Hilda Solis

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished Member from Florida, and I appreciate the opportunity to speak on the floor on this very important issue. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in strong opposition to this rule. The Sensenbrenner bill is an unacceptable, inefficient and punitive proposal to reform our immigration system. Rather than focusing our resources on apprehending terrorists, fraudulent document manufacturers and other serious criminals, this proposal hurts hard-working families who want nothing more than to contribute to the economy and to achieve the American dream. These workers help to make our economy the strongest in the world. Criminalizing and deporting 11 million undocumented immigrants already in the United States is unrealistic and would be very costly to the American Treasury, as much as $230 billion. This legislation places unfunded mandates on our local governments and especially on our first responders who already face serious budget deficits. While I agree that we must secure our borders, enforcement-only legislation is the wrong approach. Our immigration system is broken and severely outdated and should be comprehensively reformed. That is why I am disappointed that this rule does not allow for amendments which would provide real, effective reform, including a path to legal permanency for the undocumented that are already here, a reduction in the immigration backlog so that thousands of separated families can be reunited, and new channels for future workers to enter safely and legally. This border security PLUS approach is a comprehensive solution to a complex problem. For generations, immigrant families have journeyed to the United States in search of the American dream. Like the immigrants of the past, today's immigrants contribute significantly to our country and yearn for that American dream. As a daughter of proud immigrants, I value America's history of treasuring the contributions that immigrants have made to this country. My parents came from abroad. My father came from Mexico and came here to this country under the Bracero program to work to make this country great. He busted his back working on the railroads; helping to pick fruit and vegetables in Texas, in Colorado, in Montana; and eventually met his wife, my mother, from Central America who had to leave poverty in Central America to find a better life. She and my father raised seven children, and I am proud to be a U.S. citizen born here. Some of the amendments that you are going to hear about would try to deny a mother who gave birth to a child here that citizenship because she does not have her documents. How dare the Republican Party begin to try to take apart our very Constitution? How dare the Republicans attempt to try to take away the lifeblood of our country, the contributions that immigrants have made and will continue to make? Give me your tired, your poor. Give me those huddled masses that are yearning to breathe free. We did it a century ago when Italians, Germans and Europeans came to this country. But now when this economy is going down the tubes, we quickly want to point fingers at what I think is a community that has worked very hard, and that is the Hispanic community. I am a very proud to be a part of that community. I know the residents and constituents that I represent toil every single day paying taxes, making those beds in those hotels, providing service, janitorial services, and many of them caring for our elderly and our children. What are we going to say to them for harboring the undocumented, that they are also criminals? I think not. This rule and the underlying piece of legislation should be voted down.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H. Res. 612. I honor and support our troops and request an open debate on Iraq on the House floor.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Madam Speaker, today I rise to express my strong disappointment in the misguided priorities of the Republican majority in Congress. As we are preparing to adjourn for this year, we have not addressed the real needs of the American people. In my district in East Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Valley and across this country, more and more families are being forced to make difficult choices. The absence of affordable housing, health care, a living wage for workers and high heating costs are just a few of the reasons that more people are slipping into poverty. According to the U.S. census, there were 37 million people living in poverty in 2004, an increase of 5.4 million during the Bush administration. In my district alone, 20,000 families live below the poverty line. We are failing the working men and women of our country, we are failing our children, and we are failing the senior citizens as well. I urge my colleagues today to work together to meet the needs of all American people and let's put their priorities first.