Norma Torres

Mrs. TORRES of California

Mrs. TORRES of California. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentlewoman from Arizona (Mrs. Lesko), 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. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members be given 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks.

Mrs. TORRES of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, the House Rules Committee met and reported a rule, House Resolution 558, providing for consideration of H.R. 1423, the FAIR Act, under a structured rule. The rule provides for 1 hour of general debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on the Judiciary. The rule also provides same day authority for a rule providing for the consideration of a fiscal year 2020 CR and provides blank suspension authority through the legislative day of Friday, September 20, 2019. Mr. Speaker, 11 years ago, Kevin Ziober joined the United States Navy Reserve. In his own words, he did so to ``help protect America's liberties, freedoms, and security.'' From 2010 to 2012, Kevin worked diligently for a Federal contractor in my home State of California, helping to grow the company from 18 employees to more than 90. When he found out that he would be deployed in November of 2012, his employer decorated the office with navy-color balloons and threw a surprise party in his honor. Unfortunately, the real surprise was delivered to him 30 minutes after his party. Kevin was fired. His employer made it clear that his job would not be waiting for him when he got back from his deployment. I wonder what my colleagues would do if forced with the same circumstance of choosing country over providing for their own families. The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act protects his rights as a reservist to deploy and keep his job. When Kevin returned from serving his country in 2014 and tried to enforce this very right, his employer filed a motion to compel arbitration, and it was granted. Six months into his tenure with the company, Kevin had been required to sign several documents as a condition of keeping his job. Those documents included a forced arbitration clause, which meant that Kevin would have no access to the Federal court system--no access. He would lose his right to a jury trial, to any meaningful appeal, and to a public or speedy proceeding of any kind. Mr. Speaker, Kevin and the thousands of other Americans who have been forced into arbitration proceedings are why we are here today. We are here to ensure that Americans are not forced to unknowingly agree to surrender their constitutional rights. Under the present system, when corporations harm workers and consumers, their cases are often funneled into the confidential quasi- legal arbitration system. When thousands of Californians were charged early termination fees that were illegal under State law, DIRECTV responded by forcing individual customers into arbitration. What exactly are consumers supposed to do when it costs more to pursue a case through arbitration than it would if they were looking to recover a small amount? Instead of victims fighting their cases together, big corporations can get away with making millions illegally by harming average Americans. By allowing forced arbitration and preventing class action lawsuits, we incentivize this very bad behavior. Mandatory arbitration has the potential to affect everyone. One story that haunts me is that of Sister Irene Morissette. When she was 84 years old, Sister Irene, an elderly Catholic nun, moved to Chateau Vestavia, an assisted living facility outside of Birmingham, Alabama. While living at this facility, she was brutally raped at 84 years of age. The police found blood and semen on her bed and her clothing. The medical examiner documented bleeding and injuries that indicated a rape had occurred, but after the police failed to bring a criminal case, Irene's family