Raul Ruiz

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of my amendment, the Counter Iran Maritime Initiative. Iran is a serious risk to our national security. We must remain vigilant. We must protect our troops and our allies in the Middle East. This amendment will help stop illegal arms shipments from Iran to terrorists and protect our national security. My amendment will help keep American troops and our allies in the region, including Israel, safe. It authorizes our military to provide training, equipment, supplies, and military construction to nations along the Persian Gulf, the Arabian Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea. I am glad that there is broad, bipartisan consensus on the need for this amendment so that we can keep our troops safe and shore up the safety of our allies in the region.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to offer an amendment to H.R. 4974, the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for 2017. My amendment will help reduce the VA's claims backlog and help improve the lives of our veterans. California is home to 2 million veterans, and I am proud to represent more than 54,000 veterans in my district alone. There are 40,000 veterans expected to return to California every year for the next several years, including the fastest growing group of returning veterans--women. We must ensure that our veterans have timely access to the critical benefits they have earned and deserve. Unconscionably, thousands of veterans who have sacrificed for our country are struggling to access benefits they have already earned. Due to the lingering claims backlog at the Veterans Affairs Administration, veterans across our Nation are waiting for pensions, prescription drugs, and even lifesaving medical care. Veterans are still waiting for the VA to process 351,676 benefit claims, and 74,589 of those veterans have been waiting longer than 125 days for a decision. We owe it to our courageous men and women to clear this harmful backlog as soon as possible. Reduced to a claim number in a seemingly endless line, our veterans experience pain, frustration, hopelessness, and despair. Although the backlog has shrunk since Congress last passed a similar appropriations bill, we must not lose sight of the importance of getting veterans their hard-earned benefits as soon as possible. That is why I am offering this amendment to advocate for an additional $5 million to fund the digital scanning of health and benefits files to reduce the backlog by redirecting funding within the General Operating Expenses account of the Veterans Benefits Administration. This amendment simply directs funds towards the digital scanning of health and benefits files that will reduce the claims backlog without any new spending. As an emergency medicine physician, I understand the importance of efficiency in health care, and I know how dangerous continued bureaucratic rejection can be for a person with PTSD or depression. By committing resources to digitizing health and benefits files, we will further increase VA's capacity to tackle the claims backlog, ultimately ensuring veterans receive the benefits they have earned in a timely manner. We must serve our veterans by making certain that Congress focuses on eliminating the claims backlog for good. I encourage my colleagues to stand up for veterans and support my pragmatic amendment to reduce the veterans' claims processing time. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Madam Speaker, recently I called for a vote on legislation to address the threat of the Zika virus, but nothing was done. Now there are more than 1,000 and rising confirmed cases of Zika in the United States and its territories. Pregnant women and their children across the country are now more at risk as the summer months and mosquito season approach. It is just a matter of time. In fact, on Monday the Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District confirmed that the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which can carry Zika, was detected in my hometown of Coachella. Madam Speaker, no vote, no funding, means that you are willing to accept that children will be born with microcephaly. Allowing gridlock, hyperpartisanship, and congressional dysfunction to put women and their children at high risk is unacceptable to me and American families. As an emergency physician, I know that emergency funding now will allow physicians and scientists to better protect the health security of women and their children. Madam Speaker, let's vote on emergency funding to combat Zika now before it is too late.