Loretta Sanchez

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor George Kalogridis, who is the president of Disneyland in my hometown of Anaheim. George will be celebrating 40 years on September 11, in just a few days, and I wish to offer him my heartiest congratulations for his 40 years with the Disney Corporation. George started as a busboy at the age of 17 at Walt Disney World, and he has worked his way up to numerous positions including being the chief operating officer for Disneyland in Paris, and now he's the president of Disneyland in Orange County, California, where he oversees 21,000 employees. George's outstanding record of achievement has increased the value of Disneyland to our community in Orange County, and I know that he continues to try to improve and to provide the leadership that that wonderful world-known resort needs. The story of George's rise from a busboy to the president of Disneyland is really the accomplishment of the American Dream, and I am proud to extend him my best wishes and congratulations.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to extend well-deserved congratulations to Santiago Canyon College's Imagine Cup team. Earlier this month, Team Syntax Errors accomplished what many thought they would never do. First of all, we're talking about a community college. And especially with the cuts happening in California to these wonderful colleges we have, they went and they competed against 430 of the best universities in the world. In addition to that competition, this community college is a gem for our community. Santiago Canyon's Team Syntax Errors proved that hard work and determination can make impossible dreams come true. They placed within the top 15 universities in the world. I am very proud of these students, and I admire their ambition. They are true role models for all of our young students striving to succeed in an ever-changing, ever-global world. It is my honor to recognize Hayden Donze, Bill Vetter, Gary Kelley, and Dale Laizure for their remarkable accomplishments. Congratulations.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, it is with great honor that I rise today to pay tribute to a friend and a remarkable public servant, Felix Anton Schwarz. Mr. Schwarz was the executive director of the Health Care Council of Orange County, where he had such a passion for working with people until his 80th year. Unfortunately, he passed away on the 4th of July. Mr. Schwarz will be remembered for his long and productive life in which he brought people together to seek solutions to so many of our health care issues back home. He was an avid advocate for improved access and affordable care for the people of Orange County. Through the Health Care Council, Mr. Schwarz was able to educate the public, educate health care professionals, and in particular policymakers in the need to support the county's safety net of health care services. He was a strong voice for the most vulnerable and neglected populations within our area. Mr. Schwarz's energy and vision touched thousands of individuals. Today I rise to honor his memory and the legacy that he has left for our community.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, last night we voted once again in the House of Representatives to cut Medicare, to cut Social Security, and to reward the wealthiest 2 percent of our Nation with tax cuts, and of course big business with tax cuts. The Republican majority wasted a crucial day of debate instead of protecting and working on the financial security for our Nation. We could have debated a strong jobs agenda like the Make It in America agenda that the Democrats have. We could have discussed how we could strengthen partnerships with businesses to retain America's workers for the jobs that are actually needed here. But what did they do? As one former Republican budget adviser calls it, they debated something that was ``a misleading political cheap shot.'' The Republicans Cut, Cap, and Balance Act is harmful for this country, and it is not a serious proposal. It is not going to be signed into law. They wasted our time. So I am glad that that bill is dead on arrival in the Senate. But I really wish, I really wish they would get down to working for America.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Chair, I would like to thank Representative Fortenberry for working with me along with Representative Larsen and Garamendi in order to offer this important amendment. This amendment is a small restoration of funds in response to a $468 million cut to defense nonproliferation programs in this bill-- equivalent to an 18% reduction in funding. The $35 million would come from the Departmental Administrative account. This transfer of funding will contribute to reducing the risk of nuclear terrorism. The danger that nuclear materials or weapons might spread to countries hostile to the United States or to terrorists is one of the gravest dangers to the United States--nonproliferation programs are critical to U.S. national security and must be a top priority. The funding for Global Threat Reduction Initiative (GTRI) specifically supports securing vulnerable nuclear material around the world in 4 years, in order to prevent this deadly material from falling into the hands of terrorists intent on doing us harm. Nonproliferation programs are the most cost-effective way to achieve these urgent goals and objectives. Last year at the Nuclear Security summit which brought together nearly 50 heads of state in Washington, President Obama secured significant commitments from countries willing to give up their nuclear weapons-usable material. The United States must follow through on its international commitments to help remove and secure these materials. Failing to do so will jeopardize the effort to secure these materials in 4 years, result in unacceptable delays and complicate further negotiations with countries who have vulnerable nuclear bomb-grade materials. Specifically, a $35 million increase would prevent delays of at least 1 year to Highly Enriched Uranium reactor conversions in Poland, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Ghana, and Nigeria. Reactor conversions are directly linked to removal of bomb-grade material: removals of