Loretta Sanchez

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. I thank my colleague from Florida. And, Mr. Speaker, I urge my Republican colleagues to focus their priorities on saving and creating jobs, instead of spending 10 hours debating what Congress already has the power to do. We already have the power of oversight over the Federal agencies. And if 10 hours were not enough to debate this, imagine the 54 hearings already scheduled by the Republicans to focus on redebating the health care reform. Americans remember, we debated that for almost 2 years, but they took the vote on getting rid of the health care reform before they are ever even doing the 54 hearings. Listen, we do oversight. Actually, a legislative and authorizing committee like the ones I sit on, be it Homeland Security or the Armed Services Committee, we already have the power to do that; and the Republicans hold the chairmanship. The chairman gets to decide what the committee does. Just tell your chairman, let's do oversight. It's really straightforward. We don't have to spend 10 hours on C-SPAN telling the American people, oh, my gosh, we've got to pass a resolution telling the committees to do oversight. We already have that. We are already doing that. We have already got subcommittees. On Armed Services Committees, we have an oversight committee. I hope your chairmen know what they're doing. They don't need a resolution telling them to do their job. Or do they? We need jobs. Americans want jobs. That's what we want. When I go home, we want jobs. Build it in America. The Build America Bonds, I am a cosponsor of that. Mr. Hastings, I'm so glad you're going to bring that up. Let's pass that. For every dollar that we spend in that program, $40 at the local, State, and private levels is used towards that.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, as we look for ways to put our economy back on track, we have to be mindful of the quality of higher education that we are providing our future generations. I agree that difficult decisions must be made in order to guarantee this country's economic prosperity, but access to higher education should not be negotiable. In California, we have seen tuition increased by as much as 10 percent on higher education, and Governor Brown has proposed a $1.4 billion cut to higher education funding. We argue that sensible solutions to our economic difficulties are essential to prevent this burden from being passed on to the next generation. But let's look around. Our next generation is here. It is at higher education. Students are dropping out of colleges not because their GPA is too low, but because they can't afford the higher tuition costs. Our future doctors, our engineers, our politicians, our educators, this is what we are talking about. We cannot rebuild our economy when we do so at the expense of our future generations and their American Dream.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, on January 7th of this year, residents of Camp Ashraf were attacked by Iranian agents and supporting Iraqi forces. Camp Ashraf houses over 3,400 supporters of Iran's opposition and are currently under the ``protected persons'' status in accordance with the Fourth Geneva Convention. 176 people, including 91 women were injured when the agents hurled stones, bottles, metal pieces and Molotov cocktails into the Camp. This barrage builds on a broader campaign against the people that were exiled from their homeland after calling for an end to the oppressive Iranian regime. For the past 11 months, 180 loudspeakers have been installed beyond the fences of the Camp that continuously play Iranian propaganda and messages that threaten the property, homes and lives of residents. To me, this presents a compelling reminder that the freedoms we enjoy are far from universal and there are those struggling for the same liberties. Therefore, I urge my colleagues to speak out against the Iranian and Iraqi forces involved in the assault on Camp Ashraf and remember those injured in the violence.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. I thank my colleague from Maryland. Mr. Speaker, this past year, around June, I was speaking to a woman who is a single mother. She has two young children. She is a real estate agent, and it has been tough in California. But through all of that, she managed to pay her premium to have health care for herself and for her two children. In June, her daughter, for the first time, had an epileptic attack, and she didn't know what to do. She was scared to death. So she took her to the hospital and her daughter got better, but of course her daughter will have more of these. One month later, she found out that her daughter would not be covered any longer by that health care plan, and so she has been paying about $1,700 out of her pocket for her daughter and her medications and all. She came to me and I said, well, this is what the reform is about. This is what health care reform is about. It's about taking care of our children and our families. And I told her that her daughter would now be covered. If this was your daughter, you would not repeal this health care reform.