Nydia Velázquez

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. I yield myself the balance of my time.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Chairman, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Gutierrez).

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Chairman, may I inquire as to how much time remains?

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Chairman, that is correct.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Chairman, I yield 10 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Gutierrez).

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Chairman, there is a reason why two of the three main political parties in Puerto Rico are opposed to this bill. They have been shut out of the legislative process. That is the reason. Here we are facing one of the largest deficits in the history of this country because we have been paying for two wars where we are committed to promote democracy, and yet in our own backyard we are denying 8 million Puerto Rican Americans the right to self-determination. As I stated before and I state it again, this is shameful and it is a disgrace. So let me just say that this bill is not ready for prime time. Let's treat Puerto Ricans with the same respect as we did to Alaskans, Hawaii, and other States. They decided by themselves what was better for them. This bill doesn't do that. For all these reasons, I ask my colleagues to vote ``no.'' I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Chairman, I would like to inquire as to how much time is remaining on each side.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Chairman, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Rangel). (Mr. RANGEL asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Mrs. Christensen).

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Will the gentlewoman yield?

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. The issue here is not if the people of Puerto Rico can vote or not in Presidential elections. The issue here is a true, transparent, democratic process for the Puerto Rican people to participate in a referendum without imposing statehood.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 3253) to provide for an additional temporary extension of programs under the Small Business Act and the Small Business Investment Act of 1958, and for other purposes.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, our economy is showing significant signs of improvement: consumer spending is climbing, manufacturers are adding jobs, and retail sales rose substantially for the first 3 months of this year. All of these are positive signs; however, if our recovery is going to produce the jobs that the American people need and deserve, small businesses will be central to the equation. In every previous recession, small firms have served as job-creating catalysts. Not only do small firms add jobs faster than big companies, but many dislocated workers launch their own ventures during economic downturns. Those enterprises in turn often grow and create employment opportunities for the American people. For entrepreneurs to play this role, they need the right tools. The legislation before us will extend the Small Business Administration programs that help new ventures form and existing businesses grow. Since the start of this Congress, the House has passed 16 bills to strengthen SBA initiatives. This included legislation to modernize the SBA's capital access programs so that small businesses can weather the credit crunch. However, before the SBA programs are fully updated, they must be extended. This bill ensures these initiatives keep operating. We cannot afford any of the SBA services to lapse just as our recovery is getting off the ground. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' and reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of the resolution. All of us mourn the loss of those who helped spread the light of freedom during the Cold War. Our Nation enjoys deep ties to Poland. Greenpoint, Brooklyn, in my district, has one of the most vibrant Polish American communities in the Nation. During the 1980s, many Poles took refuge in this Little Poland when martial law was imposed against Solidarity back home. Just 2 years ago, President Kaczynski came to Greenpoint. He worshipped in our churches. He met with local leaders, and he visited with the people of Little Poland. His trip there was an inspiring moment for many New Yorkers. Today there are heavy hearts in Greenpoint, as there are in Polish American communities throughout the Nation. In coming weeks, the Polish people will grieve their loss. We join them in mourning, but we can be comforted that Poland will recover, carry forward, and grow stronger. The fact that this crash occurred while traveling to a ceremony for another tragedy is a sad irony; however, it also reminds us of the Polish people's strength in the face of adversity. That unyielding spirit shall remain an important part of Poland's identity and of her many sons and daughters who reside in the United States.