Loretta Sanchez

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, on Thursday, February 7, 2008, I was unavoidably detained in my Congressional district. I would have voted as follows: Rollcall No. 32: ``yes,'' on Ordering the Previous Question; rollcall No. 33: ``yes,'' On Agreeing to the Resolution; rollcall No. 34: ``yes,'' on Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H. Con. Res. 283; rollcall No. 35: ``yes,'' on Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 4848; rollcall No. 36: ``yes,'' on Agreeing to the Amendment; rollcall No. 37: ``yes,'' on Agreeing to the Amendment; rollcall No. 38: ``yes,'' on Agreeing to the Amendment; rollcall No. 39: ``no,'' on Motion to Recommit; rollcall No. 40: ``yes,'' on Passage of H.R. 4137; rollcall No. 41: ``yes,'' on Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H. Res. 947; rollcall No. 42: ``no,'' on Agreeing to the Senate Amendment to H.R. 5140.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, on Wednesday, January 23, 2008, I was unavoidably detained due to a prior obligation. I would like to make a correction to my earlier explanation of my missed votes on January 23, 2008. Had I been present and voting, I would have voted as follows: (1) Rollcall No. 21: ``yes.'' On Ordering the Previous Question. (2) Rollcall No. 22: ``yes.'' On Motion to Pass H.R. 3963, the objections of the President to the contrary notwithstanding.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, on Wednesday, February 6, 2008, I was unavoidably detained in my Congressional district. Had I been present and voting, I would have voted as follows: (1) Rollcall No. 29: ``Yes'' on Motion To Suspend the Rules and Pass H. Res. 867; (2) Rollcall No. 30: ``Yes'' on Motion To Suspend the Rules and Pass H. Res. 942; (3) Rollcall No. 31: ``Yes'' on Motion To Suspend the Rules and Pass H. Res. 943.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 954, a resolution honoring Senior Border Patrol Agent Luis A. Aguilar, who recently lost his life in the line of duty. We are fortunate to have a dedicated, brave group of men and women working to secure America's borders. Their efforts and expertise are critical to the success of any border security strategy, and to protecting our nation from dangerous individuals and goods. As the chair of the House Subcommittee on Border, Maritime and Global Counterterrorism, I am familiar with the terrain, conditions, and challenges of the southwest border and I deeply respect and value the work of our Border Patrol agents. I am saddened to rise today to recognize the loss of one of our dedicated Border Patrol agents. On the morning of Saturday, January 19, 2008, Senior Border Patrol Agent Luis A. Aguilar lost his life in the line of duty as he attempted to stop a suspected drug smuggler fleeing through California's Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area outside Yuma, Arizona. We have heard that Agent Aguilar, an El Paso native and nearly 6-year veteran of the Border Patrol, was not supposed to be working that day. However, he reported to work when he realized he was needed. Aguilar's father, a bailiff in El Paso for Judge Mary Ann Bramblett, said senior Agent Aguilar felt a strong commitment to his job and to preventing the flow of illegal drugs across our borders from reaching our communities and families. Judge Bramblett, who knew senior Agent Aguilar since he was a boy, said, ``One of the ways he felt he could really give back to the country was to serve in the Border Patrol. Serving his country and serving his family were the two most important things Luis had in his life.'' Mr. Speaker, Senior Border Patrol Agent Luis A. Aguilar gave his life serving our nation. I urge my colleagues to join me today in recognizing Agent Aguilar's extraordinary sacrifice, and in offering our sincere sympathy to his family, friends, and loved ones.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 868, honoring the 100 year anniversary of the Muir Woods National Monument. Throughout his life, John Muir was concerned with protecting nature to enhance the spiritual side of civilization and progress. His words and deeds led to the establishment of the U.S. National Park System. In addition, John Muir was the founding president of the Sierra Club, which remains one of the leading American grassroots organization for protecting wilderness and the human environment. On January 9, 1908, President Theodore Roosevelt declared the Muir Woods America's 10th National Monument. When he heard of President Roosevelt's act Muir wrote, ``This is the best tree-lover's monument that could possibly be found in all the forests of the world.'' Today, Muir Woods attracts about 1 million people every year, and inspires them with redwoods over 260 feet high and more than 1,200 years old. Part of the Golden Gate National Parks, Muir Woods is a living and enduring symbol of John Muir's conservation ethic that nature must be preserved if humanity is to continue to thrive on this planet. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution, and honor the legacy of a great American, his vision of environmental conservation, and the truly remarkable Muir Woods National Monument.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, on Wednesday, January 23, 2008, I was unavoidably detained due to a prior obligation. Had I been present and voting, I would have voted as follows: Rollcall No. 21: ``yes.'' On motion to pass H.R. 3963, the objections of the President to the contrary notwithstanding.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, on Tuesday, January 22, 2008, I was unavoidably detained due to a prior obligation. I request that the Congressional Record reflect that had I been present and voting, I would have voted as follows: (1) Rollcall No. 19: ``yes,'' On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 4211. (2) Rollcall No. 20: ``yes,'' On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H. Res. 866.