Loretta Sanchez

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Chairman, I have no other speakers, and I would just ask to move this and for my colleagues to vote on it. And I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, the challenge of defending our Nation on a constantly expanding cyberfront continues to grow. As vice chair of the House Homeland Security Committee and chairwoman of the Armed Services subcommittee that oversees the Department of Defense cybermission, I have constantly tried to improve how we address the need for the next generation technology and personnel to defend our country against this 21st-century cyberthreat. The underlying legislation, I believe, is an important step towards enhancing our Nation's cybersecurity laws; and I have been a strong supporter of engaging the private sector in cybersecurity issues, especially when it comes to securing critical cyber-infrastructure. To this end, the amendments that I am offering today would strengthen two existing provisions in the bill to further enhance the cybersecurity dialogue between the public and the private sectors. My amendment would add language to help facilitate access to realistic threats and vulnerabilities for our academic researchers during the development of the strategic plan that is in section 103 of the bill. In addition, the amendment will strengthen section 108 by ensuring that the university-industry task force will propose guidelines for the private sector to provide feedback to the public sector on the effectiveness of the new technologies. This sharing of ``lessons learned'' will help us to improve critical cybersecurity technologies. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment and the underlying legislation. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. I yield myself as much time as I may consume. I rise in support of this amendment, which I am pleased to offer today on behalf of my colleague, Mr. Smith of Washington, who is unable to be with us today due to a health issue. I thank the gentleman for offering this amendment, which will strengthen our cybersecurity workforce, in turn protecting the security of our Nation. Our country faces numerous cyberattacks each day, and as a result, we must ensure that our cyberworkforce not only possesses the knowledge and the skills necessary to defend our networks but also the ability to collaborate with the numerous departments and agencies within the Federal Government who lead the effort to combat these threats. Information technology professionals at our civilian agencies who may not deal with classified information on a daily basis should be able to provide their expertise and have the ability to work with and discuss cyber-related issues with the Department of Defense and our intelligence community. To that end, this amendment would modify Section 107 of the bill, which calls for the President to submit a report to Congress addressing the cybersecurity workforce needs of the Federal Government. The amendment would require the report to also examine the current security clearance and job suitability requirements that may serve as a deterrent to hiring an adequately trained cyber-workforce. Again, I want to wish Congressman Smith a speedy recovery and encourage my colleagues to support this amendment. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume to Mr. Lipinski of Illinois.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Mr. Tom Danley who recently retired after a 42-year career with the Anaheim Union High School District. During that time, Coach Danley bettered the lives of thousands of students who knew him simply as ``Coach,'' and earned scores of honors for his service to students and the community. He coached varsity basketball at Katella High School for 33 years-- and his teams went to the California Interscholastic Federation playoffs in 31 of those 33 years. Coach Danley was named ``Winningest Basketball Coach in Orange County,'' and was honored for his lifetime coaching achievements by being inducted in the Southern California Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame and the CIF Hall of Fame. After his coaching career concluded, Coach Danley went on to establish a non-profit foundation that promotes after-school sports and activities for local youth. Thousands of young people have benefited, and will continue to benefit, from the foundation's work, and from Coach Danley's philosophy that ``Kids Come First.'' I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring Coach Danley.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Nguoi-Viet Daily News for its 31 years of media service in Orange County, California. Nguoi-Viet Daily News was the first and the largest daily newspaper published in Vietnamese in the United States, and it was founded by Mr. Do Ngoc Yen in 1978. While its first 4-page issue, dated back on December 15, 1978, was printed in Mr. Do's garage, today he has more than 60 employees and a daily circulation of 18,000, and Nguoi-Viet online edition is among the most widely read services with 1.5 million hits a month. Nguoi-Viet News has provided the Vietnamese community with appealing editorials and local and international news stories that highlight community service and activism while bringing the community together. I applaud Nguoi-Viet News for those important achievements for 31 years, and I look forward to its contribution in the next 31 years.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today representing the voice of my Vietnamese American constituency to once again bring attention to the deteriorating human rights conditions in Vietnam. Last Wednesday, a number of Catholics were attacked by the police for reporting an incident where Vietnam Government officials destroyed a holy cross at the Dong Chiem parish. The removal of the cross was only one incident in a series of violent actions taken by the Vietnamese Government to unlawfully seize church property which has belonged to the parish for over 100 years. And I ask myself, why have we not put this country, Vietnam, on the list of countries of particular concern, those who prosecute and persecute religious beliefs? I find it absolutely appalling that the Vietnamese Government continues to get away with these human rights violations, and we should do something about it. In 2010 I hope that the United States will finally take a stand and show the world that this behavior is unacceptable. It is time for Vietnam to be held accountable.