Linda Sánchez

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Chair, I thank my colleague for the offer to work on this as a standalone bill. It was originally a standalone bill. It is being offered as an amendment to the bill. I understand that you have reservations on the underlying bill. My hope is that it will pass as an amendment and that the underlying bill will pass. But should that bill not be successful in being taken up in the Senate, I would surely love to work with my colleague on a standalone bill that will accomplish this very important goal of helping our men and women who serve in uniform make their lives just a little bit easier. We ask a lot of them as a Nation, and so I think helping them when they are on Active Duty and sometimes are late or miss payments is a worthwhile endeavor.

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Chair, again, I want to say that I have attempted to pass this bill as a standalone bill. I believe that it is properly included in the underlying bill, which I think is an excellent piece of legislation. Our country asks a lot of our men and women, and while you are on Active Duty, the last thing that you should worry about is late payments or missed payments, oftentimes because you are in far-flung regions of the world when it is not like you can just mail a letter back to make sure that your payment gets in on time. Mr. Chair, I believe very strongly in this amendment. I ask my colleagues to support the amendment and support the underlying bill. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of H.R. 3, the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act. I would like to thank Chairmen Neal, Pallone, and Scott for their tireless efforts to get this legislation passed. Prescriptions are not recommendations, Doctors have written them for a reason. Patients, our constituents, our friends, our family members, need these medications. They cannot afford to skip their medications. However, I have heard so many heartbreaking stories from individuals in my district. Alice in Whittier has to rely on her doctors for insulin samples because she cannot afford insulin. Adrian in Norwalk is choosing to pay his bills rather than his eight different medications. David in La Mirada is considering cutting his dosage because he cannot afford to refill his full dosage as often as he should. They, and so many others, are just making do. Frankly, that's not good enough for me. With H.R. 3, we are giving power back to the people in my district and to millions of Americans. The savings from this bill will also be given back to the public with reinvestments in innovation and the search for new cures and treatments. I look forward to this bill's passage today. It is time to act and lower the cost of prescription drugs now.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5038, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2019. I would like to thank Congresswoman Lofgren and Congressman Newhouse for convening agriculture and labor stakeholders to develop this historic piece of legislation. This bill represents true bipartisan efforts to help stabilize our nation's agriculture crisis. New workplace and legal protections for farmworkers, including gender-based protections and heat safety standards, are established under this bill. Farmworkers have fought long and hard for these reforms. By voting to strengthen health and safety standards and provide legal status to agricultural workers, we do right by the hardworking men and women who put food on our table. This bill also modernizes the agricultural guest worker program in order to address the nation's agricultural labor shortage. After months of negotiations, I believe we have developed a commonsense solution that will help both farmworkers and farmers. I am proud to have worked with my colleagues to make this bill a reality.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor one great agency in my district. On November 17, 2019, the Water Replenishment District celebrated its 60th Anniversary. The Water Replenishment District (WRD) is a groundwater management agency that has developed innovative projects and programs for locally sourced, sustainable water to replenish two of the most utilized urban groundwater basins in the United States. WRD was established in 1959 in response to unregulated and unmanaged over-pumping of our aquifers which caused many drinking water wells to go dry. Located in Lakewood, California, WRD is the largest groundwater agency in the State of California. The district's service area covers a 420-square-mile region of southern Los Angeles County, the most populated county in the United States. They provide half of the drinking water for 43 cities and over 4 million people. Due to WRD's hard work, that water is now completely locally sustainable. These efforts include programs like Water Independence Now (WIN) and new facilities like the Albert Robles Center for Water Recycling and Environmental Learning (ARC) in the City of Pico Rivera. WRD has shown a dedication to sustainability and a commitment to providing safe drinking water to residents in its service area, which includes the majority of the 38th Congressional District of California. I am honored to represent districts like WRD and look forward to what the next 60 years have in store.