[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 17]
[Senate]
[Pages 23439-23444]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

      By Mr. FRANKEN (for himself, Ms. Murkowski, and Mr. Bingaman):
  S. 1737. A bill to amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch 
Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to increase the number of 
children eligible for free school meals, with a phased-in transition 
period; to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
  Mr. FRANKEN. Mr. President, in a country as wealthy as ours, it is 
shameful to let any child go hungry. That is why today, Senator 
Murkowski and I are introducing the Expand School Meals Act. By 
eliminating the reduced price meals category and replacing it with the 
free meal program, this legislation will ensure that low-income 
children are not denied nutritious food during the school day if their 
family can't afford to pay for it.
  It is important to remember that this will improve student readiness 
for school. Parents have long known, and recent studies confirm, that 
children cannot learn on empty stomachs. Hungry children perform worse 
on achievement tests, have trouble concentrating, and are more likely 
to act out in school. Securing access to healthy foods for low-income 
children is therefore not only a means of reducing child hunger, but 
also an important strategy for narrowing the achievement gap.
  There are 3.1 million low-income children across the Nation, and 
54,000 children in Minnesota are eligible for reduced-price school 
meals. This means that the families of these children pay for part of 
their children's school meals. Currently, these families must pay 40 
cents for each lunch and 30 cents for each breakfast their children eat 
at school. While this may not sound like a lot of money to members of 
Congress, to a family that is barely scraping by, especially in today's 
economy, the cost can be prohibitive.
  In this tough economy, a growing number of these families simply can 
no longer afford to pay. Low-income children in Minnesota and across 
the country are increasingly being turned away from school lunch 
counters because they don't have enough money in their meal accounts. 
In some districts, children in the reduced price meal program are 
humiliated when they are forced to pay small fees in front of their 
peers, or when they are handed cheese sandwiches instead of regular 
meals on the days they cannot afford to pay. It then becomes abundantly 
clear to all of their peers in the lunchroom that they are in the 
reduced price program. Teachers in Minnesota and elsewhere have 
reported that many children choose to avoid this stigma by just 
skipping meals.
  The indecency of turning away children from the school lunch counter 
becomes all too evident when one hears the stories of the food service 
workers and teachers who have to confront these children directly. In 
the Roseville, Minnesota, school district, for example, schools 
recently reported that parents with health problems showed up at the 
district office unable to pay for reduced-price lunch. The families, 
however, had too much income to qualify for the free lunch program. The 
district policy is that children who cannot pay for school lunches can 
receive cheese sandwiches for three days, and then must be turned away. 
Roseville cashiers and food service managers have been using their own 
money to cover children who they know cannot pay.
  This situation is entirely unacceptable. It is unacceptable not only 
because we are allowing children to go hungry today, but also because 
we know the impact of this hunger on their future. We know that 
insufficient access to food will negatively affect their development, 
as well as their educational outcomes, which together will have a 
lasting impact on their ability to reach their potential.
  Recent studies show just how devastating the impact of food 
insecurity is on the academic and social outcomes of school children. 
For example, researchers at Cornell and the University of Michigan 
found that children ages 6 to 11 who lacked sufficient food had 
significantly lower arithmetic scores, and were more likely to have 
repeated a grade than their peers. Furthermore, they found that 
teenagers who lacked sufficient food were almost three times as likely 
to have been suspended from school. Similarly, researchers at Harvard 
Medical School, and Massachusetts General Hospital found that children 
who, according to their parents, were experiencing hunger, were two to 
four times more likely than other children to repeat a grade, access 
special education services, or receive mental health counseling.
  Based on this research, it is clear that child hunger must be one of 
the factors that we address if we are serious about closing the 
achievement gap and giving every child in America a genuine opportunity 
to succeed.
  I would like to conclude by commending my colleagues on both sides of 
the aisle for their leadership in advocating for the extension of free 
school meals to children of the working poor. These efforts began with 
Senator Elizabeth Dole, who in 2003 introduced a bill that would have 
also phased out the reduced price meals category. And in 2004, Senator 
Dole advocated for a provision to be included in the Child Nutrition 
and WIC Reauthorization Act that authorized a 5 State pilot project to 
test the feasibility of eliminating the reduced price category. Funding 
for this project, unfortunately, was never appropriated.
  Some States and districts therefore decided to take matters into 
their own hands. I am proud to represent a State that decided to 
eliminate the reduced price category for school breakfasts. Based on 
the experience of these localities, we have learned that expanding 
eligibility for free meals to children in the reduced price category 
significantly increases their participation in school breakfast and 
lunch programs.
  In light of the experiences of these localities, and the difficult 
economic times, I am hopeful that this will be the year that we expand 
eligibility for free school meals. I urge all of my colleagues to join 
us in this endeavor and do right by our children.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mrs. FEINSTEIN:
  S. 1747. A bill for the relief of Javier Lopez-Urenda and Maria 
Leticia Arenas; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, today I am introducing a private 
relief bill on behalf of Javier Lopez-Urenda and his wife, Maria 
Leticia Arenas. Mr. Lopez-Urenda and his wife are Mexican nationals 
living in Fremont, California, and the loving parents of three U.S. 
citizen children, Bryan, age 16, Ashley, age 12, and Nancy, age 6.
  I have decided to introduce this private bill to ensure that this 
family stays together because they have demonstrated an extraordinary 
commitment to each other and the greater community in the Bay area. I 
believe Mr. Lopez-Urenda and Ms. Arenas

