Loretta Sanchez

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to successful business owner Robert D. Escalante. Mr. Escalante is the owner of Custom Auto Service in my district. For decades the Packard Motor Car marketed some of America's most prestigious cars. Custom Auto Service specializes in rebuilding and selling Packard Automobiles. This year, Custom Auto Service and the Packard Automobile are celebrating their Golden Anniversary in Santa Ana, California; 50 years of dedication to the ``American Dream'' car--the PACKARD. Custom Auto Service also recently entered into a public-private partnership with other businesses to help establish a four-block development zone nationally known as Fiesta Marketplace. Its purpose is to help nurture the surrounding community in Santa Ana. We give thanks to businesses like Custom Auto Service for doing their part to lift up our district. This small business is a reflection of what's in the heart of America and I thank Mr. Robert Escalante for his tremendous dedication.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Bruce Mulhearn on his 50th Anniversary in the real estate industry and helping individuals, families, and businesses to achieve the American dream. Mr. Mulhearn immigrated to the United States via New Zealand in 1958. After working in leather tanneries and pipe manufacturing plants, he obtained his realty license and began work for the Apple Valley Land & Development Co., selling vacant home sites in the High Desert, California. Thereafter he served honorably in the United States Army for two years. In 1967, Bruce and his wife Tomazina opened Bruce Mulhearn Inc., Realtors in a 600 square foot office and began their journey to build a company. The company grew to eight offices and several hundred agents, and by 1969, Mr. Mulhearn founded Castlehead Escrow Company as an insurance brokerage, a real estate school, new home development and a mortgage brokerage operation. Within twenty years the company was one of the leading firms in all of Southern California. He went on to become a Senior lecturer for both the National Association of Realtors and the California Association of Realtors. Mr. Mulhearn was deeply involved in creating the Certified Residential Broker and Certified Residential Specialist designations for the industry. The company continued to grow and prosper adding various affiliates and branch offices. In 2014, a merge resulted in the creation of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties, with Bruce Mulhearn still the President and with his joint venture owners operating over twenty offices, doing business in five counties with thousands of transactions per year. After weathering five economic storms during that time frame, with interest rates soaring to as much as 24 percent including the Great Recession most recently, this is indeed a remarkable enterprise. I applaud Mr. Bruce Mulhearn on his vision and on creating opportunities for many others within the real estate industry. I am delighted to join in celebration of this important 50th Anniversary milestone.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I wish to recognize Dr. Andy Khawaja, a dynamic and accomplished entrepreneur and a dedicated community philanthropist. A natural born entrepreneur, Dr. Khawaja's vision, philosophy, and inherent ability to innovate and lead are remarkable. Dr. Khawaja's philosophy is ``Do what you love and do it well. Don't quit and you'll have the keys to success.'' In early adulthood, Dr. Khawaja achieved initial success in the high- end fashion industry as a Vice President and Buyer for the company `Bernini.' In just nine years, Dr. Khawaja grew `Bernini' from a million dollar business to a 100 million dollar business and expanded from two stores to more than sixty stores. In 2005, Dr. Khawaja founded Allied Wallet, a venture that connects global buyers and sellers. For more than a decade, Dr. Khawaja's bold and proactive leadership has catapulted Allied Wallet to the forefront of innovation and advancement in the payment industry and into a multi- billion dollar company. With rapid growth every year, Allied Wallet is repeatedly recognized as one of the ``Fastest Growing Private Companies.'' Andy's fluency in five languages--English, French, Spanish, German, and Arabic--enables him to deliver payment tools internationally to diverse cultures and countries. Over the last 10 years, Dr. Khawaja drove the expansion of Allied Wallet from its headquarters in Los Angeles to Germany, India, Macau, Hong Kong, and London. Allied Wallet now supports 164 currencies worldwide and serves over 125 million customers in 190 countries. Dr. Khawaja has been awarded with the US American Genius Award, CEO of the Year 2015 Award, Gamechanger of the Year Award, and UK Entrepreneurship of the Year 2015. Dr. Khawaja's achievements have been recognized by dozens of major publications such as Forbes, Time Magazine, Bloomberg, Fortune, The Guardian, LA Business Journal, and Wired Magazine. His business ventures have earned major awards including Top 100 Fast Growing Companies, Global Payment Processing Solution of the Year, Best Workplaces for Millennials, United States Excellence Award, 500 Fastest Growing Companies 2012/2015, Guiding Hand--International Award 2014, and #1 Online Payment Solutions Provider 2013. However, Dr. Khawaja's achievements aren't limited to only business. Through his generous philanthropy to the Brent Shapiro Foundation for Drug and Alcohol Awareness, Dr. Khawaja has demonstrated a tireless commitment to keeping Los Angeles youth safe and educated about the risks of drug and alcohol abuse. Recently, the Lebanese American University has honored Andy with a doctorate degree in Humanitarian Studies for his meaningful philanthropy worldwide. Dr. Khawaja keeps leading Allied Wallet towards persistent growth and success while simultaneously juggling multiple demanding projects, including directing and executive producing a reality television series, ``Model Turned Superstar.'' I commend Dr. Khawaja for his impressive achievements and consistent commitment to making Southern California a better place for all.