Juan Vargas

Mr. VARGAS

Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent that my amendment be modified with the form I have placed at the desk.

Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Chairman, salmon recovery is economically and culturally important to the country. Recovery efforts must be rooted in science to address the most prevalent threats: fish passage at dams, pesticides, fishing pressures, interactions with hatchery fish, and habitat loss. Currently, there is very little scientific evidence that sea lion predation has played a significant role in the overall decline of these salmon stocks. My amendment would rectify this lack of scientific evidence by requiring the Secretary of the Interior study and report to Congress on the effects of lethal takings of sea lions on the recovery of salmon stocks in the Columbia River system. If we are going to expand the lethal takings of sea lions, we should make sure it will help the salmon recover. Mr. Chair, I urge adoption of my amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Chairman, I urge adoption of this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. VARGAS

Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6069, the Fight Illicit Networks and Detect Trafficking Act, FIND. Allow me first to thank Chairman Hensarling for his leadership and also Ranking Member Waters for her leadership, and also for their support of this legislation. I would also like to thank my good friend, Mr. French Hill. I thank him for his kind words and for his support of this bill. I especially would like to thank Mr. Rothfus for his leadership on the Terrorism and Illicit Finance Subcommittee and for generously agreeing to colead this commonsense, narrowly tailored legislation. As you may know, a virtual currency is a digital representation of value that can be digitally traded. Since the creation of bitcoin, the first and most widely known example of cryptocurrency, thousands of cryptocurrencies have emerged and are designed to serve a variety of purses. Some forms of virtual currency provide a digital alternative to cash that lacks the oversight of a government or central bank and, potentially, offers greater anonymity than conventional payment systems. Just as virtual currencies have grown in use in legitimate commerce, they have also become an increasingly popular financial payment method for criminals. Virtual currencies have been and continue to be exploited to pay for goods and services associated with illicit illegal sex and drug trafficking. These are two of the most detrimental and troubling illegal activities sold online. According to the DEA 2017 National Drug Threat Assessment, transnational criminal organizations are increasingly using virtual currencies due to their ease of use and the anonymity they provide. While evidence points to the growth of virtual currencies as a payment method for illicit sex and drug trafficking, the true scope of the problem and the potential solutions have not been fully established. According to the International Labour Organization, in 2016, 4.8 million people in the world were victims of forced sexual exploitation, and in 2014, the global profit from commercial sexual exploitation was $99 billion. Unfortunately, virtual currencies are also being used as a payment method for transnational drug traffickers. As you may know all too well, the United States is struggling to combat the rising number of lives cut short by the tragic use of opioids. As was stated earlier by my good friend Mr. Hill, in 2016 alone, the CDC estimated that there were 64,000 deaths--64,000 deaths-- in the U.S. related to drug overdose. The most severe increases in drug overdoses were those associated with fentanyl and also fentanyl analogs. Fentanyl is an extremely deadly opioid that is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. Fentanyl is being illicitly manufactured in China and Mexico, with most of the illegal fentanyl in the United States originating from China, and it is readily available to purchase through the online marketplaces. If we are to craft effective regulatory and legislative solutions to combat these transnational criminal organizations, we need to fully study and analyze how virtual currencies and online marketplaces are used to facilitate sex and drug trafficking to determine how to best eliminate their use. H.R. 6069, the FIND Trafficking Act of 2018, requires the Comptroller General of the United States to: one, carry out a study on how virtual currencies and online marketplaces are used to facilitate sex or drug trafficking; and, two, make recommendations to Congress on legislative and regulatory actions that would impede the use of virtual currencies and online marketplaces in facilitating sex and drug trafficking. It is my sincere hope that this bill is the first step toward crafting bipartisan legislation to impede and eventually eliminate the use of virtual currencies by transnational criminal organizations that facilitate drug and sex trafficking. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I again thank both my colleagues here for their kind words about this bill and the bipartisanship that we have had on this bill.

Mr. VARGAS

Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to raise awareness of a very serious threat against a member of the Society of Jesus in Nicaragua by reading in the Congressional Record a declaration from the Jesuits West Province of the Society of Jesus. It is a letter written by Father Scott Santarosa, father provincial of the Society of Jesus for the West Province, and it reads like this: ``Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.''--Matthew 5:9. As many of you know, Nicaragua is currently experiencing a serious and increasing political crisis. The people who demand democracy, freedom, and justice are firmly committed to seeking a peaceful solution. There are already more than 153 Nicaraguans who have lost their lives in just over a month of struggling toward such a resolution. The Society of Jesus, present in Nicaragua since 1916, has joined the people in this commitment. Our human, ethical, and Christian conviction requires us to share support and defend a peaceful solution to the conflict. We still have time to avoid more polarization, more bloodshed, and more pain. Honest dialogue and serious negotiation are vital in order to achieve it, for whoever wants peace does not assault, persecute, mistreat, or intimidate. We have been informed by a reliable source that the life of Father Jose Alberto Idiaquez, S.J., rector of the Central American University, the UCA of Nicaragua, is in serious danger. Father Idiaquez has been threatened for participating in the National Dialogue convened by the Bishops' Conference, for standing alongside the students, for defending the human rights of those who are demanding respect for their constitutional rights, for making continuous calls to the Nicaraguan Government to give concrete signs that they too seek justice and democracy, and for involving the university in the efforts of the Nicaraguan people. Father general of the Society of Jesus, Father Arturo Sosa, S.J., resident in Rome, has been informed of this threat. With his support and on behalf of all of the Jesuits and committed lay collaborators in Jesuits West, we stand with the Jesuits of Central America and all of the lay people that make up the 40 Jesuit institutions that serve the people of Central America. We join Father Rolando Alvarado, S.J., provincial of Central American Province, in holding the Nicaraguan Government responsible for any aggression or attack that may be suffered by Father Jose Alberto Idiaquez, S.J. I call on the national and international human rights organizations, the Organization of American States, the U.N., the European Parliament, and all Jesuit universities of the world, the different churches, the U.S. Government, and all of those committed to basic human dignity, to strongly support the peaceful negotiations of a solution to the tragic situation that the country is experiencing and demand respect for the physical safety of all Nicaraguans who, like Father Idiaquez, S.J., and the Bishop' Conference students, and other members of the civil society who are participating in the National Dialogue, are working for a lasting peace that is borne from justice. It is signed by Father Scott Santarosa, S.J. He is, again, the provincial of the western province. As many of you will recall, back in 1989, a very similar threat was made against Father Ignacio Ellacuria of the UCA of El Salvador. Unfortunately, that threat ended in the death of Father Ellacuria, along with five other Jesuits at the UCA, the Central American University, as well as two lay people. I think this is a very serious threat that our country has to take a look at and demand that steps be taken to protect the life of all Nicaraguans, and particularly the students and the rector of the Central American University, the Jesuit institution there.

