Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and to honor the more than 14 million Asian Pacific Americans that contribute to the success of tour great nation.

I am proud to be a Representative from the great state of California, which is home to the largest Asian/Pacific Islander American (API) community in the United States. I truly believe diversity is what makes our country great and California benefits greatly from the API community's presence there.

The theme for this year's Asian Pacific American Heritage Month is ``Dreams and Challenges of Asian Pacific Americans'' and it is an idea that resonates especially for those of us from the Golden State. Indeed, much of California's earliest infrastructure and railways were built by the sweat and labor of Chinese and Japanese immigrants. Despite grueling work and harsh discrimination, these workers played a vital role in developing California's early economy and today, Chinese and Japanese Americans are among the largest, most successful API groups in the state.

The API community has also been at the heart of some of California's saddest and darkest hours. During World War II, our state was home to most of the internment camps that unjustly imprisoned more than 112,000 Japanese Americans between 1942 and 1948. Government-sanctioned racism forced many of these law abiding citizens to lose everything they owned and many families remain seared by the memory of this injustice.

However, the suffering and struggle of the API community didn't stop there. As recently as 1992, Americans witnessed a milestone in Asian Pacific American history as the streets of Koreatown exploded in violence during the Los Angeles Riots. Thousands of Korean Americans watched their American Dream go up in flames and they, too, had no choice but to rebuild and rise again.

And the list goes on. America is the home of Vietnamese, Cambodian, Hmong, Filipino, Thai, Malaysian, Native Hawaiian or other API communities. Each of these groups has overcome heartache, oppression, discrimination, and intolerance to achieve their goals in America. They are proud to be Americans and grateful for the opportunity to live freely and pursue their dreams.

The API community is among the fastest growing minority groups in our country and is succeeding in every arena. Asian Pacific Americans proudly serve in our military; they are among some of the most successful entrepreneurs; and some of them are my esteemed colleagues here in the halls of Congress.

I am proud to honor the Asian Pacific American community today not only for their persistence, but also for their accomplishments, contributions, and leadership.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an extraordinary individual, role model, and parent. Yesterday, Earl Woods, father of golfer Tiger Woods, succumbed to cancer at the age of 74. He not only leaves behind a gifted son, but a legacy of integrity, pride, excellence, and passion.

Even before he raised a golf genius, Earl Woods lived an accomplished life. He gave up the opportunity to play professional baseball to attend Kansas State University, and became the first black scholarship player in the old Big 12 Conference. Later on he went into military service, served two tours in Vietnam, and spent time in Thailand where he met his second wife--Tiger's mother--Tida.

Earl Woods was a man who believed foremost in raising his son, Tiger, to be a good person, not a great golfer. Woods dedicated himself to instilling in his son a strong work ethic, mental toughness, and the drive to succeed--all factors that have allowed Tiger to become one of the most celebrated athletes of our time.

In the midst of cancer, heart disease, and diabetes, Earl Woods stood by his son, tournament after tournament, providing the guidance and friendship Tiger needed to win. Earl Woods said that his relationship with his son was one of friendship: they were equals. And he considered that to be the greatest achievement of his life.

Mr. Speaker, I extend my sincere condolences to the Woods family for their loss. Our prayers are with the Woods family today and we ask that God grant them peace during this difficult time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 90 and stand in solidarity with the families of 370 women who have been abducted, brutally assaulted, raped and murdered in the Mexican cities of Ciudad Juarez and Chihuahua since 1993. These families seek justice for the atrocious acts committed against their daughters--some as young as the age of 13--and I urge President Bush to offer whatever assistance he can to bring these criminals to justice.

Even today, we do not know who many of the perpetrators are. Many of the victims bodies have yet to be identified and returned to their families. Local government and law enforcement agencies in the State of Chihuahua have been ineffective in their investigations and require massive reform. Spurred by public outcry, the Mexican Federal Government launched a special investigation into the local governing bodies, only to uncover countless instances of negligence and abuse of power by over 100 police, prosecutors, and other government officials.

