Loretta Sanchez

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor all the brave men and women who have served and are currently serving our country today in the Armed Forces. Today over 70,000 servicemembers are overseas protecting America and Americans. These men and women sacrifice their lives fighting wars overseas so that the wars don't come to our shores. This year many American families have endured the tragedies of war through the loss of their family members. We must never forget their service. As we celebrate this holiday season, let us remember all of our military servicemembers and their families as they continue to serve our country and fight for our security and freedoms. Too many American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, and airwomen will be away from their families at this holiday season. I would like to express my gratitude for their service and wish them all happy holidays.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I stand here today to praise the passage of the Every Student Succeeds Act, a landmark piece of bipartisan legislation that fixes the outdated policies of No Child Left Behind. This legislation takes into consideration the collective criticisms of teachers and students and parents and, well, everybody really involved with education. The Every Student Succeeds Act benefits low-income students, minority students, and English language barriers to learners by requiring schools to include student data about these groups into their accountability process. High-stakes testing will no longer monopolize our class time. Schools will now have the flexibility to pilot innovative testing measures, allowing more time for learning in the classroom. I was also proud that both Chambers included final language, which I supported, to include statistics for homeless students so that we can identify and aid some of our most needy students. Every child has a right to a quality education. I am so happy we were able to pass this act.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the accomplishments and the contributions of Reverend Sam Craig, Jr., and to offer my condolences to his family. Reverend Craig passed away peacefully on the 29th of November this year. He was 91 years old, and he is survived by his wife, Catherine Caldwell. Reverend Craig was the assistant pastor at First Baptist Church in Santa Ana, where he was a member for over 42 years. Reverend Craig enlisted in the Marines Corps in 1947, and he served with honor for 22 years. He served in World War II, in the Korean war, and in Vietnam, and eventually retired in 1969 as a warrant officer. After retiring from the military, he taught for 17 years in our local Santa Ana Unified School District as both an elementary and a junior high school teacher. Reverend Craig was committed to his church, and he had a passion. He had a passion for teaching Bible study and for leading the Mission Society. Reverend Craig's dedication to education, to community service, and to his faith is highly commendable. The people of California's 46th Congressional District will miss him.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I stand here today to remember the victims of the tragic terrorist attack in San Bernardino, California. Among these victims was a young woman from my district named Tin Nguyen. She was from Santa Ana, California. Tin was only 31 years old, and she had been working for the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health for 4 years as a food inspector, and she was planning her wedding to her longtime boyfriend when she was taken on that day of the shooting. At the age of 8, Tin and her family fled Vietnam. They fled a war, famine, and all sorts of terrible situations to come and find a new life in California. Despite the challenges of being an immigrant, Tin graduated from Valley High School in Santa Ana, and she received her undergraduate degree from Cal State, Fullerton. Last Saturday, family and friends gathered at Saint Barbara's Catholic Church in Santa Ana to mourn the death of this young woman who was known for her incredible spirit and a heart bigger than the sun. Let us honor the memory of this extraordinary young woman. She gave so much, but her life was tragically cut short by these shootings.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate International Human Rights Day. This year we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Mr. Speaker, the United States of America was founded upon freedom, democracy, and liberty, and America must perform its role as an advocate and as a defender of these values. Today, more than 140 prisoners of conscience are currently imprisoned in Vietnam due to their political views and activities. These activists are victims of constant mental and physical harassment and oftentimes are forced to endure unsanitary prison conditions. Activists, including Tran Huynh Duy Thuc, Dang Xuan Dieu, and Ho Duc Hoa, were falsely tried and imprisoned simply for practicing their right to assemble. This year, in November, Burma, a country known for its horrendous human rights record, held its first free election, yet Vietnam continues to function as a single-party system. Today, on International Human Rights Day, I urge Vietnam to finally open up its society and to empower its people.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, on Saturday, December 5, 2015, the city of Garden Grove lost a genuine American hero when, Tibor ``Teddy'' Rubin, a Holocaust survivor and recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor, passed away due to natural causes. He was 86 years old. Corporal Rubin began his extraordinary life on June 18, 1929, in Pastzo. Hungary. His father served in the Hungarian Army and was a veteran of the First World War. When Corporal Rubin was only 14 years old he was sent to the Mauthausen concentration camp in Austria. He survived the 14 months of captivity until his prison camp was liberated by American forces in May 1945. Tragically, his father, stepmother, and younger sister would perish. Corporal Rubin, immensely thankful for his liberation by American forces, wished to join the U.S. Army in order to repay the country that he felt he was so indebted to. After failing twice to enlist due to poor English, he was finally able to join in 1948 as a rifleman with I Company, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. Corporal Rubin's courage is made evident by his Medal of Honor citation. Corporal Rubin fought bravely and did everything to protect his brothers in arms. He distinguished himself on October 30, 1950, during a nighttime assault on his unit's position by an overwhelming Chinese force. Corporal Rubin manned a .30 caliber machine gun and fended off the assault until