vulnerable material from these sites that cannot take place until the reactors are converted. These countries are among the NNSA's highest priorities to secure material, convert research reactors and remove vulnerable HEU. These funds would also expedite by 1 year the development of a new low enriched uranium fuel for the conversion of 6 U.S. High Performance Research reactors that currently use approximately 150 kilograms--6 nuclear weapons' worth--of highly enriched uranium annually. The $35 million will help not only the U.S. fuel development program but also our R&D efforts with Russia for conversion of their high performance reactors that need this same new type of high density fuel. Over 70 research reactors that should be shut down or converted are in Russia, and there has been recent progress on converting at least 6 reactors. We are right at the cusp of success in addressing these dangerous Russian reactors. Cuts to funds now would send a bad message and squander an important opportunity to move forward and pursue cost sharing on some of the remaining reactors. The 9-11 Commission and of the Nuclear Posture Commission noted the urgency of addressing this grave danger, with the Nuclear Posture Commission warning that ``The urgency arises from the imminent danger of nuclear terrorism if we pass a tipping point in nuclear proliferation.'' I urge support for this modest increase of $35 million that will help address the risk of delays to the most urgent efforts for removing and securing vulnerable materials, stemming from FY11 appropriations cuts.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, on October 15, 2009, I received disturbing reports that a democracy activist, Tran Khai Thanh Thuy, and her husband, Do Ba Tan, were beaten in front of their 13-year-old daughter and imprisoned by the Vietnamese police and government. Since then, I, along with some of my colleagues here in the House, have written countless letters to the Vietnamese Government urging the government to release Mrs. Tran. I have also engaged in direct communications with Secretary Clinton strongly advocating that the United States put pressure on the government in Vietnam to release her and so many other activists who simply want human rights to improve in Vietnam. Fortunately, last month, thanks to the work of human rights organizations and Members of Congress, Mrs. Tran was released, and the State Department was able to bring Mrs. Tran to the United States where she now resides with her daughter. Mrs. Tran, along with other activists, were all arrested simply for wanting human rights. I urge my colleagues to please help us with this issue.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to honor the life of Irv Pickler, and wish him the best in his 90th year of life. Irv has demonstrated an exceptional dedication to public service in the community, and has made a lasting effect on all the people he has touched. After graduating from California State University, Los Angeles, with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Irv joined the United States Army and later transferred to the United States Air Force. In England, he flew 35 missions into France and Germany as a bombardier- navigator. After 4 years of service, he returned to Los Angeles to be with his wife and young children. Eventually settling in Southern California, Irv opened his own printing company, ``Printing Dimensions,'' in Orange County. Today, nearly 55 years later, Irv works to bring people together to accomplish client objectives with his company, ``Pickler and Associates.'' Irv has demonstrated a firm commitment to community involvement. As a member of the Kiwanis Club of Greater Anaheim, he was twice named ``Kiwanian of the Year.'' In 1993, he was elected as a Distinguished Lieutenant Governor of the club. Irv has also served 25 years on the Cypress College Foundation Board of Directors. In the 1970s, Irv was appointed to the Cemetery Commission in Anaheim, and to the Orange County Planning Commission, on which he served one term as a chairman. In 1982, Irv was elected to the Anaheim City Council, serving a total of 12 years, including 3 times as Mayor pro-tem. He consolidated half a dozen Orange County transportation agencies into the Orange County Transportation Authority, which produced gains in efficiency, and increased accountability. When California introduced its first cellular solar-powered callbox system, Irv was behind it. He negotiated the agreement with the California Department of Transportation and the California Private Transportation Corporation to construct the nation's first fully-automated, congestion priced toll road, State Route 91. Irv laid the groundwork for the purchase of right-of-way and widening of Interstate 5, which resulted in the largest public works project in Orange County in over a generation. He also helped pass Measure M, the successful sales tax program that invested in voter-approved transportation projects. It's no question that he demonstrated exceptional leadership during his tenure as Vice President of the Orange County Transportation Authority. Irv currently serves as a member of the Orange County Water District Board of Directors. He has previously served as Water Issues Committee Chairman and on the Administration/Finance Committee, Investment Committee, External Communications Task Team, and Santa Ana Water Project Authority. During his tenure on the Water District Board of Directors, Irv played a key role in the development of the revolutionary Groundwater Replenishment System, a project that has been recognized with numerous national and international awards. Irv has served as chairman of the Orange County Solid and Hazardous Waste Management Advisory Committee; president of Orange County Division of the League of California Cities, and member the Anaheim Union High School District Board of Trustees, Anaheim's Parks and Recreation Commission, the Anaheim Public Library Board, the Transportation Corridor Agencies, Southern California Regional Rail Authority, and the Southern California Air Quality Management District Inter-Agency Implementation Company. Other goverment agencies with which Irv has worked include the Los Angeles/San Diego Rail Corridor Committee, Orange County Cities Airport Authority, Southern California Association of Governments, Foothill/ Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency, and Metrolink Joint Committee, and he also supports Acacia Adult Day Care, Alzheimer's Foundation, the Anaheim Family YMCA, the Anaheim Boys and Girls Clubs, and Anaheim Arts Council. It is clear that Irv Pickler has maintained a firm devotion to public service throughout his life. As he embarks upon his 90th year, I would like to recognize his achievements and thank him for his dedication.