attempted to bring a civil suit against Chateau Vestavia. Instead of being able to pursue her case in court, she was forced to arbitration. Irene, unknowingly, had signed a forced arbitration clause buried in the documents required to live at the facility. The arbitrator decided that, despite the physical evidence of rape, besides the blood and the semen on her clothing, the facility that was charged with keeping her safe could not and would not be held responsible. Unfortunately, forced arbitration is common practice among large chain nursing facilities. Ninety percent of these large facilities require forced arbitration agreements. Mr. Speaker, can you imagine trusting your loved one, your mom or a grandma, to be cared for at one of these facilities and then finding out that they have been brutally harmed and that you could not seek a fair recourse, no justice? These facilities argue that if you refuse to sign a forced arbitration clause, you can just take your loved one, take your business somewhere else, go. But that choice isn't a viable choice, because the majority of these large facilities, as I stated, 90 percent of these large facilities require you to sign an arbitration agreement. Many people don't have another option, at least not one if they want to live close to their loved ones or in their home State. So, seniors must sign away their right and be denied the opportunity to seek justice, just like Sister Irene. What struck me the most about her story is why the arbitrator did not rule in her favor. The arbitrator said that Sister Irene did not sound upset enough in the audio recording to determine if she was really raped. What does that mean? How many times have men been judge and jury when deciding women didn't seem hurt enough, didn't fight back enough, didn't wear the right clothing, didn't scream loud enough, or didn't wear her own condom? Sister Irene was 84 years old, for God's sake. What does it take to find responsibility in an act of violence against an innocent nun? I wonder how many other victims, who have been forced into arbitration, have heard similar statements of doubt from private arbitrators. The worst part is that we will never know. And why is that? Because most arbitration proceedings are not public. Nondisclosure agreements and gag orders often accompany mandatory arbitration. The #MeToo movement taught us a valuable lesson about nondisclosure agreements and forced arbitration. Without forced arbitration, we could have stopped Bill O'Reilly or Roger Ailes from assaulting women and spewing their hate on FOX News long ago. Doing away with forced arbitration means more victims can share their stories and prevent abusers from harming others. What I hope these stories make clear is that arbitration, contrary to claims of my colleagues, does not work for everyone. In fact, for most Americans, it serves as a barrier to justice and a legal shield for corporations. It is a system that deters defendants from seeking justice and small payouts. It is a system that is fundamentally based on tricking Americans into giving up their rights. That is why H.R. 1423 is so critically important. This bill would restore the rights of Americans by allowing them to make the choice for themselves about whether arbitration is right for them. Ultimately, that is what this bill is about: freedom to choose for every American. If arbitration is the amazing system that my colleagues claim it is, then Americans will flock to pursue their claims through it. But if arbitration is, in fact, the barrier to justice that it appears to be for so many Americans, then this bill will allow them to choose for themselves how they want to pursue that justice. Voting for this rule is a step towards fighting the special interests that oppress our constituents. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. TORRES of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Cartwright).