his ammunition was exhausted. Because of his valiant and selfless actions the Chinese assault was slowed and his unit was able to successfully escape the overwhelming enemy force. Corporal Rubin would be severely wounded and taken as a prisoner of war. He chose to remain a prisoner rather than taking a Chinese offer to be sent back to his native Hungary. Corporal Rubin risked torture and execution on multiple occasions in order to retrieve food and aid for his fellow imprisoned Soldiers. His horrific experience as a Holocaust survivor gave him the skills necessary to remain hopeful and keep himself and his comrades alive in a terrible situation. Unfortunately, because of an anti-Semitic superior, Corporal Rubin's courageous military service would go unrecognized for another 55 years. He would finally be awarded the Medal of Honor on September 23, 2005, for his heroic actions in the Korean peninsula. Corporal Rubin is survived by his wife, Yvonne, and his two children Frank and Rosalyn Rubin. He was a proud American and the kind of model citizen we should all strive to be. Corporal Rubin, despite everything he went through in life, preserved his optimism and his terrific sense of humor. His extraordinary immigrant story is an inspiration to us all. His passing is a great loss for our country, but his memory will forever live on.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight an issue that is incredibly important. It is probably the number one issue going on in my district today. And that is the whole issue of housing: housing, and the opportunity to own your own home, to provide a safe haven for your family, to build wealth. You see, owning your own home for almost everybody in our country is the first rung of the ladder of wealth creation. Yet today, that dream--and it is a dream for many of our citizens, particularly those in the Latino and minority communities--is just that, a dream. Latinos, like all Americans, are committed to building a better and stronger future for their families and for their communities. It starts by becoming a homeowner, to own a piece of America, to have a real stake in America. That is one of the reasons homeownership is so important. It is important because it creates wealth--as I said, the first rung on the ladder for people to have an investment. It creates social stability. It creates a haven for the family, for family get-togethers. A home is really one of the most important assets for a family to have. Owning a home has far-reaching consequences in our economy for communities. This fall, I had the opportunity to be a keynote speaker at a bipartisan leadership forum on achieving the American Dream, hosted by First American Financial Corporation, who is headquartered in my district. I was joined by many of my colleagues, including Representative Linda Sanchez, Representative Emanuel Cleaver, former Governor Luis Fortuno, industry leaders, and community activists. The decision to become a homeowner is one of the most important decisions, and it commits a person. It commits a family. It commits us towards getting to the middle class. For people in the bottom 40 percent of annual income level, wealth creation is almost exclusively in homeownership. According to the National Association of Home Builders, ``the primary residence represents the largest asset category'' in our country, accounting for 30 percent of our Nation's total assets. The importance of homeownership is even greater for the middle class: 62 percent of the median homeowner's assets and 42 percent of their total wealth lies in their home. Not to mention that access to home equity, being able to pull out some of that equity you have built up, provides families with financial stability when there are financial stresses going on in the family. It is an emergency fund in some cases, and it helps to start a business, it helps to fund college for our children. Homeownership is a key to creating stable, economically successful households and to provide security for existing and future generations. Households with wealth are able to weather financial shocks and increase upward economic mobility for themselves and for future generations. In fact, analysis provided by First American's Chief Economist, Mark Fleming, highlighted homeownership trends based on household formation rates among Latino and African American Communities. The research identified the importance of homeownership- based wealth formation as the key, the key to wealth creation for middle- and low-income Americans. Providing Americans with equal opportunity to pursue that homeownership is a challenge, and it is very challenging in the Latino, African American, and other minority communities. This last recession of 5 or 6 years--this really terrible, difficult recession for so many people--saw in the Latino community two-thirds, 66 percent, of the wealth across our Nation within the Latino community went away. I hope that my colleagues will help us in building back to homeownership for all of our communities in America.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, on December 3, 2015, I was unable to vote on the Conference Report to accompany H.R. 22, the Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2015 (rollcall No. 673). Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.'' Personal Explanation

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, on December 2, 2015, I was unable to vote on the Conference Report to accompany S. 1177, the Every Student Succeeds Act (Roll Call Number 655). Had I been present, I would have voted Yes.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my concern and opposition to the Republican Syrian refugee bill. This restrictive and misguided legislation would immediately shut down the current refugee resettlement and cripple our refugee programs for the future. I represent Orange County, California, one of the historically known areas of resettling refugees from all around the world. We are ready. We are ready. Once this administration has taken a look at the backgrounds, has done the extensive research that they do with respect to somebody's background, we are ready to help resettle these refugees. Refusing to resettle any Syrian refugees would inadvertently empower Daesh and boost their recruitment abilities among vulnerable populations struggling to survive. We cannot let Daesh push us to succumb to fear and to prejudice. These Syrian refugees are fleeing the same violence that we have seen in Paris and Beirut and Baghdad this last week. Three-quarters of them are women and children. A quarter of them are over 60 years of age. Refugees are not the enemy. So remember the words on our Statue of Liberty: ``Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.''