[[Page 23440]]

merit Congress' special consideration for such an extraordinary form of 
relief as a private bill.
  Javier Lopez-Urenda was born in Michoacan, Mexico. When he was 19 
years old, his father was stabbed and murdered while working as a cab 
driver. In 1990, at the age of 23, Mr. Lopez-Urenda came to the United 
States to find a higher paying job to support his extended family. 
Leticia Arenas came to the U.S. at the age of 17 after her mother died 
of cancer. Mr. Lopez-Urenda and Ms. Arenas have now been living in the 
U.S.for almost 20 years.
  Mr. Lopez-Urenda is the sole financial provider for his wife and 
three U.S. citizen children and owns his own home. For over 17 years, 
Mr. Lopez-Urenda has worked at Full Bloom Baking Company, a commercial 
bakery in San Mateo, California, and was the second employee that they 
hired. With Mr. Lopez-Urenda's help, the company grew to one of the 
largest commercial bakeries in the Bay Area, which currently employs 
approximately 385 people in the bay area.
  Full Bloom Baking Company has stated:

       Javier is critical to the operation of our business. . . . 
     He holds a tremendous amount of `institutional knowledge' 
     that can never be replaced. He mentors and develops Team 
     members, conducts training classes, and has deep 
     understanding of complex industrial baking equipment and is 
     an expert on how to produce wonderful artisan quality 
     products from the intricate interactions of formula, people 
     and equipment.

  Mr. Lopez-Urenda's coworkers have also written to me about his value 
to the company. Coleen Donnelly writes:

       I am lucky enough to have worked with Javier briefly at the 
     bakery he helped build from the ground up. I always knew he 
     was in the room before I saw him. His presence is such a 
     positive force. He has the natural ability to manage and lead 
     people and make it all seem like play, not work. Without 
     Javier at the bakery, the lives of hundreds of people will 
     change.

  With the encouragement of his employer, Mr. Lopez-Urenda sought legal 
advice in 1996 in an attempt to legalize his status. However, the 
enactment of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigration 
Responsibility Act, IIRIRA, eliminated his ability to apply for 
suspension of deportation.
  Mr. Lopez-Urenda also attempted to legalize through his employer, but 
the labor certification remained unadjudicated for nearly three years. 
Once the Department of Labor granted his labor certification, Mr. 
Lopez-Urenda could have legalized his status but for the fact that his 
removal case had already been resolved against him due to the change in 
law.
  When the Ninth Circuit Court denied his appeal, the Court 
acknowledged the compelling circumstances of Mr. Lopez-Urenda's case. 
The court stated:

       We are not unmindful of the unique and extremely 
     sympathetic circumstances of this case. By all accounts, 
     Petitioner has been an exemplary father, employee, and member 
     of his local community. If he were to be deported, he would 
     be separated from his wife, three U.S. citizen children, and 
     the life he has worked so hard to build over the past 
     seventeen years. In light of the unfortunate sequence of 
     events leading up this juncture and Petitioner's positive 
     contributions to society, Petition may very well be deserving 
     of prosecutorial grace.

  Unfortunately, Mr. Lopez-Urenda faces deportation today despite his 
sympathetic circumstances and the significant positive contributions 
that he and his family have made to society.
  These contributions to the San Mateo and Fremont communities have 
truly been exceptional. He is an active volunteer for the Women's 
Foundation of California, Lance Armstrong's Livestrong Foundation, the 
Saint Patrick Proto Cathedral Parish, the American Red Cross, and just 
last year he was one of the key organizers of the California AIDS Ride.
  Ms. Arenas has also volunteered in the community as a religious 
school teacher at Our Lady of the Rosary Church, a health promoter at 
the Tiburcio Vasquez Health Center, and a sexual assault counselor at 
Bay Area Woman Against Rape.
  My office has received 46 letters of support on behalf of this family 
staying together in the community that they have helped build. Below 
are a few notable excerpts from the letters I have received reflecting 
the impact of this family on the community:
  Patricia W. Change, CEO of Feed the Hunger Foundation, former 
President/CEO of the Women's Foundation of California, and a prior San 
Francisco Commissioner and U.S. Commissioner writes:

       Mr. Urenda has always operated with the highest integrity. 
     Asking Mr. Urenda to leave the United States would deprive 
     his children of their father, an upstanding resident of the 
     country. It would deprive the community of an active 
     participant, leader, and volunteer.

  The Bay Area Women Against Rape indicates that Leticia has been 
``successful, available, [and] committed to the cause of breaking the 
silence of sexual abuse in our community.''
  Judy Patrick, President/CEO of the Women's Foundation of California, 
writes:

       Javier Urenda is fulfilling tremendous needs within his 
     community. He is a model participant in this society.

  Christine Bozzini, a friend and former coworker of Mr. Lopez-Urenda, 
writes:

       Javier strives to create a meaningful and rewarding life 
     with his children, focusing on supporting them in their 
     studies, as well as a variety of athletic pursuits and 
     personal interests. For example, over the last few years he 
     has taken great pride in traveling to various U.S. monuments 
     in order to teach his children about the birth of their 
     country.