Mrs. TORRES of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. When Wells Fargo opened up 3.5 million fake accounts, including 178,972 from Arizona, Wells Fargo tried, since 2013, to use forced arbitration to block lawsuits, including a class-action case. These people were charged excess overdraft fees when their accounts were not overdrawn. As it relates to labor, there are 60.1 million workers who make up a majority of nonunion private-sector employees who are subject to forced arbitration clauses. These employees are told that if they want the job or want to keep their current job, they must sign away their right to their day in court and submit to forced arbitration agreements. In contrast, the collective bargaining process includes protections that are unavailable to many nonunion workers, such as rejecting unfair employment terms. In collective bargaining, both the company and the union are represented by counsel and can agree on arbitration before the dispute arises to an informed and transparent basis. The collective bargaining process can also involve agreement over other important protections, such as truly neutral arbitrators, better procedures, and transparent decisionmaking. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Raskin), a distinguished member of the Rules Committee.

Mrs. TORRES of California. Mr. Speaker, I would like to inquire first from my colleague if she is prepared to close.

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

Mrs. TORRES of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Before I conclude, I would like to start by thanking Mr. Johnson and Mr. Nadler for bringing this critical piece of legislation to the floor. Mr. Speaker, my colleagues have repeatedly argued that this legislation is for trial lawyers. Let me tell you about Allen. Allen tried to hold American Express accountable for high swipe fees in a class action lawsuit with other small businesses. Instead, he was forced to go at it alone in arbitration, where he quickly found out that, even if he won his case, he would lose because it would cost much more to bring his claim than he could hope to ever recover. Allen lost his case after appealing all the way to the Supreme Court. Recently, some very large companies like Walgreens, CVS, and Safeway have taken American Express to trial over the very same issue. The difference here is that they are large enough to have been able to negotiate contracts without forced arbitration clauses. I have heard it said that the FAIR Act is bad for small businesses. It is quite the opposite. Corporate America claims the FAIR Act outlaws all arbitration clauses. That is simply not true. The FAIR Act does not apply to business-to-business arbitrations. The bill protects workers, consumers, and small businesses with antitrust cases. Companies like Walmart or Exxon are not protected from forced arbitration under the FAIR Act. I could share many more of these stories, but our time here is limited. It shocks me that my colleague is so opposed to fair representation when our Founding Fathers recognized the importance of access to legal counsel, and every day on this very floor we pledge ``with liberty and justice for all''--for all. I do agree with my colleagues, Mr. Speaker, that the biggest special interest at play here is the corporations that want to protect their top executives who sexually assault their employees; the cable companies who charge illegal fees, making millions in profits; the credit card companies that charge exorbitant fees, crippling small businesses; and many others that use forced arbitration to escape justice. There are plenty of special interests that are fighting to keep using this broken system, and my colleague has tried to flip that narrative to make it seem as if the underdog will be hurt by this legislation-- the underdog of billionaires. Nothing could be further from the truth. Let's not forget whom this bill is for. This bill is about fighting for veterans like Kevin, for our loved ones in nursing homes like Sister Irene, for small businessowners and every other victim of forced arbitration. Mr. Speaker, we have tossed around a lot of legal terms in this debate, but at its core, this bill is about justice. In conclusion, I would like to tell about a horrific experience suffered by a customer of Massage Envy in L.A. County. Lilly was sexually assaulted by a therapist, and after the assault, Lilly tried and tried to cancel her membership to this service, but the company repeatedly put roadblocks in her way. A year and a half later, she downloaded the Massage Envy app on her phone to cancel her membership. Hidden in the fine print of the app was a forced arbitration clause. Lilly filed a lawsuit. Like hundreds of other women who have been assaulted, now Massage Envy is using forced arbitration to prevent Lilly from getting justice, attempting to force her and other women into arbitration to keep it a secret. Years later, she still has not seen an outcome. By isolating survivors of sexual assault, wage theft, and discrimination and denying them the leverage of class action suits, we discourage other victims from coming forward. While the victims wait in limbo, navigating a potentially rigged arbitration system, their perpetrators are free to continue to rape, to continue to steal, and to continue their bad behavior. Forced arbitration is bad for workers, small businesses, and consumers, and this bill is about giving Americans a chance to fight against powerful special interests. Mr. Speaker, as my colleagues consider this legislation, I ask you: Will we continue to silence victims, or will we give them the freedom to make their own choice to fight against the injustice that they have suffered? Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote on the rule and a ``yes'' vote on the previous question. The material previously referred to by Mrs. Lesko is as follows Amendment to House Resolution 558 At the end of the resolution, add the following: Sec. 4. Notwithstanding any other provision of this resolution, the amendment printed in section 5 shall be in order as though printed as the last amendment in part B of the report of the Committee on Rules accompanying this resolution if offered by Representative Lesko of Arizona or a designee. That amendment shall be debatable for 10 minutes equally divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent. Sec. 5. The amendment referred to in section 4 is as follows: At the end of section 401 of chapter 4 of title 9 of the United States Code, as added by section 3 of the bill, add the following: ``(7) the term `solicited party' means a contracting party asked to agree to a predispute arbitration agreement or to a predispute joint-action waiver; and ``(8) the term `soliciting party' means a contracting party who asked a solicited party to agree to a predispute arbitration agreement or to a predispute joint-action waiver.''. In section 402(a) of chapter 4 of title 9 of the United States Code, as added by section 3 of the bill, insert ``unless the solicited party seeks to enforce such agreement, or such waiver, against the soliciting party and the agreement or waiver was agreed to before the date of enactment of this Act'' before the period at the end.