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to be removed as a cosponsor of H. Res. 686.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, 7 weeks--52 days. I rise today to express my disappointment with our Republican colleagues for shutting down the Congress for the summer. After the tragedies in Orlando and Dallas, are you telling me that we can't get together, that we cannot find a compromise on gun violence and gun control? The American people believe we can. They want it done. Mr. Speaker, is there no action with respect to Flint, Michigan? So much of our infrastructure needs to be redone in so many cities. This is just the beginning of what we will see. We have to address these national crises because working families all over the country will go to work tomorrow, and they will go to work on Saturday, and they will go to work on Sunday, and they will go to work for the next 7 weeks. They expect us to find solutions. Mr. Speaker, let's get to work.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, today I rise to speak on the provisions included in the fiscal year 2017 Interior appropriations bill to address the California drought. The language is well intentioned and seeks to alleviate some of the issues that we Californians are facing because of the drought. However, we have to take into account all impacts of increased pumping and how it affects our river ecosystems, our fishing economy, and our wildlife associated with the San Joaquin River. I support increased pumping to aid those affected by the drought, especially in the Central Valley. If you had gone to see some of those homes, it is really damaging. But we also have to take a look at the long-term impact. We need to look at developing our long-term water sustainability and our infrastructure, as we have done in Orange County, in my home district, where we were able to avoid some of the terrible effects of this drought because we invested, over the last 15 years, in water reclamation and water recapture. About 90 percent of the water that we use in my hometown is completely recycled. As I have said before, we need to pass drought legislation, and we need to listen to all of the stakeholders.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. I thank my colleague from Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R. 1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, to honor the memory of Kiara Kinard, a victim of gun violence who never received a moment of silence on this House floor.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I urge Speaker Ryan to bring commonsense gun violence prevention legislation to the floor this week. Justice will never be served for the victims of Tucson, Aurora, Newtown, Charleston, San Bernardino, and Orlando as long as this body refuses to act and once again accepts the status quo. I support the Second Amendment and the right of Americans to own firearms, but I believe it is the responsibility of this body to ensure effective laws are in place to keep all Americans safe from gun violence. Congress did nothing after 20 children were fatally shot in Newtown in 2012, and nothing following what happened in Orlando, where 49 innocent people were murdered. Congress must pass legislation that will require comprehensive background checks and close the gun show loophole. That is why I am a cosponsor of the Thompson-King legislation. We must make progress in gun safety and mental health awareness and support gun safety lock laws.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, joining with Anaheim Unified High School District, to remember Kenneth Masumi Shimogawa. Mr. Shimogawa was a staunch supporter of public education and dedicated advocate for workers' rights in his eighteen years as a history teacher at Cypress High School. Anaheim was heartbroken to learn of his untimely passing at 52. An Anaheim native, Mr. Shimogawa grew up in Southern California, received his B.A. from California State University, Long Beach, and returned to his hometown to begin his teaching career. Mr. Shimogawa was described as both hard working and passionate about global affairs and civic engagement. He was passionate about helping his community and he understood the importance of public service. Mr. Shimogawa proudly served as a City of Anaheim Library Board Member, as well as advising the chess club at Cypress High School and encouraging students to love reading and think critically about the world they live in. He also served as the Executive Board Member of the Anaheim Secondary Teachers Association Political Action Committee. Mr. Shimogawa was worldly and broke down barriers for teachers in Orange County. He always said that although he loved being a teacher of history and politics, his proudest accomplishment was being the husband of Teresa Shimogawa and father of his four beloved children. Winston Churchill once said, ``We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.'' Mr. Shimogawa demonstrated selflessness in the way he assisted the community. His passing is a great loss for Orange County, but his passionate spirit will forever live on.