Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Ms. Lillian Keil, for her service to the Army Air Corps and to our country. Ms. Keil is the most decorated U.S. military woman of World War II and the Korean war.

During her service, Ms. Keil flew 250 air evacuation missions and 25 transatlantic flights. She was involved in many missions including those in Normandy during the D-day invasions, where she helped evacuate wounded soldiers from the front lines. Ms. Keil was also part of a team that followed General Patton's army across France with a cargo of critical supplies. After World War II, Ms. Keil returned to her previous job as a flight attendant for United Airlines.

Ms. Keil returned to active duty in 1950 to serve in the Korean war as one of only 30 flight nurses, and was involved in 175 missions. Flying with First Marine Air Wing and the Kyushi Gypsies to the Chosin Reservoir, she tended to marines who had been severely wounded.

For her service, Ms. Keil was awarded 11 Battle Stars, 19 medals, including a European Theater Medal with four battle stars, a Korean Service Medal with seven battle stars, four Air Medals and a Presidential Citation from the Republic of Korea. She is also a member of the Chosin Few.

Ms. Keil is an active member of the West Covina Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8620 and the American Legion Post 790. She has been honored numerous times in her hometown of Covina Hills, California.

I am honored to recognize such a shining example of valor and strength.

Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from New York, and I also thank the ranking member on this committee, the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Lowey), and I also want to congratulate the chairman of this subcommittee as well.

I rise today to speak about the Dominican Republic as well. I have some deep concerns regarding the lack of emphasis to provide sufficient funding to allow for people there to gather their lives again. We lost 414 people there, 274 missing, 1,600 families displaced, 3,000 homes destroyed.

We need infrastructure funding. We need homes. We need to bring some social awareness and hopefully infrastructure dollars there to put back the lives of the people that live in the Dominican Republic. Many of their family members live in the States. They do send remittances, not nearly enough as what I think should be required or given and would ask that in your discussions that we can include them further in detail.

Mr. Speaker, this morning I would like to report on the Second Annual Tri-Caucus Health Care Conference that was held this past weekend regarding health disparities that was sponsored by the Hispanic, the Black Caucus, and the Asian Pacific Islander Caucus. It was the first time that 12 Members gathered there in Miami, Florida, to begin the discussion to hear from the public as well as health care practitioners regarding chronic illnesses affecting these populations.

A resounding number of them continue to say that obviously we need more support from the Federal Government. We need more funding to combat the rising number of HIV and AIDS incidents reported among black teenagers and Hispanic teenagers, particularly among girls. Girls in their teenage ages are contacting HIV and AIDS in heterosexual relationships.

We need more research funding for planning to begin to address the issue of obesity which is now affecting many of our black and Latino students. Diabetes treatment, nutrition planning for low income minority communities was also outlined. We talked about expanding the need for the SCHIP program and also for Medicaid.

Mr. Speaker, I would ask that the public continue to support the health care disparities bill that was introduced in the House and the Senate earlier this year.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the life and legacy of Gloria Anzaldua, an internationally renowned scholar and activist who recently passed away.

A highly talented and versatile writer, Gloria Anzaldua is recognized for representing the finest in the Chicano/Latino literature. She skillfully expressed her thoughts and feelings in a variety of genres including poetry, essays, children's books, and narratives. She is best known for her 1987 hybrid collection of poetry and prose titled Borderlands/La Frontera: The New Mestiza. This volume was a best seller and was listed among the 100 Best Books of the Century by the Hungry Mind Review and Utne Reader. Her other published works include This Bridge Called My Back (1981), Making Face, Making Soul (1990), Prietita and the Ghost Woman (1995), and This Bridge We Call Home (2002).

Gloria Anzaldua was celebrated by some of the most well respected publishing and educational institutions. Her awards include the Before Columbus Foundation American Book Award, Lambda Lesbian Small Book Press Award, National Endowment for the Arts Fiction Award, and the American Studies Association Achievement Award.