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from New Jersey for talking about Ms. Gonzalez, who was from our area. She actually was from a city called El Monte, California, and that is where my first cousin, Norma Macias, is a councilwoman there at that city. Right now, as we are speaking, they are holding a vigil for her, a memorial for her. She was a young lady on a semester abroad wanting to change the world by good design and using green products, et cetera. So thank you for mentioning her. I am sure the Gonzalez family will be very touched. And, of course, thank you for mentioning the whole issue of the refugees because we are a beacon. We are a shining beacon of the world. These are people who are fleeing these types of terrorist attacks. So I hope that we do have a good resolution to allow these refugees to go to all the countries until we figure out what is going on in the Middle East and they can return home. Home is where they really want to be. Thank you. I thank my great colleague from New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, tonight I rise to address an issue that unfortunately reaches into households in each and every State, every city, and every neighborhood in this great Nation. It is the issue of poverty. Poverty is a plague that weighs on a central tenet that our Nation was built on, and that is life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. I received a letter just this last month from our Democratic whip, Steny Hoyer, discussing a recent report released by the U.S. Census Bureau that found that 46.7 million Americans--15 percent of Americans--are living in poverty. How can we tell a family to pursue happiness when the rug is constantly being pulled out from under them? Mr. Speaker, 15 percent, 46.7 million, is more than all the Californians and Arizonans put together. We cannot allow that to continue. We know that the effects of poverty hit every aspect of one's life. It hits minorities disproportionately. Poverty affects minorities. 26 percent of African Americans live below the poverty line, and 23 percent of Latinos live below the poverty line. We also see those types of percentages when we look at lower educational attainment and lower overall wages. As the number of first- and second-generation children rises, so does the amount of these children affected and born into poverty. Nearly one in three children in the schools in my district are affected by poverty. It is hard to learn when you haven't had a meal. It is hard to learn when you don't have a roof over your head. It is hard where you are sharing a house with 15 or 16 people, most of them not related to you. There are social programs such as SNAP and the Community Supplemental Food program. There are ways in which we can combat the effects of poverty. I don't believe that families who are benefiting from those programs are looking for a free handout. There are Members of both Chambers who at one time or another received public assistance in times of need. One of them was a single mother of not one, but two, children while working and attending college. I think it goes without saying that these individuals are not lazy or looking for handouts. Now, we shouldn't shame or judge other individuals in our society, but there is a negative stigma about being enrolled in welfare programs. We shame families who don't have the means to lift themselves out of the cycle of poverty. But then we don't want to give them that helping hand, that aid, that they need in order to do that. Well, Mr. Speaker, I think the real shame--the real shame--is that we are a nation of unbridled wealth, bountiful wealth, and still over 46 million people are in poverty. With the rising costs of housing and food, families in the United States are stretching each dollar more and more. Many find it difficult to save money at the end of the month, and saving for their son's or daughter's education is, quite frankly, an unattainable dream. When I was growing up, I was told that, if I worked hard, if I did well in school, and if I saved my money, it was possible to be successful in America. But, Mr. Speaker, every day these days it gets harder and harder to be successful in America. Those in poverty find themselves working hard, planning for the future, and doing everything that we tell them to do, and still they fall short, unable to attain the pursuit of happiness. There should be absolutely no reason, if a person puts in hard work 40 hours a week, that they should be living in poverty. How can we expect families working minimum wage--and I will add that is not a liveable wage--to afford child care and save for their children's college education? Honestly, it is nearly impossible. Yet, I see so many examples in my district of people who overcome all of the hurdles and the barriers that we are placing in front of them. We can alleviate, we can remove, those barriers. We can have an impact on the poverty of our communities. Last month, during National Work and Family Month, Democratic leadership led a Working Families Day of Action to highlight important legislation to improve the living conditions for all families here in America. I joined 113 of my colleagues in cosponsoring a resolution which called for this House to address some of the issues important to some of the most disadvantaged demographics of people in our Nation. This resolution addressed commonsense measures, such as sensible working accommodations for pregnant women, equal protections for workers in the workplace, and increasing the minimum wage to a liveable wage. You see, Mr. Speaker, when we talk about the 46 million Americans living in poverty, we are talking about people from all walks of life. We are talking about the homeless. We are talking about children in our schools. We are talking about our senior citizens. We are talking about single parents, blue collar workers. We are talking about our immigrants. All of these groups are stuck--stuck--in a vicious cycle of poverty and disadvantaged situations. These aren't radical ideas. These are sensible, American ideas where hard work is rewarded with equal compensation and protections. I believe that, as lawmakers--but, more importantly, as Americans--we owe it to the families of this Nation to enact legislation in which each and every person has a means to succeed. Tonight I am going to go over some of the statistics that we have with respect to poverty in America. As I said before, Mr. Speaker, 46.7 million people are living in poverty. The poverty rate was established in the 1960s, and it is based solely on an individual's cash earnings. It sets the poverty threshold at $24,250 for a family of four. However, that rate does not take into consideration the cost of living in different regions of America. Try living in my region on $24,250 for four people. The Census Bureau recently established a new measure on which to gauge actual poverty rates. The Supplemental Poverty Measure establishes a new poverty rate by incorporating expenditures on basic necessities, such as food, housing, and utilities. California's poverty rate is 16.5 percent, slightly higher than the 14.9 percent rate for the United States. However, this statistic can be deceiving because of the high cost of living throughout the State. So you could be above the $24,250 a year for a family of four, and