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of this resolution to recognize the Armenian genocide. This tragedy is one of the most painful moments in our world's history. We owe it to the more than 2 million victims and their decendents never to forget. It is heartbreaking that some choose to deny our past rather than to learn from this painful moment in history. It is an insult to millions who died and the millions who risked their lives to escape violence. Denial is all too easy. It is harder to face the truth, and facing the truth is the right thing to do. When we rewrite the darkest chapters of our history, we open the door to them happening again. The United States cannot be complicit in that denial. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to send a resounding message to the world that we stand with the Armenian community: We will not forget; we will not obscure.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from California for yielding me time. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support H.R. 3144, a bill to designate the United States Postal Service Facility located at 8520 Michigan Avenue in Whittier, California, as the Jose Ramos Post Office Building. Jose Guadalupe Ramos was born September 17, 1948, in East Los Angeles. He enlisted in the Army in 1965, while he was a sophomore at Garfield High School. Mr. Ramos served this country in Vietnam as an Army combat medic, often risking his own life caring for others. Mr. Ramos was wounded in Vietnam and was awarded the Purple Heart. Upon returning home, he was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, yet his passion and commitment to our country and his fellow servicemembers didn't end. Many of our veterans at the time found themselves caught in and confused by the crossfire of the public debate over the war in Vietnam. At times, some faced sharp criticism and isolation. Mr. Ramos saw this and decided that he was going to do something about it. He dedicated his time delivering a message of his experience and those of his fellow veterans to all those who would listen, traveling to universities, schools, and prisons to carry this message. He undertook a grueling cross-country bicycle trek to draw attention to and advocate for the long overdue ``welcome home'' that Vietnam veterans never received. I was honored to work with Mr. Ramos and the Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans organization that he helped found. At his urging, I used the resources of my office to advocate for a national Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day. In our years of working together in this cause, I had a true friend and a partner in that effort. Mr. Ramos' passion inspired many. The memories of what he endured in service to our country remained with him throughout his life. At times, they presented obstacles. However, he cherished the time spent with grandchildren, his participation in religious pilgrimages, and enjoying life's simple pleasures, like the sunrise and sunset of each passing day. We lost Jose Ramos in 2017 to pancreatic cancer, a loss not only for his wife, Sylvia, his children, and grandchildren, his loss also left a hole in our community in Whittier. Renaming the Whittier Post Office in his honor is a fitting tribute to Jose Ramos and a very small token of gratitude from a grateful nation for his service. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act, and I want to thank Chairman Neal and Mr. Courtney for their tireless efforts to get this legislation passed. I have been proud to support the repeal of the Cadillac tax for many years. Last Congress, I offered an amendment to repeal the tax during the healthcare repeal and replace debate. It is important to remember that the Cadillac tax does not just affect high-value plans. If Congress does not act, the tax will hit hardworking Americans and their families who receive employer-sponsored insurance. Employers have already started shifting costs to their workers in anticipation by increasing deductibles, copays, and coinsurance. Congress has voted twice to delay the tax, but now is the time to officially repeal it. I am pleased that we are finally taking this vote today. I look forward to passage today and will keep working to strengthen and protect America's healthcare. I include in the Record letters from CWA, UAW, AFSCME, AFT, and AFGE and the AFL-CIO in support of this bill. Communications Workers of America, July 15, 2019. Dear Representative Neal: On behalf of the officers and 700,000 members of the Communications Workers of America (CWA), I am writing to urge you to vote in favor of H.R. 748, the Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act of 2019, when it comes before the House this week. This bill will permanently repeal the 40% tax on employer health benefits which is currently scheduled to take effect in 2022. It will provide relief to our members, and working people everywhere, whose health benefits are under continual attack by employers looking to shift the cost of care to workers. A recent study by the Commonwealth Fund found that the number of Americans who are underinsured as a result of high out-of-pocket costs and deductibles has grown by over 50% since 2010. The fastest growth in under-insurance has come from Americans with employer-provided coverage. This is consistent with our members' experience at the bargaining