Loretta Sanchez

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, this week I am proud that the House of Representatives will be voting on H.R. 1728, the Mortgage Reform and Anti-Predatory Lending Act of 2009. This legislation will make critical reforms to end the abusive and predatory lending practices that have left so many Americans facing foreclosure. In my district in Orange County, California, we have seen the results of abusive and predatory lending too frequently as foreclosures have weakened our neighborhoods and our communities, and it has forced many of our people out of their homes. Most of these foreclosures are the result of ``toxic loans'' that were issued by several subprime lenders in Orange County, California. For that reason, I am particularly pleased that H.R. 1728 will ensure that lenders make loans that benefit the consumer and prohibit lenders from steering borrowers into higher-cost loans. In addition, the legislation will establish a simple standard that all institutions offering home loans must ensure so that borrowers can actually repay the loans they receive. I am very pleased that we will be considering this bill, which addresses the reckless lending and lack of oversight, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and raise awareness of the 2009 North Korean Freedom Week. Currently, approximately 13 million people in North Korea suffer from malnutrition, and over 2 million North Koreans have died of starvation since 1995. In addition, over 200,000 men, women, and children are imprisoned in political prison camps in North Korea. North Korea is controlled by a dictatorial regime where human rights and personal freedoms are nonexistent. The region suffers from an extremely weak economy and is dependent on the international community even for its food. Unfortunately, about 30 percent of all the international aid that is provided to North Korea goes to the country's military and its elite, and very little of that ever gets to the real people of North Korea. Under the current regime, universal human rights do not apply to the people of North Korea, and freedom remains a foreign idea for the men and the women of this repressive country. I call on my colleagues in Congress and the Obama administration to take action to improve the deteriorating human rights crisis in North Korea.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased that today the House of Representatives is considering H.R. 1145, the National Water Research and Development Initiative Act of 2009. As a supporter of this legislation, I would like to especially thank the committee chairman, Mr. Gordon from Tennessee, for his leadership in bringing this legislation to the floor. This bill is an appropriate response to the concerning state of our national water supply. As our Nation's population continues to increase, so must our ability to conserve and to reuse our water resources. We simply cannot afford to continue to take our scarce water resources for granted. And we must also educate our constituents and, quite frankly, ourselves on how to best protect a natural resource that we depend on for our survival. The National Water Research and Development Initiative Act of 2009 will establish an interagency committee to develop a research and assessment plan to protect and to expand our water resources. H.R. 1145 will make the Federal Government a leader, a leader, in effectively addressing our water resource challenges through intense research, collection of essential data, and the development of new technology. Mr. Chairman, in my district, I'm proud, as you know, that Orange County Water District has successfully developed and implemented a cutting-edge water reuse technology. The Groundwater Replenishment System in Orange County, California, purifies 70 million gallons of treated sewer water every day through an advanced purification process involving microfiltration, reverse osmosis, and ultraviolet light and hydrogen peroxide treatment. The result is that we get 100,000 Orange County families more drinking water every day. The system is a premier groundwater replenishment project, the premier one in the world, and so many States and local governments and foreign governments have come to Orange County to take a look at the system. I believe that H.R. 1145 will encourage communities throughout the country to embrace this type of innovation, and I would encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting this important initiative. Once again, I thank the chairman for his leadership on this. It's so important for us to make sure that in the future we have water for our constituents.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 334, which I introduced yesterday. This resolution calls for the release of 118 Vietnamese citizens who have been arrested, detained or harassed for signing the Manifesto on Freedom and Democracy in Vietnam. The manifesto is a peaceful, nonviolent declaration demanding political freedom and respect for Vietnam's citizens. House Resolution 334 also directs the Secretary of State to establish a ``Countries of Particular Concern'' list to condemn the government of Vietnam and other countries for engaging in particularly harsh human rights violations. Vietnam's ongoing denial of its citizens' fundamental human rights and political liberties is unacceptable. I introduced H.R. 334 to mark the 3-year anniversary of the original signing of the manifesto and to raise awareness of the Vietnamese Communist government's failure to improve its human rights record. In May we will honor the 15th anniversary of Vietnam Human Rights Day. I urge my colleagues to stand up for human rights and to join me in this resolution.