Mr. VARGAS

Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Victoria ``Vicki'' Touchstone who has been named the 2018 National Wildlife Refuge System Employee of the Year. Vicki Touchstone is a Refuge Planner for the San Diego National Wildlife Complex. The wildlife refuge protects endangered, threatened, migratory, and native species in their natural habitats during a growing urbanization of the coast. The refuge is located at the south end of San Diego and is surrounded by the cities of National City, Chula Vista, San Diego, Imperial Beach and Coronado which fall in my congressional district. In her role, she has developed important projects that have assisted and protected the wildlife populations that call the 51st Congressional District their home. In addition, she's created programs that have provided created greater public access for the community. She has dedicated 16 years of her career to the San Diego National Wildlife Complex, completing multiple habitat restoration projects, drafted and finalized four major Comprehensive Corporations Plans for four different refuges and expanded public access. I am told that at home she has created an oasis for turtle and tortoises that were rescued from the San Diego Turtle and Tortoise Society right in her backyard and takes her personal vacations at the annual California Trails and Greenways Conference. Her dedication to protecting wildlife in San Diego is astounding. I would like to recognize Vicki Touchstone for her dedication to protect wildlife in my district, congratulate her being recognized as the 2018 National Wildlife Refuge System Employee of the Year and for all the work she has done to preserving wildlife in the 51st District of California.

Mr. VARGAS

Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Victor Jaime, whom after 30 years of service, will be retiring as President of Imperial Valley College. Dr. Victor Jaime was born and raised in the Imperial Valley. He was the first in his family to go to college and Imperial Valley College became the key to his successful career. After graduating with his associates from Imperial Valley College, he went on to attain his Bachelor's degree at UC Irvine, his Master's degree at San Diego State University, his Educational Specialist Degree at Point Loma Nazarene College, and finally his Doctorate degree in Education from Northern Arizona University. Despite all of his diplomas, the two he cherishes the most are his Doctorate, that prepared him to lead our educators and students towards a successful path; and his Associates Degree from Imperial Valley College, which helped pave the way to his mission in life. Throughout his career, Dr. Victor Jaime, has worked in various roles such as Counselor and later Director of the Talent Search Program, Dean of Financial Aid and State Programs, Vice President for Student Services and finally Superintendent/President; all at the very college that awarded his Associate's Degree: Imperial Valley College. Dr. Victor Jaime firmly believes that his father and grandfather were his main sources of influence and credits them for his accomplishments in academia and his career. Dr. Victor Jaime and his wife, Caroline Treadway-Jaime, have three children; two who are former Imperial Valley College students, and one who is currently at Cal State Fresno, and the grandparents of three grandchildren. I would like to recognize Dr. Victor Jaime for his dedication and commitment to Imperial Valley and for being a champion to the community college system and leaving behind a legacy that will continue to impact the students in my district. I wish him the best of luck in his retirement.

Mr. VARGAS

Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of veterans of the United States Armed Forces who have been unceremoniously deported. In the 1990s, the immigration law changes eliminated judicial discretion and reclassified many low-level, nonviolent offenses as aggravated felonies mandating deportation. As a result, the United States has banished an unknown number of veterans. In many cases, these were minor offenses committed by veterans who succumbed to the difficulties of readjusting to civilian life. Many are combat veterans who sustained physical wounds and emotional trauma in conflicts going back to the war in Vietnam. This banishment effectively denies these men access to often critically needed medical care. Regardless of immigration status, all U.S. military veterans are entitled to treatment at the Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities, yet very few of these deported veterans are granted the necessary waivers to access the care either in the States or abroad. In fact, most of these veterans, the only way they are going to return is in a box, dead, because they do have the right to be buried in a veterans' cemetery. Let's do the right thing and bring these veterans home so they can get the care they need.

Mr. VARGAS

Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the recent decision made by the Trump administration to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, program. By ending the DACA program, this administration leaves 800,000 people, mostly young adults and children, without any legal protections. DACA gives these individuals, most of whom were brought to the United States as very young children, the opportunity to work hard, study hard, sustain their families, and contribute to their communities. DACA recipients are taxpayers, they are students, they are soldiers, and they are our neighbors. I would like to mention one DACA recipient that I know. Her name is Jacqueline. Jacqueline was brought to the United States when she was 2 years old. She excelled in school and was an Advancement Via Individual Determination--or what we call AVID--student in high school. She did very well. She was a strong candidate for admission to many of our top universities. When DACA was announced in 2012, it helped Jacqueline come out of the shadows and pursue her educational dreams. She did exactly that, and now she is a double major. She is doing very well. DACA gave Jacqueline and her family hope for a better future. It gave her a chance at the American Dream. By ending DACA, this administration is taking away the hopes of 800,000 DREAMers like Jacqueline and threatening their deportation to countries that are very unfamiliar to them, places they may have never known--except, of course, when they were 2--and they have no family there. I would like to thank the religious leaders who have come forward and have urged us to do the right thing and to pass a law to allow these kids and these young adults to stay here and to participate in our community as they have been doing. I would like to read a letter now that was written by the religious leaders here in Washington to the President. As leaders of the three Abrahamic faiths, we look to our sacred texts and traditions in seeking to follow the way of peace. Our respective teachings are clear, and we speak with one voice when we say: Supporting the dreams of young immigrants in the United States is consistent with the foundational values of our Nation and with the moral imperative of extending hospitality to the stranger, of caring for immigrants and children, and of loving our neighbors as ourselves. Nearly 1 million young immigrants have benefited from the DACA program since its inception in 2012. Among that number, many of the program recipients are members of our respective faith communities as well as the communities we mentor in and around the Nation's Capital. We have witnessed firsthand the relief and pride in our young people's faces as they finally came to feel validated and safe by participating in a program that made them feel more at home--in the only country that they have ever really considered their home. But now anxiety and fear for their future has returned. We note that DACA has widespread support across the country and among politicians who agree on little else, for good reason. DACA has dramatically improved the lives of these young people and the communities in which they live: Ninety-five percent of the DACA participants are working or attend high school; Sixty-eight percent of those working have seen their pay increase and, thus, are paying higher taxes; Fifty percent now have driver's licenses, which makes the roads safer for everyone; Fifty-four percent have purchased their first car; and Twelve percent have purchased their first home. Rescinding DACA would have a widespread, devastating impact not only on a generation of industrious young people, but also on their families, communities, and our society as a whole. Thus, we add our voices to those urging you, Mr. President, to keep this policy in place until Congress puts in place a permanent solution. It is our collective prayer that in the coming months congressional leaders work together to pass sensible and comprehensive immigration reform that our country so desperately needs, including making the DACA program permanent. But until that time comes, the least that our country can do is to continue supporting our DREAMers. Keep DACA in place, Mr. President. Faithfully, The Right Reverend Mariann Edgar Budde, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington; Rabbi Bruce Lustig, Senior Rabbi of Washington Hebrew Congregation; Imam Talib M. Shareef, The Nation's Mosque; His Eminence Donald Cardinal Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington. Mr. Speaker, we can do the right thing. We can pass comprehensive immigration reform, and we should. But at least we can pass DACA. I know, Mr. Speaker, that there is goodwill on both sides. Let's come together over this and do the right thing as our community leaders and as our religious leaders are asking us.

