Loretta Sanchez

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Madam Chair, I ask my colleagues to vote for this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5116, the Human Trafficking Detection Act of 2014, and I yield myself as much time as I may consume. This whole issue of human trafficking is one, in my 18 years in the Congress, that I have been working significantly on. I sit on the Homeland Security Committee, and one of the things that we were able to do many years ago was to direct funds actually into my area, into Orange County, California, to work on a collaboration of State agencies, police officers, and the Federal Government, and we funded this to make one of the first task forces on human trafficking in our Nation. Originally, there were six, and we were one of six. Now they are, I think, in the double digits. So we have learned a lot. We have learned a lot about human trafficking. We have learned that there are some countries that are initiation or supply countries. There are some that just transit these young people, these children, these women. We have also learned that there are destination countries or demand countries, and, of course, the United States is one of the largest demand countries. We are also a transit country because we take our own children from one State and put them in the other States. We are also a supply country because we use our own children in this human trafficking process, these terrible people who do this. They are really just, most of the time, about making money any way they can. So what we know is that there are many children being trafficked across our State lines, but also across our borders. They come in through our airports. They come in through boats in Miami and my State of California, and, yes, they pour across our borders just as we see the humanitarian crisis that my colleague mentioned earlier. So some of the people who first see these young children, for example, or these women who are being trafficked are going to be our Customs people. They are going to be our Border Patrol. As you can imagine, depending on the circumstance, they have got a lot of other things going on in their mind. They are trying to stem people from coming across. They are trying to figure out whether these people have drugs in their stuff, and so they may not notice what you can notice, and that is the trafficking of people, because in order to traffic that person, you have got to have the trafficker coming along with them. So, if we train them, if we give them the tools, our Department of Homeland Security, our Customs, our Border Patrol people, our transport people will have a better idea and will be able to see almost immediately, which is what I have learned to do through this task force that we have. The signs are always there. It is do we know, do we have something in our mind that can show us what is happening? Now, the Department of Homeland Security has obviously tried, but they have got a lot of things that they have got to work with. So by actually doing and increasing the awareness and increasing the training of our frontline employees, we will do a better job. We will do a better job of stopping this trafficking. I thank the other side for working with us to ensure that this bill moves forward and becomes law to give that additional training that I believe our Department of Homeland Security employees need and want. With that, I will reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I have no more speakers. If the gentlewoman from Indiana has no more speakers, then I am prepared to close. Mr. Speaker, first of all, I would like to applaud Representative Meadows for introducing what I think is a very important piece of legislation in a bipartisan manner, and I am thankful that he cares enough and that he has a daughter who wrote a report. These people who are trafficked live amongst us. In particular, they live in areas where there is lots of diversity, where there are lots of people going about doing their business, in crowded areas a lot. Trafficked, you are right, they are exploited for sexual purposes, about 70 percent of them; but the other 30 percent are used in homes in domestic servitude not even getting, sometimes, to sleep in a bed of the very house where they are worked as a slave, sleeping on the floor and getting the crumbs off the table. We have seen that. We have seen that in Orange County, California, in one of the richest areas of the Nation. In one of the nicest homes this was happening with a little Egyptian girl who was there who had been trafficked in by a family. If it is not domestic and it is not sexual, then it is sweatshops where people literally have their passports and their papers taken away and they are working 18 or 19 hours a day, not being paid and barely being fed. So they are all around us. Americans have to open up their eyes. We have to see it in our neighborhoods, and, of course, we have to stop them as they bring them from other countries. That is why I believe that our Nation's screeners and our Customs officers serve as the eyes and the ears on the front line of our ports of entry and exit from the United States. If they are properly trained, then they will see it, and they can help stop it. Lastly, I am very grateful that tonight we have had a series of bills with respect to human trafficking. I just want to remind my colleagues that this humanitarian crisis we see on our southern border, that many of those children also have faced what we are talking about tonight; and, in order to