Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, on Friday, June 22, 2007, I was absent during rollcall vote No. 545. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no'' on agreeing to the Flake of Arizona amendment.

Amendment No. 3 Offered by Mr. Jordan of Ohio

Madam Speaker, on Friday, June 22, 2007, I was absent during rollcall vote No. 546. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no'' on agreeing to the Jordan of Ohio Amendment.

Madam Speaker, on Friday, June 22, 2007, I was absent during rollcall vote No. 547. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no'' on the motion to recommit on H.R. 2771, Legislative Branch Appropriations for FY 2008.

Madam Speaker, on Friday, June 22, 2007, I was absent during rollcall vote No. 548. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on passage H.R. 2771, Legislative Branch Appropriations for FY 2008.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and commend Josephine Santa Anna, an outstanding Californian, who has recently been honored by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and the Los Angeles County Commission on Aging with the Older Americans Recognition Award for 2007. This commendation is given for outstanding community service and recognizes Mrs. Santa Anna's service to the City of Santa Fe Springs, California, which has spanned over five decades.

Mrs. Santa Anna is probably one of the most active older adults residing in the city of Santa Fe Springs. Her daily life is primarily driven by the priorities of each of her volunteer commitments, which have included (in part) serving as a Traffic Commissioner, Senior Citizens Advisory Committee Member and an active participant in the city's 50th Anniversary Community Planning Committee. Mrs. Santa Anna was one of a handful of people who volunteered every day for over 3 weeks to decorate the float that showcased the city's 50th anniversary in the 2007 Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California. It was only after becoming physically ill from the fumes of the glue that she finally agreed to stay home, returning a few days later to help organize the city's New Year's Eve party.

Mrs. Santa Anna has been recognized as the most reliable volunteer by two of the most active Senior Citizens' Clubs in the region, the Abraham Lincoln Club and John F. Kennedy Club. In 2006 she was elected by over four hundred seniors to serve in two of the most coveted positions on the Board of Directors for each Club. She has been recognized as the ``voice of the seniors'' by personally leading and shepherding voter registration drives and absentee ballot campaigns for the elderly.

Mrs. Santa Anna, as a Cuban-American, has a strong passion for social justice issues, which empowers her to advocate on behalf of the elderly and the disenfranchised within her community. She was recently appointed to represent the City's Senior Citizens Advisory Committee as a member of the Seniors Grievance Committee, which addresses difficult and contentious issues for five senior citizens clubs in Santa Fe Springs. According to Santa Fe Springs City Councilmember, Luis M. Gonzalez, ``Her amazing mental agility and high physical energy combined with her passionate spirit provide for a truly engaged community gatekeeper who keeps our elected officials on the edge of their seats.''

Most importantly, Mrs. Santa Anna (lovingly known as ``Fina'') embodies the characteristics of a highly respected community leader. She is humble, lovable, and spirited. She is a passionate engine that mobilizes seniors, families, and elected officials for the betterment of Santa Fe Springs.

Madam Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me, her family, friends, and community in honoring Josephine Santa Anna for her service in and contributions to the City of Santa Fe Springs.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 447, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Thank you, Congressman Gonzalez. Thank you for allowing the Hispanic Caucus to speak today on this very important issue of Hispanic veterans and the problems that we have seen them face.

I would like to relate a story of SGT Henry Meraz, an Army veteran of the Vietnam War, who lives in my district. Sergeant Meraz grew up in El Paso, Texas, moved to California at age 17, registered with the Selective Service and was drafted into the Army in 1967.

He served honorably on the special forces team in Vietnam, receiving five distinguished medals and a Purple Heart before being honorably discharged in October of 1969. He has lived a full, normal, law abiding, average American life with his family. He is married, he has retired from his job. He has one child currently in the university and a second one who is a Los Angeles deputy sheriff.

In 2003, Mr. Meraz, Sergeant Meraz, went to renew his driver's license, whereupon he was shocked to learn that he was not a U.S. citizen, that his Social Security was not being recognized and the administration had listed him as a Mexican national.

Upon checking into this further, he could not find his birth certificate in the city he grew up in in El Paso. He then immediately applied for United States citizenship based upon his exemplary military service and quickly relinquished, gave up his voting rights he thought he had the right to exercise since his 18th birthday.

His application for citizenship was denied on the grounds of failure to show good moral character, citing his illegal voting history as bad moral character, even though he was and convinced he was a U.S. citizen. His DD214, the military discharge, lists him as a U.S. citizen.

Then Henry appealed the decision so he could legally become what he thought he was always, a U.S. citizen. He signed a statement and swore under penalty of perjury that the votes he cast under his sincere belief of citizenship were true. Psychiatrists provided letters attesting to Henry's good moral character and the sincerity of his prior belief in his citizenship, because he was undergoing psychiatric treatment for Vietnam War related PTSD, post traumatic stress disorder.

Thankfully, Henry won his appeal and will be taking his citizenship oath in my district at the City of Pomona, California, on May 30. I hope to be there to help him celebrate. This is not necessarily a unique story. Henry is but one of many, of many immigrants, who have served and continue to serve loyally and bravely in our Armed Services.