Mr. VARGAS

Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Keith Ballard and Southwest Middle School's Music Department for their exceptional work and dedication in promoting the arts. Southwest Middle School is located a few minutes from the international border and serves a large Latino population. The school has one of the highest poverty rates in San Diego County. According to Sweetwater Union High School District officials, Southwest Middle School previously had a struggling music program requiring immediate attention and assistance. In 2010, Mr. Ballard was involuntarily transferred to Southwest Middle School. He was told that he had been assigned to improve a failing music program in need of immediate help. Unfortunately, the conditions of both the school and the program did not make this an easy task. Mr. Ballard worked tirelessly with administrators, parents and the community to secure funding to rebuild the music program. He found resistance and opposition, as the project required time and resources that few were inclined to provide. In response, he used the media as a tool to shed light on the issue, which resulted in him securing the necessary support and resources for the project. Today, Southwest Middle School has a thriving music program which offers multiple courses from different genres such as three mariachi music classes, one steel drum band class and one marching percussion/ African drum ensemble class. The program is designed to connect students with their heritage through education, practice, and the promotion of arts and music. The school will be adding a band class for the 2017-18 school year. Presently, Southwest Middle School has one of the most multicultural and diversified music programs in the entire nation. Southwest Middle School proves their commitment to the continuous social and emotional growth of their students by enabling youth to develop their talents.

Mr. VARGAS

Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Johnson Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church and its pastors for 100 years of teaching, preaching the Gospel, and making strides in our community. The Johnson Chapel A.M.E. Church was founded in 1915 by John Fair, James Craig, Roxie Graves, Cora Martin, Ed Ackers, and Nancy Craig. It was formally established in 1917 with Reverend S.E. Edwards as its first pastor. Originally a small congregation meeting in a house on State Street, the church is now highly regarded within the community and has relocated to a significantly larger building on Hamilton Street in El Centro, California. The African Methodist Episcopal Church was formed out of the Free African Society, established in 1787. African Americans faced unending discrimination while trying to practice their faith in American Methodist churches. Some churchgoers went as far as pulling African Americans off their knees as they prayed. Black members of St. George's Methodist Episcopal Church split off to create their own African congregation. Wanting to avoid discrimination and obtain religious autonomy, many black Methodists began to switch over to African Methodist Episcopal churches. Currently, the A.M.E. Church has membership across twenty Episcopal Districts in thirty-nine countries, on five continents. Although the church was founded by people of African descent and heritage, it is open to people of any background or race. They place emphasis on the plain and simple gospel and tirelessly work to spread the word of Jesus Christ. The Johnson Chapel A.M.E. Church has been led by thirty-one dedicated ministers over the past 100 years. They have worked to improve the church and build a community around it. Not only does the church take care of their own members, they have also provided educational programs and outreach to benefit youth in their area. I would like to recognize the Johnson Chapel A.M.E. Church for their 100 years of dedicated teaching and service within our community.

Mr. VARGAS

Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the San Diego Building and Construction Trades Council, and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 569, and applaud the leadership of their business manager, a proud marine, Tom Lemmon. Yesterday, these patriots stood up for something much larger than themselves when they resisted the Trump administration's contempt for workers' rights, misogyny, racism, and Islamophobia. It is in the best tradition of organized labor to stand for others' rights and against a system that attempts to exploit the most vulnerable in our society. They stood up against threats to organized labor. They stood up against separating immigrant families. They stood up for working families and the most vulnerable in our society. Again, I congratulate Tom Lemmon, Gretchen Newsom, and Carol Kim, along with many others, for their courage to speak up and resist. Their resistance is a great patriotic reminder to all of us to stand up for what we know is right.

Mr. VARGAS

Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Joseph Cachero, a student at Hilltop High School in Chula Vista, California, for his selection to represent the State of California as a Delegate at the Congress of Future Science and Technology Leaders. The event will be held at the Tsongas Center at University of Massachusetts Lowell in Lowell, MA, from June 29, 2017 to July 1, 2017. The Congress of Future Science and Technology Leaders is an honors- only program designed to motivate and direct the top students in our country who aspire to be scientists, engineers, and technologists and encourage them to stay true to their dream. All delegates are nominated by their teachers or the National Academy of Future Scientists based on proven academic excellence and a demonstrated desire to enter the scientific or technology professions. I want to congratulate Joseph Cachero and Hilltop High School in their success and leadership in the scientific field.

Mr. VARGAS

Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Edgar Jacome Guzman, a student in San Ysidro, California, for his selection to represent the State of California as a Delegate at the Congress of Future Science and Technology Leaders. The event will be held at the Tsongas Center at University of Massachusetts Lowell in Lowell, MA, from June 29, 2017 to July 1, 2017. The Congress of Future Science and Technology Leaders is an honors- only program designed to motivate and direct the top students in our country who aspire to be scientists, engineers, and technologists and encourage them to stay true to their dream. All delegates are nominated by their teachers or the National Academy of Future Scientists based on proven academic excellence and a demonstrated desire to enter the scientific or technology professions. I want to congratulate Edgar Jacome Guzman in his success and leadership in the scientific field.

