Dina Titus

Ms. TITUS

Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, recently the Republican leadership handed out a blank piece of paper labeled ``Agenda 2014.'' Blank means no goals, no plan, no immigration reform, no jobs, no nothing. Well, I have a list of proposals that I would like to write on that blank slate, proposals that would create jobs, grow the economy, and strengthen the middle class. So I will start today by introducing commonsense legislation that achieves these objectives and invests in our country's ability to compete in the 21st century. The Training Highly Skilled Americans Act would use revenue from H-1B visas to promote STEM education at minority-serving colleges and universities and provide scholarships to minority students who are going into STEM fields. Science and technology companies are already paying our government to bring foreign workers to the U.S. to fill STEM jobs, so why not use some of these funds to train our own folks to have these skills to fill these jobs in the future? This is particularly critical for minority students, who are significantly underrepresented in these fields. By opening our doors to STEM education, we will strengthen our education system and our economy.

Ms. TITUS

Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Miller and thank Ranking Member Michaud for yielding me this time. As the ranking member of the Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee, I rise today in strong support of S. 893 to provide a COLA increase for disabled veterans. In the wake of Veterans Day, let us take a lesson from President Kennedy's admonition that we should show our respect for our heroes not just through words, but through actions. This legislation is an opportunity for us to take such action. With its passage, Congress can show tangible support for our Nation's heroes. Unlike with Social Security recipients, Congress is required to adjust veterans' COLAs every year. S. 893 would make that important adjustment for next year. That's a good thing that I support, but I would also urge the Senate in the meantime to pass H.R. 570, the American Heroes COLA Act, that would allow for an automatic COLA increase so that veterans' benefits are not subject to any congressional delay. Making the adjustment automatic would remove this important benefit from the capriciousness of partisan politics or personal grandstanding. This bill was introduced in a bipartisan fashion by our subcommittee chairman, Jon Runyan, and me. It was unanimously approved by the House in May and is awaiting action down the hall. So, while we await the passage of that automatic increase, passing S. 893 is an important step forward. I support it. It will ensure that our Nation's heroes receive all the benefits they have earned, and I encourage my colleagues to support it as well because this will be a true recognition of the veterans whose service and sacrifice we honored yesterday.

Ms. TITUS

Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, the annual Battle for Nevada between the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and the University of Nevada, Reno, is not just a football game played once a year; it is a time-honored tradition that reflects the best of Nevada's sports rivalries. The victor not only wins bragging rights for a year, but also the coveted Fremont Cannon, which is painted in the winning school's colors. For 8 long years, Reno has claimed these spoils. But this past Saturday, after a great game between Nevada's two outstanding universities, UNLV celebrated its first victory against the Wolf Pack since 2004 and the long-anticipated return of Fremont Cannon to Las Vegas. Congratulations to UNLV's coach, Bobby Hauck, and all the Rebels for their 27-22 victory against UNR. You have made southern Nevada proud. As part of a friendly wager placed on the game and in honor of Make a Difference Day, my colleague, Mark Amodei from Nevada's Second District, and I will be performing a community service project wearing Rebels red. Go Rebels.

Ms. TITUS

Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Michaud for yielding to me. As ranking member of the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, I strongly support the bill before us, the omnibus bill, H.R. 2189. This legislation includes my bill, H.R. 2086, the Pay As You Rate Act, which would require the VA to pay benefits to veterans as individual components of their claims are reviewed rather than at the completion of the entire claim. Currently, veterans typically receive payments when all medical conditions within a claim are fully adjudicated. Veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan average 8.5 components in their claims. While some of these are very complex and time-consuming, other components are simpler. The Pay As You Rate Act will require the VA to pay veterans as individual medical conditions are adjudicated, providing tens of thousands of veterans and their families much-needed financial support while the VA continues to work on the more complex aspects of their claims. I thank Chairman Miller, Ranking Member Michaud, and Chairman Runyan for including my provision and other Democratic bills in this legislation. Collectively, the legislation before us today should assist VA in its continued effort to transform the claims process from mountains of paper to a more efficient, effective electronic system. In just the past few months, the VA has made great strides in serving our Nation's heroes by reducing the benefits backlog. The VA has set ambitious goals, and Congress should work to support those efforts. More needs to be done, and it needs to be done quickly to ensure that veterans receive the benefits they have earned in a timely fashion. I am also pleased to have worked with Chairman Miller on some of the task force provisions of this legislation. The provision that I added at the full committee markup would improve the proposed task force by including a subcommittee to look at the appeals process. While the VA is making significant progress in reducing the backlog, it is important that we are not creating a new backlog of appeals in the years to come. This subcommittee would be charged with making recommendations aimed at preventing that future backlog of appeals. So I thank you, and I support the bill.