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Today, I, along with several of my colleagues, will be sending a letter to major Internet service providers, including Google, Microsoft, and Yahoo, expressing our concern regarding the worsening Internet restrictions in Vietnam. It has come to our attention that the Vietnamese Government intends to further restrict Internet access by asking major Internet service providers to assist them in policing the Internet. The letter strongly urges the Internet service providers to protect the Vietnamese people's freedom of speech and expression by providing technologies in a manner that respects individuals' rights and their privacy. The Internet has become a major source of communication and information for the Vietnamese citizens. As Members of Congress, we must continue to advocate for Vietnamese citizens' freedom of speech and their freedom of expression. Upholding these freedoms is a corporate social responsibility, and Internet service providers must do everything they can to provide Internet freedom for the people of Vietnam, despite the pressure that is coming from the Vietnamese Government.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, I come to the floor today to call attention to the Border Security Search Accountability Act of 2009, which I will be introducing in the House today. With the support of 16 bipartisan, original cosponsors, the bill will call on the Department of Homeland Security to establish strict guidelines for Customs and Border Patrol, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement's electronic device seizure policy. It is important to ensure that Customs and Border agents have the tools necessary to go after potential terrorists. This bill allows for the appropriate search, review, retention and sharing of information on an individual's electronic device as it is necessary for security purposes. Equally important is the need to protect the rights of travelers, and especially American citizens. My legislation ensures that when an individual's property is seized at a point of entry, there is a well-defined procedure in place that will protect their privacy and electronic data, especially the doctor- patient and attorney-client privileges. This legislation also requires the Department of Homeland Security to post information about individuals' rights related to border searches in visible areas near the search points, so that individuals will understand their rights if their property is seized. I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, the President has sent his budget proposal to the Congress, and for the next few weeks we will debate it, but let's keep to the facts in debating it. There have been partisan attacks that claim that President Obama's budget will raise taxes on small businesses. In fact, the President's budget eliminates the capital gains tax for individuals on the sale of certain small business stocks and makes the research and experimentation tax credit permanent. These proposals will spur investment and innovation to help small businesses. These are the job-creating engines of our economy, and nowhere else but in California can you see them so prominently working in this economy to build those jobs we so desperately need. Ninety- seven percent of all small businesses will not see their taxes increase in 2010. What else is in the budget for small businesses? Twenty-eight billion dollars in loan guarantees to expand credit availability for small businesses at a time when it is really needed and support for the $1.1 billion in direct disaster loans for businesses, homes, and homeowners.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate March as Red Cross Month. Since 1943 we have been celebrating March as Red Cross Month to promote the services provided to the public by the Red Cross. The Red Cross has been at the forefront of helping individuals and families prevent, prepare for and respond to large and small-scale disasters for more than 127 years. Over the last year, more than 5 million people throughout the United States took advantage of educational opportunities from the Red Cross for CPR training, first aid and lifeguard training classes. And in Orange County, California, the local Red Cross chapter places great emphasis on community training. On April 18, the American Red Cross in Orange County will be hosting the fifth annual CPR day at, of course, Angel Stadium in my City of Anaheim, which will train over 1,500 people in adult and child CPR and first aid. Once again, I want to thank the American Red Cross for making our communities safer and for providing needed resources to communities that are affected by floods, by fires, earthquakes, mudslides, hurricanes and other natural disasters.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, in 1987 the United States Congress officially designated March as Women's History Month in an effort to not only increase public knowledge of women's history, but also to raise the public consciousness of the impact that women have on our country. Over the last century, we have made considerable progress. However, our work to ensure that women have equal rights and protection from assault and abuse are not over. Today, women continue to bring home smaller paychecks than men do for doing the same job. However, I am proud that this Congress passed and President Obama recently signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 to help end pay discrimination against women. Currently, there are an estimated 198,000 women serving on active duty in our military, and still we are unable to provide them with a safe environment, free of sexual assault and violence. In addition, approximately 800,000 individuals are trafficked across international borders each year, and, sadly, 80 percent of those are women and girls. While we recognize the progress we have made, we must not be complacent, but instead work together to tap into the potential of future generations of women.