Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, the political status of Puerto Rico, and its relationship with the United States, is of great importance to the people of Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico has enjoyed Commonwealth status since 1952. One of the virtues of Commonwealth is precisely the fact that it possesses the flexibility to change the political status of Puerto Rico vis-a-vis the U.S., either within the framework of Commonwealth, or if the people choose other status options such as Statehood or Independence. Of course, Puerto Rico would work with the U.S. Congress towards implementing whichever option the people choose.

Since its creation, Commonwealth has been the preferred status option among the people of Puerto Rico. However, the people of Puerto Rico have failed in its previous efforts to improve Commonwealth because the different initiatives in Puerto Rico, as well as in this Congress, to deal with the status issue have not translated into concrete actions to implement the will of the people of Puerto Rico. Experience has shown that in order to have a true exercise of self-determination, we must work hard at achieving consensus among the people of Puerto Rico as to the process towards self-determination, in spite of our differences with regard to individual status preferences.

Hence, the Legislature of Puerto Rico approved Senate Concurrent Resolution 107 on July 22, 2004 which sets forth the public policy of said body that a Constitutional Assembly on Status is the preferred approach through which to exercise self-determination concerning the status of Puerto Rico and acknowledges these past failed attempts to deal with the status issue, recognizes the consensus among the people of Puerto Rico to effectively exercise their right to self- determination, and adopts the public policy that the Constitutional Assembly on Status is the best approach through which to exercise self- determination.

Accordingly, the Legislature of Puerto Rico has agreed to study and prepare legislation for the people to decide whether the Constitutional Assembly on Status is their preferred mechanism to deal with the status issue. Other mechanisms will be presented to the people. Thus the people will ultimately choose their preferred process. The legislation will also include the mechanisms through which delegates to the Assembly are elected, and will provide for its organization, if it is the option favored by voters.

At the same time, Senate Concurrent Resolution 107 orders the Puerto Rico Senate and

House Judiciary Committees to prepare a study and report with bills for the celebration of a referendum regarding the Constitutional Assembly, authorization of funds, and related matters. Such bills would guarantee the effective participation of representatives of the political parties and civil society; that the proposals to be considered by the people must stem from the principle of sovereignty in the future relationship of Puerto Rico and must be defined as being outside of the Territorial Clause of the U.S. Constitution; that the Constitutional Assembly must have attributes of deliberation and negotiation vis-a-vis the U.S. Government; and that every determination by the Assembly must be subject to ratification by the people through a referendum. The Committees shall issue its report by December 31, 2004, and it will thus be submitted for the consideration of the next Legislative Session.

Mr. Speaker, the Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico and I personally support the creation of a Constitutional Assembly on Status in order to deal with the status issue because it embodies the principle that it is the people of Puerto Rico who must decide their preferred political status, and that the process should be initiated in Puerto Rico. Therefore, we have made a commitment to initiate this process during the first half of 2005. At the same time, we recognize that even though this process is to be initiated in Puerto Rico, it cannot and should not be isolated from Washington. That is why, early in the process, Senate Concurrent Resolution 107 mandates notifying the White House, the President's Task Force on Puerto Rico's Status and the U.S. Congress of said Resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to, as requested by the Puerto Rico Legislature and in compliance with Article 6 of Senate Concurrent Resolution 107, notify this Congress of said Resolution by placing the English-language translation of Senate Concurrent Resolution 107, along with its certification, into the Record at this time. I am also sending a copy of Senate Concurrent Resolution, and its certification, to the U.S. Senate, the President of the United States, the President's Task Force on Puerto Rico's Status, and the United Nations' Special Committee on Decolonization.

Mr. Speaker, I am confident that the people of Puerto Rico will soon be able to truly exercise their right to self-determination in a meaningful manner, one in which the outcome will be a product of the democratic tradition we so dearly cherish.

Concurrent Resolution 107

(To consign the public policy of the Legislature of Puerto Rico in

facing and attending to the urgent need to review the political

relations between Puerto Rico and the United States through a Constitutional Assembly on Status elected by the people in the exercise

of the natural right to self-determination and sovereignty, and to

initiate its organizational process)

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5042. This legislation is an important step to provide access to stable and quality education for the dependents of our federal employees who are assigned to Puerto Rico. This is a non-controversial bill that will allow the dependents of USDA Forest Service employees to receive convenient, reliable and high quality education when assigned to Puerto Rico.

Until Naval Station Roosevelt Road's closure earlier this year, dependents of Forest Service employees who work at both the Caribbean National Forest and the International Institute of Tropical Forestry (IITF) had attended the DOD Educational Authority (DODEA) schools at NSRR, and the Forest Service reimbursed DODEA for the expense of educating its staff's dependents.