table, where fights to preserve affordable coverage and prevent plan cuts dominate our negotiations at every employer. The 40% benefit tax will exacerbate this trend and force cuts across our health plans, making health care less affordable. Our members are currently negotiating agreements with employers that extend to 2022. Current data indicates many of our largest member health plans will be subject to this tax immediately when it goes into effect that year. That is why action now to resolve this issue now is critical. H.R. 748, the Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act, will improve health care for working people across the country, providing relief to workers who are paying high prices for their negotiated healthcare. CWA will consider votes on this bill on our Congressional Scorecard. Thank you in advance for your consideration. Sincerely, Shane Larson, Director of Legislative, Political and International Affairs.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the SECURE Act. I thank Chairman Richard Neal for his tireless efforts to get this legislation across the finish line. I have been proud to support versions of this bill for many years, and I am pleased that one of my bills has been included. My piece of this package offers a simple yet impactful way for small businesses across the country to better afford retirement plans for their employees. Too many Americans simply aren't putting enough money away to ensure a secure retirement. Today's bill takes important steps to strengthen access to retirement security for hardworking Americans, and I am proud to have contributed one piece to solving this puzzle. But we still have a lot of work to do. I look forward to the passage of the SECURE Act today, and I am ready to keep working on the Ways and Means Committee to continue addressing our national retirement savings crisis. Madam Speaker, I again thank Chairman Neal.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Madam Speaker, today marks the 100th anniversary of the House passage of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote. It is hard to think that, 100 years later, for most of our Nation's history, including my grandmother's and great-grandmother's generations, women contributed to the building of our Nation but lacked this basic civil right. In America, your vote is your voice; it is what makes all of us equal. We each have one vote. Voting is one of the most important things that you can do as a citizen. When the 19th Amendment passed over 100 years ago, only one woman served in the United States House of Representatives. When I began my congressional career here in 2003, 60 women were serving in the House. Today, I am proud to serve in the House with 127 women, including 14 other Latinas. That, my friends, is progress. While we have made significant improvements to expand the representation of women in our political system, we still have a long way to go. So let us honor this anniversary by committing ourselves to continuing the unfinished work toward achieving full equality for women in this country.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the lifelong service and success of Teresa Dreyfuss, Superintendent/President of Rio Hondo College and resident of Whittier, California. Ms. Dreyfuss is retiring after 32 years of dedicated leadership that will guide Rio Hondo College and its students for years to come. Ms. Dreyfuss began her journey with Rio Hondo in 1987 and has held various roles at the institution including Senior Accountant, Controller/Business Manager, Chief Financial Officer, and Vice President. In each of these positions, she has built an incredible legacy of service to the students and families of Los Angeles County. Ms. Dreyfuss has worked tirelessly to expand access and affordability to education while maintaining excellence at Rio Hondo. Throughout her long history of working with students, she has always been a leader with incredible vision, and that foresight has built strong pathways guiding students for generations to come. Some of her many accomplishments include the modernization of the Rio Hondo campus, partnerships that have streamlined student employment, and the continuation of the Rio Promise which gave first time college students a second year of tuition free enrollment. She is also Vice Chair of the City of Whittier's Sister City Committee and member of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials. I cannot thank Ms. Dreyfuss enough for the sincere commitment to the Rio Hondo College community. Her passion for helping students and families have made her an influential leader whose accomplishments will continue benefiting students and faculty for generations to come. I wish Teresa a happy retirement, and I thank her again for her service.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Madam Speaker, on Roll Call Number 119, On motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 1122, to authorize the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to carry out a housing choice voucher mobility demonstration to encourage families receiving such voucher assistance to move to lower-poverty areas to expand access to opportunity areas, I was unavoidably detained and missed the vote. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.'' I was also unavoidably detained for Roll Call Number 120, On motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 758, To provide a safe harbor for financial institutions that maintain a customer account or customer transaction at the request of a Federal or State law enforcement agency. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate National School Counseling Week, and to honor a treasured member of my community and school counselor at Norwalk High School, Vanessa Iaquinta. Ms. Iaquinta has dedicated over 20 years to empowering students and serving as a role model, mentor, and advocate to students and their families in our community. She always goes above and beyond what is expected of her to serve the students at Norwalk High School. In addition to her role as a counselor, she has taken on many leadership roles. Ms. Iaquinta leads the AVID program, which serves over 200 students and has been immensely successful under her guidance, achieving an inspiring 100 percent college acceptance rate. She also serves as the counselor for the Project Lead the Way, which offers students interested in the medical field the opportunity to take classes and field trips to help them achieve their college and career dreams. Ms. Iaquinta developed class presentations to help students create four-year plans, discuss graduation and college requirements, and provide other resources to support students in planning for post- secondary school. She also organized the other counselors to provide evening appointments for parents who otherwise would not be able to meet with counselors to discuss their child's academic performance and progress. Ms. Iaquinta truly cares about students and wants them to succeed. She has contributed to Norwalk in many ways, and works hard to bring new ideas and programs to the school that will benefit the students. Norwalk High School is a special place because of dedicated professionals like Ms. Iaquinta, and I couldn't be more proud to honor her today. If more people were like Ms. Iaquinta, the world would be a much nicer place. In honor of National School Counseling Week, I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking all the school counselors who are making a positive impact in the lives of our students.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Madam Speaker, yesterday January 23, 2019 on Roll Call Numbers 46 through 51, H.J. Res 28, Making further continuing appropriations for FY 2019 and other purposes, H. Res 61, Providing for consideration of H.R. 648, H.R. 648, the Motion to Recommit the Consolidated Appropriations Act, H.R. 648, on passage of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, H.J. Res 31, the Motion to Recommit Making further continuing appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security, and H.J. Res 31, on Passage, I was unavoidably detained and missed the vote. Had I been present, I would have voted: Roll Call 46. H.J. Res 28: YES; Roll Call 47. H. Res 61: YES; Roll Call 48. H.R. 648: NO; Roll Call 49. H.R. 648: YES; Roll Call 50. H.J. Res. 31: NO; and Roll Call 51. H.J. Res 31: YES.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Madam Speaker, on Tuesday, January 22, 2019 on Roll Call Numbers 44 and 45, the NATO Support Act, H.R. 676, and the Hack Your State Department Act, H.R. 328, I was unavoidably detained and missed the vote. Had I been present, I would have voted: H.R. 676: YES; and H.R. 328: YES.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I stand here today saddened, but, quite frankly, not shocked, at the irresponsibility of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle. I guess their giveaway to the ultrawealthy wasn't enough last time around, so they have come back for round two: a fake tax reform 2.0. When the bill for this new gimmick eventually comes due, I am terrified Republicans will pay for it by gutting Social Security and Medicare, two earned benefit programs on which my constituents rely. I have heard a lot of rhetoric about how today's bill will help the middle class, but the only thing that today's legislation guarantees is adding at least $3 trillion more to the deficit over just a period of 10 years. And who picks up the tab? Middle-class Americans, that is who. They are working families who are being priced out of home ownership, saving for retirement, or trying to put their kids through school. I urge my colleagues to vote down this terrible bill and let common sense reign.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the City of South El Monte, California, which I have the privilege of representing in California's 38th Congressional District. On July 30th, 2018, South El Monte will celebrate its 60th Anniversary. Located in the heart of the San Gabriel Valley, South El Monte is a colorful, diverse, and thriving community. Known to many as the ``City of Achievement'', South El Monte has come a long way since it was incorporated as a city with 3,000 residents in 1958. The city is now home to over 20,000 Californians and a robust business community. With easy access to major Southern California freeways, South El Monte hosts more than 2,400 businesses and serves as an important manufacturing base for the Los Angeles region, including in the space an aerospace industries. Beyond its prosperous business sector, South El Monte is a tight-knit community. Since its inception, the city's mission has been to improve the quality of life of its residents. The Whittier Narrows Recreation Area and Legg Lake on the city's border, as well as the city's commitment to those who serve in our armed forces through its Active Military Banner Program, unite a diverse population with a rich history. I am honored to represent this city and its residents, and look forward to what the next 60 years have in store.