As you have heard, there are currently nearly 69,000 immigrants in the United States Armed Services, which account, as you have heard again, for roughly 5 percent of our total Armed Forces. Any soldier will tell you, race, color, religion, et cetera, it does not

matter when you are fighting the enemy shoulder to shoulder. These brave men and women risk their lives for this country.

We should, we must embrace them. What matters is there is loyalty to our country and their undying love for it, evidenced by their willingness to die for it.

They have earned and should receive the same benefits, the same rewards and the same recognitions, and they should be welcomed for the patriotic and brave dedicated service to our country through the small measure of granting them their citizenship. It is overdue and high time Congress addressed this issue. Just ask any veteran. It's the right thing to do.

Our Congressional Hispanic Caucus is working on what we call the STRIVE Act, H.R. 1645, which addresses immigrants in our Armed Forces. The act, among other things, grants citizenship immediately after combat zone service, grants citizenship after 2 years of active duty, and creates a naturalization information telephone service for armed service members. We can do no less than to honor and respect the many immigrants who have served, those who are currently serving, and those who will continue to serve our country ensuring our country's freedom.

Thank you Congressman Gonzalez, and thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 487) to amend the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Equitable Compensation Act to provide compensation to members of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe for damage resulting from the

Oahe Dam and Reservoir Project, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I would like to commend my colleague from South Dakota, Representative Herseth Sandlin, for her very dedicated hard work and her persistence on this piece of legislation.

H.R. 487 makes several technical corrections to address inequities that surfaced after the enactment of the original Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Equitable Compensation Act of 2000. In short, this legislation provides for accelerated compensation for tribal members and landowners impacted by the construction of the Oahe Dam in 1962. It also satisfies a request from the administration to amend the underlying structure of the compensation fund.

H.R. 487 will assist the tribe in addressing this loss and help to ensure a positive future for the Cheyenne River Sioux.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from South Dakota (Ms. Herseth Sandlin), the bill's sponsor, to further describe the legislation.

Mr. Speaker, we have no objection to this noncontroversial bill. I would like to thank my colleague on the other side and also, especially, the sponsor of the bill, Ms.

Herseth Sandlin, for her very hard work and strong leadership.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1737) to amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to participate in the design, planning, and construction of permanent facilities for the GREAT project to reclaim, reuse, and treat impaired waters in the area of Oxnard, California.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I would like to commend foremost my colleague from California (Mrs. Capps) again for the hard work and dedication to this great piece of legislation for her district.

The purpose of H.R. 1737 is to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to participate in the design and planning and construction of permanent facilities for the Groundwater Recovery Enhancement Treatment project, the GREAT project.

H.R. 1737, when enacted, authorizes limited Federal financial assistance to develop a facility that will reclaim, reuse and treat impaired water in the Oxnard, California, area. It is my hope that the administration will understand the significance of this very critical litigation for Oxnard as the shining example of the role water recycling plays in balancing our water management portfolio.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 1737.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 30) to amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to participate in the Eastern Municipal Water District Recycled Water System Pressurization and Expansion Project.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

H.R. 30, as introduced by our colleague, Mr. Darrell Issa from California, amends the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to participate in the Eastern Municipal Water District Recycled Water System Pressurization and Expansion Project.

This legislation will provide limited financial assistance to the district for the expansion of the Eastern Municipal Water District pressure zone system, a critical part of their water recycling system. The legislation will help the district maintain a stable, secure water supply to strengthen the community's ability to attract business, sustain its economy, protect its environment, and deal with the community's needs.

I thank Mr. Issa for his hard work on this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 30.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1025) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study to determine the feasibility of implementing a water supply and conservation project to improve water supply reliability, increase the capacity of water storage, and improve water management efficiency in the Republican River Basin between Harlan County Lake in Nebraska and Milford Lake in Kansas.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

The purpose of H.R. 1025, as introduced by our colleague from Kansas (Mr. Moran), is to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a feasibility study on the Republican River Basin between Harlan County Lake in Nebraska and Milford Lake in Kansas.

H.R. 1025 is a cooperative agreement between Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado, and the Federal Government that calls for a feasibility study of water resources of that river basin. The goal is to find new solutions to provide water reliability, increase the capacity of the current water storage, which is so important, and improve water management efficiency. This study is imperative to the responsible management of our water supplies.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 1025.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1114) to require the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Bureau of Reclamation and the United States Geological Survey, to conduct a study on groundwater resources in the State of Alaska, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

The purpose of 1114, as introduced by the ranking member of the Natural Resources Committee, the Honorable Representative Don Young, is to require the Secretary of the Interior, through the Bureau of Reclamation and the United States Geological Survey, to conduct a study on groundwater resources in the State of Alaska.

The assessment and evaluation of current water resources is essential to understanding the needs of that community and its environment. H.R. 1114 would require the Bureau of Reclamation and the USGS to do exactly that, to study the water supplies, the water treatment, and the water distribution needs of Alaska. The bill requires the Secretary of Interior to report the findings of this study to Congress no later than 2 years after enactment.

