Floor Statements

Mr. Chairman. I rise in opposition to the Graves amendment to H.R. 3550. Don't be fooled by this amendment. This amendment is bad for my district and bad for California.

My State is a destination State. Tourists come to visit and see the sights and cities of Southern California. Sometimes these tourists rent cars. And sometimes they get into accidents. California passed a vicarious liability law that protects innocent bystanders from rental car companies that rent to uninsured drivers. When people get hurt by these uninsured drivers, there is no place to turn for compensation. This law allows those that get hurt to ask for compensation from the rental car companies. The State saw a need for such a law, so they passed one.

The Graves amendment attempts to tell California what type of law it needs. It will cancel California's law and hurt their citizens. What makes Washington Congressmen think they know what's best for my district and for California? California, 14 other States and the District of Columbia know that vicarious liability laws are good for their citizens. They know that when push comes to shove this will help keep their citizens safe. That is why I oppose the Graves amendment and support California's right to determine what best serves the interests of its citizens.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an individual of great significance to the history of our country. He provided a voice for those that could not be heard and hope for those that no longer believed.

Above all, Cesar Chavez was a man who fought for those that could not fight for themselves. Through his nonviolent struggle for economic and social equality, Cesar touched the lives of millions of people and inspired a generosity of spirit and love for our fellow man.

Born of a Mexican immigrant, Cesar Chavez grew up working with migrant farm workers, toiling in the fields while receiving below average wages.

His firsthand knowledge of the plight of the farm worker helped shape Cesar's beliefs and led him to become an advocate for the migrant working community.

He committed himself to organizing these workers to campaign for safe and fair working conditions, reasonable wages, decent housing, and outlawing child labor.

As the founder of the National Farm Workers Association, he provided hope that farm workers may one day realize the basic protections and rights deserved by all Americans.

His influence, however, extends far beyond agriculture.

He organized voter registration drives in urban areas, initiated complaints against mistreatment by police and welfare officials, and empowered workers to seek advancement in education and politics.

To gain national attention to the growing civil rights movement, Cesar frequently staged non-violent strikes, boycotts, and pickets.

He also used fasting as a way to peacefully protest without resorting to the violence that existed throughout our society.

However, many in his community refused to accept his notion of equality and resorted to killing and beating of many of his workers.

Yet through it all, Cesar never wavered in his commitment to La Causa.

He was a dedicated champion of equal rights; not just for farm workers, but for all Americans.

This was recognized in 1994 when he became only the second Mexican- American to be honored with the highest civilian award in the United States: the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

This is why I stand here today on his birthday. I have previously introduced a resolution urging Congress and the President to declare this day a national holiday to honor this great Latino visionary.

But today, I want to further honor this great leader by introducing a bill that awards him the Congressional Gold Medal.

With faith, discipline, and soft-spoken humility, Cesar Chavez led a very courageous life.

His tremendous passion and resolve to fight for civil rights was an exhibition in selflessness and love.

By awarding him the Congressional Gold Medal, we are saying that we understand these sacrifices that Cesar Chavez made for our country.

He has left an enormous legacy that has provided hope for the hopeless, inspiration for the uninspired, and the prospect of a better life for all.

For those of us that have ever lost faith, Cesar Chavez teaches us never to give up.

With hard work and the belief that all men and women are indeed created equal, we can aspire to greater things.

I urge all my colleagues to honor Cesar Chavez and his legacy, not only on this day, but every day.

His inspirational words will always ring true: Si, se puede! Yes, we can!

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of American small businesses and the 7(a) loan program.

President Bush has stood by while a record 2.9 million private sector jobs disappeared. The overall unemployment rate has stalled at 5.6 percent. It would be even higher if it included 1.7 million Americans who are no longer searching for employment.

As a former small business owner, I know the benefits they provide to our economy. Small businesses generate three-fourths of all new jobs. They represent 99 percent of all employers and create more than half of our GDP. If we want our economy to grow, we need to support small businesses.

But that's not what the Administration has done. At every step they have cut programs and decreased funds. The Administration's FY2005 budget devastates small businesses. 22 programs will be terminated and 14 will see their budgets cut.

The microloan program, which provides small businesses with loans of up to $35,000, will be terminated, while the Manufacturing Extension Program, which helps small manufacturers solve business problems, has been cut by $66 million over the last two years. The 7(a) loan program has been repeatedly cut and dismantled. They've done everything they could think of in order to kill it. They reorganized it. They closed it down. They capped the loans.

