Lucille Roybal-Allard

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 22, the DRIVE Act. I believe many areas of this legislation still need improvement, and I am hopeful this will occur in conference. I will support the legislation in order to move the process forward and help provide greater certainty for the delivery of current and pending transportation projects across the country. The legislation only provides $325 billion over the course of six years. The funding level proposed in this legislation will not be sufficient if we truly want to improve our infrastructure and keep our country competitive in the years to come. In addition, this six-year legislation is only paid for through the first three years. Congress needs to pay for all six years to ensure that the federal government can engage in new transportation projects with the states during the final three years of the legislation. As the legislation goes to conference, I will keep fighting to increase its funding. While I am concerned about several elements in the legislation, I am glad that it includes the reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank, which passed the House with bipartisan support last week. The Export- Import Bank supports millions of dollars in exports by businesses in my district, and helps them to better compete in the global market. The reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank will strengthen American businesses and create American jobs. I look forward to continuing to work with my House colleagues to resolve the issues of concern in the Surface Transportation Reauthorization. I encourage my colleagues to support this legislation and help to move the process forward, for the sake of our economy and our national infrastructure.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate T Santora on his long career as a Los Angeles labor leader, and as an influential activist for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals. T has dedicated decades of his professional life to the Communications Workers of America, a union that protects the interests of thousands of L.A. workers. He has spent 35 years as a full-time CWA representative, working in both local and national positions. Today, T is President Emeritus of CWA Local 9003, which represents a diverse membership of approximately 2,500 workers in the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area. He also chairs the Legislative-Political Committee of the CWA Southern California Council, representing 27,000 CWA members in Southern California. And he serves as National Co-Chair of the CWA Telecom Ad Hoc Committee, which regularly convenes workplace leaders in the telecommunications industry from the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. T is also a leader in the LGBT rights movement, and a powerful voice for the needs of LGBT laborers. From 1998 to 2005, he served as National Co-President of Pride at Work, the AFL-CIO's LGBT constituency group. In addition, he represented CWA on the Executive Board of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, and on the Coalition of Labor Union Women's HIV/AIDS Advisory Board. T believes in the need to make Los Angeles' workforce the best it can be. Last year, L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti appointed T to the L.A. Workforce Development Board, where he serves on the Board's Executive Committee and chairs the Ad Hoc Committee on Expanding Apprenticeship Opportunities. Finally, T cares deeply about the youth of Los Angeles. He is the Founder and an Executive Board Member of the CWA 9003 Children's Fund, a non-profit charitable organization which serves the needs of L.A.'s underprivileged and homeless children. The L.A. City Council recently issued a resolution honoring T for his 30 years of community service. That honor was greatly deserved. In public life and the private sector, T Santora has been an Angeleno to admire. As he takes a well-earned retirement, I ask my colleagues to join me in saluting him on a magnificent career, and to wish him every health and happiness.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the Bipartisan Budget Agreement of 2015. While I have concerns about portions of the bill, including the impact it may have on some of our hospitals, there are important provisions in the bill that are essential to protecting the well-being of many Americans. For example, the bill provides two years of sequester relief, and allows us to increase our investments in critical areas, including education, housing, healthcare, transportation, homeland security, and defense. The agreement also suspends the debt limit until March 15, 2017. This will allow us to get back on track and plan for the future rather than continue governing from crisis to crisis. The measure keeps Medicare Part B premium costs down for millions of seniors and protects all Medicare beneficiaries from the projected increases in their deductibles. I am encouraged by this framework and hope that as the bill moves through the process, some of the areas of concern will be worked out and that we will be able to pass bipartisan appropriations measures for fiscal years 2016 and 2017. I urge my colleagues to support the Bipartisan Budget Agreement for the good of our country.