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, the Zika virus results in devastating human illness, like small, deformed brains in infants and paralyzing neurodegenerative diseases. It has already infected over 900 people in the United States and its territories, and it is just a matter of time before it will rapidly spread in the United States. Mr. Speaker, Congress needs to do its job and protect the health security of the American people and vote for emergency funding to fight Zika now before we adjourn and before it is too late. Listen to the scientists, to the public experts, and to the CDC. All of them are echoing the same warning. Funding is imperative to prevent the spread of Zika, and it is our responsibility, our moral obligation, as Members of Congress, to protect the public against this potential crisis. What are we waiting for? The House should not adjourn until we have passed H.R. 5044, the emergency supplemental on the Zika virus.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, today it is my honor to congratulate and recognize Ms. Shelley Martin: a generous and selfless individual who worked as an integral part of my team for over three years. Shelley is a long time resident of my congressional district. She grew up in the Hemet Valley and graduated from Hemet High School. She then attended The Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in Los Angeles, and later returned back to her hometown to serve her community. For over three years, Shelley was the gold standard for constituent services in my office. She dedicated many hours and energy to constituents, finding solutions in the most difficult cases involving social Security, Medicare, and Veterans. While working for the People of California's 36th Congressional District, Shelley paid special care and attention to veterans in our communities. Shelley spent countless hours advocating on behalf of veterans who served our country honorably. She treated each constituent who sought help from my office with the patience, care, and respect due to them. Shelley's selfless dedication to serving those in need in my congressional district is commendable and a model for public service. Shelley remains passionate about serving the community she calls home. In her time with my office, Shelley successfully managed all community engagement in the communities of San Jacinto and Hemet. She is diligent and thorough, and goes above and beyond the call of duty to serve our communities, working hard to ensure that my constituents have the resources that they need. Her selfless dedication and hard work will be greatly missed. However, her love of public service will not be forgotten. Shelley has transformed the lives of countless individuals and families in my district, and for that I am truly grateful. I thank Shelly for her dedication and service to the constituents of the 36th district. I wish her well in her future endeavors and look forward to seeing her future accomplishments.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress and the 36th Congressional District of California, I congratulate the students, families, and teachers--past and present--of Cesar Chavez Elementary School in my hometown of Coachella, California, on the occasion of the school's twenty-fifth anniversary. For a quarter of a century, the Cesar Chavez Elementary School has provided young scholars from the Coachella Valley with a top-rate education. Named after an American hero, it continues to carry out a vital mission to our country and our region: to carry on his legacy by educating children to be socially responsible citizens of our community. To the parents who entrust their children to Cesar Chavez Elementary School, it is your desire to better the lives of your children that continues to build our great country. Each family's individual pursuit of their American dream contributes to making our nation a more perfect union. Your hard work, calloused hands, and tired shoulders lift up our children and our community, and Cesar Chavez would be proud. As the son of farmworkers from Coachella, it remains my humble honor to represent my hometown in the U.S. House of Representatives. Coachella's history is steeped in the American pursuit of liberty and justice for all because of the work of Cesar Chavez. Cesar Chavez Elementary School carries the legacy of being the only school named after Cesar Chavez and whose opening was presided by the great civil rights leader himself. Mr. Speaker, on the occasion of this silver anniversary, I commend the faculty and staff for preserving and honoring his legacy and for inspiring today's youth to live lives dedicated to justice and a love for our country. I sincerely thank the school for its contribution to our Coachella Valley, and I look forward to its continued success in the years to come. Yes we can do it. (Si se puede).

