Reforming Agricultural Policy

For too long, government agricultural programs have subsidized wealthy agribusiness in the Midwest with massive subsidies for giant farming operations. These price supports led to overproduction, dropping worldwide crop prices. Many developing nations depend on agricultural production, and the low international prices for cotton, soybeans, and other subsidized products make it difficult for these nations to improve their economies.

The Farm Bill, which governs many of these programs, is up for another 5 year renewal this year, and this week the House took the long overdue step of introducing needed reforms.

The reforms would address a number of areas:

• Subsidies: Major cuts, saving more than a half billion dollars
• Fruits / Vegetables: California provides agricultural products to not just California, but the whole world. California grows more than 400 agricultural commodities, many of which represent a large percentage of all the fruits and vegetables consumed in the United States, and produced $32 billion in direct farm sales in 2005. However, until this bill, California fruit and vegetable producers have not been eligible for many of the Farm Bill benefits enjoyed by the so-called “Commodity Crops” – soybeans, corn, rice, wheat, and cotton.
• Conservation: Increases funding for the EQIP conservation program. EQIP is the program most frequently used by California’s farmers to take environmentally sensitive land out of farming and encourage environmentally friendly practices on working farmland. This bill additionally expands existing programs to protect wetlands, grasslands, and other conservation programs.
• Limits Payments to Millionaire Farmers: Imposes the first ever payment limit that prevents millionaires from receiving farm subsidy benefits and offers complete transparency so the public knows taxpayer dollars are getting to the family farmers who need them.
• Fuel Independence: This bill encourages the expansion of renewable fuel production that helps our country get on the road to energy independence and protects our environment. The Farm bill provides loan guarantees for the development of refineries that process renewable fuels, a key step toward bringing more renewable fuels to market in America.
• Helping rural areas gain access to Information Technology advances: Invests in rural communities nationwide, including economic development programs and access to broadband telecommunication services to allow rural areas to take advantage of the productivity advances that are available through new technologies, many of which were developed in Silicon Valley.
• Assistance to the poor and hungry: Invests in nutrition programs that help families in need, including increasing the purchasing power of food stamps which keep many Americans from going hungry.

Although the reforms made to these programs are a good start, we can do more and I will carefully examine any amendments to the bill that may effect funding for these programs.

During World War II, more than 200,000 women from several Asian and European nations suffered gang rape, forced abortions, and other humiliations under Japan’s colonial and wartime occupation of Asia and the Pacific Islands from the 1930s through the duration of the war. Although Japan has, in most ways, transcended its wartime past, it has yet to recognize the suffering of and apologize to these so-called “comfort women.” For this reason, I have introduced a bipartisan resolution before the U.S. House of Representatives calling on the government of Japan to formally, officially and unambiguously apologize for the tragedy that comfort women endured at the hands of its Imperial Army during World War II. Japan is an essential and valuable member of the community of free nations, and the purpose of my resolution is not to attack or humiliate the land of my ancestors. This legislation, rather, seeks to achieve justice for the few remaining women who survived these atrocities, and to shed light on a grave human rights violation, that has remained unknown for so many years. The struggle of the comfort women reflects not just history, but the continued pattern of organized abuse of women in conflict. These women speak not just for themselves but also for the young women of Burma, Bosnia, and Darfur and areas of future conflict.

Nearly every point on the globe is experiencing global climate change, and the debate is no longer if, but when, these changes will dramatically affect our daily lives. We don’t have much time. We all can make a difference in stemming this impending crisis, but we must understand how our own actions and informed choices affect necessary change. Last month, I convened a bipartisan Congressional forum with scientists and several Latin American representatives to discuss the environmental and economic impacts of climate changes on the Americas. Leaders highlighted the growing need for international cooperation in creating a unified energy and environmental strategy across the Americas to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and stanch the tide of global warming. I also introduced The Global Warming Education Act to create nationwide education programs under the auspices of the National Science Foundation to broaden the understanding of human-induced global warming, possible long and short-term consequences, and potential solutions. My legislation also provides actionable information to enhance the implementation of new technologies, programs, and incentives related to energy conservation, renewable energy, and greenhouse gas reduction. In the very first direct House of Representatives vote on the global warming issue, significant portions of my legislation were incorporated – on a bipartisan basis – into the National Science Foundation (NSF) Authorization Act of 2007. I am proud that my legislation will likely serve as a bellwether for future policy development on global climate change.

This July, we celebrate not only our nation’s founding, but also the fortieth anniversary of the Civil Rights Act, and the dream of an America that guarantees equality for all. On July 2, 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 into law. Despite heavy opposition in the 1960’s, the bill passed through Congress thanks to the tireless dedication of individuals who believed in an America, a nation free from racial discrimination and segregation. President John F. Kennedy fostered a similar dream in 1963, saying:

One hundred years of delay have passed since President Lincoln freed the slaves, yet their heirs, their grandsons, are not fully free. They are not yet freed from the bonds of injustice. They are not yet freed from social and economic oppression. And this nation, for all its hopes and all its boasts, will not be fully free until all its citizens are free.