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Lisa Korbatov on her receipt of the Boy Scouts of America's Distinguished Citizen Award. This award is presented to individuals who have demonstrated leadership above and beyond the call of duty, and dedicated themselves to the betterment of their communities. Lisa's long and distinguished history of leadership throughout the greater Los Angeles area makes her an ideal choice for this great honor. I have known Lisa for a long time, and I have seen the depth of her commitment to making Los Angeles a better place to live. I have seen the pride she takes in serving our community, and I have seen her work with her fellow Angelenos to improve our city. Lisa and I share a passion for supporting local youth. Since 2009, she has served as a Governing Member of the Beverly Hills School Board, including a term as its President. In addition, she has served on the Board of Directors for USC Hillel at the University of Southern California, and the Jewish Education Trade School in Granada Hills. She has been active in numerous youth-oriented community organizations, including Aviva Family and Children's Services, Vista Del Mar, and the Boy Scouts of America, Western Los Angeles County Council. And in 2013, she was honored with the ``Legacy of Hope'' award by Chai Lifeline, a charity that helps support and inspire children with cancer and other life- threatening illnesses. Lisa is not afraid to take bold and creative measures to help our children. She initiated and co-wrote a Los Angeles city resolution to institute a grading system for schools, similar to the way the city grades restaurants. In Beverly Hills, she has petitioned the school board for safer and more sanitary campuses, and even hired a photographer to help her document the campus conditions she was seeking to correct. I also admire Lisa's support for Israel and the Jewish people: she has been a Board Member of the Israel Grants Fund, a Trustee of the Jewish Community Foundation, and a Senate Club member of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. Finally, Lisa is a distinguished L.A. businesswoman, and a superb example of the talent that women bring to leadership positions in our local businesses. She is a co-owner of the commercial property management company Amalgamated Real Estate Services, where she manages twenty Downtown and Westside commercial buildings. I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Lisa Korbatov on her well-deserved honor from the Boy Scouts of America, and in urging her to keep up her great work to improve Los Angeles.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Madam Speaker, I stand in opposition to H.R. 692, the so-called Default Prevention Act. Raising the national debt limit is a basic responsibility of government which ensures America will be able to pay its bills. If we do not raise the debt limit, our nation will default for the first time in its history. Americans' retirement savings will plunge, and interest rates for mortgages, student loans, credit cards, and car payments will skyrocket. That is why the American people and the American economy need a clean debt limit extension bill that meets all of our financial obligations, not just a few of them. Sadly, the Majority party's Default Prevention Act does not meet this basic standard. Their bill would guarantee payments above the debt limit to bond holders in China and other foreign countries, without consideration for meeting our obligations to the American people, including troops, veterans, and small businesses. That is irresponsible and wrong. Taking care of our veterans, troops, and small businesses should be our priority, not guaranteeing payments to China and our other bond holders. This legislation is the Majority's cynical attempt to pass a debt limit bill and say the House is being responsible. The truth is it is not an honest attempt to address the debt limit. The Majority's bill is a sham. Our nation will be in default if we miss any payment for any reason. And the Majority knows the bill will not become law, because the President will veto it if it reaches his desk. I urge my colleagues to oppose this pointless Default Prevention Act, and-pass a clean debt limit extension bill that fulfills our obligations to the American, people, avoids economic catastrophe, and truly honors the full faith and credit of the United States.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Chair, I was unavoidably detained and was not present for one roll call vote on Friday, September 25, 2015. Had I been present, I would have voted in this manner: Rollcall vote No. 509--Grijalva amendment--``yes.'' Personal Explanation