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. ``Now to address the sentencing. When I read the probation officer's report, I was in disbelief, consumed by anger which eventually quieted down to profound sadness. My statements have been slimmed down to distortion and taken out of context. I fought hard during this trial and will not have the outcome minimized by a probation officer who attempted to evaluate my current state and my wishes in a fifteen minute conversation, the majority of which was spent answering questions I had about the legal system. The context is also important. Brock had yet to issue a statement, and I had not read his remarks. ``My life has been on hold for over a year, a year of anger, anguish and uncertainty, until a jury of my peers rendered a judgment that validated the injustices I had endured. Had Brock admitted guilt and remorse and offered to settle early on, I would have considered a lighter sentence, respecting his honesty, grateful to be able to move our lives forward. Instead he took the risk of going to trial, added insult to injury and forced me to relive the hurt as details about my personal life and sexual assault were brutally dissected before the public. He pushed me and my family through a year of inexplicable, unnecessary suffering, and should face the consequences of challenging his crime, of putting my pain into question, and of making us wait so long for justice.''

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, on June 2, 2016, Robin Read Brunelli passed away after a prolonged struggle with heart failure. Robin was President and CEO of the National Foundation for Women Legislators (NFWL) from 1992 to 2012 and made an extraordinary impact on women in politics. Robin was born in Shenandoah, Iowa, on March 7, 1943. She attended the University of New Mexico where she was a big reader of the works of William Shakespeare. For the twenty-two years she lived in Albuquerque, she was a realtor, a much loved high school teacher, and the host of a cooking and recipe show called ``Kitchen Klatter.'' For the two decades she was at the NFWL, Robin helped transform the organization. The NFWL has served as a forum for elected women nationwide to be empowered. The organization includes all women elected at the city, county, and state levels. From 1985 to 1992, Robin served as a Presidential appointee serving the Governors of the Federal Reserve Board. Robin helped improve the effectiveness of training at the Fed's banking school. Robin continued to serve the community by serving on the boards of numerous nonprofits and corporations. Her most proud work was for the National Women's History Museum. Robin was a lifelong member of the Church of Christ, Scientist, and lived a devout life. Robin is survived by her loving husband and two daughters. She leaves behind an amazing legacy of service to her community and will remain a model for young women to exemplify. Her memory and achievements will never be forgotten.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a friend, a role model, a mentor, Mr. Amin David. He passed away in his home on May 21 of this year at the age of 83. He was an immigrant from Mexico, and his life quickly became the epitome of the American Dream. He came here to California, ended up being an entrepreneur and owning businesses and being such an integral part of Orange County, California. He founded, with others, in 1978, a group called Los Amigos of Orange County, whose motto was ``We love to help''--``Nos gusta ayudar.'' And help they did, no matter what. Whoever came before their Wednesday morning meeting every week would get help. He also helped a marginalized community. In a very volatile time in Orange County, the change of diversity was happening. He sat on the Orange County Human Relations Commission and on the Anaheim Planning Commission, and he was an active member of the police chief's advisory council and helped to foster dialogue between the police and our community. He fought for marginalized communities and called out prejudices like Islamophobia and anti-Semitism. He is survived by his wife and his four children. I am proud to have called him a friend.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my fierce opposition to the ``illegal alien'' provision that has been inserted into the legislative branch appropriations bill. This partisan language will force the Library of Congress to keep using the term ``illegal alien'' even though the Library of Congress decided to remove that derogatory and totally inaccurate term from the Library's subject heading system. ``Illegal alien'' is a form of dehumanizing rhetoric. The term has been used to justify continued discrimination against vulnerable migrants and minority communities. The provision is politicizing what is supposed to be a bipartisan budget bill. This unprecedented interference by Congress will have huge ramifications. The Library of Congress sets the standard for subject headings used across America and internationally. ``Illegal alien'' is inaccurate. The Library of Congress contains our most important records, and they should be accurate and reflect reality.