If the 7(a) program is shut down or the amount of loans is capped, then small businesses will suffer. They will not have access to affordable capital. And they will be forced to lay off workers and shut their doors. It is so important for small business to have affordable access to capital. That is why I commend the Democrats on the Small Business Committee for working so hard to save the 7(a) loan program.

But the Administration still doesn't get it. They continually cut the programs and the funds that support our small businesses. To stop our Nation's march towards a jobless recovery, our small businesses must be taken care of. Unless the Administration recognizes the problems that face American small businesses, the unemployment rate will rise and our economy will not recover.

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

I rise today in opposition to the Republican Budget Resolution and in support of the Democratic substitute.

Mr. Chairman, I have one simple point or better yet one simple question to ask my colleagues on the other side of the aisle.

Where is the money to assure the best possible education for our children? Clearly not in this budget.

The Republican Budget:

Represents the smallest increase in education spending in 9 years.

It cuts $1.4 billion in critical education programs.

It freezes Disabilities Education Act and Pell Grant leaving individuals billions of dollars short in funding.

It drastically cuts funding for Perkins Loans.

It cuts vocational education by 25 percent.

The GOP budget provides $479 million more to education. Even if these funds were devoted entirely to No Child Left Behind, it would still leave the GOP budget almost $9 billion short of the amount promised.

Gentlemen, we are dealing with our children here, our future. You talk about Leaving no child behind . . . well let me tell you: You haven't even picked them up.

Unfortunately we have limited time allotted to discuss this proposal. Because I have only scratched the surface of the failure of a budget designed by the Republicans solely to give tax breaks to those that need it the least.

I'm sorry but this is not the Democratic vision of America, Democrats do not try to balance the budget on the backs of children, veterans, the elderly or the uninsured.

Mr. ETHERIDGE, Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong opposition to the Republican Budget and in support of the Spratt Substitute.

The budget is a statement of our nation's priorities. Unfortunately, the Republican budget represents misplaced priorities and misguided policies that hurt America's working families. In contrast, the Spratt Democratic Substitute offers a fiscally responsible approach that cuts the budget deficit and invests in the American people and our economic growth.

The Republican budget continues this Administration's dangerously reckless fiscal policies that have turned record budget surpluses into record budget deficits in just three years. The Republican budgets have turned a projected ten-year surplus of $5.6 trillion into a projected deficit of $2.9 trillion, a reversal of $8.5 trillion. The massive national debt these deficits produce will be a crushing burden on future generations and hampers economic growth.

Republican economic policies have utterly failed America's working families. Under this current Administration, the economy has lost three million private sector jobs, the worst performance since the Hoover Administration. This Republican budget resolution proposes more of the same failed economic policies and shortchanges important investment priorities.

Our first priority should be to invest more in education. As the former Superintendent of North Carolina's public schools, my top priority is to provide necessary funding for our schools. Unfortunately, this Administration continues to cut the President's own education reform initiative, the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act. This budget resolution cuts $8.8 billion from NCLB, and over the first three years of the new law, the Republicans are cutting NCLB by $26 billion.

The Republican budget spends the entire $1.0 trillion Social Security surplus from 2005 to 2009, despite their repeated promises not to spend a dime of it. Federal Reserve Board Chairman Alan Greenspan recently testified to Congress Social Security benefits will have to be cut to make the Republican tax cuts permanent as they are now proposing. I strongly oppose cutting Social Security.

The Republican budget also provides less than is needed for veterans, fails to protect the environment, puts Medicaid and SCHIP at risk, cuts homeland security and underfunds key domestic priorities.

In contrast, the Democratic plan balances the budget within eight years through realistic policy choices that protect funding for key services. The Spratt budget also has a better bottom line than the Republican budget every year, meaning a smaller national debt and fewer resources wasted paying interest on the national debt. Chronic Republican deficits crowd out private borrowing, run up interest rates, and slow economic growth. As a fiscal conservative, I have always supported balanced budgets and responsible fiscal management.

The Spratt Substitute provides $2.1 billion more for education than the Republican budget for 2005 and $9.8 billion over the next five years. The Democratic budget also provides $3.7 billion in mandatory funding to make up the current shortfall in funding for Pell grants and additional funding to make college loans cheaper for students.

The Spratt plan provides meaningful budget enforcement tools (PAYGO) to protect Social Security, provides middle class tax relief and invests in real job creation. The Democratic plan provides more for homeland security, veterans and the environment and protects public health.