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, yesterday was a very important day in my family's life. I have been the happiest man for 2 years, ever since I married my wife Monica and, also, the birth of Sky and Sage, my twin daughters. They are here with me today. We celebrated their first birthday yesterday with friends and family and good folks. It has been one of those years of reflection that makes us all human--being a father, being a husband, and having a family. That is the essence that combines us all, as human beings. I urge my colleagues to pause, celebrate their families, celebrate their children, their parents, hug them, love them, and let's remember we are all part of the human family.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise to address a serious public health issue facing our country. As a physician, I am very concerned over the recent spread of the Zika virus in the Americas, particularly given the potential long-term effects that are now being linked to the virus. Zika was first discovered in 1948 in Uganda. Until recently, little research or attention was paid to the virus. It was not thought to have any lasting effects until recently. Because of this, there is no vaccine, no drug treatment, and testing is not readily available. It is important to note that four out of five individuals who contract Zika are unaware that they have it because they do not ever show any symptoms. For those that do, symptoms are generally mild. However, as the virus continues to spread, researchers are identifying a link between Zika and infants being born with congenital microcephaly as well as a link between Zika and Guillain-Barre syndrome. There are still many questions, and scientists are searching for answers. For example, can Zika be transmitted sexually? If so, for how long is it transmittable? What are the long-term health and economic effects of this infection? While at this time there have been no reported cases of mosquito transmission within the U.S., there have been over 150 travel-related cases reported. Most recently a Zika case was found in Orange County, not too far from my district. The CDC is currently advising pregnant women to postpone travel to Zika-affected areas, and if they must travel, to first consult with their physician and take all necessary precautions to avoid mosquitos. Last month, the administration submitted a supplemental appropriations request for emergency funding to help fight the Zika virus. And my physician-scientist colleagues at the CDC and NIH have echoed the need for funding. As we enter mosquito season and families start to travel for summer vacation, it is important that we do not delay this funding and work to ensure that we contain the damage the virus could cause if left unchecked. Timing is of the essence and emergency funding needs to be appropriated immediately to mitigate any potentially destructive effects. This is why I sent a bipartisan letter, along with 61 of my colleagues, urging Speaker Ryan to bring to the floor legislation that would appropriate emergency funding to help fight the Zika virus. This is not a Democratic issue. This is not a Republican issue. It is a public health and health security issue. The cost of not acting is just too high.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize and celebrate the life of a magnificent human being, remarkable leader, and close personal friend, Mr. George Zander of Palm Springs, California. Many in our community knew George as a strident advocate for equality. George was a gentle man with a burning passion to make our Nation a more perfect Union, particularly for our LGBT brothers and sisters. In my years working in the Coachella Valley, I, like so many others in our community, knew George as a colleague, adviser, and, above all, a dear friend. George left this world on December 10, 2015. Nonetheless, his vision, passion, and vigorous strength to fight for a more just Coachella Valley, a more just Nation, and, ultimately, a more just world, are what remain. George's legacy is one of social justice. For over three decades, he was actively engaged in the communities that make up the desert of the Coachella Valley. He was a leader among us and steadfastly guided our community toward a more inclusive and welcoming place. So today I would like to take a moment to memorialize the life of George Zander, whose legacy will live on for future generations, not just in the Coachella Valley, but in the history of our Nation. As a young man, George heeded President Kennedy's call to service and joined the Peace Corps, where it became clear that he was a natural leader. His leadership and advocacy for the LGBT community spanned decades and began in a time where it was far less politically or socially acceptable to do so, but that didn't stop him. In Seattle, Washington, George was a member of the first openly gay and lesbian association, called the Dorian Group. This vanguard organization advocated for the advancement of the rights of LGBT individuals at a difficult time in our Nation's history. It took great courage, but George was never one to shy away from taking a stand. George had a passion for public service and a sincere faith that our representative government plays a role in improving lives. He worked alongside his good friend, Seattle's mayor Ed Murray, was chair of the King County Democratic Party, and worked for the 1996 