Floor Statements

Madam Chairman, I rise in strong support of the Butterfield-Scott-Baca-Reyes amendment.

This amendment increases the funding to the 2501 Socially Disadvantaged Farmer and Rancher program by $2 million from $5.935 million to $7.935 million.

These grants are meant to provide outreach and technical assistance to encourage and assist socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers to own and operate farms and ranches and participate in agricultural programs.

This assistance includes information on application and bidding procedures, farm managements, and other essential information to participate in agricultural programs.

These grants may also be awarded to Hispanic Serving Institutions, Tribal Colleges and Historically Black Colleges and Universities that engage in outreach to minority farmers.

This program helps to mitigate a long history of unequal treatment of minority farmers and ranchers.

The USDA has already paid over $1 billion to settle discrimination lawsuits. By investing in the 2501 program, we can improve relationships between the USDA and socially disadvantaged farmers and prevent future lawsuits.

This is a small investment that could potentially save millions in the future.

I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the Butterfield-Scott-Baca amendment.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this amendment, which I have introduced with my colleague Congressman Hinojosa.

This amendment provides an additional $855,000 in funding for grants to Hispanic Serving Institutions, which are colleges and universities with at least 25 percent Hispanic enrollment. The funding will be offset from the Common Computing Environment, which is funded at $130 million.

This account was funded at $5.6 million last year. The appropriations act for Fiscal Year 2006 funds the account at $5.645 million, only $45,000 more than last year's level. The Baca-Hinojosa amendment will bring this funding to $6.5 million, the amount requested by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.

This funding is given out on a competitive basis to Hispanic Serving Institutions for agricultural research. These grants increase the ability of colleges and universities to serve Hispanic and low-income students. In my own district, California State University San Bernardino has benefited from these funds in the past.

Forty-one percent of all USDA research project proposals from HSIs are funded, a remarkable success rate for proposal acceptance. Clearly, this is a great resource that needs to be further funded to reach its true potential.

Other important institutions that serve minority communities each receive more than double the funding of HISs. We must ensure that HSIs are funded at the same level as other similar programs.

I commend Chairman Bonilla for his effort to gradually increase funding for Hispanic Serving Institutions. However, an inequity still remains and must be corrected.

If this Congress is going to be dedicated to providing a top-quality education for all students in America, then we need to ensure that we fully fund HSIs and other institutions that reach out to our underserved communities.

I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the Baca-Hinojosa amendment.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 44, which recognizes the historical significance of the Mexican holiday of Cinco de Mayo.

Every year thousands of Americans mistakenly refer to Cinco de Mayo as Mexico's Independence Day. That is why I introduced this resolution, to draw attention to the historical context of Cinco de Mayo.

On May 5th, 1862, the Mexican army defeated the French at the battle of Puebla, fighting that day for the values of freedom and liberty, the same values that we celebrate today in the United States.

Cinco de Mayo has come to represent a celebration of the contributions that Mexican Americans and all Hispanics have made to America. Many Mexicans and Mexican Americans have made the United States their homes, especially in the Southwestern United States. Their rich culture is one of the threads woven into the blanket of American society and their contributions to our Nation have shaped what we consider to be American culture today.

Today there are nearly 40 million Latinos living in the United States. Latinos are the fastest growing minority population in the United States. Latinos have made great contributions in all aspects of American life--the arts, sports, the corporate world, science, and much more. Latinos have fought in all of America's wars, beginning with the Revolutionary War. Many Latinos are fighting and dying for our country today in Iraq, just as several of their ancestors fought for freedom in Mexico over a century ago.

Though the battle was a Mexican event, the commemoration of this date has become an American Tradition. It serves as a reminder that the foundation of our Nation was built by people from many nations and diverse cultures that were willing to fight and die for freedom.

I urge my colleagues to vote yes on H. Con. Res. 44.

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Costa and I rise to pay tribute to Mr. Pete Reyes, who is being honored this weekend as an Eagle Award winner by the Adelante foundation. Mr. Reyes is an individual of great distinction, and we join with family and friends in honoring his remarkable achievements and expressing great pride in the honor that is to be bestowed on him.

Mr. Reyes has devoted his life to helping students through his chosen profession in education. He has been an incredible resource to the Clovis Unified School District and continues to work every day to improve the school community.