  One of the other compelling reasons for permitting these parents to 
remain in the United States is the impact that deportation would have 
on their three U.S. citizen minor children, Bryan, Ashley, and Nancy.
  All too often, U.S. citizen children face the loss of a parent 
through deportation. A January 2009 report by the Department of 
Homeland Security Office of Inspector General found that, over the last 
10 years, 108,434 immigrant parents of U.S. citizen children were 
removed from this country.
  A separate report completed this year by Dorsey & Whitney LLP for the 
Urban Institute affirms what many of us know--the deportation of a 
parent is deeply traumatic and causes long-lasting harm to U.S. citizen 
children.
  Mr. John Arthur Balano, Head Coach and Faculty Instructor at the City 
College of San Francisco, has known Mr. Lopez-Urenda through his 
volunteer work at Washington High School in Fremont, California. He has 
stated that Mr. Lopez-Urenda ``actively participates in the daily life 
of his children. Be it school, domestic, or extra-curricular 
activities, socialization and citizenship, Javier is always furthering 
their growth.''
  In addition, Ms. Marlene Davis, the Principal of Patterson Elementary 
School, where two of the Lopez-Urenda children currently attend, has 
written me, stating that:

       Mr. Lopez-Urenda and his wife are very involved in their 
     children's lives and school work. If they were not, the 
     children would not be doing as well as they are. I think 
     without his presence, the children would definitely fare very 
     poorly indeed both because of the psychological shock of 
     having their father taken away but also academically because 
     their mother would not be as available and one half of their 
     scholastic support would be missing. . . . This would be a 
     terrible strategy which could be avoided if the children are 
     able to remain in the same stable environment with two loving 
     and supportive parents who are committed to their children's 
     success.

  Enactment of the legislation I am introducing today on behalf of Mr. 
Lopea-Urenda and Maria Leticia Arenas will enable this family to 
continue to remain in the U.S. and make positive contributions to each 
other and their extensive community in Fremont, California.
  Mr. President, I urge my colleagues to support this private bill.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill and 
letters of support be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                                S. 1747

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. PERMANENT RESIDENT STATUS FOR JAVIER LOPEZ-URENDA 
                   AND MARIA LETICIA ARENAS.

       (a) In General.--Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b) of 
     section 201 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C.

[[Page 23441]]

     1151), Javier Lopez-Urenda and Maria Leticia Arenas shall 
     each be eligible for issuance of an immigrant visa or for 
     adjustment of status to that of an alien lawfully admitted 
     for permanent residence upon filing an application for 
     issuance of an immigrant visa under section 204 of such Act 
     (8 U.S.C. 1154) or for adjustment of status to lawful 
     permanent resident.
       (b) Adjustment of Status.--If Javier Lopez-Urenda or Maria 
     Leticia Arenas enter the United States before the filing 
     deadline specified in subsection (c), that alien shall be 
     considered to have entered and remained lawfully and shall, 
     if otherwise eligible, be eligible for adjustment of status 
     under section 245 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
     U.S.C. 1255) as of the date of the enactment of this Act.
       (c) Deadline for Application and Payment of Fees.--
     Subsections (a) and (b) shall apply only to an application 
     for issuance of an immigrant visa or an application for 
     adjustment of status that is filed, with appropriate fees, 
     within 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.
       (d) Reduction of Immigrant Visa Number.--Upon the granting 
     of an immigrant visa or permanent residence to Javier Lopez-
     Urenda or Maria Leticia Arenas, the Secretary of State shall 
     instruct the proper officer to reduce by one, during the 
     current or next following fiscal year, the total number of 
     immigrant visas that are made available to natives of the 
     country of that alien's birth under section 203(a) of the 
     Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1153(a)) or, if 
     applicable, the total number of immigrant visas that are made 
     available to natives of the country of that alien's birth 
     under section 202(e) of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1152(e)).
                                  ____