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the California Legislature on the passage of Assembly Joint Resolution No. 69 addressing child nutrition programs. The high occurrence of malnutrition, obesity and poor fitness in California are frightening. Currently, only 6 percent of school lunches meet all of the School Meal Initiative (SMI) standards. Over 30 percent of 7th graders in California are overweight and almost 40 percent cannot pass the state's fitness test. The Resolution passed by the California Legislature urges Congress and the President of the United States to ensure that child nutrition programs establish comprehensive nutrition and wellness policies in schools. In addition, this resolution supports the reauthorization of federal child nutrition programs and requests adequate reimbursements to fund the cost of producing a healthy school meal in the region where it is served. I urge my colleagues to follow California's example and work together to ensure proper nutrition and fitness for American children. I would now like to insert the following text from the California Assembly Joint Resolution No. 69. Assembly Joint Resolution No. 69 Whereas, The National School Lunch Program is declared to be the policy of Congress, ``as a measure of national security, to safeguard the health and well-being of the nation's children and to encourage the domestic consumption of nutritious agricultural commodities and other food, by assisting the states, through grants-in-aid and other means, in providing an adequate supply of food and other facilities for the establishment, maintenance, operation, and expansion of nonprofit school lunch programs''; and Whereas, Federal regulations further state that participating schools shall ensure that children gain a full understanding of the relationship between proper eating and good health; and Whereas, Child nutrition programs are responsible for collaborating with the school community to implement comprehensive nutrition and wellness policies in school districts; and Whereas, All of California's more than 6 million pupils deserve access to high-quality, safe, nutritious meals available in the school setting, recognizing the link between adequate nourishment and educational performance; and Whereas, Children that experience hunger have been shown to be more likely to have lower math scores, decreased attentiveness, increased likelihood of repeating a grade, increased absences and tardiness, and more referrals to special education services; and Whereas, Child nutrition programs in California provide over 4 million meals to school children daily, and must comply with complex state and federal requirements, provide adequate food preparation and dining facilities, and meet budget requirements despite rapidly escalating food, energy, transportation, labor, and other costs; and Whereas, Losses in the school meal programs must be offset by other revenue sources that would otherwise support classroom instruction; and Whereas, For each lunch provided to a child who qualifies for a free meal, the estimated average cost of producing the lunch is $3.10; the reimbursement received for each meal, provided that all state and federal requirements are met, is $2.6895 (a federal reimbursement of $2.47 and a state reimbursement of $0.2195); and Whereas, The difference between reimbursement and cost undermines the ability to continue to provide nutritious meals to all pupils; and Whereas, The United States Department of Agriculture recognizes higher cost as a factor in determining reimbursement rates by allowing a higher federal reimbursement rate in Alaska and Hawaii; and Whereas, Many families that qualify for reduced-price meals, prescribed by federal law using the federal poverty level, find it difficult to pay the reduced fee, and the fee for a paid meal is an insurmountable barrier to participation for an increasing number of families in California; and Whereas, The eligibility scale to qualify pupils for free or reduced-price meals is the same scale throughout the country and does not consider regions with higher costs of living; and Whereas, A self-sufficiency index, which identifies the income levels at which families can meet their most basic needs without public support, is available in all regions to apply to meal eligibility standards; and Whereas, A single-parent household with two children in San Mateo County, California, needs $67,867 to be self- sufficient, while a similar family in Hardeman County, Tennessee, is self-sufficient with only $21,657; now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Assembly and the Senate of the State of California, jointly, That the Legislature supports reauthorization of federal child nutrition programs and urges the President and the Congress of the United States to ensure that reimbursement rates are adequate to fully fund the cost of producing a nutritious school meal relative to the cost of living in a region; and be it further Resolved, That the eligibility scale used to qualify families for free and reduced-price meals be adjusted according to the self-sufficiency index for the region served; and be it further Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United States, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to the Majority Leader of the Senate, and to each Senator and Representative from California in the Congress of the United States.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, during these difficult economic times, President Obama has called on Americans to embrace a new era of responsibility. To that end, last week I introduced H.R. 852, the Rebuild America Bonds Act of 2009. The proceeds from these bonds would be set aside in a Rebuild America trust fund, to be used only to build infrastructure projects, including rail, transit, water, highway, bridge, and road projects. Rebuild America savings bonds would provide every American with the opportunity not only to invest in their country but to also provide the financial support that we need for our infrastructure in America. In addition, the new savings bonds will improve the morale of the American people. People want to know, what can I do now? They want to know, where can I put my money? Where will it be safe? How can I help America. From bridge collapses, water main breaks, and other infrastructure accidents across this country, it is clear that America's infrastructure is aging. So I urge my colleagues to cosponsor H.R. 852, the Rebuild America Bonds Act.