As one of the first openly lesbian Chicana authors, Anzaldua played a major role in redefining contemporary Chicano/a and gay/lesbian identities through her written work. A pioneer in developing an inclusive feminist movement, she won the hearts of countless readers from all walks of life and inspired many to become activists in their communities.

Gloria Anzaldua passed away on May 15, 2004, at the age of 61. Her mother, Amalia, her sister, Hilda, and two brothers, Urbano and Oscar, survive her. Although she will be greatly missed, our nation will always remember her illustrious professional career. Her powerful vision will be embraced and cherished by future generations of activists, readers, and leaders from all walks of life.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Lance Corporal Manuel ``Manny'' Adrian Ceniceros, United States Marine Corps, a member of the Regimental Combat Team 1 Headquarters Company, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Manuel Adrian Ceniceros was born on November 15, 1980. He was a good son to his mother Angela De La Cruz and a loving husband to his wife Elizabeth. He enjoyed life and lived it to the fullest. His hobbies included drawing and playing the trumpet. Manuel and Elizabeth dreamed of starting a family some day. They lived in East Los Angeles, just a few blocks from my office, before he was deployed.

Manuel epitomized what every man should be--a good son and loving husband, a caring friend and considerate neighbor, a good-hearted young man who enjoyed life and strived to ensure that others did as well.

For love of our country, and to protect its freedoms, Lance Corporal Manuel Adrian Ceniceros volunteered to participate in a convoy mission, not knowing that it would be his last unselfish act of honor and courage. On June 26, 2004, he was killed in an explosion in the Iraqi Province of Al Anbar. Manny was laid to rest on July 6 in Santa Ana, the city of

his birth. He is survived by his wife Elizabeth and mother Angela de La Cruz.

Mr. Speaker, last month's disappointing job creation numbers demonstrate that our colleagues on the other side of the aisle have a lot of work to do to help improve this economy. The economy only created 112,000 jobs last month, less than half of what economists predicted. Over 90 percent of the new jobs that were created were found in the service sector area, and they pay less-than-average hourly wages. Many do not even provide health care benefits. In fact, many people in my own District have to work two and three part-time jobs just to make ends meet to put food on the table.

Wages are now at the lowest point in 2 years, and a typical family is now making $1,500 less than they were last year. Unemployment rates in my district in East Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Valley, I am not proud to say, they are about 10 percent, way above the national average. For Latino youth, youth that I represent, they are experiencing double-digit inflation. Right now, they are also unable to find part-time jobs this summer that they badly need.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that the Republican Party take a second look at our economy. Let us keep those jobs at home, and let us increase the wages of working families.

Madam Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 326 on H. Con. Res. 410, the Marshall Islands I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Madam Speaker, duirng rollcall vote No. 327 on H. Con. Res. 257 I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a true champion and extraordinary public servant, Karen Hirai Olen. Karen has provided an array of services throughout Los Angeles County as an advocate for the physically challenged, impoverished families, and senior citizens. After 35 years of service to the residents of Los Angeles County, she will retire today.

I have personally known Karen and consider her to be a dear friend and advocate of social change. Karen began her career in 1968 as a Social Worker for the Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services. Karen's passion to ensure the rights of children led her to become a Children's Services Worker from 1969 to 1979. From 1982 to 1986, Karen served as the Director of the Carson/Samoan center where she brought a new approach and innovative concepts to providing extensive quality services, such as the Peace Corps funded Samoan Youth Employment Project which she directed and implemented.

From 1986 to 1988, Karen also served as Project Director for Foodnet where she led a grassroots effort in organizing faith-based organizations and social service agencies to join forces to provide nutritious food to impoverished families.

Karen was later named Director of Centro Maravilla Service Center by the Department of Community and Senior Services for the County of Los Angeles. Through her leadership, residents from Los Angeles County have received direct services such as emergency

food, mediation services, crisis intervention, resource information for victims of domestic violence, and case management for housing.

