Laura Richardson

Ms. RICHARDSON

Ms. RICHARDSON. Billie Jean King is from my district, the Long Beach area.

Ms. RICHARDSON

Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, the 111th Congress is moving in a new direction, a new direction with our clean energy jobs plan. Americans all over this country, whether you are from my home State of California or all the way over in Ohio, whether you are an ironworker or a teacher, whether you are retired or temporarily unemployed, Americans all know that we are facing a crisis, a crisis in our economic plan, a crisis with energy and a crisis with our climate. The Democrats in this Congress have a solution that's a jobs generator and a money saver that will properly address each of these problems. The Democratic solution is our clean energy plan. The Democratic plan invests in clean energy jobs that can't be shipped overseas, in saving money for families and businesses through efficiency, and ending, finally, our addiction to foreign oil. Republican opponents simply refuse to acknowledge the cause and the magnitude of this problem, and Republicans fail to acknowledge the change required today for the opportunity of growing jobs in this new economy. The U.S. has lost and is currently losing clean energy jobs and market share to China, Germany and Korea. The U.S. consumers continue to spend $400 billion, that's billion with a B, a year in the Middle East and Venezuela every time we fill up our gas tanks. Fortunately, Democrats in this Congress are working to fix this decade-old problem. President Obama and the House Democrats have a plan that gets the economy moving again, retooling manufacturing plants, building wind turbine solar panels and clean cars and creating a smart grid, finally investing in energy-efficient jobs that can't be shipped overseas. The Democratic plan is simple. It makes polluters pay and helps clean companies prosper so that they can hire more workers and we all know that that's what we need. It's the same American solution we put in place to successfully fight the acid rain in 1990, after which time electricity rates fell 10 percent and the U.S. economy added 16 million new jobs. It's important to point out that the acid-rain solution was a bipartisan solution. My constituents in Los Angeles County don't want more rhetoric, they want solutions and specifics. Consider what the Democratic energy plan will accomplish for this economy: Clean energy jobs provisions will create nearly 300,000 new jobs. The efficiency savings measures will create 222,000 new jobs by 2020. The clean energy jobs provisions will result in nearly $100 billion in savings for consumers and businesses by 2030. The efficiency savings measures alone will result in nearly $170 billion in utility bill savings by 2020. The Democratic plan in this Congress will impact every facet of the lives of Americans. We must take care and craft a bill that will promote new job growth around this Nation, a bill that will have energy infrastructure to keep these jobs and industries alive in the United States for generations to come--we have learned that--and a bill that will promote our national and economic security. The Democratic energy plan is a blueprint for legislation that the American people have called for, a change in a new direction. I look forward to working with my colleagues to moving America in that right direction and finally to true energy independence.

Ms. RICHARDSON

Ms. RICHARDSON. Madam Speaker, we are working to pass this week in both the Senate and the House a budget resolution. It is a long-term economic plan that we are working together with the administration that will mark President Obama's 100th day in service. The fallout from the failed policies over the last 8 years has made this job even tougher. Let's talk about what has happened over the last 8 years and what exactly President Obama inherited. A record time during the last 8 years, President Bush--and the Republicans with that--built on a deficit of $5.8 trillion. When President Obama came into this office, a $5.8 trillion deficit; when President Bush came in, he had a $5.6 trillion surplus when you looked at it over this time period. The national debt doubled, and the amount held by foreign countries of ownership in this country has more than tripled. The smallest rate of job growth in three-quarters of a century. There have been flat wages. And more Americans are living in poverty without health care insurance. But this isn't anything new to the American people. We have experienced this. We have seen it firsthand. And the American people spoke back in November with an election and said that they wanted a new direction and change. Our long-term economic plan takes steps to reduce health care costs, one of the largest contributors to the deficit, and a growing burden on our businesses' ability to compete and families' prosperity. Our long-term economic plan is something that the American people have been calling for, a true look at transparency, looking at the impacts of the cost of the war in both Iraq and in Afghanistan. We have to consider in this long-term budget looking at the targeted investments that must be made that will ultimately end in savings; investments in health care, investments in energy, investments in education, and real concrete proposals that will pay for these investments. This plan marks the beginning of a new era of honesty. I, as a Member, had an opportunity to go before the Budget Committee and to share what my priorities were, as every Member of Congress had an opportunity to do. This is a new era of honesty, budgeting accuracy, and openly representing costs like the war, as I previously mentioned. Previous Republican budgets masked these costs to make the deficit appear to be smaller. Our economic plan contains key integrity initiatives to protect the taxpayers' money by rooting out waste, fraud and abuse, and saving taxpayers nearly $50 billion. The American people called for a change, a new direction back in November. That is exactly what this Congress is delivering.