                                     FullBloom Baking Company,

                                        Newark, CA, July 20, 2009.
     Senator Dianne Feinstein,
     San Francisco, CA.
       Dear Senator Feinstein: I am writing you to ask for your 
     help to support my key employee and friend, Javier Lopez-
     Urenda, and his family in their efforts to lawfully remain in 
     the United States. Mr. Lopez-Urenda's case is extremely 
     sympathetic. He had the misfortune of beginning the process 
     of legalizing his status in the summer of 1996. It was prior 
     to the enactment of the Illegal Immigration Reform and 
     Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA). As you know, IIRIRA 
     brought a sea of change to our immigration laws, which has 
     now left Javier, his wife and their three U.S. citizen 
     children facing the imminent prospect of being forced to 
     leave the U.S., essentially forever.
       Mr. Lopez-Urenda challenged the retroactive application of 
     IIRIRA to his case, but the Ninth Circuit Court has recently 
     ruled against him. While the Ninth Circuit case was pending, 
     based on humanitarian concerns and his extensive community 
     involvement, he sought deferred action of his removal from 
     the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (USICE). He 
     requested that the agency exercise its prosecutorial 
     discretion to grant a request for deferred action, 
     considering Javier's immigration history, length of U.S. 
     residence, criminal history, and cooperation with law 
     enforcement, future admissibility, community attention and 
     humanitarian concerns. However, the agency denied his request 
     and has issued a surrender notice for Monday, May 24, 2004.
       The Labor certification that my company, FullBloom Baking 
     Company filed for Javier on April 26, 2001, after 3 long 
     years, was finally granted on March 19, 2004. We immediately 
     filed a petition to immigrate Javier with the California 
     Service Center. Our lawyers have also filed a motion to 
     reopen and request for stay at the Board of Immigration 
     Appeals (BIA) for Javier, but I am told that it is unlikely 
     the BIA will grant such a motion if the USICE does not join 
     or does not oppose this motion. Therefore, I am requesting 
     that you call officials at USICE and urge them join or to not 
     oppose Javier's motion to reopen now pending before the BIA. 
     (Contact names and numbers attached). We acknowledge that 
     this type of action is only taken in the most extraordinary 
     cases, but as you will see below, Javier is an extraordinary 
     individual and a very well-respected member of his community.
       Javier, a 42-year-old native of Mexico, first came to the 
     U.S. in March of 1990 and resides in Fremont, CA with his 
     wife and three U.S. citizen children, Bryan who is sixteen, 
     Ashley who is twelve, and Nancy who is six. In 1996, Javier 
     sought the advice of an immigration attorney and started the 
     process to legalize his status. Javier appeared at an 
     immigration hearing on January 29, 1999, where he attempted 
     to file for suspension of deportation but was informed that 
     because his court proceedings did not begin until September 
     7, 1997; he was not eligible for that relief. However, the 
     Immigration Judge remarked that ``[t]he Court believes that . 
     . . he would have been a good candidate for that relief and 
     appears to be a good person who would contribute to this 
     country in a meaningful and positive way.'' Javier appealed 
     the decision to the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), but 
     the BIA dismissed the case on February 14, 2002. Javier's 
     employer, FullBloom Baking Company, filed a labor 
     certification for Javier on April 26, 2001 which would make 
     him eligible for permanent residence, but the application has 
     not yet been approved. On March 15, 2002, Javier filed a 
     Petition for Review with the Ninth Circuit, which was 
     dismissed. He subsequently filed a petition for rehearing en 
     banc which was dismissed on January 2, 2004.
       Javier has been a resident of the U.S. for more than 19 
     years, and has never departed the U.S. since his first entry. 
     He has worked at FullBloom for the past 17 years where he now 
     is the Production Process Manager, managing the transition of 
     recipes from the R&D bench top prototypes to fully scaled up 
     production runs. He supervises four line supervisors and up 
     to 210 production employees in the company's daily production 
     of more than 346,000 pieces of artisan organic and natural 
     pastries that are distributed to a wide range of grocery 
     stores & cafes including FullBloom's largest client, 
     Starbucks Coffee Company (Nationally). Javier is critical to 
     the operation of our business which has grown from an idea in 
     1989 to a run rate of over $55MM/year in gross revenue. He 
     holds a tremendous amount of ``institutional memory'' that 
     can never be replaced. He mentors and develops Team members, 
     conducts training classes, has deep understanding of complex 
     industrial baking equipment and is an expert on how to 
     produce wonderful artisan quality products from the intricate 
     interactions of formula, people and equipment.
       He is an outstanding member of his community; Javier has 
     helped to raise money for numerous local organizations and 
     participates in the annual AIDS Ride. He volunteers regularly 
     with his son's swim team, the local homeless shelters; Lance 
     Armstrong's Livestrong Foundation and is an active member of 
     his local church. He has absolutely no criminal history and 
     has always attended his court hearings and, with the help of 
     his employer, has tried repeatedly to legalize his status, 
     but has been the victim of changes in the law and a slow-
     moving labor certification system. Moreover, Javier's removal 
     from the U.S. would render him effectively ineligible for 
     future immigration as he has more than one year of unlawful 
     presence and is subject to the ten-year bar to admissibility. 
     Most importantly, Javier's removal from the U.S. would cause 
     emotional and financial hardship to his family, especially 
     his three U.S. Citizen children. If his family remains in the 
     U.S. and he is removed, they would be unable to support 
     themselves, and more importantly, his U.S. citizen children 
     would be separated from their devoted father at a critical 
     point in their lives. On the other hand, if his children 
     accompany him to Mexico, they would suffer extreme hardship 
     in adjusting to life in a completely foreign country at the 
     ages of sixteen, twelve and six.
       I thank you for your interest in and willingness to review 
     Javier's case. I will contact you to further discuss this 
     case once you have had a chance to review this letter. You 
     may also feel free to contact me at any time.
           Sincerely,
                                                  Karen Trilevsky,
     Founder & CEO.
                                  ____

