Norma Torres

Mrs. TORRES of California

Mrs. TORRES of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I absolutely agree that we can do more than one thing at a time. But unfortunately, today should be a day that we are working together in a bipartisan way, again, to expand access to healthcare for fragile Americans that want to have an opportunity and deserve to have an opportunity to see their doctor. So, while my colleagues continue to talk about the millions and billions of dollars that gun manufacturers and oil folks are making, we want to talk about expanding healthcare. But let me remind my colleagues, too, that it is easy to come to the floor and rant and rave when you have no real ideas to offer or solutions. But let's take a look at the facts. The current drop in gas prices is one of the fastest declines in over a decade. Gas prices have declined by an average of 50 cents per gallon over the past 34 days. The most common price at gas stations across the country is now $3.99, with around 20,000 gas stations across over 30 States. But, you see, it is not just about gasoline. We are also increasing availability and options for Americans to drive electric vehicles. So we can do more than one thing. But I urge my colleagues across the aisle, if they truly care about telehealth, if they truly care about improving healthcare options for Americans, that we focus on the two bills, the rule that we have in front of us. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. TORRES of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Working together means meeting each other in the middle when we agree or disagree on an issue, finding middle ground. That is what this bill does because some Republicans and Democrats agree that the healthcare of the American people is worth so much more than nonsense political headlines. So today, once again, we come together, some of us, to help continue to save lives by passing this bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. TORRES of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. It is unfortunate that we fail--some of us on this floor--to recognize that the lead author of this bill is a Republican member of their caucus. Unfortunately, it is a Republican member of their caucus that they no longer find conveniently friendly to their agenda of hate and division. Today, we stand together, and I urge my Republican colleagues to support this bill, to, again, help Americans find the doctor and the healthcare that they need in order to live a better life. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. TORRES of California. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. TORRES of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. The two bills before us for consideration, H.R. 263 and H.R. 4040, will increase access to critical healthcare services and improve public safety. I am proud of Representative Liz Cheney. And while my colleagues continue to argue and work against the healthcare of the American people, we will stand together with those Republicans that have the courage to stand up for healthcare and healthcare options. Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote on the rule and the previous question.

Mrs. TORRES of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

Mrs. TORRES of California

Mrs. TORRES of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. William J. Perez on the occasion of his retirement after more than 47 years in the construction industry. After decades of leadership and supporting Inland Empire labor unions and helping to grow our economy, the Southern California community owes a debt of gratitude to Mr. Perez for his work. Mr. Perez's career began in 1975 in an electrician apprenticeship program, and he graduated in 1979 from the program as a Journeyman Electrician. In 1995, Mr. Perez became a Business Manager for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 440--a position he held for 11 years. His expertise and experience as a foreman, general foreman, estimator, prevailing wage compliance director, and organizer made him an invaluable member of local unions and the construction industry. He also served as the President of the California State Association of Electrical Workers and President of the I.B.E.W-NECA Statewide Joint Apprenticeship Committee. Since 2007, Mr. Perez has worked as the Executive Secretary-Business Manager for the Building and Construction Trades Council of San Bernardino & Riverside Counties. Through his role within the Council, Mr. Perez assisted with the representation of over 16,000 skilled craft workers--represented by 31 local construction unions and district councils in the Inland Empire. Mr. Perez's dedication to the working families and workers' rights is reflected in his current position as a board member for the State of California Building and Construction Trades Council, AFL-CIO. Bill's dedication to his career is also reflected in his commitment to his family and his community. Bill has been married for over 30 years to his wife. They have two children and four grandchildren. For his remarkable accomplishments, it is my honor to recognize William J. Perez. His decades of supporting the labor union community and the working families of the Inland Empire are worthy of the highest commendation.

Mrs. TORRES of California

Mrs. TORRES of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express concern about the building material supply change bottlenecks and elevated construction costs that continue to put a damper on the single-family housing market. For the first time since June 2020, both single-family starts and permits fell below a 1 million annual pace. Additionally, builder confidence in the market for newly built single-family homes declined for the seventh straight month in July, falling 12 points to 55. According to the National Association of Homebuilders and the Wells Fargo Housing Market Index released just this week, this marks the lowest HMI reading since May 2020 and the largest single-month drop in the history of the HMI, except during the pandemic. Building material prices during the pandemic have hit record highs with low stock, and prospective buyers are faced with unaffordable home prices as a result. Affordable housing is a critical need in the Inland Empire, the district that I represent, and I urge the administration to prioritize the ability and the availability and price of lumber to make more homes affordable.