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. I rise today on behalf of my district in Orange County to offer my prayers and condolences to all those wounded and killed in the recent and tragic shootings in Tucson, Arizona. I want to honor my colleague and dear friend, Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who remains in critical condition and those who lost their lives, Gabriel Zimmerman, Christina Green, John Roll, Dorothy Morris, Phyllis Schneck and Dorwin Stoddard. Gabby was doing what all Members of Congress must do, interact with their constituents and provide a venue for them to petition their government. It is a sad day in America when the basis of our democracy, the interaction between elected officials and those they represent, is put into jeopardy by those who wish to do us harm. Those lost on that day were robbed of life too early, like nine-year- old Christina Green, whose life was bookended by tragedy. She was born on September 11, 2001, but strove at such a young age to be engaged in her community. Or the life of Gabby's close aide, Gabriel Zimmerman, who at 30 years old had made public service and helping those in the Eighth District of Arizona his purpose in life for the last 4 years. Judge John Roll dedicated his life to public service and understood the risks associated with controversial issues. And to remember those that left so many loved ones and memories behind, Dorwin Stoddard, Dorothy Morris, and Phyllis Schneck. I await the day that we welcome our colleague back into the House chamber and will continue to pray for those still in the care of doctors and those who have passed on.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support to honor the groundbreaking accomplishments of Bradley University President Joanne K. Glasser. A native of Baltimore, Maryland, President Glasser is a graduate of George Washington University, the University of Maryland School of Law, and the Harvard University Graduate Institute of Education for Higher Education Management. Joanne grew up in a diverse Baltimore neighborhood and has had friends and neighbors of different cultures, different religions and different backgrounds. That personal history, and the inclusive example set by her mother and father, has inspired President Glasser to strive to provide educational opportunities for all students, no matter their race, religion or economic circumstance. She believes in promoting diversity and advances it by actively recruiting students who, without her leadership, would not have the chance to attend a private university. President Glasser is an inspiration to many for creating history where ever she goes. President Glasser became the first woman president at Eastern Kentucky University in 2001. She repeated that honor in 2007 when she was named president of Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois, an institution founded in 1897 by another trailblazing woman, Lydia Moss Bradley. Earlier in her career, Ms. Glasser was the first woman to be labor commissioner of Baltimore County. Today, we honor the work President Glasser has done in further closing the achievement gap among low-socioeconomic and Latino students throughout Orange County. She is committed to broadening both regional and ethnic diversity at Bradley University. Her staff has worked tirelessly to find ways for low-socioeconomic students to afford the top-notch education that Bradley University offers. Pricilla Merritt-Bravo, a junior at Bradley University and vice president of the Bradley Speech Team, explains, ``President Glasser is small in stature, but the power that is felt when she comes into a mom is great. She is an inspiration not only to women like myself but the entire student body. She believes in dreaming big dreams and striving to achieve them. For myself, going to college was a dream and graduating was a fantasy. President Glasser believed in me and made it possible for me to be here and demonstrate that, if given the chance, those of us who come from limited means can fly.'' Once again, I rise in support of the accomplishments of President Joanne Glasser and Bradley University for furthering education for all people. Joanne's commitment to diversity and the well-being of her students is unprecedented.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. ``No State shall enter into any treaty, alliance, or confederation; grant letters of marque and reprisal; coin money; emit bills of credit; make any thing but gold and silver coin a tender in payment of debts; pass any bill of attainder, ex post facto law, or law impairing the obligation of contracts, or grant any title of nobility.''

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman. For our portion of the legislation, the Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee focused on several of the Defense Department's most important challenges: The fight to interrupt the flow of violent extremists and the ideological underpinning of radicalization; the development and the deployment of innovative and critical technologies; and defending our homeland from attacks and managing the consequences of catastrophic incidents, including natural disasters, and, of course, trying to get our arms around cybersecurity of this Nation. It has been an honor to serve as the chairwoman of the subcommittee. And, more importantly, Mr. Chairman, to Ike Skelton, it has been an honor to serve with you these 14 years on this committee. I urge my colleagues to pass this bill. For our portion of the legislation, the Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee, focused on several of the Defense Department's most important challenges: The fight to interrupt the flow of violent extremists and the ideological underpinnings of radicalization; The development and deployment of innovative and critical technologies; and Defending our homeland from attacks and managing the consequences of catastrophic incidents including natural disasters. It has been an honor serving as the chairwoman of this subcommittee and I would like to thank Chairman