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Michael Miller of West Covina, California. Mr. Miller was first elected to serve the citizens of West Covina in March of 2001 and is completing his service as Mayor to the city this December. Mr. Miller has a long history of service to his community. Mr. Miller worked for the City of Garden Grove for 8 years and continued his service for the City of West Covina serving in the planning and development of the community. His distinguished service of 24 years in the City of West Covina's Office of Planning, Public and Environmental Services was followed by an elected position to West Covina City Council for 4 years marked by merit. Mr. Miller also owns a small consulting business which addresses environmental and municipal issues affecting cities, individuals and small businesses. Mr. Miller's service extends beyond his duties as an elected official and city staff member. He serves as Director and Board Member of the California Waste Association; Director and Board Member of Southern California Waste Management Forum; and member of the Southern California Council for Environment and Economic Development. Mr. Miller is a member of the Lyons Club, serving as President from 1977-1978; member of the Citrus Valley Health Foundation 2100 Club, serving as President from 1999-2000; Director and Board Member of the West Covina Historical Society; House Supervisor for the Heritage House Restoration; Committee Member of the West Covina Chamber of Commerce Economic Development and Government Affairs; Committee Member of the YWCA Women of Achievement; and Committee Member of the West Covina Rose Parade Float. For his many contributions, Mr. Miller has been named West Covina Citizen of the Year (1998), West Covina Volunteer of the Year, Recreational Services (1999) and CovinaWest Covina Coordinating Council Volunteer of the Year (1999). In addition to his service to the community, Mr. Miller has been a devoted and loving husband to his wife Rosella of 37 years and father to his two children Melissa and Kevin. It is with pleasure that I recognize Mr. Michael Miller for his significant contributions and noteworthy dedication and service to his community.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Benjamin S. Wong of West Covina, California. Mr. Wong was first elected to serve the citizens of West Covina in April 1992 and served as mayor from 1997-1998. He is currently the mayor pro tempore and is completing his service to the city as an elected official this December. Ms. Wong has a long history of service to the community with membership to various organizations and boards. He is a member of the West Covina Lyons (1981-1994); Board of Directors and former President of the Chamber of Commerce; the Queen of the Valley Foundation; the Queen of the Valley Men's Club; the Intercommunity Medical Center Men's Club, member of the 2100 Club; and First Federal Savings and Loan of San Gabriel Valley Board of Directors, 1991-present. Mr. Wong's service to the residents of West Covina includes a broad spectrum of boards and municipal organizations, all of which address issues of commerce, urban development and revitalization. This service includes the Redevelopment Agency Relocation Appeals Board; Citizens Committee on Public Services and Facilities; Police Commander Interview Board; San Gabriel Valley Commerce and Cities Consortium Board Member, 1992-present; vice president from 1993-1994; and Foothill Transit Executive Board Member, 1994-present. In addition to his service to the community, Mr. Wong is a devoted and loving husband to his wife Deborah of 26 years and father to his three children: Courtney, Justin and Adam. It is with pleasure that I recognize Mr. Benjamin S. Wong for his significant contributions and noteworthy dedication and service to his community.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in opposition to the Republican misguided and irresponsible plan to pass mandatory spending cuts and a companion tax cut package. The Republican budget reconciliation bill cuts $50 billion in vital programs such as Medicaid, food stamps, and student loans which are important to low-income and working-class families in this country. The Republicans claim that these spending cuts will be used to offset the cost of hurricane relief efforts, and that is simply not the case. In recent years, Republicans have not offset the supplemental funding for the war and rebuilding in Iraq. The reality is that Republicans are cutting vital services for the most vulnerable in our country in order to finance $70 billion in tax cuts to the wealthy few. The budget reconciliation bill, when combined with the tax cut, increases the Federal deficit by $20 billion. Do not be fooled. The Republican reconciliation plan is a plan to increase the deficit and the national debt. Republicans clearly have the wrong priorities for America's working families. The budget is wrong. I urge my colleagues to protect the health and well-being of our citizens and not support this plan.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I too wish to associate my words with our colleagues from California and honor the great legend, Congressman Ed Roybal. I had the privilege of knowing of his work. I worked with his daughter also when she was a member of the assembly. Ed Roybal in the tradition of Hispanic politics really led the way for so many of us by creating an activism and participation that cannot be compared anywhere. He started NALEO, National Association of Latino Elected Officials, and also was very much an advocate on health care. One of his major comprehensive health care centers is in East Los Angeles, and it stands there as a tribute to the work that he did tirelessly for the people in poverty, for the elderly, for seniors and helped establish the school of gerontology at USC and UCLA. He has been a wonderful individual role model for many of us, fighting discrimination. He fought against Dodger Stadium in East L.A. in Chavez Ravine when developers wanted to displace low-income Mexican Americans back in that era. He is someone who will be strongly remembered by many of us. I know that his daughter serves very proudly representing his district, and I know that legacy will continue on. He is someone who fought for immigrants when it was not popular, was someone who fought for civil rights, for education and for equal treatment and also for AIDS education and awareness. He was truly a pioneer and someone to this very day whose very history can be repeated here through, I think, the leadership of his daughter as well as other members of the Hispanic Caucus, which he was the first individual to start. He served as our Chair for that congressional caucus that now has been in operation, I would say, for more than 20 years, if not more. Mr. Speaker, with that, I would just pay tribute to the Roybal family and also to their daughter who serves with us here.