Linda Sánchez

Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the consideration of H.R. 5325, a deceitful effort by House Republicans to yet again dehumanize an entire group of people. It pains me to even say the phrase ``illegal alien'' out loud because it is pejorative, it is offensive, and has no place in our modern discourse. The Library of Congress is correct to leave this phrase in the pages of history and never to have it uttered again. The importance of the Library of Congress' decision to discontinue and remove the outdated phrase cannot be emphasized enough. Libraries nationwide and around the world look to the Library of Congress' subject headings and other standards to publish information. As lawmakers representing a country of immigrants, Congress should not assist in the dissemination of information that perpetuates racism and promotes hate. Of course, I am not at all surprised that congressional Republicans would resort to inserting themselves into bibliographic decisions that are normally reserved for librarians, not appropriators or politicians. Republicans hypocritically claim to want to keep government out of people's lives, but want government to intrude and dictate standards only when it benefits their bigoted views. Sadly, today's effort and other past maneuvers to block President Obama's executive actions on immigration falls in line with the concerted effort to move our country backward. We are better than that. Instead of promoting antiquated and deplorable language, we should be tackling any number of important issues--affordable education, tax reform, and promoting job growth--not telling librarians and educators how to do their jobs.

Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the career and contributions of Mr. John Kelsall, the President and CEO of the Greater Lakewood Chamber of Commerce, located in my congressional district. As the head of the Chamber of Commerce for more than ten years, Mr. Kelsall has been a tireless champion for local and small businesses in Lakewood. Throughout his tenure, Mr. Kelsall has been instrumental in creating new programs to benefit the Lakewood community. His ``Shop Lakewood, Stay Lakewood Local'' initiative to improve commerce within the city was so successful that the city adopted it as one of its mottos. He also insisted on starting business councils, including those for veteran-owned and home-based companies. More recently, Mr. Kelsall shifted his focus to bringing new businesses into Lakewood. After seeing a need in his community for an establishment that sells fresh organic produce, he and the Chamber of Commerce partnered with the city and Lakewood Center mall to make it happen. Due to his vision and leadership, Lakewood opened its first Farmer's Market just a few weeks ago. This is just a small sampling of the many initiatives spearheaded by Mr. Kelsall during his time at the Lakewood Chamber. For the past decade, Mr. Kelsall has been a terrific leader for the Lakewood business community, but his greatest achievement may be as an advocate for veterans returning to civilian life. Following the tragic death of his son Lieutenant Commander Jonas Kelsall, a U.S. Navy SEAL, in 2011, anyone could excuse Mr. Kelsall time to grieve. Instead, he and his wife Teri Kelsall poured their energy into providing opportunities for our returning servicemen and women. In 2012, the Kelsalls founded the Jonas Project, a nonprofit that offers mentorship and services to veterans who wish to start a business. In just four years of operation, the Jonas Project has aided in the development of a number of successful, veteran-owned small businesses across the country. America needs more people like John Kelsall. Faced with unspeakable tragedy that would halt so many of us in our tracks, he instead chose to use his talent to create an organization dedicated to serving those men and women who risk their life to preserve our freedom. We owe our veterans an unpayable debt, and so I hope that Mr. Kelsall and the Jonas Project will inspire others to help ease their transition back to civilian life. I applaud Mr. Kelsall on his successful tenure at helm of the Lakewood Chamber and wish him well as he departs that post to dedicate himself full-time to the Jonas Project.

Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the lifelong service and success of Sandra Thorstenson, the Superintendent of Whittier Union School District, in my Congressional District in California. You could say that the Whittier Union School District is part of Sandra's DNA. After moving to Whittier at the age of five, Sandy went on to graduate from Whittier High School, attended Whittier College, and from there, launched a 39-year career as a teacher, principal, and Superintendent of the district. While I think Sandy's lifelong dedication to educating young people is reason enough to celebrate, I would be remiss not to mention the success that has made her a leader in improving education for low- income students. Under her leadership, Whittier Union's motto has been ``demographics do not determine destiny.'' The results of this attitude are clear. In a district with nearly 70 percent economically- disadvantaged students, Whittier Union sports a 97 percent graduation rate and sends 95 percent of its students on for a higher education. Ms. Thorstenson embodies the kind of public servant and leader we need more of in education, someone who is unwilling to settle for anything less than success for every student in her district. It is in that spirit that, on behalf of all the families who've benefitted from her service, I wish Sandra a happy retirement and thank her for inspiring generations of students in the Whittier Union School District.

Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, on Roll Call Number 189, on Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended, H.R. 4586, Lali's Law I was unavoidably detained and missed the vote. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA.

Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Conyers for his leadership and for organizing this Special Order to highlight the grave consequences of Senate Republican obstructionism by blocking a simple up-or-down vote on the nomination of Judge Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court. Republicans claim to love the Constitution, yet they refuse to acknowledge their constitutional duties. Senate Republicans have chosen to play politics instead of doing what is right for the American people. They simply don't want to do their job. President Obama faithfully fulfilled his constitutional duty by nominating Chief Judge Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court, but Senate Republicans refuse to even hold a hearing to consider, to just consider, Chief Judge Garland's nomination. This refusal to fulfill a constitutional duty of theirs to vet and vote on this nominee is indicative of Republicans' 8-year strategy of obstructing President Obama at every opportunity. And who loses? The American people do. The worst excuse that I have heard as to why Senate Republicans are shirking their duty is that the American people should have a say in the process. I would like to remind my Senate Republican colleagues that the American people--including 11.2 million Latinos who voted in the 2012 election cycle--already had a voice in this nomination. The American people expressed their will when they overwhelmingly reelected President Obama to a second full term, with the understanding that if a vacancy occurred, it is part of the President's duty to nominate a Supreme Court Justice. I would like to remind my Republican colleagues, a full Presidential term is 4 years, not just 3. I know math can be hard and a little tricky, so I wanted to make sure that my Republican colleagues in the Senate were clear on that. The vacancy before us is one that is critically important for all Americans, but especially for Latinos living in the United States. The President has fulfilled his obligation. Now it is time for the Republican Senators to do their job.

Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Johnson. I rise today to join Mr. Johnson and Mr. Cartwright in bringing attention to the very unfair and deplorable practice of forcing people into arbitration. In practice, what this consists of is generally those with more power, meaning very wealthy corporations, including confusing but legally binding language buried in the fine print of contracts, contracts that pretty much purveyed every aspect of our lives. This creates this insidious process in which people, in order to get a credit card or a cell phone or to put a loved one into a nursing home, have to accept the terms of this contract without really knowing what they are buying into. I want to start by saying that the concept of arbitration is a great one. I strongly support the principles of arbitration and the arbitration process because arbitration can do many good things. It can clear court dockets, it can help provide a more swift resolution to a problem, and it can also reduce legal fees. Those are the benefits of a fair arbitration process. In many ways arbitration can be a great thing. But--and this is the thing--people think that arbitration is this wonderful process. But what they don't realize is that buried in that fine print in forced arbitration, there can also be terms that limit the evidence that you can introduce. If you are forced into arbitration, there can be limits on the damages that you can claim. It can exclude your ability to request a jury trial. And mandatory binding arbitration has to be entered willingly by both parties, not just the party with the greater economic power. But, in fact, they know that they hold that leverage over the average consumer so they put this kind of limiting language into these arbitration clauses all the time. Many retailers, banks, and online services have forced arbitration clauses written into their contracts. These arbitration agreements can be forced on vulnerable parties who have little knowledge about what they are signing or what it means to sign away those rights. Frankly, most consumers have little or no choice in the matter because the contracts are ``take it or leave it.'' Why does this hit so close to home? My father has Alzheimer's, and at a certain point, he could not care for himself anymore, so we had to investigate nursing homes that could provide the kind of around-the-clock care that was required for him that my brothers and sisters and I simply could not. Sadly, in the nursing home arena, this is where, oftentimes, mandatory--forced--arbitration clauses are buried in these contracts for the admission of your loved one. Loved ones who cannot care for somebody who is physically ill or frail, again, have no real choice in the matter. They need to find facilities to care for their loved ones because they, simply, cannot do it on their own. That is why, in Congresses past, I introduced the Fairness in Nursing Home Arbitration Act. That legislation would make predispute mandatory arbitration clauses in long-term care contracts unenforceable, and it would restore residents and their families their full legal rights. What the legislation would do is say that you cannot force arbitration onto families who, in an emotional time and in a medical crisis, are looking for care for their loved ones. You cannot force them to sign something that they don't agree with or even understand. My bill would have allowed families and residents to have maintained their peace of mind as they looked for the best long-term care facilities for their loved ones. For desperate families who are unable to provide the adequate care at home, the need for an immediate placement for their loved ones makes these contracts, basically, take it or leave it, which gives them no choice at all in the matter. Families who are in the midst of these painful decisions to place a parent or a loved one in a nursing home rarely have the time or the wherewithal to fully and thoughtfully consider what it is they are signing when they sign a contract that contains a mandatory arbitration clause. They are not in a position to adequately determine what agreeing to such a clause will mean for their loved ones should the unthinkable happen. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, CMS, is slowly working to include some of my bill's provisions through the regulatory process, but much work still remains in this area. In September of last year, Democrats sent a letter to CMS and called for a final rule that will ensure that nursing home residents will only enter into arbitration agreements on a voluntary and enforced basis after a dispute arises, not before. We need commonsense solutions to forced arbitration agreements, solutions that would protect the average consumer, who is unfamiliar with the concept of arbitration and is not trained in the law. Many people may not even be aware of the rights they are signing away at a time when they are least prepared to make important decisions. As Members of Congress, we are called on to serve our constituents and to protect them from flagrant violations of their rights. We should be doing more to protect vulnerable families from these forced arbitration policies. I thank my colleague, Mr. Johnson, for being such a strong voice on this issue.

Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize a colleague and friend, Los Angeles County Supervisor for the Fourth District Don Knabe, who is retiring after over thirty-four years of service to the county. Mr. Knabe has worked tirelessly for our community and he is finishing his career with a long list of accomplishments. While it would be impossible to list them all, I would like to highlight just a few successes that will continue to benefit our county for years to come. Over his time as Supervisor, Mr. Knabe has become a national leader in protecting children. He established a Safe Surrender Program to care for surrendered infants in Los Angeles County while also championing a scholarship fund to help these children as they grow up. He launched a campaign to spread awareness about child sex trafficking, making it become a County priority, and testified on the matter before Congress. Supervisor Knabe is also passionate about the arts. His enthusiasm led to the establishment of several youth programs that bring visual art, dance, music, and theater programs to children across the district. Thanks to his efforts, Los Angeles County children are able to experience the rich benefit of exposure to the fine arts from a young age. Beyond those projects, the Supervisor continues to lead the fight to protect our precious Southern California environment. Mr. Knabe led 19 separate projects to lower pollution and improve water quality. He also supported the development of innovative technologies to turn trash into energy and fuel instead of dumping it into landfills. The air we breathe and the water we drink in Los Angeles County has literally improved thanks to his efforts. I have had the pleasure of working with Supervisor Knabe on several occasions throughout my time in Congress. A navy veteran, Mr. Knabe has been a strong supporter for Veterans Resource fairs and Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day events. I have always been able to rely on his support, whether it was for the Congressional Art Competition or for an Annual Senior Fair in my district. Supervisor Knabe will leave an indelible mark on Los Angeles County when he retires at the end of this term. I am forever thankful for the work Mr. Knabe accomplished, and I thank him for his tireless efforts on behalf of the people of Los Angeles County. He will truly be missed.

Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H. Res. 639, a misguided resolution forced on all Members of the House of Representatives in an attempt to block President Obama's execution action on immigration. This is yet another partisan effort by House Republicans to tear families apart and separate children from their parents. This amicus brief that Speaker Ryan will file on behalf of the entire House of Representatives not only goes against well-established Constitutional precedents but also against our economic interest. The Congressional Budget Office and numerous other researchers have found that immigration raises average wages for U.S. born workers and grows our economy by billions of dollars. In my State of California alone, the President's Executive action will generate 130,000 jobs and lift 40,000 Californian children out of poverty. The actions taken by the President on the subject of immigration are within authority of the executive branch. I am proud to join 186 of my House colleagues in support of the President's immigration executive actions.

Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, earlier this week I introduced a resolution recognizing February 1-5th as National School Counseling Week. This resolution is an important one; school counselors are critical to the success of our students, particularly the ones who are at a high risk of dropping out. We ask much of our counselors. The recommended counselor to student ratio is one to 250, while the national average is almost double that; one to 482. Each year, only 80% of students are graduating from high school. Schools desperately need more counselors who can put students on the path to success by ensuring they have the tools they need to graduate. In the spirit of properly recognizing hardworking school counselors across the country, today I wish to honor the work of an incredible school counselor and administrator from Montebello Unified School District, Andy Costello. Recently retired, he spent much of his career working for Montebello Unified, and has become a pillar of our community. Mr. Costello has a passion for supporting and uplifting students and their families. Always going above and beyond to make sure families received the best guidance and support possible. Now retired, Andy continues to be engaged with the community. Mr. Costello is involved in counseling associations, and the college access program, College Bound Today, at Montebello Unified. It is important to recognize leaders like Mr. Costello. The true heroes of our community. The ones that help make our future brighter, by uplifting the next generation. He has had an immense impact on our community.

Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015. I am extremely frustrated that, after the long path to get us to the conference report before us today, I won't be able to support the bill. As I said during our conference committee meeting earlier this week: if Customs were truly all that this bill was about, it would pass overwhelmingly on the floor. I strongly support the bulk of what is in the final bill. Trade enforcement should always move in lockstep with our trade policy. It is only when countries live up to agreed-upon laws and regulations that we can truly have robust trade, but robust trade also requires strong enforcement. Particularly for me, I am pleased that the bulk of the ENFORCE Act is finally at the finish line after many years of work. One of my biggest priorities for several years has been finding a way to combat the blatant abuse and duty evasion by some foreign producers that undercut American industry. Foreign companies use schemes to avoid paying the duties they owe on goods that they bring into the United States. We will finally give some real teeth to our enforcement procedures and send the right message to domestic manufacturers, employers, and workers that this Congress cares about Customs enforcement. This idea doesn't hinder free trade. Instead, it promotes fair trade and sends a strong signal to foreign producers that the U.S. will not tolerate abuses of internationally agreed upon trade rules. By increasing our Customs security measures, we ensure that American companies that play by the rules are not disadvantaged as a result of evasion by foreign competitors. Unfortunately, unrelated TPA language included in the final bill will keep me from being able to support something that I have worked on for many, many years. In this bill, we fail to address currency manipulation in a meaningful way. The conference report also falls short in the areas of climate change and human trafficking. Specifically, we should not tie our hands when it comes to combating climate change, nor should we be rushing to increase our trade with countries that persist in allowing human trafficking. To me, these are not the values of this country. They are no-brainers, and they shouldn't be in this bill. But today, we fell short. For those reasons, I cannot support the final Customs package that we have before us today.

Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, further parliamentary inquiry.

Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, is it true that the Republicans have repeatedly blocked legislation that would explicitly prevent terrorists from buying guns?

Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, why can we not get an answer to this question?

Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), which seeks to replace the broken No Child Left Behind law. While I still have concerns with some provisions in this legislation, I believe this bill will serve our children better than the status quo. For example, the current waiver system has allowed states to ignore schools that are failing students. That is unacceptable and cannot continue. I am concerned by the lack of federal oversight in implementing and enforcing many provisions of this bill. For example, states are left to determine how and when to intervene in schools that are failing children. We must guarantee that there is substantial federal role in ensuring states meet their obligations. Further, we must guarantee state and district implementation boards are inclusive, diverse, and adequately represent students of all needs and circumstances. Despite shortcomings in the bill, I was pleased to see that states will now be required to collect and report data on incidences of bullying and harassment in school--an issue I have been working on for many years. It is a small, but powerful step in ensuring all children feel safe at school. I voted for this bill because No Child Left Behind is simply not working. In four years, I look forward to revisiting reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to achieve an even more effective long-term policy.

Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise today to honor the memory of a young, bright student who was taken from this world far too soon. Nohemi Gonzalez, a 23-year-old design student at California State University, Long Beach, was one of the many innocent victims who were tragically murdered in the Paris terrorist attacks on Friday, November 13, while she dined at a restaurant with three friends who were all students at California State University, Long Beach. She was in Paris for a semester abroad, studying at the Strate College of Design. Nohemi grew up in my district, in Whittier, and graduated from Whittier High School. She was a first-generation Mexican American student who was passionate about design and life. Nohemi was a talented student, a star in the design department, and she inspired and touched the lives of many. In her own words, she was high-spirited, orderly, and self-driven. She had a bright future ahead of her. I know it is not enough, and it will never be enough, but I hope that Nohemi's family and friends can find some solace in the outpouring of love and support from our community. We grieve for and with you. At this time, I would like to ask my colleagues to take a moment today to honor Nohemi, the 131 other victims, and those who are in critical condition still fighting for their lives.

Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, this year marks the 25th Anniversary of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics. Since 1990, the initiative has played a critical role in advocating for and advancing policies that have helped our community grow. While our work is not done, as we conclude Hispanic Heritage Month, it is important for us to celebrate our progress. Our nation's high school graduation rate is the highest in history, and the Latino dropout rate is half of what it was in 2000. More importantly, however, we must recognize the work that remains and those committed to doing it. Earlier this year, the Department of Education issued a national call for commitments to action for Hispanics in education. The initiative aimed to encourage private, public and nonprofit investments to create and/or expand high quality educational services. The results were astounding; 150 Commitments to Action with a collective investment of over $335 million. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight the commitment of an organization in my district, the Mariachi Music Education Initiative, who has committed nearly $900,000 over three years for music education. It's commitments like this, and those of the other 149 organizations that will help our community prosper. Together, through the work and contributions of public, private and nonprofit organizations, we will continue working to close the achievement gap, and ensure every child in America has the tools and opportunity they need to succeed.

Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to H.R. 3134, the Defund Planned Parenthood Act. This bill is partisan politics at its worst. The attacks on Planned Parenthood are nothing more than political witch-hunts led by anti- abortion extremists. Their efforts to mislead the public and tarnish the reputation of Planned Parenthood are downright shameful. Here are the facts: millions of American families, particularly in underserved areas, rely on Planned Parenthood for family planning services and basic women's healthcare. Seventy-eight percent of Planned Parenthood patients live with incomes at 150 percent of the federal poverty level or less, and almost half a million of their patients are Latinos. Were it not for Planned Parenthood, these families, including over 25 thousand in my district, would have nowhere to turn for basic health care needs. Defunding Planned Parenthood has implications for the 2.7 million Americans across the country who count on Planned Parenthood for STD and STI testing, cancer screenings, contraceptive care, and other health services. These basic and critical healthcare services which account for 97% of those provided at Planned Parenthood, are what is really being defunded here. It's been 42 years since the United States Supreme Court ruled that a woman has the constitutional right to choose what is best for her health and her body. Since then, anti-abortion extremists have been working tirelessly to chip away at this constitutional protection. This time, Madam Speaker, the ramifications of their efforts extend far beyond abortion. They threaten the health and well-being of millions of hard-working American families in my district and across the country. The majority always argues for small government. I guess this time they want a government small enough to fit inside the exam room with a woman and her doctor. Madam Speaker, I'd like to submit a letter signed by 13 Latino advocacy groups in opposition to defunding Planned Parenthood. August 3, 2015. U.S. Senate, Washington, DC. House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Members of Congress: As organizations committed to the civil and human rights, health equity, and well-being of Latino/as, our families, and our communities, we the thirteen undersigned organizations urge you to oppose all efforts to defund Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) or other healthcare providers that Latinos/as rely on for high quality care. The recent manipulated and misleading attacks on PPFA are yet another political attempt to target providers of reproductive health services. The real agenda behind these attacks is to block access to basic health services, particularly for low-income communities, women of color, and young people. These tactics also create an atmosphere of fear and shame intended to intimidate women who seek abortion and those who provide the much needed care. Such attacks on PPFA, a critical provider of vital health services to low-income women and women of color, threatens to unravel the reproductive health safety net that our Latino/a community relies on. We have already seen such efforts as in Texas when the state legislature authorized the ``affiliate rule'' that barred all Planned Parenthood health centers from receiving state funds. In 2012, the first full year following the devastating cuts to family planning funding and implementation of the ``affiliate rule,'' Texas met only 13 percent of the need for publicly funded contraception--less than half of national totals for the same year. Furthermore, defunding PPFA would have a devastating impact on the Latino/a community which experiences higher rates of reproductive cancers, unintended pregnancy, and sexually transmitted infections than most other groups of people in the U.S. In fact, according to the latest statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Latinas have the highest cervical cancer incidence rates. Latinos/as, including LGBTQ Latinos/as, immigrant women, and women of color experience system barriers such as cost, lack of available clinics, insufficient culturally and linguistically competent health systems, and discriminatory immigration policies that make it difficult for individuals and communities to access routine healthcare. For decades, Latinos/as have been the most uninsured racial and ethnic group. That is why our communities rely on Planned Parenthood for quality healthcare. In 2013, PPFA's clinics served 575,000 Latinos/as, which was 22 percent of their overall patients. We will not tolerate any attempts to cut Latinos/as off from this care. We strongly urge you to oppose all proposals to defund PPFA and stand with the undersigned organizations to protect the right to health care for Latinos/as and other persons of color. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Ann Marie Benitez, Senior Director of Government Relations, at National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health. Signed, Casa de Esperanza, Farmworker Justice, Hispanic Federation, Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, LatinoJustice PRLDEF, League of United Latin American Citizens, Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, National Alliance of Latin American and Caribbean Communities, National Hispanic Media Coalition, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health, Presente, U.S.-Mexico Foundation, VotoLatino.

Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in staunch opposition to H.R. 3009, the Enforce the Law for Sanctuary Cities Act, or perhaps better titled, the ``Donald Trump Act.'' This bill is nothing more than an underhanded ploy to criminalize the immigrant community who, research shows, is less likely to commit serious crimes than native-born persons. To demonize an entire community based on the actions of a few does not inform wise policy. Local police are best equipped to make decisions of how best to serve their communities. Let them make those decisions. Withholding Federal funds from jurisdictions who have adopted local trust policies will not make our communities safer or fix our broken immigration system. It will only make it more difficult for local police to provide public safety to their communities. Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, this doesn't come as a surprise. This is the same Republican-led Congress that nearly shut down the Department of Homeland Security, compromising the safety of our communities. I have consistently said that we need to focus on passing comprehensive immigration reform, yet time and time again, Republicans have shown the only aspect of immigration reform they are interested in is deportation.

Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak about H.R. 1190, the Protecting Seniors' Access to Medicare Act. I am the Democratic lead, along with Congressman Phil Roe, and I am proud of the bipartisan work we have done to repeal the unelected bureaucracy known as the Independent Payment Advisory Board, or IPAB. I proudly voted for the ACA, and I think time has shown that the law works. The ACA has reduced the number of uninsured Americans, lowered healthcare costs, prevented disease, and increased access to cures. Despite the success of the law, no bill is perfect. I believe that there are certain areas for improvement in the ACA, and I am committed to working in a bipartisan manner to solve these issues and provide our constituents with the world-class health care that they deserve. The ACA is a good law and a few small tweaks can make it stronger, and that is why I decided to reach across the aisle to work with Congressman Roe on this legislation. Repealing IPAB is not the exclusive purview of the Republican Party, and it is a bipartisan effort. Unfortunately, much like the last time Congress considered IPAB repeal in 2012, an unpalatable pay-for undermined the bipartisan support for a deal. I know Congressman Roe has worked tirelessly to avoid repeating the pay-for battle that we had back in 2012 in order to retain Democratic support. Despite these efforts, Republican leadership has chosen to draw from the prevention and public health fund to pay for H.R. 1190. This is something that I simply cannot support, and it is with great disappointment that I must cast my vote against H.R. 1190. I truly believe that repealing IPAB is the right thing to do, but I cannot support gutting a great provision in the ACA to get rid of a bad one. The prevention and public health fund is an unprecedented investment in public health to prevent costly and life-threatening diseases. The fund has invested nearly $5.25 billion in States, cities, and communities to keep our constituents healthy and safe before they need costly, long-term care to manage their illnesses. The fund also exists to prevent stroke, cancer, tobacco use, and obesity, while also funding vital childhood immunization programs, and invests in detecting, tracking, and responding to infectious diseases. County public health departments rely on this fund to serve their constituents, and I know my home State of California has received over $195 million thus far. Despite all this, the Republican leadership has decided to take approximately $8.85 billion from the fund which actually helps lower the cost of health care through prevention, eliminating the need, ironically, for IPAB in the first place. In closing, I again want to thank Congressman Roe and the 235 bipartisan cosponsors for their hard work. I am disappointed that I must vote against my own bill, because I know the underlying policy is good policy, but I cannot vote for something that drains an essential fund from the ACA.

Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to commemorate the 3-year anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, also known as DACA. Over the past 3 years, DACA has changed the lives of more than 640,000 young undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as children, including an impressive intern in my office named Maria. Maria moved to the United States when she was only 6 years old. Now, as a college student with a 4.0 GPA, Maria tutors children and is giving back to the country that has helped her reach her goals. As we mark DACA's 3-year anniversary and all that it has accomplished to support students like Maria, thousands more DREAMers are waiting for their opportunity to come out of the shadows. Sadly, the court battle over DACA continues. We must rededicate ourselves to fixing our broken immigration system. Students like Maria deserve the chance to live free of fear and contribute their talents to keep our country vibrant and the envy of the world.

Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak against this misguided TPA bill. Many of my colleagues have highlighted the reasons to oppose the bill, but I want to focus on two specific fundamental issues, labor and civil rights. There is nothing in this that requires countries to bring their labor laws and regulations into compliance before this deal takes effect. How can we have an agreement that doesn't require everybody to play by the same rules? That is just ridiculous. We need trade agreements that prohibit signatory countries from murdering, jailing, torturing, or firing citizens for doing such outlandish things as trying to unionize and bargain for safer working conditions. Enforceable labor provisions tell trading partners that we mean business on labor rights before letting their goods into the U.S. Trade agreements should not continue a race to the bottom for workers. We should be setting the standards. I am frustrated that TPP negotiations are nearly complete and we are just now giving the administration their marching orders, but here we are, and those marching orders should be clear, especially on labor rights. Additionally, in the Ways and Means markup for this legislation, I offered a commonsense amendment to address the issue of countries whose laws call for imprisonment, torture, and even death for the supposed crime of one's sexual orientation. I was baffled to watch every single Republican member on the committee vote to say that it is perfectly acceptable to do business with countries that have these laws. Perhaps it was naive of me to think that we could at least have one bright-line rule for the most basic of human rights--not to be put to death based on a person's actual or perceived sexual orientation.

Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California. U.S. market access shouldn't be a free pass. If you want to do business with the U.S., we shouldn't tolerate such barbaric behavior. For these reasons, I urge my colleagues to oppose this legislation.

Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express both strong concern and guarded optimism about the customs bill before us today. I will be voting against the underlying bill before us today because of the drastic and unnecessary changes the bill makes to TPA provisions related to human trafficking, currency manipulation, and immigration policy. However, I remain optimistic that the customs provisions in this bill can become as strong as the Senate bill during conference. Senators worked on a bipartisan basis to reach an agreement after nearly a decade of negotiations on how we should be enforcing our trade laws. I am now hoping that House Republicans will be part of getting these provisions across the finish line. One of my biggest priorities for many years has been finding a way to combat the blatant abuse and duty evasion by some foreign producers that undercut American industry here. Foreign companies use schemes to avoid paying the duties they owe on goods that they import into the United States. That is why I have introduced and fought for the ENFORCE Act. For the first time, it finally feels like we are very close to getting this done. And to that end, I want to thank Representatives Tiberi and Boustany, along with Chairman Ryan, for several productive discussions on the best way to get this done in conference. I hope that we will be able to keep working on a bipartisan basis to get a final, bipartisan House customs bill. Giving up on the opportunity to give real teeth to our enforcement procedures would not only be harmful to our economy, but it sends a message to manufacturers, employers, and U.S. workers that this Congress doesn't care about them. By increasing our customs security measures, we can ensure that American companies that play by the rules are not undercut by foreign competitors who cheat by evading duties on their goods. I urge my colleagues to work to improve this bill by incorporating final language with some teeth. U.S. manufacturers have waited long enough to have customs enforcement that works.

Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Chair, I rise today to speak in opposition of the proposed cuts to the Transportation Infrastructure Generating Economic Recovery Program (TIGER) under the Fiscal Year 2016 Transportation Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations bill. Since 2009, the Department of Transportation has provided state and local governments with grants to complete infrastructure projects. Many communities have profited from these investments, providing neighborhoods with safer pedestrian pathways, revitalizing economically distressed areas, and reducing congestion from traffic. TIGER grants are meant to provide eligibility to infrastructure projects that do not qualify for restrictive formula based federal funding. Freight, port, and bridge projects across the country have benefited from financial support from TIGER. Reducing accessibility to TIGER grants will prolong infrastructure projects and increase traffic in our communities. The House FY16 THUD appropriations bill includes $100 million for TIGER grants. This is a $400 million reduction from the 2015 enacted level, cutting the Department of Transportation's budget by 80%. Severe cuts to TIGER are troubling, and substantial funding for the program is crucial to my District. For example, the Durfee Avenue grade separation proposal in Pico Rivera would reduce an estimated 15.3 hours of vehicle delays on a daily basis. Rosemead Boulevard/Lakewood Boulevard in my District carries tens of thousands of cars every day, providing goods movement to the Gateway cities. The Del Amo Boulevard bridge is structurally deficient, outdated, and in need of maintenance to improve lane capacity problems. I ask that my colleagues join me in opposing the 80% cuts to TIGER grants and language restricting TIGER eligibility in the HOUSE FY16 THUD bill. Providing funding for these and other TIGER projects are about providing services that communities deserve.

Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Head Start program. Since its enactment, Head Start has helped more than 30 million families prepare for a lifetime of learning. Last year, nearly 36 thousand children in my district were a part of this program. Head Start's fundamental purpose is to ensure that every child starts life on an equal playing field, regardless of their parents' income, country of origin, or zip code. It provides hard-working families access to comprehensive preschool programs that include nutritional, social and other services critical to early childhood development. Education is our nation's great equalizer--and few investments are more meaningful and have a larger return to society than programs like Head Start. It's simple: when children receive quality, early childhood education, we give them the best chance to succeed. Studies have shown that kids who have been through Head Start are healthier, more academically accomplished, and more likely to make positive contributions to society. My family understands first-hand just how life changing this program is. Head Start gave my family the tools we needed to succeed; tools that stretched well beyond the classroom. I would not be here today if it were not for the life changing resources and quality education that Head Start provided. On this 50th anniversary of Head Start, I renew my commitment to strengthening and extending this vital program, so that every child--regardless of their circumstance--has the best opportunity and chance to succeed in life.