Skelton for the opportunity and we will truly miss you. The subcommittee fully funds U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) with more than $9.8 billion dollars to improve the readiness and capabilities of our Special Operations Forces. The subcommittee also provides an additional $301.5 million to support unfunded requirements articulated by U.S. Special Operations Command, bringing the total authorized amount for SOCOM to more than $10 billion dollars. Support for our Special Operations Forces demonstrates the subcommittee's commitment to SOCOM's critical mission areas, including counterterrorism, counterinsurgency, unconventional warfare and counter-proliferation activities across the world. Our subcommittee mark also includes provisions that will require the Secretary of Defense to develop new strategies to counter irregular warfare challenges. It is important that we keep in mind the fact that we cannot kill our way out of this struggle against violent extremists. Therefore, the subcommittee provides language and funding to improve the Department's use of science and technology, and support emerging areas of research that enhance our ability to deal with challenges from radicalization and irregular warfare. The subcommittee mark also funds initiatives designed to strengthen our cybersecurity activities, and other efforts that will help us better understand how to better counter adversarial and extremists' use of the internet. The TUTC mark also includes guidance to enhance the research capabilities of defense laboratories, as well as additional funding for science, technology, engineering and mathematics workforce initiatives that will ensure the DOD has a competent and diverse pipeline of skilled scientists and engineers. Finally, as with the previous fiscal year, the committee fully funds the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Chemical Biological Defense and Chemical Demilitarization programs. These important provisions ensure our military remains up-to-date and ready to prevent and respond to major attacks. As you can see, this subcommittee's mark looks outside the normal realm of our traditional threats and force protection. I believe this subcommittee's mark is not just authorizing programs, but more importantly, encouraging innovation within the Department of Defense. I want to thank Members for their expertise and input. And I would also like to thank the TUTC Committee Staff, Tim McClees, Alex Kugajevksy, Eryn Robinson, Kevin Gates, Peter Villano, and Andrew Tabler. As before, the TUTC subcommittee worked in a bipartisan way to craft authorizing language covering each of these critical areas for the Department of Defense. I would especially like to thank Ranking Member Jeff Miller (R-FL) for his contribution. And I would also like to thank Chairman Ortiz and the Readiness subcommittee for their help in ensuring that we are able to include valuable personnel and laboratory authorities that will make certain that the Department of Defense is able to recruit and retain the highest caliber scientists and engineers needed to ensure our technological superiority, now and in the future. This is a critical concern for our subcommittee, and we continue to pay special attention to these and other technology issues.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. I have had the opportunity, in 14 years on the Armed Services Committee, to meet a lot of our military men and women. I do not believe that they are so fragile that having a gay person serve next to them will kill them. I rise today to express my strong support for the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010. The mission of our Armed Forces is to deter war and to prevent and to protect the security of our country. If a soldier is capable and willing to sacrifice his or her life to honorably serve this country, that soldier is truly defending this country. If a gay soldier is capable and willing to fight for this country, that soldier, too, is protecting the security of this country. If that soldier is willing to fight for our country, but our government denies him or her the right because the soldier is gay, then it is not the gay soldier who puts our security at risk, but this government.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Human Rights Day. Today, people around the world recognize the human rights violations that continue to occur in so many countries like Vietnam and China. It is also a day where we honor the men and women who sacrifice their freedom in order to fight for human rights. At this moment, there are three individuals imprisoned in Vietnam for exercising their rights of free speech and expression: Tran Khai Thanh Thuy, Le Thi Cong Nhan and Pham Thanh Nghien are three women democracy activists who have been denied their basic human rights by their own government, Vietnam. The people of America enjoy the freedom to speak and worship freely, but it is important for us to remember those who do not have the same freedoms as we do. So, today, let's remember all those freedom fighters and let's work together in the coming year to ensure that people like these three women are allowed to express themselves.