stop it, we have to be as generous as possible with those young people to restart their lives. With that, Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to say ``yes'' to this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a valiant veteran, Special Forces Sergeant Ramon Rodriguez. At the age of 17, Sergeant Ramon Rodriguez began his military career during his junior year at Banning High School and decided to enlist in the Army with the help of the Juvenile Court system and his father's signature. After many years of training and being stationed in Germany, Sergeant Rodriguez was sent to Vietnam to serve his country. Sergeant Rodriguez embarked on dangerous missions and led his platoon through difficult obstacles during a mission in Phu Bai. While leading five soldiers into safety, Sergeant Rodriguez suffered from a bullet that shot him from behind. In 1967, Sergeant Rodriguez was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for Heroism for his ``fearless action while exposed to intense enemy fire''. He was awarded with a Silver Star three times within a span of 34 days for his courageous service during the Vietnam War. Sergeant Rodriguez was also awarded three Bronze Stars with an Oak Leaf Cluster and five Purple Hearts during his 32 months of service in Vietnam for his heroism and act of valor against hostile enemy forces, and a total of 17 combat medals and awards for his service. Sergeant Rodriguez attended the United States Ranger School and graduated with distinguished honors. After completing his service in Vietnam, Sergeant Rodriguez led the Special Forces scuba team at Fort Devens, Massachusetts and directed the team on a mission in Panama. Sergeant Rodriguez and his soldiers were responsible for the scuba and ranger training of armed forces from South American countries and established a ranger school in Honduras. In 1981, Sergeant Rodriguez earned the rank of Command Sergeant Major at the United States Sergeant Major Academy at Fort Bliss, Texas. Sergeant Rodriguez completed two more assignments before officially retiring from the Army in 1983. In 1982, Sergeant Rodriguez was nominated for the Congressional Medal of Honor. On June 11, 2008, Sergeant Rodriguez was inducted as a member of the Ranger Hall of Fame. Sergeant Rodriguez is known to be one of the most decorated combat soldiers that served in the Vietnam War. Sergeant Rodriguez remained in the United States Army for 23 years to serve the United States. Currently, he serves as Chairman of the Veterans and Military Commission for the County of Los Angeles. It is an absolute honor to recognize Special Forces Sergeant Rodriguez and his years of service to this country. Sergeant Rodriguez and his fellow soldiers are an inspiration for their service, dedication and unending sacrifice. Sergeant Rodriguez's heroism and courageous acts during the call of duty saved the lives of his fellow soldiers and these acts of valor deserve the greatest recognition.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, this year marks the 40th anniversary of the Turkish invasion of the Republic of Cyprus. On July 20, 1974, Turkish forces occupied over a third of the northern part of Cyprus leading into the forcible division of the country. Turkey's occupation of the northern part of Cyprus divided the country between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. Currently, Greek Cypriots are not given the freedom to return to their homes and are having their property and religious sites destroyed. The people of Cyprus are experiencing a violation of their human rights and the country continues to pursue an ethnically segregated state. The U.N. Security Council has been assisting the Cyprus government with the process of reaching a sustainable settlement that would unify Cyprus. In addition, President Anastasiades introduced a proposal that aims to rebuild a relationship between Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities, which the U.S. has accepted. I urge Turkey to contribute in the process of reuniting the Republic of Cyprus. Members of Congress and the international community must work together to solve the ongoing conflicts and reach a comprehensive settlement that will unify the country. We must strongly urge Turkey to resolve the continuing humanitarian issues the people are facing. The United States strongly supports the sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus. The Cyprus Government's commitment towards working with the United States will ease the process of finding possible initiatives that will further mend the country's division. I believe the international community must focus on reunifying the Republic of Cyprus and support the ideals of freedom and justice.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight H.R. 4902, the Middle Class CHANCE Act, which I was proud to introduce last week. As a Pell Grant recipient myself, I know that every dollar counts when you're trying to put yourself through college. In our changing economy, today's college student is not necessarily full-time, living on campus, or between the ages of 18 and 22. Today's student is struggling to finish in four years, and today's student is averaging nearly $30,000 in student loan debt. That is why I am proud to have introduced the Middle Class CHANCE Act which will increase access to higher education for all our students by restoring the strength and length of the Pell Grant. We argue that sensible solutions to our economic difficulties are essential to prevent this burden from passing on to our future generations. But let's take a look around; our future generations have already inherited the burden. We cannot rebuild our economy when we do so at the expense of our future generations and the American dream of completing a post- secondary education. I urge my colleagues to join me in cosponsoring the Middle Class CHANCE Act and make college more affordable and accessible for today's student.