Mr. Speaker, we have an obligation as members of the international community to condemn violence against women and offer humanitarian assistance where we can. The President and the Secretary of State must intervene in this matter. These vicious criminals must be prosecuted and punished to the full extent of the law as soon as possible. We cannot allow ineffective government officials and bureaucratic defects to prevent justice from being served.

The families of these 370 women deserve closure and we must do all we can to prevent any further tragedies of this nature from reoccurring. As a father, grandfather, and husband, I could not think of any more horrific or painful a tragedy to strike a family.

I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate Yom Hashoah, Holocaust Martyrs and Heroes Remembrance Day. We pause as a Nation on this day to remember the 6 million Jews who perished under Nazi oppression.

Between 1938 and 1945, the Nazi government systematically attempted to annihilate the entire Jewish population simply because of its religion, culture, and history. Countless families were torn apart, entire communities decimated.

On Yom Hashoah, we not only mourn for those who lost their lives, we mourn for one of humanity's darkest times. And we reflect on what hatred, ignorance, indifference and prejudice can do to mankind when allowed to breed unchecked.

Yom Hashoah also marks the anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising of 1943. It is a time to reflect on the bravery of those who fought for justice, freedom and for survival in the face of torture and oppression.

It is fitting then, that this year's Yom Hashoah theme is ``Legacies of Justice,'' honoring the Holocaust survivors who stood as witnesses during the Nuremberg Trials.

Their legacy calls on us to never forget the atrocities that occurred and to never again turn our backs on human suffering, regardless of where it occurs in the world. They call on us to stand for freedom--not only for ourselves but also for all humanity--to fight for those too weak to defend themselves, and to stand vigilant against apathy and hatred.

Today as we commemorate our Jewish martyrs and heroes at the National Rotunda, let us remember our duty to speak out against suffering and injustice.

We best honor the 6 million who perished at the hands of hatred by fighting against anti-Semitism, racism, sexism, and other forms of discrimination that seek to divide us.

And we must vow to never allow such tragedies to happen again. For our sake, for our children's sake, and for the sake of humanity.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate California State University, San Bernardino on its 40th anniversary and recognize the extraordinary contributions the university has made to California's 43rd district and to the United States of America.

As a result of President Karnig's excellent leadership, CSUSB ranks among the fastest growing universities in the California State University system, and educates over 16,400 students per year. Since 1967, over 55,000 students have graduated from the university.

Comprised of five academic colleges staffed with exceptional faculty, CSUSB offers over seventy degrees and certificates to students. Several graduate and undergraduate programs have been nationally accredited, including the M.B.A. program, computer science, geographic information and decision sciences, psychology, business, health, public administration, and accounting and finance, among numerous others.

I am proud to recognize Cal State San Bernardino as one of California's most diverse universities. Diversity is so prevalent at CSUSB that on campus, there is no majority ethnic group. The university offers strong educational opportunities for minority students and has been nationally recognized for its contributions to the higher education of minorities.

Recently, the Princeton Review honored CSUSB in its ``Best in the West'' rankings and U.S. News & World Report named the university among the best places to earn a master's degree in the West. Such acknowledgement and respect is well-deserved and speaks volumes about the university's national presence. CSUSB is an asset to California and contributes significantly to the quality education system in our state.

Cal State San Bernardino represents the best of America's higher education system. I congratulate the university on its 40th anniversary and look forward to recognizing its wonderful contributions to California in the future.

Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to rise today in tribute to a most distinguished member of the Fontana community and my dear friend, Bea Watson.

In recognition of Bea's outstanding achievements and contributions to our community, I am pleased to share with you a few of her numerous recognitions, including the honor of over twenty-two prestigious awards. These include two esteemed Congressional Awards, the Fontana PTA Council Award, the Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Volunteer Award, the California Parks and Recreation Award, the Community Spirit Award, and the title of California Legislature Woman of the Year. Bea is held in high esteem by all who have been touched by her tireless devotion to others, and deserves every accolade we may present her in thanks for her service.