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 the Footsteps to You: Chattel Slavery exhibit. This exhibit opened in San Bernardino in 2018 and featured original artifacts and documents from the 19th century to showcase how the institution of slavery has shaped the United States. Originally from historian Jerry Gore's estate, the collection gives visitors greater insight into the daily abuses inflicted on the millions enslaved in America, and the courage that African women, men, and children demonstrated while fighting for their freedom. Guests can immerse themselves in newspapers, first-person accounts, and objects of the slave trade. I had the chance to examine up close some of these documents and was reminded that slavery was not just an unspoken evil, but one out in the open, written, and debated in our country. These slave narratives help spark questions about how visitors themselves would have participated in slavery during this time in history. The exhibit was one of the San Bernardino County programs named as part of the 2019 Achievement Awards from the National Association of Counties. It is my honor to recognize the Footsteps to You: Chattel Slavery exhibit on the House floor today. This exhibit provides necessary insights and education into the experience of a slave in America and has made important contributions to the 35th District that are worthy of admiration.

Mrs. TORRES of California

Mrs. TORRES of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representatives Maloney and Nadler for organizing this Special Order to mark a day that is engraved in the memory of every American, September 11, 2001. Eighteen years later we honor the lives of the fallen, the firefighters and the law enforcement officers who ran towards danger when everyone else was running away from it. And we recognize the 911 dispatchers who were working around the clock behind the scenes to organize emergency response across our Nation. I was working at the LAPD 911 center that morning. It was all hands on deck, and I didn't know when I would be able to go home. My first assignment that day was to assemble two mobile field force units and send them out to protect places of worship, water treatment plants, cell phone towers, and anything that could be considered a target. I had no idea what would come next. None of us did. But like every first responder working that day, 911 dispatchers had to cast their own fears aside. They had jobs to do. They had to protect and secure their communities, just like firefighters and police officers. And they had to be the calm reassuring voice on the other side of the line for every person who dialed 911, for every resident who was fearing the worst, for every child who was calling to ask should I go to school or stay home. We received calls from all over the world at our 911 center that day. So as we pause today to remember that tragic, dark day, let us not forget the unsung heroes, the 911 dispatchers who are always heard and never seen.

Mrs. TORRES of California

Mrs. TORRES of California. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor Deborah Brin Pruitt's 30 years of service to the families and children of the Pomona Valley as Director of the Temple Beth Israel Preschool and Daycare. Since her leadership of the school began in 1989, Deborah has helped shape the lives of children from well over one thousand families, providing a caring, creative, and safe learning environment that fosters emotional and intellectual growth and development for her young students. Through Deborah's management, the preschool has been an important asset to the synagogue community, both culturally and financially. Under her direction, the school has proudly opened its doors to children of all faiths and cultures, helping promote integration of the synagogue within the overall general community as she managed the business of the school to support the financial life of Temple Beth Israel. During her tenure as Director, Deborah has provided leadership and mentorship to dozens of early childhood education professionals. Supporting the professional growth of her staff at the temple, as well as sharing her knowledge for nearly a decade teaching child development courses at Chaffey Community College and American Nanny College. Deborah has been recognized as the ``Jewish Professional of the Year'' by the Jewish Federation of the Greater San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys, and she is an important member of the professional team that makes Temple Beth Israel a shining light in the Jewish community and the entire community of the Pomona Valley. For her leadership over these past 30 years, we honor Deborah Brin Pruitt on this day and thank her for her dedication and service that will continue to benefit Temple Beth Israel and the Pomona Valley community for generations to come.