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Troy Edgar, the chair of the board of the Orange County Sanitation District, and I congratulate him on his upcoming retirement. Mr. Edgar was instrumental in ensuring the successful upgrade of the sanitation district's facilities, and I applaud him for his leadership in implementing a sustainable financial plan for the district, creating successful partnerships, and adopting effective policy in order to ensure the highest quality of water by the most cost-effective methods. I hold Mr. Edgar in the highest regard for his outstanding public service and his efforts on behalf of the sanitation district and its mission to protect public health and our environment. I thank Mr. Edgar for his role in Orange County. He is a great example of what a great public servant looks like, does, and acts. Again, I thank him for his leadership, his vision, for his commitment to the residents of Orange County. I congratulate him. He is a star in our community, and I wish him luck in his future endeavors.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr Chair, for the past year, the House Armed Services Committee has conducted an ``Oversight of the Asia Pacific Rebalance.'' This initiative was brought forth by the collective leadership of Chairman Buck McKeon and Ranking Member Adam Smith. I would also recognize Chairman Randy Forbes and Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa for their great efforts on this critical committee engagement, culminating in their legislative contributions to the NDAA we consider here today. Without question, the Asia Pacific Rebalance constitutes one of America's most important military and security policies. The Chairman and I both represent districts in a state with vast ties to the Asia Pacific--whether political, security, military, economic, cultural, social and even people-to-people exchange. We also have a vibrant Asian American community in our state that is an embodiment of our relationship with this critically important region. It is within this context that I wish to raise an important issue and one that I feel is central to the Asia Pacific Rebalance. Let me be clear that I feel this issue is both germane to the jurisdiction of this committee and our consideration of the NDAA on the Floor. As you and our colleagues on this committee are well aware, more than 200,000 young women and girls from throughout Asia and the Pacific, but mainly from Korea, were forced to become sex slaves during World War II by the Imperial Armed Forces of Japan. For over 70 years, these women endured unspeakable and nightmarish ordeals and have yet to receive a formal apology. There are those who believe that the Comfort Women issue is a controversial historical dispute that is not germane to our committee's jurisdiction or the NDAA. I fundamentally disagree. As a case in point, during President Obama's recent Asia trip a couple of weeks ago, he specifically brought up the Comfort Women issue. At a joint press conference with Korean President Park Geun-Hye, President Obama stated that what happened to the Comfort Women was ``terrible and egregious,'' that these ``women deserved to be heard and respected'' and that ``there should be an accurate and clear account of what happened.'' President Obama made these remarks in the context of U.S.-Korea-Japan relations and the Asia Rebalance. The Comfort Women survivors are dying by the day. Of the over 200,000 survivors less than 100 are still alive today. As a matter of valuing women's rights and human rights, these Comfort Women survivors deserve the dignity of a formal apology by the Japanese Government. I further urge Japan to follow the recommendations set forth in H. Res. 121 that was authored by my friend and colleague, Representative Michael Honda and passed the House on June 30, 2007. Proper resolution to this issue yields the benefit of closer U.S.-Korea-Japan trilateral relations which is critical to countering the North Korean nuclear threat and enhancing security ties with our allies. Mr. Chair, I wish to reiterate the importance of this issue to our committee, our constituents, our state, our nation and our allies. I urge my colleagues to also offer expressions of support for the Comfort Women survivors.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the 60th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education and the incredible impact it had on our Nation. The ruling of Brown v. Board of Education ended segregation in schools across the United States, and it declared the doctrine ``separate but equal'' unconstitutional. It is truly something to be proud of, as Americans. But as we celebrate, let us not forget the precedent case to that; and that was about a young Mexican American student who, along with her family and others in their community, truly set the stage in the fight to end segregation in all of our schools. This happened in my county, in my district, in my home. The case was Mendez v. Westminster. In 1945, when Sylvia Mendez was not allowed to go to an all-white school in Orange County, California, her parents, Gonzalo and Felicitas Mendez, fought for integration. And guess what. They won. Segregation in Orange County ended, and the rest of our State followed, and 7 years later the entire country followed. So as we commemorate the grand case of Brown v. Board of Education, let us also remember Mendez v. Westminster, two historic achievements that opened the doors for a better education for all our children throughout this great Nation.