For the past 38 years, Mr. Reyes has dedicated himself to educating the young minds of tomorrow and is currently serving the Fancher Creek Elementary School as Principal. In this capacity, he has been an integral contributor to the management and administration of the school, as well as leading the school to numerous awards in excellence in performance.

Through his tenure as an educator, Mr. Reyes has exhibited kindness, love, humility, and a deep resolve to ameliorate all aspects of community life, so it is only appropriate that he receive this award from Adelante.

We join with family and friends in thanking him for his 38 years of service. He is a symbol of all that is good in his profession and an inspiration to all that know him.

And so, Mr. Speaker, we salute Mr. Pete Reyes. We express admiration in his career and hope that others may recognize his good works in the community.

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Costa and I rise to pay tribute to Coach Joe Soltero who has coached Little League in Delano, CA for over 37 years. By receiving the Adelante Eagle Award, Coach Soltero is being recognized for his years of selfless service to his community and it gives us great pleasure to acknowledge his years as a coach and mentor to the students of Delano.

Coach Soltero is an exceptional individual who has not only devoted his life to helping the Delano community at-large but has also

been an important pillar of support for generations of children. His kindness and passionate spirit render him a vital resource and a beloved member of his community.

As a little league coach, he instilled the values of teamwork, dedication and perseverance. He is an inspiration to those who know him and influenced countless people with his work ethic and love of teaching. He has been an integral contributor to his community, as well as an active participant and positive influence on the lives of his little league players.

During his 30-plus years, Coach Soltero has played in 16 championships, winning 12 of them. He taught the values of sportsmanship and winning humbly.

And so, Mr. Speaker, we salute Coach Joe Soltero. We join with family and friends in honoring his incomparable accomplishments and congratulate him on this well-deserved award.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great respect that I pay tribute today to the life of James Daniel Jones. James was a man of great integrity and character, who honorably served both his country and his community.

James passed away on May 10, 2005 at the age of 75. He was born in Minden, Louisiana, but in 1957 made his home in Barstow, California, where he resided until his passing. James married Louvern Redwell in 1953, and they had seven children, including my good friend Brian Jones.

James honorably served our country throughout his life. He was drafted into the United States Army in 1951 and served for 2 years and was honorably discharged. He went on to spend 32 years as a civil employee of the U.S. Marine Corps.

In addition to serving his country, James also served the people of his community. He volunteered at the Mojave Valley Senior Citizen Center and provided transportation for the sick and the elderly. He also was active in the lives of the youth in the community, as an East Barstow Little League coach. He also had a deep relationship with Christ, and was an active member of the Union Missionary Baptist Church.

James was preceded in death by his parents, Eli and Freelove Jones; his brother, Andrew Jones; and his three sisters, Donnie Jones, Lorean Stewart and Ella Mae Andrews.

He is survived by his beloved and dear wife of 52 years, Louvern Jones; his sister, Mary Helen Smith; his brother, Eddie Jones; and his seven children, Loretta Johnson, Shirley Sherrod, Donny Jones, Donie Elliott, Jennifer Jones-Scott, Vivian Brooks and Brian Jones. He is also survived by twelve grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.

Mr. Speaker, today I am proud to pay tribute to James Jones, a man who improved the lives of those he knew. James will be missed by many in his community, but he will certainly not be forgotten. He leaves behind him a legacy of caring and compassion, of unselfish dedication to his community and his country.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to two outstanding leaders in my community who are to receive the Golden Baton Award from the San Bernardino Symphony Guild in recognition of their proactive role in fostering the culture of music in the Inland Empire. Today, I join family and friends in honoring Chuck and Shelby Obershaw for their remarkable achievements and express enormous pride in this recognition that has been afforded to them.

Chuck Obershaw was raised in the Inland Empire where he devoted himself to his family, friends and community. He selflessly served as a para-glider trooper in the 187th regiment of the 11th Airborne Division before returning to San Bernardino in the 1940s.

Chuck's accomplishments are as remarkable as they are diverse. He has served as President of the San Bernardino Area Chamber of Commerce, the San Bernardino Motor Car Dealers, the Air Force Association, and the Norton Air Force Base Chapter. In these capacities, he has been an integral contributor to the management and administration of community affairs and worked tirelessly for a better way of life for all of San Bernardino's residents.