Mrs. TORRES of California

Mrs. TORRES of California. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the accomplishments of Kennice Alex in 40 years of service to the California Highway Patrol and the Los Angeles Communications Center. ``Wow! Thank You!'' & ``There she goes!'' These are just a few expressions Kennice Alex hears from her co-workers on a daily basis. But before you can truly understand these expressions, you must first hear the many accomplishments of a woman who began her career with the California Highway Patrol 40 years ago. Kennice is a native of Los Angeles, California. She was born on September 26th, and has raised two amazing daughters: Tiffany and Brittany. While doing so, she was able to nurture and love three additional children, and is currently assisting in raising her grandson, all within Los Angeles. In addition to spending time with her family, Kennice enjoys many activities such: Water Aerobics, Zumba, and AARP Soul Steppers. Not only has she volunteered at different food banks in Los Angeles, she has also worked with the Lakers organization, helping feed the homeless on Thanksgiving Day. Her volunteer work does not stop there. She has donated items and worked with the Dream Center assisting victims of Hurricane Katrina; recruited coworkers, dubbed ``Chippies Angeles,'' to donate items at the Louis Dantzler Preparatory Academy Middle School; and raised money for breast cancer patients at the City of Hope. Kennice began her career with the California Highway Patrol on July 23, 1979. At work, Kennice is well-respected and referred to as ``Ms. Kennice''. She was part of the last training class to work on cards and one of the first to work on computers, as Los Angeles Communications Center served as the Pilot for CHP going live on Computer Aided Dispatch. During her tenure, Kennice served as a union representative for 26 years. While in this position, she attended numerous meetings in Sacramento with state legislators to discuss allocating funds for programs in public safety and 911 issues. During the many incidents Kennice has worked over the years, the 1199 Officer-involved shooting of Officers Martinez and Szabo is one she will never forget. While on duty, Kennice received the call for help from the Officers, and immediately began to work diligently to ensure both Officers received immediate assistance from all field personnel and allied agencies. Unbeknownst to Kennice and her beat partner, the outcome of this incident would leave Officer Martinez fatally wounded and Officer Szabo severely injured. Kennice remained calm and professional under the most stressful situation a dispatcher can ever face. Throughout her career, she has also worked numerous events such as the 1984 Olympics, the 1991 LA Riots, the Northridge Earthquake, the OJ Simpson Pursuit and trial, the 2000 Democratic National Convention, and the Y2K changeover, just to name a few. Throughout the years, Ms. Kennice has benevolently and continuously met the needs of her peers. She was one of the main coordinators in creating the Relaxation room at our Communications Center, where she continues to maintain and purchase supplies. She generated ``Team CHP'' where she and coworkers help raise awareness and funds by participating in charity events such as the Revlon Breast Cancer Walk, the Multiple Sclerosis Walk, and several Chips for Kids toy drives. Ms. Kennice has not only dedicated her time and talent but has given us 40 illustrious years of hard work and dedication to the community and the California Highway Patrol.

Mrs. TORRES of California

Mrs. TORRES of California. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the accomplishments of Beverly Lee in 40 years of service to the Los Angeles Communications Center, or LACC. A Public Safety Operator at LACC is responsible for answering any and all 911, public information, and allied agency calls in the 88 cities with in Los Angeles County. LACC is the largest dispatch center in the state and Los Angeles County and answers an average of 7,000 calls a day, and over 10,000 calls a day during holidays, special events, or catastrophes. Beverly Lee's journey at LACC began on July 23, 1979. Her younger brother was a dispatcher at LACC, and he encouraged Beverly to apply and test for a position. Beverly worked hard during her training and passed probation; the rest is history. Beverly's career is historic in many ways. She was part of the last training class to document critical information on cards and the first to learn the computer-aided dispatch system. Throughout her 40-year career, she has handled innumerable high-priority emergency calls proficiently and calmly, being the voice of help in many hopeless moments. She was an integral part of rendering safety, service, and security to the public during the 1984 Olympics, 1991 LA Riots, 1994 Northridge Earthquake, 2000 Democratic National Convention, Y2K computer changeover, numerous LA Lakers Championships, the LA Kings 1st Championship, and many other notable emergencies. She has spent an untold number of holidays away from family and friends to assist others that need her help. Beverly has an excellent work ethic and displays it daily. She physically, mentally, and emotionally exceeds her job expectations and does it with a smile. She is a strong and dedicated supporter of LACC's training program, and her guidance has led to many supervisorial and managerial promotions. She has donated food, clothing, and monetary gifts to the homeless and to Hurricane Katrina Victims, and is an active member of ``Team CHP'', supporting the Revlon Breast Cancer Walks and CHIPS for Kids. Her infectious laugh contributes to the morale of LACC, and her willingness to go above and beyond is truly an inspiration. Beverly never imagined having a 40-year career at LACC, but has maintained her goal of having an excellent work ethic and a grateful attitude. She says the most rewarding gift of working at LACC has been the friendship, loyalty, and support she has experienced here. Beverly's heart and attitude are an example to us all.