Clinton-Gore campaign. Later, moving to San Francisco, he worked side by side with Cleve Jones, another prominent LGBT rights activist. From Washington to San Francisco, to our beautiful desert in the Coachella Valley, George made an enormous impact. After moving to the Valley, he worked in the office of the great Senator Boxer. He was a member of the Palm Springs Police Advisory Board, the Palm Springs Police Department LGBT Outreach Committee, and vice chair of the Warm Sands Neighborhood Organization. George was a contributor for the LGBT publication, The Bottom Line, cofounded the Desert-Stonewall Democrats, and later became the Palm Springs field officer manager for Equality California. George played a key role in advocating for laws that protect the LGBT community locally and statewide, working tirelessly to defeat proposition 8. He also collaborated with other local LGBT groups, such as the Palm Springs Human Rights Campaign, the LGBT Center, Desert AIDS Project, and Trans Palm Springs. Mr. Speaker, George was a true leader who was the victim of a hate crime weeks before his death. I condemn these acts. There should be no space for these types of actions toward any human being, regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity. For more than three decades, George spearheaded efforts advocating for human rights and equality for all in my district and across the Nation. George was not only an extraordinary leader, activist, friend, and husband, but, overall, a gentle, loving, and caring human being. In honor of George Zander, let us pay our respects and never forget his legacy. Let us continue fighting for a more just and tolerant world.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, today I am honored to congratulate John Mealey on his retirement after 34 years of leadership in helping build communities and changing lives for thousands of farmworkers, service workers, and chronically ill residents through the Coachella Valley Housing Coalition (CVHC). In 1982, Mr. Mealey led the way with community leaders to address the housing needs of hundreds of low income families in the Coachella Valley by forming CVHC. That same year, CVHC received its first grant of $10,000 from Aetna Foundation and in 1986 they built the first low- income farmworkers complex in Coachella, Ca. Fast-forwarding three decades--and thanks to Mr. Mealey's diligent work and vision--he has helped fundraise over $700 million toward building more than 4,500 homes and apartments for low and very low- income residents in the Coachella Valley. Furthermore, under Mr. Mealey's guidance, CVHC has created home ownership opportunities from Palm Springs to Blythe in the 36th Congressional district. This translates into a dream come true for families and a better and brighter future for generations to come. In 2002, the Board of Directors and employees of the CVHC established the JFM College Scholarship Fund Program in honor of Mr. John F. Mealey. The Scholarship fund awards scholarships annually to students who reside in affordable housing communities developed by CVHC. The JFM has generated half a million in scholarship funds and benefitted more than 600 students. Mr. Mealey's extraordinary career began in Philadelphia at a nonprofit housing organization. Before joining CVHC in 1982, he worked at the Riverside Department of Housing and Community Development. Mr. Mealey also served as a board member on the California Coalition for Rural Housing, the National Rural Housing Coalition and the National Equity Fund. Amongst the numerous reputable recognitions that Mr. Mealey has obtained throughout his remarkable career, he recently was honored with the Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC) award. This distinction is presented to those individuals who demonstrate the lifetime achievement of leadership in rural development, building and sustaining an organization that benefits rural communities and has a regional impact. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize Mr. Mealey who for nearly four decades dedicated his time to better the lives of underserved communities. For his work and on behalf of the thousands of families of the 36th district of California, I would like to offer my sincerest thanks and congratulate Mr. Mealey for his exceptional commitment. I wish him and his wife Patricia the best on his well-deserved retirement.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise to urge the swift consideration of H.R. 677, the American Heroes COLA Act. This bill includes two of my bills, H.R. 2691, the Veterans' Survivors Claims Processing Automation Act, and H.R. 732, the Veterans Access to Speedy Review Act. The claims and appeals backlog that is plaguing veterans in my district and across the Nation is unacceptable. The Veterans' Survivors Claims Processing Automation Act will allow veterans' surviving families to mourn their loss and grieve without unnecessary bureaucratic steps in the benefit claims process. The Veterans Access to Speedy Review Act will allow veterans to voluntarily use video conferencing technology to accelerate the appeals process. Veterans and their families deserve to have their claims reviewed and to receive the benefits that they have earned and deserve in a timely and efficient manner. I came to Washington to fight for pragmatic solutions to meet our Nation's most pressing needs. These two bills are pragmatic solutions for our veterans. Mr. Speaker, join me in honoring our veterans by bringing this legislation to a vote.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 44 on January 13, 2016, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.'' personal explanation