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, nearly 47 million people are living in poverty in the United States. That is about 10 times the total population of Los Angeles. And, Mr. Speaker, no matter how hard these families work and no matter how much these families save, they are still not able to get ahead. These families struggle to feed themselves and their children. They struggle to save for a home. They struggle to live the American Dream that we all yearn for, and that is unacceptable. That is why I support expanding programs, which I believe help and provide a social safety net. Essential programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, and the Free and Reduced Lunch Program serve specific community needs. Mr. Speaker, we need to bring legislation to the floor that will help families, help families to help themselves get ahead, proven programs. Let's not condense or cut them. Let's work on legislation to help these families.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentlewoman from New Jersey for reserving this hour of time for us to talk about something that is incredibly important, the LGBTQ Pride Month. It is just remarkable to look back just in the time that I have been here in the Congress to see the equality that has come about in these years. Just 8 years ago, in my home State of California, there was a proposition to prohibit gay marriage, and it passed. When proposition 8 passed, it was really heartbreaking for not only California's LGBTQ community and its allies, but really for our families because, quite honestly, every family in some way or another is connected. We have family members who belong to the LGBT community. But we didn't let this be a setback to us. Like other Americans, LGBTQ Californians believed that they deserved equality under the eyes of the law. So in July of 2013, the Supreme Court finally struck down core components of the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act law that was passed right before I got to the Congress. This important ruling made proposition 8 null and void, returning marriage equality back to my great State of California. Last year, the Supreme Court guaranteed an individual's right to marry whomever they love regardless of sex. The Supreme Court recognized what we have known for a long time, that it is wrong to deprive citizens of the right to marry the loves of their lives. They recognize that to do so would be to treat same-sex couples like second class citizens. Equality, fairness, and love won in the highest court of this Nation. In our military, LGBTQ servicemembers have also achieved remarkable progress towards equality and ending anti-LGBTQ discrimination. Just 5 years ago, an LGBTQ American could not proudly serve their country in the military. But since the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, our LGBTQ servicemembers are now able to serve openly in our military. What a great day. While we celebrate this extraordinary progress, we also have to recognize that we still have a ways to go. There are many States in our country where you can be fired from your job simply because you are gay. Across the country and in Congress, we are still seeing discrimination, discrimination, discrimination. Under our current laws, LGBTQ Americans aren't guaranteed the vital protections against discrimination. That is why I am a proud sponsor of the Equality Act. It is time for Congress to pass this essential civil rights legislation. So, once again, I want to thank my colleague from New Jersey for celebrating today and to understand that regardless of sexual orientation, all Americans deserve life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, for the past few days, I've followed President Obama's engagement with the citizens and government of Vietnam. It was a momentous occasion for the Vietnamese people to have their struggles acknowledged by the President of the United States. I commend President Obama for emphasizing human rights and promoting freedom of speech, assembly, and expression; as well as internet freedom, education and economic reforms. Yet, I am disappointed that President Obama did not call for the release of all political prisoners and did not publicly name the human rights activists who were detained and prevented from meeting with him. I would like to call attention to a courageous human rights defender and political prisoner, Mr. Tran Huynh Duy Thuc. As a blogger and entrepreneur, Mr. Thuc peacefully called for political and economic reform in Vietnam. In 2009, Mr. Thuc was arrested, and in 2010, during a one-day trial, he was prosecuted for ``conducting activities aimed at overthrowing the people's administration'' under Article 79 of the Penal Code. The Vietnamese government sentenced him to 16 years imprisonment and 5 years house arrest upon release. To protest the ongoing injustices and mark the seventh year of his unjust imprisonment in the Nghe An prison, Mr. Thuc has begun an indefinite hunger strike. I urge you to stand in solidarity with me to shine a light on Mr. Thuc's plight as he courageously fights for the basic freedoms and rights that Americans treasure.