you are not in poverty according to the national rate. But the reality--the reality--is, when it costs $1,800 for a one-bedroom apartment, you have eaten up about 90 percent of that $25,000. If we use the updated measurement system, California leads the Nation with 23.4 percent of residents living in poverty. Of course, once again, this hits the disadvantaged more than anyone else. When using the Supplemental Poverty System, nearly 20 percent of seniors, one-quarter of our children, 31 percent of Latinos, and 20 percent of African Americans live in poverty. Let's put that in perspective. The average rent in Orange County is $1,648. Orange County that I represent is the seventh priciest metropolitan area in the United States. This brings the total cost to rent a modest--and when I am telling you a modest apartment in California, we are talking $20,000 a year. For a family of four living at or below the outdated poverty threshold, this leaves a whopping $4,250 for the entire year. That leaves about $354 per month to feed and clothe a family of four. How, Mr. Speaker, can a family of four live on $354 a month? How do you save for a college education? How do you save for a home? How do you buy a car? What can you do when you get sick? I recently held a bipartisan briefing about home ownership as a vehicle for economic mobility for Latinos and African Americans. Latino families are struggling to rebuild the equity they lost in this last Great Recession because, between 2008 and 2010, in those 3 or 4 years of the recession, two-thirds of the wealth in the Latino families across the Nation was lost--was lost--just wiped out, done away with, because they lost their homes. The home is always the first rung onto the wealth-creation ladder. Two-thirds because of foreclosure. And even though home values have rebounded in recent years, the fact of the matter is that those people who lost their homes are renting at probably twice the cost of what their mortgage payment was, probably something less than what they were living in, and not building any equity. They are renters, and they are stuck. Even if you gained back on the market, it doesn't keep pace with the returns in the stock market. So the Hispanic household has a slower recovery than the rest of our Nation. According to the Pew Hispanic Center, 28 percent of Hispanic homeowners say they owe more on their homes today than they can sell it for in 2011. This topic of home ownership is more than a roof over your head. It is a source of pride. It is a source of pride. It is the American Dream, and it is a place that you can call your own. It is a part of owning America, and we want people to own a piece of America. A recent Joint Economic Committee study report finds that White households typically have 150 times more wealth than Hispanic households. In 2013, the median net worth of Hispanic households was only $14,000 compared to about $142,000 for Anglo households, a difference of $128,000. And the wealth divide has increased since the Great Recession. The median net worth of Hispanic households fell by over 40 percent between 2005 to 2013, compared to 26 percent for Anglo households. Latinos are less likely to be financially prepared for retirement than any other households because of their disparity in employment, in earnings, and in wealth. Only 12 percent of Latino households have access to the defined benefit pensions, for example, that guarantee a lifetime income, half the rate of Anglos and African American households. Sixty-nine percent of working-age Latino households do not own assets in a retirement account--69 percent do not--compared to 37 percent of Anglos who do not. Let's talk about my district, in one of the wealthiest counties of our Nation. I just told you that housing is seventh in the Nation with respect to what it cost you to live there. Twenty percent of the people are living in poverty in my district, higher than the State and the national average. Thirty percent of the kids, the children, in my district are living in poverty, higher than the State and higher than the national average. Eighteen percent of women are living in poverty in my district, higher than the State and the national average. Between 2011 and 2013, in those 3 years, 23,000 households within my district benefited from SNAP assistance--food stamps. Eighty-six percent of those households had children under the age of 18. Oh, and by the way, 78 percent of those households were Latino. Forty-three percent of those families that received SNAP benefits recorded having at least two or more workers in the workforce in the past 12 months. What does this tell you? It tells you that families have not just one but two breadwinners in the family, and still they cannot afford to purchase basic food supplies. Mr. Speaker, if hunger doesn't affect us directly, we often overlook the immense stress that comes with struggling to put food on the table. If you don't have a meal, you are not good in school and you can't study because you are constantly hungry. How does a kid do his mathematics, his geometry, when he is wondering where is his next meal coming from? The Department of Agriculture defines food insecurity as the limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods. In 2014, 48 million adult Americans lived in food-insecure households, including 32.8 million adults, and 15.3 million children. And of those 48 million Americans, 19 percent of the households were with children, 35 percent of the households with children headed by single women, 26 percent African American households, 22 percent Latino households. How do we do that? A recent report published by the Department of Agriculture found that error rates for awarding SNAP benefits are at an all-time low. Over 99 percent of SNAP benefits are issued to eligible households. Mr. Speaker, you would think that a government program, any government program, with a 99 percent efficiency rating, with a proven record of lifting families out of poverty would be applauded and promoted by both sides of the aisle, but that is not always the case. The most recent farm bill cut $8 billion from SNAP, affecting 850,000 families in our Nation. The assistance provided by SNAP is an economic booster, with every dollar in SNAP benefits resulting in $1.80 in total economic activity. Mr. Speaker, food is the most basic necessity for a person. In ending, I would like to highlight a few of the excellent organizations in my district that make it their mission, their passion, to aid those in need. The Lestonnac Free Clinic, founded by Sister Marie Therese in 1979, it is devoted to providing free--free--comprehensive medical care to the poorest of the poor in Orange County, California, as well as dental care to its established patients. This organization, this clinic, is a nonprofit, primarily volunteers--volunteer doctors, volunteer everything--working with pharmaceutical companies and local hospitals to meet the healthcare needs of low- and no-income families in our community. And the clinic has stayed true to its mission of providing free medical and dental care, and is only one of the few clinics in Orange County that does not charge--does not charge--for its services. And collaborations were made with organizations, including Target store pharmacy, to provide low-cost medications. And over 100 volunteer doctors