Loretta Sanchez

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, I believe everyone in this Chamber will agree with me that when we invest in our students and in our schools, we invest in the future success of this Nation. Yet, as I hear from so many of my students back home, the rising costs make affording college harder and harder for them and their families. On average, the class of 2016 will graduate with about $37,000 in student debt, up about 6 percent from last year. The number of students graduating from college with debt is about 70 percent of them. For this reason, comprehensive higher education reform should be at the forefront of our legislative agenda here in Congress. Programs such as the Pell grant and the Perkins Loan Program should be increased so that we can increase the availability of the American Dream. Next week I plan to reintroduce the Middle Class CHANCE Act, which will aid our students in affording college by increasing the strength of the Pell Grant. It is time for this Congress to address the increasing costs of college and make college more affordable for future generations and working families.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of National Women's Health Week. Our goal this week is to empower women to prioritize and to take charge of their health. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, women can access preventative care for little or no cost, but there still are concerning gaps in women's health. One out of four women reports not visiting a doctor because of the cost, and nearly two out of three women in America die from chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, cancer, which is why women need quality, affordable, and accessible health care. Protecting and improving the health of American women is one of my top priorities in Congress. I fought to insert language in the annual defense bill to ensure that our brave servicewomen and female veterans have access to adequate health services that fully address their specific medical needs, including preventative care and infertility treatments. We have seen increasing attacks on women's health in Congress. So it is important, more than ever, that we ensure women's access to contraception and to their constitutionally protected right to choose.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, today I join the Vietnamese American community across this Nation and actually around the world to commemorate the 41st anniversary of the fall of Saigon. We must remember our fallen soldiers, American veterans, and our South Vietnamese allies who fought and died in the name of freedom and democracy. Unfortunately, the Government of Vietnam continues to crack down on its citizens by using article 79 of the Vietnamese penal code, which prohibits political pluralism or prohibits associating with pro- democracy parties. Last week I met with Ms. Vu Minh Khanh, the wife of prominent Vietnamese political prisoner, Mr. Nguyen Van Dai. Mr. Nguyen is currently being detained by the Vietnamese Government after being severely beaten for peacefully expressing his views on democracy. As President Obama prepares to visit Vietnam, I urge the President to make human rights a key priority, and I strongly urge the President to call for the release of human rights activist Mr. Nguyen Van Dai and Father Thadeus Nguyen Van Ly. It is time--it is time for the United States to take a strong and principled stand against Vietnam's ongoing human rights violations.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call attention to the rising cost of our Nation's nuclear forces budget. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that between 2015 and 2024, the administration's plans for nuclear forces will cost us about $348 billion. That is about $35 billion a year on our nuclear enterprise. According to the CBO, this is about 5 to 6 percent of the total cost of the administration's plans for our national defense for the next 10 years. Next week, the House Armed Services Committee will mark up the fiscal year 2017 National Defense Authorization Act, our military bill, if you will. One of my main priorities in the committee has been to reduce our Nation's nuclear weapons spending and to reduce our nuclear stockpile. Unfortunately, year after year, the Congress authorizes funding for more weapons while capping the funding that we use to dismantle nuclear weapons. I think it is a far safer world without these nuclear weapons. Mr. Speaker, rather than spend on the legacy of the cold war, we should be investing in our most important military asset: our men and our women in uniform.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Earth Day, which we will celebrate this Friday. Each year on Earth Day we recommit to preserving a healthy and sustainable environment for our future generations. When Pope Francis addressed Congress over 6 months ago, he called for a courageous and responsible effort to redirect our steps and to avert the most serious effects of the environmental deterioration caused by human activity. That is why I believe that the greatest thing that this Chamber can do right now in honor of Earth Day is to fully reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund. The Land and Water Conservation Fund has provided critical funding to help protect and preserve our natural areas, our water resources, and our cultural heritage. So it is an important source of funding that allows so many of our Nation's urban youth to understand the environment, to get to know the wilderness, to gain that valuable understanding and respect for wildlife and our environment. We must act responsibly and permanently reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, I rise to talk about families. Yesterday, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments on DACA and DAPA. I challenge anyone to look at the children who were protesting in front of the Supreme Court yesterday and not feel an urgency to protect them and their families. Our unjust and broken immigration system has forced millions of families to live in the shadows. Where is our compassion? Immigrants, regardless of legal status, deserve justice and dignity. We are a Nation of immigrants. Uniting and keeping our families together is an integral American value. We should be protecting the stability of our hardworking immigrant families instead of tearing them apart. Comprehensive immigration reform is the moral imperative of our time, and I urge this Congress to pass it.