Ms. RICHARDSON

Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life of Lucille Dotson Francois. I rise in honor of this incredible lady because, although I had not met her in person, but because of the lives that she has left behind, particularly in her daughter, Yvonne Wheeler. Ms. Francois recently passed after living 85 fulfilling years. She was a devoted public servant. She grew up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the same area where my own grandmother grew up. She served in the East Baton Rouge School System until she retired, raising our young people and creating a new generation--one that I think all of us would agree is something we should not take lightly. After that, she extended her services working in the community, enjoying coordinating various events. But most of all what she loved was building young people and building family. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. I'd like to personally acknowledge the incredible work that all of her family has done, and particularly that of her daughter, who has led an incredible life and assisted us in California. May her family be blessed. Please join me, Mr. Speaker, as we acknowledge the life of Lucille Dotson Francois.

Ms. RICHARDSON

Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as the daughter of a musician to honor the Long Beach Municipal Band on their 100-year anniversary. On March 14, 1909, under the direction of E. Harry Willey, the Long Beach Municipal Band gave its first performance at the Bath House Band Shell on the Pine Avenue Pier. In particular, what I want to say about the band is, following a 6.25 magnitude earthquake in March of 1933 that almost destroyed an entire city, it was the band that remained and played to encourage the families who were left in shelters and in nearby parks. Since that time, the Long Beach Municipal Band has gone on to perform 57,000 concerts, over 1 million pieces of music. Also, it's known as the longest running, municipally supported band in our country. Please applaud our great city that has made an investment--the second-largest city in the largest county in this Nation--to remember that art is a part of music, and it's a part of this country.

Ms. RICHARDSON

Ms. RICHARDSON. Madam Speaker, on Monday, March 9, 2009 I did not vote due to my attendance of the funeral of Los Angeles Police Department's Deputy Chief Kenneth 0. Garner. Deputy Chief Garner attended schools in the California 37th District, commanded over many stations in my district and was instrumental to the success of the Watts Gang Task Force evident by the busloads of residents who attended his service. Deputy Chief Garner will be remembered for his 30 years of service to the Los Angeles community and his achievement of greater respect and peace within the police department and the African American/Latino neighborhoods. Had I been present I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall votes No. 110, No. 111 and No. 112.

Ms. RICHARDSON

Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, mistaken policies, misplaced priorities, and profound irresponsibility have brought us where we are today. President Obama and this Congress are committed to real change. And what is that change? We propose solutions, real solutions. An honest budget, rejecting gimmicks, and eliminating the wasteful spending that has brought us to this trillion dollar deficit that we now have today. What the American people need are tax cuts, and 95 percent of Americans will now receive a tax cut. What do the American people need? A double commitment of the investment of Pell grants, of looking at a commitment to Head Start, and so many of the other vital areas. When we look at this Congress, we are committed to fixing health care, not to be a party of ``no,'' but to say that we are going to address what is happening for struggling homeowners. The American Recovery Act addressed and is helping us to bring forward 3.5 million jobs to help stabilize the State budgets and to dig us out of this fiscal mess that we inherited over the last 8 years. We can recover, we must recover, because as Americans, failure is not an option.

Ms. RICHARDSON

Ms. RICHARDSON. Madam Speaker, today I voted to support H. Res. 34, ``Recognizing Israel's right to defend itself against missile attacks from Gaza, reaffirming the United States' support for the Israeli- Palestinian peace process.'' Likewise, I strongly believe that humanitarian relief must be allowed to reach innocent Palestinian citizens, restore Gaza's electrical power and water infrastructure to prevent the outbreak of a greater humanitarian disaster. Every effort must be made to lessen civilian casualties and international aid organizations should be given consistent access to Gaza. Hamas and Israel must return and commit to the peace process. I look forward to significant progress with the incoming Obama Administration, and pray for a lasting cease-fire is reached.