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, today marks the second day of Tet, or more commonly known as the Lunar New Year. This year is the Year of the Water Buffalo. Tet is a reaffirmation of the Vietnamese cultural heritage and tradition and is the largest and the most celebrated holiday for the Vietnamese people. It is when friends and families come together to celebrate the past year and, of course, we look to the future year. On January 30, the Union of the Vietnamese Student Associations of Southern California will hold its annual Tet Festival in the City of Garden Grove. I would like to recognize the UVSA and the Vietnamese community for their endless efforts in bringing students, young professionals and community organizations together for the annual Tet Festival. The Vietnamese American community plays a vital economic and cultural role in the 47th District of California, and I am very proud of its efforts in fighting to achieve freedom and human rights for all Vietnamese people. As the Representative of the 47th District, it is a great honor to represent one of the largest Vietnamese communities in the world, and I would like to congratulate the Vietnamese community for all their successes this past year and to wish them a very happy new year, Chuc Mung Nam Moi.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate my colleagues on the passage of H.R. 2 yesterday afternoon. H.R. 2 is a critical piece of legislation that renews and improves the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) that ensures health care coverage for over 11 million American children--including the addition of 4 million, previously uninsured. This legislation also improves SCHIP benefits by ensuring coverage for dental and mental health services. H.R. 2 will reauthorize SCHIP through FY 2013 and will be fully paid for through an increase in the tobacco tax. Raising the tobacco tax discourages children from smoking. According to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, the tobacco tax increase will prevent nearly 2 million children from starting to smoke. I am hopeful that the Senate will also pass H.R. 2 and I look forward to this important legislation becoming law under the new administration of President Obama.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my concerns regarding H. Res. 34. I do not think that this resolution provides a complete picture of the conflict in Gaza and as a result, I will be voting present on this resolution. I am particularly concerned that this resolution does not address the core cause of the crisis, and I am not confident that this resolution will be beneficial to improving the situation in Gaza. I have grave concerns about Hamas's alarming history of violence. However, in order to resolve this crisis it is imperative that we encourage both Israel and Hamas to pursue a peaceful resolution and come to a sustainable cease-fire. Today marks the 14th day of the Gaza war. Over 700 people have been killed by both Israeli and Hamas military actions. International aid workers are reporting that they are unable to access the Gaza civilians and the United Nations has suspended its aid operations following the death of a U.N. official. I believe that a bipartisan resolution should have more fully addressed these challenges and stressed the need for both parties to cease all fire and fulfill their obligations under the Road Map peace plans. This weekend I will be meeting with a number of relevant organizations and community leaders from my district to discuss the current crisis in Gaza. Through these meetings I hope to continue to learn more about the status of the ongoing situation and consider the ways in which the United States can develop a proactive plan that will both end this current conflict and bring long-term peace and stability to the region.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the second annual National Human Trafficking Awareness Day on January 11, 2009. Human trafficking is a modern form of slavery, and the largest manifestation of slavery today. It continues to be a multi- dimensional threat that deprives people of their human rights and dignity. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, human trafficking is now the fastest-growing criminal industry in the world. About 80 percent of transnational victims are women, girls and up to 50 percent are minors. It is vital that the United States continue to expand our efforts to combat trafficking both within and beyond our own borders. I am very proud that in my district, a number of agencies, including law enforcement, victims service providers, and community organizations have joined together to form the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force. I hope that more local communities will stand together to protect every person's right to be free from forced marriage, prostitution, and labor. Each of us has a responsibility to fight human trafficking and slavery. I urge my colleagues and all Americans to join me in recognizing National Human Trafficking Awareness Day, and working to stop human trafficking around the world.