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to America's 24.5 million living veterans who have served and sacrificed for our country--including the 28,000 veterans in my district. Veterans Day is the time to honor the servicemen and women that have protected this country and the freedom we hold so dear. Throughout history, our veterans have served our nation with great distinction and honor. Today, we recognize both those who have worn the uniform and those who are currently serving. That is why I support several key pieces of legislation that serve to benefit our nation's veterans. I am proud to be a cosponsor of H.R. 2131, the New GI Bill of Rights for the 21st Century. The new GI Bill would repeal unfair tax burdens on military families, provide veterans with affordable health care, education, and job training benefits, and strengthen our support for men and women in uniform, including our National Guard and Reservists. On this Veterans Day, our servicemen and women continue to risk their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan to protect our country. Recently, the 2,000th soldier was killed in Iraq and more than 15,000 troops have been wounded there. During the Iraqi conflict, my district has suffered the loss often brave servicemen who did not return to their families. They are Marine Corporal Jorge A. Gonzalez; Army Sergeant Atanasio Haromarin; Army Private First Class Jose Casanova; Marine Private First Class Francisco A. Martinez Flores; Army Specialist Leroy Harris-Kelly III; Marine Corporal Rudy Salas; Lance Corporal Benjamin M. Gonzalez; Lance Corporal Manuel A. Ceniceros; Specialist Private First Class Marcos O. Nolasco; and Corporal Stephen P. Johnson. These men, our fallen soldiers, are heroes. My heart and prayers go out to their families and friends. We have learned that freedom is not free and no one has paid a higher price and sacrifice for our freedom than our veterans. I join the rest of the nation in remembering their service to our country. Let us renew our efforts to keep our promises to our veterans. We can do that by making sure that legislation is passed that will help our veterans. Our nation's veterans and service members need to know that their families will be taken care of while they sacrifice so much. I urge my colleagues to keep our promises to our veterans and fight for the improvement of services to them.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 577 on H. Res. 539 I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 578 on H. Res. 538, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 579 on H. Res. 540 I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 580 on H.R. 2419, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 581 on H.R. 2862, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 582 on S. 1894, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 572 on H. Res. 444, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 570 on H. Con. Res. 260 I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 571 on H.R. 1973, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea''.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4053, a bill designating a post office located at 545 North Rimsdale, Covina, California, in honor of Lillian Kinkella Keil, the most decorated female veteran in U.S. military history. The story of Lillian Keil is one of remarkable courage. Born in Arcata in Northern California, she studied to be a nurse before becoming an airline stewardess for United Airlines. In 1943, she joined the U.S. Army Air Corps (now the U.S. Air Force) as a flight nurse, where she rose to the rank of Captain. Captain Keil flew on 425 combat air evacuation missions in World War II and the Korean War. She helped load wounded soldiers onto airplanes and took part in 11 major campaigns, including the Battle of the Bulge in Normandy during World War II and the Inchon Invasion in Korea. She tended to about 10,000 soldiers while they were being flown to military hospitals. She endured hazardous conditions, sometimes sleeping on a keg of gunpowder or among medical supplies the planes were delivering to battlefields. To a wounded soldier, Captain Keil represented hope and home. She won the hearts and touched the lives of countless service members and their families. Her life and service to our country serves as an inspiration to all Americans, particularly women serving in the U.S. military. Captain Keil was awarded 19 medals and ribbons, including: 4 Air Medals, 2 Presidential Unit Citations, 1 World War II Victory Medal, 4 battle stars in World War II, and 1 Korean Service Medal with seven battle stars. In 1954, the Hollywood movie ``Flight Nurse,'' starring Joan Leslie and Forrest Tucker, was based, in part, on her experiences. She was the honorary grand marshal of the National World War II Memorial Dedication parade in