Norma Torres

Mrs. TORRES

Mrs. TORRES. Mr. Speaker, I rise tocommend the United States Congress for taking the right step forward in helping combat the high numbers of children abduction and crime rates in Indian Country. As a former 911 operator, I know that the AMBER Alert program has led to the rescue of countless lives across the United States--but until now, access to this critical tool has been limited for our tribal communities. Mr. Speaker, the passage of this bill will give tribes across the United States the ability to respond quickly to child abductions and help ensure the public safety of their citizens. These precious young lives are no less valuable than any others and they deserve to be protected. Last November, I introduced Savanna's Act as a result of the disturbing increase in murdered and missing Native American women and girls. My bill is named in honor of Savanna LaFontaine-Greywind, a 22- year-old pregnant member of the Spirit Lake Tribe who was tragically murdered. While I am hopeful that the institution of an AMBER alert program will help bring some much needed relief to this issue, we must do more to address the gap of information sharing between tribal, local, and federal law enforcement agencies. My bill aims to do just that. Let's keep the momentum going and finally bring full justice to our Native American neighbors.

Mrs. TORRES

Mrs. TORRES. Mr. Speaker, we have waited too long to protect the DREAMers. This is unacceptable to me and to the vast majority of Americans. My Republican colleagues say that we have until March to fix this issue, but that is simply not true. 16,287 DREAMers have lost their protection since September. For those DREAMers, the deadline has already passed. This is not a partisan issue. I would like to remind my colleagues that the Dream Act is a bipartisan bill. Unfortunately, the Republican leadership and the White House have not acted in good faith. They have politicized this issue. They have backed themselves to the wall. They are holding the fate of DREAMers hostage. They say that they want to help DREAMers, but then they say they will only help DREAMers in exchange for border security, demanding that we give up on our commitment to keeping families together, ending the Diversity Visa program, knowing that these are poison pills. If Republicans truly want to help DREAMers, Democrats stand ready. If Republicans want to compromise on a comprehensive immigration reform bill, we are ready to do that, too. We can talk about all of the changes to our immigration system that Republicans want at the same time that we talk about how we bring 11 million people, undocumented people, out of the shadows and on a pathway to citizenship. But the issue of DREAMers and comprehensive immigration reform should simply be kept separate. Show some leadership. President Trump says he wants a ``bill of love.'' So do I and so do my colleagues.

Mrs. TORRES

Mrs. TORRES. Mr. Speaker, it has been 2 weeks since I last stood here to ask the House to bring the Dream Act to a vote. Thirty-four of my colleagues, my Republican colleagues, have sent a letter to Republican Speaker Ryan asking for action to protect DREAMers before the holidays because they understand the urgency. What are we waiting for? Republicans continue to state that we have until March to resolve this issue, but that is simply not true. 122 DREAMers lose protection every single day. That means that 122 intelligent, hardworking Americans, by every right except birth, are losing their ability to continue their education, to work and contribute to our economy. Are we willing to stop the deportations of hundreds of thousands of young DREAMers or not? This is not a partisan question. This is the question of who we are as Americans. Let's put an end to the fear and uncertainty that DREAMers have been living with these past few months. We have been clear. This Congress must not finish this year without providing a permanent fix for DREAMers, their families, and the communities that depend on them. It is unconscionable. This is not who we are. Mr. Speaker, many of my Republican colleagues support action on the Dream Act before the holidays. Many have said so publicly. The majority of Americans want us to act now. Mr. Speaker, 1,708 DACA recipients have lost their status since I last stood here 2 weeks ago. This isn't hard. The fix is right in front of us. It has been here all along. We all know that the votes are here today, if this body only had the courage to act. And I know that the Dream Act would pass today if we only allowed it. I ask my colleagues to vote against the previous question so that we can immediately begin to bring the Dream Act and act on the floor today.

Mrs. TORRES

Mrs. TORRES. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 336, which reaffirms our strong commitment to the United States-Mexico partnership. Mexico is our neighbor and one of our most important strategic allies. Under NAFTA and the Merida Initiative, our countries have expanded our economic and security cooperation in ways that involve almost every aspect of our lives. Our work with Mexico goes beyond the Federal Government. It is in our State and local governments. It is in our businesses and in our churches. H. Res. 336 holds up the idea that working with Mexico has been good for our security and our economy. No one is saying that our relationship is perfect. We still have real security problems to address, especially the smuggling of guns, drugs, and money across our borders, and we need to do more--a lot more--to lift up those communities that have not benefited from NAFTA; but, on the whole, we are better off when we work together. Working together is what makes it possible to have those tough conversations about those issues where we disagree, so we shouldn't even need to pass a resolution like this. It should be assumed. It should be common sense. But the rhetoric across this administration has made it necessary for Congress to speak out in defense of our neighbor and our ally, and we are here today speaking out. I thank Representative Engel and Representative McCaul for their leadership, and I thank Chairman Royce for his ongoing work in bringing this resolution forward and ongoing work in the committee to ensure that we work on a bipartisan level. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mrs. TORRES

