Xavier Becerra

It seems that too often the 435 Members of this body forget about the real world. We, fortunately, are paid well. We are cared for by our government, and we all try to do the same for our constituents; but somehow this particular bill that…

I hope everyone votes against the rule, votes against the previous question and, certainly, we should oppose martial law, because it is not deserved. We are being asked to vote in the blind because we never had a chance to read this bill…

I rise in strong support of improving Social Security benefits for women, all women in this country. That is one of the reasons why I support the legislation today of the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Shaw). But we should be clear, this…

let me begin by first acknowledging the work of the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Goode) for his efforts to recognize the true national security interests that we have and the domestic security interests that I believe the gentleman is…

I hope this body will recognize that Chairman Istook and Ranking Member Hoyer were instrumental in ensuring that the Customs Service received the $36 million which it needed for up-front reconstruction to enable it to reestablish…

Let me make sure we have this straight. The bill that we have before us is to correct something that our friends on the Republican side did a year ago when we passed the tax bill that cost about $1.3 trillion, but when we cost it out a lot…

I wish the gentleman from Oklahoma had been here 3 hours ago when we were asking for a chance to speak, to present a budget, to not be gagged, to have a chance under the rules of the House of Representatives, the people's House, to debate…

My colleagues, there is a legitimate difference of opinion on what constitutes sound economic stimulus for this economy. We all support emergency help for the unemployed Americans, over a million that have exhausted their benefits. There…

Mr. Speaker, it is hard to believe that today as the Senate moves to vote to help workers left unemployed by September 11, this House chooses to vote to reaffirm last year's massive and imprudent tax cut bill. Knowing what we know today…

I have three words for the gentlewoman: Grit, guts and grace. I think the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi) does a tremendous job of demonstrating what an elected official should represent. I have had nothing but pleasure in seeing…

Mr. Speaker, we could have had a very good bill that would have received a very large vote in support. The majority did the right thing by removing a provision in from the bill that would have unfairly cut the pay of our Customs officials…

I would support Fast Track legislation that meaningfully addresses the areas of labor and the environment, and provides an effective mechanism for congressional participation. This bill does not. I urge my colleagues to vote against H.R…

Mr. Speaker, H. Con. Res. 77 is a resolution that I authored in conjunction with the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce) for the express purpose of expressing our country and our government's firm support for family reunification…

Mr. Speaker, today in Los Angeles, the Los Angeles International Airport will lose more than $1 million, as it has since September 11. Half of that loss is due to the fact that it had to increase security and half of that loss is due to…

Mr. Speaker, the aviation industry is in need of a lifeline, and we are all trying to find it. The bill today provides $15 billion in taxpayer dollars to give a bailout, but there is no reason why this legislation could not have included…

3 days ago, on September 11, our Nation suffered a grave terrorist attack that challenged not just America but democracy itself. Today, the American family gathered in churches, mosques, and synagogues to remember and pray for the victims…

In the 9 years I have been in this Chamber, I have never seen the gentleman from Michigan take on a task, an assignment, without giving it his all, his commitment and his conviction. And I think all of us stand very proudly with the…

I rise, as has my country, to pray for loved ones, to embrace our valiant rescuers, and to condemn the heinous and cowardly acts of abject terrorism that we witnessed yesterday. We, the American family, have lost fathers, mothers and sons…

I do not understand why, if that is what doctors rely upon as they continue their career and their practice to try to heal and help, why we all of a sudden have to go against all those good physicians, all those good health care providers…

This is not just help, but it is an investment. This is a chance to help Salvadorans get on their feet and back to work. It is a chance to help them rebuild their homes and businesses in El Salvador and not have them think about going to…

I wish we could all say that it is the complete solution to the problem that we encounter, that many families in America encounter, but it is not. We are taking a step forward. We were pleased to receive the word from the President…

My colleagues, why the need to circumvent the rules of this House and the Senate? Why not follow the legislative process in this Congress? Why do we have this bill, so-called reconciliation bill, before us today? Why, especially when this…

I want to applaud their efforts to try to improve the retirement system we have which will allow pensions to be a more fruitful vehicle for people in this country who work to have a chance to really live out their retirement in comfort. I…

Mr. Speaker, we need a plan to cut taxes that will be responsible, that will be fair and will invest in our future. We would not be allowed to buy a house anywhere in America if we could not prove that we could pay that mortgage on that…

let me begin by extending to the Gonzalez family my most sincere condolences on the passing of a great individual, Mr. Henry B. Gonzalez. I was very fortunate to have a chance to serve with him, and it was a fitting tribute to be able to…