Loretta Sanchez

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney).

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, I would just remind the gentleman who just spoke that there is already an objection clause and that no military personnel are forced to perform any of this. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Tauscher), my friend.

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Chairman, I yield 10 seconds to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney) to respond.

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis), my colleague.

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters).

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 15 seconds. Mr. Chairman, I would just like to remind my colleagues that there are already abortions performed at military hospitals, and that a woman who chooses to have one under this amendment would pay all the costs of having that procedure done in a military hospital. So it is at no expense to the taxpayer. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Sherman). (Mr. SHERMAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Chairman, I yield one minute to the gentlewoman from Wisconsin (Ms. Baldwin).

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, I just want to let our colleague know I have a letter here from the Department of Defense that strongly support this amendment. In fact, our military does want this. They do want this amendment to pass. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Woolsey). (Ms. WOOLSEY asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Nadler). (Mr. NADLER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Maryland (Mrs. Morella), the cosponsor of this amendment. (Mrs. MORELLA asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Chairman, today I rise in support of this legislation. Democrats made it a top priority this year to take care of those in the armed services. And as a member of the Subcommittee on Military Personnel, I saw firsthand just how we are doing that. Our servicemen and women make sacrifices to protect our vital national interests every day. Unfortunately, skilled military personnel are leaving the armed services and several of our services have had difficulty meeting their recruitment goals. This legislation begins to redress numerous quality-of-life and other problems affecting today's Armed Forces. It restores a basis for the military pay raise process, and it goes a long way towards restoring the career incentive value of the military retirement system. Veterans in my community continue to voice their concern. They continue to talk about broken promises that our country has made to them. I want to go back to my district this weekend to let them know that their voices have been heard and that we are restoring vitality to the military services. Let us send a strong message of support to our troops and those men and women who had the ultimate sacrifice for this country. I urge my colleagues to vote yes on H.R. 1401.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to discuss homeownership in America. Buying a home is a dream for many Americans. People want a place where they can raise their children, where neighbors come together to form a safe community, and ultimately, where they can comfortably grow older. A memory I have from when I was young was my grandmother. She came to this country. She worked 7 days a week, every day that I can remember, walking half a mile to get on the bus and go to work. She was a restaurant worker. She would come back late at night after dark. I lost her a few years ago. The last few things she said to me was she had two dreams she did not accomplish in the United States: one, to visit the Pope; and two, to own her own home. This week is National Homeownership Week and it is a time that we can appreciate the growth our Nation has made in homeownership, and it is also when we realize how much more we have to do to help people own that little piece of the American dream, their own home. I hope that this week we all gather together and work very hard to ensure that there are ways, like CRA and other ways, to help people become homeowners in the United States.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to report to my colleagues the actions of the House Armed Services Committee. I regret the Committee's failure to follow the recommendations of the Military Personnel Subcommittee to repeal the statutory prohibition on abortions in overseas military hospitals and restore the law to what it was for many years. If enacted, women stationed overseas would be permitted to use their own funds to obtain abortion services. No federal funds would have been used and health care professionals who are opposed to performing abortions as a matter of conscience or moral principle would not be required to do so. This is an issue of fundamental fairness. Servicewomen and military dependents stationed abroad do not expect special treatment, only the right to receive the same legally protected medical services that women in the United States receive. We had the opportunity to finally put a stop to the misguided law that has endangered our servicewomen's lives for far too long. It is unfortunate that the full committee did not follow the subcommittee's direction. The Department of Defense, the American Public Health Association, the American Medical Women's Association, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the Planned Parenthood Federation of America have all indicated their support for the subcommittee's decision. If we are to attract the best and brightest of our nation's young people to our Armed Forces we must act to restore this fundamental right. We cannot expect to attain our readiness and recruitment goals when potential soldiers know they will not have the same right to access to health care when they are stationed overseas. It is our responsibility to restore the right of freedom of choice to women serving overseas in our nation's Armed Forces. Members of the military and their families already give up many freedoms and risk their lives to defend our country. They should not have to sacrifice their privacy, their health or their basic constitutional rights because of a policy with no valid military purpose.