The closest DODEA school, at Fort Buchanan, is approximately a 1 to 1\1/2\ hour commute each way from their previous school, and therefore is not a convenient or suitable alternative. Most of the classes taught in Puerto Rico's public schools are in Spanish, and are not acceptable alternatives to English-based education for these federal employee dependents. Private schools, while close by, are an expensive cost to federal employees, and though other federal agencies, such as the U.S. Coast Guard, the Department of Justice, the Federal Aviation Administration and others have authority to reimburse their staff for educational expenses incurred by their dependents at private schools while assigned to Puerto Rico, the Forest Service has no similar authorization.

As a result, federal Forest Service employees assigned to Puerto Rico are faced with limited choices and opportunities for the continuing education of their dependents. This legislation will simply provide authorization to the Forest Service to reimburse its staff for educational expenses incurred by their dependents' when assigned to Puerto Rico.

This bill is budget neutral, as it caps the Forest Service's reimbursement authority to not exceed the per-child amount previously reimbursed to the DODEA. The Forest Service supports this legislation.

I support this legislation and urge my colleagues to vote yes on this important fix to

allow the dependents of federal employees working for the Forest Service to receive the highest educational experience.

In closing, I would like to thank Agriculture Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, ranking member Charles Stenholm, and the committee staff of their assistance in quickly sheparding this bill through their committee and to the floor. I appreciate their help in addressing this important measure.

I urge my fellow members to support this measure, and to ensure that the dependents of our dedicated and professional Forest Service employees in Puerto Rico maintain convenient access to quality education.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 4754; Making appropriations for the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2005. This bill includes a very important amendment that will address the inaccessibility to affordable capital for small businesses. This bill also includes important funding increases for the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

One of the biggest problems that small businesses in Puerto Rico and on the mainland face is access to affordable capital. The 7(a) loan program is the Small Business Administrations' core lending program and accounts for roughly 30 percent of all long-term small business borrowing in America. This public-private partnership provides important financing for our nation's small business at a good value for the American taxpayer. This means there can be more loans, more small businesses and greater job creation. These loans are the only source of affordable, long-term financing for many of our nation's small businesses. The continuation of this program is fundamental to a sound economic recovery.

The CJS Appropriations Act also includes $1.66 billion for the Drug Enforcement Administration. This represents a $77 million increase above the Fiscal Year '04 funding. These funds will go to keep drugs off our streets and out of the hands of our children. Additionally, it contains $870 million for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, representing a $43 million increase over fiscal 2004 funding. These necessary additions will provide for a safer society.

I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the passage of H.R. 4754.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of S. 2017, the Luis A. Ferre United States Courthouse and Post Office Act. I introduced a counterpart bill, H.R. 3742, which was unanimously approved by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. I wholeheartedly thank Senator Santorum for introducing S. 2017, and Chairman Young and Congressman Oberstar for their leadership in shepherding this bill through their committee.

I ask for my colleagues' support of this bill, which honors the life and legacy of Luis A. Ferre, by designating the U.S. Courthouse and Post Office building located at 93 Atocha Street in his hometown of Ponce, Puerto Rico, as the ``Luis A. Ferre United States Courthouse and Post Office Building''.

Luis Ferre passed away on October 21, 2003, at the age of 99, after an exemplary life of statesmanship, political leadership, entrepreneurship, advocacy for social justice, and patronage for the arts.

Mr. Ferre was born on February 17, 1904, in Ponce, Puerto Rico, the son of Antonio Ferre Bacallao and Mary Aguayo Casals. He graduated in 1924 with a degree in Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he was later appointed to the Board of Trustees. He entered his professional life in 1925, working for Puerto Rico Iron Works and, subsequently, for Puerto Rican Cement, both family companies that were part of the Ferre Enterprises.

Mr. Ferre ran for public office for the first time in 1940, as a mayoral candidate for the city of Ponce. He was a member of the Constitutional Convention of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. He was elected to the Puerto Rico House of Representatives and ran for Governor of Puerto Rico as the Republican Statehood candidate in 1956, 1960, and 1964. In 1967, he founded the New Progressive Party, and was elected Governor in 1968, a position he held from 1969 to 1972. As Governor, some of his key initiatives were the creation of a Christmas bonus for private and public employees, the construction of Las Americas Highway, the right to vote for all citizens from age 18, and the Food Stamp Program.

He was also President of the Puerto Rico Senate from 1977 to 1980, and continued serving as Senator from 1981 to 1984. Mr. Ferre acted as President of the National Republican Party in Puerto Rico for over 4 decades.

Besides his interest in the industrial development of the Island and his involvement in the public life of Puerto Rico, he was known for his support and dedication to the arts, which led him to open the Ponce Museum of Art, considered as one of the most important museums in Latin America. A Puerto Rico bill presented in 1980 allowed the creation of the Performing Arts Center in San Juan, which now bears his name.

Among his many recognitions and decorations, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest distinction awarded to a civilian by the Government of the United States. He has also been honored by numerous institutions in Puerto Rico, New York, Wisconsin, Florida, and several other States, as well as by the Dominican Republic. During his long life, he received around 15 ``honoris causa'' doctorates from the University of Puerto Rico, the Inter American University of Puerto Rico and the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico, among others, as well as from the Boston Conservatory of Music, Amherst College, Harvard University, and Florida International University.