The residents from the East Los Angeles community greatly respect and admire Karen for her courage, leadership, and compassion. I wish her the very best in her retirement.

Mr. Speaker, tonight I rise to also share with my colleagues two incredibly important studies that greatly impact women all around this country. These reports published by the National Women's Law Center and the National Council of Research on Women clearly demonstrate that women's fundamental rights in this country are under attack by this administration's politics and policies.

Since 2000, the Bush administration has been slowly chipping away at many of the hard won gains for women. This new data demonstrates that since his first few months in office, President Bush has used the power of his Presidency to manipulate, obstruct, and censor information that directly affects women's lives.

Priorities have been changed, funding has been cut, research findings have been distorted and social differences and inequalities have been masked. American women have a fundamental right to seek public information that is clear, easily accessible, and not contaminated by ideology.

And I am particularly concerned about the lack of information regarding violence against women. Violence against women is a serious problem that affects women and families nationwide. An estimated 1.5 million

women are physically assaulted or raped by their partners every year.

Women who suffer from violence depend on local services and health care providers to help them through their physical and emotional pain. Nationally battered women's shelters serve more than 300,000 women and their families, even though there is a far greater number who seek this assistance. These shelters and health care services are critical for women, victims of violence.

In the year 2000, the Violence Against Women Act mandated that the Attorney General conduct a national study of discrimination against domestic violence victims when they try to sign up for health insurance. This report would offer new insight into better ways that our Nation can serve domestic violence victims and help us understand the many struggles that women victims face day-to-day. This report, by the way, was due back in October of 2001 and here it is now, June of 2004. Where is the report?

I would also like to bring attention to the fact that the administration's healthy marriage proposal for the welfare reauthorization bill failed to include important protections for battered women in marriage protection programs.

In addition, $1.8 billion in Federal and State funds that were allocated for these healthy marriage programs targeted at low income couples would come out of funds already squeezed from child care, job training, and transportation services. These services are especially critical for low income women.

But this is not the first time low income women's rights have been targeted by this administration. The new reports by women advocates also clearly demonstrate how the Bush administration's tax policy failed women in order to pay for tax cuts for the very wealthy.

The administration's budget proposes over $191 billion in new tax cuts over the next 5 years, primarily for the benefit of the wealthiest in our country. These benefits for the rich come at the mercy of deep cuts in domestic programs.

Just look at the cuts in housing, for example. Affordable housing is essential to ensuring that women have equal opportunity in our society and have stable homes in which to raise their children. Currently 28 percent of women-headed families have critical housing problems. Yet because of the Bush administration's policy, next year 250,000 families, most of whom are headed by women raising children, will lose important housing vouchers. Within 5 years, 800,000 families could lose their housing vouchers.

We also cannot forget that the administration excluded millions of low income working families from the increase in the child tax credit of 2003. Over 7 million families with incomes between $10,500 and $26,500 were denied in the 2003 increase in the child tax credit signed by President Bush. Two-thirds of those parents were hurt by this exclusion, in particular, women, disproportionately single mothers, women of color, and married women who were out of work.

It is clear that the Bush administration does not enforce policies that help women make economic strides. Women deserve better treatment by this administration. After all, we represent well over 50 percent of the population. And it is time that we stand up against these policies and politics that are eroding our rights as women.

Mr. Speaker, tonight I rise to bring attention to how priorities of our hard-working American families are being crushed under this administration's policies.

When President Bush first took office, he had a $236 billion budget surplus, there had been 22 million jobs created in the previous 8 years under President Clinton, and this country was experiencing the biggest drop in child poverty in our history. But what has changed in the past 4 years since Bush took office? Well, today there are 8.2 million Americans who are looking for work, and unemployment rates in many parts of our country are at a higher rate, almost 30 percent higher, than they were 4 years ago. And in my district alone, embarrassingly, some rates are as high as 9 percent. Plus, today's job market has lost economic value and too many positions that are being created are only part-time.