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my concerns with the Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2016. This bill passed the Senate with overwhelming bipartisan support; however this bill contains unnecessarily controversial language which will jeopardize its passage here in the House. Many of the bills included in today's House amendment have passed largely along party lines and have received veto threats from the White House. For example, the House Amendment contains The Western Water and American Food Security Act, a bill which aims to address California's record drought. As we all know, California has been in a severe drought which has devastated its water supply. Although this bill includes language to address California's current water crisis, I do not believe that it takes into account the concerns of all major stakeholders. Yes, we need to increase storage sites, reexamine infrastructure to move water to the south, and take immediate steps to provide water to the farmers who put food on our tables. We also cannot afford to ignore the environment as our kids and their kids will have to live in it. I believe we must put everything on the table. All community stakeholders should be involved as we address California's short-term and long-term water future--and this must be done immediately. Last week during National Infrastructure Week, I spoke about the importance of investing in California's water infrastructure. We should utilize our resources to capture, reuse, and recycle our precious water for future generations. The House amendment also contains harmful language from the National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act of 2015. This legislation would allow mining companies to set their own rules regarding environmental reviews. It would also cripple the permitting authority under the National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA. Another bill added into this package, the North American Energy and Infrastructure Act, increases our reliance on fossil fuels and cripples the Department of Energy's ability to enforce energy efficiency standards. Further provisions in this bill would curtail NEPA even further, threaten wildlife protections, and ban the results of Department of Energy-supported research from being used to create assessments. Mr. Speaker, this legislation hurts our environment, our wildlife, our public health, and our energy independence.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I am unable to vote on H.R. 2576, the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, on May 24, 2016. I plan to vote on H.R. 2576, and I will vote aye. I strongly support the sensible regulation of toxic chemicals. Under the current Toxic Substances Control Act, the Environmental Protection Agency is extremely limited when regulating toxic chemicals, as the bill has not been significantly updated since its enactment in 1976. The Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act will greatly increase the scope and authority of the EPA to identify and regulate harmful chemicals. The legislation passed will subject all new and existing chemicals to an EPA review and will further protect the American people by strengthening transparency by requiring EPA to provide the public with more information about toxic chemicals. This legislation also provides EPA with the authority to restrict the use of chemical substances which put the public and our environment at unreasonable risk. Congress has the responsibility to protect the health and safety of all Americans. This legislation will improve current law and advance our efforts in protecting every American from harmful toxic chemicals.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, on Saturday, May 21, 2016, Orange County lost an outstanding citizen who was a shining example of citizenry and advocacy. After months of battling lymphoma Mr. Amin David died in his Anaheim home at the age of 83. Mr. David was born in the state of Chihuahua, Mexico, and came to California where he became a U.S. citizen. In 1978 he helped found Los Amigos of Orange County, a group that tackled issues such as policing, civil rights, education, and public safety. Their motto was ``Nos gusta ayudar,'' which translates to ``We love to help.'' And that is what Mr. David did, helping everyone from all walks of life and with any problem, big or small. To this day Los Amigos of Orange County continues to have its weekly Wednesday meetings. Mr. David was known in Orange County as an incredible activist for Latinos and other marginalized communities. He stood tall for the voiceless and stood against prejudices like Islamophobia and anti- Semitism. Mr. David was a human rights defender through and through. In 1971 Mr. David became the chair of the Orange County Human Relations Commission and in 1977 was the first Latino appointed to the Anaheim Planning Commission. He was also a founding member of the Orange County Communities Organized for Responsible Development and Orange County Community Housing Corporation. Mr. David was an active member of the Anaheim police chief's advisory board and throughout his life made it his mission to advocate for Latinos and change the way police interacted with communities of color. Mr. David is survived by his wife and four children. His passing is a great loss for Orange County, but his legacy and accomplishments will live on in our community.