In conclusion, I urge my colleagues to join me in voting against the Republican budget resolution and for the Spratt Democratic Substitute.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I pay tribute today to the life of Sergeant Aaron Scharf. Aaron recently passed away at the age of 33 and left an incredible legacy of community work and innovation in his chosen profession. He was not only dedicated to improving his community but also to fulfilling his responsibilities as husband, father, son, and friend. It gives me no greater pleasure than honoring his memory today.

To all those who knew Aaron, he was energetic, determined, and purposeful. He consistently exhibited generosity of spirit, love for his fellow man, and dedication to his work. He was never afraid to challenge the status quo in his own humble and unassuming manner. These qualities undoubtedly left an immeasurable impression on his friends, family, and co-workers.

Graduating from Chaffey High School in 1988, Aaron already knew his calling. The son of a police officer, he joined the Fontana Police Department in 1989 and graduated from the Police Academy in March of 1991. His special details throughout the years included the Narcotics Unit, Gang Unit, Drug Enforcement Task Force, the FBI Gang Task Force, and Special Enforcement Detail. Aaron was a truly special man. He provided an incredible service for those he loved with no thought of additional compensation.

Throughout his time serving for the Fontana Police Department, Aaron exhibited tremendous passion, pride, and a deep resolve to fight for the people of the Inland Empire. He was a beloved part of his family and a respected member of his community. His kind and passionate spirit was an incredible resource and blessing to those who knew him.

I join today with family and friends in paying my respects to Sergeant Aaron Scharf, beloved husband, father, and friend. He is survived by his wife, Shana, and his daughters, Amanda, Ryan, and Camryn. He was a generous and gentle man who fought for what he believed in. He will be deeply missed by all.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of our troops and in support of those who lost loved ones in the violence in Baghdad that we all witnessed today.

On a day that should have shown the unity of our government, we have seen the parties divided. The Republican resolution has left out Democratic input.

It has left out our condolences to the families of those killed in Iraq.

It has left out feelings that our troops must be equipped with body armor and armored vehicles.

And it has left out steps to correct the intelligence failures in the run-up to the war.

Even though the Republican resolution leaves out so much, I'm supporting it to show my support for our troops.

After one year in Iraq our troops are still suffering.

Our soldiers were sent to Iraq without enough of the equipment they depend on to do their jobs safely and without a plan to bring them home.

564 Americans and 100 other coalition troops have been killed. Americans deserve to know what happened in the events leading up to the war in Iraq.

We demand accountability. We are tired of the President and the Administration obstructing the 9/11 commission.

We must be able to trust that what the President tells them is true and we shouldn't have to bear the burden of rebuilding Iraq alone.

American taxpayers are paying almost all the bills, $120 billion and rising.

We deserve a detailed plan for future spending, so our troops are guaranteed to get the resources they need.

Part of winning the war on terror is taking care of those who helped us fight it.

We must ensure our veterans health care, their pensions, and their survivor's benefits.

But the Administration wants to raise health care costs for over 1 million veterans, increasing co-payments and imposing new enrollment fees that will cost veterans $2 billion over 5 years.

Just this past month the VA said it will cut 540 positions from the Veterans Benefits Administration. How can the Administration reduce the veteran benefit backlog when it cuts the resources needed to help our veterans?

I keep thinking about the young men in my district that we recently lost.

There was Corporal Jorge Gonzales. His parents, Mario and Rosa are from Rialto and they still grieve.

And then there was Corporal Sean Grilley of San Bernardino who was killed while he was enforcing a curfew.

These brave men and their families deserve truthful accountability so our soldiers are protected, our veterans are taken care of and our troops can come home as soon as possible.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 3717, a bill that would increase the fines the Federal Communications Commission can impose for the broadcast of obscene, indecent, or profane material.

The level of violent and sexual content in all of forms of media has reached a point where Congress has no choice but to act.

Many people first became aware of this problem while they were watching the Super Bowl, but this is not a new problem.

Whether it is television, movies, video games, or the Internet, you cannot get away from it, and it is getting worse.

As Democrats and Republicans we must continue to work together to address these issues. That is the only way we will be able prevent our children from being needlessly exposed to violent and sexual content in the media.

A growing body of evidence suggests that these messages can be harmful to children's development.

That is why I submitted an amendment that would call on the Surgeon General to produce an annual report assessing the impact of violent media content on children.