Mrs. TORRES of California

Mrs. TORRES of California. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the accomplishments of Beverly Lee in 40 years of service to the Los Angeles Communications Center, or LACC. A Public Safety Operator at LACC is responsible for answering any and all 911, public information, and allied agency calls in the 88 cities within Los Angeles County. LACC is the largest dispatch center in the state and Los Angeles County and answers an average of 7,000 calls a day, and over 10,000 calls a day during holidays, special events, or catastrophes. Beverly Lee's journey at LACC began on July 23, 1979. Her younger brother was a dispatcher at LACC, and he encouraged Beverly to apply and test for a position. Beverly worked hard during her training and passed probation; the rest is history. Beverly's career is historic in many ways. She was part of the last training class to document critical information on cards and the first to learn the computer-aided dispatch system. Throughout her 40-year career, she has handled innumerable high-priority emergency calls proficiently and calmly, being the voice of help in many hopeless moments. She was an integral part of rendering safety, service, and security to the public during the 1984 Olympics, 1991 LA Riots, 1994 Northridge Earthquake, 2000 Democratic National Convention, Y2K computer changeover, numerous LA Lakers Championships, the LA Kings 1st Championship, and many other notable emergencies. She has spent an untold number of holidays away from family and friends to assist others that need her help. Beverly has an excellent work ethic and displays it daily. She physically, mentally, and emotionally exceeds her job expectations and does it with a smile. She is a strong and dedicated supporter of LACC's training program, and her guidance has led to many supervisorial and managerial promotions. She has donated food, clothing, and monetary gifts to the homeless and to Hurricane Katrina Victims, and is an active member of ``Team CHP'', supporting the Revlon Breast Cancer Walks and CHIPS for Kids. Her infectious laugh contributes to the morale of LACC, and her willingness to go above and beyond is truly an inspiration. Beverly never imagined having a 40-year career at LACC, but has maintained her goal of having an excellent work ethic and a grateful attitude. She says the most rewarding gift of working at LACC has been the friendship, loyalty and support she has experienced here. Beverly's health and attitude are an example to us all.

Mrs. TORRES of California

Mrs. TORRES of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as the first person born in Guatemala to serve in the United States House of Representatives. I know the Guatemalan people have lived through many difficult times, and I know this because I was born there during the civil war. My parents made the heartbreaking decision to send me to live with my uncle in the United States when I was a little girl. But through it all, the people of Guatemala have not given up. They have continued to work to make a better life for their children and for their children's children. They have worked for justice, for democracy, and they have won important victories. In 1996, the efforts of the Guatemalan people ended the civil war; and in 2007, their search for justice led to the creation of the International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala, an innovative institution whose mission was to help rid the country of corruption and organized crime. Working with brave Guatemalan judges and prosecutors, CICIG made real progress in improving Guatemala's justice system. Then, in 2015, Guatemalans of all ages and political stripes took to the streets to call for the resignation of massively corrupt President Otto Perez Molina, and they won. The long struggle of the Guatemalan people has led to a country that is safer and more just. The country's problems are far from resolved, but progress has been made. Today Guatemala is at a crossroads. CICIG has, unfortunately, been forced out, and the country is in the middle of an election season, but many Guatemalans fear that the current government will be replaced by a new government that is just as corrupt as the current and the previous ones. So many Guatemalans feel like they are alone, and some are losing hope, but to the Guatemalan people I say this: You are not alone, and you cannot give up. Many of us here in the United States Congress understand your challenges. We understand what you are facing, and many of us refuse to believe the lies peddled by the corrupt political class and their lobbyists. And many of us will continue to stand with you, and we will keep on fighting for your cause because we know that it is our cause, too. We know that a more just and democratic Guatemala is only in the best interests of ours, as well, and we know that you want for your children the same thing that we want for our American children. I am confident that one day Guatemala will have a government that is worthy of its people, a government that works to advance justice, not to undermine and eliminate it; and one day, the United States Government will once again support the fight against corruption in Guatemala, and together, as partners, we will work toward a brighter and more prosperous and more democratic future. So in closing I say to my colleagues, we cannot give up on the Guatemalan people. And to the Guatemalan people I say: Do not give up on your future. Even in the darkness, we must look for signs of hope. And in 1990, a brave anthropologist named Myrna Mack was killed by a military death squad for speaking out about the abuses against indigenous Guatemalans, but her sister Helen worked to bring justice in her case and helped lead the effort to create CICIG. And now Myrna Mack's daughter Lucrecia is going to be a member of the Guatemalan Congress. So we must remember Pablo Neruda's words: ``They can cut all the flowers, but they can't stop the spring.''