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, on May 26, 2011, Greg Cooper lost his battle with cancer at his home in Tustin, Orange County, California. Born on June 23, 1945, Greg Cooper proudly served as a United States Marine Corps Sergeant from 1963 to 1967. His commendable service included a tour of duty near the city of DaNang, in the Republic of Vietnam. Upon his departure with the Marines, Greg worked with the Santa Ana Police Department where he held several high-profile management and tactical unit positions. Among these positions, Greg was the SWAT Commander for 10 years and was active in the original development and transition from traditional to community oriented policing (COP). This COP policing model has been successfully duplicated across the United States for decades. While serving as a police officer with the Santa Ana Police Department, Greg earned a Police Science Degree from Santa Ana College, a Bachelors degree from California State University-Fullerton and a Masters degree from the University of Southern California. Leaving the Santa Ana Police Department in 1992, Greg was appointed Chief of Police in Sanger, California. In 1996 he relocated to Washington, DC after accepting a position with the Department of Justice (DOJ) ``COPS'' Program. At the DOJ, Greg would be the Assistant Director, responsible for monitoring operations for more than 30,000 Federal grants to more than 13,000 State and local law enforcement agencies. In 2002, Greg joined the newly formed Department of Homeland Security as FEMA's Director of Security/Chief Security Officer. He would later retire from this position in 2008. At FEMA, Greg had oversight for all FEMA facilities, disaster operations, information security, personnel security and all national security clearances. Since retiring from government service, Greg, a highly regarded and well-known expert in several specialty fields, continued to serve as a consultant to numerous law enforcement agencies across the nation. A grateful nation mourns the loss of a loyal friend, a respected leader and a dedicated public servant.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Greg Cooper. Mr. Cooper recently lost his battle with cancer on May 26 of this year. He was a proud United States marine, and he served his country between 1963 and 1967, which included a tour in the Vietnam War. Upon leaving the Marines, Greg was hired by the Santa Ana Police Department, where he held several very high-profile jobs and worked with the neat tactical units that we have. While serving his community as a Santa Ana police chief, he earned a bachelor's degree from California State University, Fullerton and a master's degree from the University of Southern California. Leaving Santa Ana in 1992, he was appointed chief of police in Sanger, California, and in 1996 he relocated here to Washington, D.C., where he accepted a position with the Department of Justice to administer our COPS grant program. In 2002, Greg joined the Department of Homeland Security as FEMA's chief security officer, and he retired in 2008. Mr. Speaker, this Nation and my community mourns the loss of a loyal friend, a respected leader, and a dedicated public servant.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a very dedicated leader from my community, our superintendent Jane Russo. She has served the Santa Ana Unified School District for over 25 years. As the first woman superintendent for Santa Ana Unified, she has been a visionary for the community. Superintendent Russo has built partnerships with parents, with community leaders, with government, and with business leaders. She has taken leadership roles she has mentored and she has shown parents and faculty and administrators, the business community, all of us, what it is to truly collaborate and work together. With approximately 58,000 students, 61 schools, 4,500 employees, Superintendent Russo manages the second largest employer in Santa Ana and the largest school district in Orange County and the sixth largest school district in California. Her accomplishments have been recognized at the State and national levels. Under her leadership for the school district's academic performance index, it increased by nearly 100 points, and she received the highest score on State compliance report cards for special education and the highest increase in State testing for English language learners scoring proficient and above. Ms. Russo will leave a lasting legacy in our district. She has shaped and made our community even better, and I am honored to recognize such a great member of our community, and I congratulate her on her retirement.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to honor the service of David Ream, city manager for the great city of Santa Ana and wish him the best in his upcoming retirement. Having a tenure of 32 years with the city of Santa Ana, Dave has served as city manager for the past twelve years and has held several executive positions in departments including the redevelopment agency and community development. Dave's leadership has been instrumental in the economic growth of Santa Ana and completion of several big projects including the Ronald Reagan Federal Court Building; the Discovery Science Center; a new police headquarters and City Hall expansion; and the redevelopment partnership with the Santa Ana Unified School District leading to the construction of 15 new schools in 15 years. Dave has been a forward thinker, helping lead Santa Ana through prosperous and challenging times. I sincerely thank Dave Ream for his 32 years of service and dedication to the city of Santa Ana and its residents. I hope you enjoy your retirement years to the fullest. Best wishes!

