and an economic stimulus package that would create jobs to strengthen our economy. The Senate did include important and beneficial provisions. I strongly support the addition of an increase in the FDIC's insurance cap to $250,000 and favor many of the included tax provisions such as renewable energy and research and development tax credits. In addition, I have consistently advocated for the mental health parity legislation that was the vehicle for this measure. However, despite these commendable additions, I must remain opposed to the underlying plan of committing $700 billion of taxpayer dollars to an untested plan with an uncertain outcome and inadequate regulations and oversight. While the bill begins to address the foreclosure crisis, its provisions are far from what many economists believe is needed to have a consequential impact on the American families who are losing their homes. To truly help stop the bleeding, I believe we must get at the root of the problem by including measures such as lifting the ban on loan modifications for primary residences during bankruptcy proceedings. This would enable homeowners to stay in their homes by renegotiating their loans. Preventing foreclosures will protect families, communities, and our economy. I am also concerned that while the measure creates a congressional oversight panel, the panel lacks teeth and can only make non-binding recommendations. If the taxpayers are expected to stomach a $700 billion bailout, we have to insist on greater oversight authority. Finally, this bill is simply a temporary bandage if it does not include economic stimulus provisions that will create the jobs needed to strengthen our economy and improve the financial condition of the average American. While the problems on Wall Street have reached a breaking point, ordinary Americans have been feeling the pain of weakness in the economy for a very long time. If this legislation passes it is simply a stop gap measure. I am heartened by the comments of Chairman Frank who committed to reforming our financial regulatory and oversight system and by Speaker Pelosi promise that we will come back and consider stimulus proposals that will truly help grow our economy and positively impact those who have been hurt by this crisis. Madam Speaker, while I agree that inaction is not an option, I also believe we can, and must, do better than this legislation. I urge a no vote.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Madam Speaker, on any given day, roughly 30,000 immigration detainees are held in a mix of federal, state, local and private detention facilities. Explosive growth in the number of non- citizens in immigration detention across the country has resulted in sometimes shameful conditions of confinement and repeated incidents of detainee abuse. Although federal immigration authorities adopted detention standards in 1998 and 2000, you wouldn't know it today. These non-binding standards, which cover access to medical care, the separation of violent and non-violent suspects, and access to a lawyer, have not been enforced. It is long past time that Congress make the federal government abide by its own detention standards. That is why today I am introducing the Immigration Oversight and Fairness Act of 2008. The bill establishes long-overdue legally binding detention standards for all immigration detention facilities. The Immigration Oversight and Fairness Act also establishes legally binding standards for Customs and Border Patrol stations which, though not technically detention facilities, house immigrants for a few hours or a few days before their transfer to immigration authorities. Finally, the Immigration Oversight and Fairness Act treats those detainees who a judge determines are not a flight risk or a threat to society in a more humane and rational way. Under this bill, these individuals would be placed in a proven program of supervised release instead of in a detention facility where the federal government must expend enormous resources to feed, house and watch over them. Madam Speaker, I look forward to the House considering these critical reforms of the immigration detention system in the next Congress.