Norma Torres

Mrs. TORRES

Mrs. TORRES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today not only as a Member of Congress but as an immigrant and a proud American, and I and my fellow members of the New Americans Caucus took the step to not just become naturalized citizens and exercise our right to vote but also to get involved in our communities and eventually run for office. This is why, today, I want to encourage all of those who can to do the same, become a citizen and get involved. Your vote is your voice. It allows you to use that voice to better your community and to speak up for those who still can't. Citizenship is a security. Citizenship is power. These days, too much is at stake, so don't wait until it is too late.

Mrs. TORRES

Mrs. TORRES. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 145, expressing the support of the House of Representatives for the fight against corruption in Central America. In too many Central American countries, it has become common practice for government officials to use public office to enrich themselves instead of serving the public good. For too long, corruption has allowed violence and poverty to hold these countries back. But recently, the people of Central America have made it clear that they are ready for a change. In the last 2 years, young people from across the region have taken to the streets and demonstrated, and some real progress has been made. In Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador, the attorneys general have demonstrated independence and real courage. In Guatemala, Attorney General Thelma Aldana has worked closely with CICIG, the International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala. Under the leadership of Ivan Velasquez, CICIG has been instrumental in improving the capacity of Guatemala's prosecutors and has assisted with effective investigations into corruption and human rights violations. In Honduras, Attorney General Oscar Chinchilla has worked with the Mission to Support the Fight Against Corruption and Impunity in Honduras, MACCIH, since 2016. Led by Juan Jimenez, MACCIH has promoted important legal reforms and is assisting with the investigations of high-profile corruption cases. In El Salvador, Attorney General Douglas Melendez has made significant progress in tackling high-level corruption cases. I hope that the Government of El Salvador will recognize the value of CICIG and MACCIH and accept the international assistance that the attorney general and his prosecutors so clearly need. Mr. Speaker, the countries of the Northern Triangle are at a crucial point in this fight against corruption, and we cannot turn back the progress that has been made. This resolution will send a very clear message that the United States will be a steadfast partner in its support for the fight against corruption in Central America. I urge all of my colleagues to support this bipartisan resolution. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I thank Chairman Royce and Ranking Member Engel for their support and hard work in advancing this resolution. Additionally, I thank Congressman Moolenaar, who worked with me to draft and introduce this resolution and who has been a strong supporter and advocate of the fight against corruption in Central America. I also thank all of the cosponsors of this resolution.