Mrs. TORRES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Chief Randy DeAnda of the City of Rialto in my district on the occasion of his retirement from a lifetime of exemplary public service to the communities of the Inland Empire. Chief DeAnda has been a police officer for 31 years, 25 of which have been with the City of Rialto. My district has benefitted greatly over the years from his qualified background in community safety. He received his Bachelor's degree in Workforce Education and Development, he is a graduate of both the Peace Officer Standards and Training Executive Leadership Command College and the Police Executive Research Forum Senior Management Institute, and is a member of the California Police Chief's Association and the San Bernardino County Police Chief's Association. Chief DeAnda's 31 years of service led him from the rank of corporal to Police Captain to now the current head of the Rialto Police Department. His career and expertise have allowed him to serve in various capacities including as a Field Training Officer, Gang Detective, Narcotics Investigator, Street Crime Attack Team Officer, Department SWAT team member, and Department Press Information Officer. Throughout his tenure, he was involved in several undercover narcotic sting operations and gang sweeps--all of which has helped our communities become a little safer. As a member of both the California Gang Investigators' Association and the California Narcotics Officers' Association, he is considered an expert in gangs and narcotics where he has worked and testified on a number of high profile cases involving career criminals. In service to the Inland Empire, Chief DeAnda has provided leadership and supervision over the Area Command Program and its projects. To name a few, these projects include the City of Rialto's first gang injunction, the beautification of Citrus Grove housing complex and other multi-housing developments as well as community based organizations like the Neighborhood Watch and National Night Out. For his extraordinary accomplishments, it is my honor to recognize Chief Randy DeAnda on the House floor today. His 25 years of commitment and contributions to the City of Rialto and the greater community of the Inland Empire are worthy of commending and admiration.

Mrs. TORRES

Mrs. TORRES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Ms. Jackie Zarate- Roberts on the occasion of her retirement from a lifetime of civic service to the Latino community of the City of Los Angeles. Ms. Zarate-Roberts began her journey in Los Angeles at the University of Southern California, where she graduated with a Master's Degree in Public Administration in 1984. Her career in the City of Los Angeles started as a Junior Administrative Assistant in the Personnel Department's Examining Division. This was just the beginning, as she quickly rose through the ranks, eventually ending in the Selection Division. At one point, she was the Assistant Director of the Fire Commission's Equal Employment Opportunity Office, serving as a Sexual Harassment Counselor for employees of the LA Fire Department. Concurrently, Ms. Zarate-Roberts actively engaged in efforts to assist the Latino community through her membership in the Los Angeles City Employees Chicano Association (LACECA), where her track record here is just as impressive. In her first year, she was quickly appointed to the Executive Board as Recording Secretary and over the years she has served as Executive Secretary, Treasurer, 1st and 2nd Vice President, and President several times--the first Latina to ever hold this position, I may add. Her passion is portrayed through her active participation in voter registration drives, redistricting committees in support of Latino issues, scholarship fundraisers, among others. As a former 911 dispatcher, I saw firsthand the power of her commitment to the LACECA. She was instrumental in the return of bi-lingual pay to the City's 911 Operators along with improving training, working conditions, and increasing the number of bi-lingual operator positions serving the city. Much of this was accomplished by serving on Mayor Bradley's and Reardon's ``Presidents Roundtable on Affirmative Action'', where she met monthly to advocate for the underrepresentation of minorities and women in the work force. For all of the aforementioned Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct honor to recognize a true community icon on the House floor today: Ms. Jackie Zarate-Roberts. Her unmatched commitment to the City of Los Angeles since 1984 and the innumerable contributions she has made to the greater Latino community will reverberate for generations to come and our community is better of because of it.

Mrs. TORRES

Mrs. TORRES. Mr. Speaker, this Congress faces a moral decision that we have put off making for too long, a decision that we cannot put off any longer: Will we stop the deportation of hundreds of thousands of young DREAMers or not? This is not a partisan question. This is a question of who we are as Americans. Are we willing to put partisan games aside? Are we willing to put to an end the fear that DREAMers have, the fear that they have been living with these past few months? We are quickly approaching the year-end deadline for many items this body needs to address. Many of us are looking forward to seeing our families through the holidays. What about the 122 DREAMers that lose protection every day that we don't act? Can they say the same. This is unconscionable. This is not who we are. When I am home, I hear from businesses, school leaders, public officials, religious leaders, and friends, and they all want us to act now, today. Failure to do so will result in tearing families and communities apart. The fix is right here in front of us. H.R. 3440, the Dream Act, is a bipartisan, bicameral bill that will put this issue at rest once and for all. We all know that the votes are here today in this body. Plenty of my Republican colleagues support this legislation. Plenty of my Republican colleagues stand with their business, religious, and community leaders to bring this dream to a reality for the DREAMers. We have been clear. This Congress must not finish this year without providing a fix in certainty for DREAMers. Their families and the communities that depend on them expect that. I ask my colleagues to allow us to vote and provide a vote against the previous question so that we can immediately bring the Dream Act to the floor for a vote today.