He served as a member of the board of directors of several institutions, including the Hospital de Damas de Ponce, the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico, and the Luis A. Ferre Foundation.

In October 2002, the Smithsonian Institution's Woodrow Wilson International Center in Washington, DC, presented Mr. Ferre with its Award for Public Service.

Mr. Speaker, this designation will serve as a memorial to the exemplary legacy of Luis Ferre. I urge my colleagues to support the Luis A. Ferre United States Courthouse and Post Office Act, and in so doing to honor the life and legacy of Luis A. Ferre.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Joseph Acaba, the first Puerto Rican ever in a NASA Astronaut class. Mr. Acaba, a mission specialist and educator in Dunnellon, Florida, was recently chosen as a member of the 2004 Class of Astronaut Candidates. He is one of three mission specialist-educators, selected from a field of more than 1,000 applicants, who will train with more than 100 astronauts at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Joseph Acaba, 36, was born in Inglewood, California. His father Ralph was born in Arecibo, Puerto Rico, and his mother Elsie was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Mr. Acaba has been teaching math and science at Dunnellon Middle School since 2000. He has degrees from the University of California at Santa Barbara and the University of Arizona. He is a former Peace Corps volunteer in the Dominican Republic and also managed a research station in the Bahamas.

Space travel has intrigued Joseph Acaba since childhood. His father would show young Joseph filmstrips he had saved of the first landing on the Moon. Now, Joseph Acaba is one step closer to being the first Puerto Rican in space or even the first ``Boricua en la Luna'' (``Puerto Rican on the Moon''), the title of a famous and beloved poem--later turned into a song--by Puerto Rican poet Juan Antonio Corretjer.

Mr. Acaba has said that, besides family photos and hot tamales, he plans to bring the Puerto Rican flag into space. We hope to live to see the day when this happens. In the meantime, we are very proud to have in Joseph Acaba a young, talented and dedicated Puerto Rican who will continue to educate and inspire others through his hard work, his example, his commitment, and his pioneering spirit. How fitting that the first Puerto Rican space trainee is also a much-admired middle school teacher of science and math who has broadened his students' minds.

I ask that you join me in honoring Joseph Acaba, the first Puerto Rican ever in a NASA Astronaut class.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the extraordinary achievements of two young constituents that have excelled with particular success in community service. Monica Mayol and Ridge Olivieri, both of San Juan, Puerto Rico, have been selected as Honorees of the prestigious Prudential Spirit of Community Awards representing the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. This is an honor bestowed to only two students per jurisdiction, and as such is a very treasured award in our Island and in the Nation.

Mr. Speaker, Monica Mayol is a 17-year old senior from Academia Maria Reina High School in San Juan. She serves as the activities coordinator at Centros Sor Isolina Ferre, one of the most renowned charity institutions in Puerto Rico. She tutors disadvantaged children and teenagers in several subjects, organizes drives to obtain food contributions, and even coordinated an awards ceremony and a Christmas party to bring happiness to those in need.

Mr. Speaker, the other student recognized by the Prudential Awards is 11-year old Ridge Olivieri, a sixth-grader at Saint John's School. Ridge is a very motivated sixth-grader who established a project to collect gently used clothing for disadvantaged children in Haiti. He felt that it was important to foster a sense of citizenship in his fellow peers, and his program got off to a very successful start with the help

of students, faculty, and sponsors such as American Airlines, who delivered the clothing to Haiti free of charge. He has followed the footsteps of a very close role model, his brother Chase, who is an eighth-grader at Saint John's, began a book recollection program and recently won the Do Something Brick Awards, a program that recognizes community service involvement in young men and women.

Mr. Speaker, I can attest to the fact that both are extraordinary students and remarkable young people. I feel very proud of representing first-rate students like Monica and Ridge in Congress. They are members of a whole new generation of Puerto Ricans greatly concerned with their people and their country and willing to take action to improve their community. During the course of their projects, they have demonstrated superb intellectual ability and undertaken a very commendable task: service to their neighbor.

Mr. Speaker, as Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico, I am proud to recognize the significance of ``National Teacher Day''. Teachers are a valuable source of morals, veracity and integrity for millions of students in Puerto Rico and the United States. The Congress of the United States and various teachers' organizations have recognized their devotion and commitment through ``National Teachers Day,'' since the 1940's.

The work that teachers perform every single day is worthy of such recognition. Unfortunately, violence in schools has become a common denominator affecting teachers and students alike. Earlier this year in Puerto Rico, we have seen students and teachers attacked or killed by students in their classrooms, turning schools into a battle field where teachers and students are losing their lives. Episodes of this nature demean and undermine this remarkable profession, and erode the spirit of education.

Teachers are a testament of perseverance in every student. As Members of Congress, we must focus on the contributions that every single teacher makes to the development of a healthy, well-educated and cultured youth in our society. The issues affecting our teachers challenge all of us to contemplate what we genuinely value in our society.