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Chair, I thank the ranking member and my colleague from California, Chairman McKeon, in particular, for all the work and guidance that he has given us as he leaves the Congress at the end of this year. I am sure we will fete you in better ways, but thank you for the work you have done. I want to thank the chairman of the Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee, Chairman Mike Turner, for his leadership this year. We have worked in a bipartisan manner. We have had three critical goals in mind as we have done this: supporting our troops with the equipment that they need, cutting wasteful spending, and investing in our future. The subcommittee's portion of H.R. 4435 supports all of the high- priority acquisition programs in the President's budget. H.R. 4435 provides $8.3 billion for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, $3.8 billion for Army aviation upgrades, $1.4 billion for the Ospreys, and $997 million for U.S. Marine Corps ground equipment. However, our subcommittee didn't just rubberstamp everything. We actually took a very careful look at what programs were working, which ones were slow, and what wasn't getting done. We were able to identify more than $600 million in funding that we put in other places in the bill. They were used to increase funding in numerous areas in an effort to provide additional equipment for our military and preserve critical production capabilities for the future. Specifically, the bill provides an additional $450 million for the EA-18G Growler aircraft for the Navy, $340 million for additional ground combat vehicles for the Army, $80 million in additional funds for the procurement of body armor, $250 million in funding for the National Guard and Reserve equipment account, and numerous other investments. Finally, the chairman's mark includes important oversight legislation on numerous major DOD programs to ensure that the Congress has the information it needs to make future judgments.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. This is a good government bill. Please vote for it.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, every day, the United States faces an extremely urgent and dangerous threat, and this threat goes beyond the traditional dangers of states possessing nuclear weapons. What I am talking about right now is the very real possibility of these dangerous materials landing in the hands of terrorist organizations. Because of this real threat, I know that there is no one in this Chamber who will deny the importance of nonproliferation programs and how effective they are in combating one of the greatest threats to the United States' security. For example, just imagine if Ukraine still had its nuclear materials today. Imagine the disaster we would be in as the administration endeavored to accelerate the removal of nuclear materials from Ukraine, but the Global Threat Reduction Initiative, an incredibly important nonproliferation program, could not adequately respond because it required additional funds, but the Department of Defense could not transfer those necessary funds. This is exactly the type of situation we are trying to avoid by passing my amendment. Fortunately, the United States removed over 235 kilograms of highly enriched uranium over 2 years from the two remaining sites in Ukraine in 2012. This is enough highly enriched uranium to develop more than nine nuclear weapons. We do not have the ability to predict the future, especially with challenges and threats we will face. This is why we need the ability to be flexible. This is essential, and that is exactly what my amendment provides. The Department of Defense has been transferring approximately $1 billion per year to NNSA weapons programs, and over the next 5 years, DOD will be providing around $1.5 billion annually for NNSA weapons and Naval Reactor programs. What the Sanchez amendment would do is to allow the Department of Defense to have the option of transferring funds to nonproliferation programs. It does not remove funding from weapons programs or Naval Reactor Program, but it provides DOD the flexibility to allocate funding to areas which they believe will effectively secure dangerous nuclear material and to respond to emergencies and threats as they may arise. Nuclear weapons materials remain dangerously vulnerable, so terrorist groups continue to seek these weapons and material every day. I would like to ask my colleagues from both sides of the aisle, if there was a loose nuclear weapon or missing fissile material or the risk of these materials landing in the hands of terrorists, why would we not want the Department of Defense to have the flexibility to engage nuclear weapons experts from NNSA? That is exactly what my amendment provides. Once again, my amendment doesn't take any funding away from weapons nor from Naval Reactors, but it simply removes the barriers and provides the Department of Defense the flexibility to use all of its resources to effectively address such nuclear threats. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Chairman, may I ask how much time I have left?