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to condemn, yes, condemn, the Government of Vietnam for continuing its appalling human rights record by conducting unjust trials, sham trials of seven citizens who asked for land reform. This past week, the people's court of Ben Tre unfairly convicted seven land rights activists to years of imprisonment and probation. Ms. Tran Thi Thuy was sentenced to 8 years, Pastor Duong Kim Khai was imprisoned for 6 years, and Mr. Pham Van Thong received a 7-year sentence simply for asking for their land back from the Communist Government of Vietnam. This recent trial was no different than Vietnam's past trials where there is no due process. I hope that my colleagues will look at the record of human rights with respect to Vietnam and join me in urging the Government of Vietnam to drop these false charges.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. So 5 months. One of my freshman colleagues said 125 days in the Republican majority and no jobs bill. In fact, all you've tried to do is change Medicare as we know it to make vulnerable seniors pay more and get less. Oh, then you're also making education cuts to go after the dreams and aspirations of our young people. That's the Republican way. Today, we consider this rule and the Homeland Security's appropriations bill where you actually cut 60 percent of the moneys that the Federal Government sends to our local cities--yes, those cities that are struggling, those cities that protect us. We don't protect the American people from the Capitol. It's the local law enforcement, the local fire department, the local hospitals. If a terrorist attack or a natural disaster happens, the local responders are the ones who first help the American people, and you're cutting the money. They're already under attack at the local level. They have already let firemen and policemen go, and now you're taking away 60 percent of the moneys that we send to protect the American people. What is troubling is that you're limiting the cities where we send some of this money, like under the Urban Areas Security Initiative.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. You're cutting moneys to places like Las Vegas and Orlando and my hometown of Anaheim, California, where Disneyland is. The American people deserve to be protected, and this Congress should get its priorities straight.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Thank you, Ranking Member. There are three amendments on this en bloc that I have submitted and that the majority and the minority have agreed to. The first one, No. 137, is a report on the Russian nuclear forces, and this amendment requires a report on what the Russians are doing with respect to their nuclear forces in relation to the New START, or the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty. We are told that Russia will be taking a look at some of its older weapons and probably be decommissioning them, and there might be an opportunity in the coming couple of years to maybe bring down the stockpile of nuclear weapons even more below some of those limits with respect to the New START Treaty. So this report will help to inform Congress on the opportunities and the challenges for further verifiable nuclear weapon reductions, which I believe would strengthen strategic stability, maintain a strong nuclear nonproliferation treaty, as well as enable progress on preventing the spread of nuclear weapons and nuclear bomb-grade materials. I think this is one of the biggest areas where we have a chance to make the world safer. The second amendment that I have on this en bloc is for the Global Threat Reduction initiative, and I would like to thank the chairman for including amendment No. 135, which would increase funding for Global Threat Reduction initiative by $20 million. Again, supported by both sides. This also will help to reduce the risk of nuclear terrorism. The danger that nuclear materials or weapons might spread to countries hostile to the United States or to terrorists represents one of the gravest dangers that we have here to the United States. So I believe that nonproliferation programs are critical to our national security and that they must be a top priority. This funding specifically supports securing vulnerable nuclear material around the world in the next 4 years in order to prevent such deadly material from falling into the hands of the terrorists. Again, I believe that nonproliferation programs are the most cost- effective way to achieve these goals. And that's also mirrored in the 9/11 Commission report, as well as our nuclear posture commission, which says the urgency arises from the imminent danger of nuclear terrorism if we pass a tipping point in nuclear proliferation. The third amendment, No. 138, that I have in this en bloc is for the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board, or this amendment provides for an increase of $2.5 million for the DNFSB. Now, this funding is important because fiscal year appropriations cut it by nearly 20 percent. So, again, I think these three are very important. I thank both the chairman and the ranking member for putting them in this en bloc.