Forty years later, President Kennedy’s vision of equality for all Americans remains alive today in part through the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and its reauthorization in 2006. These laws help to ensure that every citizen has the opportunity to fully exercise their Constitutional right to vote, regardless of race. I deeply believe in the principles of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and strongly supported the reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act in 2006. It is only by continued vigilance that we maintain our rights, our children’s rights, and the rights of all Americans.

Yesterday the House passed a resolution celebrating the accomplishments of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (also known as the Patsy Takemoto Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act). As a consequence of Title IX, women in 21st century America have more opportunity and freedom than at any other point in history. In fact, women now outnumber men at institutes of higher education, making up 57% of college graduates. Through the opportunities afforded to them by Title IX, the number of women who have moved into law, science, business, and government service has exploded. Unfortunately, despite the wonderful gains over the past 35 years, women face substantial barriers in the workplace and in their personal lives. For example, American women continue to earn less, are less likely to own a business, and are more likely to live in poverty than American men. Women are still the overwhelming victims of domestic violence, despite passage of the landmark Violence Against Women Act. Women are active participants in the labor market, and often fill multiple roles – as workers, mothers, and caregivers for aging parents – and would benefit from workplace policies and practices that reflect the changing nature of the workforce, which also have the potential to play an important role for all workers. Continued recognition of the strides made by women since the passage of Title IX, as well as the barriers they continue to face, are important to moving our society toward true gender equality. Together, we can continue the work begun by suffragists in the 19th century and continued by women like Patsy Mink, to make this new world view strong and permanent for our daughters and sons, granddaughters and grandsons.

Shortly after coming to Congress I established a Student Advisory Council to encourage civic participation among high school youths in our district. The students are selected annually from throughout the 15th Congressional District and work together throughout the school year to increase awareness of policies and issues that effect youths. The students from the 2007 Council chose to focus on service learning as a topic for their annual conference. On Saturday, June 9th, 2007, local students and community members joined the SAC and me at the Quinlan Community Center in Cupertino to participate in VOICE! - Values of Informed Civic Engagement. High school and college students, teachers and community leaders came together to explore the positive impacts of service learning on students and their communities. Several workshops engaged participants in a range of topics, from homelessness in Santa Clara County to government service to developing leadership skills.

Immediately following the VOICE! conference, I hosted a Student Appreciation Reception to recognize students that participated in several high school programs offered through my district office. I met with the students and their families and gave Certificates of Special Congressional Recognition to the students for academic excellence and talent. Daniel Pavlovic, from Cupertino High School, was selected to be our District's Congressional Page this summer. He will join other students in the House Page program for the second summer session in July in Washington, D.C. Ryan Sturdivant, from Leigh High School, is the winner from our District for the annual Congressional art contest, “An Artistic Discovery” for his charcoal portrait titled “Brother”. Ryan will be traveling to Washington, D.C. with his parents, courtesy of Southwest Airlines, to attend the unveiling ceremony. His work will join winning pieces from Congressional districts around the nation in a year-long exhibition at the Capitol. I also had the privilege of nominating the following students, who were selected for their strong academic records and community activities, to the prestigious U.S. military academies

:

• Andrew D. Strawbridge from Bellarmine College Prep to the U.S. Air Force Academy
• Matthew L. Shields from Bellarmine College Prep to the U.S. Air Force Academy
• Paul H-C Lee from Lynbrook High School to the U.S. Naval Academy
• Christine L. Tyndall from Branham High School to the U.S. Naval Academy
• Nathaniel T. Brady from Lynbrook High School to the U.S. Naval Academy
• Paul Baker from Bellarmine College Prep to US Military Academy at West Point

If you would like more information about academy nominations or other student programs, please contact my office or visit the links to my website above.

This week, the House Appropriations Committee, of which I am now a member, continued its debate on the 12 spending bills that fund all of the work of the federal government. The bills considered this week continue to demonstrate a commitment by the Democratic majority to meeting critical domestic needs that were neglected by President Bush and the prior Republican controlled Congresses. Below I have included highlights of each of the bills the committee considered this week, along with links to more detailed descriptions of each bill. Financial Services and General Government The fiscal year 2008 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Bill seeks to bring government closer to the people, to better fit its services to their needs. The American people expect and deserve the best services their government can offer. Highlights of the bill include:

• IRS: This bill addresses the need for the Internal Revenue Service to be fair and even-handed in whom it audits, and ensures that the IRS works to provide real assistance to the taxpayer who cannot afford the services of an expensive accountant by increasing funding for the Taxpayer Advocate’s office.
• Elections: It allows the Election Assistance Commission to help promote the use of voting machines in student and school elections as an educational tool because these are our future voters and provides $300 million for States to help them meet the requirements of the Help America Vote Act of 2002.
• Consumer Protection: It directs the Federal Trade Commission to examine identify theft with an eye toward ending this hurtful crime to protect consumers and directs the Consumer Product Safety Commission to strengthen its consumer product monitoring capabilities.
• Small Business Assistance: The bill also increases funding for the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, to a total of $100 million, to help expand the availability of credit, capital and financial services to underserved communities throughout the nation, and increases funding for the Small Business Administration.