Mrs. TORRES

Mrs. TORRES. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Frankel and Congresswoman Jackie Speier of the Democratic Women's Working Group for hosting tonight's Special Order and for their constant advocacy on behalf of the victims of the Marines United scandal. The gentlewoman is correct. While I was not blessed with a daughter, I was blessed with three sons, one who I am proud to call a veteran of the United States Air Force. My son Christopher was the first one to leave home, and I can't imagine, as a mother of a child who is leaving him for the first time going into basic training, receiving the types of calls that these parents must have received, completely heartbreaking. One of the stories that my son shared with me was of a suicide that happened that involved one of his classmates, and how the parents found out about her suicide through a Facebook post because everyone was sharing a condolence note. So these things happen; and while we cannot and may not be able to always control the actions of these young men and women, there is a basic understanding and expectation from parents like myself that when we send our boys, and our young men and our young women, daughters and sons, to the military, that they will be taken care of; and when they file a complaint, that those complaints will be taken seriously and fully investigated. They deserve nothing less. Sexual harassment in the military certainly isn't new, but this scandal is a wake-up call that we cannot afford to ignore. The victims of Marines United don't just deserve our sympathy and our support, they deserve a commitment to doing everything that we can to finally bring an end to sexual harassment in the military in all forms. This isn't a case of boys being boys. This is a disgusting violation of women who have taken an oath to defend our Nation. I would like to read part of Erika Butner--corporal, U.S. Marine Corps, 2011 to 2016--part of her testimony here today. She begins by stating her name and thanking you for the opportunity to testify at the August 8, 2011, hearing. And she states: ``I enlisted in the United States Marine Corps knowing I could have potentially deployed to a combat zone. If presented the opportunity, I would have given my life for this country without hesitation. Never once did I think the war I'd fight would be among my very own brothers in arms. ``During the time I spent in the Marine Corps, various clothed photos of me were taken from my personal social media accounts without my consent and shared on sites that are like Marines United with great frequency. They would post my photo and caption it, `Smash or Pass,' in other words, `Would you have sex with this woman or not?' followed by extreme vulgar, degrading, and repulsive comments, including rape talk. My so-called brothers in arms shared clothed photographs of me on Marines United, posted my contact information, and discussed all the unspeakable things they would like to do to me. ``Comments I saw on other posts of the site included how female marines aren't `real' marines and belong in the kitchen. One post suggested friendly fire to the women who are now being integrated into the infantry units. Another male veteran described how he would rip off an Active-Duty female's eyelashes and then throw her into a tub of acid. Many veterans think because the UCMJ does not apply to them, they're immune from legal action. ``This culture of sharing photographs has been going on long before Marines United, and even before Facebook. With the use of social media and other file-sharing sites, this behavior has developed into something that has led to harassment and the degradation of men and women servicemembers. If this behavior had not come to light, I believe it would have continued as a dark secret of the military.'' Her statement goes on. I will not read the rest of it but continue by saying that these aren't faceless strangers. They are our daughters, our sisters, and our friends. They are American heroes who volunteered to serve our country. As a mother of a veteran, I know that our military is better than this. Our men and women in uniform represent the very best of this Nation, and I am proud to stand with my colleagues this evening in support of bringing about the changes we need to put a stop to the sharing of nonconsensual pornography in the military and, ultimately, bring an end to sexual and gender-based violence and harassment in our Armed Forces. The next letter that I write to one of the academies recommending a young lady from my district, I want the reassurance from our military that her safety, her personal safety, will be taken seriously. And I need to have a commitment that she is just as American as any male of our military. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for this opportunity.

Mrs. TORRES

Mrs. TORRES. Mr. Speaker, it looks like Congress has avoided another government shutdown for now. We will probably pass another short-term spending bill or two before this latest stopgap bill runs out, threatening to bring us to the brink once again. This is no way to govern. As a former mayor and State legislator, I know that our States and cities need to be able to plan ahead. They can't do that if Federal funding is up in the air and subject to the latest political tug of war. If we expect 50 States to pass a budget every year, there is no reason Congress can't do the same. It is time for Congress and the White House to stop playing games and to do the job that we were sent to Washington to do.

Mrs. TORRES

Mrs. TORRES. Mr. Speaker, our children are this Nation's greatest asset. Our future is in their hands. We have to make sure that they have the tools they need to lead our country and tackle whatever challenges the future holds. This is why I was shocked the President's budget makes drastic cuts to education--cuts that will have the biggest impact on kids who need our help the most. In my district, a quarter of our kids live in poverty, with parents working long hours and multiple jobs just to make ends meet. Yet President Trump wants to cut before- and afterschool programs, as well as over $4 million in programs to hire and train teachers and reduce class size. As this Congress crafts our budget, I ask my Republican colleagues to reject these cuts and to truly invest in our future. We will never make America great if we leave our kids behind.