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Chair, this Congress' number one responsibility is to defend and protect our Nation. As we all know, the United States faces incredible threats within and from abroad, and it is the responsibility of the House Armed Services Committee to assess the threats that we face and to look at the limited resources we have and to allocate them in the most effective way we can. So in the full committee mark, my Republican colleagues increased the funding of the Ground-based Midcourse Defense system by $100 million. My amendment would simply take out that $100 million and give it towards savings for our country to bring down the deficit. We Democrats support progress on homeland missile defense. We want to see that the technology is proven and reliable, and that it is cost effective. However, additional funds for the GMD are not needed and would be wasteful. The head of the Missile Defense Agency, the director, General O'Reilly, has stated that he does not need the increase in these funds for fiscal year 2012. In fact, in front of the Senate Armed Services Committee at a hearing on April 15, he said: ``Right now, sir, I've got the funding I need to address this problem,'' meaning some of the failure problems we have, ``because I've stopped my production line. My production line was stopped not to save money. It is solely driven by what we need to confirm the design works before we go back into production.'' So additional funding is not needed, and aside from the GAO saying that Congress should reduce by over $400 million the budget for this, I am only talking about the $100 million that in that hearing the General said we don't need it. Why don't we need it? Because the last two intercept test flights of this system did not work. They failed. And so the agency has gone back to do systems testing. They don't want to produce if it is not working. In fact, they have said that we must fly, i.e. it must work, before we buy. So, the fiscal year 2011 appropriations has allowed the MDA to focus on resolving the technical challenges from the failed test, and we will proceed with planned projects and avoid delays. Now is the time to get it right. We don't want to build something that just isn't working. I hope that my colleagues will understand that this money is not needed at this time. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Madam Chair, I yield the balance of my time to the ranking member of the Armed Forces Committee, the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Smith).

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Madam Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Andrews), who also sits on our committee.

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

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of National Senior Health and Fitness Day, the nation's largest annual health promotion event for older Americans. The contributions and sacrifices made by the senior citizen community are invaluable. Some have proudly served our country overseas and abroad. Others, through their ingenuity and innovations, have paved the way for the United States' leadership in technology. They are the very foundation of this country's evolution. By the year 2030, approximately one in five U.S. residents will be a member of the senior citizen community and we must ensure that our seniors will have access to resources that will aide them in living strong and healthy lives. Today, I'm proud to partner with the H. Louis Lake Senior Center, Acacia Adult Day Services and Community SeniorServ to host the National Senior Health and Fitness Day in my district. In celebration of this important day, seniors in my district will have access to free fitness classes, healthy foods cooking demonstrations and brain stimulating exercises. In honor of National Senior Health and Fitness Day, I encourage all our seniors to join in on the exciting activities taking place throughout our respective communities and to stay active physically, mentally and spiritually.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. I would like to thank my ranking member and Chairman McKeon for really a great bipartisan bill. I am feeling pretty good about this one. Actually, in my subcommittee with Chairman Turner and all our subcommittee members, we were really able to come together and make a very good contribution. I thank Mr. Turner for his leadership. It is pretty exciting to have a subcommittee like this in the new session of the Congress. Overall, we agree on so many of the provisions, encouraging fiscal responsibility and protecting national security. We have come together on a lot of issues on this subcommittee, including: improving satellite acquisition; encouraging efficiencies; ensuring efficient development, testing, production and sustainment schedules for missile defense and for our nuclear enterprise; for conducting oversight of very large- scale construction sites that we have; building on good progress related to improving efficiencies at nuclear sites; and, of course, implementation of the New START nuclear reductions. I also want to highlight the work that our subcommittee did with respect to nonproliferation programs and working on this. This is so incredibly important to our security. It is not just about how many weapons people have, but really about what old weapons, what weapons need to be turned in, where weapons are, and how we safeguard weapons around the world. So we really came together on that. One of the areas where we disagree, and you will see some amendments along the way, is this whole area of our ground-based missile defense. Quite frankly, the Pentagon's and the President's budget we feel was enough money to continue our work of research and development and testing in that arena. Unfortunately, the Republican side of the committee wants to put more unnecessary funding into that. And of course I oppose the provisions which restrict the President's authority over nuclear weapons, including implementing reductions in the number of nuclear weapons and restricting U.S. nuclear employment strategy, which I personally believe undermine our efforts to reduce the danger of nuclear weapons. The statement of administration policy has noted a potential veto threat because of those provisions that we could not agree upon. But again, I would like to reiterate my thank you to Chairman Turner and to all of the members of our subcommittee. I look forward to this debate.