Ms. TITUS

Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H.R. 1405, as amended. I introduced this legislation, H.R. 1405, to improve the veterans' claims appeals process. Currently, a veteran must first exercise his or her appeal rights before the appeal process formally begins and the VA sends the required forms. H.R. 1405, as amended, requires the VA to include an appeals form with the notice of decision for every claim. This cuts out several steps and speeds up the appeals process. This commonsense change will immediately reduce the time frame of the appeals process by 60 days. H.R. 1405 will also allow the VA to provide better customer service to those veterans who are already struggling with significant delays and bureaucratic challenges. This legislation is, indeed, a commonsense improvement that will result in veterans in southern Nevada receiving the benefits they have earned in a timely fashion. I constantly hear from veterans in Las Vegas that the process is too complicated and takes too long. This change will eliminate an unnecessary bureaucratic step and speed up the process for those veterans and all our veterans across the country. H.R. 1405, as amended, is supported by the VA and the veterans service organizations who came and testified. This piece of legislation also includes language from three other bills: H.R. 679, the Honor America's Guard-Reserve Retirees Act, introduced by Representative Walz of Minnesota; Chairman Runyan's bill, H.R. 733, the Access to Veterans Benefits Improvement Act; and Mr. Johnson's bill, H.R. 894, to reform VA's fiduciary program. I want to thank the chairman of our subcommittee, Mr. Runyan, for moving this legislation through the subcommittee and for the bipartisan cooperation that guides our work on behalf of Nevada's veterans. I also want to thank the many veteran service organizations for their helpful input and for supporting this legislation. I urge my colleagues to support passage of H.R. 1405, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Walz), who brings incredible expertise and compassion to the committee as a decorated veteran himself.

Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, I would urge my colleagues to join us in support of H.R. 1405, as amended, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. TITUS

Ms. TITUS. I thank the gentleman. I would like to thank the chairman and the ranking member of this important committee for their work on this bill, and I would also like to thank my colleague from California (Mr. Thompson) for his leadership as part of this bill in addressing the enormous challenges that invasive species present to our country's waters. In southern Nevada--you think of that as a desert, but there is a lot of water there--the spread of the quagga mussels is a growing threat to Lake Mead, which contributes nearly $1 billion to the local economy and supplies 90 percent of southern Nevada's water supply. The spread of quagga mussels in this critical reservoir has led to expensive countermeasures by the Bureau of Reclamation, which is spending nearly $1 million a year to prevent quaggas from infiltrating the Boulder Dam intakes. The Southern Nevada Water Authority was also forced to redesign the water intake 3 project, which is currently underway, to prevent quagga mussels from growing there as well. If unchecked, the mussels can clog the intakes to prevent water from reaching the residents and the visitors to southern Nevada. Likewise, Lake Tahoe, which borders Nevada and California, is on the edge of waterways where quagga mussels have been found and are taking hold. Should quagga mussels establish colonies in Lake Tahoe, the annual impact would be over $22 million a year. The amendment that is part of this bill would direct the GAO to examine the current efforts to address the spread of invasives and to help develop a long-term strategy. So I would urge my colleagues to not only support the bill, but also the amendment. Mr. Chairman, as a Member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I want to thank Chairmen Shuster and Gibbs, and Ranking Members Rahall and Bishop for their hard work on this legislation. I also want to thank them for accepting the Nolan Amendment during Committee Markup that expands the use of the Noxious Weed program to cover aquatic invasives providing an additional tool to address the growing threat of invasive species to our environment and our economy. I want to thank my colleague from California, Mr. Thompson, for his leadership on this issue, and I urge my colleagues to support our Amendment. The amendment itself is simple, but the underlying issue it addresses is complicated and critical because aquatic invasives impact communities across the country, including Las Vegas. In Southern Nevada we are facing enormous challenges with the spread of Quagga Mussels into our local waters, in particular, Lake Mead. Lake Mead is a crown jewel of the National Park Service system welcoming 8 million visitors every year, and contributing up to $1 billion dollars to the local and regional economy. In addition to the recreational opportunities from boating and fishing, Lake Mead is also essential to the vitality of Las Vegas and Southern Nevada, providing 90% of our water. The spread of Quagga mussels in this critical reservoir has led to expensive countermeasures by the Bureau of Reclamation, which is spending nearly $1 million a year to prevent Quaggas from infiltrating the Boulder Dam intakes. In addition to countermeasures to prevent mussel infestation in Las Vegas' water intakes number 1 and 2 in Lake Mead, the Southern Nevada Water Authority has had to change the design of the water intake 3 project, currently underway, to prevent Quagga colonies from growing there as well. If unchecked, the mussels can clog the intakes, preventing water from reaching residents and visitors in Southern Nevada. In addition to impacts in Southern Nevada, I am concerned about the mussels spreading to other parts of our country. Lake Tahoe, which borders Nevada and California, is on the edge of the waterways where Quagga mussels have taken hold. According to a 2009 Army Corps analysis, should Quaggas establish colonies in Lake Tahoe, the annual economic impact would be $22 million dollars. These are issues we cannot afford to ignore. Our amendment directs the GAO to examine the current state of efforts to address the spread of invasives, and to develop a long-term strategy to address this growing concern. Again I urge my colleagues to support our amendment.