Looking into the future of our communities in Puerto Rico, the role of a teacher in our children's lives becomes a necessity more than a luxury. The progress of a population is determined by the skills and the preparation that an individual acquires and develops during the early learning phases, phases that are often initiated by teachers.

Teachers are more than authority figures inside a classroom full of students--they are heroes in our society. Their love for their work should be awarded and respected everyday, ``National Teacher Day'' is a symbolic indication of the importance and magnitude of their profession in creating the future leaders of our society. As a proud Puerto Rican, I salute and thank the teachers in Puerto Rico and in the United States for their remarkable job, and I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the ``National Teacher Day.''

Mr. Speaker, 1 rise today to commemorate the one- year anniversary, this Saturday, May 1st, 2004, of the U.S. Navy's departure from the island of Vieques, Puerto Rico.

Puerto Ricans have played a pivotal role in the national defense of the United States. The people of Vieques, Puerto Rico, in particular, bore over 60 years of bombing with everything from napalm to depleted uranium. In the 1940's, about two-thirds of their land was occupied by the U.S. Navy to make way for a bombing range on the eastern part of the island and a weapons depot on the western part of the island.

The movement to get the U.S. Navy out of Vieques was in existence for many years. But the tragic death of Viequense David Sanes Rodriguez on April 19, 1999 as a result of two stray bombs dropped on the Observation Post in Vieques, contributed to galvanize the movement beyond partisan affiliations and political ideologies. That struggle reached its fruition with the U.S. Navy's departure from Vieques on May 1, 2003. It is important to note that the Navy has recently indicated that the replacement training scenario for the Atlantic Fleet is as good if not better than the training conducted on Vieques. This realization is well received by those who called for the cessation of training on Vieques.

The victory in Vieques is a victory first and foremost of the Viequenses. Yet it is also a victory of Puerto Ricans in the Island, in the U.S., and of many non-Puerto Rican elected officials, civic, community, labor and religious leaders and activists who participated in the struggle, organized marches, rallies, and lobbying initiatives. Many were arrested for peaceful civil disobedience in support for peace in Vieques.

I am proud to say that many of my fellow Members of Congress participated in this important initiative for peace in Vieques. For instance, on March 8, 2001, 110 Members of Congress signed a letter to President Bush calling for the immediate and permanent cessation of military practices in Vieques.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to place the March 8, 2001, letter from these 110 Members of Congress to President Bush into the Record at this time. On behalf of the people of Puerto Rico, I thank these Members of Congress for their support for peace in Vieques, and I urge them and my other colleagues to join me in working towards finishing the inconclusive agenda for the people of Vieques. The immediate task at hand is ensuring the adequate, full and prompt clean up and decontamination of the lands and surrounding waters of Vieques.

Although the Navy has left Vieques, much remains to be done before the residents of Vieques have the peace and justice they deserve. When the Navy left Vieques and transferred the lands on the eastern part of Vieques to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service a year ago, the people of Vieques finally were free of the bombings that so disrupted and affected their peace, health, well-being and livelihood. That achievement is a testament to the resilience and perseverance of the Viequenses and their allies. That resilience and perseverance is now needed to make sure that the lands are fully and promptly cleaned up and decontaminated. The legacy of contamination and health crisis in Vieques must end.

The Governor of Puerto Rico, Hon. Sila Calderon, has requested that Vieques--and the island of Culebra--be included in the National Priorities List under the Superfund law. That request is currently under consideration by the Office of Management and Budget. Once the relevant areas are designated for clean up and decontamination, the necessary funds must be appropriated to make sure that the clean up and decontamination is conducted fully and promptly. Unnecessary delays in the clean up process and insufficient funding would only exacerbate the health crisis suffered by Viequenses.

Mr. Speaker, as we commemorate the one-year anniversary of the Navy's departure from the beautiful island of Vieques, we are proud of the victory achieved by the Viequenses and their allies in a peaceful struggle for peace and justice for the close to 10,000 residents of Vieques. At the same time, we are mindful that the agenda for complete peace and justice in Vieques is still inconclusive. We will continue to work towards completing this agenda. I am counting on my colleagues' support in doing so.

Congress of the United States,

Washington, DC, March 8, 2001.

Hon. George W. Bush,

President of the United States of America, The White House,

Washington, DC.

Dear Mr. President: For the last 60 years the U.S. Navy has

been conducting military operations in two-thirds of the

island of Vieques, Puerto Rico. From the beginning, such

operations have caused concern because of their consequences

on the people, the environment, and the economy. The tragic

death on April 19, 1999 of David Sanes-Rodriguez, a Vieques

resident, during a training exercise, brought to the

forefront of the Puerto Rican national and international

communities the health, environment, and the violation of

human and civil rights of the residents of that Island.

