The Becerra Blog

Green Job Training Coming to L.A.

Rep. Xavier Becerra — 11/18/2009 17:03

Green energy and constructions jobs are exactly what we need in Los Angeles and around the country to get folks back to work and grow this emerging sector of our economy. These are good jobs, sustainable jobs that will supply promising careers to those who are ready. But we must provide training opportunities to equip those who are looking for work for these jobs of the future. I’m pleased to see these opportunities coming to some of the most hard-hit parts of my district.

Today Labor Secretary Hilda Solis issued hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of grants to California-based organizations to fund “green job training” programs with funds authorized by the Recovery Act. Two of those programs are based in our congressional district here in Los Angeles.

The Coalition for Responsible Community Development (CRCD) and Women In Non Traditional Employment Roles (WINTER), both located in South Los Angeles, will each receive $100,000 grants through the Recovery Act to train local residents for green construction, energy efficiency, and weatherization jobs.

In partnership with L.A. Trade Technical College (LATTC), Sempra Energy and the California Public Utility Commission, CRCD will expand South L.A.’s existing YouthBuild Program to establish the “Green Jobs Training Initiative.” The project team will develop a dynamic curriculum to include green construction, energy efficiency, and weatherization and provide professional development to faculty members. Additionally, a Green Jobs Pathway will be implemented to serve as a career ladder to help YouthBuild graduates transition into various green construction certificates or degree programs.

WINTER will expand its current pre-apprenticeship job training curriculum to train and place low-income women in green building careers.The project will create the “Wintergreen Careers for Women” advisory committee to inform future efforts. Approximately 124 women are expected to be trained and placed in green building careers. The program will continue to provide this training to a minimum of a hundred women per year for five years as a result of this grant.

Learn more about the green job training grants by clicking here.

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A New Page in American History

Rep. Xavier Becerra — 11/08/2009 01:18

Today we took a historic vote in the House of Representatives and passed meaningful health insurance reform for almost every American. This legislation will mean affordability for the middle-class and security for our seniors. It honors our responsibility to our children, by not adding one single dime to the deficit. Health care reform is critical to securing the economic future of our nation and bringing peace of mind to families like the ones in my district, which has the second highest rate of uninsured residents in the country. Our bill accomplishes this by reducing costs, improving coverage and preserving our choices of doctors, hospitals and health plans. Earlier today the president urged us to be on the right side of history. It is a glorious night to write a page of American history and that’s what we did.

The legislation passed today will cover 96f Americans and guarantees stability, lower costs, higher quality, and a greater choice of plans for all Americans. It puts you and your doctor – not the insurance companies – in charge of your health care decisions.

If you have insurance, this bill:
• Keeps your insurance company from denying you care or coverage – or charging you more – because of diabetes, heart disease or any other “pre-existing condition.”
• Gives you peace of mind that you won’t lose coverage if you lose your job, move, or change jobs.
• Prevents insurance companies from dropping you because you get “too sick.”
• Covers preventive care with no co-pays or deductibles.
• Limits out-of-pocket expenses your insurance company can make you pay.

If you don’t have insurance, this bill:
• Lets you comparison shop for a quality, affordable health plan through a new health insurance exchange or marketplace.
• Offers you low group rates even for individual coverage.
• Helps lower your premiums with affordability credits for those who need help paying.
• Prevents any insurance company from denying you coverage for heart disease, diabetes or another “pre-existing condition.”
• Extends coverage for young Americans, allowing them to stay on their parents’ health insurance plans up to their 27th birthday if they choose.
• Includes a public health insurance option to compete on a level playing field with private insurers.

For our seniors, this bill:
• Strengthens Medicare, extending its solvency for years to come.
• Improves access to your doctor.
• Lowers Medicare drug prices by beginning to close the coverage gap or “donut hole” immediately.
• Reduces inefficiencies and program costs to help Medicare remain solvent without cutting benefits.
• Improves coordination and increases the quality of care for seniors with diabetes, high blood pressure, and other chronic conditions.

Learn more by clicking here.

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Momentum is Building for Health Insurance Reform

Rep. Xavier Becerra — 10/29/2009 17:15

Friends—Momentum is building, the finish line is in sight, and we have never been closer to securing affordable health coverage for all Americans. Today Speaker Pelosi and my fellow Democratic leaders in the House of Representatives introduced a unified bill to reform our nation’s health insurance system. This bill, which takes into account the diverse needs and concerns of communities throughout the country, delivers affordable health insurance options for working and middle class Americans. It will reduce the deficit while ensuring that every American can buy and keep their coverage regardless of age or preexisting conditions.

A key cost-controlling measure in the bill is the establishment of a public, nonprofit health insurance option that would compete with private health insurers to cover those who are currently uninsured. This “public option” will help keep private insurance companies in-check by injecting competition into the market. After it is established, the public plan will be funded entirely by the premiums it collects, not tax dollars.

The legislation will ensure that 96 percent of Americans will be covered by a quality, affordable health plan. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates the cost of expanding coverage at $894 billion, consistent with the $900 billion coverage mark laid out by President Obama. And the legislation will be paid for. CBO estimates the bill reduces the deficit by at least $30 billion over 10 years.

To learn more about the Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R. 3962) and the work I’ve been doing on health insurance reform, click here.

I want to hear from you. Please make sure to leave a comment with your thoughts on this bill and the health insurance reform effort.

Many thanks!

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Japanese Latin American commission bill clears Judiciary Committee

Rep. Xavier Becerra — 10/21/2009 13:50

Today H.R. 42, a bill I authored to investigate the U.S. government’s involvement in the abduction, internment, and deportation of Japanese Latin Americans during World War II was reported favorably out of the Judiciary Committee and is now en route to the House Floor. I salute Chairman Conyers and the members of the Judiciary Committee for giving this important issue the serious consideration it deserves. Today’s action is welcome news for all Americans who seek to understand our country’s past mistakes, and puts us on a path to provide justice to the Japanese Latin Americans who were forcibly relocated, deported and interned by the United States during World War II. As the survivors and witnesses of these events reach advanced age, I hope and expect to see consideration of this bill on the House floor during this session of Congress—our time to learn the full truth and add to our historical record is running out.

Click here to learn more about H.R. 42.

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Young Americans Need Health Coverage

Rep. Xavier Becerra — 10/19/2009 13:50

Young people are the most likely group of Americans to be uninsured, unable to afford coverage or not offered health care through their employers. In fact, nearly half of young adults went without health coverage at some point over the past two years. Here are the sobering facts:

46.8% Americans ages 18 to 34 went without health insurance at some point between 2007 and 2008
Only 53% Americans ages 19 to 29 get coverage through their jobs
Two out of three uninsured adults ages 19 to 29 report forgoing necessary care because of costs

And while they are generally healthier than older Americans, one unexpected illness or injury can quickly send an uninsured young person deep into long-term medical debt. Providing affordable health insurance options—including a public option—to all Americans, young and old, is not only the right thing to do, it will bring down the cost of coverage for everyone, provide families with peace of mind and ensure a healthier America.

America's Affordable Health Choices Act (H.R. 3200), the reform bill Democratic leaders in the House and I support, provides young adults with affordable, quality health insurance, including a convenient on-line marketplace to help them compare and shop for the best plan.

In addition to providing health insurance options, H.R. 3200 will lower costs for young adults by offering free preventative care and placing a cap on what insurance companies can force you to pay in out-of-pocket expenses, co-pays and deductibles.

An all too common reason why young people go without health insurance is that they are booted off their parents’ plans when they turn 19 or graduate from college. Our bill will help over one in three uninsured young Americans by allowing them to remain on their parents’ health plan until their 27th birthday.

As young Americans start their careers and take risks in the job market they should not have to put their health at risk too. Our bill offers health insurance to those without job-based coverage and provides premium assistance to those who still can’t afford it. These provisions will enable young Americans to change jobs, career paths or start their own businesses without having to worry whether or not they will be insured.

Now that all congressional committees with jurisdiction have passed a version of a reform bill we are closer than ever to enacting meaningful reform to our broken health insurance system. Click here to learn more about America's Affordable Health Choices Act and listen to my recent Telephone Town Halls and interviews on health care reform.

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On The President's Speech Tonight

Rep. Xavier Becerra — 09/09/2009 21:16

The President made a clear and compelling closing argument tonight for comprehensive reform that provides all Americans with affordable, quality health care. The status quo, in which millions of working Americans live every day just one accident or illness away from bankruptcy, can not stand. We have come a long way in Congress, producing fiscally responsible legislation that will bring down health care costs, expand quality coverage and protect insured Americans from the most egregious abuses of the insurance companies. Now it is time to finish the job. The antics and stall tactics of those who profit from the current system will not stop us from enacting the reforms needed to ensure affordable health care for all Americans.

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On The Passing of Senator Kennedy

Rep. Xavier Becerra — 08/26/2009 15:06

Last night, the Kennedys lost a beloved member of the family and our country lost a great American hero with the passing of Senator Edward M. Kennedy.

If you look at almost any major piece of legislation that helps children, seniors, immigrants, minorities, the disabled, the disadvantaged, you will find Senator Kennedy’s mark on it. His lifetime fight for those who could not speak for themselves inspired me and many in my generation to enter public service and work for change.

His vision of America was one of justice, freedom and equality and he worked every day of his life for it, never losing faith in what we could achieve if we worked together.

The best way to honor his legacy is to continue the fight for his dream. My thoughts and prayers are with his wife, his children and the entire Kennedy family.

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An Historic Day for America

Rep. Xavier Becerra — 08/07/2009 12:08

Yesterday the United States Senate approved the appointment of Sonia Sotomayor to be the next Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court by a vote of 68 to 31. Judge Sotomayor’s judicial record and her testimony throughout her confirmation process made it clear that she is eminently qualified to serve on the Supreme Court. Her answers on weighty issues that affect our country showed us a fair, thoughtful, mainstream judge. I know she will serve our nation with intelligence, vigor, and an abiding commitment to the Constitution. Her story of accomplishments through hard work will be an inspiration to young girls like my own daughters for generations to come. This is an historic day for America.

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Equal Treatment for Tribal Governments and Charities

Rep. Xavier Becerra — 07/07/2009 16:37

Native American households are among the most disadvantaged in the United States, with more than 25 percent living in poverty. Tribal charities play an essential role in providing assistance to impoverished communities across Indian country. Yet, the tax code currently treats tribes like corporations rather than like state and local governments when they fund charities that serve tribal members. That is why, joined by my colleague Devin Nunes (CA-21), l recently introduced H.R. 3085, the “Tribal Charities Fairness Act” in the House of Representatives.