I am endlessly grateful for Bea's involvement on behalf of the citizens of her community. As a member of the California League of Cities, the Fontana Unified School District, the Fontana Chamber of Commerce, the Fontana Women's Club, the Fontana Teen Center, and the Fontana Historical Society, Bea has profoundly influenced the impacts of these organizations and has directed efforts to improve the community. As City Clerk of Fontana, Bea has proudly represented the city, serving as the keeper of the City Seal and of the official city documents.

Bea's commendable dedication to the City of Fontana has nurtured a sense of pride among her fellow citizens. Her efforts have touched the lives of her neighbors and her exceptional impact upon our community will create a lasting legacy for generations to come. Bea's enduring commitment, enthusiasm, and concern for others' wellbeing have advanced women's rights, education, the arts, and the spirit of the Fontana community. As a volunteer, public servant, and friend to her community, Bea has proven herself as an exemplary American. Bea continues to serve as an inspiration to us all.

I thank Bea for dedicating her life to serving on the behalf of the Fontana community. I am honored to consider Bea my friend and I truly appreciate all she has given to our community and our country.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 2120, The Milk Regulatory Equity Act of 2005.

Mr. Speaker, this bill comes before us today with the full support of the leadership of the House Agriculture Committee and the nearly unanimous support of the entire dairy industry.

As Ranking Member of the Department Operations, Oversight, Dairy, Nutrition and Forestry Subcommittee of the House Agriculture Committee, I can speak to how rare it is for a bill to achieve such wide consensus and agreement among government officials and industry representatives.

This bill is good legislation that will close an unintended loophole created by past federal regulations. While most states determine their milk prices based on their Federal Milk Market Order Area, certain states have enacted legislation which authorizes state agencies to determine milk prices for intrastate milk sales. This then allows some out of state milk processors to be completely exempt from any minimum price regulations and creates an unfair market advantage. S. 2120 will fix this problem and place all milk processors on a level playing field.

Dairy operators in the Inland Empire of California, including Chino and Ontario--in or near my district--are being hurt by this loophole. Hard-working farmers all across America are facing the same situation, and we owe it to them to provide regulatory action that will help all dairy processors.

I want to commend Chairman Goodlatte and Ranking Member Peterson of the full Committee for their excellent work on this legislation.

I also want to thank Chairman Gutknecht of our Subcommittee for his leadership on this matter.

I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this bill and continue the federal government's tradition of offering American consumers consistently priced high quality milk.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to call for the immediate passage of H. Res. 614, a bill which allows for the consideration of the Fair labor Standards Act of 2005, to provide for an increase in the Federal minimum wage.

The Fair Labor Standards Act of 2005 will provide a desperately needed raise in the minimum wage from $5.15 per hour to $7.25 per hour.

The members of the Congress that have denied a minimum wage increase while voting themselves seven pay increases worth $28,000 should be ashamed of themselves.

On Tuesday, January 17th, 2006, Maryland became the 18th state in the Nation to enact a law that will make Maryland's minimum wage higher than the federal. Even in my home state of California, the minimum wage is $6.75 an hour. The current minimum has not been raised in over 7 years!

The minimum wage was established to assure that people who work are not forced to live in poverty. Wage inequality keeps increasing in the United States, in part because of the declining real value of the minimum wage, yet this Congress refused to adjust the minimum wage even for inflation. If the minimum wage had kept pace with inflation since 1968 (when it was $1.60 an hour) it would have been $9.14 an hour in 2005.

Nearly 36 million people live below the poverty-line today--4.3 million more than when President Bush took office--and that number includes 13 million children. Among full-time, year-round workers, poverty has doubled since the late 1970s--from roughly 1.3 million then to more than 2.6 million today. And a report from the Children's Defense Fund shows that a single parent working full-time at the current minimum wage earns enough to cover only 40 percent of the cost of raising two children.

Today, the minimum wage is 33 percent of the average hourly wage of American workers, the lowest level since 1949.

Contrary to misinformation spread by opponents of the minimum wage, adults make up the largest share of workers who would benefit from a minimum wage increase. Forty percent of minimum wage workers are the sole breadwinners in their families. Moreover, despite what many opponents of the minimum wage say, there is no evidence of job loss from the last minimum wage increase.