Mrs. TORRES

Mrs. TORRES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Sergeant Patrick O'Malley of the Pomona Police Department for his unyielding commitment to improve the lives of residents in my district every single day. Sgt. O'Malley may be a native of the Sunshine State, but it is our Golden State that has been the beneficiary of his strong work ethic and compassionate character since he moved here in 1971. He started his career as a police officer with the L.A. County Sheriff's Department Academy in 1991, graduating a year later in 1992. In 1993, my district received a wonderful addition when Sgt. O'Malley joined the Pomona Police Department. Since then, he has continued his life-long devotion to public service through his career in law enforcement of more than 25 years. While Sgt. O'Malley has had a commendable career with numerous assignments including the Gang Team, Patrol Operations, Traffic Bureau, Detective Bureau, and the MAIT Investigation team, perhaps his most admirable assignment came when he met BreAunna Barnett. ``An angel with a badge,'' is the phrase that BreAunna's mother, Leanne, uses to refer to Sgt. O'Malley. Mr. Speaker, in what could only be described as a mother's worst fear, Leanne almost lost her daughter to the drug addiction epidemic that plagues our country today. The unequivocal love of a mother and the pure integrity of an officer brought Leanne and Sgt. O'Malley together. While many would have given up, Sgt. O'Malley committed himself to finding and helping BreAunna. When he found BreAunna she initially rejected his attempts to help, but that did not stop Sgt. O'Malley, who refused to give up. Over time, Sgt. O'Malley gained her trust and eventually helped her receive proper treatment. Even after recovery, Sgt. O'Malley still continued to check up on BreAunna. In the most tumultuous of times, we find hope in individuals like Sgt. O'Malley, the very same hope that BreAunna experienced. Yes, indeed, he is an angel with a badge. Sgt. O'Malley's case is especially relevant and worth highlighting in the environment that we find ourselves today where communities' distrust in police officers has reached unprecedented levels. The positive work that our police officers perform often goes unnoticed, and instead we only see the negative. We look to stories like that of Sgt. O'Malley's to remind us that the simple act of caring goes a long way and that taking a community policing approach works. Sgt. O'Malley did not shy away from a challenge and is a reminder that we too should not shy away from helping each other out. For his endless contributions and commitment to my community, and because he teaches us to go above and beyond what is asked, I would like to recognize Sergeant Patrick O'Malley on the House floor today.

Mrs. TORRES

Mrs. TORRES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Jonah Min Hwang, another victim of a senseless act of gun violence. Jonah was only 8 years old when he was killed last week in a drive-by shooting in my home city of Pomona. Jonah, his parents, and his brother were enjoying dinner hosted by friends of his parents, two schoolteachers, when a bullet ripped through the house and hit Jonah. Crimes like this are heartbreaking. A talented soccer player, an avid reader who loved superheroes, Jonah was an adopted child from a Taiwanese orphanage just 3 years ago. It eats at your soul to think that such a young child with his whole life ahead of him could be taken so ruthlessly. Perhaps most frustrating is that Jonah's killer is still at large. When I first heard of Jonah's death, it brought me back to a similar tragedy when I served as mayor of my home city of Pomona. In 2006, little Ethan Esparza was shot and killed while he was playing in his front yard during his birthday party. He would have turned 4 years old. Ethan's murder shocked our community and was a stark reminder of the violence that plagues our city. Sadly, over 10 years later, we are still fighting those same battles. The murders of Jonah and Ethan were completely senseless, but they are not rare. In fact, Pomona was recently ranked California's eighth most dangerous city, which doesn't surprise those of us who have seen gangs take ahold of our city. Our local police department puts their lives on the line every single day to try to keep us safe, and our local officials have made significant investments in law enforcement. During my time as mayor, we implemented gang injunctions to try to get hold of the problem. But as the number of guns on the streets continues to rise and ruthless gang members get their hands on these deadly weapons, it often feels like a losing battle. We are alone fighting these battles. As a matter of fact, today marks the 23rd anniversary of the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act, better known as the Brady bill, which has blocked more than 3 million people who had no business owning a gun from buying a gun from a federally licensed dealer. As the new President makes his first address to Congress today, it is especially infuriating that, despite the countless gun-related tragedies occurring across our country, this Congress and this new administration have not taken one single step to reduce gun violence. I have come to this floor before demanding action, and I stand here before you yet again today, Mr. Speaker, to demand action on behalf of Jonah, of Ethan, and of the millions of innocent lives lost. There are steps that we can take immediately to expand the Brady bill to save lives and make our communities safer: First, we should close the loophole that allows guns to be sold online or at gun shows without background checks. Second, we should make sure that there are resources available to research gun violence--research. We can't find effective solutions if we can't research and understand the problem. Lastly, we should enhance the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, NICS, and make sure that States are inputting records in a way that allows Federal agencies to run complete background checks on individuals. Background checks are only as effective as the quality of the records in the background check system. There is no excuse for making it easy for dangerous people to get their hands on a deadly weapon. It is my deepest hope that this Congress will take action on gun control so that none of us has to attend another vigil in Pomona--or anywhere else in America--to honor the memory of another child taken from us much too soon. We owe it to the victims and to their loved ones to act.