Although my amendment was not accepted I hope the Surgeon General will hear us today and understand that Congress takes these issues very seriously and that we demand to know more.

That is also why I created the bipartisan Congressional Sex and Violence in the Media Caucus last October with my friend and colleague, Congressman Tom Osborne.

We will be a strong voice within Congress to reduce violent and sexual content in the media.

We will identify ways to work effectively in Congress and in our districts to prevent violence by and against children through legislation, education, outreach, and advocacy.

Just this Tuesday, we introduced H.R. 3914, the Children's Protection from Violent Programming Act, along with Congressman David Price.

Our bill would require the FCC to assess the effectiveness of the V- chip to determine if it effectively protects children from television violence.

If the study shows that the V-chip is not effective, then it requires the FCC to create a ``safe harbor'' so that violent programming is not televised when children are likely to be watching.

I am proud to have received the endorsement of the Parents Television Council and the Consumers Union.

Last year I re-introduced the Protect Children from Video Game Sex and Violence Act, H.R. 669, which would impose penalties on those who rent or sell video games with violent or sexual content to minors.

It is wrong that our children are being exposed to this kind of violence at an age when their minds and values are still being formed. They play these games when many of them cannot distinguish fantasy from reality. Yet today's most popular games are full of senseless acts of sex and violence that brainwash our kids.

These games show people having sex with prostitutes, car-jacking soccer moms, using illegal drugs, decapitating police officers, and killing innocent people as they beg for mercy. If that isn't enough, games like BMX Triple X even show live video footage of naked strippers. Is that what we really want our kids to be watching?

Let me be clear. It is the responsibility of parents to raise their children and determine what they watch on television or what kinds of games they buy. But when children see these things when they are watching the Super Bowl or when they can walk into their neighborhood store and buy video games with mature content, a parent is cut out of the process.

Some will tell you that early exposure to violence has no harmful effects, but a growing body of academic research tells a different story.

Several of the Nation's most respected public health groups have found that viewing entertainment violence can lead to increases in aggressive attitudes, values, and behaviors, particularly in children.

But we have to go beyond facts and figures. What does this mean for our kids?

We are at the beginning of a long and difficult battle for the hearts, the minds, and the souls of our children.

I hope that other Members of Congress and the public will continue to work to protect our children from these harmful materials.

Mr. Speaker, the current unemployment rate is too high, especially for Hispanics and African Americans.

President Bush has overseen the disappearance of a record 2.9 million private sector jobs since 2001. The overall unemployment rate has stalled at 5.6 percent. It would be even higher if it included 1.7 million Americans who are no longer searching for employment.

The Hispanic rate rose from 6.6 percent to 7.4 percent. The manufacturing sector shed 2.8 million jobs in 3 years, job losses that disproportionately hurt Hispanics.

Last month, President Bush predicted 2.6 million jobs would be created in 2004. But how can we trust him? His own advisers did not stand by his predictions. The administration later stated that they overestimated the number of jobs the President would create.

The President's predictions are continually wrong. In 2002, he predicted 3 million jobs would be created in 2003. As the residents of the Inland Empire know all too well, those 3 million jobs never materialized.

The administration still does not get it. They claimed that letting manufacturing jobs move to China is good for the economy. They claimed that what is needed are cuts to Social Security and Medicare instead of rescinding the tax cuts to wealthy Americans.

Because of inaction, Hispanics and other minorities are being hit hard. We are out of work at higher rates than ever before. Unemployment benefits are ending. Food banks and hunger organizations report that more people are asking for help.

We are marching towards a jobless recovery. Corporate profits are expected to rise by 17 percent this year, but average wages for those who have jobs have fallen. Hispanics and other minorities are suffering. No one is hiring. Their benefits are gone, and people do not know what to do.

We need to help the unemployed. We need to give them job training, unemployment benefits, and health care. We need to stop the outsourcing of jobs overseas.

Unless Congress and the administration recognize the problems that face the American worker, the unemployment rate will rise and our economy will not recover.

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall Nos. 34, 35, 36, and 37, for personal reasons, I was unable to be in the chamber when the time elapsed on the vote.

Had I been able to vote, I would have voted ``aye'' for all four votes.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall Nos. 32 and 33, for personal reasons, I was unable to be in the chamber when the time elapsed on the vote.