The People of Vieques have a mortality rate 40 percent

higher than that of Puerto Rico, a 27 percent higher risk of

dying from cancer, and a 70 percent higher risk of dying from

diabetes. At the same time, Vieques' natural resources and

environment have been seriously damaged by the continuous

bombing and shelling, which have left heavy toxic metals in

the environment. The island's economy has also been affected

because Vieques has not been able to develop to its full

potential as a direct result of the U.S. Navy's presence. In

sum, the situation of Vieques has become an issue of health,

environmental protection, and human and civil rights. In

spite of all of these concerns, the U.S. Navy is determined

to continue using Vieques for bombing exercises.

This issue has transcended political party and ideological

lines in Puerto Rico. Leaders from all sectors of society

agree that the bombing and shelling must end. At the same

time, in the United States, the Senate of the State of New

Jersey, led by. the Republicans, approved a resolution, by

unanimity, requesting the immediate cessation of the

bombings. Governor Donald DiFrancesco (R-NJ), and Governor

George Pataki (R-NY) have also stated their support for this

effort.

Today, the vast majority of the Puerto Rican society favors

the immediate and permanent cessation of the bombings and

shellings. Past Presidents of the United States, under

similar circumstances, have ordered the immediate and

permanent cessation of military operations in other

locations. For instance, in 1975, President Gerald Ford, by

an Executive Order, terminated the use of the island of

Culebra for military purposes. Likewise, President George

Bush, on October 22, 1990, directed the Secretary of Defense

to discontinue the use of the island of Kaho'olawe for

bombing and target practice.

Your fellow Americans are seriously concerned about the

ailing health, the violation of human and civil rights of the

Viequenses, as well as the impact on their environment and

natural resources. Under the Constitution of the United

States, you have the authority to call for the immediate

cessation of the bombing and the shelling that are affecting

these rights. Therefore, the undersigned urge you to order an

immediate and permanent end of the bombing in Vieques.

Respectfully,

Anibal Acevedo Vila (D-PR), Luis Gutierrez (D-IL), Jose

Serrano (D-NY), Nydia Velazquez (D-NY), Ed Pastor (D-AZ),

Ruben Hinojosa (D-TX), George Miller (D-CA), Charles Rangel

(D-NY), Edolphus Towns (D-NY), Patsy Mink (D-HI), Neil

Abercrombie (D-HI), Bobby Rush (D-IL), Bob Menendez (D-NJ),

Edward Markey (D-MA), Hilda Solis (D-CA), Major Owens (D-NY),

Mike Honda (D-CA), Sam Farr (D-CA), Elliot Engel (D-NY),

Cynthia McKinney (D-GA), Carrie Meek (D-FL), Eva Clayton (D-

NC), Louis Slaughter (D-NY), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Nita

Lowey (D-NY), John Larson (D-CT), Juanita Millender-McDonald

(D-CA), Brad Carson (D-OK) Mark Udall (D-CO) Tom Udall (D-

NM), Grace Napolitano (D-CA), Charlie Gonzalez (D-TX), Donna

Christensen (D-Vl), Danny K. Davis (D-IL), Albert Wynn (D-

MD), Xavier Becerra (D-CA), Joe Baca (D-CA), Robert C. Scott

(D-VA), Ciro Rodriguez (D-TX), Anthony D. Weiner (D-NY),

Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), Sanford D. Bishop Jr. (D-GA),

Gregory Meeks (D-NY), Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-OH), Robert

Underwood (D-GU), Rod Blagojevich (D-IL), Sherrod Brown (D-

OH), Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Karen

McCarthy (D-MO), David Phelps (D-IL), Nick Rahall (D-WV), Eni

Faleomavaega (D-AS), Bill Pascrell (D-NJ), David Bonior (D-

MI), Howard Berman (D-CA), Bernard Sanders (I-VT), William

Jefferson (D-LA), Dale Kildee (D-MI), Sen. John Corzine (D-

NJ), Betty McCollum (D-MN), Jesse L. Jackson Jr. (D-IL), Bob

Filner (D-CA), William Lacy Clay (D-MO), Ted Strickland (D-

OH), Lane Evans (D-IL), Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), Robert Brady

(D-PA), Jim McDermott (D-WA), John Olver (D-MA), Lois Capps

(D-CA), Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Sen. Charles

Schumer (D-NY), Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY), Alcee L.

Hastings (D-FL), Melvin Watt (D-NC), Bennie Thompson (D-MS),

Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), James E. Clyburn (D-SC), James

McGovern (D-MA), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), John Conyers Jr. (D-

MI), Martin Meehan (D-MA), Elijah Cummings (D-MD), Barney

Frank (D-MA), Jerry F. Costello (D-IL), Diana DeGette (D-CO),

Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY), Michael McNutty (D-NY), Joseph

Crowley (D-NY), Gene Green (D-TX), Carolyn Maloney (D-NY),

Earl Hilliard (D-AL), Maxine Waters (D-CA), James Oberstar

(D-MN), Janice Shakowsky (D-IL), Nick Lampson (D-TX), Bill

Delahunt (D-MA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), William

Lipinski (D-IL), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Thomas Allen (D-ME),

Carolyn Kilpatrick (D-MI), Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), John

LaFace (D-NY), Lynn Rivers (D-MI), Robert A. Borski (D-PA),

James A. Barcia (D-MI), Chaka Fattah (D-PA).