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, I am a strong supporter of H.R. 2194, the Iran Refined Petroleum Sanction Act. I believe Iran remains the number one national security concern for the international community. Iran's continued pursuit of nuclear capabilities is extremely concerning and remains a serious threat to the United States of America and the entire world. Iran's refusal to respond to the United States' diplomatic engagement is especially disconcerting. I'd like to thank Chairman Berman for his willingness to add language to this legislation at my request, highlighting Iran's unwillingness to cooperate with the international community and the government's insistence on rejecting the United States' efforts at engagement. When Iran's secret nuclear facility was revealed in September, my colleagues and I demanded that the Government of Iran immediately disclose the existence of any additional nuclear-related facilities, and provide open-access to its Qom enrichment facility. The Obama Administration set a deadline for Iran to open the facility for inspection. However, Iran did not meet this deadline. Iran was also required to ship its low-enriched uranium stockpile to Russia and France for conversion. Yet again, Iran refused to accept this deal. Iran has systematically refused to live up to any of its promises of transparency and cooperation with the international community. Instead, Iran decided to act against our efforts at engagement by announcing that it would enrich its own uranium to 20 percent, and that it would build 10 new enrichment plants for purportedly civilian purposes. These actions are unacceptable and the U.S. House of Representatives must ensure that our country is not investing in companies and institutions that enhance Iran's petroleum resources, which may be used to fund their nuclear ambitions and terrorist groups. However, I also believe the international community must come together to help neutralize the threat Iran poses to the rest of the world. All states must take responsibility for maintaining peace and security in the region through multi-lateral sanctions and efforts to force Iran to denuclearize. In order to be successful, I believe these efforts must be international in scope. The passage of H.R. 2194 is an important step towards continuing to show Iran that we will not stand by idly while they continue to threaten the peace and security of the rest of the world. I regret that I am unavoidably detained in California. However, as a cosponsor and strong supporter of H.R. 2194, I would have voted ``aye'' on this critical legislation.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I will not be speaking on Rev. Jackson this morning, but I will be submitting something for the Record, as I know that my good colleague Mr. Cohen of Tennessee will also. Actually, today I rise to talk about something I think is very important, and I think that Jesse Jackson and others who have worked so hard for the community would care about. I rise to recognize National Loan Modification Scam Awareness Month which was established to stop predators around the country from taking advantage of our constituents who are at risk of foreclosure. Currently, in California, the foreclosure rate is 10.8 percent. Experts predict that nationwide there will be 8.1 million foreclosures by the year 2012, and given this environment, loan modification scams are proliferating at a rapid pace. Every day, more homeowners are falling prey to slick advertising that promises to help them stay in their homes if they pay a third party. NeighborWorks America and their affiliates around the country are working to combat loan modification scams. To do so, they have launched a national public education campaign to help homeowners protect themselves against loan modification scams, find trusted help, and report illegal activity to authorities. I urge my colleagues to support National Loan Modification Scam Awareness Month.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. I thank both chairmen. Thank you so much for allowing me to put forward this resolution and to pass it today on the House floor. Mr. Chairman, as a member of both the Homeland Security Committee and the Armed Forces Committee here in the House of Representatives, I introduced this resolution on the 1-week anniversary of the tragic events that occurred off our coast of California. Let me remind you where this occurred was maybe, at the most, an hour's drive from where I live. On Thursday, October 29, the Federal Aviation Administration reported that a Coast Guard C-130 plane and a Marine Corps AH-1W Cobra helicopter crashed off the coast while they were both conducting separate missions. We honor the nine men and women who lost their lives in that crash and we send our condolences to their families and their friends and their loved ones. As the motto states, ``Always Ready,'' the Coast Guard defends the shores of this great country daily, and we sometimes forget our unsung heroes. Tasked with multiple missions every day, the Coast Guard relies on its skills and the expertise of the personnel to stop drug runners, to perform search and rescue operations, and to secure our ports and our waterways. It saddens me that we lost seven of these brave men and women last week while on duty as they were conducting a search and rescue effort. In addition, the two Marine Corps pilots that lost their lives fully lived their Corps motto of ``Always Faithful.'' Their sacrifice while on a military training exercise off the coast of California echoes the sacrifice and the risk that all our men and women in uniform face in the armed services. Both the Coast Guard and the Marine Corps serve globally and, let us not forget, locally to protect our communities and to provide humanitarian aid when it's necessary. We must not forget those sacrifices, their missions, and that at any time anything can go wrong. And we must always remember those that we have lost during their time of service. I know the Coast Guard had a memorial service Friday in Sacramento which, unfortunately, I was unable to go to, but I felt that it was important to introduce this resolution at this time to honor those that died. These brave individuals fulfilled their commitment to serve and to defend the United States at any cost. Of course, they sacrificed and gave the biggest cost, so our eternal gratitude and respect go to them. I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring these brave individuals by supporting this resolution.