                                                    July 22, 2009.
     Senator Dianne Feinstein,
     San Francisco, CA.
       Dear Senator Feinstein: In February of this year, I stood 
     and applauded as you accepted the Anne B. Stanton Award for 
     Extraordinary Leadership and Dedication to Bay Area Youth 
     given to you by Larkin Street Youth Services. It was a great 
     moment, knowing the history of your involvement with the 
     agency and how it has allowed Larkin Street to survive and 
     flourish. As everyone knows, your actions were critical in 
     securing the future of this organization and the futures of 
     the many people it serves.
       I am asking you now to consider another very important 
     intervention. Javier Urenda is set to be deported from this 
     country next week after 19 years of living here as a 
     responsible citizen. This action defies reason. He has a 
     family, a career, owns his home and gives back to the 
     community through volunteer work. He is exactly the kind of 
     person this country needs more of, not fewer!
       I am lucky enough to have worked with Javier briefly at the 
     bakery he helped build from the ground up. I always knew he 
     was in the room before I saw him. His presence is such a 
     positive force. He has the natural ability to manage and lead 
     people and make it all seem like play, not work. Without 
     Javier at the bakery, the lives of hundreds of people will 
     change.
       His family has relied on him to provide for them and he has 
     never let them down. The Urendas are part of their community, 
     part of what makes up this country as it has evolved. To send 
     him away is moving backwards. I urge you to take action to 
     reverse this destructive trend towards tearing apart families 
     that have the same right to be here as you and I do.
       Senator Feinstein, this is a defining moment. Javier is not 
     the only one unfairly facing deportation. Many before have 
     been forced to leave and if this practice is left unchecked 
     many more will follow.
       Please help. All of us who care about this issue are 
     grateful for your consideration.
           Sincerely,
                                                  Coleen Donnelly.

[[Page 23442]]

     
                                  ____
                                   Feed the Hunger Foundation,

                                 San Francisco, CA, July 22, 2009.
     Senator Dianne Feinstein,
     U.S. Senate,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Feinstein: I am respectfully writing to you, 
     as a citizen, a prior San Francisco Commissioner and a 
     Commissioner of the United States, a former President & CEO 
     of the Women's Foundation of California, and the current CEO 
     of Feed The Hunger Foundation. I am writing in support of 
     Javier Urenda Lopez and urging you to allow Mr. Urenda to 
     remain in the United States as a lawful permanent resident, 
     eligible for citizenship to the United States of America.
       Mr. Urenda deserves to be in the United States on both 
     procedural as well as personal grounds.
       Mr. Urenda recently received an approved labor 
     certification (pending for the last three years), and is 
     finally eligible for adjustment of status. However, the 
     recently issued ``surrender notice'' takes effect on July 29, 
     2009. Had the approved labor certification been approved in a 
     timely manner, this current ordeal would have been 
     unnecessary. If the Board were to reopen his case, he could 
     adjust his status immediately and be a lawful permanent 
     resident.
       I have had the honor and pleasure of knowing Mr. Urenda 
     over the past ten years as an employee of FullBloom Baking 
     Co., a volunteer of the Women's Foundation of California, an 
     active community member and a friend.
       Mr. Urenda has, in the time that I have known him, been the 
     Managing Director of FullBloom Baking Co., supervising and 
     mentoring over 190 employees. His intellect, ability and 
     hunger to learn, and perhaps most importantly, his motivation 
     and spirit, has enabled FullBloom Baking Co. to become a 
     multi-million dollar business and a major contributor to 
     communities in California. FullBloom Baking Company is a 
     leader in the field of small businesses both in terms of its 
     treatment and advancement of employees, and in being a model 
     corporate citizen. No other company of which I am aware, 
     provides free bilingual courses in both English and Spanish, 
     computers, dentistry, a matching pension program, and 
     numerous gifts to all of their employees and to their 
     respective family members as FullBloom Baking Co. In 
     addition, this company contributes nearly $1 million per year 
     to the community. Mr. Urenda has made this possible.
       I first met Mr. Urenda when he personally delivered baked 
     goods to the graduation party of 50 participants of the 
     Women's Foundation of California's welfare to work program. 
     Mr. Urenda could have sent one of his company's drivers to 
     deliver these donated goods. However, he wanted to support 
     those individuals who were struggling to gain skills and 
     become active contributors to the economy of this country--
     just as he has done. Mr. Urenda has, since that time, become 
     a volunteer to the Women's Foundation of California, serving 
     on a committee determining which non-governmental 
     organizations would receive funding and assistance from the 
     foundation as well as mentoring young adults. Mr. Urenda has 
     always operated with the highest integrity. He is reliable, 
     hard working, and creative.
       Mr. Urenda is an individual who contributes all of himself 
     to all of his endeavors. He has involved himself in the arena 
     of sports: engaging in five day bike-a-thons to raise money 
     for AIDS; running in races for his community and others; and 
     coaching swimming and soccer meets. He consistently takes 
     classes at night to improve his skills and resources in 
     management, business development, and in the arts.
       On top of all that I described, Mr. Urenda is a devoted 
     father to three children of the United States who he is 
     teaching to be upstanding citizens of this country. Asking 
     Mr. Urenda to leave the United States would deprive his 
     children of his guidance, love, and mentorship. It would 
     deprive his children of their father, an upstanding resident 
     of this country. It would deprive the community of an active 
     participant, leader, and volunteer. It would deprive 
     FullBloom Baking Co. and its employees of an unparalleled 
     decision maker, manager, and mentor. And it would deprive our 
     country of an individual who lives up to the very values and 
     standards that make the United States a great nation.
       If Mr. Urenda's family were to leave with him, it would 
     cause an extreme hardship to his wife and three children, 
     aged 6, 12 and 16. His children would leave the only country 
     they have ever known, to go to a country that they have never 
     visited and where they do not speak the language. Bryan, his 
     eldest son, would be unable to receive treatment for a 
     learning disability for which he has been diagnosed.
       Thank you for your kind attention and assistance to this 
     matter. If you have any questions about Mr. Urenda, please do 
     not hesitate to contact me.
           Sincerely,
                                                Patricia W. Chang,
     President & CEO.
                                  ____

                                                    July 21, 2009.
     Re request for assistance in the case of Javier Lopez-Urenda 
         and family.