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Marshall Kaplan, who has been an Advisor at El Sol Academy for eleven years. El Sol Academy currently serves over 900 high- achieving students and has increased family participation in its new Wellness Center, on-site social services, and adult evening classes. Mr. Kaplan has an outstanding record of working in the non-profit, government and education sectors. He is the President of the new nonprofit group, Pathways to Opportunities. For the past seven years, Mr. Kaplan was also the Executive Director of the Merage Foundation. Marshall Kaplan is the former Dean of the University of Colorado, Graduate School of Public Affairs, where he also headed the Wirth Chair and Institute for Public Policy. Mr. Kaplan also served in the Carter and Kennedy administrations, as an Advisor to Assistant Secretary Floyd Hyde when George Romney was Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Mr. Kaplan also was a senior official at HUD, and a principal in the national policy advisory firm Marshall Kaplan, Gans & Khan. He has written several books and numerous articles on regional and urban policy, environment and social welfare policy, and poverty. I am honored to recognize Mr. Marshall Kaplan for his commitment to El Sol Academy in my district.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express a deep disappointment in the Rules Committee's decision to throw out three of the amendments I put forward. By not doing those amendments, you failed to provide to those serving our country the same necessary health services that all of us get now guaranteed under ACA. You refused to take steps to protect young athletes attending United States military academies. And you neglected to provide congressional oversight on over $1 trillion worth that this country plans to invest in our nuclear deterrents. We need to fix the current TRICARE system so that we can ensure that servicemembers are provided the same access to preventive health services as those ensured under the ACA, including gestational diabetes with no copayments, smoking cessation, et cetera. My second amendment was simple. It directed the Secretary of Defense to conduct a study on the effects of concussions in contact sports, including hockey, football, lacrosse, and soccer at our United States service academies. We all know that we see what concussions can do to people. The third amendment was to simply direct the Department of Defense to include a 25-year plan to look at our nuclear spending.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, today is the 51st anniversary of Head Start. Fifty-one years ago, in 1965, President Lyndon Johnson announced the groundbreaking program. In that year, a shy little girl and the daughter of Mexican immigrants enrolled in Head Start, and it changed her life. That little girl was me. In this Chamber, when we fiercely debate funding education, we are sometimes too removed from the reality of the everyday struggles that are facing America's children and just how wide that opportunity gap is. Even though I stand before you here as a Congresswoman, I also stand before you as a child of Head Start. Universal, early childhood education is the best investment we can make to close that education gap. I know this because I am living proof of it. Head Start was not merely something that helped me; it has helped 32 million children and their parents to prepare for school. It has prepared them for life.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, this week, we recognize infrastructure week, where we highlight infrastructure development in our country and its importance to our districts. Now, we might think that infrastructure isn't very important, but we depend on it in all aspects of our daily lives. Developed roads and bridges help to take our children to school or to take our kids to our national parks. Our bridges, dams, and water are the infrastructure that help to produce energy and provide us with clean drinking water. Broadband infrastructure ensures that everyone has access to learning and to information. But, unfortunately, our infrastructure is deteriorating at an alarming rate. The American Society of Civil Engineers estimates that our crumbling infrastructure is costing each of us, each family, $3,400 a year of our disposable income. When we take into consideration the increasingly high cost of living, for example, in Orange County, California, where I live, then we see that our families are, once again, footing a bill, and yet we are not making the investment that we need. In fact, the United States spends significantly less of its GDP than most developing countries for our national infrastructure. Unfortunately, this lack of investment is apparent throughout our country. We saw it in Flint, Michigan. When infrastructure fails to provide clean water, our communities suffer. In my home State of California, Porter Ranch, California, a massive gas leak released 100,000 tons of methane gas into the air. These failed pipelines reach back to the 1950s. With respect to our roads, the Department of Transportation found that nearly 68 percent of California's roads are in poor or mediocre condition, and almost 30 percent of California's bridges have been recognized as structurally deficient. As California enters its fourth year of a drought, we are seeing just how crucial water infrastructure dollars can be during times of turmoil. So, Mr. Speaker, we have to look no further than my home district to see the positive effects of investing in infrastructure to help our communities. Since I was elected to the Congress almost 20 years ago, the very first project that I championed was building a large factory, the