Ms. RICHARDSON

Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, over the last couple weeks House committees, including Transportation and Infrastructure, on which I serve, have worked hard to craft an economic recovery package that would address the deep recession problems that we have. Likewise, over the last couple of months, we've worked with President Obama, and we have listened to economists, over 10 of them, all who say action needs to happen now. Today, President Obama will meet with my colleagues, congressional Republicans, in a bipartisan fashion to really explain why this package is the best way to move forward and to turn this economy around. Conservative economic policies have not worked. In fact, we haven't produced jobs, and there has not been a production of economic prosperity. The American people demanded change in November. The Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Package strives to do just that, helping to bring American jobs and providing 90 percent of middle Americans an immediate tax cut. Mr. Speaker, if congressional Republicans really listen to President Obama today, they will support the legislation, and they will join us for change.

Ms. RICHARDSON

Ms. RICHARDSON. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1424. I want to commend Chairman Barney Frank of the Financial Services Committee for his hard work, leadership, insight, and guidance throughout this process. The Congress and Senate did not come to the decision of supporting this legislation lightly. All of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle participated in numerous Caucus meetings and conference calls with Secretary Paulson, and Federal Reserve Chairman Bernanke. We took into consideration the views of renowned economists, and we considered numerous legislative proposals. After much deliberation we came to the conclusion that this legislation was the best bipartisan effort to contain strict oversight to prevent repeating this crisis, limit executive compensation, initiate provisions for mortgage stabilization, and ensure protections that taxpayers deserve. This legislation is a rescue plan. Main Street is hurting because small businesses do not have access to credit, which they depend on to cover the cost of their daily operations, including payroll. Likewise parents and students cannot get student loans, so it is clear that the financial crisis is hitting every street corner in America. Perhaps what has been lost in this debate is the effect that this crisis has had on our municipalities and local governments. Many of these municipalities and local governments had their investments tied to these Wall Street institutions. In California public entities have at least $300 million at stake; in fact San Mateo has lost $150 million. If our local governments fail, they will not be able to provide the most basic services (i.e.--police & fire services, trash collection, and education). I recognize that this is a difficult decision for many of my colleagues. Historians have said these are dire times only second to the Great Depression. I urge my colleagues to act now, and support this critical piece of legislation that will stabilize our residential neighborhoods, small businesses across this country and our economy.

Ms. RICHARDSON

Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he might consume to our chairman of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime, also a member of Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and more importantly, a dear friend of Congresswoman Millender-McDonald, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings).

Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, Congresswoman Juanita Millender-McDonald was known consistently for pulling off unexpected victories. As a staffer and now as a Member, there are two things I cherish most: one, Congresswoman Juanita Millender-McDonald, as our chairman just said, was committed to working and serving her constituents; number two, something she used to say to me often, ``You can't throw the baby out with the bath water.'' She had the unique ability to build, nurture, and develop others, particularly young adults . . . and the least of these. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he might consume to our chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Mr. Highways himself, the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar).

Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4131) to designate a portion of California State Route 91 located in Los Angeles County, California, as the ``Juanita Millender- McDonald Highway''.

Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. First and foremost, I would like to thank Chairman Oberstar and Ranking Member Mica for their help in bringing this legislation to the floor. H.R. 4131 honors the legacy of a woman who many of my colleagues on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee already know--former Congresswoman Juanita Millender-McDonald, a real trailblazer, my predecessor here in Congress and, for many years, my mentor and my boss. Words cannot describe the impact Congresswoman Juanita Millender- McDonald had on so many lives, but today, I will do my best to reflect on her work and on her accomplishments. Congresswoman McDonald was a real trailblazer in every sense of the word. She came to Congress in 1996 and became the first African American woman to chair any full House committee when, on December 19, 2006, she was named chairwoman of the House Committee on House Administration, one spot our Madam Speaker often calls, really, the House's mayor. Likewise, Congresswoman Millender-McDonald initiated the first annual Memorial Day tribute to women in the military at the Women's Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery. Some other firsts: Congresswoman McDonald was the first African American woman to give the national Democratic response to President Bush's weekly radio address. Also, Congresswoman McDonald was the first assemblywoman to hold the position of chairwoman on the Committee of Revenue and Taxation. These accomplishments represent just a few of the many firsts that Congresswoman Millender-McDonald achieved, a long list that dates back to her days on the Carson City Council where she was the first African American woman to serve on that body. You know, it kind of makes me think back to a story that people in the community talked about. Congresswoman McDonald didn't start off as a person who was going to be an elected official. She was a parent; she was a teacher; she was someone who worked for the second largest school district in this Nation. I think back to one incident that a lot of her constituents would smile about. She lived not far from the Carson Mall, this mall that is in my district. Traditionally, when we have Christmas, we have Santa, but most people have a certain way of how we picture Santa looking. Ms. McDonald, having her five children, thought that Santa should maybe reflect our entire country, so she led this charge to have Santa be reflective of our entire community, and so it was always kind of cute. We used to refer to her as Mrs. Claus, and that's really how she got her start at being active and in understanding that her community needed to be represented and that her community needed to shine and that it needed to be able to grow and to be successful. Therefore, the naming of this portion of the 91 freeway is fitting because the 91 freeway was a part of Congresswoman Millender-McDonald's district during her entire legislative career in the California Assembly and here in Congress. The 91 freeway also runs adjacent to the Major League Baseball Urban Youth Academy, a facility in my and her former district that she cherished dearly. However, anyone who knew Congresswoman McDonald also knows that her family came first. Her husband, James, was her backbone, the love of her life. Together, they raised five beautiful children, and they adored their five grandchildren. However, Congresswoman Millender- McDonald's family includes more than her children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. Congresswoman Millender-McDonald's family also includes a list of elected officials at the Federal, State and local levels that she mentored in addition to me: Councilman Steve Bradford, Carson Mayor Pro Tem Mike Gibson and soon to be Assemblyman Isadore Hall. Congresswoman McDonald was an effective Member of Congress who was known for her bipartisan spirit and for her fiscal conservative principles. I think you're going to hear from my colleagues today that one of the things that Congresswoman McDonald valued was her relationship on both sides of the aisle. Although she was concerned about social programs, she knew that you couldn't do them unless you could pay for them. That was really a strength and, I think, something that her colleagues loved. These are the lessons that Congresswoman Millender-McDonald taught me when I was on her staff, and they have served as a guide throughout my own legislative career. I can honestly say, but for Congresswoman Millender-McDonald's willingness to take me under her wing and to hire me, I would not have had the opportunity to master the Federal system. She was my mentor, my political godmother and an inspiration to all Americans. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 4131.

Ms. RICHARDSON

Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a very special young lady, Cinthia Reyes. I had the opportunity of meeting Cinthia, who recently enrolled in Long Beach City College, at a cancer walk-a- thon in my district. Her compelling story began when she was only in sixth grade, and she was diagnosed with a tumor, ovarian cancer, something much older women usually, unfortunately, have to face. She had to miss school for 1 month, but she bravely faced that battle. Yet, now again, in her junior year high school, while most 11th graders are thinking about their local prom, in November of 2006 she was faced with another tumor in her appendix. But I have a good story to tell about Cinthia. Despite two major surgeries, she has had a bright, positive outlook on life. She has inspired many children and befriended those at Long Beach Memorial and Children's Hospital, and she plans on being a nurse. How blessed would this country be. Please join me as we fight the battle of having adequate health care for all Americans. In the United States, ovarian cancer is the eighth most common cancer among women, but it's usually diagnosed at about the age of 63.

Ms. RICHARDSON

Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Stearns, we are not just talking about people in the Philippines. We are talking about people who live in Carson, California, residents of mine, people who do not have health care benefits, people who do not have adequate pay for the work that they do. If we can spend billions of dollars, as will be coming before this House, $700 billion to assist corporations of people who made millions of dollars, surely we can issue a check for work that has been done. All the more reason why they need the money today, because these are real people. These are not corporations. These are not presidents. These are people who are surviving on paychecks of $500 and $600 a month.