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, on Wednesday, December 12, 2007, I inadvertently missed two votes. Had I been present and voting, I would have voted as follows: (1) Rollcall No. 1154: ``yea.'' On motion to postpone consideration of the veto message. (2) Rollcall No. 1155: ``yea.'' On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express concern about the ongoing subprime mortgage foreclosure crisis and the administration's ``plan'' to address the crisis. The administration proposed a 5-year interest rate freeze, something that should have angered the investor community. I should know; before I came to Congress, I was an investment advisor. But the investor community was not upset. We ask, why? Well, the reason why is that the voluntary rate freeze will only apply to a small number of the subprime loans that are in danger of default and foreclosure. The Center for Responsible Lending estimates that the administration's plan will affect 7 percent of subprime borrowers. This plan is based on the unrealistic belief that the subprime market failure will cure itself. Real leadership is needed to help homeowners and the United States economy. The President needs to show support for the House-passed legislation that provides additional options for borrowers in distress and strengthens the regulation of the mortgage lending practices.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. I thank my good friend from New York. I am pleased that today the House of Representatives is considering House Resolution 708, honoring the life and accomplishments of Luciano Pavarotti. As the sponsor of this legislation, I would like to thank the Committee on Foreign Affairs, especially the chairman, Mr. Lantos, for his assistance in bringing this before the end of the year, the year 2007, the year in which Mr. Pavarotti died. He was born on October 12, 1935, and he died on September 6, 2007, in Modena, Italy. I know, because I was in the Veneto that day when his death was announced by his family. And during his life, Mr. Pavarotti shared his incredible talent and passion for opera with the entire world. During his life, he actually began as a second grade teacher before he decided to turn to his pursuit of music full time. After devoting himself to serious voice training for over 7 years, Mr. Pavarotti made his operatic debut in the role of Rodolfo in Puccini's ``La Boheme.'' From that initial performance, Pavarotti continued to follow his dream of performing opera around the world. And after many years of hard work, of course, he became really one of opera's premier performers. But in addition to his incredible voice and his talent on stage; Mr. Pavarotti made frequent television performances, and as a result he really opened up the world of opera to a whole new audience. Mr. Pavarotti, with Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras, entered into one of the most famous collaborations in music, and The Three Tenors continued to bring opera music to more and more people around the world. As an established opera star, he decided to use his talent and his connections to benefit charities, and he began hosting the annual Pavarotti and Amici, or Pavarotti and Friends, concerts in Modena, Italy, to raise money for worthy United Nations causes. Mr. Pavarotti's appeal to opportunities, he got an opportunity to see things that are rarely enjoyed by most of us. He earned five Grammy Awards and a Grammy Legend Award, and he became the first and so far the only opera singer to perform on ``Saturday Night Live.'' Mr. Pavarotti also received numerous honors for his charitable work including being named the United Nations' Messenger of Peace and receiving the Nansen Medal from the United Nations High Commission for Refugees in honor of his efforts to raise money on behalf of refugees around the world. Mr. Pavarotti's career is an inspiration to aspiring young artists around the world, and it encourages them to continue to go after their dream. In addition, Mr. Pavarotti's commitment to charitable causes provides an important example of how artists can raise awareness in funding for people in need. Mr. Speaker, since his death, the world has missed his talent and his passion. And although we will always have recordings of his beautiful music, we will continue to miss his presence and his love for life. And I know that in the last 10 years of his life he filled his life and was very fulfilled. But we should remember that Mr. Pavarotti once said: ``A life in music is a life beautifully spent, and this is what I have devoted my life to.'' Mr. Pavarotti's life was indeed a life beautifully spent, and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting House Resolution 708 to honor his life and his achievements.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that today the House of Representatives passed H.R. 3887, the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2007. This is an issue that impacts countries around the world, whether they are a source or destination for trafficked persons. Official estimates are that between 2 to 4 million persons are trafficked each year, including approximately 17,500 individuals who are trafficked into the United States. One country that is a major source of trafficking victims is Vietnam. The congressional district that I represent in Orange County, California, is home to one of the largest Vietnamese constituencies outside of Vietnam. Hence, I have met with many people who have been trafficked from Vietnam, as well as advocates who work to help these victims. I have personally visited Vietnam 3 times, and it has been apparent from my trips that human trafficking is a major problem facing women, children, and men in Vietnam. Vietnamese women are trafficked to other countries in Asia and elsewhere, where they are subsequently forced into marriage, labor, and prostitution. Often, Vietnamese women are promised