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize and honor the life of 81- year-old Crisanta Romero of Thermal, California. She passed away on January 2, 2016, but she leaves behind an extraordinary legacy. Cris is an inspiration. She graduated from Coachella Valley High School and knew the importance of being disciplined, never missing a single day of work at J. C. Penney for over 40 years. After retiring, she returned to work in the food industry for another 13 years. She still had the energy and passion to volunteer countless hours for over 30 years with nonprofit organizations like the Coachella church, library, Center for Employment Training, senior volunteer programs, senior centers, chambers of commerce, and the list goes on and on. She was a photojournalist for her own column, ``The Adventures of Cris.'' Mrs. Romero led the Boy Scouts of America's Helping a Boy Grow for over 20 years. Cris was named Riverside County's volunteer of the year in 2000, and in 2003 she was honored as the city of Coachella's Citizen of the Year. Her attitude toward life was admirable, her sense of community was exceptional, and her smile was irreplaceable.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, on December 11, 2015, the Islamic Society of Coachella Valley mosque was firebombed, with four people praying inside, 9 days after the San Bernardino terrorist mass shooting. The perpetrator is being charged for a hate crime. Mr. Speaker, I strongly condemn violence toward innocent people, whether they are victims of terrorism or victims of hate crimes, whether they are randomly chosen or targeted for being Muslim. I strongly condemn the hate speech from politicos who capitalize on the fear of the fearful and the hate of the hateful for political gain. As Americans, we believe in justice, the rule of law, and freedom of religion. Destroying terrorists and protecting law-abiding Muslim Americans are not mutually exclusive, and we must do both because we believe in justice, sentencing the guilty, and protecting the innocent. That is why I stand with my local priests, pastors, rabbis, imams, and law enforcement to denounce the violence, pursue justice, and strengthen our humanity.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize and to honor the life of 26-year-old Aurora Banales Godoy of San Jacinto, California, whose life was taken in the December 2 terrorist attack in San Bernardino, California. ``Rora,'' as she was called by her family, had a caring, loving, and happy personality, and she smiled a lot. She would always lend a helping hand when needed even without being asked. Rora graduated from Carson High School in California and attended culinary school. She worked for the San Bernardino County's Department of Environmental Health. She married her high school sweetheart, James Godoy, and is mother to Alexander, a beautiful 2-year-old boy. Rora's legacy will live on through Alexander's happy demeanor and smiles. Rora's passion was to be a great mom and wife. She enjoyed baking, scrapbooking, Disneyland, the Green Bay Packers, and ``Star Wars'' movies. We will miss Rora's laugh; but as she would say, ``What can I do to get through this? Smile. Everything will be okay, and happiness will come back again.''

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, I am heartbroken and outraged over the mass shooting act of terror that took the lives of innocent people and left many others wounded in the neighboring community of San Bernardino. These cold-blooded acts of violence in our Nation has to stop. I strongly denounce this act of terror and mourn for the 14 victims of this horrific tragedy, including Aurora Godoy, a constituent of mine from San Jacinto, California, whose young life was cut far too short. December 2, 2015, will remain in all of our memories as a tragic day for San Bernardino, the Inland Empire, California, and our Nation. In the face of this tragedy, however, true heroism shined through when law enforcement officials ran towards the danger, risking their own lives to protect the lives of others and when first responders tended to the injuries of the victims. Our Nation should be proud of the men and women who risked their lives to save our community that day. Thank you to the men and women who wore the badge and took care of the victims.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the life of Brigadier General Frederick ``Fritz'' R. Payne, Jr., a Marine Corps American Fighter Ace, recipient of a Congressional Gold Medal, dedicated husband to the late Dorothy Payne, and proud father and grandfather. General Payne led a life centered on service, commitment, and sacrifice. In May, I was honored to present General Payne with the Congressional Gold Medal for his dedicated service to the Marine Corps and status as the oldest living American Fighter Ace, an elite group of pilots having downed at least five enemy aircraft in battle. Time after time, General Payne risked his life to preserve the freedom of all Americans, and time after time, General Payne was successful in his mission. For this, I am grateful. In 1935, after graduating from the University of Arizona, Fritz joined the