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I support health care reform that invests in a health care workforce dedicated to meeting the needs of all women. Parliamentary Inquiry

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, on October 26 of this year, this country lost a great public servant and defender of its borders, former Border Patrol Chief Gustavo De La Vina. Known as ``the Chief'' to the people that he worked with, Chief De La Vina passed away this Monday while on assignment in Bosnia-Herzegovina. He was born and raised in Edinburg, Texas. He lived on the border and worked on the border all of his life. Entering the Border Patrol as an agent in 1970, he rose through the ranks and 27 years later was appointed our Chief of the Border Patrol. This was in 1997. And upon his retirement in 2004, we called upon the Chief again to serve, and he became an adviser to the International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program within the Department of Justice. My condolences go to his family and to the men and women who had the honor to serve with him in the uniform of green, who served with him for the last 34 years. Gus, we will miss you.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. As the Homeland Security Subcommittee chairwoman with jurisdiction over maritime issues, I come to the floor in support of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010. I want to thank both the chairman of Transportation and the chairman of Homeland Security for putting together this bill, and, of course, to the ranking members and the rest of the committee members. Specifically, I am pleased that two provisions that I championed were included in this bill and the manager's amendment. First, the legislation and manager's amendment will ensure that the Coast Guard adheres to sexual assault reporting standards, policies, and procedures that are consistent with our other services, and I am pleased that these reports will be made available to all of the committees of jurisdiction. Sexual assault among our Nation's servicemembers is an extremely troubling problem, and I believe that the accurate reporting of these assaults, comprehensive policies and procedures for responding to these crimes are a critical part of addressing this problem. And the second provision that I referred to will amend the port security title of the bill to make much-needed changes to the Transportation Worker Identification Credentialing program, or the TWIC card. I submitted an amendment to the Rules Committee on this topic, and I am glad that the chairman accepted it and put it in his manager's amendment. Thank you so much. My provision does several things. It directs the Secretary to develop procedures with port owners and operators that will allow individuals who are in the process of getting their TWIC, but yet haven't received the card, access to secure and restricted areas as long as they are escorted. This will assist the many workers at our ports who are still unable to work, and many of them have been waiting to get that TWIC card, so it's important for them. The provision also sets a 30-day limit for a time limit for processing the TWIC card application, and again, this is because it has taken so long when someone has applied to actually receive that card. In one case, one gentleman waited over a year to receive the card. It directs the Secretary to allow individuals to receive their TWIC card through the mail, sort of like we receive our reestablishment of our credit card rather than having to drive all the way back to the application center because for some people it could be 300 or 400 miles away. So why make a couple of trips when it could be sent through the mail and activated through the phone. And, finally, the provision gives individuals greater access to TWIC enrollment by allowing them to submit their fingerprints to any Department of Homeland Security agency at any location rather than, again, having to go back to the enrollment center. This provision will help many individuals get back to work while protecting the security of our Nation's ports. I thank the chairmen, both of you, for the time, and I ask my colleagues to support this important legislation.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize ``National Breast Cancer Awareness Month'' during its 25th anniversary year. National Breast Cancer Awareness Month has been at the forefront of raising awareness of breast cancer issues and has continued to evolve along with the national dialogue on breast cancer. I am a strong advocate for organizations that are dedicated to educating and empowering women to take charge of their own breast health by practicing regular self-breast exams and scheduling annual mammograms. In my district in Orange County, California, I am proud of the numerous health fairs that promote prevention among our ethnic populations, who tend to be more reluctant to get examined than other populations. My own staff has been involved in this effort. Laura Martinez, my casework supervisor, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006. She underwent a mastectomy, received radiation treatment and is currently taking Tamoxifin. She has been involved with the American Cancer Society, has shared her testimony, and formed ``Laura's Lifeline'' team to Race for the Cure. I recognize that many strides have been made in breast cancer awareness and treatment but there still remains much to be accomplished.