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, after careful study of public and classified information, extensive discussions with people on both sides of the issue, and much thought and deliberation, I have concluded that supporting the Iran nuclear agreement is the best option we have at this time to prevent Iran from having nuclear weapons. That is why I am supporting H.R. 3461, the legislation approving the Iran agreement. While this agreement is not perfect, the deal provides unprecedented oversight and transparency over Iran's nuclear program that is not possible today. Furthermore, if the United States does not support the deal, I am concerned it could potentially isolate us from our partners who have given all indications that they are not prepared to walk away from this agreement. We know Iran cannot be trusted. Therefore, if this deal is approved, there is no question we must be vigilant to make sure Iran does not violate the terms of the agreement. If there are any indications Iran is violating the deal, immediate action must be taken. We must never allow Iran to move towards having a nuclear weapon, and we must never give up working with Israel and our other allies until we achieve peace and stability in the Middle East.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I was absent due to illness and was not present for roll call votes on Tuesday, September 8, 2015. Had I been present, I would have voted in this manner: Roll Call Vote #490--S. 1359, E-Warranty Act of 2015--yes.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I was attending funeral services in my state and was not present for three roll call votes on Monday, July 27, 2015. Had I been present, I would have voted in this manner: Roll Call Vote # 467--Need Based Education Aid Act of 2015--Yes. Roll Call Vote # 468--Secret Service Improvements Act of 2015--Yes. Roll Call Vote # 469--Keeping Our Travelers Safe and Secure Act--Yes.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, a dear friend, Patricia (Tananbaum) Epstein, passed away quietly on July 22, 2015, after a long and wonderful life filled with extended family and friends. She leaves her devoted husband of more than 66 years, Jerry. Together, and as individuals, they have been a very special and unforgettable couple who have had a meaningful impact on the lives of so many. That is also true of the lives of my parents, former Congressman Edward R. Roybal and my mother Lucille Beserra Roybal. And it is most certainly true of the joy and friendship Pat and Jerry brought into my life and that of my husband Ed. We loved having dinner with them and hearing Pat's laughter and the jokes she loved to tell. And we loved seeing the examples of her talent in her beautiful works of art. Pat was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on May 28, 1924, the only child of Leo and Hannah Tananbaum. She met Jerry, the love of her life, when he was a student at Emory University after the end of World War II. They married on December 26, 1948, in a beautiful ceremony at the Mayfair Club in Atlanta, attended by family and friends, many of whom had traveled on a private train from New York City for the event. Their wedding would be only the first of many spectacular parties Pat and Jerry would plan and host over the ensuing decades, as Pat became the consummate gracious and lively hostess. Pat and Jerry settled permanently in Los Angeles in December 1949. For decades, including up to the last months of her life, Pat was a sculptress, working primarily in alabaster and later in papier-mache. Her work can be found at St. John's Hospital, the Jewish Home for the Aging, and in many private homes around the country. Pat enjoyed her involvement with the Advisory Board of the Fashion Institute of Design and Management (FIDM). Pat was also active in Hadassah and the Irene Dunne Guild of Saint John's Hospital in Santa Monica. The doctors, nurses, and staff at St. John's Hospital were not just caregivers, but many became close friends for over four decades, and their compassion and attention were particularly meaningful during the last months of Pat's life. Pat and Jerry's generosity and dedication to their many friends and family is legendary, and they leave a legacy of ``adopted'' children and grandchildren who have and will continue to benefit from their loving advice and assistance. Ed and I will miss Pat greatly, but feel blessed that we had the good fortune to have known such a great lady.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, the recent killing of Kathryn Steinle in San Francisco is a tragedy, and my thoughts are with her family during this very difficult time. Unfortunately, the Majority has chosen to politicize this tragedy by bringing this misguided and unacceptable bill to the floor. H.R. 3009 would withhold Department of Justice grants specifically targeted to enhance public safety, support community policing, and assist crime victims from states and law enforcement agencies that do not collect information regarding a person's immigration status. We can and should ensure that serious criminals who are dangerous and enforcement priorities for ICE are not released from the custody of local law enforcement. However, it is misguided and counterproductive to force local law enforcement officers to inquire about a person's immigration status at any time and for any reason in order to be eligible to receive critical public safety funding. It is also wrong and irresponsible that this bill misrepresents the immigrant community as one comprised entirely of criminals. In fact, decades of research show that immigrants are less likely to commit serious crimes