Had I been able to vote, I would have voted ``yea'' for both votes.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I pay tribute today to the life of Richard Roa. Richard recently passed away, leaving a legacy of community work and commitment to those he loved. He was a magnanimous figure who was dedicated to his family, his friends, and his roots. It gives me no greater pleasure than honoring his memory today.

To all those who knew Richard, he exhibited generosity of spirit, love for his fellow man, and dedication to his work. He constantly challenged the status quo and was never afraid to speak his mind, undoubtedly leaving an immeasurable impression on his community.

The life of Richard Roa took him from Riverside, California, where he was born and raised, to Japan and Korea, where he was assigned to active duty as corporal for the 40th Infantry Division.

After completing his military service, Richard turned to business, working for Helgeson Buick, before moving on to community work. He was soon named Community Relations Coordinator for the City of Riverside and became the first president of the Casa Blanca Community Action Group (CAG), helping to redress the problems of an area that needed his caring touch. At Casa Blanca, Richard found himself fighting for improved housing, increased business development, and the creation of important neighborhood public services. He always advocated for those in need and was beloved by those around him.

I join today with family and friends in paying my respects to Richard Roa. He was a generous and gentle man who fought the good fight and will be deeply missed by all.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I pay tribute today to the life of Dr. Cecilia Cota-Robles Suarez, a longtime political and educational leader. She passed away last week after a courageous battle against breast cancer. This is why I have fought and continue to fight tirelessly on behalf of breast cancer research, through such legislation as H.R. 1385 which recently passed the House. Without proper funding, it will become increasingly difficult to save the lives of people like Dr. Suarez, whose remarkable and inspirational life touched the lives of countless people. So I join today with family and friends in honoring her memory.

To all those who knew Dr. Suarez, she exhibited love of life, generosity of spirit, and compassion for her fellow man. She was a dedicated teacher who challenged those around her to strive for a better life through educational opportunities, never being satisfied with the way the world is but instead questioning what it could be.

After receiving her Doctorate in education from U.C.L.A., Dr. Suarez went on to fight for early childhood and bilingual schooling. As President of the Association of Mexican American Educators (AMAE) and member of the National Chicana Foundation, as well as the Tri-Counties Mexican American Political Association, she was a passionate advocate and leading activist for Hispanic education. Her tremendous selflessness led her to her role as community leader and respected member of her community.

I join today with family and friends in paying tribute to Dr. Cecilia Suarez, beloved wife, mother, and friend. She is survived by her three children Francisco, Mike, and Laura, and her four grandchildren Arnado, Michelle, Christine, and Victoria. Her generous and gregarious spirit will be deeply missed by all.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) for yielding me this time, and I thank the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis) for his support.

I rise in support of H.R. 1385, my bill to authorize the Breast Cancer Research Stamp through the year 2006. I am proud to say that the language in my original bill extending the stamp through the year 2005 was included in the omnibus and signed by the President last Friday. This amendment will extend the stamp for 1 additional year, through the year 2006.

It has been a long, hard fight to extend the Breast Cancer Research Stamp. It is a fight I began when I was in the California assembly and have continued to do so here in Congress.

But we would not be here today without the hard work of several individuals. I want to thank Dr. Bodai for first asking me to introduce this resolution urging Congress to extend its research stamp when I was in the California State Assembly. It was Dr. Bodai who developed the idea of a Breast Cancer Research Stamp, and it was through his crusade and persistence that we have it here today. Had it not been for him doing it in California, in Sacramento, it would not have happened.

I also want to thank Senator Feinstein and the gentleman from California (Mr. Ose). And I know it was difficult for him to be here this afternoon, because he and I were both on the Red-eye. He knew the importance of this bill and what it means to many individuals, and I want to thank him for his leadership and his hard work and what he has done to make sure that the sunset on the research stamp is extended. And for that, I compliment the gentleman for taking the time, on the Red-eye, on this important issue to address this issue here today.

I introduced this bill last year for one reason, and that is to save lives. All of us care about saving lives. This issue is more important to me now. I recently learned from my son, Joe Baca, Jr., that his wife's grandmother passed away from breast cancer. We will miss Josefine Sanchez and many others who have died, but early detection and prevention and research may have prevented this. By working together to pass this important piece of legislation we can prevent such tragedies.

This year, more than 200,000 women and men will be diagnosed with breast cancer. More than 40,000 women and men will die from this disease. Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in every major ethnic group in the United States. And I say every ethnic group, not one, but all. It does not discriminate. Whether an individual is white, black, Hispanic, or whatever race or ethnicity, everyone is at risk. Early prevention and early detection is of the utmost importance.