and medical staff have generously donated their time to help those in need. The Lestonnac Free Clinic also contains a food bank and provides food to several hundred people each month. Over 20,000 patients have been treated in over 180,000 visits. Or there is the Orange County Food Bank, which operates the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, and it distributes 23,000 food boxes monthly countywide to low-income seniors 60 and older. It operates a community donated food bank with enrollment of over 350 local charities that make food available to those that are at the risk of hunger. This vulnerable population includes the disabled, seniors, families with children, veterans--I see veterans in those lines coming to pick up boxes of food--the unemployed and the homeless. The foods department operates the SNAP program, and this program has increased enrollment to over 400,000 qualified individuals in Orange County, California, who are at the risk of hunger. Mr. Speaker, we are a great country, and we have great Americans-- those who have served in our military, those who have served in public service, those who teach our children, those who nurse us when we are sick, those who build our roads, invent new gadgets for us to communicate. We are a great country of innovation. We are a great country of beauty from sea to shining sea. And yet, in this great country of ours, in today's day, there are over 46 million Americans living in poverty, many of them going to sleep tonight hungry, hungry, hungry. As the Congress, as the conscience of America, as the people's House, we need to work together to eliminate poverty in America. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Chair, I had intended to vote ``yes'' on rollcall No. 662.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to encourage Saturday Night Live to disinvite Donald Trump from hosting their show this weekend. Many may believe that Mr. Trump is just causing controversy so that he can get media attention, but his divisive and racist rhetoric has very troubling and real-world consequences. Many businesses and individuals have severed ties with Mr. Trump. Even SNL's owner, NBC Universal, stated that, ``At NBC, respect and dignity for all people are cornerstones of our values,'' and they ended their relationship with Mr. Trump. Perhaps this blunder happened because currently there is no Latino cast member on SNL, and there have only been two in the entire history of SNL. I hope Saturday Night Live's producers, writers, and cast members will consider how Donald Trump hosting SNL will compromise the integrity of their show. Having Mr. Trump degrades the quality of SNL's humor because racism isn't funny. It is lazy, and it is cheap. Comedy has the power to highlight hypocrisy in society and reveal important social truths and political commentary. SNL has achieved that in the past, and I hope it returns.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member and the chairman of the committee. I would also like to thank my counterpart, the chairman of the Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee, Mr. Turner, because we have truly worked in a very bipartisan way. Our committee looks at the procurement of things both for land and air. We have a lot of help in doing that. I would like to especially thank our staff--Doug Bush, John Wason, Jesse Tolleson, and John Sullivan--for their dedication and hard work in getting this done. I am very proud of the elements of our subcommittee we have in the bill today. Working in a bipartisan manner, we found hundreds of millions of dollars to cut from programs that are behind schedule, not performing, or some that just didn't make sense anymore. We took that money and diverted it into things that I believe our servicemembers need: UAVs, armored vehicles, fighter aircraft, tactical missiles, National Guard equipment, and a wide range of individual soldier items. I also want to highlight, for example, the Army National Guard needs to replace its aging helicopters, and we have focused on that. That was one of the things that I focused on. For example, in the California Army National Guard, they are deeply involved in fighting these forest fires, but they can't do it with aging equipment. It is a priority for me in this year's bill to fund UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters to ensure the implementation of modernized Black Hawks into the Army National Guard. I am also proud this year's bill continues to eliminate unnecessary barriers that delay the services from expanding opportunities for women in the military. It is time for the U.S. Armed Forces to stop excluding servicemembers from serving in certain roles due only to their gender. Female servicemembers have the right to serve in all units and all specialties as long as they meet the standards. And finally, as a member of the Strategic Forces Subcommittee, I remain concerned about the bloated nuclear weapons budget. I hope that, in the future, we will support nonproliferation programs.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor all the men and women who have courageously served this country and who continue to sacrifice in order to preserve the values and the freedoms of our great Nation. In 1919, President Wilson spoke the following words as he commemorated Armistice Day, better known to us all as Veterans Day, for the very first time: ``To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country's service and with gratitude for the victory.'' Now, of course, that was 1919, and it was a day when Americans reflected on the lives which were lost during World War I, ``the war to end all wars.'' However, then came World War II and America's engagement in Korea. Congress voted to redesignate November 11 as Veterans Day in honor of all our veterans from all our wars. Today, of course, there are over 1.4 million men and women in Active Duty, many of whom have completed multiple deployments in areas of the world where there is mass chaos, which is foreign to many of our young servicemembers. Unfortunately, these servicemembers bring this chaos home, both physically and mentally. Here are some staggering numbers from a recent report by the University of Southern California: Over two-thirds of today's veterans report difficulties adjusting to civilian life. Nearly 8 in 10 servicemembers leave the military without a job lined up. In the area I represent, in Orange County, nearly a quarter of the veterans with jobs are earning at or below the poverty level. These numbers, quite frankly, are very unacceptable. In 2014, an estimate of almost 50,000 veterans were living in shelters, on the streets, or in other places not meant for human population. This is 11 percent of the adult homeless population. According to a number of studies, both male and female veterans are more likely to be homeless than their nonveteran counterparts. How does that make sense? These men and women are brave. They are skilled. They are critical thinkers. They are dedicated. They are loyal. They love their country. So what has gone wrong? We must not only commit to figuring out how we are failing these young men and women, but once we do, we have to be held responsible for providing the necessary resources to help them succeed outside of the military. I understand this is a significant commitment