than native-born persons. Earlier this year, many Republicans insisted that our Homeland Security Appropriations bill include anti-immigrant riders, and threatened to shut down the Department of Homeland Security if they did not get their way. Sadly, H.R. 3009 is just more of the same from the Majority, who apparently think it is more important to incite hatred of our immigrant population for political purposes than it is to keep our communities safe and secure. If we truly want to deal with our broken immigration system, we must pass comprehensive immigration reform that treats immigrants humanely, focuses on deporting those who threaten our safety and national security, and better secures our borders. Unfortunately, the House Majority has no interest in passing such reforms and instead chooses to rob local law enforcement of the money they need to keep our constituents safe from harm. I urge my colleagues to oppose this bill.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, each day, as we begin our work in Congress, we pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, a flag that preserves our republic's promise of liberty and justice for all. This is not the message of the Confederate battle flag. We all know this flag represents hate, intolerance, and bigotry. Like the Nazi flag, the Confederate flag must be retired to history books and museums. It has no place in the public square. Unconscionably, House Republicans are defending the Confederate flag by blocking Democratic efforts to remove this rebel flag from the U.S. Capitol grounds. This comes just hours after House Republicans offered an amendment to undo Democratic amendments that bar the display of the Confederate flag in federal cemeteries, and bar the National Park Service from doing business with gift shops selling Confederate flag merchandise. It is a cold, cruel irony that just as South Carolina votes to finally remove the Confederate flag at their statehouse, House Republicans now seek to protect this symbol of hate at the federal level. Let us remove the Confederate flag from the grounds of the U.S. Capitol. Doing so will honor our country and show respect for the flag of the United States of America, which is the symbol of freedom, justice, and democracy for all.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise to remember Morrie Sanchez, a longtime Angeleno, onetime union organizer, avid dancer, and family friend. Morrie passed away quietly on June 16, 2015, in Monrovia, California, at the age of 97. Born on June 25, 1917, in Jerome, Arizona, to Victoria Balderamos and Angel Gonzalez, Morrie was from an old California family whose roots in the state predated the Mexican Revolution and its becoming part of the United States. She had two sisters, Vera and Margarita. Her grandfather, Zeferino Balderamos, was born in San Luis Obispo in the early 1800s, and her grandmother, Modesta Rodriguez, was from Sonora, Mexico. When Morrie moved to Los Angeles, California, she lived and raised her three eldest daughters--Dolores, Rose Marie, and Carol--in the city's downtown core, in an area known as Bunker Hill. She later moved to Pico-Union, where she raised her youngest daughter, Sylvia. Morrie was a stalwart of the International Ladies Garment Workers Union (ILGWU), serving as a union organizer, as a shop steward, and multiple terms as local chapter president between 1950 and the late 1980s. A longtime community activist, Morrie worked diligently in many political campaigns. These included the first election of my father, former Congressman Edward R. Roybal, to his earlier position as the first Latino in the 20th century to be elected to the Los Angeles City Council. For many years, she volunteered with the City of Hope and White Memorial Hospital, and with many other local nonprofit groups. Morrie did not let retirement slow her down a bit. Instead, she used her ``free time'' to support senior citizen causes, and could often be seen dancing the afternoon away at one of the many local senior centers, including the International Institute in Boyle Heights, the Highland Park Senior Center, and Salazar Park in East Los Angeles. In 1990, the International Institute named her ``Mother of the Year.'' Morrie was the matriarch of six generations living in Southern California at the time of her death. The Roybal family is fortunate to have known Morrie Sanchez as a supporter and friend. She is survived by daughters Dolores Sanchez, Rose Marie Barron, Carol Limon, and Sylvia Sanchez; sons-in-law Jonathan Sanchez and Gilbert Limon; 17 grandchildren; 41 great-grandchildren; 29 great- great-grandchildren; and one great-great-great grandchild. She was laid to rest on June 25, 2015, at Calvary Cemetery in East Los Angeles.