Mr. VARGAS

Mr. VARGAS. ``No preference shall be given by any regulation of commerce or revenue to the ports of one State over those of another; nor shall vessels bound to, or from, one State, be obliged to enter, clear, or pay duties in another.''

Mr. VARGAS

Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Imperial County Supervisor Jesus ``Jack'' Terrazas who is retiring from public service. Supervisor Terrazas graduated from San Diego State University-Imperial Valley Campus and is a licensed Life, Health, Fire and Casualty Insurance Broker. He was elected to the Imperial County Board of Supervisors in June of 2008. Supervisor Terrazas represents the communities of Heber, El Centro, and Ocotillo and is serving his second term. Supervisor Terrazas currently serves as Chairman of the Board and is a Board representative on the Imperial County Employees Retirement System, the Imperial County Transportation Commission, the Southern California Association of Governments, the Local Transportation Authority, and the Service Authorities for Freeway Emergencies. Supervisor Terrazas is also an alternate for the Local Area Formation Commission and California State Association of Counties. Prior to being elected to the Board of Supervisors, Supervisor Terrazas served three terms as an El Centro City Councilmember where he was appointed Mayor three times. In addition, Supervisor Terrazas served as a member of the El Centro Regional Medical Center Board of Trustees for eleven years and on the Board of Directors of the Imperial County Work Training Center. During his years of public service, Supervisor Terrazas contributions to the community have been numerous. He was committed to the completion of numerous projects including, the improvement of roads, sidewalks, and public facilities in the Heber community. Supervisor Terrazas also supported a variety of housing programs such as, the First Time Home Buyer program, the Cal Home Program, and the Community Development Block Grant Housing Rehab Program which helped to assist families to repair and replace damaged and dilapidated homes. Supervisor Terrazas was also committed to protecting water in his community and launched a study to determine the condition and capabilities of the current miter systems. All his hard work and dedication was acknowledged in 2015 when Supervisor Terrazas was recognized with the Sure Helpline Crisis Center 2015 and Inspirational People of the Community Awards. Supervisor Terrazas worked tirelessly to advance community and economic development in Imperial County through the growth of a robust renewable energy industry. He helped keep the county fiscally sound while preserving jobs, improving service quality, and advocating for Imperial County at the state and federal level. Supervisor Terrazas has four grown children, eight grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren and currently resides in El Centro with his wife of over forty years, Frances.

Mr. VARGAS

Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues for their support of H.R. 3711, the Chicano Park Preservation Act. Again, I thank the chairman for those kind words about the park. I appreciate it very much. Ranking member, thank you again for allowing me to be here to support moving this legislation forward. Chicano Park is a historic park under the San Diego-Coronado Bridge that embodies the spirit of the Hispanic culture in San Diego. As was said, in the spring of 1970, the Barrio Logan community in San Diego united to advocate for the community park and, with the support of the city and State officials, the park was born. Since then, the park has been transformed by world-renowned muralists who have adorned the freeway pillars with breathtaking murals, sculptures, and architectural pieces that tell the story of the Hispanic community in San Diego. Chicano Park is home to the largest collection of outdoor murals, 89 of them, in the country, in addition to various sculptures, earthworks, and an architectural piece dedicated to the cultural heritage of the community. The murals are recognized at the local, State, and national levels as historical, cultural, and public art. This legislation, as was said, authorizes a special resource study of Chicano Park and its murals to evaluate the feasibility of the park becoming a national historic landmark or an Affiliated Area of the National Park Service. It is also interesting that now the community has taken it on as a community park. Unfortunately, the area has very few parks, and this is one of the places where the community now, since 1970, has been coming and having picnics there with their families, their children, and it has become really a wonderful opportunity for the people that live in the community. Even more than that, if you go there on a Saturday, you will find artists and different people from throughout the State, and Arizona, and other places coming to look at the murals and to look at the art. It is quite a vibrant area. If you take a look at some of the things that are sold in the area, you will see T-shirts and you will see lots of cultural food. It has become a wonderful place for everyone to come together. So I appreciate very much the opportunity here, and I thank the ranking member, and especially the chairman, for this opportunity. Again, I encourage them to come to the park. It is not quite as grand as some of the things in Alaska, and I look to going to Alaska some day because I have only seen them in the pictures. Again, I thank you for your kind words about the park.

Mr. VARGAS

Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5948--An Act to designate the United States Postal Service facility in Chula Vista as the ``Johnathan `J.D.' De Guzman Post Office Building.'' This legislation is sponsored by my colleague, the gentlewoman from San Diego, Susan Davis. I urge my colleagues to support this bill, so that we may forever honor the sacrifice that Officer De Guzman made for the San Diego community and our great nation. San Diego Police Officer Johnathan `J.D.' De Guzman was a true American hero who was killed in the line of duty. Born in the Philippines on September 17, 1972, Officer De Guzman traveled to the United States at the age of 20 and eventually became an American citizen. He believed deeply in the American Dream and in the importance of public service and community involvement, leading him to join the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) in 2000. Officer De Guzman was a SDPD 16 year veteran and a member of the department's gang suppression unit. In 2003, he received the SDPD's Purple Heart. Officer De Guzman was characterized as a caring, selfless, honorable, and courageous individual. It wasn't uncommon for him to show up at his children's school and engage students about careers in law enforcement. Tragically, Officer De Guzman was killed while on patrol on July 28th, 2016. He is survived by his parents, his wife Mary Jane, and his two children Amira and Jonathan De Guzman II. I urge my colleagues to pass H.R. 5948.