Marine Corps in an effort to pursue his dream of becoming a pilot. Not only did he achieve this dream, but after encountering fierce conflict over Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands Area, he also achieved status among the most elite fighter pilots, American Fighter Aces. Our freedom endures because of the bravery of men and women like General Payne. General Payne is survived by his two sons, Robert Payne and Dewitt Payne; daughter Elizabeth Ann Payne; and three grandchildren. His wife, Dorothy Payne, predeceased him in 2011. Mr. Speaker, General Payne's selfless service and vast military achievements in pursuit of the preservation of our American freedoms and ideals deserves acknowledgement. On behalf of all Americans, and in particular the residents of California's 36th Congressional District, I would like to honor the life and military service of Brigadier General Federick ``Fritz'' R. Payne, Jr.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, today we are leading the way at the Red Hill Bay to revive the Salton Sea. The Salton Sea is the largest body of water in and poses the largest public health and economic threat to California. As the sea recedes, windblown dust containing arsenic and pesticides can cause respiratory distress in kids and seniors in the surrounding communities. The noxious odors may reduce home values and harm our tourism industry, costing billions of dollars. For too long, there has been study after study but no concrete action. Today, at the Salton Sea's Red Hill Bay, we break ground on the first large-scale project to help prevent dust exposure and promote renewable energy development. Imagine a Salton Sea that hosts the largest renewable energy industrial park in the Nation, creating jobs in southern California, while preserving wildlife habitat and preventing the noxious dust our children may breathe. Imagine a Salton Sea that, once again, attracts tourists from throughout the globe. This is my vision for the Salton Sea, and today we took the first step to making this vision a reality.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and great legacy of San Jacinto Valley's artist, Stephen Talley, known as Steve, who passed away last week after his battle with cancer at the age of 62. Steve was 11 years old when he began his career, creating and selling his artwork. That passion is what led him to pursue and share his artistic vision with the community and the world. For more than 30 years, Steve taught art at San Jacinto High School, touching the life of every student who sat in his class. He was known internationally for his work, winning more than 100 awards in numerous competitions, many of them in first place. He never let his success get in the way of his commitment to his students and, as a result, he has inspired a new generation of artists to never give up on their dreams. Steve was a mentor, a teacher, a friend, and, above all, he was a great man. His memory will never be forgotten. As we mourn the passing of Stephen Talley and celebrate his life, my thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, students, and the San Jacinto Valley community.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize a remarkable family of American heroes, men and women who since World War II have served in our Armed Forces to keep all of us and our way of life safe and secure. The story begins with Mr. Esabel Parga Ortiz and his wife, Maria Montoya Ortiz, who migrated to the United States from Mexico in 1912 and, in 1915, moved to the Coachella Valley. In the heart of our southern California desert, they put down roots-- resilient roots, mind you--and raised their children to value the American Dream. It was those teachings that inspired and drove their sons, Pete and Joseph, to enlist in the U.S. armed services and defend our Nation. Ever since World War II, every generation of the Ortiz family, totaling over 50 family members, have bravely served in America's Armed Forces, putting their lives on the line to protect our freedoms. For their selfless and honorable service, I am proud to recognize the valor and sacrifices of the Ortiz family. Thank you for your service.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Madam Speaker, as an emergency physician I am deeply disturbed by the provisions in this legislation. The Born-Alive Infants Protection Act was signed into law in 2002. The pro-choice community did not oppose it, and it passed the House by a voice vote under suspension of the rules. It was consistent with the already high medical and ethical standards within the physician community. This new bill, however, is unnecessary and dangerous. It criminalizes physicians who make serious and compassionate decisions based on their deep desire to do what is best for the mother, her health, and life. It creates a police state and forces healthcare staffs that do not have medical training to inform law enforcement of their nonmedical questioning of a physician's sound judgment under the threat of prosecution and imprisonment. This also gives anti-choice lawyers the ability to bully, threaten, and harm a physician's reputation and practice. Infanticide is already illegal in this country. This bill is highly intrusive to the patient-doctor relationship. Let's be clear. This is yet another attempt by anti-choice bully politicians to restrict a woman's right to choose and doctors' ability to provide sound, compassionate, and safe care for women. It is an aggressive, bullish scare tactic that puts the relationship of the woman and her physician in jeopardy and forces politicians in the middle of decisions that they have no business being involved in. I agree with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and other physician groups in opposing this legislation. I stand with the women across this great country that have continued to fight for decades to defend their legal right to choose.