Ms. TITUS

Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, nearly 73 years ago, as countries across Europe were falling to Hitler's forces, an emissary from Mussolini arrived in Athens to demand the Greeks surrender and allow the Axis forces to occupy that country. In response, the Greeks courageously replied, ``oxi,'' or ``no.'' The Axis forces quickly descended on Greece, but they failed to anticipate the courage of the Hellenic people, who led a passionate resistance in defense of their freedom and their beloved country. On the island of Crete, for example, with only broomsticks and plowshares as weapons, women and children held the Germans at bay for 10 days, breaking the back of the assault. The story of this bravery has largely been overlooked in the history books, but the Greek refusal to surrender proved to be one of the most decisive moments in the war. As Winston Churchill said: If there had not been the virtue and courage of the Greeks, we do not know what the outcome of World War II would have been. On August 28, Greeks around the world celebrate Oxi Day to honor the great legacy of the Greek people and share with the world the story of their bravery. I commend them and say, ``Happy Oxi Day.''

Ms. TITUS

Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with the people of the Republic of China (Taiwan) as they celebrate as their National Day this week. I am proud to consider myself a friend of the Republican of China and value the relationship between our two nations, which over the last century, has resulted in strong relationship focused on our cultural and economic ties. I visited Taiwan as a state legislator and often welcome its representatives to District One. With the recent expansion of the Visa Waiver Program to include the Republic of China, the United States in general and Las Vegas particularly are excited about hosting even more visitors from Taiwan. Moreover, I would also like to see Taiwan join the International Civil Aviation Organization soon. Taiwan's participation in this important organization will promote global aviation safety and security while strengthening ICAO as an institution. The United States and Taiwan continue to share a close friendship and important economic relationship, and I congratulate the people of Taiwan on the occasion of their National Day.

Ms. TITUS

Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, 15 days ago, an extreme faction of the Republican Party, supported by its leader and empowered by its more complacent members, brought about a shutdown of the entire Federal Government. It has since brought us to the brink of an unprecedented default, and now it refuses to accept a compromise that will open up the government, put people back to work, and lift the debt ceiling so the United States can pay its bills. Americans are fed up with the political obstructionism and dysfunction that has caused this unnecessary crisis. With the clock running out, we cannot afford to waste any more time. We need to act now. So I say to my colleagues across the aisle, stop your guerilla tactics; stop playing games with the good faith and credit of the United States; stop putting radical ideology ahead of the welfare of the American people; and stop sabotaging our economy and our democracy. We have got to bring common sense, integrity, and honor back to the House of Representatives and do what is in the best interests of this great country.