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. I thank the gentlelady from California, my good friend. Mr. Speaker, I come to the floor today in support of my resolution, House Resolution 672, which calls on the Government of Vietnam to release imprisoned bloggers and to respect Internet freedom. I would like to thank, first and foremost, Chairman Berman and the committee staff for allowing us to bring this to the floor; and in particular, it's important right now with respect to what the Vietnamese Government is doing. Since I came to the Congress, I have been a strong advocate for human rights in Vietnam. As a co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on Vietnam, my fellow caucus members and I have focused on urging the Government of Vietnam to respect individual rights, in particular, those of religion and of speech and expression. We have also worked with multiple U.S. administrations to make human rights an important part of the U.S.-Vietnam relationship. Unfortunately, instead of improving, the human rights conditions in Vietnam continue to deteriorate, and I have been concerned that the United States has not yet taken a fervent stand against the Government of Vietnam's blatant disregard for human rights. I have been on this floor a number of times, many times, many of you know that, to call attention in particular to the bloggers and to the democracy activists in Vietnam, the ones who have been detained and imprisoned simply for advocating for democracy. The Internet has become a crucial tool for the citizens of Vietnam to be able to exercise their freedom of expression and association. It has become a medium to share information freely, to promote social and economic development, and of course to fight for democracy. However, in recent months, the Government of Vietnam has taken what I would call unlawful steps to tighten its control over the Internet. In October of 2008, the Government of Vietnam created the Administration Agency for Radio, Television and Electronics Information and issued Circular 07 in December 2008 to restrict Internet freedom, to censor private blogs, and to compel information technology companies to cooperate with them to monitor personal information on users. Imagine, if we had that going on here in the United States, how unacceptable that would be. In response, I, along with the Vietnam Caucus members, sent letters to Internet service providers like Google and Yahoo, et cetera, and urged them to continue advocating for the freedoms of speech and expression on the Internet in Vietnam; and then I introduced this resolution to raise the awareness of the lack of Internet freedom in Vietnam. House Resolution 672 urges the Vietnamese Government to support the right of its citizens to access Web sites of their choosing and to repeal statutes like Circular 07 and Article 88, which restrict Internet use in Vietnam. The consideration of this resolution comes at a perfect time. The Government of Vietnam has arrested bloggers Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Quynh, Bui Thanh Hieu, Pham Doan Trang, and many other bloggers. Some of these bloggers, like Quynh, have been released; however, there was a condition. In exchange for their freedom, they had to say that they would not blog about democracy or new political parties or freedoms of expression and human rights. Just recently, nine dissidents were convicted by the Vietnamese Government for publishing articles on the Internet which was basically just practicing their rights of freedom of speech and expression. By the way, this is all about democracy. That's what these blogs are about. The situation took a turn for the worse 2 weeks ago when Tran Khai Thanh Thuy was forcibly denied entry to the courthouse to attend the trial of nine democracy activists and was instead harassed by the Vietnamese police. The following night, I received a phone call that one of the democracy activists, Do Ba Tan, and his wife, Tran Khai Thanh Thuy, were beaten in front of their 13-year-old daughter and imprisoned by the Vietnamese Government and police. When I heard about it, I immediately called the U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission in Vietnam, Virginia Palmer, and urged her to take action on this matter. Our U.S. Embassy in Vietnam responded by making inquiries about the 13-year-old daughter to make sure that she was being taken care of. These actions are not the actions of a country that respects fundamental values and principles of human rights and democracy. A country that uses violence against its own citizens because they decide to exercise their fundamental freedoms does not deserve to be a member of the World Trade Organization, nor do they have the right to be acting as the President of the United Nations Security Council, a position that Vietnam currently holds. The Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a signatory of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights adopted by the United Nations General Assembly, and yet they continue to detain and imprison their own citizens for using the Internet to promote democracy and human rights. How can a country that blatantly disregards a U.N. declaration be allowed to act as the President of the Security Council? I believe that we, the United States, must take a stand against Vietnam's human rights violations. We are a beacon of freedom, of democracy, and it is our responsibility to speak out on behalf of those who have no voice.