Charitable organizations under section 501(c)(3) of the tax code are classified as either public charities or private foundations. Organizations are deemed “public charities” when they receive “public support” from local, state, or federal governments. When an organization does not receive public support, it is deemed a “private foundation” and is subject to more stringent tax rules and regulations. The Tribal Charities Fairness Act would allow Indian tribes to be treated the same as state and local governments when they provide support to tax-exempt charitable organizations – thus allowing tribal-funded charities that serve their communities to be deemed public charities.

Passage of this legislation would free numerous nonprofit charities funded by Indian tribes – from health clinics and wellness centers to tribal museums and cultural centers – from additional tax rules aimed at regulating private foundations, not public charities. It’s a question of equity, and tribes deserve to be treated the same as any state or local government.

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Federal Student Loan Relief

Rep. Xavier Becerra — 07/06/2009 14:17

As parents, we want our children to have access to the best education available. But for many parents in the 31st District, the dream of a college education for their children can be cut short due to financial concerns. But there is hope. Starting July 1st, new benefits took effect that will make student loans more affordable by allowing borrowers to cap their monthly loan payments at a reasonable percentage of their income. Certain eligible modest-income students taking out new federal student loans will also see lower interest rates and higher Pell Grant scholarships.

The benefits are all kicking in as part of the College Cost Reduction and Access Act, which I helped enact in 2007 under the new Democratic Congress. The legislation invested $20 billion in college aid for families, at no additional cost to taxpayers – the single largest investment to help Americans pay for college since the GI Bill.

The new Income-Based Repayment program caps monthly loan payments at 15 percent of borrowers’ discretionary income (defined as 15 percent of what a borrower earns above 150 percent of the poverty level for their family size).

Any current or future borrower whose loan payments exceed 15 percent of their discretionary income will be eligible. After 25 years in the program, borrowers’ remaining loan balances, including interest, will be completely forgiven.

Other benefits that are now in effect include:

Cheaper interest rates on need-based (subsidized) federal student loans. On July 1, interest rates on these loans dropped from 6 percent to 5.6 percent. This is the second of four annual cuts in this interest rate; it will continue to drop until it reaches 3.4 percent in 2011.

Higher Pell Grant scholarships for modest-income students. Due to funding boosts provided by both the College Cost Reduction and Access Act and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the maximum Pell Grant scholarship for the 2009-2010 school year will be $5,350 – more than $600 above last year’s award. About 6 million students receive this scholarship each year.

In addition, Americans will continue to be able to enter into a new public service loan forgiveness program created under the law. College graduates who enter public service professions will have their federal college loans completely forgiven after ten consecutive years of service and loan repayment. Eligible public servants include firefighters, public defenders and prosecutors, first responders, librarians, law enforcement officers, early childhood educators and men and women serving in the military, and more. This program can be used in conjunction with Income-Based Repayment.

To calculate how much you will owe per month under the Income-Based Repayment program, click here.
For more information on these benefits, click here.

2 Comments

Your Health Care Story

Rep. Xavier Becerra — 06/22/2009 20:38

As we work to reform our broken health care system in Congress, I want to hear from you about your experience trying to access and pay for health care services under the current system. From obtaining basic coverage to paying for the medication and treatments you need, most Americans can attest to how difficult it can be to obtain and pay for health care in this country. That is why I want to know about the struggles and obstacles you have encountered when dealing with our health care system, so that we make sure to fix what is broken and improve the overall system.

Please take a moment to send me a brief message about your health care story by clicking here.

Our economy and fiscal future are tied to building on what works in our health care system and fixing what doesn’t. I am optimistic that as Congress continues to work with the President, the goal of bringing affordable, quality health care reform for the American people will finally be accomplished this year.

I look forward to hearing from you.

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Tomorrow is Digital TV Transition Day

Rep. Xavier Becerra — 06/11/2009 18:02

Tomorrow, Friday, June 12, the nation will complete the historic switchover to all-digital television (DTV) broadcasting. This means that starting tomorrow, older analog television sets that are not connected to a converter box, cable, or satellite will stop working. If you have not made the necessary preparations or are unsure if you are all set to receive digital TV, do not panic. Help is available, and I wanted to make sure you are aware of all the resources available to you.

Help is available to consumers. The FCC has vendors across the nation to help consumers with the transition – including free in-home installations, as well as walk-in centers to provide additional assistance. For specific information on vendors in your area, go to www.dtv.gov and to enter your zip code in the “Get Help Locally” tool. Or call 1-888-CALLFCC (1-888-225-5322) and call center agents will assist in finding local resources.

Try existing antenna first. In many cases, existing antennas should work, but may need to be adjusted once hooked up to the converter box or new DTV set. Consumers should make sure they have an antenna that receives both VHF and UHF signals. In some cases, a new indoor or outdoor antenna may be needed. If there are reception issues, use the Reception Mapping Tool at www.dtv.gov (enter address and see which stations are expected to provide a signal to that household).

Rescan. Some TV stations are changing channels after June 12, so consumers will need to rescan DTV converter boxes or DTV sets to pick up new channels. In some cases, a “reset” is necessary to make sure the converter box or DTV set picks up the new station if there was another station using that channel previously.

Coupons. If you haven’t applied for a DTV converter box coupon, you won’t receive it before the transition (it takes 9 business days to arrive once ordered), so alternative means might be necessary. Ask a friend or neighbor for an unexpired coupon, or consider purchasing a converter box without a coupon. Coupons are available until July 31 (or until funds run out) at www.dtv2009.gov or by calling 1-888-DTV-2009.

As always, feel free to contact my office at 213-483-1425 with any questions. Thank you for your attention.

1 Comments

Extending Health Care Coverage for Millions of Low Income Americans

Rep. Xavier Becerra — 06/08/2009 12:21

As we continue moving towards health care reform, there are programs that we can improve so that the most vulnerable Americans can get the extra help they need at an affordable cost.

The Medicare Savings Program, for example, does not reach many eligible beneficiaries because the benefit rules are very restrictive and confusing, and it is difficult to apply for the program. The Congressional Budget Office estimated that only 33 percent of Qualified Medicare Beneficiaries and 13 percent of eligible Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiaries are actually enrolled in the program. This enrollment rate is much lower than other federal benefit programs.

This is why last week I introduced the Medicare Savings Program Improvement Act of 2009. This legislation makes long overdue improvements to the Medicare Savings Program and provides additional assistance to seniors for their out-of-pocket health care expenses, preventing them from having to choose between buying food and paying for the health care they need. When you live on a limited income, like so many of the Medicare beneficiaries do, every penny counts.

Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) and Rep. Lloyd Dugget (D-TX) also introduced legislation in the House of Representatives and the Senate aimed at making improvements to the Medicare Savings Program and the Part D Low-Income Subsidy, which help Medicare recipients defray the cost of their Medicare premiums, cost-sharing, and prescription drugs.

For more information about this legislation, please click here.

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Sonia Sotomayor

Rep. Xavier Becerra — 05/26/2009 15:09

The President has made an outstanding choice in nominating Judge Sonia Sotomayor to be our next Supreme Court Justice of the United States. Judge Sotomayor brings to our highest court the integrity, intellect, and fidelity to the constitution and the rule of law that we all seek in a Supreme Court Justice. In addition to her exemplary qualifications, Sonia Sotomayor brings with her a rich life experience that millions of working families can identify with—a life of hard work, determination, and faith in the promise of America. Judge Sotomayor embodies the qualities, experience and character we need in our next Supreme Court Justice.

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$250 Checks for Social Security Recipients

Rep. Xavier Becerra — 05/11/2009 14:53

As you may know, last February Congress passed and the President signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. This program includes a one-time $250 economic recovery payment for each Social Security recipient, which will be sent out starting May 7 – with the goal of all these payments being sent by the end of May.

In our state of California, 4,218,040 people will receive a $250 payment, and a total of $15.97 million will go to Social Security recipients who reside here in California’s 31st District. Payments to Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients will begin to go out by mid-May.

These economic recovery payments can make a real difference in the lives of the more than 60,000 older and disabled residents in our district who will receive them– many of whom have been hit especially hard by the economic crisis that has swept the country.

In addition to Social Security and SSI recipients, the Recovery Act also provides for the economic recovery payments to be made to disabled veterans and Railroad Retirement recipients. The payments to Railroad Retirement recipients are scheduled to begin to go out in late May and the payments to disabled veterans in June. In total, more than 50 million Americans will get this one-time payment.

If someone regularly receives benefits from two or more of these programs – such as Social Security and Railroad Retirement, or a disabled veterans’ benefit and SSI – he or she will receive just one $250 payment.

The Recovery Act signed by the President on February 17 is historic. In addition to creating or saving 3.5 million jobs and providing a Making Work Pay tax cut for 95 percent of working families, it contains these critical $250 economic recovery payments for those Americans unlikely to qualify for the Making Work Pay tax cut – older Americans, disabled veterans, and others. Millions of Americans will find it a bit easier to meet some of their basic needs in this struggling economy. These payments were a crucial piece of this historic bill and I am proud to have supported it.

For more detailed information about the $250 one-time economic recovery payments, go to www.socialsecurity.gov/payment.

To read more about the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, go to www.recovery.gov.

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Updated: Technical Error with Telephone Town Hall

Rep, Xavier Becerra — 03/19/2009 17:24

Last week I posted call-in information so that you could join in on the Telephone Town Hall meeting held last night. It has come to my attention that there was a technical problem with the number issued by the company that facilitated the telephone town hall, thus many people who tried to call in were unable to join the conversation. I regret that this occurred and apologize if you tried but were unable to participate in the discussion. My staff is working with the vendor to find out what went wrong and ensure that it does not happen again.

Update: audio of the conversation is now available. To listen just follow this link: Telephone Town Hall, 03-18-09 (Windows Media Player required)

I will be hosting another Telephone Town Hall in the near future and will make sure to let you know about it. In the meantime, I invite you to attend the “Coffee With Your Congressman” town hall event happening Saturday, March 28 from 11 a.m. to Noon at the Lincoln Heights Senior Center. The senior center is located at 2323 Workman Street, Los Angeles, CA 90031. Parking is available off Daly Street just south of Broadway.

Once again, I apologize if you were unable to participate in Wednesday’s telephone town hall. If you have a question about the housing crisis that you were hoping to have answered, or have a question about future town hall events please call 213-483-1425.

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Foreclosure Prevention & Upcoming Tele-Town Hall

Rep. Xavier Becerra — 03/13/2009 14:02

When a family down the street loses their home to foreclosure it affects everyone on the block, driving down home values and worsening the economic prospects for the entire neighborhood. The effects of a foreclosure go far deeper than one family and one now-vacant house. They go to the health of an entire economy and to a crisis that will not end until this mortgage mess is cleaned up. And for every family facing foreclosure many more are one lost paycheck away from falling behind on their mortgage payments.