A hike in the federal minimum wage is long overdue! We must restore the value of the federal wage floor in order to lift families out of poverty. An increase in the minimum wage is both humane and good for the economy because it would raise the standard of living of millions of Americans, while providing the economy with a needed boost by increasing the purchasing power of working families.

Seven and a half million workers and their families would directly benefit from the proposed minimum wage increase. An additional eight million workers would benefit indirectly, via resulting raises. Women and minorities would especially benefit. 61 percent of minimum wage earners are women and almost one-third of those women are raising children; And 35 percent of them are their families' sole earners! 19 percent of minimum wage earners are Hispanic American; and 15 percent are African American.

Women and minorities are disproportionately affected by the refusal of this Congress to pass a higher minimum wage. This issue shouldn't be a political debate. It should simply be about helping America's families. And that help won't come until workers in those low-wage occupations are paid more than poverty-level wages. I have always and will continue to fight for a minimum wage that provides a future for America's families.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise to pay tribute to the Colton Chamber of Commerce on the occasion of its Centennial Anniversary.

This institution, located in the ``Hub'' of the Inland Empire, has been an economic engine and key player in the region's historical development since 1906, when one of its founding members, the California Portland Cement Company, laid the foundation for the first Colton Chamber of Commerce office building.

Throughout the past century, the Colton Chamber of Commerce has been a driving force, transforming a newly-created city into a vibrant center of employment, thriving neighborhoods, and diverse economy. The Chamber's innovative programs and services have successfully created a lifeline of economic activity which fuels the heart of the Inland Empire to this day.

The Colton Chamber of Commerce has more than 200 members who are committed to strengthening the City's prosperity while improving the quality of life of more than 48,000 residents. The Chamber's services have helped attract over 2,000 large and small businesses from a variety of industries to the region. These efforts have provided jobs for the area's diverse workforce, created economic opportunities for low- and moderate-income families, and expanded goods and services to people from all backgrounds and walks of life.

I have had the privilege of working with members of the Colton Chamber of Commerce and local leaders to enhance economic development in the region. For example, at the request of the Chamber and city leaders, I helped reopen the comment period on land restrictions posed by endangered species designations on the Delhi Sands Flower-Loving Fly. Providing the City of Colton with an opportunity to present information to support its case was an important first step to moving forward vital projects that will improve local schools, help grow small businesses, revitalize neighborhoods, create jobs, and preserve our environment.

Over the past 100 years, the Colton Chamber of Commerce's efforts have ultimately helped increase opportunity in the lives of the children, seniors, and low-income and middle-class families who call the Inland Empire ``home''. The Chamber's efforts will have a long- lasting impact in the region and will help chart the course of economic prosperity for Southern California over the next 100 years.

Mr. Speaker, Americans have watched with great pride as our athletes have taken part in the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino. The greatness of the Olympics comes from the spirit of friendly international competition, and we are inspired by our athletes as they strive for excellence and represent our country with honor. During the Games, not only have we seen amazing athletic accomplishments--but also we have learned about the lives of the athletes away from the arena, as they dedicated themselves to their training and preparation, made sacrifices, overcame challenges, celebrated victories, and sometimes suffered through defeat.

Among the many stars of America's Olympic team, one shines particularly bright to the people of my District and to me personally: speedskater Derek Parra.

Derek grew up on the west side of San Bernardino, California with his father Gilbert and his brother. He attended Roosevelt Elementary and Eisenhower High School in Rialto. In fact my son, Joe Baca, Jr., went to school with him, and I attended church with Derek's father, Gilbert Parra, at St. Catherine's in Rialto.

Southern California's Inland Empire is wonderful place for children to grow up and to get involved in sports, but with the sunny climate, it is hardly a winter sports haven. So not surprisingly, Derek grew up roller skating not ice skating. He first learned to skate at the Stardust Roller Rink in Highland, where he was an inline skater. Derek first set foot on ice when he was 17 years old and was 26 when he switched from inline skating to ice skating in 1996 to pursue his Olympic dreams.