What this administration has not said when it talks about jobs it has created is that 90 percent of these new jobs since August 2003 are in industries that pay an hourly wage that is less than the national average. About 1.3 million of these jobs make an average wage of $15 an hour. That is 40 cents less than the national average. And it is an embarrassment that our own Federal minimum wage has not been increased. Imagine a family trying to survive on making $5.15 an hour, and that wage has not gone up for many years.

Clearly, it is not the struggling middle class families benefiting from the Bush administration's economic policies. Take a look at California. There have been 214,000 people who have lost their jobs in my State, and 346,000 were in manufacturing jobs alone, good paying jobs that left. Plus, the jobs that are being created in California are paying less than the jobs that are being lost and are less likely to even offer health benefits.

At a time when American families are struggling to pay for health care, when they are struggling to send their kids to college and get food on the table, we are sending billions of dollars to the very wealthy, 2 percent of our population.

Let us not also forget that the cost of gasoline has increased by 62 percent under the Bush administration. Californians will spend $2.35 billion more for gas this summer. That means per family $210 just for driving around in the summer. Gas in my district is now being sold at $2.39 a gallon. But instead of doing things to help working families, the Republican-led Congress spent last week debating energy bills that will do nothing to help working families cope with these outrageous energy costs, including trying to negotiate lower gas prices.

This administration even said that because of the bill's passage last week on so-called energy relief, our gasoline prices will actually go up by 3 cents. The administration would rather try to hide its relations with the oil industry than seek real productive ways to help our consumers. In California, gas prices went up faster than the Federal Trade Commission anticipated they could and companies rolled in the dough. Exxon Mobile reported a 125 percent increase in profits for the first 3 months of this year.

When the Bush administration claims they are concerned about the financial pressures of middle-income families, I would ask them, what are they doing to address the fact that the price of gasoline has increased 62 percent under this administration? Across the board, Americans are spending more on food, on health care, on education and gas. President Bush has done nothing to change his economic policies to consider the real needs of the American public.

Let us start fighting for a real plan that is just, that is Democratic.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time on this very important piece of legislation which I am astounded to know that we did not hear in our committee. The energy bill before us and the other legislative activities this week in my opinion are a scam. Republicans will try to mislead Americans, to try to hide their connections to the oil industry. H.R. 4545 will do nothing to reduce volatility in the gas markets, nothing to help America become independent and, most importantly, do nothing to help working families cope with the high cost of gasoline.

While working families shell out money so they can get their kids to school, get themselves to work and buy their groceries, big oil companies are striking gold with high gas prices. The administration and the Republican-led Congress are letting their partners in crime rob working families and seniors blind.

In the first 3 months of 2004, ChevronTexaco quadrupled its earnings from the first 3 months of 2003. British Petroleum reported a 165 percent increase in profits. Conoco-Phillips reported a 44 percent increase in profits. Exxon-Mobil reported a 125 percent increase in profits. Yet here we are today not asking why companies are raking in enormous profits and why consumers are having to pay the highest prices in the last 23 years.

Why are we not discussing these commonsense things to reduce gas prices for Americans today? One of the things we can do is investigate bad faith practices in the market. In California, gas prices went up faster than the Federal Trade Commission anticipated they possibly could. In my own district in Los Angeles, gasoline prices have been steady at $2.39, upwards of $2.50 a gallon for the last 2\1/2\ months. We saw something similar with electricity prices also in 2000 during the western energy crisis. Again that situation was ignored as well.

We cannot let the situation repeat itself because working families and businesses will once again become the victims. But just as with the western energy crisis and even the Northeast blackout, those in charge of the Republican-led Congress are choosing to ignore the real situation. Instead of helping to lower gas prices, ensure stability in the market, guarantee American independence and set America on a responsible course of energy policy, the Republicans provide us with legislation that undermines the public process, risks public health and does nothing to help working families.

This process is a sham, and it is a shame that the American public will have to suffer once again.