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, for too long, working families have lived in fear that they are just one illness away from financial ruin. For too long, the men and women in my home state of New York have watched their premiums skyrocket, with family rates up 97 percent in the last decade. For too long, Latinos have been left behind, suffering the highest uninsured rate of any other community. Tonight, it is time to say enough. It is time to say enough to the discriminatory policies that charge women and minorities more money for the same services. It is time to say enough to a system that has pushed more than 2.5 million New Yorkers over the brink and into the ranks of the uninsured. And it is time to say enough to a status quo that robs Americans of the peace of mind that can only come from knowing this--they, and they alone, are in charge of their own well-being. Mr. Speaker, this bill gives every American that autonomy. For the Latino community, it delivers coverage to 8.8 million people. In my home district, it improves options for 324,000 residents, and expands care to 86,000 more. For 16,000 people with preexisting conditions, it allows them to buy affordable health plans right away, promising them: Never again. Never again can you be denied coverage. And for 4,300 of my district's seniors paying full price for prescription drugs, it closes the Medicare donut hole. Meanwhile, this bill invests in New York's network of community health centers. In my district alone, 33 clinics will see critical improvements, meaning more options for the men and women of Brooklyn, Queens and the Lower East Side. And at the end of the day, Mr. Speaker, isn't that what this legislation is all about--options? The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will deliver better choices--not just for New Yorkers, but for all Americans. With the passage of health care reform, we are finally answering a decades-long cry for help. We are finally empowering the American people with quality, affordable options that put them in the driver's seat, and I urge support of this landmark legislation.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to Mr. David Wu from Oregon.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4508) to provide for an additional temporary extension of programs under the Small Business Act and the Small Business Investment Act of 1958, and for other purposes.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. As we work to foster job growth, small businesses will be central to the equation. Time and again, when Americans face economic uncertainty, they respond with innovative ideas and new ventures. While larger companies are slower to reverse the trend and start hiring again, small firms are often more nimble and can lead us out of downturns more quickly. For many dislocated workers, starting a new business can help pay the bills and even launch a new career. However, for entrepreneurs to fulfill their traditional role as job creators, they need the right tools. The legislation before us today will extend programs at the SBA that help new businesses form and existing firms grow. This bill extends some of the agency's most valuable efforts. Reauthorizing certain capital access programs will help small businesses survive the credit crunch. Earlier this year, the House passed legislation to strengthen those initiatives. We have also approved bills reauthorizing the Small Business Innovation Research initiative. However, before these measures are updated, they will have to be extended. H.R. 4508 ensures these programs continue operating as we keep working with the Senate to fully update them. This bill is not a comprehensive reauthorization, but it does represent another step toward a more suitable solution. Given the valuable role that small businesses play in our economy, we cannot afford any of the SBA services to lapse. I, therefore, urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.'' I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3014, important legislation authored by Mrs. Dahlkemper to assist our Nation's small health care providers. The passage of America's Affordable Health Choices Act earlier this month marked a turning point in our journey toward lasting health care reform. That legislation promises to break from the status quo, delivering solutions that not only reduce costs but also increase efficiency. These are changes our current system sorely needs. And, Mr. Speaker, reduced costs and enhanced efficiency are two benefits that health information technology already offers. In big hospitals across the country, electronic medical records are revolutionizing health care. They are streamlining the flow of data, minimizing errors, and improving communication between medical professionals, and they are doing it all with a click of a mouse. But while HIT offers a myriad of obvious benefits, small medical practices have struggled to adopt this technology. This is because the technology, like most groundbreaking new products, is extraordinarily expensive. For your average small practice, implementation of HIT runs close to $100,000. As a result, only 13 percent of single-doctor practices have chosen to purchase technology. This bill ensures all medical practices, regardless of size, can afford HIT. To begin, it blunts product and installation costs by making capital more affordable. It also allows small practices to defer loan payments. That way, these practitioners have the flexibility to bring this system online and reap the benefits before having to shoulder the implementation costs. Access to capital has always been a key concern for small firms even during the best of times. The current trend in tightening credit and restricting lending has compounded that challenge. Like all small businesses, small health practitioners are feeling the pinch of these tightening credit conditions. This is why this bill is so important. Without it, small practices will be unable to afford HIT. And because the vast majority of Americans patronize small practices, countless patients will miss out on the benefits of a streamlined system. Only days ago, this body took historic action to overhaul our broken health care system. As we continue to work towards lasting reform, HIT will play a critical role. With this bill, we can increase adoption within the small business community, reducing costs and improving quality for all Americans. Mr. Speaker, this is an important piece of legislation. It is supported by 23 of the most prominent medical organizations, including the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Osteopathic Association, and the American College of Surgeons. I thank Representative Dahlkemper for her work on this bill. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.'' Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.