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to report to my colleagues the actions of the House Armed Services Committee. I want to commend the committee for the important step it has made toward providing equal access to reproductive health care for U.S. servicewomen and dependents. During the committee's debate of the FY 2000 Department of Defense Authorization bill, I was proud to continue the work of my friend and our former colleague Congresswoman Jane Harman. I know my fellow Members join me in recognition of her efforts in this area. The bill endorsed today by the committee safeguards abortion services for those whose pregnancies are due to rape and incest. This is good news for American soldiers and dependents, and it's good news for our armed forces. I am disappointed that the committee chose to reverse the Personnel Subcommittee's bipartisan endorsement of my amendment to reverse the ban on privately funded abortions at U.S. military facilities overseas. Nevertheless, our fighting men and women--and their families--will benefit from the committee's decision today. I look forward to working with my colleagues on the house floor to ensure that we make life safer and healthier for our military women and dependents, because that makes for a better prepared, more able fighting force. This is indeed a major victory for our servicewomen and military families.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, there is no question that the United States is a leader in the development of new technology. Historically, the R&E tax credit has played a major role in elevating this great Nation to such a significant and influential leadership position. However, with greater market challenges in the future, we will have to fight hard to maintain the U.S. lead in new technology and innovation. Simply put, the tax credit is an investment for economic growth and the creation of new jobs. It strengthens our international position, and often results in an enhanced quality of life for consumers. Mr. Speaker, the R and E tax credit has been on the books for many years, and there is no doubt that it has proved beneficial to our Nation's technology enterprise. But, there is also no doubt that its benefits could be even greater if the credit were made permanent and the perennial uncertainty were eliminated. I urge my colleagues to support this concept of a permanent R&E credit and support the type of research activities that will maintain American technological leadership into the 21st century.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to the officers of the Garden Grove Police Department who died in the line of duty and who will be commemorated in the dedication of the Garden Grove Police Memorial, ``Call To Duty'' on this twentieth day of May, 1999. There are few words that adequately express the deep sorrow and grief of a family whose loved one has been killed in the line of duty. We can remember their bravery and courage through dedication and memorial. President Abraham Lincoln perhaps described the terrible emptiness and regret that we, the living, feel for those who have given their lives to protect others. In the famous Gettysburg address, Lincoln summarizes these feelings in a most profound way: It is for the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us--that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion--that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain . . .'' Let us pay tribute to the five brave men who gave their ``last full measure of devotion'' to the community that they were protecting: Myron Trapp, October 6, 1959; Andy Reese, May 30, 1970; Donald Reed, June 7, 1980; Michael Rainford, November 7, 1980; and Howard Dallies, Jr., March 9, 1993. Let us not forget their heroism, their loyalty, and their dedication to duty.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise to report to my colleagues the actions of the House subcommittee on Military Personnel. Today I offered, and the subcommittee endorsed, an amendment that many of my colleagues will recognize as the Harman amendment. I am proud to continue the good work of my friend and colleague, Congresswoman Jane Harman. Jane was one of my mentors. I am sure my colleagues on the subcommittee will join me in commending Jane's contribution to the quality of life for our military personnel and their families. My amendment includes the identical language from the Harman amendment. It repeals a provision of the FY 1996 defense bill barring women serving overseas in the U.S. military from using their own funds to obtain legal abortion services in military hospitals. As the ranking woman Democrat on our Committee, I strongly feel that this policy must be overturned. Women who volunteer to serve in our Armed Forces already give up many freedoms and risk their lives to defend our country. They should not have to sacrifice their privacy, their health, and their basic constitutional rights because of a policy with no valid military purpose. This is a health care concern. Local facilities in foreign nations are often not equipped to handle procedures, and medical standards may be far lower than those in the United States. Why are we putting our own soldiers at risk? This is a matter of fairness. Servicewoman and military dependents stationed abroad do not expect special treatment, they only exprect the right to receive the same services guaranteed to American women under Roe v. Wade--at their own expense. My amendment does not allow taxpayer-funded abortions at military hospitals, nor does it compel any doctor who opposes abortion on principle or as a matter of conscience to perform an abortion. My amendment reinstates the same policy that was in effect from 1973 until 1988, and again from 1993 to 1996. My amendment has strong support from the House. Ninety Members--both Democrats and Republicans--have cosponsored my legislation to change this policy. My amendment has strong support from health care provides; the American Public Health Association, the American Medical Women's Association, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the Planned Parenthood Federation of America have all indicated their support for this amendment. And, as you can see from the letter I`ve provided, my amendment is supported by the Department of Defense. If the professionals who are responsible for our nation's armed services support this policy change, why wouldn`t this Committee? I am pleased that my fellow colleagues on the subcommittee voted to endorse my amendment with bipartisan support. Repealing this unfair prohibition will help keep our soldiers healthy and safe.