Mrs. TORRES

Mrs. TORRES. Mr. Speaker, I would like to again thank Representative Blackburn for her efforts, and I urge adoption of this bill. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. TORRES. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. By expanding the boundaries of the Shiloh National Military Park in the State of Tennessee, H.R. 88 will assist the National Park Service in its efforts to preserve lands and share the history of the Civil War for generations to come. The bill adjusts the boundary of the park to include several sites identified in the 2004 boundary expansion study conducted by the National Park Service. This bill also establishes the Parker's Crossroads Battlefield as an associated area of the National Park System. Between the Union and Confederacy, Parker's Crossroads saw over 700 Americans lose their lives in the war for our Nation's future. Preserving this site will provide even broader opportunities to commemorate and learn from the legacy of the Civil War. The emphasis that we all need to place on preserving our country's history cannot be overstated. The Civil War is a chapter in our national story that continues to shape the thoughts and actions of this country over 150 years after its conclusion. The struggles and personal conflicts faced by millions of soldiers and the impact on families throughout and after the war have provided us with many lessons, lessons that continue to remain relevant today. Only through learning from our past will we learn how to be a better and stronger nation in the future. Parks, such as Shiloh National Military Park, offer countless opportunities for us to explore the rich history and lessons of the past. These opportunities are most effective when visitors to sites can immerse themselves in the full setting of the area and gain a true understanding of the historical context, something that this expansion of the Shiloh National Military Park will achieve. I would like to thank Representative Blackburn for her hard work and commitment to protecting the historical resources in her State, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. TORRES

Mrs. TORRES. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Congress established the Coltsville National Historical Park at the end of 2014. The law that established the park also authorized the National Park Service to utilize a 10,000-square-foot building, known as the East Armory for the purpose of park administration. However, during the planning phase for establishing this new park, local stakeholders and the Park Service have determined that the Colt Armory Complex is better suited for this purpose. This bill simply makes that change and authorizes use of the Colt Armory Complex. I support this simple fix to the enabling legislation that responds to the on-the-ground dynamics of this particular park. I want to thank the majority and my colleagues on the Natural Resources Committee for expediting review of this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Larson) for his hard work on moving this bill forward. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 863. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. TORRES. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Larson), the bill's sponsor.

Mrs. TORRES

Mrs. TORRES. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 699 clarifies the terms of the land exchange between the Forest Service and Mt. Hood Meadows, a privately held ski resort. The exchange was authorized by Congress in 2009, but due to lack of clarity, here we are 7 years later and the exchange still has not been executed. Last year, the Forest Service and Mt. Hood Meadows engaged in mediation to resolve the issues that have held up the exchange. This bill is a result of that mediation, and its passage will ensure that, after 7 long years, the exchange will finally move forward. I want to thank the sponsors, Representative Walden and Representative Blumenauer from Oregon, for their hard work and commitment to resolving this issue. Last year, this bill passed the House and Senate as part of S. 2012. Given all the positive momentum this legislation has seen in recent years, I hope that we can get this bill across the finish line as soon as possible and finally complete the land exchange. I urge my colleagues to support this bill. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. TORRES. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer).

Mrs. TORRES

Mrs. TORRES. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. This is an important program that deserves to be reauthorized. As we know, this bill passed out of the House last Congress without objection. I look forward to continuing to work with Mr. Young at finding other pieces of legislation that we can work on on a bipartisan level. I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. TORRES. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Public Law 102-477 establishes what is commonly known as the 477 Program to foster employment and economic development in Indian Country. This highly successful program authorizes tribal governments to consolidate up to 13 different Federal grant programs into a single plan with a single budget in a single reporting system. Current participants in the program have significantly improved the effectiveness of the delivery of services included in their 477 plan, while lowering administrative costs. These cost savings have been translated into more accessible and available services for their communities. The Citizen Potawatomi Nation of Oklahoma's 477 Program has been in place since 1996. Since 2010, the Nation has served well over 6,000 participants through the program. Of those who had employment as their goal, 47 percent achieved unsubsidized employment. H.R. 288 will build on this success by permanently authorizing the program, increasing the scope and availability of participating Federal grant programs, and setting a streamlined process for tribes to follow. I want to congratulate Chairman Young for his tireless work on this legislation and for bringing together all of the stakeholders to address their concerns and find a workable solution. I supported this legislation last year, as it passed the House last Congress unanimously. I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. TORRES