Mr. VARGAS

Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Ramon `Chunky' Sanchez, an exceptional musician and activist for the community of San Diego. Chunky Sanchez passed away on Friday, October 28, 2016, a few days before his sixty-fifth birthday. Chunky Sanchez was born in 1951 in Blythe, California to Mexican immigrant parents. He was a talented musician, who was taught traditional Mexican music by his mother and uncles. Chunky Sanchez quickly learned how to sing, play ten different instruments, and compose his own music. In 1969 he attended San Diego State University on a scholarship and began performing with La Rondalla Amerindia de Aztlan, a noted musical group composed of students and professors. Later, Chunky Sanchez became a vocalist for the folklore group Los Alcranes (The Scorpions) which he co-founded along with his brother Ricardo. They recorded their first album in 1977. Through his music, he would tell the story of the Chicano movement and of the Mexican American bi-cultural experience. Chunky Sanchez was so well received that labor leader Cesar Chavez would often invite him to play at union rallies. Chunky Sanchez was also an incredibly active member of the San Diego community. In his song `Rising Souls', he sang that we needed to `educate, not incarcerate, so that humanity will shine.' During his lifetime he embodied these lyrics as he worked with local youth as a coach, an educator, a youth center director, and a gang intervention counselor. His passion and care for the community garnered numerous awards and honors from organizations across California and throughout the City of San Diego. Chunky Sanchez is best known for his song ``Chicano Park Samba'', which narrated the struggle for and successful creation of Chicano Park in San Diego. A City Historic Landmark, Chicano Park honors the history of the Chicano Mexican people through monumental murals, sculptures, earthworks, and an architectural piece. Earlier in the 114th Congress, I introduced H.R. 3711, the Chicano Park Preservation Act to preserve Chicano Park as part of the National Historic system. Coincidentally, this bill is being marked up by the House Natural Resources Committee later today. I would like to thank Chairman Bishop and Ranking Member Grijalva for supporting this legislation. It's a fitting way to honor Ramon `Chunky' Sanchez's memory. Ramon Chunky Sanchez will be missed by his family--his wife Isabel, five children, many grandchildren and the San Diego community. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the lyrics of the Chicano Park Samba. Chicano Park Samba Lyrics Los Alacranes Mojados: Chunky Sanchez, Ricardo Sanchez, Mario Aguilar, Marco Antonio Rodriguez In the year the year 1970, in the city of San Diego, under the Coronado Bridge, lied a little piece of land, a piece of land that the community of Logan Heights wanted to make into a park . . . A park where all the chavalitos could play in so they wouldn't have to play in the street and get run over by a car . . . a park where all the viejitos could come and just sit down and watch the sun go down in the tarde . . . a park where all the familias could come and just get together on a Sunday afternoon and celebrate the spirit of life itself. But the city of San Diego said, ``Chale. We're going to make a highway patrol substation here, man.'' So on April 22nd, 1970, la raza of Logan Heights and other Chicano communities of San Diego got together, and they organized . . . and they walked on the land, and they took it over with their picks and their shovels and they began to build their park. And today, that little piece of land under the Coronado Bridge is known to everybody . . . as Chicano Park . . . Orale! It began in 1970, under the Coronado Bridge En mi barrio, in San Diego Where my people began to fight For Chicano Park, for Chicano Park Under the bridge, under the bridge, under the bridge . . . We shall continue to live my brother, We shall continue to fight my friend For Chicano Park, under the bridge . . . Raza!, Que vivan, que vivan, Los barrios unidos!

Mr. VARGAS

Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Ramon ``Chunky'' Sanchez, an exceptional musician and activist for the community of San Diego. Chunky Sanchez passed away on Friday, October 28, 2016, a few days before his 65th birthday. Chunky Sanchez was born in 1951, in Blythe, California, to Mexican immigrant parents. He was a talented musician who was taught traditional Mexican music by his mother and his uncles. Chunky Sanchez quickly learned how to sing, play 10 different instruments, and compose his own music. In 1969, he attended San Diego State University on a scholarship and began performing with La Rondalla Amerindia de Aztlan, a noted musical group composed of students and professors. Later, Chunky Sanchez became a vocalist for the folklore group Los Alacranes, the Scorpions, which he co-founded along with his brother, Ricardo. They recorded their first album in 1977. Through his music, he would tell the story of the Chicano movement and of the Mexican American bicultural experience. Chunky Sanchez was so well received that labor leader Cesar Chavez would often invite him to play at his union rallies. Chunky Sanchez was also an incredibly active member of the San Diego community. In his song ``Rising Souls,'' he sang that he needed and we needed ``to educate, not incarcerate, so that humanity will shine.'' During his lifetime, he embodied these lyrics as he worked with local youth as a coach, an educator, a youth center director, and a gang intervention counselor. His passion and care for the community garnered numerous awards and honors from organizations across California and throughout the city of San Diego. Chunky Sanchez is best known for his song ``Chicano Park Samba,'' which narrated the struggle for and the successful creation of Chicano Park in San Diego. A city historic landmark, Chicano Park honors the history of the Chicano Mexican people throughout their monumental works and murals and sculptures and earthworks, and an architectural piece. Ramon ``Chunky'' Sanchez will be missed by his family, his wife, his five children, many grandchildren, and the San Diego community. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the lyrics of the ``Chicano Park Samba.'' Chicano Park Samba (By: Los Alacranes Mojados: Chunky Sanchez, Ricardo Sanchez, Mario Aguilar, Marco Antonio Rodriguez) In the year the year 1970, in the city of San Diego, under the Coronado Bridge, lied a little piece of land, a piece of land that the community of Logan Heights wanted to make into a park . . . A park where all the chavalitos could play in so they wouldn't have to play in the street and get run over by a car . . . a park where all the viejitos could come and just sit down and watch the sun go down in the tarde . . . a park where all the familias could come and just get together on a Sunday afternoon and celebrate the spirit of life itself. But the city of San Diego said, ``Chale. We're going to make a highway patrol substation here, man.'' So on April 22nd, 1970, la raza of Logan Heights and other Chicano communities of San Diego got together, and they organized . . . and they walked on the land, and they took it over with their picks and their shovels and they began to build their park. And today, that little piece of land under the Coronado Bridge is known to everybody . . . as Chicano Park . . . ¡Orale! It began in 1970, under the Coronado Bridge En mi barrio, in San Diego Where my people began to fight For Chicano Park, for Chicano Park Under the bridge, under the bridge, under the bridge . . . We shall continue to live my brother, We shall continue to fight my friend For Chicano Park, under the bridge . . . ¡Raza!, ¡Que vivan, que vivan, Los barrios unidos! Por Ramon `Chunky' Sanchez.