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the recipients of the Santa Ana Police Employee Recognition Awards. It is because of their dedication and commitment to law enforcement that the City of Santa Ana is safer for all of its residents. It is in honor of National Law Enforcement Week that I salute our nation's police officers, and especially those of the 46th Congressional District in Orange County. Seven hundred thousand police officers serve the U.S. each day. Most Americans probably don't know that our nation loses an average of almost one officer every other day. And that doesn't include the ones who are assaulted and injured each year. More than 14,000 officers have been killed in the line of duty. The sacrifice of California officers has given our state the highest number of police deaths: 1,205. In Santa Ana alone, we have lost three officers who bravely protected our community. The calling to serve in law enforcement comes with bravery and sacrifice. The thin blue line protecting our homes, our families and our communities pays a price, and so do the loved ones they leave behind when tragedy strikes. We cannot replace the officers we've lost. We can't bring them back to their families or departments. All we can do is grieve for their loss. But as their federal representatives, we have a greater responsibility. We must ensure that our law enforcement agencies--and their officers and staff--have the resources they need to do their jobs safely. And today, we fulfill the most solemn part of our obligation to America's police force: we promise that when an officer does make that sacrifice, he or she will earn a place of the highest national respect with all due honor from the U.S. government.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute the police officers of this Nation, especially those of the 46th Congressional District of California, Orange County police officers. Seven hundred thousand police officers serve the United States each day. Most Americans probably do not know that our Nation loses on an average one officer every other day. That does not include the ones that are assaulted and injured each year. More than 14,000 officers have been killed in the line of duty. The sacrifice for California officers is the greatest: 1,205. The calling to serve in law enforcement comes with bravery and sacrifice. The thin blue line protecting our homes, our businesses, our families, our communities pay a price. So do the loved ones that they leave behind when the tragedy strikes. We cannot replace the officers we lose. We cannot bring them back to their families or departments. All we can do is grieve their loss. Today we fulfill the most solemn part of our obligation to America's police officers. We promise that, when they do make the sacrifice, that he or she earns a place of the highest national distinction and respect from the United States Government.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the Democratic alternative. If we do not do the Democratic alternative, we are about to squander the ability to do a bipartisan bill for the problem of the Year 2000. Joined by the ranking member, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. John Conyers) and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Rick Boucher), Democrats on the Committee on the Judiciary sought to resolve the three most important problems identified by the high-tech community by offering: Number one, a cooling-off period so that parties might settle their differences out of court; secondly, additional pleading requirements tailored to the Year 2000 problem to discourage frivolous lawsuits; and, throw, a fair way for the parties with Year 2000 claims to share the liability. The Democratic substitute is narrowly tailored to address Y2K concerns. Nothing else, only what is necessary. And, therefore, it actually is a very good start. My colleagues have found a fair and effective solution so that those who are negligent are held responsible, while those who have little to do with the bug are not punished for something they did not do.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to salute America's educators during Teacher Appreciation Week. It is essential in these trying times at our schools that we pay tribute to the professionals who give so much to their work with our communities' children. Every day 3 million American teachers go to work. They arrive early in the morning and often stay late at night. Their dedication under supremely difficult circumstances cannot be adequately described, but through all this hard work they open a world of opportunity for our children and bring endless possibilities to our communities and to the future of our country. Every day they work their miracles in the classrooms. We entrust them with our most precious resource, our young people. Tragically, Mr. Speaker, some pay the ultimate sacrifice. Teachers like Dave Sanders of Littleton, Colorado, or Shannon Wright of Jonesboro, Arkansas, and astronaut Christa MacAuliffe are American heroes. We salute their memory and their colleagues this week.