Ms. TITUS

Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to congratulate the Walter Bracken STEAM Academy in District One in Las Vegas for being named a 2013 National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence and for being designated as ``exemplary high achieving.'' The Blue Ribbon Schools award is the highest honor that the Department of Education can bestow on an American school. The administration, faculty, staff, and students of the Walter Bracken STEAM Academy should be very proud. You have developed a strong school community where students are encouraged and enabled to pursue their interests and develop their talents, skills, and intellect. The most important investment we can make for the future of our nation is in the next generation. Walter Bracken STEAM Academy is a prime example of what we can accomplish both individually and as a society when we make access to a quality education a priority.

Ms. TITUS

Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, over 186,000 students in Clark County School District in Las Vegas receive free or reduced school meals, and for many this school meal is the only food they'll eat all day. Yet this destructive government shutdown has cut off Federal funding for school meals, leaving school districts to struggle to feed their students with budgets already devastated by the sequestration. Hungry children come to school unprepared to learn, and school meals give them the opportunity that they need to succeed. Children who eat a school breakfast are better able to score higher on academic tests, they're less likely to miss school, and they're more likely to graduate. Despite this, Republicans are preventing Federal funds from buying food for these students. With 28 percent of children in Nevada at risk of going hungry, we should be doing everything we can to feed these students. The Republican shutdown is doing the opposite. It's harming vulnerable children by literally taking food from the mouths of babes. Shame on these Republicans. They must end this shutdown now.

Ms. TITUS

Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize World Tourism Day. This year's theme is ``Tourism and Water: Protecting Our Common Future,'' and I join with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority in celebrating this theme. For southern Nevada, this combines two of our most prized resources, tourism and water. Last year, nearly 40 million visitors came to Las Vegas. We hosted over 21,000 conventions and meetings, which brought in some 5 million national and international visitors, most of whom spent time in District One. To continue successfully attracting and serving tourists and residents in the middle of the desert, southern Nevada has learned to be especially conscientious about water usage. In Las Vegas, we've found efficient ways to maximize our water usage to enhance the experience of visitors while safeguarding this critical resource for the long term. Every day, tens of thousands of tourists pass by to take in the majestic beauty of the fountains at the Bellagio, not realizing that they come from recycled water. There is also CityCenter, a resort destination located on the Strip which is the world's largest environmentally sustainable, mixed-use, new construction development to receive LEED certification. Every year, CityCenter saves nearly 50 million gallons of water and, as a tribute to its commitment to sustainability, proudly displays an art exhibit of the Colorado River. Tourism and Water, it's a great theme. Come and experience it for yourself only in District One.

Ms. TITUS

Ms. TITUS. This week, a leading Nevada Republican said that the 2014 elections will be a ``great year for Republicans'' because a lot of minorities and a lot of younger people will not turn out. Well, while the GOP plan for 2014 is focused on voter suppression, I'm here to deliver a different message: Minorities and women are going to be turning out in droves next year because they see what the Republican leadership is doing in Washington. They see the dysfunction the Republicans have created and are apparently so proud of. They see the Republican agenda that's driven by an extremist ideology rather than what's best for Americans. In fact, voters of all types are seeing--and will see over the next few days--just how out of step their House Republicans truly are. They grapple not with the needs of Americans, but with the two wings of their own caucus: the far right and the further right. We need a new agenda.