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the lifelong service and success of Bob Henderson, a leader and resident of Whittier, California in my Congressional District. Mr. Henderson is leaving the Whittier City Council after 36 years of service and it is my pleasure to recognize his many accomplishments. Bob is an outstanding public servant and has dedicated his life to improve and protect the city of Whittier. Mr. Henderson has demonstrated his passion through his various leadership roles over his many years of service which include: serving as an active city council member, mayor pro tempore, and serving as city mayor. In addition, Mr. Henderson's commitment to environmental conservation inspired him to become a leading advocate for wildlife. He made it a priority to protect the environment and used his love for the beautiful City of Whittier to motivate others to join him. Mr. Henderson also served as Chairman of the Puente Hills Landfill Native Habitat Preservation Authority and Chairman of the Wildlife Conservation Authority where he had a tremendous impact. While he had countless accomplishments in these roles, I'd like to highlight a couple. He spearheaded the effort to pass the Hillside Preservation Ordinance which led to the preservation of over 1,000 acres of land. Bob was instrumental in the founding the Hillside Open Space Education Committee which has been largely responsible for protecting local wildlife from harm. Mr. Henderson was also instrumental in numerous community projects that have enhanced the lives of so many, such as the new YMCA, Pico State Park renovation, and the Shannon Center for Performing Arts at Whittier College. It is in that spirit that, on behalf of all the families' and communities who have benefitted from his service, I wish to honor and thank Bob Henderson.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the service and success of Nancy Mendez. A dedicated resident of Whittier, California whose hard work and model leadership has made a significant impact in my Congressional District. Ms. Mendez is retiring from her position as Assistant City Manager this year, and it is with great pleasure that I recognize her accomplishments. Ms. Mendez began her 38 year long career with the City of Whittier in 1980 as a community supervisor. She established herself as an active member of the community spearheading several programs and activities responsible for maintaining high levels engagement across all age groups. Following the Whittier earthquake in 1987, Ms. Mendez demonstrated her ability to perform under pressure when she organized and opened a mass shelter for displaced residents after having been on the job as the Assistant for Human Services for only one day. Ms. Mendez also assisted the city in winning a number of grants to fund important city projects over the years. She has also served as the Director of Human Services and Assistant City manager. Ms. Mendez has always used her skills to provide tangible benefits to our community. As Assistant City Manager, she was integral to the design and funding for the Greenway Trail, improved cell phone service in Whittier, and other important economic development projects. While there are too many projects to list, I would be remiss if I did not also mention her work on the Walnut Senior Center, Palm Park Activity and Aquatics Center, and the city's police headquarters. I cannot thank Ms. Mendez enough for all that she has contributed to the City of Whittier. Her passion for public service has made her an influential and effective leader whose accomplishments both from the past and present continue to benefit the people of Whittier today. I wish Nancy Mendez a happy retirement and thank her again for her service.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, very shortly we will be losing a Member of the House of Representatives. Charlie Dent, the gentleman from Pennsylvania, will be leaving this body. I would be remiss if I didn't come to the floor and talk about his tremendous service to the House of Representatives. I had the honor and the privilege of serving with Mr. Dent on the Ethics Committee. Not that serving on the Ethics Committee is a great honor or a great privilege, but serving with him truly was. He is a man of integrity, a man who kept his word, a man who worked hard to get through the business at hand, somebody whom I could trust, and somebody with a really great sense of humor, which, in this body, is becoming a rarer and rarer thing. He is truly a likeable individual, somebody who took his job and his responsibilities seriously. And I want to wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors, and I want him to know that he will be sorely missed in this body.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, on Roll Call Numbers 162 through 166, On Amendments to H.R. 4, the Democratic Motion to Recommit, and Final Passage, I was unavoidably detained and missed the vote. Had I been present, I would have voted: Roll Call 162, McClintock Amendment--No; Roll Call 163, Duncan Amendment--No; Roll Call 164, Motion to Recommit H.R. 4--Yes; Roll Call 165, Final Passage--Yes; and Roll Call 166, On Motion to Table H. Res. 856--No.