employment, and given fake working papers, but then they are instead sold into marriage, the commercial sex industry, or labor. These women often find themselves in a foreign country, with no legal status, and no ability to speak the language. Given the large numbers of trafficked persons from Vietnam, and around the world, I am glad that the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act adds technical assistance and support to assist foreign governments with the prevention and prosecution of human trafficking cases. It is critical that the United States share its resources to combat trafficking with the rest of the world. All of the members of our world community must work together to fight human trafficking. The United States must also work to improve its efforts to combat trafficking within our own borders. This bill will assist with enhancing the rights of victims, who are trafficked into the United States, and will provide special protections to child victims. H.R. 3887 is an important step in the worldwide fight against human trafficking. At the same time, we must continue to work on this issue in our local communities. In my district, a number of agencies, including law enforcement, service providers, and community organizations have joined together to form the Orange County Human Trafficking, Task Force (OCHTTF). This task force operated for several years without any funding. I am proud that I was able to help them secure funding to continue their collaborative efforts to fight human trafficking. I commend the OCHTTF for its efforts, and hope that more local communities will stand together to protect the rights of all persons to live free from forced marriage, prostitution, and labor.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 3915, the Mortgage Reform and Anti-Predatory Lending Act of 2007. H.R. 3915 restricts the harmful mortgage lending products that have wreaked havoc on our local communities. In my district in Orange County, California, the cities of Anaheim and Santa Ana are feeling the effects of irresponsible lending practices that resulted in numerous foreclosures. One-third of the homes on the market in those cities are available because they were foreclosed on. Borrowers who will only purchase a home once or twice in their lifetimes should not be blamed for the current situation. Through the licensing of mortgage loan originators, the establishment of loan origination standards, and the enhancement of consumer protections, H.R. 3915 takes appropriate steps to stop predatory lending practices without placing an undue burden on responsible mortgage originators and lenders. These new standards will provide needed safeguards without preventing potential homebuyers from obtaining loans. Eventually, the financial services industry will recover from the current mortgage crisis, and we must ensure that the predatory practices of the past are not repeated in the future.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, last night I introduced H.R. 4183, a bill to authorize the National Urban Search and Rescue Response System. The National Urban Search and Rescue Response System is an important part of our Nation's all-hazards preparedness and response efforts. FEMA established the Urban Search and Rescue Response System in 1989 so that local emergency services personnel could act as integrated disaster response task forces. However, the system has never been fully authorized by Congress. As a result the Taskforces have suffered funding shortfalls, and the Taskforce personnel have been deployed without the appropriate Federal worker's compensation and employment protections. Currently the Urban Search and Rescue Response System is made up of 28 Taskforces that are sponsored by local or State agencies. Most Taskforces consist of 70 personnel that are ready to deploy within 6 hours of activation, for 10-day deployments with 24-hour operations. The Taskforces deploy with all the equipment they need and they are self-sufficient for 72 hours. In the event of a terrorist attack, a natural disaster, an accident, or another emergency involving structural collapse, FEMA can deploy any or all of the Taskforces to help with the emergency response. Taskforces have been deployed to respond to a variety of emergencies including earthquakes, hurricanes, and terrorism events like the Oklahoma City bombing. In 2001, 25 out of the 28 Taskforces were deployed to respond to 9/11. In 2005, all 28 Taskforces were deployed to respond to Hurricane Katrina. During that deployment the Taskforces searched thousands of collapsed structures in Mississippi and flooded structures in New Orleans, resulting in the rescue of 6,587 victims in New Orleans alone. In my district the Orange County Fire Authority sponsors the fifth California Urban Search and Rescue Taskforce. The Orange County Fire Authority and the other sponsoring agencies make significant commitments to their Taskforces by absorbing Federal funding shortfalls, maintaining the necessary equipment, and supporting their personnel's participation in training, exercises, prestaging and deployments. It is time for Congress to provide greater protections to the agencies that sponsor Urban Search and Rescue Taskforces and the individuals that serve on the Taskforces. H.R. 4183 will authorize $52 million annually to ensure that sponsoring agencies are not forced to absorb a Federal funding shortfall. This legislation will also provide Taskforce personnel or their families with Federal injury, illness, disability, and death benefits if the Taskforce member is injured during a Federal deployment. In addition, this bill provides employment protections so that Taskforce members will not lose their jobs because they have been deployed by FEMA. The National Urban Search and Rescue Taskforces are a valuable resource and an excellent example of how local, State and Federal Governments can cooperate to effectively prepare and respond to all- hazard emergencies. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting our Nation's Urban Search and Rescue Taskforces, and cosponsoring H.R. 4183.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, on Tuesday, October 13, 2007, I inadvertently missed three votes. Had I been present and voting, I would have voted as follows: (1) Rollcall No. 1083: ``Yes'' On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass the resolution. (2) Rollcall No. 1084: ``Yes'' On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass the resolution. (3) Rollcall No. 1085: ``Yes'' On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass the resolution.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank our Nation's veterans and their families for their dedication, their service and their sacrifice. As we approach Veterans Day, I commend the Democratic leadership for working with our Senate colleagues to pass a Veterans appropriations bill last night. This bill is the largest increase in veterans funding ever, $3.7 billion over what the President asked. This bill will provide our veterans with desperately needed health care services, including funds specifically allocated to treat the rising number of veterans with traumatic brain injury and PTSD. To date, we have lost more than 4,000 troops and 30,000 troops have been wounded in Afghanistan and Iraq. We must do everything we can to take care of our servicemembers when they come home to their families and their communities, and we will bring them home. But until that day, this Congress will do everything we can to take care of our veterans and their families.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to set the record straight. This administration has accused Congress of being a ``failure,'' and that is simply not true. I think the President has this Congress confused with last year's ``Do-Nothing Congress.'' This Congress has successfully passed numerous pieces of legislation that have been supported by the majority of the American people and the President has signed into law. We passed, for example, H.R. 1, to implement the 9/11 Commission recommendations and to provide greater protection for first responders and security for our country. We have raised the minimum wage, improved our economic competitiveness, and enacted the College Cost Reduction Act. I am particularly proud of this law, which increases funding for Federal Pell Grants by more than $11 billion and will make college more affordable for low-income students. And then of course there is SCHIP. This Congress has bent over backwards to address concerns about the legislation, and yet this administration continues to oppose health care for our Nation's most vulnerable children. I am proud to go home this weekend and tell my constituents about what this Congress has done.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, the children's health insurance legislation passed by the House last month was a bipartisan bill that provided health care coverage to 10 million American children. Although it received overwhelming support from the American people, from 43 Governors, and a veto-proof majority in the Senate, the majority of House Republicans rejected it and said they had specific concerns. To address their concerns, House Democrats met with Republicans and introduced a revised SCHIP bill last week. We clarified three key points. One, there wasn't any possibility of higher income families being eligible; two, it further clarified that immigrants without documents would not have access to the program; and, three, it phased out over 1 year the coverage of childless adults. But, Madam Speaker, Republicans in this body just can't take yes for an answer. Even after addressing their concerns in this revised bill, many of our colleagues still insisted on standing with President Bush, instead of with working American families.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the skill, the dedication and the sacrifice of our Nation's first responders. In particular, I would like to honor and thank all of the first responders who are on the front line perilously right now fighting the fires in Southern California. We rely on our first responders to help us survive the most difficult and the most challenging experiences that we face. I am proud that when we passed H.R. 1 this year, Congress took critical steps to provide Federal support for our Nation's first responders. These steps included increasing the amounts of funding available to States and localities for hazardous preparedness funding, what we are facing in California right now, and establishing a stand-alone communications interoperability grant program so that our first responders could speak to each other as they were on the front line in these emergencies. The Federal Government must continue to provide States and localities with all the resources that they need to effectively respond to these emergencies. Please keep all of our first responders and the residents who have been affected by the Southern California fires in your thoughts and prayers.