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the life of Le Van Ba who passed away on Saturday, November 23rd, 2010. Mr. Le and his family left Vietnam and came to the United States in 1979, and he risked everything for a chance to live freely and provide better opportunities for his family. In 1981, Mr. Le and his family bought their first catering truck and began serving sandwiches in the community. In 1983, Mr. Le founded Lee's Sandwiches and today, Lee's Sandwiches is among the top 50 largest bakeries in the U.S., employing thousands of workers in northern and southern California and across the country. He was a community leader of his Hoa Hao Buddhist church and the An Giang Association of Northern California. He and his family have given back to the community, assisted victims of 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, the floods in Vietnam, the South Asia tsunami and other local charities. Throughout Orange County, he made it a point to donate food and sponsor community and nonprofit events annually. Today, I commend this man and urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mr. Le's extraordinary lifetime achievements. I want to offer my sincere sympathy to his wife, Nguyen Thi Hanh, his family, friends, and loved ones.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank my fellow colleague, Mr. Garamendi, for being so generous with this hour. To our chairman, Ike Skelton, thank you. Thank you very much. What I have learned, sitting for 14 years, my full time here in the Congress on this committee, has been invaluable. And you were actually the first to ask me to go on a congressional delegation, the first to take me before some of the world leaders, the first to tell me about what it was to be in the military. And all the information you gave me, ``Learn the ranks, Loretta. Learn what a star means. Learn what two stars mean.'' Just all the very beginning information 14 years ago when I got to the committee, I cannot say enough, Ike. I really can't. Aside from being somebody who has loved the troops, and you have, and I have seen that just as my colleague, Mrs. Davis, and I sitting on the Personnel Subcommittee have seen that from you, aside from really being the champion for the troops, and that's how I will always remember you, you are really a Congressperson's Congressperson. You are somebody that we model ourselves after. And, Ike, from the bottom of my heart, we will miss you. Thank you. Thank you for all the memories, for all the learning, and in particular for taking some of the women on the committee under your arm and showing us what it is to serve proudly on the House Armed Services Committee. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the National Day of the Republic of China also known as Taiwan's National Day. October 10, 2010 marks the 99th anniversary of the establishment of the Republic of China and commemorates the 1911 Wuch'ang uprising ultimately leading to the collapse of the Qing dynasty. This day is also known as the ``Double Ten'' Day where 23 million people in the Republic of China along with Taiwanese from across the world celebrate their new-found democracy. In recent months Taiwan has experienced a number of achievements, including the signing of an Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement with mainland China and participating as an observer in the World Health Organization's annual meetings in Geneva. Currently, Taiwan is requesting that the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) consider accepting Taiwan as an observer in the organization as Taiwan is a major international hub connecting Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, and North America. Each year, over 1.54 million flights pass through the Taipei Flight Information Region (FIR) and it would be beneficial for ICAO. The safety and security of each passenger is of paramount importance to everyone concerned. Yet Taiwan is excluded from the activities of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to consider opportunities where Taiwan can participate in the Multilateral ``public key directory'' (PKD) consultations. As a fellow democratic ally of the United States, we must further support and encourage Taiwan's growing global participation. Again, I wish the people of Taiwan everywhere a blessed day of celebration and reflection.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, as we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, I would like to bring attention to Molina Healthcare, a managed care organization that provides healthcare services to families and individuals eligible for government-sponsored programs. Thirty years ago, Dr. C. Molina, an emergency room physician, saw a need to provide quality healthcare for patients regardless of their financial status. Consequently, Molina Healthcare was started. Molina Healthcare is dedicated to addressing the disparities in healthcare in order to positively impact members' long term health and well-being. In addition, Molina Healthcare is devoted to serving the community and positively impacting the neighborhoods they serve. The vision of Molina Healthcare is consistent during Hispanic Heritage Month. They understand the need to develop linguistically and culturally sensitive healthcare programs members. I applaud Molina Healthcare, for reaching out to low-income children and women in rural counties in Texas through the Children's Health Insurance and Prenatal Plan. Lastly, I congratulate Molina Healthcare, for being named the 2010 largest Hispanic-owned business in the United States by Hispanic Business Magazine.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, I come to the floor today to recognize and wish the people of South Korea and our Korean Americans a blessed Chuseok holiday. Chuseok is a time of great thanksgiving in South Korea and a time when families celebrate their ancestry. This year, Chuseok takes place September 20-23, 2010, and I would like this opportunity to specifically thank our Korean-American community in Orange County. Their contributions to California and the United States have moved this country in the right direction. I would also like to recognize the strong US-ROK alliance and the blessing which have developed from this long and enduring relationship. I wish the people of Korea and all our Korean-Americans a joyful Chuseok.