Breast cancer is still the number one cancer killer of women between the ages of 15 to 54, between 15 to 54. The disease claims a woman's life every 15 minutes in the United States. Imagine that, claiming the life of a woman every 15 minutes. More than 2 million women are living with breast cancer in America today, yet 1 million of them have not been diagnosed. One million women have not been diagnosed. That is why it is important to increase the funding for breast cancer research.

The Breast Cancer Research Stamp is among the most successful commemorative stamps of all time, with 485 million stamps sold. I repeat: 485 million stamps sold. The stamp program has generated over $35 million for breast cancer research. It has been a critical ally in generating the resources necessary to wage war on this terrible, terrible disease.

The stamp is a semipostal stamp that can be voluntarily purchased by the public for only 45 cents. It is worth it to save a life. Eight cents of each stamp sold goes to the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program.

Working with Dr. Bodhai, Senator Feinstein introduced the Breast Cancer Research Stamp bill in 1998 to help support the fight against breast cancer. I am also proud to say that California continues to lead the way, and I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Ose) for starting it in Sacramento, along with Dr. Bodhai. It has contributed over $3 million in research funds, or roughly 21 percent of the money raised nationwide.

Today, I ask for Members' support for the Breast Cancer Research Stamp, my bill, and all women and men who will benefit from the money the stamp raises.

We have the support of 150 Members who have cosponsored my bill, and countless organizations like the American Cancer Society, American Medical Association, the Breast Cancer Fund, and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

By supporting reauthorization of this stamp, you are not only helping research but you are helping to raise awareness and save future lives.

Think about it: the customer purchases a stamp, a carrier delivers it, and a person receives it. That is three people who have seen the message saying breast cancer needs to be stamped out. Each time we use the stamp, not only do we raise additional funds for research; we send a message of hope to many men and women who have this terrible disease. We need to find a cure, and we will find a cure. With Members' continued support of this legislation, we will do that.

Mr. Speaker, it is with a great sense of pride that I pay tribute today to the life of Frank Dominguez, a longtime leader in the Inland Empire. Frank passed away this month at the age of 64. He was a man of great integrity and character, and I join today with family and friends in honoring his memory and remarkable life.

To all those who knew Frank Dominguez, he was a hard-working, generous, compassionate man who was proud of his San Bernardino roots. His educational path took him through Burbank Elementary School, Colton Union High School, and San Bernardino Valley College. Following his graduation, he served our country proudly in the U.S. Army.

In 1964, Frank founded the Vanir Group of Companies, Inc. and proceeded to give back to the community that he so loved, including building the Vanir Tower, a San Bernardino landmark. His tremendous passion, pride, and selflessness led him to serve three terms on the state economic development commission and serve on the boards of the Goodwill Industries of the Inland Counties, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, and the Diocese of San Bernardino and Riverside Counties. He was revered and admired by friends and colleagues, leading to his selection as outstanding businessman of the year by the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

I join today with family and friends in paying tribute to Frank Dominguez, beloved husband, father, and friend. He is survived by his wonderful wife of 42 years, Gisela, his children Dorene, Richard, and Diane, and his three grandchildren. His kind deeds and gentle soul will be deeply missed by all.

Mr. Speaker, it is with deep affection that I pay tribute to the life of Robert Lewis Soto, beloved son of my dear colleague California State Senator Nell Soto. Robert, affectionately called ``Bud'' by his friends and family, passed away last week at the age of 52. He was a man of great honor, and I join today with family and friends in honoring his memory and remarkable life.

Bud graduated from Pasadena Community College where he was a classically trained musician and soon developed a reputation as being one of the most skilled keyboard players in the area. Despite his avid love for music, he took his immense talent into the business world.

An award-winning construction executive, Bud was best known for his restoration efforts of the San Gabriel Valley and San Fernando Valley Missions. He exhibited tremendous passion, pride, and an immense dedication to his work. He was a beloved part of his family and respected member of his community. His kind and passionate spirit was an incredible resource and blessing to those who knew him.

I join today with family and friends in paying our respects to a man who was a devoted and supportive husband, father, and friend. He is survived by his wife Alice, their three children Nellie, Sally, and Molly; his mother, Senator Nell Soto; his sister Anna; his brothers Phil Jr., Mike, Patrick, and Tom. He will be dearly missed.