Mr. VARGAS

Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Speaker, on Thursday, February 4, 2016 I had the privilege of co-chairing the 64th Annual National Prayer Breakfast with Representative Robert Aderholt. I would like to submit Part two of the transcript: 64th National Prayer Breakfast: Part Two Rabbi Jack Bemporad: I think in these few days that we are together, there is such a spirit of love and joy, and affection. A sense that an environment is produced these days that elicits the very best in us and there is a constant struggle in everyone to find a way in which our best selves emerges. And the self that manifests the love of God, and the love of one's fellow human being, and it calls us to something higher, to a calling that gives us the nobility of what it means to be a child of God. In this spirit, I would like to read from the book of Isaiah, Chapter 58. It is a reading that is done every Yom Kippur, Day of Atonement, in every synagogue throughout the world. It is a day, incidentally, where Jews fast. And yet on this very day when Jews fast, they read this. ``Is such the fast that I choose, a day for a man to humble himself? Is it to bow down his head like a rush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Will you call this a fast, and a day acceptable to the Lord? Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you, the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, Here I am. If you take away from the midst of you the yoke, the pointing of the finger, and speaking of wickedness, if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday and the Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your desire with good things, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to dwell in.'' Thank you. The Honorable Julian Castro: Good morning. To President and Mrs. Obama, co-chairs Congressman Vargas and Congressman Aderholt, and to all distinguished guests with us this morning. On this day of hope and of harmony, let us pray. Dear Lord, we gather here as one, connected by the strength of our faith, by our pride in this great nation, and by our common bond as Children of God. Let us remember that each of us is beloved equally in the eyes of our Lord, and let us serve as instruments that spread your mercy to our brothers and our sisters. Jesus told the disciples in the book of Matthew that what we do unto the least among us, we do unto Him. So, just as the grace of God provides nourishment to our souls and sanctuary for our spirits, we must provide food to the hungry, care for the ailing, shelter to the poor. The Bible instructs us to find unity in our faith, and compassion for all men and women through the example of Christ. And I pray that we will find inspiration from the second chapter of Philippians, which reads: ``So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility, count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.'' Amen. Thank you and God bless. U.S. Representative Nancy Pelosi: Good morning. Mr. President and Mrs. Obama, all of the distinguished guests gathered here in prayer. I know we all want to thank Congressman Juan Vargas and Congressman Robert Aderholt for their leadership in making this morning's breakfast such a success, and I thank them for giving me the opportunity to read the following from the Gospel of John. In the gospel of John, we see the golden rule that stands at the heart of the gospel. And as we hear these words from John chapters 13, 15 and 17 we know that this message, this command of love is not confined to the New Testament. The same message stands at the center of the Torah, and the teachings of the Prophet Mohammed. From the Torah, it says, ``Love your neighbor as yourself.'' And from Mohammed, ``None of you has faith until he loves for his brother or his neighbor what he loves for himself.'' And now from the gospel of John: ``Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father.. . . ``Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, rose from the meal, took off his outer clothing and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with a towel.. . . ``When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place, `Do you understand what I have done for you?' he asks them. `You call me teacher and Lord, and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and teacher have washed your feet, you should also wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is any messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.'' A little while later Jesus said, ``As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love just as I have kept my Father's commands and remain in His love. I have told you this so that my joy may be with you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: love each other as I have loved you. Greater love hath no one than this, to lay down his life for his friend.'' And finally, listen to Jesus' prayer for us, he went on to say: ``My prayer is not for them alone, I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one, I in them, and you in me, so that may guide to bring us to complete unity.'' That is the gospel of the Lord. May the Lord guide us to answer this prayer of togetherness, unity, and love, that we may be from many faiths, we may be united by our service to God and to one another. Amen. Thank you. The Honorable Robert Rigsby: Good morning. Mr. President, our First Lady, this is truly the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. Let us pray. Thank you, Father, for allowing us to live in a country where we can come together in your precious name. In peace, fellowship, and communion offering you praise, glory and honor. Father, we ask that you watch over our President, Barack Obama, as he literally carries the weight of the world on his shoulders. Continue to lead and guide him, and bless him with the courage of David and the wisdom of Solomon. Bless all of our national leaders from all branches of our government. Father, bless the leaders from around the world who are charged with the great responsibility to bring hope in the midst of hopelessness, calm in the midst of chaos, and peace in the midst of war. Father, infuse in our leaders a call to action to protect those who cannot protect themselves. For as Dr. King said, our lives begin and end the day we become silent about things that truly matter. Father, let our leaders never forget that as a global community, or strength, our dignity, and our humanity are all closely linked to our willingness to help each other. Father, I pray that our leaders are led by faith because our faith lets us know you hear us. Father, because we have been granted this awesome responsibility to lead, we have the legal and moral obligation to strive to better conditions world wide. Father, your word and our faith provide us guidance. The Gospel of Matthew teaches that we must ``first cast out of the beam out of thine own eye, and then shall thou see clearly to cast the moat out of thy brother's eye.'' Father, impress upon our leaders the profoundness of this passage. I pray that our leaders will understand that to earn our positions of leadership, we must constantly sit in judgment of ourselves. This is not an easy or a comfortable task, but it is one that is essential-- whether it is at a prayer meeting or during times of self- reflection--we must examine our actions in the crucible of our faith. In First Kings, Solomon is reminded of the promise that God made to David, that is if our people remain faithful, then when in need, our God would hear them. Father, faith is essential to all we do, and faith has been vital to me. I am so proud to share my faith with our national leaders because this nation has invested so much in me. I am humbled and honored to have served in Afghanistan and Iraq as a United States Army officer. My unwavering faith sustained me while I served in a combat zone away from my wife and my son. But more importantly, my faith sustained me when I was paralyzed shortly after returning from Afghanistan. My wife Anna and I relied on our faith to sustain us and keep us. Without faith, I know I would not be standing here today. I literally would not be standing here today. Father, remind our leaders that you told us to have faith in all we do, not some of what we do, but all we do, not just when it is popular or convenient. Let our leaders know that it is through prayer and faith that our brave soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines that work to secure our homeland will return home when war will be no more. Father, remind our leaders that faith will sustain them, faith will keep them and faith will guide them. For I know firsthand that it is because my faith and the power of prayer that I stand before you today. I also pray that with continued faith and perseverance, our president will be strengthened, fortified, guided and directed to lead this great nation, and be a beacon of justice and peace around the world. In the precious name of Jesus, I give thanks. Amen. Rep. Aderholt: Thank you Judge Rigsby. And thank you God for answering our prayers, and we thank You again for this morning and we offer all of these prayers up to the Father. Mark Burnett and Roma Downey are two of television's most successful producers. They have made over 3,000 hours of American TV that airs in over 70 countries, and have received eight Emmy Awards. You know them from their productions of some of television's most iconic shows, including The Voice, Shark Tank, Survivor, The Bible Series, and their major motion picture, Son of God. Mark Burnett is the president of MGM Television and Digital Group, and his wife, Roma is chief content officer of Light Works Media. Many of you also know Roma from her starring role as Monica in the long running hit TV