Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 40th anniversary of the Mexican American Opportunity Foundation (MAOF) and the dedication of the Dionicio Morales Mexican American Hall of Fame.

The Mexican American Opportunity Foundation is the largest Latino social-service agency in the United States, and with the leadership of Mr. Dionicio Morales has helped improve the life of thousands of people through essential services ranging from job training and childcare to naturalization services.

In 1963, the Mexican American Opportunity Foundation offered its services to the community of East Los Angeles. Forty years later, this far-reaching program serves families from our San Diego border through Central California.

In celebrating the 40th anniversary, it is appropriate that the Dionicio Morales Mexican American Hall of Fame is committed to Mr. Morales' desire to have Mexican American leaders and other pacesetters recognized for their contributions and plaace in history. The Dionicio Morales Mexican American Hall of Fame honors those individuals who made the growth of MAOF possible and other Mexican Americans whose leadership has contributed to the rich culture and history of the United States.

Today, I congratulate the Mexican American Opportunity Foundation for forty years of tireless service to our community and honor the noble efforts of Dionicio Morales.

Mr. Speaker, on January 13, 2003, a woman whom I was personally very close to, Amelia Martinez Ortiz passed away, leaving behind a legacy of service to the community. I rise today to honor the impressive contributions Amelia Martinez Ortiz made to her community and to this nation.

Amelia M. Ortiz was born in Mason City, Arizona, on February 9, 1929. She lived for over 48 years at the same house on Shadydale Avenue in the City of La Puente, in the San Gabriel Valley of California.

With the passing of her beloved husband, Jesus Ortiz, 27 years ago, Amelia became the sole provider for her family. Armed with only a second grade education, she was able to provide for her children-- Martha, Andres, Diana, and Gloria--through her gift with the needle and thread. As a seamstress, Amelia created many wonderful designs, bringing joy to her clients, including myself. She helped them prepare for some of the most important days of their lives, like their weddings and quinceaneras. With her tenacity and talent, Amelia's success as an entrepreneur helped open doors for other Latinas throughout the community during a time when very few role models existed.

In addition, Amelia was a long-standing, dedicated parishioner of the St. Louis of France Catholic Church in La Puente. She was a member of the Legion of Mary, participating and organizing events that recognized the contributions of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Amelia also helped the parish raise funds for community events and assisted in organizing the traveling Virgin Mary for all in the community to enjoy.

Although Amelia has passed, her spirit remains in my heart and in many others. Through her dedication, hard work, and commitment to overcoming overwhelming obstacles in the hopes of providing for her family and community, Amelia Ortiz exemplified all that is possible in our country. A wife, a mother to four, a grandmother to 13, a great- grandmother to one, a friend to many, and my madrina (godmother), Amelia M. Ortiz will be greatly missed.

Mr. Speaker, on Saturday, our country suffered a staggering loss that reminds us how precious and fragile life truly is. As we watched the debris from the Columbia space shuttle fall to the ground, our hearts sank but our resolve only strengthened.

Seven astronauts; 15 educational degrees; more than 800 space hours traveled; working 24 hours a day for 16 days to perform over 80 separate experiments.

Although these numbers are impressive and show their intelligence and qualifications, they do not reflect the fullness of the lives of the crew of the Columbia. They do not show the courage that they so obviously possessed. These numbers do not show the love that they had for their families. They don't show their faith or passion for life. And the numbers don't show their dedication to a program that has consistently proved invaluable to our nation's commitment to exploration and has proved necessary for our advancement as a culture, a society and a people.

As we reflect today, I am especially moved by the story of Dr. Kalpana Chawla. Dr. Chawla was born in Karnal, India, a country that shares our nation's value for democracy and advancement of science. Dr. Chawla immigrated to the United States and was naturalized as a citizen before becoming an astronaut in 1994. Never afraid of chances, Dr. Chawala valued the pursuit of knowledge, a priority for all of the crew of the Columbia.

On this day of remembrance, my thoughts and prayers are with the many families that lost their loved ones. These brave men and women gave their lives so that our innovative spirit can live on. It is with great gratitude that we acknowledge their sacrifice.

As we remember the Columbia and her courageous crew, I stand committed to the NASA program and the spirit of exploration and the pursuit of knowledge that these astronauts exemplified.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to reintroduce the San Gabriel River Watershed Study Act of 2003.

This bill will direct the Department of Interior to do a special resources study on the San Gabriel River, and portions of the San Gabriel Mountains to look for ways that we might improve our open and green space.

This study is vital to my community.

Today, children in my district are living next to toxic waste dumps where their playgrounds amount to little more than concrete slabs.

As a result of a poor environment, over 35,000 children suffer from asthma in the San Gabriel Valley--the largest number in the Los Angeles area.