at a time of tight budgets and the changing nature of war, and that there is no one-size- fits-all solution. In California, for example, there are 1.8 million veterans. We make up 8 percent of the total U.S. veteran population. According to the State of California, California anticipates receiving an additional 30,000 discharged members of the armed services each year for the next several years. We have to be ready. We have to be ready for those 30,000 veterans coming along and also with the 1.8 million who already exist in California. As these members have served their country, so must we serve them. According to the Veterans Administration, there are 22 suicides a day of our veterans. We must once again look at the causes of that staggering number. We have identified post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury as main triggers for suicide, et cetera, but we have got to do better. Twenty percent of new recruits will also be women. Fifteen percent of the 14 million Active Duty forces are currently women. And over 280,000 women have served in Iraq and Afghanistan. We have to do different things for women veterans because it is not the same as the needs of male veterans. As we all know, the VA must be looked at and we must make appropriate changes to deal with the backlog, expedite disability claims, and to ensure that all veterans receive medical assistance in a timely manner. Lastly, we must protect what we fought hard to achieved for them: education when they return back. We must ensure that military educational benefits do not go to waste. Next Wednesday, once again, we celebrate Veterans Day, and I urge my colleagues to work with me to ensure that we can be proud in the services and the help that we give our veterans, just as they have been proud to serve all of us. God bless.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to direct our attention to the importance of preserving our planet and what we should do to address the issue of the changes going on in our climate. Protecting our environment and addressing climate change are issues which are important to all of our cities across the United States. In fact, at a very local level, many of our communities are working on these issues because they face them directly head on. For the Latino community, like other communities, we are family- oriented, and we want to provide a better future for our generations to come. That includes leaving our planet better--better--for our grandchildren and their children. As the Latino population continues to increase in the United States-- we are about one out of every four, and they say that in another 30 or 40 years, we will be one out of every three Americans--our exposure to climate change and the risks of pollution are even more important because our ZIP Codes--where we live, where the Latino community lives--are where we are highest at risk. It is estimated that close to 50 percent of all Latino Americans live in counties that frequently violate ground-level ozone standards. It just doesn't affect Latinos, by the way. Asian Americans tend to also live in those ZIP Codes. What that means is that we are breathing dirtier air than most Americans, and we have more respiratory illness. Poor environmental protections affect the food that we feed our children, the air that our families breathe, and the water that we drink. Since I was elected to Congress almost 20 years ago, I have worked tirelessly to work in Orange County--where I live and where I represent--to help get some green projects in, both in Orange County and in California. For example, I have fought to maintain the funding for the Pacific Crest Trail, which serves residents of the entire West Coast and visitors from around the world. Of course, I am an avid hiker; so, I love that trail. In fact, in this Congress, I cosponsored legislation which would permanently extend the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which ensures the conservation of national parks, rivers, and streams. It provides grants to local parks and to recreation projects. One of the things it does is try to ensure that, for example, California, being so long in length, you could start at the southern portion of California and actually walk through wilderness all the way to the Oregon border. The Land and Water Conservation Fund is a bipartisan program. That is why it kind of distresses me a little bit that we, as a Congress, haven't funded it, because it is incredibly important, especially in urban areas, such as my district, where there is little natural environment left and where we need open space and green parks. It is where Latinos go to have their barbecues. It is where we have our family gatherings. It is incredibly important to us. Sometimes we live in pretty cramped conditions, and we need that outdoor space, even if it is in an urban area. Places like Pearson and Pioneer Park in my hometown of Anaheim or Centennial Park in Santa Ana or our beautiful Santa Ana Zoo have all been made possible by the Land and Water Conservation Fund. Mr. Speaker, do you know what the total cost to taxpayers for these wonderful developments are? Zero. The land and water conservation comes at no cost to the taxpayer, but it benefits them immensely. And, still, this House has failed to fund this. It expired on September 30. Mr. Speaker, the Land and Water Conservation Fund is another example of a commonsense--commonsense--bipartisan program on which this House has neglected to act. So I ask the Members of the House, can you go back to the people of your district and say to them: Oh, I don't really care about your parks. I don't really care about the environment. I don't care about where you hang out with your families? This Congress has to act. We should act together on this because it is incredibly important to our families. I will leave you with a quote, another one from one of my favorite people, His Holiness Pope Francis: ``I call for a courageous and responsible effort to `redirect our steps' and to avert the most serious effects of the environmental deterioration caused by human activity. I am convinced that we can make a difference.'' I am sure.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I stand here today a little disheartened, disheartened because my colleagues across the aisle seem to have forgotten about the priorities and the needs of the American people. For an unprecedented 61st time, the majority has introduced a measure that would cripple the landmark Affordable Care Act. The consequences of such a budget measure would be terrible. Millions of Americans would lose their healthcare insurance, and premiums for others would skyrocket. The majority claims that the ACA somehow is ineffective, costly, or illegal. They claim that it doesn't work. Well, they are just wrong. Mr. Speaker, the Affordable Care Act is working. It has been working. It has been working in my hometown. It has been working in Orange County, California, under the Affordable Care Act, the CHIP, and Medicaid. We have expanded insurance to over 12.3 million individuals; 2.6 million of those individuals are Latinos. Costs under the ACA have been greatly reduced, and the ACA is projected to save the United States $200 billion in the next decade and over $1 trillion in the second decade. I would say that those statistics speak to the success