Mrs. TORRES

Mrs. TORRES. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, passage of H.R. 1491, which I am proud to cosponsor, will clear the way for the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians to finally provide additional Tribal housing for their members. Only 17 percent of Tribal members and lineal descendants live in Tribal housing. In 2010, the Tribe purchased approximately 1,400 acres of ancestral land in an effort to provide suitable housing for the Tribe's members and their descendants. Even though this land was taken into trust administratively in January of this year, a number of parties continue to file lawsuits appealing the decision. The Chumash leadership has been forthcoming in their desire to acquire this land only for additional Tribal housing, and they have attempted to be good neighbors by engaging local elected officials and groups to mitigate any and all concerns. It is a shame that it has almost taken a decade for this issue to be resolved, but we are now at a point where we can finally put an end to this process. Passage of H.R. 1491 will reinforce the Secretarial decision that put the land in trust and will also incorporate a memorandum of agreement between the Chumash Tribe and the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors in relation to the land. I congratulate the Chumash leadership for their work and persistence on this issue, and I thank the Santa Barbara County Board Supervisors for coming to this agreement. I also thank my friend and colleague from California, Chairman LaMalfa, for carrying this legislation, not giving up on it, and moving it forward. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. TORRES. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. TORRES

Mrs. TORRES. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Demings).

Mrs. TORRES. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. TORRES. Mr. Speaker, can you tell me how much time I have remaining?

Mrs. TORRES. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Jeffries).

Mrs. TORRES. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, this bill could not be more straightforward. H.R. 995 would require the USDA and the Department of the Interior to change the terminology used to describe the racial background or place of origin of people. These very outdated and offensive racial terms have no place in our Federal regulations. Modernizing these terms should be a continuous effort across all agencies. I want to thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Jeffries) for his leadership on this issue by pushing this legislation forward. Mr. Speaker, I want to include in the Record the phrases that this bill would change: replacing the references to the term ``Negro'' with ``Black or African American;'' replacing the definition of ``Negro'' with the definition of ``African American'' as ``a person having origins;'' replacing the references of the term ``Oriental'' with ``Asian American;'' and replacing the references to the terms ``Eskimo'' and ``Aleut'' with ``Alaska Native.'' I think it is only fair that we move to pass this bill and finally address people as we should. I also want to bring attention to the title of the bill, which is the 21st Century Respect Act. Mr. Speaker, I also want to add that the bill was reported out of committee by unanimous vote. I want to read into the Record Representative Jeffries' remarks on H.R. 995, the 21st Century Respect Act, a bipartisan bill that will remove outdated and offensive racial labels from the Code of Federal Regulations: I thank Ranking Member Grijalva and Mrs. Torres and Chairman Bishop and Mr. LaMalfa for working with me to move this important bill expeditiously through committee. I also want to thank Congressman Chabot for his support and partnership. Words matter. They can cause great harm by making people feel lesser or other, and when words are rooted in bigotry in our Nation's laws, it signals that we, as a country, are legitimizing and normalizing bigotry. Unfortunately, there are still laws on the books that use old offensive racial terms to refer to our fellow Americans. These terms come from areas where intolerance was acceptable, and they have no place in modern society. For example, title 36 of this CFR still uses the term ``Eskimo'' to refer to certain indigenous Americans from Alaska. People in many parts of the arctic consider ``Eskimo'' a derogatory term because it was widely used to connote barbarism and violence. The 21st Century Respect Act replaces ``Eskimo'' with ``Alaska Native,'' a modern term embraced by the people that it describes. Title 7 also includes the terms ``Oriental'' and ``Negro,'' which are terms that are disparaging today. H.R. 995 replaces those old labels with ``Asian American'' or ``Pacific Islander'' and ``Black'' or ``African American,'' respectively. These new terms reflect America's growth and progress. Now, more than ever, we need to be conscious of the signals and messages that our words and actions are sending to our fellow citizens. As elected officials, it is our responsibility to lead by example and make sure that our laws and institutions reflect our best aspirations of unity and respect for Americans of all backgrounds. Passing the 21st Century Respect Act is a demonstration of our commitment to ensuring that every person who pledges allegiance to our flag feels valued and included by the Nation it represents. I encourage all of my colleagues to support H.R. 995. Mr. Speaker, these are words from Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, who is on his way. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. TORRES

Mrs. TORRES. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. McCollum).