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to show strong support for Earth Day. It is a great opportunity to encourage citizens to be conscious and take action regarding their responsibility towards environmental protection.

The first Earth Day was held in 1970 as an annual event to honor our planet and our responsibility for it. Earth Day's purpose is to educate our citizens of the importance of conserving the environment and to encourage them to restore their local community, improving quality of life and human health for all.

The natural resources of Earth are the essential components of our environment and the development of life; therefore our dedication to its conservation is very important for sustaining future generations. Currently, Puerto Rico, as well as the rest of the world, is facing many environmental challenges due primarily to human development and environmental pollution. Essential resources such as water, air, soil and biodiversity are threatened by human activity. The existing population of Puerto Rico is almost 4 million people and this overpopulation results in limited available resources to support its residents. Water scarcity and contamination, air pollution and climate change, the destruction of natural habitats for construction, erosion causing water shortage, and the endangerment of many species are among the main problems that our environment is facing.

Pure water is essential for all life on Earth and provides habitat to many organisms. The human race is putting in serious danger this vital resource by the energy production, interruption of water flows, deforestation, and the wasting of water by those who overuse this resource. Air is an essential resource for life as well. Its pollution comes primarily from coal burning power plants, automobiles, and industrial operations. These activities affect not only human health but also the atmosphere that protects us from the sun's radiation. Human activities also destroy biodiversity through contamination, deforestation and destruction of natural habitats for construction and other developments. As humans, we are totally dependent on nature for survival and, instead of conserving, our actions negatively impact nature.

In Puerto Rico, we are faced with immediate challenges in areas like Vieques, Culebra and Roosevelt Roads, where contamination threatens the health and well being of thousands of residents, water quality, and sustainable economic development. Residents of these regions deserve full and prompt clean up and decontamination of their lands. Another challenge for the Island is the protection and recovery of endangered species population. Endemic species' population such as the golden coqui (Eleutherodactylus jasperi), the Puerto Rican boa (Epricates inornatus), and the Puerto Rican parrot (Amazona vittata) that lives primarily at the Caribbean National Forest, El Yunque, have been significantly reduced due to encroachments of their habitats. The West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus) and the green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) are other examples of endangered species as a result of marine contamination on coastal areas due to human development.

In order to protect some of the natural environment of Puerto Rico, I have introduced legislation designating approximately 10,000 acres of land in the Caribbean National Forest in Puerto Rico as the El Toro Wilderness and as a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System. Through this legislation, the habitats within the El Toro Wilderness will be protected, as well as the forest's magnificent biodiversity.

It is necessary to educate our citizens about the importance of environmental conservation and conservation practices to maintain the natural resources of Puerto Rico and the rest of the world for future generations. This can be better accomplished by providing information through schools, communication media, conservation programs, and volunteer or special activities. Earth Day is a perfect moment to put in practice these goals by instructing and encouraging citizens to contribute to environmental conservation. As responsible and dedicated citizens to the conservation of our environment, Earth Day should become an every day priority to ensure and increase the quality of life and human health. Earth Day is not only one day; it is every day because every day is a good time to consider our environment, and take action to protect the nature that surrounds us.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Department of Justice Reauthorization Act. I commend Judiciary Chairman Sensenbrenner, Ranking Member Conyers, and other members of the Judiciary Committee for their diligent work on this bill. This bill makes important changes and adjustments to current law, which I believe will bring greater safety to our communities and ensure better and more efficient administration of crime-fighting programs.

There are two specific provisions of this Act that I would like to highlight.

The Reauthorization of the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Act is an important step in assuring the safety of law enforcement officers throughout the Nation. It has been through this program that thousands of police officers, including many in Puerto Rico, have received the critical personal safety protection of bulletproof vests. While the threat of gun violence will continue to endanger our police, the reauthorization of this grant program will continue the reduction of firearms injuries and deaths to our Nation's law enforcement officers.

Additionally, there is language in H.R. 3036 that is of great importance to Puerto Rico. Unlike in the States, the Commonwealth government centrally carries out the vast majority of law enforcement functions. The Commonwealth's budget for 2005 calls for $752 million to support the 22,500 Commonwealth police officers who have the primary responsibility for law enforcement on the island, and they are joined by approximately 4,000 officers at the municipal level. For this reason, the disbursement of funds under law enforcement grant programs, such as the local law enforcement block grant and the Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant, should be to the Commonwealth government. Under this scenario, the Commonwealth government then disburses funds to the municipal police forces as appropriate. This bill recognizes this unique structure, and includes language that appropriately directs the local law enforcement grants to the Commonwealth government.