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, on June 12, we observed International Day Against Child Labor. This is the day set aside to remind us of the plight of hundreds of millions of children throughout the world who are engaged in dangerous work that often deprives them of obtaining adequate education, health and decent living conditions. Unconscionably, hundreds of thousands of these children live right here in the United States. These children work long hours and under dangerous conditions in our nation's agricultural industry. This industry has a fatality rate nearly 8 times the national average, yet our labor laws do not protect children in agriculture in the same way they protect children in every other industry. The impact of our permissive child labor laws is most evident in our tobacco fields. Human Rights Watch recently issued a study that found children as young as twelve suffering from nausea, vomiting, headaches and dizziness, all symptoms of acute nicotine poisoning, likely contracted by absorbing nicotine through their skin while harvesting tobacco plants. Many of these children say they work long hours without overtime pay, often in extreme heat, without sufficient breaks, or adequate protective gear. These hazards have led countries like Russia and Kazakhstan to restrict tobacco harvesting to adults, but no such protections exist for children in the United States. The time has come for the United States of America to bring child labor laws in line with our American values and give all of our children the fundamental protections they need and rightfully deserve. That is why I am once again re-introducing the Children's Act for Responsible Employment, better known as the CARE Act. While retaining current exemptions for family farms and agricultural education programs like 4-H and Future Farmers of America, the CARE Act raises labor standards and protections for farm worker children to the same level set for children in all other occupations. Specifically the CARE ACT ends our country's double standard that allows children in agriculture to work at younger ages and for longer hours than those working in all other industries. It raises the minimum age for agricultural work to 14 and restricts children under 16 from work that interferes with their education or endangers their health and well-being. The CARE Act also prohibits children under the age of 18 from working in agricultural jobs which the Department of Labor has declared as particularly hazardous. This is consistent with current law governing every industry outside of agriculture. No child should be discriminated against based on the work they do. All of America's children deserve to be protected equally under our laws. Mr. Speaker, it is our moral obligation to do everything in our power to protect the rights, safety and educational future of our most precious resource--America's children, and I urge my colleagues to support the CARE Act.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained due to a delayed flight and was not present for two roll call votes on Tuesday, June 23, 2015. Had I been present, I would have voted in this manner: Rollcall Vote # 376--Protecting Seniors' Access to Medicare Act of 2015--``no.'' Rollcall Vote # 377--Domain Openness Through Continued Oversight Matters Act of 2015--``yes.'' Rollcall Vote # 378--TSCA Modernization Act--``yes.''

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise to introduce the Professional's Access to Health Workforce Integration Act, better known as the PATH Workforce Integration Act, of 2015. The National Center for Health Workforce Analysis predicts that, by 2020, the United States will have a shortage of as high as 20,000 physicians. Other projections are that we will have a shortage of up to 250,000 public health workers. In addition, the Department of Labor projects that, by the year 2025, we will need 500,000 more nurses, 46,000 more mental and behavioral health workers, 38,000 more pharmacists, and 15,000 more dentists. There are a number of contributing factors to the projected health care workforce shortage. The U.S. population by 2030 is expected to rise by 18 percent. The population of those over the age of 65 is expected to increase three times its current rate, and the Bureau of Health Professions projects a 5.2 percent increase in the utilization of health services. This is all happening while our current health care workforce is retiring in greater numbers than we are able to graduate new workers. While it is true the Affordable Care Act incorporated numerous provisions for addressing the workforce shortage, our Nation's current educational infrastructure lacks the capacity to train health care professionals fast enough to fill the projected health workforce shortages. In our country today, we have internationally trained health professionals, residing legally in the United States, who are unable to work in their chosen profession. They currently represent a missed opportunity to address our health care workforce shortages. The PATH Act helps to address this shortage by providing the over 2 million foreign-trained health professionals legally residing in the United States the guidance that they need to work in employment matching their health professional skills, education, and expertise. This includes internationally trained doctors, nurses, dentists, mental health providers, and pharmacists whose linguistic and cultural skills will also help improve the health needs of our diversifying Nation. What the PATH Act would do is facilitate counseling and training opportunities to reduce barriers to the health workforce; provide access to accelerated courses in English as a second language; provide assistance in the evaluation of foreign credentials; and help in educating employers about the competency of health professionals trained outside of the U.S. Mr. Speaker, our health care system is rapidly approaching a crisis due to a lack of qualified health professionals. The PATH Act of 2015 will help prevent this crisis, and I encourage my colleagues to cosponsor this important legislation.