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Chairman, I reserve my time to close.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Chairman, I would like to correct my colleague. It was not the fourth year in a row we have debated it. For example, we didn't debate this last year. I would further like to say that one of the reasons we have asked for Naval Reactor moneys is because of the shortfall that they had this past year that they weren't able to react to because they didn't have the flexibility. So with all of these issues going on with terrorists, in particular looking for nuclear arms or material, I think that it is important for us to give the Department of Defense that flexibility. The same type of thing that they found themselves in a bind for with the reactors this past year, it would be important not to find ourselves in a bind if we would need it for this year. And I would also like to remind my colleagues that yes, we put some more money into nonproliferation this year after many years of cutting it, but we put a significantly more amount of money into the nuclear armament piece. Mr. Chairman, I would just ask my colleagues to vote for the flexibility for the Department of Defense. I have no further speakers, and I urge my colleagues to support my amendment with the underlying bill. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, innovation is important to our country and to our communities. Innovation and education is a step up in our economic situation here in the United States. A high-quality education is a foundation--it is really a foundation, not just for individuals, but for families, for communities, for our Nation. That is one of the reasons why I believe that it is important to have charter schools and to have charter schools compete well, to have charter schools thought out well. They are an addition to what is going on in our public school system. Mr. Chairman, back in my area, I have two very, very outstanding charter schools right down the street from where I live. One of them is the Orange County School of the Arts, performing arts; and aside from that, it has one of the highest academic levels. In fact, it is in the top 10 charter schools in my home State of California. As you know, we represent a large amount of people, 38 million or so, so that is saying something. I also have the El Sol Science and Arts Academy just down the street. That is an elementary school. What it has seen is incredible achievement, the close of the achievement gap for lower-income students. But not all schools are high quality--not all charter schools are high quality, and what we need to do is recommit to ensuring that those schools we have, both traditional public and charter schools, as well as private schools, do a good job for America; so that is why I will be voting for H.R. 10. My amendment, Mr. Chairman, would simply work to ensure that community involvement is happening with charter schools. That is incredibly important. I know that, when I went to school, community was involved in my public school, and that is why it was one of the most outstanding elementary schools in our Nation at the time. I am pleased to have worked with my colleagues from both sides of the aisle on the amendment that I am offering today, which will hold public charter schools accountable in fostering and promoting community involvement. Simply said, the amendment requires State entities receiving funds through the Charter Schools Program to report on how their allocations are supporting and enhancing community involvement. The voices in our communities matter, the voices of parents, of educators, of stakeholders. Let's not forget that it is those communities that send each of us here to the United States House of Representatives. So I believe that charter schools must be engaged with the local community to understand the students they teach, and my amendment will strengthen the role of community in the process. Higher community involvement in schools is essential to the success of the students and is also essential to the families of those students. So I believe that this amendment will help us in making that gap of achievement that we see in so many areas where charter schools are located, making that gap of achievement smaller. While charter schools are not the final solution to the educational challenges in our country, let's ensure that all of our schools are positively contributing to the promise of a quality education for every child in every neighborhood. I urge my colleagues to support my amendment to improve this bill. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Polis).