Are you having trouble staying current on your mortgage? Facing foreclosure? Worried about the affects of foreclosures on your community? I want to hear from you on this very important and urgent topic. That is why I invite and urge you to participate in my…

Telephone Town Hall on Foreclosure Prevention
Wednesday, March 18 from 6:10 to 7:10pm
Call-in: 1-877-269-7289 PIN: 4636

Answering constituents' questions
at my first Telephone Town Hall, February 19, 2009.
Click here to listen to the last Telephone Town Hall.

Last week the House passed the Helping Families Save Their Homes Act, a major component of President Barack Obama’s comprehensive plan to stem the tide of foreclosures and stabilize the housing market. This legislation directly attacks these pressing problems by providing incentives to encourage lenders to negotiate affordable mortgages for those at risk of foreclosure, and making common sense allowances for bankruptcy judges to modify the terms of loan for existing mortgages. This is an important piece in the puzzle we must complete to stabilize the housing market and repair the economy.

While legislation is still working its way through Congress, immediate help is available if you are having trouble paying your mortgage or have been unable to refinance to a lower interest rate because your home value has decreased. To learn how to take advantage of these programs:

Assistance is available to you free of charge – beware of foreclosure rescue scams! There should never be a fee for information or assistance about the Making Home Affordable Program. Beware of any person or organization asking you to pay a fee in exchange for counseling services or modification of a delinquent loan.

Click here to visit the Treasury Department’s “Making Home Affordable” Web site.

I look forward to discussing this issue with you next Wednesday. Need more information? Call my office at 213-483-1425. I look forward to hearing from you.

4 Comments

Economic Recovery in Los Angeles

Rep. Xavier Becerra — 02/23/2009 19:56

Friends, last week I was back home in Los Angeles for a busy District Work Period to talk about the local impact the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, signed into law last Tuesday, will have on a local level.

On Wednesday I met with representatives from hospitals and community health centers serving the 31st Congressional District for a roundtable discussion of the significant funding for Medi-Cal, health information technology (Health IT) and coverage for those recently laid off at Childrens Hospital in Hollywood. Thursday morning, I met with Mayor Villaraigosa, LAPD Chief Bratton and gang czar Reverend Jeff Carr to talk about the funding available to Los Angeles to hire police officers, upgrade equipment and expand anti-gang programs in the package. News conferences were held after each event, and you can view video clips of each here:

Then, as many of you know, I held my first telephone town hall with constituents from around the 31st district Thursday evening. Over 5,000 of you remained on the phone to participate in this exciting experiment in direct communication between you and your representative in Congress. We had a terrific conversation ranging from the recovery package, to the president’s announced foreclosure prevention plan to funding for education. In case you were not able to participate, or would like to review the conversation, a complete audio recording is available by clicking here. (Window's Media Player required)

In an unprecedented move, the White House has established a website that allows you to track exactly how every cent of the recovery package is spent. Visit Recovery.gov to learn more about the recovery package and how funds will be distributed.

Make sure you hear about the next Telephone Town Hall, and future Coffee With Your Congressman events by signing on to my email list. Click here to fill out the sign-up form.

Our country faces important challenges and as your representative, I am working hard to help set a new direction in Washington, so that the families of the 31st congressional district of California can keep their jobs and their homes. Let me hear your thoughts about these efforts, and thank you for your participation.

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Children's Health Expansion Signed Into Law!

Rep. Xavier Becerra — 02/05/2009 19:32

Yesterday the House passed the final version of H.R. 2, the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Reauthorization Act to extend coverage to 11 million children by a vote of 290 to 135. The bill was then signed into law by President Barack Obama. With this act, change has finally come for the families of 11 million children in America who will now have access to quality, affordable healthcare. The enactment of this essential expansion of children’s health coverage couldn’t have come at a more pressing time for America’s working families. Not only is this the right thing to do, it is a smart thing to do to stimulate the economy by freeing family budgets of the burden of healthcare bills. You can view my remarks on the House floor before passage here:

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Local Impact of Economic Recovery Package

Rep. Xavier Becerra — 02/02/2009 19:34

As you may know, on Wednesday the House of Representatives passed H.R. 1, the American Reinvestment and Recovery Plan. The bill is an $850 billion nationwide effort to create jobs, rebuild America and transform America’s economy to compete in the 21st Century global economy. The legislation makes major investments in clean energy, education, infrastructure and transportation, health care, and gives 95 percent of Americans a tax cut while bolstering unemployment and food stamp safety nets. Economists across the ideological spectrum agree that the legislation will create or save 3 to 4 million jobs over the next two years, 90f which will be in the private sector.

Last Friday I held a press conference at John Adams Middle School in South Los Angeles to highlight the impact this critical legislation will have locally once it passes the Senate and is signed into law by President Barack Obama. Built over 100 years ago, John Adams is in desperate need of repairs; the ceiling is sagging and tiles often fall during the middle of the school day. Our Economic Recovery legislation will not only make these necessary repairs possible by providing over $1 billion to LAUSD over the next two years, it will put people to work.

Click here to listen to my comments at Friday's press conference.

This is just a small example of the big impact the stimulus will have throughout the country. Our economy, much like the ceiling of this school, is crumbling and needs swift action to repair it.

Click here to read more about the American Reinvestment and Recovery Plan.

3 Comments

Health coverage for 11 million children

Rep. Xavier Becerra — 01/14/2009 17:59

As one of our first major actions in the House of Representatives during this session of Congress we passed H.R. 2 today, the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Reauthorization Act to extend health coverage to 11 million children by a strong bipartisan vote.

Extending health coverage to millions of uninsured children is not only the right thing to do at this dire time for America’s working families, it is a smart thing to do to stimulate the economy.

As millions of families across the nation are struck by job losses and foreclosures they are simultaneously losing their family health coverage. The expanded SCHIP program will not only allow families to provide health care to their children, it will free up extra dollars to purchase groceries and other goods that stimulate the economy. This is absolutely the change we needed.

H.R. 2 is based on legislation that passed the House and Senate twice with overwhelming bipartisan support in the last Congress and vetoed by President Bush both times. It preserves coverage for 7 million children currently covered by SCHIP and extends coverage to 4 million uninsured children who are currently eligible for, but not enrolled in SCHIP or Medicaid. The bill is fully paid-for by a 61 cent increase in the tobacco tax.

The bill includes language from the Immigrant Children's Health Improvement Act (ICHIA), giving states the option of covering legal immigrant children who have been in the country for fewer than five years. The current five-year wait period puts these children at risk of suffering from undetected diseases that could turn into costly chronic conditions if gone untreated.

Five years can be a lifetime for children, and when their parents are not only paying taxes, but even serving in the armed forces, having them wait for health care is against our values as a country. This is not just about Latino families; this is an issue of providing some sense of health care security for all.

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My Decision to Stay in Congress

Rep. Xavier Becerra — 12/17/2008 16:14

As you may have heard, over the past several weeks I was in discussions with President-Elect Barack Obama concerning a possible nomination to serve as the next United States Trade Representative. After some careful consideration I have decided to continue my service as your representative in Congress. I have invested sixteen rewarding years serving you in the House of Representatives, and I am grateful for that privilege. I now see a rare opportunity to push across the goal line much of the unfinished business of America: investing in our infrastructure and our workers, universal healthcare, comprehensive immigration reform, and scrubbing a tax code that’s out of shape and behind the times.

Working for and with incoming President Barack Obama would be an opportunity of a lifetime. I will get to experience that thrill… by working by his side in the People’s House just down the street from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
This morning I discussed my decision with KPCC’s Larry Mantle. You can listen to an MP3 recording of the interview by clicking here.

I deeply appreciate all the support you’ve given me over the years and I look forward to continuing to serve as your voice in Washington.

The clock is ticking; I’m ready to go!

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The Need for a Second Economic Stimulus Package

Rep. Xavier Becerra — 10/22/2008 13:08

At Monday's Budget Committee hearing we discussed the need for a second economic stimulus package and heard a direct endorsement for such an effort by Federal Reserve Chairman Bernanke. I agree that passing such a recovery package should be at the top of Congress’s agenda as millions of Americans watch their jobs, home values, and retirement funds disappear. Yesterday I talked to Jan Stevens on KFWB about a possible second stimulus package, and this afternoon I spoke with KPCC’s Patt Morrison about what may be included in such a bill. Follow the links below to listen to the two segments:

KFWB interview with Jan Stevens on likelihood of second stimulus package.

KPCC interview with Patt Morrison on possible contents of a second stimulus package.

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ON THE ECONOMIC RESCUE PLAN

Rep. Xavier Becerra — 10/03/2008 16:31

Friends, I cast my vote against the Senate’s revised financial rescue bill that was brought before the House today.

Earlier in the week I voted against the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act because it fell short of embodying the elements of an economic recovery package that we need for taxpayers, workers, small businesses, and homeowners. The changes made to the bill in the Senate do nothing to alter the fundamental problems I found in the original version.

I have the highest respect for the hard work that was put into this effort by Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank, and others. They performed some heavy lifting to improve upon a $700 billion Bush/Paulson bailout proposal that was short on details and empty of protections for weary taxpayers and suffering homeowners.

History will document the unconscionable excesses of Wall Street which led us all down this path of crisis. But right now is not the time to look back at the mess or dwell on the vote. It’s time to roll up our sleeves, monitor the rescue plan’s implementation and move forward with initiatives to put America and its financial sector back to work.

I was pleased to hear so much impassioned and well considered input from my constituents over the past couple of weeks - from folks on both sides of the issue - and I hope you will continue to let me know what you think here in the comments section and at my upcoming Coffee With Your Congressman town hall meetings. Thank you.

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On the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act

Rep. Xavier Becerra — 10/01/2008 18:39

Last Monday I voted against the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act, a controversial $700 billion financial rescue plan. What I wanted to see was an economic recovery package and what I found looked more like a bailout plan for Wall Street. I wanted to see protections for taxpayers but what I found was a plan that came up short for working families. I wanted to see direct protections for responsible homeowners who are experiencing plunging home prices, and what I found in this measure was trickle-down relief managed chiefly by Wall Street.

The greed and irresponsibility that we have witnessed by some on Wall Street, fueled by the deregulation mindset that prevailed in the previous Republican Congress, led us down this perilous path. We definitely need to act to address our economic crisis, but whatever we do the solution must put hard-working families first.

Yesterday I discussed the financial crisis and what I would like to see in a new recovery package with Patt Morrison on KPCC 89.3.

You can listen to the interview by clicking here (mp3 file).

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Update from Midshipman Candidate Nancy de Avila

Rep. Xavier Becerra — 09/08/2008 17:16

You may have read a little about Nancy de Avila, one of our promising constituent Midshipman candidates I had the honor of nominating to the Naval Academy, in my summer newsletter. In a matter of months at the Naval Academy Preparatory School (NAPS) Nancy has already become part of the Chain of Command as a Platoon Executive Officer and is truly shinning in a challenging academic environment. Way to go Nancy! You can read an excerpt of her recent correspondence with my office below:

Nancy de Avila at a meeting with Rep. Becerra

[It's] finally over! Our Cadres left, and before they did, they gave a few people leadership positions. Guess what? I am now the Platoon Executive Officer! Can you believe that? I was surprised and very, very excited when they told me. I'm part of the Chain of Command at NAPS… So that’s awesome! I get to wear 2 gold bars on my collar. I know the Congressman will be happy to hear that.