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to once again raise the issue of human rights. In January 2010, the Government of Vietnam sent police and government officials into a village to force parishioners and families to sign an agreement to sell their land. In April 2010, a 73-year-old parishioner named Le Van Sinh was hit with tear gas and fell unconscious. In May 2010, parishioner Mrs. Dang Thi Tan passed away and was met with extreme violence and 300 armed police officers and special anti-riot troops while her friends and family tried to bury her in the Con Dau cemetery. During the ceremony, the police attempted to seize the casket. The diocese of Da Nang also reported that Mr. Nam Nguyen, a parishioner of Con Dau was arrested, threatened and beaten to death. Are these the actions of a country that respects human rights? The same country that committed these horrendous violations was taken off the Country of Particular Concern (CPC) list because the Department of State felt they had progressed in respecting religious freedom. The same country that detained these individuals for peacefully exercising their freedom of speech is a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. How can we identify Vietnam as an international partner when it is unable to respect and recognize the basic fundamental ideas of democracy and freedom? Vietnam must be put back on the CPC list and challenged by the U.S. government to improve and promote human rights in order to further United States-Vietnam relations. I urge the Department of State to seriously address the human rights violations occurring in Con Dao. I also urge my colleagues to support the appointment of a Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Vietnam to investigate the ongoing human rights violations happening in Con Dau by becoming a cosponsor of House Resolution 1572.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Viet Bao Daily News' 10th Anniversary of the Writing on America Award. In 2000, Viet Bao Daily News established the Writing on America Award with one simple mission--to create an opportunity for Vietnamese people to share their individual experiences. The writing competition soon turned into a grand annual award celebration, and then became a uniting set of stories for thousands of Vietnamese people. The initial objective of the writing contest was to preserve the Vietnamese language and cultural values. However, the impact exceeded Viet Bao's initial expectation. The writings have become more than just a compilation of shared, collective philosophical values--they are a means to preserve historical values. I applaud Viet Bao Daily News for these important achievements. I would also like to congratulate all of the winners and participants, who have contributed countless inspiring stories on their experiences and journey to assimilate in American society. I look forward to seeing the future contributions that Viet Bao Daily News will make to this great country.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. I thank our chairman, Bobby Scott, for bringing this forward and to Chairman Conyers for bringing this forward. You know, about a year and a half ago we put the first stalking legislation together for what we call the UCMJ, the Uniform Code of Military Justice. That is the code or the laws that govern our military. Since I am the ranking woman on all military issues here, I was the author of that. Having looked at that and done that for the military code, I thought about all the issues that were still outstanding in the current Federal civil code. So I am here today to thank you, Mr. Chairman, for allowing me to bring this long overdue piece of legislation, the STALKERS Act of 2010. Representative Virginia Foxx of North Carolina and I have bridged party lines to introduce H.R. 5662, and I want to thank her for her leadership on this issue. There is also a companion bill that will be introduced in the Senate, we hope, next week. No one can deny that the Internet is a remarkable tool, capable of connecting billions of people throughout the world. Unfortunately, it has also proven to be an effective weapon for stalkers to prey on innocent people. Current Federal stalking statutes simply have not caught up with what is going on with the new tools and the emerging technologies that criminals have at their disposal. So the STALKERS Act would bring our lives into the 21st century by giving law enforcement the tools that it needs to combat stalking in the digital age. The STALKERS Act would protect victims and empower prosecutors by increasing the scope of existing laws to cover acts of electronic monitoring, including spyware, bugging, video surveillance and other new technologies as they develop. Currently, Federal laws cannot be enforced unless stalking victims can demonstrate that they are in reasonable fear of physical injury. Because stalking is often a gateway to more violent acts, by the time a victim can actually demonstrate that they have ``reasonable fear,'' it may be too late. So the STALKERS Act lowers the threshold for action by permitting law enforcement to prosecute any act of stalking that is reasonably expected to cause another person serious emotional distress. Our laws should help to protect the victims, not serve as a roadblock to their safety. This legislation helps to do that. At its core, stalking is about power and control. It is a violation of the worst kind and our justice system needs every single tool available to combat this crime. I am proud to have introduced this STALKERS Act, and I urge my colleague to pass this bill. It is time we fight against stalking and other forms of harassment and intimidation and be on the side of victims.