Mrs. TORRES of California

Mrs. TORRES of California. Mr. Speaker, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mrs. TORRES of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my amendment to have transparency and accountability over American taxpayer money sent abroad. I am proud to be supported by Chairman Castro and Chairman Sires of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, as well as Representatives Escobar, Vargas, Jacobs, Malinowski, and Levin. Support from members on both the Armed Services and the Foreign Affairs Committees is a reminder that our national security relies on both the State and Defense Departments. This amendment provides additional oversight over Section 333 funding in the Northern Triangle region of Central America. Section 333 gives the Department of Defense authority to conduct or support programs providing training and equipment to the national security forces of foreign countries. Unfortunately, we have seen numerous instances of abuse and misuse of defense equipment provided to foreign governments, particularly in Central America. This includes using U.S.-provided equipment to repress local people and perpetuate human rights violations. In some instances, U.S. materials have been used against our own U.S. personnel in the area. Let me be clear, U.S.-funded equipment in the Northern Triangle region of Central America has been used by foreign government units against our U.S. personnel working in the region. Sadly, we can't brush off these disturbing instances as being far in the past. These problems continue to happen. This year, we have seen civil society actors, journalists, and independent prosecutors and judges under attack in both El Salvador and Guatemala. In just the last few months, the President of El Salvador declared a state of exception that bypasses citizens' rights and exempts security funding from regular oversight. In Guatemala, we have seen a concerted effort to stamp out the independent judiciary, with those who dare to speak truth to power threatened, put in jail, or forced to flee in fear of their lives. The Northern Triangle region is at a pivotal moment, and the United States must support efforts to build stable and prosperous communities to contribute to a more stable hemisphere and address the real causes of migration. To that end, this amendment would require public disclosure of our section 333 aid to the Northern Triangle region to create greater transparency of how and when we support these governments. This amendment, Mr. Speaker, would also require the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense, to certify to Congress that the governments of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras are credibly investigating and prosecuting their members of the military implicated in human rights violations before sending additional section 333 funding to those organizations. To my Republican colleagues, I want to clarify that this amendment does not end section 333 assistance. It does not tell the Department who it can partner with. It simply says the governments need to be taking steps to investigate members of their military who have been credibly accused of human rights violations, and Congress needs insight into these efforts. The American taxpayer and the communities of the Northern Triangle deserve dignity and accountability. Many here know my strategy for Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras: to hold the corrupt, undemocratic actors who are working against our interests accountable; to help those fighting for accountability, fairness, and democracy in the region; and to ensure that our assistance reaches the people it is intended to help. This amendment will help us do just that, and I urge a ``yes'' vote on this amendment. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. TORRES of California. Mr. Speaker, this certification process does not end section 333 funding to the Northern Triangle. It simply brings accountability and transparency on how U.S. equipment is being used in the region. Mr. Speaker, I request a ``yes'' vote, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. TORRES of California

Mrs. TORRES of California. Madam Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 287, YEA on Roll Call No. 288, and YEA on Roll Call No. 289.

Mrs. TORRES of California

Mrs. TORRES of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Ms. Karen Aponte on the occasion of her retirement from the Los Angeles Police Department. After 42 years of dedicated civic service to the people and communities of Los Angeles, Ms. Aponte will be deeply missed. Ms. Aponte's career began in June 1980 with the City of Los Angeles as a parking attendant. In April 1986, she joined the Los Angeles Police Department as a Police Service Representative, where she answered to 9-1-1 emergency calls as a frontline responder to those in need of help. In times of crisis and major events, Ms. Aponte provided consistent and critical support to law enforcement. Ms. Aponte's achievements have resulted in more than 27 well-deserved commendations during her career. She earned recognition for her performance during the 1992 Civil Unrest, the devasting 1994 earthquake, her professionalism during situations with distressed children, and during the Lakers Championship parade in 2000 when a tactical alert was declared after 250,000 people filled the streets of Los Angeles. During the Democratic National Convention in 2020, Ms. Aponte received praise for her commitment to service excellence. In 2001 Ms. Aponte was assigned to the Timekeeping Unit where she evolved as the timekeeping subject expert. She worked diligently to ensure the smooth function of the unit as she exceptionally performed all her duties. There was no task too big or too small that Ms. Aponte did not welcome. For her remarkable accomplishments, it is my honor to recognize Police Service Representative II Karen Aponte. Her decades of public service and commitment to the Department and the people of Los Angeles are worthy of the highest commendation.

