Title: Leadership Speaker Series: Rep. Xavier Bacerra

" Rounds an honor to introduce. Congress and -- had been sent -- our honoree for today's luncheon. Congressman that's -- I was elected to. I -- colleagues. As vice chair of the Democratic Caucus. The fifth ranking Democrat. In the House of Representatives. -- elected by his colleagues mounted a campaign. For this very very important post. He brings decades of public service experience. You know. Mounting and developing. -- legislative and policy agenda for the cock. He represented at 31 district of California. Elected in 1990 you for that post. In every interview. I've yet talks about. His wrong. As the vice chair of the Democratic Caucus. And how he gets to know every member of the -- into position. Also -- yet have the -- and -- For the congress. He is active leadership table. They're -- being. The nation's. Politics isn't nation the congress legislative agenda. It is and impressed that impressed that. Position we're so proud. Her. Allowing -- leader and and hello to the nation's first. Woman. In this important position. I can go on about how V ads work on -- powerful Ways and Means Committee. We're the nation's tax. Health. Income securities. The future of social security. And trade policy are debated. -- I'm most wanted you'd get now. The main thing qualities that the this -- I am proud cop one of my mentors. I worked for have -- when he as chair of the congressional. -- cock. In 1990. And I was executive director. -- Even now I know that -- three. Lovely daughters are probably in my eyes you must be so proud of them is about. I didn't work the long diet. How yet I know. The amount of or keep it -- to do everything he does every decision he makes. First. Everyone knows. Have yet everyone that knows how it feels comfortable calling him out yet you know. That's a lot about this her and because he's -- president take the time. Get to know you. He hey it's time to learn the impact. That national policy hat. On real people. And everyone who knows how to yet. Will agree. That he brings incredible. Intellectual capacity. Against everything he adds. Third. Everyone who knows -- V -- calls him a champion. A champion of causes. A champion. For. Rick from Los Angeles. For the nation. For the congress. For the Latino community. We -- thank you for your leadership. In mounting what we now have a legislation how. Parts of the Latino museum for the first time a museum that -- capture. The contributions. Of Latino and his great great nation. And it's all because that champions like. -- Board member and past chair of EEI. That makes it possible for us to do our work in impacting I. Just wanted to mention EEI. Is about success stories. Some of them aren't here to date. -- about then it was mentioned earlier she's one of our alumni and you guys happening we're very proud of you. -- and I Gomez who is three at me announced. Opt for a and vice president Department of Education. Congressional affairs. We've -- beyond what works for making about a all of these individuals. And more. Got these opportunities. Because of leaders like having yet. I Gonzales the other board members and -- I can they take the time. You get back. How do NS featured last week in political magazine. As one of the forum. Members mentioned rising stars. And future. Potential speaker of the house. We really wish and hope that we will be there with the yeah I -- line. Please welcome our rising star arts star. Congressman -- the end of the."

" Thank you."

" I've been told that they have a vote we've got to sit."

" Thank you very much Esther thank you for the words. Good thing -- treat you nicely when you're working for me. It's great to geology here. To make anybody. And the Latino leaders network. Congratulations on the success of an idea. Has now become something that we are benefit from the fruits of these. Great luncheons. To all the sponsors who make it possible especially are two main sponsors. Coca-Cola Verizon. You Peter thank you. To Rudy thank you. It's the kind of party -- accustomed -- throwing only difference is that people showed up that this. Only this that I can sit -- another -- Don't you try that. I've been told that we may have votes and so -- probably. We'll keep my remarks though brief -- than expected. But I also for those economists who and rumor I've learned very well from. From that that comment when -- to be remember. Your speech is no different from that long or. Near that where -- warns on that long warned here that we're accustomed. -- Texas. A point here appoint -- a lot of bull in between so. Remember you what you're saying."

" I know that -- and Mike -- was here believe that even congressman Keller. In Ireland thank them for having Carmen recognizes the importance of the luncheon. Two ambassadors. Who garden and the guys are. I want a thank you for being here as well. To all of you. Leaders in your own right. Thank you for being leaders and recognized in the the importance of coming together to network. And learn from each other. I think we're all very blessed I know for a fact I am very glad. It's really interesting you're always told when you start -- Don't forget where you came. Forget. And for many of us know for me. Those origins were very very -- Father that about great. Mother came from. Me agreement -- team. And while it had a lot to give. They always -- countries. That where I learned is that too often. We're so busy. Trying to remember from where we -- That we forget to -- the that a -- room. To work. -- where we have to go."