Washington, DC. Keil was honorably discharged from the military in 1955. Her family moved to Covina in 1958, and she continued working as a nurse in emergency rooms and hospitals. After serving her country, she became an active member of the Veterans of War 8620, the American Legion Post 790, and the Chosen Few Veterans Military Organization. Captain Keil died of cancer at the age of 88 in June of this year. As a longtime resident of Covina, Captain Keil was not just a brave and self- sacrificing veteran, but she was a loving wife, a mother and a friend to many who live in the 32nd Congressional District. I urge all my colleagues to join me in recognizing this beloved military hero. This bill is a tribute to all those who have died for our country and their families. The bill symbolizes the gratitude and admiration we have for our Nation's soldiers, who risk their lives to uphold our way of life and the American ideals of liberty, justice, and equality.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 573 on H.R. 3010, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 574 on H. Res. 38, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 576 on H.R. 3770, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 575 on H. Res. 302, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. SOLIS

Mr. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize Edith Rocio Robles, a dedicated and intelligent woman whom I was fortunate to have served as my Communications Director from September 2001 through August 2005. During her tenure in my office I greatly valued Edith's strong communication skills. Edith joined my office in 2001 as my Press Secretary. Edith quickly assumed her role as Press Secretary. Edith's strong public relations skills and knowledge of the press, particularly Spanish media, made her a valuable member of my staff and gained her the admiration of her colleagues. In 2002, I promoted Edith to the role of Communications Director in recognition of her hard work and invaluable help to my office. As a grass-roots oriented Member of Congress, I take great pride in my office's extensive efforts to communicate with my constituents in the 32nd Congressional District about how the Federal Government can be of assistance to them and about the work I'm doing in Congress to improve their lives. As Communications Director, Edith played a critical role in this effort, strengthening my office's working relationships with members of the press and local community activists and overseeing my office's mail outreach program. While I am sad to see Edith leave, I am confident that the future will bring her great success. I wish Edith and her family good health and wishes. I join my staff in Washington, DC, El Monte and East Los Angeles offices in wishing Edith the best of luck in all of her future endeavors. Buena suerte Edith!

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the Republican proposal to cut $14 billion from Federal student aid programs. Education is the key to opportunity for all who live in America. This is particularly true for Latino students. Latino students currently represent 44 percent, or 2.7 million, of California's students enrolled in elementary and secondary schools. Yet more than 61 percent do not graduate and only 39 percent of those Latino students in LA receive a high school diploma. Latinos only represent 12 percent of all undergraduates who attend colleges and universities. For many low-income working-class students, financial barriers are the determining factor in whether or not they go to college. Instead of helping to allow our students to achieve greater access to higher education, the college gap is widening. Republicans propose a budget that will make the largest cut to student aid programs in history and will force the typical student borrower to pay an additional $5,800 for his or her college student loans. I urge my colleagues to vote against these cuts and instead make sure every student in the country has access to affordable college opportunities.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the lives of two great Americans that changed the course of our Nation's history through their courage and commitment to the basic and fundamental right of equality for all. Rosa Parks embodied perseverance and tenacity, and through her fearless actions 50 years ago this courageous woman sparked a massive boycott that launched America's civil rights movement. Her lonely act of bravery brought to light the prejudice that the African American community faced and inspired a movement of justice and equality for Americans regardless of race. Another great American that personified this ideal was former Congressman Edward Ross Roybal. A true public servant to this Nation and advocate for equality, Congressman Roybal was a resounding voice for Latinos and led initiatives to advance the rights of our Nation's most vulnerable communities. Representative Roybal's life was marked by a distinguished career in the struggle against discrimination and the fight for equal opportunities for all Americans in health and education. Congressman Roybal brought Latino issues to the forefront of national debate, a legacy that continues today with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus which he worked so hard to found. Rosa Parks and Edward Roybal, through their individual actions, promoted the advancement of all people in this great Nation. They are an inspiration to all Americans, and their legacy must not be forgotten. We must continue to follow their steps in the fight for freedom, justice and equality.