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. I thank the gentlewoman. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of a woman's right to choose, women's health, and Planned Parenthood. You see, before I ran for Congress, I spent 9 years as an emergency medicine physician. A few years ago, a 55-year-old woman came into my emergency room with a gynecological hemorrhage. After we stopped the bleeding in the ER, we admitted her for diagnosis and treatment. Sadly, as I suspected, she had advanced cervical cancer, and 5 months later, she died, leaving her family behind. Until recently, cervical cancer was the leading cause of cancer deaths for women in the United States. However, over the past 40 years, we have dramatically reduced the number of deaths from cervical cancer. According to the CDC, ``This decline largely is the result of many women getting regular Pap tests, which can find cervical pre-cancer before it turns into cancer.'' Madam Speaker, that is what is at stake in this debate. In fact, 97 percent of Planned Parenthood's services are not abortion related. Planned Parenthood provides many health and wellness services, including STI testing, contraceptives, and cancer screenings to over 2 million women and men each year. Opponents of Planned Parenthood's want to turn this into a debate about abortion, but it is not. Let's be clear. Defunding Planned Parenthood won't reduce the number of abortions at all. This is a debate about cervical cancer. This is a debate about breast cancer. This is a debate about how many women we are going to allow to go undiagnosed and untreated. This is a debate about how many women we are going to allow to show up in emergency rooms like mine, with terminal cancer, too late to be saved. In California alone, Planned Parenthood health centers have provided over 93,000 Pap tests for cervical cancer and 97,000 breast exams to help prevent death from breast cancer. Madam Speaker, Planned Parenthood saves lives. Here is who actually loses if Planned Parenthood loses its funding: Women in geographically underserved areas lose; uninsured and underinsured women lose; women on Medicaid lose; and low-income women lose. Planned Parenthood fills that access gap and provides essential health services to those who need it the most. Cutting their funding will have a long-term, devastating effect on the overall health of women in our communities, worsening health outcomes and health disparities for women across our Nation. To me, this isn't a political debate, because I have seen firsthand what happens when women don't have access to preventative care. Women die; children are left without their mothers; and families are torn apart. It is for these reasons that I oppose this misguided, mean-spirited, politically driven measure, and it is for these reasons that I stand with Planned Parenthood.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, today I am honored to recognize Joaquin Esquivel on his appointment to serve as Assistant Secretary for Federal Water Policy at the California Natural Resources Agency. Mr. Esquivel has served on U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer's staff for over 8 years, most recently serving as Legislative Assistant and Director of Information and Technology. During his time with Senator Boxer, Mr. Esquivel has developed policy expertise in a variety of issues critical to California including water policy, agriculture, tribal issues, and the Salton Sea. Among his many contributions to federal water policy, Mr. Esquivel has been instrumental in the creation of comprehensive drought resiliency legislation and helped write the Water in the 21st Century Act (W21). A native to the Coachella Valley, Mr. Esquivel grew up in La Quinta. His parents both worked for Coachella Valley Unified School District and his grandparents were farmworkers. After graduating from La Quinta High School, Mr. Esquivel went on to earn a bachelor's degree in English at the University of California, Santa Barbara, fulfilling his passion for literature and its ability to reflect and catalyze social change. He then took a chance to pursue his dreams, stepping out of his comfort zone; in 2007 he moved to Washington, D.C., where he first started with Senator Boxer as an intern. Mr. Esquivel's talent and success are an example of how our local youth can go on to make a difference for their communities. Furthermore, growing up in the Coachella Valley, he understands firsthand the unique struggles that our district faces with the decline of the Salton Sea. He has been a true champion of the Salton Sea, coordinating Senator Boxer's efforts on this impending issue and shepherding authorizing language that would allow the Army Corps of Engineers to help with its restoration. Mr. Esquivel's other legislative accomplishments include spearheading ideas and legislation to protect pollinators across California, which are essential to our state's almond production and other agricultural industries. Furthermore, as the Senator's lead staffer on tribal issues, Mr. Esquivel has worked to ensure the more than 100 federally recognized tribes in California have a voice in Congress. I am proud to recognize Mr. Esquivel's contributions to our nation's water, tribal, and agricultural policies, and I look forward to seeing the vision and leadership he will bring to State of California.