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, last year, nearly 2 million Americans lost their jobs. Almost half of those job losses came in October and November, after the financial collapse of Wall Street. The December jobs numbers will be out in a couple of days, but it is not likely to be good news. All month long retailers were saying that they had to lay off seasonal help because Americans simply were not spending their money. And that's not surprising, considering that many of our constituents are justifiably concerned about their job security. Even those that are confident that they will hold on to their jobs are feeling financially squeezed because they are being paid less than they were 10 years ago. As the 111th Congress begins this week, we are committed to getting Americans back to work and preventing further job cuts from happening later this year. We also want to provide middle class Americans with tax relief so they can better afford their monthly bills. Madam Speaker, as change comes to Washington, we should work in a bipartisan manner to pass an economic recovery package quickly. We cannot afford to wait.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7311, the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 and applaud its passage in the House. This Act will allow for appropriations through 2011 to assist in combating human trafficking and to further provide protection for victims of human sex trafficking in the United States. As the Chairwoman of the Committee on Homeland Security Subcommittee on Border, Maritime and Counterterrorism, I held a series of hearings entitled ``Crossing the Border: Immigrants in Detention and Victims of Trafficking.'' These hearings identified and discussed many urgent issues related to the prevention of human trafficking and assistance for victims of human trafficking. These issues impact countries around the world, whether they are a source of or destination for trafficked persons. Official estimates show that between 2 to 4 million persons are trafficked each year, including approximately 17,500 individuals who are trafficked into the United States. The United States must also work to improve its efforts to combat trafficking within our own borders. This bill will assist with enhancing the rights of victims, who are trafficked into the United States, and will provide special protections to child victims. At the same time, we must continue to work on this issue in our local communities. In my district, a number of agencies, including law enforcement, service providers, and community organizations have joined together to form the Orange County Human Trafficking, Task Force (OCHTTF). I am very proud of the Task Force's work to reduce human trafficking in southern California, and I urge my colleagues to support these types of task forces as communities around the country work to stop human trafficking H.R. 7311 also provides critical assistance to victims seeking relief and access to special U.S. visas to protect them from their traffickers. I am proud to support this legislation which is an important step in the worldwide fight against human trafficking.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and to urge all governments to uphold the principles established in the declaration. Although 48 countries committed to promoting and protecting the rights of all human beings, human rights violations continue to occur around the world, especially in Vietnam. As a co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Vietnam, I am extremely concerned that despite Vietnam's many pledges to respect international norms, the Government of Vietnam continues to arrest and imprison individuals for peacefully exercising their freedom of speech and the right to assemble. Today, I and several colleagues sent a letter to the Prime Minister of Vietnam advocating for the release of Pham Thanh Ngien and Nguyen Hoang Hai, two Vietnamese democracy activists who are currently being detained for peacefully exercising their freedom of speech and right to assemble. The letter also strongly urges the government to recommit itself to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and recognize that all persons are born with fundamental rights and that it is our collective responsibility to uphold those rights. We all have a responsibility to not only stand up for freedom but to protect those who are denied freedoms and human rights. I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing today as Human Rights Day, and stand up for the rights of not only Pham Thanh Ngien and Nguyen Hoang Hai, but all those who are denied their rights as a human beings.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. I thank the gentleman for yielding. I reluctantly rise today to express concerns about the current economic crisis and the proposed financial recovery package. For several years I ave been concerned about the road our economy was heading down. In June 2005 at a Joint Economic Committee hearing I asked then Federal Reserve Chairman Allen Greenspan about the dangers of the housing bubble. And he responded that there was no ``substantial'' threat of a housing bubble and that even if home prices were to decline they were ``not likely to have substantial macroeconomic implications.'' Unfortunately, he was wrong. If the severity of the financial situation had been acted on back in 2005, or even 1 year ago, I think we would be in a better situation today. However, instead of pro actively addressing this brewing financial crisis, as recently as April 2008 the goal of this Administration was to reduce regulation with the expectation that ``market-discipline'' will be the ultimate regulator. Well, we have learned that there is no ``market-discipline'' without regulation and without the threat that people and I companies will have to pay for the mistakes they made. And so today we are considering a financial recovery package to save the financial industry from its mistakes, a package that is paid for with tax dollars earned by hardworking Americans. My constituents in Orange County, CA, are asking me: Where was the Government to save my house from foreclosure last year? Where was the Government to save my neighborhood when half the houses on my block were foreclosed on? Unfortunately the Government was not there to help my constituents and the millions of Americans that have lost their homes. Since the Bush administration requested a $700 billion blank check from Congress and the American people, our leadership in Congress has worked very hard to negotiate a more responsible package. The recovery package on the floor reflects a big improvement over the original Bush-Paulson plan. I am pleased that this package includes safeguards to protect any taxpayer investment in saving the financial industry. These safeguards include: Warrants from financial institutions that receive assistance so the Government can recover the taxpayers' money once the financial industry recovers; an insurance program funded by the financial industry to guarantee troubled assets and protect taxpayers; and a plan to charge the financial industry fees to recoup the taxpayers' investment if there are still losses after 5 years. However, this package does not do enough to help the average American keep their home, and to ensure that the Wall Street executives that got us into this mess don't walk away with millions of dollars. Preventing Foreclosures This bill does not guarantee that the Government will be able to make the reasonable modifications to mortgages that many homeowners desperately need to avoid foreclosure. In purchasing mortgage backed securities the Government will just be one of many co-owners of millions of mortgages. It will require the consent of all owners for the terms of the loans to be changed. Congress has already requested that all loan servicers nationwide act to avoid preventable foreclosures, so it is unclear that additional requests from the Treasury will have any additional impact. Executive Pay This legislation makes some commonsense reforms of executive compensation, but I do not think it does enough. I am very concerned that this bill will still allow executives to receive million dollar a month salaries, and that there are multiple loopholes for corporations to escape the limitations on golden parachutes, incentives, bonuses, and corporate deductions for executive salaries. Despite the improvements that have been made since the original Treasury proposal, I cannot in good conscience support a package that does not do enough to help endangered homeowners, and that does not tightly limit unreasonable compensation for executives.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the sixth annual National Latino AIDS Awareness Day which will be observed on October 15, 2008. National Latino AIDS Awareness Day is a call to action for all Latinos to protect their lives and the lives of those they love by getting tested and learning about HIV. In my district in Orange County, CA, over half of all new HIV infections take place among Latinos. Nationwide, Latinos continue to be affected by HIV at a disproportionately high rate, representing over 20 percent of HIV/AIDS cases. The AIDS Services Foundation of Orange County is a critical resource that works to prevent the spread of HIV and improve the lives of men, women, and children affected by HIV/AIDS. This year, they have arranged for rapid HIV testing to be available at the Community Health Fair taking place in downtown Santa Ana, in my district, as a part of Binational Health Week in October 2008. In addition, the AIDS Services Foundation of Orange County offers invaluable services to our community by providing food, transportation, housing, emergency financial assistance, kids and family programs, counseling, education, and prevention services. We all must work together to reduce the incidence of HIV/AIDS in our families, communities, cities, States, Nation, and around the globe. To do this we must not let differences in language and culture be a barrier to providing access to preventative measures, healthcare, and support services. In honor of National Latino AIDS Day, I urge my colleagues in Congress and all Americans to renew our commitment to the fight to stop the spread of HIV and AIDS.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Sunkist Elementary School in Anaheim, California to celebrate its 50th anniversary. I am especially thrilled to honor Sunkist Elementary today, because aside from being one of the fine elementary schools in my district, Sunkist Elementary is also the elementary school that I attended. For the past 50 years, my alma mater has provided a fun and welcoming environment to each student that has stepped foot on campus. On my last visit to Sunkist Elementary, I met with their after-school program, Anaheim Achieves. Anaheim Achieves focuses on providing students with additional individual assistance that they need to excel in the classroom. I'm proud that Sunkist Elementary has recognized this need and worked to assure that every student has the tools they need to achieve academic success. Congratulations to Sunkist Elementary on providing 50 years of excellence in student learning.