WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (CA-47), the ranking female member on the House Armed Services Committee, today issued the following statement regarding House passage of House Resolution 1740, recognizing and honoring the National Guard on the occasion of its 374rd anniversary:

Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (CA-47), Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on Vietnam, today joined Rep. Anh “Joseph” Cao (R-LA), Rep. Iliana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA), and Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA) in introducing H.R. 6433, the Vietnam Human Rights Sanctions Act. The same bill was introduced in the Senate by Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS), Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), and Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC).

The Vietnam Human Rights Sanctions Act would impose sanctions on individuals who perpetrate or are complicit in human rights abuses committed against nationals of Vietnam or their family members. Individuals who warrant sanctions would be disqualified from applying for a U.S. visa or taking part in financial or property transactions in the U.S., among other penalties.

“For years, Congress has expressed concern regarding Vietnam’s ongoing disregard for the basic civil and political liberties of its people,” said Rep. Sanchez. “These statements have undoubtedly raised public awareness of Vietnam’s egregious human rights abuses. But more must be done if we expect Vietnam to take concrete action on this issue. By making improvements in human rights a condition of continued diplomatic relations with Vietnam, I believe the Vietnam Human Rights Sanctions Act will create positive change for the people of Vietnam.”

In a prepared statement, the co-sponsors said: “It is important that the United States government publicly condemn the arrests, detentions, and acts of violence that contradict Vietnam’s own commitment to internationally accepted standards of human rights and the rule of law. Unfortunately, Vietnam’s oppression of its citizens, particularly over the last year, continues to demonstrate that public statements of concern are simply not enough and more targeted action is needed. This legislation seeks to remedy this atrocious situation. The Vietnamese government must understand that Vietnamese-American relations will not normalize until Vietnam reverses its course on its human rights record. We will continue to signal to the U.S. Administration and the government of Vietnam that we will not waiver in this pursuit.”

The Vietnam Human Rights Sanctions Act was brought about in response to Vietnam’s ongoing suppression of basic human rights. Individuals who express criticism of the Vietnamese government are subject to harassment and, potentially, detention or arrest. Lawyers, journalists, bloggers, democracy and human rights activists, independent trade union leaders, non-state-sanctioned publishers, and members of ethnic and religious minorities are frequent recipients of intimidation and abuse. Vietnam is also a significant source country for commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor. In 2010, the State Department downgraded Vietnam from “Tier 2” to “Tier 2 Watch List” in its 10^th annual Trafficking in Persons Report because the country had not been effective in identifying or prosecuting human traffickers and protecting trafficking victims.

Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (CA-47), the ranking female member on the House Armed Services Committee, today issued the following statement regarding news that two South Korean soldiers were killed and fifteen were wounded after North Korea fired dozens of artillery shells at South Korea’s Yeonpyeong Island:

 “As the ranking female member on the House Armed Services Committee, I strongly condemn North Korea’s recent hostile attack against South Korea’s Yeonpyeong Island. As a result of North Korea’s unprovoked, irresponsible actions, two South Korean marines have been killed and fifteen soldiers and civilians have been wounded. North Korea bears full responsibility for this tragic loss of life, as well as creating additional hostility and uncertainty in a region already ripe with tension.

“In the wake of this attack, the U.S. and South Korea have joined together to send the message that our nations will not tolerate acts of military aggression by North Korea or any other state. The U.S.-South Korea alliance is strong and we are committed to securing the region from potential threats. For the sake of the entire region, North Korea must show more restraint in its actions moving forward.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (CA-47) today joined a growing list of California lawmakers who are asking the U.S. Department of Transportation to redirect high-speed rail funding refused by other states to California. In a letter to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph Szabo, Reps. Sanchez, Laura Richardson (CA-37), John Garamendi (CA-10), Zoe Lofgren (CA-16), and Jim Costa (CA-20) noted that California is poised to become a leader in world-class high-speed rail. The proposed 220 mph train from Sacramento/San Francisco to San Diego is shovel-ready, with construction scheduled to begin in 2012.  

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (CA-47), a member of the Joint Economic Committee, today slammed her colleagues who voted against extending emergency unemployment benefits for millions of American families. H.R. 6419, the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Continuation Act, would have saved a critical lifeline for hard-working Americans who have lost their jobs. But because the House voted against the emergency extension, unemployment insurance benefits will almost certainly expire at the end of the month.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (CA-47), the ranking female member on the House Armed Services Committee, today issued the following statement in recognition of Veterans Day:

Today, Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (CA-47), along with Reps. Jerry McNerney, Jim Costa, and George Miller, led a letter signed by twenty eight California lawmakers to the Executive Director of the California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA), Steven Spears, calling on CalHFA to take serious steps to address the continuing foreclosure crisis in California and provide real assistance to homeowners. The letter also requests that Director Spears meet with the California delegation in Congress to discuss how he and the agency will avoid problems that have plagued local, state, federal, and private efforts to assist homeowners.

“Seven of the ten metro areas hit hardest by the foreclosure crisis are in California,” Rep. Sanchez said. “The crisis has been exacerbated by banks that are unwilling to work constructively with borrowers to achieve more affordable monthly payments. Practices like robo-signers and rampant delays in processing paperwork have led many California families to be needlessly thrown out of their homes.

“Enough is enough. We want to hear from Director Spears about how CalHFA’s proposed ‘Keep Your Home California’ Program will avoid these problems and keep people in their homes. I’m committed to working with CalHFA to ensure that this program accomplishes all that it has set out to achieve.  Hopefully, working together, we can help tens of thousands of Californians stay in their homes.”