Mrs. TORRES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about one of the consequences of Donald Trump's refugee ban that has so far been ignored. The day after Donald Trump issued his executive order to ban refugees and all citizens from seven Muslim majority countries, four children from El Salvador landed in Miami International Airport. It is a short flight from El Salvador, but the children had been waiting a long time to come here. In 2015, they applied to come here through the Central American Minors program that was started in 2014 as a safe and legal way for a limited--a very small--number of children from Central America. After submitting to DNA tests, screenings, and a long application process, they were finally given visas, and they were on their way here. However, after landing at Miami and passing through the Customs and Border Protection screening, and on their way to their connecting flight, they were stopped and pulled into a secondary inspection. For six long hours, these children were detained in a cold room without food or water. These children had done everything right, and waited a long time to flee a very traumatic situation. They came here, and their first experience was to be treated like criminals. This is just one example of how Trump's hasty, harmful executive order is undermining our American values. It is just one more reason why, instead of rewriting it, as he says that he is doing, he should rescind it altogether. But, of course, these children are the lucky ones, the fortunate few who got a chance to come here legally. Many of my colleagues will recall that, in the summer of 2014, thousands of children from Central America arrived at our southern border. Those children were fleeing gangs and violence. Many of them turned themselves in to the Border Patrol. They were not trying to sneak in to our country. They were asking for asylum. They were asking for relief and protection. We knew that if we were going to stop kids from making that dangerous journey to come here, some of them walking over 1,000 miles to our southern border, that we would have to tackle the root causes that compelled them to leave. So the leaders of Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala, with some help from General John Kelly, came up with a plan to bring some stability to those three countries. And Congress, working on a bipartisan basis, provided some financial support. But even as we make long-term investments in the Northern Triangle, we need to deal with the fact that children from these countries still need our protection in the short-term. That is why the Obama administration created a few programs to help a very small number of those children. Those children did what we asked them. They didn't come across our border. They didn't cross Mexico. They waited in line as they were told, even if waiting in line meant staying in harm's way. Because of Donald Trump's executive order, those children now face a very uncertain future. Lost in the media coverage of this order is the suspension of the refugee program, blockage of these vulnerable children as well. I am glad that the judge has stayed the order. I hope that the President will respect the judge's order. But more than that, I hope that the President will take a real look at all the harm that he has already caused for so many people, including so many innocent children. I hope that he puts an end to his cruel, counterproductive executive order once and for all.

Mrs. TORRES

Mrs. TORRES. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this resolution which would do away with the new procedures established under BLM Planning 2.0. Planning 2.0 encourages, at its foundation, early and frequent public input. By rolling back this planning effort, public input--in particular, tribal input--will be removed. Federally recognized tribes have the right to engage in government- to-government consultation, and, under Planning 2.0, tribal rights to participate in the planning process are clearly enumerated and protected. By introducing the resolution we are considering today, the majority is making clear it doesn't value tribal input in the development of BLM's resource management plans. In this updated planning process, the BLM worked hard to ensure government-to-government consultation was accomplished. Tribes were encouraged to submit comments through the formal comment period and through government-to-government consultation. But BLM recognizes the hard work of tribes and has been inclusive of tribal concerns. In fact, BLM has recognized the quality and value that tribes' traditional ecological knowledge brings to planning efforts. It is important to incorporate this information to avoid resource conflicts and to protect hunting and fishing grounds. In many areas, the BLM and tribes actually have to manage resources together. How can they do this when tribes are not invited to be a part of the consultation process? By including government-to-government consultation early in the planning process, all taxpayers benefit in the long run because we can develop a stronger plan that doesn't end up in court being litigated. We want BLM to be an agency that actively embraces the people who live on and use the land they manage. By formalizing the tribal consultation role and recognizing the value tribes bring to the planning process as Planning 2.0 does, the BLM is taking important steps to fully engage with all their constituents. Land management is about looking at the bigger picture, and tribes understand that more than anyone. They deserve to be recognized in the planning process, and Planning 2.0 does that. Repealing this rule through the CRA is shortsighted and wrongheaded. BLM Planning 2.0 allows for the very kind of oversight and public input my Republican colleagues claim to want, and helps avoid the costly court battles they complain about. I urge my colleagues to vote against this measure and keep Planning 2.0 in place.