Shelby Obershaw also proved the importance of serving your community. After moving to San Bernardino in 1959, she dedicated all her energy to shaping the minds of the future leaders of tomorrow as a dedicated teacher in various area high schools.

Her list of accolades is no less illustrious. They include election to the San Bernardino City Unified School District Board of Education, serving as President for 2 years, Director of the San Bernardino Chamber of Commerce, and member of the San Bernardino Chapter of the National Assistance League. She has also received the California PTA Honorary Service Award and the Citizen Achievement Award from the League of Women Voters.

Throughout their lives, Chuck and Shelby Obershaw have exhibited kindness, love, humility, and a deep resolve to ameliorate all aspects of community life, so it is only appropriate that they receive the Golden Baton Award.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize Chuck and Shelby Obershaw and express my sincere admiration that they have received this wonderful and well-deserved honor.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute and welcome home true American heroes. In March of 2004, the soldiers of the 1st Battalion 185th Armor left their homes and families to spread the ideals of freedom and democracy to Iraq. They went, not because they had to, but because they chose to--choosing to restore a society and help a people with which they were unfamiliar.

Throughout the last year, these brave men and women were charged with improving the infrastructure of a new Iraq and building new water systems, roads and bridges. They were a part of history when they helped secure peace during the Iraq elections and have been instrumental in rebuilding relationships between the American and Iraqi people.

The commitment of our men and women in uniform to the ideals of liberty, freedom and peace never wavered. Their steadfast belief in themselves and our Nation remains a beacon of selflessness and sacrifice for all Americans.

For those who still defend our country and those who fight for the principles upon which this nation was founded, the 1st Battalion 185th Armor serves as an inspiration.

Their actions will forever stir our hearts and rouse our belief in the human spirit. It is because of this that we are grateful for their sacrifices.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored that I am able to recognize these American heroes and welcome them back. I hope that others will acknowledge our brave soldiers throughout the world.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great respect that I pay tribute today to the life of California Highway Patrol Officer James Goodman, who was killed in the line of duty on June 3, 2004. Officer Goodman was a man of outstanding character and spirit who selflessly served the state of California.

Officer Goodman joined the California Highway Patrol in 1984. In 1989 he was the first to arrive on the scene when the Cypress Freeway collapsed during the Lorna Prieta Earthquake. With complete disregard for his own safety, he crawled through a tiny space to attempt to rescue a victim who was trapped in a truck that had been crushed. He received the Governor's Medal of Valor Award in 1991 for his heroic efforts that day.

Officer Goodman was killed when his motorcycle collided head-on with a minivan as he was pursuing a suspect involved in an earlier accident in San Bernardino, California. He had served honorably with the California Highway Patrol for 20 years.

Those who knew Officer Goodman remember him as a selfless man who loved his family and his work. He had a passion for riding motorcycles and for serving Californians. Officer Goodman was dedicated to protecting the people of California, and was willing to put his life on the line for the safety of others. He died honorably and will forever be remembered as a brave and courageous man.

Mr. Speaker, today, following two school bus crashes that resulted in multiple injuries and fatalities in the last month, I reintroduced the SECURE Act of 2005, which requires all school buses to have safety belts.

Just yesterday, 23 children were injured in a bus crash in Missouri. Video from another accident in 2003 in Ohio shows 30 children literally falling out of their seats and being thrown against the other side of the bus. How can we say that our school buses are safe? We cannot wait for another tragedy to occur. It is time for Congress to take action.

Since we were old enough to ride in cars, we were taught to buckle our safety belts. We have taught our children these basic safety lessons to potentially save their lives during collisions. Yet, one of the most frequent forms of transportation used by school-aged children is not equipped with any life-saving safety belts. How can we not give our children the safest possible ride by assuring that all school buses are equipped with safety belts?

Currently, only six states require safety belts on school buses, including California, which was the first state to require three-point safety belts. The remaining states use the ``compartmentalization'' method to secure the safety of the occupant. This method assures a reasonable level of safety in frontal crashes; however, a 1999 report by the National Transportation Safety Board found that compartmentalization does not adequately protect passengers from lateral impact and rollover crashes because passengers do not always remain completely in their seats. Also, the national Highway Traffic Safety Administration concluded that there is less trauma to the head and neck of passengers wearing 3-point safety belts.