largest in the world, to reclaim our water, to recycle our water, and it is the world's largest advanced reclamation project. Today, that project has recycled nearly 188 billion gallons of water, and it really continues to be the flagship of water recycling. I have also fought to bring high-speed rail to California and led sending a letter to President Obama urging investment in the project, which will bring increased commercial and leisure travel. With respect to transit, I recently led a letter from the California delegation asking for $3.2 billion to fund the Capital Investment Grant Program, a program which funds projects all the way from northern to southern California. The Capital Investment Grants will help fund projects in my district, like the Orange County Streetcar, which increases transportation transit through my area so people get out of their cars, we protect the environment, and we move people more efficiently. Mr. Speaker, this Congress needs to get its act together and invest in infrastructure.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Chairman, I thank Chairman Thornberry, Ranking Member Smith, and all of our staff for tirelessly working on this very incredibly important bill. Also I would like to thank Mr. Turner. For the past 4 years, he has been the chairman and I have been the ranking member of the Subcommittee for Tactical Air and Land Forces. It has been a pleasure. The National Defense Authorization Act, of course, is a must-pass bill. We have passed it for the past 53 years, and I am really honored to have been part of it for the past 20. The NDAA is the annual piece of law that puts the necessary resources and funding to ensure that our servicemembers are fully equipped and trained to defend our country here and abroad. All of our military systems--air, land, water, and space--are authorized by this legislation. It provides new opportunities for the Department of Defense to engage in innovative research and development to ensure that America has the most technologically advanced military. Of course, that also bleeds over into the civilian world with all of our new technologies. The NDAA makes sure that servicemembers and their families are provided with the necessary support and resources as they sacrifice their lives to defend their country. Just last Friday, I had the opportunity to be in Erie, Pennsylvania, where our son was commissioned as a second lieutenant and officer into the U.S. Army artillery. So I am pretty excited to continue to support our military families because we are one. This bill also provides provisions to support women in the military-- making equipment that actually fits them, for example--and we put in language for parental leave for our servicemembers for up to 14 days. It increases funding for nuclear nonproliferation, something which I am an adamant supporter of, trying to eliminate nuclear threats for the future, for our grandchildren and their children. It increases funding for K-12 STEM education because, again, we have to invest in our future, and the future of education is equal to our national security. The legislation also provides funding and resources to counterterrorism, including those threats from ISIL. On our particular subcommittee, we included some significant oversight legislation. Everybody thinks about passing laws, but the reality is that one of the main things that we have to do as Members of Congress is to oversee what is really happening in programs and with the money of our taxpayers. So we included the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter's software oversight, the F-18 Super Hornet oxygen system, and a multiyear procurement authority for the Army's helicopters. However, the successful passage of this important legislation is at risk because, first, it doesn't comply with the Republicans' Budget Control Act because it is $18 billion over the budget caps. Secondly, it includes a number of discriminatory provisions, such as language that would allow government contractors to discriminate against the LGBT community. There are many things that we need to do to ensure that this bill can be, in a bipartisan way, passed by this House.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Nahla Kayali. She is the founder and the executive director of Access California Services. Access, as we call it, is a nonprofit organization in my hometown of Anaheim, California, that serves the Arab American, refugee, and immigrant communities with culturally appropriate services, including English as a second language, health and human services, employment assistance, and citizenship resources. In 1998, she opened a small office and had two clients the first month. She initially helped people sign up for the California Healthy Families program. With only a high school diploma, Nahla has now expanded Access California to serve over 11,000 Arab American, refugee, and other underserved community members in 16 different languages. She works to foster a better understanding of the cultural needs of the Arab American community, and, quite honestly, she is a living example of what is the American Dream. As we celebrated last month Arab American Heritage Month, I wanted to honor and recognize her accomplishments, the accomplishments of Nahla Kayali, and her continued work in supporting the Arab American communities and helping, in particular, refugees resettle and become contributing citizens and leaders in Orange County.