School started today. I have English, Chemistry, Physics, Math, Learning Skills and Information Technology. English was actually pretty interesting today, and the teacher had a great attitude. I’m going to love that class. I’m in Foundation Science classes. I never took Physics, so I’m going to get help. They have tutoring and extra instruction, so I’ll be going to those. I will Graduate NAPS and go on to the [US Naval Academy] that’s for sure!

-Midshipman Candidate De Avila Alvarado, Nancy

You can learn more about the service academies and my role in the nomination process by clicking here.

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Glassell Park Coffee Videos

Rep. Xavier Becerra — 07/28/2008 18:30

Once again, thank you to all those who took the time to participate in my latest "Coffee" in Glassell Park on Saturday, July 19. I really enjoyed the conversation, and I hope you walked away better informed about the activities taking place in Washington, D.C. For those who couldn't make it, I have posted two YouTube video segments in which I discuss energy policy, the mortgage crisis, water conservation and health care:

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Comprehensive Response to Mortgage Crisis

Rep. Xavier Becerra — 07/25/2008 16:39

When one family experiences the trauma of losing their home to foreclosure the impact extends far beyond that one family. A single foreclosure can hurt an entire neighborhood, depressing the local economy. That is why the passage of H.R. 3221, the American Housing Rescue and Foreclosure Prevention Act, this week was so important for everyone - not just those in danger of losing their home. The bill deals directly with the immediate crisis while modernizing our federal housing programs to safeguard against future trouble in the mortgage and housing markets.

H.R. 3221, once signed into law, will protect vulnerable families and stabilize home values by providing mortgage refinancing assistance to at least 400,000 families currently in danger of losing their homes through an expanded Federal Housing Administration (FHA) program.

In exchange for an FHA guaranteed mortgage, borrowers must share any profit from the resale of the refinanced home with the government. Only owner-occupied primary residences are eligible. This way, speculators will not be eligible for assistance.

The bill also provides $4 billion in emergency assistance to communities hardest hit by the foreclosure and sub-prime crisis to purchase foreclosed homes, at a discount, and rehabilitate or redevelop the homes. Rehabilitated homes would then be sold or rented to moderate and modest income families. Any resulting profit would be reinvested in affordable housing and neighborhood stabilization.

H.R.3221 takes a comprehensive, forward-looking approach to dealing with the mortgage crisis, and I look forward to seeing the president sign it into law.

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Critical Medicare Bill Becomes Law

Rep. Xavier Becerra — 07/15/2008 20:23

Today we took an important vote on the floor of the House that overrode President Bush's veto of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act. A massive bipartisan vote of 383 to 41 in the House and 70 to 26 in the Senate to override the veto ensures that this critical bill will become law. It's not often that you get such a strong bipartisan vote in the House and the Senate.

Click here to view my floor speech before today’s vote.

Why is this legislation so important? Had the president's veto been sustained doctors who treat Medicare patients would have been hit tomorrow with an immediate pay cut of more than 10 percent, endangering the health care services available to our most vulnerable seniors. This new law eliminates the pending pay cut, and provides a bonus for doctors who report on quality measures they have implemented. It also requires Medicare Advantage plans to pay pharmacies promptly (within two weeks) and updates the prices of their reimbursement rates on a weekly basis.

In addition to these major provisions, I fought hard in the Ways and Mean Health Subcommittee to include provisions from my own legislation, the Medicare Savings Program Improvements Act (H.R. 3127), to help modest-income seniors. Specifically, my provisions would:

Change the Medicare Savings Program (MSP) to allow modest-income seniors to save more money and still qualify for assistance in paying their premiums, co-payments and deductibles.
Remove barriers for low-income seniors to sign up for benefits by getting the Social Security Administration to send information to states that will begin the application process for Medicaid to pay their out-of-pocket costs.
Eliminate the option for states to carry out estate recoveries for modest-income beneficiaries who apply for assistance in paying their premiums, co-payments and deductibles.
Extend the Qualified Individuals (QI) Program through 2009, which pays outpatient care premiums for seniors with incomes just above the poverty level.

I was pleased to see such broad bipartisan and bicameral support today to override the president’s irresponsible veto of this critical bill. This is the type of consensus we need.

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Kingsley Coffee Video Segments

Rep. Xavier Becerra — 07/01/2008 20:29

Thank you to all who came out for my “Coffee With Your Congressman” meeting at Kingsley Elementary School last Saturday. I hope you enjoyed the conversation as much as I did, and I look forward to seeing you all at the next meeting. For those who weren’t able to attend, I'm posting two video segments. In the first, I discuss the budget, mortgage crisis and funding for veterans health care. In the second I answer a question about children's health care, childhood obesity and diabetes:

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Coffee at Kingsley Elementary

Rep. Xavier Becerra — 06/26/2008 11:58

Friends, I wanted to post a quick note reminding everyone that this Saturday, June 28, at 11 a.m. I will be hosting the next "Coffee With Your Congressman" town hall forum at Kingsley Elementary School, located at 5200 Virginia Avenue. Click here for directions, and here to download the invite I mailed to neighborhood residents. As many of you know, my "Coffees" are a great way for you to share your views and opinions directly with me. I hope to see you there!

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National Democratic Radio Address

Rep. Xavier Becerra — 05/19/2008 12:05

I just delivered the national Democratic radio address on Saturday, and I wanted to make sure you had an opportunity to read it and hear it.

Click here to listen to the address (.mp3 format). You can also download it from my Becerra Podcast channel on iTunes.

Thank you for your consideration.

A transcript of my remarks are below:

“Good morning. This is Congressman Xavier Becerra from Los Angeles.

“This week a trusted ally, Israel, celebrated the 60th anniversary of its founding in 1948. Around the world, the 1940s were a tumultuous and trying time for liberty. And the man remembered for giving America the New Deal, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, gave our bravest citizens new hope when he signed into law the GI Bill of Rights of 1944. That watershed law brought with it a solemn promise to our soldiers: now that you’ve come home, we will not let you down.

“Within three years of the enactment of the GI Bill of Rights, half of all Americans in college were veterans. Nearly 8 million of World War II’s veterans had received an education or training because of this law. Two million, four hundred thousand home loans for veterans were financed through the Veterans Administration.

“From President Roosevelt’s promise of a New Deal for America’s GIs was born the middle class. Our economy grew, and our nation, armed with a growingly educated people, became the world’s powerhouse.

“President Roosevelt knew that the veterans of World War I were hardly given a handshake when they returned home from combat. He understood that yesterday’s thinking wasn’t going to honor and protect the heroes of his day. In his own words, our veterans ‘have been compelled to make greater economic sacrifice and every other kinds of sacrifice than the rest of us, and are entitled to definite action.’

“Sixty-four years later, we find ourselves in the midst of another war, where once again, our brave soldiers have crossed an ocean to face hostile fire. In Iraq and Afghanistan 4,575 American men and women have made the ultimate sacrifice. Thirty-two thousand have been scarred and wounded. And still to this day, we don’t know when our troops will come home.

“But we do know that America must be ready to receive them.

“Last year, the New Direction Congress made the largest investment in our veterans in history – an increase that President Bush, incidentally, called ‘excessive.’ What is excessive is that one of every three veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan suffers from post traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury, or both. There is nothing excessive in securing for our wounded warriors the best health care that they have earned and the chance to go on and live the life they deserve.

“Incredibly, President Bush’s budget cuts veterans funding by $20 billion over five years. For the sixth year in a row, his budget also raises health care costs on 1.4 million veterans.

“This is yesterday’s thinking at its worst, learning nothing from the lessons of Roosevelt. Our men and women in uniform have stepped up to the plate for the good of our country. It is time we step up to the plate for the good of our veterans.

“On Thursday, the New Direction Congress passed the GI Bill for the 21st Century. Like Roosevelt’s GI Bill, our legislation ensures that our veterans can attend college. The GI Bill for the 21st Century will strengthen the middle class, and it will make our heroes from Iraq and Afghanistan the front line of our American economic recovery.

“You don’t need to be stuck in the past to learn from it. FDR’s lesson to us was that for every dollar America invested in the original GI Bill, $7 were returned to the American economy. That’s not only smart economic policy, but it lives up to President Roosevelt’s moral ideal of giving, quote, ‘emphatic notice to the men and women in our armed forces that the American people do not intend to let them down.’

“President Bush and our Republican colleagues in Congress should join Democrats to make these policies the law of the land so that a grateful nation can repay its heroes. Indeed, if America is to remain the undisputed leader in the manufacturing of ideas and opportunity, education must be our top priority.

“With the GI Bill for the 21st Century, Democrats in Congress have sent a powerful message to our men and women in uniform, and to the rest of the world, that we intend to lead by example.

“My friends, Memorial Day is fast approaching. As we reach out to embrace our loved ones or their memory, let us feel the pride in knowing we did everything we could to honor and repay them for their service. For our veterans and their children, that’s the New Deal and the new way of thinking for the 21st Century. As Democrats, that’s our commitment to the American people and our future.

“This is Congressman Xavier Becerra. Thanks for listening.”

1 Comments

Latino Museum Commission Bill Becomes Law

Rep. Xavier Becerra — 05/12/2008 12:00

During Hispanic Heritage Month in 2003, I introduced legislation to take the first step toward realizing an idea that has long fueled the beliefs and aspirations of millions of Americans who believe that our nation’s museums should reflect America. Last week, nearly five years later, the Commission to Study the Potential Creation of a National Museum of the American Latino Act became law.

Now that the legislation is law, a 23 member commission will soon be formed to study the feasibility of and plan for a new national museum in the nation’s capital that is dedicated to portraying the art, history, and culture of the Latino population of the United States.

Specifically, the commission will be charged with producing three things: one, a national conference to bring stakeholders, experts, policymakers and other interested parties together to discuss the museum’s viability; two, a fundraising plan to create an extensive public-private partnership; and three, a report to Congress detailing a recommended plan of action on how to move forward with taking the museum from concept to reality. You can read more about the process in the bill summary.

The last few months have witnessed an incredible level of momentum and support for this endeavor. It quickly passed in the House last year after being re-introduced (it had already passed in the House in the previous 109th Congress), picked up a number of endorsements from organizations and local government throughout the country, and passed in the Senate in April, before returning for a final procedural vote in the House April 29.

As a proud American of Latino descent, I am thrilled that this small, crucial first step has finally been made toward realizing the dream of completing the mosaic portrayed in our nation’s museums.