Many people argue that the cost of installing safety belts on school buses is too high, when in fact it is only about $1.80 per child. That is a minimal cost to pay to protect a child's life.

I hope that my colleagues will join me in cosponsoring this legislation. We should not offer our children anything less than the safest ride to school each day.

Mr. Speaker, today Americans and individuals will observe the Mexican holiday of Cinco de Mayo with celebrations and festivities. But sadly, most Americans do not know what we are really celebrating. That is why I have introduced H. Con. Res. 44, which recognizes the historical significance of Cinco de Mayo.

Cinco de Mayo is the anniversary of the date in 1862 on which the Mexican army, outnumbered, defeated the French in the Battle of Puebla, because they believed in the values of freedom and liberty, the same values that we celebrate today in the United States.

Today, that same spirit is evident in Mexican-American culture, and we pay tribute to that great spirit on Cinco de Mayo. Latinos have fought in all of America's wars, beginning with the Revolutionary War. They have given their lives, the ultimate sacrifice, for the freedoms that we enjoy here today. Many Latinos are fighting and dying today in Iraq. The foundation of our Nation was built by people from many nations and diverse cultures that were willing to fight and die for freedom.

We observe today Cinco de Mayo. Let us remember what it stands for and why many individuals have given their lives for this day.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the budget before us today.

In a time when our schools are struggling to keep up with increasing Federal standards, this budget actually cuts funding to our schools.

It cuts funding for programs that promote equal education opportunities for low-income students, such as programs in my district in California.

It also eliminates funding for school violence and drug prevention programs.

It freezes bilingual education funding. Twenty-four percent of the students in my county of San Bernardino are English learners and depend on these programs. We should not hold back children by preventing them from learning English.

The budget will endanger the health of millions of Americans, by cutting funding to food stamps, the nation's number one investment in nutrition and defense against hunger.

Families will be forced to make hard choices between buying groceries and paying their bills.

It will also cut funding to Medicaid by $10 billion.

These cuts will be devasting to low-income families.

This budget also falls millions short of what is needed for Veterans' medical care. Veterans hospitals will either have to cut health care services or require local veterans to pay more for services.

Our men and women in uniform are dying in Iraq and Afghanistan to protect us, and we aren't providing the funding to protect them when they come home!

This budget also slashes funding to COPS program. The program has funded 15,801 additional police officers and 504 school resource officers in California.

It completely eliminates funding for the $301 million State Criminal Alien Assistance Program, leaving state and local governments to pay for the jailing of undocumented immigrants convicted of crimes. San Bernardino County received more than $1 million in these funds in 2003.

The President and Republicans in Congress talk about conservative compassion, but where's the compassion in this budget?

Instead of funding the programs that working families depend on, the President has offered tax cuts totaling over $100 billion over five years. Most of these cuts will benefit the richest one percent of all Americans.

This budget also spends every last penny in the Social Security trust fund, $2.6 trillion over the next 10 years.

The President entered his term with a budget surplus he inherited from President Clinton, and now he has created the largest deficit in our nation's history .

My colleagues, I urge you to vote ``no'' on this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, as a member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, I rise today to acknowledge the dedication and commitment of TELACU to underserved students in Los Angeles and to recognize June 3, 2005 as LINC TELACU Scholars Day. The Education Foundation has been steadfast in its goals of increasing financial assistance for those that need it most and providing mentorship to young Latino students. Mr. Speaker, it gives me no greater pleasure than recognizing the Foundation's outstanding achievements and encouraging the continued support of TELACU.

TELACU has remained committed to providing community development through business expansion as well as quality affordable housing. The LINC TELACU Education Foundation affords TELACU the opportunity to open doors to educational institutions and contributes to the development of the future leaders of our communities.

Together with the profits from its own businesses and in partnership with corporations and individuals, TELACU has awarded millions of dollars in financial resources to thousands of deserving students. The students have the opportunity to attend some of the finest and most prestigious colleges and universities throughout the United States.

The LINC TELACU Education Foundation has been paramount in providing necessary outreach to our Nation's most vital asset, our children. With the continued leadership of David Lizarraga, President and CEO of TELACU, and his dedicated staff, efforts to improve educational opportunities for our youth have been extremely successful.