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of a champion for children, education, and the LGBTQ community from my Southern California district. Mrs. Gloria Duran passed away March 12, 2018 at the age of 80 after a lifetime of service to the local area. Gloria grew up in Silver City, New Mexico until moving to California. She ultimately made Santa Fe Springs, California per home. Ms. Duran began her career in education as a secretary at Los Nietos Middle School and committed her life to the betterment of the education system, serving as a member of the Los Nietos School Board for 16 years, with unending verve and dedication. Ms. Duran was a dynamic, energetic woman who fought with passion for the children and seniors she served. Her activism and drive led her from den mother to Chair of the Santa Fe Springs senior citizens advisory committee and membership in the Los Angeles County Commission for Older Adults. She went to great heights, quite literally, to raise money for HIV/AIDS research by jumping out of a plane while in her sixties with her son John Duran. There was no mountain too high for Gloria to climb if it meant making her community a better place. Gloria Duran was a shining example of what dedicated people can do for their community. While I know the pain of losing such a strong leader will run deep, I hope her family and friends will be comforted by the outpouring of love and fond memories of Gloria's lifetime of service. May her legacy live on and inspire others to serve.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness that I rise today to honor the life of Paul Howard Rich, an outstanding leader and beloved member of the community. I am honored to represent in Congress. Mr. Rich, born on April 14, 1941 in Worcester, Massachusetts later moved to Southern California where he worked his way up in the labor movement as an active member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 441. If it were not for Paul, I would not be where I am today. He was a true mentor, not only to me, but to countless young people who joined the labor movement in Southern California. During his 55 years as an IBEW member, Paul was an inspirational leader who left a lasting impact on multiple generations of electrical workers to come up through the ranks. Everything Mr. Rich championed served the greater good. Beyond his dedication to social justice at work, Paul was an active member of his church community and the consummate family man. His faith was an inspiration. I know that Paul will forever remain close to the hearts of so many, including Mary, his wife of 57 years, his 5 children, 16 grandchildren, and 5 great grandchildren. Countless other family members, friends, and colleagues will carry on Paul's legacy fservice to the community. Although no words can take away the pain from Paul Rich's loss, may his loved ones find comfort in knowing that his legacy will never be forgotten.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today during Genocide Prevention and Awareness Month to honor and remember the countless lives lost in unforgiveable genocides and tragedies across the world. Just yesterday we commemorated the 103rd anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, and earlier this month we recognized Holocaust Remembrance Day. While these are somber occasions marking some of the darkest times in our world's history, we must commemorate them because we cannot allow the world to forget what happened. Millions have died and suffered at the hand of cruelty and injustice. I am deeply saddened that today there are still those who refuse to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide and the atrocities that occurred in 1915. Their denial is disrespectful to the 1.5 million Armenian--men, women and children--who died and the millions more who risked their lives to escape the violence. We can't undo what happened. But we must learn from history and make sure this never happens again. This month we honor those who had their lives stolen at the hands of evil and hate. We can do better, and we must do better.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate my dear friend, Marcy Kaptur, from the Ninth District of Ohio. Earlier today, the Speaker and minority leader honored Marcy for hitting a historic milestone. She is the longest serving woman in the history of the House, which is quite an accomplishment. Ever since joining Congress, Marcy has been blazing trails, and I have been honored to know her for many years and to work with her on important issues impacting working families. She has been a steadfast advocate for labor unions, fighting to ensure that hardworking men and women get paid a decent wage, and she has been fighting efforts to ship good American jobs overseas. Marcy knows that labor unions are a critical part of our country, creating a middle class and moving us all forward. She has also been a strong advocate for our military and national security. Her work is far from done. I know she will continue to be a powerful voice in our Caucus, and I look forward to many more years working with Marcy on issues that are important to the American people.