     Senator Dianne Feinstein,
     San Francisco, CA.
       Dear Senator Feinstein: It is with the utmost faith that I 
     submit this letter to you, with the hope that you will 
     prevent a potentially devastating tragedy with exponential 
     ramifications from occurring by sponsoring a private bill for 
     my former coworker and friend, Javier Lopez-Urenda. It is my 
     understanding that at this time, the only hope for this 
     upstanding family man, leader, and community volunteer to 
     remain in the U.S. is through a private bill. Please sponsor 
     this outstanding person and prevent the senseless tragedy of 
     losing such a valuable contributor to our country.
       During these past years of a complex legal battle, I have 
     often reflected on the irony that a person who so greatly 
     embodies the ideal citizen could be ejected from our country. 
     Javier is more than a model citizen. He goes beyond what any 
     average person would do to better his community, his 
     workplace, the lives of his family members, and himself. 
     Every year, Javier participates in charity events such as the 
     AIDS ride and the Providian Relay supporting organ donation, 
     as well as being an active member in his church and a 
     frequent contributor to many local food banks. At FullBloom 
     Baking Company, where we worked together for eight years, 
     Javier's leadership helped to launch the company and to 
     propel it into its newest phase of growth and success in a 
     new cutting edge facility, where staff and production levels 
     have recently doubled.
       I've literally never known a more dedicated and loving 
     father. Javier strives to create a meaningful and rewarding 
     life with his children, focusing conscientiously on 
     supporting them in their studies, as well as a variety of 
     athletic pursuits and personal interests. For example, over 
     the last few years he has taken great pride in traveling to 
     various U.S. monuments in order to teach his children about 
     the great country of their birth. I can think of nothing more 
     destructive and unfair to Bryan, 16; Ashley, 11; and Nancy, 
     5; than to either face separation from their father, or to be 
     forced to leave their country of origin, the only country 
     they have ever known.
       During the years I've know Javier, he has been a great 
     inspiration to me and many others, sharing his captivating 
     warmth, his compassionate support for those who need help, 
     and his passion for learning (English, French, neuroscience, 
     politics--you name it!). To this day, I attribute my fluency 
     in Spanish to him, telling people, ``Everything I know, I 
     learned from Javier''. The thought that he, a person who 
     exemplifies the spirit and the triumph of America, is 
     threatened with deportation brings tears to my eyes and keeps 
     me up at night. It is utterly unfathomable the extent to 
     which our legal system has failed Javier and his family, 
     leading to this urgent plea for your support to quite 
     literally ``save'' them.
       Please help to prevent this potentially disgraceful tragedy 
     through your crucial sponsorship.
           Sincerely,
                                                Christina Bozzini,
     Psychotherapist.
                                  ____

                                            Department of Physical


                               Education, Athletics and Dance,

                                 San Francisco, CA, July 22, 2009.
     Senator Dianne Feinstein,
     San Francisco, CA.
     U.S. Department of Justice,
     Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Sansome Street, San 
         Francisco, CA.
       Dear Senator Feinstein: I am exceedingly humbled by 
     opportunity to write this letter on behalf of Javier Urenda. 
     It has been my good fortune to know Javier the past 18 years. 
     During this time I have been continually astounded at his 
     remarkable embrace of the very values we all share as 
     citizens of our great land.
       As a person commitment to his family. their wellbeing, and 
     Javier actively participates in the daily life of his 
     children. Be it school, domestic, or extra-curricular 
     activities, socialization and citizenship, Javier is always 
     furthering their growth. His belief in family as a solid 
     foundation, where meals and private time is shared. Javier 
     fundamentally understands that these critical, formative 
     years are critical to his children's future so that they may 
     fully embrace the untold opportunities our great country 
     affords our citizens. Javier's belief is that when children 
     feel truly loved in the home, with a solid foundation of 
     right and wrong therefore, creating an intrinsic obstacle to 
     the many pestiferous temptations that the youths of today 
     encounter.
       As well, Javier is a good husband, who works hard to 
     provide not only the material but, assuring that there is 
     always calm, reason, and attentiveness. Javier affection can 
     be found in simply hand picking flower rather than the 
     ostentatious. I have witnessed thoughtful his response in 
     uncomfortable situations rather than pugnacious. Always 
     respecting and embracing the other point of view, nurturing 
     too, the love of his wife. It's that constant striving for 
     synergy that constantly amazes me.
       As a member of academia, I am proud that Javier continually 
     seeks knowledge and makes time to further his education. He 
     fundamentally understands that knowledge is power and with 
     that, his affect and direct