show, Touched by An Angel. And to give you an idea of some of their work, we are going to look at a brief clip from their hit television series, The Bible. [Video clip from The Bible] Ladies and Gentlemen, please join me in welcoming the first husband and wife couple to ever address this breakfast, Roma Downey and Mark Burnett. Mr. Mark Burnett: Good morning, Mr. President, Madam First Lady, Senators, Congressmen, members of our armed forces, esteemed foreign representatives and guests. Roma and I are so grateful to be here this year. We are used to sitting out there, and have for many years and love this prayer breakfast. We are especially grateful this year to be speaking at President Obama's last prayer breakfast, it is such an honor. We are also really, really glad to be here to share with you a little of our story about immigrant, blue collar roots of coming to America. Ms. Roma Downey: Yes, it is a great blessing also for us to be here as a married couple and to get to do this together. As we heard, we are the first husband and wife team ever to speak at the National Prayer Breakfast. Mark and I have been working together, side by side for years, and most couples we know can't even do yard work together without arguing. And yet we have been together every day, producing The Bible and AD, and the soon to be released, epic feature film, Ben Hur. And I just have to acknowledge Mr. Morgan Freeman, who is here today, who is one of the stars of Ben Hur. Spending so much time together as a husband and wife, is a blessing and a challenge, and perhaps the real miracle is that we are still speaking to each other. As business partners, we have different styles and approaches. I might tap gently on a door, and my husband might kick the door down. And both can be effective, and like all partnerships, we have learned to work as a team. And there is an art, of course, to public speaking. It should feel like a graceful dance, and speaking today, we will try not to step on each other's toes. I am reminded of some of the great dancers from the past, like Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, and they moved so well together. And remember that Ginger did everything Fred did, but she did it backwards and in high heels. Of course you may be able to tell from our accents, I am Irish, my husband is English--but we don't hold that against him. Mr. Burnett: Okay, I admit it. I was born in England but I am very lucky now, as is Roma now, to be an American citizen--so we can officially celebrate the 4th of July. I do know I am also lucky; I am the only person in the room who is married to an actual angel. Yeah, I know what you are thinking. Yes, I have been touched by an angel. Well, we are married. Ms. Downey: I was born and raised in Derry City, Northern Ireland near the bog side section, and Derry is the second city of the North and as you all know it was home to a great deal of violence and unrest, particularly in the 1970s and 1980s. Our city was divided by a river, which flowed through the middle segregating the communities; and Catholics lived on one side, Protestants lived on the other, and never the twain did meet. We hardly ever crossed the river to the other side. Those were scary and often dangerous times when shootings and bombings became a way of life. When I was just 10 years of age, my mother died and I remember going to visit her grave when a fierce gun battle broke out in the cemetery. I narrowly missed being shot, the bullet hole singed the coat I was wearing and missed my head by inches. Surely I must have had an angel watching over me that day. Through my teenage years I can remember sitting in my little bedroom on the street where we lived, looking out at the rain and listening over and over to one of the only cassettes that I owned. It was Simon and Garfunkel's Greatest Hits and I loved the lyrics, for they created a poetic world where you could hear the sounds of silence and it seemed possible that you could really build a bridge over troubled waters. The lyrics painted a picture for me, a picture of America and a seed was planted. The American dream represented freedom, and opportunity, and there as a young Irish teenager, an American dream was born in my heart. Like so many immigrants before us, this great country has provided us with the opportunities to make our dreams reality. Mr. Burnett: Yet we both came seeking that same American dream. Thirty years ago, I left the British Army Parachute Regiment and I moved to Los Angeles with zero skills, but I did need a job and a place to live and I had a friend from home who lived in Beverly Hills and worked as a chauffeur for a rich family. He suggested a chauffeur might be a good job-- at least I could drive a car--but there were no chauffeur jobs available. But there was a job advertised and it sounded great. It was a live in position in Beverly Hills; got paid 125 dollars a week and the job did come with a room, a car, and even cable TV. The trouble was there were two words right at the front of the job description, which made no sense for a guy from the parachute regiment. Those two words were: child care. My friend Nick told me it was a waste of time even going to the interview but I remember him saying ``Mark, come on, how are you going over being the commando yesterday to Mary Poppins tomorrow, really?'' But I knew I was desperate. So I showed up that night at 624 North Beverly Drive in Beverly Hills for a job interview. It was crazy. Keep in mind I was 22 years of age, I had just come out of the army. Irving, the husband, began by asking what on earth I was doing there. Here he had a 3 year old from this marriage, a 17 year old and a 19 year old from the previous marriage, and what did he possibly need another 22 year old kid for? What Earl said he needed was a nanny and a housekeeper. Just then his wife, Patty cut him off and said ``Wow, you have an accent, where are you from?'' I said ``Ma'am, I'm from London.'' She said ``Oh, we love London.'' Earl did not crack a smile, he was just annoyed so he started drilling me to get rid of me. He said, ``This job isn't just about chasing a 3 year old around a Beverly Hills estate--you need to do some cleaning. Can you clean Mark?'' I said ``Sir, I just left 4 years in the British army. They came around with a white glove to inspect our lockers every day. No one ever found a speck of dust on my locker.'' Patty smiled and Earl got even more annoyed. Then he asked me ``Okay, can you do laundry?'' I said ``Sir, laundry? We have to do all our own washing and ironing, I could iron a shirt with a crease so sharp you could shave with it.'' Patty was loving this. But then Irving finally got me when he said ``Mark, can you cook?'' I said ``Sir, I'm British. My mom can't even cook.'' Anyway, I thought I wasn't getting the job--but a few hours later, Patty called the number I had left where my friend Nick lived and said, ``It's a very soft sell, but you got the job. Can you start tomorrow?'' And then I began the next day in America as a domestic help/nanny/housekeeper at 624 North Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills. This was really amazing. Last year, Roma and I, as a lot of you know, merged our company into MGM, which made me the president of MGM Television. And I was given an office on the top floor of MGM, right next to Gary Barber, the Chairman and CEO of MGM. I walked in there and looked at this incredible view of Los Angeles--the Hollywood sign, Beverly Hills and it dawned on me. The address of this building is 245 North Beverly Drive. I looked out the window up Beverly Drive and I could actually see the house where I was a nanny at 624 North Beverly Drive. You have to know, this can only happen in America. It's the American dream. Ms. Downey: Yeah, there are certain things that could only happen in America. Back when I emigrated from Ireland, I lived in New York City, and the very first job I had there was checking coats in a very fancy Upper West Side restaurant. The meals were lovely but so expensive and I never could have afforded to eat there myself. When I checked a coat, I used to get maybe a quarter a coat or sometimes a dollar on average. One night I checked the coat of Regis Philbin. He was the very first celebrity that I ever met, and he gave me a 20 dollar tip and I thought I died and went to heaven. Just a few years later, I was living in Los Angeles, starring on a TV show called Touched by an Angel and the show had millions of viewers each week and it was a big hit on CBS. Soon I was invited to fly back to New York and be a guest on the Regis Philbin Show. Checking coats one moment, starring on television the next--only in America. And I remember I told Regis that story and he laughed, and he laughed, and he was just so glad that he hadn't stiffed me. Anyway, for almost 10 years I had the privilege of playing the angel, Monica on television opposite the great Della Reese, and we were undercover angels who showed up at a crossroad in people's lives, often when they had hit the bottom, and in their brokenness, they had reached out to God for help. Every week I got to deliver a message of God's love on national television to millions of people. As a believer myself, this was such an honor to share with the audience that there is a God, that he loves us, and that he wants to be part of our lives. Before we filmed these angel revelation scenes each week, we would pray a very simple prayer, ``Less of me, God, more of you; less of me, more of you.'' And we prayed because we hoped we would be used to touch people's hearts and to open their lives to God--and thankfully that happened thousands of times. Both Mark and I have been so blessed with our careers here in the United States, and we are both so fortunate and incredibly grateful.