Ms. RICHARDSON. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 6897, the Filipino Veterans Equity Act, and urge my colleagues to join last year's 116 cosponsors who felt strongly about the need for us to finally move forward and to act in a moral way. I want to acknowledge Chairman Filner for his leadership on bringing this legislation before us today. He has pleaded with all of us, Members of Congress, to do the right thing. Being an American is more than standing up on Memorial Day and saluting the flag. Being American is also one who is willing to take the responsibility for those who have enabled us to have that freedom, and Mr. Filner has never hesitated in my short 1 year of being here. He has constantly pleaded for us to finally make this right. At the end of World War II, President Harry Truman stated it was a moral obligation of our Nation to look at the welfare of Filipino veterans. Well, here we are today in this great, incredible building, the House of Representatives, where our Nation has an opportunity, finally, a long overdue process, to fulfill our moral obligation. Indeed, many would not be enjoying the freedoms that we have today if it were not for the courageous efforts of those 470,000 Filipino veterans that answered the call during World War II. As a Nation, some tend to measure our war heroes based on the suffering. They suffered as well. I am not just giving a speech and reciting history. I have a large Filipino population in my district and it is without hesitation that they stand side by side on Memorial Day, Armed Services Day, and really have a desire for us to recognize the incredible commitment that they did. In fact, 60,000 Filipino soldiers were forced to march 65 miles without food, water and medicine while they were being bayonetted and killed. They are our first class heroes, those who provided a service and didn't hesitate to do so. Back in 1946, General Omar Bradley, the U.S. Administrator of Veterans' Affairs, put it best when he said ``the service of the Filipino Commonwealth Army in the U.S. Armed Forces during World War II has met the definition of a U.S. veteran.'' Has met the definition of a U.S. veteran. In my district, as I said, I have numerous Filipino veterans who in their golden years, we are not talking about, as our chairman said, 62 years ago. These are people who, men, women, children, have failed to have adequate benefits for a work that they did. Isn't that what this Congress is all about? That's what I believe it is about. So, Madam Speaker, I join Chairman Filner and all of us who look forward to passing finally this resolution, this resolution which will bring back not a stain in America but one we can look back and say yes, for those who helped us to have freedom, we recognize that and we are willing to do the right thing.

Ms. RICHARDSON

Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I would gladly like to get back to the topic at hand, which is really discussing the bill of S. 996. So, Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as the great lady might consume, Congresswoman Maxine Waters from the great State of California.

Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as she might consume to Congresswoman Jane Harman, the gentlelady from the great State of California.

Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, today we are considering S. 996, legislation to amend title 49 of the United States Code to expand passenger facility fee eligibility for certain noise compatibility projects. Under the direction of Congressman Costello, chairman of the Aviation Subcommittee, Americans in California living and attending schools in the vicinity of airports will now get relief. The FAA predicts that 1 billion passengers will fly in the United States by 2016. One of the elements that will limit this national airspace capacity growth is noise. S. 996 will allow a 2005 agreement between the Los Angeles World Airports and the Lennox and Inglewood school districts to go forward providing over $200 million towards noise mitigation in these school districts over 10 years. This legislation was introduced by Representative Jane Harman in the House and Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer who passed it in the Senate by unanimous consent on February 28, 2008, which represents an appropriate compromise to noise problems for schools surrounding the Los Angeles Airport. S. 996 will enable new construction in some instances because sound insulation and other retrofitting of existing buildings do not always provide meaningful noise relief. Furthermore, this legislation defines eligible project cost for any new construction as limited to the difference in cost between constructing, ordinary building code standards for schools, and the cost of incorporating noise mitigation features in construction. The House passed this language as part of H.R. 2881, the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2007, on September 20, 2007. The Senate has not acted on the FAA reauthorization. Mr. Speaker, I support S. 996, and I urge my colleagues both on and off the Aviation Subcommittee--and on both sides of the aisle to stay germane to the topic--to support this good legislation. Students and teachers deserve quiet classrooms in order to maximize learning. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on S. 996.

Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 996) to amend title 49, United States Code, to expand passenger facility fee eligibility for certain noise compatibility projects.

Ms. RICHARDSON

Ms. RICHARDSON. Madam Speaker, 3 years ago, Republicans passed an energy plan that they said would lower prices at the pump, drive economic growth and job creation and promote energy independence. I ask you, America, did it work? The answer is no. Now we look 3 years later and the price of gas has gone up 59 percent, the economy is tanking and we've lost 600,000 jobs this year alone. The Republicans are saying they know how to solve the problem. Well, they had control of Washington for 6 years and the results are clear--the mission is not accomplished and everyone is feeling the effect of their failure today. Democrats have been working hard to reverse the Republican failed policies of the past. Yesterday we passed a comprehensive energy package that will lower prices at the pump, expand domestic drilling off the Outer Continental Shelf, expand renewable energy sources, end subsidies for Big Oil and create good-paying jobs for Americans here. I would like to know why Republicans did not solve the energy crisis. Yesterday Democrats continued a new direction and took action to solve the energy crisis.