[[Page 23443]]

     contribution to society magnified. I subscribe to the notion 
     that each and every single citizen contributes to our 
     society; and the more knowledgeable the individual, society's 
     enrichment as a whole is not insignificant. In my lifetime, 
     with extreme confidence, Javier is a shining example to that 
     end.
       The strong sense of community in Javier is expressed by his 
     deeds. He was volunteer coach for me when I was the Head 
     Track and Field Coach at Washington High School in Fremont, 
     California. There, Javier assisted with the distance runners 
     who had many levels of athleticism and talent, His grassroots 
     approach and caring for each student/athlete as an individual 
     and maximizing their own individual potential made that 
     diverse group flourish. Beyond the track, they had the 
     highest GPA on the team. To this day, I firmly believe that 
     Javier's influence in embracing challenge and to look at it 
     not as an obstacle but, as an opportunity, played a 
     significant role in their academic success,
       Holding dear the notion of our country's diversity, Javier 
     has participated in several AIDS Rides, personally raising 
     thousands of dollars to contribute to fighting that virulent 
     disease. Annually, he volunteered for a transition station 
     with the Providian Relay which supports organ donation. At 
     present he continues to support a myriad of other events and 
     community fund-raisers through his running and cycling 
     efforts. He lends time too, to the less fortunate in feeding 
     the homeless within the community. All the while, Javier 
     shuns kudos for his efforts and is embarrassed by any 
     attention as he believes that is what a neighbor typically 
     does for his fellow human being.
       Penning this letter to you gives me great pride. In our 
     United States, during these very trying times, Javier Lopez-
     Urenda is a beacon for responsibility, accountability, 
     compassion, and active citizenship.
       I hope that I have conveyed to you my thoughts on Javier 
     and why he should remain a part of our country. He has 
     contributed to our society immensely thus far by being who he 
     is; a person with strong family values understands the 
     significance of education, volunteerism, and hard work in 
     making the United States the leader of the free world it is 
     today. It is those very tenets that many of us hold dear; yet 
     Javier embodies them. He has been encouraging to each person 
     he meets, be it in passing or those in need and a trusted and 
     loyal friend.
       There are citizens in our land from all walks of life, from 
     every possible background and social status that comprise the 
     bedrock in continuing to make our country strong. Javier is 
     the type of person that makes us a better land and continues 
     to remain a shining light of limitless opportunity.
       I pray that the good Lord will allow for the rendering of a 
     favorable decision to allow Javier to remain in the country 
     that I love.
       Thank you so very much in allowing me to be a voice for my 
     dear friend.
           Respectfully,
                                               John Arthur Balano,
     City College of San Francisco.
                                  ____



                                             Patterson School,

                                     Fremont, CA, August 25, 2009.
     Re Javier Lopez-Urenda.

     Senator Dianne Feinstein,
     San Francisco, CA.
       Dear Senator Feinstein, I am writing on behalf of Javier 
     Lopez-Urenda's United States citizen children. They have all 
     attended Patterson Elementary School. Nancy, the youngest, is 
     currently in first grade this year. Ashley graduated from 
     sixth grade last year. Bryan graduated about five years ago.
       The Lopez-Urenda children have sometimes struggled 
     academically, particularly Bryan. However, as a result of 
     keen parental involvement, they are doing well. Mr. Lopez-
     Urenda has volunteered his time as a coach for after-school 
     sports that Bryan was involved in. Teachers have reported 
     that he and his wife are actively involved in their 
     children's school activities and meet with teachers in order 
     to support their children's schoolwork and try to help them 
     address areas of concern.
       All the children have been a pleasure to have in school. As 
     an educator, I can tell you that I have witnessed the 
     spectrum of parental involvement from parents who are 
     actively involved in their children's lives to those who are 
     at best minimally engaged in their children's activities. 
     Javier Lopez-Urenda and his wife are very involved in their 
     children's lives and schoolwork. If they were not, the 
     children would not be doing as well as they are. I think 
     without his presence, the children would definitely fare very 
     poorly indeed both because of the psychological shock of 
     having their father taken away but also academically because 
     their mother would not be as available and one half of their 
     scholastic support would be missing. In my experience, that 
     void is generally filled with bad behavior, bad influences, 
     poor decisions and academic deterioration. With three 
     children who struggle in school already, I honestly cannot 
     foresee anything positive for the children in the future if 
     their father is no longer living with them and supporting 
     their academic milestones. Rather, I imagine it would be 
     quite possible that they would drop out or flunk out. This 
     would be a terrible tragedy which could be avoided if the 
     children are able to remain in the same stable environment 
     with two loving and supportive parents who are committed to 
     their children's success.
           Sincerely,
                                                 Marlene C. Davis,
     Principal.
                                  ____