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to support H.R. 7063, the U.S. and the World Education Act, which I introduced in the House this week. This bill addresses the need to improve student awareness of and achievement in international education so they will be able to compete in an information age world that is constantly shrinking due to rapid technological advances. This bill will create a grant program to fund international education professional development for elementary and secondary teachers, and related supplemental extracurricular activities for students. These activities could include Model U.N., geography bees, and foreign language clubs, among many others. In addition, H.R. 7063 would establish an international education research repository containing scientifically valid education research, and promising and exemplary practices related to international education and foreign language education. This repository would be available to state and local educational agencies in order to continually improve their international education curriculum and teaching methods. This bill supports improvements in the way international education is taught in the classroom, and encourages students and teachers to engage in life-long learning on the various topics involved in international education, such as foreign languages, geography, world history, international economics and international culture. These days with just a simple computer mouse click, we can create personal or professional relationships with anyone around the world. In the workplace, American-based multinational corporations and small businesses are increasingly in need of employees with knowledge of foreign languages and cultures. Future generations need to be equipped with a skill-set that will help them be successful and meet the demands of a global workforce. H.R. 7063, the U.S. and the World Education Act will help prepare our students and our country for the global economy of the future.

Ms. LORETTA T. SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA T. SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6045, the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Act of 2008. Bulletproof vests and body armor have saved thousands of law enforcement officers since the introduction and improvement of bulletproof material. The Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Program provides our brave law enforcement officers with the vital equipment they need to save lives in the line of fire. This grant program was created in 1999 by the Department of Justice to provide protection to state, local and tribal law enforcement officers by assisting officers in purchasing the protective equipment they need. Since its inception, the grant program has purchased more than 1.5 million bulletproof vests for over 40,000 jurisdictions in the United States. In 2007 alone, the program provided $28.6 million to state and local law enforcement agencies across America and purchased over 180,000 new bulletproof vests. In my district, this grant program has awarded more than $45,000 to law enforcement officials in the cities of Anaheim and Santa Ana. As a result, these cities were able to purchase more than 400 vests for their officers. I am pleased that the House of Representatives is acting to reauthorize the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Program for another three years. Brave law enforcement officers risk their lives on a daily basis to protect our communities, and this grant program ensures that their communities can help protect them.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to bring urgent attention to the deteriorating human rights conditions in the country of Vietnam. Most recently, Vietnamese students and bloggers have been harassed and detained for peacefully voicing their concerns about the Vietnamese government's policies. It is becoming increasingly evident that the Government of Vietnam is not living up to its commitment to honor and to protect human rights. This month, over 3,000 Vietnamese Catholics were harassed by Hanoi's police with tear gas, electric batons and other repressive measures while attending a peaceful Thai Ha prayer vigil. We are continuing to see more and more activists being detained and imprisoned for exercising their freedom of speech, religion and expression, rights that are guaranteed under the International Covenants on Civil and Political Rights. This week, I, along with six other Members, sent a letter to President Nguyen Minh Triet to express outrage over Vietnam's ongoing human rights violations, and to urge the Government of Vietnam to stop using violence against its own people. I encourage my colleagues to continue addressing this serious issue and speaking out for those in Vietnam who are putting their lives in danger in the name of freedom.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my support for the House-Senate compromise language for the FY09 National Defense Authorization Act. I am happy that the House and Senate were able to come to an agreement to provide critical support to our Armed Forces. I am particularly pleased that a number of provisions that I advocated for are in this final language. These provisions include the establishment of a Sexual Assault Database to provide a centralized, case-level database of information about sexual assaults that involve service members. I am also proud that my colleagues supported my efforts to require the Department of Defense to conduct a study of its bandwidth needs in the near and long term. Ensuring adequate bandwidth is essential to the military's ongoing readiness. This bill takes critical steps to restore the readiness of our Armed Forces by providing an equipment reset of $8.6 billion for the Army and $1.8 billion for the Marine Corps. It also ensures full utilization of our depots in the future. There are also a number of provisions to protect our service members in the battlefield. These include $1.7 billion for MRAP vehicles for our troops overseas and authority for the Department of Defense to conduct oversight and testing of personnel protective equipment. In addition, this bill prohibits increased premiums and co-pays for TRICARE recipients and provides tuition assistance and training for military spouses. This bill also establishes a task force on suicide prevention and authorizes $3.2 billion to expand quality family housing. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important legislation and I urge the other body to move quickly to pass this compromise language that will continue to prepare, support and protect our Armed Forces. Thank you and I yield back.