Mrs. TORRES of California

Mrs. TORRES of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor my good friend from the Bay Area, the late Honorable Bill Duplissea, who served in the California Assembly, worked as a well-known lobbyist, and served on numerous boards and commissions throughout his life. At a young age, Bill displayed leadership and ambition both on and off the football field playing for multiple universities, in the Canadian professional football league, and then becoming a businessman with dry cleaning and truck trailer companies. Although Bill had been a Democrat, he ran for office as a Republican in 1986, and won, becoming one of the last Republicans to represent the Bay Area. Although he only served one term, Bill continued to make an impact in the halls of Sacramento by serving on various boards and positions, including as administrative director for the state's Division of Workers' Compensation under Governor Pete Wilson, and as an appointee to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission. Bill will always be fondly remembered for working across the aisle and lighting up any room he walked into with his joy and charm. Bill later became a lobbyist who was known for being a fair and upfront advocate for his clients. Public servants and lawmakers trusted Bill because he provided balanced perspectives into his clients--being honest about both the good, and the bad. Among other things, he represented the pawn shop industry, taking a business that might be hard to put a positive spin on and making them feel more relatable and human. Bill was dedicated to his craft and made sure members knew all parts of his clients, including by conducting numerous site tours. Bill was a strong advocate for small businesses and issues related to veterans. Bill's dedication to policy was also reflected in his commitment to his family and appreciation for sports. Bill enjoyed spending time and going on trips with his wife, Sharon; daughter; Eleanor; and son; Bill. Bill was a dedicated husband, loyal friend, and a unifying public servant. He is affectionately remembered by his loved ones, friends, colleagues, and community. Today, Madam Speaker, it is my honor to recognize the Honorable Bill Duplissea. I am proud to have called him a friend. May he rest in peace.

Mrs. TORRES of California

Mrs. TORRES of California. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor 9-1-1 dispatchers during National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, which runs from April 10th until April 16th this year. Since 1981, the second week in April has been designated as National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, so that we can honor and celebrate our public safety dispatchers, and thank them for the critical work that they do on behalf of our communities. Public safety telecommunicators are the first line of defense in a crisis. Every time a 9-1-1 dispatcher answers the phone, the decisions they make can be the difference between life and death. They are the first, first responders in any crisis. Without public safety telecommunicators, our police, firefighters, and paramedics can't do their jobs. Our emergency response depends on having an expert on the line who can accurately convey information, coordinate multiple teams of first responders, and help ensure the safety of the person on the other end of the line. Public safety telecommunicators are trained to handle any situation in a clear and calm manner. They can help someone administer CPR, aid someone who is experiencing a mental health crisis, respond to crimes in progress, and give advice that prevents harm, among many other things. There should be no doubt that this is a difficult profession. Dispatchers work long hours. They face an extreme emotional and physical toll, something that has been compounded by the pandemic. As others worked in a virtual environment during COVID, dispatchers stayed on the job, at the risk of their own health and safety, so that they could continue helping our communities. And as technology and demands have increased, the job has gotten more difficult and complicated over time. Through it all, dispatchers play a key role in public safety, from responding to reports of violent crimes, to helping individuals administer first aid, to addressing reports of missing or abducted children. When a member of the public calls 9-1-1, they are often in a moment of stress or danger. The person who answers the phone is the first person to hear them ask for help, and to make sure that they get the assistance they need. This job is a critical public service. Madam Speaker, as a former 9-1-1 dispatcher for more than 17 years, I am proud to honor the work of Public Safety Telecommunicators here in the House of Representatives.

Mrs. TORRES of California

Mrs. TORRES of California. Madam Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 979 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mrs. TORRES of California. Madam Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Mrs. Fischbach), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only. General Leave

Mrs. TORRES of California. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members be given 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks.