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Michigan. I rise today to express my concern about the ongoing vacancy in the Supreme Court. The President has done his constitutional job, and that is to screen, to choose, to nominate, and to put forward a name. The Senate must do its constitutional duty, to take a look at the nominee and give a vote. I don't know how the Senate would vote, depending on the nominee. It is in their jurisdiction. It is in their individual right to take a look and to decide yea or nay. But it is their responsibility to take up that nominee. That is the constitutional requirement. It has dire consequences for us when this vacancy is left unfilled. It has dire consequences for many, in particular, for example, the Latino community. Just yesterday the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in United States v. Texas, a challenge to the President's executive actions on immigration. Because of the vacancy, we only have three Justices. So there is the clear possibility that it could be a 4-4 vote. That would leave in place the freeze on DACA and DAPA, and millions of immigrants' lives are hanging in the balance. The Supreme Court must be able to make concrete decisions on the most pressing issues facing our country, but we are stuck in limbo. Actually, if you think of the division of powers, we are purposely in a way hampering the power of that judiciary. It doesn't have to be that way. President Obama has nominated Judge Garland, a worthy and a just successor to the late Justice Scalia's seat. Yes, Senate Republicans refuse to give Judge Garland their consideration even though a majority of Senate Republicans voted to confirm this exact same judge to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals in 1997. They refuse to consider his nomination. Why? Because they are looking to block any Supreme Court nominee at any cost. There is too much at stake to leave the Supreme Court vacancy open. It is time for the Senate to fulfill their constitutional duty by filling the Supreme Court vacancy with undue delay. Wasting time, playing political games with the highest of the Court, is irresponsible and is unacceptable.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Judge Frederick P. Aguirre, and to congratulate him for his service. Judge Aguirre is a member of the Latino community and a judge of the Superior Court of Orange County. He was born and raised in Fullerton, California, and he is the grandson of Mexican immigrants. Judge Aguirre graduated from the University of Southern California with a degree in history, and he earned his law degree at UCLA. His career in public advocacy began when he attended the League of United Latin American Citizens, or LULAC. He began to attend the meetings, and by the time he was a senior in high school, he was the president-elect of the local chapter. He is the cofounder of the Hispanic Association of Lawyers in Orange County; the Hispanic Advisory Council for Court Appointed Special Advocates, or CASA as we know it; the founder and the vice president of the Leadership Academy of the Superior Court; and the president of Latino Advocates for Education. I know him best because he honors our veterans every year in a very large ceremony, calling out their service in the different wars. I am honored to recognize Judge Frederick Aguirre for his outstanding achievements within the Latino community, the Orange County community, amongst our veterans, and for all citizens.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Veterans Legal Institute, an organization that resides right in the middle of my district serving our veterans in Orange County, California, since 2014. It is a nonprofit organization and provides pro bono legal assistance to our veterans on a myriad of issues, for example, on some of the education issues going on using their GI Bill and housing--because we have so many of our veterans, as you know, that are homeless--with respect to health care, getting into those VA hospitals and to the agencies, and, of course, with respect to employment. The organization's ongoing efforts have become an important factor in helping us to bring veterans along and to ensure that they are an integral part of our community. Veterans Legal Institute is committed to providing our everyday heroes with the resources and the support that they deserve, and I believe that we must do our part by supporting organizations such as Veterans Legal Institute so that they can effectively serve this community.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on Equal Pay Day to call for action to close that persistent wage gap that occurs in the workplace to the detriment of women. My grandmother worked all of her life. I would see her leave in the morning and go to the bus stop. She worked at a convalescent home where she made 3 meals a day for 170 people. She worked 6 days a week. On Saturday, she would make an extra meal so they could serve it on Sunday. On Sunday, she would take off work and go to church. When my grandmother could no longer stand on her feet, she retired. She retired on Social Security, which was $484 a month--just enough to live at my mom's home in her retirement. She had no savings and no pension. One of the reasons is because, even though women work very hard in this country, they don't get paid what their counterparts--the males--do. And so women are twice as likely to retire in poverty. When women succeed, America succeeds. And that is why I am a proud sponsor of the Paycheck Fairness Act.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in order to bring attention to an issue afflicting communities in southeast Los Angeles. Today communities in Vernon and the surrounding areas are dealing with the aftermath of years of toxic contamination by a now-closed lead-acid battery recycling plant. The recycling plant, which was owned by the company Exide Technologies, operated for years in the city of Vernon. Even though it had multiple violations documented by inspectors in the late 1990s of bad things going on, there were few punitive measures used against them. Ultimately, who paid the price? The contaminated areas can be cleaned up, but those communities that live there, mostly composed of working class Mexican Americans, now have to deal with long-term health effects of being exposed, like cancer. Time and time again, when our infrastructure fails us, when corporations violate the rules, it is the most vulnerable communities that pay for it. I want to remind my colleagues we have to be vigilant.