Ms. TITUS

Ms. TITUS. Well, I too would like to thank my friend from the southwest, Congresswoman Sinema, for hosting this special hour to draw attention to Suicide Prevention Month, which we recognize here in September. Suicide within any population is a traumatic thing to deal with. But we are learning that it is increasingly important and increasingly a problem among our military and our veterans. It's critical that we work to address, to recognize, to prevent, and to eliminate military suicides. And I hope that today's Special Order will help to shine a bright light on this very important topic. Suicide within the military is a national problem. You have heard my colleagues speak about it in their districts and their State and across the country. But it is especially acute in my home State of Nevada. A recent study done by the State of Nevada found that veterans in the Silver State commit suicide at a rate of more than 2\1/2\ times higher than nonveterans and quadruple the national rate. The study further reported that Nevada's female veterans, those often hidden veterans, commit suicide at more than triple the overall rate for females statewide and nearly six times--six times--the national rate for females. The study also found that in 2010, suicide accounted for more than a quarter of the deaths among young veterans--those between 24 years and younger--throughout the State of Nevada. This is a trend we just cannot allow to continue. As other speakers have noted, every day, 22 veterans take their own lives. Almost every hour, one of our Nation's heroes takes his or her life. Nearly one in five suicides nationally is a veteran, even though veterans make up only about 10 percent of the U.S. population. As ranking member of the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance, I'm working every day with my colleagues to ensure that veterans receive all the benefits that they've earned and the care that they need. So if you are a veteran who is struggling with thoughts of suicide or you are the friend or family member of a veteran who needs help, please contact us. Reach out to us because we need to know what the VA can do to better support and serve you. I would also encourage my colleagues to cosponsor H.R. 2527, which is the National Guard Military Sexual Trauma Parity Act. This would ensure that members of the Guard receive all the care they need if they're a victim of military sexual trauma while on training missions. We know that if you are a victim and you suffer such trauma, that can often lead to suicide. On our committee, we're constantly working to ensure that the VA is providing care for our veterans struggling with the thought of suicide. But it's also important that we reach out and assure veterans that they know that receiving help is not a sign of weakness. Instead, it's a sign of strength. When Army Staff Sergeant Ty Carter received a Medal of Honor, he encouraged his fellow soldiers to reach out and for the civilian community to support them. He said to the public, ``Know that they are not damaged. They are simply burdened with living with what others do not. We are resilient and will emerge even stronger over time.'' Sergeant Carter, we know that because of leaders like you and the support of a grateful Nation, we can win the battle against military suicide. So, again, let us hear from you. And let me remind veterans and those who love them that the VA operates a confidential support center that's open 365 days a year, 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. And please call if you need support. Their phone number is 1-800-273-8255, and then just press number 1. You can also send a text message to 838255. So don't hesitate to reach out. Someone will be there to hear you. Just as you never leave a fellow soldier on the battlefield, we can't leave anyone behind when they come home. When they come home with wounds that are both visible and hidden, we should be there. So thank you to my colleagues and to the Congresswoman from Arizona for giving us an opportunity to send this message loud and clear.

Ms. TITUS

Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak out against the misguided priorities that are driving the GOP's obstruct, repeal, and repeat agenda, and to call instead for a new policy that addresses the serious challenges our Nation faces. When we adjourn tomorrow, Republican leadership will leave behind a staggering record of unfinished business and partisan messaging bills that put politics ahead of the American people's priorities. Since January, Republicans have not even allowed a vote on a real jobs bill. They haven't finished a budget, passed comprehensive immigration reform, restored funding on nutrition programs, or fixed the sequester. Their aversion to meaningful action is undermining the important economic progress we've made. It's keeping 11 million undocumented immigrants in the shadows, and it's disproportionately harming low- income women and families. Hopefully they will see the light during the August recess and put aside the obstruct, repeal, and repeat agenda and set a new one that answers the public's outcry for action.

Ms. TITUS

Ms. TITUS. I thank the gentlelady for yielding me the time. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to this rule and the underlying bills. I am especially disappointed that my amendment to H.R. 367, the REINS Act, wasn't made in order. My amendment would have protected women and children from the delay and obstructionism in this bill by exempting the Family Medical Leave Act, the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act, and the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act from the bill's intrusive provisions. These four laws safeguard the economic, social, and physical well- being of women and children in Nevada and across the country. They give mothers the chance to care for a new child, ensure that our students have access to nutritious food, protect the rights of students with disabilities, and help women fight for equal pay for equal work. My amendment would have offered the Republicans a chance to be reasonable and to dial back their war on the most vulnerable in our country. H.R. 367, like the other bills being considered under this rule, would hinder our government's ability to serve the people, and it is simply a waste of valuable time. I urge my colleagues to reject it.