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, today I am honored to recognize and congratulate Dr. G. Richard Olds, Dean of the University of California Riverside School of Medicine, on his retirement. Dean Olds has led a life of distinguished service as an educator, scientist, physician and founding dean of the UC Riverside School of Medicine. He has served as a full professor of medicine, molecular, and cell and development biology at Brown University, and professor and chairman of medicine at the MetroHealth Campus of Case Western Reserve University. Prior to joining the faculty at UC Riverside, Dean Olds was appointed professor and chair of medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin. He has been an inspirational leader and adviser to hundreds of graduates. Among his many contributions to higher education, he also served as a tropical disease specialist on the World Health Organization expert committee on schistosomiasis, and has authored over 100 peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and reviews. Dean Olds came to UC Riverside to create a School of Medicine--the first public medical school in California in more than four decades. His drive and vision led to a school with the unique and special mission focusing on the needs of the surrounding communities and the future path of community-based, value-based health care. In an effort to address the severe doctor shortage in Inland Southern California, Dean Olds created a medical school that would expand and diversify the physician workforce and serve as a catalyst for improving the health of the community. UC Riverside School of Medicine is accredited largely in part to Dean Olds. In 2011, the State of California eliminated pledged annual funding for the school, resulting in the denial of accreditation. Dean Olds' unrelenting determination fostered an ambitious year of fundraising and advocacy, in which the medical school raised $100 million to support the school for over ten years. The school was accredited and the doors opened in fall 2013--the first time in three decades that an American medical school was approved after previously having been denied accreditation. I am proud to recognize Dean Olds on his years of service and congratulate him on his retirement from UC Riverside School of Medicine. I look forward to his forthcoming accomplishments and future success, wherever he begins his next journey. On behalf of the countless medical students, future doctors, and patients, whose lives you have changed and impacted, thank you for your service.

Mr. RUIZ

Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, today I am honored to recognize Ms. Gloria Margarita Rodriguez on her new position as a reporter for WTVD in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina. A native to the Coachella Valley, Ms. Rodriguez has served the community as KMIR Anchor, Reporter, and Producer for over 9 years. She has used her talent to cover several nationally recognized local events such as the Humana Challenge, Palm Springs International Film Festival, and the BNP Paribas Open. Additionally, she has interviewed celebrities and politicians, reported on numerous wildfires, and covered President Gerald Ford's death and state funeral. Ms. Rodriguez has used her reporting to shed light on important issues including working conditions of migrant workers, living conditions at Thermal mobile home parks, immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border, and LGBT equality rights. After completing high school at Cathedral City, Ms. Rodriguez received her bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism and political science from the University of Southern California. She completed her master's degree program at the Columbia University School of Journalism in New York City, and then worked as a reporter for KNWA in Arkansas. She has written articles for The New York Times, The Boston Globe, the St. Paul Pioneer Press, and The Desert Sun. She returned to the desert in 2006, working as a weekend anchor and field reporter for KMIR/KPSE- TV. Most recently she has been the co-anchor of KMIR's two-hour Today Show. In addition to her many contributions to journalism, Ms. Rodriguez has been a passionate advocate for access to higher education. Serving as both Executive Director with the Reynaldo J. Carreon Foundation and professor of media and public relations at the College of the Desert, she has been a strong voice, inspiring and empowering students to pursue and complete undergraduate degrees. In October 2010, Ms. Rodriguez was named one of Palm Spring Life's ``40 Under 40'' for contributions to the community. Ms. Rodriguez will be reporting in one of the top 25 media markets in the country in her new position at WTVD, bringing her integrity and advocacy to an even larger audience. I am proud to recognize Ms. Rodriguez's contributions to Coachella Valley, and I look forward to her success and accomplishments at WTVD.