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 10, the Success and Opportunity Through Quality Charter Schools Act, demonstrating that Congress can actually work together to get something done. I want to thank Chairman Kline and my good friend from California, Ranking Member George Miller, for bringing this forward. I am still waiting for you guys to bring the ESEA to the floor, but I am really thrilled that we are making some critical improvements to the public charter school system. Charter schools were never meant to replace our traditional public school system, but I have to tell you that they have grown over the last 20 years and I see several of them in my area, just down the street really, making a difference in my community--the Orange County High School of the Arts, for example, and an elementary school called El Sol--all doing great work just under a mile away from me. It is really great for us to take a look at the Federal law and say: How can we make this even better? Because even though we have great schools, like the ones I just mentioned, there are also some charter schools that have failed or some charter schools that are actually failing our kids, they are not really getting the work done that we thought they would do or that the people who envisioned them thought would be done. While charter schools work towards encouraging innovation in our public schools, we really need to take a look and see what these schools are doing. H.R. 10 is the first step in highlighting the need for charter schools that improve student outcomes while expanding those schools that are currently utilizing our best practices. I am also pleased to see that the legislation requires greater charter authorizer accountability and even more pleased that we are finally addressing the under-enrollment of some of our most vulnerable students through the weighted lotteries provision. This is incredibly important in the area where I live, as I have a very urban area. We hold our traditional public schools accountable for the education of our future leaders, and we expect charter schools to involve the community in their efforts to improve the charter school system. That is why I am happy to have worked with both the majority and the minority on an amendment that I will have tomorrow which will hold public charter schools accountable in fostering and promoting community involvement. We all know that when people are involved, when they are involved in their school, when parents are involved, we see a mass difference in the students who come out of those schools. Charter schools must be engaged with a local community to understand the students they teach, and my amendment will strengthen that role.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. While it is not the final solution, H.R. 10 positively contributes to the promise of a quality education for every child in every neighborhood.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. I rise today to applaud the Affordable Care Act's historic first open enrollment along with the 8 million people who now have the health security they deserve. And I am proud of the immense contribution California has been to these surging numbers. More than 3 million California consumers enrolled in health insurance plans or in Medi-Cal. Moreover, after connecting my district to over 20 events and enrolling over 2,300 residents through my ``Enroll OC'' initiative, Orange County alone represented 10 percent of all California enrollments. These final enrollment numbers are promising and although we have surpassed our goals, enrollment is only the first step. We must now shift our focus to educating these new consumers about the services available to them through their health insurance providers. Therefore, as an effort to educate new consumers in my district, I will be initiating a new campaign and hosting ``Know Your Benefits'' events throughout Orange County. And I urge my colleagues to go beyond the kind of work necessary to reach those who the law was meant to help.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, this morning, a productive meeting took place with the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus with respect to the deportations going on in our Nation. This issue is critical to my district of Orange County, which heartbreakingly accounts for 43 percent of the California ICE detainer requests on juveniles, which often lead to deportations. That is why I have advocated for comprehensive immigration reform, to ensure that no one is living in the shadow of fear. As a senior member of the House Homeland Security Committee, I will continue to urge the Department of Homeland Security to continue to keep in mind the harmful effects that these deportations have on our communities and the trauma they introduce into our families, into our young people, into our children. As a CHC member, I join my colleagues as we continue to act for the inclusion of the voices of our community stakeholders, so that their stories are not neglected. Madam Speaker, the time is now to vote on a comprehensive immigration reform package.