Derek was determined, focused and relentless in this pursuit. Even among his fellow athletes in a demanding sport, he was respected for the work ethic that made him an Olympic hero.

Four years ago, I rose to honor Derek after his amazing performance at the 2002 Games in Salt Lake City. At those Games, he won a gold medal in the 1,500-meter race and a silver medal in the 5,000-meter race, breaking the previous world records for both distances.

Derek Parra was the first Mexican American to ever participate in the Winter Olympics, let alone win a medal. Derek also carried proudly the flag of the United States in the opening ceremonies at Salt Lake.

Since those exciting days four years ago, a lot has changed in Derek's life. He made great

sacrifices in his personal life to continue his Olympic dreams. He moved away from loved ones in Florida to continue his training in Utah. While some athletes are able to concentrate solely on their sport, Derek has continued to work part-time in order to pay the bills. And he has experienced the breakup of his marriage. Additionally, Derek is now 35, which is young for most of us but old for a champion skater.

Yet, through all the challenges both on and off the ice, Derek earned a spot on the 2006 Olympic team and the opportunity to again represent the United States. He skated in two events: the team pursuit competition and the 1,500-meter race, in which he had set a world record on his way to gold 4 years ago. This time, however, he did not match his success in the 2002 Games--no medals, no world records.

Instead, Derek skated for the joy of competition and the thrill of representing his country on the world stage one more time. He skated for his daughter, Mia Elizabeth, who turned 4 years old in December, with the hope that she will remember watching him race against the world's best. He skated because he loves to skate and because he is proud to be an American athlete.

Having accomplished his goals, Derek is ready to retire next month, following a competition in the Netherlands. Quietly, a world away from his glorious achievements of 2002, he will hang up his skates and end his competitive career.

But Derek Parra will not be forgotten. His story will continue to inspire young people, those who dream of Olympic gold and more generally those who have big ambitions despite long odds against them. He has broken down barriers in his striving for greatness--and he has done it all with determination and dignity.

Thank you, Derek, for allowing us to share in your dreams for so long. With great appreciation and admiration I repeat what I said 4 years ago: San Bernardino is proud of you. Mexican Americans are proud of you. All Americans are proud of you. You are our hero. God bless you.

Mr. Speaker, it is with regret and deep sadness that I rise to honor James ``Jim'' Duff, a constituent from Rialto, California who passed away on December 11, 2005. I cannot begin to express how saddened I am by the passing of my friend Jim. All men die, but not all men really live; we can honestly say that Jim lived to the fullest. He was a model citizen, veteran, community leader, father, grandfather, and an extraordinary man.

Jim Duff was born and raised in Bonham, Texas but lived in Rialto, California for many years until his passing. Jim was a remarkable example of courage and sacrifice. He joined the Air Force and fought in World War II and Vietnam. Jim was a dedicated soldier who risked his life in the line of duty. For instance he was part of Project Ivy, the famous first test of a hydrogen bomb at the Eniwetok atoll. Nevertheless, one of his proudest accomplishments was Operation Fiddles, an effort to deliver food to innocent victims of war.

After 25 years of service in the military, Jim retired in 1970 to enjoy retirement with his lovely wife of 55 years, Mrs. Doris Duff. Jim and Doris met in Bonham, Texas where they grew up and went to school together. Aside from Doris, his sister Mary Fae Kamm, his son Bobby Douglas Duff, and two grandchildren. Sequoia and Madrone, survive Jim. His dedication and courage live in his family; his son is a successful business owner in Duncanville, Texas and his deceased daughter Carol D- Lynn lost her life while rescuing her children from a dangerous riptide.

Since retiring from the Air Force, Jim had become a fixture of the community. He was Commander of Post 8737 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars for fourteen years and held office within the organization at the statewide and national level, even serving as National VFW Post American Commander. In the Veterans of Foreign Wars, he dedicated himself to help fellow veterans by volunteering twice a week without fail at Loma Linda Veterans Hospital. Jim helped veterans fill out paperwork, file claims, and fight for the health care rights they deserve. I knew him well as a member of my Veterans Advisory Board.