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Second Baptist Church of Los Angeles on the celebration of its 130th anniversary. In 1885, Second Baptist Church was organized as Southern California's first African-American Baptist church. It quickly developed into one of South Los Angeles' most esteemed and effective institutions, offering vital support throughout the community. Over the years, a wide and diverse population of Angelenos have benefited from the church's child care and educational services, its scholarship programs, and its involvement in creating housing for families and shelter space for homeless women and children. Second Baptist Church has also played an active role in our nation's long and ongoing dialogue about civil rights. In 1954, Second Baptist members raised $1,500 for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund to pay for printing the legal briefs for the Brown vs. Board of Education case, which desegregated America's schools. The church also hosted the NAACP's national conventions in 1928, 1942, and 1949. Second Baptist Church's unflagging commitment to social justice and helping the least among us is also reflected in its long and distinguished list of speakers--a list including ministers, advocates, officials, and scholars. The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was a frequent speaker throughout his career. Malcolm X, W.E.B. Du Bois, Ralph Bunche, and the Rev. Adam Clayton Powell, Sr. are just a few of the other orators to have spoken within the walls of Second Baptist. Because of the church's substantial involvement in some of the most important social fights of our age, it was listed as a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument in 1978, and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009. Both are well-deserved honors for this church and for the beautiful Lombardy Romanesque Revival building in which it is housed. It is my great privilege to represent Second Baptist Church and its congregation in Congress. In times of trial and in times of joy, this church has been a source of strength and unity for all who have been touched by its mission. On its 130th anniversary, Second Baptist Church is both a marker of how society has progressed in its lifetime, and a guiding light continuing to point us towards a brighter future of brotherhood, peace, and justice for all. I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating all that Second Baptist Church has done to move the hearts and minds of Angelenos and all Americans, and to wish the church and its congregation a very happy 130th anniversary.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to insert my statement in the Record that the House should focus on jobs and the economy, the real priorities of the American people, instead of another attack on women's health care.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Human Services Association, a non-profit organization based in my 40th Congressional District, on the celebration of their 75th anniversary. Human Services Association (HSA) was founded as an outreach effort of the Presbyterian Church in 1940, when floods in Southeast Los Angeles County highlighted pre-existing poverty in Bell Gardens and surrounding cities. While HSA remains affiliated with the Presbyterian Church today, all of HSA's services have been administered on a non-sectarian basis since 1975. Over time, HSA's services have evolved to meet the needs of the community. In HSA's early years, it operated under the name Westminster Center, and focused on recreation programs and group work. It later changed its name to Bell Gardens Community Center, and became a multifunctional social service agency. Its staff and volunteers provided direct services, and it collaborated with other agencies to provide additional services on-site. In 1974-1975, the organization envisioned expanding its human services into the cities of Southeast Los Angeles by increasing its services and funding capacity. As a result, the organization incorporated, and it adopted the name Human Services Association. Today, HSA is the largest community-based nonprofit organization in Southeast Los Angeles, and provides clients throughout Los Angeles County with an array of comprehensive services to support individuals throughout their lives. HSA's programs and services for children and families include: Early Head Start; Head Start; State Preschool; Los Angeles Universal Preschool; Parenting Classes; Child Abuse Prevention & Intervention; Domestic Violence Support Services; Choose Health LA Kids, an early childhood obesity prevention initiative focusing on children ages 0-5 and their families; and a Family Preservation Program designed to protect children by strengthening and preserving families whose children are at risk of abuse, neglect, and exploitation. HSA's services for seniors include: the Congregate Meals Program, which provides a hot, nutritionally balanced meal to seniors five days a week, as well as social activities at the meal sites; the Home Delivered Meals Program, which offers homebound seniors a daily hot meal and a friendly, reassuring visit; the Home Based Care & Registry Referral Program, which matches workers with senior citizens aged 60 and over who need assistance in the home; and the Alzheimer's Day Care Resource Center (ADCRC), which allows memory-impaired and/or socially isolated senior citizens to spend their days in a caring, supportive environment, and provides English and Spanish support groups to the family members of the participating seniors. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure and pride that I salute Human Services Association, its Board of Directors, and its supporters. They have played a vital role in providing critical services to Southeast Los Angeles families over the past seventy-five years. I wish HSA continued success as it continues its mission to provide families with compassionate and comprehensive care which promotes wellness and builds strong communities.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained and was not present for two roll call votes on Tuesday, April 14, 2015. Had I been present, I would have voted in this manner: rollcall Vote No. 148--Motion on Ordering the Previous Question on the Rule--``no,'' rollcall Vote No. 149--On Agreeing to the Resolution--``no.''

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Carol Schatz on being honored with the Heart of the City Award at this year's ``Treasures of Los Angeles'' luncheon. As president and chief executive officer of the Central City Association (CCA) of Los Angeles, Carol has played an integral role in making Los Angeles one of the world's great cities--a growing and thriving metropolis, welcoming to businesses, investors, developers, and travelers. This year, Carol celebrates her 25th year at the Central City Association of Los Angeles. That is a remarkable milestone, and it is worth reviewing her successes during that time. Under Carol's leadership, CCA has been one of the leading business advocacy organizations in the City and County of Los Angeles, coordinating with community leaders and elected officials to make Los Angeles a better place to live and work. In Downtown Los Angeles, development and investment are at record levels. Downtown is now home to more than 50,000 residents, with units to house another 15,000 under construction or in the process of being approved. Carol has played a critical role in Downtown's renaissance. At her direction, CCA has worked to transform and revitalize the area through a broad set of strategies ranging from mixed-use/mixed-income projects to new transportation amenities. Carol initiated an Adaptive Reuse Ordinance to make Downtown a housing destination, and coordinated state funding and incentives to help developers turn empty office buildings into brand-new housing. CCA also joined with the Los Angeles City Council to help reinstitute the Civic Center Authority, which developed a master plan for the area. In 1997, Carol's efforts led to the creation of the Downtown Center Business Improvement District, a coalition of property owners in the heart of Downtown L.A. With Carol at its helm, the DCBID has brought substantial new residential and commercial investment to Downtown, and has made it a safer and cleaner place to live. Carol Schatz's vision, hard work, and perseverance have garnered her much praise from city and state leaders, and the ``Heart of the City'' award is just the latest well-deserved example. I have worked with Carol for many years to keep Los Angeles moving forward, and am proud to call her a friend. I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating her on this great honor.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of the House Democratic budget, which invests in hardworking American families. Our budget gives Americans the opportunities they need to get ahead. I also rise in opposition to the House Republican budget, which asks the American people to work harder for less money. It offers the same job-killing, paycheck-shrinking policies that Americans have opposed time and time again. When you compare these two budgets, the choice becomes clear. The Democratic budget will grow our economy and create jobs. The Republican budget will slash our economic growth by 2.5 percent and cost our nation nearly three million jobs in 2017 alone. The Democratic budget will preserve the Affordable Care Act, which has enabled more than 16 million Americans to obtain quality, affordable health coverage. The Republican budget will repeal the Affordable Care Act and eliminate this health coverage. The Democratic budget makes room for comprehensive immigration reform, which will bring clarity to our immigration system, secure our borders, and foster economic growth. The Republican budget continues to ignore the critical issue of comprehensive immigration reform. The Democratic budget will provide tax relief to hardworking families, including extensions of