Mrs. TORRES. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Nolan), the sponsor of this legislation.

Mrs. TORRES. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3115 authorizes a land exchange between the Forest Service and PolyMet Mining. PolyMet will acquire land within Minnesota's Superior National Forest to pursue the development of an open pit mine. While the Forest Service already approved the exchange, I understand several groups of concerned Minnesotans have expressed concerns about the proposed development, including the Fon du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, a federally recognized Tribe whose reservation is downstream from the proposed mine. The area to be exchanged is part of the Tribe's ancestral homeland, and they have concerns that the conveyance could impact rights to hunt, fish, and gather. Federal ownership protects these rights. As ranking member of the Subcommittee on Indian, Insular, and Alaska Native Affairs, I think it is important that we listen to the concerns of tribal communities. That said, I understand this bill is a priority for Representative Nolan, and I look forward to hearing his perspectives. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. TORRES. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. TORRES. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mrs. TORRES

Mrs. TORRES. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2615 is a simple bipartisan bill that authorizes the exchange of two small parcels of land to provide needed access for our veterans in Mississippi. The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5699 is located adjacent to a portion of Gulf Islands National Seashore, and while having a national park in your backyard is a desirable condition, the post has found themselves landlocked and in need of direct access to their facility. To solve this issue, the Gulf Islands National Seashore Land Exchange Act will exchange approximately 2 acres of land owned by the VFW with 1.5 acres owned by the Federal Government. The acreage required by the VFW will be used to establish a short driveway directly to the post while the land given in exchange to the Federal Government will be managed as part of Gulf Islands National Seashore. This exchange is supported by both the VFW post and the National Park Service and is a simple and logical solution to a local issue. I am pleased to see the National Park Service and the VFW working together to form a solution to this issue. This bill passed the House in the 114th Congress, and I urge all Members to support this commonsense, bipartisan bill. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. TORRES

Mrs. TORRES. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. H.R. 2768 names two peaks in the Uncompahgre National Forest in Colorado after Charlie Fowler and Christine Boskoff. Fowler and Boskoff were world-class rock climbers whose accomplishments left enduring legacies on the sport. Sadly, in 2016, the two set out to climb a mountain in a remote part of China near the Tibetan border and never returned. This bill and the renaming of the peaks is a fitting tribute and I support its adoption. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. TORRES

Mrs. TORRES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Michael ``Mike'' E. Story of the City of Rialto in my district on the occasion of his retirement from a lifetime of civic service to the communities of the Inland Empire. Mr. Story has been the City Administrator for the City of Rialto since 1985 and has been a resident of the city since 1981. Prior to being named City Administrator, his previous positions included Associate Planner, Senior Planner, and Director of Development Services for the City of Rialto. His long time commitment to civic service and contributions is not limited to the city of Rialto. Mr. Story previously worked for the cities of Fontana and Duarte as a Planner. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Public Administration from Cal Poly Pomona. Mr. Story has been a dedicated public servant during his time working for the city of Rialto where his efforts have resulted in improvements to the quality of life for all residents. His extraordinary skills in planning and collaboration have created new and improved opportunities for the booming city. Along with being dedicated to his civic employments, Mr. Story is an avid member of his church's community. He now serves as an Elder for the Rialto Sunrise Church, a church with multiple locations that serves the Inland Empire communities. And as a former board member, he was and is well respected for his continued participation and selfless dedication. Today, Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to recognize Mr. Mike Story for his unmatched commitment and civic employment to the City of Rialto for over 30 years, and to the contributions he has made to the greater community of the Inland Empire.

Mrs. TORRES

Mrs. TORRES. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. TORRES. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. H.R. 2600 authorizes the conveyance to the State of Iowa the reversionary interest on the Western Historic Trails Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa. In 1989, Congress authorized the Department of the Interior to partner with the State of Iowa to create a trails interpretative center to support three National Historic Trails that cross through the region. In 1988, the Secretary of the Interior transferred approximately 400 acres to the State of Iowa for use as a visitor center. Ownership was then transferred to the State with a reversionary clause that limits the use of the property to a visitor center. The National Park Service does not operate or maintain the current visitor center. However, under current law, if the State stops using the site for its intended purpose, ownership will revert back to the Federal Government. Since its establishment, the trails interpretative center has not lived up to its expectations. Visitation is low and the facility is in need of significant maintenance. The National Park Service and the State of Iowa have determined that termination of the reversionary interest makes both fiscal and operational sense. This will allow the State to sell the property to the city of Council Bluffs, allowing the city to maintain the facility. As long as the State continues to provide National Historic Trail interpretive services following the terms of the original agreement, Congress should be allowed to release the reversionary interest to this particular property. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. TORRES

Mrs. TORRES. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Visclosky), the sponsor of this legislation.