Again, I greatly appreciate the leadership of Chairman Sensenbrenner and his colleagues on the Judiciary Committee in bringing this important bill to the floor. I strongly support this legislation, and urge my colleagues to do likewise.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 433, honoring the life and legacy of Luis A. Ferre. Luis A. Ferre was a crucial figure in the history of Puerto Rico who led a life of service to his people. He was an accomplished businessman, skilled politician, and compassionate philanthropist.

Born on February 17, 1904, in Ponce, PR, he went on to study at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he earned a degree in engineering. Upon his return to Puerto Rico, he worked in his father's business, Puerto Rico Iron Works, and later became involved in politics as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention, a member of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives, and, in 1968, was elected Governor.

Ferre was a believer in Puerto Rican statehood, and his convictions led him to create the New Progressive Party, which to this day remains one of the leading political parties in Puerto Rico.

He dedicated his life to serving the people of Puerto Rico and working to improve their lives and futures. During his term as Governor, he created multiple government agencies and public projects to enhance the quality of life of Puerto Ricans, and launched several housing and labor initiatives of great importance.

In addition to his political achievements, Luis A. Ferre is also remembered in Puerto Rico as a great philanthropist and advocate of Puerto Rican culture. Among his biggest contributions to Puerto Rico's cultural life were the Ponce Museum of Arts, which began with a donation from his personal collection, scholarship programs for art and music students, and the largest-circulation newspaper in Puerto Rico.

Ferre's contributions to the development of Puerto Rico and the improvement of its society will be forever remembered and appreciated. Regrdless of one's position on the issue of Puerto Rico's status, Ferre was an able statesman who dedicated his life to his beloved island.

This is why today I encourage you to support this resolution to honor the life of this respected and revered Puerto Rican. I thank my colleague from New York, Mr. Serrano, for introducing this measure. I also have introduced a bill to immortalize Ferre, H.R. 3742, which would designate the United States Courthouse and Post Office Building located at 93 Antocha Street in Ferre's hometown of Ponce as the Luis A. Ferre United States Courthouse and Post Office Building. It is my hope that we can further remember the legacy of Ferre by bringing this bill up at a later date.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to demonstrate my support for H. Con. Res. 287 and encourage my colleagues to vote in favor of this important resolution honoring a very important man, Raul Julia. I request unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks.

As the representative of the people of Puerto Rico, I am proud to address you today to honor the life and work of Raul Julia. Through his groundbreaking work in the theater, television, and film, his commitment to the improvement of the Latino community, and his dedication to ending world hunger, Raul Julia became a role model and inspiration for many.

After being discovered in a nightclub in Puerto Rico by actor Orson Bean, he moved to New York in 1964, when he was just 24 years old. He quickly found work in Broadway and paved the way for Latino actors by taking on nontraditional roles. He became a very well known Shakespearean actor, taking on roles like Othello and Edmund in King Lear, and was the first Hispanic to create a long lasting alliance with the New York Shakespeare Festival. His work on Broadway earned him 4 Tony Award nominations in the course of 10 years.

Julia also served as a role model for children through his portrayal of Rafael, the Fix-It Man in the popular children's television show Sesame Street, and appeared in multiple made-for-television movies. In addition to his theater and television credits, his film career was also very prolific and productive. Among his best-known roles are the political prisoner Valentin in The Kiss of the Spider Woman, Cardinal Oscar Romero in Romero, Gomez Addams in The Addams Family and its sequel, Addams Family Values, and slain Brazilian activist Chico Mendes in The Burning Season, for which he posthumously received Emmy, Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild, and Cable Ace Awards.

In addition to his acting career, Raul Julia worked to improve the Latino community by becoming a leader in the fight against teen violence and a mentor to aspiring Latino actors. He created and cofounded multiple projects, such as the Latino Playwrights Reading Workshops and the Puerto Rico Traveling Theater, and became involved in other programs, such as ``La Familia'', and the Museo del Barrio. Additionally, he was a lifelong advocate for the Hunger Project, an organization committed to ending world hunger. For all his community involvement and his career achievements, he received the Hispanic Heritage Award in 1995.

Raul Julia was an exemplary Puerto Rican, and a brilliant role model for all. It is an honor for me today to rise and pay tribute to this great man's life and work. I strongly encourage this body to join me in praising this man's life by passing H. Con. Res. 287.

Mr. Speaker, last October, the people of Puerto Rico lost a great man. Former Governor Luis A. Ferre was a visionary who dedicated his life to his country. As Governor from 1968 to 1972, he was a proponent of many projects that ensured great economic development for the island. To honor his life, today I am introducing legislation, as a companion to legislation introduced by Senator Rick Santorum in the Senate, to designate the Luis A. Ferre United States Courthouse and Post Office Building, located at 93 Atocha Street in Ponce, PR, as a tribute to his life and work.

Former Governor Ferre was a brilliant politician, musician, businessman, and philanthropist who dedicated his life to serving his people and moving Puerto Rico forward. During his term as Governor, he created, among other things, the Environmental Quality Board, the Departments of Natural Resources and Housing, the Office of Youth Affairs, and the Tourism Company. Throughout his life, he also demonstrated his unwavering commitment to Puerto Rican culture and the arts by founding what is now the biggest newspaper in Puerto Rico and the Art Museum of Ponce.