Ms. TITUS

Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for the time. I would first respectfully correct the record because the GAO conference was not in Las Vegas; it was in Henderson, Nevada, which is in District 3. Like my colleagues, I believe that government agencies should spend every cent in the most careful and responsible way possible, and it is our job as Members of Congress to ensure that all government spending is effective and efficient. While there are still improvements that can be made, and I agree with many of the comments that have been issued on the floor already, Congress and the administration have already taken many steps to eliminate excessive travel, require transparency, and improve oversight. I rise today, however, because I believe that H.R. 313 sends the wrong message about business travel. I am proud to represent Las Vegas, one of the premier business destinations in the United States. Last year, we hosted some 21,000 meetings and conventions attended by almost 5 million business travelers. These business meetings supported 60,000 jobs with an economic impact of $6.7 billion. Business travel is an important aspect of the economy, with over $250 billion in direct spending by business travelers, which supports 2.2 million jobs nationwide. Even in this age of technology, where lots of business is conducted via the Internet, small businesses across Nevada tell me all the time that the opportunity to meet face-to-face to discuss new programs, cultivate business at a trade show, or learn about new products and designs is just irreplaceable. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues to cultivate this important aspect of our economy while also ensuring that our tax dollars are well spent.

Ms. TITUS

Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, this past weekend, I was shocked to hear the new standard for productivity, leadership, and good governance set here in the House of Representatives. Rather than looking at the success of the American people, the Speaker of the House said we should be judged by the number of laws we repeal. This isn't a standard; this is an excuse for failure. Good governance is not measured by the 38 times that we voted to repeal health care. It is measured by the ability to compromise and create substantial solutions to the issues facing this country. While House Republicans continue to obstruct, repeal, and repeat, 11 million undocumented immigrants remain in the shadows; 7 million students bear the burden of high student loan rates; 16.7 million children risk going to bed hungry; and every single woman in this country makes 77 cents to the dollar made by a man. I say it is time that we need a new agenda and certainly a new standard for success.

Ms. TITUS

Ms. TITUS. Madam Chairman, I rise in support of the Delaney amendment. As a member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, I understand the important role that Fisher Houses play in supporting members of our armed services, our Nation's veterans, and their families. In southern Nevada, a brand new VA hospital opened recently to serve the 154,000 veterans who live in our area. Just north of the hospital, there is land that has already been dedicated to a brand new Fisher House. I support this amendment because it will allow Fisher House Foundation to build an extra four houses this year, including the one in Las Vegas, helping an extra 2,000 families. The Fisher House Foundation received an A-plus rating from the American Institute of Philanthropy, so we know that our money is being used efficiently and effectively to make a meaningful difference in the lives of our heroes and their families. I look forward to a day when members of the armed services and our veterans will all have their families close to them as they receive medical care at these facilities, including the new hospital in Las Vegas.

Ms. TITUS

Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in sadness today to mark the 39th anniversary of the illegal Turkish invasion of Cyprus. On July 20, 1974, Turkish troops invaded and began an unjust occupation of areas in northern Cyprus. Thousands of Cypriots were forced to leave homes where their families had lived for hundreds of years; and within just a few weeks, the Turks had uprooted centuries of culture, religion, and community. Over the years since then, the Turkish forces have committed unspeakable atrocities and destroyed priceless relics, acts which have been condemned by the European Commission for Human Rights. So I'm proud to stand today with my fellow Hellenic Caucus members as we join together almost four decades after the illegal and immoral occupation of Cyprus to call, once again, on Turkey to act now and end the occupation.

Ms. TITUS

Ms. TITUS. I thank my friend from California for the time. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 697, the Three Kids Mine Remediation and Reclamation Act, and urge my colleagues to support the bill. This bipartisan legislation, which has the support of the entire Nevada delegation, including Senators Reid and Heller, is critical to the cleanup and revitalization of long-dormant land near Henderson, Nevada. H.R. 697 sets up a public-private partnership to address the remediation of the more than 1,200 acres of former manganese mining and industrial lands for redevelopment. These activities, as you have heard, date back nearly a century and were critical to our national defense during World War II. But over the last 50 years, the already nasty, polluted site has become increasingly dangerous. Accordingly, the cleanup of this land is a top priority for the Nevada State Department of Environmental Protection, the city of Henderson, and for the thousands of southern Nevada residents who live nearby. I support this legislation to clean up the Three Kids Mine for both safety and environmental reasons and to create opportunities for redevelopment of the site for beneficial use and economic potential. So I would urge my colleagues to join me and the Nevada delegation in support of this bill.