Two recent news articles on the new law can be found below:

New Law Takes Step To Latino Museum
05-09-08 | Washington Post

Museum to honor Latino culture and history advances
04-30-08 | Los Angeles Times

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Fighting Gun Violence

Rep. Xavier Becerra — 04/16/2008 15:49

Yesterday morning I joined mayors, police chiefs and civic leaders from around the country at a hearing of the bipartisan Congressional Task Force on Illegal Guns to shine a spotlight on the plague of gun violence. Many of these leaders were in Washington, D.C., to attend the Mayors Against Illegal Guns 2008 summit. Shortly before the summit, the coalition of mayors released a fascinating national poll showing broad support among Americans, regardless of political party, for common sense measures to prevent gun crimes. In fact, the poll shows that 71 percent of Americans rank stopping gun violence as a top national priority.

You can view my comments at the hearing here:

One of the sensible measures to reduce gun violence receiving broad support among the American people – 77 percent – was requiring gun manufacturers to utilize ballistic microstamping, or “fingerprinting” technology. H.R. 5266, the National Gun Crime Identification Act, authored by Senator Kennedy (MA) and myself, would do just that: require that all new semiautomatic handguns manufactured after 2009 be equipped with microscopic stamps on the firing pin and other locations that would link a cartridge found at a crime scene with the gun that fired it. Click here to find out more about this legislation.

As the residents of Los Angeles know all too well, gun violence continues to terrorize our communities, while many of these crimes go unsolved. This simple legislation would give our law enforcement officials an important new tool to investigate, and solve these crimes.

4 Comments

A Taxpayer Bill of Rights

Rep. Xavier Becerra — 04/08/2008 19:30

I found this reader comment in my recent “Tax Time” post very telling of the economic mood of the country: “despite our advanced degrees and professional careers, the mobility past generations used to enjoy appear [sic] beyond our reach... tax time, like no other time on the calendar, reminds of this.”

Tax season can be a daunting time for working families who are unfamiliar with our nation’s complicated tax code – and sadly there are unscrupulous individuals willing to take advantage of hardworking taxpayers. I believe it is high time that we equip the American taxpayer with easy access to the knowledge and resources they need to successfully weather tax season and secure the refund they deserve. That is why, with Tax Day a week away, I introduced H.R. 5716, the Taxpayer Bill of Rights Act today.

This simple, common sense legislation would clarify the rights and responsibilities of all taxpayers in a single document, while improving taxpayer services and providing better regulation and oversight of tax preparers.

The bill would require the Treasury Department to publish in the tax code an easy-to-understand Taxpayer Bill of Rights. This publication would state each right and obligation and list its corresponding location in the tax code. This provision creates no new rights or obligations within the tax code itself, but simply seeks to clarify what Americans should expect from their government and its 5,000-page tax code.

The Taxpayer Bill of Rights Act protects filers against being exploited by untrained and unscrupulous individuals by regulating for-profit tax return preparers, improves and expands services to low and moderate income taxpayers, among other provisions. Read more about the various protections and resources provided to taxpayer by the legislation in this fact sheet.

The time has come for us to lend a hand to the American taxpayer in the form of this Taxpayer Bill of Rights.

An important side note: the IRS will be holding another “Super Saturday” this Saturday, April 12 to assist those who are eligible for an economic stimulus rebate, but don’t normally file a tax return. I highly encourage anyone who doesn’t normally file a tax return to do so this year and take advantage of this free assistance form the IRS.

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Remembering the Legacy of Cesar Chavez

Rep. Xavier Becerra — 03/31/2008 15:02

Senator Robert F. Kennedy called him "one of the heroic figures of our time." Cardinal Roger M. Mahoney called him "a special prophet for the worlds' farm workers." I call him a true leader whose service sowed a fruitful harvest that will continue to inspire and guide us for generations to come.

Today, March 31, marks the birthday of one of our nation’s greatest civil rights leaders, César Estrada Chavez. In California, Chavez Day was specifically conceived of as a day of service and learning, as opposed to a simple holiday, because in Cesar’s honor we wanted to focus on the values he stood for. California is one of 10 states celebrating a statewide holiday in commemoration of Cesar Chavez’s birthday and in remembrance of the accomplishments of a man who lived to advance the rights of a vulnerable population.

Raised in a migrant farm worker family, Chavez, at the young age of 10, helped his family by joining the thousands of farm workers laboring in fields and vineyards throughout the Southwest when his family lost their farm due to a bank foreclosure. In 1946, at the age of 17, Chavez joined the ranks of the U.S. Navy serving in the Western Pacific following World War II.

In 1949, having experienced years of backbreaking labor and hardships, Chavez committed himself to helping his community protect their fundamental rights—organizing farm workers to campaign for safe working conditions, fair wages, decent housing, and the outlawing of child labor. In 1952, Chavez joined the prominent Latino civil rights group Community Service Organization (CSO), coordinating voter registration drives, conducting campaigns against discrimination in East Los Angeles, and later serving as the group’s national director.

It was 1962 that César Chavez left CSO to found the National Farm Workers Association, which later became the United Farm Workers of America (UFW). Under his leadership, thousands of migrant farm workers organized to fight for fair wages, health care, pension benefits, decent housing, and respect. A strong believer in the principles of nonviolence practiced by Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Chavez called attention to the terrible working and living conditions of America’s farm workers through peaceful tactics such as fasting in 1968 for 25 days, in 1972 for 25 days, and in 1988 for 38 days. Chavez’s commitment to nonviolence engendered greater dignity and respect for farm workers, inspiring many Americans and others engaged in human rights struggles throughout the world.

Chavez passed away in his sleep in 1993. My district office staff and I were among the thousands of mourners who paid their respects in what many describe as the largest funeral of any labor leader in our nation’s history. It was an overwhelmingly powerful experience marching behind the leader’s casket with many, many people from all walks of life – farm workers, dignitaries, family members, celebrities, union staff. In 1994, Chavez was posthumously awarded the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Chavez’s legacy lives on today and we in Congress are working to ensure that his legacy is recognized and remembered. The Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008, S. 2739 introduced by Senator Jeff Bingaman earlier this month, includes language that would help us honor Cesar Chavez. Sen. Bingaman’s legislation includes a bill I cosponsored that would call on the secretary of the Interior to study sites in California, Arizona, and elsewhere that are significant to the life of Cesar E. Chavez and the farm labor movement to determine whether they meet the criteria to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places or be designated as national historic landmarks. The Senate bill S. 2739 also includes language from H.R. 512, the National Museum of the American Latino Commission Act, a bill I introduced to explore the feasibility of creating a National Museum of the American Latino in Washington, D.C. It is my hope that the Senate will soon pass S. 2739 and that the president will sign the bill into law so that we can ensure that the contributions to this nation made by great American Latinos, like Cesar Chavez, are recognized and remembered.

Today, as people across the nation chant Cesar Chavez’ immortal words, “Si se puede,” meaning “It can be done,” let us be reminded that Chavez’ work is not over. We must all continue to work for equality, justice, and dignity for all Americans.

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It's Tax Time

Rep. Xavier Becerra — 03/28/2008 17:01

April 15, “Tax Day,” is fast approaching and I want to make you aware of important resources available to you, the taxpayer.

Tomorrow, Saturday, March 29, is “Super Saturday.” IRS offices around the country will be open to help those who are eligible to receive an economic stimulus payment, but do not normally file an income tax return. If you do not normally file a return, you MUST do so this year to receive a stimulus payment. If you do file a tax return, you will automatically receive your payment. The following Southern California IRS offices will be open tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. to help you fill out a return and file on the spot:

BAKERSFIELD      4825 Coffee Rd.
CAMARILLO           751 Daily Dr.
EL MONTE             9350 East Flair Dr.
LONG BEACH        501 W. Ocean Blvd.
LOS ANGELES      300 N. Los Angeles St.
SANTA BARBARA 1332 Anacapa St.
VAN NUYS              6230 Van Nuys Blvd.

For more information on stimulus payments, please visit the IRS’ helpful Economic Stimulus Payments Information Center.

Free tax preparation assistance is also available to low- to moderate-income taxpayers through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. Certified volunteers sponsored by various organizations receive training to help prepare basic tax returns in communities across the country. Most locations also offer free electronic filing. Click here to view a list of local VITA sites in the 31st Congressional District, or visit the Greater Los Angeles EITC Campaign Partnership Web site which allows you to input your address to find the VITA site nearest you.

Yesterday I held a press conference with State Controller John Chiang, City Councilwoman Jan Perry and the EITC Campaign Partnership to spread the word about these important resources. You can view video of the event here.

Please know that my office is always available to help you deal with federal agencies, such as the IRS. My staff and I are ready to help you cut through "red tape" and secure the services and benefits to which you are entitled. Feel free to contact my Los Angeles district office at 213-483-1425 with any question, comment, or concern you have.

3 Comments

On The Fifth Anniversary of the War in Iraq

Rep. Xavier Becerra — 03/19/2008 17:20

Five years ago today, President Bush led us into a war in Iraq that I believe lacked a valid rationale, broad international support and adequate planning for what lay ahead. The catastrophic consequences – in precious lives lost and resources squandered – will cost us for years to come.

Nearly 4,000 American soldiers dead, tens of thousands wounded, hundreds of billions of dollars borrowed from future generations, a strained military, and diminished standing in the world is the price our nation has paid so far. And one must wonder if we are truly safer now than we were five years and one day ago.

Our troops have performed exceptionally well under the most difficult of circumstances, putting their lives on the line regardless of the mission. They have done a superb job in providing security to many parts of Iraq. But it is not our military’s responsibility to save Iraq. Only the Iraqis can save Iraq.

In 2002 I made the decision to cast my vote against authorizing this war. Today, I am reminded that it was the absolute right vote to cast, for this war continues to distract us from the real threats facing this nation, from terrorism, to the economy, to global climate change. The day that we end this war, bring our troops home, and dedicate ourselves to addressing our most pressing challenges, cannot come soon enough.

Click here to read my full October 10, 2002, floor speech opposing the authorization for the use of military force against Iraq.
Click here to view the video of that speech.
Click here to visit my Web page on the war in Iraq.

2 Comments

A Budget to Confront Our Economic Challenges

Rep. Xavier Becerra — 03/05/2008 18:39

The American economy is struggling and America’s working families are hurting. The Bush Administration’s economic policies – tax breaks for the wealthy, subsidies to big oil, coupled with cuts to education and health care – have given us record-high deficits and the weakest economic expansion in half a century.

For the past seven years, job growth has failed to keep up with our growth in population, as the real median income has declined nearly $1,000 per family. Meanwhile, a shocking 36 million Americans now live in poverty – an increase of 4.9 million since the year 2000.