Mr. Speaker, I therefore wish to offer the condolences of a grateful Nation to the family of Mr. James Duff, an irreplaceable man who will not be forgotten.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition of H.R. 4437. I have nothing against this particular amendment, but I am totally against this legislation.

We are all about protecting our borders. We are all about enforcement, and we are about developing a comprehensive immigration reform legislation that really will impact our people, but this bill today, it is flawed. It is inconsistent with the American values.

Mr. Chairman, once again I stand in opposition to this legislation. This is not comprehensive legislation. We all believe that we could have stronger enforcement not only on our borders but also stronger enforcement in reference to what happened to immigrants, but basically this legislation is not a comprehensive educational law reform or immigration reform. It basically is deplorable legislation. It violates the 13th and 14th amendments of the Constitution. We are abolishing the Constitution that protects us. How can we alter the Constitution?

I must remind our colleagues that we are talking about individuals who have a human face, a senior, an adult, and a young child. So this legislation, instead, will say the 11 million undocumented workers are felons, are felons. Is that what America wants, to arrest and lock up 11 million immigrants? Are we going to have detention camps, concentration camps? What are we going to do with these 11 million individuals who would be designated as undocumented individuals? What happens to children of individuals that will be labeled? They will be labeled, and they will have to carry that label the rest of their lives as either a felon or an individual who has a misdemeanor. When you have that label, you carry that label with you the rest of your life, and you are asking us to be productive individuals. What happens to those individuals that every day of their life some individual will tell them, well, you are the little individual, you are the criminal. We see a little white person looking, a little brown person stereotyping them and says, you are a felon, you are here in this country illegally. They had nothing to do with them being out here.

Let me tell you, this legislation is horrible, it is terrible, it is deplorable. We must stop this kind of legislation. We must develop comprehensive legislation. We must not have concentration camps; we must not kick our students out of school. What happens to a lot of our kids who are in our schools because the legislation will label them as a criminal? ADA funding that goes to our schools, what happens? Who arrests them? Are we aiding and abetting? When we go to church and we see someone in our church or a pew right next to us, do we then turn in someone because we assume that you are an undocumented? We will begin to do more profiling. We will begin to identify more individuals like myself and others to say, Are you legal or not legal here in the United States? And people who look a different color will not be asked to prove their identity.

This legislation is horrible. We should not support this kind of legislation. We should protect our Constitution.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks.

Mr. Speaker, this bill is easy to describe--tax cuts for millionaires and tax increases for the middle class. This bill misses the biggest tax cut priority of this Congress--the alternative minimum tax, or AMT.

The AMT was designed to prevent the wealthy from avoiding Federal taxes by taking too many exemptions, but it was never adjusted for inflation. Therefore, many middle-class American families are being affected and penalized.

Yet, instead of solving the problem of the AMT and helping middle class families, this bill only focuses on helping the rich get richer by extending capital gains and dividend tax cuts that don't expire until 2009!

This tax cut means that taxpayers with incomes below $40,000--the majority of taxpayers--will get about one percent of those cuts, an average of $3 a year. Those with incomes above $1 million--one in 500 households will get 53 percent of the cuts, an average of $38,000 per year.

Mr. Speaker, even by this Republican Congress' standards, this tax cut legislation is insulting. And because this bill will add $1.9 trillion to the deficit it is doubly so.

That is why I support the Democratic alternative that would instead fix the AMT for couples making less than $200,000 per year, reducing middle class taxes instead of increasing them. Further, the Democratic alternative would be fully paid for by slightly reducing recent tax cuts for those making more than $1 million per year. America needs fiscal discipline like we had during the Clinton years. The $5.6 trillion surplus projection from 2001 is now a $3.5 trillion deficit--a swing of $9.1 trillion!

Tax cuts to millionaires have dropped revenues from 20.9 percent of the GDP in 2000 to just 16.3 percent, while spending has increased 1.4 percent.