                                  Bay Area Women Against Rape,

                                       Oakland, CA, July 21, 2009.
     U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service,
     St. Albans, VT.
       To Whom It May Concern: This letter pertains to Javier L 
     Urenda and it gives me great pleasure to furnish you with 
     pertinent facts and information about this extraordinary 
     supporter of the oldest rape crisis center in the nation, Bay 
     Area Women Against Rape (BAWAR).
       I have known Mr. Urenda for nearly a year. I had the 
     privilege of meeting Mr. Urenda through his wife Leticia 
     Arena at that time when she was taking our intensive state 
     certified rape crisis training. One of the things that is 
     crucial towards the successful completion of our training is 
     the support that trainees receive from their family members. 
     Not only are participants trained for three months, but they 
     are also in commitment to volunteer 36 hours per month for 9 
     consecutive months after their certification. I believe that 
     without the support that Mr. Urenda gave to Leticia during 
     her training and during her volunteer activities at our 
     agency she would not had been as successful, available or 
     committed to the cause of breaking the silence of sexual 
     abuse in our community.
       In addition, Mr. Urenda not only gives constant support to 
     his wife's social responsibility, but he also is an active 
     participant in our fundraising events. Mr. Urenda has shown 
     to be a strong supporter for our walkathon in benefit of 
     sexually assaulted youth. Just last month, Mr. Urenda went to 
     his employer at Full Moon and bravely asked for an in-kind 
     donation of 500 delicacies to be given away to walkers the 
     day of the event. This came to BAWAR's great surprise since 
     we did not expect this massive contribution. Mr. Urenda has 
     far exceeded our expectations and by far surpassed the in-
     kind donations that other advocates have tried to acquire 
     from local donors. It was for this reason that Mr. Urenda 
     holds a very special place in our agency.
       To this end and without reservation, I strongly believe 
     that Mr. Urenda will be a wonderful and positive addition to 
     our community. If you have further questions or concerns, 
     please feel free to contact me.
           Sincerely,
                                                  Kristina Molina,
     Latina Outreach Coordinator.
                                  ____



                         The Women's Foundation of California,

                                 San Francisco, CA, July 22, 2009.
     Senator Dianne Feinstein,
     San Francisco, CA.
       Dear Senator Feinstein: On behalf of the Women's Foundation 
     of California, we are writing to convey our support for 
     Javier Urenda to remain in the United States and become a 
     lawful permanent resident.
       Javier is a vital member of his community who participates 
     at all levels: he is a hardworking and dedicated employee of 
     FullBloom Baking Company, a Newark, California based company 
     which did $58 million in business last year; he is a devoted 
     husband and father to three US citizen children; and he is an 
     important role model to community members and co-workers. 
     Javier was the second person hired by FullBloom and has 
     helped grow FullBloom to a company which now has 388 
     employees. Javier's dedication, technical know-how and 
     effective management abilities have been critical to 
     FullBloom's success. The local community has been well served 
     by FullBloom, which provides employment, health benefits and 
     educational opportunities to its employees and their 
     children. Javier's community would also be severely impacted 
     if it were to lose his volunteer efforts in his children's 
     schools and his tireless fundraising for charity.
       The Women's Foundation of California has a long history of 
     supporting immigrants and immigrant communities throughout 
     the state. Through our research, grantmaking, and other 
     programs, we have seen many of the benefits that new 
     Americans give to our economy, society, and our overall 
     infrastructure. The state's economy would suffer tremendously 
     without the incredible achievements of immigrants.
       Javier has recently received an approved labor 
     certification (which had been pending for nearly three years) 
     and is now eligible for adjustment of status. However, he has 
     been issued a ``surrender notice'' which takes effect on July 
     29, 2009. If he is forced to leave the country, he would be 
     barred from returning for 10 years causing his children and 
     his employer enormous hardship. If Javier were granted a stay 
     of his deportation order, he could adjust status immediately 
     and be a lawful permanent resident.
       We understand that the Immigration and Naturalization 
     Service has established immigration policy to meet the needs 
     of this country and others. Javier Urenda is fulfilling 
     tremendous needs within his community. He is a model 
     participant in this society and deserves to remain here 
     legally.

[[Page 23444]]

       Thank you for your consideration.
           Sincerely,
                                                     Judy Patrick,
                                                President and CEO.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mrs. BOXER:
  S. 1748. A bill to establish a program of research, recovery, and 
other activities to provide for the recovery of the southern sea otter; 
to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
  Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I rise to speak on the introduction of the 
Southern Sea Otter Recovery and Research Act.
  The southern sea otter is a keystone species that plays a critical 
role in central California's kelp forest ecosystem. By maintaining a 
healthy and productive ecosystem capable of supporting many other 
marine species, they also contribute to California's $22 billion ocean 
tourism, recreation, and fishing industries.
  Already listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, 
southern sea otters recently experienced their largest population 
decline in over a decade. They face a variety of threats, including 
food limitation, disease, and habitat degradation--but the exact causes 
of their decline are unknown.
  Sea otters are a sentinel species that serve as an indicator of 
ecosystem health, so this population decline is extremely alarming. 
Understanding and addressing the causes of this decline would help us 
protect the health of our kelp ecosystems as a whole.
  My legislation would require the Department of the Interior to 
monitor the population of southern sea otters and assess the major 
factors limiting their recovery. It would also establish a competitive 
grant program for research and recovery projects.
  The language has been drafted in consultation with numerous 
scientists, agency officials, conservation groups, and fishermen. 
Companion legislation was reported by the House Natural Resources 
Committee by voice vote in May, and passed the full House of 
Representatives in July. I look forward to working with my colleagues 
to achieve a successful outcome in the Senate.
  With this legislation, we can finally put the southern sea otter on a 
path to recovery--and restore central California's magnificent kelp 
forests to a healthy, thriving condition.

                          ____________________