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the National Association of Letter Carriers and Anthony B. Morell Branch 737 in Santa Ana as they prepare for their ``Stamp Out Hunger'' food drive. This event will take place on Saturday, May 8. The letter carriers have asked area residents to donate non-perishable food by leaving the donations outside their mailboxes on May 8. Letter carriers will collect the food during their normally scheduled mail routes. The food collected will benefit CDC's Orange County Food Bank and the Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County. These two food banks serve over 240,000 people each month. ``Stamp Out Hunger'' is the largest one day food drive in the nation. This is the seventh year of participation by Branch 737 of the Santa Ana letter carriers. Last year letter carriers around the nation collected more than 52 million pounds of food. All went to local food banks in their communities. In the Santa Ana district alone, 69,000 pounds of food was collected for the Second Harvest Food Bank and the Community Development Council, the two food banks in our region. Unfortunately, hunger continues to be a problem in Orange County. There are still over 30,000 men, women, children and senior citizens who go hungry every night. We are hoping to reduce that number as much as possible, by getting every citizen involved in the food drive. I commend Branch 737 of the National Association of Letter Carriers for their valiant efforts to make a difference in our community and to stamp out hunger.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, April 30, 1975 marked the beginning of a treacherous boat journey for many Vietnamese who sought refuge in an unknown land and an uncertain future. These individuals risked everything for a chance to live freely and provide better opportunities for their children and families. I rise today to pay special tribute and recognize the valiant efforts to our Vietnam War Veterans and to the Vietnamese who fought and died for freedom and democracy in Viet Nam. Earlier this month, I traveled to Viet Nam to meet with representatives of the U.S. and Vietnamese government to express my concern for the lack of human, religious and political rights. During my visit, I met with several prominent human rights activists including Dr. Nguyen Dan Que, Tran Huu Duyen, the Venerable Quang Do and the Archbishop of Saigon, Pham Minh Man. I learned first hand that despite the release of several prisoners of conscience under a presidential amnesty in September 1998, public criticism of the government by dissidents is still not tolerated. The few who do speak out publicly and advocate peaceful reform continue to be harassed and imprisoned. As we recently witnessed, the protest that has taken place in Little Saigon, Orange County, California is a reminder to all Americans how sacred human rights, freedom and democracy are. For many, the display of the communist flag is a reminder of the pain and sufferings after 1975. Mr. Speaker, as we reflect on this tragic day it is our duty as Members of Congress to honor the memory of the individuals that fought for liberty and democracy in Viet Nam.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 800, the Education Flexibility Partnership Act of 1999. But on behalf of the students, parents and educators of my district in Orange County, California, I'd like to remind you of a few things. Yes, the ``Ed Flex'' bill returns the decision-making power to our local school districts. And that's why I support this bill, because teachers, parents and administrators know what's best for our kids. But remember that this isn't the only problem facing American schools. You don't have to look any further than the TV screen in the wake of yesterday's tragedy to know that schools have other problems to deal with. Particularly in states like California, schools are struggling to keep up with the demands of educating a student population with growing needs. And they're doing it with a level of federal support that hasn't kept up with these trends. In particular, schools are bursting at the seams. Kids are going to school in portables and rooms that used to be closets. They're going to school in split schedules, they're going to school on different year- around plans, they're taking double lunches--all in order to keep them from overflowing our buildings. I've introduced HR 415, The Expand and Rebuild America's Schools Act. It enables local communities to raise the bond money they need--if and when the voters approve--to build new schools and classrooms. My fellow colleagues, Ed Flex is great. But all the educational flexibility in the world does no good in a school with no place to put it to use. So as we prepare to give this bill our final stamp of approval, let us not forget that this is just a beginning. We have so much more work to do.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I am sure my colleagues realize this is an important week for Federal education policy. Today we on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce will be holding our first hearing on Title I, the section of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act that is designed to get Federal resources to the poorest of our Nation's children. I will also be meeting with our Superintendent of Public Instruction of California, Delaine Eastin, today. She and I have worked together on several education issues, including the concern for Title I and other programs. Title I is a very important program. In particular, it affects my district, and I would like to tell my colleagues how. First of all, Title I is for the poorest children in the Nation. Fifty percent of the students in the school must qualify for the free and reduced lunch in order to be a Title I school. In our school district, in Garden Grove Unified, for example, 57 of the 64 schools qualify for Title I funds. In Anaheim City School District, over 50 percent of the schools qualify. This is an issue that is of great concern, and I hope that my colleagues will work to ensure that Title I is there.