State and Foreign Operations The House State and Foreign Operations Appropriations fiscal year 2008 bill provides funding critical to our long-term security at home and our relationships abroad. The bill reflects four key priorities: oversight of foreign assistance programs; supporting our allies in the Global War on Terror; improving aid effectiveness by strengthening Development Assistance; and responding to the global HIV/AIDS pandemic and other health challenges. It includes:

• over $4.7 billion to support State Department operations in the United States and at our diplomatic missions abroad
• $365 million for public diplomacy efforts at the State Department
• $501 million for educational and cultural exchanges
• $6.519 billion for global health programs, including HIV/AIDS

With Memorial Day and the start of the summer driving season upon us, drivers are paying record high prices for gasoline because of the Bush Administration’s failure to enact a comprehensive energy strategy. The six largest oil companies announced $30 billion in profits for the first quarter of 2007, and as prices climb, so does the potential for consumers to be gouged at the pump. The Democratic-led Congress has begun a series of hearings to address rising gas prices, focusing on the burdens on American families and businesses, exploring anticompetitive practices in the oil and gasoline industry, and getting to the causes and solutions. Building on those hearings, the House considered two bills to address high gas prices this week. On Tuesday, the House approved bipartisan legislation to authorize the Justice Department to take legal action against OPEC state-controlled entities that participate in conspiracies to limit the supply, or fix the price, of oil. It makes clear that OPEC and other nations are not protected by the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act if those governments are acting in a commercial capacity and are engaged in price-fixing and other anticompetitive activities. It authorizes – but does not mandate – lawsuits in U.S. federal court against oil cartel members by the Justice Department. On Wednesday, the House passed the Energy Price Gouging Prevention Act. The bill will provide relief to consumers by giving the Federal Trade Commission the authority to investigate and punish companies that artificially inflate the price of energy. The bill sets criminal penalties for price gouging, and permits states to bring lawsuits against wholesalers or retailers who engage in such practices. This would apply during a national emergency and would crack down on companies charging unconscionable and excessive prices.

I delivered the Democratic Hispanic Radio Address on Saturday, June 9, 2007. The topic of the address was immigration. You can download the podcast or read the transcription in Spanish. The audio of the address was on local Univisión Radio, Latino Broadcasting Company, Radio Fórmula, Radiovisa, Radio Bilingüe, and CNN en Español Radio affiliates after 11:06 a.m. ET on Saturday. The translated text of the address in English appears below: Good morning. I am Congressman Mike Honda from California. This morning I want to talk to you about an issue that concerns House Democrats, folks in my district in Santa Clara County, California, and all immigrant communities in the United States: immigration. The immigration debate of the last year resonates with me personally because my grandparents were immigrants from Japan. Many years ago, they came to this country with the same dreams that immigrants today have: the hope that one day, their children and grandchildren would have a better life and opportunities to succeed. I hope I have made them proud. Regardless of the Senate Republicans failure to act this week, our country needs to support a critical pillar of this great country: our immigrant communities. Why? Because we are a nation of immigrants. From our country’s inception, generation after generation of newcomers have come here and contributed to our great country with the sweat of their labor, new ideas, and rich cultural and family traditions. It is time for the U.S. Congress to honor the promise of America. Our immigration system should recognize the enormous contributions that immigrants make to our nation. But we must do so in a way that makes us safer, protects workers and restores the rule of law. This week, the Republicans in the Senate blocked an immigration bill that attempts to fix our nation's dysfunctional immigration system. The road was long and hard, and the bill was far from perfect. But at the end of the day, a bill would have been a starting point to address this critical issue for our nation. Now the House will study what our options are in regard passing a bipartisan immigration bill. A good bill for our nation is one that secures our borders and enforces our laws, while also protecting against discrimination and adhering to the rule of law. It is one that regularizes the status of the 12 million undocumented immigrants who now work and live here. It is a bill that allows us to must meet our economy's need for additional workers when they are needed and ensure that there are strict labor protections for all workers. And finally, a good bill is one that promotes family unification because family values are American values, and this tenant has been central to our immigration policy. The President has an obligation to the American people to pass a strong, bipartisan and comprehensive immigration reform. During the entire process, Democrats have been committed to fixing a problem that this Administration and past Republican Congresses have ignored for years. And now that they had a chance to act in the interests of the American people, Republicans chose not to. The President failed to pressure his party to work collaboratively with Senate Democrats to get an effective and fair immigration reform. The President and Republicans have failed the American people. We look toward the future and hope that President Bush and our Republican colleagues in both chambers will work with Democrats to get the job done. This is Miguel Honda, Congressman from California. Thank you for listening.