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I wish to express my support for the President's executive actions on immigration to expand the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and the creation of the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) program. Soon, the Supreme Court will consider U.S. v. Texas, the case concerning President Obama's executive actions on immigration to extend temporary relief from deportation for undocumented immigrants who arrived in the U.S. when they were children and eligible parents of American citizens or legal permanent residents. These crucial programs have been halted as this litigation continues and our families, our businesses, and our economy hang in the balance. Today, the House Republicans brought a polarizing resolution to the floor authorizing the Speaker to file an anti-immigrant amicus brief with the Supreme Court opposing these executive actions. I am disappointed that House Republicans are attempting to block the President's executive actions on immigration from taking effect. The President acted to keep hard-working immigrant families together and to ensure that DREAMERS can continue to live in the only country they've ever known. As co-chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus' Immigration Task Force, I'm hopeful that the Supreme Court will recognize the legality and importance of President Obama's executive actions for our immigrant families. We compromise our nation's family values when we tear apart families and instill fear and mistrust among communities. With so much at stake, we can't rely on the courts to correct this injustice. America deserves a fair and just immigration system, and our hard-working immigrant families have waited long enough. It's time for Congress to do its job and pass comprehensive immigration reform immediately.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate Women's History Month. As one of the 108 women in Congress today, I am thankful to follow the trail blazed by so many American women who demanded the right to vote and participate in our democracy. I am inspired by recent historic milestones, for example, of the first women ever who are graduating from the Army's elite Ranger school and of the Department of Defense, which is finally expanding all combat roles to qualified servicewomen. These achievements are further proof that women can break any barrier if they are given the chance, if they are willing to, and if they are given the support and opportunity to do so. Unfortunately, today's widespread social and economic inequalities disproportionately hurt American women. In 2016, a typical woman in America earns only 79 cents to the dollar that a man earns. Over a lifetime, that is $400,000 of wages lost, and she risks losing her job if she needs to care for her children or sick family members. So we take this month to thank America's women, but there is a lot more to do.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Dr. Juan Francisco Lara. Dr. Lara passionately advocated for access to the University of California system for all students. For over 35 years, he was involved at UCLA and the University of California, Irvine, in many roles, including dean, professor, and assistant vice chancellor. At UCI, Dr. Lara played a pivotal role in the Santa Ana Partnership, an educational partnership between UCI, Cal State Fullerton, Santa Ana College, and the Santa Ana Unified School District, which is now a national model in collaborative education. Dr. Lara was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather known for his commitment to community and love for his family. I counted him as my friend. He believed that, with the power of knowledge, kindness, and education, we could change the world. On behalf of the people of California's 46th Congressional District, I am proud to honor this inspiring and incredible man.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate Black History Month and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, which was founded 107 years ago today. Black History Month is an opportunity for Americans to reflect on the contributions of the African American community to this country, on the injustices that they have endured through American history, and how far we have gone and still need to go to end discrimination and racism in America. This past weekend, I attended the Orange County Heritage Council's 36th Annual Orange County Black History Month Parade and Cultural Fair. I was honored to meet a lot of veterans there, including Mr. Warren Bussey, a World War II hero, and, at 103 years old, the oldest African American living in Orange County today. Mr. Bussey and others like him are a testament to the enduring legacy of African American commitment to the military service. They went, yet they came back, and there were no civil rights for them. This month we honor their contribution.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. I would like to say that the Common Sense Nutrition Disclosure Act of 2015 aims to fix these problems and to help small businesses meet the intention of the law. I think it is very unfair if you walk into a 7-Eleven and because something is taken out of its package and is put in a toaster oven that, all of a sudden, another place has to put the calories. So I would ask my colleagues, please, let's do the right thing. Let's help consumers be smart about what they are eating, and let's let businesses go about their business.