Mrs. TORRES

Mrs. TORRES. Mr. Speaker, due to a conflict, I unavoidably missed the following vote on February 2. Had I been present I would have voted as follows: On roll call No. 77, I would have voted ``nay'' on H.J. Res. 40, Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Social Security Administration relating to Implementation of the NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007.

Mrs. TORRES

Mrs. TORRES. Mr. Speaker, this is what a refugee looks like, and I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R. 724, which would rescind President Trump's refugee ban and help unify the family of an Iraqi refugee who is now separated indefinitely from her husband and children because of the ban.

Mrs. TORRES

Mrs. TORRES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Police Service Representative Albert Campos for his 34 years of dedicated service to the Los Angeles Police Department. Albert Campos began his career at Communications Division on May 24, 1982, as a Police Service Representative and is the last remaining member of his class. Immediately after joining Communications, Albert began receiving commendations for his professionalism and excellent work ethic. He was commended by Captain Harrison, Newton FSD for an outstanding job on a Newton Task Force on March 7, 1983. On October 31, 1988, Albert was commended for ``Bringing Home the Gold'' as a member of the United States Para-Olympics Wheelchair Basketball team in Seoul, Korea. The team was victorious as they had defeated six other teams. He was honored that November by the Mayor, The Police Commission, the Los Angeles City Council and the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors for his participation. Throughout his career Albert has been consistently recognized for his commitment to excellence and outstanding support of the officers in the field especially during emergencies and tactical situations. His stellar performance made him a pleasure to work with. Albert's professionalism, expertise and friendship were and are appreciated by his peers and co-workers, who describe him as a quiet professional. For his many contributions to our community and for his dedication and commitment to the Division, the Department and the citizens of Los Angeles, I would like to recognize Albert Campos here on the House floor today.

Mrs. TORRES

Mrs. TORRES. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Gabbard. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and the legacy of my colleague, Mark Takai. I first met Mark when we were elected together. We were freshmen, and we were going through orientation. All of us were competing for staff office space and competing on who could get to class the quickest and who could find their way from point A to point B the quickest. We had a lot of fun together, and we got to know each other through those brief few days. After we returned to Washington, we were sworn in as Members of Congress. I have a clear memory of how deeply Mark cared about his home State and his family. Congress is a tough place, and Mark was even tougher. Mark and I were competing for a subcommittee assignment on the Natural Resources Committee. He and I both wanted to serve on the Natural Resources Committee Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs that oversaw the territories' natural resources of Hawaii and Alaska native affairs. I got the spot, and Mark came marching into my office with chocolate in his hand. He didn't make an appointment, by the way, and he had no staff with him. We were going to have a conversation, more of a spar over this committee assignment. And over chocolate, Mark made me promise that his beautiful home State of Hawaii would always be my priority, and I did. Mark created so many opportunities for us to visit and get to know his home State, the beauty that it offers with its natural resources. He actually created a long list of people that I should meet in order to fully understand the needs of the island. I am sorry, Mark, that I didn't get to join you in Hawaii, but thank you for the opportunity to know you. Sami, thank you for sharing such a wonderful man with not only the freshmen class, but with the entire membership of Congress and the Senate. We love Mark, we love you, and your family, and we are here for you.