Mrs. TORRES of California. Madam Speaker, the Rules Committee met on and reported a rule, House Resolution 979, providing for consideration of H.R. 963, the FAIR Act, under a structured rule. It provides 1 hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking member of the Committee on the Judiciary. It makes in order one amendment and provides one motion to recommit. The rule also provides for consideration of H.R. 2116, the CROWN Act, under a closed rule. The rule provides 1 hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking member of the Committee on the Judiciary and provides one motion to recommit. Madam Speaker, the bills we discuss today have to do with fundamental American values. The first bill under this rule, the FAIR Act, simply restores the right of individuals to have their day in court. It prevents the use of forced arbitration clauses in consumer and employment contracts. Most likely, all of us have signed a contract with a forced arbitration clause, and many may not even know it. How many Americans have read their cell phone contract? How many have read their credit card contract? Too many consumer contracts are written to protect the pockets of corporations, leaving consumers at the mercy of a system created by, paid by, and focused on minimizing liabilities of corporate companies. These documents are dozens of pages long, and most contain clauses that require arbitration in case of a legal dispute and prevent the consumer from going to court as an alternative. There is no negotiation or choice. Ask yourselves, if you saw something that you objected to in a contract for your cell phone, what option do you have to change it? The answer is no choice at all. That is why this is called forced arbitration, and these requirements game the system in favor of one party, large corporations. If there is a dispute, corporations get to pick the location of arbitration, and in many cases, it is out of State; pick the arbitrator; and pay for them. Yes, the impartial arbitrator, who depends on corporate contractors, is paid for by the corporation. And corporations get to shield the results from the public. Imagine that. The FAIR Act stops this harmful and abusive behavior. It bans forced arbitration clauses in employment, civil rights, and consumer disputes. Congress just passed legislation that changed this process for disputes involving sexual harassment. However, there are tens of millions of Americans who are still affected by forced arbitration in other contexts, and this legislation provides those same protections to them as well. Ensuring fairness under the law is at the center of the second bill being considered under this rule, the CROWN Act. This bill would ensure that discrimination based on race is not masked as discrimination about hairstyles. This is legislation that we passed by a voice vote last Congress with no objection from the other side. But this year, Republicans decided that something had changed--not with the legislation, but with their Conference--since they objected to the consideration of this bill under suspension. The CROWN Act simply clarifies what studies have shown, that oftentimes women, particularly Black women, are discriminated against based on their natural hair. Courts have rejected previous guidance finding that discrimination on the basis of hairstyle or hair texture is a violation of the Civil Rights Act. So, this legislation simply makes these protections clear, that you cannot discriminate on the basis of a person's hair texture or hairstyle if that style or texture is commonly associated with a particular race or national origin. I believe that both of these bills will help to make our legal system more fair for every single one of us. I urge passage of the rule and these bills. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. TORRES of California. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I am going to share three stories from hardworking Americans. Connie Nagrampa, a California resident, started working as a franchisee for a marketing company. The company cheated her out of her investments, her life investments. When she tried to seek accountability, they forced her into arbitration. The company, conveniently enough for them, chose to move the arbitration process across the country to the city of Boston. A California resident was expected to fly herself and pay for all of her expenses to Boston to seek justice. It was too expensive, obviously, for somebody who has just lost her life savings. She lost the arbitration as a result, and the arbitrator said she had to pay more money to the company. Connie spent years attempting to overturn that unjust cause. Now let me tell you about a brave American Navy reservist, Lieutenant Commander Kevin Ziober, whose employer fired him the same day he was deployed to Afghanistan. This is blatantly illegal under Federal law. But because the employer had forced all of their employees to sign a forced arbitration clause, he was unable to make his claim in Federal court and get his job back. That is what they are defending. Let me tell you about another brave military servicemember, Charles Beard, whose rights under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, SCRA, were violated by his bank. SCRA is a bipartisan law which provides financial and legal protections to servicemembers and their families when they are on Active Duty. This is especially important given how vulnerable Active Duty servicemembers can be to predatory lending schemes, identity theft, or other unfair financial practices when they are deployed or on Active Duty. Mr. Beard is a former sergeant in the Army National Guard, now 100 percent VA disabled. When he was on tour in Iraq, his wife at the time and their five children relied on one vehicle. One day the bank decided to repossess that vehicle. It was no longer convenient to keep that loan open for somebody risking their life for us, our country. This, too, was a violation of the Federal law SCRA because he was deployed. When he tried to hold the bank publicly accountable in court, he was forced into arbitration because of a forced arbitration clause buried in the fine print. These are just three stories of hardworking Americans. These are the stories of real people that we need to stand up for and protect. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. TORRES of California. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Today, we are supposed to be debating two very important bills to help Americans continue to thrive in this great country, but instead my colleagues across the aisle want to debate about something that they know is incorrect. There are over 9,000 approved drilling permits the oil industry is not using. And the truth is that changes in domestic energy policy often take years to impact global energy markets. They know that. But instead, what is happening here is oil companies are using Putin's war as an excuse to jack up prices at the pump even more, and then they argue for looser regulations, cheaper drilling, and more pollution. Madam Speaker, I include in the Record a March 4, 2022, opinion article from The Guardian written by House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Raul Grijalva entitled ``Oil and Gas Lobbyists are Using Ukraine to Push for a Drilling Free-for-All in the U.S.'' [From the Guardian, Mar. 4, 2022] Oil and Gas Lobbyists Are Using Ukraine To Push for a Drilling Free- for-All in the US (By Raul M. Grijalva) Last week, we all watched in horror as Vladimir Putin launched a deadly, catastrophic attack on Ukraine, violating international treaties across the board. Most of us swiftly condemned his actions and pledged support for the Ukrainian people whose country, homes and lives are under attack. But the fossil-fuel industry had a different take. They saw an opportunity--and a shameless one at that--to turn violence and bloodshed into an oil and gas propaganda-generating scheme. Within hours, industry-led talking points were oozing into press releases, social media and opinion pieces, telling us the key to ending this crisis is to immediately hand US public lands and waters over to fossil-fuel companies and quickly loosen the regulatory strings. Our top priority must be ending Putin's hostilities, but as chair of the US House committee on natural resources, I feel duty-bound to set the record straight. We can't let the fossil-fuel industry scare us into a domestic drilling free- for-all that is neither economically warranted nor environmentally sound. Despite industry's claims to the contrary, President Biden has not hobbled US oil and gas development. In fact, much to my deep disappointment and protest, this administration actually approved more US drilling permits per month in 2021 than President Trump did during each of the first three years of his presidency. Before the pandemic, oil and gas production from public lands and waters reached an all-time high, and the current administration has done little to change that trajectory over the last 13 months. Fossil-fuel companies and their backers in Congress also profess that more drilling on public lands and waters would lower gas prices for Americans. But if that's true, why hasn't record oil extraction from both federal and non- federal lands over the last decade done anything to consistently lower, or at least stabilize, prices at the pump? The fact is that crude oil is a volatile global commodity. Worldwide supply, demand, and unpredictable events--like wars--influence the price of gas, not the current administration's decision to approve a few new leases or permits. Even if we take industry's claims at face value, nothing is keeping fossil-fuel companies from more drilling on public lands right now. The oil industry already controls at least 26m acres of public land and is sitting on more than 9,000 approved drilling permits they're not using. They have a similarly gratuitous surplus offshore, where nearly 75% of their active federal oil and gas leases, covering over 8m acres, have yet to produce a single drop. Any new leases issued today wouldn't produce anything of value for years, or even decades in some cases. If industry did start to ramp up production from federal leases, the overall increase to the total US supply would likely be marginal. In 2020, public lands and waters only accounted for 22% and 11% of oil and gas production, respectively. The vast majority of oil and gas resources are beneath state and private lands--not public lands or federal waters. With the facts laid bare, we see the fossil-fuel industry's crocodile tears for what they are--the same old demands for cheaper leases and looser regulations they've been peddling for decades. These pleas have nothing to do with countering Putin's invasion or stabilizing gas prices, and everything to do with making oil and gas development as easy and profitable as possible. The US is the world's top oil and gas producer. Doubling down on fossil fuels is a false solution that only perpetuates the problems that got us here in the first place. And quite frankly, we can't afford to maintain the status quo. In its newest report the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) issued its most dire warning yet on the rapidly accelerating climate crisis. If we fail to enact major mitigation efforts, like curbing fossil-fuel development, both quickly and substantially, we will ``miss a brief and rapidly closing window of opportunity to secure a livable and sustainable future for all''. Fortunately, there is a path forward that simultaneously cuts the lifeline to fossil-fuel despots like Putin, stabilizes energy prices here at home, and creates a safer, more sustainable planet. We must wean ourselves off our oil and gas dependence and make transformational investments in cleaner renewable energy technologies, like those in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Build Back Better Act and the Competes Act, and we must do it now. The fossil-fuel industry has had hold of the microphone for far too long. It's time we let the facts speak for themselves.

Mrs. TORRES of California. Madam Speaker, if my colleagues were so concerned about oil prices or the welfare and security of humanity in the crisis that is happening in Ukraine, maybe they should have stepped up and inquired about the five meetings that the previous administration held in secret without staff, only a translator, with Vladimir Putin. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. TORRES of California. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. TORRES of California. Madam Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. TORRES of California. Madam Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.