Right now, in the House Budget Committee, we are debating a House budget resolution that confronts these serious challenges to our nation’s economy in a fiscally responsible way. We start by rejecting the president’s deep cuts to law enforcement, education, Medicare and Medicaid – essential programs in these troubled economic times. Instead, we invest in education and job training, efficient and renewable energy programs, and infrastructure, while accommodating middle class tax relief. And unlike the president’s budget, ours returns to balance by 2012.

I’m proud of the work of this committee, and I look forward to passing this important investment in America’s economy when we vote on it later tonight.

Follow the links below for more information on the budget resolution:

Click here for a summary of the Chairman John Spratt’s Mark.
Click here for the legislative text.
Click here for budget numbers.

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Gun Microstamping – A New Tool For Investigators

Rep. Xavier Becerra — 02/07/2008 18:21

A startling fact: nearly 40 percent of all homicides nationwide go unsolved each year. Today, in an effort to improve this gravely disappointing statistic, I introduced the National Crime Gun Identification Act of 2008 in the House of Representatives. Senator Edward Kennedy (MA) introduced an identical companion bill in the Senate.

Our legislation would give investigators of gun crimes an important new tool to pursue and prosecute criminals by requiring that all semiautomatic pistols sold after January 1, 2010, be equipped with microstamped identifiers. Microstamping is the next generation in ballistics technology that gives police more precise investigative leads to pursue suspects. Internal surfaces of the gun etch tiny characters on every fired bullet cartridge so that officers can identify the make, model and serial number of the gun from which it was fired.

When a gun crime occurs, bullet cartridges are often one of the very few pieces of physical evidence left behind. With this new technology, a single microstamped cartridge recovered at a crime scene can lead police to the gun – and the criminal that fired it.

Gun microstamping is a simple and effective technology that promises to save lives and keep violent criminals off the streets. It is inexpensive for gun manufacturers to implement, does not infringe on personal ownership rights, and provides a powerful investigative tool to our law enforcement officers.

I was pleased to see California once again leading the way by enacting nearly-identical legislation this past October. Now it’s time to enact this legislation on the federal level. We owe it to the victims of gun crimes to give investigators every lead possible.

Last Spring I held a briefing and live demonstration of the crime solving capabilities of microstamping technology in Washington, D.C. Click here to view video of the briefing, courtesy of C-SPAN.

3 Comments

Thoughts on the SOTU – Unfinished Business

Rep. Xavier Becerra — 02/04/2008 19:29

Last week, in his final state of the union address, President Bush talked about “unfinished business.” Unfortunately, it is the president who is standing in the way of our efforts to take on the toughest challenges facing the country.

He spoke of the unfinished business of making health care more affordable. Yet, he continues to veto every attempt to expand health insurance for children of working families – a measure that would support the middle class in these uncertain times while stimulating the economy.

The president spoke of the unfinished business of balancing the budget. The hypocrisy in these remarks is astounding. After six years of signing Republican budgets that tripled the number of earmarks and turned projected surpluses into record deficits, the president now scolds a Democratic-led congress that reinstated PAY-GO rules prohibiting new deficit spending.

He talked about fully funding the troops. I couldn’t agree more. If the president means what he says he would reconsider his veto of the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans’ Health and Iraq Accountability Act and the Defense Authorization bill, good legislation that boosts pay, health care and benefits for our troops.

Congress stands ready to complete the unfinished business before us; I only wish the president would join us.

2 Comments

A Conversation with Nonprofit Quarterly

Rep. Xavier Becerra — 02/04/2008 12:59

I recently sat down for an extensive interview with Rick Cohen of Nonprofit Quarterly. We spoke about my efforts in the Ways and Means Committee to ensure that nonprofit organizations and foundations granted tax-exempt status truly are serving the common good. You can read the full transcript of the interview below.

NBC News also interviewed me in a report from October of last year on this same issue. Click here to view the video of that report.

A Conversation with California Congressman Xavier Becerra
WRITTEN BY RICK COHEN
A former Legal Services attorney, California Congressman Xavier Becerra is the only Latino on the House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee. But it is his distinctive voice and perspective, not his ethnicity, that has vaulted him to a position of visibility on issues of charity and philanthropy.

The Ways and Means Committee is the House counterpart to the Senate Finance Committee, with oversight authority for the accountability and performance of the nonprofit sector. Since the 2006 elections made the Democratic Party the majority party in both the House and the Senate, the Ways and Means Committee has held two subcommittee hearings, chaired by Georgia Congressman John Lewis, ostensibly to look into the extent that nonprofits and foundations provide services and resources addressing the needs of the poor.

The two hearings were brief and not noticeably geared toward specific action steps, but Becerra made a mark for his polite but pointed questions zeroing in on a core question in charity—who benefits from the activities of charities and foundations. This is a question that few of his colleagues over the years have asked; they have generally been willing to accept the notion of charity as inherently and automatically a mechanism of broad social benefit.

Congressman Becerra is asking hard questions of the nonprofit sector, but graciously accepted an invitation to sit for some almost-as-hard hard questions from NPQ’s Cohen Report recently.

CR: How do you see nonprofits really making a difference in society that is distinctive, important, indispensible?

BECERRA: “I think they are the vanguard in getting society to move toward social change that is of benefit to the citizenry. It is a result of charitable contributions that we find ourselves moving in the directions that can be taken up by government or the private sector. Charitable organizations have the ability to go where no one has gone before.”[i]

CR: Where do you see nonprofits falling short of what the nonprofit sector can and should deliver for the nation?

BECERRA: “I start off with the proposition that if you’re getting a tax subsidy, another taxpayer must make up for what you’re not paying. That subsidy should serve a good purpose. What are we getting for some $32 billion in lost revenues, [ii ]lost to the federal treasury in paid taxes (in charitable expenditures). Is it serving a good public purpose? Statistics I’ve seen suggest that only 1 in every 10 dollars are serving poor people or disadvantaged people. I have to wonder where the other 9 dollars are going. It is absolutely essential to maintain our higher education and arts institutions, we have to know whether it’s worth giving up $32 billion [in tax revenues] when only 1 in every 10 reaches or serves [the poor and disadvantage].

CR: The Ways and Means Committee seems to have made poverty or poverty alleviation a major issue for the nonprofit sector's attention. What do you think nonprofits can and should do to address poverty or, perhaps, the root causes of poverty?

BECERRA: That’s a core question. I’m not asking a symphony or art museum to start giving away 10 percent of its budget to the poor, but if you’re getting phenomenal dollars to have this museum, you should make sure you’re reaching out to the greater public, that the circle you’re reaching helps a lot of the taxpayers who are foregoing other opportunities that could have been had had that $32 billion been available to the [federal] treasury [as tax revenues]. There’s a lot that has to be done. The nonprofit world is our vanguard in getting us as a society in new directions that benefit the government in better ways, but we must do the oversight that the money is well spent. We must do much better oversight [of charitable expenditures].[iii]

CR: The Ways and Means Committee has made the issue of the racial and ethnic diversity—or shortcomings in diversity—of the nonprofit sector. What concerns do you have about nonprofit diversity, and what do you think nonprofits should be doing to increase the diversity of their staffing and governance?

BECERRA: Intense concern. All of the studies indicate that people give to that which they know. The closer a project is to your circle, the more likely it is to receive a contribution from you. Who you know, what you know, determines who you give to and what you give. When you have a lack of diversity in the organizations doing the charitable work, maybe there are concerted efforts to reach out, but the facts speak for themselves. Too often disadvantaged communities are left behind. To some degree, it’s not just that those communities aren’t getting the support, they aren’t getting the attention and the support. Look at how these entities that are receiving the tax deduction are utilizing their resources, and you will see a direct correlation between those that are diverse and those that are doing good a job of reaching those in need. I don’t think that (making charities more diverse) is Congress’s job nor should it be. We can’t be the human resources office of nonprofits. That takes government too far. The sector has to control itself and act responsibly. It is important to recognize that the tax payers have agreed to cover the cost of that deduction. We [in Congress] have to report back to the taxpayers on the use of the charitable money, how did that $32 billion get used. If someone comes from a poor neighborhood in town [and asks] how did you use my [tax dollars], I want to be able to say, take a look at the book. My message to the charitable community is you’re going to speak for yourself, your book of facts will determine how Congress will react.

CR: There has been discussion of narrowing the federal nonprofit tax exemption. What kinds of nonprofits do you think deserve tax exemptions? What kinds of nonprofit activities or nonprofit beneficiaries would you take into account in tightening or focusing federal nonprofit tax exemption eligibility?

BECERRA: I’d say it could be the opposite. What’s over the horizon could be of value. I could see expanding it if we’re getting a lot more for our dollar than we’re giving up. If we’re seeing [charitable] dollars directed to activities or populations that people could pay for on their own, why are we using tax exempt funds to do that? If the working guy making $50,000 can’t take advantage, that taxpayer has a legitimate right to ask [why] you’re letting someone take advantage of things that he wouldn’t be able to take advantage of. That’s why the oversight is important. The facts should speak for themselves if [charitable expenditures are] not serving a good purpose. If you don’t police your own, you’re going to be policed. We want to make sure we’re doing good by using taxpayers dollars to offer this $32 billion subsidy. To me it’s a matter of having the charitable community explain what’s working, what’s getting better, how can we help. I’m not going to pass judgment on what’s good and not good investments. Let’s let the facts speak for themselves and show what’s working and not working, and [then] determine what needs to be done.

CR: Foundations and universities combined currently control well over a trillion dollars in tax exempt endowments. [iv ] Foundations are required to spend (not grant) their assets annually, universities and other public charities have no minimum spending requirement. What would you change, if anything, regarding the government's oversight and mandatory spending standards on tax exempt endowments?

BECERRA: I’m completely open, I’m not going to pass judgment, I’m not going to take a particular position. When I heard the (tax exempt endowment) numbers, it alarmed me, but I don’t wish to direct the charitable sector to act. I just want to make sure that these tax dollars we’re foregoing are used by these charitable entities in the best way possible. I couldn’t tell you what percent should go out. I don’t want to see [a situation] where they’ve depleted their assets. But the whole area of administrative overhead we should examine.

CR: Congress has faced a consistent litany of newspaper headlines about nonprofits misusing funds and behaving unethically, ranging in recent years from the United Way of the National Capitol area in DC to last week's headlines about veterans' charities. [v ] Does you see government—particularly Congress—having a role to play regarding increasing nonprofit accountability?

BECERRA: There are some fabulous things being done [by charitable organizations] and at the same time I’ve heard some that aren’t. It goes back to what I’ve been saying. I don’t think we’ve done enough oversight to dig deeply enough into some of these areas, administrative overhead, salaries, and particular types of nonprofits. We haven’t done our job to be the overseer for the American taxpayer for those funds. I would love it if there were a news article that would make people give more. The charitable sector and foundations are far more nimble than government. They become the pioneers and vanguard to how we as a society move forward. The last thing we want to do is to discourage Americans from charitable giving.