" And too little too humble. Sometimes too little too appreciative. Well what we've accomplished. Apparently forget that a lot of -- was a result of our own effort. People help. But recognized when the four year old will. And the sheer effort behind it he has yet to be where you war. Not long ago. My daughter who plays off while she's in the fourth grade. Was at bat and a good friend of ours neighbor friend are. Always trying to picture on the team. And he would always go to all the kids in an item today. And in the when it when I heard about them where there was and give -- a future. He knows that there. By the time in the -- the hitter the hitter because you know what it's on the pitch toward the ball so. All the kids just want to get aren't they free because there's somebody bought it or not to worry about strikes. I thought mediator mediator."

" The hitter. I want to be here."

" I want to remember in my humble origins. I want to thank those who made it possible for me to rise. I want to help those who didn't get help."

" I want to be hitter."

" Because if I did that my time thinking people and remembering from working. I don't have time to hit a bottom park. And I got here on the part because when people will never get the goat that -- to take that. Stick once -- get the ball. And so I that are being here and so they keep. From the yes indeed thank you for being here. And knowing the importance of bringing all of us together so we can all have our our -- plea. Now I witnessed and experienced a lot in my sixteen plus years in the congress. -- halted legislative activity on the for the house to defend legal immigrant. Seniors elderly who were being. Told they would have the loser. Supplemental security income so we to play for the unemployment benefit people back in 1993 when we were suffering through another recession. I captain to defeat 1994 of a proposal on the floor of the house -- children from attending school. Simply because they happen to be the children of immigrants whether legal here or not. I stood up against impeachment of president of the united date. I experienced the shock. In Erie islands of an abandoned capitol grounds on September 11 2001. I challenge to president's rush to war in Iraq in 2002 as one of only a 120. To vote against a resolution to authorize war in Iraq and 435. I stood up early. Help elect the first. President of the united states of color. I helped pass I authored or helped pass the legislation you've been told about that establish a commission that. I hope in the near future gives us a chance to break ground on what will be museum of the American Latino here in Washington DC."

" I was offered a post on the president's cabinet. Here."

" And along the way. I had a chance of my beautiful wife have three children. But there's something that I remember that I was told the first -- got to congress in 1993 direct that I remember very well was told -- by congressman on the one day as we were in the rush of activity. In committee -- what was called we were -- to get to the vote on the floor of the house before they close the the role. And as you're rushing up the steps of the capitol. Steps. I -- actor dressed down and -- and sometimes I forget what I'm about to go."

" And stopping right there and commercially yet. Never forget. Where you're about to go. Because very few people in the history of this country have had a chance to walk these steps and -- to those stores where you're about to go. And that they remain."

" For so long because."

" I wanted -- to -- hitter. And I think about that morrow -- I wished to myself. -- only to tell me that thirty used before not in 1993 that in 1963. When as a five year old I I my mom. Crying from the front of the television -- not understanding why television television it would make my mother cry. And then -- a little bit later why she was crying but still not quite understand why would a woman who was born in recent but I -- of only. Nine plus years in the country. Cry for president she never met. We've been assassinated."

" if you've been around. A couple years later few years later when I started school. And all of a sudden it. I went from being hot year for all my life after the age of five dollars and I got a new name a Xavier. And instead I think you've been there he would've helped me understand. What was going on."

" Done had you didn't you would have helped me understood. As I was growing up and people would ask what is your dad puberty what is your Monday. Internet tell them up my -- a worker construction and every -- he gets up with the and as a component to the hands down. Every day when he comes home he does it come dressed like me he comes -- very dirty."

" And -- could help me understand that I should not have been embarrassed to explain to people my father did even look at what they've got Johnny -- to -- I think I'm on the road there do you those -- Because that was my death. -- That I could've used you."

" It back to Stanford University. The two hours from there for the range of California. And never. Hitting their reports of their -- To enroll. And understood that he -- you know."

" Class the -- I thought. When it goes to finalize those. Right around Stanford University I realized wow this. This is due to a classroom that -- that I've got to go to college."