In 2004, 100 percent of LINC TELACU college seniors earned their degree; 100 percent of high school Scholars graduated, compared to the national Latino average of only 50 percent and the Los Angeles County average of only 39 percent among Latino students; 100 percent of high school Scholars enrolled in post-secondary education, compared to the Los Angeles County average of only 22 percent among Latinos; and, 100 percent of Health Careers Program senior nursing students completed their degree and received certification.

The Education Foundation has provided strong foundations for young people and allowed Latino students to continue on to higher education. Their dedicated work has hastened the development of our future Latino leaders and allowed the larger national community to see the amazing potential of our Latino youth.

Mr. Speaker, I join today with community members of Southern California in congratulating the valued services of the LINC TELACU Education Foundation. I express my sincere admiration for their organization and am honored by the opportunity to recognize the LINC TELACU Scholars today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 749, the Expanded Financial Services Act of 2005.

This legislation will allow credit unions to offer services to individuals who are in their field of membership, not just those who are members.

This bill will open up the marketplace, and will provide lower-cost services to underserved individuals. The result will be that thousands of unbanked households will be able to enter the economic mainstream.

H.R. 749 includes a provision that I introduced in the Financial Services Committee that will allow these individuals to use credit unions to send international and domestic electronic fund transfers.

This provision will help underserved individuals to send and receive funds to and from their families.

Currently there are about 10 million households in the United States that do not have access to banking. This bill will help those individuals by giving them lower-cost financial alternatives to send funds to their families.

H.R. 749 will promote competition in the money transfer industry, resulting in lower fees to consumers.

By allowing credit unions to compete, we will bring huge savings to individuals transferring money and provide more money for those who need it most. The money people save by using credit unions can be reinvested in our economy, which helps all Americans.

I urge my colleagues to vote yes on H.R. 749, so that thousands of underserved Americans can join the financial mainstream and access the American dream.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a man who embodies the values of strength and wisdom. Seventeen days after Pope John Paul II sadly succumbed to illnesses related to Parkinson's disease, the Catholic community and the world witnessed the ascension of a new leader, former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, to the papacy.

Today, I join millions of Catholics around the world in celebrating the election of Pope Benedict XVI and know that His Holiness will continue to lead our church with the integrity and compassion exhibited by the dearly departed Pope John Paul II.

Since 1981, Pope Benedict XVI has led the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith where his deep-seated religious beliefs played an enormous role in stabilizing the Catholic Church and community. He was a close confidant of Pope John Paul II and is known to all as a respected scholar and teacher of the Catholic faith.

For over 54 years, Pope Benedict XVI has dedicated himself to his God and his creed. He studied at St. Michael's seminary in Traunstein, Germany in the 1940s and believes intimately in church doctrine and the orthodoxy of Catholicism. As the first German pope since the 11th century, he will continue the legacy of advocating for peace, social justice, and the dignity of the human spirit.

Pope Benedict is a steadfast believer in religious freedom and respect among all people of this world. He has a vision of how the Catholic Church will shape our world and future and will teach with humility and lead with grace.

Mr. Speaker, I applaud the Church for their decision to elect Pope Benedict XVI to this special and divine position. I am happy to have him as my spiritual leader and guide and hope that others will celebrate the new pope of the Catholic Church.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 797, the Native American Housing Enhancement Act of 2005.

For too long our Native American brothers and sisters have been treated like second-class citizens.

I believe I speak for everyone when I say that Native Americans deserve decent housing, a suitable living environment, and economic opportunities.

The Native American Housing Enhancement Act of 2005 is a step towards putting Native Americans on a fair playing field.

This bill makes changes to the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act (NAHASDA) which will make better use of resources and provide housing for Native Americans through more efficient means. By allowing tribal governments to exercise their preference for housing programs through the Indian Civil Rights Act, tribes can better direct these funds to expedite tribal housing.

This bill will also direct the Department of Housing and Urban Development to allow tribes unlimited access to new housing funds even if they are still using funds from previous years.

Importantly, this bill also amends the National Affordable Housing Act to provide tribes eligibility for Youthbuild grants, which they were unfairly denied when NAHASDA was created in 1996.

This legislation conveys the intent of Congress that all Americans, including our first Americans, are entitled to the American dream.

I am proud to speak in strong support of this important initiative to help more Native Americans achieve the American dream.