Mr. Speaker, the Blue Dog Coalition has the message right--we need to restore fiscal discipline. Defeating this bill would be a good first step.

Mr. Speaker, the budget reconciliation process is wrong, and it must be stopped.

We must reject any cuts to critical federal safety net programs when so many Americans are experiencing hard times. They have been forced to turn to the government, as well as charities, for assistance with basic necessities.

Nine hundred thousand American families affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita are relying on the Food Stamps Program to avoid hunger. Voting for this budget resolution is voting to cut food stamps for these families--and for millions of others who would otherwise go hungry.

This budget resolution boosts mandatory cuts in crucial programs, including health care and student aid, by 44 percent.

Over ten million Latinos on Medicaid will be affected by these cuts. Medicaid provides health insurance to about 50 million people in America, including 41 percent of people in poverty. We need choices that can help the 34 percent of Latinos that are uninsured.

The budget reconciliation shows how misguided Republican priorities are. Instead of helping make health care affordable, they will force families to choose between staying healthy or keeping the lights on.

The budget will slash such programs as student loans and therefore hurt hundreds of thousands of American families. And yet the GOP budget also requires $70 billion in new tax cuts, helping mainly the wealthiest Americans.

Under the proposed cut in student loans, the typical student borrower could be forced to pay an additional $5,800 for his or her student loans compared to under current law.

These budget cuts do nothing to ease the national budget deficit.

While Republicans claim that they are serious about deficit reduction, their reconciliation plan actually increases the deficit by $20 billion.

Let me repeat: the two GOP reconciliation bills together will result in a $20 billion increase in the deficit! One cuts mandatory spending by $50 billion and the other cuts taxes by $70 billion.

Mr. Speaker, this proposal makes no sense and is immoral. We cannot balance the budget on the back of the poor.

People across the country responded with compassion and generosity to the suffering and devastation caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and the federal government must continue to play a role to reduce the suffering of our fellow Americans in the gulf region.

It is not compassionate to cut funding for critical programs that in many cases would hurt those very communities.

I urge my colleagues to oppose this budget resolution.

Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to welcome our guest chaplain, Paul Christopher Granillo of the Diocese of San Bernardino, and thank him for giving the opening prayer this morning. I believe he is the first Catholic priest from the San Bernardino Diocese to offer the prayer in the U.S. Capitol.

Father Granillo, or Father Paul, as he is known, was born in Redlands, California and educated at the local schools there where I met him as a student where he was involved with the Junior Achievement program.

He is part of a very proud Mexican-American family that has lived in that

city for three generations. He is the eldest of two sons born to Richard and Connie Granillo. His younger brother, Carlo Granillo, is a police detective in the City of Fontana. This is a wonderful family, and I am sure they are proud to serve the Inland Empire communities in their respective ways.

Father Paul attended Cal State University of San Bernardino and graduated with a BA degree in history where my wife, Barbara Baca, Joe Baca, Jr., and his wife, Jennifer Sanchez Baca, also graduated from. He received a Master of Divinity from St. John's Seminary in Camarillo, California and a License in Canon Law from Catholic University here in Washington, DC.

Following his ordination in May of 1997, he served as a parish priest in Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage and Riverside, California.

He is now assigned to Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral, and he currently serves as Priest Secretary to Bishop Gerald Barnes and as the Communications Director for the Diocese of San Bernardino and Riverside Counties in California.

Father Paul is very active in the greater San Bernardino communities, providing services and counsel to growing Hispanic communities.

We were recently together at a Catholic charity event. In addition to his church activity, he is an avid golfer where he and Father Howard Paul and Joe Baca, Jr. and I have had the privilege of enjoying a friendly competitive round of golf against one another. And I tell him, Father Paul, the Lord cannot always guide your golf ball in a straight direction because he wants you to know the feeling of the lost sheep that was lost, but found the right path.

I thank Chaplain Coughlin for his kind invitation to Reverend Granillo to offer this morning's prayer. I thank Father Paul for traveling to our Nation's capital today to be with us. God bless him, and God bless his family.