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Chairman, this is an issue that I care a lot about. Diabetes runs in my family, and I am talking generations worth. One of the ways that you combat diabetes is through nutrition and through exercise. I watch everything that I eat. I am very grateful that when I go to a restaurant, they put the calorie count on the different pieces on the menu. I am very grateful that when I go into a 7-Eleven or some other type of convenience store, that there is calorie count and serving size on everything that I buy there. This is very important to me. But at the same time, I have been a small business woman, I have had a small business, and I know how difficult it is to make payroll, to be a small business trying to make a profit. I think that this particular regulation, not law, because when we passed the Affordable Care Act we said: Let's help people make good nutrition decisions, and I agree with that. But then we had a regulatory agency that made these regulations that just don't make sense. That is what this bill is about. Ms. Jackson Lee, one of my colleagues, said: This is easy, let's just work it out. But the reality is we have been at this for almost 2 or 3 years, and we have not been able to work it out at the table. This is very, very important. There was just a letter of opposition put into the Record from the National Restaurant Association. Yes, early on, to this bill, they were opposed. But the thing they were opposed to was the 50 percent rule, and we have taken that out of this.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in order to bring attention to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Madaya, Syria. The inhabitants of Madaya are unable to leave and are threatened daily by regime snipers and antipersonnel mines that surround their city. Over 40,000 civilians have been kept from receiving vital humanitarian aid. And, yes, this has resulted in mass starvation. Sadly, Madaya is not unique in its suffering. There are Madayas all over Syria--cities under siege--caught in the middle of this vicious fighting, cities with inhabitants in dire need of food, water, and medical attention. I urge Congress, the President, and the international community to do more in response to the humanitarian crisis that is going on in Syria. Enough is enough. We have to stop these tragedies from happening. It is our collective responsibility to do everything in our power; so let's do it.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the female pilots who served during World War II, known as the Women Airforce Service Pilots, or the WASPs. These brave and hardworking female pilots signed up, of their own volition, were trained in over 12,000 aircraft, and stepped up to the plate to fill the shortfall of male pilots. Despite the fact that the WASPs were merely considered civilians, they served their country, delivering planes overseas in dangerous conditions and helping to train the male pilots for combat. Thirty-eight of these WASPs died while serving their country, and their patriotic sense of duty is truly inspirational. Unfortunately, these courageous women have been unjustly denied the honor of burial at the Arlington National Cemetery. Why? Because they were civilians. As a cosponsor of H.R. 4336, I strongly urge the Secretary of the Army to change its policy and allow these female pilots to be honored at Arlington National Cemetery. It is the moral imperative of our country to honor them.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Joseph Jackson, Jr., a resident of my hometown of Anaheim, California. Mr. Jackson was born on April 14, 1937, to a domestic worker and a janitor in Memphis, Tennessee, during the height of segregation. His tremendous civil rights contributions date back to 1960 when he was elected as the Youth Council president of the NAACP at Tougaloo College, Mississippi. On March 27, 1961, as a young college student, Mr. Jackson participated in a peaceful civil rights movement with eight others. You see, he wanted to be able to go into the Jackson, Mississippi, Municipal Library. They did a sit in--a ``read in,'' they called it. These nine civil rights students were recognized as the Tougaloo Nine. Mr. Jackson's desegregation movement started small, but his efforts led our Nation to ultimately desegregate public institutions. As we celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Day, he has had an incredible impact, but let us not forget the Tougaloo Nine. We honor Mr. Joseph Jackson, Jr., and the Tougaloo Nine for their historic achievements, nonviolent activism, and their courage to advocate for a civil society.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Brigadier General Diana Holland for becoming the first female commandant at West Point. I believe Brigadier General Holland's appointment comes at a very pivotal time in U.S. history, when the military pursues to fully integrate women into the military. Last month, Secretary of Defense Ash Carter announced his and the services' decision to open all units to women. This decision would not only open 220,000 jobs for women that were previously closed to them, but it would also open the doors for more women to rise in the chain of command. I believe that we need that to happen in our military. Servicewomen have bravely served our country in and out of combat. Finally, we will be giving them the recognition that they deserve. No longer will archaic policies limit the potential of capable and qualified servicewomen. The talent and determination of our servicewomen will continue to strengthen our Nation's military, and I am proud to stand behind them.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to celebrate the life of an extraordinary man, William ``Bill'' Ray. Bill laughed often, and he loved much. His charm and gentlemanly character won the respect of many people in my community. Bill worked in my district office as a community liaison and caseworker for 13 years. You know what? He made a difference in people's lives. He was genuinely interested in people and things, from the Boy Scouts to Native Americans and to veterans. He knew how to find the best in others, and he gave the best of himself. Bill loved his wife, Rhonda, and their son, Jeffrey, with all of his heart and soul. He loved his country and our military. He was a true patriot. Bill was noble in character, genuine in spirit, and very kind of heart. Rhonda, Jeffrey, you have my deepest condolences on the passing of your husband and father. I am blessed to have known him and to have worked with him.