Mrs. TORRES

Mrs. TORRES. Mr. Speaker, our Armed Forces sacrifice everything for us: their bodies, their minds and sometimes, their lives. To those who return, they far too often suffer in silence from the mental and physical wounds they endure in battle. Many times, that isolation leads to tragic outcomes. As we commemorate Suicide Prevention Month, it is important that we focus on solving the challenges that lead many of our veterans to make the choice to take their own lives. The numbers are staggering: 7400 veterans took their own lives in 2014, roughly 20 individuals a day. The suicide rate among veterans has surged 35 percent since the beginning of the War on Terror, and 85 percent among our women veterans. A veteran is 21 percent more likely to commit suicide than a civilian. Mr. Speaker, we know the effects of PTSD on our servicemen and women; how almost one-fifth of veterans suffer from PTSD and how the illness is linked to increased suicidal behavior. What is most troubling is that almost half of the veterans with PTSD do not seek treatment from the VA. It is no surprise that 70 percent of veterans who commit suicide are not regular users of VA services. It is our obligation to ensure that we engage our veterans and let them know there is help available. It is also incumbent on us to ensure this care is responsive to their individual needs. Last year, we passed the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention Act in honor of Marine Clay Hunt, a sufferer of PTSD who had trouble seeing a VA psychiatrist and tragically, took his own life. This law is designed to save the lives of those like Clay by improving access to quality mental health care and coordinating VA suicide prevention efforts with private mental health organizations. In the spirit of that law, I was happy to learn of the efforts of the VA Medical Center in Loma Linda, California, which serves thousands of veterans from my congressional district. They are rolling out a pilot program that will integrate with community mental health providers in an attempt to reach the more than 170,000 veterans not registered with the Loma Linda VA. Their example is encouraging, but funding is needed to make certain that no veteran is left behind. In that same vein, Congress must fulfill our obligation to VA services such as the Veterans Crisis Line. The Crisis Line has serviced some 2.3 million people and is credited with saving more than 50,000 lives. However, it has struggled to keep pace with increasing demand. It was disheartening to hear that there are individuals who have called the Crisis Line only to be placed on hold, or have their calls transferred to voicemail, or simply unanswered. We must provide the VA with the tools to adequately staff the call center and train their employees. Too much is at stake for Congress to shortchange this commitment. Mr. Speaker, everyone in this chamber honors and respects the sacrifices of the world's greatest fighting force. Our servicemen and women defend our freedoms and protect our homeland at great personal cost. When they return home, they deserve a nation that will look after them the way they look after us. I ask that my colleagues hold steadfast in reaffirming our commitment to our veterans.

Mrs. TORRES

Mrs. TORRES. Mr. Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

Mrs. TORRES. Mr. Speaker, this is a final amendment to the bill, which will not kill the bill or send it back to committee. If adopted, the bill will immediately proceed to final passage, as amended. Mr. Speaker, a June 26 New York Times article revealed some of the troubling consequences of private equity firms taking over local emergency services. According to the article, since the 2008 financial crisis, private equity firms are investing in growing numbers in emergency services companies, sometimes with disastrous results. The piece found cases where emergency response times were so slow, personnel even had time for a cigarette break before arriving to the scene. Some emergency services companies also reported mismanagement, specifically, that their parent companies are not able to pay their salaries or restock ambulances with critical medical supplies. My amendment will make sure that there is accountability and transparency when private equity firms invest in emergency services. My amendment will not prohibit private equity funds from investing in these services or place any restrictions on how they choose to invest, nor will it deny the fact that private equity has and can play an important role in investing in companies in communities across our country. It would simply provide reassurance to our constituents that when they call 911, their lives won't be put at risk because their local fire or ambulance service wants to turn a profit. This motion to recommit would require private equity firms to report the change in response time of emergency vehicles since the private fund acquired a controlling interest in the emergency services company. Additionally, the report will require data on the percent of emergency response times that violate contracts entered into by local governments and emergency services companies and include an explanation as to why response times did not meet requirements set out in such contracts. At a time when local jurisdictions are struggling to make ends meet and the demands on emergency services are only growing, there is certainly a role for private equity firms to play in making sure our constituents have the services they need and expect. But if a private equity firm decides to invest in an emergency service company, they also take on the responsibility to provide those services to the best of their capacity. As a former 911 dispatcher, I know that when it comes to getting emergency personnel to those in need, every second matters. There is no margin of error, and under absolutely no circumstances should profit come before saving lives. I urge my colleagues to support this motion. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. TORRES. I am opposed in its current form.