Twenty-five percent of our water is contaminated.

And there is less then \1/2\ acre of open space per 1000 people--a number that is well below the national average.

There is a growing concern that poor planning has resulted in environmental devastation in the San Gabriel Valley and in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains.

The threat of over-building on the last remnants of open space has increased concern about the cumulative impacts on what little remains of our natural resources.

This concern has reached critical mass, sparking community action to form local conservancies and land trusts as part of a comprehensive solution to watershed protection.

As many as ten State conservancies have formed or are being formed in the greater San Gabriel Valley.

As a California State Senator, I was proud to join in the fight by authoring legislation that created the largest state urban conservancy in California, affecting over 3 million people.

It is now time for the federal government to offer the next step of protection and revitalization in the San Gabriel Valley.

This study is the first step in that venture.

Last congress, this bill passed both the House of Representatives and the Senate unanimously but was unfortunately unable to be sent to the President because of time constraints.

In light of Congress' past endorsement, it is my hope that this bill can pass this body early in the 108th Congress.

The bill that I reintroduce today is the result of many hours of work with various stakeholders and emphasizes the special needs of the San Gabriel Valley, especially those related to flood control, drainage and public infrastructure.

These compromises led to its endorsement by over 30 local governments and organizations.

It is my hope that this incredible past support will translate into this bill's swift passage.

Before I close, let me say thank you to former Resources Committee Chairman Hansen, current Resources Committee Chairman Pombo, Ranking Member Rahall, Chairman Radanovich and Members of the Resources Committee for assisting me in drafting this important bill.

Their guidance is a testament to what is good about the legislative process and I look forward to continuing to work within that process this Congress.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Southeast District Bar Association (SEDBA), the most prominent and largest legal association in the Southeast District of the Greater Los Angeles Area.

SEDBA is an innovative nonprofit community organization established in 1934, by a visionary group of attorneys who recognized the community's need for affordable and credible legal assistance. Through a diverse membership of over 200 lawyers, judges, and business people, SEDBA has been continually providing legal assistance to over 7000 members of the community each year. SEDBA's extensive network of prescreened attorneys, who specialize in a myriad of fields, continues to be a source of expert service to all sectors of the community. In connection with local schools, SEDBA has organized ``Law Day'' to give students a better understanding of the judicial system. In addition, SEDBA works with local law enforcement agencies to collect holiday gifts for the less fortunate.

This year, I am also proud to recognize Ms. Rose Marie Gallegos, SEBDA's first Latina President and third woman to head the organization.

For SEDBA's dedication to service and commitment to the community, I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing this remarkable organization.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Dr. Francine Ratner Kaufman who is receiving the 2003 American Diabetes Association's Women of Valor Award for her dedication to the field of diabetes.

Dr. Kaufman has devoted her clinical and research career to improving the lives of children affected by diabetes. Dr. Kaufman heads the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles and is Professor of Pediatrics at the Keck School of Medicine at USC. She has published extensively and lectured nationally and internationally on her research in childhood diabetes.

In addition to Dr. Kaufman's busy clinical practice at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles and its satellite centers, Dr. Kaufman has been the medical director at a summer camp for children with diabetes in the San Bernardino Mountains of Southern California for two decades. She has helped establish standards of care for the American Diabetes Association where she currently serves as 2002-2003 National President. She has led many advocacy efforts at the local and national levels to increase insurance benefits and to reduce discrimination against people with diabetes.

I had the pleasure of working with Dr. Kaufman while I was in the California State Senate. Dr. Kaufman worked with me on legislation that would enhance diabetes treatment and management.

I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring Dr. Francine Ratner Kaufman for her pioneering clinical studies, research and devotion to the field of diabetes.

Mr. Speaker, I say good morning to our fellow Americans and

to the public who are watching us as we begin to draw our attention now to something that has been ailing our economy, and that is a discussion of unemployment. It is about time, Members, that we start addressing this issue. When we left this House almost a month ago, we forgot about the 800,000 workers that right after Christmas were given a Christmas gift: they were given no unemployment insurance. Their families are suffering. We are here today now to talk about what we can do to improve upon that.

In the State that I represent, one of the largest, California, we saw well over 1.3 million people out of work. This recession that hit our area began in March of 2001. We need to help all workers, especially families.

This past month, I had the opportunity to visit several of our shelters and food pantries and saw something that was very surprising, children now, small children, 3 and 2 years old and infants, women that just lost their jobs that have no place to go and no food. They are not asking for just a handout. They are asking for jobs. They are asking for also a replenishment of their unemployment insurance. We have a chance now to extend that to 26 weeks.

Let us support the Democratic alternative. I plan to do that today.