Mrs. TORRES of California

Mrs. TORRES of California. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 509 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mrs. TORRES of California. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Burgess), 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. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members be given 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks.

Mrs. TORRES of California. Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, the Rules Committee met and reported a rule, House Resolution 509, providing for consideration of H.R. 397, the Rehabilitation for Multiemployer Pensions Act of 2019, under a structured rule. The rule makes in order one amendment. The rule provides 1 hour of general debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committees on Education and Labor and Ways and Means. The rule also provides for consideration of H.R. 3239, the Humanitarian Standards for Individuals in Customs and Border Protection Custody Act, under a structured rule. The rule self-executes Chairman Nadler's manager's amendment and makes in order two further amendments. The rule provides 1 hour of general debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on the Judiciary. Upon passage of the rule, House Resolution 507 will be considered as adopted. Finally, the rule provides suspension authority for this Thursday and Friday, and standard floor recess instructions for the August district work period. Mr. Speaker, in a few days, we will be celebrating 200 days since Democrats took back the majority in the U.S. House of Representatives. We have spent the past 8 months fighting for American families, American values. While Republicans spent 8 years in charge, what did they get done? Their crowning achievement was a massive tax giveaway to corporations to line the pockets of the superwealthy, while exploding the Federal deficit by $1.5 trillion. Clearly, a tax scam was a result of special interests having too much power in Washington. Mr. Speaker, it is time to give back that power to the people, to the American people that sent us here. Democrats passed the For the People Act, which puts elections back in the hands of the people and gets special interest out of the government. And instead of giving tax cuts to billionaires, Democrats, last week, passed legislation to increase the minimum wage to $15 an hour. And as a result, 33 million Americans will finally get a raise and no more singling out to our young Puerto Ricans. The Raise the Wage Act repealed a shortsighted Republican measure that allowed employers to pay Puerto Ricans under the age of 25 a measly $4.25 an hour for up to 4 years. I don't know about my colleagues' backgrounds, but at 20 years old, I was raising a family, and I could not have done that on $4.25 an hour. And we proclaim to all the American women, whether you are a supervisor at a fast-food restaurant, a nurse at a hospital, or a World Cup-winning soccer player, women deserve equal pay for equal work. And for Dreamers without permanent legal status who came here as children and just want to contribute to the greatness that makes America, Democrats passed the Dream Act so that they can have a pathway to citizenship. My Republican colleagues refused to bring up the Dream Act when they were in charge, even when, clearly, we had enough votes to pass the bill. Mr. Speaker, that is the kind of progress Americans wanted to see. That is why elections matter. Today, we are also voting on the Butch Lewis Act, to protect the pensions of hardworking Americans. I come from a proud union household. For 17\1/2\ years, I worked as a 911 dispatcher, and my husband was a member of the building and construction trades for 20 years. We taught our children, our sons, to work hard and save for their future, and we showed them the honor of public service. Mr. Speaker, in December of 2014, this body passed the Multiemployer Pension Reform Act of 2014, a misguided bill that reneged on the promise that we make to retirees that they will get the benefits they worked and negotiated for. And here we sit, almost 5 years later, and the multiemployer pension system is still on the brink of a real and disastrous crisis. While these plans have historically been a safe and secure retirement option, many plans now face financial shortfalls because of the Great Recession and other structural challenges, like a lack of new workers, an increase in the number of retirees, and employees abandoning the commitments that they made to their employees. Around 130 of these plans covering