of the Affordable Care Act. The ACA has had great success back home in my home district. In Orange County, we had the highest number of new people enroll into the healthcare benefit exchange that we have in California. Currently, there are more than 1.3 million Californians that now have health insurance that didn't have it before. See, Mr. Speaker, before the enactment of the ACA, the folks in my district--well, they considered it a luxury. They chose between buying clothes for their kids to go to school or putting food on the table. Or worse, they used home remedies. I know because I grew up on home remedies. I grew up not going to the doctor. I grew up trying all these crazy things at home, having a simple flu, and being out of school for 10 days because we couldn't afford to go to the doctor. It is pretty unacceptable in today's time, Mr. Speaker, in the greatest country in the world. Health care should be a right, not a privilege. We need to continue moving forward. We need to continue moving our communities from a culture of coping to a culture of coverage. No longer do people have to worry about being denied for their existing health conditions. Quality health insurance is now available to all who seek it. Because nearly 4 out of every 10 people in my district are Medicare recipients, I understand how important this legislation is for working families; so I will continue to work to join with my community-based organizations to ensure that our people are covered. So tomorrow, when my colleagues across the aisle once again vote-- number 61--to defund the Affordable Care Act, I would like for them to think about all the families in America that will suffer when that is passed; think of all the families; think about all the kids and their home remedies. My colleagues in the minority and I have stood up. We have tried to explain to the other side the importance of the Affordable Care Act, only to have our passionate voices fall on deaf ears. Despite these continuous attacks against an existing law which has improved the lives of millions of Americans, I will continue to fight for quality health care for the folks back home in my district.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, this marks the 65th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean war. As Korea has transformed itself in six decades from a war-torn basket economy into the 13th largest economy in the world, it represents one of America's greatest foreign policy success stories in the post-World War II era. The Republic of Korea has been a strong and steadfast economic and strategic partner of the United States. Both countries are not only bound by history together, but by their shared commitment to democratic values. Back home, California has an incredibly vibrant Korean American community that contributes to all facets of our society, from thriving businesses to our local churches. Next week, the President of the Republic of Korea, the Honorable Park Geun-hye, will be making her second visit to Washington, D.C. I hope we will take this opportunity to discuss the rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula, the continued threat North Korea's nuclear program imposes on the region, and the regional concerns regarding the East Sea dispute.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, in recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month, I would like to recognize the great achievement of Latinos within their communities. America has been home to countless numbers of outstanding Latinos over time who reflect the best of our community: activists like Cesar Chavez and Joan Baez; artists like Selena and Carlos Santana; the brave women and men who have served in our armed services; and, of course, today's ambitious young DREAMers. Latinos, like all Americans, are committed to building a better and stronger future for our country and within our communities. We strive to instill a culture of hard work, of healthy living, and of academic success. Latino families recognize the importance of attaining an education in today's society. In the past decade, Latinos have worked to cut their dropout rate in half, while tripling enrollment in 2- and 4-year colleges. The top degrees that we earn speak to our involvement in community: our liberal arts degrees, to help the less fortunate; to heal the sick with our healthcare degrees; to create employment with our business diplomas. In regards to health care, with the landmark Affordable Care Act, a record 2.6 million new Latinos are signed up for health care, and they are on track to leading healthier lives. But, Mr. Speaker, even with these great advances in our communities, there is still so much work to be done. Although our dropout rate is lower, we still have the highest dropout rate among all ethnic groups. Latinos have increased their scores in math and science, but we are still below the national average. And while our communities have made massive strides in putting our children in college, still only 15 percent of college degrees are in the hands of Latinos, again, the smallest percentage of any ethnic group. And even while 2\1/2\ million new Latinos signed up for health care, 25 percent of Latinos have no healthcare plan, and we battle high obesity and diabetes. So I have seen these issues firsthand in my district and in California and, as a whole, have seen and have worked to improve our condition. This Congress, I introduced the All-Year ACCESS Act, which would restore Pell grants for both full-time and part-time students, giving access to postsecondary education all year-round. Back in my home district, I relaunched Enroll OC, adding an additional 2,000 people this year, Latinos in my district, to health care. So while we make these incredible strides in wellness and education, the Latino community still has so many issues to address. I will tell you this: the problems are not just Latino problems; they are problems for the United States because, you see, America is a family. It is a familia, and we have to address these issues together because, for the first time in my beautiful home State of California, the largest majority ethic group is now Latino. And you know what? This should not frighten people, Mr. Speaker. I think it is actually pretty exciting because the Latino community is so embedded in the success of the American Dream, and the American Dream is so embedded in us. We are not aliens, Mr. Speaker. We are doctors, lawyers, community leaders, social workers, laborers, and DREAMers. But more importantly, we are sons, daughters, parents, siblings, and we are neighbors. It is time for the United States as a whole to embrace the power and the potential of the Latino community and to realize that we share the common goal of furthering the greatness of this Nation. I believe as soon as we realize Latinos yearn to share the same American values and aspirations as so many descendants of other immigrant groups--of Italian Americans and Irish Americans and German Americans and Asian Americans and all Americans--certainly America will thrive. Latinos are finding their voice, and America needs to listen.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I was absent for the second vote in the series of votes that we just took on rollcall vote No. 532. If I had been present, I would have voted ``nay.''