" I could use the demonstrators were a little earlier. That a lot of us could have used the words someone like the island voters a little early to tell us be proud of -- war. No got you here. Don't ever forget from where you came. But. Someone -- in that moment. When we're. Thinking that we're on top of the world is a not. No -- you're about to go. You know it's a Star Trek boldly go where no. Managed ever gone before."

" And so I I remember what is that on. I remember him Farley for having told me that."

" And today. I can tell you if you historians of what it means now know it means to go forward. Today when -- when asked -- was -- your father do I he built America. He built America because he really -- I don't know about them other folks but I know my dad -- shovel in the ground put pick on the hard actor. And every day he built America."

" And when did."

" my father. Was working in the crew."

" And I had a chance to be in their crew because I had to help pay for my education and college. And I had a great privilege of being beautiful the Jack -- with my father's hands. And that's when -- I'm proud moments like I can think of because that was the day that it really hit me. How proud of let's put my father did and I can help do what he was doing. But yet I know he was helping -- do what I predicted. And so. Is -- I wish you had explained to me earlier in life. Why should say to them about my father not when I was in my twenty. And it when I was in nineteen how proud I was what my father you've -- great education."

" I can tell you today that that day in. 1994."

" When I cited the captain. The opposition to an amendment on the floor of the house to -- kids -- to cool ballistic recruit your parents were here legally. That the day before I had that with any friend who no longer is with this may she rest in peace her name was pat and congresswoman pat meat from. Hawaii she was -- fighter all her life. I had done a path and we -- committee education and labor -- to repent. I've been told that we're going to have an amendment on the floor. That's going to restrict in this education votes which restrict kids from going to cool on the appearance of coming to the school -- document that they are here legally. And I've been told that we don't want to have this amendment coma because we're afraid it's going to pass. And I think given an alternative. That was often that a little bit. Not make it as bad an amendment. And catching -- she was about four foot nine. Power to power plug all the way through and she says to me yet did you just got here right did you come here to compromise your values. Socialism."

" And I'm looking down here something. --"

" What to do and so the next day. When I was asked by the members -- it then the democratic leadership people. You really do this alternative amendment I said. -- let's go forward and it would happen. And that debate started with very few of us on the floor because you don't want -- debate immigration. In 1994. And if you was for there and we are there and we that are peace why we -- oppose -- amendment and it's something very. Wonderful now. Before you know I started if you of the -- Tripoli. The winner remember most was a job -- vehemently inform me who at the time was chairman of the congressional black caucus. Who came in. Who was always an impassioned speaker and came in and -- is about immigrant kids this is not about that -- about arcade. -- And before you know it we started to have more members coming into the chamber to argue. And then before you know it yup those who for the amendment countries that are believed to compromise and cut off debate -- pretty -- you -- on. I should know Ronaldo that the amendment -- course. In 1994. When in nineteen California we passed proposition 187 on the floor of the House of Representatives we defeated amendment she -- from going to school I'm very proud."

" You learn a lot. But you don't realize that so violators to someone -- at the -- stop -- thousand. And we yeah I remember in 1990. I had got elected to the state legislature. And shortly after taking office. I started going around the district and I had a chance good to me. Chamber of commerce. Luncheon. Mean many of the people and give -- which represented time in California. And I have a good time meeting of folks in and mark crowd at one moment to be we've really. Liking this -- you blends well. And I remember thinking at that time. Compliment. Insult. --"

" I think it is a compliment. And I think is that because I don't have time to dwell on the past. I have to recognize. Where I'm going. And fortunately for me I was good enough that she's not a blended well. And that I can keep moving forward. Now. In 1994. As a Democrat we suffered a major defeat when we lost the House of Representatives. Interestingly enough I have a lot of my colleagues like -- come to mean. Is being in the minorities and they're not used to it. There. But that was -- advertisement put things in context that life is not so bad. I have gone through things and apparently. Anything for their baby in the -- it when it comes with politics we've had to go through this for old one in our life."

" When I turned eighteen and went to him for university. I regained my name I've gotten in the -- because I realize. I'm not yet I'm not easy here so today to this day I think they'll tell you who. My friends are and when I met them by when they come here I know as a high school friends."