Ms. TITUS

Ms. TITUS. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 5. My colleague from Nevada must be talking to different teachers and parents than I am. This bill would hurt students and teachers and undermine the longstanding Federal mandate to guarantee educational opportunity for all students. I am particularly concerned about the impact this bill would have on English language learners, especially at a time when Nevada schools have seen a significant increase in ELL students. These students enrich our schools with new cultural perspectives, but they need resources and quality instruction to help them succeed academically. H.R. 5 would reduce such resources just when schools and students need them most. This bill would also be devastating for students in special ed. Most students with learning disabilities can meet high standards if they are given the appropriate tools. H.R. 5, however, denies them the chance to learn and thrive. Education is the best investment we can make for the future of our Nation, yet H.R. 5 starves our schools, reduces standards, and diminishes our national commitment to equal access to learning. Let's call it what it is, the Letting Our Students Down Act, and let's vote it down.

Ms. TITUS

Ms. TITUS. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California for yielding me time, and I also thank him for organizing this Special Order. We've heard a lot on this floor and in the press and from our constituents about the moral, the social, the political reasons for us to enact comprehensive immigration reform, but we haven't done enough talking about the economic aspects, so this is a good opportunity do that. I'm very pleased to say that, in the Senate version of the comprehensive immigration reform bill, there is a provision that has to do with increasing H-1B visas. Those visas will bring with them increased jobs, which, of course, support the economy. A second part of that provision is also something that I've been urging my colleagues on the House side who are working on the comprehensive immigration reform bill to include, and that provision would use the revenue from these high-skilled H-1B visas to promote STEM education at minority-serving colleges and universities. You can just look at this chart and see how many new jobs will be created both in 2013 and 2014 by the increase in the number of these visas that would be allowed. If we increase the number of visas, we're also going to increase the amount of funds that come from companies that are willing to pay to bring people from outside the country here for these STEM jobs. I say let's use those funds both to create scholarships for low-income minority students who are pursuing STEM degrees and also to provide funding for American colleges and universities that serve those minority students. We want our new citizens to also be well-prepared citizens. There are colleges and universities all across the country, including several in the First District of Nevada, that are working hard to attract students to the STEM fields. Earlier this year, the College of Southern Nevada hosted approximately 3,000 K through 12 Nevada students at their annual science and technology expo to get local students from all backgrounds, including our minority communities, excited about careers in STEM fields before they enter college. Then in January, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas hosted a STEM summit to feature STEM research and to get students involved in presenting that research and their work in the STEM fields. These are significant and important efforts to promote STEM, but our colleges and universities need our help to expand and improve their STEM outreach and training. By increasing access to STEM education, we can help American and immigrant students gain the knowledge and skills they need in the sciences, technology, math, and engineering so they can compete for the jobs of tomorrow. This is particularly critical for minority students, who are significantly underrepresented in these fields. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in the 2009 American Community Survey, only 12 percent of STEM workers in this country are African American or Hispanic. We can and should be doing better, because a strong STEM workforce is important to American innovation and competitiveness. So science and technology companies that are paying our government through the H-1B visa program to bring foreign workers to the United States to fill these STEM jobs should be making a contribution. Why not use these funds that they're paying to train Americans to have the skills to fill these jobs in the future? Providing scholarships to STEM students and granting funding to colleges and universities that serve minority communities to improve STEM programs would strengthen our educational system. It would help our economy and also our position as a global leader in science and technology. So I would urge the Republican leadership to immediately take up the mantle of reform, make it law, and include these provisions for these high-tech visas, using the funding for the visas then to train our own students, many in minority communities, including the children of those immigrants that we are working to help, for the jobs of the future. Fixing our broken immigration system is not just a moral imperative, but, as we are all discussing tonight, it's an economic necessity.