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues from both sides to stand up for the 100,000 people who have been killed by gun violence over the past decade. It is time to stand up for the over 2,600 children who die from gun violence and the over 6,400 women who are murdered by an intimate partner by a gun each year. I believe it is the responsibility of this body to take the steps in order to protect our citizens. We are not limiting a person's right to bear arms by requiring everyone or an entity selling firearms to obtain a license and to do background checks. We are saving lives. We are not limiting a person's right to bear arms by looking at safety technology, gun safes with fingerprint technology. We are saving lives. We are certainly not restricting a responsible citizen from obtaining a firearm by investing in mental health care and by renewing domestic violence outreach efforts, as both are causes of gun violence. It is time to respond to this now. The status quo is no longer acceptable.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, Friday marks the 14th anniversary of the enactment of the No Child Left Behind legislation which, when we passed it, held so many dreams and so many aspirations for all of us because we believed that our children would get a world- class education out of that. Unfortunately, No Child Left Behind, with all its potential, fell short. So I think it is important that we all understand and we all believe in this Chamber that through education, we lift this Nation. It is probably the greatest investment that we can make in the American people. That is why, as lawmakers, we have to really work on the best policies for education, starting at the national level, because we now compete internationally, and, of course, at the State and at our local levels right at our school boards. I have been to every single school in my district in Orange County. I have met with teachers, with parents, with administrators, and with business leaders. They all had concerns with No Child Left Behind. That is why I think the recent passage of the Every Student Succeeds Act, or ESSA, a landmark piece of bipartisan legislation, hopefully will fix the outdated policies of that No Child Left Behind legislation. The new legislation, the new law we just passed, takes into consideration the collective criticisms of the teachers, the students, parents, administrators, business leaders, and everyone who is involved in the education of our children. The ESSA has the support of many civil rights groups, teaching groups, and community institutions. I would like to highlight a few of the improvements our parents and students can look forward to with this new law. During the No Child Left Behind era, schools were not held accountable for ensuring that the most disadvantaged students actually were aided and helped to get an education. The Every Student Succeeds Act changes this. It benefits low-income students, minority students, English language learners by requiring the schools to include student data about these groups so that we can make better policy for the accountability of how these students learn. States are also required to create exit and entrance exams for English language learners, ensuring that they will actually receive attention in these classrooms and will learn. Now, Mr. Speaker, I know that we all think that there are way too many tests in life every single day, and of course it is not the favorite part of the school day to take a test. The high-stakes testing that was under No Child Left Behind has created a lot of anxiety campuswide. Teachers felt the need to teach to the test, rather than actually teach the student that critical learning that must take place in the classroom at an early age. My mom was a teacher. She finally got out because she got tired of teaching to the test, test, test, test. She had seven kids, and they all have master's and Ph.D.s. She was a parent teacher before she went to teach in the classroom, and she knew that students learn in different ways, that not everybody learned the same way. She would work with students. Some students learn verbally, some by test-taking, others by acting out plays that get across the idea. There was no time in the classroom after No Child Left Behind. It was just one way: the test, the test, the test. I am proud to say that high-stakes testing under the new law will no longer disadvantage our schools who don't pass those tests. There are going to be other ways, including tests, to decide whether schools, teachers, and educators are doing well by our children in the classroom. Testing students will not be the end-all of what is happening in the classrooms. Schools also have the flexibility to pilot innovative testing measures, allowing more time for learning in the classroom. I am excited about this new law, Mr. Speaker, and I hope that we continue to look at it and make sure that every child has a chance in this education system.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Massachusetts for the time. Here we go again. Congress reconvenes and the majority is starting out the new year doing the same old thing. We come back from the holidays, a time for family, for reflection, and we begin this new year with a vote to cripple the health care of our families. The vote today would defund Planned Parenthood, and it would repeal essential pieces of the Affordable Care Act. Mr. Speaker, I really don't know how else to put this except to say that the Affordable Care Act works. It actually works for the people that I represent, for Californians, and for Americans, especially those who never had health care before. Not only has this law been affirmed constitutionally by our Supreme Court, it has survived countless votes to dismantle it in this Chamber and the other. But thanks to the Affordable Care Act, the folks in my district have seen massive improvement in their community. From 2012 to 2014, more than 60,000 people at home in my area now have health insurance, and they never had it before. This is just about partisan politics today. You are right, Mr. McGovern, it is just about partisan politics. Instead of focusing on the issues that are important to our families--immigration reform, addressing climate change, creating jobs--no, here we go back again. Mr. Speaker, let's cut the partisan politics. Let's do what families need. Let's vote against this.