CR: In both the House and the Senate, there have been questions raised about charities and foundations linked to members of Congress, such as Tom DeLay, Rick Santorum, and others. As part of Congressional ethics and lobbying reforms, should there be new standards or rules for charities associated with members of Congress, and if so, what might they be?

BECERRA: I think if you end up having a very transparent process, if the books are open, you wouldn’t have to worry if some member of Congress is involved [with a charitable organization]. Sunshine is a big disinfectant. There shouldn’t be more preference for charities because of the involvement of politicians. I’m on the board of the Smithsonian [vi ] and I’m a member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, [vii ]which is a 501(c)(3). We do great work, we do raise some pretty decent money. We should all be open to scrutiny. We should be prepared to open up our books. [People should be able to] ask whether this is a valuable tax expenditure, that we’re doing things that people find of value. It is a legitimate question: by requiring that names [of donors to charities associated with members of Congress] be named, are we helping or hurting the cause of raising charitable dollars? If someone is involved in an activity who could influence policy-making, that might be different. That really needs some strong scrutiny.

CR: What should government do to help and promote nonprofits?

BECERRA: First, try to do what ever we can [to ensure] that sunshine is taking through all the windows so that society can see which [charitable organizations] are doing phenomenal work and which aren’t deserving. [Second, government should] try to partner if possible with the charitable world to harness the energies that this world can open up and get society to move in the right direction. [viii ] To give a tax break to some organization that would do what government would have done, but do it in a more nimble way, in a new world way, that’s a great government investment. [Government should be] getting people to give to the cause, giving them a little break, incenting an activity to help be more efficient with the taxpayer dollars that we do direct [to charities].
I know some folks are afraid I’m doing this for wrongheaded reasons or may jeopardize the charitable world’s ability to function, but I see this as a way of perfecting and expanding the charitable world and getting rid of the dead wood.
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Congressman Becerra’s concerns may be characterized, for lack of a better word, as a focus on the potential of the nonprofit sector to contribute to social and economic fairness in our society. He doggedly raises the issue in Congressional hearings, eliciting odd responses from witnesses who don’t quite seem to get it. At a House Budget Committee hearing on September 20, 2007, he asked the Comptroller General of the U.S. “if we’re getting our dollar’s worth…I’m wondering how many of those charitable contributions end up helping people who are poor, helping people who have no health care.” In response, the Congressman got answers about commercial activities and Unrelated Business Income Taxes (UBIT).

At the July 24, 2007 hearing of the Oversight Subcommittee of the Ways and Means Committee, Congressman Becerra pointed out pictures of ostensibly nonprofit-owned BMWs and questioned whether charitable funds meant for the poor are really going to the poor: “How do you do decide what is charitable? Helping the poor? Helping children? Housing for disadvantaged people? Opera? Is there any way that we track what is being given charitably to different types of entities?” The witnesses responded with discussions of board oversight, fiduciary responsibilities, and executive compensation, but for the most part missed his point about whether charitable giving results in more resources for the poor and disadvantaged. [ix]

Xavier Becerra’s Congressional District covers parts of Los Angeles that are urban, low-income, primarily Latino, in fact, as of the last Census, the Congressional District with the highest proportion of non-citizens. These aren’t academic concerns. Congressman Becerra is channeling the real life concerns of the people in his district about whether the charitable dollars they see flowing around them in Los Angeles are speaking to their needs. No doubt Becerra is speaking for more than poor Angelenos in asking that the nonprofit sector be measured against benchmarks of social justice.

i Interestingly, as an example, Congressman Becerra didn’t focus on charitable activity in his Los Angeles district, but the work of the Ford Foundation overseas, demonstrating a commitment to social change and innovation that the Congressman found laudable.

ii In response to a request from the Cohen Report, Congressman Becerra’s staff provided a link to the Joint Committee on Taxation’s Estimates of Federal Tax Expenditures for Fiscal Years 2006-2010 (Washington: U.S. Government Printing Office, 2006), which cites $35.93 billion in charitable tax deductions (by itemizers) in 2005 (Table 3, p. 45), though that number excludes the significant amount of charitable contributions made by individuals and families who do not file itemized federal tax returns.

iii As an example, Congressman Becerra compared charitable deductions to the deduction for mortgage interest and property taxes. He said, for example, that Congress has to examine the mortgage tax deduction which “costs a pretty penny” to ensure that it is doing something worthwhile. As the Congressman put it, “Just as we would examine the mortgage interest tax deduction to see if it serves a charitable purpose, the same kind of oversight is needed on the charitable exemption.”

iv Congressman Becerra politely corrected us, noting that public and private charities harbor $2.5 trillion in endowment assets.

v Philip Rucker, “Study Faults Charities for Veterans: Some Nonprofits Shortchange Troops, Watchdog Group Says ”, Washington Post (December 13, 2007),

vi Congressman Becerra is the lead sponsor of H.R.512, which would establish a Commission to Study the Potential Creation of a National Museum of American Latino Heritage. The legislation passed the House and was introduced in the Senate by Ken Salazar of Colorado.

vii The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (http://www.chci.org/) is chaired by California Congressman Joe Baca.

viii Congressman Becerra referenced the work of nonprofits in addressing the problem of AIDS early on, leading to opportunities for government to learn what should be done, resulting eventually in the passage of the Ryan White Act and other initiatives.

ix Of the witnesses, only Independent Sector’s Diana Aviv caught his point and addressed it: “(T)he reports that we have are that the funding going to low-income organizations from individuals is much lower than the funding going to arts and culture institutions and higher education institutions. So, when we see even the money being flat or slightly going up, that doesn’t tell the full story until we look beneath the surface to see. One of the reasons why organizations serving low-income people are so concerned is partly because of individual donations not coming in their direction, and partly for concerns that other government priorities are not allowing public funds to flow to them so that the needs of their constituents or their members are rising, and there isn't the funding to support them.”

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A Year For More Progress

Rep. Xavier Becerra — 01/17/2008 18:36

You may have received a copy of my winter newsletter in the mail over the past couple weeks in which I look back on some of our biggest achievements from last year, along with some of the frustrations, and look forward to what we want to accomplish in 2008. If you didn’t get it in the mail, click here to download a printable PDF version of the newsletter (past editions can be found here).

As we look ahead to 2008, uncertainty about the health of the economy looms large. Everything from falling home prices to soaring health care, gasoline, and grocery prices are putting a squeeze on the pocketbooks of working families. It is welcome news that Federal Reserve Chairman Bernanke is signaling that the Fed will cut interest rates to address the slowing economy, but that is unlikely to fully stop the slowdown. I will be working with my colleagues in the Democratic leadership in the coming weeks to craft a stimulus package that is timely, targeted at working families, and temporary.

Just today, I spoke with Chairman Bernanke about our options for stimulating the economy while looking after the most vulnerable at a Budget Committee hearing. Click here to view video of the entire hearing; fast forward to 1:27:45 to see my exchange with Chairman Bernanke.

In 2008 we will be working tirelessly to make even more progress toward strengthening our economy and providing support for American working families and the middle class. I look forward to hearing your ideas on how to strengthen our economy here in the comments.

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Improving Medicare Service for Limited-English Seniors

Rep. Xavier Becerra — 01/17/2008 17:41

The Medicare program has a duty to effectively serve all beneficiaries regardless of the language they speak. Around the country there are millions of seniors eligible for Medicare prescription drug benefits who have limited English language proficiency. A report authored in 2006 by the National Senior Citizens Law Center pointed out that in California only 55% of limited-English seniors were able to speak to someone in their native language about their prescription drug plan options – a difficult and confusing process regardless of language. After Health Subcommittee Chairman Pete Stark and I raised this issue in this April 19, 2007 letter, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a guidance memo to all Medicare Part D plans on how best to meet the needs of seniors with limited English language proficiency. This is a positive step toward ensuring that all seniors receive the service they need and deserve from their prescription drug plan.

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Looking Out for the Middle Class

Rep. Xavier Becerra — 12/13/2007 18:35

This has been a busy couple of weeks concluding an exceptionally productive year in the House. Last Thursday we passed an historic energy bill that, for the first time in decades, raises the fuel efficiency standard for cars and trucks, and provides a plan for increasing our use of renewable energy. Just yesterday I spoke on the floor on two important pieces of legislation focused on protecting the middle class: the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) Relief Act of 2007 and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) reauthorization bill.

Yesterday, we voted to protect middle-income Americans from a tax increase this fiscal year by passing H.R. 4351, the AMT Relief Act of 2007. This legislation, which originated in the Ways and Means Committee, will protect 23 million middle-income taxpayers from being hit with the AMT, a provision of the tax system originally intended to ensure that wealthy individuals who were paying few or no taxes pay their fair share, but was never adjusted for inflation. The bill provides additional tax relief to 12 million families by expanding the child tax credit to more low-income families. Like all legislation the House has passed this year, H.R. 4351 adheres to “pay-as-you-go” budget rules by closing tax loopholes used by hedge fund managers to defer compensation in offshore accounts.

Click here to view the video of my floor speech in support of the AMT Relief Act.

The other big news yesterday was that President Bush once again vetoed our effort to cover 10 million children of working families who can’t afford health insurance. After receiving news of the president’s veto I joined my colleagues in speaking out for the need to continue the fight for this vital program.

Click here to view the video of my closing remarks during the SCHIP debate.

Speaker Pelosi has scheduled another vote to attempt to override the president’s veto in January.

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"Coffee" Meeting in Pico-Union, November 17 (Video)

Rep. Xavier Becerra — 11/27/2007 16:27

Thank you to all who came out for my “Coffee With Your Congressman” meeting at Hoover Street Elementary School on the 17th of November. I hope you enjoyed our conversation as much as I did, and I look forward to seeing you all at my “Coffee” meetings next year. For those who weren’t able to attend, here is a video segment of my response to a question about how to successfully integrate immigrants, especially children, in to our society:

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Jefferson High School Visit

Rep. Xavier Becerra — 11/27/2007 16:23

Last Tuesday I had the great privilege of meeting with a remarkable group of students at Jefferson High School participating in the STEP program, which works to build self confidence among students and promote a greater sense of community at the school. The students participated in a mock congressional debate and vote during the visit. Click here to listen to KPCC’s coverage of the event (requires RealPlayer).

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2007: A Year of Progress Under the New Direction Congress

Rep. Xavier Becerra — 11/07/2007 18:51

A year ago today you and countless others just like you asked for change by voting for new leadership and a new direction in congress. After six years of reckless deficit spending, misplaced priorities, and blind allegiance to the Bush Administration’s Iraq policy, the new Democratic leadership set out to reverse the failures of the previous congresses and honor the hopes and aspirations of the American people. Over the course of the year, the 110th Congress has passed a host of measures with ample bipartisan support to reign in spending, restore accountability in government, and make a number of long overdue investments in the security and future of America. The House of Representatives on day one reinstituted “pay-as-you-go” budget rules that now prohibit new deficit spending, and on day two enacted the toughest ethics rules in history to break the link between lobbyists and legislation.