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the growing humanitarian crisis in Syria. As a result of the Syrian civil war and continuing military operations against ISIL, over 4 million people have been forced to seek refuge outside of Syria. The Syrian crisis has quickly become an international crisis, and it requires the attention and the assistance of every nation. Many may see this crisis as a distant problem, but the reality is this is a global world now and everyone is interconnected. As each nation continues to resettle refugees, we must ensure that they are provided the best resources, and this requires international cooperation. It is not just about providing financial assistance, but understanding that these refugees are people. They are people who have been forced out of their country, might have left their families, and are struggling to survive on a daily basis. Mr. Speaker, as the U.S. is committed to accepting more refugees, I urge our country to have compassion and to commit to providing the necessary resources to address this ongoing crisis.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the life of William C. Waggoner. William C. Waggoner is the first Vice President of the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE). He served as the Western States Director and Business Manager for Local 12. Organized labor in the state of California has benefited from Mr. Waggoner's leadership and influence. The International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) was founded in 1896. IUOE today has approximately 400,000 members in 123 local unions throughout the United States and Canada. IUOE is the 10th largest union in the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations. In 1970, Mr. Waggoner was elected to serve as President of Local 12. From 1976-2012, Mr. Waggoner served as the Business Manager of his chapter. As a District Representative, he was able to advocate on behalf of members. Members of Local 12 recall Mr. Waggoner's influence on the union movement with gratitude and admiration. Mr. Waggoner dedicated his life to advancing the principles of organized labor. Under his leadership Local 12 developed a nationally recognized apprenticeship training program. Mr. Waggoner established a legacy in the realm of organized labor. His commitment to protecting the rights, wages, and benefits of working people has bettered the lives of working men and women.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, they sound like warmongers, don't they, those Iranian leaders? And so we sit here today, humbled at the task before us. We sit here as Members of the world's greatest legislative body, debating the future of our country and the future of the world. Because Iran with a nuclear weapon is a threat to the world. And after months of intense review and passionate conversation with the people I represent and with advisers, with my colleagues, after 19 years on the Armed Services Committee, 17 of those on the committee that deals with nuclear proliferation and nonproliferation, chairing that committee for the Democrats, I believe that diplomacy first is the best path for the United States and our allies. We stand here to discuss the issues of war and peace, of whether we believe in diplomacy with verification or armed engagement. We sit here and we reflect on all of those that will be affected by our votes: my family, our family, the soldiers, and countless others. Can we look them directly in the eye and say we did all that we could do? Can we tell them we did not give diplomacy a chance? So don't get me wrong, I am no fan of Iran. When so many in this Chamber rushed to war in Iraq, I stood up and said no and I said at that time Iran is where we need to keep our focus. We need to ensure that this deal is implemented, and we need to hold those accountable to implement it correctly. That is our role as Members of Congress. No deal is perfect.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, as we come back from the August recess, I would like to speak on an issue that hits very close to home and to the Southwestern States--yes, the Southwestern States--and this is the drought. The drought in particular that is facing California is the worst one recorded in history in our State, and I believe it will define this era. My home State is entering its fourth year of consecutive drought, with nearly 93 percent of residents experiencing severe droughts, and there is no foreseeable end in the future. The lack of water in California is so serious that our Governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency and asked that all residents cut back on water 25 percent. Even with us hitting that, a recent study estimates that it will take at least 11 million gallons of water to replenish our drought losses. Water conservation and infrastructure is a life or death issue, not just for the residents of my district, but for all of California. Without water infrastructure, farmers in the Central Valley cannot adequately grow and sell their crops; the price of foodstuff skyrockets; wildfires rage and destroy acres of property; State energy production is crippled; the economy slows; and the list goes on and on. While other areas of California are just now setting the initial framework for water conservation and recycling projects, my home district recycles almost 70 percent of the water that we use both in business and at home. How are we able to do that? Well, when I came here 19 years ago, I championed a project called the Groundwater Replenishment System, and it is located in Orange County. It is the water table underneath our homes. This system recycles treated waste water into clean drinking water, which exceeds Federal and State standards; and it has produced over 160 trillion gallons of new water and serviced millions of Orange County residents since its creation. This system has become the largest reclamation project in the world. In fact, people from around the world and from across our great States come to take a look at how we replenish our water supply. Legislation to fund projects like our groundwater replenishment system--well, it should be commonsense to fund those. However, the drought has continued in the past 4 years, and there has been no meaningful action on infrastructure improvements to move water, to reclaim water, to save water. While residents of California are feeling the effects of our historic drought, this Chamber continues to stall on meaningful drought relief and water infrastructure legislation. Back in my home district, I have held numerous briefings about the drought and recognized community members who are cutting back and being more efficient with their water. I recently spent part of this August recess meeting with community members of the Central Valley to discuss water storage and recycling projects. In this Congress, I have cosponsored the Drought Recovery and Resilience Act of 2015. It is commonsense legislation which addresses innovative water financing, it improves water infrastructure and water management, and it assists in planning for future droughts. The residents of my State have been doing their part to conserve the water; so now, it is time for Washington, D.C., to help us to do what is right for California and to do what is right for the other Southwestern States. While the House Republicans are bickering amongst themselves to avoid another embarrassing government shutdown, I will continue to fight for meaningful water infrastructure to secure the water independence of future generations because with water comes growth and California will grow.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the accomplishments and contributions of Nick Berardino, the General Manager of Orange County Employees Association. Born and raised in Los Angeles to Italian immigrants, Nick is a Marine Veteran and served our country for two years in Vietnam. He became active in the civil rights movement, the first of what would become a lifetime of commitment to those who are oppressed or discriminated against. I have known Nick for years and he always looked for doing the best for his organization and the people he represented. From pension reform to workplace rights, he has led OCEA through a series of monumental achievements for the working men and women he represented. I am honored to recognize Nick Berardino's distinguished career of exemplary service and leadership in strengthening the middle class, fighting for social justice and dignified working conditions for 18,000 public employees and instilling integrity at the Orange County Employees Association.