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the remarkable service of Dr. Piero Mattei, who is Prefect to the Province of Vicenza in the Republic of Italy. Prefect Mattei is retiring after forty years of remarkable service to not only the Italian people, but also to our country. The U.S. Army's Southern European Task Force's, USASETAF, headquarters is based in the city of Caserma Ederle, in Vicenza. The USASETAF base is home to the 173rd Airborne Battalion, 14th Transportation Battalion, 22nd Area Support Group, 509th Signal Battalion, and the 663rd Transportation Detachment. Prefect Mattei has been a steadfast friend of the United States of America, and has shown particular care and concern for the American soldiers, civilians, and families who live and work at USASETAF. Prefect Mattei has shown great personal courage and great respect in dealing with sensitive issues of international importance. When protesters tried to block the construction of the 173rd Airborne's new base in Dal Molin, it was Prefect Mattei's skill and personal intervention that helped to move the project forward towards completion. This is just one of many examples of this extraordinary public servant's devotion to justice and warm relations between our two great nations. On behalf of this thankful nation, I wish Prefect Mattei and Signora Piera the very best as they embark on this new and exciting chapter in their life. They will always be special friends of the people of the United States of America.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Ed Grier, who served as the president of Disneyland Resort in my district for 3 years, before his retirement this October 9. Ed is a 20-year veteran the Walt Disney Company; and he served in a variety of roles, from senior auditor at Walt Disney World to the executive managing director of Walt Disney Attractions in Japan. But for the last 3 years, we have been lucky enough to have him in Anaheim. His hard work has continued to make Disneyland one of our Nation's top tourist attractions. In fact, in 2008, while most attractions were hurting, Disneyland hosted 14.7 million visitors and generated substantial revenue for our local businesses and for our cities. In addition, Disney is Orange County's largest private employer, with about 20,000 employees. During Ed's tenure, the resort began a $1 billion expansion of Disney's California Adventure and constructed the company's first west coast timeshare units at the Grand Californian Hotel, which opened last month. In addition Ed joined the Orange County community by serving as a board member for the Children's Hospital of Orange County. Ed's skill and leadership will be missed, and I wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. I thank my colleague for her continued support, and I look forward to working with you on this issue. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 1023 the Travel Promotion Act, and the underlying bill, H.R. 1035, the Morris K. Udall Scholarship and Excellence in National Environmental Policy Amendments Act of 2009. The Travel Promotion Act would help establish an independent non- profit corporation that would provide and maintain useful tourist information. Most importantly, this bill will further educate potential tourists abroad about the U.S. entry policies. As the Chairwoman of the Subcommittee in charge of all ingress and egress into our country, this bill will play an important role in educating foreign travelers about our border and port of entry procedures and will help clear up misconceptions about traveling to the United States. This outreach and expansion will improve research and development activities to promote international travel to the United States at a time when many foreigners are wary of traveling to our country. Foreign travelers traditionally stay in a visited region longer and spend more money during their stay than domestic travelers do. This bill will find ways to encourage more foreign travelers to visit the United States. As the Representative of the district that includes the happiest place on earth, Disneyland, this bill is crucial to my district. In Orange County, the tourist industry alone supports approximately 160,000 jobs, both directly and indirectly. Furthermore, in 2008 tourism brought in over 43 million visitors, including 2.5 million foreign visitors, to Orange County, California. These visitors generated over 7.9 billion dollars in spending which provided critical support to local businesses and governments. I want to thank Representative Delahunt, Senator Dorgan, and the leadership of both the House and Senate for advocating for this legislation. I urge my colleagues to vote for the underlying legislation and pass H.R. 1035.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. I thank my colleague for recognizing me to express support for the travel promotion legislation being considered today. I do, however, have a few concerns that I would like to discuss in a colloquy with the gentlelady from Florida. First, I am concerned that the bill would allow the Corporation For Travel Promotion to distribute information on Federal entry and exit requirements to foreign tourists without the Department of Homeland Security or the State Department reviewing that information. To ensure accuracy and consistency it's imperative that the DHS and the State Department have the opportunity to review this information before it is released to the public. Do I understand that the gentlelady shares my concern and is willing to work with me to resolve that matter? I yield to the gentlelady for a response.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. I thank my colleague. And the other concern that I have relates to the fee provision and its mandatory nature. I have heard concerns expressed by our European partners and others about these fees. And under the 9/11 Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security has discretion about how to fund the Electronic System For Travel Authorization program. This legislation appears to remove that discretion and to require our Secretary to collect fees for ESTA in addition to the fees collected for the corporation. So I believe the Secretary should retain that discretion to determine how to fund the ESTA program. And I also believe that any fees collected in excess of the needs of the corporation should be made available to the Department of Homeland Security to fund important travel, security, and facilitation programs, including our US-VISIT and our Global Entry program. Would my colleague work with me to ensure that the Secretary has this flexibility and the resources needed to effectively carry out the missions of the department?