This past Thursday, November 1, I (middle) joined my Democratic colleagues on the west front steps of the Capitol for an event to highlight the legislative successes the House of Representatives achieved in its first year.

In just the first two weeks the House passed legislation to implement the 9/11 Commission recommendations, increase the minimum wage for the first time in a decade, invest in stem cell research, allow Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices for seniors, cut student interest rates in half, end subsidies for big oil, and invest in renewable energy. That is more progress in two weeks than the previous congress made in two years. In fact, we have taken nearly twice as many votes in the first session of this congress than did the 109th Congress during the same period.

The New Direction Congress continues to make progress and build on an already impressive list of accomplishments. Here’s a look at key pieces of legislation passed by the House of Representatives this year that make major investments in America’s future:

College Cost Reduction Act of 2007

Students who benefit from interest rate reduction .................................6,800,000

Students who benefit from Pell Grant increase .....................................6,100,000

Amount saved by average student borrower .............................................$4,400

Increase in maximum Pell Grant scholarship ..............................................$500

Amount of investment paid for by deficit spending ..........................................$0

Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007

Children of working families currently insured by SCHIP .......................6,600,000

Additional children covered by this legislation ......................................4,000,000

Total number of children covered if not for the president’s veto .............10,000,000

Amount of investment paid for by deficit spending ..........................................$0

U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans’ Health and Iraq Accountability Act of 2007

Veterans benefiting from largest increase in VA funding in history ..........5,800,000

Funding for PTSD and brain injury treatment ...................................$900,000,000

Funding to repair Walter Reed facilities ............................................$20,000,000

Total additional health funding for troops and veterans ...................$5,000,000,000

Amount of investment paid for by deficit spending ...........................................$0

The Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007

Number of hardworking Americans receiving a raise of $4,000 a year.....13,000,000

Amount of investment paid for by deficit spending ...........................................$0

Democratic

Pay-As-You-Go

Budget for 2008

Projected budget surplus

by the year 2012,

thanks to PAYGO discipline:

$153,000,000,000

2 Comments

Trade and Globalization Assistance

Rep. Xavier Becerra — 11/01/2007 19:07

Yesterday I spoke on the floor of the House in support of the Trade and Globalization Assistance Act, H.R. 3920, which passed by a vote of 264 to157. The bill would overhaul the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program – expanding opportunities for job training and transition workers into 21st Century jobs.

The bill extends TAA job training and health benefits to service workers who lose their jobs due to global trade and covers more manufacturing workers. It dramatically improves TAA health care benefits and strengthens job training benefits so that workers have a real opportunity to strengthen their skills for good-paying jobs. In today's highly competitive global economy we must provide our workers with the best possible tools to compete and transition. You can review my remarks here:

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Budget Committee Hearing: CBO Predicts Likely Cost of War is $2.4 Trillion

Rep. Xavier Becerra — 10/25/2007 19:35

Yesterday we had a hearing in the Budget Committee on the escalating cost of the war in Iraq. The director of the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), Peter Orszac, provided testimony at the request of Chairman John Spratt (SC-5) on the likely total cost of the war, including future costs, care for returning veterans, and most startlingly, servicing the war debt. The total cost of the war in Iraq, combined with the war in Afghanistan could total $2.4 trillion by 2017, with nearly a third of that total coming from the interest on the debt we’ve accumulated by funding the war with deficit spending.

Click here to download Director Orszag’s full testimony.

Director Orszag's Opening Statement:

Chairman Spratt's Opening Statement

To me yesterday’s hearing made crystal clear how irresponsible this war truly is. Not only is the war in Iraq a strategic and humanitarian blunder, it is accumulating a massive amount of debt, which will be handed on to our children and grandchildren.

According to Director Orszag’s testimony, $604 billion has already been provided through 2007 for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The president has requested an additional $196 billion in emergency supplemental funding for fiscal year 2008, by far the largest supplemental request since the beginning of the war. Based on the president’s 2008 request, CBO estimates that the future cost of staying in Iraq for an additional eight years, 2009 to 2017, could top $859 billion. That would put total war costs at approximately $1.6 trillion.

When interest on war-related debt between 2001 and 2017 is included, an estimated $705 billion according to the CBO, the total cost of war would be $2.4 trillion.

When we have so many needs here at home, it is disheartening to see billions of dollars wasted on servicing the debt for a dubious and mismanaged war. For just 17 percent of the cost of servicing that debt, we could more than double the funding for local first responders, such as the brave firefighters battling the wildfires at this very moment, over what the president requested. For half the cost of servicing the war debt every year we could provide health insurance to 10 million children of working families.

It’s a question of priorities.

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UPDATED: Coffee With Your Congressman, October 20

Rep. Xavier Becerra — 10/23/2007 12:36

I want to thank everyone who came out to my "Coffee With Your Congressman" town hall meeting on Saturday at the Lincoln Heights Senior Center. I always appreciate hearing from you, whether here on the Becerra Blog or in person. We had approximately 100 people in attendance on a sunny Saturday afternoon, which I believe says a lot about the civic sensibility of the good people of my district.

In case you missed the meeting, or want to review what I said, I will post video and audio segments of the "Coffee" soon on the Becerra Broadcasts and Becerra Podcasts. pages of my Web site. Also, make sure you have a subscription to my email list so you can hear about the next "Coffee."

Remember, if you have a question or comment for me and can’t make it to one of my Coffees, you can always email, write, or call my office. Also, as your representative in congress, one of my most important duties is to assist you when dealing with the federal government. Visit my Casework page to learn more about how I can help you cut through the red tape.

Thanks again, I’ll be looking forward to seeing you at my next "Coffee."

UPDATE:

You can now view a video segment of the Coffee here:

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Keep the Comments Coming

Rep. Xavier Becerra — 10/17/2007 11:49

Thank you for all of the thoughtful comments left on my first blog post. I too am excited about the opening of this new line of communication and look forward to hearing more from you. I won’t always be able to answer every question left in the comments (if you do need an individual response, make sure to use the Email Xavier form, or contact my office directly), but I will do my best to answer the big questions I’m hearing from you and your neighbors.

This week we are working overtime to override the president’s veto of the SCHIP reauthorization bill, which would cover 10 million uninsured children (see my 10/15 post for details). We need a two thirds vote in both houses of congress to override a veto. I believe we have the votes in the senate, but we need to win over about 15 Republicans in the House who originally voted against the bill. I’m glad to see so many of you are staying on top of this issue, and I hope you continue to encourage your friends and family to contact their representatives. The override vote is scheduled for this Thursday, October 18.

Many of you expressed support for universal health care. I have been a longtime supporter of establishing a single-payer health care system, and I am a co-sponsor of Rep. John Conyers’ (MI-14) “Medicare for All” legislation (H.R. 676). Ron Hohn rightly points out that with overhead costs of around two percent, Medicare is the most efficient provider of health coverage in the country. We probably won’t be able to revolutionize our health care system this congress, but that hasn’t stopped me from working to build support among my colleagues for universal, single-payer health care.

Michael Freeman points out the need for transparency in congress’ appropriations earmarking process. The public deserves to know how tax dollars are being spent, including the projects for which individual members of congress have requested funding. That is why on August 8, I made my requests public on the front page of my Web site, for I believe all of these projects greatly benefit the people of the 31^st District.

Thank you again for your comments. While I might not be able to answer all of your questions on the blog, I am keeping track of what you are saying. Please continue to read the Becerra Blog and let me know what’s on your mind!

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Three Weeks of War or One Year of Health Coverage for Kids?

Rep. Xavier Becerra — 10/15/2007 12:41

Of all the reasons President Bush could use to oppose providing basic health coverage to the children of America’s working families, fiscal restraint raises the most eyebrows.

This has been perhaps the most fiscally irresponsible White House in American history, aided for six years by a Republican congress. As the Wall Street Journal recently pointed out, many fiscal conservatives, including such prominent figures as Alan Greenspan and Bruce Bartlett, have become disillusioned with the reckless spending and tax cutting of the previous Bush Administration-led congresses. Given all this and coupled with the war in Iraq, it’s hard to take the president’s veto rationale seriously.

In the short amount of time between the day the SCHIP reauthorization bill was sent to the president (September 27) and the date the House will vote on overturning the president’s veto (October 18) – three weeks – we will have spent $7 billion for Iraq. That is the exact amount of funding we need to provide health insurance to 10 million American children for one year.

It deserves repeating: covering America’s 10 million uninsured children for a year costs the same amount as waging three weeks of war in Iraq.

This is the president’s idea of fiscal responsibility: he borrows as many billions of dollars as he likes for a war in Iraq that has no clear plan for success and hands the bill over to the next generation. He then refuses to provide that same generation with basic health insurance, which would cost a miniscule fraction of the cost of the war. And then he tells them to just go to the emergency room if they get sick, which, ironically enough, is more costly to government in the long run than simply insuring the kids.

The president’s supporters don’t stop there. Radical right-wing blogs and columnists have tried to paint the Frost family, whose son Graeme recorded the September 29 Democratic radio address supporting SCHIP reauthorization, as fraudulently receiving aid. Yet they unquestionably support Blackwater and Halliburton even as the evidence mounts of the waste, fraud and abuse that has resulted from their work in Iraq. Attacking working families while defending war profiteers has become an unfortunate habit in some Republican circles.

I wish I could take comfort in the fact that 72 percent of Americans support the SCHIP reauthorization package that has passed in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, or that a large minority of Republicans in Congress support it (45 in the House, 18 in the Senate), or that over 270 independent health organizations were supporting our efforts. But this is no time to take comfort. My colleagues (on both sides of the aisle) and I are working hard right now to overturn the president’s veto. Please join us. Call your Representative and Senators. Tell your friends and family to do the same. The vote to overturn the veto is this Thursday, October 18. Together we can do this. Ten million children are depending on us.

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Welcome to the Becerra Blog!

Rep. Xavier Becerra — 10/12/2007 15:03

Change is good, change is constructive, change is progressive. Over the past several years we have witnessed an explosion of progressive change on the Internet with the emergence of the blogosphere and other forms of open online media. These advances in online communication are revitalizing our democracy, and I believe it is important that you have a virtual and open line of communication to me, your representative in Congress. That is why I am launching "The Becerra Blog."

My hope is that the Becerra Blog will provide us one more way to stay in touch. It will allow me to keep you up-to-date on my legislative efforts, explain my votes, and solicit your opinions on the issues of the day. Please visit, subscribe to the RSS feed, and use the comments section to let me know what's on your mind. I look forward to hearing from you!

26 Comments