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, today marks the 36th anniversary of Turkey's invasion of the Republic of Cyprus. July 20, 1974 began the Turkish occupation of the northern part of Cyprus and to this day 43,000 Turkish troops occupy nearly 37 percent of Cyprus' territory. Since 1974, the people of Cyprus have endured mass violation of their human rights and fundamental freedom along with forcible ethnic segregation. The people of Cyprus also witnessed the destruction of their culture and their religious heritage destroyed. The international community has been actively involved in developing a solution for the people of Cyprus. However, Turkey has repeatedly ignored all international pressure including 75 resolutions that have been adopted by the United Nations Security Council and more than 13 by the United Nations General Assembly since 1974. Members of Congress along with the international community must continue to work diligently to reach a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem We must strongly urge Turkey to respect human rights and ultimately withdraw its forces from Cyprus. Cyprus and the U.S. share a deep commitment to uphold the ideals of freedom, democracy, justice, human rights, and the international rule of law. I believe the international community has a moral and ethical obligation to stand with the Cypriots to reunify their island and end the military occupation.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, as the lead Democrat sponsor of H. Res. 1219 I rise in support of this bipartisan resolution expressing support for recognizing the month of September as National Child Awareness Month. My colleague from California, Congressman Ken Calvert and I were pleased to introduce H. Res. 438 because it will raise awareness of children's charities and youth-serving organizations across the United States. This resolution recognizes that these organizations' efforts on behalf of children and youth are critical contributions to the future of our nation. As we know, September is traditionally back-to-school month, a time when families focus on preparing children for the coming school year. In addition to academic preparation, it is also a time when the American public should be focused on the physical, social and economic well-being of our nation's children. It is my hope that H. Res. 1219 will encourage more individuals to volunteer for or contribute to causes that help our children. An enhanced awareness of children's charities and youth-serving organizations, made possible by this resolution, will assist these organizations' efforts to encourage volunteers to become involved in the lives of the most disadvantaged children in our communities across the country. I am confident that National Child Awareness Month will serve as a banner that will unite charitable organizations of diverse missions, size, geography and scope to focus on a common goal--improving the lives of our nation's youth. Many non-profit youth-serving organizations and charities across the country have expressed their strong support for the recognition of September as National Child Awareness Month. I am hopeful that President Obama will share my enthusiasm and issue a Presidential Proclamation to designate September as National Child Awareness Month. With his support, both public and private programs across the nation will be acknowledged for their contributions to ensuring our children's well-being. In the meantime, I would like to thank my colleagues for their unanimous support for the adoption of H. Res. 1219--expressing support for designation of September as National Child Awareness Month as it will serve to bring the nation's focus back to the one resource that guarantees our future success--our children.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Absolutely. As you know, I live in an incredibly wonderful area called Orange County, the OC that many of you have seen on television before. It's not clearly the way it's depicted there, but it is a beautiful place. We're the home of Disneyland, of the Anaheim Angels. We have one of the largest concert arenas in the Nation. We also have a beautiful coastline that so many people want to come to in Newport Beach and Laguna Beach, and it's just a very, very special place. But the housing issue affected Orange County in a dramatic way. We had, in Orange County, four of the six largest subprime lenders across the Nation were in Orange County. So almost overnight we lost 40,000 jobs just to the housing issue. Well, I would like to let people know that it was reported in today's Los Angeles Times that housing is coming back in California. And specifically it noted, of course, this whole tax issue, because my colleague, my wonderful colleague from the northern portion of our State noted the tax cuts that we had in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, in particular. For people who say that Democrats--and I am a Democrat--never liked tax cuts, that's just not true. The fact of the matter in the stimulus package, in the American Recovery Act, we actually have a third of the moneys go to tax cuts. But we