A study of this magnitude, Mr. Speaker, is vital to the proper management of our most precious natural resource. I do greatly appreciate the hard work of Representative Young on this legislation and urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 1114.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I couldn't agree more with Congressman Young about the importance of water for our country, and I would hope that we can work in a bipartisan manner to continue to look at other areas that will be in dire need of help, Federal help, to be able to determine what needs to be done to help them address their water concerns, and I thank the gentleman.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1140) to authorize the Secretary, in cooperation with the City of San Juan Capistrano, California, to participate in the design, planning, and construction of an advanced water treatment plant facility and recycled water system, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, the purpose of H.R. 1140, as introduced by my colleague and former chair of the subcommittee, Mr. Ken Calvert, is to authorize the Secretary to participate in the design, planning and construction of an advanced water treatment facility and recycled water system.

The continuing drought and the decrease in snow pack have led to a reduction in water supplies in many parts of the West. Water recycling projects can help communities protect against the adverse consequences of drought.

H.R. 1140 will authorize limited Federal financial assistance for two separate water recycling projects in Southern California. One, beautiful San Juan Capistrano, and the other in great San Clemente.

Recycled water can satisfy many water demands, and the enactment of this bill will continue our efforts to encourage the administration to include recycling as an effective water management strategy. I note it was left out of Water 2025, and I want to be sure that we continue to push forward for that which is very, very helpful to many communities.

I do urge my colleagues to join me in supporting 1140.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, first of all, I want to thank staff on both sides who have been working collaboratively and in a bipartisan manner.

Water knows no political colors or boundaries. I think we need to work together to be able to ensure that our economy continues growing, that water will continue to flow through the faucets and in the rivers and dams and aquifers.

And along with Mr. Lamborn, Mr. Speaker, I want to urge all Members to look at their district water needs, and begin to understand it and be able to work with it so that we can protect the rest of the States that are going through, whether it is droughts or other areas that they need help with.

I certainly want to thank my ranking member, Kathy McMorris, who isn't here, but certainly Mr. Lamborn, who has done a great job. And I want to thank him specifically, because to work collaboratively and get these bills out is critical not only in time but in the effect it has on our economy throughout the Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman on rollcall No. 241, had I been present, I would have voted no.

Amendment No. 8 Offered by Mr. Price of Georgia

Madam Speaker, I am honored to join my colleagues in honoring the tremendous contributions of World War II Veterans.

During World War II Americans responded to a call of service that resulted in a generation of leaders that has since never been seen. As our country faced the war, all citizens stood united and ready to contribute. Without exception, Hispanic Americans were also there to seize the call their country had laid before them. Not only did Hispanic Americans serve our country during a time of war, their leadership after service resulted in huge civil rights advancements for the Hispanic community.

It is with great privilege that I take the opportunity to especially recognize the noble service and high sacrifices of the approximately 500,000 Hispanic Americans who served in the Armed Forces during World War II. One of whom was my brother-in-law, Manuel Musquiz--a bombardier.

During World War II Hispanic participation was at a higher percentage than any other minority. Of these, at least 65,000 were Puerto Rican and the majority of the Hispanics were Mexican-Americans. Thirteen Medals of Honor were awarded to Latinos in World War II, eleven to Mexican Americans, and two to Puerto Ricans. When Hispanic soldiers returned home they utilized the GI Bill to advance their education.

Unfortunately, many Latino soldiers who served during WWII also received a rude awakening as they returned home. They faced the same discrimination they had left when they heeded the call to serve. Latino soldiers returned home to exert their rights, through numerous civil rights efforts, to create greater opportunities through activism. Powerful organizations grew out of this era, including the G.I. Forum and the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF). A wealth of gratitude is entitled to these national heroes and their families who not only fought for democracy but fought for equality.

I would also like to recognize my fellow colleagues of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus who also have served our country: Representatives Ortiz, Reyes, Baca, and Salazar.

We pause to remember the noble service and high sacrifices of those who have worn our nation's uniform. We must not allow our children to forget about those who have served and the millions of living military veterans in the United States, those residing in California, and Hispanic veterans in the U.S. Our thoughts and prayers are also with tomorrow's veterans--our servicemen and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan and across the world.

Let us remember the service of all our veterans, the ones that wars-- and peace--cannot be won without. And let us renew our national promise to fulfill our sacred obligations to our veterans and families who have sacrificed so much so that we can live free.

Mr. Speaker, on Monday, March 19, 2007, I was absent due to illness. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 158, agreeing to H.R. 658--Natural Resource Protection Cooperative Agreement Act.

Mr. Speaker, on Monday, March 19, 2007, I was absent due to illness. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on roll call No. 159, agreeing to H.R.

839--Arthur V. Watkins Dam Enlargement Act.

Madam Speaker, on Monday, March 19, 2007, I was absent due to illness. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 157, agreeing to H. Res. 138--Recognizing the importance of Hot Springs National Park on its 175th anniversary.