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Thank you so much to the gentleman from Texas, San Antonio, and New Braunfels. Mr. Speaker, today, we are talking about the Affordable Care Act. This is so, so important as we have seen this week 7 million-plus American enrollees, and I know there are still some who tried to get in at the very end and are in the pipeline. I am hoping we push even closer to 8 million new enrollees into the Affordable Care Act. It is interesting because we over here on the Democratic side have really been working to enroll people--we have been working to talk to people about how important it is to have a health care plan--while at the same time we have seen from the other side 50-plus votes to try to undercut, to undermine, to eliminate the ACA, but here we are. They were repealing. We were enrolling. California's enrollment numbers surpassed 1.2 million people this past Monday, which is more than double of any other State. On top of that, the expansion of Medi-Cal, which is our Medicaid piece of this, has covered another 1.5 million low-income families, so we are pretty excited. California looked at this and said, this Medi-Cal plan--this plan of having a health care plan for lower income families, for the members in these lower income families--is so important. For the first 3 years, it is paid 100 percent from the Federal Government. So, if you are sitting in a State like California and if you have 1.5 million new families who didn't have health care before that was paid for, they were putting up with being sick, doing what we call in Spanish ``aguantamos.'' If you got sick, you wouldn't go to the doctor. You wouldn't go and you wouldn't go, and you would work through. You would go to work, and you would be sick. You wouldn't go until, finally, you couldn't take it anymore. You were really, really sick. Then where would you go? You would go to the emergency room, which is the highest cost place in the entire health care system. Instead of putting up with not having health care--instead of aguantamos--we now have 1.5 million families who are in Medi-Cal and, again, as of Monday, 1.2 million people who are in what we call our exchange, Covered California. This is very, very important, but there is also another piece of this that is incredibly important, which is that now we have to work with people. Now that we have enrolled them for the year, we need to work with people who have never before had a health care plan. They don't know what a primary doctor is. They don't even know what a specialist is. They don't know what the process is to go. They don't know about getting a baseline. Go and get an annual physical for free under these plans. This is for free. We have to teach them. So you go in. You get a relationship with a doctor. You get a physical. You get a baseline. You get your blood drawn. For someone like me, that is incredibly important because, for example, diabetes runs in my family. My granddad died of it, my grandma, my aunt, her five kids. It is 3\1/2\ times more likely to be in Latinos than in the average Anglo in America. It is being able to go and get blood work done so that can you see where you are, whether you have the propensity to get diabetes, for example, because diabetes in over 50 percent of the cases can be stopped; it can be turned back. It is about having some nutritional understanding, being able to eat the right way, sequencing your food, exercising after you eat--just a 15-minute walk. There were just two studies that were released this past May that said, if you have a propensity for diabetes but if you walk 15 minutes after you eat, you can cut that propensity by almost 50 percent. This is information that our communities do not have. Low-income, immigrant communities in particular are less likely to have this kind of information. Now, if they have health care plans and if we teach them how to go and get that baseline--get their annual physicals, get their pap smears, get their mammograms--and if there is something wrong, let's work on fixing it, and it takes personal responsibility to do that. I have to get up early in the morning and go and run. I have to go to the gym to ensure that, since the propensity is high for me, I don't get that because it takes some personal responsibility--personal responsibility not to eat pizza all the time, and things of that sort, yes, personal responsibility. It takes a health care plan, it takes knowledge, it takes access. These places have to be close by. We have to have clinics and doctors signed up into these plans so we can go to them. It takes cultural knowledge, as you know, being from San Antonio. Some of it is a language barrier. Some of it is just understanding how our community works and how we spread it by word of mouth, rather than go to computers to find our information. Knowing all of this will help us ensure that, now that people are enrolled, they begin to use the plans effectively, and when they use them effectively, we drive down that cost curve that was happening. In California, on average, it was a 17 percent increase in medical health care costs on an annual basis. That was not sustainable. The only people who could have liked the old system were the wealthy or the healthy. If you got sick, you had the money, or you never got sick; but today, we can fix these things. Today, we can fix these things by moving forward with these health care plans and with teaching people how to use them efficiently and effectively, so that all of society becomes stronger and healthier, and that is why we voted to put this in. That is why we have worked so hard. I am so thrilled that the gentleman from Texas wanted to discuss this issue today.