over a million Americans are rapidly running out of money to pay benefits that were promised to these employees. Truck drivers, electricians, ironworkers, steelworkers, coal miners, and many, many others participate in multiemployer pension plans. More than 5,000 of my constituents, alone, participate in multiemployer pension plans. These hardworking individuals are staring down the possibility of losing their retirement through no fault of their own. I know that some of my colleagues are going to tar and feather this bill. They are going to call it a bailout. They are going to say that it is fiscally irresponsible. But this bill only authorizes loans, loans for multiemployer pension plans, if it is clear that those loans can be repaid with interest. This is not a bailout; this is a loan. And I am happy to have my staff provide a dictionary if any of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are still confused about the difference and the meaning of each. Hardworking American workers and retirees are counting on us to protect the benefits that they have earned and keep them on a solid financial footing. H.R. 397 does that exactly, and all without forcing workers and retirees to pay a single cent more for the benefits that they have earned. Now, I would like to turn our attention to H.R. 3239, Humanitarian Standards for Individuals in Customs and Border Protection Custody Act. I have had the opportunity to witness the horrendous conditions at our southern border, children jailed in freezing cold cages, toddlers going without nutritious food. They need to grow up and be healthy and strong. Six-year-olds who are not allowed to shower. Border Patrol agents parading asylees around with degrading messages hanging from their necks. This is the greatest country in the world, and no child--no child-- should die in our custody and in the greatest custody in the world. Jakelin Caal should not have died. Felipe Gomez should not have died. And Carlos Hernandez should not have died. We cannot bring these children back from the dead, but we can try to prevent the next child from dying. And we must. We must because we have a moral responsibility to these children. Today we have the opportunity to act. The Humanitarian Standards for Individuals in Customs and Border Protection Act would protect the health and safety of children in CBP care. It will bring medical expertise to the border so that children receive the care that they need, and it will ensure that children have access to the basics: nutritious food, a shower, toothpaste, and clean clothes. I urge all my colleagues to support this important legislation. Vote ``yes'' on the rule for the children. Vote ``yes'' on the bill for the children. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. TORRES of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, if my colleagues had read the bill, they would know that not only are there numerous incentives for plans to repay the loans, there is a statutory requirement for plan actuaries to demonstrate that the plan will be able to pay the loan back with interest. Let's talk about how we got in this situation. After the 9/11 attacks, the airline industry was in desperate need of help, and Congress stepped up and approved loan assistance. We acted because it was seen as an emergency. In 2008, during the greatest financial crisis in our lifetimes, Wall Street banks and the auto industry were in trouble and in desperate need of help. Congress again acted because it was seen as an emergency. Mr. Speaker, what makes this situation any different? Congress disbursed approximately $624.6 billion in taxpayer money during these emergencies, and roughly $699.7 billion has come back: revenue, interest, fees, and asset sales. Ultimately, it earned taxpayers more than $75 billion in profit. To the 898 retirees of Texas' 26th Congressional District, I say to you: Democrats have your back, and Democrats are fighting for you.

Mrs. TORRES of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur).

Mrs. TORRES of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentlewoman.

Mrs. TORRES of California. Mr. Speaker, painting this greedy picture of union bosses who mismanage funds and overpromise benefits doesn't get us anywhere, and it is simply not true. I will tell you what is true. What is true is that 399 retirees in Texas' Congressional District 19 will lose. But guess what? Democrats got your back in Texas 19. Know that. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. Ruiz).

Mrs. TORRES of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman from California.