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. I thank the chairwoman for the 5 minutes. Mr. Speaker, this historic case took place in my hometown and I get to represent that area of central Orange County. The case is really about many families. The Mendez family was the first family in the brief. It was also about many areas of Orange County, not just Westminster. It covered the central portion because in those days, of course, there were the white schools and there were the Mexican schools. Now the Mexican schools were interesting because it wasn't just Mexicans who went there. It was anybody who looked different. Japanese Americans went there. Native Americans went there. Black Americans went there. And the case in point was that when the Japanese family was interned and was able to hold onto their property by having Gonzalo Mendez farm it, he began to make more money and so he was in a position to hire lawyers, a lawyer out of Texas and a lawyer out of Los Angeles, to come and fight the issue of why do some children go to the white school and some go to the Mexican school. You see, when Sylvia's aunt took her children and Sylvia down to the school that day, now that they had moved to a new property where they could farm, when they went down the block to the local school, the children of the aunt were allowed to go to the school because they were lighter in skin. But Sylvia was darker in her complexion, and she was told that those children must go to the Mexican school across town. And having taken these children back with her and saying that was not fair, the discussion went on in the family. And Felicitas, I know, like any mother and any wife would do, sat up all night and shook her husband Gonzalo and said: You're making money now, this isn't fair, do something about it. And that is how they came together as families to put forward such an important decision. And Thurgood Marshall was part of that, representing the NAACP at the time. And, in turn, when we were able to change the law in California, that law was part of the basis for Brown v. Board of Education at the national level. Why do we pass such a resolution today? Because we have to keep reminding ourselves of our history and of the importance of change and what that means. I will tell you why. Sylvia Mendez, the darker daughter who was not allowed in the school, the very case around her, she didn't even know that this had occurred. Sylvia read it in college in a history book. And as she was reading it, she said, Could that be me and could that be my parents? And why didn't they ever tell me about it? This is the reason we remember, so that all children across our Nation will understand that all of them will get the opportunity that is America.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, today we have the opportunity to right a wrong, the President's wrong in vetoing SCHIP reauthorization. Rather than admit that this veto is in error, the Bush administration has embarked on this misinformation campaign. This legislation does not expand SCHIP eligibility. It does not extend coverage to households with incomes up to $83,000 a year. It does not promote government-run health insurance. Rather, this legislation has targeted uninsured American children living in poverty, children who already qualify for SCHIP but that don't have health care due to a lack of funding. One of the most important reforms in this legislation is the creation of an incentive fund, a fund for States to enroll the 4 million children who currently are eligible for the program but are not enrolled. Further, this legislation phases out the use of SCHIP funds to cover adults. Let's not forget it was the administration who allowed States to put adults into this program. Please, let's get this right. Override this veto.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, President Bush and congressional Republicans know they have a perception problem with the American people when it comes to being fiscally responsible. The fact is, they inherited a record surplus from President Clinton back in 2001, and over the next 6 years they turned that surplus into record deficits. In fact, it's so bad that President Bush has the distinction of borrowing more money from foreign nations than all of his 42 predecessors combined. That is not a record to brag about. And so now the President and some Republicans are attempting to wipe away 6 years of fiscal mismanagement by opposing a bipartisan bill that would provide quality health care coverage to 10 million children. The problem is, the bill that they are opposing is completely paid for. You see, when we took over the House in January, we restored pay- as-you-go rules so that we could finally tackle our Nation's deficit. The bipartisan children's health care bill would not add one cent to our Nation's deficit. And House Republicans need to realize that this bill is bipartisan for a reason.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, the situation in the housing market is well documented. Unscrupulous practices by mortgage brokers in search of fees and the unrealistic belief that housing prices would continue their meteoric rise is resulting in the most perilous situation for the housing sector, and the economy as a whole since the Great Depression. The most urgent action for this Congress is to encourage actions that enable families to stay in their homes. Today we will consider H.R. 3648, the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act. This bill takes the crucial step to restore fundamental fairness for homeowners in financial distress by revising language in the tax code that includes discharged home mortgage debt as taxable income. Homeownership, especially among minorities, is at an all time high. It has contributed greatly to our economy and our social fabric. Foreclosed, empty homes only impose costs that everyone must bear. Now is the time to make sensible reforms to protect families and consumers who are on the verge of losing their home. I commend the Committee on Ways and Means and the House Leadership for bringing this important bill to the floor.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, I do not think I have to further remind this Congress about how far off base the President is over the State Children's Health Insurance Program. The health care system is failing our Nation's children who are in need. Too many are without health insurance and do not receive the regular care they need. For this President, the supposed evil of two million children possibly switching health coverage to state sponsored healthcare is enough to block coverage for six million additional poor children. Seven hundred and fifty thousand children were added to the rolls of the uninsured last year and the number of employers that offer health benefits to the children of workers continues to shrink. Yet the President stands firm to a proposal for SCHIP that would not even be able to maintain existing coverage and would impose unconscionable hurdles on families whose children need health care. One must question the principles of this President. How, in good conscious, could he ask for an additional $190 billion for a war that two-thirds of the American people oppose while calling $5 billion for one of our nation's most successful programs reckless spending? The American people deserve better and our Nation's children deserve the right to have health insurance.