the Child Tax Credit, the Earned Income Tax Credit, and tax credits for higher education. The Republican budget will raise taxes by $2,000 for a typical working family, while millionaires will get an average tax cut of more than $200,000. The Democratic budget will protect Medicaid for working families and preserve nutrition assistance for families with low incomes. The Republican budget will make steep cuts to Medicaid and nutrition assistance, which will jeopardize the health of millions of Americans, including children, the elderly, and people with disabilities. The Democratic budget will preserve the Medicare guarantee. The Republican budget will eliminate the Medicare guarantee and raise traditional Medicare premiums by an average of 50 percent. The Democratic budget will ensure access to a high quality education for all, and give students the assistance they need to pay for college. The Republican budget will end tax cuts that help millions of working families afford college, slash more than $220 billion in funding for student loans and college aid, and gut investments in K-12 education. The Republican budget does not come close to addressing the needs of our nation; on the contrary, their budget contains devastating cuts that will make life harder for the American people. America needs the Democratic budget, which champions the interests of all Americans, rather than a fortunate few. The Democratic budget makes it easier for hardworking Americans to send their children to college, own a home, and have a secure and enjoyable retirement. I urge my colleagues to support it.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Madam Speaker, in December of 2014, as leverage against the President's immigration executive action, the Republican leadership irresponsibly decided to hold hostage the 2015 funding for the Department of Homeland Security. Now, 150 days into fiscal year 2015, this House is no closer to addressing the Homeland Security funding needs of this country than it was last December. Instead, the Republican leadership is proposing to, once again, kick the can down the road, this time for another 3 weeks. The serious consequences of the Republican majority's inability to responsibly lead on behalf of the American people will, once again, leave the Department without the 2015 funding levels it needs to effectively fulfill its mission of protecting our homeland. I ask my colleagues: What is gained by continuing to delay resolving this crisis, a crisis of the House Republicans' own making? Does anyone really think circumstances will be any different 3 weeks from now? The judicial review of the President's executive actions will not be resolved in 3 weeks. The only circumstances that will be different in 3 weeks is that much will be lost. Republicans cannot continue to block the Department of Homeland Security funding for 2015 without undermining the national security of this country. We should not fool ourselves into believing that the Department of Homeland Security has been doing just fine under the continuing resolution or that there would be no further consequences if we forced the Department to keep living with the uncertainty of a continuing resolution for even another day, much less 3 more weeks. Secretary Johnson and agency heads have warned that passing another CR will not address the uncertainty of being able to meet our long-term national security needs. Yesterday, Secretary Johnson sent a letter to the bipartisan leadership of the House and Senate, warning of the dangers of either a funding lapse or another short-term continuing resolution. To quote the Secretary, a ``mere extension of a continuing resolution has many of the same negative impacts'' of a shutdown. It ``exacerbates the uncertainty for my workforce and puts us back in the same position, on the brink of a shutdown just days from now.'' The Secretary ends his letter by saying, ``the American people are counting on us.'' The American people are, indeed, counting on us; and so far, the Republican majority in the House has let them down. The Constitution provides a path for the Congress to work its will on policy issues without resorting to funding lapses or continuing resolutions, which represent the complete and utter abdication of Congress' obligation to effectively govern. The Senate will soon send back to us a bill that was agreed upon by both Democrats and Republicans, and that will enable the Department to move forward on the critical planning that is needed to protect our country now and in the future. Let us do the responsible thing and bring that bill to a vote so that our country can truly be protected, by funding the Department of Homeland Security.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Madam Speaker, I would just like to point out that we have a solution, and it is the bipartisan, bicameral compromise bill that was sent by the Senate for us to vote on, and that is what we are asking for. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lofgren), the ranking minority member of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Madam Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Brown), the ranking member on the Veterans' Affairs Committee.