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month, and I would like to recognize Sergio Velazquez, the publisher of Miniondas Newspaper and Farandula USA. Sergio is a Hispanic American who has given so much to the Orange County community, exemplifying the principles of this month. Sergio immigrated to the United States in 1961, and he established Velazquez Publications Incorporated in 1975. Today, his newspapers have a combined readership of over 100,000 people, and its focus is on politics, education, sports, and entertainment. As a small business owner, Sergio has encouraged other entrepreneurs to seek business opportunities, and he serves as a board member on the Santa Ana Merchants Association. He is also an international first- place winner of the Boat Racers International competition, and he is a cancer survivor. I'm very proud of Sergio's achievements and his work in fostering success in the Latino community.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. I rise today to call attention to the human rights situation in Vietnam, particularly because today Vietnam will be taking over the Presidency of the United Nations Security Council. I find this development shocking and appalling and unacceptable, especially when we look at Vietnam's human rights record. Just this past Sunday, the police in Vietnam assaulted over 130 monks and removed them from the Bat Nha Monastery before destroying it. Recently, eight dissidents where imprisoned by the Vietnamese Government for practicing their rights to freedom of speech and expression. Today, Secretary of State Clinton is planning to meet with the Foreign Minister of Vietnam. I would urge Secretary Clinton to address these ongoing human rights violations in Vietnam and to strongly urge the Government of Vietnam to uphold their promises to respect the rights of their citizens. The United States must recommit itself to making human rights a diplomatic priority.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, as Vice-Chair of the House Homeland Security Committee, I am working to ensure that our country and communities have the resources they need to respond to all types of disasters. I was happy to see that Secretary of Homeland Security Napolitano designated September as National Preparedness Month, and that the Department of Homeland Security is offering resources and classes to ensure our citizens are prepared to handle disasters. In classrooms and at community events around the country, Americans are learning how to prepare their family for potential disasters. In California, this type of outreach and education has become especially critical for ensuring that our citizens are able to stay safe during the massive and frequent Southern California wildfires. I am also a proud cosponsor of H. Res 731, which was introduced by Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, and commends our first responders and local law enforcement. These men and women are on the frontlines every day, preventing disasters, educating the public on preparedness, and assisting in response efforts. I urge all Americans to continue the spirit of national preparedness month beyond September by taking an active role in making sure all of our families and communities are prepared for natural or man-made disasters.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate my local police department, the Santa Ana Police Department, on receiving the 2009 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. Each year, the United States gives this distinguished award to large businesses, small businesses, and public service employers who provide outstanding support to employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve. Last week, Chief Paul Walters of the Santa Ana Police Department had the pleasure of being congratulated by President Obama and Secretary Gates at the White House after a reception and ceremony hosted by Dr. Jill Biden. The Orange County community is incredibly proud of the Santa Ana Police Department. They have worked hard to create a positive work environment for our National Guard and Reserve members, and we are so grateful that they protect us each and every day. I want to personally thank the Chief and the police department for their efforts and congratulate them once again for receiving the 2009 Freedom Award.