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3087, and I thank my colleagues, all of you, for getting it here to the floor. I voted for this bill in the Armed Services Committee with bipartisan support. It passed 55-2, and I think this is the beginning of the way. I'm happy that we're trying to find a way to move in Iraq. We are here today because after more than 4 years of the President's war, it has become painfully clear that the administration didn't adequately plan for this war. Plan. Planning. And this is what this bill is about. And that the administration really didn't understand the substantial investment that it was going to take for American troops beyond the initial invasion. In fact, when the President declared ``Mission Accomplished'' on May 1, 2003, we had only lost 139 of our troops in Iraq; however, since then, 3,660 of our troops have been lost. So the American people have called for a redeploying of our troops from Iraq, and we need to start doing it, and we need a plan to do that redeployment. So today, with this legislation, Congress is mandating that proper planning be done, so that whenever the redeployment begins, our troops will be brought home safely to their families.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. I thank the chairman for allowing me to speak today on this issue of the Vietnam Human Rights Act of 2007. As you know, I represent the largest Vietnamese community outside of Vietnam in the world, and so I've had the chance to visit Vietnam now three times. Actually, I just finished visiting in April of this year. Before that, I had been denied a visa to visit Vietnam for three times in the past 2\1/2\ years. Now, I rise today in support of my colleague's House Resolution 3096, because this is a very critical time in our relationship with Vietnam. Before being accepted in the World Trade Organization in January, the Government of Vietnam assured the world that they would make significant progress in the area of human rights, things that we, as Americans, really sometimes take for granted; freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of collective bargaining, freedom to assemble as we wish, and most importantly, really one of the reasons our country was founded, freedom of religion. As my colleague from New Jersey stated, we had put Vietnam on the List of Particular Concern with respect to the infringement on religious beliefs of the people of Vietnam, and even they were taken off in anticipation of this issue of going into the WTO. Many, many promises in the 11 years that I have served in the Congress, many, many promises by the communist Government of Vietnam, yet nothing ever holds up. And in this particular case, every person who has stood up to speak inside of Vietnam for democracy, for democracy, for something other than the communist party, for free elections, for return of land confiscated by that government, for their ability to practice the religion that they want, for their ability to assemble three or four or five on a street corner with a simple sign, asking, wanting, searching for democracy. And each and every one of these people are under house arrest, have been put in prison. One of them, Father Ly, for example, was given a trial, a trial that lasted one day, no attorney available to him, in a very famous photograph sent across the world of the communist government with their hand over his mouth at his very own trial because they didn't want him to be heard by the world. The venerable Thich Quang Do, a Buddhist, through peaceful means saying we need religious freedom, recognize the church where most of the Buddhists in Vietnam want to belong. But nothing. Instead, he is under house arrest. All of these dissidents, and yet they continue to speak up and try to tell the world that there is no human right in Vietnam. And they continue to fight. Many of my colleagues on the other side and on our side of the aisle have been working to get this message out. So then they got WTO, and they imprisoned everybody. I was there in April. There were no dissidents to meet. I asked to go to the prisons. I asked to go see those who had been put behind bars. They laughed. They would not let me. They said, How dare you ask. You know better than to ask to see these people. And our ambassador, at his residence there, put together a tea of the wives and the mothers of the dissidents, not people who had spoken up, simply because they were married and these women were worried about their husbands. And they came to talk to us. They were stopped at their homes. They were barricaded in their homes. The streets were barricaded to their homes so they couldn't get out. And the two who made it, now in a very famous video playing on the Internet, as I came to the home, so did those women, the two who got through. And about 25 communist government soldiers descended upon us, pulling us apart and dragging away one of the women. The ambassador came out. He said these women are simply here to come and have tea with us. But they would have none of it. This is democracy? These are the human rights that this government promised? So I say today, let us not be conspirators with this government in the backslide of progress. Please, I ask my colleagues, join us in voting for this resolution today.