" I. I effort. Of real humiliation. In the fourth -- Win. Being in the span and perform for. All the parents. That school night. We have finished are on those days your fourth grade you simply going to be a range of I know instantly. They want to hold your hand and we finished. We were all leaving the -- from the side. -- rarely had a chance to come to anything I did in school where there in the audience. Walking down the I -- the auditorium filing now. Amendment. In the crowd on that amendment. And I mr. -- Through the people -- their program aliens and those injuries like -- this kind of thing in the same direction. Down to it down -- dance again. Before you know it economy. Those -- for Star Wars and Obama and you know I didn't really that's our response work. She cup. Means being fair and -- equaled. I'm Donald you're the mom. This is the most embarrassing thing that could happen. Afterwards -- celebrating having -- Emanating. And cooling cookies. You. -- Can see it. Here. In the most. -- done. You'll. Look you look at -- The -- we've never seen you perform before. What it means different. Like that Jack camera incidents. I doubt realized why my mother was so determined to make it through that line appearance and pictures on. Because. I think she -- many things that could come. For their child she started was little they came from Mexico and my father narrator -- nothing. And -- built up most of them a major achievement. And so when I was graduated from Stanford University. Actually I deserve to get the job -- get out but not. I fully -- and another to -- that the -- at the graduation. She was she was drinking -- and didn't. She spared me but I would have I would have been okay with it I think because I had learned to understand. And appreciate. That but the reason I mention that story about fourth -- because today. I have a fourth -- my daughter and I thought it was -- And I want to mention this story to you hasn't come close to concluding remarks. We recently told. Our three daughters -- wife and I think we're going to -- the family back to Washington DC because it's just too much of a -- go back and forth every week every week. And trying to really spend enough time with families to do work in the district -- time. And while we actually live here as a family. In the late ninety's. As well that might. Fourth grader was born in Washington DC before we moved back Adrian. Now they're teenagers. Almost all from the Hillary Euro -- when there's not a teenager and it's a little tougher they've got their own life. And it wasn't something they want -- to -- And as much as we expected are all the Euro or about to turn sixteen. To give us the most difficulty. Breaking from the friends. Those relationships she's becoming period ended. It was -- eleven Euro. Who is not going. -- that we can do is we're gonna we're gonna say this is where we are this is where we're gonna be. And over the course of several weeks you're talking about it kept -- about it you'll do it again they're okay when we're gonna get our own room okay and now. But the little one. -- talk like that we're not going. When I don't. One day I came back from -- unit told -- you know my wife and girls went home. Pretty nice ones out there and though it was -- the photos of homes and children. There -- him in tears and I don't. Way to look at it this -- And financially we don't. We're gonna go and look for the love it if you would take a look at these photographs accumulations of what you like what you don't like. -- Tune to give them in with the well. So later that evening and night. I mean does -- the -- the it was working on the computer office. And it that it comes out. Connector here she comes up to me she doesn't Hayward. Has little tiny -- papers. -- Open up the little piece of paper. -- an exclamation point congratulations. I just got elected to be by the Democratic Caucus. And that solidified. The move to Washington. And I have a piece of paper which congratulations. She got -- want to move. I think. My daughter's. I hope. My wife and nine. Are working as a family to know what's coming. That is much as we want to remember our humble origins might just my daughter doesn't want to leave it is here. As much as we sometimes don't want to. Deal with the unexpected. Feel like we're gonna lose that amendment. As much on time. In more comfortable. America remember and only remember from where we came. -- idea. My idea that is that is that my mother monitors on my father and I hope I -- that that I have learned when I haven't noticed right on the that day in 1993. Don't you ever forget. Where you're about to go. And so as we move forward. It's not the talk about what we've accomplished. Or whatever makes that experience -- to talk about what's coming next. Those kids who in 1996. As immigrant children were denied access to health care simply because they were immigrant kids. This year. With the new president. Are now back receiving health care under the -- program with a signature president. This year if Harry and -- If we hit them out of the park. We might have health care reform -- loser. This year if -- market recognizes. Time -- now. We may actually. Our view with energy and the way we shoot -- and not free. This year and thank god this is where all that they go to the plate and hitters this year. With the help of a president who understands. The more important -- network Latino leaders we have here. We can here -- And you've beaten back to our our. Country's reform immigration. -- give them what they."

" And so I want to thank -- related income. And chat with you about my experiences but more importantly just -- Italy you know. -- the -- in my mind his words do we mean. I'm gonna be hater and I -- and remember wearing that -- I hope you'll join me because there's much to do for many people like my parents. When we got to go there but for all of us enjoy lunch today thank you very much."