He was an extraordinary man whose efforts and endeavors gave luster to Puerto Rico and to his native city of Ponce. During his years in the public service, he demonstrated true commitment and dedication to his country and his city by initiating public works and creating projects that contributed to the modern and developed Puerto Rico that we enjoy today.

His love for Puerto Rico and its people will live on forever in the hearts of all Puerto Ricans. Giving his name to the U.S. Courthouse and Post Office building in Ponce is a simple but long-lasting way to recognize his work and honor his life, and I ask you to join me in celebrating his life.

Mr. Speaker, this past weekend the people of Puerto Rico have lost a great man. Rafael Cordero Santiago, mayor of the Municipality of Ponce for the last 16 years, unexpectedly passed away Saturday morning at the age of 61. ``Churumba,'' as he was fondly known to everyone back home, was a pillar of strength in the Popular Democratic Party. He was an accomplished politician, a hardworking administrator, and a true and honest patriot. His unwavering commitment and dedication to his country, his party, and his beloved city of Ponce are testaments to his extraordinary character.

Born in Ponce in 1942, Cordero Santiago dedicated the majority of his life to public service. After obtaining a bachelor's degree in political science, economics, and social science from the Catholic University of Puerto Rico in Ponce, he began his public career in the Department of Commerce of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico in 1964. From there, he moved on to serve as a special assistant to then-president of the Puerto Rican senate, Rafael Hernandez Colon, followed by terms as auxiliary Secretary of Domestic Commerce in the Department of Commerce of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and as administrator of the Right to Employment Administration. In 1988 he was elected mayor of Ponce, a position that he proudly occupied until his death.

His work in Ponce spanned almost 2 decades and is marked by great improvement and progress in the region, as evidenced by the city's economic and social growth. His most recent achievement was the approval of the Plan de Ordenacion Territorial de Ponce, which gives the city ample funding for infrastructure projects, including the Port of the Americas. I worked closely with the mayor in support of Port of the Americas, which will bring a state-of-the-art transshipment facility to Ponce that will provide for lasting job growth and economic development. Upon completion, the Port of the Americas will become the leading port in the Caribbean.

He is survived by his wife, Madeleine Velasco, and his twin daughters, Solange Marie and Mara Bianca. His years of hard work and dedication to his family, his country, and his city will live on in his unforgettable legacy. Please join me in honoring this exemplary Puerto Rican's life and supporting his family in their time of sorrow.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to vote in favor of S. 1156--Department of Veterans Affairs Long-Term Personnel Authorities Act of 2003. This bill represents a step in the right direction for many of our veteran communities.

In the interest of my constituents, this bill and the language contained within brings to the forefront the problems at the San Juan VA Medical Center and opens opportunities to provide immediate relief for the Veterans in Puerto Rico to receive the care they need and deserve.

Through the actions of these two committees, the Democrats and Republicans alike, they have sent a clear message of appreciation to the over 140,000 Puerto Rican veterans for their service in defense of our shared values. Puerto Ricans have served proudly in every armed conflict since the First World War. The language in this bill acknowledges the value of their service.

Currently, there are over 5,000 Puerto Rican men and women who are serving in the armed forces in Iraq, Afghanistan, Guantanamo and many other regions throughout the world. The language in this bill sends the right message to these young men and women that when they serve their Nation well, the United States Congress will serve them well.

I congratulate my colleagues on a job well done. Through long hours of deliberation and patient listening and understanding, both chambers of this Congress have come to what I believe is an impressive piece of bipartisan work. Now, it is my hope that the Secretary will move swiftly to reprogram the necessary funds to build a new bed tower at the San Juan VA Medical Center. Without the additional dollars mentioned in this bill, the San Juan VA Medical Center would have been forced to provide services with a bed loss of 120. This would have put additional burdens on a facility, which the C.A.R.E.S. Committee has deemed to be spatially deficient. The Committees understood this and worked to include language to encourage the Secretary to move forward.

The construction of the new bed tower will allow the San Juan VA Medical Center to provide safer and more modern services for the immediate future to the veterans and the service people returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

I would like to personally thank Chairman Smith, the Ranking Member, Mr. Filner, Ms. Corrine Brown and the other members of the committee for working with me on these vital projects. The report language is more than a listing of projects--it is sending the right message to the 140,000 veterans in Puerto Rico; it sends the right message to the 5,000 Puerto Ricans who have been called to active service in Iraq, and it certainly sends the right message to the families of the 13 Puerto Ricans who have sacrificed their lives this year in service of the United States against the war on terror.

I look forward to continually working with my colleagues in both chambers to provide for the veterans in Puerto Rico. Again, I thank my colleagues for working so diligently on these first steps to improve healthcare for our veterans and urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' to approve this bill.