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Asian and Pacific Islander American community in commemoration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. As representative of the 47th congressional district of California, I feel privileged to be here to speak of the history and accomplishments of the Asian and Pacific Islander Americans. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment to acknowledge extraordinary community leaders who have contributed so much to the development of the APIA community. I have in my district a compassionate, humanitarian organization: Saint Anselm's Cross-Cultural Community Center. This year, they celebrate 35 years of assisting tens of thousands of refugees in their resettlement and integration, and empowering underserved communities. I recognize the Orange County Asian and Pacific Islander Community Alliance--the largest API organization in Orange County. Their health outreach programs, after-school programs, and policy advocacy programs make a real difference in the lives of Orange County residents. Small businesses such as DTNtech Marketing Solutions and Holiday Inn Express of Garden Grove that have demonstrated the spirit of giving with their generous supply of donations and ongoing support for community beneficiary projects. I would like to recognize several individuals for their extraordinary commitment to enhancing the vitality of the API community: Ms. Ysa Le for her involvement with art activism for the Vietnamese American Arts & Letters Association to promote, preserve and enrich arts and culture by, for, and about the Vietnamese communities. Mr. Do-Young Kim who has for over 10 years understood and conveyed the precious privileges and duties of being a United States citizen to the countless Korean immigrants whom he's assisted in realizing American citizenship. And lastly, Dr. Ding Jo Currie, chancellor of the Coast Community College District, whose brilliance and passion for education has been demonstrated for over 30 years in building a superior educational system for Orange County's students in higher education. Through their hard work and dedication, the Asian and Pacific Islander American community continues to become an integral part of the Orange County family--as entrepreneurs, community leaders and activists for worthy causes. On behalf of all my colleagues in the House, I offer them our praise and our gratitude.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in observation of Teacher Appreciation Week, which commenced on May 2 and will end tomorrow. It's not only appropriate to recognize our hardworking and dedicated educators, it is necessary. In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, I would like to recognize all the teachers in my district. I have visited every school back home, and I feel fortunate to have the classrooms filled with passionate teachers who are committed to every student by addressing their needs and guaranteeing their academic success. I would specifically like to recognize the 2011 Teacher of the Year recipients from the school districts in Anaheim and Santa Ana, California. Mr. Erick Rossman, Ms. Anne ``Mac'' Devine, Ms. Sylvia Immanuel, Ms. Michelle Majewski, Mr. John Lombardi, and Ms. Valencia Davis, thank you. Thank you for your passion and your outstanding success and work with our students.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, last month I had the privilege of visiting the Republic of Korea through their Congressional Member Exchange Program, where I was honored to have a one-on-one meeting with Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan so that we could discuss our two countries' mutual interests and bilateral relations. In addition, I was able to meet with Trade Minister Kim Jong-hoon and a number of members of the National Assembly, as well as to travel to Anyang, which is just south of Seoul. Anyang is a sister city of Garden Grove, one of the larger communities in California's 47th congressional district and the home to many Americans of Korean descent and recent immigrants from Korea. As co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Korea, I make a point-of paying close attention to the issues that affect U.S.-Korean relations, so making a five-day visit to our ally was productive and informative. I was impressed by how much average Korean citizens know about the United States and how much they care about the continued resilience of the decades-old friendship between our two countries. If nothing else, I came away more convinced than ever of the importance of ratifying the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement at the earliest opportunity possible. I saw how businesses and consumers in both Korea and the United States will benefit by implementation of the agreement, and it became quite clear that this will take us a long way toward President Obama's goal of doubling U.S. exports by 2014. What's more, I could see how increasing the already booming trade between the United States and South Korea will enhance our security relationship and improve the stability of the Korean Peninsula and, indeed, of the entire Northeast Asian region. In the months since the United States and Korea signed their revised and updated Free Trade Agreement last December, the Korean government has approved a similar trade pact with the European Union, which is scheduled to take effect on the first day of July this year. Korea is also negotiating a free trade treaty with Australia, and it already has a volume of trade with China of approximately $200 billion per year. I realize there are some who argue that this agreement should be passed as part of a package, along with pending agreements with Colombia and Panama. These arguments may have some merit, but they do not persuade me that delaying the Korea-U.S. FTA is a good idea. Mr. Speaker, I would like to encourage my colleagues to move as quickly as possible to ratify the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement as soon as it comes before us for consideration.