Mr. Speaker I rise to pay tribute to Lance Corporal Benjamin Rigoberto Gonzalez, U.S. Marine Corps, a member of the E Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, deployed from Camp Pendleton, California. Lance Corporal Gonzalez died as a result of wounds suffered while engaged in combat operations during Operation Iraqi Freedom on May 29, 2004.

Lance Corporal Gonzalez was from my hometown of El Monte. He was born on April 25, 1981, in Montebello, California. He received a public school education and attended Monterey High School, where he played football and participated in the school's drama and music programs.

For love of our country, Lance Corporal Gonzalez joined the U.S. Marine Corps at the tender age of 19 on October 10, 2000. He served the country with courage, pride and loyalty.

Lance Corporal Gonzalez' future was bright and filled with promise. Upon his return, he planned to marry Anna Isabel Martinez, his fiancee, and start a family. Lance Corporal Gonzalez was an active youth leader at the Iglesia Cristiana del Este de Los Angeles. Lance Corporal Gonzalez's life and love is treasured and fondly remembered by countless friends and loved ones.

Lance Corporal Benjamin Rigoberto Gonzalez is survived by his brothers: Samuel, Christopher, Andres, Josue, and sisters Betsy, Stephanie, Elizabeth, Juliana, Mia as well as his parents, aunts, uncles and cousins who were deeply touched by his kind heart and gentle strength.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Rob and Sherri Vines for their life-long contributions to the Congregation Emanu El and the Inland Empire community of Southern California.

Rob and Sherri Vines have been active and loyal members of their congregation for over 30 years. Exemplifying the best in humanitarian leadership, they continue to earn respect and admiration from people of all walks of life. Mrs. Vines serves the congregation in numerous capacities, including teaching at the School of Jewish Living and serving three terms as Sisterhood President in the Inland Empire. She is also a member of the congregation's executive committee of community service, having coordinated numerous events for San Bernardino County residents.

Robert Vines, a workers' compensation attorney, has been a member of the California State Bar since 1973, serving as the Deputy District Attorney for San Bernardino County from 1973-1975. In addition, he proudly serves as President of the United Jewish Welfare Fund of San Bernardino County. He is President of the Greater Inland Empire's Applicants' Attorney Association. He also serves in various offices with the Board of Governors of the California Applicants' Attorney Association. Mr. Vines has earned countywide recognition as one of the top ten attorneys in the Inland Empire.

Rob and Sherri Vines received the Rabbi Norman F. Feldheym Award as a testament to all the hard work, love and energy they have exemplified throughout their lives. This award memorializes Rabbi Feldheym's values of unconditional love and loyalty to one's synagogue, service to the community, and a character imbued with humility and loving kindness to others.

I salute Rob and Sherri Vines on the occasion of being awarded the Rabbi Norman F. Feldheym Award and wish them continued success and prosperity.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with great admiration and pride to honor a very special man, Fernando Oaxaca, former businessman, government official, political activist and founding director of HispanicVista.com.

Fernando Oaxaca passed away on Friday, May 28, 2004, after making invaluable contributions to the Latino community and realizing a long list of accomplishments. He earned a degree in electrical engineering in 1950 at the Texas College of Mines and Metallurgy presently known as the University of Texas El Paso (UTEP). His work in the aerospace industry paved the way for other Latinos to have opportunities in the aerospace industry in the 1960s.

Fernando Oaxaca was a pioneer in broadcasting and co-founder of Coronado Communications, one of the first public relations firms in California to specialize in the Latino market. In 1967, he became one of the original founding members of the Republican National Hispanic Assembly.

Throughout his career, Fernando Oaxaca has served as a consultant and advisor to many organizations. His passion and strong convictions led him to become the Chairman of the Mexican American Opportunity Foundation (MAOF). His weekly column ``Oaxaca Journal,'' published in HispanicVista.com inspired many and conveyed the values and principles of our country and its democracy.

Mr. Speaker, I hope our colleagues will join me in paying tribute to the late Fernando Oaxaca, for his selfless and untiring efforts on behalf of the Latino community.