Mr. VARGAS

Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Father Henry Rodriguez, a true leader and servant of the community of San Diego. Father Rodriguez passed away on Thursday, August 4, 2016 in his beloved city of San Diego. Father Rodriguez was born in 1955 in National City, California. Father Henry was ordained for the diocese on July 12, 1986. He was the long-time Pastor at St. Jude Shrine of the West in San Diego's Southcrest neighborhood from 1989-2006. Recently, he served as a Father of St. John the Evangelist Parish, even as his health declined. Towards the end of his life, Father Rodriguez dedicated his time to providing hospice to those in need. Father Rodriguez was well known throughout the community for his contribution to special events and celebrations, as well as community groups and organizations, frequently seen alongside Bishop Robert McElroy. Father Rodriguez served as chaplain to the San Diego Police Department, San Diego Hospice, and at Scripps Mercy Hospital. He believed in community policing and working with police officials to strengthen the community. As a chaplain for the SDPD, he helped comfort the family of Officer Jonathan De Guzman, who was killed in the line of duty. Father Rodriguez would later pass away the same day as Officer De Guzman's funeral Mass. Father Rodriguez was warm and welcoming. He was a father, preacher and friend to many. He was considerate, genuine and devoted to making this world a better, more just place. His leadership will leave a lasting legacy. He will be missed by his family--his mother, Jennie Rodriguez, his siblings, Jennie Rodriguez, Gloria Taylor, Linda Rodriguez and Jess Rodriguez, his 10 nieces and nephews, and his San Diego community

Mr. VARGAS

Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Andrea Skorepa for her leadership and her steadfast 45 years of service to the San Ysidro Community and the greater San Diego region. A San Ysidro native, Andrea Skorepa has dedicated her life to improving and empowering her hometown. Since 1980, she has been the CEO and President of the Board for Casa Familiar, a non-profit organization that offers social services, affordable housing, educational programming, and cultural programming to the community of San Ysidro. Prior to this position, Ms. Skorepa worked as an educator in the San Ysidro School District, where she organized the school district's first teachers union. Ms. Skorepa has served as part of the leadership on the City of San Diego Mayor's Latino Advisory Committee, the American Civil Liberties Union, the Chicano Executives Committee, the American Institute of Architects Regional and Urban Design Assistance Team, the San Diego Repertory Theater and numerous other groups. She is the first person from San Ysidro to receive the prestigious Ohtli prize on behalf of the Mexican government, in recognition of her efforts to improve the US- Mexico border region. After 45 years of service, Ms. Skorepa will be retiring this fall. Her legacy is one of exceptional leadership, tremendous vision, and unwavering devotion to the San Ysidro community and the greater San Diego region.

Mr. VARGAS

Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Speaker, we find some people so dangerous that we won't let them on a plane, but currently they can buy a gun. That makes no sense. How can you tell a person: No, you can't have that ticket, but would you like an automatic weapon? Would you like a machine gun? That makes no sense. If our law enforcement specialists, those that deal with this day in and day out, say to us this person should not get on a plane, how can we have laws right now that allow that person, then, to go right down to the store and get an automatic weapon and all the ammunition that he wants? That makes no sense. In fact, the American people know that that makes no sense. We need to change the law. We don't need a vacation. That is why we should be here right now debating these bills and doing something for the safety of our people.

Mr. VARGAS

Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Sally Denise Thornburg who is set to retire after beginning her career in nursing in 1973. During her 43-year career, Denise served in many roles, including Charge Nurse, Clinical Manager of the medical floor and nursing in the Intensive Care Unit. Sally Denise Thornburg joined El Centro Regional Medical Center (ECRMC) in 1973 after graduating from Imperial Valley College as part of the first class of its Registered Nursing program. Denise got her start on the Medical-Surgical floor and within the first 2 months of receiving her license she was promoted to Charge Nurse and later to Clinical Manager. In 1985, Denise received the Certification for Adult, Pediatric and Neonatal Critical Care Nurses (CCRN), an advanced nursing specialty she still holds today. This past April, she was recognized by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses for being one of 397 RNs nationwide to hold this certification for over 30 years. During her retirement, she looks forward to volunteering in the Intensive Care Unit at ECRMC. I would like to commend Sally Denise Thornburg for her 43 years of dedication to ECRMC's staff and for her commitment to expanding and improving medical services in Imperial County.