put them to specific areas to help people get an education, to help them keep their homes, to help them, encourage them to buy homes, to keep the economy going. And so today we have found in the newspaper that there is a 7.2 percent jump in southern California home sales. And Orange County, out of any place in the Nation, leads the way in selling homes, putting homes on the market, getting new families excited to get into these new homes. Yes, a lot of the people that I represent have lost their homes. Right next door to my home there's a foreclosure. And so it is difficult. But in order to keep people in their homes, we've also passed legislation that would help modify some of those home loans so that people would actually get a chance to stay in their homes. And if they did have to leave their home before we could get somebody else in to buy that home, we also passed funds to help cities, for example, $10 million and $6 million to the cities of Santa Ana and Anaheim that I represent, to make sure that homes were taken care of as we transitioned them from one family or person to the next. So we have actually passed quite a few pieces of legislation that have helped the housing market. And in helping the housing market, this is beginning to create some of the jobs that we see, especially in Orange County. So I'm so glad that my colleague has taken this hour to talk a little bit about how, slowly, we are beginning to come back and the effects of that very important piece of legislation we passed a year ago, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and the additional pieces that we have passed to help.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Absolutely. And if my colleague will just give me a little bit more time, I will say to him, we have felt that in Orange County, $2.2 billion for the first piece of the high speed rail that will connect Anaheim all the way up to San Francisco, to your area, that $2.2 billion given to the Anaheim/Los Angeles portion of that high-speed rail. So looking to the future, other pieces of that legislation--research in the greening of America, research in new technologies for energy independence, and also research and to change over our hospitals to electronic filing rather than to have paperwork being shuffled between doctors. So it carried a lot of future-looking pieces. And, of course, when you look at innovation, that is what California is about. That is what is going to lead us out of a bad economy, and that is what we will, in fact, sell to the rest of the world after we establish those new areas of innovation.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. If the gentleman will yield just for a minute, when we as Democrats look at what is it that we can do, if we are going to spend money, we should spend money to invest in America. There are four major things in Economics 101, or any other book you read on economics, that will tell you how to increase the productivity and the innovation of a nation, because that is how we compete, by increasing the productivity of Americans. The first is, you have to have an educated workforce. Some of the bills that my colleagues mentioned are about education, education, education.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. As I was saying, there are four basic things that you can do to increase the productivity of your people, to increase innovation, if you will, of our Nation. The first is to educate your people. We have been putting money into that, including the GI Bill that we passed over a year ago. Health. If your workers aren't healthy, they can't go to work. So the health care reform. Incredibly important. Transportation. How do you move people and goods? That was part of the Recovery Act, when we said, let's build high speed rail; when we said, let's put in systems of water and sanitation that work for our people. And, number four, communication, investing in innovation and communication for people; in broadband that we've been putting across our Nation. So that is the way we increase the productivity of our people. I have to say that on this side, on the Democratic side, even though people have been saying that we have been deficit spending, I say to them, anytime that you can invest in the American people, the American people will pay you back four or five or tenfold on that investment. So I am again proud to stand here with you and talk about the accomplishments of this Congress.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today, to recognize the Overseas Hoa Hao Buddhism Association's 71st Anniversary of the Founding of Hoa Hao Buddhism. Today, Hoa Hao Buddhism is one of the six most important religions in Vietnam. Through the hardships and trials of Communist Vietnam, Hoa Hao Buddhism still exists with a mass of over four million followers closely united in their faith. In Orange County, the Hoa Hao Buddhist Church is a Member of the Vietnamese Interfaith Council, a body established in order to promote harmony between major religions in Vietnam. The U.S. Department of State 2009 International Religious Freedom Report indicates that the Vietnamese government continues to persecute and restrict organized activities of religious organizations like Hoa Hao Buddhists. We are continuing to see more and more activists being detained and imprisoned for exercising their freedom of speech, religion and expression. I encourage my colleagues to continue to urge the State Department to re-designate Vietnam as a Country of Particular Concern and fight for those in Vietnam who are putting their lives in danger in the name of freedom.